SAM GASKIN is a Pulitzer prize-wanting magazine ‘journalist’ living in Shanghai.



       Jareth the Goblin King addresses Sarah
       upon her completion of his labyrinth

       How can you do this baby?
       Why fight your way here to my castle,
       beyond the goblin city, and refuse me? You
       aren’t too young for me sweetpea. I
       can only know younger women, for I’ve lived
       forever. And the tights I can return.

       No, I don’t need a receipt! I can turn
       space and time. I could unravel your baby.
       Give me your fear, if not your love.
       But no. The cold stone of this castle
       mirrors the cruelty of your eyes.
       Tell me Sarah, is the greater sadist me or you?

       Wrong! It’s definitely you!
       For all I’ve done, I ask but one thing in return,
       one sacrifice to signal your affection. I
       don’t care about your baby
       brother. What’s another goblin in my castle?
       Forget him. Prove him a casualty to our love.

       You’re right! The casualty is our love,
       victim to the brutal will that brought you.
       I’m pathetic, a king who would castle
       when it’s already checkmate. Take your turn
       and burst my bubble, baby,
       for there was never love but in your eyes.

       I saw us both in those eyes
       when we danced the magic dance of love
       so loudly that we woke the baby.
       Our enchantments mean more than your
       indifference, right? How can an absence upturn
       my army, my kingdom, my mighty castle?

       Fine, fine. It was a crèche, not a castle.
       You are me; how can I
       disagree? But you are torn
       if you don’t love
       me because I am you.
       Oh baby.

       Your passion could return my castle
       but Sarah, baby, that mortar’s gone. I
       can’t live within you.