literature

Family Matters - E40

Deviation Actions

CobraToon's avatar
By
Published:
211 Views

Literature Text

EXT. THE DUMP IN A DREAM – MIDDAY

The infinite wasteland of garbage is much like it was, trash forms whole mountains and valleys and everything is dirty. In one of those valleys, hundreds of mindless Trashy surge toward Cat Girl from all sides; Cat's Class Warfare Cannon takes out whole waves at a time, and now she has a giant pink bedazzled sword to mop up the survivors of each group, but more always rise from the ground. Both sides in this conflict seem like they could fight endlessly, and Cat seems fine with that.

- Daughter (tiredly)
Is it still rude to interrupt when it's a stupid show of aggression?

Daughter's voice seems to come from everywhere at once, as Cat frowns in confusion and sweeps her sword around to clear a space. The faces of all the nearby Trashy, of those still upright, dissolve to show Daughter's face underneath.

- Daughter (many voices)
Girl. We need to talk.

- Cat
You're not real! Not here!

Cat slashes through the closest Trashy, which falls to pieces as Cat turns to the next. With each sentence she cuts down another Trashy, as well as for each reply sentence.

- Cat
This is my favorite place! Get out! Get out! GET OUT!

- Daughter
Aw, so sad. Am I ruining something? That you care about? Is your innocence shattered?

- Cat
Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!

- Daughter
I could enjoy this for a bit. Annoying you. But we really do need to talk. Please Rich, listen!

At the mention of her name, Cat stops suddenly.

- Cat
What? Rich? I'm Cat Girl! Most powerful hero in the world, and most beautiful! I've saved lots of people.

- Daughter
Saved who, exactly? Never mind, don't answer that. Don't you think, as a … as a hero, shouldn't you hear what I have to say?

- Cat
You heard me, I'm the most powerful hero in the world! So no, I don't have time to speak with someone who looks like a villain.

- Daughter
What kind of hero doesn't hear out a request for help?

- Cat (smirks)
Did I mention I'm also the smartest hero in the world? And how often does a hero really get a request for help that isn't some kind of trap?

- Daughter (mad)
I don't care how often! I don't care if you think this is a trap! I don't care if Rich hates me! I NEED HELP! WE! NEED. HELP!

All the nearby Trashy with Daughter's face suddenly collapse, and from the remains of the nearest crawls Daughter. She seems barely able to do even that, and a half-conscious Under clings to her. Daughter reaches up toward a surprised Cat.

- Daughter (weakly)
Please … help.

Daughter collapses at Cat's feet, who looks around as if still worried that this is a trick. The Trashy all stand motionless, and finally Cat looks back down at Daughter.

- Cat
Well this won't do at all. For my heroic reputation at least …

Cat coughs, and after a few more chokes out two orbs of what look like tangible light. She wobbles as if suddenly a bit tired, then presses the orbs against Daughter and Under. With a start Daughter opens her eyes, then slowly stands as Under sits up groggily. Cat puts her hands on her hips with a laugh.

- Cat
You two … why were you so dog tired?

- Daughter (honestly)
I don't know. Did you … ?

- Cat
Restore your energy? Of course!

- Daughter
How? No … Why?

- Cat
Greatest hero in the world, remember? That includes most merciful.

- Daughter
You're … not Rich.

- Cat
Duh! Rich is sleeping, allowing her mind to sort through the day's events and recharge itself.

- Under
I'm sleeping too! So is Daughter! Why aren't we recharging?

- Cat
No, you're not sleeping. You're here, talking to me.

- Daughter
Our bodies are sleeping while our minds go -

- Cat (derisive)
The mind needs sleep too, much more than the body does.

- Daughter (taken aback)
I didn't know.

- Cat (proudly)
Understandable, you're not the smartest hero in the world like I am. Now, was that all you needed?

Daughter blinks, still a bit stunned, then reaches out a hand again to stop Cat.

- Daughter
No! There's your – Rich's mother!

- Cat
Do you think I care about that drug-addled whore?

Under nearly spits out the swig that she just took from her bottle, then wipes her mouth with an amazed look.

- Under
Whoa. Too far.

- Cat (defiant)
In what way? Over and over, she spends MY money to purchase those disgusting street drugs, then tries to kidnap and marry the next man she takes a fancy to because she was raised "right" and proper. Who would treat a woman like that with anything resembling respect? Not me!

- Daughter (quietly)
And if she were to marry Bad's father?

- Cat
Marry who?

- Under
My dad!

- Cat (calmly)
I wouldn't worry. True to form, she only keeps them for a week or two at most. One divorce later, she starts the whole thing over again.

- Daughter
And what would you say … if she were sober? And still about to marry Strong?

- Cat (scoffs)
Don't be ridiculous.



INT. GIRL HOME GRAND BALLROOM – MORNING

The room has been redecorated, with pure white flower garlands that hang from every wall, with a simple stage and podium, and with a full audience of empty chairs. The four people in the room seem not to notice the room's emptiness, as they focus on each other. Strong wears a large tux that barely fits him, and Party is in a beautiful bride's dress but with no veil, she and Strong each hold a single sheet of paper. GREEDY PRIEST, an old, somewhat bald man in a frock stands behind the podium, he watches the two with a big, golden-toothed smile. Sub stands off to the side with a proud grin as he watches the two.

- Greedy
Now that she's walked up the aisle, I speak for a bit longer and then you each give your speech. Mr. Influence, can we start with yours?

Strong nods, scans his paper, then stares deep into Party's eyes.

- Strong
Party, two weeks ago I would have told anyone that true love didn't exist. Two weeks ago I drank every night, and I was lonely, and I was miserable, all because I hadn't met you yet. I thought myself indomitable back then, unbreakable of mind and body, but you showed me that I was wrong. You broke down my every barrier, shattered my every wrong-headed notion about happiness and tore down the walls my heart had built without my even realizing it. Thank you, from my depths. Thank you, for saving me.

Party, tears in her eyes, nods; then, after a quick glance at Greedy, she begins to read from her own paper.

- Party (choked up)
Much of my life … has been very dark. It is only with the clear eyes of sobriety that I can now see that. In my youth I fell to a bad crowd, I had my first taste of hard drugs at … at the age of sixteen, and from there I never really left them. Before long I would do any … anything for the next high. I have precious few real memories between then and one month ago. During that span of time I met my late husband, had two beautiful children, became a widow before the age of thirty and went on to use his money to do even more drugs to escape from my reality. I have not been a good wife, mother … or human being. Today, that changes. I wear white for this day not because I am still pure of heart, not because I am pure in any way, but because for the first time in a long time I … am me.

Party spares a glance for Sub, who nods in permission.

- Party
In part this is due to the efforts of my good friend Sub Servient. But -

She turns back to Strong, and gazes into his eyes.

- Party
Speaking as a woman who will soon be married, I know my soon-to-be husband will be the one who truly changes me. We will make memories to replace my every lost moment, protect each other in every moment when the old urges return, and most of all we … we will love each other. Warts and all, as some may say.

Party looks to Greedy again, who smiles widely.

- Greedy
A beautiful speech. Very touching. Next I say a few more things about the sanctity of marriage, and then there's that line about if anyone objects, they should -

The room's large wooden double doors BANG open, as Rich strides in with Brother at her heels.

- Rich
I OBJECT!

- Brother (frantic)
I'm sorry, I couldn't stop her!

- Party (a little hurt)
Baby, why?

- Rich
Mother, you will go back to your room and your drugs this instant! I have allowed you your flings in the past but I forbid you marry this man! His is the blood of my foe's ally, and so I will not condone your union!

- Party (hurt)
Baby!

- Strong
Shall I paddle her bottom, Party?

Party stops to consider this, a fact Rich seems to miss as she turns on Strong.

- Rich
You, hulking brute? You would presume to lay hands on me!? GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! GET! OUT!

- Party (quietly)
Go ahead.

- Rich (triumphant)
That's right! You heard her, go ahead and get out of my … what are you - !

Terror dawns slowly in Rich's eyes as Strong advances on her.

- Rich (scared)
What are you – stop, don't come any closer! I am the head of this house!

- Strong
My daughter, Bad – she's going to be your sister soon, little miss – she misbehaved a time or two.

In one fluid motion Strong grabs Rich, flips her and bends her over his knee, then raises a hand high in the air.

- Strong
But after her spankings, she knew not to do that anymore.



INT. GIRL HOME LIVING ROOM – EVENING

All the lights in the room have been turned on, and the glow makes the white room glow like a bright heaven. Rich lays on the loveseat in a big frilly dress, her face done up slightly to make her look more like a china doll. She stares straight at the ceiling, her stillness really does make her look like a big doll.

- Rich (dully sings)
I'm a pretty doll, pretty doll, pretty doll. I'm a pretty doll, sitting pretty in the window.

Brother peeks over the side of the couch, then scuttles around to the front. He stares at Rich hungrily as she continues to sing, she seems unaware of the world at large so he reaches out to grab hold of her dress fringe. One of Rich's feet swings up from where it had been hidden among the dress folds and hits him square in the jaw, he reels backwards as Rich sits up.

- Rich
You would take advantage of the world's greatest hero in her weakened state? Knave. Cur. Hellion child.

- Brother (confused)
Rich?

- Rich
Nay. Call me Cat Girl.

Rich stands and glares at Brother, then reaches out to grab hold of his ear quick as a snake.

- Rich
Come with me whore-son, and by all that is good look endearing! That woman needs to see reason.

Rich marches from the room, with Brother pulled close behind.



INT. GIRL HOME GRAND BALLROOM – EVENING

Party sits in one of the chairs, she looks exhausted and too hot in her dress. Sub fans her slowly, which she seems to appreciate. Otherwise the room is empty, until Rich marches up the aisle with Brother still held by the ear.

- Party
Oh baby, don't hurt your Brother -

- Rich (interrupts)
I will speak. First, I must … well, not apologize, but I will recognize that my behavior earlier would be distressing.

- Party (small smile)
I understand baby, and it must have -

- Rich
Second, you will cease and desist in calling me "baby." I am a child no longer, and I will not be called such. And third, you will not marry that man … yet. I will not forever stand in your way, presuming I ever could, but I will require that you first spend at minimum one full year getting to know this man. Do we have an accord?

Party doesn't look like she knows how to respond, but Sub nods.

- Sub
Your daughter makes several good points, ma'am. A year could only make your marriage stronger and happier.

- Party (to Sub)
But I love him! I wasted so much of my life before meeting him, why wait a year now?

- Rich
How many men have you brought home to have that fat old priest marry you? Near the hundreds now? I suggest that you are the type who makes bad choices in the short term. If you really love this man, you will still love him a year from now.



EXT. THE DUMP IN A DREAM – MIDDAY

Cat sits down cross legged beside a small fire, across from Daughter and Under. Daughter looked lost in thought but her attention is now on Cat, while Under continues to smoke her cigarette and pays only half her attention to the others.

- Cat
I did the best I could. She will not marry the man for several months, but only because she now wishes to have a Martyrmas wedding. You will still owe me a favor, by the way.

- Daughter
So we have … roughly three months to break them up. That's a lot better, right Bad?

- Under (far way look)
I don't know. I've been thinking … He's my dad, I want him to be happy, maybe … maybe they really would be good for each other.
Unsurprisingly, I have heard of the Hero's Journey. Perhaps more surprising is that I don't actually know how it works. I know a few of the big parts, like going through the door or meeting the mentor or the return trip home, but for the most part I had to check someone else's notes ([link]) to remember the small moments ... which then helped inspire some moments in the episode! All together, as hard as this episode was to write, I think it turned out really well because Rich, who secretly wants to be the hero, got to traverse the Hero's Journey. Plus, those speeches that Strong and Party wrote were a lot of fun!

Today there's quite a bit of unwholesome language, becausee Rich tends to enjoy using such language, plus some violence and misplaced sexuality. And really this whole series may have any number of things wrong with it, things that should really make me consider putting up the Mature Content warning. If you feel that I should for this particular episode you should tell me, I look forward to discussing the matter with you!

Next: [link]

First: [link]
Comments0
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In