PERMANENT RETIREMENT
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“I’m sorry that I grabbed you in the manner I did,” [a distorted voice booms from within the shadows.] “But I found this beneath your vehicle and couldn’t risk allowing you to leave.”
[The person throws a device to the feet of Bruce Van Chan, who’s eyes bulge out of his skull. He fearfully looks towards Paige, who can’t believe it.]“Injustice wanted to ensure your retirement was permanent, Bruce.”
[The speaker enters the frame, stood before his two prisoners.]“And I’m afraid that I have to take some responsibility for that. Believe me when I say; I didn’t know this would happen.”
[He carefully removes the tape from Bruce’s mouth.]“What do you mean?” [Bruce gasps with his first breath.] “What’s going on?”
“There’s a long story to tell but no time in which to tell it. Injustice want you dead, Bruce. Edward Newton wants you dead. If you want to survive, if you want to live, you’re going to have to become something else.”
[Bruce looks at Paige, who shakes her head ‘no’.]“Someone… else.”
[The light flickers, and Bruce lowers his head, a lot to contemplate in the eye of this horrifying storm.] [Click.]ADAM EVE VS. EPITAPH
SINGLES MATCH
PROPAGANDA
BACKSTAGE
“Wonderful! This is bound to up my reputation among the urban neighborhoods in Miami…an important demographic!”
[Out of the corner of his eye, JGF notices someone approaching. With a wink and a nod, he hands the person a flyer.]“Here you go, citizen! Spread the word, JGF is looking for YOUR vote!”
[What JGF fails to realize is the person he’s handed the flyer to is Viktor North, staring at the flyer unenthused.]“What is this filthy rag you’ve put in my hand, boy?”
[JGF’s grin quickly changes to a scowl, as he shoves a finger into Viktor’s chest.]“That is a campaign poster, and you’d do well to watch your tone around me!”
[Viktor scoffs at this, crumpling the paper.]“Find someone else to spread your propaganda, I have no interest in your lies and treachery. Viktor North bows to no man.”
[Viktor mutters something in Icelandic as he throws the crumpled flyer in the face of the Commander in Chief! North walks by, chuckling to himself as JGF stands there with a disgusted look of anger. It doesn’t take him long to pull out his cell phone and make a call…]“Hello? I need a favor…give me all the info you can on a Viktor North. I’ve hit a big speed bump on my campaign trail.”
[Cut.]SOMETHING’S MISSING
BACKSTAGE
“What?”
[Makena whispers in a panic as she rushes in, her head turning frantically to the left and to the right. We enter behind her to recognize a dressing room full of the expected contents. Full, except for the presence of one.] [Colossus.] [Jakande drops to her knees on the floor, reaching down to grab what appears to be the collar of her friend. The chain that once held the Savanah Cat laying empty beside her.]“WHY?!!!”
[Makena roars as tears fill her eyes and suddenly, in the doorway stands a somber Voodoo.]“Makena?” [Voodoo sympathetically speaks, knowing something is amiss.] “Is everything…”
“NO! Colossus is gone” [Jakande screams.] “Someone had to have taken him!”
[Voodoo rushes into the room, taking a look around for himself, but unable to find anything out of sorts aside from the missing cat.]“I have to find him” [Makena says with an intense yet uncertain tone.] “He could be in danger!”
[Voodoo closes in on his tag team partner, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.]“WE..” [Voodoo emphasizes.] “We will find Colossus! I promise you that!”
[Jakande looks up from her kneeling position, her cheeks streaked with tears as Voodoo returns the stare.]“I can use his collar…” [Voodoo assures.] “to cast a spell to locate your friend! We’ll find him Makena. We’ll find him!”
[With a nod, Jakande slowly looks back to the collar, gripping it to her chest as we fade to black.]SERGEI SOKOLOV VS. HADES
SINGLES MATCH
THE END
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“She’s looking worse by the day,” [he says to DTR, who smiles gleefully.] “I don’t think she can survive the birth of this child.”
[DTR says nothing at first.] “She won’t,” [he hisses.] “But her gift to the world will be the end of it.” [Jensen gulps.]“Besides Jensen, we have other matters to occupy ourselves. At Invasion, we will challenge for the Tag Team Championships. Our incubation period has time to run, and we must achieve gifts for the child.”
“Gifts?” [Cussen asks.] “What do you mean… gifts?”
[The Virus’ eyebrows raise.] “Just like the bible, we are but wise men. When my child is born unto this earth, it will destroy it. If we wish to remain upon the festering soil and rebirth this world, we must please it with gifts of gold.” [He walks around the bed to Stephanie, placing his hand on her stomach. The belly is full of black veins and kicks out at him, disrupting the skin.] [Jensen can’t stomach it any longer. He turns around and exits the room, closing the door behind him. With his eyes focused, and somewhat sad, he appears to come to a conclusion.] [What does he have in mind?]GUIDANCE VS. VIKTOR NORTH VS. JGF VS. VOODOO
FATAL FOUR WAY MATCH
THE FOURTH SEAL
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“How did you find this place?” [Lux Bellator speaks in English out into the open space of his sanctuary.]
“Pious fools leave a certain stench behind.” [A voice returns, its form now behind Bellator.] [The Scarecrow. The new OSW World Champion.] [Bellator stands to his feet, and turns to face the Hayman.]
“People like you lack fear.” [Scarecrow continues.] “Their belief turns them into fearless warriors. Like you.”
[The taunt is only answered with a smile, as Bellator looks the intruder up and down.]“Long have I observed you.” [He finally says.] “You are not of God, not a demonic presence. Whatever you are…”
“Do not speak of things, you do not understand, light warrior.” [Scarecrow interrupts.] “Your mission is to destroy the broken world. It would not behoove you to seek understanding that is not of that world.”
[A silence fills the room, the beating heart continuing to pound.]“That is not why you have come.” [Bellator says into the silence.] [Scarecrow only laughs at that.]
“No. I come to ask you what you know of death?” [The Hayman responds.] “Why would you choose to call yourself death when you stand before one who deals in death as many deal in eating and sleeping?”
[Lux does not hesitate.]“The Lord wills it.”
[Scarecrow nods, his suspicions confirmed.]“I thought as much. That’s why I came here. To find out if you were just another zealot or if you had a true purpose. It turns out it’s the former. You’re just an…”
[This time Lux Bellator cuts off the World Champ.]“You know nothing of me, you are nothing more than an accursed and foul thing! You deal a violent death and send your victims to a world of captivity. The death the Lord brings is a peaceful one. One is as He intended, the other is an abomination.”
“Are you sure about that?” [Scarecrow responds.] “Because I recall a certain Priest that visited my domain once. He wasn’t there long, it was almost as if he was pulle…”
“You lie.” [Lux Bellator responds.]
“Ask him.” [Scarecrow taunts.] “You brought him back, after all.”
[The two stand facing one another before the sound of crows fluttering interrupts the pulsing sound.] [And Lux Bellator is all alone.]DEAR CHILD
BACKSTAGE
“Dear child, why do you fear your mother?”
[The cold, wispy voice fills the silence, Mother has entered the scene. She skirts the outside of the candles, watching the poor girl quake in fear.]“You should not be scared. I made sure that bad man left us alone. He was a horrible influence, trying to steal you away from your family.”
[Her voice is sickly sweet, an obvious facade thrown on as she speaks to the child.]“She’s only scared because you’ve abused her.”
[Mother’s falsely kind expression quickly breaks as she scans the darkness, looking for the source of the noise.] [For Jacob Phoenix.] [The lone vigilante steps into the candle light, the shadows showing only half of his face.]“Holding punishments over her head, making her think it’s all her fault. I recognize all of the signs, mother. She’s terrified of you and blames herself for it.”
[Mother snarls, watching as Phoenix walks around the outside of the candles.]“The law won’t be able to touch you, you know that. But I’m not going to follow the law, I’m going to help her the only way I know how.”
“By leaving her to resent you?”
[Jacob’s eye twitches at Mother’s statement.]“No. By doing what no one else is willing to do.”
[PHOENIX KICKS THE CANDLES TOWARDS MOTHER! The hot wax covers her as she recoils in pain! Phoenix grabs for the child but Mother is quick to leap onto her, pushing Phoenix away as the lights flicker around them. When the flames return, both Mother and her child are gone. Phoenix drops to his knees, shaking his head as his rescue attempt has failed once again.]LUX BELLATOR VS. CAPTAIN ZAPPA
SINGLES MATCH
UNCERTAINTY
BACKSTAGE
FIREBURNED
BACKSTAGE
“You got what was coming to you, Ethan Bird.”
[He steps forward, out of the flames and towards Bird.]“We had the opportunity to secure a wish each, work together and you tossed that chance into the flames. But they blew up in your face and you got burned, didn’t you. I thought you said you had my back.”
[Bird stands his ground, not offering so much an explanation as defiance.]“Ethan Bird gazes upon this world and see’s it differently. What Ethan Bird wants will be Ethan Bird’s…” [His eyes draw to the ‘Grand Wish’ token that now hangs around Rhode’s neck like a medal.] “One way or another.”
[Rhodes smiles at the comment, as if he had been expecting it. He shakes his head and steps forward towards Bird once more.]“You had your chance at your wish, Ethan. And, like our chances of Firebirds working together again, they were crushed by your own hands. You only have yourself to blame for your performance.”
[Solomon steps back, towards the wall of flames that still burn at his back.]“I could be bitter about you stabbing me in the back. But at the end of the day, I accomplished what I set out to achieve in the very first place. I put down the Family and I hold the Grand Wish. I don’t have the time to waste on a fool who had the opportunity of a lifetime within his grasp but tossed it into the flames.”
[With that, Solomon Rhodes steps back into the flames and folds his arms. As the fire engulfs him, he holds out the ‘Grand Wish’ token as a reminder to his former teammate as to what he lost. Then, the fire consumes him. when the flames die down soon after, the Dragon is gone and Ethan Bird is left alone to stew.]THE FAMILY VS. GABLE AND SHARKMAN
TAG TEAM MATCH
YOU’VE GOT A DEAL
RINGSIDE
“Hold on just a minute there, Sharkman! In case you’ve forgotten, I won the right to challenge for the Double Feature title a few weeks ago, and I’ve come to lay down that challenge, right now!”
[The Sharkman tilts his head just a little, questioningly.]“Would you be so hasty as to challenge The Sharkman now? While my blood is still running hot, and you are weakened by our battle with the Family? I think that not very wise…]”
[Gable seems to consider it for just a moment, then looks back at the Sharkman. He gains a glint in his eye and raises his microphone once more.]“You know what, you’re right! I think that it would be in my best interest to face you while I’m fresh, and you are… whatever you are! So… how about this, in three weeks time, at Invasion, I meet you right here in the middle of this ring and take my Double Feature Championship!”
[He puts out a hand, wanting to make the deal. Sharkman considers it for a moment, and shakes. Gable grins from ear to ear, and goes to pull his hand away, but the Sharkman clamps down, holding tight to his hand. He raises his own mic.]“Oh, but the Sharkman has his own request. You seem so eager for me to lay my gold on the line, how about yourself? If you win, then you take this gold.” [He holds the Double Feature Title high in the air.] “But if the Sharkman wins… I get this gold.”
[He taps on the gold medal dangling from Gable’s neck. Gable looks flabbergasted, and shakes his head, yelling no!]“Then we don’t have a deal.” [The Sharkman exclaims.] [He goes to step through the ropes, but Gable grabs him once more.]
“You’ve got a deal!”
[Sharkman reaches out, and we can only imagine the smile behind his mask as he heartily shakes hands with Gable. Sharkman slips out leaving Gable alone in the ring. He looks down at his gold medal. He shakes his head once more, and lifts the medal. He kisses the gold, and then slips out of the ring himself.]SLEEP TIGHT
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“What have you given him? What have you done?”
[The chair next to her is no longer occupied.] [And the screams of pain? They belong to Bruce Van Chan.] [Her husband writhes on the floor at her feet, tossing and turning with every painful spike. Finally, he stops. There’s nothing. No movement, no cries, no pain – just silence.] [Then abruptly, without warning, he rises painlessly to his feet.]“B-Bruce?” [She stammers.] “Baby?”
[Van Chan whips his head around to face her – only it isn’t Bruce, not anymore. His eyes are white, pure white and his face has contorted into a sadistic smile unlike anything she’s ever seen. His skin has paled, like the man she once knew had died.]“Bruce Van Chan has left the building. He’s unavailable at the moment.”
[The man from before enters, standing alongside him. He tosses him a change of clothes.]“The clothes maketh the man, Bruce.”
[Bruce chuckles.]“My name is Dr. Sleep,” [He snaps back.] “And until Edward Newton rests, that is who I will remain,” [He says, bending down to pick up the bomb once placed underneath his vehicle.] “Now, let’s see how he likes a goodnight kiss.”
[He’s about to exit when Paige interrupts.]“Bruce, please, wait,” [she begs.] “What about our kids, what about our family?”
[Dr. Sleep stops. He turns around and drops to a knee before her.]“He’s in here, you know,” [The Doctor comments with a wry smile.] “Banging at the walls inside his mind, begging me to let him regain control. He regrets it. He truly does. Touching that tablet, that ancient rune, it has morphed him into the polar opposite of Bruce Van Chan; me.”
[Paige’s jaw drops.]“And I don’t care about your family,” [he admits.] “I don’t care about Paige Van Chan. I care about vengeance. I care about revenge. Bruce did this to protect you, to save you and himself but there’s always been a part of him, pushed deep down beyond the goodie-two-shoes that has always wanted this.”
[He stands up, walking towards the door. With another smile, he turns to face Paige.]“Don’t worry, by the time I’m finished with Edward Newton and Injustice, they’ll sleep tight. You’ll sleep tight.”
“What about my husband?” [She yells after him.] “What about Bruce Van Chan!?”
[Dr. Sleep laughs.]“Goodnight.”
[What has Bruce Van Chan done? What on earth has he unleashed?] [Cut.]KNOCK KNOCK VS. INJUSTICE
TAG TEAM MATCH
HOOK, LINE…
RINGSIDE
“Hysteria!” [He tauntingly yells, surprising Hysteria who, along with No Face, had been ready to leave ringside.] “Done so soon?”
[The Mad Mastermind seems to smile, even if we cannot see his face. Smiley only grins at that reaction.]“I took your title, didn’t I?” [He says, tauntingly wielding the gold.] “But the debt is not yet paid. You destroyed the Blackwater. You tried to burn me alive. What happened to brotherhood, old friend?”
[Hysteria begins to advance towards Smiley, who has hopped the railing into the crowd. He is in no mood for Smiley’s games.]“Do you think it’s that easy? Come take the title and then taunt me like some pathetic lifeform? Do you know who I am, Lee?”
[Smiley twitches at that comment, but continues to retreat from Hysteria.]“Oh, I do know who you are. I know who you used to be. I know who you are now. And I know all in between. Your life is a sad story by some standards, but by mine, you might as well have been a movie star.”
“You know nothing of my life, Lee.” [Hysteria says again.]
“That’s what you believe.” [Smiley retorts.] “But the good Doctor left behind some very interesting paperwork. That’s why you wanted to burn the Blackwater, wasn’t it?”
[Hysteria reaches the railing and stares at the retreating Smiley.]“But you didn’t counter in that I would have gotten my hands on it first. Wait until the world hears about everything you don’t want them to know!”
[Leaving No Face behind, Hysteria hops the rail to go after Smiley. The Deranged One retreats to the backstage area through a side door with Hysteria hot on his tail.]DR. SLEEP VS. ETHAN BIRD
SINGLES MATCH
SINKER?
BACKSTAGE
“Come on, Hysteria!” [Smiley taunts, rounding a corner.] “Don’t you have it in you anymore!?”
[Finally, Smiley rounds one last corner to find a darkened room. A small light appears to shine, showing a dead end. Smiley’s face seems to twist for a moment in dread, but he’s quickly interrupted by Hysteria knocking him across the room. Smiley comically flops across the length of the room to practically stick to the wall. Hysteria smiles in the door way before advancing.]“You know nothing of the injustice I suffered, Lee.” [Hysteria begins.] “You were a lost cause from the very beginning. You were just another victim of a world that creates men like you every other day. I was different!”
[Yelling those last words, Hysteria walks towards Smiley, but comes to a quick stop.]“Different?” [Smiley asks.] “Is this an example of your mind at work? Do you truly believe that? No matter what circumstances, we were born in, we’re the same.”
[Hysteria seems to be shrinking as he looks down.]“What have you done?”
[Smiley grins.]“A little crude, maybe even a little cartoonish, but I dug out the floor.” [He stands to his full height as Hysteria seems to shrink even further.] “Filled it with quicksand.”
[With little time wasted, Smiley watches as Hysteria finds himself up to his neck in the quicksand.]“Oh don’t worry, you won’t go any further than that.” [Smiley laughs.] “I don’t want to kill you, after all. Not yet, anyway. Before you die, Hysteria, I want you to relive the life you believe you had. While I show you what really happened.”
[Smiley carefully walks around Hysteria before reaching the doorway. He flicks a switch to turn on a light.]“Better hope your friends followed us, old friend.” [Smiley says before exiting.] [Hysteria tries to adjust his eyes to the light, and as he does so, he screams in rage.] [The walls have been papered with newspaper clippings. With polaroids. With notebook papers with vague writing on them.] [All of the Harrison family.] [Hysteria’s scream to the heavens echoes through the halls of the tap room like a ghost in a haunted house. And somewhere underneath that, one can hear the cackling of Smiley himself.]
SENTIENT
BACKSTAGE
“I have seen a future where machines run the world, believers. I’m sure you’ve seen glimpses of it, too…machines that spy on us, machines designed to deceive us and pull the wool over our eyes. These machines are so advanced that they have begun to act human, trying to blend in!”
[This gets the Calypsoites murmuring as an odd-looking figure walks into the room, drawing a collective gasp from the followers of the Messiah with a single word…]“Namaste.”
[Calypso, clearly disgusted, points at the metallic figure as she shouts.]“And here’s one of them now! What gives you the right to stand before the Messiah, you hunk of metal trash!?”
[The followers begin jeering the invader among their ranks, but it raises a hand to quiet them before speaking.]“Please, I mean you no harm. My name is Guidance, and I am here to bring peace.”
[This gets a cackle from Calypso.]“We don’t need your peace, machine. We know the dangers of allowing your kind to dwell in our presence.”
“Please, I only wish to—“
“Enough!”
[With a wave of her hand, Calypso sends two of her followers to charge at Guidance, who dodges them with ease. More of her followers start to overtake Guidance, but with a surge of electricity they fall down before it. Guidance looks at its hands, eyes wide in surprise as it looks at Calypso.]“My apologies, I didn’t mean to do that!”
[Guidance runs off before the followers can reach it, leaving us with an angry Calypso who looks on.]“This is exactly the future I was afraid of.”
[Cut.]JACOB PHOENIX VS. TOMMY HAWK
SINGLES MATCH
{It’s all over as Hawk proves why he was the world champ! What a great win over a very game Phoenix!]
CERTAINTY
BACKSTAGE
“Mmm… elllppp meeee…”
[Doubt looks at the woman covered in blood before slowly approaching and removing the white mask wrapped around her head. As it does, it steps back in horror. Only one side of the face has been dismantled. The other eye frantically fights against the pain of the light of the room before fixating on Doubt.]“Ouuu… ellpppp meeeee! Elllpppp meeeee!”
[The garble is barely understandable as pools of blood flow from her mouth with the absence of her tongue.] [Doubt reaches up to remove her chains, but she screeches out.]“OOO! ILL MEEE! ILLL MEEEEEE!”
[Doubt stops in its tracks shaking its head. He takes a step back as tears begin to form at the corners of her one functioning eye.]“ILL MEEEE! LEASEEE!”
[A sigh. Doubt reaches to the edges of his mask as it removes it. Darkness is shown as two piercing red eyes glare at the girl in front of it. Her eye opens wide in horror. Tendrils slink out of his face and latch onto the poor girl’s face as she cries out in pain. Only for a moment.] [Before silence.] [The tendrils retract as her form grows limp, seemingly withered as black vein-like lines trace down her body.] [Doubt replaces the mask upon its ‘head’ before turning and leaving the room once more.] [A moment passes after his departure before a locker slowly opens.] [A man exits with an expressionless face and blood soaking his suit.] [No Face, you could say. He says not a single word as the only sound in this room is the sound of his breath.] [Slow, menacing breath.]ZETAS
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Chosen One.” [A breathy voice is heard that is unlike Zappa’s, though there is nobody else in the room.] “You are safe… For now.”
[Captain Zappa smiles, knowing the voice well. There is a sense of familiarity in his eyes upon hearing the voice.]“Thank you.” [Zappa’s simple reply comes.] “Had you not intervened, I have no telling what she may have done to me.”
[The voice continues, still breathy but picking up in urgency somewhat.]“We find ourselves on the brink of an intergalactic war of which you are the epicenter. Earth is one of those rare planets, capable of conditions that sustain life in abundance of forms. Until now, our mission has been uninterrupted. But the presence of other extra-terrestrial species confirms what we have feared. We are not alone in our quest.”
[The screens in front of Zappa flash into life without warning. He watches as the voice dictates the scene before him. Lyra Starchild sits at a table, an array of strange weaponry and gadgets before her that she is periodically checking over.]“Lyra Starchild has deemed you her ‘Chosen One’ also, though for different reasons. She seeks to sever the ties between the Zeta and Earth, a tie that lives and dies with you alone. We cannot let that happen.”
[Zappa watches the screens in front of him as Starchild rises from her seat. She picks up an unknown gadget and expertly presses a flurry of places around the flat panel on the top of the gadget and a holographic image projects itself from the panel. Its message is not new to Lyra, one she knows all too well…]“Transmission begin… Starship HOPE has intercepted a transmission from the Zeta en route to Earth. While little is known of their plans, it is clear that the Chosen One is neccessary to execute these plans. Sever the connection, at all costs. Transmission end.”
[Lyra places the gadget into a holster at her hip, then loads up the tablesworth of other weaponry and gadgetry. She turns on her heel, scanning the area before beginning to leave.]“This time, I will not take any chances… Chosen One.”
[The screens showing Lyra fall black in front of Zappa, just as a blinding white light fills the screen once more. When the light fades, we find Zappa still sitting but in a dank and forgotten concrete room somewhere in the underbelly of the Tap Room. A plume of smoke above his head that comes from the joint in his mouth.] [Only a hallucination… Or was it?]SOLOMON RHODES VS. CALYPSO
INFERNO MATCH
PEACEFUL VIOLENT DEATH
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Why has death come in two forms?” [He speaks aloud into the flames. The words seem to die themselves upon the burnt brush.]
“You speak of Tahehix, but I only see death.”
[The guidance given a month ago to the Spirit Walker still endures in his head. As he watches, the fires seem to bend, showing Hawk the figures of Scarecrow and Lux Bellator. This is a vision of their conversation earlier, although no sounds can be heard.] [Suddenly, a new voice breaks Hawk from his contemplation.]“Death will cover the eyes of living if the living do not remain vigilant.”
[Hawk rises to his feet in one smooth motion, ready for combat. But the man standing before him has his hands held out in peace.]“Who are you?” [Hawk asks, warily.]
“My name is Pedro El Salvador.” [The now-familiar former priest responds.]
“You are the father of Lux Bellator.”
[Pedro nods in response.]“Why are you here?”
[To that, El Salvador only allows a grimly pursed smile.]“I am here to help you, Tommy Hawk.” [He begins.] “I am here because I have been searching for he who will rise to stop my son from doing what he has come to do.”
[Hawk turns and looks back into the fire.]“That man is not me.”
[Pedro moves to stand beside him, peering into the same fire.]“Perhaps. Perhaps not. All one can do is the best they are able to with what they have.” [El Salvador points to the flame.] “What do you see?”
“Death.” [Hawk responds.] “The Scarecrow and your son. They both reek of death. Almost as if they are two…”
[Hawk pauses for a moment, realization crossing his face. El Salvador waits for a response.]“They spoke and I did not hear. Ta’xet and Tia. One a spirit of violent death. The other a spirit of peaceful death. I was so focused on the Scarecrow that I did not see the light above. The bad moon rose, and I could not see it.”
[El Salvador seems confused for a moment, but nods along anyway. Hawk clenches his fist as he has come to a realization.]“Thank you, Pedro El Salvador.” [Hawk begins.] “You have allowed me to look where I could not have before.”
[The Spirit Walker turns to the former priest.]“Now tell me of your son. That is why you came, is it not?”
[El Salvador only smiles before beginning to speak.] [But that is not a conversation for us to hear. We have heard what we needed to know.] [Death comes, but Tommy Hawk will be there to meet it.]MOTHER VS. LYRA STARCHILD VS. MAKENA JAKANDE
VHS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
IF YOU WANT TO LIVE
RECORDED EARLIER
“I don’t understand,” [Sergei says, kneeling.] “For long time, Sergei thought you were buried here, in grave with no name, in place no one knew.”
[He pauses, lowering his head. There’s a deep sense of shame with him. It’s running through his core like blood being pumped around his body. Suddenly, a cough startles him.]“You are too easy to sneak up on, Sergei,” [The voice of a recognized figure causes Sergei to stand and pay attention. It’s the General.] “I taught you better than that, no?”
[Sokolov doesn’t respond.]“I know you have questions. I faked my death for my country. I did it for the Motherland. I’ve been working for Government, seeking out traitors. It hard work, and when your file crossed my desk, I could not believe my eyes.”
“I didn’t know, General,” [Sokolov protests.] “I believed it was mission from Motherland.”
“It’s too late now,” [Dzagoev says sternly.] “My hound has come for your life. Piotor served under me in my regiment. He was spook known only to Dzagoev. We called him ‘Silent Killer’. If your eyes met his, you would not live to tell tale.”
[Sergei frowns.] “Then why am I still here?” [The General walks over to him, placing a gloved hand on his shoulder.]“I kept the hound at bay, but it will not last,” [he admits.] “You must come with me if you want to live.”
[The Russian Bear’s eyes widen, realizing that the General is stepping out on a limb for him. He nods.]“You have one week to get your affairs in order, and then we go.”
[Both men look at each other. The General pulls his head close, their foreheads touching.]“One week, Sergei.”
EDWARD NEWTON VS. KING ROYAL
SINGLES MATCH
“Bow before your King, and all transgressions will be forgiven!” [The King says, standing up with pride. The Riddler thinks about it for a moment, before reluctantly dropping to his knees – Low Blow! OOF! The referee tries to warn him but Newton pounces with a Jawbreaker, dropping his opponent to the canvas with a thud. He covers… One… Two… Kick Out! He pops back up to his feet, dragging Royal with him. Short-Arm Clothesline! The Riddler runs to the ropes, diving down with another Baseball Slide, connecting brutally with the Tag Team Champion.] [They both once again get back to their feet, Royal ducking a right hand and sneaking in behind… BELLY TO BACK SUPLEX! HE GOT IT AND HE HOLDS ON…. A SECOND BELLY TO BACK SUPLEX… AND A THIRD… ONE MORE AND IT’S THE ROYAL FLUSH! NO! NEWTON SLIPS OUT BEHIND! ROLL UP! ONE… TWO… KICK OUT! NOOOOO! Both men spring away from the cover and get back to their feet. Royal turns around… THE DUNGEONS OF LONDON! NO! NEWTON PULLS AWAY, SPINS HIM… KICK TO THE GUT.. NEVERMIND! THE ALL-STAR CHAMPION NAILS IT! He covers… One…. Two… Three! Edward Newton continues his phenomenal winning streak here tonight!] [The All-Star Champion gets back to his feet, holding his title with pride as the lights suddenly switch off. When they return, stood opposite him is Bruce Van Chan – only that’s not the Bruce we know.] [That’s Doctor Sleep!] [The Riddler ducks out of the ring as quickly as possible, backing away towards the entrance as The Doctor follows in hot pursuit.]
TICK, TICK, TICK
RINGSIDE
“Stop!” [Yells a voice, but it doesn’t belong to Sleep – it belongs to Bruce Van Chan! Bruce is fighting back! Newton moves closer, and further away from his vehicle, intrigued by what he’s witnessing.] “Bomb!”
[BOOM.] [A shockwave explodes, knocking Edward and Dr. Sleep off their feet as a raging fireball explodes from his vehicle. Edward Newton was about to get in his car. He was about to be blown to pieces by the very bomb he planted for Bruce Van Chan.] [And of all people, it was Bruce who stopped it.] [As the fire rages, the camera backs away to show metal fragments strewn about the parking lot. Smoke plumes into the air, and Edward Newton lays unconscious next to Doctor Sleep.] [Cut.]THE SCARECROW VS. BRENT KERSH
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
FOR STEPHANIE
BACKSTAGE
“What have you got there?” [He says, trying to look around Cussen who quickly pulls a tarp over the truck.]
“Nothing, just something for Stephanie.”
[DTR smirks.] “Good. She needs all the strength she can get. Our child is taking a lot from her, Jensen.” [He pauses, patting him on the shoulder.]“It’s good that you’re taking care of her. We need her strong to deliver.”
[Cussen nods, watching as DTR walks away.] [He thinks about it for a moment, looks over his shoulder at the truck and grimaces. The camera pans away, watching as Jensen gets into the truck and speeds off with Brent Kersh unconscious and chloroformed in the back.] [Meanwhile, from a distance in the shadows, King Royal watches with his hands clasped together.] [Cut.]THE CHIEF DON’T RUN!
THE CHIEF’S OFFICE
“I’m Detective-“
[The Chief cuts him off.] “I don’t care who you are, what the fuck you want?” [That stuns them.]“We’re investigating the disappearance of Errol Flint. His attorney reported him missing a few weeks ago and we’re told he was last seen here, in The Tap Room.”
“He was here,” [The Chief admits. He doesn’t look cagey, but very calm under pressure; especially knowing what he knows.] “He bought a very particular match at Ring of Dreams and saw it through. I don’t know where he went after that and quite frankly, I don’t give a shit.”
[The Detectives look at each other.]“You should,” [one of them responds, receiving a raised brow from The Chief.] “Because Errol Flint’s body was found two days ago, a fatal bullet wound to the chest. He was in the trunk of a car, abandoned after a road traffic accident only a few blocks away.”
[That news rocks The Chief, but he does his best to hide it. The cool and calm facade is slowly wearing thin.]“And isn’t it true that in December of 2016, you purchased his company and brought it from New York City to Miami? How would you say your relationship was, after that?”
“We were fuck buddies,” [Chief responds.] “Yeah nigga, I fucked him in the ass and stole his entire world. How the fuck you think it was? He was desperate, and I got myself a steal. Now look, if you gentlemen want more, like blood, or fuckin’ semen, talk to my lawyer, alright? His number is 555-go fuck yourself.”
[The Detectives grimace, but they’re on shaky ground and clearly don’t have enough to arrest him. They nod, and back away.]“Don’t leave the country, alright?” [One of them says.] “We might have some more questions for you.”
[The Chief stands, his hand pointed at the door.] “Well fuck me, I’ll look forward to it. Now, get the fuck out.” [They leave abruptly. The Chief nervously reaches into his desk drawer, and pulls out a boxed disposable cell phone. He opens it up, switches it on and waits for it to power up, all the while keeping an eye on the door.] [Then he dials a number.]“I need a sweep. Home, office, Tap Room, car; the full package. When? Yesterday.”
[He hangs up the phone, snapping it in half immediately.] [Cut.]