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Post by Drew on Aug 15, 2004 3:10:53 GMT
I've been doing some research on homeless shelters. I've never been to one and hopefully never will (unless it's in a volunteer capacity). Anyone ever been to one and have some insight?
Anyway, here's a list I compiled of things done at shelters:
THINGS DONE AT SHELTERS: 1) Answering phones 2) typing 3) filing 4) sorting mail 5) serve food 6) wash dishes 7) sort and distribute clothes
OTHER THINGS DONE: 1) Help build new housing (like Habitat) 2) Raise Funds 3) Job training (could be funny - Angel: "I fight demons." - demons give him funny look.) 4) Play games 5) open mic poetry reading (which character could we use for this?) 6) guest storytelling (Illyria: "And because the Murag failed to acknowledge my presence, I bade him eat his own kin.") 7) Musical performance 8) Holiday party 9) Trips and activities w/ homeless children 10) Puppet show (Angel refuses to participate, having had terrible memories of puppets - perhaps the show even scares him) 12) Drug Treatment 13) Medical clinic (probably pretty low-tech)
We also need to name our Shelter. It can't just be Demon Shelter.
Something clever. A lot of Shelters seem to be called Houses. So "'Something' House" Or THE HOUSE OF ANGELS
That could work, but maybe we can come up with something better.
A lot of Shelters have a religious affiliation, too. So I think we should have a spiritual center of the Shelter. Like a shrine room, where all sorts of weird occult practices can be done. Maybe - maybe not - this could be the only room in which Tobit can communicate with the Powers. (Oh, and we made a decision that when Tobit goes into his mind to talk to the Powers, it is as if The Powers take up residency in his head - his eyes will glow like the sun - there is a light inside of him)
We also have not a clue as to where the Shelters money comes from. Maybe a wealthy demon who could play a big part in whatever is coming. Maybe a wealthy human - wouldn't that be weird - might not make sense - maybe that rich, geeky guy who was in Season 1 and 2 - you know, what's his name?
I also like the idea of making the cook a character. I'm thinking a loveable, 50 year old, plump, demon. And seeing Angel, Spike, and Illy serving in a foodline. Oh man, that is funny.
Also, toward the end of Arc II, Tobit could say they need to start charging a fee for the Shelter (as many real shelters do). This will piss the demons off more, and Tobit can turn their anger toward humans somehow. That could be an ep where Tobit announces this and Angel vows to earn the money they need. But he fails.
And finally: Just a few story ideas I got from reading up on Shelters:
1) Hunting season starts and Tobit sends them out to kill some non-intelligent demon creatures and bring them back for food. (could just be a fun teaser of an ep)
2) A well-off demon frequents the Shelter just so it can save a few bucks on a meal. (sub-plot)
3) A demon slyly infiltrates the center, trying to recruit Demons for a war his people are involved in.
Thoughts?
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Post by Joss on Aug 15, 2004 3:40:38 GMT
All right.
First of all the guy's name was David Nabbit (sp?) but I would REALLY appreciate if we didn't use him for this because I wanted to give him a brief cameo in Episode 4.
Okay, of the first list I like 1, 4,.... and that's it.
Of the second list I like 3,5,6,7,10,11,12,13. (Note to Drew: You forgot to put #11 on that list)
A name, hadn't really thought about this. I don't think that it should really be anything special. I'm not saying let's name it Demon Home #2D56TQ but I just think that it should just be a name. Like the Hyperion, nothing really important.
I like the idea of the shleter suporting Demonology or some kind of religion (maybe one that worships Acathla? Nah, I don't think so) I think that it works very well that he can only talk to the Powers in a little shrine room, at first. As the season progresses he can talk to them out of there as they get more control of him.
(during a hunt or something) Tobit: Hang on, let me consult the Powers on this. Spike: Hey... couldn't you only speak to them in that shriny roomy thing of yours?
I just got an idea. What if the religion is just Powrology, the direct worship of the Powers that Be. I think that it is the one that fits the best as they could view Tobit as some kind of Mesiah.
Now, excluding Dave I think that it would be interesting if the shelter was sponsored by a human.
And finally I like the idea that suddenly the cneter starts charging for their services and Tobit somehow turns it into a good thing for him. It kinda shows how sneakily he operates behind the scenes.
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Post by Drew on Aug 15, 2004 4:02:13 GMT
Would using David Nabbit go against your idea?
So you don't think Angel should have to serve food? I think its a great visual. Really funny. And he's probably gonna be doing some computer work - so filing and typing. I don't see why those things would be bad.
I kind of like the idea of a Shrine to worship the Powers. The only weird thing would be if other demons worshiped other Gods or things or whatever.
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Post by Joss on Aug 15, 2004 4:17:18 GMT
Yeah.. kinda.
I'd rather keep this one quiet for now, I'll tell you guys when we are outlinning that episode but yeah it does kind aconflict with my idea.
The only way that it could work is if there was kind of a list of sponsors and Daivd was one of them. As long as Angel and David don't see each other face to face it works out well enough.
It is kinda selfish of me to ask but I would really like if we could not use him.
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Post by Joss on Aug 15, 2004 4:23:54 GMT
So you don't think Angel should have to serve food? I think its a great visual. Really funny. And he's probably gonna be doing some computer work - so filing and typing. I don't see why those things would be bad. I guess that could work. I just feel that it is a little too... out there. I just don't really like the visual this gives me. But if people like it, okay, greenlight.
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Post by Inyan on Aug 15, 2004 11:39:29 GMT
I would like to add a character that hangs around the shelter. OK lets say the shelter was an old age home before it became a demon shelter. There's this old woman who used to come and visit the old people in the good old days. Now she is senile and she still thinks its an old age home. so she comes to visit and call the demons by the names of some of the old inhabitants like " Hi Normie, hows the back." sort of thing. She doesnt seem to realise that the place is full of demons now. The demons sort of love her now and look after her in some ways. Shes like their mascot.
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Post by Inyan on Aug 15, 2004 13:08:15 GMT
Running with that how about the name of the place is still the name of the retirememnt home; like " Shady Oaks Retrirement Home " or something like that
As for how its funded. What if the PTB fund it directly. Maybe tobit has a safe in his office and its always full of cash and never runs out?
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Post by Drew on Aug 15, 2004 20:03:47 GMT
I guess that could work. I just feel that it is a little too... out there. I just don't really like the visual this gives me. But if people like it, okay, greenlight. I'm not saying he'll be doing it every episode. He might be having a conversation with Spike in ep. 6 or something while putting on an apron. Spike'll be like, "What are you doing?" And he starts serving in the line. The thing is when people think of homeless shelters, the first thing they think of is a food line. That's what most shelters do - they serve food to people that can't afford it. A lot I read about are just Food Banks. I'm thinking we'd just show him doing it once or twice. With the option of Spike and Illy doing it, too. As for the Shelter being a former Retirement home, is that a normal transition for a Retirement home to make? I always just thought the Shelter was set up a few years ago to help unfortunate demons. I don't think the PTB should conjure magic money. It's too easy.
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Post by Inyan on Aug 15, 2004 22:06:11 GMT
Well unless its a new building then it had to be something before? It could have been a nice neighbourhood once upon a time and then the gangs or demons moved in and averyone else moved out.
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Post by Inyan on Aug 15, 2004 22:17:30 GMT
As for the Shelter being a former Retirement home, is that a normal transition for a Retirement home to make? There's nothing normal about a demon shelter anyway. Or a retirement home for that matter. ;D
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Post by Drew on Aug 15, 2004 22:29:53 GMT
Oh, I just realized that you had been talking about a human retirement home. I was thinking demons. That's actually pretty funny if there's a old human lady hanging around. Are you saying old people look like demons? I like the idea.
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Post by Joss on Aug 16, 2004 0:41:56 GMT
I was thinking demons. That's actually pretty funny if there's a old human lady hanging around. Are you saying old people look like demons? I like the idea. lol, damn that's a funny mistake. Okay, I like the idea of a crazy old woman hanging around the Demon Home. Maybe she could become friends with Grace? Okay, I guess that Angel serving food once or twice would be fine. I kinda like the idea of it being a former retirement home. It is pretty much the closest thing to a demon gathering point on this Earth. So I guess that we should be focusing on a name for the place right now.
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Post by Drew on Aug 16, 2004 2:28:25 GMT
I kinda like the idea of it being a former retirement home. It is pretty much the closest thing to a demon gathering point on this Earth. Okay, our season's main themes: 1) We all have power 2) Hobos are demons 3) Old people are demons. We're on to something good, people.
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Post by Joss on Aug 16, 2004 2:33:07 GMT
Sorry, demonic possesion, happens every three weeks.
I love old people! They are the best persons in the world, the knowledge that they have is so... knowledgable.
Okay, I just thought that since the Deomn Center is being used to brew hatred against the humans how would the demons treat this old woman?
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Post by Drew on Aug 16, 2004 2:39:33 GMT
oooh. Creepy, tragic end to crazy old woman.
Just thought I should mention that most homeless don't stay at a shelter every night. Sometimes they have to get out or they sleep other places. So the old woman (along with all the other demons) probably won't be there all the time. They frequent.
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Post by Drew on Aug 16, 2004 3:54:07 GMT
I was putting up a thing on the Shelter in Approved IDeas and I have a few questions:
1) How many demons can sleep there a night? 25?
2) Homeless Shelters usually aren't very nice places - the people don't get rooms of their own. IF the building used to be a retirement home, wouldn't it mean there would be a lot of rooms? And the building would be pretty damn big. All the retirement homes I've been in have been huge. Is this feasible for a homeless shelter? 'Cause I'm thinking that the place should be miserable - that's why the Demons get pissed. They are forced out of their homes and have to live in a shit-hole. That's what makes them mad at humans. But if they all get their own room, it's harder to buy that.
Maybe it was a crooked retirement home.
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Post by Joss on Aug 16, 2004 3:57:47 GMT
One way to make this shit-hole even more shity:
Maybe the reason that the retirement home was originally abandoned was because about 2/3 of it collapsed. Then when the ruins were abandoned Tobit came and set up shop. It would basically just be a crapper that used to be a retirement home but has about the right size.,
Dunno if it's a good idea, just posting ideas.
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Post by Drew on Aug 16, 2004 4:07:34 GMT
That's a pretty cool idea. Like a whole wing of the Retirement home collapsed. There could be maybe 11 rooms. 3 cots a room. IF things get packed, cots in the common area. Maybe the place takes 50 max. And it's full of asbestos - bad for crazy lady...and Andrew, I guess....and Fred. Maybe no asbestos.
The human benefactor could factor (sorry) in. He gives money, but not enough to fix the place up. Just enough that they can live a crappy life off of it. Tobit can use this to get the demons pissed at him. Basically, the Powers have set up this human to help the demons, but they've made it so he doesn't help them too much. In that way, this human benefactor is a lot like the Powers. They help, but only just enough. By setting up that benefactor, the Powers are basically acknowledging what they are. Weird....or what....I'm confused.
I like the collapsed home idea.
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Post by Inyan on Aug 16, 2004 20:51:58 GMT
Yeah that could work. ;D
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Post by ThePowersThatBe on Aug 20, 2004 1:07:12 GMT
Okay, 'nother left-field brainstorm...
Funding: money is not the PTB's MO, but it is W & H's. Being as we are blurring the lines between the two somewhat, and we essentially have reps of both in our main cast, would it perhaps make some sort of crazy sense that the shelter is where the two intersect?
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