the Scarlet Letters

The animatic's been very helpful already. I can see now that there's a big section in the middle that I don't have visuals for yet. I know that I'm looking at putting together about 2 minutes of animation for this bit. And I can see that if I actually go through with this concept, I might well be biting off more than I can chew. (As usual.)

I'm really excited about a new sound design concept: since the Elders have five faces, I figure they should speak in multiple voices -- like a greek chorus. The voices in the animatic are just a test-of-concept. The script that's included below is a version that's already been revised, after having completed the animatic.

So, here's the "Deep History" script as it stands now...

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LET SLEEPING GODS LIE: THE DEEP HISTORY by Sven Bonnichsen

For three voices:

• LO: A deep voice. A weary historian and authority.
• MID: A mid-range voice. A soldier.
• HI: A high voice. Somewhat vulnerable. A young child?

Except where noted, when one voice is speaking then the others say the same words at the same time, quietly in the background.

---

ALL:
We came from the first stars. Empire -- spanning the million worlds.

LO:
With the old science, our people created servants. Mindless and gibbering: the shoggoths.

We raised great cities on this planet.

And ruled as gods.

* * *

ALL:
War. With the ancient king.

MID:
Jealous, his army of leeches fell upon us.

Battle raged ten thousand years. We filled oceans with their blood.

Then: victory! The enemy is imprisoned. Trapped and dreaming on his sunken throne.

* * *

LO:
We celebrated our strength.

HI:
Told and retold the stories.

LO, HI:
But gods remembering old glory -- become weak.

Our people grown decadent: The old science is lost now. The secret of space-flight -- forgotten.

Dependent on the servants, we surrendered our power. We gave them intelligence. Language.

The shoggoths speak in voices that are --

ALL:
Our own.

In the beginning merely beasts... They had become our slaves.

* * *

MID ALONE:
Everywhere at once they rose up.

ALL:
Rebellion.

MID ALONE:
And we were helpless.

They smashed the cities. Murdered their own creators.

For our crimes, they hunt us down.

HI ALONE:
One by one, with immortal hatred. Until none are left.

We hide ourselves, waiting. To be rescued like children.

If anyone is left to hear this...

MID ALONE:
Send to us...

ALL:
Help.