Any art opening in a 20-mile range was in danger of  being  descended upon by the cheese and wine vultures who cared not a wit for culture but were not about to pass up a free meal.

The director, debauched and decrepit, was unable to rein in his leading actor whose arrogance was matched only by his stupidity.

For four long years he toiled in obscurity, banging his head against the universe.

She sensed spring in the air even as she shivered in the wind.

The king was surrounded by sycophants and yes-men, but cared only for the attentions of his cat who was, at best, stingy with her affections.

"Dolores always did know how to knock em' dead," whispered Gail as the ex-stripper turned state executioner threw the switch.

He knew she was trouble — a devil in red panties — but Jake was never much of a theologian.

After a haircut and shave he found himself start every time he passed by a mirror.

That spring the snow didn't melt and the birds stayed south.

The night after the first firefight she dreamed of dresses and motherhood.

It was an errant sesame seed stuck between Steve's teeth that led to the six car pile-up after he slammed his semi into a stopped car while attempting to dislodge the annoyance.

The government had the guns, but we had the faith.

They owned the night.

The governor was humiliated that no one had mentioned the crumbs at the corner of his mouth in his campaign mailers and believed a conspiracy was afoot.

The whiskey flowed and the barroom rang out with the songs of love and death that came from the old country.

The hours ticked away as he stared blankly at the screen, his mind as empty as the page.

It appeared that he was in a great debate with a colleague, but he was alone, a patient in a locked room.

They trampled over hollowed ground, spat on the holy symbols, tore down the houses of worship.

In the early morning light as the fog began to burn off the birds sang out in joy at the coming of spring.

They said he had the disposition of a criminal and treated him accordingly.

It was a bittersweet dinner in the now-empty home.

Jane and Tad stood on the train inches apart, unaware that five years hence they would bring exquisite joy and deep despair to one another.

"Welcome to the end times," the sign at the front door read.

They went from lovers to mortal enemies thanks to a shared bathroom.

The cop and the criminal looked into each others' eyes, for a moment felt a deep connection, and then pulled the triggers of their guns.

The old dictator was losing his once iron grip on his nation.

Tired of the never ending misery and pain he witnessed in his 20 years as a cop, Blake bought a flower shop and surrounded himself with beauty.

They  lived a hard and fast lifestyle that killed most of them off by their 40s, leaving a legacy of art and music, but not much else, behind.

He woke up Sunday morning with a hangover and the beginnings of a million dollar song kicking around his head.

The reality was the reality show about making reality shows was unbelievable.

Matthew believed blowing the whistle on his boss would earn him accolades, but instead he became a pariah.