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GabeTex
My name is Gabriel, early 30s, CT native and a writer that is blocked most of the time. I'm definitely loving this site. It's helping!
23 Posts • 32 Followers • 3 Following
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Challenge
Challenge of the Month XLI
Begin a story or poem about your first memory, but write it in the style of a Tarantino or Charlie Kaufman screenplay. Where it goes from there, use any style you want. Open the belly, bleed on the page. Winner gets 100 big ones. Go.
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GabeTex

Movies, Dolls & Family

INT. COMMON KITCHEN. NIGHT.

A TEEN (hair in a high ponytail and wearing door knocker earrings, oversized t-shirt, fashionably torn up fitted denim shorts) enters and opens a cupboard.

Her DECORATED ACRYLIC MANICURED hand pulls out an opened box of microwaveable popcorn.

The box contains only one sealed packet.

She carefully dips her hand inside and her nails glisten as she pulls it out.

She scolds the package and looks over her shoulder at a doorway.

TEEN

(loud)

Who ate a popcorn? There's only one left!

INT. COMMON LIVING ROOM. NIGHT. CONTINUOUS.

A WOMAN (shorter hair, wearing high-waisted wide-leg trousers, a simple shirt) turns on a BOX TV and blue appears on the screen.

She pushes a VHS CASSETTE of Tom Holland's CHILD'S PLAY into a VHS PLAYER.

The machine swallows the tape and winds it up.

Sudden suspenseful music and scrolling movie credits on the TV surprise the Woman.

TEEN

(Off Screen, from the next room, shouts)

Hello?

The Woman presses the stop button on the VHS player.

WOMAN

(shouts back)

Ay, I did, so what? I have ice cream and cookies.

The Woman can hear the Teen suck her teeth from the other room.

TEEN

(Off Screen, from the next room, annoyed)

Then why do you eat all the popcorn?

The Woman rolls her eyes.

She presses the rewind button on the machine.

INT. COMMON KITCHEN. NIGHT. CONTINUOUS.

The bag of popcorn is slowly spinning in a microwave.

The Teen inspects her nails as the bag pops and expands.

VOICE OF A GIRL

(Off Screen, from the next room, shouts)

Get out of my room!

Ma', tell him to go away!

The Teen looks over at the other doorway.

TEEN

(yells)

You two get to the living room,

I rented a movie!

INT. COMMON LIVING ROOM. NIGHT. CONTINUOUS.

The Woman presses play on the VHS player and the FBI Anti-piracy Warning flashes on the TV.

A YOUNG GIRL (shorter hair, dressed in Minnie Mouse pajamas) stomps into the room.

YOUNG GIRL

Ma', tell that boy to stay out of my room.

He took my Barbies!

She sinks into an armchair.

YOUNG GIRL

Again!

The Woman turns off a lamp of a few.

WOMAN

Ay, who cares, share with your sobrino.

I'm gonna get ice cream and cookies.

She turns off another light as the Teen enters with a bowl of popcorn in one hand and the other holding the hand of a walking TODDLER* (faded buzz cut, wearing Mickey Mouse pajamas).

The Teen sits the Toddler on a couch and joins him.

She places the bowl in his lap and he immediately dips his hand in.

GUNSHOTS from the movie's opening scene frighten the Toddler and he pulls his hand away.

His eyes focus on the screen.

On the screen, actor Chris Sarandon chases actor Brad Dourif into a toy store.

The Woman turns the last lamp off and goes into the kitchen.

The only light source in the room is the Television.

The Toddler looks around the room.

TODDLER

(worried)

Gramma?

More gunshots cause the Toddler to flinch and grasp the bowl with both arms.

The Teen rests her hand on his and giggles.

He's dazzled by her nails.

TEEN

Don't worry, babe.

He looks up at her.

TEEN

Mommy is here with you.

It's just a movie.

The Toddler looks at the TV.

Actor Brad Dourif, wounded, smiles at the innocent face of a GOOD GUY DOLL.

CUT TO:

INT. TODDLER BEDROOM. DAY.

The Toddler is alone and has a group of SUPERHERO ACTION FIGURES and NUDE BARBIES sprawled before him.

He has a Barbie in one hand and Batman in the other.

They both flip, fly, tumble and twirl toward each other and brawl, bolstered by the Toddler's vocal sound effects.

Barbie kicks.

Batman throws a punch.

The Toddler involves another Barbie and Spiderman in the fight.

INT. COMMON LIVING ROOM. DAY. CONTINUOUS.

The front door swings open.

The Woman enters with her purse and a LARGE SHOPPING BAG.

INT. TODDLER BEDROOM. DAY. CONTINUOUS.

The Toddler's toy rumble has intensified.

He flies in more Naked Barbies and Superheros.

INT. COMMON KITCHEN. DAY. CONTINUOUS.

The Toddler's play can be heard.

The Woman enters with the bag and her purse.

WOMAN

Papito, I got you something!

She places her purse and keys on the breakfast table.

INT. TODDLER BEDROOM. DAY. CONTINUOUS.

The Woman enters with the bag.

The Toddler smiles at her.

TODDLER

Gramma! Look, Bruce Lees!

He raises a Skipper doll and a Macho Man figure and clashes them together.

WOMAN

I have a present for you.

The Woman pulls a colorful BOX from the bag and places it before the Toddler's showdown.

The Toddler stares at the box and backs away.

It's a MY BUDDY DOLL.

CUT TO:

INT. CLOSET. DAY. CONTINUOUS.

Darkness.

The door opens and light spills in.

The Toddler places the boxed My Buddy doll in the middle of the space.

He backs away and slams the door.

Darkness.

CUT TO:

INT. COMMON LIVING ROOM. NIGHT.

The only light source in the room is the Television.

The Family is sitting and watching the TV.

The Toddler is fascinated.

On the Television, actor Vivien Leigh stands statuesque by an entrance wearing an 1860's fitted scarlet party dress, adorned with feathers, jewels and gloves.

The Toddler points at the screen and looks up at the Teen.

TODDLER

Ooooooo, Mommy. Bootyful!

Actor Olivia de Havilland approaches Vivien and escorts her through a stern crowd.

CUT TO:

INT. TODDLER BEDROOM. DAY.

The Toddler enters with a box of crayons and a pad of paper.

He kneels down, spills the crayons on the floor and opens the pad.

The Toddler grabs the red crayon and draws a tornado.

He flips the page and draws two tornados.

Suddenly, the DOORKNOB of the CLOSET BUCKLES.

The Toddler is startled and he looks over at the closet door.

DEEP VOICE

(Off Screen, from inside the closet)

Hey Gabriel...

The Toddler jumps to his feet.

The doorknob buckles again.

DEEP VOICE

(Off Screen, from inside the closet)

Wanna play?

The Toddler shrieks.

TODDLER

(terrified)

Mommy!

The closet door CRACKS OPEN.

TODDLER

(fearful)

No!

He immediately runs toward the closet door and shuts it with his body weight.

The door cracks open again and the Toddler shuts it with his back.

The door is pushed open and the HAND of the My Buddy doll POPS OUT.

The Toddler SCREAMS.

TODDLER

(pained)

Mommy!

The Toddler gives the door one big push and runs for the exit.

On the way, he SLIPS on his crayons and lands on his backside and whimpers.

The Teen instantly exits the closet and drops the My Buddy doll on the floor.

TEEN

Babe, are you okay?

The Toddler cries out.

The Teen lowers down to him with open arms, GIGGLING.

TEEN

I'm sorry, are you hurt?

Get up, show me your culo.

The Toddler tears up and pushes her arms away.

TODDLER

No, Mommy!

He runs out of the room.

TODDLER

(Offscreen, sobbing, from the next room)

Gramma!

Still on the floor, the Teen chuckles to herself.

TEEN

Babe!

She stands and goes after the Toddler.

TEEN

(Offscreen, from the next room)

Mommy is sorry.

The My Buddy doll lies alone in the room.

FADE TO BLACK.

DREAM. TODDLER'S POV.

INT. TODDLER BEDROOM. NIGHT. RAINING.

A CRACK OF THUNDER widens the Toddler's eyes, his sight on the popcorn ceiling above.

A SCREAM offscreen jolts the Toddler's vision.

His sight lands on the open closet door.

He looks over and sees the villain in doll form of the movie Child's Play, CHUCKY himself, standing over the Teen's grounded body, knife in hand.

The Toddler peers down at his feet and discovers he's TIED UP and GAGGED in BED.

Chucky's laugh jolts the Toddler's vision.

He sees Chucky head toward the exit.

CHUCKY

(sweetly)

Gramma!

The walking doll lets out one of his infamous cackles.

END OF DREAM. CONTINUOUS.

INT. TODDLER BEDROOM. NIGHT. RAINING.

A CRACK OF THUNDER wakes The Toddler and he sits up in a panic.

TODDLER

(out of breath)

No!

He looks around the room as he catches his breath.

The Toddler sees the My Buddy doll on the ground by the closet door and gasps.

CUT TO:

EXT. MULTI-FAMILY HOME. NIGHT. CONTINUOUS.

A window from the second level opens.

The My Buddy doll emerges and falls.

The doll lands in an open DUMPSTER below.

The Toddler emerges at the window and looks down.

He flicks his middle finger and shuts the window.

The My Buddy doll lies on top of trash as rain soaks it.

FADE TO BLACK.

THE END.

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GabeTex

Poem “Sirens” : Rewritten

you claimed infatuation

i matched the sentiment

proved myself

when and where executed

my abilities guaranteed

now a mint stamp in your book

yet your worth and fervor have sunk

what else

why no more

who are you really

i thought you were addicted

no more lies and games

i am bored of this trial

your face inflames mania

your privileges are revoked

my body is not at your command

my place certainly not at your feet

i questioned your title from the start

now i hope for your dismantlement

be fearful of my wretched wishes

i want to avoid your make completely

(rewritten)

~

you claim you want me

you know what i can do

i have proven myself

when and where executed

my abilities guaranteed

now a gold stamp in your book

what else

why not more

who do you think you are

save your games

i’m absolutely bored of this trial

stake your worth and appetite

your privileges will be revoked

my body is not at your command

my place certainly not at your feet

i’ve questioned your title from the start

i must confess my thoughts of your dismantlement

i’ll ponder the possibilities of your claim when i’m done

(original)

Challenge
Word Play: NOT Gardening
Use the following 12 words: root, spade, till, seed, water, dig, hoe, hardy, grow, pick, flowering, fruit but THEY CAN IN NO WAY REFER TO ANYTHING/SITUATION RELATED TO GARDENING. Any format. 300 word MAX.
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GabeTex in Stream of Consciousness

Too Much Shady TV

help me dig that hardy hoe up

that fruit

always flowering for seed

i don't know why they pick her

that root is rotted

he really needs to grow up

spade her

he only gets water & CBD till then

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GabeTex in Romance & Erotica

love note #3

with one thought &

a handsome glamour

the storm calmed &

you offered love

fear &

doubts

they intertwined &

clarity bonded struggles

now it's us &

how we want to

challenge time &

defy the cosmos

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GabeTex in Romance & Erotica

love note #3

with one thought &

a handsome glamour

the storm calmed &

you offered love

fear &

doubts

they intertwined &

clarity bonded struggles

now it's us &

how we want to

challenge time &

defy the cosmos

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GabeTex in Romance & Erotica

love note #2

love

it can't be

funny, i didn't notice

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GabeTex in Romance & Erotica

love note #1

i need you, i want you

we both know this

you need me, you want me

i feel it's true when you smile

hold me, love me

forever & so close

i miss you, i need you

because you're my mighty love

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GabeTex in Romance & Erotica

just love me

just love me

i’ll say it everyday

& whenever i need to

fear won’t stop the words

not anymore

love is needed

& asking can be difficult

b/c love is not given or taken easily

even though, supposedly

love is the reason for existence

the cure for sorrow & atrocities

make all this fact

& just love me

i want to hear it

feel it

& don’t stop

remedy my day & forever

i promise i’ll do the same

just love me

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GabeTex

Cormac’s First Monologue

there is not enough power

anywhere

to influence the wretched behavior pushing life along at a burning rate

a departure to nowhere may be needed

a feat currently out of my reach

i am not able enough to determine how or why my presence exists on these lands bound by orbit

a domain with little space & resources for our pursuit of more needs

& gloom & blame can bring down the sun

i too have been distracted by cosmic pain & anguish

my studies & practice have wavered into the corner of the Hermit

not good

the only magic to be conjured is dark & dangerous

a valid base to evolve for the better

not to dwell & incubate more of the same

i am ready to continue with a cleanse of my own making

even if the most it can be is a sparkle in the eyes for all to see

or simply more time for somber hope & meditation

the radius of land & water i am familiar with is easy to disappear among

i need to rise from my barrel & flex the intent i have summoned

mostly gold

into the air

onto the streets

& deep within what is calling below us all

with a soft reach into the abyss above

i will, i must

i am compelled by the Lady & Hunter

Blessed Be!

*thanks for reading, i'm just developing a witchy story & figuring Cormac's full intent, their world & inter-dimensional reach to the other characters i have in mind. writing out monologues or prose helps.

Challenge
Challenge of the Month XVII: August
You somehow find yourself back in 2019, sitting next to Jeffrey Epstein on the plane before it lands and he's arrested. You know what's coming, but he can't know. Write the ambiance and conversation. Fiction or non-fiction, poetry or Prose. $100 purse to our favorite entry. Outstanding entries will be shared with our publishing partners.
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GabeTex

why this challenge?

this is an odd challenge

the EPSTEIN CASE is so important for the obvious reasons

further investigation can lead to the end of abuse and trafficking

i hope every sex offender, human trafficker and those protecting them are all brought to justice and suffer for it

asking everyone to put themselves in the room of the arrest

well, i just can't

the only writing i would ever do about the case is to advance the pursuit of those causing so much harm

instead, imagine seeing him with young looking girls

and ask yourself

would you have done or said anything to help, especially if you were aware of him or caught a mere glimpse of his crimes?

now, would you do something if you saw a similar situation or worse of anyone?

i think about those questions all the time

and have accepted the need to protect everyone i can

with that said, i hope the confidence i have and am evolving will be enough to do what's necessary to help someone in need

and please, any help will be greatly appreciated