The goat and the need

I've been reflecting a bit on scapegoats lately. It's because of an idea that I'll use eventually, that goes something like this:

The FBI is called in to investigate a crime. They know the suspect is in this small town. They move in, begin asking around, and everyone points the finger at the same guy. Apparently he's a one-man crime wave--he's committed arson, burglary, made obscene phone calls, stolen cars, all sorts of things. So, why isn't he in jail?

The Feds talk to the local sheriff, who says that he doesn't bother to bring that guy in anymore, when a crime is committed--beyond a couple of petty juvenile offenses he hasn't done anything. Everything the locals accuse this guy of is a closed case--someone else was caught and convicted or plead out. The townspeople don't bother to mention this--to them, this guy did it even if someone else was arrested and convicted of it. Basically they just became convinced that this guy is a scumbag and nothing will change their minds.

You see, when people feel the need to blame someone they don't really care who it is, and it doesn't matter if it's the person who actually committed the act. We use an offense of some kind to justify our own prejuidices.  That's why I try not to rush to judgement. Having been used as a scapegoat many times myself, I know what it's like to be accussed, so I have a bit more sympathy towards the accused than many others. I know what it's like to have to defend yourself against a bullshit charge. Granted, once or twice it wasn't a bullshit charge, but in those cases I've always come clean about it. When I'm guilty you'll know it, because I'll tell you.

But people will always need someone, a monster in their midst who has offended the gods and brought down all our misery.

If they can't find one they'll create one.

Friday night randomosity

I love Friday nights.

Don't ask me why. It's not like I go anywhere. I do the same thing I do most nights--watch TV, listen to some music, maybe write or record something.

Maybe it's because I don't have to work Saturdays or something, but I always look forward to Friday nights. All week long I look forward to it, even though I rarely have anything specific planned.

SyFy runs some shows I kinda like on Friday nights, but that's not it, either, I don't think.

I think over the years I've had a lot of fun, or at least really pleasant, Friday nights. And I don't mind my own company--I have a good time right by my lonesome. Plus I can sleep in the next day--until my dog wakes me, that is. He usually lets me get an extra hour or so, which for me is plenty.

I feel like I'm really close to an ending for this screenplay I've been thinking about for a while now. It's gonna be a little tricky--the plot is a bit complicated. It'll be worth it, though.

It's a horror movie. What subgenre of horror I won't reveal, except to say that most supernatural horror films don't appeal to me. I want to do something that is truly scary--not gross, or a morality play, or anything like that. I want to do an old-fashioned, pulse-pounding, adrenaline-pumping horror film, where you are absolutely terrified while you watch it.

Those films don't get made any more. Nowadays it's possible for even a fairly small budget film to have a CGI monster, and as a result it's on-screen a lot. That's a problem, actually. Think about Jaws. Alien. The Fog. The Thing. Every monster movie you've ever seen that really worked. How many times did the creature appear, in full, where you could see the whole thing? Not more than once or twice. (Jaws is even more amazing in that regard--I mean, everybody knows what a shark looks like. Right?) The rest was left of to the imagination, which is much more effective than any CGI.

I want to return to that, to a creature that you don't really see until the end. Trust me--what I've envisioned will scare the piss out of you when you actually see it. It's scares *me* and I made the damned thing up.

So, I'll be toiling away on that, as soon as I can come up with the very last little piece I need to complete it. I feel like I'm really close.

In the mean time I'm going to enjoy my weekend, and I hope you are enjoying yours!