statement, quiets a bit. They trust Monty to stand up for logic and fairness, like they have been trained. Monty rarely disappoints. He turns and looks at Orzo39 incredulously.
âFamily entertainment? Are you telling me that a murdering pedophile is family entertainment?â
The audience boos again, feeling a ramping up of the rhetoric.
âThis is such crap! Orzo was a brilliant comedian and actor andâ¦â
âAnd youâre a psycho. What about Orzoâs victims and their families?â
âItâs tragicâ¦â
âTragic? Thatâs the best you can come up with?â
The audience shifts and undulates, on the verge of picking up pitchforks and torches.
âOrzo fans feel terrible,â Orzo39 continues, trying to be heard. The vibe in the room is frightening. âWe just want them to know, especially Mikey Talbot, that we are there for you and we love you just like Orzo!â
Monty dramatically retches, playing to the crowd. âI think Iâm gonna vomit. How dare youâ¦â
Before Monty can finish, Orzo39 bends over quickly and reaches behind him, pulling out a vintage kidâs Orzo the Clown Halloween mask. He puts the mask on, crosses his arms and stares at the crowd.
The audience surges forward as one. Screams and death threats fly through the air. Monty ducks behind his desk as the studio security rushes into the room, making a fragile human barrier between the crowd and Orzo39, who continues to stay still, staring ahead.
âOh for crying out loud! Take that thing off!â Monty calls to Orzo39 with no effect.
A soda can flies through the air and pelts Orzo39, opening a floodgate of debris. Orzo39 finally gives up his stoic position and ducks behind the chair as both he and Monty, as well as the security staff, are pelted with any manner of objects.
âCalm down, everyone!â Monty squeaks out from behind his desk.
Orzo39 and Monty continue to hide as the show pops off, cutting quickly to another fine sponsor of The Monty Reigns Show .
The penthouse stretches over the entire top floor of the luxurious high rise apartment building. Large windows surround the penthouse providing a beautiful view of the city in any direction. For someone who isnât used to the opulence, it would be literally breathtaking.
The interior of the penthouse resembles a large loft area as if it had been decorated by Christian Dior with an unlimited budget. It is very posh and very expensive. The center of the penthouse features a large living area, complete with huge HD television, beautiful furniture, and a mantle over a fireplace featuring a row of Emmys and other entertainment awards.
Monty Reigns, waist wrapped in a towel, enters the room. In one hand he carries a tumbler with some type of amber booze, in the other he has a cell phone up to his ear. Still dripping, Monty leaves wet footprints through the penthouse as he makes his way to the living room. He stares out of the window, grinning at the view, as he speaks.
âHell yes! That was a great show! That freak almost caused a riot!â Monty pauses, waiting for the person on the other end of the phone to finish. âScrew that! I feel great. Fuck the world!â
Monty drops his towel and raises his arm, exposing himself out of the glass window. He shakes his hips, dangling his middle-aged penis at the little people down below.
In the windowâs reflection, a brightly colored shape moves quickly behind Monty. He does not notice.
Monty laughs and sets his drink down as he bends and pick up the towel.
âThe clown is ratings, Angela, pure and simple. Iâm going to keep working on Michael. That kid could be bigger than the pedo!â
Smiling from ear to ear, Monty turns toward the couch, trying to get the towel wrapped around with one hand. The same brightly-colored shape, white and red and fast as hell, slips behind him.
âGood work, kid. Iâll talk to you later.â
Julie Gerstenblatt
Neneh J. Gordon
Keri Arthur
April Henry
Ella Dominguez
Dana Bate
Ian M. Dudley
Ruth Hamilton
Linda Westphal
Leslie Glass