The continuation of Mannequin Twisty...
Stan, Xev and Kai follow Priest out of the storage area. Zev, curious about the clown, stays behind to stare at it. Apparently, the curiosity part of her nature, is getting the best of her. She starts feeling empathy for the statue and approaches it.
Zev: I don't know why you are so scary, but I'm not afraid of you, and don't know why. It's like, I know you have a story, and have a right to be heard. Maybe, you weren't always a murderous clown, so I am curious about you.
Zev says, staring at his face and deep into his plastic brown eyes. She touches the face, inspecting the detail of the clown's make-up, and starts inspecting the frilly detail around his neck.
Zev: You poor clown. What happened to you? Why you so important to Prince?
Then, she inspects the creepy-looking mask and has an idea.
Zev: Maybe, without this mask, you can speak. Just a thought, even if you can't.
Just as Zev gently removes the mask, she steps away to examine it. In seconds, from Twisty's point of view, looks around the room and becomes disoriented.
Twisty: Where am I?
Zev, with her back facing Twisty, answers and thinking it is Stan.
Zev: In the storage room, at Prince & Comapny, silly. Just curious about the infamous clown.
As she turns around, with the mask still in her hand, she sees the exact clown waving at her.
Twisty: Hello, Mam, can you tell me how I got here?
Zev: (freaks out) Woah! You were a statue. This can't be real.
Twisty: I'm not a statue, Mam. I don't mean to frighten you.
He doesn't seem scary. How could he? He had the sweetest, child-like voice, she ever heard.
Zev: (confused) You're not gonna kill me, are you?
Twisty: (confused) Why would I? I am a good person.
Zev: So, why are you famous for being a killer clown?
Twisty: I'm not sure. I assure you, that I am misunderstood.
Zev: I knew, when I first saw you as a mannequin, that you looked innocent.
Twisty: So, how did I get here, anyways? Last thing, I remember, was talking talking to this Edward Mordrake. Then the next, that happened, I'm standing here.
Before Zev could answer him, a younger man comes parading in storage room with Prince. They see Zev, facing the clown, with the mask in her hands. Twisty pretends to be still and motionless.
Prince: Zev, why are you still back here?
Zev: Guarding the clown?
Prince: Well, this is Mr Dandy Mott, and he's Mr Mordrake's accomplice. He's here, to check the progress, of the Mordrake's national treasure.
Dandy: What happened to his outfit? It was clean.
Prince: (lies) Well, my assistant wanted to make his costume, more real to the one he wore during those murders.
Dandy: Oh, I see. Just, make sure, nothing else happens to it.
Prince: Dually noted.
Dandy: Well, good to see that the clown is okay. Now, I gotta go to the airport, to pick up Mr Mordrake. Mr Prince, he would like to meet you in person.
Prince: I'm looking forward to it.
After Dandy leaves with Prince, Zev waits a few seconds, before saying something to the clown.
Zev: Well, they're gone.
Twisty: Good. I really don't like him.
Zev: Don't like who?
Twisty: Dandy. He is so mean. And what is a national treasure?
Zev: It means you're valuable, I guess.
Twisty: Valuable as a murderous clown? Well, I don't like it.
At that moment, Zev gets an idea.
Zev: You know, we don't have to stay back here.
Twisty: Where can we go?
Zev: Just out. Maybe, I can get to know you, a little better.
Twisty: Get to know me? I don't know your name.
Zev, at that moment, sees this sweet and misunderstood clown, as a man and since she is a love slave, she is curious to know more about him.
Zev: I'm Zev Bellringer. And you are?
Twisty: My circus name is Twisty the Clown.
Zev: Well, nice to meet you, Twisty. Would you like to go out? You must be hungry.
Twisty: I am, Ms Zev.
Zev: Then, let's get out of here.
Twisty then, follows Zev. As Twisty follows her down the hall, he notices the mask in her hand.
Twisty: Zev, where did you get that mask?
Zev: You were wearing it, silly. I took it off, cause I wanted to see your face.
Twisty: I wore that mask, cause I was a failure, at trying to kill myself. Would my disfigured face have bothered you?
Zev: A little, but not enough to scare me off or anything. I would eventually accept it, cause that's what you were.
Twisty: Well, it makes me happy, to hear that.
Zev and Twisty, smile back at eachother, as they walk out through the store and leaving together.
Now, at the local airport, as Prince and Dandy await with the Lexx crew to meet Edward Mordrake with anticipation. Mordrake, dressed in black and a top hat, gets off a small plane and meets with Dandy and Prince, as the Lexx crew watches and listens.
Edward: Dandy, so nice of you to be here, (to Prince) and you must be Mr Prince.
Mordrake introduces as they both shake hands.
Prince: Mr Mordrake, we need to talk about, a presentation with your statue.
Edward: Yes, my clown statue is my most prized possesion. I want, a proper presentation, so I could bring more tourist to Jupiter, Florida.
Prince: Well, you won't be disappointed.
Edward: So, who is helping you, with the presentation?
Prince: Well, the people behind me, of course.
Stan, at that moment, speaks up for himself and his crew.
Stanley: Hey Prince, you never mentioned, that we were going to help you.
Prince: Stanley, I brought back your dead man and Xev's long-lost sister, so you owe me.
Edward: Interesting. Mr Prince, may I ask, how you are able to do so?
Prince: I'm an evil being, capable of so many things, such as bringing people back to life.
Edward: And taking life? I can do that as well.
Stan, at that moment, notices that Zev is missing.
Stanley: Kai and Xev, have you seen the other Zev?
Kai: I thought she was with us.
Xev: Same here. Where could she have gone?
Dandy interrupts their discussion.
Dandy: If you mean, that blue-haired girl, I seen her with the clown statue.
Xev: Well, we never had clowns where we're from, so she's now curious about them.
Dandy: Nothing better happen to it, cause it will be on your hands.
Xev: Well, I know my sister, and she is very careful.
Mordrake interrupts them, seeming in a hurry.
Edward: Well Mr Prince, I do hope this presentation goes well, or will be in the hands of your friends.
Prince: I never break my deals.
Dandy: We shall see.
Edward: Come along, Dandy. Let's find a place to settle, before discussing more presentation details in the morning.
Dandy: (to Prince) See you all tomorrow.
After Dandy and Mordrake leaves, Stanley is not happy with Prince.
Stanley: So Prince, what kind of presentation are we talking about, and when does it half to be done?
Prince: The presentaion will be in two days and it will be carnival themed. A carnival theme, of the 1950's, of course.
Xev: No thanks to you, it has to be perfect, cause you offered this Mordrake our lives if it isn't.
Kai: Mr Prince, may I ask, is Mr Mordrake like you?
Prince: He is an entity like me, yes. But, the only difference is, that I am much older and stronger than he is and he is of this Earth.
Stanley: Figures as much.
Kai: And of Dandy?
Prince: The descendant, of a psychotic serial killer, from the same time period. Dandy's distant relative knew the clown briefly, which inspired him to kill.
Xev: Explains Dandy's attachment to the clown. His grandfather knew him.
Kai: So it would seem.
Prince: Anyways, let's all go back the department store. You three have a lot to do.
Stanley: You are so evil.
Back on Zev and Twisty's date, they are walking along the sidewalk and passing by local shops and diners.
Zev: So, other than Twisty, do you have a real name?
Twisty: At the Carnival, freaks called me Jo Simpleton, so it stuck.
Zev: What's a simpleton?
Twisty: It means "simple-minded". I must admit, you are the first person, who hasn't asked why I talk differently than most people.
Zev: Honestly, I think you have a sweet-kind voice.
Twisty: Thank you. That means a lot.
Zev changes the subject.
Zev: So, are you hungry? You gotta be, since you haven't ate in years.
As they were walking, Twisty looks across the street and sees a Fair going on. A lit ferris wheel, a merry-go-round and tons of consession stands.
Twisty: Oh my goodness.
Zev: What is it?
Twisty: Is that a carnival? It looks like a carnival.
Zev: You wanna go check it out?
Twisty: Oh yes, please. It would mean a lot. And we can get a corn dog, or something, to eat.
Twisty gets excited and waits for Zev to make a kind gesture.
Zev: I never been to one before. It sure looks like fun, so let's go check it out.
Twisty: Oh, you will have a blast.
Twisty and Zev, hurry across the street, and make it over to the carnival. Inside, they first walk passed the ticket booth and take amazement at the rides before them. Some of them, Twisty hasn't seen, cause there wasn't much rides from his clown days. Some appear to be really fast and height-defying. Zev, has never been to a carnival, but being half cluster lizard, she'll try anything out of curiosity.
Twisty: Things have certainly changed since my clown days.
Zev: For the good, right?
Twisty: Sure. My favorite is the merry-go-round. Wanna try that first? Then you pick next.
Zev: Sure. Sounds like fun.
Twisty and Zev, approach the merry-go-round, and get on horses beside eachother.
Zev: So, you hold onto the pole?
Twisty: Yeah, so when we go around, you don't fall off.
Zev, holds tightly of the pole, as she is startled by the first motion. Up, down and around in a constent circle. Zev, beginning to enjoy the feeling, looks over to Twisty, who is smiling like big kid. Seeing him, smiling wide, she couldn't help but smile back. In the back of her mind, she thinks, "this guy doesn't look like a killer".
After the ride stops, they both get off and Zev stops at the most interesting ride. The Hurricane.
Zev: Let's try that one.
Twisty, has seen this ride in his clown days, but it looks much more advanced now.
Twisty: Sure, we can do that.
Twisty and Zev, get on the ride, and sit next to eachother.
Zev: So, you've seen this ride before?
Twisty: Yes, but that was back in my clown days. It will start off slow, then the speed is increased until the cars are almost in line with the top of the tower.
Zev: Okay, sounds like fun.
Twisty: Just hold on and you'll be fine.
As the ride begins, Zev holds on tight, to the front bar. The ride, starts off slow, starts going faster as they are lifted off the ground. As they swing around, Zev and Twisty scream with excitement. Both Zev and Twisty feeling like big kids. Both making up for lost experiences.
After the ride ends, they both get off and start looking for something else to do.
Twisty: So, having fun?
Zev: Yes, I am. As a child, I grew up in a box, so I never had any kind of fun.
Twisty: What is the box?
Zev: Exactly a boxed room, where I spent most of my life since I was a baby, being raised by holograms and being taught to only please my future husband.
Zev said the last part in anger.
Twisty: Never heard of such place. How awful.
Zev: Well, believe it or not, it was on a different world called B3K. It was called the Wife Bank. My sister, and I, both were abandoned there by our parents.
Twisty: That's terrible. How did you escape?
Zev: I was about to be married, but my groom called me a fat cow, so I punched him out. You see, I didn't always look like this. I was arrested, for failing my wifely duties, and sentensed to become a love slave. I got the body.
Twisty: Zev, I'm a gentleman. I would like you no matter what. Looks don't matter to me. My mama raised me to be a good person.
Zev: That is so sweet, Twisty.
At that moment, Twisty sees an empty tent, and a sign up front that reads "Clown Show Entrance".
Zev: What cha looking at, Twisty?
Twisty: A clown tent. An empty one. I have an idea.
Zev: Like what?
Twisty: I can perform again.
Twisty faces Zev and excitingly take her by the hands.
Twisty: Oh Zev, I wanna perform again, like old times. Being a clown, it's what I know, and it's what I am. Wanna watch me perform?
Zev: Sure. I would love to.
Twisty rushes into the tent, and opens up the bag of goodies before him. Immediatly, adults and their children start filling the tent, to watch the clown perform. Zev, never seeing a clown perform before, is just as excited as he is and stands in the front row.
Twisty, does his juggling with juggling pins, for starters. Then, he preceeds by telling jokes and making the kids laugh. Next, taking balloon animal requests and starts making different types of balloon shapes. Zev smiles, as she sees Twisty smile and laugh with the kids. From Twisty's point of view, he never thought, this day would come again. A day where he can perform again. His old school clowning techniques seemed to get everyone excited. Smiling and laughing, as she watches Twisty do a skit, she thinks "there's no way, that Twisty, is a killer. Just look at him. So happy and full of life."
After the show, Zev applaud with everyone else, and wait for Twisty to approach her.
Twisty: So, how was I? You looked, as if, you were enjoying it.
Zev: I had a blast. Twisty, you were great.
Twisty: My life-long ambition, to make people laugh, and to be loved all over again. It feels good.
Zev: Oh Twisty, where were you been, all my life?
Zev, nearly crying for joy, wanted to give Twisty a big hug. She's falling in love with him.
Twisty: How about, we try the Ferris Wheel next, then we go eat.
Zev: Sure. As long as I'm with you.
While on the Ferris Wheel, Twisty and Zev continue their discussion.
Twisty: Zev, you were crying earlier. What makes you so sad?
Zev: Not sad, Twisty, they are happy tears.
Twisty: (smiles) Aww, I touched you, haven't I? I never affected anyone, like this, emotionally.
Zev: There's something else. You are known for being the infamous killer clown of Jupiter. But I look at you, and see you laugh and enjoy yourself, so I don't see it.
Twisty: (exhales deeply) Once upon a time, I went down a dark path, cause I was bullied and rejected by many people. My hate for freaks, caused my attempt at suicide, which left me scarred and not myself.
Zev: (feeling a sense of reject) So, you really did kill five people and kidnapped two kids?
Twisty: I wasn't myself. I was dropped on my head, as a baby, and not right in the head. At that moment, I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought, I was saving the kids, from the mean freaks and parents.
Zev: You don't, wanna kill anyone, now?
Twisty: Of course not. I am a good person and I wanna continue to do good.
Zev: Well, then you should recognised for the good you did, and not the bad. People should know, that you were once a good person and that you have a name.
Twisty: Zev, I appreciate what you are saying, and you are very thoughtful and kind. But, I prefer the killer clown to be nameless and be left in the past. Waking up here, is where I want, a fresh start.
Zev: Oh Twisty, I feel something with you. Can you feel it?
Twisty: Other than your unconditional acceptance of me?
Zev nods and the tears of joy start flowing again. Twisty, takes his right had, and wipes the tear from her left cheak. But, he leaves his hand in place, as he pulls her closer to his face.
Twisty: Don't cry, dear Zev.
Zev: But you make me so happy, Twisty.
Twisty: It's Tova...Tova Carroll.
Zev smiles, just when he leans closer, and their lips touch. Zev, reaches up to cup his face, to deepen the kiss. During this moment, "I can't believe my eyes" by Gene Miller, plays in the background.
chapter three coming soon...
