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Library e-Book : 978-1-5384-7314-6
Trade e-Book : 978-1-5384-7315-3

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November 17, 2009

Dear Carl:

Here is “The Late Shift” for the proposed Fangoria series.

I’m very pleased with the way this came out. It departs considerably from the original, but I think it is actually an improvement – less contrived and more coherent. I’m surprised that it is also much more a black comedy, albeit a very dark one. It may be the best radio script I’ve ever written. Of course it’s hard to be objective, since it’s based on my own short story, but that’s the way it seems to me.

This series should be able to handle stories a bit more extreme and unconventional than TZ, and “The Late Shift” is an example. I hope you find it as powerful, thought-provoking and entertaining as I do.

Yes, the cast is huge – almost 40 voices. But surely some of the actors can do double-duty. Jim, our protagonist, is the most important. He doesn’t neccesarily have to be an actor is his 20s. He should be self-assured and grounded rather than geeky (Edward Norton rather than Walter Denton). The tone is serious and realistic, not over-the-top, trying-to-be-scary like a horror movie. Treat it as a straight drama with real people, where occasional absurdities occur in any typical day – if we happen to notice them.

My greatest interest in writing this story was to discover what the dead might have to say when they are alone with each other. It turns out that they are tired and lost and in search of peace. They are neither comical nor menacing. They are people like you and me who want to rest now that their work is done. The problem is, the system wants to continue exploiting them even beyond death. It’s a grim proposition but the logical extension of our society. As science fiction, it’s purpose is to raise questions, not answer them. It asks us to consider what might happen “if this goes on.” A cautionary tale, in other words, using imagination and metaphor.

Best of luck with this. I think it can be a real winner.

Sincerely,

Dennis

P.S. I’d like to record the part of the Narrator. This could happen in every show – using the author’s voice a few Limes in each script. What do you think? I’ve also provided a signature opening that might work for the entire series.

CAST OF CHARACTERS