The band was returning from their march around the grounds, and now it was time to array themselves in the small, stone bandshell and record the parody trailer. Along the stone steps arranged in a semicircle around the outdoor stage, various brass and woodwinds crowded amongst one another. Jack and Montano situated themselves prominently; they were leading the proceedings.
The trailer began. It was a mishmash of footage from "The Room" and "Silence of the Lambs," but with comical overdubbing and a new soundtrack.
As it finished, Montano commanded the spotlight and approached Jack menacingly with a stage pocketknife. He made a lunge and struck home, the tip flexing upward to make it appear like it had penetrated Jack's stomach. Jack gasped ostentatiously and fell to the ground in a heap. Montano continued to hold the knife to his chest.
"I've got an idea," proclaimed Montano loudly. Jack frowned; this wasn't part of the plan. Montano adopted the inflection and stage presence of a Shakespearean villain. "Get up and only you go to hell, or stay down and we all go to hell!!"
Jack looked up at Montano. His countenance was alight with power and menace, though Jack couldn't decide if it was a facade or a true reflection of his motives. Clearly Montano was making some sort of maneuver, or executing a personal agenda. Why else would he be deviating?
"I'm gonna challenge you here - I'm talking about actual, physical hell. Physical suffering."
"This isn't a good idea," said Jack quietly. The crowd shifted imperceptibly. Now was not the time for this, there were too many people. Although, maybe that made it the perfect time, from Montano's perspective.
"Well?" asked Montano.
Jack paused a moment more before slowly getting to his feet. On his way up he took the fake knife from Montano and wacked him on the back of the legs in annoyance.
"Ha! He's done it! Though, what choice did he really have?" Montano launched into a long and mockingly triumphant monologue, to which Jack paid little attention. He walked slowly around the crowded coliseum, distracted by his embarrassment. It wasn't the most momentous of personal defeats, but it stung a bit.
"And that, folks," said Montano in summation, "that is how the most famous toymaker family goes straight to the bottom!" The audience broke into appreciative laughter and applause.
