#nox.plotdrop012

[ "YOU CHARMED THE HEART OUT OF ME” BY THE LATE CELESTINA WARBECK IS CUT OFF BY THE BLARING OF THE BREAKING NEWS THEME. ANDY SMUDGLEY BEGINS TO SPEAK AS THE MUSIC TAPERS OFF. HE SOUNDS TENSE, ON EDGE ] 

A. SMUDGLEY : WE INTERRUPT THIS BROADCAST TO BRING YOU BREAKING NEWS... at least three are dead and more injured at what was meant to be a routine campaign dinner for ministerial candidate flavia scrimgeour ! our political correspondent, kit gerrard, is on the scene now - 

[ KRRZZT — THE SOUND OF THE RADIO CRACKLING ] 

A. SMUDGLEY : kit, what can you tell us about what’s happening ? 

[ KIT GERRARD IS HEARD, HER VOICE WAVERING, MUTED. A CROWD IS HEARD IN THE BACKGROUND — PANICKED, LOUD, DISORGANISED ] 

K. GERRARD : the situation here is chaos, even as campaign officials and aurors struggle to lock down the building. i’m huddled under a table with several guests awaiting further instruction from the auror department. it’s hard to know what happened — ... cloaks and masks... - curses flying everywhere for an eternity - it looked like a dozen people had been hit —  

[ ANOTHER CRACKLE, LONGER — KRZZZZTTTT ]

K. GERRARD : flavia scrimgeour  — ... dead —

A. SMUDGLEY : kit, are you saying that flavia scrimgeour has been killed ? 

K. GERRARD : i think so — i think —   

[ ONE FINAL CRACKLE — KRZZT — BEFORE THE LINE GOES DEAD. A BEAT OF SILENCE BEFORE OUR FIRST BROADCASTER SPEAKS AGAIN, PANIC LEAKING INTO HIS VOICE FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT NIGHT ] 

A. SMUDGLEY : kit ? kit, can you hear me ? 

[ A SILENCE OF AROUND TEN SECONDS, THE ONLY SOUND THE QUICK BREATHS OF THE BROADCASTER AND THE STATIC OF THE RADIO ] 

A. SMUDGLEY : we’re going to try and get kit back on the line, but this is a developing story. please, stay tuned for updates — please, get somewhere safe —

[ KRZT — “YOU CHARMED THE HEART RIGHT OUT OF ME” BEGINS TO PLAY FROM WHERE IT LEFT OFF —  🎵 YOU MAY NOT HAVE PLAYED FAIR, BUT FRANKLY I DON'T CARE... 'CAUSE WITHOUT YOU I DESPAIR, LOST IN MISERY... OH, BABE, YOU CHARMED THE HEART RIGHT OUT OF 🎵 — ]

SCRIMGEOUR LIVES & ISSUES STATEMENT TO CONCERNED SUPPORTERS & VALENTINE’S EVE ATTACKERS ! 

speaking  from  the  front  steps  of  st  mungo’s  hospital,  the  ministerial  hopeful  widely  rumored  to  have  been  tragically  KILLED  in  the  attack  upon  her  home  late  last  night  had  this  to  say  to  gathered  reporters  :

   “  first  and  foremost,  i  ask  for  your  forgiveness  and  understanding  for  my  brief  silence.  last  night’s  attack  at  a  dinner  party  i  hosted  forced  me  to  take  pause  &  evaluate  my  campaign.  we  lost  several  dear  staffers  and  supporters,  and  we  hold  their  loved  ones  close  to  our  hearts  as  they  navigate  this  UNBEARABLE  tragedy.  for  those  who  are  now  on  the  mend  from  their  injuries,  we  admire  your  ongoing  strength  and  wish  you  all  the  best.  i  thank  the  magnificent  healers  of  st  mungo’s,  who  never  cease  to  amaze  me  with  their  courage  &  quick  response.  no  words  can  do  my  gratitude  justice,  however  i  will  be  donating  a  signficant  portion  of  my  recent  campaign  funds  to  the  hospital.  i  look  forward  to  collaborating  with  their  board  on  future  initiatives  to  promote  safety,  health  and  above  all  equitable  care  in  our  community.  

   i  cannot  lie  to  you  all  :  at  the  time  of  the  attack,  i  was  frightened.  the  fear  was  qucikly  followed  by  worry  &  sorrow.  a  cycle  of  emotions  we  are  all  too familiar  with.  for  countless  years,  we  have  been  forced  to  live  with  dark  clouds  looming  over  us,  dimming  the  brightest  of  our  days.  cowards,  who  attack  during  periods  of  peace  and  celebrations.  BIGOTS,  who  target  school  children  -  the  most  innocent  of  our  community.  they  are  the  lowest  of  the  low,  and  they  simply  must  go.  i  feel  the  sorrow  &  the  worry  still.  but  more  than  that,  i  am  angry.  i  am  angry  at  the  men  before  me  who  let  fear  decide  our  fates.  we  can  no  longer  play  nice  or  play  pretend  with  those  who  threaten  our  community.  anyone  who  threatens  our  democracy,  our  livelihood,  must  be  eradicated.  as  your  minister  of  magic,  i  promise  i  will  not  let  our  lives  be  ruled  by  a  reign  of  terror.  i  will  fight  back,  tooth  and  nail,  until  every  death  eater  sympathiser  is  stripped  of  their  power.  i  will  lock  them  up  and  toss  away  the  key.  and  TOGETHER,  we  will  build  a  future  of  clear  skies.