Newsboy: Extra, extra!
Newsboy: The highly anticipated movie New England Dream is about to hit the silver screen! Another masterpiece following in the grisly tradition of Nosferatu, Dracula, and The Curse of Frankenstein!
Newsboy: Witness the most pure and flawless vampire in film history, guaranteed to make your heart skip a beat! Behold the mysteries of an immortal race!
Maid: May I have a newspaper?
Newsboy: Fifteen cents ... Thank you, ma'am.
Newsboy: Today's big news: the movie New England Dream is about to premiere.
Newsboy: Critics have been pouring their acclaim on the film! Renowned critic Maxwell praises its intricate details and imaginative and dreamlike plot: "Director Brian Finn has once again created a masterpiece!"
Newsboy: The chairman of the International Illumination Film Festival lauds its aesthetic framing and composition. He cites a strong "Finn" style, which indicates Finn's active exploration of the vampire sub-genre.
Newsboy: "The eternally youthful image of the female lead is unforgettable."
Newsboy: "A Hollywood masterpiece with a quintessentially European flair!"
Newsboy: "The preview was a huge success, garnering rave reviews!"
*thud*
*thud*
The newspaper in Brian's hand is crumpled into a ball and thrown to the floor.
Brian: This is all wrong!
Brian: After the preview, I repeatedly emphasized to everyone that ...
Brian: ... the film absolutely cannot be released in its current state! It's still riddled with serious flaws! It needs further revision!
Brian: If I can't fix them, my film will never reach perfection. It'll never live up to this idea everyone has of it being some kind of "masterpiece"!
He paces the office, scratching at his increasingly sparse hair.
Brian: But months have passed, and I haven't changed a thing.
Brian: I have to deliver the final cut of the film today.
He paces the office, scratching at his increasingly sparse hair.
He falls dejectedly into his chair.
Brian: What do I do? How can I present such an unfinished, fractured piece of work?
A determined look comes across his face as he shakes his head.
Brian: No. It would be an insult to vampires! A colossal stain on my directorial career!
He stumbles to the desk and grabs the phone, the dial spinning like a whirligig.
Brian: I must postpone it a few more weeks. Just a fortnight will do!
Brian: I'm sure I can find some inspiration and fix all those problems—
*knock, knock*
Before the call can connect, a visitor arrives at the office door.
Investor: Brian! Brian! You've been dodging us for months!
Investor: I know you're in there!
Brian: ...!
*bang*
The door flies off its hinges and crashes to the ground.
Security Guard: Sorry, Mr. Brian.
Brian: Hey! What in God's name are you doing?! You can't just break into people's property like this!
Investor: You know why I'm here, Mr. Bigshot Director.
Brian: I ...
Investor: How many times have you put off the release of this picture, pal? Do I need to remind you? Or have you come up with a new excuse?
Brian is momentarily speechless.
Investor: I've told you so many times that the preview went well and all the critics loved New England Dream. So what's the problem, buddy? What're you still not satisfied with?
Investor: There's no way this film will tarnish your reputation in any way! In fact, this'll shoot you to superstardom. You'll be huge! The next big sensation on the lips of everyone in Hollywood!
Brian: I don't care about any of that!
Brian: New England Dream is my lifelong work. It has to be flawless. It's—
Investor: Enough! Don't you see you're hurting everyone involved? Do you have any idea how much money we've lost to make this happen?!
Investor: The whole crew's livelihood is hanging on this thing! You planning on dragging them down with you?
Brian's face turns red, but he still stubbornly clings to the copy of the film in his hand.
Brian: I understand, but New England Dream isn't ready for the big screen. We need to stop promoting it immediately, lower everyone's expectations, and apologize in the press.
Brian: Don't worry. I'll write the apology letter.
Brian: I just need a little time to fix the problems with the film.
Investor: You've totally lost it, haven't you?
He waves his hand, signaling the security personnel behind him.
Investor: Grab the stuff. We're done waiting.
Security Guard: C'mon. Hand it over, Mr. Brian.
The struggle is brief.
Brian collapses to the floor.
Investor: The audiences, the theaters, and a boatload of investors have all been waiting for it. New England Dream is more than just your baby.
Brian: You can't do this! This is my life's work!
Brian: It's not finished ...
Brian: Give it back to me! I promise, I'll make it perfect!
Winnifred: "Sincerely, Brian Finn."
Winnifred: "Please forgive my dragging feet and hard head. It wasn't until today that I finally mustered up the courage to send you a copy of this film."
Winnifred: "Regrettably, even after twenty years, I've never been able to perfect the final edit—to find those missing pieces. It's tormented me endlessly."
Winnifred: "I hope it doesn't repulse you."
Winnifred: "Sincerely, Brian Finn."
Winnifred: ...
Maid: What's wrong, ma'am?
Maid: Ever since that reel landed in your lap today, you've been all shades of blue. You even dug up that old newspaper.
Maid: Bless your heart, still so attached to these old things.
She carefully removes the film from the projector—the film that has traversed a great deal of time and distance to find her.
Winnifred: You've kept it in fine condition. Thank you.
Maid: Just doing my job, ma'am. Are you sure you're okay?
The woman looks at her in the same way a worried mother looks at her child.
Winnifred: It's okay. I'm fine.
She runs her fingers along the aged Persian sofa, feeling the subtle textures under her fingertips.
Winnifred: So much time has passed.
Maid: Don't you worry, ma'am. Even though my eyes aren't what they used to be, I can still say that ...
Maid: ... you look wonderful. The Lord's been kind to you, that's for sure.
Winnifred: ...
Winnifred: I need to step out for a moment.