Dialogue: A Like Supreme

Johnny

This oughta work.

V

1AWell? So why're we here, exactly?

Johnny

1AHeard Kerry got himself a buck-a-mansion here. Done well.

V

1AWhere'd you hear anything about Kerry?

Johnny

1AIn and about town. Screamsheets're full of shit about 'im... Oh, right, you weren't around.

V

1AMhm, your boys' night out. So what, wanna pay him a visit?

Johnny

1AYep. Seems as good a time as any.

V

2BAlways did have some beef with him, didn't you?

Johnny

2BOnly posed as a rebel to fit in, actually desperate not to step on any toes.

2BArasaka's especially.

V

3BYou get along any better with the rest of the band?

Johnny

3BOthers didn't give a rat's dick about me.

3BNancy just enjoyed controlling us – treated us all like sex-scavenging halfwits.

3BWhich was kinda true for Henry, actually.

3BTried to get with Denny – thing was, those two rarely shared the same state of consciousness at once.

V

2BAlways did have some beef with him, didn't you?

Johnny

2BMe? Nah, he's the one who couldn't decide whether to fuck me or boot me outta the band.

V

4AWhich were you hopin' for?

4BClash of the titan visionaries?

4COK. Don't wanna know any more.

Johnny

2BProblem with Ker was he had a dick – meanin' I wasn't interested – but he was missin' the balls.

2BOnly posed as a rebel to fit in, actually desperate not to step on any toes.

2BArasaka's especially.

V

1ASo I gotta hit Kerry's digs, look around, critique the drapes?

Johnny

1AKnow what they're writin' about him? He's depressed, attempted suicide.

V

1AWhat, really worried he wants to hurt himself?

Johnny

1AWho knows. Either way, could give him some pointers.

V

1AMeanin' you wanna go "in person?" Gotta hand you the reins again?

Johnny

1AYes. Behaved myself last time, didn't I? I think I warrant another furlough for good behavior.

V

5AOK. But I wanna know what you plan to do.

Johnny

5ANothin' stupid, I promise. Just wanna see how he's doin'.

V

5AHow you plan to tell him it's you?

5ACould be dealin' with some real personal shit right now, might not be the best time to mess with his head.

Johnny

5AV, Ker was always dealing with personal shit. That's why, in spite of everything else, we got along.

5ADon't worry. I'll play it by ear, sensitively. First things first – we gotta get into that house.

V

5AOK. Just lemme know when you wanna take the wheel.

5BThousand times nope, don't trust you.

5BHonestly, kinda surprised you'd even ask.

Johnny

5BHad to try – but I guess I'm not surprised. Dick.

5BOK. If you change your mind, lemme know.

V

5CNo way, nuh-uh. Rogue was special, made an exception.

Johnny

5CTrue, Rogue was wholly different. Thought you understood that.

V

5DMhm. First Rogue, now Kerry. Who's next on the list of conjugal visits?

Johnny

5DNobody. Just so happens the list of people I consider friends, and who're still alive, is pretty damn short.

5DExactly why I need to talk to Kerry.

V

5EWhat was that about attempted suicide?

Johnny

5EAmateur hour. Didn't even cobble together the right audience.

5ETried to put a bullet through his skull in his room. Bodyguard took his gun like candy from a baby.

V

5ECould just be the rumor mill.

Johnny

5ESure, could. But I wanna know.

Johnny

The hell's this freak tech?

V

Huscle bots. Been here before.

Johnny

Kerry couldn't just hire some Animals?

Kerry

Ooh fuck, remember? The one damn time Henry showed up sober and clean as a whistle.

V

Uh-huh. An' played absolute tripe.

Kerry

Least Denny was happy.

V

1AStill in touch with the gang?

Kerry

1AJust Nance. Changed her name to Bes Isis, works for N54 News.

1ACould track down Denny and Henry if you want.

1AMaybe get together? You know, jam or somethin'.

V

2AYou wanna bring Samurai back?

Kerry

2ADunno. Could do one gig. Play some dive where nobody'd place us.

2AI mean, got my reputation to think about.

V

3AAll right. Let's do it.

Kerry

3AFuck, yeah!

3AOK, send ya Nancy's number in a sec. I'll go after Henry and Denny.

V

3AMhm. I'm not there, figure it out with V.

Kerry

3ASure, uh... you two get along?

V

3ASure. Kid loves me.

Kerry

3AYeah, I bet.

V

4AHow'm I--

Kerry

4AJohnny? You OK?

V

4ANo.

Kerry

4AAh, so you must be V.

4AJohnny mentioned something like this might happen.

V

5AYou two have fun at least?

Kerry

5AHeheh – that a hint of disapproval I hear?

V

5BI'll be fine.

Kerry

5BHeheh – that a hint of disapproval I hear?

4AJust sit tight for a bit, rest.

4ADon't worry about a thing.

V

4AThe hell is this concert thing?

Johnny

4AD'you hear that?

V

4AGets sharper as the pills wear off. So?

Johnny

4AWanna see Samurai live? Prolly won't get another chance.

V

6AOK. Callin' Nancy.

V

7AFeel like shit, too?

Kerry

7ANah, need a power nap. Wanna join me?

Johnny

7ALet's go, V. He's joking.

V

6ANancy? I mean – Bes? Bes Isis?

Stephen

6ANo. This her underpaid, underappreciated assistant. Steven, N54 News, how can I help?

V

6AWanna talk to Bes.

Stephen

6AShe's not here.

V

8ACallin' from Kerry Eurodyne's residence.

Stephen

8ACool. But Bes still isn't here.

V

8BKnow when she'll be back?

Stephen

6AShe was s'posed to be back two days ago.

6AWent to the Totentanz to shoot some stuff, story on Maelstrom.

6ACall back next week, or just watch the news.

6AAnything happens to her, I'll be the first to cover it.

Johnny

6AGot a bad feeling, V.

6AThink we better head to the Totentanz.

V

6BWhat if this ends up like the Rogue thing – one big let-down?

Johnny

6BNah, this is different. Kerry needs this concert.

V

6BSo far, comebacks don't seem to be workin' out for you.

3ANot lately, no.

3AWe don't have much of a choice, though.

3BBut I won't have to explain what happened, all this?

Kerry

3BNah, we'll spare 'em. Hella boring story.

3BBiochips, Arasaka's evil schemes, magic pills…

3BWe'll just say you're my new output.

V

2BBes Isis. Damn, Nance really went for it.

2BThough all I hear is part-time stripper with a thing for Ancient Egypt.

Kerry

2BShame you died. Sure she woulda welcomed your input.

V

2BHow is she in general, besides having nothing to do with music?

Kerry

2BCould ask her yourself.

V

2CHenry probably killed his own liver.

Kerry

2CNah. Woulda heard if he was gone. Got mutual friends.

2CFew calls and I should be able to track him down.

V

2DDenny might still be in the biz. Actually had talent – and a spine.

Kerry

2DYeah, released somethin' not too long ago. Moved to North Oak, too.

V

2DYou just said you weren't in touch.

Kerry

2DDidn't hear it from her. Think she might be avoiding me.

V

2DYou ever leave this house?

Kerry

2DNope.

V

9AWho's that?

Kerry

9ALouise. The ex-wife.

V

9AThe what? Hah, you're kidding. How long'd it last?

Kerry

9AEehh, too long. But don't worry, it worked out well... for her.

9AGave 'er my house in Tokyo, cars, kids… yeah.

V

9AWorked out pretty well for you, too, then.

1BStuff about you bein' depressed – it true?

Kerry

1BNope. Promo stratagem.

V

1BSuicide attempts, too? Think putting a bullet through your skull'll help your sales?

Kerry

1BDidn't work for you. Nobody remembers Samurai.

1BNow you're just butthurt 'cause I managed fine without ya.

V

1BFuck me. Got no answer to that.

V

10ALookin' at 'em now, those really were the best of times.

Kerry

10APlayed fucking rat-infested dumps, argued before every gig…

10AHad no idea what we wanted to play. And never had an ed to our name.

10ANancy – control freak. Henry smelled like zappers 'n' piss. I was always stealin' your pants.

V

10AHella good times, man.

10BNever did get what Denny saw in that guy.

10BI mean, smart imp, that one. Maybe too smart for the company she kept.

Kerry

10BNah, Denny always went for losers incapable of dressing themselves.

10BHank was perfect. Half a brain and high all the time – she got to rescue him over and over again.

V

10BWhy'd she never try and fix me?

Kerry

10BWoulda had to get in line, that's why.

Kerry Eurodyne residence – please wait while I connect--

What?

Huhh?... Can't hear you.

V

Come back later, maybe?

Johnny

Nah, c'mon, we're lucky the dog's even home.

V

You'll never guess who.

Johnny

Fugly as seafood barf.

Hope it was expensive at least.

Somethin's gotta justify this level of tacky.

Fuck, cookie cutter crap straight from a catalogue.

Doubt Kerry picked this.

Always ate out, always.

Ah, beautiful butterfly Kerry emerging from his silky Samurai chrysalis.

All right, I'll give him that one.

Bet he sits here and thinks – the fuck I need all this shit for?

Prolly the only actual necessity in this whole pad.

Johnny

11AWell, now I am impressed.

11APlayed a few of these myself back in our Samurai days.

V

12AAxe like that run us many eddies?

Johnny

12AForget it, we couldn't afford it.

12AThat's Kerry's fave.

V

11AWicked bad collection.

V

13ALooks like he's showering?

Johnny

13AAlone, too. Good thing, believe me.

13AOK, leave the rest to me. I'll get him outta there.

13ADrop one of Misty's special pills, let's go.

V

14AOK.

14AUgh, feels so much better.

14ANow, let's see which're up for show and which're actually strummable.

V

15AC-can you feel it…

15BWe lost everything...

15CThe desire to destroy...

Kerry

14AWho the fuck...?

14AKeep playin'.

V

16AAll right.

16BPlayed enough. You know who I am.

Kerry

14AWell?

14APlay.

14AForgot what comes next?

14AJohnny?

V

14AKerry?

Kerry

14ANo, no, no, this's some fuckin' joke. Hang on…

14AWhat'd Silverhand tell me before he died?

V

17AI told ya to stop bein' a pussy.

17ADid you? Huh?

Kerry

17AJohnny fuckin' Silverhand...

17AThe fuck? I mean – how?

V

17ASurprise.

Kerry

17AMotherfucker.

17AAll right. C'mon, tell me – why do you look like a small-time kleptopunk from the Afterlife?

V

18AThis is V. You'd like 'er.

Kerry

18AThe fuck, Johnny. Doesn't explain a thing.

V

18BLong as you tell me whatcha got in your throat.

Kerry

18BAlways did complain I couldn't carry a tune.

V

17ANice place.

Kerry

17AAin't seen much of it yet.

17AMoved in after the fourth album came out.

V

17AAll sold well, apparently.

Kerry

17AFuck you, Johnny. Don't even start.

V

17AWho'd you sign with?

Kerry

17AShit, with Arasaka.

17AMornings I record at their studio, then evenings Yori pops over for a little neighborly cookout.

V

17AMh, and who'd you really sign with?

Kerry

17AMSM Records.

V

17AAnother pillar of society.

Kerry

17AC'mon. Siddown with me, tell me where you've been all this time.

V

19ASteel yourself for a long story.

Kerry

19AI just really want it to be tragic, sad as all fuck over all those years.

19A'Cause if I hear you spent them with the nomads, open road, wind in your hair…

19AOr cool and relaxed in orbit… And now you've just popped by to shit all over my life, well, I'ma lose my damn mind.

V

20AOh, it is a heartbreaker.

20BListen, judge for yourself.

Kerry

19AWhat'll you have?

19ASit, please.

19ASit the fuck down already.

V

21ALive here all by your lonesome?

Kerry

21ANah. Got my cook, Ariel – but he's off today, Miguel--

21AWhat'm I--? Not your biz, choom. Siddown, start talkin'.

V

17AOK, weren't expecting me, I get it.

Kerry

17AAu fucking contraire. Been waiting fifty years to do that.

17ASee you changed a bit. Nice rack. Sporting a new style?

V

22ANot lookin' all bad yourself, either.

22BYeah, kinda. What about you?

Kerry

17AShit – Johnny.

17AOh man, need a drink.

V

17BTold you to leave Samurai, go your own way.

17BClearly, I was right. As I often am.

17CThis a test?

17CCould just play you another song.

Kerry

17CAnswer me.

V

14BNo. Not yet.

Johnny

14BWanna wander around by yourself?

14BLike a fangirl or somethin'?

V

14BGimme a minute is all I ask.

14BEvery damn time we change things up, feels like a leap off 'Saka Tower to me.

Johnny

14BHm, and need a running start?

V

14BNot yet. Gimme a sec.

Johnny

14BWhat, don't trust me after all?

14BYou ever gonna make up your damn mind?

V

23A"Never Fade Away..."

Johnny

23AGuess if I had a fave, it'd be that one.

V

24AWhat's this?

Johnny

24AOld single we put out. No idea why Kerry hoards shit like that.

V

25AOK, even I know that one.

Johnny

25AAn oldie but a goodie.

V

26AWhat's this?

Johnny

26A"Second Conflict."

26AKerry'd always go straight for kitsch with titles.

26AGuess nothing's changed.

Whoa! It's, like, symbolic.

Kerry

Hang on. You look like shit.

Johnny

Whoa! It's, like, symbolic.

Kerry

Uuh, Johnny?

Hellooo, fuckin' Earth to fuckin' Johnny Silverhand.

Johnny, you still around?

Well?

Answer me.

Bouncer

Like your style.

Minimalist.

Used to have chrome just like that.

ElevatorMaelstrom

Totentanz, too? Fuck, yeah.

Third floor. Press the button, my fingers're numb.

Later.

Hear that? Tinnitus today. Our guys.

This one I like.

Johnny

C'mon, up you go.

Go on. You'll blend in, no problem.

Johnny

1ADen Den?

Fuck. All starting to come together.

No media would ever go for the Totentanz.

Except Nancy.

V

What was Nancy like, back in the day?

Johnny

Used to think she was the only one who had her shit together.

Turned out she was just hiding it well.

Lived with some sick son-of-a-bitch who beat her for two years.

Never said a word, then threw the guy out their living room window one day. Eightieth floor or somethin'.

V

Not much left to clean up, probably.

Johnny

Heh, nope. Did seven months. Once she got out, wasn't much left of her life to salvage, either.

Sq011 Maelstrom Rifle

No, no, no, not another Totentanz.

Scale model. Copied everything.

Sq011 Maelstrom Shotgun

Whadda they serve there, meanin' drinks?

Sq011 Maelstrom Rifle

Nothin'. It's just decoration. Advertisin'.

New tourist trap for the city.

Sq011 Maelstrom Shotgun

Fuck, I dunno, choom. You seen the Totentanz, you seen everything.

Dum Dum

You? Again?

Alone this time, huh? No punk-ass "amigo" today?

V

One more word about him and I stamp you out like a roach, got it?

Dum Dum

Got it.

V

1ALookin' for Bes Isis, N54 News. Know she's here.

Dum Dum

1AShe is. But she's busy. Talkin' to Royce.

1AHe told me not to bother 'em.

V

1AOh, I'll do the bothering. Lead the way.

Dum Dum

1AC'mon, then.

V

1ARoyce remember me fondly?

Dum Dum

1ADunno, hasn't mentioned you.

V

1ARoyce and Bes gettin' on all right?

Dum Dum

1AWell... she ain't too bright.

1ARoyce is bein' real fuckin' patient with her.

V

1AHow'd she get him to agree to talk?

Dum Dum

1ADon't think anyone ever asked him about music, not serious, like.

1AAnd Royce likes bein' taken serious, heh.

Royce

1AWho's she? Another media?

Dum Dum

1AThis's V. All Foods, 'member?

Royce

1AMaybe. All the fuckin' meat faces look the same to me.

Nancy

1ACan this wait? I still have a couple of questions.

Johnny

1AThat's Nancy, all right.

1AChanged things up a bit.

Royce

1AYou think you got all you need?

1AYou wanted half an hour of my time, we're on day three.

V

2ADidn't have you pegged for a music geek.

Royce

2ABut you know everything else 'bout me, right?

Nancy

2AHey!

V

2BWent for a cruise on the "Ebunike" the other day. Your turf, right?

Royce

2BYeah. My people gave you a tour of the docks?

V

2BSeemed a little busy. Might wanna think about a better system than an old Athena III.

Royce

2BHuh, already pissin' me off.

2BWhat's worse, she might be right.

V

3AMaybe one more question from Bes?

Nancy

3AWhy does Tinnitus only play the Totentanz?

Royce

3AHeh. Only place they get the right audience.

Nancy

3AA snob's the last thing I'd ever expect you to be.

Royce

3ACochlear implants. That's what Tinnitus plays on.

Nancy

3ASo each of you is an instrument. Does that mean an element of mysticism--

Royce

3AS'posed to be one question.

V

3BGot some biz with Bes.

Nancy

3BI don't know her.

V

3BKerry Eurodyne sent me.

Nancy

3BAh, Eurodyne, 'course. Where would you put him on the musical map…?

Royce

3BY'know what happens when you filter all the pulp and shit out of juice?

3BGets clean, smooth, soft. Flies off the shelves in corpo supermarkets.

3BAnd what's it look like? Piss, that's what.

3BThat's about where I'd put rockerboy music.

3BNow, get the fuck out. Both of you. Wasted enough time.

Dum Dum

3BC'mon, we'll scan you on the way out.

Nancy

3BGive us a minute?

3BI don't know what Kerry wants, but it's not gonna happen if I don't get outta here in one piece.

V

4ADoesn't seem to me like you're in any danger. Gang seems... friendly enough towards you.

Nancy

4A'Cause they haven't seen all I got.

4AAnd they'll check all the files on our way out.

4AIf they find anything they don't like – which they will – they'll wipe everything. Me included.

V

4BWhadda they mean by scan?

Nancy

4BWe had a deal. I could move around, tape what I want while I'm here, but they'll check my files.

V

4CShouldn'ta messed with Maelstrom.

4CDunno how you got 'em to let you in, but they're gonna scan every damn file before you take one step out.

4CAnd assuming they won't like what they see--

Nancy

4CYou gonna lecture me or help me get outta here?

Johnny

3BAll right. You gotta get her outta this.

V

5ALemme copy the data and get it out.

Nancy

5AThey'll want to scan you, too. Not as dumb as they look.

V

5ANot about to do anything to draw any notice.

Nancy

5AOK, here.

V

5AGot it. Delete yours, then try and distract 'em. I'll sneak out.

Nancy

5AOK. Try the window, guys' bathroom.

V

5AHuh, classic.

Nancy

5AThen circle around the back, there's a sort of... balcony there. I'll meet you by the elevator.

5AOn my way out. Go ahead, scan my stuff.

Dum Dum

5AAll right, siddown. Someone'll come by.

Nancy

5AYa gotta be kidding me. I thought that was your job.

Johnny

5AWould ya look at that – she planned it all out.

V

5AHad time, knows the place.

Johnny

5AHad practice, too. Most of our gigs, she left via the window, had to.

Dum Dum

5AWell, I could, but Algoth...

Nancy

5AAlgoth?! Seriously?

5ANo way. Not about to let him poke through my files.

Dum Dum

5ABut Royce said he made Algoth your "guide"…

Nancy

5AHow's he supposed to know which files are OK and which aren't?

5AHe'll trash 'em all willy-nilly just so as not displease his daddy!

Dum Dum

5AFuck's sake, chill. So if it ain't Algoth and it ain't gonna be me, then who?

Nancy

5AUh, Seppo?

Dum Dum

5AWhy him? Never talked to him.

Nancy

5AUh, kind eyes, good guy.

5AThe elevator! Quick!

5AAh, you're here.

Johnny

5AWonder how that other thing's going – Kerry, Henry and Denny.

V

5AYou still in touch with anyone 'sides Kerry?

Nancy

5AAny-- who?

Johnny

5AHeh, now she's an actress, too.

Nancy

5AC'mon. Car's just outside the entrance.

V

5AWas asking about Samurai.

Nancy

5AHow old are you, kid? That's ancient history.

5ANobody gives a shit about Samurai these days.

5ABelieve me, I'd know.

5AOnce in a while news slows to a trickle, so I try to push through some nonsense about Silverhand.

5A"Where's Johnny? What actually happened in Arasaka Tower?"

5AGot my car downstairs.

5AGot everything?

V

5AYep, send you the files in a sec.

Nancy

5AGot my car downstairs.

5AFuck, why's this elevator so damn slow?

Johnny

5AGrimy.

5AView's to die for.

5AAll right, let's find that elevator.

5ASmooth as 'ganic silk.

Sq011 Maelstrom Machete

5AHey, where ya goin'? Gotta scan ya first.

V

5BWe're leaving. Not goin' quietly, either.

5BTry not to catch any lead on the way out.

Nancy

5BThat's it?

V

5BWant that data out or not?

Dum Dum

5BOh, fuck no!

V

5CBut you came here to do a music fluff piece.

Nancy

5CI did. But then I stumbled on something bigger.

V

5CWhat, exactly?

Nancy

5CStay tuned to N54 News to find out!

5CYou gotta help me get out of here.

V

5DHow'd you plan to get outta this before I showed up?

Nancy

5DI'd've thought of something. Pretty good at improvising.

Johnny

5DMighta tossed someone out a window again.

Nancy

3BWell, what is it?

Dum Dum

3BHey, why you just standin' there?

Nancy

3BWell?

1AYes, but an overly sudden shift in tone would--

Royce

1AAgain, with your fuckin' opinion.

1AFuzz, grit, distortion – that's what it's about.

1AFeel it rumble in your gut, pulse in your teeth.

1AIt's music you chew up and shit out.

V

1BPretty loud in here. You renovatin'?

Dum Dum

1BHa. Ha. Good thing Royce can't hear you. Tinnitus – apple of his eye.

V

1BRoyce, eye. Ha ha. You a fan of your little gang group, too?

Dum Dum

1BWell... more a fan o' the classics, Samurai an' all that…

Johnny

1BLike this guy already.

Dum Dum

1BJust, not a word to Royce, hey?

V

1CWhere'd you get your chompers done?

Dum Dum

1CAw shit! Forgot you ain't seen these beauts yet.

1CY'know the "before," now ya see the "after." Whaddaya think?

V

7AWant the same – twinsies?

Dum Dum

7ANah, you'd look gonk as fuck.

V

7BIf I say the "before" was better, will ya take 'em off?

Dum Dum

7BNah, I'd say you don't know shit.

V

7BOther people like 'em?

Dum Dum

7BI like 'em.

V

1DOne more word about him and I stamp you out like a roach, got it?

Dum Dum

1DGot it.

Johnny

Feels like I know this guy, why?