Sam Jones

Sam Jones (born: Samuel Jones) is an art dealer with connections among the wealthy and powerful. He is a character in NYC portrayed by Zachary Quinto. Sam economically supported Theo Graves, and urged him to explore darker and twisted aspects in his work.

Background[]

Sam worked as a financier on Wall Street but although he worked harder and better than his colleagues, he was always looked down upon for his homosexuality. Amongst them was his first boss whose approval Sam desperately sought as he had long ago coveted that of his father. He quit finance and started working as an art dealer. ^[1]

Then boyfriend Theo Graves mocked his art collection inclination that began with silverware and tea sets to flow into paintings and then pornography. ^[2]

In 1979, Sam organizes one of his usual weekend parties on Fire Island. Among the various guests, Sam hooked up with Billy and his fit friend whom he invited to his sex dungeon. When Billy accidentally dies during intercourse, probably caused by the cocaine they were abusing, Sam calls in a hitman he's acquainted with and his associate to help him get rid of the corpse. ^[3]

Story[]

Sam complaints to Theo Graves about their role in the relationship, having to pay for Theo's expensive habits and getting looked down on by him. Theo retorts he should date a pornographer instead. Sam does not care for Theo's morals as their clientele can't hang pornography on their walls and invite neighbors to look at it. They can, however, purchase an overpriced pornography piece and call it art. For that purpose, Sam recruits budding actor Freddy at the Brownstone Bar. Once at the studio, however, Sam presents Freddy with a turned stool and some lubricant-not exactly the photoshoot Freddy had in mind. Sam is satisfied to the point that he will keep the photos for his private collection. ^[4]

Sam is diagnosed with an STD by Dr. Hannah Wells, specifically a rare amoeba called cryptosporidium. Despite her advice, Sam does not intend to abstain from sexual activities.

Through a call to a pay phone outside The Ditch, Sam entices Stewart, a young man and lures him into the basement of his apartment. Guarding the basement there is a man resembling "Big Daddy", with a hood over his head and a leather harness on his chest. Sam keeps Stewart caged for two days for extreme sexual activities that the guy keeps saying he doesn't want to do. ^[5]

One of Sam's parties is interrupted by Detective Patrick Read and a partner. They inquire about the sex dungeon but Sam claims it was entirely consensual and that Stewart's rantings are unfounded. Detective Read retorts that Stewarts is not pressing charges because he's afraid for his reputation. Sam flirts with Patrick, recognizing a dark kindred spirit in the cop.^[6]

Sam and Theo break up after yet another fight after Sam wants to lick the smell of the dead off the body of Theo, who just survived an arson attack at the Ascension Club. Theo is scared of Sam and what he might do. He keeps hearing strange events and Sam's name keeps coming up. Sam is offended by such insinuations and encourages Theo to report him to the police. But if he does, he can forget his career, money and fame.

During a city-wide blackout, Sam follows Adam Carpenter, who he has identified as Theo's new lover. Adam, regardless of the danger, gets into a car with Sam and the latter gives him an ultimatum which Adam refuses. For Sam it is only a matter of time before Theo gets bored and comes back to him.^[2]

Sam receives a phone call from Patrick; a dead body has been found on Fire Island. The two rush to the island and with false pretense, clear the crime scene. The two, however, are caught in the act by Henry and Gino. The latter demands an explanation, and the three are forced to reveal what happened in 1979―Patrick was Billy's fit friend and Henry was the hitman known as 'Velvet Touch' who helped them hide the body. As they try to get rid of the evidence, Patrick notices that the cuts on the bones are identical to those of the Mai Tai Killer's victims. The men believe that Whitely, Henry's associate, is the killer. ^[3]

Sam continues his party lifestyle despite recent events, clouding his thoughts through alcohol, drugs and sex. ^[7] Sam keeps an eye on the group venturing inland; especially Theo with his new boyfriend, Adam. It is during one of these moments that Sam spots Henry at the bar, unable to attract the bartender's attention. The two chat about Henry's crush on Gino, and Sam proposes they meet in the evening and will get him someone who is aroused by impairments. The proposal of a truce to Theo accompanied by a shot of tequila proves sinister; aided by two associates, Sam drugs and ties up Theo in the woods for Henry to abuse him under pretense that there is consent from Theo. Before leaving them alone, Sam remarks to his former lover that he belongs to him. ^[8]

Sam faints at Theo's funeral and is hospitalized for an undisclosed amount of time during which Sam's health deteriorates severely. Sam hallucinates Billy and Theo as nurse and doctor respectively. Doctor Theo leads him through the hospital ward in inhuman conditions, showing patients abandoned in squalor. Here Sam is confronted with past transgressions; first Danny, the first for whom Sam and Theo opened their relationship as well as a talented playwright whom Sam failed to support. Then Sam sees Stewart, who was already ill when Sam caged him for days and whose forehead Sam kisses. Theo tells the Sam standing next to him that he has been there a while, and that his admirers have left him to rot unloved. His immune system has collapsed completely, and that no amount of money can produce a cure. The Sam in the bed convulses, and Sam's spirit materializes inside a cage in a dark room.

The next tormentor appears in the guise of Henry dressed as a leather cop. He cages Sam, forcing him to face his past demons – Big Daddy flogging Sam's father strapped to a slab or his first boss at Wall Street getting flyed alive – all whilst Sam has to admit his wrong ways and suffering. How he turned from tormented to tormentor. Sam is thus whisked to a beach on Fire Island where he's getting chased by Big Daddy till he cannot run anymore. His past lovers Theo, Stewart, Freddy, and Danny amongst others appear to him in white clothes and antlers on their heads. Henry suggests Sam to stop running as Big Daddy can not be outrun, only transcended. The art dealer unmasks the assailant who is turned into an handsome blond man and they kiss as they disappear and Henry scatters Sam's ashes into the ocean from an urn.^[1]

Personality and Appearance[]

Sam is an art collector with a fascination for everything beautiful and rare, including people. ^[2] He is vain and violent, mixing sexual arousal with the pain he likes to inflict. Sam can be superficial and prejudiced, claiming that "no fatties, no femmes" are invited to his parties.^[3] Sam is also vindictive and possessive, especially toward his former lover Theo whom he treats as a piece of his collection to the point of abusing him. ^[2] ^[8] Openly gay, Sam uses his social and economic position to manipulate those around him heedless of even systemic homophobia, extending his sexually dominant inclinations to other aspects of his life.^[6] According to the visions in which he was confronted with his past transgressions, Sam inflicted pain because he himself was in pain eventually losing sight of fetish to exorcise his pain, and became a tormentor himself.^[1]

Sam is a 6' 1" tall man in his 40s. Sam dresses smartly and takes great care of his outward appearance, combing his thick black hair back and wearing expensive-framed sunglasses. He is often wearing silver bracelets on both wrists and his shirts widely unbuttoned to emphasize the muscular, hairy chest.

Quotes[]

To Theo: "I am so sick of you acting like you're the artist, and I am some checkbook with a dick."
To Stewart: "Keep screaming like that, you're gonna fuck up that perfect little throat."
To Stewart: "It only hurts if you fight it."
To Stewart: "You're fucking hot when you are scared."

Notes[]

In "Thank You For Your Service", Sam gives his address as 17 Great Jones. Apartment 11.
The character is loosely based on Samuel Jones Wagstaff Jr., with many nods to his wealth, career as an art curator, relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe (the inspiration for the character Theo Graves), and death due to HIV/AIDS complications in the late 80's.