NOTE: This chapter originally featured a song, sung by the Queen, demonstrating how evil she could be when she had to be. However, to keep pace, I have deleted it from here. And for those interested, the Queen's name, Andoria, is derived out of love and gratitude to one of the first Rocky Horror fans, Dori Hartley (An- DORI - a). This name is given out of respect to this fascinating woman. Also, in my mind, I had ideas of people that should "star" in the movie adaptation of "Frankie Comes Again." I think Brad should be played by Cliff De Young, of course. Janet I thought should be played by someone who looks like Susan Sarandon, so my suggestion is Leslie Ann Warren. Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, Ansalong, Emily, Harry, Ralph (and many other Shock Treatment characters) should be played by their original actors. Casting the Queen was difficult. I saw Rupaul playing it...and what a novel idea that would be: a transvestite playing a transvestite. Frank N. Furter would, of course, be a Tim Curry cameo. And finally, the perfect person I could see playing Riff Raff and Magenta's mother would be Eileen Brenner (from "Clue" and "Private Benjamin") because she has Magenta's manners to a flaw...
PREVIOUSLY: As Brad and Janet get married, Riff Raff and Magenta make it to their destination: the planet Transexual in the galaxy of Transylvania. Waiting for them at their arrival is the angry Queen Andoria. The date is exactly one year from the fateful night when Brad and Janet met Frank N. Furter for the very first time...
As Brad and Janet drive away from the church in their car, towards their honeymoon destination, the camera pans up to the sky and ventures deep into it, past the clouds, quickly past the stars, into space, zooming faster and faster away from earth. After passing planets (all within a matter of seconds) they enter another galaxy, then another, until finally they enter the galaxy called Transylvania. The planet Transexual approaches quickly. As we zoom in closer and closer to the surface, images become clearer, such as buildings, flying crafts, skywalks, and people dressed in Transylvanian garb. The camera flies past buildings towards a large landing area, where a castle has just landed. We can barely see some light underneath the castle as it touched surface. The camera pans around the castle to it's front side where it slowly focuses on the image of a tall, slender Queen, surrounded by guards. She does not look happy...
Queen Andoria stood at the loading dock where the
castle had just landed. The house (or should we say castle?)
was quiet, or so it seemed standing outside of it. The windows were
dark and the front door was closed. The Queen instructed two guards
to go inside and escort out Riff Raff and Magenta. She watched as
the guards entered the castle.
As she waited, she heard someone approaching her
from behind. She turned around and saw that the approaching Transylvanian
was a familiar face. It was Riff Raff and Magenta's mother, Serena.
The Queen smiled a fake smile, greeting her, "Serena,
my dear friend. How are you?"
Serena stood in front of the Queen, offering a worried
look. She bowed quickly, and the asked her, "Your majesty, I come
to you with a favor."
"What might that be?"
Riff Raff and Magenta's mother pleaded, "Please
do not judge my children too harshly. We don't know the circumstances
behind their actions and--"
The Queen cut her words off, by saying, "I know
all I need to know. Your two children, Riff Raff and Magenta, have
killed my beloved Frank N. Furter."
"Yes," Serena said, "and believe me, I know how
you feel. Dr. Furter was like a son to you. Which is why I
appeal to you...as a mother. It hurts me to know that you are unhappy
with them."
"Well..." the Queen said in deep thought, "I'll
take your plea into consideration. Now leave me."
"Yes, your highness." Serena took a final
curtsy, and then stepped back, behind the guards and waited patiently for
her children to exit the castle.
A guard approached Queen Andoria from behind and
whispered something into her ear. The queen turned and looked back
into the crowd...seemingly to search for someone. At last, she spotted
the person the guard had whispered about. The Queen motioned for
the Transylvanian to approach her.
The woman in the crowd stepped forward, somewhat
shy, somewhat nervous. Her long hair draped over her shoulders.
She bowed to the Queen.
"Your highness," the young woman said, "My name
is Ansalong. My sister--"
"Yes, Ansalong. I know who you are.
Your sister, Columbia, was advised not to go to earth, but she chose to
regardless."
Ansalong asked the question she feared most: "My
sister...is she...dead?"
The Queen stepped forward and carefully placed Ansalong's
hand inside her own, in comfort. "Yes, I'm afraid so."
Ansalong felt tears fill her eyes. She asked
softly, "But how?"
"I do not know. I'm awaiting Riff Raff and
Magenta any minute now."
Suddenly, the front door of the castle opened up,
and Riff Raff and Magenta stepped out onto the porch. Ansalong looked
at them and then to the Queen who was no longer interested in Ansalong's
questions. Ansalong decided to step back and watch from within the
crowd.
Riff Raff and Magenta approached the Queen and knelt
down to her feet, remaining their until the Queen would permit them to
stand.
Queen Andoria spoke first: "I sent the two of you
with Frank N. Furter to Earth. Your mission was to study it for possibilities
of future Transylvanian existence. You were to unite with other Transylvanians
who were already there for the same purpose."
Riff Raff and Magenta kept themselves bowed, afraid
to speak.
The Queen continued, "But something happened.
My darling Frank is dead. Murdered."
A horrific silence filled the air, the tension thick
as molasses. Riff Raff felt his heart beating fast, fearing that
the punishment for Frank's murder would be deadly. He cleared his
throat and responded softly, "The reason I killed him was because--"
"SILENCE!" the Queen bellowed, "You will speak only
when I allow you to."
Everyone around stared as the Queen continued, "The
reasons behind me are unimportant at this moment. You will have plenty
of time to explain them to my counselor within the hour. The point
is...my Frank N Furter is dead. Murdered by the both of you.
STAND."
Riff Raff and Magenta stood up in front of Queen
Andoria, their faces expressionless, but obviously hiding fear.
Magenta cleared her throat and said, "If I could
just say something in our def--"
The Queen's anger rose, "I said SILENCE!"
Within the crowd, Serena stepped through quickly,
shouting, "Please, Magenta, don't make it worse!" Serena's eyes were
full of tears.
The Queen moved over to stand directly in front
of Magenta. She addressed her, "Magenta, consider that your last
warning. I do not wish to hear your voice until asked of it.
Is this understood?"
Magenta remained quiet.
"Nod," the Queen demanded of Magenta.
Magenta nodded in understandment.
"Good," the Queen said sinisterly. "I place
the blame on both of you, as you two are the only two returning crew members.
I assume the young passenger, Columbia, was murdered as well?"
Nobody spoke. Magenta took it upon herself
to nod again. In the background, Ansalong let the tears fall down
her cheek.
Queen Andoria continued, this time addressing the
crowd who stood nearby watching. "May I have everyone's attention!
I wish to make an announcement. In exactly 4 hours, there will be
a party. The party will be in honor of Frank N Furter's memory.
There will be food and beverage, and plenty of dancing. And to complete
the night in grand style, everyone here will be able to witness the execution
of Riff Raff and his sister, Magenta!"
Suddenly the crowd began to talk all at once.
You could hear Magenta and Riff Raff's mother, Serena, weeping, and shouting
"No! Please, your majesty!"
The Queen turned to her guards, saying, "Take them
away. Lock them up, and allow them to give their statements to my
counselor."
Magenta turned to her brother and whispered, "Is
this really happening? She must be joking."
Suddenly they were both wrist bound and sent away
to their locked cells within the Queen's castle. As Riff Raff and
Magenta were led through the crowd, Ansalong stepped in front of them,
forcing them to stop. Her eyes were wet with tears, and her mouth
expression full of anger. Her lower lip quivered. Without warning,
she spat on Riff Raff's face. Riff Raff did not react.
The guards continued leading them through the crowd.
Serena shouted over the loud chatter, "Don't worry, my babies, mother will
get you out." Then, as an afterthought, she mumbled to herself, "I
hope."
The camera shifts to the inside of Frank N. Furter's
castle where guards are inspecting each room. Two guards on the third
floor look around the area, one searching bedrooms, the other heading up
the stairs to the top level. Once up there, the camera point-of-view
switches to the inside of the lab, where the guard is entering the hole
in the wall. He descends down the ramp and notices the covered caskets
in front of the tank. Suddenly he hears a sound. It seems to
be a sound of breathing...for a second he thinks it might be an animal.
He kneels down low to look underneath the tank. Frightening music
is played in the background to intensify the scene. Under the tank,
we see nothing but dark shadows. The guard reaches his hand under
the tank, closer and closer to the darkness. Suddenly a dog emerges
from the darkness (gasp!) and, of course, the haunting music stops to end
the tension.
"Woah, boy, you scared me," the guard says, petting
the dog.
Without warning, and in a quick cut, we see the
heavy barbell (the one used in Rocky Horror Picture Show for Rocky's birthday).
It is being raised high into the air by an unknown person. In a quick
arc, the barbell comes down upon the guard's head, knocking him unconscious.
The dog runs away to hide again. The camera cuts to show the guard
lying motionless in front of the tank...
The audience (us) is left to wonder WHO is the
guard's assailant...
IN CHAPTER 9: Riff Raff and Magenta have a plan to save themselves, but it requires the presence of Brad, Janet, and Dr. Scott. Little do the newlyweds (and teacher) know it, but they are about to be ZAPPED up to the planet Transexual...