R. L. Stein

Template:NON PLAYER CHARACTER

> *"What was your dumb question? What was the dumb thing you were going to say?"*
>
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R. L. Stein is an NPC in the At the Mountains of Dadness sidequest. He is the studio head of Father's Own Studios. He has an assistant named Deen Coonts. He also has a wife, who has had untoward feelings toward Meryl Streep.

R. L. Stein is responsible for bringing the four PCs together and assigning them to solve the mystery behind *The Heart's Greatest Desire*. He only appears in Ch. 1 - Casting Call of Cthulhu.

R. L. Stein is rude, dismissive, and condescending. His brow is constantly furrowed.

## Ch. 1 - Casting Call of Cthulhu

Just after Meryl, Hildy, Robert, and Stud meet each other for the first time on the set of *Blue Planet*, R. L. Stein appears for the first time. He calls for production to stop on *Blue Planet*, calling it a "stupid, make-believe game". He points at the four PCs and says he needs them for a job. He commands them to take a walk with him.

The four PCs walk with R. L. Stein through the movie lot, which is clearly standing on its last legs financially. For the last five to ten years, R. L. Stein has tried and failed to make San Dimas "Hollywood 2: East Hollywood".

Stein points out the abandoned set of *The Heart's Greatest Desire*, a film that was hoped to revive Father's Own Studios. He reveals that the director, the star, and the physical film have all vanished. He tells the group to find the film and bring it back to the studio.

He also instructs them not to tell anyone else about their mission because the missing director was involved in the murder of multiple prostitutes. Robert, alarmed, suggests they call the police; Stein tells him not to, because if they call the police, they'll arrest the director and the film won't get finished.

Meryl asks to have an aside with the director, but Stein refuses to move. Meryl asks to be made the film's villain in exchange for doing the job, but is ultimately not able to intimidate Stein.

Robert asks Stein if he's sure that they're the right people for the job. Stein says that he hired a private detective to look for the film and crew, but that he disappeared. Stein says that he feels that he needs to send people that he doesn't care about. Robert asks if he can talk to Stein privately, but his request is denied.

Robert attempts to make a deal with Stein where, in exchange for not requiring hazard pay and not telling anyone about the situation, he can be a stunt double in the upcoming movie. An enraged Stein punches Robert in the face. It hurts Stein more than Robert, but Robert is effectively intimidated into backing down.

In retaliation, Stud punches Stein in the mouth and breaks his front two teeth. Stein is so surprised that he swallows his teeth. He screams at the four PCs that they're all fired and that they need to get off his lot. Stud starts to make a grand speech about how the movie industry should be about making dreams come true. Meryl tries to quiet Stud and comfort Stein, but it's too late; Stein is already waving over security guards. Robert manages to stop the bleeding in Stein's mouth, but Stein tells them that he doesn't want to see them again unless they have the film.