Off the grid

Today Fandango teases us with this Story Starter: The somber mood in the studio was not surprising, given that the anchorman had just…

Off the grid

The somber mood in the studio was not surprising, given that the anchorman had just announced to the nation that Donald Trump had won reelection and would become the 47th president of the United States.

“And we’re back in 90.”

“I’ll say we’re back,” Hildy Johnson said as she swiveled her chair to look at her co-anchor. Hildy had worked with Miles Cooper for eight years and knew the man’s moods better than her own and he wasn’t happy. “You ready for this, Miles?”

Miles was leaned back in his chair, looking at the ceiling. “Am I ready, hell no. Is anyone ready for this? Are you?”

“Right now, I don’t think we—”

“60 seconds, Coop.”

Miles looked up at the control desk. “What do you want me to say, Lou? Put something in my ear, ok? You want me to lie and make like this isn’t the worst thing that could have happened to the nation since 2016? I take that back… since January 6th? You want me to sit here and make nice for the Trump/Musk ticket? Maybe say I’m looking forward to Yu, or whatever his name is this month, being appointed the new, I don’t know, Secretary of State?”

“You?” said Hildy.

“Not you,” said Miles as he stood up. “The guy who used to be Kanye. Trump’s dinner buddy. Ye, sorry. It’s hard keeping up”

“Sit down, Miles.”

“Ye,” Miles shook his head. “Secretary Ye met today with…”.

“30 seconds, Miles.”

“Maybe for you, Lou” Miles said as he pulled out his earpiece and dropped it on the desk. “But not for me.”

“Miles, what are you doing,” Hildy said.

“Camera one, move in on Hildy,” said Lou. Stand by, Hildy. Miles?”

“Miles?” said Hildy.

“I’m leaving, Hildy. I’m a journalist. A journalist who is unfortunate enough to love the news. To love his work. I’m not an announcer for a circus sideshow. ‘Mad as hell’, remember when we first saw it? Well, I’m mad for a different reason.

“10 – 9 – 8 – 7…”

“You can’t do this, Miles,” Hildy said.

“Yes, I can. This is me going to the window and sticking my head out. You’re fine, Hildy.”

“Where are you—”

“Off the grid. Or somewhere as close to being off the grid as possible.

“Miles!”

“3 – 2 – 1…”

Red light. “Hildy?” Lou whispered in her ear.

“Welcome back. I’m Hildy Johnson and you’re watching the evening edition of the News Corner. If you’re just joining us, KMUN is reporting that Donald Trump has . . .

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This little piece of speculative fiction will hopefully always be fiction.