Grauman's Chinese Theatre
Hollywood
Los Angeles, California
The Day after Miley's kitchen incident.
10:56 p.m.
Noise pierces through the occupied conference room as "the" Jake Ryan- party of 12 continues to loudly revel in their own pompous way. However, what are unmistakable are the words from the loudest person there, Jake Ryan. And by his side was a dolled up Miley Stewart.
"So the thing with horses is that may not have smarts (sic) but they are intuitive…."
(Jake struggles to slur all his words just right from his alcohol drenched breath.)
"Jake, honey, take it easy," Miley cautiously said.
Jake shoot Miley a glare lasting a half a second before continuing.
"they're like high school girls. They may not have a brain in their head, but they do know that all the boys want to f-k them"
The whole table, or at least the men at the table, roars into a fit of intoxicated laughter. The women roll their eyes, but Miley lowers her head.
"I hate it when he drinks," Miley thought to herself, "every time, he just says stupid, stupid things. Why can't he see that I just want him to be….become… oh hell I just want him to stop…"
At this point, Miley looks up to see Jake looking down at her…
(A/N: In this chapter bolded text means speech and tone emphasis).
"Awww, what's the matter babes, you hurt?" Jake asks sarcastically, "you know you of all people shouldn't forget that I….I…."
Jake hiccups and has to regain composure for him to continue
"saved you…"
Miley looks up with hurt but loved filled eyes, silently begging that Jake wouldn't talk anymore.
"I mean until me you… you were nothing more than a…girl …I mean really…hiccup if it wasn't for me, you'd still be in high school taking… more virginities than classes" Jake stated with an upbeat at the end.
The hurt on Miley's face was heart-breaking, but despite that, it was nothing compared to what Miley felt inside after Jake said that.
"Please, Jake…" Miley softly pleaded.
"Please what?" retorted Jake, shooting another shot of vodka, "we can't screw here, what would these fine ladies…and gents say?"
Now the more intoxicated of Jake's guests were beginning to laugh at this, but even some of other the guests at the table were noticing Jake's rudeness. She pipes up to defend herself ever so carefully. I mean, she knew that Jake was bad enough sober, but as was seen after a few too many drinks, there was no stopping Jake's new, alcohol driven, elevated abuse. Even with company around watching him.
"Jake, I was saving myself, I saved myself for you," Miley started softly to try, in vain, to prevent the others from hearing.
"Oh come on!" retorted Jake.
Then he addresses the rest of the table.
"The football team retired her jersey" Jake said, referring to Miley.
The resulting roar of laughter from Jake's equally rude and drunk friends was almost deafening. Miley looked stunned, like a deer on the road while staring down the lights of an 18 wheeler. Miley begins to hyperventilate as tear begins to well up in her eyes. The table notices, most either don't care or pretend not to notice. However one of Jake's guests does pipe up. He is the upstart Hollywood director David Gordon.
"C'mon Jake, don't be like that…" tried David.
"Whaddya mean…like what?"
"Whaddya mean like what? I mean just leave her alone," replied David calmly yet seriously.
"Hey…hey, just because we didn't all get to marry our middle school… blonde… like you did…I mean didn't you come from a small town?," said Jake, barely comprehendible.
"Yeah, so?"
"Exactemont," Jake replied half a-edly mixing French and English, "just because we… or I…didn't do…that, doesn't mean you're better than me. I mean you…I'll I got was a brunette from Tennessee who talks funny...hey that rhymes!...and you…you got to marry that hot…hot…Linzi"
A look around the table shows that Miley is the only brunette in the room.
"Lizzie," corrected David.
"Right…so to propose a toast," Jake proclaimed while standing, or struggling to stand up with drink in hand, "to brunette's…that God may give them a break…starting with my Miley…and turn them blonde"
Jake and then most of the table raises their glasses and toast.
"Hooters, Hooters, yum yum yum. Hooters Hooters on a girl that's dumb," rambled Jake before downing another shot.
"And another toast to…thinking about what he just said… chicken wings!…"
At that point the dam of self-control that was holding back Miley's tears had collapsed. She was abused, humiliated, and walked on far too much in the company of the entertainment industry heavyweights and upstarts. And with that she got up and rushed out of the room.
"Hey….whereyagoing Smiley…back to your Ollie Trolley?"
But Miley continued to struggle for the exit, struggling because previously at the behest of Jake, she had several drinks herself. But as it dawned on Jake that Miley was really going to leave the room…
"Hey, HEY, did I say you can go?…I'm making a toast…," exclaimed an enraged Jake.
Jakes intoxication made way for his characteristic rage. His rage almost instantly gives him his sobriety back. Miley makes it out, but not before Jake's rage sobers up the rest of his body. The guests can see he is struggling to contain his violent outburst.
"What the hell is that girl doing…?," Jake exclaimed to his guests, asking a rhetorical question.
"No, the question is, what the hell are you doing?," boldly interrupted David.
"Hey who asked you…"
"Everyone in this room who's tired of listening to you"
Jake was about to reply with an insult, until he remembered exactly who he was talking to. He calms down and tries to reason with David, trying to change the subject.
"So whaddya think? Can I act or what…" Jake asked, trying to cover up his behaviour
"I don't think that was an act"
"Well it was, and I can do so much more. Whaddaya say about that, boss?"
"I say you don't have to call me boss anymore," David said as he threw down his napkin.
Jake's face fell at what David was trying to get at
"What are you saying?"
"You're out…I made up my mind…," replied David.
"Now hold on, lemme explain," started Jake.
"No! let me explain, you just don't have the scruples to pull off my film like you did when you did Zombie High."
"My scruples will have room for you, you just leave that up to me, I'm sure Miley will fall in line"
But David finished it firmly…
"Mr. Ryan, you're no longer the zombie slayer…and I just can't give you my role"
And with that David gets up and leaves but before doing so…
"Thank you for the wonderful dinner"
By now the whole table is looking at Jake. Jake was stunned at what had just happened.
(Jake's internal monologue)
"How can Gordon do this to me? He knows that I'm perfect for this role. He knows have the looks to pull it off. F-k, he must've been scared off by Miley, that b-tch….DAMMIT…I knew that b-tch would cost me this. How dare she…she…leave me like that. Gordon probably thought I was a candy a- wussyman who can't keep his own woman in line. GOD, Miley's gonna get it now. Oh, and she thought I was hard before. I mean she f-ked up my shot. What else could it have been? I'm Jake Ryan…the great actor Jake Ryan!"
And at that Jake stormed out of the room, not even bothering to dismiss his guests, who are already discreetly readying to leave. He had built up his anger to the point where he couldn't walk without showing visible signs of his body shaking in rage. Just before he leaves the floor, in anger, he violently shoves over a waitress' tray sending dishes, napkins, garbage and dishware all crashing to the ground, making a terrible noise in doing so.
He was going to search for Miley. He was going to make her pay. But first he was itching to blow his mysterious urgings which had been upwelling since the beginning of his internal monologue. Either way, he needed Miley. He headed downstairs and took a detour through the kitchen.
Outside in the side service dead end alleyway, sat a dazed Miley Stewart. She had already finished crying as many tears as her body would allow her for today. She also is contemplating what she's to do next.
"I don't know anymore…I love Jake Ryan…but I guess he doesn't love me anymore…but where will I go…Who will I become? What will I become?…I can't go back to dad. Lily and Oliver hate me. And Jackson probably doesn't even know I left the house." Miley bitterly contemplated.
Then, out of habit from her days as Hannah Montana she begins to sing herself to a state of consolation.
In the alleyway, it is dark except for the illuminating street lights coming from the one open exit out of the alley. And standing right in the middle was a shape which Miley recognized. It was Jake, walking towards Miley. Miley cringed and her body prepared for the worst. Miley also realized that Jake was walking with his left arm stiff. Did he hurt himself?
However Jake pipes up when he reaches Miley.
"I didn't get the part…"
Much to Miley's amazement, Jake is surprisingly calm and serene.
"I'm sorry, you'll find others…" started Miley.
"I'm not finished," interrupted Jake, "I didn't get the part because apparently I'm not good enough for David Gordon"
Miley looks at him not knowing what to say, or if she should say anything. Luckily for her Jake continues.
"Anyways the food was good, right?"
Miley nods in agreement.
"See, see what you get with me…Anyways, since I took you out, it's time for dessert."
"Dessert?" Miley asked.
"Yeah, you heard me. You missed dessert and I gotta relieve something I got because of you," Jake deadpanned.
Miley hesitates but then begins to show and face of resistance when she realizes what he's asking for.
"On your knees," Jake ordered.
Jake walks towards Miley and with a dirty and unsympathetic grin begins to fumble with the zipper on his dress pants.
"Maybe not here…" began Miley.
However Jake would have none of it. With his right hand he forced Miley down with his hand onto her shoulder. But instead of striking her…
…with one swift move, Jake revealed the stainless steel butcher's cleaver that he had taken from the kitchen and had concealed in his left sleeve.
Miley was now scared stiff. She actually now feared for her life, unlike all the other times where she only feared for her safety and always hoped Jake would change. Jake's voice was rising, while his patience was falling.
"Well, what are you waiting for?"
Even though this wasn't the first time she had to service Jake in this way, it was the first time she did it in public where at any moment someone could walk past and catch them.
Jake knew this too. In fact he was hoping as many people as possible would see this.
"This'll show them how much my woman loves me," Jake mumbled to himself.
Miley clinched her eyes and began to pull down Jake's zipper. As she began to lean in further, Jake prodded her on.
"Oh come on, you can do better than that," Jake demanded angrily, as he lifted up the knife as if he was about to strike"
(siren) WHIRL
Blue police lights flashing
Before Miley could go any further, as if out of nowhere, a large vehicle drove in front first and ambushed both of them, blocking the only exit of the dark but wide one way alleyway. The lights instantly illuminate the alleyway while it stuns both Miley and Jake. Before either of them react, the driver's door opens and a dark figure steps out and pulls out his gun and points it at Jake. He also shines a super high beam police Maglite at Jake's face, temporary blinding him, but also preventing him from identifying the Sheriff's deputy. Miley, however easily makes out the blue uniform and silver shield badge. His face however seemed to be shrouded in mystery, as it was still darkened by the night. The deputy stands at a distance
"POLICE, DROP THE KNIFE, HANDS ABOVE YOUR HEAD, NOW"
Miley is shocked straight to the point where she freezes. Jake's face fell when the deputy yelled at them.
"Drop it or I drop you," ordered the deputy.
Jake is too stunned at the moment to try to talk, so he obeys.
"Ma'am, are you alright," the deputy asked Miley.
"She's fine, deputy," began Jake.
"I wasn't asking you," the deputy barked.
"I'm, I'm…," started Miley, having trouble answering.
Jake sneered at Miley at not being more composed. He pipes up.
"It was my fault, deputy you see Miley loves me and wanted to you know…(flashes a wink and a smile) show it. I tried to bring her home, but yeah…I know, I know…I should've been more insistent…"
"B-ll S-t" replied the deputy, "by the looks of it 10 minutes ago, I'd say you're forcing yourself in this poor girl's mouth with the help of your foot long friend"
Jake cautiously raises his eyebrow confused…
"Don't flatter yourself, (pauses), pee-wee, I'm talking about the cleaver," retorted the deputy.
If Miley wasn't so scared and if it wasn't Jake she'd be chuckling at this. Jake was losing his patience…
"Look, officer we should get going…we won't waste any more of your time…"
"You're not going anywhere"
Jake's fears had come true.
"I'm arresting you for forcible confinement, attempted rape, and attempted murder"
Jake tried again…
"Officer, you don't understand, Miley here has a knife fetish and…"
"Oh, and does she have a black and blue fetish too? Because judging by what the runny makeup is telling me..."
Jake looked down and saw what the deputy noticed. Miley's fresh tears had washed away the layers of fresh makeup that were hiding the evidence of Jake's temper off her face. The evidence from the past three days, at least.
The walls were closing for Jake. But he was confident that Miley wouldn't press anything. No press, no arrest.
The deputy seems to know this as well.
"Ma'am, if you've let this man into your life and he treats you like this, he doesn't deserve to stay. Help me, help you…"
Jake glares at Miley, trying to scare her straight.
"If you do, I will get you back so hard, I'll…" Jake's eyes seemed to say.
The deputy knew this, and shone his light closer as he charged towards Jake. The light grew very much brighter.
"Ma'am, I'm from the LA Sheriff's department, Anti-Crime Unit" the deputy assured, referring to the explanation of why his surprise tactics, gloves, and unmarked car didn't seem to match his full police uniform, "I was here the whole time. Nice voice by the way." (Referring to her singing)
He approaches both Miley and Jake.
"Don't let him fool you. Look at him…Look at him" started the deputy.
Miley looks.
"This man knocked you around before, but no more. Look at him, he's nothing. We'll throw the book at him. The state's on your side. We'll protect you."
For the first time in Miley's life, she had courage gradually building up inside her, the same courage which had once fuelled her powerful Hannah Montana voice.
"Alright, what's your name," the deputy asked Jake.
"Ryan sir, Jake Ryan"
The deputy continues but stops when he realizes…
"Hey, aren't you that guy from T.V.?"
Miley lowered her head in resignation. She was afraid that the deputy would be star struck by Jake and let him off. It's happened before…
"Yeah! Zombie High. You want me to sign something?," asked Jake, hopeful that he could get off because of his fame.
"Nah, in this city, we aren't impressed by washed up has beens"
Jake's face fell
"Hell, most've my guys probably forgot who you were."
Jake starts to grow angry. The deputy smirks, he's baiting Ryan.
"I'm sorry that was wrong of me, you're not a has been. You're a never was"
Jake's anger rises as he starts to aggressively resist. His fists are shaking as well. But very unlike Miley, the deputy is completely unfazed and unimpressed. In fact, he looks amused.
The deputy shows no emotion as he finishes Jake off.
"Oh, I see, you're one of those guys. I'm guessing that a punching bag is not enough for you. You need more than an inanimate object to quench your craving. No, small, little guys like you need to take it out on a woman of all things."
It took all of Jake's self-control to not to attack the deputy. It was more than evident to all. Jake had gone from master of Miley to master of nothing in a matter of seconds.
"Ok, Ryan, I'll tell you what. You wanna prove me wrong? Prove you're a tough guy? Ok…hit me.
Both Jake and Miley were surprised at this. The deputy's eyes were like steel and his resolve almost superhuman.
"C'mon big man, first shot's free, you have my word. I won't press charges"
Miley, whose spirits were raised by this, was indeed very impressed by the deputy and the qualities he was showing. Jake by contrast only looks somewhat tough, but has nowhere near the resolve the deputy has. Jake makes an excuse…
"What about that gun you got there?"
The deputy glanced to his holster, but was unfazed.
"Fair enough"
He took the gun out of his holster and laid it on the floor in front of him. But after that he kicked it away, far enough to be unreachable. He then walked closer to Jake.
"Well? Do it!"
Jake does nothing.
"Do it!" the deputy said with resolve but without having to raise his voice.
In the moment of truth Jake does nothing. Two of the longest minutes in Jake's life pass by. He can't bring himself to do it.
What would amaze any witness the most is that Ryan is right beside the cleaver he dropped, while the deputy was some distance away from him. Why Jake didn't pick up the cleaver and go after the deputy?
"Just as I thought. You're nothing but a coward and a bully…guys like you have to pick on someone smaller and weaker to feel good…
The deputy defiantly walks up to Jake. Jake's anger relents and for the first time shows a high degree of…
Shame.
What impressed Miley, who was watching the whole thing was that her so-called master was so small compared to the deputy that he forgot of the advantage he had with the knife.
The deputy was like Mohammed Ali. He defeated Ryan with his mind. Without a gun.
"Pathetic"
That last word hammered the last nail in Jake Ryan's figurative coffin.
The deputy had turned Jake authoritatively impotent.
"Ma'am there's nothing that he can do now. You can still see him if you want but he can never hurt you again."
Whatever reservation Miley still had on her face, left. She loved Jake very much, or was it that she needed him? She didn't know. Her confidence received a critical boost as she watch the impotent look of defeat and resignation on Jake's face, as well as the confidence of the deputy who was handcuffing Jake's wrists tightly. Miley breathed in and out. Only it was getting deeper and more resolved. Maybe this was for the best. But she still needed Jake, and she needed him part of her life. Or more accurately, the link to her past.
"Ma'am you deserve better than this. Do it for yourself your life, your dignity, your future…" pleaded the deputy.
Miley's face started to light as see started to see the light. More so because she was now seeing a way out. She saw that Jake couldn't hurt her anymore.
"Maybe this is for the best," Miley figured to herself, "but I still love him! Oh why Jake? Now how are we going to be together?"
Miley was almost there.
"Do it for abused everywhere."
That was it. He had hit her role model side from her singing days. The side Miley thought was gone. Miley nodded and the deputy took that as a signal to continue. At this point, although she doesn't know who he is, this deputy seemed like her guardian angel finally piping up after all she's been through. She was now convinced that she deserved better. Who'd have thought it would be a complete stranger. But he was a police deputy. At this point the deputy also cuffs Jake's ankles tightly.
But a part of Miley felt as if nothing had changed. She was still enslaved by Jake, if not actually than spiritually.
Meanwhile the deputy lifts Jake and literally carries him to the left side of his waiting SUV. He leans him near the back fender and opens the car's left back seat door. Jake is leaning on his side against the left side of the car. Jake and the deputy are on opposite sides of the open left back passenger door facing each other. Jake is facing the inside of the door looking toward the alleyway. The deputy is on the side further in the alleyway and is facing the outside of the door, he is also facing the open outside street. The deputy then surreptitiously opens his door's window. All this is done casually. Then the deputy walks backs and escorts a newly confident Miley to the front passenger seat. He orders Miley to buckle up. He then retrieves his gun from the alley.
He shows no emotion as he walks back to deal with Jake.
But curiously he doesn't go around the back of the car to approach Jake from behind.
He goes back around the front and the inside of the door. An awkward position to be in when guiding a suspects into the cruiser, thought Miley. Back into the exact position he was in before. He pulls Jake closer so Jake is leaning on the door…