Morgan opened the envelope Madam Schroder handed him. He took out the script book that was as thick as two 'Intro to Farucci's History.'
The start of the script gave a brief introduction to the settings. Morgan skimmed through the two short pages of introduction. After reading it, he had a rough idea what sort of story this would be.
After he finished reading the introduction, he handed it to the playwrights next to him and began to read the detailed script.
It took Morgan over an hour to finish reading the script. This included the concept arts and character designs. Upon finishing, he sighed emotionally, "As expected of a movie director."
"Master Morgan, we admit that this script called 'Avatar' is an excellent story. But, we still want to use your 'Eyepicker' as the script."
The other playwrights also finished reading the script. However, their decision remained the same.
"Is that so? Thank you all for choosing my 'Eyepicker.' It is most definitely my lifelong honor that my story is able to become a movie," Morgan stood up. He nodded his head respectfully toward the crowd like a performer who had just finished a perfect performance.
The playwrights present thought that Morgan had accepted their proposal and all started clapping.
But, once the clapping ended, Morgan smiled and made an announcement.
"Unfortunately, I've decided to yield this honor to 'Avatar,'" he said.
Morgan's words completely baffled the crowd. Confused question marks appeared above their heads.
"Why?... Master Morgan, that 'Avatar,' whether it's the concept or the depth, it is far inferior to your 'Eyepicker.'" A playwright was unable to contain his emotions.
"I am not belittling my pride, 'Eyepicker.' When I wrote that work, it was like the God of Art has been holding my hand the entire time. I was gushing with inspiration. However, it seemed like everyone had neglected something."
Morgan cast his gaze across all the people present -- the playwrights, Madam Schroder and the performers from the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe on the stage.
"Master Morgan, could you be referring to… our intention in creating the movie?" Madam Schroder was able to quickly realize what Morgan was talking about.
"Like myself, Madam Schroder has been to Norland. I'm certain you've had the same sort of impression as me," Morgan stood up from his seat. He walked before all the people present, seemingly planning to give a speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I've spent thirty years performing all over the world. However, not all countries are like our Farucci… not all of them treasured art."
Morgan rolled back his sleeve. There was a long scar across his tanned arm.
"This was something I've received from a performance in the Nation of Steel. As everyone knows, the people from the Nation of Steel never enjoy our Farucci's stage plays. To them, our stage plays are known as 'children's nonsense.' I am not fond of my beloved performance arts being degraded by others. Because of that, during my performance in the Nation of Steel, even though it was an outdoor performance, my youthful self was unable to control my emotions when I was ridiculed by many of the spectators."
When Morgan's speech reached this point, he revealed a bitter smile.
"If it wasn't for a kindhearted person coming to my rescue, I might already be a pile of bones buried in a nameless mass grave."
The entire theater grew quiet. They never imagined for the great Master Morgan to have received such humiliation in his youth.
But… what Master Morgan received was an act of humiliation for all the artists of Farucci. No, it was an act of humiliation for all the people of Farucci.
"Is it those barbarians who are incapable of appreciating art!"
Morgan's encounter seemed to have jabbed at the sore spot of another playwright. He sounded like he was denouncing something. But, in the end, he sat back down on his seat powerlessly.
"Right. Although we people from Farucci adore performance arts, painting and sing, they are not appreciated by all the people in the world. But, does that mean that they're all barbarians? No… Everyone, let us recognize the reality. It's just that they're unable to understand them. Or, to be more exact…" Morgan paused for a moment before stabbing at the wound in the hearts of all the people present, "they simply believed that stage plays aren't interesting. They believed that it's just a whole bunch of people standing on a stage reading their whatever dialogues."
The people of Farucci with higher social standing knew about this aspect with greater clarity due to their interactions with the people from other nations. This held especially true for the people from the Nation of Steel and the Nation of Frost.
Especially the people from the Nation of Steel. Many people from that country looked down upon stage plays from the bottom of their hearts. Most of their citizens believed that stage plays were extremely boring.
"Because of that, you all have been attempting for a change the entire time. Especially you, Mister Ehom, you've been attempting to write a script welcomed by the entire world all this time. Unfortunately, even now, we've not been able to receive any reaction from abroad. But, the emergence of movies allowed you all to catch a glimpse of opportunity. It is an all-new sort of performance form," said Morgan.
"But Master Morgan, if your 'Eyepicker' is to be made into a movie, it will definitely be welcomed by the entire world," said someone.
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. The permise in gaining everyone's acceptance would be to first distance movies from the degrading premise of being an 'art form' into 'something enjoyable.'"
Morgan's words caused the playwrights to contemplate. When they raised their heads again, they saw Morgan holding the script for 'Avatar' in his hand.
"It's as you all said, this script by the name of 'Avatar' had a very obvious connotation and depth. But, compared to my work that is difficult for young people to understand, 'Avatar' is a much more interesting story. No… it is an extremely interesting story! Using the words of director Joshua, 'Avatar might become the most well-received commodity among all the movies he will ever create.'"
"But Master Morgan, the author of that script… is not someone from Farucci."
"It's sufficient as long as the actors are people from our Farucci." said Morgan.
The playwrights seated in the gallery seemed to have been moved by Morgan's speech. In the end, with Ehom, also Madam Schroder's teacher, as the lead, they agreed to Morgan's decision.
"Perhaps we can give it a try."
The discussion ended with such an outcome. The playwrights left the theater in groups of two or threes. Morgan decided to stay.
"Madam Schroder, I don't think we have the authority to make this choice, no?" asked Morgan all of a sudden.
"Master Morgan, what do you mean by that?"
"Joshua Annerlaude possesses the technology needed to make movies. The reason why he handed this script to us is purely out of goodwill from prior cooperation. Even without Farucci… he will still be able to create that grand movie."
Morgan's words caused Madam Schroder to be silent for a moment. She didn't try to conceal her true thoughts. An expression of unwillingness appeared on her face. In the end, she nodded her head.
"Truth is, at the beginning, I was very unwilling to accept why the inventor of movies is a demon from the Demon Realm. It was even more so when he was able to create so many outstanding movies. But, no matter how unwilling I might be, it wouldn't change anything. That said, I do not wish to see our Farucci fall behind any other country in performance arts. This time around, Joshua Annerlaude's ambition is far greater than before." Morgan paused. He browsed through the script in his hand before continuing, "He is not only planning to screen this movie in Norland and Farucci. Instead… he planned to screen it throughout the entire world.. The incident being portrayed in this movie… it will reveal to the world the wicked conducts from the Nation of the Holy Church and the Nation of Frost."