FIND HIM
RECORDED EARLIER
“David,” [she begs and pleads.] “David!?”
[The Virus steps into scene, his arms folded.]“This is going to kill me,” [She spews. Black vomit trickles down her chin onto her stained nightdress.] “I won’t make it!”
“You will,” [DTR says, placing his hand upon her head.] “You will. My seed is the end of all things. You have an important role to play my dear. You are to give birth to the end of days and it can only be you. We’re so close.”
[She cries out.] “I can’t do this,” [she squirms, squeezing Jensen’s hand.] “I can’t do it. I need him. I NEED HIM!” [DTR and Jensen share a look.]“Why him?” [Cussen asks.]
“I-I,” [Stephanie stammers.] “I don’t know. This child is talking to me, David; he’s in my head. He’s telling me that we need him or else this won’t work.”
[The Virus grins sadistically.]“That’s good. That’s a good sign,” [David boasts.] “Our boy is getting stronger and the purified blood must have worked. If we need him, we’ll get him, won’t we Jensen?”
[Cussen stands up, his eyebrows furrowed in disagreement. Carefully, he nods.]“By Genesis, The Family will be one stronger. I promise you darling, we’ll find him.”
[Cut.]CAPTAIN ZAPPA VS. SANTA CLAUS
SINGLES MATCH
LAW ABIDING
RECORDED EARLIER
“You’re not where you’re supposed to be,” [The voice says menacingly. The smoking man turns to the light, revealing Sheriff Law.] “Are you, Sheriff?”
[Emerging from the darkness, The Sharkman appears.]“And I believe I have something you want.”
[Law takes the cigar from his mouth and smiles. His toothy grin is as sadistic as it is disturbing.]“That’s the thing with thinkin’ you have all the answers, ain’t it?” [He mocks.] “That elevated sense of self belief. The hero in you thinks you’re special. This ain’t about you, Sharkboy.”
[The Sharkman steps forward.] “You’re the reason Cael acted the way he did, aren’t you?” [Law just grins.]“You need to come with me,” [Shark announces.] “It’s time you were put back where you belong.”
[As The Sharkman approaches, a surprising figure appears; Cael Gable.] [He steps between them both, pressing one hand against the chest of Sharkman and pushing him backwards.]“I can’t let you do that,” [he says begrudgingly.] “I’m sorry, but he’s not going back.”
[The Double Feature Champion tilts his head in confusion.] “Whatever he has on you, whatever he’s offering you, I can stop it. You need to trust me, Cael.”“He’s already in too deep,” [Law protests.] “And only getting deeper.”
[A loud groan suddenly interrupts, coming from just behind Law. The Sharkman barges past Gable to find Adam Eve, bloodied, bruised and near unconscious on the floor. He looks up at Cael and Law, disgusted.]“What the hell did you do?” [He yells.] “What the hell did you do!?”
[Gable steps closer.]“What I was told.”
[He suddenly swings, nailing The Sharkman in the head with what appears to be a Crowbar that he was hiding behind his back. The Champion falls, joining Eve on the floor.]“At Genesis, you’re gonna beat these two and deliver me the Double Feature Championship, kid,” [Law reminds him, as he looks down, disappointed with himself.] “Because if you don’t, mommy and step daddy are gonna get a visit from the Law. You just remember who holds your leash, boy.”
[Law grabs his cigar and kneels down, stubbing it out on the back of Adam Eve before chuckling to himself. He casually walks off into the darkness, leaving Gable to stand, infuriated, upset and a shadow of his former self.]SEVERED
BACKSTAGE
“You ever just say ‘hello?’”
[As expected, Solomon Rhodes steps into view before the Unorthodox Identity. The VHS Championship gleams on his waist as Zappa eyeballs it with want. The Dragon calls back his attention with a stern tone.]“You won’t run from me this time. Not until you hear what I have had to say.”
[Zappa shrugs, and seems to be waiting.]“I’ve been so consumed with other matters that my eyes have not truly focused upon you and your Zetas. You have called me out because you desire that which I have. Yet as I look around me, I see old powers awakening. Those who are neither bring doom upon us all. Armies from above. Armies from below. Armies from within. The dead rise and great powers lurk outside the dark side of the moon. There is a war coming. There are those who are good. Those who are evil. In refusing to sever your own connection to these powers, you are becoming corrupted by them, turned into something more than human. You have been chosen, but perhaps they did not choose wisely.”
[Zappa snorts before doing something entirely unexpected.] [He lets his joint fall out of his mouth to the ring of fire around him. It is quickly consumed by that fire.]“You may not have had your eyes on me, Rhodes, but I’ve had mine on you. You want to destroy evil? I can point you in evil’s direction if you wish. But all you’ll find here is me. A Champion. And in a week’s time, I’ll just be the one Champion between us. I won’t sever my connection to the Zetas, but I’m going to sever your connection to that Championship around your waist. I’m going to clip the wings of the Dragon so that the invasion will be that much easier.”
[Rhodes does not seem amused by the smoke that has grown up around Zappa, perhaps unnaturally so. Instead, he looks with a steely gaze upon his new foe.]“We will see, Zappa. Remember that there will always be someone to stand against an invasion of evil. Someone will rise.”
[Solomon turns to walk away, but Zappa has one further question.]“They say you can turn into an actual Dragon, man. That true, or is just like everything else with you, a bunch of legends and fables?”
[The Dragon doesn’t even turn around as he walks into the distance.]“Pray you don’t have to find out.”
[Rhodes leaves the All-Star Champion to himself as Zappa reaches into his shirt pocket and produces an already rolled joint to guide him on his own travels.]DOUBT VS. JACKSON GRANT FITZGERALD
SINGLES MATCH
STOCKING STUFFER
BACKSTAGE
“…and now she’s being treated by a doctor that I know after I found a knife protruding from her abdomen.”
[The voice of Doubt carries as if like a whisper through the room in which he and Smiley are currently inhabiting. Smiley has his favorite crow bar in his tight grasp as it appears he’s biting his cheek.]“I don’t know why you felt the need to LIE to your own brother about finding your sister, Syndi, but-“
“You know why I had to do it, brother.”
[A moment of pause as Smiley lets it continue its throught.]“The way you treated Stephanie… I couldn’t allow for you to do that to my sister. She’s been through enough already.”
[Another pause as Smiley’s knuckles grow white as he grasps his crowbar tight.]“I might have gone overboard, but this is why we are to TRUST one another. Trust me to not do anything to break our bond.”
[Smiley extends a hand and grasps Doubt’s forearm with a smirk.]“Now…”
[His voice trails off as a small-person wearing an elf suit walks into the room carrying a box nearly the size of him. He sets it down and begins to read the card.]“Ahem. Despite your actions of hostility towards the big man, they have granted you with a gift. In this box-“
[CRACK!] [The metal crowbar smacks across the little-man’s face as he’s then kicked squarely in the ribs twice by Smiley.]“Well, Merry Christmas Doubt.”
[Smiley hoists up his crowbar and begins smashing the box to smithereens! As he hits it the third time, a horrible smell fills the room forcing Smiley to gag as his eyes begin to water. Doubt doesn’t seem to be affected by it too terribly, but it grabs Smiley and exits the room as the focus zooms in on the gift. Egg shells fall out of the holes created by Smiley as it zooms in on the nametag.]“Happy Easter, The Easter Bunny!”
THE HOUSE OF HORRORS
RECORDED EARLIER
“You’re sure that Scarecrow will know where to go?”
[Newton barely moves as Hysteria is revealed to be standing beside him. No Face looms on the other side of Newton as stand outside this house.]“I’m certain of it. For all of his faults, one cannot say that the Scarecrow doesn’t have an exhaustive memory.” [Newton comments haphazardly.] “But when he arrives here, it will not look as he imagined it. I’ve hired the best laborers money could buy to turn this broken down remnant of the past into a true House of Horrors.”
[Hysteria nods in response, but Edward isn’t done.]“Inside, the Scarecrow will find that the past rises up to meet him. Even as he goes to battle with the Dragon over the Perch, the rest of his foul history will come to meet him when he steps foot in here afterwards. Even those that do not live can enjoy teachable moments. They can find themselves realizing that those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it. I am not Brent Kersh nor any other foe the Scarecrow has ever encountered. The chill that runs down my spine when he appears will be the same that he will feel when I destroy that which he clings to.”
[Hysteria almost responds, but Newton notices the tick before he can.]“What he clings to is that his power will be enough. The Scarecrow clings to the notion that those that fear him will be unable to stop him from achieving his goals.”
[The Riddler smiles up at the House of Horrors.]“He will soon come to learn that his foolish ideas are not fit for this world.”
[He pats the gold on his shoulder.]“Nor for this championship.”
[With a grin, Newton turns to the two behind him.]“We must get to the Tap Room for this evenings festivities.”
[A thin grin appears on his lips.]“We’ll be back later, as the Scarecrow comes to learn the terms of his defeat.”
[The trio head towards a vehicle off screen, brakes screeching as the car pulls out, but the camera lingers on the House of Horrors.] [CRASH!] [One of the laborers is thrown through a glass window, his body bent unnaturally as it lands in the bushes outside.] [Static takes the screen as the signal drops.]ADAM EVE VS. LYRA STARCHILD
SINGLES MATCH
HEART OF DARKNESS
BACKSTAGE
“You don’t talk, do you?” [He asks, only receiving silence.] “Good, because I want you to listen.”
[No Face stands, unmoved.]“At Genesis, there’s no Injustice, there’s just you, Hysteria, me and Bruce Van Chan. I know what you and Hysteria did, playing us against one another. It was smart. But next week, you’ll have to decide whether your alliance with Hysteria is worth your title because The Chief has made our match a Fatal Fourway for the Rewind Championship.”
[Lane closes in, hearing No Face breathe heavier through his nostrils.]“What’s the matter?” [Lane uses Hysteria’s catchphrase with a smile.] “Cat got your tongue?”
[No Face suddenly strikes, catching Lane off guard. He rocks him backwards with a series of right hands, dropping his title in the process. Lane hits the wall, touching his face to feel a busted lip. No Face swings backwards, but the punch never comes.] [Because Dr. Sleep stands, his arm locked between No Face and Mike Lane.] [He pulls him backwards, sending him reeling off to the floor with a roll. Hysteria quickly arrives, pulling him backwards before he walks into a fight he cannot win. As Injustice back away, Lane wipes the blood from his lip and looks towards Dr. Sleep.]“I’m glad to see you’re back.”
[Sleep nods.] “He may not like you, but I have a fondness for what you’ve done, Shadow.” [They both shake hands.]“In this heart of darkness, he cannot escape me. For as long as I gain control, we are united.”
[Mike and Sleep nod in agreement, before walking away together.]CAEL GABLE VS. NO FACE
SINGLES MATCH
SHOT DOWN IN HIS PRIME
RECORDED EARLIER
“All hail the Red Tsar!”
[A car speeds out in front of Sergei, and the man driving aims a gun at the agent on the other side! Before he can do anything, Sergei watches as the driver pulls the trigger, gunning down the agent before he drives off. The gunshot riles up the crowd into a frenzy, as everyone rushes to see what happened. One of the passersby tends to the fallen agent as FBI and local authorities arrive at the scene. Sergei slowly backs away, trying to flee when he hears another voice from across the street.]“Wait, isn’t that the Red Tsar? What’s he doing here!?”
[Sergei takes off running, chased down by authorities as paramedics arrive to tend to the agent. Moments later, a limo arrives and out steps Jackson Grant Fitzgerald himself, surrounded by his security detail and looking terrified at the fate of one of his employees. The crowd is directed away from the scene, amongst which we focus on a camcorder and the obscured face behind it…and a patch of a gas mask on the shoulder of his denim jacket before he turns and walks away.] [Cut.]PLANETARIUM
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Don’t make any sudden movements, or this will be quicker than expected.”
[The voice causes Bobby to turn his head abruptly, craning his neck and squinting his eyes to see in the darkness to the source of the voice. Lyra Starchild, somehow appearing before him in the darkness of the closed planetarium. In the next moment, she beams behind him, a weapon trained to the back of his head.]“I cannot allow the Zetas the satisfaction of their connection growing stronger in alliance with you. Each strand of the connection must be severed, and it begins with you.”
[No more words. Lyra’s weapon emits a bright blue beam, the ray firing directly into the back of Neptune’s head. It passes right through him without leaving a mark, the beam hitting a globe statue across the other side of the planetarium and causing it to explode into a million pieces. Lyra’s face twists into a look of confusion, that only grows as the figure of Bobby Neptune flickers like poor reception on an old television set. Then, the projection of ‘Bobby Neptune’ disappears entirely. Only his voice remains.]“It is true then, you have set your sights on someone other than Captain Zappa in your quest to defeat the Zeta. I’m flattered that that someone is me. But I know nothing of this connection you speak of.”
[Neptune reappears, this time a projection of his face upon the domed ceiling of the planetarium itself. He reaches out to the constellations, galaxies and stars that dot the ceiling like the night sky, seeming to toy with them and inspect them in his fingertips.]“Space is an infinite and uncountable vastness. Countless galaxies, countless stars, countless planets. Yet you have fixated on this very planet to enforce your will. You claim to be protecting Earth from intruders, but on your terms. You are the planetary judge… But you do not see how corrupt a judge you are.”
[Lyra turns her face, and weapon toward the sky.]“You are a tainted being. Tainted by the alien beings that abducted you. It is unclear exactly what side of this war you are on, Bobby Neptune. All that is clear is that it is too dangerous to let you live.
Next week will be the Genesis of a new chapter in this war. Either the Zeta forces will become stronger as you ally with them, or they will be weakened in your defeat…”
[The face of Neptune laughs at the proposal.]“Or another possibility that you cannot possibly conceive. That you are in the wrong, and I am nobody’s asset. I fight for Earth against the likes of you.”
[The face fades from the ceiling and the lights return to the room, all directed towards the entranceway to the planetarium where a figure stands tall. Bobby Neptune in the flesh. Lyra is too far away from him to aim her weapon confidently. Neptune gives a smile and a mock salute.]“Time will reveal all falseties. Till next week, when we meet to settle this score. We will see who is in the right.”
[With that, Bobby Neptune slinks back out the entranceway and into the shadows, leaving Lyra to curse his holographic decoys and deception.]“I will get to you, Bobby Neptune. Mark my words.”
EDWARD NEWTON VS. THE FAMILY
TWO V ONE MATCH
ENDLESS MARCH
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Brent.” [He speaks out into the darkness.] [Behind him, Brent Kersh steps into frame. The Enforcer doesn’t look happy in the slightest, but he seems taken aback by the small cavern that Lux Bellator has called home. From the river of blood flowing beneath it to the stone-frozen Desmond Cross in the corner, Kersh seems to be slowly realizing that the rabbit hole runs deeper than just his son.]
“What the hell is going on?” [Kersh mutters.]
“How did you find this place?” [Bellator responds, coldly ignoring the question asked by his partner.] [Kersh walks past Cross with a look of disgust in his eyes before standing directly behind Bellator.]
“Your father showed me how to get here.”
[Lux stands to his feet from the kneeling stance in one fluid motion. He does not turn to face Brent, only moving to allow his partner to stand beside him.]“I do not wish to speak of him.” [Bellator runs his fingers over the book as Brent steps up to look at it.] “You have come to speak about your son.”
[The mention of Trevor, his son, brings Brent out of this sense of horrific wonder he had taken since stepping foot inside. Now, the fire in his voice has returned.]“Damn right, I have.”
[The Enforcer has so much he wants to say, it seems to be at a bottleneck. After what feels like an eternity, he finally finds the words he was looking for.]“Let my son go. Let my father go. Let them all go.” [With each sentence, the resolve in Brent’s voice seems to grow.] “I’m going to stop you. I’m going to end this.”
[A small chuckle comes from within the throat of Lux Bellator.]“End it?” [He turns to face his partner with a hard expression on his face.] “You don’t understand. Things have been set into motion that cannot be undone. We have embarked upon an endless march to the doom of this broken world. Those of your bloodline who now serve in my army have bound themselves to my will, the will of God, and no matter what their reasons, that cannot be changed. They will be the ones who serve as my army rises to fight those who would deny the end.”
[That revelation seems to rock Brent for a moment, but the Enforcer never gives up.]“They won’t do it. They won’t destroy innocent people.”
[Lux raises an eyebrow.]“Innocent?” [He snorts.] “Even you cannot tell me that this world is innocent. That they have not brought their doom upon themselves. Even one such as myself, fully committed to God, does not deserve the grace that is shown me.”
[Brent begins to retort, but Lux raises a hand.]“Yet there is one that is innocent yet. There is one made pure by the touch of God himself in the face of pure evil.”
[Kersh grabs Bellator, driving him up against the rock walls.]“If you lay a finger on my baby, I will kill you.” [Kersh says between gritted teeth, his hand wrapped around Lux’s throat.] “My child will not be used as a pawn in your game.”
[Lux tries to speak but cannot. His face begins to change color as Brent continues.]“Tonight, we’ll fight as partners. I need you for that, so I’m going to let you go in a second. But next week, I don’t care if we’re still Champions. I’m going to walk out to the ring and do what I do best. That’s send people like you back where they came from. And if you think, for a split second, about going after my wife or my baby, then you’ll be going to meet the God that you serve a lot sooner than you intended. I will never stop fighting for my family, and I’ll be damned if I let you just march over me like you have everyone else.”
[With a harsh shove, Brent throws Lux to the ground. The light warrior reaches down to try to catch his breath as Kersh angrily exits the room. Their match is next, so he’s got to head out for that. Somehow these two men have to coexist as partners even though they will meet as opponents in just a week’s time.]“Brent.”
[Lux Bellator has sat up and regained his composure. Kersh is long gone, but as Bellator stands up, he seems to have a smile on his face. His eyes begin to glow with familiar golden swirls of light.]“May God have mercy on your soul.”
[Cut.]UNHOLY ALLIANCE VS. HEART OF DARKNESS
TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
A GIFT A DAY
BACKSTAGE
“So, tell me, have you decided to give yourself back to her? She THIRSTS for more, and you’re going to give it to her.”
[DTR pulls out a syringe and begins to move towards Jensen who quickly gets into a preemptive stance.]“Dave, I will. I promise to give her as much I can, but now is not the right time. Let’s wait until we’re back at-“
[With this DTR moves towards him with lightning quick speed and nearly presses the needle to his skin, but Jensen grabs his wrist. The Virus’ eyes grow wide as Jensen realizes what he’s done and quickly throws his arm away. The syringe leaves his fingertips and shatters on the ground.] [The Virus turns to see this and turns back with a face contorted with rage, but before he can say anything, Jensen quickly puts up his hands in defense.]“I-I promise I will later!”
[Just then DTR looks as if he’s about to strike down his partner, but he stops as his eyes glance past Jensen.] [A gift is laid out with a sign on it pointing downwards towards it. It reads, “For the Not-So-Nice Family.”] [The Virus pushes past Jensen and walks over to the box and gives it a kick.] [Nothing happens.] [He looks at Jensen who slowly approaches.]“Open that.”
[Obediently, Jensen undoes the bow, rips the paper away, and opens the gift. He looks down with a sneer before pulling out a small baby-sized onesie. Written on the front of it is ‘Santa’s Little Helper.’ DTR’s eyes flash to rage once again.]“Destroy that. Destroy it now!”
[Jensen quickly rips it in half before throwing the pieces away. The Virus looks at Jensen and nods.]“Find that bastard! FIND HIM NOW!”
[Jensen quickly scurries off as DTR watches, angrily.]YOU CANNOT BE SIRI-OUS
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Ecksss-cuse me, may I be of assistance?”
[The stranger wheels round with a flap of his coat. The store lights flicker and storm clouds gather in the rapidly darkening sky beyond the glass walls. The associate steps back fearfully, and the store’s remaining patrons cower behind display counters, as unimaginable power courses through the stranger’s veins. He croaks in a gravelly voice.]“Assistance…”
[He coughs into his hand, clearing his throat, and repeats himself in an all-too-familiar baritone…]“Assistants!”
[Lifting his head, he reveals a zebra tiger-striped mask – IT’S MARVOLO! Daylight immediately returns as the ominous clouds outside dissipate, and the store lights come back on. The store’s clientele go right back to browsing.]“Yes, Marvolo is in the market for a new personal assistant. He seems to have uh, misplaced his existing assistant, you see.”
[The unnerved associate nods.]“I-I uh, I see. Well, all of our devices offer a smart assistant which really gets to know you on a personal level.”
“Ah yes, Marvolo has heard of these so-called smart assistants. Lead the way, shop-keep!”
[The associate walks Marvolo over to a counter displaying several smartphones in different colours and sizes. Marvolo picks one up.]“Our assistant can answer questions, book appointments, recommend restaurants – anything you can possibly think of.”
[Marvolo looks at the security tether in confusion.]“Marvolo’s old assistant did not require charging.”
“R-really? Well, you can still expect to get a full day of use from this device, and with fast-charging you can top it up in no time.”
[Marvolo looks from the associate to the device uncertainly. He turns it over in his hands.]“Cold metal and glass… Marvolo’s old assistant had a pleasant warmth to her.”
“Mmm, well, everything that we make uses the highest-quality materials on the market.”
[Marvolo holds the device up and looks from it, to the associate—who nods eagerly—then back again.]“That’s it, sir – anything you need to know!”
[The associate leans in with a smile, begging to meet his sales quota. Marvolo clears his throat…]“Who is number one?”
[The device replies.]“… I’m sorry, can you be more specific?”
[The synthetic words cut Marvolo deeply. He closes his eyes and hands the device back to the associate, crestfallen.]“This… is not the assistant Marvolo needs.”
[Perplexed, the associate puts the phone back.]“I’m sorry, sir. I guess it’s like clothing: not everything will fit off the rack well.”
[He goes to leave but Marvolo blocks him. The associate looks at Marvolo. The whites of his eyes are visible.]“What did you say?”
“Uh, it doesn’t fit off the rack… well?”
[Marvolo wets his lips and mouths silently, as though he’s forgotten how to talk.]“Rack… well. Rack-well…”
[The associate tries to limbo under Marvolo’s arm but he lowers it.]“Tell Marvolo, shop-keep – do you have any more assistants to show him!?”
[The associate ponders.]“Well… we do have some discontinued models in the back. Hold on a second…”
[Marvolo allows him to leave. He wrings his hands as he talks to himself…]“Rackwell… Rackwell… Rackwell…”
“Sir? I have an open-box model from last year right here.”
[Marvolo spins round with another flurry of his coat, nearly losing his balance. His jaw hits the ground.] [It’s her.] [Marvolo stammers weakly.]“Rack-well… Rackwell… Raquel!?”
[Raquel stands before Marvolo with her fluttering eyelashes, ruby pouting lips and auburn hair.] [The associate breaks the ensuing silence.]“I know, right? She’s outdated, she’s slow, she’s ugl—”
“Shhhhhh!”
[Marvolo goes to hold his finger to the associate’s lips but, his sight not leaving Raquel, pokes him in the eye by mistake.] [Marvolo leans in to Raquel closely. He asks the one question burning deep inside his heart.]“Who is number one?”
[…]“Marvolo es numbehr wahn.”
[Tears well in Marvolo’s eyes as he takes Raquels hand into his and kisses the length of her arm.]“Cara mia…”
[#1 reaches into his coat pocket and throws a fistful of money into the barely-recovered associate’s other eye before whisking Raquel to the exit. She opens the door for him – just like old times.] [Before departing, however, he turns back to face the store.]“Welcome back to SHOWCASE… IS… MARVOLO!”
[The temporarily-blinded associate corrects him.]“Actually, it’s just VHS now.”
“… Oh. Welcome to VHS… IS… MARVOLO!”
[Marvolo exits the store with his index fingers held high and Raquel in his wake.] [#1 has returned to Old School Wrestling… again!]HYSTERIA VS. THE SHARKMAN
SUBMISSION MATCH
SLEEP TIGHT
RECORDED EARLIER
“Having trouble sleeping, spirit walker?” [A voice mockingly says from behind the camera. It hisses cruely.] “I understand, I do. The confirmation of ones demise is a tough spill to swallow.”
“I’m not ready,” [he admits.] “I have such unfinished business.”
[A horrible cackle echoes throughout the room.]“No-one is ever ready.”
[He lowers his head, understanding.]“I’ve spent my life protecting other people. I’ve spent every day in service of my community and heritage,” [He says stoically through cackled laughter.] “I have lived like a man and if it is so, I will die like one.”
[The voice behind the camera suddenly stops chuckling.]“You won’t die like a man, Tommy. You’ll die on your knees, choking on your own blood. You’ll die screaming for mercy, and begging for forgiveness. You’ll die bloody.”
[He smiles.]“Then in death, I will die as I have lived.”
[Cut.]SOLOMON RHODES VS. THE SCARECROW
THE PERCH MATCH
ONE WILL
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Retreating to the shadows, he’s soon forgotten.”
[The dark swallows up every inch of the tap room.]“Claw marks from the fingernails of unworthy men, show a path many are not fit to walk. All want the top, but nobody sits there.”
[The clink of chain-mail begins to fill the darkness.]“Those claw marks have smoothed the surface, made it almost unclimbable. No traction, no grip…. For you were not meant to scale what sits before you. Only……”
[The lights flicker, just slightly.]“One…”
[A spotlight lights up the middle of the ring, not quite long enough to work out who.]“… Was born for the role, to lead, to save, to conquer for greatness. Only ONE was born with the bloodline. Imitators try to step up, yet their prints just slide down the groove the last man’s nails left. Whilst attempting to claw your way up, you end up lower than when you first started.”
[Silence lingers, the tap room still plunged in darkness.]“Gluttony and Greed make the average man selfish. Responsibility drives the normal to make rash decisions. Power? Well power can send a man insane.”
“How can a man who has all be greedy or Gluttonous? With great power comes responsibility and with responsibility comes great power. Whilst all chase the keys to the kingdom, only one can unlock the door. With battle on the horizon, of the scale never seen before. Ask yourself this?
“Is this what you want? Can it be handled?”
[Some lights click on, revealing the outskirts of the ring and the walkway to it. Armed guards as far as you can see.]“The mountain was tough, but it was climbed. All others who followed slid down in the hollow grooves their claws smoothed.”
[Another row of lights click on, more armed guards.]“Only one can sit atop the throne.”
[Another click, another row. All that’s left is a dark circle in the middle of the ring. Armed guards flank every position imaginable.]“Who will win not just the battle, but also the war? Who will wear his crown? Who will stand tall at Ring King?”
[The last light clicks on. King Royal sits in the middle of the ring.]“ONE WILL.”
[“HAIL TO THE KING” blares out over the speakers.] [Proudly on his throne, wearing his soon to be contested throne, Royal looks like he has no cares in the world. The most armed guards we’ve seen in King Royal’s history take up every imaginable space in the tap room, he thinks he’s untouchable….. At Ring King 31 competitors may show he’s not.]PROMISES, PROMISES
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“What can be broken without being held?”
[The harsh voice of the Scarecrow causes Newton to turn, a deep breath washing away any annoyance he may have felt a moment earlier.] [Hysteria and No Face are gone.]“My colleagues are back at the Tap Room?” [Newton asks, although he knows the answer.] [The Hayman doesn’t even address the question, instead pointing towards the House ahead.]
“A promise.” [Crow comments as Newton turns his head, keeping both his foe and the house in his view.] “A promise is the answer to your riddle.”
[The Scarecrow begins to walk towards the House entrance, Newton following close behind, as Crow continues.]“You were going to bring me here to discuss my rematch.” [Scarecrow says, climbing the steps.] “Instead you have turned a grave into a battlefield. I should have expected nothing less from you, Riddler.”
[Newton seems to very gingerly go up the stairs, straightening his suit as he does so.]“Thank you for that, Scarecrow.” [He answers.] “I do have a reputation to uphold.”
[The Hayman stands at the red door to this house, looking back with a grin on his face.]“Haven’t you recognized it yet, Edward?”
[Without answering, Newton steps past Scarecrow to open the door. He steps inside the House with his foe in close pursuit.]“It’s exactly as I remember it.” [Newton says, letting out a deep breath.] [The house now matches the outside. Instead of rotted couches and crumbling fireplaces, we can see everything looking like a picture of suburbia. Untouched by rot, this house now looks as if its the set for a week night sitcom instead of a House of Horror.]
“Good.” [Scarecrow responds.] “I told you what would happen if you betrayed me, Edward. This house was the site of one of my greatest victories. The Kersh that lived here had eluded me for so long that when I found him, his blood curdling screams may even still live in the walls. Yet you took this grave and turned it into your House of Horrors.”
[Edward carefully steps through to sit down on the one couch in the center of the small home. He straightens his suit, and crosses his legs with a casual expression on his face. The Scarecrow continues speaking with a smile on his face.]“Don’t look so shocked. You know that I am beyond your human mind. I have remade it into a House of your Horrors. For only you know what happened in these halls, right Edward? No one else except for me, I suppose.”
[Newton looks around at his surroundings before turning to Scarecrow with a grim expression.]“You have the pictures on the mantle in the wrong order.” [He says, motioning over at said mantle. He looks in a different direction.] “Honestly, I feel as though this is a poor recreation. I am also not certain what you hope to accomplish here.”
[Scarecrow nods in acceptance of the flippant attitude being displayed.]“Betrayal, Edward. I told you that you knew the consequences for betrayal. And you may have thought it a generic boast, but I truly do know you. I know where you have been. I know who you are inside. I know what it is that you fear.”
[Edward Newton stops looking around, and for a moment his tone slips from casual to something harder.]“If you do know these things, then you would have properly prepared this place.” [His mask reappears on his face with a tight grin.] “Nevertheless, I will grant you the rematch that you desire. Whether your House of Horrors or what you perceive mine to be, we will do battle here.”
[Scarecrow grins before Newton continues.]“I hold a great deal of respect for you, Scarecrow. But you can rest assured of one fact. If you do not emerge from this House of Horrors as the World Champion, then you will not touch the Championship for as long as I hold it. I have done my research on you and your nature, and now you have done the same on me and mine.”
[He pats the World Championship.]“In one week, you will meet me here. Two will enter. One will exit as the World Champion. Those are my terms, Hayman. I will face what you have prepared for me. And you will face what I prepared for you. Our first battle was merely a skirmish. The true war ends inside the House of Horrors.”
[The Scarecrow nods in acceptance.]“Very well, Riddler. You may hide from others. You may hide from yourself. But where your eyes do not go, you will fear the Scarecrow. The next time I hold you in my clutches, I will not allow you to walk away.”
[Out of a window, a murder of crows flutter in, whisking the Scarecrow away. Edward Newton is left all alone. He sits quietly for a moment, before casually reaching over to brush something off of his shoulder.] [A cockroach.] [As the roach tumbles to the ground, the entire House of Horrors changes once again. The pristine house that was presented by the Scarecrow has vanished. In its place is the one that Edward Newton himself designed.] [Saw blades hanging from the ceiling.] [Death at every corner.] [And Edward Newton sat in the center of it all.] [Waiting.] [Smiling.] [Cut.]