LGBT drama inspired by two Pre-Stonewall protests. Melting Pot Riot brings together a kindred group of late night patrons of a 24 hour café who band together one night and take a stand against oppression.
LGBT drama inspired by two Pre-Stonewall protests. Melting Pot Riot brings together a kindred group of late night patrons of a 24 hour café who band together one night and take a stand against oppression.
Prologue to the main series. Invited to speak at a present day Pride Festival the elderly Mema is introduced to the festival goers to recount the events of the infamous Melting Pot Riot from when she was young.
City at night 1966, 21 year old Mena Fruela ventures downtown to her favorite hang out, the Melting Pot Cafe. The grubby all night eatery is a refuge for those looked down upon by polite society. Mena is there to visit her chosen family, a group of outcasts who have formed their own community under the cafe's torn canopies and harsh fluorescent lights.
Inside the Melting Pot Cafe, Mena makes an entrance. We meet her gal pals, Dottie, Nina, and Kate having an evening snack. Mena seeks the advice of her friend Charlie about the new man in her life. Silvie has a different kind of run in with the local cops on the beat. NSFW contains profanity and adult situations.
Charlie and his benefactor Roy meet in the cafe and come to an understanding. Silvie and Officers Kavanaugh and Schneider's understanding comes at a cost for Silvie. While Willy comes to Charlie and Roy's assistance, will there be anyone to help Silvie? WARNING: This episode contains brief scenes of violence, intimidation, coercion, and transphobia.
After saving Silvie from Officers Kavanaugh and Schneider, Harry Randell Photo-Journalist, introduces himself but now can he talk his way out of a jail cell or having his camera confiscated? Help arrives in the form of Jesse and his friend. Empty handed the corrupt Officers are left to go off in search of a new target.
Officers Kavanaugh and Schneider get more than they bargained for after targeting Taffy for harassment. Silvie, Jesse, and Harry arrive back at the Melting Pot Cafe, and Mena makes a phone call to her mystery man, Gene, inviting him to meet her downtown.
Meet Willy and Lisle as they discuss their lives before they joined the Melting Pot community as the story of the early fight for LGBTQIA rights continues.
At the Café Silvie stands up for herself, and Mena introduces Gene to her friends. Charlie and Gene get to know each other, but a brief moment of panic could spell trouble for Gene and Mena's future. Outside the café, Taffy and Hiro spot Officers Kavanaugh and Schneider up to no good.
Episode 1 of a special 2 Part episode Three Articles (Part One) picks up from last episode, the patrons of The Melting Pot Cafe have settled in to enjoy an evening of camaraderie. Jesse has a proposition for Silvie but would she leave everything behind including Charlie to accept it? Taffy and Hiro discover what officers Schnieder and Kavanaugh are really up to and decide to do something about it.
The explosive Three Articles (Part Two) will be out later this month!
Picking up where part 1 ended, the police officers lead by Schneider enter the Melting Pot Cafe to amuse themselves at the expense of the patrons. Schneider seeks some petty revenge against Willy over a slight from earlier in the evening. Charlie tries to intervene and finds himself under Schneider's boot. Even Gene's attempt to voice his opposition gets an unfriendly reaction. Mena takes her stand for everyone in the cafe but will it have the effect she was hoping for?
In this intense episode, when Schneider humiliates Mena in front of Gene, the patrons of the Melting Pot Cafe have had enough! Schneider and his cronies are sent running for cover as the riot explodes bringing together the patrons of the cafe and Rumi's Cabaret.
Mena collapses into the arms of her friends as Charlie tries to talk some sense into a devastated Gene. Meanwhile Harry sends Willy, and Lisle into the night on a mission.
Outside the Melting Pot Cafe the riot is going strong and Mena gets some revenge on Schneider. Inside the café, Charlie oversteps his bounds but smooths things over when the others object to his plans. An escape out of the back door of the café ends abruptly, while the fighting in front of the café is at a fever pitch. Reinforcement arrives but is it enough to keep the rioters out of jail?
TW: Violence
Locked up in a holding cell, the patrons of the Melting Pot Cafe band together through sympathy and love. Silvie finds comfort in Charlie's arms. Nina has some upsetting news for Dot, but Katie proves it to be an opportunity. Gene and Mena have a long overdue talk. Harry may have lost his camera but not his story. Willy and Lisle turn up in an unexpected place.
Willy and Lisle try to convince Harry's boss, Mr. Vincenzo, at International Publishing Limited's headquarters to print the story of the protest and help the protestors in jail. H however has a different idea. Meanwhile at the jail, Captain Luger requests the presence of officers Kavanaugh and Schneider. Gene makes a decision that affects not only his future but Mena's too.
Returning where the series began, Pride current day, as Mena finishes her speech before the crowd. She talks about her life after that eventful night. Plus notes from the creator!