them. Misbehavior will be instantly punished. Pain is one of life’s
greatest teachers, and he is an expert in the application of pain.
Order will be restored within the Stillwater household, and his children
will commit no act without first soberly reflecting upon the rules that
govern them.
Initially, of course, they will hate him for being so stern and
uncompromising. They will not understand that he is acting in their
best interests.
However, each tear that his punishments wring from them will be sweet to
him. Each cry of pain will be a gladdening music. He will be
unrelenting with them because he knows that in time they will realize he
imposes guidance upon them only because he cares so profoundly about
them. They will love him for his stern fatherly concern. They will
adore him for providing the discipline which theY need–and secretly
desire but which it is their very nature to Paige also will need to be
disciplined. He knows about women’s needs. He remembers a film with
Kim Basinger in which sex and a craving for discipline were shown to be
inextricably entwined. He anticipates Paige’s instructions with
particular pleasure.
Since the day that his career, family, and memories were stolen from
him–which might be a year or ten years ago, for all he knows–he has
lived primarily through the movies. The adventures he has experienced
and the poignant lessons he has learned in count less darkened theaters
seem as real to him as the car seat on which he now lies and the
chocolate dissolving on his tongue. He remembers making love to Sharon
Stone, to Glenn Close, from both of whom he learned the potential for
sexual mania and treachery prevelant in all women. He remembers the
exuberant fun of sex with Goldie Hawn, the rapture of Michelle Pfeiffer,
the exciting sweaty urgency of Ellen Barkin when he incorrectly
suspected her of being a murderess but pinned her to the wall of his
apartment and penetrated her anyway. John Wayne, Clint Eastwood,
Gregory Peck, and so many other men have taken him under their wings and
have taught him courage and determination. He knows that death is a
mystery of infinite complication because he has learned so many
conflicting lessons about it, Tim Robbins has shown him that the
afterlife is only an illusion, while Patrick Swayze has shown him that
the afterlife is a joyous place as real as anywhere and that those you
love (like Demi Moore) will see you there when they eventually pass from
this world, yet Freddy Krueger has shown him that the afterlife is a
gruesome nightmare from which you can return for gleeful vengeance.
When Debra Winger died of cancer, leaving Shirley MacLaine bereft, he
had been inconsolable, but only a few days later he had seen her, alive
again, younger and more beautiful than ever, reincarnated in a new life
where she enjoyed a new destiny with Richard Gere. Paul New man has
often shared with him bits of wisdom about death, life, pool, poker,
love, and honor, therefore, he considers this man one of his most
important mentors. Likewise, Wilford Brimley, Gene Hackman, burly old
Edward Asner, Robert Redford, Jessica Tandy. Often he absorbs quite
contradictory lessons from such friends, but he has heard some of these
people say that all beliefs are of equal value and that there is no one
truth, so he is comfortable with the contradictions by which he lives.
He learned the most secret of all truths not in a public theater or
on a pay-per-view movie service in a hotel room. Instead, that moment
of stunning insight had come in the private media chamber of one of the
men it was his duty to kill.
His target had been a United States Senator. A requirement of the
termination was that it be made to look like a suicide.
He had to enter the Senator’s residence on a night when the man was
known to be alone. He was provided with a key so there would be no
signs of forced entry.
After gaining access to the house, he found the Senator in the
eight-seat home media room, which featured THe Sound and a the