Page 60 of Silent Home

"You don't have to do this," Sheila said."We can talk about the festival's problems, expose the corruption—"

"Talk?"Morrison laughed softly."That's what Charlotte said, you know.When she found me going through the costume records.She wanted to report it, start an investigation.She didn't understand that investigation isn't enough.Documentation isn't enough."He touched a control, and one of the monitors showed Charlotte's confrontation in the hallway."Only through perfect performance can we make people see the truth."

"Those costume records," Sheila said, still looking for an opening."You weren't just studying measurements.You were tracking which roles had been promised to whom, which actors had been passed over for political reasons."

"Every production leaves a paper trail."Morrison adjusted another camera angle with his free hand."Measurements, alterations, costume fittings scheduled before official casting announcements—it all tells a story.About who really earned the roles, and who bought their way in."

He touched a control, and another monitor flickered to life.Security footage showed Jessica in the costume department late at night, going through the same records Morrison had studied.

"She was getting close," he said softly."Finding the same patterns I had.But she thought a lawsuit would fix things.Thought exposing the corruption would change the system."The wire tightened again, making Greenwald whimper."She didn't understand that the system itself is the corruption.That only through perfect performance can we achieve truth."

Sheila saw Finn reaching a position where he might have a clean shot, but the gaffer's wire around Greenwald's throat seemed to give Finn pause.One reflexive movement from Morrison and the director would die before they could reach him.

"You staged each murder to recreate their best performances," she said, keeping Morrison's attention on her."The scenes they were denied."

"I gave them immortality."Morrison's eyes took on that feverish gleam again."Jessica's vulnerability, Thomas's redemption, Sarah's descent into madness—now they'll be remembered exactly as they should be.Their perfect moments, preserved forever."

"And Greenwald?"Finn asked."What perfect moment are you creating with him?"

"The moment of understanding."Morrison's hand moved to Greenwald's shoulder again."When a compromised artist finally sees how far he's fallen.How many true performances he's denied."He adjusted a camera with his free hand."The exact instant when he realizes that every decision to cast for politics instead of talent, every choice to favor marketability over art—it all led to this moment."

Greenwald was very still now, his eyes moving between Sheila and Finn.She could see him processing angles, possibilities, just as she was.The director in him was still working, even now.

"It won't work," Sheila said."However you stage this, however you film it—it won't have the impact you want."

"No?"Morrison raised an eyebrow."Watch the footage from the other scenes.Watch their faces in that final moment of transformation.When Jessica realized she'd finally become her character completely.When Thomas understood true redemption.When Sarah—"

The movement was so subtle Sheila almost missed it.While Morrison was focused on his artistic justification, Greenwald's hands had been working at the wire binding his wrists.The director's years of experience with practical effects had taught him something about knots and bindings.

She saw the exact moment the wire gave way.

Greenwald lunged forward just as Morrison was adjusting another light.The wire around his throat pulled taut, but his newly-freed hands shot up, grabbing the gaffer's wire before it could strangle him.Morrison stumbled, caught off guard by the sudden movement, his camera remote clattering to the floor.

"Don't move!"Sheila ordered, but Morrison was already reacting, using his grip on the wire to yank Greenwald backward.The director's chair toppled, sending both men crashing into one of the camera setups.Expensive equipment crashed down around them.

Finn moved to get a clean shot, but the struggling figures were too entangled.Morrison had wrapped the loose end of the wire around his fist, trying to regain control of his scene as monitors sparked and lights toppled around them.

"You're ruining the composition!"Morrison shouted."The framing has to be perfect!"

Greenwald drove an elbow backward, catching Morrison in the ribs.But the cinematographer's grip on the wire was too strong.They slammed into an editing station, sending hard drives and equipment crashing to the floor.

Sheila circled left while Finn went right, both looking for an angle that wouldn't put Greenwald at risk.But Morrison seemed to sense their movements.He hauled Greenwald upright, using him as a shield while backing toward another set of monitors.

"Stop!"Morrison's voice had lost its gentle quality."This isn't how the scene is blocked.This isn't how it's supposed to look!"

"It's over," Sheila said."Let him go."

"Over?This is just the beginning of the third act."Morrison's free hand found another piece of wire on a nearby table."The moment of crisis, when everything hangs in the balance."

But as he reached for the wire, Greenwald made his move.Instead of pulling away, he drove backward hard, slamming Morrison into the monitor bank.Sparks flew as electronics shattered.The grip on the wire loosened just enough.

Greenwald twisted free, but Morrison was already swinging the second piece of wire like a whip.It caught the director across the face, drawing blood.Greenwald stumbled, giving Morrison the opening he needed to lunge forward with the wire stretched between his hands.

"Freeze!"Finn shouted.

But Morrison wasn't listening anymore.His careful staging had been ruined, his perfect scene destroyed.Now, he moved with the desperate energy of a performer who'd lost his script, improvising a new ending.

He caught Greenwald around the throat with the wire just as Sheila reached them.Her tackle took both men to the ground, equipment crashing around them.Morrison's grip on the wire was maniacal—she couldn't break his hold without risking Greenwald's throat being crushed.

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