~~THE PERFORMANCE THREAD~~ **aside** ((action)) %%thought%%

[opinionista]

((Michael Jackson walks towards the stage along with Mr. Raphaelson who's holding an umbrella for him. Michael Jackson smiles and waves to the audience who's applauding))

MJ: Gimme a sec



((MJ walks backstage, and after a while comes back again to the stage. He has changed his clothes and now looks like he normally does. Grabs a mike, and clear his throat))

MJ: Before I begin to do the part I so humbly offered myself for the sake of this play that has captured my heart, I'd like to thank you all for your support. As you all know ((sniffles)), I've gone through some serious rough path lately ((audience is sniffiling too)) and i've being accused of some terrible lies ((more sniffiling)) and I'm innocent. Well, now i'm working hard to get my career back. Well, i thought a whole new look might help me. The titties are still here, close to my heart. Don't let this oufit fool you. I have them strapped in tape inside this shirt. Do you like my new tities? ((Audience says yes in unison)) Oh, you are so sweet ((sniffles and clears his nose with a hankie)). Ok, ok, now: the part.

MJ as the announcer and trying to make his voice sound deeper to no avail:

MJ announcer: Let 'em rip and snort, boys!  This one will be quick.  Jack Twist, hangin' on for dear life! Oh my god! This is so bizarre

((Jack rides out and flies off the bull.))

MJ announcer: Oh and down he goes."Did you hurt yourself dear? Is there a doctor? He must've hurt himself. It was such a nasty fall"

((The bull is right on top of him.))

MJ announcer: "Whoa, watch out there, fella!  He's comin' for ya!  Send in the clowns!  Clowns? Where are the children? ... oops sorry.. A fine ride for Mr. Twist.  Four seconds for him."

((Jack rolls, gets up, the the Rodeo Clown comes jumping in.))

MJ announcer: "Give 'em a hand folks, are very own rodeo clowns! Now beat it Twist!

((Music begins: Beat it))

MJ sings and dances:

They told him don't you ever come around here
Don't wanna see your face, you better disappear
The fire's in their eyes and their words are really clear
So beat it, just beat it

You better run, you better do what you can
Don't wanna see no blood, don't be a macho man
You wanna be tough, better do what you can
So beat it, but you wanna be bad

Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it, beat it
Just beat it, beat it
Just beat it, beat it
Just beat it, beat it

They're out to get you, better leave while you can
Don't wanna be a boy, you wanna be a man
You wanna stay alive, better do what you can
So beat it, just beat it

You have to show them that you're really not scared
You're playin' with your life, this ain't no truth or dare
They'll kick you, then they beat you,
Then they'll tell you it's fair
So beat it, but you wanna be bad

Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right

Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right

Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it, beat it
Beat it, beat it, beat it

Beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or who's right

Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right

Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it, beat it
Beat it, beat it, beat it

[Daniel]

YOUNG JACK:

((Somehow, in all the commotion, the flashing lights, the pillars of smoke, the glittering costumes, the throbbing speakers, Jack manages to get away from the dazzled Bull, which seems more entranced by the musical performance than by the clown trying his hardest to get the Bull's attention.))

Sh*t

%%That's what I get for thinkin' of Ennis at a time like that.%%

[moremojo]

((Right in rhythm to the scintillating beat of Mr. Jackson's rousing song, Jimbo runs into the dusty thick of things and deftly tangos the bull safely away from Jack and all other bystanders. Lithe and nimble, Jimbo is a born rodeo clown.))

JIMBO:

%% Well, I'll be. That Twist fella wasn't too durn bad! But somethin' about him don't feel quite right. Glad he's okay though.%%

((Jimbo and bull dance back into the pens.))

[Daniel]

YOUNG JACK:

((To Jack, it didn't seem like Mr. Jackson's song was one suitable to tango to, but the rodeo clown and the bull seemed to be getting along nicely.))

%% Nice moves, rodeo clown. I wonder where he learned to dance like that.%%

[moremojo]

((Jimbo, back in the pens, wipes the sweat from the brow and gives the bull a goodbye pat on the rump.))

%%All them years horseback-ridin' sure got me limber. And Pedro, come all the way down from Argentina to work on the ranch that summer, showed me those fancy tango moves with his wife Maria. Maria, she sure was a pretty gal...blue eyes, dark hair...%%

((Jimbo blinks the memory away, and waits for what is to come next.))

[Daniel]

YOUNG JACK:

((Self-disgusted with his lack of concentration and control, and not a small bit disgusted with the musical performance of "Beat it!", which seemed a bit inappropriate somehow, Jack leaves the flashing lights and throbbing speakers of the rodeo arena behind, and tries to find a bar suitable to drown his misery (and his rapidly developing headache) in.))

[moremojo]

((Jimbo, parched, heads for the local watering hole for some liquid refreshment. Just noticed out of the corner of his eye that blue boy Jack was headed in the same general direction.))

[Daniel]

YOUNG JACK:

((Notices the rodeo clown and walks more rapidly to get a little closer to him.))

You wear that stuff all the time?

[moremojo]

((Jimbo is startled to have Jack sidle up beside him, matching him stride for stride. He is dismayed, upon hearing Jack's query, to remember that he still has his rodeo-clown garb and makeup on! Begins to awkwardly clean all of it off from his person.))

Oh...uh...nah, pardner, I jest clean forgot to take this stuff off! Hey, thanks for reminding me. Pretty good on the bulls tonight, by the way.

((Jimbo takes a close look, for just a second, at Jack's face. Notices [can't help but notice] the vivid blue eyes, the lush black hair, the charming, scampish smile. Beautiful...))

%%But fellas ain't sposed to be beeyootiful!%%

((Jimbo notices he's sweating just as bad as at the rodeo arena. Feels a flicker of relief when the bar comes into view.))

[Daniel]

YOUNG JACK:

%% This fella's got a long gait. My leg's sore enough from gettin' thrown, but I sure am glad that bar's close now.%%

((Jack extends his hand out.))

Jack Twist, from up in Wyoming, Lightnin' Flat.