NOTE: In this chapter, Brad and Janet get "zapped" to the planet Transexual, sort of Star Trek's beam me up concept. Before a fan of this story emails me about contradictions or flaws in this area, let me remind readers that the instantaneous "zap" to planet Transexual was offered to Magenta and Riff Raff in an earlier chapter (to return home) but they chose the option of waiting the year out. This is one of my favorite chapters in the story. I hope you enjoy it as well.
PREVIOUSLY: Riff Raff and Magenta returned to Transexual, where the angry Queen Andoria announced their execution was to happen in four hours from then. They were brought to a holding cell, regardless of the pleading from their mother, Serena. Meanwhile, down on the planet Earth, Brad and Janet had just married, and were heading off to their hotel for their long-awaited honeymoon...
The previous scene fades to black. In the
center of this black void, we can see a "spotlight" centered on Riff Raff
and Magenta, who are seated on chairs, facing each other. The circumference
of the spotlight circle is about 6 feet wide, barely room enough for the
two chairs and Riff Raff and Magenta. Outside of the spotlight circle
is complete darkness. Are they on a stage? No. They are
in a large room, similar to a warehouse, although we cannot see any other
section of the room.
As they star at each other, we hear a large heavy
door open and close. We hear the sounds of footsteps approaching,
click clacking on the floor's surface. The footsteps seem to be approaching
Riff Raff and Magenta. Suddenly, their mother, Serena, can be seen
as she nears the spotlighted area containing her two children...
Riff Raff saw his mother as she neared his lighted
area. He stood up quickly and shouted in a panic tone, "Mother, don't
move any nearer!"
Serena stopped in her tracks about a foot from the
lighted area. She looked confused.
Riff Raff explained, "We're imprisoned in this spotlight.
The boundaries of it are an invisible wall of electrical current.
One step closer and you would have been electrocuted."
"Oh my poor darlings," Serena wept.
"This confinement is quite small..." Riff added.
Serena looked at the spotlighted area, and then
back into the darkness behind her, saying with irony, "But the rest of
the room is huge. You would think that with a planet that is over-populated,
they wouldn't waste space by putting 2 prisoners in a large room."
Magenta stood up to join her brother's side.
Magenta said, "Our situation is desperate. Have you tried talking
to the Queen?"
Serena answered, "Yes, but she seems determined
to have the both of you publicly executed tonight. And it makes my
heart break." Serena started to cry.
"Mother," Riff said, "We need you to be strong.
Who knows what fate has in store for tonight."
"Yes, Mother," Magenta offered, "Perhaps, by some
strange fate, we won't be harmed at all."
Suddenly, another sound could be heard: the door
opened and closed and several footsteps were heard approaching them.
Serena leaned closer, careful not to get too close
to the invisible electric wall, and whispered to her children, "I promise
you, darlings, if I can think of a way to help, I will not let you down.
I love you both."
She wiped her tears dry, and turned around, just
as the Queen (escorted by two guards) approached. Serena bowed to
the Queen, and walked away without a word.
When Serena had left the room, and sounds were quiet,
the Queen spoke, "Riff Raff and Magenta. I've decided to give you
another chance."
Magenta smiled, "You mean, we're not going to be
executed?"
Queen Andoria responded, "The execution will still
take place. However, you can change that."
Suddenly the room was quiet. Riff Raff and
Magenta felt a sense of hope to their horrific situation.
The Queen continued, "You killed my beloved Frank.
This is a fact. It is also a fact that Frank N Furter had created
a life, named Rocky, whom you have killed as well."
Riff Raff bowed his head apologetically.
Magenta wanted to plead her innocence, but she knew
better. Neither she, nor her brother, could speak to the Queen until
she addressed them to do so.
The Queen added, "Were you, or were you not, there
the night this creature, Rocky, was brought to life?"
"Yes," Riff Raff answered.
"Good," the Queen responded, "Then here is my offer
to you. Bring my Frankie back to life, and your own lives will be
saved."
Magenta turned to her brother in worry, then said
to the Queen, "But I'm not sure we know how to bring him back to
life."
Riff Raff explained, "Frank was the scientist, not
me. He told me in advance to press particular buttons and turn particular
cranks, but that's all. He never revealed his secret to me."
The Queen thought about this for a moment, then
shrugged, "Very well then, there will be an execution after all."
She started to turn around to leave.
Desperately, Magenta called out to her, causing
the Queen to turn back around, "Wait your Highness. There might be
another way!"
Riff Raff looked at his sister, confused, but suddenly
saw where she was going with this.
"How?" Queen Andoria asked.
Riff Raff answered, "Frank N Furter didn't reveal
to us his secret to creating life. Our relationship had become distant.
We were no longer close. However, there were two people that night
that he shared a certain fondness with."
"Who?"
"Earthlings. Brad Majors and Janet Weiss,
although they may be married at this point."
"Yes," Magenta added, "Frank was very close to them
that night. Perhaps he told them how he brought the monster
to life."
The Queen gave this suggestion some thought before
answering, "It's worth a shot. Guard, take me to the castle.
Inside the control room are some transporting tubes. We can transport
Brad and Janet here, tonight. If they can provide us with the answers
we need, Riff Raff and Magenta will be saved. If they cannot, they
too will be executed."
Back on Earth, just outside the town of Denton, Brad
and Janet were entering their honeymoon suite at a hotel. He, dressed
in a tuxedo, minus the jacket, was carrying Janet over the threshold, an
old-fashioned tradition. Once inside the room, he kicked the door
shut behind him, and sat her down onto the bed. She looked beautiful
in her wedding dress. She smiled at him. He returned the smile.
Brad said to her, "I ordered some champagne for
us to be delivered to our room any minute."
"Ooh, Brad," she teased him, "You don't have to
get me drunk to have your way tonight!"
They both laughed heavily, and then a moment later,
stopped, staring into each other's eyes with genuine love and adoration.
It was Brad who broke the silence, "I love you."
"I love you."
More silence as they stared at each other.
Brad said, "Now...get ready. I've got a surprise
for you that you are gonna love." He was referring to a special wedding
gift, he had secretly tucked away under the bed.
"Ooh, I love surprises, Brad."
"You're gonna love this!"
ZAPPPPPPPP!
Suddenly Brad disappeared. Vanished into thin
air.
Janet dropped her smile, and sat up on the bed.
"Brad?"
SILENCE.
Nervously, she said into the empty room, "Okay,
Brad, you can come out now. That was a great trick."
SILENCE.
"Brad?"
At that moment, a knock came out the door.
Janet smiled, and ran to it, opening it quickly, "I love you!"
She was expecting to see Brad standing behind the
door, but instead it was an employee for the hotel, carrying a bottle of
champagne.
"Uh," he said confused, "I love you, too?"
Janet turned back to her room, searching for Brad,
"I'm sorry. I thought you were my husband."
"He's gone?"
Janet turned back to the hotel employee, explaining,
"Yeah, you could say that. He was standing right here, talking to
me. He said he had a surprise for me and then suddenly he was gone.
Like that!"
ZAPPPPPPPP!
Instantly, Janet vanished into thin air, leaving
the employee alone.
He looked around the room, setting the champagne
bottle on the table. He mumbled nervously, "Uh, you don't have to
worry about a tip..."
Quickly he ran out of the room, without shutting
the door. He was very afraid and confused.
The room was very quiet...
IN CHAPTER 10: Brad and Janet find themselves back inside the castle! Imagine how surprised they are!