AS TOWNSHIP FLIES

ANNOUNCER: Last time, on As Township Flies…

KATT: (stands from her chair) Ryu, what are you saying?

RyU: (takes her hand) Katt… I love you.

KATT: (puts hand over her mouth)

NINA: (standing in doorway. Crosses arms and scowls)

RAND: Come on, Bow, let's go into the church in Gate and talk to the preist.

BOW: I'd rather not.

STEN: Why? What's wrong?

BOW: (looks away.) I'll meet you back at the house.

NINA: (combing hair while looking at her calendar. Her birthday is tomorrow.)

And now, today's episode of As Township Flies.

RYU: (lying on the couch with Katt, kissing her)

KATT: (sits up a little) Ryu, I love you!

RYU: I love you too, Katt. (more kissing)

KATT: Are we going to be together forever?

RYU: (big sigh) Yes, we are.

RYU'S THOUGHTS: I don't know how I got roped into this. I like Katt for her body… but there's plenty of other women out there I'd like to get my hands on.

KATT: Ryu, are you okay?

RYU: Hmm? Yes, yes, I'm fine. (pulls her back down.)

STEN: (eating breakfast with Bow and Jean) Hey, boss?

BOW: What?

STEN: What are we going to do for Nina's birthday?

BOW: (chewing) Make her a party I guess.

JEAN: (looks up) I can cook, if you like.

BOW: We'll see. I'll have to ask Ryu if he wants to help.

STEN: Why wouldn't he?

BOW: Well, he's so infatuated with Katt, he may not even want to acknowledge Nina's presence.

JEAN: I don't think Ryu is like that.

BOW: Oooh, you don't know Ryu like I do. He's…

RYU: (walks in) I'm what?

BOW: (startled) Umm… we were just talking about Nina's birthday party.

RYU: (scratches back of his neck) What about it?

BOW: We were just wondering if you'd want to help us.

RYU: Hmm… well…

JEAN: Oui, mistress Nina, she is very lonely. I'm sure it would make her happy to have everyone there.

RYU: (Rubs his chin. Thinking Hmm… maybe I will go to Nina's party. I'm sure she'll like it if I'm there. In fact, I know she'll like it.)

(THERE IS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR)

RYU: That'll be Father Hulk making his weekly rounds.

BOW: (runs off)

RYU: (opens door) Hullo, Father Hulk!

HULK: Good morning, sir Bateson! (sees door slam down the hallway) What was that all about?

RYU: (Looks back) I have NO idea.

HULK: Eh, well, you have the donations for the week? St. Eva relies on the good of his people.

RYU: Yes, let me get my bag.

STEN: (walks into the room that Bow ran into.) Hey, are you sure everything's okay?

BOW: Yes, yes. (Looks towards front door.) Is he gone?

STEN: (turns and looks) Yeah, he's gone. But why did you run in here all of a sudden? It's like you're afraid of him.

BOW: (loudly) I'm not afraid of anything! (Softer) It's just that… I'd like to try to stay away from the St. Eva Church.

STEN: Why?

BOW: (sigh) You promise not to tell anybody?

STEN: You guys saved my life. The least I could do would be to keep a secret for you. Tell me anything!

BOW: Okay. It all started about twelve years ago…

(RYU, RAND, JEAN AND SPAR ARE HANGING UP DECORATIONS AND STREAMERS IN PREPARATION FOR NINA'S PARTY, WHEN RYU HEARS NINA COMING DOWNSTAIRS, SINGING SOFTLY.)

RYU: Oh crap! Nina's coming!

RAND: Well, go distract her!

RYU: (Runs to meet Nina, who has just reached the bottom of the stairs) Hey hey hey! How's our little princess?

NINA: (smiles) She's doing just fine. I'm just going to take some breakfast. (Walks towards kitchen)

RYU: (Puts hands on her shoulders.) Ahhh, hang on a second!

NINA: What?

RYU: Umm… how'd you like breakfast in bed?

NINA: No, that's okay. I can get it myself. (Pushes past him)

RYU: (Runs in front) Wait! Umm, I insist! As a token of my kindness.

NINA: (nervous laugh) Ryu, it's really ok…

RYU: (Puts hand on her shoulders tighter) Well actually, I won't let you move unless you let me.

NINA: (giggles) You jerk. Let me go!

(There is a playful struggle, and Ryu winds up with his arms around Nina's waist.)

NINA: Oooh…

RYU: What is it the Borgs say? Resistance is futile.

NINA: Well, I guess I have no choice. I'll be waiting for you… upstairs… (goes back up stairs and winks at Ryu)

KATT: (Has been standing in the hallway) A-HEM!

RYU: (Turns, startled) Oh… Katt! Hi!

KATT: Don't "hi" me. What was that all about?

RYU: I was trying to stop Nina from going into the kitchen because we're preparing for her birthday party tonight.

KATT: Uh-huh. And that involves wrapping your big arms around her?

RYU: Katt, it's not what it looked like, okay? (Goes over to her) Besides, these big, strong arms are reserved for one person only. (Puts his arms around Katt) And that's you.

KATT: (smiles) Well… no more fooling around, ok?

RYU: You got it.

KATT: Why don't you come in the living room and pay for your mistake?

RYU: Oh, ok.

As Township Flies will be back after these messages.

Coming up next, it's "Kid's Corner" here on WBOF. First, it's Sludgey and Friends. Explore and discover with Benny the Sludge as he and his friends learn what it means to be a kid. Afterwards, it's The Animated Adventures of Ryu and Bow. Join our heroes as they travel, and learn to share, make friends, and stay away from bullies. Coming up next on WBOF!

The Second half of our program is brought to you by Uncle Andrew's Biscuits. Crispy on the outside and scrumptious on the inside, they're guaranteed to fill you up right!

And now, back to As Township Flies.

(BOW IS EXPLAINING HIS PAST TO STEN. AS HE SPEAKS, WE SEE FLASHBACKS THAT DEPICT WHAT HE'S NARRATING.)

BOW: So, it started when I was very little… I was on the run. I'd been kicked out of my home… The St. Eva Church in a city called Azkar took me in. Aside from living there, I served as an altar boy and helped out with services.

STEN: I don't see how that's anything bad.

BOW: Let me finish. After a while, I became exposed to… the other side of the St. Eva religion. They did all these rituals by fire… often, a lot of people died each time. They took pleasure in death. And every Sunday… they did their highest ceremony… Carousel.

STEN: Carousel?

BOW: Carousel. The Church was very strict as far as the rules of the church… those who broke the rules were imprisoned. In prison, they were beaten, whipped, tortured… I had to witness all of it. And then, on Sunday… the prisoners were tied to a cross and placed in the center of a ring of fire… the high-priests walked around in a circle… chanting prayers… and then a wisp of white smoke would rise from the fire… and would fly into the prisoners and cause instant death.

STEN: Whoa.. that's pretty heavy.

BOW: Well, weight has nothing to do with it.

STEN: Riiiight. But I'm still not clear on one thing. How does this make you a bad guy?

BOW: (softly) Because I was sentenced to Carousel. And… I ran away. Now, if they find me, I will surely be killed. That's why I can never let them see me.

STEN: (big silence) Wow. All this time…

BOW: So promise me that you'll keep me safe from them?

STEN: You got it, boss. You got it.

(RYU IS BRINGING A BREAKFAST TRAY UP TO NINA'S ROOM)

RYU: Breakfast is served!

NINA: (lying in bed) Oooh, what a treat!

RYU: (sets tray down on her lap) Here you are!

NINA: Thank you. (brushes her hair out of her eyes) What did you get me for my birthday, Ryu?

RYU: (looks around. THINKING: This is my chance.) (smiles mischievously.) Well, it's something really special.

NINA: What is it?

RYU: Welllll… (lies down on bed next to her) It's something you'll really like.

NINA: (excited whisper) give it to me!

(They start kissing and touching each other. It goes on for a few minutes, and then Katt, who has come upstairs to get her staff, pokes her head in the door and sees everything)

KATT: RYU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RYU: (Looks up)

TO BE CONTINUED…

As Township Flies is a production of WBOF.