The Other Side of The Coin
I!
I!
I!
I!
Massachusetts countryside blurs past. Steven and Callia in a Porsche Carrera. Top-down; sun in the eyes, hair in the wind, stereo blasts "THEM BONES".
I believe, them bones, are me.
Some say, we're born, into the grave.
April 2003. Yesterday, he buried Demon Knight and Yungstar. Now focus is on the Next Challenge.
STEVEN Callia...
I feel so alone, gonna end up a
Big ole pile a them bones.
STEVEN ...let's get Married.
CALLIA What, right now?
STEVEN Why not?
I!
I!
I!
I!
CALLIA I don't think I've even heard you mention marriage before.
Dust rise, right on, over my time.
Empty, fossil, of the new scene.
STEVEN Well then, let's do it.
She holds her pregnant belly, then her pendant - made by Destinee.
CALLIA I don't know...
I feel so alone, gonna end up a
Big ole pile a them bones.
STEVEN Whatever.
CALLIA Don't be mad.
STEVEN I'm not.
Callia burns back to reality. Heat bore down on Garhi Dopatta. Callia Carter strode, minus the presence of young Rebecca in her arms. She remained at the hotel with Virgil and Michael, away from this madness. Dressed in a modest crimson Shalwaar Kameez she tucks her hair behind the shawl over her head and looks at her watch. I hope Virgil has fed Rebecca, I should have left her with Chl--no, not her. Kaylie. She'll think of anything except Steven, who strides a few paces ahead, with Dr. Fatima Kokher. Callia looks at the giant tent in front of her, such pain and suffering, ugh, I feel like an idiot now. I should not have come here. Into this madness. Entering the tent, she sees a mass of beds and people, huddled together and speaking a language she does not understand.
FATIMA The Earthquake hit here hardest of all, we're not far from the epicentre.
STEVEN How many people have been affected?
She spoke with calmness, and Steven listened. God, he has not listened to me like that since August. What has happened to him? Steven is dressed in navy bellbottoms and a plain beige t-shirt. His H*R Record Bag slung over his shoulder, containing some presents for some of the refugees. He sits amongst a group of children and begins talking to them, they seem absolutely ecstatic at his presence. Steven's all smiles and laughs, signing things, taking photos. Callia half-smiles. He's always been happy with the people, his people he would say. Heh, he forgets himself with them. Steven grins and poses with a young girl as the polaroid flashes.
The girl grins with glee, clasping the photo close to her chest and running off. Axis opens up the Record Bag and brings out a few pairs of his custom mirrored shades, and hands them out to some of the children. How do they love him? And why? He is a destroyer. His Legacy, what is it? What is it but violence? Steven hands out a few t-shirts, which he signs for people. These aren't official HIW gifts, Steven has brought them himself to hand out. He rises, and once again begins to converse with Fatima. Look at them, ugh. He's probably fucked her, too. Just like he fucked that slut. He could not have me, so he went to the nearest girl who would take his sperm unconditionally. I do not understand him! She sighs, listening in on Steven and Fatima's conversation.
FATIMA So without immediate aid, there could be real problems. Winter has already caused enough damage, but it will get worse before it gets better.
STEVEN Well I'll donate whatever I have to. I mean, this is unbelieveable. You watch this unfold on the news and you sit there and think, "well, that sucks", but that's nothing compared to actually bein' out here. I mean, I just feel so bad.
FATIMA Well you're already being overly generous with your wage-donations--
STEVEN --Pff, I didn't go back to HIW for the money. I don't need that, these people do. They really do. I just wish you could make people stand up and take notice.
FATIMA Yes well, it is hard.
STEVEN I mean, Katrina was a disaster, but our government can foot the bill for that with just a fraction on what we spend on defence alone. Here, it's not the same. And you're not gettin' the aid you need. God, this makes the Brawl-4-All look like a walk in the park. Perspective... what a thing, eh?
Callia glares. He knows! He knows his Legacy is nothing but pain. But he keeps at it! He does not stop! Why!?! Callia turns and begins to wander away from Steven and Fatima.
FATIMA You know, so many of the children were happy to hear you were coming. I was amazed you agreed on such short notice, and on your birthday!
STEVEN Heh, I'm just tryin' to help. I'm no saint or anythin'. I'm just glad I've got enough, well, fame I guess, to make these kids happy. Sometimes you get caught up in your own thing so much you forgot there's an external goodness that comes from you doin' what you do. Like you said, I just showed up today and the smiles came out. God...
FATIMA Is that why you do it? For the external goodness?
STEVEN Partly. I mean like I said, I'm no saint. I don't just do this for the people. But, they are a reason. It just makes it easier to keep on, despite all the injuries n' the pain, if you know that as well as your own, you're keepin' a group of kids' dreams alive. I dunno. Feels nice.
Callia returns, looking at Steven as he kneels down to converse with a child. He is so nice, ugh. It makes me sick. I almost hope Nick beats him at that stupid event, maybe then he will give up this idiocy, and that stupid slut, and become a normal human again. I hate this business, sinking its claws into him. Devouring him. Callia turned, watching the wind blow dust through the rubble of collapsed buildings she sighs and melts back into herself.
CALLIA ETIENNE!!!
Steven snaps back. Quick swerve. Just missed a giant truck.
Toll due, bad dream, come true.
I lie, dead gone, under red sky.
CALLIA Maybe I should have said yes!
No response.
I feel so alone, gonna end up a
Big ole pile a them...
CALLIA Etienne? Are you okay?
I feel so alone, gonna end up a
Big ole pile a them...
STEVEN I'm fine.
I feel so alone, gonna end up a
Big ole pile a them bones.
Callia looks at him, whispering in French.
CALLIA {I love you. I just need... I need time. Nothing will ever come between us, I promise. I will never hurt you.}
[OUTSIDE CARTER PLAZA..16/1/06]
Steven carries Michael, Callia carries Rebecca, and the golden couple force their way through a sea of reporters. Camera Flash Overload, Callia shields Rebecca's eyes - Michael hides behind The Title. 16th January. Steven's now 30, but bigger news has hit the headlines. The Sex-Tape. Everyone wants a piece, everyone wants an answer. Finally, the sea of news is too thick, and the noise is too heavy, so they stop.
STEVEN Okay. ONE of you can ask a question...
A spritely blonde pips everyone to the post.
JENNY PICCOLO Jenny Piccolo, Vogue Magazine... Axis, I was wondering what your feelings were on the uncovering of your affair with Nora Drake?
STEVEN What affair?
All eyes gaze on Callia, she doesn't flinch. Steven looks at her and gestures to Michael, she nods. Steven motions for Virgil to take Michael and Rebecca, which the monolith gladly does. With the children gone, Steven and Callia place their arms around each other, and The Icon glances at Jenny, who continues.
JENNY PICCOLO Well the hot and torrid sexual affair you've been having with Miss Nora Drake that was recently exposed via the leaked and now infamous sex-tape - of which Vogue has an exclusive copy.
STEVEN Dangerous legal ground you're on there, Jenny.
JENNY PICCOLO Well we are aware of the legal ramifications of publishing the tape, and hence have simply published a written transcript, our best writers describing every detail on the tape; which doesn't actually break any of the legal boundaries, and we're looking to be able to publish images too. Anyway that's legal mumbo-jumbo, no one cares about that. So, tell me, how do you feel about the uncovering of the affair?
STEVEN Affairs are for people in monogamous relationships, Jenny, I'm not in a monogamous relationship.
JENNY PICCOLO Nora Drake is...
This stops Steven in his tracks, but not for long.
STEVEN Yeah, she is. But her circumstances were somewhat extraordinary. And that's all I'll say about her, because I don't wanna speak for her or Nick Fowler. But as regards me and Callia, this relationship is polyamorous, you all know that, it's been publ--
JENNY PICCOLO So Callia, you were aware your husband slept with Miss Drake and filmed it?
CALLIA Yes.
Callia responds quickly, seemingly hesitent.
JENNY PICCOLO Have you seen the tape, Mrs Carter?
CALLIA Yes.
JENNY PICCOLO And what did you think?
The tension is off the scale. Steven bows his head and bites his lip, awaiting his judgement.
CALLIA It was okay, the two of us have made better.
Jenny is stunned into silence, some exaggerated meows can be heard. Jenny's silence is broken.
JENNY PICCOLO So Axis! With the sex tape leaked, the long-asked questions about the size of your penis are being uncovered. May I ask, just how big is your penis?
STEVEN How big is my pe--
JENNY PICCOLO Well if you won't answer, let me tell you that sexperts at Vogue have managed to agree that dimensions of 11 inches by 7 inches are most likely accurate for your penis. How do you respond?
STEVEN How do I respond? I--what? Why are there experts talking about the size of my dick? There is so much shit goin' on the world, and my dick is such a huge talking point? I mean, why does it matter how big my di--
CALLIA --11 inches is right, it is maybe a bit thicker though, seven and a half, maybe eight.
Everyone is stunned into silence again, and again they all look at Callia and she simply smiles.
CALLIA Now if you'll excuse me, our children are waiting.
Callia smiles, and takes Steven by the hand and begins pushing her way through the crowd. Steven shrugs and follows her.
They enter Carter Plaza, pass through the lobby without stopping. Callia's heels echo on the marble floor. They enter the elevator and stand side by side, staring straight ahead. As the doors close, Steven speaks.
STEVEN Um, thanks?
CALLIA For what?
STEVEN For being so cool about this whole thing.
CALLIA Who says I am cool?
STEVEN Well you seemed pretty hap--
CALLIA --you are not the only one who can wear a mask, you know.
Stunned Silence. Steven Swallows Something... perhaps his pride.
STEVEN I'm.. sorry?
CALLIA No, you are not.
STEVEN Why d'y--
CALLIA Because you would do it again if you had the chance, that is why.
STEVEN Well what the hell do you want from me? You weren't here! You know how I need you in my life, Callia. And I don't mean just the sex, but everything about you. You're just so pure and beautiful and loving and I, I need that. I needed that.
CALLIA So you found another source, use it.
STEVEN Nora-- Nora's not the same, Callia. I mean yeah, she's special to me, but she's not you. No one can ever replace you.
CALLIA Pah. You ran to her as soon as I was gone!
STEVEN Hold on a second, no I did fucking not. I waited damn near 2 weeks befo--
CALLIA Ohhh 2 weeks! That makes it all better!
STEVEN I'm not sayin' it does, but I didn't run to her as soon as, Callia. And I only went there because of what was coming, what was approaching. The most brutal match of my career, the most dangerous match I'd ever been in. The match that killed me, Callia. Everyone says that all the time, but that match actually killed me.
Emotion enters his voice; pain.
STEVEN I mean, my heart stopped beating for five minutes, five minutes. I was dead. Do you understand what I'm trying to say to you? This wasn't just some casual throaway match that I needed you for, this was pure destruction. It's given me injuries I still haven't recovered from. God, I needed help. Nobody can face that shit on their own, Callia, nobody. The other four guys in at the end? Stanton, has a girlfriend, Sturm, has a girlfriend, Arlen, has a fiancee, Easton, the guy who beat me, Easton Hall, has a wife.
He shrugs.
STEVEN So yeah, I went lookin' for help.
CALLIA You went looking for sex.
STEVEN And?! Yeah, sex was something I wanted, but it wasn't the primary thing on my mind, I needed that closeness, the warmth. But yeah, hell yeah I went looking for sex. What's wrong with that? I haven't gone without sex for 2 weeks since, well since the whole thing with Sturm, but before that since I was 18! And even then, even though it'd been that long, even though I was starved of the intimacy, I only went to see Nora when I found out you were fucking Des--
He stops himself. Fucking Idiot. Callia glares at him.
CALLIA What?
Steven bows his head.
STEVEN N-Nothing. Forget I--
CALLIA --Destinee? I don't know how you found out but yes, Etienne, I was fucking Destinee.
STEVEN Callia, I--
CALLIA --That's why I went to France instead of immediately to Kaylie. I went to see the woman I loved for 10 years. The woman who I thought nothing could seperate me from.
STEVEN Hold it--
CALLIA The woman you drove away!
STEVEN I said HOLD IT.
Steven thrusts a fist out onto the wall, hitting the next floor button, and the elevator stops immediately. He doesn't look up at Callia, but the impact and sudden cessation of motion made her lean back against the wall. The door opens, and Steven calmly walks out, without saying a word. Callia watches him go, she sighs heavily. Regret. Remorse. She bites her bottom lip, fiddling with the strap on her bag, avoiding the obvious truth. He was hurting, that remark, those five words, hurt him deeper than any injury he could have ever gotten. He deserved something, some kind of punishment, or a lesson, anything that would force him to look at himself. But not what Callia just said, he didn't deserve that. For all he had put her through, he didn't deserve that.
The elevator door closes.
.
© 2006 Machine Gun Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.