The Kingdom

Shugar Belt, land of the living dead, home of the beaten, the broken, the chopped-up and diced. 

Shugar Belt, Alvy's kingdom where frantic serfs scurry about to nowhere.

Shugar Belt, a warehouse of lost souls, a vacuum of dreams, an empire built on the anti-matter of hope.

Shugar Belt, an island fortress devoid of dignity where shadows of men like crow-faced Rusty Applebaum shake and shudder thirty-seven-and-a-half hours a week, not more, never less.

Don't cross Rusty unless you want your meager paycheck whittled away. His simple joy in life is to dock your pay, withold your check, piss you off. Rusty Applebaum, a bespectacled humanoid form of life with distended whiskered nostrils and two black spots for eyes. Rusty Applebaum, a spectre stewing in the juices of frustration.

"Rusty!" Alvy barks.

See Rusty jump.

"Get me two grand in US dollars for my trip to New York!"

See Rusty run.

"Rusty, there's a mistake on this month's trial balance! Rusty, you paid this invoice twice! Rusty, are you listening to me?"

See Rusty cry.

Shugar Belt, a place to exorcise demons.

"Pedro!" Fat Nat, the factory manager bellows. "You shipped the Bloomingdales order with two styles missing! You idiot! You moron! I told you it has to go complete!"

"Bbbb-but the cancellation date--"

"The rest of the order is in for tagging! Don't you fucking know what's going on in the factory?!"

"But there was a printing mistake on the--"

"What are we selling?! Books?! Who the fuck reads the tags besides idiots like you!"

"But, Nat..."

"Just get the fuck out of my office before I crush your brainless Mexican skull."

Pedro stumbles out of Fat Nat's office overlooking the plant. He trips on the last stair and splits his pants. Fat Nat and his three assistants, Jean-Guy, Jean-Paul and Jean-Claude with the fucked up tooth, howl with laughter. Pedro curses his fate in Spanish. Back in another life he was on the Mexican Equestrian Olympic team. Pedro gets up quickly and slams the door behind.

"Remember this boys," Fat Nat says to his three chumps."Pedro is only here for me to shit on," and he breaks out in a maniacal laughter. The chumps think that their boss is hysterical.

On the other hand, Pena, the accounts receivable manager with the gorgeous manicured nails, loves her job. The pay is good - not great, she's got an air-conditioned office and a company car. And she's pretty good at her job, loves to collect her money. That makes Alvy happy. Almost as happy as her daily receivables review with Alvy when she's on her knees between his legs. They never forget to lock the doors.