…..One Month Later [MAD]

…..One Month Later

“For those still fortunate enough to be living at home and have a television, welcome to the six o’clock news. I’m Judy Withers.

“Before I continue, I need to say that this bulletin has been approved for broadcast. Now, it’s been a month since those unforgettable words were spoken from this very station: ‘I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not gonna take this anymore'.

“Who would have thought what an uproar this would have caused. To this day, the man who first said those immortal words - Howard Beale is still missing. Some rumours have it, that he has gone into hiding. Other rumours say he has been executed, as a result of what he started.

“For many, if not all, life has changed considerably to what it was before. The 'Uproar Speech', caused thousands of people, tens of thousands all around the country, to go out onto the streets and yell those words.

“Immediately, the government ordered the national guard in. They ploughed through the streets, quickly and efficiently. Collecting any people who were on the street, and throwing them into the backs of trucks. Lethal force was authorised. As a result, thousands of people died. Even more were wounded. Heavily guarded confinement camps had somehow been set up previously. People were herded into these camps like animals.

“We’re now going to go to Tracy, one of our reporters, in the field. Tracy is outside one of these internment camps. Are you there Tracy?”

“Thank you Judy. I’m here at one of the camps on the outskirts of town. It’s doesn’t really look like much. I wouldn’t call it a prison camp at all. It is basically a paddock, a couple of acres in size. A ten foot electric fence is around the paddock. Signs on the fence warn that anyone touching the fence will be electrocuted. Heavily armed guards are patrolling the perimeter.

“Inside the paddock there are no permanent dwellings. After the first group went in, old tarps and tents were thrown over the fence to them. The people had to construct their own dwellings. I have managed to yell out to some of the people inside. They tell me that once a day, a truck drives round the perimeter. One man on the back of the truck throws dry bread over the fence. The conditions here are appalling. There are no washing or toilet facilities inside at all.

“It is one of the most horrific places I have ever seen. Animals are kept better than this. Several fights have broken out inside and I’ve received unverified information that some people have died inside. I have been told that the bodies are still there. Even from this distance, there is a horrific smell coming from inside

“Wait …... I can see a truck driving up to the gate. I can hear people in the back yelling and banging the wall. The gate has opened. The truck is backing into the opening. The electricity must have been turned off. Oh no! ….... people from the inside are rushing the fence. The armed guards have opened fire. They've shot them! They're lying on the ground. Moaning. They're not dead. The guards are ignoring them. This is horrific.

“The back of the truck has opened. They are herding even more people into the yard.

“This is just horrific. People shouldn’t be treated this way. If I could help – if I could do something. It is just ridiculous. Wait a minute. One of the guards is approaching me. He’s pointing his gun at me...........”

“Tracy? Tracy, are you there?”

There was no response but, the video camera was still shooting on site.

“Oh god”, remarked Judy watching in horror at what unfolded before her. “Tracy has been struck in the face with the butt of a rifle. Another guard is coming up from behind. He's struck her on the back of the head. She's on the ground. Unconscious. The guards are picking her up and taking her inside the compound. I can see the camera man is backing away from the scene.”

The video footage quickly returned to the television station. “This is just horrific. We’ll be following up on this as soon as …............. “ Judy hesitated and held her hand over her microphone as someone approached her desk. Judy took the paper offered and read it.

“The station would like to remind viewers that what is being shown here has been authorised. We are permitted to report it. Further, we have just been made aware that a number of television and radio stations have been shut down. We have also just been told that a number of stores have been forced to close. Rioting has begun again.

“Wait ….....” Judy took another sheet of paper. “The government has just announced that a New World Order has begun. Freedom is over. Free choice is over. More specifically, the government has advised that family life is over. People will no longer have the right to choose their employment, social activities, or partners.

“The government will now decide all of these things for the people. People will be told where they can live, what employment they will do, and, who they can socialise with. The government intends to take full control of peoples’ lives.

“Starting in one hour, government employees will be phoning every person in the country. Each person will be issued a number. This number will be yours until you die. Each person will be ordered to attend a processing centre. At that centre, you will be issued with a new residence, partner and employment. Your previous residence will then be demolished. No person may bring any belongings with him or her to the processing centre. All clothes etc will be issued by the government. All children under the age of 18 years, will be placed into government control.

“The government intends to take full control of the people. We have also been told that an official government representative will come to the station tomorrow to give more details.

“This is Judy Withers. This New World Order announcement will be repeated every hour.”

I definetely liked the premise of the story, very edgy and dark.

Having said that it could use some formatting. You seem to go from present tense to past tense a bit in the course of the story, which makes it a little confusing to read. Also, I would probably look at how the news reporters words were spoken, as you know, with most media they spin everything to sound pretty, even when it's not. Maybe watch a few news reports and take in how they put things across, and apply it to your story.

Overall though, liked the idea and well written otherwise.

S&F

reply to post by 74Templar


Thank you replying. Most of my stories are dark - that seems to be the style that I write.

Thanks for the comments on formatting and about the reporters.

Glad you liked the story and thanks for the S & F.