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GUEST STARRING:
Roberto "Bobby" Ciccone: new driver for Don Giovanni Mazzagotti.
Guido "The Baker" Mancuso: Capo {Captain} to Don Giovanni Mazzagotti and owner of Sweetie Pie's Bake Shoppe.
Sal "Big Man" Bolash: an "Associate from New Jersey".
Tommy "Tommy Boy" O' Brien: an "Associate from New Jersey" and Chris Kirkpatrick's uncle.
Lanie Schachter: one of Tino Mazzagotti's MANY girlfriends.
Rhonda Martini: bartender at The Cheetah and Chris Kirkpatrick's on/off girlfriend.
"Riggs": a memeber of Tino Mazzagotti's crew.
"Spanky": a memeber of Tino Mazzagotti's crew.
Olivia Dupree: a school friend of Abby Mazzagotti.
Roxanne Houston: a school friend of Abby Mazzagotti.
HONORABLE MENTION:
Signora Dona Mazzagotti: wife of Don Giovanni Mazzagotti
Narration: Las Vegas. Means different things to different people. To some it is the place where their lifelong dreams of wealth are just a roll of the dice, the flip of a card, the pull of a lever away. To others it is the epitome of all that is evil and wrong in todays society. A tourist attraction. A desert playground. A hot-bed of activity for the renegades, ramblers and rouges of this world. But to some, this mecca of billion dollar resorts, gambling, sex, drugs and neon lights is simply. HOME.
********
A distinguished gentleman in his mid-fifties exited a building and approached the waiting car. As he did he loosened the necktie he was wearing. A young man opened the door for him.
Roberto: "Headed home, Mr. Mazzagotti?"
The gentleman looked at the young man "Nah, Bobby. I have business with Guido, take me to Sweetie Pies."
The young man nods and closes the door after him. Then got in and drives away.
Roberto looks in the rearview mirror. "Freaky weather were havin', huh, Mr. M?"
Giovanni: "Freaky weather." The older man looks up from the newspaper he was reading and contemplates that statement for a moment and then nods. "Yeah, it's unseasonable"
Giovanni folds the newspaper and looks out the window. He shakes his head in disbelief at the sights laid out before his eyes. The city was bigger than anyone had ever dreamed it would become.
He had moved to Vegas, many years ago to investigate its money-making potential, he had not been disappointed. Merely six years after his arrival, Giovanni had controlling interest in 6 casinos, a thriving construction business, a beautiful wife, one child and three more to follow. He had watched this town grow and with it his fortune but also his heart ache.
His beautiful wife, the mother of his children, gone too soon. Stolen from her family in the prime of her life, god rest her soul.
His current wife, the former Miss Dona Marie Pileggi, an ex-casino change girl, who went virtually from rags to riches over night, when she let herself fall in love with a man twice her age. She is beautiful and charming, she attracts attention everywhere she goes, she is that much of a knockout, but she is also smart, cunning and conniving. Therein lies the problem with marrying a ten or even a nine, they're dangerous.
His children: Suzanna, she's a looker, just like her Mama, she's got brains too. He knows she loves him but he also knows she resents him for the promise he made to her mother. To see Suzanna marries well and that she marries someone out of this lifestyle. Jon Carlo, when he looks at his son, he sees a younger version of himself both good and bad. Abigail, his beautiful baby girl, his pride and joy. He knows he has blinders on when it comes to her he has spoiled her and he knows it, but he also knows there is more to her than has yet to be revealed, he hopes. Then there is Justino. Put simply that boy will be the death of him.
Roberto pulls the car to a stop in front Sweetie Pies, the young man gets out of the car and comes around and opens the door for Giovanni.
Giovanni: "Why don't you come inside with me Bobby. You have to try one of Guidos cannolis."
The young man smiles with appreciation at such a request and moves to open the door to the bake shop. Inside the two are greeted by Guido Mancuso, the proud proprietor of Sweetie Pies Bake Shoppe. And more proudly, Capo to and personal friend of Don Giovanni Mazzagotti.
Guido: "How do you like this weather, eh? Hot enough to make the Devil himself sigh."
Giovanni nodded his head in agreement. "Bobby, eh, help yourself to a cannoli, I have to talk to Guido."
The two older gentlemen walk into the backroom.
Giovanni: "Have you heard anything?"
Guido: "Your suspicians were correct, as usual, seems Justino and his um, friends have quite the cartel going, everything from Xstacy on up to Heroine seems they control roughly 60-65 percent of the narcotics trade in our fair city and the surrounding areas. Much to the dissatisfaction of some."
Giovannis shoulders slump as he sighs.
Guido: "You know I was prayin' you were wrong this time. You and your gut feelings, ain't never wrong. What are you gonna do?"
Giovanni: "He thinks I don't know lets let him believe what he wants. Sooner or later he'll need my help, he always does in these little ventures of his. I hope this time he has the fuckin brains to ask for it."
Guido: "If you need my help, it goes without saying, I will be there."
Giovanni: "I know, Guido and I am thankful."
The two men shake hands and walk back out toe the storefront discussing the topic currently on everyones mind, the weather.
******
It was so humid and hot that when you walked outside you swear you felt the pressure of the heavens on your shoulders. It was the type of day that made you think of bathing suits and lemonade, swinging pools and ice cream cones. It was more reminiscent of the Fourth of July, not of March 25th. This was the type of day the creators of central air had on their minds. This was definitely not the type of day to be driving through the desert in a rent-a-wreck with a broken air conditioner.
Tommy: "Sal, remind me again why we're travelin' in the piece of shit . Why didn't we fly the whole way there."
Sal looked over at the very agitated man seated in the passenger seat.
Sal: "Chris wants us to blend in and you know we didn't fly because we're not even supposed to be here, you know you're on parole not supposed to go within a 100 yards of a gambling facility."
Tommy mumbled something took out his handkerchief and wiped his brow.
Tommy: "Ungrateful little bastard, this is the last time I am doin this shit. I don't give a fuck if he is my sister's kid him and that Mazzagotti kid I swear the jams they get themselves into. No more."
Sal just shakes his head. He knows without a doubt the next time Chris calls up askin for a favor, Tommy will be the one to volunteer. His friend might be a miserable bastard but hes got a big heart.
Tommy: "Sal it's hotter than hell out here."
Sal: "We're in the desert Tommy Boy, whatcha expect?"
Tommy: "Why would anyone want to live in a place like this?"
Sal: "Same thing has been said 'bout Jersey"
Tommy: "It's fuckin March Sal, I was expecting mildly warm temperatures, I mean were gonna freeze our asses off when we go back home."
Sal: "But we ain't shovelin' no snow, Tommy Boy"
Tommy looks out the window, shakes his head. "Probably catch phenomena or some shit like that. And this is supposed to be the scenic route, do you see scenic?. I don't see scenic. I don't see nothin' but sand and cactuses."
Sal: "Cacti."
Tommy looks over at the big man, "What?"
Sal: "Cacti, the proper term is Cacti."
Tommy: "Well thank you Encyclopedia Britannica. Wake me up when we get there."
Sal just drove on. It was near night fall when the two finally reached their destination. Sal pulled their car to a stop in front of a little no-tell motel type of establishment. He reached over and nudged Tommy's shoulder.
Sal: "Rise and shine Tommy Boy, we're here."
Tommy: "Great cause I gotta take a leak. What time is it?"
Sal: "Quarter of 8."
The two get out of the car and walk into the office. There is some old guy wearing faded shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, with more hair on his face than on his head, sitting behind the counter watching Lavern and Shirley reruns.
Tommy: "Hello?"
The man looks up and then back at the TV.
Tommy looks in disbelief at the man then looks questionably at Sal. Reaches over and rings the bell 5 times in succession.
Tommy: "Hello!"
The man exhales deeply and stands up, flips the TV off and walks over to the counter.
Man: "What can I do for ya?"
Tommy: "I believe we have reservations."
Man: "What name they under?"
Tommy: "O'Brien."
The man looks in his little book.
Man: "Ok, just sign here and here. I'll get the keys and towels."
The man walks slowly into a little room behind the counter.
Tommy: "Here Sal sign this shit, I gotta go take a leak. With Grandpa Moses well be here til midnight."
Sal walks over and scribbles on the sheet of paper, as Tommy follows the signs leading to the rest rooms.
Tommy comes back and the two find their rooms.
Sal: "We got three hours til the meetin'. Whatcha wanna do?"
Tommy: "I dunno Chris said this meetin' is at some club called The Cheetah."
Sal: "I checked it out. This Mazzagotti kids got a strip club as his front."
Tommy nods his head, "smart kid."
Sal: "Arrogant son of a bitch is the word on the street."
Tommy: "I guess when you got that kinda money you can be arrogant."
Sal shrugs and the two go change and head to the strip club.
Across town :
Justino Mazzagotti stumbles out of bed and in his search for the bathroom trips over a shoe, steps on the tail of a cat and runs into a wall. The last of which causes him to curse out loud in a groggy voice.
Lanie: "Tino are you alright?"
Tino mumbles something. He finally finds the entrance to the bathroom and closes the door behind him, just as the alarm clock goes off. An arm reaches out from under the covers and hits the snooze button.
Tino comes back into the bed room, now fully clothed and makes his way back to the bed and crawls back under the covers.
Lanie: "come on baby, its time to get up."
Tino groans into the pillow. "Give me one good reason."
Lanie: "Because my father will be home any minute and you know how he feels about you."
Tino rolls over onto his side.
Tino: "You know I could eliminate the problem at the source, and then we could stay in bed all day."
Lanie smiles and reaches over and runs her fingers thru his unruly head of hair.
Lanie: "We're just biding time baby. Schools over in a few months and then I am outta here."
Her wishful look causes him to smile. Their eyes lock and he leans over and kisses her. The sweetness of the moment is lost as her fathers voice echoes up the stairs. "LANIE! Get your ass down here girl!"
Lanie: "Shit, he's home. Tino you gotta get outta here."
She jumps out of bed as the alarm is going off again. She reaches down and turns it off. He stops in front of her leans down and kisses her and then walks over to her window, pushes it open and climbs onto the fire escape and quickly descends to the street.
Lanie gets dressed and fixes the bed and is just closing the window when the door to her room opens. Her father walks in, "I told you to get your ass down stairs."
She glares at him, pushes past him and runs down the stairs.
Justino walks down the alley way to the lot where his car was parked.. gets in and peels out of the parking lot he reaches down and cranks up the radio and lights a cigarette, as his car flies through the streets with little acknowledgment of traffic signals or pedestrians. Within minutes he finds himself in front of Cheetahs. The strip club that for all intents and purposes serves as Tino's Home away from Home. He gets out of the car as Julio, the valet walks over. Tino hand the young man the keys.
Tino: "Do you think you could do without scratching it this time?"
Julio: "it wasn't me, boss."
Tino smirks : "it never is."
He shakes his head and walks towards the entrance. The door guys wave at him, he smiles and nods as the doors open loud music resonates onto the sidewalk. The smells of smoke, liquor and sex commingled on the air, leaving a heavy scent.
From their seats at the bar, Sal and Tommy watch Justino enter the club, shake hands with several patrons, flirt with a dancer, grab a drink off a tray as a waitress walks past him, and then make his way towards the metal stairs that lead to the upper level. As Tino approached, the two huge gentlemen in charge of monitoring admittance to Heaven as it is commonly referred, step aside. Tino smiles and shakes their hands then disappears upstairs. Sal and Tommy turn their attention back to the entertainment currently in progress. Two hours and 14 beers later, they are approached by a young man hand shakes are exchanged.
Chris: "Hey, Uncle Tommy. Hey, Sal thanks for comin'"
Tommy: "How ya doin kid?"
Chris: "Not bad, not bad how do ya like this place, huh ..why don't we walk and talk"
Sal places his glass on the bar. Chris calls to the waitress. "Rhonda, sweetheart, put their drinks on my tab."
Rhonda smiles : "You ever gonna pay YOUR TAB, Kirkpatrick"
He winks at her, she smiles as she clears away their glasses.
Chris leads them up the metal stairs and down a winding neon-lit, hallway past various specialty rooms, into a dimly lit lounge. The room is occupied by about 3 young men in their twenties.
Chris: "Tommy, Sal. I'd like you to meet," he motions to the guy sitting on the sofa. "Riggs, Spanky, and Tino. Guys, this is Tommy O'Brien and Sal Bolash."
Tino: "Have a seat. I understand you have traveled quite far today, how was the trip." Without waiting for their reply he continues. "I'll get right to the point, I have a few problems, um stones in my Shoe, if you will. They are causing my quite a bit of discomfort and I need them removed. Normally I am the type of person who likes to have things handled locally, but these stones are a little bigger than I am accustomed to dealing with. Chris has reminded me of your help in solving our little problem in Salt Lake and well, that is why you are here."
Tommy: "Does your old man know about any of this?"
Tino: "My father is on a strictly need-to-know basis and he doesn't need to know about this."
Tommy exhales deeply and runs his hand over his face. "And what exactly did these Stones do to you?"
Tino: "They STOLE from me, and that can't happen."
Tommy: "Any chance of recovery."
Tino chuckles: "Recovery is not what I am interested in. If I wanted recovery, I could send Riggs or Spanky to do that." Timo gets up and starts pacing behind his desk. "In this world, we are only as worth as much as our name and reputation. WHAT would MY reputation be, if I allow people to steal from me? Fuck that! I am not lookin' for recovery. I want an example to be made. I want people to know what happens if you FUCK with ME!!"
The room is momentarily silent.
Tommy: "Fine, I mean we came all this way. But ya know what kid, you can't have your cake and eat it too. You get your reputation, word on the street is Dont fuck with Tino Mazzagotti. But how long til that word gets back to your old man?"
Tino: "Concern yourself with the task at hand let me worry about my father."
The door to the lounge opens and in walks another young man, tall, soundly built, kind of reminds you of a boxer.
Chris: "Oh, soooo nice of you to fuckin show up, Fatone."
The young man flips Chris the finger and plops down on the sofa.
Tino looks at Tommy and Sal, who are stating at the new arrival.
Tino: "You will have to excuse my associates manners, to say he was raised by wolves would be an insult to the wolves. Tommy OBrien and Sal Bolash, meet Joey Fatone."
Joey looks up and nods, "You're the Jersey boys, huh?"
Tino: "so I hope I have made my request clear."
Sal: "Crystal."
Tino smiles. "Ok then, Chris will escort you down stairs anything you want its on the house."
Chris stands up and the three of them leave.
Tino sits down behind the desk. "Your timing is impeccable as always, Fatone."
Joey: "I had something to do."
Riggs smirks: "someTHING or someONE"
Joey glares at him. Tino laughs and soon everyone is.
Tino: "I need you to help straighten out that little problem with Eddy, tomorrow."
Joey frowns: "I'm goin outta town tomorrow, can it wait?"
Tino: "no it can't fuckin wait. Business first, then pleasure."
Joey nods. Tino smiles as they all partake in some drinks and some of the finer things the club has to offer.
***********
Abby was in her senior year at Mary's Cross School for Girls, located in the now famous 90210 zip code. One beautiful afternoon she and her friends from school decided to cut class and go shopping. A new outlet mall had opened in Glendale and they wanted to check it out. The drive should have taken them hour and a half. Four hours later they are completely lost.
Abby stares out the passenger side window.
Abby: "Who gave you these directions again?"
Roxanne looks to her left and then to the right and to the left once again and pulls out onto a road they've seen before.
Roxy: "Veronica Hopkins."
Olivia is sitting in the back with the map.
Olivia: "Has she ever even been off campus?"
Abby: "I don't think so. Wait there's a sign!"
Olivia: "Yeah we've past that very sign five times now. I say we give up and just hit Rodeo."
Roxy: "I KNOW I can find this place. We're so close..."
Abby: "Yeah well, for all we know New York could be closer to where we are than this damn strip mall. I vote Rodeo."
In the backseat Olivia smiles to herself, she loves when Abby sides with her.
Roxy: "Okay fine. I'm out numbered. How do we get back that way?"
Olivia gives her directions to Rodeo.
Abby: "We should get something to eat."
Olivia: "We could just park at the Regent get some lunch and then go shopping from there."
Abby: "Sounds good, I could kill for one of their pasta salads."
Olivia: "How can you eat so much starch and still me skinny? I swear, if I even look at starch it goes right to my hips."
Abby: "I'm Italian I've been eating pasta since before I had teeth. You just get use to it and for the very last time, there is nothing wrong with your hips."
Roxanne pulls into the lot of the Regent Beverly Wilshire and the leave her car with the valet and walk into the hotel lobby.
Roxy: "Oh my god. Abby isn't that your Joey?"
Abby is checking her hair in the mirror of her compact.
Abby: "I can't believe how driving in convertibles can reek havoc on even ponytails. What did you say?"
Roxy: "Isn't that Joey?"
Abby: "Very funny Roxy you know he's in Vegas."
Olivia: "No Abby it is."
Abby looks up and sees her boyfriend of 2 years, Joey, whispering in some woman's ear as they get on the elevator. He looked up suddenly and stares into the lobby, but a large planter over flowing with foliage hid the girls from his site. As the doors close they saw Joey kiss the woman. Abby stands there starring after him. Roxy and Olivia stand there nervously looking at their friend, waiting for an outburst of emotion. But the sudden calmness that came over Abigail was more frightening than any outburst. Abby looks around, seemingly contemplating something in her head. She looks at her friends.
Abby: "Stay here a minute."
Roxann and Olivia watch as she walks over to the front desk. There is a young guy on duty, his name badge read: William
Abby: "Hi I was wondering if you could help me. My brother is staying here and I wanted to surprise him could you please tell me what room he is in?"
William: "We are really not suppose to give out that kind of information."
Abby: "I know and normally I wouldn't ask but its kind of important."
Abby bats her eyelashes and twirls a lock of her hair around her finger.
William: "You could leave a message I'd make sure hed get it."
Abby leans a little further across the counter, giving William a good look at her ample cleavage.
Abby: "Its personal."
He clears his throat. "I'm sorry its just the hotel's policy."
Pulling on years of drama class experience, she tears up a little. "Please William I really need to talk to him."
She reaches across the counter and lightly caresses his hand.
William: "Okay what's his name?"
Abby, smiles: "Joseph Fatone."
William types the name into the computer. "He's in room 804. I, um, hope everythings okay."
Abby: "It will be now thank you."
She goes back over to where she left Roxy and Olivia.
Abby: "Come on lets go."
Olivia: "We're leaving?"
Abby: "I've got a plan."
Roxy: "Oh god, I didn't bring any bail money with me."
Abby: "Relax, no one is going to jail. I hope."
Roxy reluctantly follows Abby and Olivia out the hotel and into a very pricey sports memorabilia store. Abby walks right up to a sales clerk.
Abby: "I need a bat."
Olivia smiles deviately. Roxy shakes her head and groans.
Clerk: "Well we have many bats signed by..."
Abby: "I don't care who its signed by just give me a bat. A STRONG one."
The clerk looks at her strangely, but quickly recovers. "Well we have this one its signed by Mike Piazza."
Abby: "He's my boyfriends favorite player." She nods, "that'll work."
She hands him her credit card.
Clerk: "Would you like me to wrap that up?"
Abby: "Nope."
He rings up the purchase and comes back and hands her the bat.
Abby: "Thank you VERY much."
Abby walks out of the store followed by her friends.
Roxy: "What are you going to do with that?"
Abby: "You'll see. Do you have any gum?"
Olivia: "Here."
She hands Abby a piece of orange Hubba Bubba.
Abby: "Thanks."
The three of them get a few strange looks as they cross the street to the hotel's parking lot. A huge smile appears on Abby's face as they approach Joey's pride and joy. His fully-restored 1967 Shelby Mustang.
Abby: "Hello there Irene!!!"
Olivia: "He named his car Irene?"
Abby nods as she circles the car and cracks her bubble gum. "Okay you two need to keep the parking attendants busy for about, oh lets say five minutes."
Roxy: "oh Christ, Abby! You're not gonna do what I think you are gonna do." She groans because she knows the answer to her own question. Olivia is so in to this, she loves doing dangerous stuff.
Olivia: "Okay. I'll get the guy at the gate."
Roxy: "You sure you want to do this?"
Abby: "Roxy, its either the CAR or his BRAINS."
Roxy sighs, "Okay give it a whack for me."
She walks over to keep an eye out for the parking attendants. Abby blows a bubble and circles around the car trying to decide where to begin. She smashes in the headlights she giggles to herself as she blows another bubble and proceeds with her revenge.
Roxy and Olivia keep the attendants busy but, Abby did draw a small crowd of pedestrians. One little old lady thought it was funny so she laughed and cheered Abby on.
By the time it was all said and done Abby had managed to smash all the glass, broken the sideview mirrors, dented the hood, roof and trunk, beat in the drivers side door, and left huge key marks down both sides. She stepped back satisfied with her work. She bowed to the crowd and reached down and picked up the license plate from where it had fallen. Then walks off to collect Roxy and Olivia.
Abby: "Lets go girls."
They walk through the hotel lobby like women on a mission. When they arrive at his room, Abby bangs on the door after a few seconds, Joey answers the door in a robe. His smile disappears when he sees the three of them instead of room service.
Joey: "Abby!?!"
Abby: "Hi baby." She hits him in the stomach with the end of the bat. He goes down gasping for breath. The woman comes out of the bathroom and freezes. "You are cheating on ME with THIS. Joey, Jesus Christ, she's not even pretty." Abby throws the license plate on the floor next to him. "This should make us even."
She turns on her heel and leaves the room with Olivia and Roxy right behind her.
Olivia: "That was soooo awesome."
Roxy: "Remind me to never make you mad. You are brutal. but I must admit, that was quite cool."
Abby: "I went easy on him."
Once they get downstairs to the lobby, Abby walks over to the front desk and gives William the bat.
Abby: "Thank you."
He looks confused. "Is everything okay?"
Abby smiles over her shoulder as she walks towards the exit.
Abby: "It is now."
Abby: "You guys still hungry? Beating up a car has me starved."
The three of them laugh
Roxy: "What is that old saying about Sticks and stones?"
Olivia: "Sticks and Stones may break my bones."
Abby interjects, "and my car." The girls look at her. "What? A baseball bat is just a really big stick."
The three giggle..
Roxy: "that's about right."
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