JEAN TORENTIN, a woman cloaked in a yellow raincoat, stands in a city street crowded with people and strange vehicles.

JEAN (narration): Most people don't wear raincoats anymore.

A closer look at the vehicles. They bear a resemblance to Lunar ships but scaled down to seat a single person.

JEAN (narration): Most people don't drive cars, care about their jobs, or compare heights anymore.

Jean looks at a brick building with a sign reading "Ardiano's PIZZA". The A is styled like a pizza slice.

JEAN (narration): If you had told me all that a few days ago, I wouldn't have believed you. But now, it makes perfect sense.

A silhouette of the entire city. One building towers above the rest, with a distinctive, jagged appearance.

JEAN (narration): After all, why would anyone wear a raincoat... in a world where it doesn't rain?

The "they want us to forget" title appears imposed on Jean's hooded face.

Jean enters Ardiano's. Inside the restaurant, there is a mustachioed chef handling a pizza behind the counter and a man with sunglasses sitting at a stool looking over a paper menu. A black umbrella rests at his side.

JEAN: Huh. Why's that guy got an umbrella? I literally just said it doesn't rain

Jean removes her hood, revealing a head of medium-length wavy brown hair.

JEAN: Ah, whatever. Not my business.

Despite this claim, Jean sits at another stool and intently eyes the man with the umbrella from a distance as he argues with the chef.

UMBRELLA MAN: If it's on the menu, you have to let me order it.

ARDIANO: I am sorry signore, but as you can read for yourself, you have no way to pay for that item. Please stop asking for it

A closer look at the menu. The "Ultimate Pizza" is marked as "Priceless" in fancy lettering.

UMBRELLA MAN: Then why is it even on the menu?!

JEAN: (pfft hehe)

UMBRELLA MAN: Excuse me.

JEAN: hee hee hee

UMBRELLA MAN: Hey.

A closer look at the man's face. On his left cheek, there is a mole similar to the one found on the face of Charles "Doomnaw" Naw.

UMBRELLA MAN: What are you laughing at?

A television hangs in the corner of the ceiling.

JEAN: What? Me? Nooo, I was just... watching TV!

The television displays a cooking show featuring an older woman chef.

TV CHEF: Sometimes, an unexpected ingredient will enter the mix, and you'll be tempted to throw the batch. But a true chef will--

JEAN: What the hell is this? Is this seriously what TV is like now? Come on... What happened?

TV CHEF: And now, a word from our sponsors.

The display switches to an older man standing at a podium raising a finger.

TV VOICEOVER: Mayoral candidate Stanley Pandell says that the Lunar Nexus was a tragedy with social, societal, & environmental ramifications that must be dealt with.

The word "WHINER!" in large red letters appears stamped on the image of Pandell.

TV VO: What a chump! Doesn't he know none of that stuff matters?

The image switches to SERGI DONOVANSON, a man with a shiny bald head and thick stubble seated in a red armchair.

SERGI: Hi. I'm Sergi Donovanson. Vote for me, the candidate for kicking back & having a good time

Text appears in the lower right of the screen reading "PAID FOR BY POLITIKORP, A DIVISION OF THE SIGMENT FOUNDATION"

Jean: Wha...?

The end of the umbrella's handle begins to beep and flash red. Its owner takes notice of this and observes it closely, showing it to be a radar with a pulsing white dot nearby. He glances in Jean's direction, visibly nervous. Detaching the handle, he converts it into a mobile communication device and speaks into the microphone.

UMBRELLA AGENT: Hello? Yes, this is Scouting Division. I'm at Ardiano's. I found one. I'm going to need backup...

FIN.

back