Tonight there was an animal documentary on about animals, communication and emotion. Tell me if this isn't Shakespeare: referred to as a temple troupe, a group of wild monkeys (yes, I forget the exact name...) is studied by researchers. The leader, a kindly male who's gentle with his mates and good with the wee ones has lead for about three hears longer than is normal for this species. A younger primate challenges him, and although a friend of the leader (referred to as Jeeves) trys to intercede protectively, ultimately the younger male wounds the older one fatal and sits back to watch him die. He is tended by Jeeves as he dies, and the entire troupe comes out to mourn him when the body stiffens and grows cold...well, almost the entire troupe. The new, younger bad ass monkey leader sits back on his haunches and looks pretty damn smug. In coming days he's brutal with his mates and abuses the children, and then one day the researchers come back and find something interesting. The original challenger has been beaten and humbled, stripped of rank and a bit of an ear not by a new challenger, but by the females who've had enough. They've chosen Jeeves as the new leader, demonstrating the value their tribe places on kindness over force. Well, maybe it's a Greek play but you know? They are creatures of depth. Much to deep to be the trophy pet of a slutty debutante.
And it also got me thinking about a project nearly ten years in my noodle, which this may be the year to launch. More later.