out the window, nervously, a puzzled look on his face. He checks his watch,
glances to the clock on the wall, and asks his wife what her stove clock says.
. . Martha, what time do you have?
He holds up his watch and she stares at her clock and then they both stare at
each other. When he discovers they are all in sync, he shakes his head and
goes back to wolfing his breakfast down.
Martha has gone into her garden behind the house, but is too upset to be
tending to the garden. She has her basket with her, to collect the produce,
her hair tied back with a bandana to keep it out of the way as she would
normally be bending over a lot, but is just standing there between the lettuce
and onions and tomato plants, a worried look on her face. Suddenly she jerks
her face up, though not a sound has been made to alert her to the presence of
a Zeta beside her. She comes close to tears seeing a friend, her face showing
relief at being able to seek counsel.
My God, what’s happening!
A tall Zeta comes up to her and puts his right hand on her left shoulder,
lowering his head to touch his forehead to hers. Martha rises her right hand
and puts it on the Zeta’s left shoulder at this, and they stand there briefly
for a moment.
They pull back from each other, now gazing into each other’s faces. Martha’s
face now reflects calm. She is no longer frantic and afraid.
_______________________________
26
Danny's eyes pop open in the darkened tent, though no sound or motion has
awakened him. He shines a flashlight on his watch and a puzzled look comes
over his face, as it shows 10:12 in the morning. Yet it is still dark.
Feeling him stirring, Daisy wakens. She says,
Can't you sleep either?
Danny says,
Normally I sleep like a log on camping trips. Odd that
we’re both having trouble sleeping. I know what’ll fix
that.
Danny reaches for Daisy, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close,
nuzzling her neck. The couple assumes they are having insomnia, the watch
broken, and Danny is just settling into snuggling with Daisy when they hear
voices from the New Age couple next door. Danny says,
They’re awake too? Something’s not right here.
Danny pulls on his pants and goes out to investigate.
_______________________________
The campers all meet by the smoldering camp fire, now out, and look around and
at their watches. Daisy says,
Our watches seem to be fast.
A bit stunned and confused, the campers stand around the remnants of their
campfire, looking first at their watches and then at each other. Frank and
Danny compare times, then stare at each other. Danny says,
10:16
And Frank’s concurs.
10:14
Danny goes to check the clock in his car, which also reads 10:16. He says,
Whatever it is, it’s made all the clocks fast. We’ll
probably hear about it later on the news. Weird!
Jane is stirring last night's campfire, adding kindling, and puts some water
on for coffee. Having no explanation for why their clocks are wrong, and not
wanting to admit to themselves how frightened they are, the campers joke
around. Jane says,
Everything looks better after a cup of coffee.
Frank smirks and says,
Yeah, we’re all still just dreaming.
Daisy is sitting on a rock, a slight frown on her face, blinking and saying
nothing, not willing to let go of her anxiety. Gradually the dawn rises, and
the group shows their obvious relief. Daisy brightens like the rising Sun when
the light of dawn shows, her face almost estatic.
Oh, there’s the Sun!
27
_______________________________
Back at the Daily News in Newark, New Jersey, Zack Maya, the newspaper editor,
is frantic, red in the face with anger, and standing as he phones a friend
from his office as he is too agitated to sit. He is looking at his watch and
where it appears to be dawn outside, his watch and the clock on the wall say
1:07 pm. He shouts into the phone.
What the hell's going on! You told me there wasn't any
danger, you asshole. I did what you asked me to do,
now what are you going to do about this!
It becomes apparent that the other party hung up on him. The editor is holding
the phone away from his ear, staring at it, then muttering under his breath
and hanging it up, looking decidedly despondent. The sound of beeping traffic
and hysterical shouting can be heard out the window.
_______________________________
The clock at the New York Stock Exchange reads 1:11 pm. Life goes on, even in
the face of the inexplicable. On the trading floor of the Stock Exchange,
there are shouts and traders running to and fro with mobile cell phones to
their ears, but the floor is uncharacteristically empty and quiet. Traders
and dealers are standing around, staring at the big clock which now reads
1:11.
There is some trading going on. Some shouts and people running around with
mobile cell phones, but a lot of traders and dealers are just standing and
staring at the big clock reading 1:11. People talk with each other, gesturing
and pointing excitedly. Small groups watch TV monitors hanging from wires on
the floor. CNN team talks about the daybreak being hours late.
.. scientists have yet to come up with an explanation
for why this day is getting a late start. Most
businesses and schools are operating at their normal
schedule, but the confusion has ..
Out on the busy street outside, in Times Square, a drug dealer who would
normally move through the crowd rapidly, making his contacts and moving to
safer streets, stands with his back against a brick wall, eyes scanning the
sky, cigarette in hand. A bum comes up to bum a smoke.
Got some smokes, man?
He is absentmindedly handed the entire pack by the dealer, complete with
lighter. The dealer pulls out a joint and turns to the bum, asking for a
light, apparently forgetting that he just handed the bum the pack and lighter,
distracted.
28
Hey! Gimme a light, would ya?
Cars are stalled and people are looking out their windows at the sky. A group
of farm kids get off a bus and look around in a big huddle.
So this is New York? Boy, they sure do have traffic
jams! Mom was right!
An executive in a dark gray suit steps out of a cab, smooth black briefcase in
hand. He notices a fine red dust powdering the sidewalk, and squats to pick