SHADOW PUPPET DESIGN

for "THE MAN THAT FORGOT TO MOW"

THE MAN THAT FORGOT TO MOW

 This short shadow puppet piece was created during the weeks of August 26th to September 7, 2001.  The initial concept was conceived a month or two earlier.  However the writing and illustrating of the script was within the two mentioned weeks.

At the same time I was putting the script/illustrations down, but unknown to me, the state and federal police were in the process of murdering Grover T. Grosslin 47 and Rolland Rohm 28 in Vandalia Michigan.  Grosslin was shot and killed September 3rd and Rohm September 5th.  The Vandalia Michigan incident apparently started because Grosslin’s farm was a “target of civil forfeiture proceedings” and he was burning his buildings.  Both Grosslin and Rohm were executed in defense of their land.

What I find strange is not that they were executed by the Fascist State because that is what I expect of a Fascist State.  But the strange part is the potential for a universal psyche and the probability that I was able to tune in on it before the media told me it was happening. 

My shadow puppet story is the story of the murder of  Grosslin and Rohm as it was happening.

 

SO THE PERFORMANCE IS ABOUT THE UNIVERSAL PSYCHE COMMUNICATING WITH ME EVEN THOU THE STORY IS ABOUT A MAN THAT FORGOT TO MOW HIS LAWN.

 

HERSCHEL:  Life is great.  I live in America where you are guaranteed life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

     I have a beautiful house with a beautiful lawn.

    I think I will take a nap and just enjoy the beauty of being an American.

 

WHILE HERSCHEL IS NAPPING HIS YARD GROWS AND GROWS

 

HERSCHEL AWAKES TO THE HARSH SOUND OF A LAWNMOWER

 

HERSCHEL:  Oh, I forgot to mow my lawn.  The state is mowing it for me.  That is nice.

 

UNCLE SAM ENTERS SAYING:  Now that we have mowed your lawn you have to pay us through your property tax or we can take your land.

 

HERSCHEL:  But I have no more money for taxes.  Please don’t take my beautiful land just because I forgot to mow.

 

UNCLE SAM:   To bad it is ours ,  AND PLACES A BANK SIGN IN THE YARD

 

HERSCHEL:  But I will not leave my beautiful land.  This is America.  I have the right to own property.

 

UNCLE SAM:  You only have that right as long as we and the bank want you to have it.

 

HERSCHEL:  But I won’t leave.

 

UNCLE SAM:  We have hired mercenary police and given them guns.  They will make you leave.

 

HERSCHEL:  But I will not.

 

UNCLE SAM:  Is that a pitch fork you have in your hand?

 

HERSCHEL RAISES IT UP AS HE SAYS:  You mean this?

 

UNCLE SAM:  You raised a weapon at me!

 

BANG, BANG, BANG.

 

NARRATOR:  And they killed him.  Only in America can you be executed for not mowing your lawn.

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