Chapter 125 - Shot For The Moon

The footage shows flashing lights, with the sound of sirens and a picture of the Las Vegas newspaper that reported their accident, so long ago.  

Monica wanted it in there, but she didn't give it too much time.  It flashed, Rocker and wife run down on wedding day.  That was all, but it was enough for the gang to see it and pause for a second.

"That kid, that band are destined for greatness.  With Jon's showmanship and the bands incredible ability to play, the top is where they are going.  All the way to the top!"  Steve Pearcy of RATT says as the film flashes to him, back stage at a concert.  The tour that Bon Jovi was the supporting act for.  Monica asked him what she thought of Bon Jovi and asked if they had what it takes to be a rock and roll band.  Monica could see Jon's smile.  The crowd goes crazy agreeing with Steven and having a love for RATT.  Monica turns around in her seat and scans the audience.  Every seat is filled and the people in the balconies are standing.  She smiles.

Next on the screen is a smiling Richie Sambora.  His hair dripping with sweat, the Stetson slightly tilted and a towel in his hand.  Monica asks him, "Richie, what's the biggest challenge for you, being out here on the road?"  

He thinks for a moment as he wipes the sweat off of his face.  When he comes up with his answer, he takes the microphone from Monica and leans into her camera, "The biggest challenge for me is that there isn't enough time for all of these women."  He leans in more, backs up and leans in again, "There are so many beautiful women out here, throwing themselves at me and I just don't have enough time.  Plus, we're never in one place very long."

"So is the biggest challenge that you travel too much?"

"On one hand, but then on the other hand, we don't travel enough.  I love to play and I want to play for the world." he admits, unable to hide his love for playing music.  

"You want to travel more?" Monica asks, with a little laughter in her voice.  "How is that possible?"

Monica's laughter was infectious to Richie which made him laugh, "Yeah, we could do two shows in one day."

"And you think that all of you could physically do that?"

"Hell yeah."  Richie hands  back the microphone, "Well all of us but Jon.  That might be too much for the pipes."

"I think it would be too much for all of you."  she states. The camera pans over to a dressing table, showing Jon unlacing his shoes.   Monica was able to capture his frustration when they didn't unlace as fast as he wanted them too.  "Jon,"  Monica calls to him, as Richie walks away.  "How was the show?"

"Did you see it?"  he snaps at her, unaware that he was being filmed.  When he sees the light on, on her camera, "Not now, Monica!"

Monica, caught off guard continued filming, "What's the matter?  Do you need help?"  

"NO, I don't need help.  Turn that damn thing off."

She refused to turn it off, reminding herself that she was capturing unscripted footage.  Off camera, the audience could hear Alec say, "He needs his mommy to untie his shoes."  Jon heard it too.  

Off the chair Jon sprang, on a dead run to Alec.  Monica captured most of it, but turned the camera off just before Jon got his hands on him.  The crowd in the theater goes nuts.  

In the theater, Jon looks at Monica with a look of shame on his face.  He can't believe that she put that in there.  Not only was he her husband, but that it is one of them private moments that the public, that fans didn't need to see.  To Monica's left she could hear Alec say, "Really Monica, you stopped there?  You should have added the part where I knocked him on his ass."

David interrupts, "Shut up and watch the film!"

The film goes back to live footage of various concerts throughout the last tour.  She captured the energy, the love, the hate and the passion that the band shows and gives in everything that they do.  

Next up is the band and some of the crew playing football on the beach in Rio.