Wine Winds Down

Sonoma County - This past Wine Season saw the greatest number of tourists in decades. Hotels and Motels have had record loiws on vacancies, and Wineries have been booked day in and day out. Many even took to staying open late just to keep up with demand. Many attribute this boom to The Rail of Wine and Roses, which runs a train from the bay to Sonoma County's wine industry. Even John Lincoln was recently overheard joking about his lack of holdings in the wine industry.

As they say, however; all good things come to an end. After four months of nonstop tourists, most wineries claim that business is beginning to die down.

"It was bound to happen," Crown Vineyards owner Dan Brown said. "I'm suprised it lasted as long as it did. I'm looking forward to having an even better season this next fall."

"The Hour of the Reckoning" Broadcast 2

IC date: Monday, Feb 9th, 2004 at 8pm

IC broadcast location: Worcester MA

[OOC: We join our broadcast already in progress. The following occurs around 8:45 pm]

Reverend Bill (RB): "...and that Brothers and Sisters is why we must learn from the story of Jacob and Esau. The Damned wish to steal OUR birthright. The Damned wish to see US cast down and beaten like animals."

Crowd: Murmers. Random cries of "Jesus Save us".

RB: "But brothers and sisters, there is hope. The Hour of the Reckoning is upon the Damned. And even as we speak, the loyal agents of the Reckoning, lead by Brother Caiaphus, are out and about, bringing the judgement of THE LORD upon the heads of the wicked. "

Reverend Bill smiles warmly and proudly, he opens his hands wide and turns his face to the sky.

RB: "The Lord has delivered the people of New York City from the grip of the Damned! The agents of the Reckoning have brought the wrath of GOD to the Damned and pushed them back from New York."

Crowd: Halleluiah! AMEN! Praise Jesus!

Reverend Bill turns back to the crowd and starts to talk in an animated and excited manner. It is obvious that he is trying to rally his flock and give them hope.

RB: "This past Friday, agents of the Reckoning followed a member of the Damned to their unholy temple. There, they saw the Damned communing with evil spirits and engaging in blood rituals to the spirit of Murder itself."

Crowd: Gasps of shock and horror.

RB: "AND THE RECKONING WAS BROUGHT UPON THE HEADS OF THESE DAMNED BEASTS!!! "

The Crowd erupts in cheers.

RB: "The Reckoners of God confronted these Damned beasts. They withstood foul magics. They persevered in the face of fell monsters and hideous forms of Hell. They beat back the shadowy tendrils of the Damned and SENT ALL ELEVEN DAMNED BACK TO THE HELL THEY HAVE EARNED!!!!"

The Crowd goes nuts. People cheer and weep openly, giving praise to God and Jesus.

Reverend Bill smiles warmly, a tear falling down his cheek. He lets the crowd react and as it quiets, he leans down from the stage to adress one of the people in the audience.

RB: "But that's not all. No no. You see, Brother Caiaphus was there in New York too. Brother Caiaphus tracked five members of the Damned to their foul pits. And he sent them packing too!"

The Crowd cheers again.

RB: "First, there was the foul creature who called itself Hazard. This Beast claimed that the recent earthquakes in New York were his handiwork. Well, Brother Caiaphus taught him that fire is the purifying force of the LORD! No more will he put the good people of New York in fear!"

The Crowd claps, cheers and stomps their feet.

RB: "Next, a sinister Damned, one who pretended to be a faithful man so that he could corrupt the hearts of artists, poets, and authors in New York. One who turned these wonderful creative spirits from the Lord and put them in the service of Hell! But Brother Caiaphus found Vincent De Winter on the streets and said 'GET THEE BEHIND ME SATAN!!!!'"

The Crowd yells praises and amens.

RB: "I have told you that these creatures were monsters. I have described their twisted visages and their blackened souls. But nothing could prepare me for for Brother Caiaphus' report on the next Damned. This Beast called himself Frog, and he was so evil, so twisted, that he did not even appear human! As his soul was monsterous, so had he become a monster! A sure sign of the Lord that he was Damned! "

Gasps of horror from the crowd.

RB: "But you know what? Brother Caiaphus sent that demon back to the hell from WHICH IT CAME!!!"

The Crowd rises up, cheering en masse. People are crying in joy.

RB: "One of the Damned thought that he could escape justice. One of the Damned raised his hand and struck Brother Caiaphus. But Brother Caiaphus struck back with the power and fury of righteousness, and Bryce, the soldier of Satan himself, was brought low. Now he will never again lead Damned souls in their war against the Faithful!!"

The Crowd continues to shout and holler. Reverend Bill lets them continue before motioning them to calm down a bit. A sad cast comes across his face, and he wrings his hands a bit.

RB: "Brothers and Sisters, there was one last Damned soul sent to its judgement this weekend. But this one pains me. You see, this Damned soul was once a good man, but he came across the worst of the Damned, the most vile and disgusting of them all. Brother Caiaphus tells me, that this infernal succubus is no less then the WHORE OF BABYLON HERSELF!!!"

The Crowd gasps, there is the sound of terrified weeping.

RB: "But, out of this tragedy comes hope. A new soul comes to our flock, saved from the depredations of Hell. I'm going to bring this soul out now, so she can tell the story of how the Whore of Babylon corrupted her father, and brought him low. Sister Liv..."

A girl, maybe 15 or 16 years old, walks onto the stage, timid and embarassed. A video graphic rolls across the screen "Sister Liv Shea, Survivor of the Damned". She has long blonde hair that falls to her shoulders. She is a pretty girl, but her face is streaked from the tears of many hours of crying. Liv is dressed in a very conservative ankle-length white dress. She stands next to Reverend Bill, and he kneels next to her, holding the microphone for her.

RB: "Go ahead Sister Liv. Tell them what that awful demon did to your father, Jack."

Liv: "My daddy was a good man, a kind man. But then, he met...h-h-her...she seemed so pretty, she had such beautiful red hair. She was so nice to us at first, but then that started to change. After a while, Daddy started to go out late and not come home for days. And then he quit his job. And she made him work in this club she owned, a club where...where..."

RB: "It's okay Sister Liv, she's not here, she won't hurt you."

Liv: "It was a club where people hurt each other and did horrible horrible things to each other. It was like Sodom and Gommorrah, and she made my Daddy a part of it!"

Liv starts to cry and Reverend Bill puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. The Crowd murmers sympathetic grief.

RB: "Sister Liv, we have to face these Damned. We can't give them power over us. We have to tell these stories so that people know."

Liv nods and continues.

Liv: "She made my Daddy her slave. She'd hurt him. She'd beat him. She'd make him drink her blood. And then, she made Daddy hurt me...and she just laughed and laughed. Then she took Daddy away and l-l-eft me b-b-by myself."

Liv breaks down in sobs and crumples to her knees. Reverend Bill is crying openly, the grief and empathy etched in his face.

RB: "Sister Liv...I'm going to ask you to do something very important now. I want you to tell the people what you did, how you got away from this evil thing."

Liv steels herself and looks into the camera.

Liv: "I called Brother Caiaphus and Reverend Bill, and I told them about the monsters. I told them where to find the monsters so they would come and make them go away. I-I-I just wish I had my Daddy back..."

Liv trails off into tears.

Rev Bill: "Brother Caiaphus has saved your daddy's soul. Jack Shea is no longer a servant of the Whore of Babylon. And now, now I want to speak to the Whore of Babylon herself."

Reverend Bill walks towards the camera, and straightens himself to his full height. He looks directly into the camera and says:

"Whore of Babylon, I denounce you! You have tried to break this young girl. You have taken her father away and made him a sinner. You have cast your foul magics on him and dragged him from the Lord. No more! Brother Caiaphus is now on your trail, and he will not rest until you are sent to your judgement. No matter where you hide, he will find you. No matter who gives you shelter, he will overcome. Whore of Babylon, I say to you, Get THEE BEHIND ME SATAN!!!!!"

Fade to Black and end credits