Florence

Florence’s rise to power within the immortality cult was not by chance; she fought for it—brutally and without hesitation. During the early days of the immortality experiments in the 1940s, Florence was a lead scientist, a believer in the idea that humanity could transcend its mortal limitations. However, she quickly realized that the leadership of the project was weak, filled with military leaders who, in her view, lacked the vision and will to bring about the societal transformation she desired. In a ruthless bid for power, Florence orchestrated the brutal murders of the military leaders involved in the immortality experiments, seizing control of the project for herself.

Role in Story:

Leader of the Immortality Cult; Maternal Figure to Cult Members;

Role in the Plot:

Persuader, Manipulator, Antagonist

Personality Traits:

Charismatic, Calculating, Maternal yet Cold, Pragmatic, Persuasive

Primary Themes:

The Cost of Immortality and Moral Manipulation, Moral Decay

Contents

Physical Apperance

Quotes

Gallery

"Lightheartedness is a luxury of the mortal condition. It’s a way for people to ignore the weight of their own fragility, to mask their fears of aging, of death, of irrelevance."

DALL·E 2024-12-17 18.45.53 - A realistic depiction of Florence, a confident and cold-looki

Physical Appearance

Face and Expression:
- Florence has a sharp, angular face with high cheekbones that highlight her stern demeanor.
- Her deep-set, piercing eyes convey both intelligence and a cold calculation.
- A subtle smirk or neutral expression often graces her face, exuding control and dominance.
Hair:
- Her dark, nearly jet-black hair is typically styled in a neat and professional updo, emphasizing her meticulous nature.
- Strands are always perfectly in place, adding to her composed and clinical persona.
Clothing:
- Florence is often dressed in a pristine white lab coat, symbolizing her role as a scientist and leader.
- Beneath the lab coat, she wears tailored 1940s-era professional attire, such as a knee-length pencil skirt and a blouse with a high collar.
- Her attire is both functional and stylish, reflecting her attention to detail and status.
Posture and Presence:
- She carries herself with a straight posture, her movements precise and deliberate.
- Even in moments of tension, she remains poised, projecting authority and control.
Accessories:
- Florence often wears minimal but refined accessories, such as a pair of stud earrings or a small brooch.
- When speaking or demonstrating to her cult, she occasionally wears dark clothes, which enhance her ominous aura.

Quotes

From Screenplay

"Lonely? Perhaps for others, but not for me. Loneliness is a mortal affliction, tied to the need for connection, for validation from others. I moved beyond such dependencies long ago."

Florence responding to an inquiry from Wallace, revealing her belief that immortality has freed her from mortal needs for connection and validation

"That thin veil of hair wasn’t about fooling others—it was about fooling himself. It was a symbol, really, of his stubbornness. Floyd couldn’t let go—of his youth, his authority, his version of what the mall once was. The comb-over was just another relic of his refusal to face reality, much like his attachment to that crumbling mall."

Florence reflects on Floyd’s inability to confront the harsh realities of his fading authority, lost youth, and the decline of the Dixie-Five Mall.

"I see lightheartedness as a luxury of the mortal condition. It’s a way for people to ignore the weight of their own fragility, to mask their fears of aging, of death, of irrelevance."

Florence dismisses lightheartedness, viewing it as a mortal coping mechanism to mask the fear of aging, death, and irrelevance

"True strength isn’t just about brute force or surviving hardships. It’s about control, vision, and the ability to shape the world around you."

Florence defines true strength as the power to maintain control and shape the world

"Admirable? That’s not a word I use lightly. But if I must acknowledge something about Floyd, it’s his tenacity. He’s like a dog with a bone—relentless, stubborn, unwilling to let go, even when the odds are insurmountable. That kind of determination is rare, albeit misguided in his case."

lorence begrudgingly acknowledges Floyd’s relentless determination during a conversation about his interference with the cult, admiring his tenacity even as she views it as ultimately futile and misdirected against forces far beyond his control.

"A mistake? No. Donna’s death was necessary. She was a liability, a threat to everything we were building. Her purity, her moral conviction—those traits made her dangerous. She would never have been swayed, never have turned a blind eye to what lay beneath the surface."

Florence coldly justifies Donna’s murder during a discussion about the sacrifices made to protect the cult’s secrets

"There’s a certain... poetic comedy in watching people fight battles they’ve already lost without realizing it."

Florence cynically reflects on the futility of human resistance

"Call it instinct, or perhaps foresight. I had no intention of putting myself in a position where someone like Floyd could make a direct move against me. Let the pawns play their part; that’s what they were there for. Sacrifices are sometimes required for the greater good, and I’ve never shied away from making those hard decisions."

Florence explains her calculated decision to avoid being present during the cult’s downfall