RISE & SHINE
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“What the?” [He remarks in shock.] “Stop! You’re not ready for that yet.”
[He does as he’s told, resting on the bed.]“How are you awake?” [Godfrey questions intensely.] “The Doctors said you weren’t responsive. They were certain they were going to lose you.”
[The Chief doesn’t answer.]“It doesn’t matter, Chief. All that matters is that you’re awake, finally. It has been too long, old friend. I’ve missed you.”
[The Chairman looks at him, his brow furrowed. He slowly stands up, getting to both feet with a surprising amount of ease.]“Godfrey,” [he says, walking towards the door.] “Thank you for your support. Thank you for being here. But I’m afraid I have to go, I have important work to do.”
[Without changing, without getting dressed, The Chief abruptly leaves the room. Godfrey looks confused, his eyes spanning the corridor as The Chief exits the hospital, leaving him behind.] [A Doctor suddenly enters, just as confused as Godfrey. He looks at the bed, then at him, and tries to understand what’s happening.]“He woke up,” [Godfrey says almost in disbelief.] “And then he left.”
[Cut.]THE CAGE
THE UNDERWORLD
“Sir, I have some interesting news,” [The husk says with a monotone voice.] “May I approach?”
[Crowley waves him over.]“I’ve been doing an inventory of the Underworld in anticipation of more souls arriving at Judgement Day. I’ve found something you might find interesting, sire.”
[He hands over the book. Lee looks at it, flicking through a couple of pages with interest.]“How have I not been informed of this?” [He asks, looking over the book with a squint.] “Are you sure it exists.”
[The husk nods.] “Yes sir, I’m certain. There’s a cell of sorts in the deepest, darkest, most terrifying part of the Underworld. Something is contained inside. Something so powerful that if you were to unleash it, you’d certainly succeed in your mission to end the world.”“How powerful?” [Crowley demands to know.]
“If I may speak freely, sire?” [The husk asks, receiving a nod.] “More powerful than you. More powerful than anything I’ve ever seen.”
[That upsets The King. Crowley reaches out, grabbing him violently by the throat. The husk chokes before turning to dust before his master. Lee throws the book down and contemplates his next move.] [Cut.]LUKE COLE VS. NATE WASHINGTON
SINGLES MATCH
ASHES
RECORDED EARLIER
“Jake…”
[The Juggalo cuts him off.]“Fuck you. There’s two reason your ass isn’t in pieces right now. First, because you ran away like a coward instead of facing me like a man.”
[The anger seems to fade from his voice.]“The second is that killing you would be colossally stupid. Fuck me, right? This fucking war means more to me than doing what I do. And your pussy ass happens to be real important to that war.”
[Phoenix nods slowly.]“So why are you here?”
[Jeckel snorts.]“Look at us. We’ve been at this shit for a long time, and it’s never been more fucked up. We’re knee deep in blood, and it’s only getting deeper. The end is coming. A lot of tent pole motherfuckers of this place are out there fighting to stop the apocalypse. But for guys like you and me, this shit is personal. They killed my brother. They killed your girl. They even fucking killed you. But here we are. I’m about to go out here and hunt down Creeping Death like the wounded animal he is. Because that’s how I handle my shit.”
[Jake steps out to point his finger in Phoenix’s chest. Directly at the Phoenix symbol.]“You want to save Jensen Cussen? Go for it. But don’t save him for her. She was shit to you, man. You gave all you had for her and she didn’t give a shit. She’s dead now, too. Jensen was a good man once. You used to be too. You’ve spent four months trying to save that old fuck, and nothing has worked. Your need for vengeance is gonna cost us this whole war.”
[Jake heads for the exit while Phoenix seems shaken by the Juggalo’s words. Jeckel isn’t done though.]“There’s too much riding on this shit for me to let you pussy out again. This is the end game. Judgement Day. The end of the fucking world. Maybe you need to look in the fucking mirror and realize that Jacob Phoenix can’t get the job done. Stephanie’s dead, but you don’t have to be.”
[The Juggalo slams the door behind him, while Phoenix looks on. Jacob slumps down on a stool, Jake’s words echoing through his head. Jeckel is going to hunt Creeping Death.] [But what is Phoenix going to do?]CHIP MONTANA VS. JONATHAN HEARTSFORD
SINGLES MATCH
JUDGEMENT DAY LOOMS
BACKSTAGE
“What is it this time, Danvers?” [he hisses through his gritted teeth.] [Danvers head tilts to one side. He raises a hand, touching the cheek of Gable gently, giving his skin a light stroke with his thumb.] [Gable smacks the hand away and steps forward so that the two are almost nose to nose.]
“My love…” [Danvers almost breathes the words rather than speaks them.] “I bring you a message of HOPE, and of LOVE.”
[Danvers extends an arm, his palm raised at Gable. Gable flies backwards, sticking to the wall. Helpless. He struggles but it is futile. Danvers steps towards his former pet.]“Mister Gable, DARK DAYS lie ahead of us, and your Judgement Day looms ever closer. You will be joining us one way or another. Me. My People. YOUR PARENTS. Why must you fight the inevitable?”
“We can be together FOREVER, my love.”
“LEAVE MY PARENTS OUT OF THIS!” [Gable screams, launching himself free of the mysterious grip of Isaac Danvers, tackling him to the ground!] [Gable punches Danvers, but suddenly he is missing. His fist drives into the concrete floor. The pain causes him to flip over and sit himself down on the floor. Looming above him: DANVERS.]
“Very well, Mister Gable,” [Isaac says,] “Then we shall do this the HARD WAY.”
[Click.]CALL TO ARMS I
BACKSTAGE
“I can feel his hand on my shoulder,” [he says proudly.] “I can feel him guiding me to the end of the world. There’s no feeling like it; it’s europhoria.”
[D’von nods in agreement.] “Our mighty Lord has offered us salvation, brother David. He has bestowed upon us the ark that sails to paradise. Can you even imagine the paradise that awaits us? All glory be to God.” [They turn their attention to Lux, who looks at the floor.]“Brother Bellator,” [Chambers says.] “You’ve been quiet. Don’t you feel his hand guiding you?”
[Lux doesn’t say anything, so DTR pipes up.]“It was in part due to the sacrifice of Lux Bellator that our mission could even flourish as it has. He strengthened Stephanie so that Noah could be born unto the world; its destroyer, its savior. Lux, God has asked one more task of you, has he not? Judgement.”
[The Light Warrior finally lifts his head.] “I’ll join you in your final battle, David, D’von, but I warn you now that God is my only master. I only serve the Lord.” [DTR and Chambers smile wildly, almost in celebration. D’von can’t help but throw his arms around Bellator and laugh.]“And serve him we will, my brother!”
[Cut.]DARKSTAR VS. PROTEUS VS. BERENGAR
TRIPLE THREAT MATCH
CALL TO ARMS II
THE TEMPLAR TEMPLE
“I gathered you here today for a purpose that cannot be denied. At Judgement Day, we know that DTR is assembling an army to destroy Old School Wrestling. They’re knocking at the door of our apocalypse and if someone answers, the world ends.”
[They look at each other.]“A great battle between good and evil lies ahead and I’m asking you to take up arms, stand beside me and fight it. Only we can stop it. However, we must come together to do so.”
[Rhodes eyes wander to Brent and Edward, who stand looking at each other momentarily. Brent takes a deep breath and thrusts his hand froward.]“We left it on the mat,” [Kersh says.] “But the world is more important than our shared disdain for one another. If we don’t come together, there won’t be anything left.”
[Edward thinks about it, taking his hand and shaking it.]“Then we must come together. I’ve tried to save the world alone and all I did was help thrust it into further chaos,” [Newton admits.] “And now’s the time to pay the pied piper. Consider me in, gentlemen.”
[Rhodes smiles in agreement. He turns his attention to Heartsford, who’s about to speak.] [Static.] [Suddenly and completely out of nowhere, Lee Crowley appears!] [The King of The Underworld smirks, tapping Jonathan Heartsford on the shoulder and disappearing with him. Rhodes, Kersh and Newton search the room with their eyes, realizing that he’s gone.] [Cut.]THE FAMILY VS. BRENT KERSH & BETAMAX
TAG TEAM MATCH
IN THE BUSH
BACKSTAGE
“C’mere mate” [Montana whispers as he nods his head around the corner.] “Ya’ve gotta see this one!”
[“Kevin” repositions himself from beyond the shadows, moving just beyond the opposite shoulder of Chip bringing Darkstar into view as he walks down the hall away from them.]“Careful you arse!” [Montana snaps at his personal camera subtly.] “We don’t wanna spook him.”
“Look at him won’t ya? He’s magnificent. A true trophy for the mantle. Like nothing you’d ever find In The Bush. At least not the ones we come from aye mate?”
[As Montana marvels at the Kathar’I Chieftain, Darkstar comes to a halt and Chip hushes his cameraman.]“Easy mate!”
[With that we watch as Darkstar removes the device and maintains a certain amount of stillness. The scene playing out before us like déjà vu. Eventually, the Chieftain moves on.]“What’s that?” [Montana glances back at the camera.] “Naw mate, not today! I’m just scouting. Next week we’ll go live… with the hunt!”
[Static.] [Cut.]LUX BELLATOR VS. TAM
SINGLES MATCH
THE ONLY THING TO FEAR…
RECORDED EARLIER
“I’ve seen you get weaker with every passing moment. When you lost your power over me, I knew my chance to feast had come. I tasted the delights of your fear, and I have come for the main course.”
[He inches closer to Gaia, his voice getting louder with every movement toward his target.]“There is nothing you can do to stop the Terror of the Night. Not even the allies you surround yourself with can save you from what I have in mind…for they do not fully comprehend what I am capable of. The only thing to fear is fear itself, and it stands before you with jaws wide open, ready to—”
“Enough!”
[Suddenly, vines spring out from the walls to ensnare Boogeyman. Gaia turns around, glaring at her supposed predator with a snarl on her face.]“I trapped you in my power once, I could do it again in an instant if I wanted to. I have a bigger purpose in the scheme of things, now. When the world faces its Judgement Day, I will get what is rightfully mine…and you will get what you have coming to you.”
[Boogeyman ponders this for just a moment…but soon chuckles, which grows into a hearty laugh.]“I saw the look in your eyes when I took you down a couple notches, Gaia. I know what you fear most…and it is failure. You’re afraid you will fail at this, just like you failed to stop your children from locking you up…just like you failed to stop The Watchmen…just like you failed to stop me.”
[With that, The Boogeyman vanishes. The vines retreat into the walls as Boogeyman’s laughter rings throughout the hall.] [Cut.]MOTHER VS. THE BOOGEYMAN
SINGLES MATCH
CLEANSING AND DIRECTIVE
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Ashla, guide me. Protect me. Cleanse my blood. Through darkness, there is light.”
[Yet, this day he is watched by the presence of another who waits silently in the shadows. The Automaton, intently watches over its long time foe, its mission now reinvigorated by the words of Noah. Though the Automaton does not understand the forces at play with Jacen Novan, it watches as if to study, attempting to learn from afar.]“Ashla, protect my blood. Cleanse me and restore balance within.”
[As Novan speaks, light seems to radiate from his infected arm. The spider-web of virus that still plagues this are of his body slightly fades until his flesh becomes visibly clear before our eyes. The Automaton cannot quite see what is happening, only the light that radiates from Novan’s being. Silently, it slinks forward a single step behind Novan. Not enough to be heard or seen, yet Novan feels its presence.]“I know why you’re here TAM. Do not think you can hide from me.”
[The Automaton seems surprised that Novan had noticed him in the midst of his meditation and healing, yet not taken aback. The mechanical voice that sounds is emotionless.]“Impressive trick. Though my directive is classified and you could not possibly know the details of it.”
[Novan turns, facing TAM. As he does so, he breaks the meditation and the web of virus slowly begins to reform on his forearm.]“I did not say I knew your mission, I said I knew why you were here. It’s simple. Curiosity.”
[The Automaton remains silent, processing Novan’s words. Processing its next step. Novan continues.]“Though you may have bested me when we met last, I saw as clear as everybody else. You hesitated. You doubted. Perhaps those memories I retrieved for you have cast a new light on your directive?”
[The Automaton steps back, creating space between the pair.]“My directive is classified and you will not no the details of it. Though, the power that you wield is… intriguing.”
[The Automaton motions towards Novan’s arm, which still glows slightly from the Ashla coursing through it. Novan smiles at the notion.]“That was once your directive TAM, to learn from me. It seems we have come full circle. But you will never know the power of Ashla while this virus corrupts you. I can save you, only then can you harness what I know.”
[He steps towards TAM, not in aggression but as an act of peace and alliance.]“If you would let me…”
[The Automaton freezes. In that moment, a series of complicated decisions and information flash through its hardware. In order to complete its mission for Noah and repay it, it would have to ally with Novan. But in order to truly ally with Novan, it would have to be party to the cleansing that the Ashla can offer. Only once choice remains for the Automaton, who merely nods slightly in approval of Novan’s request.]“Very well, TAM. We have much to catch up on if you are to be cleansed. I can restore everything to the last back-up prior to you becoming infected.”
[As Novan turns to walk away, TAM’s intentions become clearer. Its eyes flash from a calm blue to a more sinister red. It waits until Novan is out of earshot.]“Very well, Novan. Show me your power. Reveal your secrets. Then, you will be surplus to requirements.”
HELIOS & DANVERS VS. GABLE & SHARKMAN
TAG TEAM MATCH
COME OUT, COME OUT!
BACKSTAGE
“Where are you, Mother?” [He hisses.] “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
[He laughs.]“You can’t hide from me forever, dearest creator,” [The Scarecrow says with a sinister tone.] “Sooner rather than later, you will have to meet me face to face. You will have to kill what you created, before what you created stops you.”
[Nothing.]“I know you’re watching me, I can feel your eyes burning through me. You were fortunate last week at Pandemonium, weren’t you? I know how scared you were. I know how fearful you have become. I cannot kill you, Mother. I cannot destroy you. I can only stop you.”
[He pauses.]“And until you face me once again, until that day, where your eyes don’t go, you will fear The Scarecrow.”
[The Scarecrow laughs sadistically, continuing his search down the halls for Mother. In the meantime, our cameras find her lurking in the shadows, watching intently. Is she afraid? She could be. What can The Scarecrow do to her? Whatever it is, she wants no part of it.] [Cut.]EDWARD NEWTON VS. JACOB PHOENIX
SINGLES MATCH
VENGEANCE
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“For her.”
[The two men charge at one another, grabbing and clawing at one another. Phoenix swings with a huge strike, that busts Jensen’s head open. Black oozes out of the gash, a smile on Jensen’s face. Phoenix tries again, but Cussen grabs his arm, his veins turning black as he channels the power of the Virus flowing through it.] [SNAP!] [Phoenix’s arm hangs limp as Cussen stares through a black veil of rage. Vengeance knees him in the stomach, causing Jacob to double over. Cussen grabs Phoenix by the neck, hoisting him up in the air before him. The younger man tries to whisper through the clamp around his windpipe. But Jensen can hear him.]“Like father, like…”
[Jensen releases the now limp body of Phoenix. But something is happening to Cussen.]“Not him, too. I’m not like Jonah.”
[Out of the gash on his head, the black ooze flows freely, puddling beside Jensen. The ooze flows up to form the form of a man. The form of Jensen Cussen himself. Vengeance personified.]“It’s in our blood, Jensen.” [Vengeance taunts.] “You’ve given everything for us. Give in, and we will build a new family once Noah is done. This is no time to rebel.”
[The flesh and blood Jensen seems shaken and weak. He looks down at Phoenix.]“This isn’t real. He’d never directly attack me. Maybe you don’t know this man as well as I do.”
[Vengeance chuckles.]“Fool. The truth is within you.”
[Around them, the scene begins to shift. The Virus is no longer covering the walls of the Tap Room, it has been beaten back by hope. Jacob Phoenix fades into nothingness, an illusion. The gash even vanishes on Cussen’s head. All that we see now is Jensen Cussen standing in a hallway, his eyes black with Vengeance.]“We are one. We are Vengeance.”
[As Cussen walks around a corner, we see a pair of masked eyes watching from the shadows.]EL TRÉBOL JUNIOR VS. MICHAEL GRAVES
DOUBLE FEATURE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
DON’T LOSE YOUR HEAD
RECORDED EARLIER
“Ever predictable, Jake.”
[Creeping Death appears to stand before him, though just out of his reach.]“You tried to do it the kid’s way. Now you’re coming in your way. You should have killed me when you held me hostage. Instead, you pissed me off.”
[Death looks down at the dropped hatchet of Jeckel, snorting. He draws one of his own out, looking freshly sharpened, yet not made out of metal.]“It’s fucking poetic, Jake. Me and you. Noah laid it all out. I’m supposed to either infect you or end you.”
[Jake spits at his old friend.]“Fuck you.”
[Death brushes the saliva off his chest.]“It’s funny, you know? You never were the sentimental type. But here you are, doing it all for that piss-ant brother of yours.”
[The infected one runs the hatchet across the dangling leg of Jeckel before kicking him away.]“You didn’t even bury his ass. Too much work? Or was it too hard for poor little Jake. You never get your way, do you?”
[Death kneels down to hold the hatchet in front of Jeckel.]“But I went back and got what I could of old Jack. There were enough pieces to make this little hatchet.”
[Jake roars in anger as Creeping Death stands to his feet.]“Like I told you at the Long Night. Your Judgement Day isn’t here yet. But it’s coming. And you’ll have to decide whether you want to do the Jake Jeckel thing and save your own ass by taking the Virus or whether you’ll join your brother in hell.”
[A vicious boot knocks out Jake. Death reaches up and uses the hatchet made from Jack Jeckel’s bones to cut down Jake. He looks down at his fallen enemy and shakes his head before walking back towards the Family Home.] [Jake Jeckel’s mission of vengeance has brought him this far, but how will he react to the words of Creeping Death?]JECKEL VS. NOVAN VS. AION VS. GAIA
VHS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
DEATH, ADDICTION & SALVATION
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Yo,” [Washington starts, staring at the bloodied man standing before him as though nothing has happened,] ”Y’wanted something from me man?”
“What you got in?” [Cole asks, his hand reaching out gently, his eyes fixated on the glistening of the gun.] [Nate gestures to Big Bruce with a jutt of his head towards Cole and Bruce pulls a small plastic baggie with a black plant inside, seemingly moving of its own accord. He slips it into Cole’s hand who in turn tucks it into his jeans pocket.]
“Cheers man.” [Cole says with a sniff, scratching his tricep. Eyes darting from henchman, to Washington, to henchman.] [Cole turns to leave but suddenly a darkness floods the room. The sheeting around them flaps and rustles. Then. Light.] [Michael Graves stands in the open doorway.] [And surrounding the room, hanging from every beam, pipe, and foothold they can find, BATS.]
“I have seen your actions gentlemen. Your murderous, villainous, debauchery.”
[Nate aims his gun at Graves, who waves his hand dismissively.]“Relax. I have come to let you all know that you are more than welcome to join us. To be on the right side of Barbatos when his dominion soon rules this Earth.”
“–The fuck’chu talkin’ about man?” [Nate spits, the gun turning on its side.] [Graves looks offended.]
“If you won’t come in peace, I shall take you in deafening screams.” [Graves promises.] [Suddenly, the flapping of hundreds of bat wings, all descending upon Graves. Then, as if in a puff of smoke, he is gone, with one echoing exclamation hanging in the air.]
“All hail the Dark Bat God! All hail Barbatos!”
[Cut.]SOLOMON RHODES VS. D’VON CHAMBERS
SINGLES MATCH
TOTEM I
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Do you think this’ll work?” [El Trébol asks Betamax, looking less than certain.] “I’m not sure there’s anything salvageable in there?”
[Betamax nods.]“If we want to save The Revenants, it’s our only option lads,” [Betamax says with a shrug of the shoulders.] “It says it right here in my dad’s journal. Our fathers once fought similar odds and won.”
[The Sharkman shakes his head.] “So, we have to go in there and retrieve what exactly?”“Call it a totem,” [Betamax says with a shrug.] “A piece of history that links to Harrison. The only way to save him is to know him; to understand him.”
[The Watchmen step inside the burnt wreckage of Helios’ abandoned home; the same home that his poor family perished in. They begin sifting through the rubble, looking for something, anything, that can link to the man that was.] [Suddenly, El Trébol finds something.] “Wait a minute, “ [he says.] “I have it. Holy crap, I have it.” [The Watchmen gather round to look and that’s when the wind suddenly changes, becoming colder. That cold breeze is quickly warmed through, and The Watchmen look up to see Helios, Proteus, Aion and Tommy Hawk stood before them.]“Put that back,” [Helios growls.] “That doesn’t belong to you.”
[The Sharkman steps forward.] [Marvolo steps forward.] [Betamax steps forward.] [They all stand in front of El Trébol Junior.]“You can’t have it.”
[The Revenants suddenly strike. Hawk throws his green axe at The Watchmen, all three moving out of the way just in time; only for the axe to slice through the outer arm of Trébol. He reels back in agony, but his brothers are quick to pounce.] [Helios attempts to raise fire from the ground but Betamax stops him with a fierce right hand, stumbling him backwards over a burnt out couch.] [Aion tackles Marvolo, swinging at him with right hands until The Sharkman physically drags him off.] [All four Watchmen quickly come together, their heads touching.] [Flash.] [And they’re gone.]THE SCARECROW VS. TOMMY HAWK
THE MAIN EVENT
OUR JUDGEMENT DAY
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“I wondered how long it would be until you found me,” [Noah says, looking down at the ground.] “And a trap has been set, I see.”
[The Chief uses his stick, drawing it through the trap to break it. Noah can now walk freely.]“I haven’t come to trap you, Noah.”
[The young man smiles.] “But you came, “[he says, exiting the symbol.] “Didn’t you? I didn’t think you’d ever say ‘yes’, Chief.” [They stand almost face to face, looking into each others eyes.]“But somehow, I knew you’d come. I knew you’d end up before me with a decision to make. I’ve seen this story play out across galaxies, universes and worlds aplenty. You always break free. You always stand before me now and make your offer. You betrayed me when you said yes, Chief. You should have said no. I wanted you to say no. I can’t forgive that.”
“I didn’t want it to come to this,” [The Chief says solemnly.] “But you know what it is we must do now. At Judgement Day, we must fight.”
[Noah nods in agreement.]“And fight we shall. It’ll be the most powerful thing the world has ever seen but in the end, those walls will come tumbling down. The Tap Room will fall and the world will end.”
[The Chief shakes his head, takes a deep breath and looks at Noah.]“I love you, Noah.”
[Flash.] [Noah’s gone.] [Cut.]