Act 1 – Scene 4
The Capulet Mansion
Enter ROCK and ROMEO
Romeo pulled the car up in line outside the gates to the Capulet mansion. A few cars ahead of them, a pair of guards were checking the occupants' of each car's invitations.
After leaving the club, Romeo had driven to the office of a professional thief, a Frenchman nicknamed Merci. Rock had been amazed by the variety of 'acquired' objects on display in the man's office; it seemed that if there was anything worth stealing, Merci had already stolen it – and that included a pair of invitations to the Capulet Ball, which Romeo had paid for at the man's asking price. Rock thought he would have accepted less, but the Montague had insisted.
Even with genuine invitations, Rock didn't think much of their chances of survival. Romeo's car was very distinctive, and a tux and ball-mask wasn't much of a disguise. Rock could see the distinctive bulges of concealed weapons underneath the guards' suits, and hoped they were really bad shots, because as soon as they realised who the young Montague was, they would probably be more than happy to turn them into Swiss cheese.
They were now only one car-length from the guards. Rock began to sweat under his mask. He wondered if anyone would miss him if he died. He hadn't spoken to his family since his college years, for all he knew, they might already think he was dead. Dutch would have to find someone else to do the Company's accounts, which would mildly annoy him. Revy would probably laugh and call him an idiot for getting himself killed.
Romeo turned to him. "Don't look so nervous," He grinned optimistically, "My plan's foolproof."
"I'd be happier if it were bulletproof," Rock said quietly.
"Just smile," The young man encouraged. "Everyone trusts a guy with a smile."
Rock sighed. The Montague's naivety was overwhelming. He wished he could be as carefree, but the prospect of imminent death generally dampened his spirits.
The guards were done with the car in front and let it pass. Romeo nudged Rock with his elbow. "Smile!" He reminded him. Rock tried his best to smile as the guards came closer, hoping it didn't make him look constipated.
"Invitations," One of the guards requested. Romeo handed them over. The guard inspected them, then looked closely at the Montague. "You look familiar…" He said suspiciously.
"I should think so!" Romeo countered assertively. "I am Leonard Anthony Petrucci Capulet, third son of Vito Salvatori Ennio Capulet, third cousin, twice removed, of the master of this House. I'm sure that my distanced uncle is anxious to meet me."
The guard was taken aback, baffled by the landslide of names and titles. "And, erm… him?" The he pointed at Rock.
"My legal counsel," Romeo dismissed. "I'm really hoping I won't require his services tonight, but it's best to be prepared."
"Umm… go on through… sir," The guard added as an afterthought.
Romeo drove the car through the gates and parked it next to a Ferrari. "How was that? Incredible, right?" He boasted proudly. "You can get into anywhere like that. Just act important and people let you in."
Rock, whose heart rate was only just beginning to return to normal, was genuinely impressed with the young man's talent at bullshitting. Back when he had been a businessman, making up excuses had been like second nature to him, but even his abilities paled in comparison to the young Montague.
"I hope they don't check about us with a genuine Capulet," Rock commented.
"Why do you think I picked such long names?" Romeo grinned. "They'll never remember them."
The two men walked through the main doors of the mansion into a grand hall. The hall was filled with men and women in dressed in expensive clothes and wearing ball-masks. A large buffet table took up nearly a quarter of the room, and a well-stocked bar accompanied it. Some of the guests were dancing, but most were standing around making conversation.
Romeo headed straight for the buffet table. "Come on," He said, dragging Rock with him, "Free food!"
As the Montague helped himself to the selection available, Rock nervously scanned the crowd. He was relieved that they didn't stand out among the guests, hopefully there was no one here who would recognise them. He noticed that the guests' attentions were turning to a wide staircase at the end of the hall.
Enter DON CAPULET, with JULIET and others of his house
"Welcome!" Bellowed the Don, descending the stairs. "Ladies and gentlemen, friends and family, welcome to my home! I'm glad you could all make it tonight, to celebrate my upcoming victory over those Montague bastards!"
"Jerk," Murmured Romeo, munching on a chicken leg.
"We're all here to have a good time tonight," Capulet continued, "Turn up the music and let's party!" As the music sprung up again, Don Capulet walked among his guests, shaking hands and greeting people individually.
Rock went to the bar and got himself a Bacardi to calm his nerves. Romeo wandered over to him.
"Whoa! Check out that babe up there," He prodded Rock, nodding at the stairs. "She's smokin' hot!"
"Who, her?" Asked Rock, pointing at Juliet.
"No, her!" Romeo gawped, indicating further up. Rock followed the line of his finger to a figure at the top of the stairs… and choked on his drink.
Enter REVY
There was no mistaking the figure, even the glitzy red dress and ball-mask could do nothing to hide it. It was definitely Revy. Rock would recognise that hair and that tattooed arm anywhere, not to mention that she was wearing her gun belt – over the top of her dress!
Rock's eyes widened, his mouth went dry. The whole scene was like something out of his bizzarest nightmares.
As Revy scanned the crowd, their eyes locked across the room. In that moment, time seemed to stop, and Rock could do nothing to look away, like a rabbit caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck.
Rock saw the sudden glint of recognition in her eyes. "Hold this!" He thrust his drink into Romeo's hands and ran. A split-second later, Revy reacted, charging down the stairs and after him, through the throng of guests.
Rock ran through the corridors of the mansion, he didn't know if she was behind him, and didn't dare look back. He had no idea what she was doing here, but in truth he wasn't really thinking about it too hard, all his energy was focussed on escaping.
He saw the door for a men's lavatory on the right, and dashed through it. The toilet was empty, save for a single man at the urinals, who gave Rock a funny look as he burst in, gasping for breath.
Just when Rock though he was safe, the door slammed open and Revy stormed in. "You, out!" She ordered the man at the urinal. The man hurriedly zipped up and left. "You forgot to wash your hands!" She called after him.
As soon as the door swung shut, she grabbed Rock by the collar. "What the fuck are you doing here?!" She screamed into his face.
"What are you doing here?" He timidly asked back.
"I asked first!"
Rock decided to give in before Revy got any more impatient. "Dutch set me up working for Romeo Montague as an accountant. The guy's crazy! He's here at the party, I didn't want to come, but he insisted!"
Revy released him with a shove. "You let some rich brat push you around? For fuck's sake Rock, grow some balls!"
"What about you?" Rock asked hesitantly.
"Juliet Capulet. Bodyguard duty," She sneered. "Me! A bodyguard! Can you fucking believe that? Dutch better have a damn good reason for this!"
Rock recalled that she had never complained about being his bodyguard in Japan, but he was more interested in the fact that Dutch had given them jobs working for opposite sides, but hadn't told them about it. "I'll make sure to ask him."
"Sure, you do that. But first, I need alcohol, and you're paying!" She took hold of his arm and pulled him towards the door, then realising something, she turned to him and said, "Oh, and if you ever tell anyone about this," She indicated the dress, "I'll kill you."
As the night progressed, and the older guests got tired and left, the dance hall transformed first into a disco, and finally, dissolved into a mosh pit. Rock and Revy stood on the sidelines, Revy drinking, Rock looking onwards. 'mOBSCENE' by Marylyn Manson was playing, and Romeo and the girl Revy was meant to be protecting were practically dry-humping each other on the dance floor.
Rock wasn't going to interrupt their fun, but he wondered if they'd be as casual if each knew who the other was. Next to him, Revy hiccupped.
"You should probably get some rest," He suggested.
"Pissh off!" She slurred. "I'm fiiine, gemme 'nother drink!"
"I think you've had enough…"
"Shcroo yooou! Yoou're no fun!" Revy wandered away into the crowd.
Exeunt REVY
Rock sighed. Looking over to the dance floor, he realised that Romeo and Juliet had disappeared as well.
He decided he wanted some air, and fought his way through to the door. He couldn't leave without Romeo, but he had no idea how long the young man might be, and resigned himself to waiting by the car. He dug his mobile phone out of his pocket and dialled Dutch's number.
After a few moments, the call was answered. "Hey Rock, what's up? I was going to call you soon. How's that job working out for you?"
Rock didn't know where Dutch was, but he thought he could hear a woman's voice in the background. He realised he knew next to nothing about what the Company's founder did in his free time.
"It's uhh… going well," He answered. "I umm… talked to Revy. She's working for the Capulets. I assume this is part of some plan, right?"
"That's what I was going to call you about," Dutch told him. "But how the hell did you get near the Capulets?"
"Long story," Rock sighed. "So, what's this plan?"
"I can't tell you over the phone." Dutch sounded serious. "We'll meet at 2 o'clock tomorrow, at the Church of Violence. Make up an excuse to get away for a while."
"We're not meeting at the office?" Rock asked.
"No, it's too public. We can't risk either the Montagues or the Capulets finding out we're working on both sides."
"Dutch, what is all this about?"
"I told you, you'll find out tomorrow," Dutch assured him. "Also, could you let Revy know about this? I've been trying to contact her, but she's not answering her phone."
Rock thought of what Revy was wearing, and considered that she probably didn't have anywhere to keep a phone in that dress. "Alright, I'll tell her."
"Thanks, Rock. Owe you one." Dutch disconnected the line.
Rock had a bad feeling about the whole set up. The fact that Dutch hadn't told them the full story when he set them these jobs could only mean that something big was going down, and in the case of the Montagues and Capulets, big often meant bloody.
He looked about. Revy would be around somewhere, but whether she'd be in any state to understand anything he said was another matter entirely. Sighing again, he set off in the direction of the mansion."
Exeunt ROCK
End of Act 1
To Be Continued…
