Dialogue: A Like Supreme

Sq011 Maelstrom Rifle

Fuck! No fuckin' way!

Remember that tape from All Foods?

That's the rimbo who did Royce!

Sq011 Maelstrom Machete

No. No, no, no. Wouldn't be that stupid to show up here.

Sq011 Maelstrom Rifle

You the one...?

V

1AYeah. What, anyone actually boo-hoo when he went?

Sq011 Maelstrom Rifle

1ALook at this, a chance at a nick in the barrel.

Patricia

1AGet the fuck out. Now.

Sq011 Maelstrom Machete

1AThat's the All Foods punk...

Patricia

1AI'm not blind.

1AWhaddaya want?

V

2ABes Isis – mean anything to you?

Patricia

2AYou work with her?

V

2ANo, just gotta talk. Heard she's here.

Patricia

2AShe's here. But you talk to Brick first.

2AHis call what happens to you.

2AI'll take you.

Brick

2AYeah, if by "alternative" you mean we don't give a fuck what people think.

Nancy

2AOK, then let's say – extreme music?

2AWhat's that mean to you?

Brick

2ALook, lady, you keep tryna slap a label on us.

Nancy

2ANo, I'm trying to understand you. Chaos, a wall of noise and distortion…

2AIt must all form some sort of system or style.

Patricia

2ABrick. Got another guest.

V

3ALooks like I'm interrupting.

Brick

3AWrappin' up, actually. Bes here's overstayed her welcome.

Nancy

3AYet I still haven't gotten answers to all my questions.

Brick

3AMake somethin' up – you're a journalist, should be second nature.

3ASay it's an orgy of noise or whatever.

V

4AKerry Eurodyne sent me. With some biz for Bes.

Nancy

4AKerry? Did he suddenly remember I exist?

Brick

4AYou can go.

Patricia

4AHuh? Just like that?

Brick

4AI ask you?

4ANo? That's what I thought.

4ATryna run a business here.

Nancy

4AThanks, Brick. That was... enlightening.

4ALet's go.

Johnny

4ALet's delta.

V

4ABrick seems all right.

Nancy

4ASure. Just too bad he doesn't know squat about music.

V

4AThat's what you wanted to talk to him about?

Nancy

4AYeah. Tinnitus. The Totentanz sound. What I got outta Brick was scop.

Nancy

4ACar's outside.

V

4ASo, what – giving up on your story?

4AI won't learn anything about Maelstrom's music?

Nancy

4AGot lots of footage, need to look through it, see what I can patch together.

4AOK, c'mon. Fuck, just hope the car's still where I parked it.

4ABrick was the safe option.

4AReally should've talked to the asses from Tinnitus.

V

4AYou got some sorta in with them?

Nancy

4ABrick invited me to one of their gigs.

4AProblem is the lineup – changes every time.

V

4AWhy'd you come here, really?

Nancy

4AWanted to do a story on the music at the Totentanz.

V

4AHeh, no wonder Patricia didn't buy your story.

4AYou all right?

Nancy

4AI've had better days.

4AThat gonkette was sure I was a goddamn spy.

4AWhy's the elevator so damn slow in this dump...

V

4BShould up your huscle on the "Ebunike."

4BJust there the other day – your people didn't put up much of a fight.

Brick

4BIn that case, you should go back.

4BI'll see to it they take good care of you.

V

4BChill, just some friendly advice.

Brick

4B'Preciate it.

V

4DSeems your people're holdin' a grudge.

Brick

4DHeh, hold those better than they hold their iron.

4DShow a little understanding, try not to piss 'em off.

2AV – what a surprise. What can I do for ya?

Johnny

2AThat's Nance.

V

2ASo Brick's in for Royce now.

Patricia

2AYeah. Heard what happened at All Foods.

2AProbably thinkin' Brick'll be grateful, huh?

V

2AWhat, that'd disappoint you?

Patricia

2ANo – and Brick's not in a position to demonstrate feelings of any kind.

2ABrick took over for Royce after the All Foods incident.

V

2ASeems like you all came out ahead, then.

Patricia

2AProbably thinkin' Brick'll be grateful, huh?

V

2AWhat, that'd disappoint you?

Patricia

2ANo – and Brick's not in a position to demonstrate feelings of any kind.

V

2AToo easy, this is goin'.

Johnny

2AWorry later. Find Nancy first.

Patricia

2ATo be honest, should be thankin' you.

V

2AFor what?

Patricia

2AGetting Royce outta the way. Was about time.

2ABut Dum Dum? What'd he ever do to you?

2AEveryone liked Dum Dum.

Nancy

2AI already said, I--

Sq011 Maelstrom Shotgun

2AMusic media. Yeah, you said.

2AHow 'bout we mix it up, you tell us who really sent you.

2AThe 'Tinos? Corpo suits?

Nancy

2AWhy in fuck's name would they?

Sq011 Maelstrom Shotgun

2AYou tell me.

Patricia

2AWorked out pretty well for me, too.

V

2ANo problem. Anytime.

Patricia

2AAll Foods incident worked out pretty well for me.

V

2APleasure's all mine.

Patricia

2AToo bad you zeroed Dum Dum, though. What'd he ever do to you?

Johnny

2AWouldn't mind playin' this venue.

Patricia

2AHow in the fuck you search her, Tondar?

2AThat she still managed to call for help?

Johnny

2AShit, that's Nance.

2ADid a number on 'er.

Nancy

2AHuh? I didn't call anyone! I don't even know her!

Patricia

2ABut we do.

2AAnd we won't have history repeating itself, dammit.

Nancy

2AOh, fuck.

2AThanks.

2ARight. Let's delta. Follow me, I'll get us outta here.

2AElevator, over there. Let's go!

Johnny

2ALet's get her outta here.

Nancy

2ASo, who are you?

V

2AV. Kerry Eurodyne sent me.

Nancy

2AKerry? Fuck, I do not get this, uh-uh.

2AMust have spent too much time with Paranoid Patty in there.

V

2AIt's about Samurai. Talk later, OK?

Patricia

2AGet her!

2AStop!

2AGotta talk. Sure.

V

2BYou the one in charge now?

Patricia

2BNo. A lot's changed since Royce went, but not that much.

V

2BWhat happened to Royce?

Patricia

2BMilitech happened. Think you know why.

V

2BYou the one in charge now?

Patricia

2BYeah. Puzzled?

V

2BNo. Heard a bit about you.

Patricia

2BOnly good things, I'm sure.

V

2BNever heard of you, is all.

Patricia

2BYou'll get your chance.

Johnny

1AWatch out for that one.

V

1BSure did. Why, you got another one?

1BHad to toss the first.

Sq011 Maelstrom Rifle

1BFuckin' jagoff.

V

1CDunno what you're talkin' about.

Sq011 Maelstrom Machete

1CYeah, that's her.

V

1DLookin' for Bes Isis.

Sq011 Maelstrom Machete

1DGuess I gotta spell it out.

Sq011 Maelstrom Rifle

1DYou the one took out Royce?

1DYou the one who klepped the Flathead?

Fuck! No fuckin' way!

Remember that tape from All Foods?

That's the rimbo who klepped the spiderbot!

Sq011 Maelstrom Machete

No. No, no, no. Wouldn't be that stupid to show here.

Sq011 Maelstrom Rifle

You the one...?

Sq011 Maelstrom Machete

Can find a way to handle anyone.

We survived Royce, we'll deal with her, too.

Sq011 Maelstrom Rifle

Exactly what I fuckin' mean, choom.

Ain't here to just fuckin' survive, day in, day out.

Sq011 Maelstrom Machete

Yeah, but Patricia's...

I mean, she can't be any worse than Royce.

Sq011 Maelstrom Rifle

She can't? 'Cause sure as hell seems like she's tryin'.

Sq011 Maelstrom Machete

Say what you want 'bout the guy, 'least Royce had some fuckin' charisma.

Sq011 Maelstrom Rifle

An' what'd that do for us? You, personally?

Sq011 Maelstrom Machete

Um... Dunno.

Sq011 Maelstrom Rifle

Lemme tell you what I got from that psychoboss.

Royce shot one of my knees out once. Personally.

Sq011 Maelstrom Machete

Well?

Sq011 Maelstrom Rifle

Yes or no?

Sq011 Maelstrom Machete

Asked you a fuckin' question.

Well?

Patricia

Whaddaya want?

Sq011 Ws Club Thug

An' I said, "Sebb, cybernips? The fuck, choom, ain't no such thing!"

'Ey! Where you goin'?

Sq011 Ws Club Thug

Switchin' with Baal. Ya told me this shit four times already.

Sq011 Ws Club Thug

Uh-huh. OK. OK, send 'im here.

Maybe he ain't heard it yet.

Sq011 Ws Club Thug

Fuck. Gonna blow...

Sq011 Ws Club Thug

So – break time?

Sq011 Ws Club Thug

Fuck yeah.

'Bout to blow a skull jack, I'm so bored.

Sq011 Ws Club Thug

Thought he left town.

Sq011 Ws Club Thug

'Cause he did. In a body bag.

Sq011 Ws Club Thug

No fuckin' way. Lobo woulda said somethin'.

Sq011 Ws Club Thug

C'mon, you can ask him yourself.

He's sittin' in the lounge, lookin' all kinds of fucked up.

Nancy

Oh, for fuck's sake.

V

Coulda been worse. This way you got a souvenir.

Nancy

Fuck souvenirs.

I'm headed straight back to the editing room. Wanna talk, gotta come with me.

Johnny

Clunker like this, hope it gets us there in one piece.

Nancy

All right. So what's Kerry want?

V

Wants to bring back Samurai – one gig, one night.

Nancy

There is no Samurai without Silverhand.

V

I'll play for Johnny.

Nancy

Hahaha... You?

V

Let's just say Silverhand was more visionary than musician. Got this, trust me.

Nancy

Well, if you got Kerry on board…

What's in it for me?

V

Believe I just saved your ass?

Nancy

Too bad you couldn't wait until after I'd gotten some footage.

Ugh, Patricia – paranoid cuntbag.

Wish I'd stopped by when that other guy was in charge, Royce.

V

No, you really don't. Believe me.

Nancy

We're here. Hop out.

V

All right. So, the concert?

Nancy

Hehh... Tell Kerry I'll put it together.

Be in touch.

V

OK. Thanks.

Johnny

Went pretty damn well. Now call Kerry.

Kerry

Hey. So how'd it go? Talk to Nance?

V

Yep. She agreed, even said she'd organize the gig.

Kerry

Still a control freak. Awesome.

V

3ARan into a few hiccups with the good folk from Maelstrom…

Kerry

3AFuck yeah! Listen, I caught Henry.

V

3BManage to contact Henry or Denny?

Kerry

3BJust Henry so far.

Dragged him outta rehab.

Great story, actually. Henry didn't know Denny's been in Night City all this time.

On his way over to see her now, gonna be a surprise. We're all gonna meet over at Denny's.

V

What, me too? Why?

Kerry

Gonna play with us, aren't ya? Gotta meet the others. Sendin' you the address.

Nancy

5ABe in touch.

Almost there. Building to the right, just across the bridge.

V

Gonna be a gig in Silverhand's honor.

Nancy

What's got into Kerry all of a sudden? Thought he got over this ages ago.

Well, guess it doesn't really matter.

V

A reunion with some old friends?

Nancy

Oh, come on. Kerry and Johnny were friends, that's it.

We just floated around, sometimes got in their way.

V

So whaddaya want? An interview with Kerry?

Nancy

Hah. Could write that myself, straight outta my ass.

I'd want access to all his industry contacts, associates.

V

Not a problem, not as far as I can see.

And your precious story.

Nancy

Mean to ask – how do you know Royce?

V

Biz. Some time ago.

Nancy

Fascinating son-of-a-bitch, isn't he?

V

That's for you and Kerry to figure out.

Nancy

I'll be sure to ask him.

How do you know Brick?

V

Saved his life once.

Nancy

Well, well. Ever thought about joining Trauma Team?

Johnny

Went pretty damn well. Now call Kerry.

V

OK, OK.

Johnny

Shit, this could be its own reality BD.

Denny

You fucking gonked?!

Henry

Denny? What?! What're you doing here?

This is really your house?

This is your fucking pool?!

Denny

You're gonna pay for this, you piece of shit!

Henry

You bet I will! Just so I can come back again!

Maybe then you'll tell me why the hell you left me to die in the street!

Denny

Left you to die!?

Ugh, I wish you would fuckin' die!

Why'm I even standin' here talkin' to you?

Get the fuck out!

Henry

What, now, already? No grand tour?

Introduce me to the fam?

Denny

Go anywhere near them and you're dead.

I kid you not. I'ma whack your fuckin' head off.

Henry

Oh, what, they don't know?

Denny

Don't know what? That I lost years of my life to a scopbag like you?

Henry

Yeah? Fuck – that how you remember it?

Denny

Remember a helluva lot more than you.

Johnny

Hoo boy.

Sounds sadly familiar.

See Kerry beat us here.

Kerry

V! Uh, good you're here. We got a problem.

V

1AThis supposed to be Henry's surprise?

Kerry

1AYeah, I obviously missed a few beats. Looks like he was holdin' some sort of grudge.

V

1ASo he flooded the pool with concrete?

Kerry

1AHenry did often get emotional.

V

2AWhat about the concert?

Kerry

2AHaven't gotten a chance to ask Denny yet. Doesn't look good, though.

Johnny

2AV, talk to them. Kerry'll just make it worse.

V

2ANot really my biz...

Johnny

2AGo, go. They'll get past it in a sec.

2AKerry didn't piss all over himself outta joy when he saw me, either.

V

2BKnow what happened between them?

Kerry

2BFrom what I've come to understand, one day Denny disappeared without a word, then hid from Henry.

V

2BI imagine that wasn't too hard in his state of mind, either out of it or in rehab.

Kerry

2BYep. That is, till I gave Henry her address.

Johnny

See those?

V

What happened here?

Johnny

She musta been renovatin', Henry musta borrowed the truck.

Gonk always was good at improvising.

Maybe they're home – try the intercom.

Right, then. Guess we keep looking.

Denny

This your backup?

'Case you forgot why the hell you came here in the first place?

V

Kerry sent me. About the concert.

Denny

What concert? Why isn't he here talkin' to me?

V

3AWe're bringin' back Samurai – one night only.

Denny

3AThat's what he wants to get the crew together for?

3ASweet, but no fucking way. Not about to play with this shitstain.

Henry

3ADenny...

Denny

3ANo, no way. Either him or me – choose.

Johnny

3ADenny digs in her heels, we're done.

Kerry

3AHow's it goin'?

Henry

3ALike shit, man. Denny wants me outta the gig.

3AAn' we already agreed on everything.

Denny

3AWhat, Kerry's payin' you? That's what this is about?

3AFuck, this's all fuckin' great. So you get him away from me and get the fuck off my lawn!

Kerry

3ADon't make me choose.

V

4AIf we gotta choose, let's play with Denny.

Henry

4AFuck, Kerry! Seriously? She's the one makin' a big deal outta this, not me.

Kerry

4AListen, I'll get you--

Henry

4AY'know what, Kerry? Fuck you. Good thing Silverhand isn't here to see this.

Denny

4AYou done? Get out.

4AAll right. What about Nancy?

Kerry

4AWe've made contact. She's gonna set it all up, let us know.

Johnny

4AOK. About all we can do for now.

4AExcept wait for Nancy to call.

Kerry

4ASee you at the show.

Denny

4AFuck. Now I gotta find someone to clean this up...

V

5AEverything OK?

Denny

5ANo. Just the sight of that douchewad reminded me how not OK it is.

5ADon't worry, though. I'll be past it by showtime.

Johnny

5AWonder what Henry did to her.

V

5ASo his fault after all?

Johnny

5AWell, normally Denny's not a raging bitch.

V

5AWell, pretty sure she knew Henry wanted this concert.

Johnny

5AMhm. Doubt she really gave a fuck about the pool.

V

6ASorry it played out like that.

Denny

6AFuck. I got no idea who you are or why you stepped into all this.

6ASo save your breath and go, OK?

Johnny

6AWonder what Henry did to her.

V

6AThink Denny had a good reason to turn dramamonger?

Johnny

6AShe's not such a raging bitch normally, so…

6ADoubt it was about the concrete in the pool. Actually kinda funny, that.

V

7ASorry it played out like that.

4BRather jam with Henry.

Henry

4BI got exactly no problem with Denny joining us.

Denny

4BShoulda thought of that sooner.

4BNow get the fuck out of my sight – all o' you.

Henry

4BWhat about Nance? She on board?

Kerry

4BYep. Putting it all together. She'll give us a holler when it's all set.

Henry

4BNancy takin' care of business. Just like old times.

Kerry

4BHop in, I'll give you a ride.

V

4CGotta go without one or the other.

Kerry

4CNot a problem – should be able to borrow someone else for one gig.

4CWon't be the same, though.

Denny

4CIt won't ever be the same, Kerry.

Henry

4CWell? What's the plan?

Denny

4C'Bout to run completely outta patience.

Kerry

4CV? Help me out with this, please?

Denny

4CSo? It's either Henry or me, can't be both.

4CWhat are we doing?

V

8APretty sure it's your call.

Johnny

8AFuck. Really pisses me off Denny's on a control kick, settin' conditions.

8AOn the other hand, Henry's got scop for brains. Can't trust him.

V

8AThanks, real helpful.

V

9AMaybe if someone'd tell me what happened…

Denny

9AAre you blind? Fucker filled my pool with cement.

V

9AMaybe he had a good reason?

Denny

9AReally? A reason?

V

10AYou outta your fuckin' mind with the pool?

10AYou knew Kerry wanted to get Denny to play with us.

Henry

10AJust wanted to clear the air.

Kerry

10AFuckin' preem.

V

3BLook, it's awkward. Kerry considers you both friends.

Denny

3BWhat a sensitive guy, shit.

3BGiven he's the one who set this flaming turdbag on my doorstep.

Henry

Just wanted to clear the air.

Denny

Well? Gonna say somethin'?

Why the fuck you just standin' there, halfwit?

Some fuckin' day this is. This gonna take much longer?

Nancy

Hey. Gig's all set up super sweet, like. Tonight, at the Red Dirt.

V

Talked to Kerry? Didn't change his mind or anything?

Nancy

No, no, not at all. He's pretty stoked, in fact.

Haven't seen him like this since the Silverhand days.

V

What about Henry? Still not on board?

Nancy

Didn't even try. Not wastin' my breath on that dicktip.

Well, so, see you tonight.

And don't worry about your axe. Got the gear all rounded up.

V

Couldn't get Denny to come around?

Nancy

Nope. Tried my damndest, but no.