02-18-2015, 10:50 PM
PREVIOUSLY
Previously we learned that Mastermind was about to visit his father who he hadn't seen in over 25 years. The same father who came to the end of his rope when dealing with an angry young Mastermind who was trying to cope with the death of his mother and he was acting out.
He had also learned that while he sent Mastermind away, he never stopped being out of his life, even though Mastermind didn't see it.
All the anger and resentment had flooded back for Mastermind, and he was having a hard time coping with it, as he and Maria turned up at his father's place.
And now the continuation
Previously we learned that Mastermind was about to visit his father who he hadn't seen in over 25 years. The same father who came to the end of his rope when dealing with an angry young Mastermind who was trying to cope with the death of his mother and he was acting out.
He had also learned that while he sent Mastermind away, he never stopped being out of his life, even though Mastermind didn't see it.
All the anger and resentment had flooded back for Mastermind, and he was having a hard time coping with it, as he and Maria turned up at his father's place.
And now the continuation
Maria walked around the car, and held out her hand for Mastermind to take. Mastermind took it, and slowly they walked towards the house. Mastermind looked around.
There were a few toys scattered about, including a couple of bicycles that were being held up against a fence.
"He's got kids."
MARIA: "Could be a perfectly reasonable explanation for those."
Mastermind stopped dead in his tracks.
"What kind of explanation would that be then? Children, Grand Children?"
Maria stopped, and turned and faced Mastermind. She put her hands on his shoulders.
MARIA: "Please calm down Babe. Whatever the explanation is, we'll work through it. Now breathe."
Mastermind inhaled and then he exhaled. He then nodded to say he was okay. Maria then led the way to the front door. The closer they got, the more she could feel Mastermind tense up, and his hand was starting to shake.
She rung the door bell, and looked back at Mastermind. He looked pale.
MARIA: "It's going to be okay."
They heard some footsteps. The door opened and standing before them was a woman. She looked Middle Aged.
Thoughts started running through Mastermind's head.
'Dad was 18 when he and Mum had me.'
'He would be 58 now, and Mum would have been 60.'
'Oh my god... Oh my god... Oh my god...'
'Who is this lady standing in front of me...'
'This was a mistake coming here.'
The sound of Maria's voice made him break out of his thoughts.
MARIA: 'M' can you hear me?"
Mastermind blinked.
"Huh?"
MARIA: "Susan said welcome and go on in."
"Who's Susan?"
SUSAN: "I am."
Mastermind looked at the woman in front of him.
"What's your connection to my father?"
MARIA: "'M' that's not a question to ask now."
SUSAN: "That's okay Maria, he's allowed to ask it now. I'm your father's wife."
"I'm your father's wife."
"I'm your father's wife."
"I'm your father's wife."
"I'm your father's wife."
"I'm your father's wife."
Mastermind blinked again. He felt glued to the spot.
MARIA: "Babe are you okay?"
"I can't do this Maria, it's too hard."
MARIA: "Come on, just breathe it in and out."
SUSAN: "It's okay Maria, truly it is. I understand how 'M' must be feeling."
"No you don't understand."
MARIA: "'M' not here, not now."
Mastermind held up his hands.
"Please Maria, just stop."
Maria stood back not sure what to say. She had tears in her eyes. All she wanted to do was help Mastermind through this ordeal. But the situation was tough.
Susan looked back inside the house, then stepped foot out the door, and closed it.
SUSAN: "I know this is tough on you, it's been tough on your Father as well. But if you didn't want to sort this out you wouldn't be here. Your past is forcing you to make this situation worse. Your Father wants to work this out. I'm sure you do too."
"You replaced my mother."
Susan placed her hand on Mastermind's shoulder.
SUSAN: "And you need to deal with that, but not now. You're here to sort things out with your father, not me, not yet."
Mastermind breathed in, and then out.
"One more question."
SUSAN: "There will be more questions asked after this one, but go on ask away."
"Those are kids toys scattered around the place. Are there kids here?"
SUSAN: "Pure and simple answer, Grandchildren."
'Grandchildren...'
"Grandchildren...'
"Grandchildren...'
"Grandchildren....'
"Holy shit, that means I've got half brothers and half sisters running around....'
Mastermind blinked again, coming too.
"Are they my father's grandchildren too?"
Susan looked across at Maria, and then directly into Mastermind's eyes.
SUSAN: "Yes."
Both Susan and Maria saw Mastermind tense up, clenched his fists, took a few deep breaths and then relaxed.
"I wish to see my father now."
Confused Susan looked across to Maria, who just shrugged her shoulders.
SUSAN: "Okay but there is no violence in my house."
Mastermind looked calmly at Susan.
"I promise you no violence is going to come from me. But I'm allowed to speak my mind."
SUSAN: "Fine then, follow me."
Susan went back to the door and opened it. Maria quickly walked over to Mastermind, and grabbed his hand.
MARIA: "I'm here."
Mastermind smiled, and hugged her.
"I know. Time to face my past."
MARIA: "Please let me go first."
"I'm not going to hit anyone, but sure by all means go right ahead."
Maria followed Susan into the house, followed by Mastermind. Susan closed the door, and then led them down the massive hallway. They passed stairs that went up to the second and third floors. Mastermind thought he saw a pair of eyes looking down on him. They came to a set of double doors which had been closed.
Susan looked back at Maria, and Mastermind, and Maria smiled and nodded. She grabbed Mastermind's hand.
Susan took a deep breath, and pulled the doors opened. She walked into what looked to be a conference room. Maria followed and then Mastermind did too.
Suddenly he froze. There standing in front of him, standing on the other side of the room was his father. Jack. He looked older.
For a minute or two they looked at one another in total silence, the tension in the room was palpable, and the girls could have cut the tension with a knife like a knife through butter.
Memories started flooding back for Mastermind.
"Enough 'M', I've had enough."
"But Dad I'm telling you it wasn't me."
"That's bullshit and you know it. I can't take it any more. Your antics."
"But Dad if you just listen I'll explain."
"When have you ever explained your actions over the last few years? When Son tell me that? I'll tell you. Never."
"I can explain them now."
"It's too late, it's fucking too late. Your bags are packed, and you going to move in with your wrestling coach. It's been decided."
"But Dad..."
"But nothing 'M'. I'm tired. I can't do it anymore. Just go. Go now."
"You need to let me go."
"Please, please, for your own good, you need to let me go."
"Mum?"
"Please 'M' you need to let me go. You need to forgive your Dad."
"I was only 10 Mum."
"I need for you to let me go. If you let me go, you can move on, you can heal your past. Let me go 'M'. Let me go."
"You need to let me go."
"I know Mum. I know."
"You need to reacquaint yourself with your father. Let the ill feelings go."
"Yes Mum, I love you Mum."
"I love you too Son, I always will.
"You need to let me go."
"Good bye Mum."
"Good bye Son."
Mastermind blinked again, he was standing back in the same room as his father. For the first time in 26 years.
JACK: "Son."
"Father."
Jack motioned to the chairs.
JACK: "Please why don't you and your beautiful fiancee have a seat."
"No thanks, I'd rather stand."
MARIA: "I'll take a seat thanks."
Maria sat down in front of Mastermind, and tried to make Mastermind sit, but he just stood there, staring at his father. His father stood still.
"Why did you let your wife answer the door father? Why couldn't you answer it?"
JACK: "Because she felt it would have been best to answer the door herself."
Mastermind half smiled, and looked at Susan.
"Isn't that wonderful, thinking it was the best thing for all concerned."
MARIA: "Come on 'M' please don't go there."
JACK: "It's okay Maria. You've obviously came here to say something 'M' by all means the floor is yours."
Maria dropped her head. She didn't envision the meeting would go like this. Straight away. She could see Mastermind tense up again.
"How wonderful it is to have an instant family isn't it Father."
JACK: "It didn't happen over night."
"It still happened, and I wasn't aware that I had step brothers or step sisters."
JACK: "Because you made it quite obvious that you didn't want anything to do with me. How could I tell you what was happening?"
"How could you let Mum's memory go like that and move on. How could you let me go?"
JACK: "And that's what it all boils down to isn't it 'M'? The fact that I moved on from your mother, the fact that I let you go."
"You didn't give me a chance to explain things."
SUSAN: "Guys just calm down."
Mastermind through his hands up in the air.
JACK: "You had all the time in the world to explain, but you didn't. You just went on this wild angry ride, and I tried to be there for you, but you never let me in. I'm sorry that I let you go, but I had no other choice. I had to move on too you know. I loved your mother but she died. I had to take care of my self."
"Some people wouldn't remarry. I know I wouldn't remarry if Maria died. I love her too much."
JACK: "I'm not you. I had to do things my way."
"And there it is in a nut shell. You are not me. You could never be me. You forgot about Mum, You forgot about me, and you moved on with your life. Just like I should."
JACK: "Why don't you then? Obviously whatever I say is not good enough for you."
SUSAN: "Jack, doesn't mean it."
Mastermind stood looking at Jack with anger in his eyes.
"Yes he means it."
Mastermind turns and storms out of the room.
MARIA: 'Babe wait."
SUSAN: "Maria let him go, I have a feeling he needs a bit of time."
Maria gets up looking concerned.
TO BE CONTINUED