A Wise Guy?

DISCLAIMER: John From Cincinnati and its canon characters are the property of HBO and the show's producers; no copyright infringement is intended.

Written by waxon

Tony Soprano relaxes in the hot tub, alone. Cigar in mouth and drink in hand. It is a cool evening and he is daydreaming of his mescaline trip in Las Vegas. Suddenly he feels a breeze. He opens his eyes and looks down discovering that he is levitating above the hot tub (in his bathing suite). His cigar falls from his mouth and lands on his chest. He looks down and then around - seeing no one. Stunned, he does not notice the smell of burning hair. Finally, the pain in his chest causes him to investigate. He urgently brushes the cigar from his chest and inspects the damage. Still floating, he begins to carefully analyze the situation. Dream? Flashback? Death?

The next scene, Tony is wrapping his towel around him and walking towards the house. He sees John sitting in a lounge chair. Tony stops but doesn't turn towards him. Realizing he has no gun within reach, he considers making a run for the house. But, he doesn't. Instead he finds himself oddly at ease with the stranger's presence.

Tony: (Turning towards John): You better have a fucking warrant.

John: I have a fucking warrant.

Tony: What is it for?

John: Some things I know and some things I don't.

Tony: (Condescendingly) Who the fuck are you?

John: I am John.

Tony: What do you want? You ain't no cop!

John: Tony Soprano should get out of the game.

Tony: Who sent you here?

John: My father is big.

Tony: If your father sent you to my fucking home, his name better be Abraham.

John: Tony Soprano should get out of the game.

Tony: Yea, you said that already. Is that the entire fucking message or is there more?

John: You can not hear my father's words.

Tony: Who's your father?

John: You do not know my father.

Tony: Go fuck yourself!

John: Go fuck yourself!

Tony suddenly changes his expression and the subject.

Tony: Hey, kid, how long you been sittin there?

John: Long enough, Tony.

Tony: Did you see anything.... you know.... a little strange?

John: I saw something....you know.... a little strange.

Tony: What the fuck do you make of that?

John: There is a new game in town.

Tony: Well if that how you guys play, I may get the fuck out.

John: That is how we play, Tony.