THE INFECTION
THE FAMILY HOME
“She isn’t here, is she?” [A creaking voice says from behind the angry pair. It belongs to DTR, who holds his neck in agony after that brutal NKO last week.] “They took her, boys. They took her, just like I thought they would.”
[Both of their heads swivel around, their eyes widened, and their frustration clear.]“I knew they’d come for us, after what we did,” [He explains callously.] “And I left her here as bait.”
[Neither member of the Family knows how to react. Whatever hold he has over them, they’re docile.]“But she, like you, is infected. Wherever he takes her, and whatever he does with her, she belongs to us. She’s family.”
[A sadistic smile is slowly etched across the face of The Virus, who grabs Phoenix and Cussen by their heads, bringing them to his.]“And from the inside out, she’ll destroy them for us.”
[He laughs, a sickening, vile laugh, before the scene becomes overtaken with black veins, taking us to pitch black.]LUX BELLATOR VS. KING ROYAL
BARBED WIRE ROPES
THE TRIAL OF SOLOMON RHODES
RINGSIDE
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
[He pauses. The arena silent as the crowd digest the passage from Revelations.]“Solomon Timothy Rhodes… The time of your judgement is nigh. Reveal yourself and defend your sins under the light of the Almighty.”
[A long pregnant pause. Then… ‘Bliss’ by Eric Whitacre plays and Lazarus appears. He does not speak as he descends the stairs towards the ring. A glare at his once brother never leaves his eye.]“Do you have anything you wish to repent?”
[Lazarus merely glares.]“I have served the Lord faithfully. Ordo ab Chao. I repent my sins to the Lord, a Lord that you no longer serve.”
[In contrast to the glare on Lazarus’s face, Lux Bellator smiles.]“Then the book of life will be opened and you will be judged according to what you have done – both as Lazarus and as Solomon.”
[Lux paces away from Lazarus, the spotlight following him as a second spotlight illuminates Lazarus.]“You are charged with the sin of pride. A pride that has seen you prepare the way for your own selfish agenda.” [Lazarus raises his microphone to speak but Lux cuts him off] “At the expense of the Lord’s will! You surround yourself with sinners and heathens, accolades and victories have become more important to you than righteousness and holiness. Do you deny these charges?”
“I will not justify myself to hypocrites. I stand before the Lord only, I serve him faithfully.”
[Bellator shakes his head.]“Evil always believes it is doing good. It has become clear that despite your claims to be reborn into the image of God, that you are the same man you have always been. Solomon. As such, you will be judged for your actions in your so-called past life.
Each man judged for the seeds he sowed. As Solomon, you sowed hatred, blasphemy and condemnation. You have conducted sins almost unmentionable, all in the name of the Lord… Going so far as to compare yourself to God himself as an Ark of Salvation. In your heart, you wanted to see me suffer, turning my own Father against me to his ultimate demise.
Father Pedro El Salvador’s blood is on your hands, and it darkens your soul. Under the light of judgement, your sins are exposed… Solomon.”
[Lazarus steps forward, drawing closer to Lux with rage in his eyes.]“I am NOT the same man I once was. That man deserved his demise, just as I deserved to rise from the ashes. Something GOOD came of the Father’s death, not more wickedness. Can’t you see that; or are you truly blind?”
[The pair stand face to face, toe to toe. Eyeball to eyeball. It is Lux that speaks.]“The Lord finds you wanting. Unrepentant and pride clouding your soul – what’s more, you have sinned in the name of the Lord. A sin most unforgivable. Lazarus is dead to me. All that remains is Solomon, and Solomon Rhodes receives no pardon.
The Lord has spoken unto me, the judge’s sentence passed down. As jury, I am unanimous in my decision. The consequences for sin is death… Of everything you hold dear.”
[Lux clasps his fists and the lights black out. Darkness. Judgement.]PAINKILLER VS. JACK JECKEL
I QUIT MATCH
“Fu-“*Twhack!*“Fuck you, you dumb bitch!”
[PK gets ready to hit the juggalo with the mike, but gets a HARD headbutt in the nose for his efforts. He backs off as Jack kips up back to his feet! This clown’s on fire! Huxley’s main attraction rushes towards the Boogeyman AND GETS A BOTTLE IN THE HEAD! The living dead is dazed as he GETS ANOTHER BOTTLE IN THE HEAD! Painkiller’s on a knee-A THIRD BOTTLE IN THE HEAD! HOLY FUCK, GIVE THAT CUSTOMER AN OSW CONTRACT!] [Jack, incensed, kicks the star attraction over to his stomach. He seems to be signalling for the end as he interlocks his legs and pulling his arms back. The Echo Side is locked in! He’s pulling his arms back as hard as he can! Painkiller doesn’t react to this, but he’s clearly trying to wriggle his way out of the hold. Jack yells for the referee to pick up the mike and ask him, which he does.]“Do you quit?”
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding.”
[Jack didn’t like the sounds of that! He lifts his foot up and-PAINKILLER PULLS HIM INTO THE TABLE! HE HITS IT TEETH FIRST! Jack clutches his mouth as he falls to the floor. This gives Painkiller enough time to choke him out! Now the boogeyman has both arms around Painkillers arm, allowing us to view his bloody mouth.] [Before the referee can even ask if he’ll quit, Painkiller pulls him up up to his feet for THE DEATH RATTLE! THOSE HEADBUTTS HAVE BUSTED BOTH WRESTLERS OPEN AND PK SHOWS NO SIGNS OF STOPPING! The referee tries to ask Jack if he wants to give, but there’s no way the boogeyman can respond! THE REF CALLS FOR THE BELL! HE’S UNCONSCIOUS! PK’S HARD HEAD RENDERED HIM UNCONSCIOUS!] [Huxley’s star attraction drops Jack to the floor as his hand gets raised by referee! This fight was a bloodbath from beginning to end, but Painkiller end up walking home with the victory here tonight!]PUZZLE PIECES
RINGSIDE
“Somehow, someway, we always find ourselves in this situation, don’t we Jackie?” [Jake asks as Jack’s eyes narrow from the decrease in light.]
“Yeah, there’s about to be an ass whooping go down.” [Jack responds.] [Jake gets off the wall to get up in his brother’s face. The smirk stays plastered to his face though. The tension is thick between them, years of failed brotherhood rising up.]
“Tell you what, bro.” [Jake says, clapping his brother on the shoulder.] “You can watch what I do out here in a minute, and then we’ll see about somebody getting their ass beat.”
[Jack snorts in defiance, squaring up to Jake, but the Juggalo King backs away as it seems that his time has come to enter the Tap Room.]“Maybe next time, Jack.”
[Jake’s final words echo in the small room as Jake heads out into the arena. Jack watches him go with a scowl on his face before turning around to walk away.] [Darkness.] [BZZT!] [That sound signifies the entrance of Mother, who now stands before Jack.] [She is not happy.]“My children are not to be used.”
[Jack holds up his hands.]“What are you talking ab…”
[MOTHER NAILS JACK! The Boogieman is knocked back up against the concrete wall by the Mother of All, who pounces on his prone form with fervor.]“Didn’t anyone tell you,” [Mother says as she claws at the face of Jeckel.] “that you can’t lie to Mother.”
[The scene of Jack getting his ass kicked is quickly cut away from to the ring where Jake Jeckel has a match to wrestle.]JAKE JECKEL VS. LAZARUS
CHEMICAL WARFARE
ALL FIT TOGETHER
RINGSIDE
“What the fuck?” [Jake yells.] [Before the entire arena stands Mother, holding Jack Jeckel’s prone form up by the hair. She sneers down at the fallen clown, throwing his body down the ground. He seems worse for wear after the attack that began prior to the last match and likely lasted throughout its duration. He crawls up the aisle to where Jake has walked out to kneel by his brother.]
“You got what you wanted.” [Mother begins, barely restrained rage behind her words.] “You will get your title shot. You both will.”
[Jack seems to say something to Jake, which causes the Juggalo to rise to his feet with his smirk back on his face.]“Yeah, we will.” [Jake says, practically mocking Mother.] “And your dumb ass fell for it.”
[She takes a step forward in anger, but Jake isn’t done.]“See, I take what I want. But you never go in blindly.” [Jake begins, practically salivating in victory.] “After the last time me and Jackie went after each other, we decided we could get a hell of a lot more if we joined forces. Cause we’re brothers. We may try to kill each other, but fuck everybody else out there. I know we’re blood.”
[Jack has risen to his feet, rather shakily. He shares his brother’s glee. The Boogieman takes his turn to speak now.]“And so we decided that the best way to get at your title was through your fucking children.” [The brothers share a glance and smirk.] “And it fucking worked. You bought the whole thing, hook, line, and sinker. And now after we take you and the Crow out, we get to see who the better brother is and who gets to hold that Rewind Championship.”
[Mother shakes her head. It’s a subtle expression, but it silences the whole arena with its finality.]“You used my children.” [She begins.] “Long have I beheld people like you. Long have I brought them into my home. Long have I dashed their dreams. You will not take what is mine, yet I will take what belongs to me.”
[She holds up her spindly fingers to crush them together with force.]“Your souls.”
[With that, the Jeckels shrug at one another and begin to advance on Mother.] [Darkness. A fluttering of crows.] [SCARECROW IS HERE! HAYMAKER TO JACK! HAYMAKER TO JAKE!]“You’re my prey.” [Scarecrow says as he turns to face Mother, who is jonesing for a fight.] [The two take a moment to look one another up and down. The Hay Man nods up towards the ring.]
“But not tonight.” [Scarecrow says, seemingly holding back for some strange reason.] “Your fate will be decided in one week…”
[Mother steps up to Crow, unafraid.]“As will yours, motherless and accursed.”
[Crow snorts as he turns away to head to the ring.]“As will your children be left motherless.”
[Scarecrow goes to the ring to await the next match, where he will team with Mother.] [Why didn’t Scarecrow go after Mother tonight?] [What the hell are the Jeckel’s going to do with two monsters?] [And will VHS Tape Over be able to survive these four forces meeting in the middle of the ring for the Rewind Championship?]SCARECROW & MOTHER VS. ETHAN EARHART & SERGEI SOKOLOV
TAG TEAM MATCH
WHAT YOU HOLD DEAR
BACKSTAGE
“Lazarus? Lazarus?”
[Lazarus soon makes himself known to the worker, who has a worried look on his face.]“You need to come and see this.”
[With that, he darts off again, expecting Lazarus to follow – which he does, albeit slightly confused. He leads Lazarus down a hallway and into an office space, where a wall mounted TV is playing out a ‘Breaking News’ bulletin. Lazarus enters just as the reporter is getting to the crunch of the report.]“… The information is still unclear but it looks like the underground of the building was used for some type of church or temple. It is not yet confirmed how the fire began but reports indicate that a kerosene torch was found behind what looked like a makeshift altar. Whether or not this is an accident or arson is yet to be determined…”
[Lazarus drops to his knees. Before him, in the helicopter and ground images upon the screen, the smouldering remains of his temple. Gone. Up in smoke. The news reporter chimes in once more.]“From within the rubble, a bible has been recovered, burnt almost beyond recognition with the exception of a single page containing John 15, Verse 6 – If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”
[Lazarus looks up at the screen once more, the sense of loss in his eyes and clenching his fists tightly. He stands, grabbing the TV and wrenching it from the wall, the news report cut short as the screen smashes onto the ground.]PIECE BY PIECE
BACKSTAGE
“The crazy man thinks it is funny to taunt-”
[THE DOOR SLAMS ONTO SERGEI’S HAND! Sokolov stumbles back while holding his bruised hand, getting blindsided by a massive boot to the gut by Ethan Earhart! The Immortal lifts Sergei overhead and delivers a massive powerbomb to the Russian! Sergei looks up but Earhart leaps onto him, nailing him with a hard right!]“You thought it was smart to ruin my research? I was so close to my goal, it was just within my grasp! But because of you, I need to start all over. However, not all is lost…”
[Earhart reaches into his coat and pulls out…] [A pair of pliers.] [Sergei struggles against Earhart, forcefully trying to throw him off of himself! Ethan holds on, smacking Sergei with the pliers and forcing his mouth open!]“You ruined my materials, my ingredients from perfect specimens! But I won’t be deterred!”
[He strikes again with pliers!]“You’ll be the substitute for everything you’ve destroyed!”
[He forces the pliers into Sergei’s mouth and grips a tooth!]“Even if I have to do it-”
[He pulls on the tooth!]“Piece.”
[Pull!]“By.”
[Pull!]“Piece!”
[ETHAN RIPS THE TOOTH FROM SERGEI’S MOUTH! He quickly flees with his new ‘ingredient’ in hand, Sokolov forcing his way to his feet and watching as Earhart runs away.] [Sergei watches, enraged. He spits the blood from his mouth, as though the pain doesn’t faze him.]“You can run, mad man. But Sergei will find you. He will find your new lab.”
[He bears his teeth, blood dripping from where one was ripped out.]“And he will crush you.”
DTR VS. ALISTAIR HUXLEY
DEATH MATCH
FULL STEAM AHEAD
BACKSTAGE
“Are you ready for this?” [Kersh asks, with his hands on his hips.] “Because once we step through that door, there’s no turning back.”
[Neville sheepishly eyes up the building.]“I don’t think I’ll ever be truly ready for what lurks behind those doors.”
[Brent looks towards him.] “I’ve been there, kid. The truth is that you’re never going to be. Sometimes what lurks behind those doors is unlike anything you’re ever prepared for. All you can do is take a breath, and storm in.” [Without wasting another moment, Brent walks straight up to the front door and turns the handle, pushing it open.]“And then, you just hope you’re able to walk back out.”
[Suddenly an arm reaches around and drags Kersh into the darkened abyss of the room. Neville’s eyes widen in horror, causing a lump in his throat that even the largest gulp can’t swallow. He doesn’t hesitate any longer, running up the stairs and through the now open door, looking for Brent Kersh.] [And we have a match.]NEVILLE SHELDON & BRENT KERSH VS. THE FAMILY
THE FAMILY HOME
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH!
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Welcome one, welcome all, to the GREATEST show on Earth.”
[The voice of Alistair Huxley screams through a megaphone, echoing throughout the house. Brent looks at Neville, who frowns, both of them unsure of what’s going on.] [CRASH.] [Suddenly, a violent brutal sound of twisting metal and falling concrete can be heard. It’s loud, and dust immediately falls from above all four men. They look up just in time to see the concrete ceiling begin to fall. Bits start reigning down upon them, from floorboard to lumps of concrete and pipe.] [They all duck and panic, Jensen and Jacob running towards the nearest window, diving through to the outside, one after the other. Sheldon and Kersh have quickly become separated, and between the sounds of metal and concrete, they can’t hear each other. Neville ducks, barely escaping what would have been a fatal blow to the head by a steel pipe. He turns, finally spotting Kersh in the middle of the living room.] [He looks up.] [Crack.] [Crack.] [Crack!] [Brent’s eyes widen, looking up at the ceiling above his head to see that the entire thing has cracked. He knows this is the end.] [Suddenly the whole thing falls from above like a concrete coffin, barrelling towards the poor VHS Champion.] [Only Neville Sheldon runs, like a train, through the falling dust and debris, leaping through it with a massive Spear that scoops Brent Kersh up and drops him into the next room. They both hit the deck hard, rolling away from the pain.] [After that, the noises become quieter, and the sound of unstable creaking takes over. Brent gets back to his feet, helping Sheldon back to his. They’re right near the open window now and exit, one by one, leaving the devastating collapse of The Family home behind.] [Meanwhile, outside, Painkiller sits in a crane, with a wrecking ball attached, having just brought down hell upon the four men inside.] [And next to him, smiling sadistically, is Alistair Huxley.]“And the show… must…. go on!”
[With those final words, we cut to static, his laughter heard as we do.] [Cut.]