January 25, 2012: Awww %&^#! Maximus! Dark Matter #2 Preview!

So, about twelve years ago, I had an idea for a horror movie – an idea, in retrospect, well ahead of its time.  Instead of writing the script, I sat on the idea. A couple of years later, a movie came out that was, in its unique direction, very similar.  And so, the idea ended up being shelved.  Years later, I began to give my horror movie a lot of thought. It was, I decided, different enough from what had come before – certainly a lot more different than many of the other horror films out there – so I decided to go out and try to sell it.  I discussed it with Paul and we came up a solid pitch, some wonderfully creepy supporting materials, then headed off to L.A. I wrote about our (appropriately enough) horrifying experience in a previous blog entry (October 28, 2008: My L.A. Update).  Ultimately, we weren't able to make the sale, in large part because of a movie that had opened that weekend which – you guessed it – was similar in certain respects to the script we were pitching.  So back on the shelf went the script.  Years passed.  Then, a few weeks ago, I was having lunch with Ivon and I pitched him the idea.  He loved it.  We discussed and agreed that, while it had similarities to what had come before, it was certainly unique enough. And so, I sat down and started writing it.  Last night, I hit the 47 page mark.  Then, this morning, I received an email from Robert Cooper who informed me of an upcoming movie – with a plot similar to the script I was working.  The script I had over halfway completed!

&%O@!

(@!

@%^%&$&$$#$%&&!!!!!!!!

Don't care.  Read the synopses of the other movie, saw the trailer, and I feel my script is different enough.  Guess we'll find out when that movie opens – and my movie doesn't.  Or maybe they both open and no one remembers the other movie or likens it to Wyatt Earp to my Tombstone.  Whatever.  Come hell or high water (I don't even know that that means) I'm finishing this damn script!

Thank you to everyone who has weighed in with their advice on Maximus.  I appreciate all the input (I wouldn't approve the comment if I didn't).  It goes without saying that this isn't an easy decision.  I'll be gone for twelve days and there's the possibility that he may not be here when I get back.  On the other hand, I can put him to sleep tomorrow and be faced with the certainty that he definitely be here when I return from Japan.  Ultimately, I'm going to have to make the decision sooner or later.  But which is it?  Sooner or later?  It's a choice that offers no second chances.  There are those who say his quality of life is no longer the same and I should put him to sleep.  On the other hand, there are those who say you wouldn't do the same to a human being, so why do it to an animal you care about?  I fall in the middle.  I think the call should be made when it's time – the only question is "When is it time?".  When an animal is diagnosed?  When an animal stops climbing stairs?  When an animal stops eating?  I took Maximus to the vet today and his vet fully supports whatever decision I make. This is what I know: 1. Maximus is not getting any better and is only going to get worse.  2.  He has lost a lot of weight.  3. He stopped eating a week ago, but did eat a little yesterday and a little today.  4. The vet feels the loss of appetite is more likely a result of the meds he is taking than the disease.  5. He's lethargic but, in all fairness, he's always been a lethargic dog.  Again, the vet suggests this is more the effect of the meds than the disease.  6. The meds have eased his pain considerably as he no longer squirms and shifts whenever someone tries to explore his mouth.  7. Maximus trembles in fear whenever we visit the vet – which is the barometer I've always used as an indication he's not quite ready to go gently into that good night.

Still undecided and time is running out.  I've made an appointment to bring Maximus in, for his final vet visit, tomorrow morning.  I have until 9:00 a.m. to decide whether I'll keep it.  I'm going to sleep on it and, hopefully, over the next ten hours, Maximus himself will give me some indication of how things are going to go.

Continuing that preview of Dark Matter #2 (via the gang at  Comic Book Resources)…