A little bit more from a novel by me:  

I think I'm Dead -  Chapter (?) The California Club and Hotel 

Explanation: Our main character - who has no name sat down to write a YA novel for publishing company and possibly died. He somehow landed on a ship in an endless ocean among many other such ships... inexplicable sailing all to the same place...a huge arch of fire on the horizon.  His only companions are an Amazonian woman - who looks suspiciously like the agent that berated him into working to meet his writing deadline, and another man whom also forgot his name... in which he calls "muttonchops" from the late 1800's to try and turn the ship from the huge fiery abyss that looks something like hell.  

Eventually, in a moment of panic he jumps from the ship into the boiling ocean just before being burned alive and awakes to find himself a well-groomed bartender in the mysterious California Club and Hotel in Nevada where he first meets the Lolita-like daughter of the most richest man in the world... (and possible satanic prodigy) trillionaire John Paul Milan, who is announcing his run for the Presidency of the United States. 

That's where he meets Marie.. a singer in the band that is also at the club... and also looks very much like a different version of the same Queen on the ship.  

Don't worry, you'll figure it out as we go along...  

She lit a cigarette, and whipped the match onto the floor, “A little premature don’t you think,” she asked me as she took a puff from her cigarette and blew out the smoke as she spoke.

I turned my head and found myself again staring at the Queen from the ship in a shimmery velvet blue evening gown.  She somehow seemed much different, proportions not so muscular and she was appreciably shorter in this form.  It was also a plus that she appears to speak English.  

“I thought smoking was outlawed in public places, miss.  What can I get you to drink,” Again, my usual sparkling wit seemed to waver. 

“Oh, smart guy huh?  For your information they make it legal here.  I’ll take gin, straight up.  Please don’t add any water,” she said seriously. 

“Why not water,” I asked her. 

“The water here has an aftertaste of sulfur,” she answered matter-of-factly.  

Plainly missing something important, I became a bit emboldened as I gave her the glass of gin.  “I must say ma’am your singing is truly inspiring.  I loved the treatment of Alone again, naturally. So very soulful and very nicely done.” 

“Ah, gee thanks for the excellent review, hired help,” she mocked me, “So, are you one of Milan’s goons, or are you a real boy?”  She took another puff and blew the smoke in my face. 

“To be honest, I’m not exactly sure at this point who the hell I am,” I said honestly. 

“Well, at least you got that part right,” She said, and sipped her drink.  

The speech which whole room, perhaps the whole county, had been waiting to hear interrupted our repartee. 

“Friends, Romans and Countrymen….”  He began, to some chuckles and applause.  “In the original intention of the first Continental Congress of the newly formed country called America, the idea was simple, freedom.  Freedom from all that might impede or tread upon a man’s life.  It was a simpler time that only required the hard work and ambition of a nation of men to use whatever tools are necessary to survive and eventually thrive. 

Yes, there were hard times.  Yes, there was corruption.  Yes, there was slavery.  Life was a series of misadventures and based on what some have called jungle law, the survival of the fittest."

"If I were a politician asking for your vote, I would tell you this is a bad thing.  If I were asking for your vote, I would tell you that we have come a long way since those bad, old days.  We are now a civilized nation.  We subscribe to the rule of law in our society.  And because of this, peace reigns throughout the land.”

(General laughter throughout the room) 

He then pounds the podium with his left fist, “NO!  I say NO!  Our nation was not founded by any means other than the strength of its strongest.  The weaklings, the poor, the unfortunates did not contribute a thing other than misery to this country!” 

“It is time we embraced the uniqueness of the American spirit.  It is time we embraced the uniqueness of American exceptionalism.  Forget the poor and weaklings that expect a handout and a free meal ticket to supplant their miserable existences.  And what have they contributed to even their own versions of THE GREATER GOOD?”  Loud cheers and applause came from the audience.

“The best and brightest are the ones to drive America to greatness.  The best and brightest, when left to their own devices drive industry, research and most of all, wealth.  Did Alexander the Great become great by bestowing good will on his enemies?”  (NO! From the Crowd) “Did Napoleon conquer Europe by benevolence and good will?” (NO!)  “Were all the great economies in the world created so everyone could have an equal slice, regardless of their station or contribution?”  (NO!)  The time has come for a strong hand in leadership, one that will lead this country, finally to greatness among all the nations for all time.”  

“Now, if I were a politician asking for your vote, I would ask you for your money; I would ask you for your support; I would ask you for your undivided attention.  I’m not asking for any of those things from you. I am not even asking for your vote.  I am not going to seek my name to be on any of the ballets, but I want all of you…everyone out there to write the name in the blank, John Paul Milan as your next President.  I am NOT running as a democrat, nor as a republican.  I’m running as myself.  And with the help of the combined third parties that have allied with our common interests, we will prevail and we will win.”

“My name is John Paul Milan.  I WILL be your next leader!”   

Thunderous applause and a roar filled the room that seemed louder that it should have been.  The band played the now-declared candidate off the stage and into the warm regards of the grateful and enthusiastic crowd. 

I looked away from the tumult of the stage and back to Marie, which had turned her attention back to her drink. 

“The old windbag. Surprised he didn’t crown himself king.  What a bunch of hooey,” she sounded deflated.   

“Oh? You don’t think much of the richest man in the universe?” 

“That loser?  No, he tried to… well, let’s just say his pelvis seems to keep getting in my way,” she took a long drink, and crunched her cigarette out on the bar.  Something in her face made me feel sick to my stomach. 

We both stood looking at her drink for some time, until she picked up the glass and finished it, 

“Well… looks like I’m going to go hit the next set.  Hey, sweetie can you hold this glass here and fill it when I’m done.” 

“Of course, happy to ma’am,” I smiled at her, yet it was a little unnerving to see the doppelganger of the Queen of some third world country that almost forced me to go down with a burning cruise ship, which I barely remember.   I shook my head.