Dialogue: Rebel! Rebel!

V

Kerry?

Kerry

Uh... Johnny?

V

1AV this time. Disappointed?

Kerry

1AFuck, sorry. Don't really get how that show of yours works.

V

2BSimple. Imagine that Johnny's along for the ride.

Kerry

2BMhm. Knowin' him, he don't got no ticket either.

V

2BWhatever. In any case, I'm at the wheel, and rather keep it that way.

Kerry

2BI got it. You'll work too. I mean, cool.

V

1BJohnny's... not home right now. V speakin'.

Kerry

1BOK, OK, OK – so that was just a one-time thing?

1BY'know, like your cheating wife paying you a conjugal after you're locked up? Pops by once to shush her conscience, then disappears for good?

V

1BSounds about right. And I'm sure Johnny'd appreciate the prison metaphor.

Something particular up, Kerry?

Kerry

A job. Of a kind that seems ideal for you.

Corner of Grey and Mallagra. Early morning. We'll talk.

V

Cool.

Kerry

Ah, you're here. That's nova.

Get in, take ya for a ride.

Ziggy Q

Good evening, Night City! Boy, do I have a treat for you! Make that three treats! On the show we have the girls from... Wait, how do you say it? Ass Cracks? Us Cracks?

Purple Force

Ziggy... You can say it however you want, heheh.

Blue Moon

Meowww!

Red Menace

He's pretty cute in person, isn't he?

Ziggy Q

It's a relief to see you girls in such high spirits. I mean, after someone destroyed your equipment truck, it must've been terrifying.

Purple Force

You are joking? It was wild!

Blue Moon

This is why we love Night City. It is so... crazy!

Red Menace

Exactly! Tokyo is so boring...

Ziggy Q

And if a man set fire to your limo right now, what would you say to him?

Purple Force

Invite us with you next time! Pow-boom!

Blue Moon

Hahaha!

Ziggy Q

There you have it, ladies and gentleman – Us Cracks. Don't miss their upcoming concert! You've never seen anything like it!

Kerry

Soon as I saw you that time, thought to myself – those're some balls on that one.

And I definitely need someone with a pair for this job.

Johnny

Never mind the testicles, tell him to keep those hands at ten and two. Always wound up in a ditch whenever Kerry drove.

V

1ASo, what good'll my balls do us today?

Kerry

1AV, some people in this town, they've gone completely whacked.

1AYou, you're gonna help me set things right in this shithole we call home.

V

1AUh-huh. How's that, exactly?

Kerry

1AThere's this little girl group, Us Cracks, right? Three birds from Japan, lazrpop scop.

1AEhh, big over in Asia, but I mean, pff... who isn't? Now, they signed some deal for an NUS tour. Wanna promote it with a cover of my song!

1ACan you believe that?! Not about to let them play me like that.

V

2AAll right, and you got a beef with these chicks because...?

Kerry

2ASeriously? Don't see the fuckery here?

2AAhh, screw it, doesn't matter. Be clear as day in a sec. Just listen to the plan.

V

2BRiiiight... so, what's the plan?

Kerry

1AA truck with the Us Cracks kit'll be comin' this way – got a tip.

1AWe do it old style, like last century. We blow the fucker up. No gear, those bitches'll have to cancel concerts.

Johnny

1AKerry solvin' his own problems... Used to just send in an army of lawyers. They made it all disappear while he tanned his bare ass by the pool.

1AMust be some fuckery indeed.

Kerry

1ABe there in a sec.

V

1BThese your wheels?

Kerry

1BGod no, come on. Borrowed it.

1BSo no loss if we wreck it.

V

1BThat's the plan?

Johnny

1BFuck. Knew it.

Kerry

Hey, somethin' wrong?

V, what's goin' on up there?

Juanita Tseng

Oh my god! Juanita here! Today's news is nova max! Kerry Eurodyne... performed on stage! I'm serious, people!

And with who? With the kickass cuties from Us Cracks! They did a collab on the cult hit "Off the Leash" BUT with a new wild, wild twist!

I saw it live and wow... Just wow. Energy off the scales! Looks like rumors of Kerry's depression were just noisy chatter. That man was electric!

The new Us Cracks single featuring Kerry will have its official premiere tomorrow at midnight.

If you don't get it, we can't be friends! Phew! After the break – Linda Oz breaks her silence on her former ex! Ooh!

Kerry

Here we are.

V

2AWell, well... quite the arsenal.

Kerry

2AWe're fighting for art. Art with a capital A. C'mon, get to work.

Johnny

2AHm, I know the guy – this ain't about art.

V

3AYou got it.

Kerry

3ALay it out here.

Kerry

4ARight. Hide. Quick.

V

5AWhat now?

Kerry

5ANow we wait.

V

6AWhoever's driving that truck – they armed, maybe? Got any huscle?

Kerry

6AFuck, V, honestly?

6ANo idea. Hope whatever happens, you'll be able to handle it.

V

6APlayin' by ear, huh? Ah, wouldn't be my first time.

6BAll right, just spit it out. This a set-up? Flock of medias about to fly in?

Kerry

6BWouldn't mind that, actually.

6BHonestly, no idea what's about to go down. Just... improvise.

V

6CAutomated modules, hollow spikes for better control of the vehicle – standard-issue police tech. 'Nades, too. Where'd you get 'em?

Kerry

6CSame place you get designer drugs, the latest, still-patent-pending AudioVox and fresh Yubaris.

V

6CBlack market?

Kerry

6CNah – fans.

5AThere she is. Right on the dot.

5AShowtime. I take the driver, you get his sidechoom. We want 'em outta the truck!

V

5ASure hope you know what you're doin'.

V

7AGet out! Ground, now!

Truck Crewman

7AHey, man, listen...

V

7AOn the ground, I said!

7CGet out. Nice 'n' easy, no weirdness, nothing'll happen.

Truck Crewman

7CGot the wrong truck! Fuck, we're not--

V

7CI said – easy. Now get down on the ground. Won't say it a third time.

Truck Driver

5AH-hey, man, lose the iron. Let's talk it out.

Kerry

5ANot a word. It'll all be over soon.

Truck Driver

5AUgh, fuckin' hell...

V

8AQuit squirmin'. And no gonk moves.

Kerry

9AWhat's inside?

V

10AYour lucky day, Ker. Crates 'n' crates of nothin' but gear.

10AGot your mixers, speakers, drums, cables by the mile.

Kerry

10AHell yeaaah, we got a hit!

V

10BStuff's worth at least a couple hundred thou'. Really wanna trash it, not klep it?

Kerry

10BPlease... Never stolen a thing in my life.

Johnny

10BFuck me, he really believes that? I remember all my strings getting swiped back in the day. Never had his own.

Kerry

9ARight, gents. Now run along and don't look back.

9AI said, delta the fuck off!

9ANow for the grand finale. Want this set to be a smoldering puddle of chrome and plastic when we're done.

V

11AYou're the boss.

Kerry

11ALight 'er up.

V

11BAh – new signature move?

Kerry

11BMhm, you got it. So don't miss.

9AHahaha...! Fuck yeah!

9AGood workin' with ya, V!

Johnny

9AFuck me, Kerry.

9AMeanin', it's just a truck of toys for some plastic Japanese dolls. Might as well blow up a cotton candy stand, but...

9AStill a big step forward. I hardly recognize the bastard.

V

12ABurnin' real nice, I'll grant you that. Thing is, I mean, what's it actually get you?

12BAh, scared two chooms shitless, flamed a truck... Tryin' to be the next Johnny Silverhand, Kerry? Play terrorist?

Johnny

12BNext me? Hah, please. Kerry's got a short fuse, sure, but ain't no dynamite in that soul.

Kerry

12BYou always oversimplify shit? Nuance, V. You say vandalism, I say artistic protest.

V

12BMmh. And the real reason?

Kerry

9AIf those little bitches think they can make it big on MY song, they got another thing comin'.

9AYou even know what I had to sacrifice to get where I am? The price I paid for success?!

9AAnd those ten-enny whores wanna klep my tune and expect me to just let 'em?! Fucking pig-ignorant hacks.

Johnny

9AYeah, "success." Always a sore spot of Ker's. See nothing's changed.

V

13AWell, wouldn't it've been better to have a lawyer fight this fight for you?

Kerry

13AOh, you're one to talk. I've flashed my teeth and signed papers enough for one lifetime.

13AThis here? I'm sendin' a message. This is how you do biz in Night City.

V

13BThat is how you do biz in Night City. Respect, Ker.

Kerry

13BYa get me, finally. Thanks.

9ACops. Let's delta.

9AYou drive. Get 'em off our ass.

Kerry

9AV, move! Don't have time.

9AGet goin'!

9AWaitin' for a special invite?

9AWhat the fuuuck?

9AKeep your traps shut, gents. No chatter.

9AAh, stay nice an' still there, boys.

9ANuh-uh, calm and quiet. It'll be over soon.

9AAccess card, grab it!

9ALet's go, V! Pop 'er open!

9AFuck, can't keep me on edge like this, V! Whadda we got there?

5AAccess card, grab it!

5APop the back.

Truck Driver

5AYou two whacked?! The hell was that?!

Kerry

5AOutta the truck, on the ground, hands where I can see 'em.

5AV, move! Don't have time.

5AGet goin'!

5AGive those little bitches a taste of American hospitality. C'mon, V!

5AWaitin' for a special invite?

5AWhat the fuuuck?

3AY'know they killed IV Coma right here, in this very spot? The DJ?

3ACloaked AV followed her limo. Almost nothin' left of 'er afterwards... or the limo.

3ATurned out later she wasn't the target. Some Biotechnica suit, busy eatin' 'er out when the bullets started flyin'. Found the bodies... just like that.

Trunk. Grab what's in there.

Johnny

What'd I say? Drives like a fuckin' cyberpsycho.

Kerry

Move, move! 'Less you want somethin' to happen to our friend here!

V, move! Don't have time.

Come on, set those spikes – today, maybe?

Johnny

What'd I say? Drives like a fuckin' cyberpsycho.

Kerry

V, move! Don't have time.

Get goin'!

Waitin' for a special invite?

Get goin'!

Waitin' for a special invite?

V, move! Don't have time.

Get goin'!

Waitin' for a special invite?

Kerry

Oh, shit! Last time I ran from the cops was back in... 2020. With Johnny, actually.

High out of our damn minds, pigs still couldn't catch us. Hahaha...! These gonks don't stand a chance! Fuckin' pigs!

V

Yeah, well, don't pop the champagne yet. Still ridin' our asses.

Kerry

So we lose 'em.

Quicker the better, too. I'm starvin'.

Come on, motherfuckers!

Lost 'em. Haha! Payin' out the ass for you, but it was worth every eddie. Nice one!

V

Yet to see a single eddie.

Kerry

OK. Drop me off on Carnitas.

V

Kerry Eurodyne eats at a dump like this?

Kerry

Chombatta... Best coffee in town right here. Thick as tar, and if they know you, they give you the 'ganic stuff.

C'mon. My treat.

V

1AWow, coffee with a rock star? Eh, why not? First time for everything.

Kerry

1APreem. C'mon.

V

1BThanks, but I'll take an acid-rain check. In a hurry.

Kerry

1BSuit yourself.

V

1BBe in touch.

Kerry

1BAhh, send you the cred in a sec, before I forget. See ya.

Caliente Waitress

The usual, Mr. Eurodyne?

Kerry

Mhm. Double espresso, Jamaican blend. Nothin' else, no sugar.

Caliente Waitress

You got it. And for you?

V

1AWhat he's havin'.

1BJust a regular coffee.

1CNothin' for me, thanks.

Kerry

1CNo, no, no. She'll have what I'm having.

Caliente Waitress

Great. Be right back with it.

Kerry

Whew! Shit... just comin' down now. Whew... fuckin' awesome.

Last time I felt like this was back in Memphis. Last tour, last concert, vibes from the crowd, me on stage...

Oh, fuck... Just thought about those Us Cracks cunts again. You think we got 'em?

V

2AThey really got to you, didn't they?

Kerry

2ALook at this. Unlistenable. That trash is their biggest hit.

2AFuck, anyone could churn out hits like that. Even you.

V

3ANot exaggerating, Ker? The girls just wanna have fun, sing your song to millions of adoring fans. You stand to gain here too.

Kerry

3ANo, no, no, no, no. You know how Us Cracks got started? Bunch of MSM suits decided the world needed this dookie and so served it up sprinkled with millions of eddies.

3AWorld ate it up like it always does. And I gotta be part of that?

V

3ASomethin' tells me this isn't about Art-with-a-capital-A. Not about eds either. You're afraid, Kerry.

Kerry

3AEhh, if I'm afraid of anything, it's that Johnny might've been right.

V

3BDon't believe for a millisec you torched that truck for art's sake. This is about money, isn't it? They screw you on the royalties?

Kerry

3BNo clue what you're talkin' about. Got nothin' to do with money.

3BI just can't stand the thought that... ugh, Johnny might've been right.

V

3DHonestly, to me this all stinks of one big media play.

Kerry

3DNo! Not it at all!

V

3DOh, come on. Somehow you know where to find the gear truck of some Asian dolls doin' a cover of your song? Juicy little scandal for the media...

3DBest case scenario, you know the game you're playin'. Worst – they're playin' you.

Kerry

3DAh fuck... Sure hope you're wrong. 'Cause otherwise, Johnny woulda been right. From the get-go.

V

4AWhat's Johnny got to do with any of this?

Kerry

4AWell... Johnny accused me of leaving Samurai for money. And fame.

V

4ABut that's not true.

Kerry

4ANo, no, it's true, won't lie. But he also said I'd be putting myself on a corp leash.

V

4AAnd that's not something you'll admit to.

Kerry

4AThe Us Cracks thing...

4AWhat if I'm a product just like those dolls? Drownin' in dirty money, 'stead of swimmin' in it.

V

5ALook, not like we know each other that well, but trust me – you got a rocker's soul... and a rocker's balls.

Kerry

5AHeh, thanks...

V

5AThis city doesn't forgive, it eats people alive. But you – well, you survived.

Kerry

5ANever thought about it that way. You may be right, doll.

5ABetter be goin'.

5AThanks for, uh... you know.

V

5ADon't mention it.

5BKerry, this shit's straight binary. Wanna be free? Keep the right to rebel?

5BShouldn'ta signed a multimillion-eddie deal with the biggest media conglomerate in the country.

Kerry

5BV, seriously think that? They got the rights to my songs, but fuck, not to me!

V

5BThat's not how this city works. There's a contract. There's no "you."

Kerry

5BYou're wrong. And I'll prove it to ya.

V

5BSure hope so, Ker.

5CJohnny's dead.

Kerry

5CSo they say.

V

5CYou're alive. Decide whose truth matters to you more – yours or someone else's.

Kerry

5CThat a trick question?

V

5COnly if you don't have the 'nads to answer it honestly.

4BJohnny's dead.

Kerry

4BSo they say.

V

4BYou're alive. Decide whose truth matters to you more – yours or someone else's.

Kerry

4BThat a trick question?

V

4BOnly if you don't have the 'nads to answer it honestly.

Kerry

Better be goin'.

Thanks for, uh... you know.

V

Don't mention it.

V

Tell you this much – if they don't back out now, gimme a call. We'll convince 'em another way.

Kerry

Thanks. Hope they're off my sonar now, 'cause if not... shit. Last thing I want is Johnny to've been right all along.

V

8ASo, what's good?

Kerry

Ehh, had almost nothin' left over for food, but we still went across the street every day, right to Caliente.

Stuffed our faces, downed joe by the gallon.

Johnny said we were so hungry and high we woulda eaten the cardboard boxes out from under the bums outside.

'Course he was wrong.

V

So even after all the years you're still a regular. 'Bout time they hung your picture on the wall.

Kerry

Fuck... They really should.

When Samurai started out, we spent every enny we had on guitars, strings, y'know...

Hey, Rachel!

Caliente Waitress

G'morning.

Johnny

Know this dump. Know that smell. But how...?

Kerry

Sit, sit.

Make up your mind, woman.

V

Hey, Kerry.

Kerry

You know what I'm lookin' at? Us Cracks concert announcement. This is not fucking happening!

V

Wait, what? I thought we took care of it.

Kerry

Truck didn't do shit! They just postponed the gig.

Look, meet me outside the club. Little push didn't work, now we gotta shove.

V

1AWhat now? Gonna plant a bomb in the club?

Kerry

1ANah, gonna talk to 'em.

V

1AOK, good, 'cause I thought--

Kerry

1ABring your heat.

V

1BAll right, see ya outside the club.

Kerry

1BBring your heat.

V

1CTried talkin' to the label, didn't you?

Kerry

1CWhaddaya think I did first? I sent my manager after 'em. Yeah, helluva lot that did.

1CSent me back a crate of fine whiskey and started bombarding me with PR shit every two seconds, remindin' me about our deal. Fuck 'em.

Guard Main Entrance

Back of the line.

Back of the line.

V

It's sold out, definitely?

Guard Main Entrance

'Parently been sold out a while. 'Course, no surprise there.

Kerry

Pfff. I'm surprised.

Guard Main Entrance

1AAll right.

1ATickets?

1ANo ticket, no entry.

1AAhh…

1AWhat is it with you two?

V

1BHang on, we'll be back.

Guard Main Entrance

1BWhatever.

Can't letcha in without a ticket.

Kerry

'Bout time. Hey!

C'mon. Time to lay it out for those little idiots. Their fifteen minutes is up.

V

2AHey, so, what's the plan?

Kerry

2ASimple. We get in the club, find the little sluts' dressing room, do our thing – delta.

2AThing is, I can't be seen. Not about to give 'em any free PR.

V

2AUh-huh. Pretty sure you gave 'em enough already. Burning truck was everywhere – all the sheets, all the feeds.

Kerry

2ADon't get smart. Tell me how we get inside.

V

2AHey, so, what's the plan?

Kerry

2ASimple. We get in the club, find the little sluts' dressing room, do our thing – delta.

2AThing is, I can't be seen. Not about to give 'em any free PR.

V

2AUh-huh. Pretty sure you gave 'em enough already. Burning truck was everywhere – all the sheets, all the feeds.

Kerry

2ADon't get smart. Tell me how we get inside.

V

2BHey, wild idea I got.

2BHow 'bout we forget the whole thing and just enjoy the show?

Kerry

2BPlease stop. Won't be no show. And you're gonna help me make sure of that.

V

2BHow might we do that?

Kerry

2BSimple. We get in the club, find the little sluts' dressing room, do our thing – delta.

2BSo, step one. Any idea how to get in?

V

2BHey, wild idea I got.

2BHow 'bout we forget the whole thing and just enjoy the show?

Kerry

2BPlease stop. Won't be no show. And you're gonna help me make sure of that.

V

2BHow might we do that?

Kerry

2BSimple. We get in the club, find the little sluts' dressing room, do our thing – delta.

2BSo, step one. Any idea how to get in?

V

3ALook, sometimes simplest is best – we just buy tickets.

Kerry

3AOK, first... you whacked?! Not about to let those bitches make an enny off of me.

3ASecond... it's sold out.

V

3ACool. We'll find a way in anyway.

V

Let's look around.

V

5ALook, sometimes simplest is best – we just buy tickets.

Kerry

5AOK, first... you whacked?! Not about to let those bitches make an enny off of me.

5ASecond... it's sold out.

V

5ACool. We'll find a way in anyway.

Vip1

Heard they're huge in Mumbai and Tokyo. Know how much golden circle tickets went for? More than our last bonus, choom.

Vip2

No fuckin' way! And that deal with Kiroshi? You know our guys tried talkin' to 'em. Heard a hundred million, practically popped their officechrome.

Vip1

Still got on the manager's list, got passes. We'll see what the million-eddie fuss is about.

Vip2

Fuck yeah! Heheheh...

V

6ADon't have a spare couple of tickets, do ya?

Vip1

6ANo.

Vip2

6AWord is they're sold out. I mean, we got VIP passes, so...

V

7AHow's things? Can't wait either? Heard the girls crank it out preem.

Vip1

7AHeard that too.

Kerry

7AI heard they're overhyped Asian bubblegum scop.

Vip2

7AGuess we'll know in a sec.

V

7AHave fun.

7BSure, sure. Be on our way, then.

Vip1

7BYeah.

Kerry

Could've said you found a ladder. Toss it down.

Shouldn't there be a ladder or somethin'? Fire escape – whatever?

Gonna keep me standin' here long?

Great. Thanks for nothin', partner.

V

Fucked up, I know. But you're in now.

Kerry

Yeah, 'cause I told 'em who the hell I was.

Better start tryin' harder, fuckin' up less.

Buyer1

Choom, that's your ask for fuckin' Sector D?! Come on...

Buyer2

Eh, you're anglin' for windfall, but you're gonna be left holdin' those tickets, lookin' droopy like a flaccid prick.

Ticket Seller

Ya heard my price. Take it or beat it.

Buyer1

Fuuuuuck... Fuckin' gonked.

Buyer2

Told ya we shoulda gotten 'em on presale.

Ticket Seller

I got your tickets right here. Preem seats, even better price.

V

8AAll right, gimme two.

Ticket Seller

8ANova. Enjoy the show.

V

8AAnd we're in.

Kerry

8AI told you, I refuse to give those hacks a cent. Don't even try and put those on my bill.

V

8AYeah, yeah...

Kerry

8AWow... Great job, V. Money in those sluts' pockets.

8ADunno, maybe I wasn't clear, but I'm pretty sure I said--

V

8AShut up. You're not an enny poorer, and we'll be inside in a sec.

8CKnock the price down a notch, we'll talk.

Kerry

8COh, fuck's sake...

Ticket Seller

8CWould if I could, hon, but no dice. Gotta walk away with somethin' in my pocket too, ya get me?

V

8DDon't think you went a little overboard with the markup?

Ticket Seller

8DChoom, I had to front the eds, get the tix off the market, pay for the ID removal... Barely comin' out ahead as it is!

V

8DNot the only scalper out here. Kazzi, Flann, Madame Fix'd – know 'em all, right?

Ticket Seller

8DYeah...

V

8DProlly coverin' some other event, but hey – all I gotta do is call. Guarantee you one of 'em'll procure some tix, stop by and start hawkin' 'em for half your price.

8DAnd if it happens to be Flann, he'll pound your face in for the hell of it. Flann don't like punks like you ruinin' the market. So – what'll it be?

Ticket Seller

8DO-OK, OK, uh, special discount. I'll cut my losses.

V

8EThat much? Dream on, man.

Ticket Seller

8ENo problem. You wanna see that concert, you gotta play nice. Won't get tickets anywhere else.

V

9AHow much for tix?

Kerry

9AV! What'd I tell you?!

Ticket Seller

9ATriple the box office and they're yours.

Buyer1

9AChoom, nobody gonna pay that. Nobody!

Buyer2

9AWell, gonna be left with nothin' to do but shove 'em right up your ass.

Ticket Seller

9AYour loss.

V

9BThat much demand for this stupid show?

Ticket Seller

9BPut it to you this way – two weeks ago, Lizzy Wizzy's gig, even those tix didn't go as fast.

9BPeople gonkin' over Us Cracks. Can't get enough.

Kerry

9BPeople are single-cell amoebas. Swarm anything advertisers throw at 'em.

Ticket Seller

9BWhatever. But I'm down to my last two. Want 'em or what?

Kerry

10A'Bout time. Hey!

10AC'mon. Time to lay it out for those little idiots. Their fifteen minutes is up.

Could use some badges or somethin'. Somewhere here?

Vip1

Yeah?

Guard Main Entrance

Back in line, let's go!

Guard Main Entrance

C'mon, c'mon!

Vip1

Sorry, we're kinda in the middle of somethin' here...

Vip2

Whatever your thing is, we're not interested.

Guard Backstage

Passes?

Guard Backstage

1AIn ya go.

Makeup Girl1

1AProlly gonna send Ronnie over to Europe.

Makeup Girl2

1AHe tell 'em you were pregnant?

Makeup Girl1

1ASure, but he can't opt out, we're still payin' off his implants.

Makeup Girl2

1AAw, it's not that bad. They locked mine up when Diego was barely one. Look how he turned out without a father.

Makeup Girl1

1AHeh, hon, not judgin', but Diego's mannin' corners for the 'Tinos...

Makeup Girl2

1AHe's earning his own eddies. I don't know what you're talking about.

Lightning Guy

1AFucking Japanese markers.

1AHow the fuck am I supposed to know what goes where.

1AThat's it, fuck it. I'm going back to installing feed cables.

Guard Backstage

1AIn ya go.

V

1BChoom, come on, help us out. Left 'em inside.

Guard Backstage

1BNah, can't. Try the main door, they'll check the list.

V

1BYeah, but by that time the holoprojectors'll be on and outta whack. I'll have to recalibrate, and no way this show starts on time.

Kerry

1BAnd then it's sayonara, choom. You're out, 'cause ain't no way we're takin' the fall.

Guard Backstage

1BFuck. Alright, go. Staple 'em to your fuckin' foreheads next time, will ya?

V

1BThanks, pal. Just saved the show.

Kerry

1B"Recalibrate holoprojectors." How you even know shit like that?

V

1BPast life. Worked backstage for G-Hung for a time, learned some things. Finally came in handy today.

Kerry

Hah, club gigs. Amateur hour. They were any good, they'd be fillin' stadiums.

Hah, club gigs. Amateur hour. They were any good, they'd be fillin' stadiums.

V

How's it lookin' pre-show? Everything in order?

Guard Backstage

Yeah... Had some hiccups with the sound, little starlets wanted their own matrixes, some custom-made Japanese shit.

Boys couldn't figure out how link it all up. Dunno, apparently it's all good now.

Kerry

Yeah, "sound system"... Must be one of those smart vocoders. Do the whole damn job for 'em.

V

We're crew.

Guard Backstage

Crew passes, then.

V

Forgot 'em, you know how it is.

Guard Backstage

No passes, no passage.

V

Chill. We'll get our passes, be right back.

Guard Backstage

So where's your badge?

Find 'em?

Well, got 'em?

Yeah, go.

V

2AHey.

Roadie

2AHeyyyy there. How you doin'?

2AHey. male V only

V

2BIs this spot free? Mind if I...?

Roadie

2BIt's got your name on it. female V only

2BSure. Free country, ain't it? male V only

V

3BHear 'bout that truck? Full of the girls' gear? All blew up?

Roadie

3BSure did. Guy at the bottom gets the short end of the stick always.

Kerry

3BGirls aren't exactly at the bottom.

Roadie

3BNo, I'm talkin' about the drivers. Got fired, both. For "leaving the scene," not bein' there give the cops information.

Kerry

3BMusta been a pain for the girls, though. Gear destroyed, gig delayed. Think it mighta been someone sendin' a message?

Roadie

3BNah. Shit was insured. Prolly get more scratch outta this than that junk was worth.

3BBesides, what's some truck to them? Couldn't give a shit, prolly didn't even know about it. What their manager's for, ain't it?

Roadie

Wanna meet 'em, hon? I can set it up. No problem. female V only

V

7AHm. Think I'd rather get to know you better. female V only

Roadie

7AYou're all right, kitten. What's your name? female V only

V

7AV. You? female V only

Roadie

7ADonnie. But you can call me "D". female V only

7AHow about we get outta here for a few minutes? Maybe even a few more, if you're lucky? female V only

V

8AAnother time. female V only

Roadie

8AAll right, I'm a gentleman, I won't make you. You'll change your mind, though. female V only

V

8BKnow what? Fuck off. female V only

Roadie

8BOoooh... female V only

V

7BLook, everybody says they know so-and-so. Always turns out they don't know shit. female V only

Roadie

7BBlue Moon, Purple Force, Red Menace... female V only

V

7BWhole world can rattle that off. female V only

Roadie

7BTrue... but look. They ain't here, you are. How 'bout we focus on you, huh? female V only

7BNice eyes you got. Kiroshi? female V only

V

7CMaybe later. female V only

Roadie

7CIf not now, when, hon? Be the end of the world and you'll still be givin' me maybes. female V only

Like I was banging 'em, choom. male V only

Chill chicks. male V only

V

9AThose cracks'll be yours, I got you. male V only

Roadie

9ABe my wingman, huh? male V only

V

9AThree choombas. You, me and my man, Ke-- Ken. Who could resist? male V only

Roadie

9AY'know what? Not s'posed to like the new guys, right? But what the fuck. You're all right. male V only

V

9BOver here – beer for my choom. male V only

Roadie

9BThanks, man. I'm fuckin' beat. Fifteen goddamn hours to set that shit up. male V only

9BAnd then we had to figure out those fuckin' winch encoders with the Japanese, 'cause naturally they got their own fuckin' algorithms... Showbiz? Shitbiz, tellin' ya. male V only

V

9BYeah, gettin' out after this gig for good. male V only

Roadie

9BHell yeah, man. Run far as you can from this fuckin' mess. From these... stars an' shit. male V only

V

9BAmen, brother. male V only

V

10AG'luck. Gotta run. male V only

Roadie

10ACool, cool. So after, grab a beer and get to work on the girls...? male V only

V

10AMhm. male V only

10BWhich Crack's your fave? male V only

Roadie

10BChoom, how can you possibly choose?! Blue Moon? Or no, wait – Purple Force. male V only

10BLooks so innocent, but soon as she starts talkin' dirty on stage, even without the AudioVox, she got me standin' right to attention! male V only

Kerry

10BYep... gonna puke. male V only

V

You know the girls, like, personally?

Roadie

And Blue Moon told me at rehearsal they haven't had this quality sound in a long time. No artefacts, no reverb.

So I says to her, I know a way you can thank me after, heh...

Roadie Girl

And what'd Blue Moon say?

Roadie

Told me to do my fucking job and set up the tech. But you know – with all that make-up on, hard to say what they're really thinking.

V

11ANeed a pass to the dressing rooms.

Kerry

11AGuy there. Roadie. So he's done with his job for now. He's gonna wanna drink, get himself some strange.

V

11AUh-huh. So he won't be needin' that card.

Kerry

11ADistract him. I'll grab the pass.

V

11BLeast it's here and not at one of your sold-out stadiums. Woulda had to contend with huscle, medias, fuckin' NCPD drones, NetWatch...

Kerry

11BDon't get smart on me. Look for a way backstage.

Ahh... Gotta figure something out quick. Those cunts're gonna start singin' soon.

Gotta get backstage.