Date: October 12, 2009
Location: Phil and Baren's crib, Mourningwood, Canada
"Phil, time to wake up" an elderly man says while tying his tie while flipping on a light light. The light illuminates the bedroom "Damnit Baren, that light is bright as hell" another, younger man says under the bed covers. "Unlike your future Phil" Baren laughs. "Shut up" Phillip says as he crawls out of bed. Phillip gets ready and puts on his tie. "Look at you, looking professional, you make me proud" Baren says in a softer tone. "I've been working with you for a few months now B, you can stop" Phillip rolls his eyes. " It's just like yesterday I was babysitting you for your ma" Baren smiles. Phillip smiles at the thought of his mom, "I miss her" Phillip frowns again as he straightens his tie.
"I do too...but it's Wednesday so let's get going"
"Gotcha there"
"Want to stop for some coffee?"
"Nah, I don't feel like having a panic attack this morning"
"Alright, go start the car. I need to grab something from my room"
Baren makes his way to his room as Phillip heads out to the car. Baren gets to his room and sees a text from his doctor,
Call me when you can.
Baren calls his doctor, his hand trembling a bit, and waits.
*Hello?* the doctor answered.
"Hey, it's Baren Middleson. I was told to call"
*Baren, it is nice to hear your voice*
"Thank you, what is going on"
"At this point in your diagnosis, I have to ask if you have wrapped up your will or funeral arrangements because this is-*
Baren hangs up on the doctor, he put his phone on his dresser and slumps on a chair next to the dresser. "I know it was inevitable but, damn" he puts his face in his hands and start to break down in his dimly lit room. "I threw it all away, my life over, all of this...material for nothing. Nah, it's God's will, and I know damn well he is angry" Baren sits in his room as rain pelts his bedroom window, silence fills the air as the air conditioner rattles in the background. "No time for mourning in Mourningwood" Baren says to himself as he fixes himself up.
Out in the car, Phillip starts it up. The sun is barley rising, and with clouds in the sky, the city is casted in a dark blue light with rain falling. Slight fog rolls through as Phillip turns on the radio.
*It is DJ Lopez, and for you fine Canadian folk this morning, remember why you got out of bed. To make that MONEY!* the radio begins to play Arab Money by Busta Rhymes. "Quality music" Phillip laughs.
Baren comes out of the apartment and gets into the driver seat of the car, taking a deep breath. "Ready to go Phil?"
"Yep, lets get going"
The two drive through the dystopian landscape of Mourningwood, passing the same copy-paste shops and apartments. Kids getting on the bus to school, cops sleeping on the job, and regular citizens living their insufficient lives. Phillip and Barren soon reach Kinzua Financial, a district filled with large and looming skyscrapers. Corperate slaves trudge around the district, each heading to their day jobs. "Looks like pure Canadian capitalism magic" Baren laughs.
Location: Kinzua Financial, Mourningwood, Canada
Dark rain clouds approach the foggy desolate yet heavily populated city of Mourningwood in Canada. Cars and trucks echo off building walls with an absence of wildlife. In the lowest floor of the tallest skyscraper is the Mourningwood Park and Recreational Facilities office. The two walk into the office and get right to work. Phillip gets an Email from Baren to print off. Phillip gets up and heads to the copier.
"Hiya, are yall using the copier?" Phillip asks to a few office workers whom were in front of the copier. "If you used you effing eyes you can see that I am printing something...I just forgot to press start" one of the workers said as she pressed the start button. Life for Phillip started to go down hill after the economic catastrophe of 2008. Now working as an accountant and a personal assistant to the manager of a recreational company. After getting his copies, Phillip returns to the manager's office. "Here's your papers, I was looking at them and this seems like a very large project" Phillip tells Baren. "Imagine this, Phillip" Baren starts, "I'm good" Phillip responds. Baren continues, "The city of Mourningwood, a decaying urban environment...with a park!" Baren looks at Phillip. "You want to build a park?" Phillip asks, "I mean, that is our business but in Mourningwood? This place receives less sunlight than the Mariana trench. So it would be a waste of money" "Phillip, I don't pay to bring your negative vibes and hostility into my office" Baren sneers. Phillip laughs "Look B, most of the world is on the brink of bankruptcy. Our company already is in the red so why-" Phillip is cut off by Baren. "If I want my company to go bankrupt because of a park, than so be it. I want it built to finally get some sort of nature in this urban hell." "B, I've known you since I was a child, I know you are smarter than this." Phillip says as he sits down at Baren's desk. "Since you were 8 years old...weird to think that you work for me now" Baren smiles, "and I live with you" Phillip jeers. Baren chimes in "Well, you pay rent so technically...you're still a cockroach" the two laugh as the rain stops. The clouds still hover, ominously over the city as heavy fog begins to condensate on the window. "You want this park built for aesthetic purposes?" Phillip asks. Baren sighs and looks at Phillip as a clouds blocks off light and makes the office dark.
"Phil, I'm going to be frank with you" Baren says, "why don't you be brat with me" Phillip laughs. "Shut up, heh, um...I do have news though my boy" Baren gets serious
"What is it?"
"Phil...I went to the doctor last week"
"Yeah"
"He said I have two left"
"Two what?"
"Weeks"
"And he said that last week?
"Yeah"
"So you don't tell me till the week AFTER?! What the hell, what do you mean only two weeks left?!"
"To live...
To live..."
Baren sits back in his desk with his hand on his head. "Why aren't you in the hospital?" Phillip asks.
"I don't want to fight it, Phil"
"Why?"
"I've lived my life Phil, I had my chance to be happy and successful. I wasted it all with drugs and alcohol"
"No, don't say that B. Without you I have no one"
"This is not true, I will always be here with you"
"Baren-"
"No buts, I- get this park made...have it made for me"
Phillip looks at Baren, "how, I am only the accountant here?" Phillip asks. "These papers have to be taken to the Ontario officials in Tkaronto" Baren says as he holds the copies.
"Tkaronto? Like...the city?" Phillip asks.
"Yes like the city. You just have to go there and wait to hear from them. They usually respond within 5 days"
"I don't have a car, sir"
"I know, I ordered you a ticket there and a ticket back, the train back is set to leave October 19th."
"What time is the train set to leave?"
"Tomorrow, sunrise"
Phillip sighs and rubs his head, "the park is that important to you?"
"A child, I took as my son always wanted to play outside and be a kid. I couldn't give him that as we lived dead centre in Mourningwood. I want to give other kids the opportunity that I couldn't give mine"
"That child was me, right?"
"No, some Afgan kid- yeah it was"
Phillip smiles and exists his office."
Phillip walks to his desk and looks out the window, the fog covering the tops of tall buildings, the way the people trudged in the weather, and the scene of absolute ennui over the city. The sun begins to rise as the city grows a lighter shade of grey.
"Tkaronto, I would rather go to the US."