Disclaimers: You should know them all by now.

And now, Episode IX of Max Payne & Co. present...

The Real World

Max: This is the story...

Mona: of seven strangers...

MTV Director: Uhh, Mona, it's five strangers for now.

Mona: Oh, sorry. Of five strangers...

Vinnie: picked to live in a house...

Annie: and have their lives taped.

Mike: Find out what happens...

Max: (after a short pause) Ah, hell, I guess I'll do it. When people stop being polite...

Mona: and start being real...

Everyone: The Real World: New York.

(The house, Manhattan, early evening)

(We see Max, Mona, Annie, and Mike lounging around the living room, watching "Address Unknown" on TV. Vinnie is upstairs, getting ready to call the restaurant about A.J. It is shortly after Vladimir and Winterson took off after the "wedding.")

Mona: God, I still can't believe Vlad and Winterson are gone.

Max: Like I said, everything can change in a New York minute. What I can't believe is how Winterson's dad was able to get past security with that shotgun.

Annie: He probably threatened 'em with it. I don't think security's armed up here.

Max: Well, apparently they should be.

Mike: Poor Vladimir. I miss him already.

Mona: I kinda miss Winterson too. But I do wonder if she really did cut that hole in the condom like Vlad said.

Max: I'm sure that the truth will come out like the sunrise from the darkness of a night storm through the clouds trying to cover it up.

Annie: Let's hope so.

(Meanwhile, upstairs, Vinnie is about to call the restaurant regarding A.J. He is quite nervous.)

Vinnie: (confessional) Well, here goes. Even though I've talked to girls before, I always get nervous. I just hope this goes well – better than the last time.

(We see Vinnie pick up the phone and dial the number to the restaurant.)

Vinnie: Fats? It's me Vinnie... Yeah, how ya doin'?... Yeah, lemme talk to Angelo, would ya?... Thanks. (After about a minute) Hey Angelo. It's Vinnie... Yeah, I'm good. Listen, I was just calling about that waitress that served me and my date last night... Yeah, it didn't quite work out. But anyway, that waitress A.J. was really nice, and cute too... Yeah, I was just wondering if she was married or had a boyfriend or something... Really?... Ah, good... Yeah, I guess I am... Yeah, I'd like to maybe come in as a customer and ask her while she's waiting on me... Saturday night?... Yeah, that'll work. Can you just make sure that I get one of her tables when I come in?... All right, great. See ya then. Thanks.

(Vinnie hangs up.)

Vinnie: (confessional) All right! She's available! Great. She's supposed to be on next Saturday night, so I'm gonna go by the restaurant then. Ask her out then. (smiles) Y'know... turn on the ol' Gognitti charm.

(Downstairs)

(We see the rest of the gang, still watching "Address Unknown.")

Annie: Don't you go in there, John. Don't you go in there!

Mona: Um, Annie, I don't think he can hear you.

Annie: (a bit taken aback) Uhh, yeah, I know.

Mona: Well, then why are you talking to the TV?

Annie: I don't know.

Max: Hush, guys. My favorite part's coming up.

Voices on TV: John Mirra?... Yes, this is he... This is John Mirra. Welcome... to the next level...

Max: Wow. Freaky. Like walking in on your parents getting intimate.

Mike: Ewww, that's gross.

Mona: Yeah, Max. Now we got pictures stuck in our heads.

(Vinnie comes down.)

Max: Hey there, Vinnie.

Mona: Hey, Vinnie. Did you call the restaurant?

Vinnie: Yeah, I did. Good news: A.J.'s available. She's working again Saturday night, so I'm gonna stop by and ask her out then.

Annie: A'right! Good for you. Hope you get a date with her.

Vinnie: Yeah, thanks, Annie.

(We hear the phone ringing. Mona jumps up.)

Mona: I'll get it!

(Mona quickly goes into the kitchen and answers the phone.)

Mona: Hello?

MTV Producer: (on other end) Mona. How are things going?

Mona: Oh, uhh, okay, I guess, considering.

MTV Producer: Yeah, I hear you.

Mona: How the hell did those parents of Winterson's get onto the set, anyway?

MTV Producer: Basically, because of that big-ass shotgun the father was carrying. He threatened security with it, and they're unarmed, so there wasn't really anything they could do. But I will say, that shotgun wedding made for a pretty good show.

Mona: Yeah, whatever. So what happens now?

MTV Producer: I've already got two more guests on their way. I'm bringing back Kaufman, and the other guest I'm gonna let be a surprise.

Mona: Oh, okay. I'm definitely cool with Kaufman coming back. And hopefully the other guest'll work out great too.

MTV Producer: Well, they'll both be here tomorrow during the day.

Mona: Okay, thanks for giving us the heads up. Bye.

(Mona hangs up, then returns to the living room.)

Max: That was a good line. Always liked it. "Mirrors are more fun than television." A treasure from the chest of television history.

Vinnie: Yeah, whatever, Payne. Can we just watch, please?

Max: Oh, sorry. (notices Mona) Oh, hey Mona. Who was that on the phone?

Mona: Oh, that was the producer. He's bringing Kaufman back to replace Vlad, plus one other guest to replace Winterson, but he didn't tell me who it was.

Annie: Oh, for real?

Max: All right. Kaufman's coming back. I'm gonna go get the dominoes set up.

Vinnie: Geez, Payne, is that all you ever think about? That damn domino game?

Max: What? I just wanna beat Kaufman at dominoes. What's wrong with that?

Annie: You just seem a little obsessed with it, that's all.

Max: When somebody beats you at your favorite game, obsession with beating them is the only natural emotion to feel. It's a very primordial, instinctive emotion. Nothing instinctive can be wrong.

Annie: Oh, whatever.

Mona: Well, in any case, the two guests will be here sometime tomorrow.

Mike: All right. I meet Kaufman before, but I never really get to know him. This'll be fun.

Mona: Well, he's rather quiet. I think he's a bit... simple.

Annie: Yeah, but a nice guy. Pretty decent, yo.

Vinnie: He used to be part of the cleaning crew here on the set, but he recently left with some of the other cleaners to start his own cleaning company. Last I heard, he was doin' pretty well for himself.

Max: Y'know. We should all go out and do something tomorrow after Kaufman and the other guests arrive. An activity or something. We haven't done that in quite a while.

Mona: Yeah, that's a good idea.

(The house, a little later.)

(The gang is still lounging around the living room, but is looking a bit restless.)

Mona: You know what? I'm getting bored being cooped up in here.

Vinnie: Yeah, me too. Glad you brought that up.

Max: Y'know, we could go to a club. That's also something we haven't done in a while.

Annie: Shouldn't we wait and take the new guests with us tomorrow?

Max: We're already planning something to do with them for tomorrow. And who says we can't go clubbing again tomorrow night, with them?

Annie: Oh yeah, I guess you're right.

Mona: I'm with Max. I think we should go tonight – just us. It'd be better than sitting here bored.

Vinnie: Well, what're we waitin' for. Let's go.

Mike: Let's giddyup.

(Studio 53 1/2, Lower Manhattan, evening)

(We see the gang all out on the dance floor, dancing together. J-Kwon's "Tipsy" is currently playing. Mike and Annie are dancing with each other, and Max and Vinnie are both dancing with Mona.)

Annie: (shouting to be heard above the music) What does everybody think of this place?

Mona: It's pretty tight. I like it.

Max: Yeah, me too.

Vinnie: Me three.

Mike: Hey, I like it a lot. Thanks for taking us.

Annie: I know it ain't your kinda music, but are you havin' fun otherwise?

Mike: Yes, it's very good.

Annie: That's great. Glad to hear it. Listen, we gonna go sit down for a while. Can you get us some drinks?

Mike: Sure, let me grab seat with you guys first.

(The gang goes over to the side and sits at a table.)

Mike: So, what does everybody want?

Vinnie: Hey Mike, get me a seven-and-seven, would ya?

Max: Whiskey sour.

Annie: Hook me up with a Long Island iced tea.

Mona: I think I'll have a Fuzzy Navel.

Mike: All right. Be right back.

(Mike goes over to bar and speaks to the bartender.)

Bartender: What do ya need, pal?

Mike: Heyy, I need Coors, seven-and-seven, whiskey sour, Long Island iced tea, and a Fuzzy Navel.

Bartender: Yeah, one sec.

(Bartender goes over to get the drinks. He returns momentarily.)

Bartender: $34.25.

(Mike pays the bartender, then takes the drinks back to the table.)

Mike: Here you go guys.

Max: Thanks, Mike.

Vinnie: Yeah, thanks, Mike.

Annie: Thank you.

Mona: Thank you.

Max: Hey guys. Before we drink, we should make a toast. (raises his glass) To Vlad and Winterson: we'll miss you guys, and we hope everything works out for you two.

(Everyone is snickering, but they still lift their drinks up and clink them together)

Everyone: Vlad and Winterson. (everyone drinks up)

(We now see a tough-looking group of people pass by the group's table. Most of them are drunk. One of them staggers into Max's stool and nearly knocks him over. The man looks back just long enough to snarl at him.)

Max: Hey! You could say excuse me, at least!

(The guy ignores him and rejoins the group. Max gets up to go talk to him.)

Mona: Max, hey! It's okay. Just let it go.

Max: Relax. I'm just gonna go talk to the guy.

(Max catches up to the group and gets the attention of the guy who ran into him.)

Max: Excuse me. Sir?

Tough guy #1: What the f(bleep)k you want?

Max: Hey, what's the big idea running into my table like that? You nearly knocked me over, and you didn't even say excuse me.

Tough guy #1: Yeah? So what?

Max: Y'know, it's not a fatal mistake to show a little manners.

(By now, his friends have come to join him.)

Tough guy #2: Hey, Tony, what's going on here?

Tough guy #1 (Tony): This guy's mouthin' off to me.

Max: Hey, I'm not mouthing off. The guy walked into my table and didn't say excuse me. I just would like him to apologize.

Tony: Oh... okay. Sorry.

Max: Thank you. (starts to walk off)

Tony: Sorry that you're such a p(bleep)y.

(The rest of the gang starts laughing. Max is pissed.)

Max: All right, what's your g(bleep)damn problem? Are you not getting any at home or something?

Tony: No, but I'm getting some at your mother's home. (the others laugh)

Max: Whatever. Screw you guys.

(Max starts to walk off again. Suddenly, he is hit in the back of the head by a flying empty beer bottle. He goes down. Tony and the other two guys with him rush over and start wailing on Max. The rest of the gang notices.)

Mona: Oh my god! Max!!

(Vinnie and Mike are gone from the table and over at the fight within seconds. They rush Tough guy #2 & #3 and beat the crap out of them. This buys Max the time he needs to get up from under Tony, and Max begins to fight him. Tony and the others fight hard, but Max, Vinnie, and Mike overcome them. Within moments, however, the bouncers grab all the guys and escort them out of the club. Mona and Annie follow them.)

Max: Hey, get your hands off me! Ouch!... All right, I'm going.

(The bouncers push Max, Mike, Vinnie, and Tony and his gang out the doors. They are all pissed.)

Tony: This ain't over yet, b(bleep)ch.

Vinnie: I catch you motherf(bleep)ers on the street, you're all f(bleep)in' grease spots.

(Tony and his gang stagger off, Vinnie and the others watching them.)

Mike: Hey, Max. Don't worry. I fix their wagon.

Max: Thanks guys, but I'm okay. I'm just sorry I got you guys thrown out. I stepped over the edge of the proverbial cliff by arguing with that guy.

Vinnie: Nah, don't worry about it, Payne. That j(bleep)k-off shoulda apologized to you. He crossed the line cold-cockin' you like that.

(Meanwhile, Mona and Annie are exiting the club. They are stopped by the bouncers.)

Bouncer #1: Go back inside. Nothing to see here.

Mona: Hey, outta the way.

Annie: Yeah, we with those guys. We're taking 'em home.

Bouncer #2: If they come back in here again, we'll have them arrested.

Mona: Oh really! And what about those a(bleep)holes that started that s(bleep)t with 'em. You gonna have them arrested if they show up?

Bouncer #1: As a matter of fact, we will. Now you guys need to leave.

Annie: Yeah, whatever.

(Mona and Annie join Max and the other guys.)

Annie: Man, what's wrong with you guys? Why the hell did you have to get all up in they faces like that?

Max: I'm sorry. That guy was rude, and I just wanted an apology. I didn't think he'd make such a big deal about it.

Annie: Well, good going. Now we can't come back here.

Max: Well, what was I supposed to do? Those guys were kicking my ass.

Vinnie: Yeah, Annie. What were we supposed to do, let 'em beat Max into a freakin' coma?

Mona: I gotta say, Annie. There wasn't much Max could do at that point.

Annie: (after a brief pause) A'right, look, let's not fight about it. Let's just go on home, and let's take care of those cuts. We'll all feel better tomorrow, and we can all be cool for Kaufman and the new guest. A'right?

Mike: Okay, Annie.

Max: All right. I need to shake this off like the cocoon of a newborn butterfly... Once again, sorry about this guys.

Mona: Don't worry about it, Max.

Vinnie: Yeah, Payne.

Annie: Yeah, Max. Let's all just go home.

MTV Announcer: On the next episode of The Real World... Who will be the new guest coming with Kaufman? And will Vinnie score a date with A.J.? Find out this and more, on The Real World.

As usual, R&R's are always much appreciated. And DO stay tuned for more...