Mass of Men
2012, 30 minutes
Job Centre dilemma at the hands of a nail gun.
One man faces a test of his character as he is torn between saving a life and receiving his benefit. Arriving late for his meeting for the second time in a row Richard is told his benefits, which he solely relies on, is going to be terminated. Pleading with his advisor Richard has little to no chance of persuading her to change her mind, despite the fact Kate, Richard's advisor, was unaware of his later arrival until Richard mentioned it. Just as Richard is thinking all hope is lost; the office is forced into turmoil as an armed man rampages through the building taking Kate hostage. Fleeing with the rest of the Job Centre's inhabitants, Richard suddenly realises what a cruel twist of fate this opportunity could be. Whilst the crazed gunman is preoccupied with his victim, Richard rushes back to destroy the evidence of his late arrival. Finally Richard leaves secure in his knowledge that his benefits are safe, oblivious to the CCTV footage that is now circulating on the internet. "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation" (Henry David Thoreau, 1854)
