Post by Maxwell Mason Stone on Apr 24, 2024 22:37:58 GMT -5
Four young adults stand at the end of the Playa Del Luna pier passing around a joint as the sun dips below the horizon. They're wearing hooded jackets with golden pocket watches hanging off chains around their necks. A blond haired kid looks disconnected from the rest and voices his opinion.
Aiden: What the hell are we doing, guys?
Kayla: Smoking a joint.
Aiden pulls the pocket watch from around his neck.
Aiden: This. What are we doing? How did we get ourselves into this? Wake up! We got sucked into a freaking cult!
Kayla, Charlie and Jules look at Aiden with a look of concern.
Jules: You've been all about this. But now you have cold feet when the time comes to put in the work?
Charlie: Can you even fathom what this guy can do for us? Stone knows things about us that only we know.
Charlie takes the joint from Jules and takes a puff.
Kayla: We’re doing this, Aiden. If you're not with us, you should just leave.
Charlie snatches Aiden’s watch from him and looks at the time.
Charlie: C'mon we gotta go.
It's pandemonium within the chambers of the Playa Del Luna city council. City Manager Bob Vasquez gets to his feet.
Vasquez: Everybody CALM YOURSELVES.
Bob's billowing voice echoes throughout the council chambers causing the room to fall silent.
Vasquez: Now let's please let Mrs. Reynolds continue. Go ahead, Karen.
Middle aged Karen regains her composure at her speaking podium.
Karen: As I was saying before I was so RUDELY interrupted. Are we really going to sit here and actually let this cult run rabid through our beautiful beach community? We've worked so hard to clear this kind of riff-raff from our town and now I have to worry about my teenage daughters being accosted by cult members when we go to Whole Foods?!
Police Chief Mark Mowry takes a microphone.
Mowry: Karen, I assure you…
Karen: It's MISSES REYNOLDS to YOU, MARK.
Mowry: Mrs. Reynolds… I assure you our force is taking this very seriously but we cannot just “put people under the jail” if they haven't committed any crimes, per your suggestion.
Karen: Hmmph!
Karen storms back to her seat, fuming because being a loud entitled white woman didn't work this time.
Vasquez: Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds. I'd like to give time to Walter Miller, proprietor of “High Tide Cocktails.” Mr. Miller, the floor is yours.
Walt the bartender takes the podium with his Hawaiian shirt and Crocs that show everyone that he's living his best divorced dad life.
Walt: It's great to be here with you all tonight. Looking around this room I see a lot of great people I've served over the years. A few of you have even chosen to cheat on your spouses at my bar and for that I am honored.
Vasquez and Mowry exchange glances and then they both look at Karen and then back at each other.
Walt: But I'm here tonight because I've heard my fellow business owners express their concern over Mr. Stone and I gotta tell you that there's nothing to worry about. He's a great guy once you get to know him.
Karen: Because he drinks himself stupid at your bar every night! You take his money, liquor him up and leave the rest of us to deal with him!
Rabble rabble rabble through the chambers until Vasquez yells again.
Walt: Look, all I'm saying is that you're all freaked out about him scaring the tourists and I don't think yall got anything to worry about. It's not like the dude is Manson…
The spectators collectively gasp. Karen jumps up and shoves Walt aside.
Karen: Maxwell Mason Stone is a very violent man! Are we just ignoring the fact that he uses three names like a serial killer? Are we also ignoring the violence he's responsible for on NATIONAL TELEVISION? Girls!!
Karen Jr and Caren, spitting images of their mom with the Kate Gosselin haircut and all, enter the room wheeling in a TV on a cart like we're about to watch some Bill Nye in 1996. We don't see the screen but we can see the shocked reactions on the faces of the spectators as we hear loud noises from the TV and MMS saying “Larry!”
Minutes pass and the footage wraps up. Karen puts her hands on her hips and taps her foot. A slow clap echoes throughout the room and everyone's attention turns to the door where Maxwell Mason Stone stands.
MMS: I see I have a fan of my wrestling work here. It's always nice when I can walk among my fans.
MMS slowly walks towards Karen and she falls backwards like when Sarah Conner saw the Terminator in the second movie. Stone offers his hand to her and she crawls backwards, gets to her feet then takes off running out of the chambers with her dumb daughters. Stone takes the podium.
MMS: Thank you for having me here tonight. I've heard the concerns about my extended stay here in your beautiful oceanside community. Many of you don't want to acknowledge my presence and would rather I leave town. Most of you are frightened of me but I'm here to tell you that there is no reason to be. I'm sure you're all aware of my father and what happened at the end of his life but I assure you that type of thing will never happen while I am here.
The members of the public whisper among each other. Stone turns around to speak to them directly.
MMS: All I've wanted is a little peace and quiet. A nice place to clear my mind. I'm sure if any of us were to run into each other on the street we would have quite a pleasant exchange, wouldn't we?
Stone turns back towards the councilpeople.
MMS: The truth is that I've been going through a rough patch. Yeah, I've done a lot of drinking while I've been here and have spent some time in the drunk tank but that doesn't make me any less than anyone else here. Or maybe you all think I shouldn't be here because I've had some mental struggles. Unfortunately for you all, I've got the freedom to go wherever I damn well please because I live in AMERICA, the best country on Earth and the one I represent as its champion.
Confused looks fall upon the faces of the folks in the room.
MMS: What, now we don't want to talk about my wrestling? It sure wasn't a problem a minute ago when we were trying to prove that I'm a menace to society! The shock and awe expressed was just adorable. But wipe all of that away because what you saw me do to Larry Tact on that screen was just a small sample of what I'm going to do to him over the course of the next few weeks.
Stone looks all around the room and smiles.
MMS: You won't be seeing me for a few days because I'm going to be hitting the road and giving all of you a little preview of what it will look like when I break Larry Tact down and defend my title f'real, f'real. Luckily for him he has a shield in the form of Matt Knox and I sure as hell haven't forgotten about that snake. I haven't forgotten about how I was so close to being where I belong and contending for the International Title but it slipped away when Knox pinned ol' Larry. I haven't forgotten how we went to a draw when those Cabal boys came out and ended the night. Word to the wise, and I'd consider Matt Knox wise, but he'd better take whatever beef he has with my temporary partner and go play in another sandbox because I have to teach Larry Tact one more lesson before our encounter.
Stone notices Cheif Mowry is staring at him.
MMS: Don't worry, Chief. It ain't your jurisdiction. No need to go sticking your nose where it don't belong because God only knows I've had enough of that going on with the guys I'm sharing a ring with on Friday. If these guys stayed in their own lanes and let nature progress as it should, I would be closing in on the longest International Championship reign. But fear not, I am on my way to unfathomable heights and if you all can't stand me now, then buckle up because I'm going to be so much worse when everything falls in its right place. Hopefully history kindly remembers men like Matt Knox and Larry Tact for making the necessary sacrifices that are ushering us into this new time. My time. The time of the Paradox. The time of Maxwell Mason Stone.
The city council chambers experience an extended moment of silence. Vasquez stands up and shoots a look of concern at Stone.
Vasquez: Mr. Stone. I don't know what you intend to accomplish here but these… ramblings are surly not helping your case.
MMS: I thought I've done quite a good job detailing what happens to people who stand in my way. You should see for yourself on the TV what happens to people who STAND IN MY WAY.
Suddenly the lights in the city council chamber go dark and a few ladies scream from being startled. The fluorescent lights then begin to flicker on and off and the digital clock on the wall flicker “99:99.” Three hooded figures wearing tattered gray masks and golden pocket watches around their neck appear behind the city council and the townspeople are all in full panic mode and making a beeline for the exit. The lights cut out once more and when they come back on, Stone and the three figures are gone.
Aiden: What the hell are we doing, guys?
Kayla: Smoking a joint.
Aiden pulls the pocket watch from around his neck.
Aiden: This. What are we doing? How did we get ourselves into this? Wake up! We got sucked into a freaking cult!
Kayla, Charlie and Jules look at Aiden with a look of concern.
Jules: You've been all about this. But now you have cold feet when the time comes to put in the work?
Charlie: Can you even fathom what this guy can do for us? Stone knows things about us that only we know.
Charlie takes the joint from Jules and takes a puff.
Kayla: We’re doing this, Aiden. If you're not with us, you should just leave.
Charlie snatches Aiden’s watch from him and looks at the time.
Charlie: C'mon we gotta go.
It's pandemonium within the chambers of the Playa Del Luna city council. City Manager Bob Vasquez gets to his feet.
Vasquez: Everybody CALM YOURSELVES.
Bob's billowing voice echoes throughout the council chambers causing the room to fall silent.
Vasquez: Now let's please let Mrs. Reynolds continue. Go ahead, Karen.
Middle aged Karen regains her composure at her speaking podium.
Karen: As I was saying before I was so RUDELY interrupted. Are we really going to sit here and actually let this cult run rabid through our beautiful beach community? We've worked so hard to clear this kind of riff-raff from our town and now I have to worry about my teenage daughters being accosted by cult members when we go to Whole Foods?!
Police Chief Mark Mowry takes a microphone.
Mowry: Karen, I assure you…
Karen: It's MISSES REYNOLDS to YOU, MARK.
Mowry: Mrs. Reynolds… I assure you our force is taking this very seriously but we cannot just “put people under the jail” if they haven't committed any crimes, per your suggestion.
Karen: Hmmph!
Karen storms back to her seat, fuming because being a loud entitled white woman didn't work this time.
Vasquez: Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds. I'd like to give time to Walter Miller, proprietor of “High Tide Cocktails.” Mr. Miller, the floor is yours.
Walt the bartender takes the podium with his Hawaiian shirt and Crocs that show everyone that he's living his best divorced dad life.
Walt: It's great to be here with you all tonight. Looking around this room I see a lot of great people I've served over the years. A few of you have even chosen to cheat on your spouses at my bar and for that I am honored.
Vasquez and Mowry exchange glances and then they both look at Karen and then back at each other.
Walt: But I'm here tonight because I've heard my fellow business owners express their concern over Mr. Stone and I gotta tell you that there's nothing to worry about. He's a great guy once you get to know him.
Karen: Because he drinks himself stupid at your bar every night! You take his money, liquor him up and leave the rest of us to deal with him!
Rabble rabble rabble through the chambers until Vasquez yells again.
Walt: Look, all I'm saying is that you're all freaked out about him scaring the tourists and I don't think yall got anything to worry about. It's not like the dude is Manson…
The spectators collectively gasp. Karen jumps up and shoves Walt aside.
Karen: Maxwell Mason Stone is a very violent man! Are we just ignoring the fact that he uses three names like a serial killer? Are we also ignoring the violence he's responsible for on NATIONAL TELEVISION? Girls!!
Karen Jr and Caren, spitting images of their mom with the Kate Gosselin haircut and all, enter the room wheeling in a TV on a cart like we're about to watch some Bill Nye in 1996. We don't see the screen but we can see the shocked reactions on the faces of the spectators as we hear loud noises from the TV and MMS saying “Larry!”
Minutes pass and the footage wraps up. Karen puts her hands on her hips and taps her foot. A slow clap echoes throughout the room and everyone's attention turns to the door where Maxwell Mason Stone stands.
MMS: I see I have a fan of my wrestling work here. It's always nice when I can walk among my fans.
MMS slowly walks towards Karen and she falls backwards like when Sarah Conner saw the Terminator in the second movie. Stone offers his hand to her and she crawls backwards, gets to her feet then takes off running out of the chambers with her dumb daughters. Stone takes the podium.
MMS: Thank you for having me here tonight. I've heard the concerns about my extended stay here in your beautiful oceanside community. Many of you don't want to acknowledge my presence and would rather I leave town. Most of you are frightened of me but I'm here to tell you that there is no reason to be. I'm sure you're all aware of my father and what happened at the end of his life but I assure you that type of thing will never happen while I am here.
The members of the public whisper among each other. Stone turns around to speak to them directly.
MMS: All I've wanted is a little peace and quiet. A nice place to clear my mind. I'm sure if any of us were to run into each other on the street we would have quite a pleasant exchange, wouldn't we?
Stone turns back towards the councilpeople.
MMS: The truth is that I've been going through a rough patch. Yeah, I've done a lot of drinking while I've been here and have spent some time in the drunk tank but that doesn't make me any less than anyone else here. Or maybe you all think I shouldn't be here because I've had some mental struggles. Unfortunately for you all, I've got the freedom to go wherever I damn well please because I live in AMERICA, the best country on Earth and the one I represent as its champion.
Confused looks fall upon the faces of the folks in the room.
MMS: What, now we don't want to talk about my wrestling? It sure wasn't a problem a minute ago when we were trying to prove that I'm a menace to society! The shock and awe expressed was just adorable. But wipe all of that away because what you saw me do to Larry Tact on that screen was just a small sample of what I'm going to do to him over the course of the next few weeks.
Stone looks all around the room and smiles.
MMS: You won't be seeing me for a few days because I'm going to be hitting the road and giving all of you a little preview of what it will look like when I break Larry Tact down and defend my title f'real, f'real. Luckily for him he has a shield in the form of Matt Knox and I sure as hell haven't forgotten about that snake. I haven't forgotten about how I was so close to being where I belong and contending for the International Title but it slipped away when Knox pinned ol' Larry. I haven't forgotten how we went to a draw when those Cabal boys came out and ended the night. Word to the wise, and I'd consider Matt Knox wise, but he'd better take whatever beef he has with my temporary partner and go play in another sandbox because I have to teach Larry Tact one more lesson before our encounter.
Stone notices Cheif Mowry is staring at him.
MMS: Don't worry, Chief. It ain't your jurisdiction. No need to go sticking your nose where it don't belong because God only knows I've had enough of that going on with the guys I'm sharing a ring with on Friday. If these guys stayed in their own lanes and let nature progress as it should, I would be closing in on the longest International Championship reign. But fear not, I am on my way to unfathomable heights and if you all can't stand me now, then buckle up because I'm going to be so much worse when everything falls in its right place. Hopefully history kindly remembers men like Matt Knox and Larry Tact for making the necessary sacrifices that are ushering us into this new time. My time. The time of the Paradox. The time of Maxwell Mason Stone.
The city council chambers experience an extended moment of silence. Vasquez stands up and shoots a look of concern at Stone.
Vasquez: Mr. Stone. I don't know what you intend to accomplish here but these… ramblings are surly not helping your case.
MMS: I thought I've done quite a good job detailing what happens to people who stand in my way. You should see for yourself on the TV what happens to people who STAND IN MY WAY.
Suddenly the lights in the city council chamber go dark and a few ladies scream from being startled. The fluorescent lights then begin to flicker on and off and the digital clock on the wall flicker “99:99.” Three hooded figures wearing tattered gray masks and golden pocket watches around their neck appear behind the city council and the townspeople are all in full panic mode and making a beeline for the exit. The lights cut out once more and when they come back on, Stone and the three figures are gone.
