Past Inquiries

[Hartford Confinement Association. The name of that place still haunts my soul. They locked me up like I was insane. Quite an insult, if you ask me. Insane, because of the reaction I gave when my bastard father was murdered? If that's insane, then lock me up for I am guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If they could have seen what kind of a person he was, they would've committed him, rather than myself. I still hear her cries…]

(The cold air rushes against my face as I crawl through the hallway approaching the loud noises. When I got to the cracked opened door with a faint, dim light escaping, all I could see was my dear mother. She was crying like every day, and my father was pushing her around like a school yard bully. That's no way to treat a lady, especially my mother, so I rushed in through the door, and jumped up on top of his back with a strangle hold. I must've caught him off-guard, because he stumbled into a dresser and shattered the mirror, but perhaps he was at a state of disregard for anything, and anyone. I was finally thrown off of his back into a wall, but even from the cold floor, I could smell the alcohol coming from his breath. The cigar smoke still in the air, poisoning our lungs with bad childhood memories. It doesn't matter to him, for my mother, my sister, and myself, we were nothing in his mind. Well, no sooner did I hit the wall, did he proceed to hit my mother some more, despite her begging. That's when my life fell apart, that's when my beloved sister, Cassie, she was only a young girl. Cass ran in and did the same to my father, in which I had attempted and in the same situation, Cass was thrown to the ground as well. That wasn't the beginning, that was just one of the chronicles. My late father took his stock market issues out on his family, almost every day. That's what alcohol will do to you, my friends, it will unleash the monster in a person you love, and their inner demons will haunt you for the rest of your life.

Months went by, months seeped into years. The same situation every day, yet we took it, cause there was nothing we could do. You see, my father, he was the owner of a large company called Constarrgo it was a fairly successful business, and beings my father owned it, our roots were quite classy, and so were our bank accounts. Money equals power, and that is why the son of a bitch treated us like he did. My father thought since he was the most powerful man in Hartford, he could do whatever he wanted. He was right, beings I wasn't going to intervene, knowing the consequences of my rebellion. One day, the fellow my sister was dating comes by, after one of her father's beatings. Michael Diamond, in fact. Her shattered dreams were hidden deep inside of her, but were released that one day, when Michael saw her bruised face. I still hear him yelling "Who did this to you?" from across the hall. It wasn't an open conversation to talk about, who likes admitting they get beaten by their father every day? I know I kept it deep inside, but Cass was softer than I was. Well, when Michael found out, he went looking for redemption, but like always, my father came out on top. Michael ended up in the hospital, ended up on life support. My father claimed yet another victim, laid waste, and got away with it. Well, almost got away with it. Daddy had to spend some time in jail, only a month! This was not justice, this was not right. My father had to pay the ultimate price, he had to feel the same pain I've felt, and Cass felt. My father must suffer like he made my Mother suffer. I couldn't do it myself, no, that's why it was quite ironic. For it was my father's own hard earned money, which hired the murderer that stuck my father's broken arm through his own throat in the jail cafeteria. It was all masterminded by I, because I knew, if I let my father get away with this, I could never be free.

My mother didn't react the same way as I, she was sad, and hysterical. She didn't understand why I was happy my father was finally dead, Cass did, but my mother did not. She thought I was insane, my own mother thought I was insane. So she had me committed. I put out money to make her, and her daughter's life better, and what did that achieve me? They called me insane, well, as I said. If they had known my father, they would have committed him instead. I was insane? Quite the contrary, I was the most normal person in that society, and that bitch of a mother had me locked up because I didn't give into my father's power, like she must have. Submissive bitch gave me a bad name, but I'm not confined anymore, friends. I just hope I can continue my quest in life without the insane label that society has given me. It's too late for the truth now, so I must live with the consequences and I must say, it was worth it.)

[The dark, gloomy atmosphere of my parent's dining room. The house is pretty much empty now that my mother has been bound to her bed, and my sister is in Paris. It was the perfect opportunity for business transactions. Not even light could cheer up the walls of this room, it's just too cold to be comfortable. The ambiance just wouldn't fit, not in Danny Starr's house at least. Danny sits in a wooden dining chair reading his daily stocks, checking the points of Constarrgo after being handed to Father Starr's business partner, Leon Talbot. Danny has reading glasses, and the blueness from outside fills the lens with a reflection. As Danny crackles the paper, it echoes through the entire room. Suddenly, a man walks into the dining room. It looks to be Danny's old chum, Kory Storm. Danny doesn't look up, even though he's aware of Kory's presence as he sits down in a wooden chair across from Danny.]

Kory: Perhaps you should consider hiring a butler, I mean, you are busy enough to have one, plus it would help your mother…

Danny: To hell with my mother! She's in her room because I can't stand to look at her face. She had me committed, Kory. That's NOT Sensational!

Danny: I've been persecuted by society because of her. She expects me to come back, and take care of her? It's not going to work out like that, Kory. We both know that.

(Danny jumps up in a fit of rage, dropping his paper and glasses on the ground)

Danny: When have you been in my position!? Never, you've never been in an asylum, you don't know what it's like. When you're mother sends you to confinement for helping her, we'll see if you forgive and forget, shall we?

(Danny Starr takes a breath and closes his eyes, then sits down on his chair. After a short pause, Kory Storm replies to Danny)

Kory: Man, I've never been in your position. I have a mass amount of apathy for you, but have you seen your mother? She is dying, Danny. Have you no respect for the woman who brought you into this earth?

Danny: And stabbed me in the back? Who the hell do you think you are to interfere with my life?

(Just then, a short, tired looking woman stumbles into the dining room to Danny. She keeps walking until she comes to him, and extends her arms for a hug. Danny avoids her by climbing to his feet and walking to the other side of the dining room.)

Danny's Mother: Why won't you forgive me, Danny? It's been so long since then, and I've grown wise to what you did for me, and Cass. Please, Danny.

(Mother assumes by Danny's silence, he has forgiven her, and approaches him yet again for a show a compassion when Danny Starr pushes her away)

Danny: Get off of me, mother! You are nothing to me, I just live here. Go back to your room, I don't want to see your wrinkled face looking at me. I hate the way you look, I hate the way you think…

Danny: Then get the hell out of my house, Kory. You dare step into my domain and defy me? Who the hell do you think you're talking to? I'm Danny Starr, I'm your god, now get the hell out of my house!

(Danny grabs Kory by his shirt collar and drags him to his feet, then pulls him out of the dining room, into the hall, which he then proceeds to open the front door and pitch Kory out.)

Danny: You're nothing to me now, don't ever come to my door with the idea of ever being welcome. Stay away from here, Kory. You stay away.

(Danny Starr slams the door in Kory Storm's face, then returns to the dining room. Danny grabs a pair of keys off of the key rack, and begins to walk towards the front door again.)

(Danny stops dead in his tracks, without turning around. Danny's mother thinks her trick worked because of his pause)

(The scene starts off somewhere within the structure of the country club, the restaurant/relaxation part of the country club. Michael Diamond, and Chris Vargas are seated a booth next to a window, only drinking fine wine. Danny Starr appears in the picture, wearing a leather jacket due to the outside temperature, and takes a seat next to Chris Vargas.)

Danny: I'll tell you what's up. Kory Storm is an ungrateful bastard, that's what!

Michael: That's old twit? She shouldn't have committed you if she wanted respect.

Danny: Not only that, she also tried the 'I'm adopted' routine. Haha, old bag.

Chris: There was this huge party last night, pretty blatant. They were slackin' dope, alcohol and everything, so me and Mike, we go down to Main Street, and buy these cheap ass cop suites, I mean these looked like mother fuckin' chief wiggum's outfit, so we go to the house, and put on that pig shit. The kid was SO fucked up, not only did he believe us, he gave us the drugs and booze.

(Michael and Chris begin laughing profusely hard, and Danny joins in. Danny asks Chris a serious question, while laughing.)

Danny: You know, Chris. We should stay on our game plan for GWA. You cannot smoke that while doing this, they'll have a field day at the front office. We gotta stay focused, and we can't do that by 'livin' it up' all night, every night.

Danny: Just until we're done with The Circle. I have a feeling we're in enough shit as it is. So don't get doped up beyond coherence. Got it?

Danny: You kidding? I'll pay for the hotel room. You guys need sexual pleasure to concentrate.

(The scene fades in from black to Danny Starr concentrating to the road as he steers the wheel of his car, driving. He seems to be deep in thought, that's when it all came back to him.)

(Danny Starr is seen writing a long, thought out letter to someone. The pen in his hand moves rapidly, as if anger is forcing him to write the letter, controlling exactly what is being put down on that piece of paper. In a flash, Danny is finished his work, and re-reads it to make sure all of the accurate information is in the body, then in an instant, folds the letter, and slips it into an envelope sitting nearby his coffee cup on the table he was writing on. He licks the corner, and gently sticks the top to the rest of the envelope. In a rush, Danny gets up and runs out to his car, and gets inside. The scene fades to black)

(Danny Starr walks up to a wall inside the post office, and pulls out a slot revealing a long tube. The envelope he was rushing, he places inside the slot, and puts the door back up. A smirk is seen on Danny's face, then turns around and makes his exit again, as the scene fades to black.)

(Two columns of prison cells can be seen, and in the center, is a man wearing a hat, and pushing a large cart with thousands of letters and envelopes organized by cell. The man walking the cart is screaming out last names, and the people in orange suits are replying one by one.)

(The man cautiously approaches Devons with his mail, when suddenly Devons grabs the man into a chokehold.)

(A swift elbow to Devon's chest causes him to escape the hold, and catch his breath.)

(The man spits at Devons, as he makes kissing remarks to him then begins to laugh heavily. The man ignores Devon, and continues to hand out mail to the prisoners.)

(The mail man hands the man his only letter, signed Danny Starr. The man sits on his bed, and begins to open the letter up. Once the paper is unfolded, the man begins to read out loud.)

My name is Danny Starr. Danny Starr, of Hartford, Connecticut. I have heard of your work, and what you have done. I must say, I am quite impressed. In fact, I'm so impressed, I have a job for you. I understand that my father has been sent to the prison you're currently stationed.

I am offering you a check of $12,000.00 to see to it that John Starr suffers the ultimate price before tomorrow's sunlight breaks. If you accept, I'll hear about it on the news tomorrow. If you decline, I'll be very disappointed. The money's there, see to it my father is dead by tomorrow.

Ta Ta,
Danny Starr"

(Just as Grimes is finished reading, a voice is heard from the middle of the block.)

(The flashback is cut off by a swerving car almost crashing into Danny Starr's prowler, sending off his concentration. Heavy panting from Danny is heard, as his chest rises and lowers in a stage of fright. The Sensation continues to drive as the scene fades to blackness.)