a conversation
[-the static cuts in with a sharp screech, before fading out to the sound of a man's voice. It sounds as though he's talking to someone else, but this voice is the only one you can hear. It belongs to the man known to most of you as The Mayor, but in contrast to the usual smug, patronizing tone it usually carries, this voice sounds somewhat different.
It sounds afraid.]
-telling you, we tried to make them listen! We couldn't very well just come out and tell them what would happen, did we? And- and- look, they did give thanks, didn't you listen? S-Some of them did!
NOT MANY. NOT ENOUGH.
Wh-What do you mean not enough!? How many is enough? Look, just- c-could you maybe reset the clock or something? Do it again, we'll do something to make them speak this time. Some of them have been growing close to their family members, maybe if we- I don't know- tortured the children or something until they broke-
IT'S NOT ENOUGH. THEY HAVE BEEN UNGRATEFUL. THEY MUST LEARN.
What... What are you going to do?
I AM GOING TO SHOW THEM, WILLIAM.
...Show them what?
WHAT LIES BEYOND MY WALLS.
No. Please don't- there's no call for that. We don't need... everything is just fine, we can make it better, we can convince them that- that Mayfield is a better place to live. You don't need to... [his voice trails off, weakly.]
THEY DON'T NEED CONVINCING. THEY NEED TO BE SHOWN.
What... what if you can't set it back? Jack doesn't know what the fuck he's doing, Evan- Grady's gone, it's just me, I can't- I can't protect myself if it goes wrong, John, I can't hold them off if they decide to-
IT'S NOT THEM YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT.
What? What do you mean?
UPLOADING PROTOCOL.
John. Please, John, don't do this. Kill them all, drone them all, I don't give a shit, just- not that. Not to Mayfield. I can't watch that happen. Not again.
UPLOADING PROTOCOL.
John, for the love of God. This has gone far enough. John? John?
GOODBYE, WILLIAM.
[Mayor Doe lets out a sound that might be a sob, and then:
static.]
It sounds afraid.]
-telling you, we tried to make them listen! We couldn't very well just come out and tell them what would happen, did we? And- and- look, they did give thanks, didn't you listen? S-Some of them did!
NOT MANY. NOT ENOUGH.
Wh-What do you mean not enough!? How many is enough? Look, just- c-could you maybe reset the clock or something? Do it again, we'll do something to make them speak this time. Some of them have been growing close to their family members, maybe if we- I don't know- tortured the children or something until they broke-
IT'S NOT ENOUGH. THEY HAVE BEEN UNGRATEFUL. THEY MUST LEARN.
What... What are you going to do?
I AM GOING TO SHOW THEM, WILLIAM.
...Show them what?
WHAT LIES BEYOND MY WALLS.
No. Please don't- there's no call for that. We don't need... everything is just fine, we can make it better, we can convince them that- that Mayfield is a better place to live. You don't need to... [his voice trails off, weakly.]
THEY DON'T NEED CONVINCING. THEY NEED TO BE SHOWN.
What... what if you can't set it back? Jack doesn't know what the fuck he's doing, Evan- Grady's gone, it's just me, I can't- I can't protect myself if it goes wrong, John, I can't hold them off if they decide to-
IT'S NOT THEM YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT.
What? What do you mean?
UPLOADING PROTOCOL.
John. Please, John, don't do this. Kill them all, drone them all, I don't give a shit, just- not that. Not to Mayfield. I can't watch that happen. Not again.
UPLOADING PROTOCOL.
John, for the love of God. This has gone far enough. John? John?
GOODBYE, WILLIAM.
[Mayor Doe lets out a sound that might be a sob, and then:
static.]