The Ballad of Roxanne Pelligrini
Written by: Craig Phillips
The characters herein this story is the property, copyright © and registered ® trademarks of Hasbro. The characters Jonathan Lawrence Patterson, Christopher Michael, Max Rogers, Edwin Pelligrini, Steve Pelligrini, Tyler McConnell, and Manic Deeds are my creations. The story itself belongs to me and is copyright ©. Reproduction of this story in any manner without prior written consent is strictly prohibited.
One word of warning, I do not believe in censorship of any kind, and therefore what you read is what you get.
Chapter 1 (Crash and Burn)
The Misfits had just completed their final rehearsal for the night. They all exchanged proud glances; they knew the spark was back. The group had been working five straight hours a day for four months in the studio in order to complete their latest album. They were going to call it "The Misfits: Hotter than Hell." The title was the brainchild of keyboardist and principal songwriter, Mary Phillips, better known as Stormer. Things were not all that great with the band, in fact fans wondered if they'd ever get back together again.
After the band made peace with Jem and the Holograms, two and a half years went by since they had a hit record. Their former manager, and partner Eric Raymond had been found guilty of embezzlement. He was subsequently sentenced to thirty-five years in prison, with possible parole in twelve. To make matters worse, with the entire PR and promotions going to their rival band The Stingers (a German based rock band led by ego-centric Rory Llewellyn, also known as Riot), The Misfits had been put on the back burner, by Eric and their career began to cool. The coup de grâce, came when Stormer burst into the studio holding a letter from Phyllis "Pizzazz" Gabor (daughter of billionaire Harvey Gabor) stating that she had joined The Stingers.
At first, none of the remaining Misfits believed that Pizzazz would ever do such a thing. She hated The Stingers, especially Riot. They made her a fool, and embarrassed the hell out of her. Her reputation in front of Riot was tarnished, causing her to slip into a deep depression.
Things only got worse for The Misfits. They blamed each other for allowing this to happen. Granted this was nothing new. Fighting was just par for the course, but this was worse. In fact in one instance, Sheila "Jetta" Burns (the hot tempered Briton saxophonist) got into a fist fight with Roxanne "Roxy" Pelligrini. In the end, Roxy ended up with a black eye and bloody lip. Jetta on the other hand, lost two teeth when a connecting blow from Roxy made contact on her face.
Stormer, being the youngest Misfit and the one less likely to be on the business end of Roxy's fist, looked at her band mates with a heavy heart.
"What's happened to us?" Mary said softly,"I have never seen you two go after each other with almost a deep hatred."
"Bugger off Stormer, what the hell do you care?" Jetta scolded. "Roxy is a freak! An illiterate bloody freak," she grabbed a small towel from the grand piano, and held it to her mouth to control the bleeding.
"Jetta, you say one more freakin' word, and you'll wish you'd never been born," Roxy looked at Jetta with piercing eyes. Stormer winced at the thought of more violence. Quickly she walked into the next room which had a small kitchen, and sat at the table. Her head was in her hands, and she was completely lost emotionally that her band was falling apart. All her life she loved music, but she was always too shy to play for anyone. Anyone, that is except for her older brother Craig. She adored Craig; though he could be very over protective she still loved him. When their parents died, Craig got a job to help support his younger sibling. They inherited their parents' home, and were willed some money.
(Flashback 1984)
One summer, Stormer and her older brother Craig were up in the attic looking for some family portraits to hang on the wall. Craig spotted an old keyboard that their mom got for Stormer when she was eight.
"Hey Mary, check this out!" Craig exclaimed. Stormer looked up and tears welled in her eyes.
"Oh, Craig I could never play that now. Not with mom gone," She sniffed, and wiped away her tears. Craig came over and held his little sister tightly.
"Mary, mom would never want you to quit just because she's gone." Craig lightly lifted her chin, and smiled. "You have mom's eyes Mary, and you have her gift of music in your veins," He gave his sister a reassuring smile.
"I…I don't know Craig," she sighed heavily. "Mom taught me everything I know about music, but I am still so scared."
"Scared of what?" Craig inquired.
"Craig I am scared that playing again will only trigger heartache. Mom was my strength, I felt so confident, and she gave me hope of maybe one day becoming a star," she turned and picked up a small picture frame of her and her mother. It was taken when she was seven years old. As she looked at her mom's face, a few tears dripped upon the glass.
"Mary, mom's gifts to you will never die. Just so long as you don't let them die," Craig took Stormer's hand. "I want you to play again Mary. Your talents should be shared with the world, and not hidden. Don't forget, mom will always be in your heart."
Stormer hugged her brother and went and grabbed the keyboard. It was pretty dusty, and she hoped it still played. She dug around in a small box and found the AC adaptor for it. She plugged it in and let out of a sigh as she powered it up. As she looked at the mini display, she chose a piano/string combination and began to play. The notes filled the attic with almost a majestic fluidity. Craig watched his sister, and just closed his eyes. He envisioned Mary on the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York, playing in front of a full house. He had not realized that she had stopped playing, so he was a bit surprised to see her standing over him.
"What were you thinking about Craig?" Stormer asked in a quiet voice.
"Sis, I was thinking of you playing in New York at Carnegie Hall." Craig smiled.
She giggled. "Craig you're full of it." And with that, they grabbed a couple of portraits and headed downstairs with Stormer behind her brother. Stormer took one last look at her keyboard, and turned off the light.
(Present day)
Stormer returned to the control room, but noticed that Jetta was gone. However, Roxy was still in the live room. She started to head over to the live room door, but stopped when she heard Roxy sit at the piano and begin playing and singing. Stormer walked over to the recording council, activated the microphones for the piano, and for Roxy's vocals. She then turned on the recording deck in order to capture the remainder of the song she was hearing.
Roxanne Pelligrini (her last name being of Italian decent) was from Philadelphia, a tough as nails street urchin. She'd run away from home at age fifteen to get away from her abusive aunt and uncle.
(Flashback 1965)
When she was only six months old, her mother had died from complications of pneumonia. Her father could not support a child due to the high medical bills incurred during his wife's illness. He thought it was in Roxanne's best interest that she was given to a more financially stable family member; his brother Edwin. Roxanne's father did not count on his brother drinking heavily again. Nevertheless, he left Roxanne with his brother and wife. That was the last time he was heard of again.
By the time Roxanne reached ninth grade, she developed a very deep rebellious side. She hated school, because she still struggled with reading. In fact, she could not form words or sentences when she opened a book. Roxanne was teased brutally by her classmates when they found this out. She withdrew, and sat alone in a corner holding on to a small stuffed tiger she had pulled from her backpack. One Friday morning, Her teacher Mrs. Grainger did her best to tutor the young Roxanne; however, the damage was done. Roxanne slammed her books down and ran out the classroom. She was so angry and hurt by how cruel the kids had been to her, and even more betrayed by her lack of reading skills.
"ROXANNE PELLIGRINI! You better show your face! You are in deep trouble young lady," The deep and drunken voice of her uncle scared Roxanne badly. She ditched school, and she knew she was in for punishment.
She hid in her walk-in closet and scrunched into a ball. She was shaking all over, and her eyes stung with tears. Her uncle kicked opened her closet, which made Roxanne jump and shriek. She clutched onto her knees and was shaking violently.
"Get your worthless ass over here now!" He had a drink in his hand which he threw at Roxanne covering her in whiskey. He came into the closet, and grabbed her by the hair and dragged her out. He had pulled her hair so hard that he managed to rip a handful out.
Roxanne let out a gut wrenching cry of pain. She was crying so hard that all she could do was mouth the words, "please don't hurt me." Being in his state of intoxication, this only made Edwin more angry and violent. Roxy tried to reach her door, but Edwin managed to grab her arm. He threw her onto the floor, and smacked her hard across her face. His ring caught Roxy's upper lip and cut her. Roxy's lips started to badly bleed, and the taste of iron only made it more evident that she was bleeding.
Edwin didn't even care what he'd just done to his niece, and he began to take off his belt. He whipped Roxanne all over her backside but when she tried to curl into a ball for protection, Edwin would hit her any part of her body that was exposed. She wailed with each successive hit on her raw skin and she was on the verge of passing out. As he continued to beat Roxy senselessly with his belt he would verbally assault her.
"You're worthless, no one will ever love you, and no one will ever want a dirty little slut like you," he drunkenly spoke. He aid into her one last time, but this crack of the belt hit her on her back, and a small trickle of blood started to appear from under her light colored shirt. He finally stopped and stumbled out of her room.
Beaten and broken, Roxy was alone. Her body, torn from the lash of the belt stung like a million hornet stings. She could barely move without shrieking in pain she began to cry harder. Desperately trying to move she crawled on her hands and knees finally reaching a chair that was next to her dresser. She forced herself up onto her feet and almost collapsed back to the floor. Roxy was very unsteady but was able held her own weight up from the chair. Attached to her dresser was a large mirror. Roxy just stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were bloodshot, her face was beet red, and a trickle of blood fell from her lip. With no friends, no love from her family, and no hope in her heart there was only one thing she could do. Run away!
(Present Day)
As Stormer searched the studios rooms for Roxy, she could hear a beautiful song playing on the piano. She entered into control room C, and beyond the glass was Roxy creating a new song. Out of instinct Stormer turned on the recorder and the microphone next to Roxy's face. Never in her life did she think that Roxy had a song like it in her. It was a heart wrenching ballad about a lonely girl. Tears welled up in Stormer's eyes as the song progressed. About three minutes by until Roxy finished the last chord of her song. Stormer reached over and turned off the recorder, and then activated the talk-back microphone.
"Roxy?" The room echoed Stormer's voice which startled Roxy. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. Listen, I just captured that song you did, you never told anyone you had that in you."
Roxy glared at Stormer. She was so mad, because she had no idea that anyone heard that song. She slammed her fist on the piano and then burst into the control room.
"Who the hell do you think you are Stormer?" Roxy said with fire in her eyes. She was actually embarrassed that someone heard that ballad.
"What?" Stormer wide-eyed and a bit scared. "Rox, that song…it's gorgeous."
Roxy approached Stormer, and began poking her chest. "Listen, Stormer! That song was not for your ears got it?" Stormer shook her head.
"No Roxy I don't," she looked at her band mate trying to read her eyes. "Rox, you have a greater talent than I ever dreamed. My God, that song could be a hit for you."
"The only hit Stormer, is the one I am about to give you across your face if you don't erase that recording you made of me!" Roxy was only inches away from Stormer. "Do you think, I'm stupid or something?"
Stormer looked at her friend with a very confused look, "of course not Roxy."
"Well let me tell you this. If that Brit ever got wind of me writing that I'd never hear the end of it!" Roxy pushed Stormer out of the way and was about to erase the tape that was just recorded.
Stormer's not the type of girl who's a fighter. She's always been the meek and timid Misfit, and only went along with the things the other girls did. When it came to destroying music based on some lame excuse; however, Stormer was not gonna put up with that. She'd had enough of Roxy's attitude and finally took a stand.
"Screw you Roxanne Michelle Pelligrini! "How dare you assume the worst in me?" She pushed Roxy away from the recorder. "Dammit Roxy! I have been there defending you ever since the day we met even though you didn't want it," Stormer's voice calmed a little, but she was still mad. "I have never EVER called you stupid, or put your down because you couldn't read." Stormer's eyes filled with tears. She loved her friend dearly, but hated that Roxy thought so badly of herself and her music. "I even took you into my home for freak sake!"
Roxy's eyes became as large as saucers, her lower lip trembled. She'd never expected Stormer to get that mad over a song, especially that one. For the first time in many years, Roxanne began to cry. She realized that Stormer was right. All she did was help her in a desperate hour. She was her only friend other than Link and the gang she ran with, the Red Aces. When she and Stormer first met, Roxy was caught in one of the worst thunderstorms Los Angeles had seen in 20 years. Then this girl, whom Roxy would often call a wimp opened her home and gave her shelter. Not only that, but she was given something more, a best friend. Though Stormer was younger than she was Roxy looked up to her. Ever since the abuse Roxy never touched anyone, but she quickly embraced Stormer and said something she'd never said to anyone.
"You're my best friend in this world, and I've been wrong all these years about you," she sniffled. "You've been the only one who got me. Mary, you're the only one who ever gave a damn.
Stormer, choked out a giggle. "That's the first time since we met you called me by my given name," Roxy gave her a smile.
"Well don't let it go to your head," she then laughed wiping her eyes, and then Stormer joined in with a giggle.
Jetta then appeared in the room, and was completely dumbfounded by what she witnessed. Roxanne looked up.
"Hey Jet plane. Roxy giggled, and sniffled. She knew Jetta hated that nickname, but maybe she would see there was no longer malice behind the comment.
"What you duckies doin' in here?" She asked as her left eyebrow rose inquisitively. She was holding a small towel with some ice in it on her cheek.
Stormer and Roxy exchanged looks. "We're starting anew Jet…Sheila," Stormer said.
Roxy got up and walked over to her band mate. Jetta, was a little panicked. Roxy just shook her head that she had no more intentions of fighting. Roxy and Stormer both hugged their saxophonist. "Sheila, I think it's high time that we call a truce, and I mean a real one. I hated myself after I hit you, especially knowing how my childhood had been. I know I never wanted to share my feelings, and being in The Misfits especially with Pizzazz, how could I?" She sat them both down and and laid on one of the heaviest stories either of them ever heard.
"Bloody hell Rox. You're uncle is a blinkin' wanker," Jetta felt her blood run cold.
Stormer could not control the tears from flowing down her cheeks, "I...I'm at a loss, but we are here for you," Mary looked over at Sheila.
"That's right mate, There's nothing gonna come between us ever again."
Roxanne just stared at her sisters, and in awe. She finally had a family, dysfunctional at times, but she still had a family. "Mary, Sheila, I think it's time for a Misfits make over. We need to get beyond our own egos, and now that Pizzazz is out, we can."
Mary looked at some of the boxes from the mid 1980's of their music. "To be honest, I want to drop the phony stage names, much as I liked them it's the past."
Roxanne and Sheila agreed. "Mary, I know you have some songs that we never wanted to record because we thought they were sappy. I think it is high time we get them on record."
"Yeah love, I was gettin' tired of the same ol' boring Misfits predicable music," Sheila said with a smile.
Mary's eyes lit up, this was the day she waited for. Finally, The Misfits could showcase to the world that they were not merely a one-dimensional band. "OK let me go to my car and get those new songs. Oh and I have a great title we can call the album. "The Misfit's: Hotter than Hell," Roxanne and Sheila exchanged approving glances, they loved that title. After all, this new beginning was going to be hotter than hell for the world.
Before Mary walked out, she turned back to the recording desk. She rewound the song that Roxanne had performed twenty minutes ago. She then pressed the play button and turned up the monitors. Roxanne's ballad came through the monitors with an amazing sound.
"What's that?" Sheila looked at the other girls. Roxanne smiled, glancing and then nodding at Mary. It was her way of saying thank you for not destroying the song.
"That Sheila," Roxanne began, "will be our first number one song as the new Misfits."
To Be Continued in Chapter 2: Trying to Survive