The
STRANGER, having been invited back to the New York apartment of an experience 'LEATHERMAN', is now wearing heavy bike leathers from neck to boots,
has had his first brief experience of handcuffs and leg-irons -
and has now agreed to a further development - just for the sake
of experience.
Given
the key to unlock the handcuffs which are locked around the thick
gauntlets he is now wearing, the camera moves in to watch in close-up
the difficult process of manipulating the small key with leather-padded
fingers.
When
the STRANGER has at last managed to release the second cuff, he
looks up and sees that LEATHERMAN is holding open a tough-looking
leather strait-jacket.
LM: Some
of the things I have in mind for you to try ... may drive you crazy.
A strait-jacket is meant to prevent the patient from injuring himself
or his 'controller'. Yes?
STRANGER
take a breath - nods agreement and begins to unzip the bulky borrowed
bike jacket.
LM: Leave
the jacket on.
The
camera watches closely as the STRANGER tentatively pushes his
gauntleted hands down into the heavily riveted long leather sleeves
of the strait-jacket.
The LEATHERMAN talks reassuringly as he hauls the strait-jacket
up around the already leather-clad shoulders and begins the elaborate
process of buckling the first of the many straps.
The STRANGER inspects the closed ends of the strait-jacket sleeves
and the camera zooms in on the bulge the bulky gloved hands make
inside the tough double-thickness hide of the sleeve.
LM: You
made a good decision. Nothing like a bit of real first-hand experience
- and I like nothing better than seeing a guy with balls taking a
risk - and agreeing to be strapped and made helpless - and then watching
him deal with the situation he's agreed to - asked for - hot - and
sweating - and totally helpless.
As
the re-assuring voice continues, straps rattle closed and leather
creaks as the jacket is made progressively more secure and pressure
on the STRANGER's bulging padded arms and chest becomes tighter
and more totally confining. He spreads his manacled bike boots
further apart to withstand the tugging on the solid leather straps.
LM: All
that strength and power - boiling and seething but completely powerless.
Power is something we grow up with - take for granted - until it's
taken away from us - and then the feeling of helplessness creeps up
- inside our bones. It's there before we realize it - recognize it.
The mind and the muscles don't accept it at first - powerlessness.
I bet you still feel you have the power to resist - at least put up
a fight - but the time for fighting the way you're used to fighting
is already gone. No arms to use to defend yourself - no feet even
.
Camera
grabs a close-up as the shackled, booted feet shift instinctively.
LM: How
long is it since you were physically totally helpless? You ever been
in the hospital? In splints or bandages? (STRANGER shakes his head,
very tense) Maybe you will be before the night's over; bandaged
from head to feet - just your balls out in the open - maybe the crack
of your ass accessible. You may not like the idea but if all goes
the way I expect it to go, you won't have any say in the matter. Do
you think you can deal with reaching a point where it's no longer
your decision? (No immediate response) Do you think you can
deal with that possibility of totally surrendering control - willingly
surrendering - just to know what it feels like? (Eventually the
STRANGER allows himself to nod) Good man. Good decision. You'll
survive it even if you don't particularly enjoy it at the time. You
can have confidence that you'll be able to have your revenge - if
that's what you want when the time comes.
The
LEATHERMAN smiles and suddenly the sweating STRANGER laughs nervously,
his breath restricted by the tightness of the strapping around
his chest and arms.
STR:
Too fucking right!!
LM: That's what I like to hear. Now - the time for making decisions
is almost over, buddy - for the present, anyway. Even the time for
saying 'No' in this particular phase. Do you think you can handle
it? (STRANGER nods, determined to go along with the situation)
...