Part 13: the Party
TONIGHT--CRIMSON PIRATE 3V
PRESENTS
direct, live OptiVid coverage from the fazenda
de la familía Alexandre.
NARRATOR: Hi folx, Dave Whipchuck, your Optivid Buccaneer,
here in São Paulo, Brazil...welcome to the Party of the
Century, perhaps both centuries, old & new, because this is the
place to be. This is where it's at, this is where anyone who is
anyone IS.
And that includes me and you, although no one knows that, because
I'm OptiVidding this with my secret eyeball camera.
Hear that band: nostalgia or what? None other than the Golden
StarGods, of course, orbiting right along with their classic
"Dancing on the Rings of Saturn". Haven't heard them in years,
but now they're here to play for a certain still-young lady who liked
them a lot way back over 3 decades ago.
Look who's here: there's the famous Viddy instructor, Maurice
Verne; and the president of the South American States Ramon
Schwartzenegger; soccer champion Chung Wan Lei; oooo-hooo,
blonde bombshellette Pixi Nairobi; and...and there HE is
folx: Niels Tordenskjold, our hero from Jupiter-- so can SHE
be far off?
Aha, there she is: Marucia herself. My God, she's a beauty!
Surrounded by admirerers...but she doesn't seem too pleased about
their conversation, let's get closer.
MARU: ...no, we are not interested in contracting anyone
exclusive media rights; we are doing our best to stay OUT of the media business!
STUDIO EXEC #1: But this one's got it all--The Cosmic Couple
3V Show--weekly sit-com...
STUDIO EXEC #2: I don't blame you, Maru, that guy doesn't
appreciate what the Cosmic Couple is all about--Drama,
Significant Themes, that's the way to go...
STUDIO EXEC #3: Don't listen to them, Maru, we can give you what
really SELLS: Big Special-Effect Extravaganza...
STUDIO EXEC #1: You're both fulla kaka, bozos...we all know what
REALLY sells...hey, Maru, come back!
Another meeting, Maru with an old school friend--well, the friend
is old, anyway if Maru isn't.
MARU: Lindia, is that you?
LINDIA: Sí, it's me. A wonder you can recognize me.
MARU: No, I'm learning what to look for. People don't really
change that much.
LINDIA: Well, you certainly haven't. But, as you can
see, I look older now.
MARU: But you're only 55, that's not old.
LINDIA: No, but not young either. You're so lucky.
MARU: People say that, they forget that they have lived those
years, and I haven't yet. Please don't envy me.
LINDIA: Oh, I don't envy you, Maru, it's just my own innocent youth I seem to have suddenly lost. Sorry, you must get a lot of that?
MARU: I get emotional confusion. For me too. But I'm glad to
be back anyway. Glad I got back before it was too late-- it could have been a hundred years, or even a thousand.
LINDIA: You know, Maru--I'm glad you made it too. I'm glad
you're alive, and that I got to see you again.
....it's 20 minutes to Midnight, there is a real buzz in the air
now. The 22nd Century is gasping it's last...hey, there she
IS: the Baby From Jupiter; Juno Tordenskjold-
Alexandre. Marucia's holding her for the guests to admire.
Let's pressss in a little closer.
MARU: ...she can be here with us for Midnight when the New
Century comes in, and then it's time for little Juno to go back
to bed..
Kid doesn't look sleepy to me, she's digging this--check out that
smile, you know I don't think I've...ever...seen such a beautiful
baby. Giggle giggle goo...uh, excuse me.
One Minute to Midnight! Everyone is watching the clock,
champagne poised to wash down the last hundred years,
30...29...28...
Look at the beautiful baby Juno, she's enjoying this. Her mother
is...what?...holy shit, the baby is shining, there's a
light around her! Now she's...uh...rising up, floating up, yes
she's really degravitating...
(uh, psst, are we getting this?--ok, just checking that I was
really seeing it)...
...hovering just over our heads now, shining like a
Star Child SHOULD shine, eyes closed, smiling, beginning
to turn, faster, to spin...
...8...7...6...
Visions