The Cinema Spectral
Bowman's Haldari Theater is to show an exceptionally frightening film of supernatural horror. However, the reels of film have been stolen. The RIS is engaged to recover them.


The Film - "Terror of the Fleshgrafter!"
It has a lurid color poster with a horrifying chimerical monster cloaked in shadows and a terrorized cat couple recoiling from the monster.


The premiere is on Saturday evening (The crime was discovered Thursday afternoon when a private press screening was to take place that evening.)

Horace Bowman, an obese half-ferret half-mongoose businessman, owns Bowman's Haldari Theater, built in Haldari revival style of large carved sandstone blocks and columns, and bright electric lights outside, a palm grove in a greenhouse in the lobby.
Advertises "AIR CONDITIONED."

The film was produced overseas (in the Coiné Union) and another print will not be available in time for the premiere. 

The film is being held for ransom by a disgruntled projectionist who was fired for being bad at his job and lazy, Kurt Green, a beaver. He was dismissed last week, and had ilicitly made a copy of the key to the back door. Kurt has a record as a petty criminal in the past. 

The ransom note
Horace, you fat tube rat bastard:
If you want your bloody mess of a film back, bring 10,000 gold dinars to the flophouse at the corner of 113th and Mason.
You leave your fancy suit at home, so you look like you belong there.
Leave the money in locker #27, the combination is 14-9-34. The film will be returned before the premeer. [sic]


Kurt is across the street renting a room in a run-down apartment building which overlooks the flophouse. 

113th & Mason is an industrial district south of the docks. It is accessible by subway though some of it is surface rail / open cuts as it approaches the low-lying dock district.

Striking dockworkers are blocking the roads in. They will eventually let the party in by road vehicle, if they explain their need. The picketers have signs such as "FAIR WAGES" and "5 DAY WEEK,"
SLU = "SIMHA LONGSHOREMEN'S UNION"
There are some heavy goods vehicles being blocked, or abandoned by the drivers. The dockworkers will fight with a driver who is trying to get through, shouting about perishable goods vs worker solidarity stuff.