Liability of Law Enforcement Officers WK7 Term Paper

Liability of Law Enforcement Officers WK7 - Term Paper Example Thus, the robber turns on his car trying to escape a police officer and the penalty which he had to follow. Police officer could not stop him, and he took a gun and fired. In that particular case, which is called ROCHELLE BROSSEAU v. KENNETH J. HAUGEN, robber sued the performer of Law. Verdict was in favor of the police officer. Also, the mother of three children reported to police that her estranged husband took children, and that he has a restraining order because of the application of force. Mother called a police for several times and they were saying to calm down and wait for him to come back. After several hours mother went to the police station, claiming that her kids are still missing.Few momments later her husband, the reported one, came into a station and opened a fire with his machine gun.Officers shot him down.In the back of his truck they found a dead children bodies.The mother filed a lawsuit against the city, its police and three officers that she was talking to on the phone; however the judgment was in their favor, and all of the lawsuits were objected. Police officers have a tough job, even without thinking about potential lawsuits, which does not mean that the law can be put into their own hands and to interpret it how they want. Police is indicated that the law in their hands and no one recalls that it isn`t the Law who is working for them, but they are working for the Law. Basic laws, such as in the first case, the Fourth Amendment violation, they neither respect nor were punished for it. Every man has right to say and do what he wants, if that is not against the Law. Every man has a right to be punished for his wrong dids and to take charge on anyone who is violating his right to live or express himself, in any way. Everyone have a right to have a fair trial, even if the prosecutor is tramp and the

The Arguments Of Liberalism Marxism And Corporatism Politics Essay

The Arguments Of Liberalism Marxism And Corporatism Politics Essay Two main political and economical ideologies have been popular in world economics and political thinking in different regions and different cultures. These include liberalism and socialism. The liberalism means freedom and in economical sense it is economical liberalism or in other words it is a concept of free market. Marxism is entirely an opposite concept to liberalism where socioeconomically activities are monitored and controlled in the best interest of society. The idea originated when dangers of liberalism were strongly felt. Liberalism can mix with many ideological connections with other ideologies but one corner where it remains intransigent is the expression of free market and free exchange of goods and commodities. In fact, Liberalism is not strict ideology like other ideologies. Furthermore, it has no desire to create a cleavage between proletariat and the bourgeoisie. In addition, liberal economical concepts lack distinctive features of socialist and fascist ideologies. Introduction Two main political and economical ideologies  [1]  have been popular in world economics and political thinkings in different regions and different cultures. These include liberalism  [2]  and socialism  [3]  . The liberalism means freedom and in economical sense it is economical liberalism or in other words it is a concept of free market. The concept of liberalism originated from ancient times of Greeks and got popularity in the time of western bloom. The term liberalism is wide enough in its actual meanings. Liberalism in general meaning is used to mention a boundary less environment with freedom and equality, either it is in individual or group context. For example, individual freedom, social equality, freedom of speech, freedom of thoughts and private rights. When speaking in economic context, it describes an economical system with no restrictions. For example, free market, free economy, no limitation or restrictions on economy. What are the social and economical syste ms adopted by most of nations in the world? The answer is rarely in the form of liberalism or Marxism but always in between two extremities. The proportion of both extremities in most of world economy and social system varies in accordance with culture, belief, customs and history of the nation and society. Most of world economies range between two extremities rather than to be polarised at extreme end. In the current essay, a system of free economy or liberalism is compared and contrasted with restricted and closed system of economy also known as Marxism  [4]  . In addition to describing real difference between both systems, essay also takes a critical review of various minor systems falling in between two extreme ideologies. The purpose of the essay is to critically analyse the comparison of liberalism and Marxism. The essay will argue why one system has failed and may other system completely control the welfare of socioeconomically needs of a nation or what may be the solution if both systems could not effectively manage the economical crisis created as a result of global financial fall back in recent years. Background After Second World War, two extreme economical ideologies emerged in various parts of world under the influence of their military regimes  [5]  . The two extreme ideas; liberalism  [6]  and Marxism, both are result of strong view of one school of thoughts denying the avidity of their opponents thinking. Soon, the liberal and socialist ideas developed into their latest stages. For example, liberalism cloaked in to economical theory of supply and demand  [7]  . Similarly, Marxism degenerated into mysticism and sectarianism. Liberal critics like French economist Fancois Perroux  [8]  critics extreme liberal assumptions that modern world is occupied by industrialist and merchants with freedom, equality and limitless activities of gaining profit and managing business, thus creating an idea of capitalism. In the same way, Marxism was also critised due to extreme attitude to accept the realism of liberal capatism, concept of equality and liberty. An Australian philosopher Alexander Topitsch  [9]  recommended the idea that dialectical method approach can be used for each purpose. Who was right and who was wrong is still unclear. Neither Marxism, nor liberalism can succeed as a single economical system in any country of the world. The developed countries like America with great promotion of economy in previous few decades could not escape recent global financial crisis in spite of running their economy on free market basis  [10]  . On the other hand Cuban economy with major element of Marxism collapsed. Conventions, seminars, meetings and research activities are under consideration to find out reasons of current financial crisis. Will economist be successful in developing some intermediate strategy to save world from disastrous effects of any future economical crisis? What will be the ratio of both extreme ideas in newly compromised system? No one could find out successful solution until now. The practical approach of both liberalism and Marxism has been attempting to provide a fair and functional system of economy for nations. It is true that USSR  [11]  and Cuban  [12]  systems were quite strict but economy of USA and most of European countries were relaxed in adopting few elements from Marxism concept for the development of welfare societies  [13]  . Therefore, the practical conflicts between both systems seemed to be closed down today as Marxist nations have taken consideration of liberalising their economies. It was quite interesting historical fact that few supporters of Marxism were emerged in western countries when Marxism was declining in countries of its origin. History has proved that Marxism is declining in countries of its foundation. Liberalism has been accepted as a refuge in countries of Marxism failure. Welfare states policies have accepted some sort of state welfare by accepting many socialist programmes initially failed in communist countrie s. Similarly, in communist as well as East European countries liberalism has emerged as an alternative and hope for success of economy after Marxism has result in the form of financial failure. The main reason for the adaptation of the economic liberalism is due to the fact that all weaknesses of the non-liberal economical model of social realization warrants the consideration of the alternative liberal social realisation. Long before liberalism success become obvious, a number of world ecomist have revealed the fact that liberalism has started facing crisis and the countries with liberalism economy are undergoing financial crisis  [14]  . Most recently Serge Christoper kolm, a popular economist has expressed his views that both extreme ideas should not be framed in one picture. Instead, both should be considered in the fulfilment of each other. Kolm thinks that the liberalism and socialism are both founded on the foundation of liberty. Literature review Liberalism Liberalism can mix with many ideological connections with other ideologies but one corner where it remains intransigent is the expression of free market and free exchange of goods and commodities. In fact, Liberalism is not strict ideology like other ideologies. Furthermore, it has no desire to create a cleavage between proletariat and the bourgeoisie. In addition, liberal economical concepts lack distinctive features of socialist and fascist ideologies. Distinctive to other ideologies, liberalism is in general sceptical of any extreme power as in case of inflation, it seems to see signs of authoritarianism and totalitarianism. Carl Schmitt  [15]  named liberalism as minimal state as liberalism seems to be best fitted for a secularised policy. The free market behaves as neutral field allowing only the minimum of economical ideological conflicts which erase all political conflicts, indicating that all people are rational beings whose quest for happiness is best secured by the peaceful status of economical targets  [16]  . In a liberal society, individualistic political belief is sooner or later reduced to a private individual approach. Therefore market trend may thus be viewed as an ideal social set up with main objective to limit the political arena. In this sense market may be viewed as an ideal social set up with an objective of limited political arena. Resultantly, every possible gap in market is generally explained by political steps hampering free market. Liberalism has received most cynical comments from Marxism school of thoughts. However fascist ideologist Julius Evola also wrote in a more focused comments that,Take my life but spare my money  [17]  . Another characteristic of liberalism comes from its historical background that it has close connection to religion. Many authors have commented that liberalism ideology is more popular in religious rooted countries with biblical monotheism. A German socialist Werner Sombart commented that liberal thinking in economics and ethics stem from Judo Christian spirituous  [18]  . Similarly a French anthropologist, Luis Dumont expressed his view that liberal individualism and economist are originated from religious politics  [19]  . How is the religious foundation strong enough for construction a building of belief of liberal economics? The answer comes from a school of thoughts with ides that every individual is accountable before God for his actions in this world either it is his income, profit or expenditure. Therefore economical activities are also scrutinized under religious duties. How liberal economic reforms were originated and flourished in America is explained by Emanuel Ra ckman. He viewed that Judeo-Christianity played an important role in the development of ethical liberalism in the USA  [20]  . Another author named konvitz claimed that Modern America has followed Jewish spiritual teaching in adopting economical liberalism  [21]  . Other authors who played a role to advocate liberalism includes Feurbach, Sombart, Weber, Troeltsch. It has been proved recently that most of developed countries with liberal type of socioeconomically systems have achieved financial success with high GDP rates. The actual strength of liberal economics is present in free market idea where all people develop their individual business freely and consciously. Free market concept doesnt care any hierarchy and social differentiation. It only encircles the differences originating from business transactions. The argument in favour of liberalism present evidence of economic opportunity, free business choice and personal efforts f create business. In this way people with free market concept makes their own social strategy. Now let us look at the concept of equal opportunity connected with liberalism. Schaar says that free market creates inequality because undesired talent and goods are no more demanded thus creating a sense of unequal opportunity. It means that free markets will create a sense of injustice. However modern liberalism is a further progressed as it doesnt care about national boundaries but promote multinational, multicultural and multi ethical heterogeneous business strategies. An intelligent politics will be imposed from strong nations on less strong economical regions to capture material, labour and talent of their own choice and at their own price thus enhancing the chances of disputation and dissatisfaction. Marxism Marx was in favour of social justice and wants everybody in society to enjoy benefits of economical success irrelevant of investment and wealth  [22]  . He suggested a theory known as Labour theory of value. According to the theory, value of goods or service includes the value of labour which goes into it. He believes that labourer should have equal share as investors as an owner of capital, land, machine or organisation. According to this theory, profit should be distributed among labourers. Actually, the idea is that property should be in the hands of workers rather than in the hands of investors  [23]  . However, Marx failed to realise that investors have invested capital and taken some risk in the form of their investment, therefore they should be compensated at some limit in the form of extra advantage in the form of profit. Secondly, investors will look after their investment as they have invested it rather than those who have not invested any thing. How government bureaucracy can look after the investment when they have not any personal interest in the investment  [24]  . Many countries adopted Marxs ideology in various shapes and forms. For example, USSR, China and Cuba have adopted Marxism in some form but unfortunately failed soon to supply sufficient goods and services in accordance to population. The failure was so worse that famine were result in both countries. The failure has forced economies of both countries to think about reverting from extreme ideologies of Miriam. So what was the fault of matrix when it has taken a fair view to account labour class  [25]  . Actually it was similar like Owenss experiment in New Harmony  [26]  . It has not considered the human nature into account. In other words, without incentive people will work only as much they must work and investors will not invest money without greed of profit. It is entirely an opposite concept to liberalism where socioeconomically activities are monitored and controlled in the best interest of society. The idea originated when dangers of liberalism were strongly felt. The danger was felt by Karl Marx  [27]  that in liberal society everything becomes expandable commodity and therefore public also felt like an expandable commodity. By adopting a controlled economical market, people will be less prone to inequality and their values, interest, economical condition is well protected. Schaar does not like the idea and commented that the ideology may be catastrophic in the long run. It is because an individual with unequal economical benefits will behave as he is superior to other human beings thus creating an unsatisfied, unequal and disrupted society. Liberalism was rejected because it could create unrest among less competitive people  [28]  . Under huge psychological and intellectual pressure caused by incessant economical competition and fear, less competitive and less wealthy people become distressed by feeling that they are out of economical activities. In an extreme scenario, the considerable number of people with low competitive position may become bitter, jealous or depressed. In other words, it is now confirmed that liberalism that all are equal is actually illusion and only those enjoy benefits of free market that are financially strong. Therefore the ideology of liberalism was rejected in response to psychological insecurity in less competitive, material influence in society and debridement of less obliged people. Marxism with an idea of creating space for poor, less obliged and less competitive people was flourished when liberalism popularity was declining  [29]  . The endless geed of riches to collect wealth, monopoly on various economical activities and ignorance of less able portion of economical society result in emergence of Marxism. Therefore Miller predicted that such an economic ideology will ultimately result in collapse of society. In the modern era, both systems have seen failure in various contexts. On one hand, highly successful economies like USA has collapsed and on the hand highly controlled economies like USSR and Cuba have failed. A long discussion and careful evaluation of both systems with finally developing an intermediate system might be a story of success. Comparison between two systems Economist argues that constant improvement in general welfare by its own economic success is actually great threat to liberalism. As people become rich, their influence on society increases and they will deprive poor ones  [30]  . Their will be two apart classes. The unlimited expansion of liberalism may result in increased materialistic influence on society in creating unrest and agitation. Economical crisis, social discord, dissatisfaction and political upheavals will be inevitable incidence once society has achieved its maximum material growth. Poling  [31]  remarks that liberalism is humans natural instinct of unquenchable desire to collect wealth. It is an act of freedom and liberal ideology to feel pleasure and happiness by collecting money and material. However, the instinct of material is dangerous as it seemed to be unlimited and unrestricted. It can never be satisfied. Polin says that merchant civilisation as result of liberalism will ultimately convert into hedonis tic civilisation. Polins marks are not much different from Julien Freund as Julien is convinced that liberalism generates a society of impossible needs, insuitable desire and dissatisfaction. The other critics on liberalism mentions that liberalism seems to address needs of human being but it also creates new needs. One philosopher believes that liberalism intestinally creates new needs. Keeping in mind that liberalism could not succeed to provide equality in society, and then Marxism may be alternative to offer equality in frugality. The comparison of two systems has been tabulated on next page. Comparison between two systems Trait Liberalism Marxism Origin Liberalism is a strong and dominant theory of international economic system. It was first of all presented by Adam smith in 1723 in his essay known as An enquiry into Nature and causes of the wealth of nations. Later on David Ricardo (1772-1823) and Stuart Mil (1807-1873) supported the liberalism theory. Comparatively, Marxism presented by Karl Marx (1818-1883) is opposite to liberalism. Marx opposed capitalism and free market as a way of collecting undue wealth. Ideology Liberalism favours private business, free national and international trade with out any significant influence of Government. Marx does not bother about free market and international business. Instead, it believes that everybody in a society should enjoy benefits of economical development. Comparison between two systems (continued) Trait Liberalism Marxism Value Trade-Offs In this theory businessman is free to maximise its productivity and income. There are minimum restrictions or taxation on income. In this theory, trade is not free but regulated and monitored. There are restrictions and taxation on business. Distributional Outcomes As trade is free, investor and owner has unlimited power to earn profit. Investors and employers are not free to earn unlimited profit. Their profit is used to create social equality and stability. Effects on the State Due to less or minimum taxation, less restrictions on business, state is attractive for national and international investor. Here businessman and investor are under control of state. They participate in developing economical and society equality. Success in Modern Era In fact the great economies of the world like USA with free market economy are also effected worsley by recent global crisis. The crisis was so deep that congress has to pass billion dollars bill to bail out economy from current crisis. USSR and Cuban economies have also been devastating collapse when they were executing Marxism. Comparison between two systems (continued) Trait Liberalism Marxism Effects of Global crisis The global financial crisis has left unbelievable effect on USA economy. Multi billionaire companies disappear from map within few weeks. Unemployment, inflation, loss of stock market and foreclosures were early outcomes. However recession is not yet over and it is predicted that it might be a deep recession and may last next two three years. Long time ago, Countries with Marxism economy systems collapse badly and public was even desperate for bread. In recent global crisis, such economies are affected but not as much as economies with liberalism. It might be because economies with liberalism were better developed than economies with Marxism. Discussion The constant and rapid economic growth brings change in social and cultural dislocation resulting in background of tempting radical ideologies  [32]  . Continuous expansion of market, increasing urge for wealth, high level of materialism and materialistic independence emerged as a result of liberalism may tempt to sacrifice freedom for economic security  [33]  . Economical success may be a strong bond but it will not have good emotional power inducing self scarification for others. Liberalism is blamed to create totalitarianisms by placing individuals in purely economic interdependence on each other and by ending traditional family bonds. Actually totalitarianisms is generated when one prefer to obscure realms of social, religious, family and moral bindings. There was a likelihood that modern liberal society may fail in future due to poorly, unequal opportunity for labour class and as a result of investors urge to save unlimited wealth. The likelihood proved true when recent global financial crisis have disturbed successful economies of countries like USA and Japan  [34]  . On the other hand, recent economic success of various Asian countries on Pacific Rim has overshadowed the economic achievements of the countries marked by the Judeo-Christian legacy. However, recent global crisis have also affected the Asian countries economies as well  [35]  . Before deciding which system is best and which has failed adversely. The current financial crisis is the ever most devastating crisis ever happened in history  [36]  . Some major enterprises like ionic Wall Street institutions, Bear Streams, Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch, Fannie made, Freddie Mac, AIG insurance have disappeared leaving behind employment and investment crisis. Free markets have been proved rapid way of developing economies. The time has proved that large economies of the world like USA economy flourished unlimited with free market concept. Such economies have adopted taxation sy stem to get some revenue for less rich people. This element may be closer to Marxism concept. We have seen that fall of economy in major economies is more deep in countries where markets are more free. Similarly, countries with complete control of economies like Cuba and Russia failed more severely because of strict control on economy. An important liberal economical concept is comparative advantage  [37]  . The law of comparative advantage was first of all developed by David Ricardo. He said that free trade activities are carried out independently without considering national boarders. It will bring advantages to all participants because free trade market specialisation possible. Both ideologies liberalism and Marxism have elements useful and relevant for todays economical crisis. The most of Marist thinking developed in third world. Marist opinion that underdevelopment is due to external economical factors and exploitation from developed world. Economic liberals have optimistic and positive view of globalisation and think that free market concept creates an international business system without boundaries and develop a global business village. None of the ideologies could fully explain the current global financial crisis. History has proved that neither complete liberalism nor strict Marxism can guarantee for strong economy. Then what is the solution. The answer is something new and in between both systems. Therefore economist is looking to develop new systems. Even in global crisis some of the countries are confused and trying to control their economies instruct way. The result is further deterioration of their economical status. Economist with liberal ideology disagrees to the extent of political interference by government. An economist Paul Samuelson recommend free trade and said in favour of free trade, it is more probable that one region may be specialised in the product in which it has comparative advantage. The trade will be mutually profitable to both regions. An intermediate ideology can do a great deal in explaining the current political and economical climate in the world and seems to be a valuable tool in understanding the solution of current financial crisis. The ideology cannot only explain the political and economical systems of the past but also provide a solid solution for the future. Conclusion The failure of Marxism, Socialism, and Liberalism is ironic in that it results in the same outcome, Ricardo  [38]  mistakenly attributed to laissez-faire capitalism, and the working class inevitably ends up working at subsistence wages or less  [39]  . The story of 19th century economic thought is an interesting retrograde movement. It began with Adam Smiths clear explanation of how economies work should be free to manage, how free markets concept can flourish private business and ended up by griping and control on economical activities with an obvious recipe for disaster (Marxism). The current crisis is worst since the decade spanning 1970 and mid 1980  [40]  . Even now most of economies are set between two extreme ideologies, but none of the world economies can sustain their progress in front of recent crisis. If both systems have failed adversely in recent financial crisis, then what is the actual solution? Neither USA economy with liberalism theory in background nor U SSR and Cuban economy with Marxism ideology of economical control could survive. Banking system failed, mortgage companies become bankrupts, stock exchanges collapsed and even some government could not face global financial crisis. However, crisis has convinced various countries to think on a single pate form to resolve this matter. Economists, politicians, researchers and philosophers are working together to find out such a solution which is intermediate to both extreme theories  [41]  . Banking system is also under contraction for new updates. If we look at economies of Asian countries like India and china where a semi controlled economy has emerged as result of adopting intermediate policy, these could if effected by recent financial crisis are not in deep recession like USA, USSR or Cuba. I would say as a result of said literature review and discussion that an intermediate economical system with properties of free market but under light control where investors are not ignorant about their social and moral responsibility to care about poor people. Such a system seems to be an answer as economist have seen that all types of necessary steps including injecting money into economies, helping banks and industries to save those from bankruptcy and creating artificial jobs could not help to come out of recession. On one hand politicians and economist have been talking about to take strict measures on banks but it was fear that any restrictions on banks may decrease the volume of money available to businesses. Once businesses are short of money, there will be less business, less jobs, less public money. Less purchasing power and less demand of items will result in less manufacturing. The c

Adolescence and Juvenile Delinquency Essay -- Juvenile Delinquent Crim

I couldn't begin to cover all the possible reasons that may cause an adolescent to become a "juvenile delinquent." During my research, I found that the term juvenile delinquency is defined a number of ways. Mosby's Medical Nursing, and Allied Health Dictionary summed up juvenile delinquency best with this definition; "resistant antisocial, illegal, or criminal behavior by children or adolescents to the degree that it cannot be controlled or corrected by the parents, endangers others in the community, and becomes the concern of a law enforcement agency"(1994). I found that most theories about what causes delinquency in children and adolescents originate with families and parenting. Many statistics and studies have been conducted comparing the number of youths that had chosen a delinquent life style, with single parent households, or parents who were drug and alcohol dependant. It is my belief that three out of four parenting styles that we have studied in our text, when taken to extremes, can be just as damaging to an adolescent as a parent suffering from drug or alcohol addiction. Parents who exhibit an indifferent parenting style send the worst possible message to their children. "When permissiveness is accompanied by high hostility, the child feels free to give rein to his most destructive impulses"(Craig, 1996, p.316). And where exactly in the question of causation does nature Vs nurture fit in. What about the child who seemingly has balanced, consistent authoritative parents, and still chooses a delinquent lifestyle. I'm going to address some of these issues in the pages to follow, beginning with an external factor that may influence some of our younger children; TV. The impact of television violence has been debated since TV first arrived in America. According to a study highlighted in US News and World Report, the more violent TV programs children watch, the more likely they are to commit violent crimes. "The greatest impact is on pre-adolescent children who do not yet have the capacity to gauge what is real and what is not" (Zuckerman, Aug. 2,1993). The theory states, that combined with a lack of parenting by "plugging" children into the TV, these children later in life will be conditioned to violence, regarding it as exciting, charismatic, and effective. Opponents of this theory argue... ...est in their role as a parent, and combine this with a low level of affection. This indifferent parenting style offers absolutely no guidance to an adolescent, leaving plenty of room for those environmental factors to take over. A clearly more effective parenting style models the authoritative style highlighted in our text. Children brought up under this framework have a much better chance of avoiding the pit falls of delinquency. There has also been legislation introduced to use public funds to empower religious institutions to act as safe havens for at risk children. Many deterrents have been tried to reduce the effects of juvenile delinquency. More youths are being tried as adults in certain cases, and curfews are being enforced now more than ever. Law enforcement agiencies aggressivly enforce truency laws, and most officers I talk to are very intollerent of the slightest sign of disrespect when approaching suspect youths. Child and family counseling techniques have changed to fit more complex and extreme situations. The fact is that we live in an imperfect world, and final solutions to this problem will probably not be found by men, but by God.

Citizen Kane

Discuss the ways in which Citizen Kane challenged the traditional narrative and technical elements of classic Hollywood cinema. Give specific examples using appropriate cinematic terminology. Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film directed, co-written, produced by, and starring Orson Welles. This was Welles’s first feature film. With this film, Welles introduced many new filmmaking innovations. Some of the innovations were in cinematography, storytelling techniques, and special effects, lighting and framing of a scene.One of the greatest movies of all time was Orson Welles's Citizen Kane. Almost all of the movies of the time were told chronologically and had a beginning, middle, and an end. Citizen Kane was the first movie to tell the audience the end of the movie in the beginning. The movie was mostly told in flashbacks. Unlike traditional Hollywood, Citizen Kane combines non-linear and composite storytelling from multiple points of view, including the famous opening news reels, interviews, and flashbacks, to present the main character (Kstrykers Blog).Traditional Hollywood has very static mise-en-scene with actors and objects mostly in the center of the frame and never out of focus. Objects, characters and props were usually evenly distributed throughout the scene. The lighting was usually three point and split the scene into foreground and background. An innovative technical aspect of Citizen Kane is the unprecedented use of deep focus (Ogle, P. 1985). In nearly every scene in the film, the foreground, background and everything in between are all in sharp focus.Another unorthodox method used in the film was the way low-angle cameras were used to display a point of view facing upwards, showing the ceilings in the background (Toland, G. ). Since movies were primarily filmed on sound stages with the Hollywood studio system, it was impossible to film at an angle that showed ceilings because they shot on stages (Kstryker). Mise-en-scene is used to †Å"signify the director's control over what appears in the film frame† doing this by using elements as settings, lighting, costume, and the movement and actions of figures appearing within the film (Bordwell & Thompson, 2004).One example of this is the scene where he finds out that he lost the race for governor. He is supposed to be a powerful individual and with the camera angle being so low, it made him looked huge on screen. Because of the angle of the camera, the shot has a lot of depth. In my opinion, the most significant and powerful mise-en-scene within Citizen Kane is when the parents are in the house having a conversation with Thatcher, the banker. As the conversation is happening, we see a young boy playing in the snow, through a window.I feel this scene symbolizes the innocence that is being taken from him. He is never depicted this way again in the film. This is when a change begins to take place without his knowledge. The boy is in the middle of the frame for the r emainder of the movie, making this part the most dramatic of the movie. A decision is being made on the boy's life unknowing to him of it and he is carefree as he plays in the snow (Boghani and McKeever, 2013). Welles’ Citizen Kane feels modern in a way that virtually no other film from the 1940’s does.It separated itself from the rest of the Hollywood pack by attempting to create a new style of filmmaking with its creative use of narration and style. Ironically, Citizen Kane may have broken the Hollywood mold, but it created a new one in its place. While breaking Hollywood conventions, it eventually became the standard, used by many a director, such as Quentin Tarantino, Stanley Kubrik, and Christopher Nolan. However, since the film takes such cinematic leaps, Citizen Kane is will be considered one of the most innovative and advance movies for a long time. Citizen Kane Discuss the ways in which Citizen Kane challenged the traditional narrative and technical elements of classic Hollywood cinema. Give specific examples using appropriate cinematic terminology. Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film directed, co-written, produced by, and starring Orson Welles. This was Welles’s first feature film. With this film, Welles introduced many new filmmaking innovations. Some of the innovations were in cinematography, storytelling techniques, and special effects, lighting and framing of a scene.One of the greatest movies of all time was Orson Welles's Citizen Kane. Almost all of the movies of the time were told chronologically and had a beginning, middle, and an end. Citizen Kane was the first movie to tell the audience the end of the movie in the beginning. The movie was mostly told in flashbacks. Unlike traditional Hollywood, Citizen Kane combines non-linear and composite storytelling from multiple points of view, including the famous opening news reels, interviews, and flashbacks, to present the main character (Kstrykers Blog).Traditional Hollywood has very static mise-en-scene with actors and objects mostly in the center of the frame and never out of focus. Objects, characters and props were usually evenly distributed throughout the scene. The lighting was usually three point and split the scene into foreground and background. An innovative technical aspect of Citizen Kane is the unprecedented use of deep focus (Ogle, P. 1985). In nearly every scene in the film, the foreground, background and everything in between are all in sharp focus.Another unorthodox method used in the film was the way low-angle cameras were used to display a point of view facing upwards, showing the ceilings in the background (Toland, G. ). Since movies were primarily filmed on sound stages with the Hollywood studio system, it was impossible to film at an angle that showed ceilings because they shot on stages (Kstryker). Mise-en-scene is used to †Å"signify the director's control over what appears in the film frame† doing this by using elements as settings, lighting, costume, and the movement and actions of figures appearing within the film (Bordwell & Thompson, 2004).One example of this is the scene where he finds out that he lost the race for governor. He is supposed to be a powerful individual and with the camera angle being so low, it made him looked huge on screen. Because of the angle of the camera, the shot has a lot of depth. In my opinion, the most significant and powerful mise-en-scene within Citizen Kane is when the parents are in the house having a conversation with Thatcher, the banker. As the conversation is happening, we see a young boy playing in the snow, through a window.I feel this scene symbolizes the innocence that is being taken from him. He is never depicted this way again in the film. This is when a change begins to take place without his knowledge. The boy is in the middle of the frame for the r emainder of the movie, making this part the most dramatic of the movie. A decision is being made on the boy's life unknowing to him of it and he is carefree as he plays in the snow (Boghani and McKeever, 2013). Welles’ Citizen Kane feels modern in a way that virtually no other film from the 1940’s does.It separated itself from the rest of the Hollywood pack by attempting to create a new style of filmmaking with its creative use of narration and style. Ironically, Citizen Kane may have broken the Hollywood mold, but it created a new one in its place. While breaking Hollywood conventions, it eventually became the standard, used by many a director, such as Quentin Tarantino, Stanley Kubrik, and Christopher Nolan. However, since the film takes such cinematic leaps, Citizen Kane is will be considered one of the most innovative and advance movies for a long time.

Bag of Bones CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Inspiration isn't always a matter of ghosts moving magnets around on refrigerator doors, and on Tuesday morning I had a flash that was a beaut. It came while I was shaving and thinking about nothing more than remembering the beer for the party. And like the best inspirations, it came out of nowhere at all. I hurried into the living room, not quite running, wiping the shaving cream off my face with a towel as I went. I glanced briefly at the Tough Stuff crossword collection lying on top of my manuscript. That had been where I'd gone first in an effort to decipher ‘go down nineteen' and ‘go down ninety-two.' Not an unreasonable starting-point, but what did Tough Stuff have to do with TR-90? I had purchased the book at Mr. Paperback in Derry, and of the thirty or so puzzles I'd completed, I'd done all but half a dozen in Derry. TR ghosts could hardly be expected to show an interest in my Derry crossword collection. The telephone book, on the other hand I snatched it off the dining-room table. Although it covered the whole southern part of Castle County Motton, Harlow, and Kashwakamak as well as the TR it was pretty thin. The first thing I did was check the white pages to see if there were at least ninety-two. There were. The Y's and Z's finished up on page ninety-seven. This was the answer. Had to be. ‘I got it, didn't I?' I asked Bunter. ‘This is it.' Nothing. Not even a tinkle from the bell. ‘Fuck you what does a stuffed moosehead know about a telephone book?' Go down nineteen. I turned to page nineteen of the telephone book, where the letter F was prominently showcased. I began to slip my finger down the first column and as it went, my excitement faded. The nineteenth name on page nineteen was Harold Failles. It meant nothing to me. There were also Feltons and Fenners, a Filkersham and several Finneys, half a dozen Flahertys and more Fosses than you could shake a stick at. The last name on page nineteen was Framingham. It also meant nothing to me, but Framingham, Kenneth P. I stared at that for a moment. A realization began to dawn. It had nothing to do with the refrigerator messages. You're not seeing what you think you're seeing, I thought. This is like when you buy a blue Buick ‘You see blue Buicks everywhere,' I said. ‘Practically got to kick em out of your way. Yeah, that's it.' But my hands were shaking as I turned to page ninety-two. Here were the T's of southern Castle County, along with a few U's like Alton Ubeck and Catherine Udell just to round things out. I didn't bother checking the ninety-second entry on the page; the phone book wasn't the key to the magnetic crosspatches after all. It did, however, suggest something enormous. I closed the book, just held it in my hands for a moment (happy folks with blueberry rakes on the front cover), then opened it at random, this time to the M's. And once you knew what you were looking for, it jumped right out at you. All those K's. Oh, there were Stevens and Johns and Marthas; there was Meserve, G., and Messier, V., and Jayhouse, T. And yet, again and again, I saw the initial K where people had exercised their right not to list their first name in the book. There were at least twenty K-initials on page fifty alone, and another dozen C-initials. As for the actual names themselves . . . There were twelve Kenneths on this random page in the M-section, including three Kenneth Moores and two Kenneth Munters. There were four Catherines and two Katherines. There were a Casey, a Kiana, and a Kiefer. ‘Holy Christ, it's like fallout,' I whispered. I thumbed through the book, not able to believe what I was seeing and seeing it anyway. Kenneths, Katherines, and Keiths were everywhere. I also saw Kimberly, Kim, and Kym. There were Cammie, Kia (yes, and we had thought ourselves so original), Kiah, Kendra, Kaela, Keil, and Kyle. Kirby and Kirk. There was a woman named Kissy Bowden, and a man named Kito Rennie Kito, the same name as one of Kyra's fridgeafator people. And everywhere, outnumbering such usually common initials as S and T and E, were those K's. My eyes danced with them. I turned to look at the clock didn't want to stand John Storrow up at the airport, Christ no and there was no clock there. Of course not. Old Krazy Kat had popped his peepers during a psychic event. I gave a loud, braying laugh that scared me a little it wasn't particularly sane. ‘Get hold of yourself, Mike,' I said. ‘Take a deep breath, son.' I took the breath. Held it. Let it out. Checked the digital readout on the microwave. Quarter past eight. Plenty of time for John. I turned back to the telephone book and began to riffle rapidly through it. I'd had a second inspiration not a megawatt blast like the first one, but a lot more accurate, it turned out. Western Maine is a relatively isolated area it's a little like the hill country of the border South but there has always been at least some inflow of folks from away (‘flatlanders' is the term the locals use when they are feeling contemptuous), and in the last quarter of the century it has become a popular area for active seniors who want to fish and ski their way through retirement. The phone book goes a long way toward separating the newbies from the long-time residents. Babickis, Parettis, O'Quindlans, Donahues, Smolnacks, Dvoraks, Blindermeyers all from away. All flatlanders. Jalberts, Meserves, Pillsburys, Spruces, Therriaults, Perraults, Stanchfields, Starbirds, Dubays all from Castle County. You see what I'm saying, don't you? When you see a whole column of Bowies on page twelve, you know that those folks have been around long enough to relax and really spread those Bowie genes. There were a few K-initials and K-names among the Parettis and the Smolnacks, but only a few. The heavy concentrations were all attached to families that had been here long enough to absorb the atmosphere. To breathe the fallout. Except it wasn't radiation, exactly, it I suddenly imagined a black headstone taller than the tallest tree on the lake, a monolith which cast its shadow over half of Castle County. This picture was so clear and so terrible that I covered my eyes, dropping the phone book on the table. I backed away from it, shuddering. Hiding my eyes actually seemed to enhance the image further: a grave-marker so enormous it blotted out the sun; TR-90 lay at its foot like a funeral bouquet. Sara Tidwell's son had drowned in Dark Score Lake . . . or been drowned in it. But she had marked his passing. Memorialized it. I wondered if anyone else in town had ever noticed what I just had. I didn't suppose it was all that likely; when you open a telephone book you're looking for a specific name in most cases, not reading whole pages line by line. I wondered if Jo had noticed if she'd known that almost every longtime family in this part of the world had, in one way or another, named at least one child after Sara Tidwell's dead son. Jo wasn't stupid. I thought she probably had. I returned to the bathroom, relathered, started again from scratch. When I finished, I went back to the phone and picked it up. I poked in three numbers, then stopped, looking out at the lake. Mattie and Ki were up and in the kitchen, both of them wearing aprons, both of them in a fine froth of excitement. There was going to be a party! They would wear pretty new summer clothes, and there would be music from Mattie's boombox CD player! Ki was helping Mattie make biscuits for strewberry snortcake, and while the biscuits were baking they would make salads. If I called Mattie up and said Pack a couple of bags, you and Ki are going to spend a week at Disney World, Mattie would assume I was joking, then tell me to hurry up and finish getting dressed so I'd be at the airport when John's plane landed. If I pressed, she'd remind me that Lindy had offered her her old job back, but the offer would close in a hurry if Mattie didn't show up promptly at two P.M. on Friday. If I continued to press , she would just say no. Because I wasn't the only one in the zone, was I? I wasn't the only one who was really feeling it. I returned the phone to its recharging cradle, then went back into the north bedroom. By the time I'd finished dressing, my fresh shirt was already feeling wilted under the arms; it was as hot that morning as it had been for the last week, maybe even hotter. But I'd be in plenty of time to meet the plane. I had never felt less like partying, but I'd be there. Mikey on the spot, that was me. Mikey on the goddam spot. John hadn't given me his flight number, but at Castle County Airport, such niceties are hardly necessary. This bustling hub of transport consists of three hangars and a terminal which used to be a Flying A gas station when the light's strong on the little building's rusty north side, you can still see the shape of that winged A. There's one runway. Security is provided by Lassie, Breck Pellerin's ancient collie, who spends her days crashed out on the linoleum floor, cocking an ear at the ceiling whenever a plane lands or takes off. I popped my head into Pellerin's office and asked him if the ten from Boston was on time. He said it 'twas, although he hoped the paa'ty I was meetin planned to either fly back out before mid-afternoon or stay the night. Bad weather was comin in, good gorry, yes. What Breck Pellerin referred to as ‘lectrical weather. I knew exactly what he meant, because in my nervous system that electricity already seemed to have arrived. I went out to the runway side of the terminal and sat on a bench advertising Cormier's Market (FLY INTO OUR DELI FOR THE BEST MEATS IN MAINE). The sun was a silver button stuck on the eastern slope of a hot white sky. Headache weather, my mother would have called it, but the weather was due to change. I would hold onto the hope of that change as best I could. At ten past ten I heard a wasp-whine from the south. At quarter past, some sort of twin-engine plane dropped out of the murk, flopped onto the runway, and taxied toward the terminal. There were only four passengers, and John Storrow was the first one off. I grinned when I saw him. I had to grin. He was wearing a black tee-shirt with WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS printed across the front and a pair of khaki shorts which displayed a perfect set of city shins: white and bony. He was trying to manage both a Styrofoam cooler and a briefcase. I grabbed the cooler maybe four seconds before he dropped it, and tucked it under my arm. ‘Mike!' he cried, lifting one hand palm out. ‘John!' I returned in much the same spirit (evoe is the word that comes immediately to the crossword aficionado's mind), and slapped him five. His homely-handsome face split in a grin, and I felt a little stab of guilt. Mattie had expressed no preference for John quite the opposite, in fact and he really hadn't solved any of her problems; Devore had done that by topping himself before John had so much as a chance to get started on her behalf. Yet still I felt that nasty little poke. ‘Come on,' he said. ‘Let's get out of this heat. You have air conditioning in your car, I presume?' ‘Absolutely.' ‘What about a cassette player? You got one of those? If you do, I'll play you something that'll make you chortle.' ‘I don't think I've ever heard that word actually used in conversation, John.' The grin shone out again, and I noticed what a lot of freckles he had. Sheriff Andy's boy Opie grows up to serve at the bar. ‘I'm a lawyer. I use words in conversation that haven't even been invented yet. You have a tape-player?' ‘Of course I do.' I hefted the cooler. ‘Steaks?' ‘You bet. Peter Luger's. They're ‘ ‘ the best in the world. You told me.' As we went into the terminal, someone said, ‘Michael?' It was Romeo Bissonette, the lawyer who had chaperoned me through my deposition. In one hand he had a box wrapped in blue paper and tied with a white ribbon. Beside him, just rising from one of the lumpy chairs, was a tall guy with a fringe of gray hair. He was wearing a brown suit, a blue shirt, and a string tie with a golf-club on the clasp. He looked more like a farmer on auction day than the sort of guy who'd be a scream when you got a drink or two into him, but I had no doubt this was the private detective. He stepped over the comatose collie and shook hands with me. ‘George Kennedy, Mr. Noonan. I'm pleased to meet you. My wife has read every single book you ever wrote.' ‘Well thank her for me.' ‘I will. I have one in the car a hardcover . . . ‘ He looked shy, as so many people do when they get right to the point of asking. ‘I wonder if you'd sign it for her at some point.' ‘I'd be delighted to,' I said. ‘Right away's best, then I won't forget.' I turned to Romeo. ‘Good to see you, Romeo.' ‘Make it Rommie,' he said. ‘Good to see you, too.' He held out the box. ‘George and I clubbed together on this. We thought you deserved something nice for helping a damsel in distress.' Kennedy now did look like a man who might be fun after a few drinks. The kind who might just take a notion to hop onto the nearest table, turn a tablecloth into a kilt, and dance. I looked at John, who gave the kind of shrug that means hey, don't ask me. I pulled off the satin bow, slipped my finger under the Scotch tape holding the paper, then looked up. I caught Rommie Bissonette in the act of elbowing Kennedy. Now they were both grinning. ‘There's nothing in here that's going to jump out at me and go booga-booga, is there, guys?' I asked. ‘Absolutely not,' Rommie said, but his grin widened. Well, I can be as good a sport as the next guy. I guess. I unwrapped the package, opened the plain white box inside, revealed a square pad of cotton, lifted it out. I had been smiling all through this, but now I felt the smile curl up and die on my mouth. Something went twisting up my spine as well, and I think I came very close to dropping the box. It was the oxygen mask Devore had had on his lap when he met me on The Street, the one he'd snorted from occasionally as he and Rogette paced me, trying to keep me out deep enough to drown. Rommie Bissonette and George Kennedy had brought it to me like the scalp of a dead enemy and I was supposed to think it was funny ‘Mike?' Rommie asked anxiously. ‘Mike, are you okay? It was just a joke ‘ I blinked and saw it wasn't an oxygen mask at all how in God's name could I have been so stupid? For one thing, it was bigger than Devore's mask; for another, it was made of opaque rather than clear plastic. It was I gave a tentative chuckle. Rommie Bissonette looked tremendously relieved. So did Kennedy. John only looked puzzled. ‘Funny,' I said. ‘Like a rubber crutch.' I pulled out the little mike from inside the mask and let it dangle. It swung back and forth on its wire, reminding me of the waggy clock's tail. ‘What the hell is it?' John asked. ‘Park Avenue lawyer,' Rommie said to George, broadening his accent so it came out Paa-aak Avenew lawyah. ‘Ain't nevah seen one of these, have ya, chummy? Nossir, coss not.' Then he reverted to normal-speak, which was sort of a relief. I've lived in Maine my whole life, and for me the amusement value of burlesque Yankee accents has worn pretty thin. ‘It's a Stenomask. The stenog keeping the record at Mike's depo was wearing one. Mike kept looking at him ‘ ‘It freaked me out,' I said. ‘Old guy sitting in the corner and mumbling into the Mask of Zorro.' ‘Gerry Bliss freaks a lot of people out,' Kennedy said. He spoke in a low rumble. ‘He's the last one around here who wears em. He's got ten or eleven left in his mudroom. I know, because I bought that one from him.' ‘I hope he stuck it to you,' I said. ‘I thought it would make a nice memento,' Rommie said, ‘but for a second there I thought I'd given you the box with the severed hand in it I hate it when I mix up my gift-boxes like that. What's the deal?' ‘It's been a long hot July,' I said. ‘Put it down to that.' I hung the Stenomask's strap over one finger, dangling it that way. ‘Mattie said to be there by eleven,' John told us. ‘We're going to drink beer and throw the Frisbee around.' ‘I can do both of those things quite well,' George Kennedy said. Outside in the tiny parking lot George went to a dusty Altima, rummaged in the back, and came out with a battered copy of The Red-Shirt Man. ‘Frieda made me bring this one. She has the newer ones, but this is her favorite. Sorry about how it looks she's read it about six times.' II ‘It's my favorite, too,' I said, which was true. ‘And I like to see a book with mileage.' That was also true. I opened the book, looked approvingly at a smear of long-dried chocolate on the flyleaf, and then wrote: For Frieda Kennedy, whose husband was there to lend a hand. Thanks for sharing him, and thanks For reading, Mike Noonan. That was a long inscription for me usually I just stick to Best wishes or Good luck, but I wanted to make up for the curdled expression they had seen on my face when I opened their innocent little gag present. While I was scribbling, George asked me if I was working on a new novel. ‘No,' I said. ‘Batteries currently on recharge.' I handed the book back. ‘Frieda won't like that.' ‘No. But there's always Red-Shirt.' ‘We'll follow you,' Rommie said, and a rumble came from deep in the west. It was no louder than the thunder which had rumbled on and off for the last week, but this wasn't dry thunder. We all knew it, and we all looked in that direction. ‘Think we'll get a chance to eat before it storms?' George asked me. ‘Yeah. Just about barely.' I drove to the gate of the parking lot and glanced right to check for traffic. When I did, I saw John looking at me thoughtfully. ‘What?' ‘Mattie said you were writing, that's all. Book go tits-up on you or something?' My Childhood Friend was just as lively as ever, in fact . . . but it would never be finished. I knew that this morning as well as I knew there was rain on the way. The boys in the basement had for some reason decided to take it back. Asking why might not be such a good idea the answers might be unpleasant. ‘Something. I'm not sure just what.' I pulled out onto the highway, checked behind me, and saw Rommie and George following in George's little Altima. America has become a country full of big men in little cars. ‘What do you want me to listen to? If it's home karaoke, I pass. The last thing on earth I want to hear is you singing â€Å"Bubba Shot the Jukebox Last Night.†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ ‘Oh, it's better than that,' he said. ‘Miles better.' He opened his briefcase, rooted through it, and came out with a plastic cassette box. The tape inside was marked 7-20-98 yesterday. ‘I love this,' he said. He leaned forward, turned on the radio, then popped the cassette into the player. I was hoping I'd already had my quota of nasty surprises for the morning, but I was wrong. ‘Sorry, I just had to get rid of another call,' John said from my Chevy's speakers in his smoothest, most lawyerly voice. I'd have bet a million dollars that his bony shins hadn't been showing when this tape was made. There was a laugh, both smoky and grating. My stomach seized up at the sound of it. I remembered seeing her for the first time standing outside The Sunset Bar, wearing black shorts over a black tank-style swimsuit. Standing there and looking like a refugee from crash-diet hell. ‘You mean you had to turn on your tape-recorder,' she said, and now I remembered how the water had seemed to change color when she nailed me that really good one in the back of the head. From bright orange to dark scarlet it had gone. And then I'd started drinking the lake. ‘That's okay. Tape anything you want.' John reached out suddenly and ejected the cassette. ‘You don't need to hear this,' he said. ‘It's not substantive. I thought you'd get a kick out of her blather, but . . . man, you look terrible. Do you want me to drive? You're white as a fucking sheet.' ‘I can drive,' I said. ‘Go on, play it. Afterward I'll tell you about a little adventure I had Friday night . . . but you're going to keep it to yourself. They don't have to know' I jerked my thumb over my shoulder at the Altima ‘and Mattie doesn't have to know. Especially Mattie.' He reached for the tape, then hesitated. ‘You're sure?' ‘Yeah. It was just hearing her again out of the blue like that. The quality of her voice. Christ, the reproduction is good.' ‘Nothing but the best for Avery, McLain, and Bernstein. We have very strict protocols about what we can tape, by the way. If you were wondering.' ‘I wasn't. I imagine none of it's admissible in litigation anyway, is it?' ‘In certain rare cases a judge might let a tape in, but that's not why we do it. A tape like this saved a man's life four years ago, right around the time I joined the firm. That guy is now in the Witness Protection Program.' ‘Play it.' He leaned forward and pushed the button. John: ‘How is the desert, Ms. Whitmore?' Whitmore: ‘Hot.' John: ‘Arrangements progressing nicely? I know how difficult times like this can ‘ Whitmore: ‘You know very little, counsellor, take it from me. Can we cut the crap?' John: ‘Consider it cut.' Whitmore: ‘Have you conveyed the conditions of Mr. Devore's will to his daughter-in-law?' John: ‘Yes ma'am.' Whitmore: ‘Her response?' John: ‘I have none to give you now. I may have after Mr. Devore's will has been probated. But surely you know that such codicils are rarely if ever accepted by the courts.' Whitmore: ‘Well, if that little lady moves out of town, we'll see, won't we?' John: ‘I suppose we will.' Whitmore: ‘When is the victory party?' John: ‘Excuse me?' Whitmore: ‘Oh please. I have sixty different appointments today, plus a boss to bury tomorrow. You're going up there to celebrate with her and her daughter, aren't you? Did you know she's invited the writer? Her fuck-buddy?' John turned to me gleefully. ‘Do you hear how pissed she sounds? She's trying to hide it, but she can't. It's eating her up inside!' I barely heard him. I was in the zone with what she was saying (the writer her fuck-buddy) and what was under what she was saying. Some quality beneath the words. We just want to see how long you can swim, she had called out to me. John: ‘I hardly think what I or Mattie's friends do is any of your business, Ms Whitmore. May I respectfully suggest that you party with your friends and let Mattie Devore party with h Whitmore: ‘Give him a message.' Me. She was talking about me. Then I realized it was even more personal than that she was talking to me. Her body might be on the other side of the country, but her voice and spiteful spirit were right here in the car with us. And Max Devore's will. Not the meaningless shit his lawyers had put down on paper but his will. The old bastard was as dead as Damocles, but yes, he was definitely still seeking custody. John: ‘Give who a message, Ms. Whitmore?' Whitmore: ‘Tell him he never answered Mr. Devore's question.' John: ‘What question is that?' Does her cunt suck? Whitmore: ‘Ask him. He'll know.' John: ‘If you mean Mike Noonan, you can ask him yourself. You'll see him in Castle County Probate Court this fall.' Whitmore: ‘I hardly think so. Mr. Devore's will was made and witnessed out here.' John: ‘Nevertheless, it will be probated in Maine, where he died. My heart is set on it. And when you leave Castle County the next time, Rogette, you will do so with your education in matters of the law considerably broadened.' For the first time she sounded angry, her voice rising to a reedy caw. Whitmore: ‘If you think ‘ John: ‘I don't think. I know. Goodbye, Ms. Whitmore.' Whitmore: ‘You might do well to stay away from ‘ There was a click, the hum of an open line, then a robot voice saying ‘Nine-forty A.M. . . . Eastern Daylight . . . July . . . twentieth.' John punched EJECT, collected his tape, and stored it back in his briefcase. ‘I hung up on her.' He sounded like a man telling you about his first skydive. ‘I actually did. She was mad, wasn't she? Wouldn't you say she was seriously pissed?' ‘Yeah.' It was what he wanted to hear but not what I really believed. Pissed, yes. Seriously pissed? Maybe not. Because Mattie's location and state of mind hadn't been her concern; Rogette had called to talk to me. To tell me she was thinking of me. To bring back memories of how it felt to tread water with the back of your head gushing blood. To freak me out. And she had succeeded. ‘What was the question you didn't answer?' John asked me. ‘I don't know what she meant by that,' I said, ‘but I can tell you why hearing her turned me a little white in the gills. If you can be discreet, and if you want to hear.' ‘We've got eighteen miles to cover; lay it on me.' I told him about Friday night. I didn't clutter my version with visions or psychic phenomena; there was just Michael Noonan out for a sunset walk along The Street. I'd been standing by a birch tree which hung over the lake, watching the sun drop toward the mountains, when they came up behind me. From the point where Devore charged me with his wheelchair to the point where I finally got back onto solid ground, I stuck pretty much to the truth. When I finished, John was at first utterly silent. It was a measure of how thrown for a loop he was; under normal circumstances he was every bit the chatterbox Ki was. ‘Well?' I asked. ‘Comments? Questions?' ‘Lift your hair so I can see behind your ear.' I did as he asked, revealing a big Band-Aid and a large area of swelling. John leaned forward to study it like a little kid observing his best friend's battle-scar during recess. ‘Holy shit,' he said at last. It was my turn to say nothing. ‘Those two old fucks tried to drown you.' I said nothing. ‘They tried to drown you for helping Mattie.' Now I really said nothing. ‘And you never reported it?' ‘I started to,' I said, ‘then realized I'd make myself look like a whiny little asshole. And a liar, most likely.' ‘How much do you think Osgood might know?' ‘About them trying to drown me? Nothing. He's just a messenger boy.' A little more of that unusual quiet from John. After a few seconds of it he reached out and touched the lump on the back of my head. ‘Ow!' ‘Sorry.' A pause. ‘Jesus. Then he went back to Warrington's and pulled the pin. Jesus. Michael, I never would have played that tape if I'd known ‘ ‘It's all right. But don't even think of telling Mattie. I'm wearing my hair over my ear like that for a reason.' ‘Will you ever tell her, do you think?' ‘I might. Some day when he's been dead long enough so we can laugh about me swimming with my clothes on.' ‘That might be awhile,' he said. ‘Yeah. It might.' We drove in silence for a bit. I could sense John groping for a way to bring the day back to jubilation, and loved him for it. He leaned forward, turned on the radio, and found something loud and nasty by Guns ‘n Roses welcome to the jungle, baby, we got fun and games. ‘Party 'til we puke,' he said. ‘Right?' I grinned. It wasn't easy with the sound of the old woman's voice still clinging to me like light slime, but I managed. ‘If you insist,' I said. ‘I do,' he said. ‘Most certainly.' ‘John, you're a good guy for a lawyer.' ‘And you're a good one for a writer.' This time the grin on my face felt more natural and stayed on longer. We passed the marker reading TR-90, and as we did, the sun burned through the haze and flooded the day with light. It seemed like an omen of better times ahead, until I looked into the west. There, black in the bright, I could see the thunderheads building up over the White Mountains.