WHAT LIES BENEATH
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“I have what you want,” [Brent announces, breathlessly.] “I brought him here, just like you asked.”
[Mother looks him up and down with a sinister smile.]“Now give me back my wife. Reverse what you did to her and end this.”
[Through a crack in the door, he can see Nicole tied to a dirty metal framed bed. He tries to rush forward, but Mother pushes him backwards, stopping his entry.]“How does it feel, Brent?” [She enquires, tilting her head to the left.] “How does it feel to betray every principle you’ve ever defined yourself by?”
[He sneers back at her.] “What do you want from me? I did what you asked. I brutalized that poor kid in the name of evil. I brought him here, so you could do what you please with him. All I want is what you promised me; my wife and my child.” [She folds her arms, contemplating the situation for a moment.]“As you wish,” [Mother finally says. She steps to one side, allowing Kersh access to the room. He rushes inside, dropping beside his wife, grabbing at her sweaty hand.] “But first, someone would like to have a conversation with you.”
[A dark figure suddenly appears, looming over Kersh who looks up at him with wide eyes, and a gulp.]“Hello, little birdie.”
[Cut.]JAKE JECKEL VS. TOKYO ZOMBIE
SINGLES MATCH
BONDED BY BLOOD
RINGSIDE
“Jensen and Jacob decided to kidnap me a couple weeks ago.” [He begins, shaking his head.] “But they don’t know what they got into. I’m about to send them back to their daddy with their tail between their legs.”
[There’s certainly no pop for that. None of the players in this story are exactly well liked. Yet the crowd definitely seems to start buzzing as Jensen Cussen appears in the aisle, headed towards the ring. Yet there is a certain jovial tone to his voice, if anything Cussen does can ever be called jovial.]“My daddy?” [He says with a snort.] “Or did you mean our daddy, Jake?”
[Jeckel opens the ropes to invite him to the ring.]“I doubt you imbibed much of your special drink, but those trace amounts have made you one of us.”
[Jake actually laughs at that suggestion.]“That’s where you’re wrong.” [Jeckel comments.] “I don’t know if you remember this or not, but I’m Jake Jeckel. Me and my bro have our own sets of issues in the head. Did you really think that your little drink was going to make us one of you?”
[Jensen goes to answer, but Jake cuts him off.]“Fuck that. Nah, cause Jack and me hate each other already, but we blood. You boys are just some snot in the backs of our throats. We’re after your gold, not your Christmas dinner.”
[Jensen jumps up on the apron, ready to go.]“So you didn’t drink any of it, then?” [Cussen says, barely a question behind it.] “Unfortunate, it onl…”
[CUSSEN IS PULLED OFF THE APRON BY JACK JECKEL!]“You really think I was going to call you out without a plan?” [Jake mocks as Jack throws Cussen into the barricade.] “Guess you don’t remember me, after all.”
[Jack joins Jake in the ring just as Jacob Phoenix runs down the aisle. They’re going to wrestle each other.] [Right now.]JACOB PHOENIX VS. JACK JECKEL
SINGLES MATCH
LADDER TO SUCCESS
RINGSIDE
“You’re a great fighter, but what do you know of Family?”
[Jack spits back at him immediately.]“You don’t want to be my family.” [He starts.] “I try to kill my family. You and your boys may just as well hand over them belts, because there’s a hell of an ass kicking coming your way. We’ll step over anyone to get our hands on gold.”
[Phoenix laughs in response.]“That’s what I thought you’d say, Jack.” [Jacob continues as he is joined by Jensen Cussen.] “Maybe you swallowed more of the Virus than you thought.”
[Jeckel only snorts as his brother Jake has come back out now. Phoenix carries on speaking.]“Either way, we’ll give you a chance to get what you want.”
[Both brothers seem intrigued now.]“We’re going to hang our Tag Team titles high above the ring at Pandemonium. Whoever gets to them first gets to keep them.”
[Jack seems satisfied with that and he steps up on the Family.]“You gotta be able to walk to climb.” [He begins.] “I think we’ll make sur…”
[Jake grabs his brother from behind with a grin. He whispers something in his ear which brings a smile to his face.]“On second thought,” [Jack says.] “we’ll see you boys at Pandemonium.”
[The Jeckels back away and leave the ring. Jacob and Jensen look to each other in confusion. What the hell do the Jeckels have planned?] [As Cussen waits for his upcoming match with Mother, one has to wonder what’s going to happen with these four men step into the ring with a ladder at Pandemonium.]MOTHER VS. JENSEN CUSSEN
SINGLES MATCH
SACRIFICES
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Did you think it would be that easy?”
[The Scarecrow stands over Brent Kersh, a looming presence – symbolic of their struggles so far. Brent looks at him, his wide eyes turning to a furrowed brow.]“Did you?” [He says sternly in response. Kersh rises from the ground, coming face to face with his nemesis.] [Suddenly, The Scarecrow is attacked from behind with a candle, instantly being set on fire. He stumbles around the room, waving his arms wildly.] [Flutter.] [With the sound of his disappearance evident in the darkness, the light flickers on and stood there, is none other than Neville Sheldon.] [Looking worse for wear, Sheldon stumbles, leaning against the wall as Brent rushes to his aide, helping him to stand on his own two feet.]
“Are you alright?” [Kersh asks with a sincerity that was missing last week.] “You don’t look too well.”
[Neville tries to steady himself.] “Is she okay?” [He asks instead.] [They both rush over to Nicole, Neville undoing her straps as Brent checks her stomach – realizing that the black veins are still there.] [She’s almost unconscious due to the pain, but they help her back to her feet and carry her to the ambulance. Brent places her inside on the stretcher, stroking her hair.]“Neville, I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done,” [Kersh says, looking towards Sheldon who now sits in the driver’s seat.] “You’ve risked everything for me. Not many men would allow another to beat the holy hell out of them like you did. I owe you, we both do.”
[Before Neville can respond, Brent is suddenly dragged abruptly from the ambulance.] [Sheldon turns around, realizing that The Scarecrow has returned.] [He’s about to help Kersh out, when the Enforcer screams at him.]“DRIVE! GET HER OUT OF HERE!”
[Against his better judgement, Neville starts the engine and speeds off into the distance, leaving Brent Kersh with The Scarecrow. The Hayman looks down at him, sneering.]“Let’s pick up right where we left off, shall we?”
BRENT KERSH VS. THE SCARECROW
SINGLES MATCH
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
BACKSTAGE
“Tonight is our chance to show this world that it belongs to the least of these. Tonight is our chance to show what we are made of, what your Messiah is capable of. I will deliver you from evil on this night, and I will deliver Sergei Sokolov from his sad, painful existence. Tonight is just the first step, but a very important step. The world has forsaken you, but I have not. I have brought you all this far, and we will march right into the battlefield and—“
[A loud thud against the door interrupts Calypso’s sermon, forcing the Messiah to step down from her makeshift pulpit. She calls for one of her followers to check the door, and as the door opens we see a homeless person fall into the room…bruised, bloody, broken. Attached to his coat sleeve is a note, clearly written in the handwriting of Sergei himself. The follower grabs the note, handing it over to the Prophet to read aloud.]“One down, how many more to go? You tried to break me, but I will break you for Mother Russia. See you in the ring, child.”
[An incensed Calypso crumples the note, throwing it to the ground as she storms out of the room. The followers are close behind as she heads down in anger toward the ring…when Sergei blindsides her followers from behind! Sergei throws one of them into the wall, shoving others to the side as the Red Tsar makes a beeline for Calypso! These two have come to blows, and the brawl spills out to the ringside area of the Tap Room as the ref calls for the bell!]SERGEI SOKOLOV VS. CALYPSO
LEPERJACK MATCH
IMMORTALITY CONQUERS
THE EPICENTRE
“Welcome to the family, son.”
[The camera fades in as The Immortal opens up a backstage door, walking into the Virus infected boiler room, black sludge oozing from the walls as very thin light from outside is the only illumination. DTR’s voice already echoes throughout the walls, the Virus able to detect his arrival.]“I’m not a part of your family,” [Ethan says with a sinister smile.] “Can’t you tell? My body rejected your poison, David!”
[The sound of laughter echoes.] [It belongs to ‘The Virus’]“You’re immune to my infection? Interesting. To think, I could have given you the very thing you’ve been searching for; a family.”
[That stops Earhart in his tracks.]“Don’t pretend like that isn’t why you came for me, Ethan. Deep down in your subconscious, you’ve been alone for so long that you craved friendship. You craved family,” [The Virus seems to be right, judging by the look on The Immortal’s face.] “I suppose being immortal has its drawbacks, huh? Oh, a lonely existence is it for thee.”
“I’ll be here long after this virus has eaten you alive, David,” [Earhart yells back into the abyss of gore.] “And long after your family is in the ground.”
[DTR laughs, again.]“I’m counting on it.”
DTR VS. ETHAN EARHART
BOILER ROOM BRAWL
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
THE CIRCUS
“Roll up, roll up, buy a ticket and witness the greatest show unearthed!”
[We open on the grinning face of Alistair Huxley, stood with his whip on a small podium in the middle of his Circus. Freaks are scattered about the stands, as he twirls his moustache in anticipation.]“Tonight, you will bear witness to the rebirth of our circus. Tonight, you will watch in awe as The Dead meets his maker, right here, in the middle of our sacred world.”
[Suddenly, The Dead pushes his way through the tent flap, stepping inside.]“And if it isn’t our honoured guest,” [Huxley screams excitedly.] “Your once Main Attraction; The Painkiller!”
[Dead grimaces.] “Enough, Huxley! Enough of your charade! Tonight, this ends.” [Huxley steps down off his podium, grinning.]“After everything you’ve done, after burning down my show, and killing The Hangman, look at what you’ve achieved,” [he says, twirling around with his arms spread.] “… Nothing, dear Painkiller. You’ve achieved nothing.”
[Calavera looks around, soaking in the cheers from the freaks in attendance.]“Out here,” [He says, pointing to them all.] “Nothing has changed. But in here,” [he points to Huxley’s chest.] “Everything has. You were trying to build the greatest show in the world and I stopped you. I watched you decimate Marvolo Junior, manipulate The Hangman and lord over me like I was your pet project,” [The Dead scoffs.] “But I changed all of that. Now when you recruit for your show, you’ll always be wondering whether or not that attraction will bite the hand that feeds you.”
[Alistair looks at him, stony faced.]“And you will know,” [The Dead continues.] “That what’s dead, should stay… dead.”
[Both men stand looking at each other, only moments before their final show down. We cut to static, and a quick break, but when we return, these two former friends do battle inside The Circus.]ALISTAIR HUXLEY VS. THE DEAD
THE CIRCUS
ASHES TO ASHES
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“The fires await you, Solomon. They have been calling your name for some time now. It is the will of the Lord that I, the Juror of Light, should see to your eternal punishment.
As it was in the beginning, so it will be in the end. Full circle. Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust.”
[Solomon shakes his head. He opens his palm to reveal the black mark given to him from Bellator last week – Lux’s mark of impending judgement. He upturns his palm and the black spot falls to the ground.]“Can you truly not see what you have become Lucas?” [He pauses for a repentance that never comes.] “Then how can you speak for the Lord? All you have done is awoken the fire within me – a flame that only burns hotter with each waking moment.
Just remember, everything that happens here is YOUR doing.”
[Bellator’s reply is almost spat into the microphone.]“There is no going back. There are no shadows for you to hide in to escape retribution. This is the beginning of the end.”
[He turns, motioning toward the flames that cause a perimeter around their battleground.]“There is only one way that we end this tonight. One man yields. A submission, in the spiritual and physical sense. You will submit before the Lord, then you will be forced to submit to the Fires of Judgement.”
[Solomon doesn’t take his eyes off Bellator. His eyes narrow into a glare as he realises that the moment is nigh.]“We will see who is forced to yield before the Lord before this night is done, Bellator.”
[And with that, the match is on!]LAZARUS VS. SOLOMON RHODES
[Judgement comes upon a battlefield, where the only way to end the battle is through the other man yielding. Lux Bellator, the Juror of Light, seeks his judgement on one Solomon Timothy Rhodes.]
[A fierce staredown is only broken when both men begin exchanging clubbing right fists. Bellator rocks Solomon, who returns the favour in kind. Each blow is laced with venom, edged with the fires that burn around the ring. Bellator Irish Whips Solomon toward the corner but Solomon reverses and it is Lux who ends up slamming into the turnbuckle. Solomon follows up quickly with a CORNER CLOTHESLINE AND RUNNING BULLDOG that take Bellator down! The Light Warrior forces himself back to his knees… DARK WISH BY SOLOMON – NO! LUX DUCKED THE INCOMING SUPERKICK! He catches Solomon by the leg – FISHERMAN SUPLEX SEES RHODES SLAMMED INTO THE MAT! Bellator wastes no time, charging over to the corner and climbing the turnbuckle!]
[Bellator reaches the peak but has little time to line up his attack as Solomon recovers and intercepts him with a forearm that staggers him. Solomon follows up by climbing after Lux… SUPERPLEX FROM THE TURNBUCKLE! THEY COME CRASHING DOWN LIKE A CAR WRECK! Solomon is first back to his feet, pulling Bellator up before Irish Whipping him towards the ropes… RUNNING LARIAT TAKES LUX OVER THE TOP ROPE! Solomon is riding a wave of momentum as he watches the Light Warrior crash to the outside, falling near the wall of flames surrounding the ring. He lines him up for another attack. SOLOMON LEAPS OUT OF THE RING AND LANDS A SOMERSAULT PLANCHA!]
[Solomon is all over this match and Lux seems to be suffering. The Dragon drags Bellator to his feet once more. RISING PHOENIX… NO! LUX ONCE AGAIN SLIPS OUT OF THE MOVE! The Light Warrior lands behind Solomon, in between him and the scorching fire. He grabs Rhodes by the hair and pulls him down backwards… REVERSE DDT TO THE CHARRED GROUND! Lux mounts Solomon and exchanges a flurry of brutal left and right forearms, before lifting Solomon by the hair and dragging him towards the flames! Bellator screams at Solomon to “YIELD OR BE BURNED”! Solomon, replies with a grunt of defiance so LUX STANDS HIM UP AND PUSHES HIM INTO THE FLAMES! Solomon screams in pain from the fire, leaping out as quickly as he had been pushed in. With the flames still burning him he drops to the ground and rolls about in the black earth until they are out. Solomon stands, black from the dirt around the ring, an equally as dark look in his eyes as he glares at Lux.]
[Solomon charges at his nemesis, driving him into the side of the ring with a Shoulder Tackle. He wastes no time, Whipping Bellator into the Steel Steps leading to the ring. Lux writhes about in agony, rising only to be caught by Solomon once more… CHAOS THEORY! SOLOMON NAILED IT OUTSIDE THE RING!]
[With what would normally be a pinfall attempt rendered useless, Solomon waits until Lux has pulled himself back to a seated position, back resting up against the steel steps. Bellator is unable to drag himself any further, so Solomon lines him up… DROPKICK CATCHES HIM RIGHT IN THE CHEST! NAILING HIM AGAINST THE STEEL STEPS! A flurry of kicks follow, aimed at the head and neck area of the Juror of Light. Lux looks almost out of it when… LAZARUS CHAMBER! A POETIC ADAGE TO THE OLD MASK, BURNED BY BELLATOR! He has the hold locked in, squeezing the Death Grip for all it’s worth until he hears the choked out words that he has been waiting to hear… LUX YIELDS! SOLOMON HAS WON!]
[Solomon stands victorious, leaving Lux Bellator lying flat in the black, charred soil surrounding the ring. From the look in his eyes and the flames that surround the battlefield, I would suspect that he is not finished with Lux yet.]
JUDGEMENT DAY
[Solomon stands victorious, having finally put Lux Bellator in his place. Now, the fires call for their victim. Both men are covered in the remnants of the black dirt of their battlefield and Solomon readies himself by wiping his body clean of the darkness as best he can when through the flames, several cloaked figures emerge, surrounding the ring. Torchbearers. Lux Bellator’s followers.]
[Solomon holds up his hands, beckoning the incoming figures to stop in their tracks. They oblige, albeit begrudgingly as Lux crawls, battered and beaten over toward the wall of flames. Lying there, in the black dirt, the flames licking at his mask, he looks almost defeated. Solomon approaches, kneeling down next to him. With Lux’s followers listening in, Solomon directs his words at the Juror of Light.]
“This is all YOUR doing Lucas. YOU brought this hell upon us. YOU brought everything that has come to pass.”
[He stands up, scanning his eyes about Bellator’s loyal cloaked followers. His voice raises to a scream, his words still directed at Bellator.]“YOU WERE GOD’S CHOSEN WARRIOR! The only man I ever knew who preached an honest message of TRUE light… Forgiveness, Acceptance, Love. You were the one who saved me from the depths of hell itself, but only to give me a glimpse of paradise before you dragged us both right back there! It is your falsities that these flames call for, not mine!”
[He turns, directing his words now over to the Torchbearers that surround him.]“Don’t you care that the leader whose message you hold dear, the message you shine forth through those torches, has turned his back? The very image of forgiveness and love has turned into the very picture of judgement and condemnation?
This is not the man you once followed. He is the image of everything you hate…”
[Solomon takes the steel steps to the ring, wiping his feet symbolically on the apron before entering.]“This is me symbolically washing my hands. Do with him what you wish, I grant you the freedom of chaos out of the bondage of Lux’s order.”
[Bellator is almost instantly siezed by four Torchbearers. Holding him by both legs and both arms, they swing him, half conscious towards the flames. They let go and Lux Bellator is engulfed by the flames.] [He does not scream. He does not cry out. The entire battlefield falls into darkness. The flames no longer burn.] [A long pause. Confusion… Then finally, light breaks. A single beam of light from the heavens. Lux Bellator stands in that beam of light – a hood of red over his head. Purple mask now replaced with black and red. The flames did not burn him. The Juror of Light glares at Solomon once more, before turning his back.] [The show goes off the air with the image of Lux Bellator walking away into the darkness, led by the light from above – away from his followers. Away from Solomon Rhodes.]