The scene opens in a cornfield out in Iowa. Corn stalks standing a good seven feet high sway left and right, the swift breeze enough to move them in unison, with ease. The sun overhead shines brightly on the face of none other than... Tony Santos. Adorned in a ragged, white wife beater, jeans, cowboy boots and a straw hat, Tony reluctantly soaks in the hot Iowa sun. Tony gently moves the corn stalks to his sides as he plods along, his destination unknown to us as viewers, and likely unknown to him as well. As Tony makes his way through the field, he notices something... tall in the distance.

Tony stops, clutches a corn stalk with his right hand, and squints ahead of him. A slender, yet curvy figure can be seen from a distance. Tony attempts to get a clear picture of this figure in between cobs of corn blocking his view. As he makes his way further forward, he can make out a fact made obvious by this figure's long, black hair: this is a woman. Her curves become more pronounced, her chest more compelling. She takes her time, while Tony's pace quickens. What are mere minutes feel like days for Tony Santos. Who is this woman? Where has she come from, and why is she here? Why am I here??

Santos: Shannon? Is that you?

No response from the figure ahead of him. Tony keeps moving forward, attempting to use the stalks of corn to propel him forward faster and faster, hoping to see this mysterious woman... the woman who he believes is his former girlfriend. His girlfriend before his life went down the tubes, he lost his job and his apartment in Miami, and found himself living in the basement of a dive bar. Since he'd been tossed unceremoniously out of his apartment, Shannon bolted. The woman who had been his crutch when he had nothing had turned on him after getting used to a life of comfort and dependency. Once Tony couldn't provide what she wanted, she moved on, forever changed. She'd probably say that she "matured," but Tony'd likely call it something a whole lot less flattering.

Santos: Shannon? Shannon. It's....

Nothing still as they are only a mere 50 feet away from one another. Tony continues taking purposeful strides. Left, right, left, right, his boots sinking ever so slightly in to the moist soil, their contours and ridges shaping the ground they touch. Just then, Tony's right toe taps against a stalk, and Tony tumbles toward the ground. Tony hits the ground, but surprisingly, without a thud. He just falls in to the ground as if it were a pillow... able to create plant life, that is. His hat stays firmly planted on his head as he rolls around on the ground. Rolling to his left, he takes a corn stalk down with ease, its base crunching as Tony's scarred but muscular back presses on it.

Tony's gaze is fixed on the sun above as he tries in vain to make his abs assist him in the ride back up to six feet two inches high. As he continues to attempt his assent, the sun is impeded by Shannon's head. Looking down at Tony, Shannon smiles, her black hair covering her left eye as the wind takes it to her right. Shannon extends her soft, pale hand downward, and Tony grasps it. After being pulled upwards, Tony hops twice in the air, then brushes the dirt off of his clothing. Adjusting his still perfectly aligned hat, Tony blinks twice, then looks in to Shannon's soft, pink (she was wearing one of her many multi-colored contacts) eyes, and smiles that weak at the knees, smile that only a smitten lover can acquire.

Santos: Shannon, it is you. God, I've missed you more than you could ever imagine. It's been a struggle, babe, and I've realized how badly I need you around. God damn, babe, I know you and I haven't exactly run the tightest of ships when it comes to our relationship; there have certainly been some casualties along the way, but babe, I need you back. You need me back.

Shannon's face is unchanged, her smile seemingly frozen, her eyes locked on to Tony's droopy, exhausted brown ones.

Santos: I've changed, babe. I'm getting it back together, I promise. I'm back in the game, babe! My first match back was a win, hun! No squandered chances this time... not one! I'm getting back on my feet, and I'm making things happen, and god damn it, I'm doing so with a purpose, and with vigor. Babe...

Shannon puts her right index finger up to Tony's lips, shushing him. She looks up and down Tony's rugged, worn face. She slides her finger up Tony's left cheek, then to his eyebrows. Making her way over his left eyebrow, then his right, she keeps the same stare, except with a more intent look in her eyes. Her finger makes its way down Tony's right cheek, the tip of her finger stopping at the spot on his cheek where the sun is beating hardest. Making her way back to his lips, she presses her finger hard against him, then takes her finger to her lips and kisses it.

Allowing herself to let out a slight giggle, she takes her finger and shows the tip to Tony. Tony shrugs.

Santos: Babe, I'm not sure what you want me to...

She quickly presses her finger back to Tony's, shushing him once again. She takes her finger and slides it back up to the middle of Tony's cheek. She presses firmly. Shannon, looking a bit confused, brings her finger to in front of her face. She observes her finger with a bit of confusion. She rotates it, observing every line of her fingerprint, every wrinkle on her joints. After about 20 seconds of this, she smiles. Holding her finger still, she looks up at Tony and mouths a kiss.

Santos: Babe?

Shannon's face soon turns from one of glee to mild anger. She looks at the tip of her finger, then at Tony's chest, then his eyes. His eyes are pale white, hers, a slightly rosy red. Shannon cranks her arm backwards and to her side, then jabs her finger in to Tony's left rib.

Santos: Ow, shit. Did you just, burn me?

Without saying a word, Shannon continues jabbing at Tony's ribs, piercing his lungs. Tony crumples in pain as Shannon continues her tirade. She reaches his throat, where she draws a solid line from his chin to his gullet. Tony falls to the ground, writhing in pain.

Santos: Sweet Jesus, babe! What in the hell are you doing?! I thought you loved me??

Shannon juts her head backwards, moving her hair entirely from her face. She smiles wide as her fingers all turn to lit cigarettes. Raising them upward, she seemingly harnesses the sun's energy until her fingertips turn a hot orange color. Her eyes closed, with her smile compensating, she extends her hands outward, then sets the stalks around her on fire. As Tony looks up in horror, Shannon gives Tony a wink, then snaps her fingers, disappearing from the scene.

Then Tony wakes up as the scene fades to black.

September 2013 and May 2019 Star of the Month
1x Hart Champion
1x Television Champion
1x Xtreme Champion