| Every year in the United States 30000 people commit murder. In that same time 60000 people commit suicide. Wouldn't it be great if someone could get these people together? THE PLOT: Tom Taylor is a sick man. His prognosis is final, his illness fatal. But he has one hope. To exit this world with his pride intact and on his own terms. The only good news is, he has found a company that can help him do this. That company is 'Terminal Assist', and they have agreed to match Tom with a professional killer. Tom waits in his house for his all-too-willing executioner. Things go awry when the killer decides to murder Tom's wife, too, and Tom must become a killer to save his wife. This blood bath results in a double homicide and is soon all over the local news. This doesn't suit the purposes of Terminal Assist, an altruistic service that strives to hook up terminally ill people with low-life hit men that enjoy killing. Founder Nick Andrews has established a working relationship with local police authorities, based on an understanding that they won't kill anyone living in the same community. The double homicide presents problems, and the police expect Nick to find a way to relieve the pressure. Complications ensue when it's soon apparent that Nick has a thing for the grieving widow Teresa, and he has competition—namely, Tom's doctor buddy Carl. THE STORY: Looking back in my writing journals I see the initial inspiration for 'The Altruist' came in the Summer of '96, when I read an ... |
