FUCK YOU
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Are you ready to give me your life,” [Wolfgang yells.] “Are you ready to die like the dog you are, Quinn? Beg me to end your life. BEG FOR IT!”
[Quinn pulls himself to his knees, searching the darkness, but seeing nothing.]“Tell me you want to die. Tell me you want me to end it all and I will. Tell me you wish to die in the piss and shit at your feet, you fucking neger!”
[Redmond doesn’t speak, he shakes his head.]“You dare disobey me, sklave?”
[He looks up, opening his eyes, proudly raising his head.]“Fuck….” [He mutters.] “You!”
[Laughter.] [Quinn somehow pulls himself to his feet, standing in the light, his eyes wide and crazed. He beckons into the shadows, stumbling where he stands, looking for Wolfgang.] [Click.] [But he isn’t there.] [Quinn falls backwards, hitting the deck with a thud. He smiles at himself, realizing that deep within he has the power to rise if he chooses to.] [The whispers.]“I knew you had it in you.”
[Redmond laughs.]“I knew it.”
[Just then, Wolfgang enters the room with a collar and pain, whistling to Quinn to approach. He stumbles over, allowing himself to be chained before they exit the room.] [Cut.]RAIN VS. HAPPY
SINGLES MATCH
RUNNING OUT
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“This attack. It was the closest one yet. But there was no pattern, he’s not planning anything. He’s killing just to kill. If we wait any longer he could be…”
“In the Tap Room?”
[Spero speaks quietly, placing a hand on Redwing’s back as he tries to take in the information, wanting to see just why Vanguard is attacking like this. And where he could be next.]“He went dark. His last attack was on the outskirts of Miami on Thursday, and now this?”
[Berengar examines the carnage around them for a moment, shaking his head in pure disgust before looking back towards his partners.]“There are no clues, no trail. The only thing I can sense is the evil coursing through his circuitry. No Vindicator could have ever done this, he was never one of us, to begin with.”
[Just as he walks over to join his fellow men, all five Vindicators hear the sound of ringing, their telecoms. They answer, only receiving a garbled message. The sender? Mr. Knot.]“V-in-cators-”
[Bzzt.]“Vanguard h– —- spotted”
[The five heroes try to listen closely, the transmission coming in disjointed and covered in static.]“Tap Room — compromised”
“Telecoms —- out”
[Silence.] [The Vindicators look at one another, Redwing glaring intensely.]“Search the Tap Room. Go to your matches, keep Vanguard in the dark, strike once we know his location. No group of less than two searches together. Understood?”
[The Vindicators all nod in agreement, marching towards the Tap Room. Answering the Call.]VISITING HOURS
[In the hospital, Nightstick sits by his son’s bedside, keeping a close vigil him after last week’s assault. David has suffered numerous injuries, worst of which appears to be his broken leg. Just as Nightstick prepares to leave, Creed struts through the door, camera crew once again in tow.]
“I hope you don’t mind me stopping by but I wanted to bring your kid a gift,” [he remarks, producing a baseball bat shaped present, wrapped in poorly chosen police car wrapping paper.] “I hope he likes it.”
[The Cop restrains himself.]“If you want a fight so bad then I’ll give you one,” [Nightstick responds.] “But you need to leave my family alone. Whatever this is between you and I, they don’t have a part in it.”
[Creed nods.]“And I’m not giving you the violence you want, Creed; not on camera, not outside of the ring and not for your revolution. If you want a fight, you can have one at Frostbite.”
[They stare at each other.]“But first, you need to commit to two conditions.”
“I’m listening.”
[The tension builds.]“The first is that you leave my family alone. You stay away from them and from me until Frostbite. At the show, in a No Disqualification match, you’ll have all the violence you need and more.”
[Creed looks at the camera with a smile.] “Agreed, and number two?”“A parley,” [Nightstick says to his surprise.] “Because after we beat the shit out of each other, we need to sit down and have a civilized fucking conversation.”
[Luther rubs his chin and nods.] “I’ll see you at Frostbite.” [Cut.]DAVID MANSON VS. JON DAVENPORT
SUBMISSION MATCH
THE REAL HUNT
RINGSIDE
“Ready to admit defeat?” [Davenport mutters, a smile creeping up on his face.] [The Enforcer grins, and nods his head up to the video screen behind him.] [Static.] [Brent Kersh stands outside of Davenport’s shack, carrying something we can’t see. He doesn’t make it far though, as DAVENPORT’S THREE HOUND DOG’S JUMP HIM FROM BEHIND!] [The dogs scratch and bite at Kersh, but Brent rolls through the assault, grabbing the first hound and wrapping his fist around it’s tongue, PULLING IT OUT OF HIS THROAT! The stunned dog recoils, and Brent throws its stunned body at the second dog. The third has it’s teeth sunk into his leg, so Kersh grabs it’s hind legs.] [SNAP!] [Like a wishbone, the dog’s legs are snapped apart by the bone. It whimpers down, howling in pain. Kersh turns to face the final dog, it having shrugged off the body of the first dog. As the dog leaps, Kersh reaches down to the ground.] [STICK TO THE THROAT!] [Blood spurts out from the dog, and Kersh follows through, grabbing the hound and dropping his knee all the way to the ground, functionally decapitating Davenport’s last dog.] [The Enforcer picks up what he was carrying with him.] [Gasoline.] [Matches.] [Kersh pours the gasoline over the front porch to the shack before lighting a match and throwing it down.] [The fire rages behind him as the Enforcer walks away with a determined look on his face.] [Static.]
“You son of a bitch!” [Davenport calls.] [Kersh throws the black trash bags down in front of Davenport.] [Three bags.]
“You pushed me too far, Davenport.” [Kersh says.] “Now I’m going to eradicate you and everything that you brought into this world. Your dogs are dead. Your house is gone.”
[Kersh finally grins.]“You’re next.”
[Davenport looks down at the bags, anger in his eyes, but he sees the focus in the approaching Kersh’s eyes…] […and turns around to run away.] [Davenport’s rotund frame barely gets over the guardrail into the crowd, but he runs as far as he can away, disappearing into the Tap Room faithful. Kersh merely nods.] [He expected this.] [But Davenport won’t be able to run at Frostbite.]MYSTERION & ZANE VS. REDWING & SPERO
TAG TEAM MATCH
FINE PRINT
BACKSTAGE
“Yo, Heath!”
[Solman turns around, and is immediately confronted by Jamal with a small stack of papers and a pen in his hands and a stern look on his face.]“Before you go out there tonight, the boss wants you to have a look at this and sign.”
[He hands the papers and pen to Heath, who just glares at the papers being presented to him, scoffing as he shoves it out of his way.]“No thanks, not a fan of contracts.”
“Look man, after last week’s little fiasco the boss wants you to know he can help you get what you want, but you gotta help him out in return. This is just a formality, so we don’t have anymore problems going forward.”
[Heath glares at Jamal now, slowly shaking his head in refusal.]“Did I stutter? I said no thanks. I know enough about contracts to know the fine print is never in your favor.”
[Heath turns to leave but Jamal stops him with a hand on his shoulder.]“Look man, the boss won’t take no for an answer. We don’t want any more problems coming from you, you feel me?“
[Solman grabs the hand of Jamal, bending it back toward his arm. Jamal is screaming in pain as he comes to a knee, while an angry Heath stares him down again.]“The more you harass me, the more of a problem I’ll be. Leave me alone.”
[Heath lets go of Jamal’s hand, walking away from the situation entirely as Jamal clutches his nearly broken hand with a snarl on his face.] [Cut.]NOTHING
[Miami Dade Hospital.]
[Sat inside a room, Shadow uncomfortably sits up on a long hospital bed, facing the Doctor who has now come to meet him. He grabs a chart from the foot of the bed and starts reading, narrowing his eyes.]
“Is it bad news?” [Shadow enquires softly, still wincing in pain.] “Because my head really hurts, Doc.”
[The Doctor shakes his head.]“To tell you the truth young man, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with you. Medically, we’ve run a battery of tests and you’ve a clean bill of health. In actual fact, you’ve absolutely nothing wrong with you. It’s odd. Usually when we run these kinds of tests we find anomalies that we have to rule out but with you, nothing.”
“Nothing?” [He questions with surprise.] “Then where’s this pain coming from?”
“I hate to say it, but have you experienced any trauma recently? Sometimes great mental trauma can cause symptoms such as yours.”
[The Guardian Angel turns away.]“I see, so you have?” [The Doctor pushes.] “You don’t have to discuss it with me but your symptoms could be your body’s response to that pain. Instead of dealing with it emotionally, it’s symptomatic physically.”
[Shadow stands up abruptly, taking a deep breath as he does.] [The Doctor readies a shot, carefully injecting him with it.]“This might numb the pain, but I’m not promising you a resolution. You must look deeper.”
[He shakes his head.]“You’re wrong,” [he concludes firmly.] “And I’m going to get to the bottom of this, one way or another.”
“Wait, before you go, you need to be mindful of this, okay?” [The Doctor retorts seriously.] “If this pain is psychological, it’ll rear its ugly head whenever it chooses and that could be dangerous. Please, seek help before it’s too late.”
[Cut.]SOLMAN, NATE & WOLFANG VS. QUINN, NIGHTSTICK & CREED
TRIOS MATCH
BARGAINING CHIP
BACKSTAGE
“Two fucking weeks they’ve had our belts. TWO WEEKS! How is it that we are still title-less?”
[David Manson pushes himself off the wall before grabbing one of the empty bottles near Hate. He chunks it across the room where it shatters on the wall near the first.]“Because we’ve been going about it your way. It’s time I took the lead on this.”
[Hate glares at him.]“Are you blaming me?”
[Manson doesn’t meet his look.]“No. But the fire didn’t work. It’s time that we-”
[Hate stands up and pushes Manson back a step.]“You think you hold all the answers? Then go find them. Go find the damn titles.” [Manson tries to say something.] “NO! Don’t you come back here until you have a fucking answer.”
[Manson’s hands tighten into a ball before he turns around and heads for the door before almost bumping into someone stepping into the room.] [Happy?!] [David Manson quickly snags Happy by his head and drags him into the room as Hate turns around to see what the commotion is about.]“See? I’ve already made headway towards our titles.” [Manson says with a grin.] [Hate ignores him before walking up and grabbing the collar of Happy to hold him in place.]
“Hello, Happy.” [Hate grips him close as he grins showing his disgusting smile only inches away from Happy’s face.]
“I… I have a message.”
“Oh? Do tell.” [says Manson as he pulls out a blade from his pocket and presses it against the flesh of his neck.] [Happy gulps.]
“King Nevermore told me to tell you that… we wouldn’t release your titles unless you promise to give us a match at Frostbite for the titles.”
[Hate laughs.]“Well, now that would just be dandy for-“
“Deal.” [says Manson quickly as Hate just glares at him.]
“Fine… but there’s no way we can allow you to leave The Awakening without a token to remember you by…”
[Hate says this with a devilish grin before the camera’s focus moves to the floor near them.]“AGHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
[Blood sprays across the floor.] [Happy’s scream.] [Happy’s blood.] [Cut.]BRENT KERSH VS. KNIGHTWATCH
SINGLES MATCH
AFTER PARTY
BACKSTAGE
“Zander Zane… The ZZ Champion. Living life loud, playing hard.”
[Zander holds up the bottle he is currently working on and takes a long swig. A raucous cheer erupts from the party-goers in response. He closes in on the camera, making sure to show the label to the lens clearly and flashing a charismatic smile.]“Wooooh! ZZ Ale, The Champion’s Brew. Welcome to the Zander Zane Experience!”
[He climbs up upon the table, holding his ‘modified’ belt above his head and shouting.]“I’m Zander fucking Zane, king of the Zander Zane Experience. This is my era, you’re welcome!”
“You know, the real champions around here don’t exactly feel the same way, big head.”
[On cue, Mysterion pushes his way into the fray, knocking over Zaneites as he goes until he stands right in front of Zane. Zander looks down on him from his tabletop.]“Keep drinking Zander. I wonder how many of these pisswaters you’d have to down to render yourself even more useless than usual. A staggering drunk is not much of a champion. Definitely not as your ego thinks…”
[Zander jumps down from the table, standing toe to to with Mysterion.]“Pisswaters? Perhaps you’d care to try one?”
[SMASH!] [Zander Zane just bottled Mysterion! A full bottle smashed right over the head and Mysterion is bleeding! MIC DROP! Mysterion crashes through the beer merchandising table!] [Zander Zane downs the rest of the beer he is drinking and grabs the Double Feature Championship off Mysterion’s lifeless body. He steps away, turning his back and lays the belt on the floor. He takes the empty bottle, smashing it into the Championship belt and… ZANE URINATES ON THE BELT!]“Welcome to the Zander Zane Experience!”
[Mysterion is sure gonna be pissed when he comes to.] [Cut.]OUTCAST
BACKSTAGE
“There’s been a lot of death here,” [Rain says, shaking his head.] “I can feel you.”
[He listens.]“I’m sorry that happened to you. The Apocalypse, huh? You died saving the world. I’ve spoken with people less valiant than you.”
[Suddenly, an actual voice interrupts.] [We don’t see who it belongs to, we only hear it.] [It’s somewhat familiar.]“Can you really talk with the dead?”
[Rain’s brows furrow, as if he knows the difference between the ‘voices’ and the person speaking.]“I can,” [he responds.] “Why’d you ask?”
“I live my life on the edge. I know there’s no end, but you? You prove that even if we die, it isn’t over. I need that. That kind of validation makes this life more tolerable.”
[The Impairer of World’s stands up, tilting his head.]“Are you an outcast, like me?”
[There’s a brief pause.]“Yes.”
[Rain steps forward into the darkness so that we can barely see him.]“We outcasts must stick together,” [he says, reaching a hand into the darkness before him. Someone grips it.] “Follow me, I can show you the way.”
[Cut.]WILD KARRDE VS. GAMEBOY
SINGLES MATCH
WHERE?
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“MR. KNOT!”
[Spero yells out almost in victory as he rushes to the side of one of the fallen.] [It is Mr. Knot.] [But he’s not dead. The designated leader of Old School Wrestling sits up with the help of Spero as The Vindicators gather around.] [Suddenly, Gameboy hurries into the room. Sweat glistening from the match he just finished.]“You found him!”
“Are you ok?!”
[Gameboy and Redwing both respond in concern. They know what is at stake.]“I’m fine boys. I’m fine!” [Mr. Knot assures.] “I had to feign death. I’m lucky to have survived him!!”
“Vanguard did this?!?”
“He did.” [Knot nods.] “A group of employees, faithful servants, mercilessly mowed down by that robot!”
“You WERE lucky” [Solveig says in a sober voice.] “to have escaped his wrath.”
“Indeed!”
[Mr. Knot agrees as Berengar steps in.]“What now?”
[Berengar, Gameboy and Redwing help Mr. Knot to his feet.]“We’re approaching Frostbite and he’s here. He’s hiding. Waiting. In The Tap Room. The only question is, where?”
[A look of concern covers all their faces as the shot pans to the door, broken open and giving us a view of the corridors of the Tap Room.] [Static.] [Cut.]EDGAR NEVERMORE VS. KING ARTHUR
GAME OF THRONES MATCH
SOMETHING STOLEN
FLASHFORWARD
“Dominic? Where are you my friend?”
[Knightwatch searches the temple, finding it oddly empty of the usual presence that would fill it. There were no other Templars about of any sort. As he turns in and out each door, nothing emerges.]“Are you panicking Dark Knight? Can you not find what had been taken from you?”
[Knighwatch suddenly turns around, expecting to find the source of the voice. Instead, there is only darkness and the empty hall. The voice, identifiable as Arthur’s, continues on as if right behind the Templar.]“Your friends are not anywhere to be found here knight. They have been.. relegated in the sense of it all.”
“What have you done with them? WHERE ARE THEY?”
[A chuckle comes from the shadows, chilling the masked hero to his core. Scanning the shadows, he could still see nothing. As rage settles in, Arthur continues to mock him.]“Do not worry about the fate of your allies. Their fate only rests in your hands.”
[The laughter seems to echo off the walls, following around the hero as if they were inside his head.]“At Frostbite, you shall fight for the safety of your allies. If you succeed, I shall set your allies free.
“And if I lose?”
[The air seemed to get colder, and two pinpricks of light appeared from the shadows in front of Knightwatch]“Then they shall meet a terrible fate. Prepare thyself. It won’t be an easy feat.”
[Sensing an area to strike, he picks up a discarded sword and swings at what he thinks is Arthur. It clashes into nothing, leaving him alone with the fading cackle of an undead king and the thoughts in his head.] [What could he possibly do?]TRUTH
RECORDED EARLIER
“Did you inject him with the serum?”
[Karrde asks, looking at the nervous Doctor with a wry smile.]“I did,” [he responds, rather frustrated with his predicament. He stands up and shakes his head.] “That boy has some serious mental trauma to work through and I’ve not only violated his trust but my ethical boundaries. I hope you think this is worth it, because you’re risking his health.”
[The Magician smiles, clicking his fingers to reveal a wad of cash. The magic itself stumbles the Doctor, who almost falls over in surprise.]“Why don’t you let me concern myself with him and you concern yourself with the gambling debt you acquired in my casino. I’ve wiped your slate clean and as promised, here’s another ten grand for your troubles. If you need somewhere to spend it, you know where I’m located.”
[He turns to walk away, tossing the cash onto the desk, only for The Doctor to speak and halt him.]“I’m serious Karrde, there’s something severely wrong with him.”
[The Gambler turns with a snarl.] “You’re right,” [he retorts.] “He took something that doesn’t belong to him and he has to give it back. Don’t worry Doctor, you only injected him with truth serum.”“Why on earth did you have me do that?”
[A pause.]“Why else?” [He mockingly responds.] “The truth.”
[Cut.]EDWARD NEWTON VS. BERENGAR
SINGLES MATCH
NO HESITATION
RINGSIDE
“Don’t make me do this.” [Eli roars in her face.] [Harper points to her cheek.]
“You’re be no better than our father! DO IT!”
[Eli’s rage intensifies, but the Heir Eternal lowers his raised fist. His conflict is on full display as Harper shakes her head.]“I have no room in my life for yet another weak man trying to manipulate me.”
[SLAP!] [Harper spins Forever around with the force of her slap.] [NEVERMIND FROM NEWTON! THE WORLD CHAMPION SPIKES FOREVER!] [The Riddler doesn’t get back up, instead he rolls Forever over. Harper walks over and places her foot directly on his chest. Newton makes the count.] [One.] [Two.] [Three.] [If that happens at Frostbite, then Harper will be the #1 Contender to the World Championship!] [Newton stands up, and lets Harper embrace him. The Riddler looks down at Forever with a sneer.]“Mr. Forever, you’ve got to learn that in OSW, all men and women are in my orbit. Everyone wants to fight it, but the only one that’s embraced it is the only one who is fit to challenge for my World Championship. Because she showed no hesitation in doing what she needed.”
[Harper leans over her fallen brother, kissing his forehead.]“See you at Frostbite, brother.”
[She stands up, and her and Newton share a kiss over the fallen body of Eli Forever.] [If Forever won’t fight his sister, how is he going to get to Newton?] [Cut.]