Post by Mack "The Knife" McKane on Apr 19, 2020 20:56:27 GMT -5
-The Ghost Of You-
“At the end of the world…
Or the last thing I see…
You are never coming home,
Never coming home…
Could I? Should I?
And all the things
That you never, ever told me…
And all the smiles that are ever, ever…”
Or the last thing I see…
You are never coming home,
Never coming home…
Could I? Should I?
And all the things
That you never, ever told me…
And all the smiles that are ever, ever…”
(Fuck. the Quarantine. What are you gonna do, fire me? He knew where he was needed...he knew where to go, where to start...but he...couldn’t...yet. And so we see the door to the loft he and Mattie share...eerily quiet. Usually there’s some sort of music blaring that inspires Mattie and there’s her...in the light...fluttering like a vixen, like some sort of muse just...creating beauty and love with everything she does…
...and therein he finds tattered canvas and overturned furniture…
Of course they were here to send a message to him that they could get to him any time they pleased. Mack walked up to one of his particular favorites...a portrait she did of him and found a sizable slash across his face with the word “LIAR” branded on his forehead. He reached out and tried to push the pieces together again...but just like the state of the world, they tattered and fell away. He went into their perfect, untouched room and sat on her side of the bed cuddling her pillow...as he finally broke down. He reached over to the nightstand and picked up a picture of them acting goofy in a photobooth together. He’d never...felt THAT kind of fun...that kind of emotion. She was...she IS...what makes him better.
...and he failed her so spectacularly.
Of course he brandishes the PWS: Apex World Championship as he holds it up to the picture and gently through a breaking voice begins talking to it.)
Mack McKane: We...we did it Matts. We showed ‘em all JUS’ like you said we would! I...I’d hoped you’d be proud of me.
(His phone buzzes and it’s another tweet from Mattie’s account attacking him as he death grips his phone and winces in pain.)
Mack McKane: ...it should be me. I’M the one they want. I was...so scared that this was gonna happen...and I TOLD you this would happen. But YOU...bless your fiery latina soul. You said “to Hell with ‘em” and we displayed our love to the world together and I...still...failed you. I can’t help but think to myself maybe...maybe Everett was right?
(Suddenly Mack cracks his neck and grabs his head...another episode was oncoming.)
Mack McKane: But it’ll be a cold fookin’ day in Hell before I roll over and die while your life's on the line. The tears are done, McKane. Get your FOOKIN’ arse up...and get to work.
(Mack wipes his face, dons his mask, and storms out the front door…)
-True Contrite-
“Forgiving pathetic excuses,
For long term abuse
Is something I could never justify
With GOD.
You live in a lonely state…
Of denial and self decay.
A constant reminder of buried weight…
...you never shed in the first place.”
For long term abuse
Is something I could never justify
With GOD.
You live in a lonely state…
Of denial and self decay.
A constant reminder of buried weight…
...you never shed in the first place.”
(We see the dark silhouette of Mack appear out from behind a tree as we see a skeleton of burnt pillars barely clinging to elevation as the entire place is wrapped in police tape. Mack ducks under the police tape and walks to the center of the house where Katie’s lower tier bedroom directly underneath Ashley’s upstairs bedroom would have resided as he hits his knees...as he brushes through the debris he finds a singed teddy bear...a memory flashes back.)
We see a very uncomfortable Mack at a fair walking hand in hand with Katie as an excited Ashley darts back and forth like a pinball to the various games. Mack gets an uneasy feeling as the carnival’s row of games reminds him a little too much of the Darkest Carnival but Katie wraps herself in his arm and he feels...better. Ashley suddenly sees a knife juggler working a knife tossing game and she glows at Mack.
Mack McKane: Aww c’mon now Ashers, really?
Ashley: YOU PLAY WITH KNIVES ALL THE TIME!!!
Mack McKane: Right but...my powers must never be used for evil!
Ashley gives him the BIGGEST, SADDEST puppy dog pout you’ve ever seen…
Ashley: Am...am I evil?
(Mack looks at the big eyes of Ashley, then looks to Katie who’s also giving him the big eyes, and he rolls his eyes and lets out an exasperated sigh.)
Mack McKane: BLIMEY! FINE!!! But just once!
Ashley: YAAAAAY!
(Mack walks up to the juggler and kinda scoffs at his technique as he pays for the game...three bullseyes in a row, Ashley gets to pick a prize. As a kind of show off, Mack pulls out Cutrina and hands it to Katie making sure the juggler sees the quality of HIS knife compared to the jugglers as he picks up the three knives and tests the points.)
Mack McKane: Oi. Jiggle Billy. Them points is dull.
Juggler: I don’t know what to tell ya man.
Mack McKane: If ya fair, you’ll lemme sharpen em.
Juggler: That’s not the deal, Bub.
(Mack gets a cocky smirk across his face)
Mack McKane: Fine. Jus’ tryina help YOU out…
Juggler: Whattya mea-
(Before he can finish his thought Mack has rapid fire darted all three knives into the dead center of the board. The juggler drops his knives and turns pale.)
Juggler: BUT...HOW…
Mack McKane: Like I said...I was tryina keep you from lookin’ stupid. Now, I believe the lady picks the prize.
Ashley: BEAR!!!
(The juggler shakily reaches over and pulls down one of his bigger sized prize bears for Ashley as she bearhugs it tightly, the Juggler looks at Mack…)
Juggler: Don’t suppose you want a job-
(Before he can finish...they’ve walked off...we flash back to Mack.)
Mack McKane: ...Sunflower.
(Mack hugs it close to his chest as a tear starts to run down his face until he hears a rustling behind him and he turns around throwing a darted knife square in the direction and it JUST misses its target twanging into the wall right by the head…
...of Kenny McKane.
Mack stands slowly...and more knives slide down into his hands as Kenny holds up his.)
Kenny McKane: Right then bruv...I JUS’ came ‘ere for the bear.
Mack McKane: Funny how dad turns out to be alive...you get out of prison...and the house of one of the only people that means most to me in this world...burns down.
(Mack gets into a battle position as Kenny drops his arms and looks at him unbelievably.)
Kenny McKane: Fuckin’ really? You think I had anything to do with this?
Mack McKane: YOU TELL ME.
Kenny McKane: Mmkay...bruv...if you’ll just...LISTEN a little bit…
Mack McKane: If you’re so up on current events do ya RECKON I’m in a patient mood!?
Kenny McKane: I PULLED KATIE AND ASHLEY FROM THE HOUSE YA DAFT BASTARD!!!
(Mack suddenly relaxes and looks at Kenny hopefully…)
Mack McKane: So...so they’re-
Kenny McKane: They’re both JUST fine...little Ashley was just hoping some of her stuff survived the fire and I see the main one she was worried about made it so I THINK...it’d be a great pleasure to both of ‘em...if the man that WON it for her came to give it back, innit?
(Mack tucks the knives away and suddenly just looks around the house despondent TRYING not to break down in front of his brother but he looks around and then gets another notification from Twitter and he just...collapses. Kenny, of course, saunters his way over to his brother and reads the tweet and he lifts Mack’s chin to look at him.)
Kenny McKane: I want you...to search ya heart. Everything you two know about each other...everything you’ve seen, everything you been through. DOES this...SOUND...like HER.
Mack McKane: I...I didn’t think so but…
Kenny McKane: LISTEN TO ME...YA DAFT...MOTHERFUCKER. It’s THEM...they KNOW this is one of the best ways to get in ya head, innit!!! It ain’t her!!! Now...c’mon, then...this’ll do ya a bit o’ good.
(Kenny picks Mack up and puts his arm around him leading him away from the house, consoling him exactly like Mack needed.)
-Routine Pain-
“Have you ever felt lower than anyone else?
I’m feeling lower...than anyone else.
‘Cause everything’s lower than everything else.
...I wanna see how much lower I can go.”
I’m feeling lower...than anyone else.
‘Cause everything’s lower than everything else.
...I wanna see how much lower I can go.”
(We see Mack and Kenny approach a small flat that looks to be a bit haggard as Kenny nudges Mack.)
Kenny McKane: Home sweet home, innit?
(Kenny opens the lock in the door as a nerf dart flies and smacks him directly in the forehead.)
Kenny McKane: GOOD SHOT KIDDO!!!
Little Girl: YA GOTSTA SAY THE PASSWORD NEXT TIME!!!
Kenny McKane: Too right you are, little one! I’m sorry I just got a little excited ‘cause I brought you and yer mum a present!
Little Girl: ICE CREAM!?
Kenny McKane: BETTER!...but just barely…
(Kenny signals for Mack who walks up the stairs absolutely trembling as he takes a deep breath, Kenny steps out of the way, and before he is fully in the door Mack is almost tripped to the ground by the bearhugging little girl attached to his knees suddenly bawling her eyes out.)
Ashley: MACK!!! I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!!! ARE YOU OKAY!!!
Mack McKane: There, there Ms. Ashley...I’m sound as a pound. An’ look what I brought’cha.
(Ashley finally lets go and Mack kneels down and presents her with Sunflower. Ashley SQUEALS with excitement and turns running into the kitchen screaming excitedly at her mom who suddenly flies around the corner with a scared look on her face...and when she sees Mack she busts out crying. Mack stands up rubbing the back of his head awkwardly…)
Mack McKane: ...hey Katie-did…
(Katie storms up to him and slaps him in the face as hard as she could…Mack’s demeanor drops as he wipes his mouth…)
Mack McKane: ...yeah I know...c’mon then...keep it comin’...I deserve it.
(Katie cries harder and pulls Mack in for the most intense hug he’s had in awhile as Mack starts to cry a bit as well.)
Mack McKane: I’m sorry...I’m so, so sorry.
Katie: I should have known...we should have moved after the last time but HE…
(Mack looks around and notices a lack of her husband as he looks at her left hand which is now ringless.)
Mack McKane: Fookin’ WHAT?
Katie: He decided after that attack my past was “too dangerous” and he...he just...left. In a corvette...with his secretary.
Mack McKane: ...well HE’S on the list now…
Katie: No! No...it’s...it’s actually okay. There was never any love there to begin with I don’t think when I look back on it. I’m just glad YOU’RE safe.
Mack McKane: I’m more than blessed that you two are safe...I owe Kenny a lifetime for that...but I ain’t though.
(Katie looks at Kenny who’s looking at the ground but then knowingly looks up at her.)
Katie: ...what happened?
Mack McKane: ...our dad...our dad’s alive…
Katie: That’s what Kenny was telling me...what are you going to do?
Mack McKane: Well seeing as he just kidnapped Mattie WHILE he burned your house down…
(He looks at Kenny who bristles up.)
Kenny McKane: ...Only one thing TO do.
Katie: ...boys...I don’t like the sound of that…
Kenny McKane: I’ll put on some tea…
(Kenny leaves to the kitchen as Mack sits Katie down on the couch to start explaining his feelings and his rage and everything in between as we end the scene.)