[Chapter 40: When He Gets Serious]
Neverland Ranch.
In a corner of the party hall.
Almost in an instant, several of Evan Dando's companions -- apparently other members of the Lemonheads -- looked ready to jump in and help.
Orlando moved faster, stepping in to block them. "Hey, guys, don't move. They're having a fight. Don't interrupt."
But was it really a fight?
Will Smith was known for keeping his rap clean; he generally steered clear of that kind of stuff. This tall, lean Black man had long legs and a strong build.
Evan Dando, on the other hand, was from the rock scene. Even within the trashy entertainment world, rock was the lowest of the low. Even the notoriously scandalous Black hip-hop scene had a slightly better reputation.
Orlando had already caught a whiff of it. Besides the smell of booze, Evan carried a strong scent -- definitely high on something. No telling if he'd taken whatever it was on the way to the party or right here.
So now, facing a slightly tipsy Will Smith who'd had a bit to drink, Evan, about a head shorter, was like an punching bag, taking a fierce beating from Will.
Seeing their lead singer in such bad shape, some Lemonheads members naturally stepped forward to help.
That's when Frank and Jeff showed up too.
Frowning, Frank warned, "Stop it, guys. If you don't want to wake up tomorrow on the news with the headline 'Lemonheads' lead singer caught doing drugs at a party -- plus racial slurs and assaults' -- you'd better back off!"
"Exactly! Whatever this idiot said, everyone around heard it loud and clear."
Jeff Cade, Warner Records' publicity manager, stepped forward with his credentials showing, "By the way, I forgot to mention -- I'm Jeff Cade from Warner Records' publicity department. I'm sure my media contacts at Times Warner would love to get their hands on this juicy story!"
Two sharply dressed, polished men spoke in intimidating tones.
That immediately scared the younger Lemonheads members away from escalating the situation.
But the commotion was loud enough that no one at the party could ignore it.
Michael Jackson, the party's host, and many others quickly gathered around.
---
Seeing Will Smith mercilessly pounding on Evan Dando and the crowd gathering, Orlando immediately said, "Enough, bro. If you keep going, he's going down for good. People are here now -- stop."
"Fuck!"
Will wasn't completely drunk. He landed one last kick before finally releasing Evan, who was howling in pain.
Just then, MJ and his entourage arrived. The pop king looked displeased.
"Guys, what's going on? Why is someone getting beaten at my party? Will Smith, I want an explanation!"
MJ hadn't seen what Evan did earlier.
He didn't know why Orlando was here either.
As he approached, he caught Orlando telling Will to stop.
Michael thought Orlando was breaking up the fight.
"Hey, MJ!"
Having just been active for a bit, Will was somewhat sober now.
Facing the Black pop icon who had allowed him to join the party, Will felt a little guilty. But recalling Evan's earlier words, Will squared his shoulders and spoke up: "That son of a bitch just insulted me and Orlando! He said we Black guys are naturally followers, and he called Orlando a bastard. This guy is racist!"
Will's voice was loud and clear.
It was Will's words that stopped Evan Dando's parents -- retired famous fashion model Susan and Jeffrey Dando, millionaire owner of a Boston apparel company -- from immediately erupting in anger.
Racial slurs.
Thirty years ago, nobody cared much.
But since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 -- and after his assassination in 1968 -- open racism just didn't fly anymore.
Discrimination still existed, often fiercely so -- but it had to be more discreet.
Behind closed doors, sure. But saying it out loud in public? That was just plain stupid.
Moreover, Evan was a public figure.
If he wanted to keep working in music or entertainment, this couldn't happen.
So Jeffrey Dando stopped his angry wife, smiling as he stepped forward.
"Oh, we're so sorry. Evan has always been a good kid. Back in Boston, he was involved in plenty of community work for Black neighborhoods. I'm sure he's just drunk and babbling nonsense -- it must be a misunderstanding."
Trying to downplay the mess and smooth things over.
"Bullshit!" Will wanted to retort.
But Michael Jackson had already learned the full story from others.
"Will, wait, don't say any more."
MJ was angry -- of course, being Black himself -- but more importantly, he was focused on tomorrow's charity concert.
This big event was a huge effort, a showcase MJ had personally worked hard to pull together with many connections.
He didn't want tomorrow's show overshadowed by this scandal.
"Will, do me a favor. Orlando, let's call it quits, okay?"
Michael's words were aimed first at Will Smith but ended directed at Orlando.
Orlando had calmed down too by now.
Thinking it over, he realized he hadn't lost anything.
Even if this blew up, the ones who'd get screwed would be Will -- the one who started it -- and Evan, the one who got beaten.
But if the story made headlines tomorrow, it would seriously upset Michael Jackson.
Crossing MJ might not be the worst -- he was just a singer, after all. If things got bad enough, maybe they wouldn't work together again.
Still, everyone knew one star alone couldn't pull off a party this big.
MJ had heavy hitters backing him. And these backers were real power players behind the scenes.
One of them would show up tomorrow, Jerry Brown, now an executive at a California oil company.
But seven years ago, Jerry Brown was the governor of California.
Nowadays, folks talk about him running for president in two years.
Oh, and Jerry's father was also a former California governor.
Orlando knew better than to cross someone like that -- not now, at least.
"Of course."
After thinking it through, Orlando smiled at Michael.
"It's just a misunderstanding. Here, I'll help you up, Evan. The floor's a little dirty and cold -- don't lie down anymore, don't catch a chill."
Orlando reached out a hand to Evan, the smile warm and his tone gentle -- friendly and kind.
Seeing Orlando's fake kindness, Evan was furious inside.
But having just taken a beating from Will, the drunken and high haze had mostly faded.
Surrounded by big names and with his father watching, Evan knew now was not the time to lose it.
If he wanted revenge, he'd have to wait.
Though reluctant, Evan reached out his hand, "You're right, this is just... ahhh!"
Suddenly, after grasping Orlando's hand, Evan squeeled like a pig being slaughtered.
His sudden agonized scream startled everyone around.
Then Evan frantically tried to pull away as if the hand was electrified.
Finally breaking free, he collapsed back on the floor, wailing and twitching.
His screams were louder and more intense than before.
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.
https://discord.gg/eKByGBSw.