Fanon:Hearts of Hallowan/103

Bad News - Episode 1.03

← 1.02 - Monday Morning | 1.04 - TBA →

"Alright everyone, take your seats!" A professor stood in front of a large university lecture hall. He walked towards one of the many blackboards at the front of the room and began sketching down some basic chemical formulas. "Today we're discussing Hydrocarbons and- yes?"

"Professor Ullman," A female student in the third row back, who had had her hand raised, stood up "I was wondering... the syllabus says that we have our exam on Friday, and I'm wondering, is this material going to be on that exam?

Professor Ullman brushed back his short brown hair and adjusted his glasses as he spoke, "Umm... probably not. I'll send out some review materials to the course webpage, but I don't think today's lecture or next lecture will be included on this exam. Any other questions?" The class was silent, save for the collective sound of about 50 college students texting underneath their desks. "Ok, so as I was say--"

"Dr. Ullman," A secretary peeked his head through one of the doors at the head of the hall as the Professor walked towards him. In a low voice he said "Your father called, he said it's urgent. He's on hold in the department office." Dr. Ullman nodded and walked back to the front of the hall.

"I've got an urgent call. I think my father forgot how to run the DVD player again," A laugh rippled over the hall, then Dr. Ullman spoke again, "I'll be back in a couple minutes. In the meantime, take a look at your packets for chapter seven."

Dr. Ullman walked out of the lecture hall and down the corridor to the end, to the office of the Chemistry Department. He nodded to the secretary as he entered. "He's on line two," The secretary said.

"Thanks David," Professor Ullman said as he picked up the receiver. "Dr. Travis Ullman, how may I help you?"

RING RING! "Hello, Tyler Ullman, how may I help you?" Tyler answered his mobile phone as he drove down the road. "An accident in Hallowan?" A pause "No, I'm nearby, I can meet the crew there. I'll be there in five minutes. Do you have any idea who it was?" Another pause, "I'm sure the police are already on scene. I can call my father, he probably knows." Tyler hung up the phone and picked up speed, driving towards Hallowan.

When his car finally reached the city limits, it had started to rain heavily. He drove towards the location he had been dispatched to and he parked along the side of the road; a scene had gathered, and an ambulance could be seen departing the scene. Tyler reached into the backseat of his car and pulled out an umbrella with the logo for a local TV station, and donned his employee jacket. He opened the glove box and pulled out a makeup kit, pulled down his visor and opened the mirror, and began applying light makeup until he saw the news van approach.

"They already took the victims to the hospital," Tyler said as he stepped out of his car and unfolded the umbrella.

"How many were there?" The cameraman asked while unloading equipment.

"I don't know, I haven't talked to the police yet." Tyler said.

"Well, find out. We go live in three minutes."

"Wait, we're going live?" Tyler asked, shocked. He had never reported live, only in filmed bits.

"Yeah, we're still on morning news, the Manager wants it on the air live." The cameraman said, as the producer stepped out of the van and started setting up equipment, "So go get ready!"

Tyler had barely enough time to quickly straighten up his hair and find a decent place to stand before the camera was pulled out and he was handed a microphone with a giant '7' on it. The producer walked up to him, "Now don't be nervous. I know you've never gone live before... just don't swear and try not to stumble too much. We'll be cuing you, so pay attention to me and be sure to look at the camera. Oh, fifteen seconds!"

"Camera's on!" The cameraman said. "We're live in five... four... three..."

Tyler stood still for a moment before he heard in his air, the first live on-air introduction of his media career. Finally, he had made it onto live TV, after years of hard work on the beat, after countless stories and dedicated journalism, after...

"TYLER!" The producer whispered sharply as Tyler stood with a blank expression. Tyler quickly snapped out of his stupor.

"This is Tyler Ullman live in Hallowan at the scene of a hit-and-run collision involving a car and bicycle. Umm... The vehicle driver fled the scene, but witnesses report seeing an older-model four-door sedan hit a bicycle being ridden by a teenaged girl shortly before nine this morning." The producer ran off to the side of the camera and handed Tyler a single sheet of paper, written by a police officer. Tyler began speaking before completely reading the note. "We've just received information that the victim on the bike was seventeen year old... Marci Ull-- Ullman... What?" Tyler stood dumbfounded, then looked at the producer, then the camera, then back at the sheet. "Is this...?"

"Cut" the producer whispered loudly to the cameraman, who quickly shut off the camera's live feed. As soon as the light went out, Tyler dropped the sheet, dropped his umbrella, dropped his microphone and darted for his car.

WAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!! A baby's cry echoed down a hallway into the kitchen of a family home. The stereo in the living room played some sort of loud music to drown it out, as a blonde woman cradled and fed a baby boy. "There, there!" the woman said over the music to the infant, who continued to fuss... "I thought you liked Salsa music, hmm..." The woman walked over to the stereo and switched it off; the silence was met with an even louder cry from the small child. "I swear, if I ever have a kid like you I will..."

RING RING! The woman's cellphone rang on the kitchen table, and she walked across the room to answer it. "This is Katherine Ullman, how may I help you?" Katherine paused for a moment, "Yes, that is Brian... yes, I have fed him... no, I am quite sure I can handle him!" she spoke up as young Brian redoubled his efforts to aggravate her. "Uh-huh. Yes, I tried Salsa music and everything. He seems especially fussy today... No, I just -- Oh, can you hold on just a second, Mrs. Marsh? I have another call coming in... Ok, thanks." Only after putting Mrs. Marsh on hold did Katherine look at the name of the caller - her boyfriend Jerry. She answered - "Jerry, I swear, if you called to ask me what kind of eggs to get, you are going to be in so mu-" Katie stopped mid-sentence and her face dropped. "Where is she?... Is she alright?... Can you meet me there... Oh, alright... No, I'll be fine, I just... I just don't know. I'll call you when I get there... No, I don't know what I'm going to do! I'll just... I just have to go! Bye!" Katie hung up the phone and quickly walked to the nursery, holding the crying baby in her arm. "Brian, you and I are going for a little ride..."

To be continued