The Satanist to John: 'I'm good.'

John looks up from his desk to see David.

'You still mad at me for fillimg out Michael's campaign,,,so to speak.'

David

'Would I be asking you to join us down in the Village...'

John

'I'm straight,'

David

'So am I. So is the guy throwing the party. He makes wierd little horror shorts.'

John

'Horror shorts. Like with skulls on them or something?'

David

'OMG Oh my God. OYG...Oh your God could you be that naive. Shorts, short films.'

John laugh.

'I sit corrected.'

David

'That's why he has so many girls hanging with him. Actresses trying to break into show biz. They'll do anything.'

John

'Well I'm just a writer.'
John gets up, shuts the light off in his office. They walk to the elevador.

David

'No. You're the sensitive writer.'

John

I never use stuff like that to get a girl.'

David

'I do. I'm the loyal, protective friend of the sensitive writer.'

Outside, David hails a cab on Lexington Avenue like it's nothing. He yells an address as they get in. Between thlights of signs and the backlights on the cars the city is glitening from curb to curb. To the right, John catches glimpses of the Empire State Building. Soon they are crossing a wide street that changes the whole 'feel' of the city. Gone are the dehumanizing Midtown Skyscrapers. The buildings and neighborhoods look more normal here, but the people don't. Many are dressed in black with outrageous hair.

David reaches over and unbuttons the top two buttons of his baby blue polo shirt.

'What's that?"

David examines John's silver cross.

John

'That's a Celtic Cross. But I think all religions you know beliefs are o.k.'

David

'I don't. Look, the universe started out as a ball of gas and minerals, blew apart and gravity turns parts into solar systems and planets...'

John

'So when you want to worship your creator, you go to a Party Store, buy a helium balloon and say oh great ball of gas, thanks for creating me.'

David

'I don't worship. Cabbie, here.'

John looks out the window and sees and ancient alley that snakes to a few doors.

David

'Please, please, please. Be cool. Just go with things.'

John

'I always go along with things.'

David presses a button. There's a black steel grate in front of a black, windowless door.

Satanist opens door. He is a very thin man with a broad smile and black hair.

Satanist

'You must be Michael's friends. Your David, come in

He let's David go past him and up stairs.

Satanist

'Grabs John's cross. Nice. Tres Jesus loves you.'

John goes to fix Satanists cross.

'Thanks. Oops. Your cross is upside. You don't want that.'

Satanist gently takes John's hand away.

'No. I'm good.'

He goes around John and locks the iron gate. John walks upstairs.