Post by Staff on Mar 19, 2017 12:12:59 GMT -5
At first, Thirteen and Francis entered the AWE home office headquarters in New York city and stood in front of Kass’ office doors with mutual frowns peering in through the frosted glass at the darkness. Francis was flanked by his two French Mime Assassins who mimed a wall between them and Francis. Perturbed by the oddity of Kass’ absence, Francis sauntered away from the miming mimes then stood imposingly over the desk of Clark, Kass’ administrative assistant, and officiously lowered his silver-rimmed aviator’s sunglasses to eye the younger man.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Where’s the lil dawg?
Francis’ impromptu southern drawl was disconcerting for Clark while simultaneously seeming completely natural for the mercurial Double F C. He sounded like Boss Hogg from the Duke’s of Hazard.
CLARK: Uhh, who—
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Did you hurt the lil dawg... *Eyes Clark's name on the desk* Clayton?
THIRTEEN: Francis.
Thirteen stood behind him with her hands on her hips disparagingly and blinked as Francis lifted his arm to halt her from interrupting him. He inhaled deeply and lifted an eyebrow, like he were assessing Clark.
CLARK: You mean Kassandrah.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: The lil dawg. I said the lil Dawg. Did I not say the lil dawg?
He looked to Thirteen, before continuing.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I said the lil dawg. Why you giving me lip, Kal-El?
CLARK: It's Cl--Clark...
Francis sighed with loud annoyance and bore down heavily on the lip of Clark’s desk bringing him nearly face to face with the assistant. Clark looked uneasily from Francis to Thirteen, hoping for some relief from the sheer peculiarity of Francis Ford Cuppola practically breathing down his neck. Thirteen seemed to shrug her shoulders as if to tell him to ignore Francis who eyed Clark for several moments making sure he had his attention before using his fingers to imply he was watching Clark very carefully. Clark leaned back nervously.
CLARK: She’s in there.
He pointed to a cloak room behind Thirteen and Francis. They stared from the cloak room to Kass’ big, open office and wondered at what motivated Kass to relocate inside of a glorified closet. After a moment Francis blinked and stood up, pulling his glasses off in a huff.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Okay, I’m having trouble keeping in character here.
CLARK: Ex—Excuse me?
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Because of the cameras.
Francis struggled to pinpoint the lens focused on him until he pointed right into it.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: They never stop asking me for MORE. I give them everything. What's my motivation?
Thirteen smiled to Clark. As Francis walked back to the mimes in a melodramatic huff and allowed them to fan him with their white gloved hands.
THIRTEEN: You said she’s in there?
Thirteen motioned to the cloak room.
CLARK: A-after her Ouija board calamity last night she locked her office and told me from now on she’d be working in that cloak room from now on.
Thirteen frowned and moved to the cloak room door to open it. Inside, in pure darkness save for the backlight of her laptop sat Kass on the floor cross-legged. She looked up at Thirteen.
KASSANDRAH: Hi.
Thirteen lowered to a concerned, almost parental crouch
THIRTEEN: H-how’s it going, fam?
Kass wiped strands of blonde hair from her eyes and tried to hide her frustration.
KASSANDRAH: You’re wondering why I’m in the cloak room?
Thirteen smiled with concern as Francis set his aviators back in place, wiped his hand across his face like he were back in the scene and joined Thirteen at the door of the cloak room.
THIRTEEN: Are… you… o…kay?
Kass sighed, her eyes shifting out the door of the cloak room at her closed office doors. She recounted,
KASSANDRAH: At first it was the faint hiss that sounded like a voice whispering my name through the wall vent. I’ve steeped myself in the paranormal for as long as I can remember even though, at times, admittedly, I pretended to hear the voice of a dead husband to calm and soothe a grieving wife in spite of hearing absolutely nothing. I learned to shed any semblance of guilt at the intentional bilking of a person who wanted comfort, and that’s whatever, you know? I’m a woman who’s invested some time into installing a hydraulic table especially for séances to fill the void of the usual nothing I draw from the “spirit realm” just to make paying customers feel like they got their money’s worth. I’m just going to say that if I didn’t know better…
She looked harrowed as she eyed Thirteen,
KASSANDRAH: I’d say someone were doing the same damn thing to me whenever I’m working in that office.
THIRTEEN: You’re… hearing your name whispered through the vents?
Kass eyed Thirteen, detecting that familiar skepticism of anyone hearing something like this, while Thirteen eyed Clark at his desk with shared deep concern for her mental state.
KASSANDRAH: I know what this sounds like, okay? I am NOT crazy. It’s like this, it’s like:
They’d all seen the stress building in her, colleagues and employees alike, it was unmistakable, she could feel the knot developing in the back of her neck radiating down her spine. It was the sunken eyes no concealer and foundation combo could entirely hide that easily revealed how little sleep she was getting, and warranted faint whispers of concern audible from her desk when the door was left open to augment the airflow/feng shui of the office. Now Francis lowered his aviators once more and eyed her with a raised eyebrow before completely removing the aviators.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Having trouble staying in character again.
Kass looked dreamily downward as she repeated,
KASSANDRAH: It’s like… “Kassssssssssandraaaaahhhhhh.” You know? And it’s not like I can’t hear people gossiping about me from the hallway, I’m not dumb, they think I'm in over my head, or I'm nuts, but those voices would just blur with the haunting coming from my heating vents to create this dull roar, you know?
THIRTEEN: You sound a little stressed, hun?
Thirteen smiled and comforted Kass with a gentle soothing massage on her back with one hand.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Bitch is whacked.
Francis caught a sudden disparaging eye from Thirteen. Kass shook her head, dismissing Francis outright.
KASSANDRAH: It’s everything, you know? I haven't seen Tony in days, and he's still in the hospital and I really want to see him, and then there's the computer system glitches to outright fiascos, the power outages that keep happening at random conveniently stopping our closed-circuit camera recordings that SHOULD catch the evidence of tampering coming to my attention almost daily like someone’s trying to sabotage everything from the shows to my booking...
THIRTEEN: Sounds like it’s wearing you down, sweetie. You might need to take a break.
Kass barely registered Thirteen at this point.
KASSANDRAH: It’s like there’s this series of unfortunate events holding me back from pushing my mandate through and doing good around here. Constant people streaming in to my office demanding this or that title shot, or this renegotiated contract rate, it's ENDLESS. And at night, working late, shadows are passing my desk. They might be what's holding me back, Thirteen. I think.... I think it might be T.S.
Thirteen and Kass shared a look of dread and remembrance in a passing moment of silence at all that T.S.' return could mean for this company.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Who?
Thirteen sighed and rolled her eyes to look back at Francis.
THIRTEEN: T.S., Francis.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: T.S Francis?
Francis narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I thought I was just Francis? Has the script changed? Is this a rewrite? Am I being recast?
Francis eyed Clark, the mimes, the potted plant, weary of answers to his growing paranoia. Thirteen shook her head and looked back to Kass and could only frown in confusion and concern watching her friend’s sudden deterioration.
KASSANDRAH: Sometimes I see a masked person looming in the darkness, have you ever seen this person? I think it's the same person who attacked Tony over at OCW.
THIRTEEN: Deus...
KASSANDRAH: Yeah, and I’m like frozen where I sit watching this metal mask creeping to my desk in the darkness like its coming for me now, and then... it’s gone.
THIRTEEN: Maybe it’s Akragth messing with you?
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Wait, am I Akragth, now? What's Akragth? That's not a name. I tell you, whoever wrote this script sucks.
KASSANDRAH: *shaking her head to drown out the white noise of Francis and focus* No. It’s a different mask. It's the one that guy wore at OCW... and PAW... and wherever else. Look, I get it, this isn’t my specialty. Running a rapidly growing wrestling company with everyone WANTING things from me isn’t in my wheelhouse, you know? Maybe this is too much as it is, maybe the stress is overwhelming me, but I'm telling you there's something going on around here. That office is haunting or taunting me--
Thirteen frowned in the face of the unraveling of her friend who looked ruefully at her darkened office. Francis chimed in confidently.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Haunted office? Ghosts? No problem! I just so happen to be the man who invented the equipment the Ghostbusters use.
THIRTEEN: Francis, don’t joke. This is not a movie--
Francis snickered condescendingly as he shook his head.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: *scoff* Right. Mimes.
The mimes were immediately behind him looking serious. Francis lowered his aviators.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Let’s roll.
Thirteen and Kass watched him stalk confidently into Kass’ office, man and mimes on a mission before promptly coming right back out.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Nope. No way. Too scary.
He stood by the wall, terrified.
THIRTEEN: Francis… turn on the light.
Francis shook his head with vehement denial.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Y-you do it.
Thirteen sighed, eyed Kass comfortingly then stood and stepped into Kass’ office with Francis immediately behind her with his arms ready to karate chop. She flipped the switch.
THIRTEEN: Huh. The light switch doesn’t work.
Kass watched their silhouettes through the frosted glass wearily before Francis’ silhouette hurriedly struck out with a vicious karate chop to a lone dark figure who’d appeared beside him.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: AAAAAAAYAAAACHAAAAAA!
THIRTEEN: Oh my god!
Kass stood in a hurry and rushed into the office to see what had happened. Francis’ arm remained stiff in karate chop position as he glared down at the now unconscious figure prone on the floor.
THIRTEEN: Francis…
Kass’s eyes squinted to see the assailant laid out on the floor.
THIRTEEN: You… took out one of the mimes.
Francis stood over Comme Ci, or Comme Ca, who knows, breathing sharply packed full of adrenaline. The other French Mime Assassin looked aghast and rushed to his fallen compatriot as Francis slowly lowered his karate chopping arm to his side and softened.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: ...And scene.
The fallen mime twitched.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Cut.
More twitching.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: You can come out of character now, you miming fool...
Francis swallowed hard, looking down at his eternally silent sidekicks, one with apparently severe injuries, with shielded guilt. His eyes watered as he looked to Thirteen and Kass for comfort.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: You’re sure this isn’t a movie?
Thirteen and Kass stood speechless, eyeing from Francis down to the fallen mime whose doppelganger was hurriedly administering CPR. Thirteen, ever the optimist, eyed the remained of Kass’ office and on a whim flipped the light switch and brightened as the fluorescent lights blinked to life.
THIRTEEN: Well… looks like those work, huh?
Kass could only look down at the rapidly deteriorating condition of the French Mime Assassin. Francis looked shocked back at her.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: You guys both saw, he hit me first.
The mime looked frantically up to Kass and mimed the need for an ambulance. Kass could only blink, the stress gripping her for the past weeks increasing…
KASSANDRAH: This can’t get any worse…
From behind them came Clark’s voice.
CLARK: I’ll call an ambulance!
Francis eyed Kass accusingly.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: This is all your fault. I'm going to sue you.
KASSANDRAH: What?!
We fade shortly before the beginnings of an ill-timed argument…
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Where’s the lil dawg?
Francis’ impromptu southern drawl was disconcerting for Clark while simultaneously seeming completely natural for the mercurial Double F C. He sounded like Boss Hogg from the Duke’s of Hazard.
CLARK: Uhh, who—
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Did you hurt the lil dawg... *Eyes Clark's name on the desk* Clayton?
THIRTEEN: Francis.
Thirteen stood behind him with her hands on her hips disparagingly and blinked as Francis lifted his arm to halt her from interrupting him. He inhaled deeply and lifted an eyebrow, like he were assessing Clark.
CLARK: You mean Kassandrah.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: The lil dawg. I said the lil Dawg. Did I not say the lil dawg?
He looked to Thirteen, before continuing.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I said the lil dawg. Why you giving me lip, Kal-El?
CLARK: It's Cl--Clark...
Francis sighed with loud annoyance and bore down heavily on the lip of Clark’s desk bringing him nearly face to face with the assistant. Clark looked uneasily from Francis to Thirteen, hoping for some relief from the sheer peculiarity of Francis Ford Cuppola practically breathing down his neck. Thirteen seemed to shrug her shoulders as if to tell him to ignore Francis who eyed Clark for several moments making sure he had his attention before using his fingers to imply he was watching Clark very carefully. Clark leaned back nervously.
CLARK: She’s in there.
He pointed to a cloak room behind Thirteen and Francis. They stared from the cloak room to Kass’ big, open office and wondered at what motivated Kass to relocate inside of a glorified closet. After a moment Francis blinked and stood up, pulling his glasses off in a huff.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Okay, I’m having trouble keeping in character here.
CLARK: Ex—Excuse me?
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Because of the cameras.
Francis struggled to pinpoint the lens focused on him until he pointed right into it.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: They never stop asking me for MORE. I give them everything. What's my motivation?
Thirteen smiled to Clark. As Francis walked back to the mimes in a melodramatic huff and allowed them to fan him with their white gloved hands.
THIRTEEN: You said she’s in there?
Thirteen motioned to the cloak room.
CLARK: A-after her Ouija board calamity last night she locked her office and told me from now on she’d be working in that cloak room from now on.
Thirteen frowned and moved to the cloak room door to open it. Inside, in pure darkness save for the backlight of her laptop sat Kass on the floor cross-legged. She looked up at Thirteen.
KASSANDRAH: Hi.
Thirteen lowered to a concerned, almost parental crouch
THIRTEEN: H-how’s it going, fam?
Kass wiped strands of blonde hair from her eyes and tried to hide her frustration.
KASSANDRAH: You’re wondering why I’m in the cloak room?
Thirteen smiled with concern as Francis set his aviators back in place, wiped his hand across his face like he were back in the scene and joined Thirteen at the door of the cloak room.
THIRTEEN: Are… you… o…kay?
Kass sighed, her eyes shifting out the door of the cloak room at her closed office doors. She recounted,
KASSANDRAH: At first it was the faint hiss that sounded like a voice whispering my name through the wall vent. I’ve steeped myself in the paranormal for as long as I can remember even though, at times, admittedly, I pretended to hear the voice of a dead husband to calm and soothe a grieving wife in spite of hearing absolutely nothing. I learned to shed any semblance of guilt at the intentional bilking of a person who wanted comfort, and that’s whatever, you know? I’m a woman who’s invested some time into installing a hydraulic table especially for séances to fill the void of the usual nothing I draw from the “spirit realm” just to make paying customers feel like they got their money’s worth. I’m just going to say that if I didn’t know better…
She looked harrowed as she eyed Thirteen,
KASSANDRAH: I’d say someone were doing the same damn thing to me whenever I’m working in that office.
THIRTEEN: You’re… hearing your name whispered through the vents?
Kass eyed Thirteen, detecting that familiar skepticism of anyone hearing something like this, while Thirteen eyed Clark at his desk with shared deep concern for her mental state.
KASSANDRAH: I know what this sounds like, okay? I am NOT crazy. It’s like this, it’s like:
“Kassssssssssandraaaaahhhhhh.”
They’d all seen the stress building in her, colleagues and employees alike, it was unmistakable, she could feel the knot developing in the back of her neck radiating down her spine. It was the sunken eyes no concealer and foundation combo could entirely hide that easily revealed how little sleep she was getting, and warranted faint whispers of concern audible from her desk when the door was left open to augment the airflow/feng shui of the office. Now Francis lowered his aviators once more and eyed her with a raised eyebrow before completely removing the aviators.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Having trouble staying in character again.
Kass looked dreamily downward as she repeated,
KASSANDRAH: It’s like… “Kassssssssssandraaaaahhhhhh.” You know? And it’s not like I can’t hear people gossiping about me from the hallway, I’m not dumb, they think I'm in over my head, or I'm nuts, but those voices would just blur with the haunting coming from my heating vents to create this dull roar, you know?
THIRTEEN: You sound a little stressed, hun?
Thirteen smiled and comforted Kass with a gentle soothing massage on her back with one hand.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Bitch is whacked.
Francis caught a sudden disparaging eye from Thirteen. Kass shook her head, dismissing Francis outright.
KASSANDRAH: It’s everything, you know? I haven't seen Tony in days, and he's still in the hospital and I really want to see him, and then there's the computer system glitches to outright fiascos, the power outages that keep happening at random conveniently stopping our closed-circuit camera recordings that SHOULD catch the evidence of tampering coming to my attention almost daily like someone’s trying to sabotage everything from the shows to my booking...
THIRTEEN: Sounds like it’s wearing you down, sweetie. You might need to take a break.
Kass barely registered Thirteen at this point.
KASSANDRAH: It’s like there’s this series of unfortunate events holding me back from pushing my mandate through and doing good around here. Constant people streaming in to my office demanding this or that title shot, or this renegotiated contract rate, it's ENDLESS. And at night, working late, shadows are passing my desk. They might be what's holding me back, Thirteen. I think.... I think it might be T.S.
Thirteen and Kass shared a look of dread and remembrance in a passing moment of silence at all that T.S.' return could mean for this company.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Who?
Thirteen sighed and rolled her eyes to look back at Francis.
THIRTEEN: T.S., Francis.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: T.S Francis?
Francis narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I thought I was just Francis? Has the script changed? Is this a rewrite? Am I being recast?
Francis eyed Clark, the mimes, the potted plant, weary of answers to his growing paranoia. Thirteen shook her head and looked back to Kass and could only frown in confusion and concern watching her friend’s sudden deterioration.
KASSANDRAH: Sometimes I see a masked person looming in the darkness, have you ever seen this person? I think it's the same person who attacked Tony over at OCW.
THIRTEEN: Deus...
KASSANDRAH: Yeah, and I’m like frozen where I sit watching this metal mask creeping to my desk in the darkness like its coming for me now, and then... it’s gone.
THIRTEEN: Maybe it’s Akragth messing with you?
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Wait, am I Akragth, now? What's Akragth? That's not a name. I tell you, whoever wrote this script sucks.
KASSANDRAH: *shaking her head to drown out the white noise of Francis and focus* No. It’s a different mask. It's the one that guy wore at OCW... and PAW... and wherever else. Look, I get it, this isn’t my specialty. Running a rapidly growing wrestling company with everyone WANTING things from me isn’t in my wheelhouse, you know? Maybe this is too much as it is, maybe the stress is overwhelming me, but I'm telling you there's something going on around here. That office is haunting or taunting me--
Thirteen frowned in the face of the unraveling of her friend who looked ruefully at her darkened office. Francis chimed in confidently.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Haunted office? Ghosts? No problem! I just so happen to be the man who invented the equipment the Ghostbusters use.
THIRTEEN: Francis, don’t joke. This is not a movie--
Francis snickered condescendingly as he shook his head.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: *scoff* Right. Mimes.
The mimes were immediately behind him looking serious. Francis lowered his aviators.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Let’s roll.
Thirteen and Kass watched him stalk confidently into Kass’ office, man and mimes on a mission before promptly coming right back out.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Nope. No way. Too scary.
He stood by the wall, terrified.
THIRTEEN: Francis… turn on the light.
Francis shook his head with vehement denial.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Y-you do it.
Thirteen sighed, eyed Kass comfortingly then stood and stepped into Kass’ office with Francis immediately behind her with his arms ready to karate chop. She flipped the switch.
THIRTEEN: Huh. The light switch doesn’t work.
Kass watched their silhouettes through the frosted glass wearily before Francis’ silhouette hurriedly struck out with a vicious karate chop to a lone dark figure who’d appeared beside him.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: AAAAAAAYAAAACHAAAAAA!
THIRTEEN: Oh my god!
Kass stood in a hurry and rushed into the office to see what had happened. Francis’ arm remained stiff in karate chop position as he glared down at the now unconscious figure prone on the floor.
THIRTEEN: Francis…
Kass’s eyes squinted to see the assailant laid out on the floor.
THIRTEEN: You… took out one of the mimes.
Francis stood over Comme Ci, or Comme Ca, who knows, breathing sharply packed full of adrenaline. The other French Mime Assassin looked aghast and rushed to his fallen compatriot as Francis slowly lowered his karate chopping arm to his side and softened.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: ...And scene.
The fallen mime twitched.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Cut.
More twitching.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: You can come out of character now, you miming fool...
Francis swallowed hard, looking down at his eternally silent sidekicks, one with apparently severe injuries, with shielded guilt. His eyes watered as he looked to Thirteen and Kass for comfort.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: You’re sure this isn’t a movie?
Thirteen and Kass stood speechless, eyeing from Francis down to the fallen mime whose doppelganger was hurriedly administering CPR. Thirteen, ever the optimist, eyed the remained of Kass’ office and on a whim flipped the light switch and brightened as the fluorescent lights blinked to life.
THIRTEEN: Well… looks like those work, huh?
Kass could only look down at the rapidly deteriorating condition of the French Mime Assassin. Francis looked shocked back at her.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: You guys both saw, he hit me first.
The mime looked frantically up to Kass and mimed the need for an ambulance. Kass could only blink, the stress gripping her for the past weeks increasing…
KASSANDRAH: This can’t get any worse…
From behind them came Clark’s voice.
CLARK: I’ll call an ambulance!
Francis eyed Kass accusingly.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: This is all your fault. I'm going to sue you.
KASSANDRAH: What?!
We fade shortly before the beginnings of an ill-timed argument…
“Swerve City” by the Deftones rocks the speaker system at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines, Iowa. An overhead shot shows the house is packed full of a raucous crowd clamoring for the show to start! The angle switches to a sweeping shot of the crowd to get a glimpse of the crowd signs being held by excited fans!
RONNIE WAS ROBBED!
RADFORD for MVP!
MLA, Dare?! APA or GTFO!
FORGET ABOUT COSMO’S GOAT! CHECK OUT HIS HOG!
BEWARE THE HIP TOSS OF DOOM!
AU$TIN GALE OWNS MY CONTRACT!
--The feed inexplicably cuts halfway through the pan of the arena--
.
..
…
….
...
..
.
And we’re back at the announcer’s desk where the fans level of intensity has lessened and turned into one of confusion. At the announce desk the ever-lovely Nina Applebaum holds her finger to her ear, and her earpiece clearly communicating quietly with the broadcast team as Brad Stokes has momentarily dropped out of character to survey the crowd and occasionally give Nina a calm gesture of encouragement before both he and Nina notice the camera light is back on and switch their smiles on in response.
NINA APPLEBAUM: We’re back! Sorry AWEphiles! I was just receiving word that we’re experiencing some minor technical difficulties.
BRAD STOKES: Power outage. The house lights went out and I thought we were about to get the best entrance ever, then… nah. Sorry. AWE didn’t pay the hydro.
The mic line on both of them crackles occasionally before clearing up.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Regardless, the show goes on, and WELCOME one and all to AWE’s TENTH episode of Massacre, and what a show we have in store for you.
BRAD STOKES: You said that the last time!
NINA APPLEBAUM: And I meant it then, just like I mean it now! We have Three titles on the line tonight!
BRAD STOKES: You mean two, unless your counting that ridiculous title the Tugboat guy won from Jack Hugg.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Indeed I am, Bradley. Tornado Desencadenado not only earned that belt in a hard fought debut against a grizzled veteran in Jack Hugg, he earned it all over again when he outlasted a who’s-who of competitors in our first interdivisional Battle Royale at Massacre 9. He has diligently placed that belt on the line once more tonight, and for that fact alone Tornado Desencadenado has earned the right to be considered one of the title holders in the AWE.
BRAD STOKES: No, he hasn’t. That belt is unsanctioned. That’d be like me claiming to be the king of porn after having watched a leaked porn tape, rather than made it myself, you know?
NINA APPLEBAUM: How topical of you, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: I like to stay on top of the trends.
NINA APPLEBAUM: All arguments aside, we have a slew of big fights to get to tonight as well as the privilege of seeing two other belts on the line. Not only will we see Aaron Pace vie for the Paramount Championship against Dom DiBona after weeks of lead-in, we are also hosting a co-main event for the evening as former Resilience Champion Zack Fantana goes head-to-head against current Resilience Champion Dare Clemmens.
BRAD STOKES: Stacked show.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Indeed, Bradley.
The feed crackles and fizzles. Nina once more places her fingers to her ear piece and gives a faint, barely noticeable nod.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Yep, I’m getting word we’re going to a taped segment while the AWE crew works out some of the production kinks.
BRAD STOKES: Got a money shot going on all over our production value, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: R-right.
The scene cuts.
NINA APPLEBAUM: We’re back! Sorry AWEphiles! I was just receiving word that we’re experiencing some minor technical difficulties.
BRAD STOKES: Power outage. The house lights went out and I thought we were about to get the best entrance ever, then… nah. Sorry. AWE didn’t pay the hydro.
The mic line on both of them crackles occasionally before clearing up.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Regardless, the show goes on, and WELCOME one and all to AWE’s TENTH episode of Massacre, and what a show we have in store for you.
BRAD STOKES: You said that the last time!
NINA APPLEBAUM: And I meant it then, just like I mean it now! We have Three titles on the line tonight!
BRAD STOKES: You mean two, unless your counting that ridiculous title the Tugboat guy won from Jack Hugg.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Indeed I am, Bradley. Tornado Desencadenado not only earned that belt in a hard fought debut against a grizzled veteran in Jack Hugg, he earned it all over again when he outlasted a who’s-who of competitors in our first interdivisional Battle Royale at Massacre 9. He has diligently placed that belt on the line once more tonight, and for that fact alone Tornado Desencadenado has earned the right to be considered one of the title holders in the AWE.
BRAD STOKES: No, he hasn’t. That belt is unsanctioned. That’d be like me claiming to be the king of porn after having watched a leaked porn tape, rather than made it myself, you know?
NINA APPLEBAUM: How topical of you, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: I like to stay on top of the trends.
NINA APPLEBAUM: All arguments aside, we have a slew of big fights to get to tonight as well as the privilege of seeing two other belts on the line. Not only will we see Aaron Pace vie for the Paramount Championship against Dom DiBona after weeks of lead-in, we are also hosting a co-main event for the evening as former Resilience Champion Zack Fantana goes head-to-head against current Resilience Champion Dare Clemmens.
BRAD STOKES: Stacked show.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Indeed, Bradley.
The feed crackles and fizzles. Nina once more places her fingers to her ear piece and gives a faint, barely noticeable nod.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Yep, I’m getting word we’re going to a taped segment while the AWE crew works out some of the production kinks.
BRAD STOKES: Got a money shot going on all over our production value, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: R-right.
The scene cuts.
With the changing of the guard, it still remains to be seen as to whether or not the AWE’s profit margin will begin to soar to the clouds under the Kassandrah Era. However, even with the incorporation of FANCY new graphics on the website, some of the Empire’s talent prefer to take a more traditional route with theirs.
Deja vu, as our shot reveals a piece of yellow construction paper with “AWE KOOL ZONE” written crudely in black crayon. The piece of paper is somewhat folded and wrinkled, as if this had not been the first time the sign had been utilized. Stars, happy cat faces, and a cute little house also adorn the sign.
There’s also an iceberg. How do we know this? Next to what kind of looks like a pointy mound of dog doo-doo the word “ICE BERG” written above it with an arrow pointing down.
Yes, this is essentially a re-hashing of a previous Massacre segment, so FILE A LAWSUIT. But au contraire, one thing IS different: the camera rapidly shifts down to a bright purple Sony BassThumper xL where a hand comes into view to press the “play” button.
We are treated with a ROCKING electric guitar that is laden with effects: while the tune wants you to believe that this song is going to blow your head off with sick metal edges and the infernos of Satan, it instead begins to retreat into a somewhat whiny cadence that sounds like the same guy just layered over each other. For those professional wrestling history buffs, you would pick up musical hints of the award-winning entrance theme of the American Males. However, the chorus is just a bit different.
And then, just as if the surprises wanted to keep on coming like Christmas morning, we hear the unmistakable voice of Marshall Douglas siren over the tune.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: It’s Sunday night, it’s something o’clock, and it’s time for the Kool Zone! Now here are your KOOL hosts, Hubert Smalls and Tail Earnhardt! Party on Hubert, and party on, Tail!
The camera now pans out to a wide-shot of none other than Hubie, who is dressed in a black T-shirt, a pair of ripped jeans, and a black hat that simply reads “Kool Zone” in Comic Sans font. (Sorry, there was still not enough money to fully copy the Wayne’s World theme.) Next to him in a blue flannel shirt, well-faded denim, and sporting a stringy blond wig is none other than the MVP of the AWE: Anastasia Hayden. She currently has the luxury and privilege of holding Hubert’s co-host in her arms, who appears content being held like an infant child.
Hubert, holding the Price is Right style skinny microphone (that’s not actually a microphone, but a car antenna with a in his hand, nervously walks to the BassThumper xL and switches it off, then repositions himself to Ana and Tail’s left. Putting the mic end to his face, he starts the latest installment of the KOOL ZONE.
HUBERT SMALLS: Um, hey everybody. We’re back here in the Cool Zone, where I get to talk to cool guests about cool thangs in the Alpha Rasslin Empires. Last time in the Cool Land...um...Zone, sorry ‘bout that...I had Bang Bang Bindy here and she did good, but Tail was being bad so I hope he don’t do that again. Okay, Tail?
Hubert looks directly at the cat, who does not respond at all. Breathing a sigh of relief, he wipes his brow with his forehead in confidence that T.E. would not take this additional opportunity to talk like he did in the last installment.
HUBERT SMALLS: Okay, thenks. So today I got someone here who is cool too, but she did a not neice thing to Bang Bang Bindy on the last Mascara. But I know sometimes in rasslin’ you have some kind of explaining nation to what you done did to people, so I wanted to give her a chance to explain herself on the Cool Zone. So ladies and men, please welcome Ana Hayden to the show.
Unfortunately for Hubert, even his charm cannot prompt the Des Moines audience to show her any other welcome but a rousing chorus of boos and jeers. Hubert, perplexed, shrugs his shoulders as Ana merely smiles at the reaction.
HUBERT SMALLS: Um, Ana, can you tell us why you beat up Bindy for no reason when she came to be your friend?
The Cat Daddy holds the microphone up to the MVP of the AWE, which accidentally goes up her nose. He quickly pulls it down and allows her to speak.
ANA HAYDEN: Thanks, Hubie! I had a booger up there that I was dying to pick out. And that’s a very valid question you just asked: I know you had to spend a lot of time to work up the courage to ask me, and I appreciate you being direct. So, in order to answer your question -- why did I attack Bing Bong Bindy two weeks ago in Miliee-Waukae, which is Algonquin for ‘The Good Land…’?
Ana pauses momentarily, and reaches into the front pocket of her flannel shirt. Out of it she retrieves a tiny pair of spectacles and a tiny paisley clip-on tie. With care, she slowly slips the eyeglasses onto the face of Tail Earnhardt, and attaches the tie to his collar.
ANA HAYDEN: I’ve been advised by my attorney, T. Cochran Earnhardt, Esquire of the Earnhardt and Fourth Wall Law Firm, that all questions are to be directed to him.
Hubert, not surprisingly at this point, is a little perplexed at this turn of events yet completely buys into the line that Ana has just fed him. He rubs his mustache and without missing a beat, moves the microphone down to Ana’s legal counsel.
HUBERT SMALLS: Um, Mr. Earnhardt, your honor -- I didn’t even know you done had a law diploma, but I reckon Ana says I gotta ask you then. Why did your clientele decide to attack our friend Bindy on the last Mascara?
T. COCHRAN EARNHARDT, ESQ. (or Ana Hayden in a gravely masculine voice): Mr. Smalls, it’s very simple. My client was merely acting in self-defense based on the blatant initial ASSAULT by one Ms. Trent.
Now things have gotten a little more weird, as the AWE audience begins to boo the words of someone pretending to voice a cat who claims to have a license to practice law.
T. COCHRAN EARNHARDT, ESQ.: Now now now! While the footage does show my client GENTLY taking down Ms. Trent, this was a direct result of injuries suffered by Ms. Hayden, and not only do we have video proof of this, I fully intend to use this as evidence to file a civil claim so that my client can be compensated justly for her pain and suffering! Ms. Kassandrah: I have begun my exploratory process and have discovered that the Alpha Wrestling Empire has quite the liability insurance policy, and trust me when I say that we will NOT settle for a measly one-million in limits. The AWE will be known as the Ana Wrestling Empire when I am done...
HUBERT SMALLS: Wait a minute!
Hubert promptly interrupts the Cochran Cat, intelligently calling said evidence into scrutiny.
HUBERT SMALLS: Bindy ain’t do nothin’ to Ana!
T. COCHRAN EARNHARDT, ESQ.: Oh, DIDN’T she? Production staff, please roll the footage, and I would ask that you, Mr. Smalls and the rest of the jury pay close attention.
The crowd starts getting restless, jeering, but finally Ana throws open her arms to embrace Bindy in a hug. The crowd reacts with elation and Bindy practically jumps into Ana’s arms.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Huge reaction from the crowd as these two have buried the hatchet!
BRAD STOKES: Bindy’s stealing my girl though, dude.
Patting her friend on the back, Bindy…
T. COCHRAN EARNHARDT, ESQ.: RIGHT THERE. An open-handed strike to my client’s trapezius, just after she had experienced extensive trauma from her match against Dom DiBona. Not to mention her LEAP directly into my client when she had been ACUTELY AWARE that she had just twisted her knee only moments before. This is blatant assault as well as negligence on the part of AWE management and officiating staff for allowing the defendant to enter the premises of the ring. And don’t think you will be getting off scot-free, Mr. BRADLEY STOKES. I have justifiable cause to slap you with an injunction based on your sexually-charged commentary, so you can expect a subpoena in the mail very soon.
To reinforce his seriousness, Ana directs the paw of Tail to point towards the camera in the general direction of the announce table.
Meanwhile, Hubert, too awe-struck and somewhat conscious of the fact that he has ZERO skills when it comes to debating an “attorney” tries to sputter his defense.
HUBERT SMALLS: Bu...bu...she didn’t kno…
T. COCHRAN EARNHARDT, ESQ: The prosecution rests, Mr. Smalls. Case clo...
HUBERT SMALLS: BUT BINDY didn’t hit her hard, and Ana gave her a DDP and hit her with the belt and…
T. COCHRAN EARNHARDT, ESQ: OBJECTION! Self-defense. My client had to act in self-defense to prevent her from suffering further injury. And she was merely SHOWING the belt to Ms. Trent due to the fact that she would never be able to see it up close due to her being a competitor in the Resilience Division.
Hubert frowns and looks down at his feet, shuffling them momentarily. After a brief moment, he puts the microphone back up to his face.
HUBERT SMALLS: I...I reckon that makes sense. Sometimes when someone hurts you you gotta hurt back in resling, ‘cause that is what you gotta do sometimes.
There is an audible groan from the surrounding area, as it seems as though a talking animal posing as an attorney may have actually convinced him of Ana’s innocence. With that, Ana decides to break her silience.
ANA HAYDEN: Mr. Earnhardt, may I say something to Hubert directly? Non-case related, of course.
The cat remains expressionless.
T. COCHRAN EARNHARDT, ESQ.: I’ll allow it.
ANA HAYDEN: Thank you.
Removing the eyeglasses and LIL tie, she puts the accessories back in her pocket and hands the cat back to Hubert, who cradles him accordingly. She motions to be handed the “microphone” and addresses him.
ANA HAYDEN: Listen, Hubes, I want you to know that the people I consider my friends: you, for instance, I would NEVER try to hurt!
ANA HAYDEN: And the truth is, Bindy attacked me because she was jealous of my success. That’s what she does. She befriends people who are just plain better than her only to jump in their arms and try to end their career so that SHE can move up the ladder. And Hubert, that’s exactly what she plans to do to you.
HUBERT SMALLS: She...she does?
ANA HAYDEN: She does. But the one thing she didn’t count on is you having friends like me, Bren, Cosman, and Traveler to warn you about her evil ways before she has the chance! Because Hubes...look at me…
Hubert turns his eyes up to Ana, who moves in close and utters with “sincerity.”
ANA HAYDEN: I’m never gonna give you up. Never gonna let you down. Never gonna turn around and desert you. Never gonna make you cry. Never gonna say goodbye. Never gonna tell a lie, and hurt you.
Ana turns toward the camera with a shit-eating grin on her face.
ANA HAYDEN: I just wrote that like five minutes ago.
With this, Hubert takes a small step back, still holding fast to his cat. He appears to be mulling over Ana’s words. Gingerly, he walks up to the microphone that she still holds, speaking directly into it (despite the need to do so.)
HUBERT SMALLS: I...I still don’t know. I gotta go now.
And with this, Hubert walks off of the “set” of the Kool Zone with Tail Earnhardt to go dress for his match. As he leaves abruptly, Ana simply nods her head while the noise in the background continues to voice a disapproving tone.
ANA HAYDEN: Best legal mind in the business, I tell you...
Deja vu, as our shot reveals a piece of yellow construction paper with “AWE KOOL ZONE” written crudely in black crayon. The piece of paper is somewhat folded and wrinkled, as if this had not been the first time the sign had been utilized. Stars, happy cat faces, and a cute little house also adorn the sign.
There’s also an iceberg. How do we know this? Next to what kind of looks like a pointy mound of dog doo-doo the word “ICE BERG” written above it with an arrow pointing down.
Yes, this is essentially a re-hashing of a previous Massacre segment, so FILE A LAWSUIT. But au contraire, one thing IS different: the camera rapidly shifts down to a bright purple Sony BassThumper xL where a hand comes into view to press the “play” button.
We are treated with a ROCKING electric guitar that is laden with effects: while the tune wants you to believe that this song is going to blow your head off with sick metal edges and the infernos of Satan, it instead begins to retreat into a somewhat whiny cadence that sounds like the same guy just layered over each other. For those professional wrestling history buffs, you would pick up musical hints of the award-winning entrance theme of the American Males. However, the chorus is just a bit different.
KOOL ZONE
KOOL ZONE
NOT THE FOOL ZONE
THE KOOL ZONE
KOOL ZONE
NOT THE FOOL ZONE
THE KOOL ZONE
And then, just as if the surprises wanted to keep on coming like Christmas morning, we hear the unmistakable voice of Marshall Douglas siren over the tune.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: It’s Sunday night, it’s something o’clock, and it’s time for the Kool Zone! Now here are your KOOL hosts, Hubert Smalls and Tail Earnhardt! Party on Hubert, and party on, Tail!
The camera now pans out to a wide-shot of none other than Hubie, who is dressed in a black T-shirt, a pair of ripped jeans, and a black hat that simply reads “Kool Zone” in Comic Sans font. (Sorry, there was still not enough money to fully copy the Wayne’s World theme.) Next to him in a blue flannel shirt, well-faded denim, and sporting a stringy blond wig is none other than the MVP of the AWE: Anastasia Hayden. She currently has the luxury and privilege of holding Hubert’s co-host in her arms, who appears content being held like an infant child.
Hubert, holding the Price is Right style skinny microphone (that’s not actually a microphone, but a car antenna with a in his hand, nervously walks to the BassThumper xL and switches it off, then repositions himself to Ana and Tail’s left. Putting the mic end to his face, he starts the latest installment of the KOOL ZONE.
HUBERT SMALLS: Um, hey everybody. We’re back here in the Cool Zone, where I get to talk to cool guests about cool thangs in the Alpha Rasslin Empires. Last time in the Cool Land...um...Zone, sorry ‘bout that...I had Bang Bang Bindy here and she did good, but Tail was being bad so I hope he don’t do that again. Okay, Tail?
Hubert looks directly at the cat, who does not respond at all. Breathing a sigh of relief, he wipes his brow with his forehead in confidence that T.E. would not take this additional opportunity to talk like he did in the last installment.
HUBERT SMALLS: Okay, thenks. So today I got someone here who is cool too, but she did a not neice thing to Bang Bang Bindy on the last Mascara. But I know sometimes in rasslin’ you have some kind of explaining nation to what you done did to people, so I wanted to give her a chance to explain herself on the Cool Zone. So ladies and men, please welcome Ana Hayden to the show.
Unfortunately for Hubert, even his charm cannot prompt the Des Moines audience to show her any other welcome but a rousing chorus of boos and jeers. Hubert, perplexed, shrugs his shoulders as Ana merely smiles at the reaction.
HUBERT SMALLS: Um, Ana, can you tell us why you beat up Bindy for no reason when she came to be your friend?
The Cat Daddy holds the microphone up to the MVP of the AWE, which accidentally goes up her nose. He quickly pulls it down and allows her to speak.
ANA HAYDEN: Thanks, Hubie! I had a booger up there that I was dying to pick out. And that’s a very valid question you just asked: I know you had to spend a lot of time to work up the courage to ask me, and I appreciate you being direct. So, in order to answer your question -- why did I attack Bing Bong Bindy two weeks ago in Miliee-Waukae, which is Algonquin for ‘The Good Land…’?
Ana pauses momentarily, and reaches into the front pocket of her flannel shirt. Out of it she retrieves a tiny pair of spectacles and a tiny paisley clip-on tie. With care, she slowly slips the eyeglasses onto the face of Tail Earnhardt, and attaches the tie to his collar.
ANA HAYDEN: I’ve been advised by my attorney, T. Cochran Earnhardt, Esquire of the Earnhardt and Fourth Wall Law Firm, that all questions are to be directed to him.
Hubert, not surprisingly at this point, is a little perplexed at this turn of events yet completely buys into the line that Ana has just fed him. He rubs his mustache and without missing a beat, moves the microphone down to Ana’s legal counsel.
HUBERT SMALLS: Um, Mr. Earnhardt, your honor -- I didn’t even know you done had a law diploma, but I reckon Ana says I gotta ask you then. Why did your clientele decide to attack our friend Bindy on the last Mascara?
T. COCHRAN EARNHARDT, ESQ. (or Ana Hayden in a gravely masculine voice): Mr. Smalls, it’s very simple. My client was merely acting in self-defense based on the blatant initial ASSAULT by one Ms. Trent.
Now things have gotten a little more weird, as the AWE audience begins to boo the words of someone pretending to voice a cat who claims to have a license to practice law.
T. COCHRAN EARNHARDT, ESQ.: Now now now! While the footage does show my client GENTLY taking down Ms. Trent, this was a direct result of injuries suffered by Ms. Hayden, and not only do we have video proof of this, I fully intend to use this as evidence to file a civil claim so that my client can be compensated justly for her pain and suffering! Ms. Kassandrah: I have begun my exploratory process and have discovered that the Alpha Wrestling Empire has quite the liability insurance policy, and trust me when I say that we will NOT settle for a measly one-million in limits. The AWE will be known as the Ana Wrestling Empire when I am done...
HUBERT SMALLS: Wait a minute!
Hubert promptly interrupts the Cochran Cat, intelligently calling said evidence into scrutiny.
HUBERT SMALLS: Bindy ain’t do nothin’ to Ana!
T. COCHRAN EARNHARDT, ESQ.: Oh, DIDN’T she? Production staff, please roll the footage, and I would ask that you, Mr. Smalls and the rest of the jury pay close attention.
The crowd starts getting restless, jeering, but finally Ana throws open her arms to embrace Bindy in a hug. The crowd reacts with elation and Bindy practically jumps into Ana’s arms.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Huge reaction from the crowd as these two have buried the hatchet!
BRAD STOKES: Bindy’s stealing my girl though, dude.
Patting her friend on the back, Bindy…
T. COCHRAN EARNHARDT, ESQ.: RIGHT THERE. An open-handed strike to my client’s trapezius, just after she had experienced extensive trauma from her match against Dom DiBona. Not to mention her LEAP directly into my client when she had been ACUTELY AWARE that she had just twisted her knee only moments before. This is blatant assault as well as negligence on the part of AWE management and officiating staff for allowing the defendant to enter the premises of the ring. And don’t think you will be getting off scot-free, Mr. BRADLEY STOKES. I have justifiable cause to slap you with an injunction based on your sexually-charged commentary, so you can expect a subpoena in the mail very soon.
To reinforce his seriousness, Ana directs the paw of Tail to point towards the camera in the general direction of the announce table.
Meanwhile, Hubert, too awe-struck and somewhat conscious of the fact that he has ZERO skills when it comes to debating an “attorney” tries to sputter his defense.
HUBERT SMALLS: Bu...bu...she didn’t kno…
T. COCHRAN EARNHARDT, ESQ: The prosecution rests, Mr. Smalls. Case clo...
HUBERT SMALLS: BUT BINDY didn’t hit her hard, and Ana gave her a DDP and hit her with the belt and…
T. COCHRAN EARNHARDT, ESQ: OBJECTION! Self-defense. My client had to act in self-defense to prevent her from suffering further injury. And she was merely SHOWING the belt to Ms. Trent due to the fact that she would never be able to see it up close due to her being a competitor in the Resilience Division.
Hubert frowns and looks down at his feet, shuffling them momentarily. After a brief moment, he puts the microphone back up to his face.
HUBERT SMALLS: I...I reckon that makes sense. Sometimes when someone hurts you you gotta hurt back in resling, ‘cause that is what you gotta do sometimes.
There is an audible groan from the surrounding area, as it seems as though a talking animal posing as an attorney may have actually convinced him of Ana’s innocence. With that, Ana decides to break her silience.
ANA HAYDEN: Mr. Earnhardt, may I say something to Hubert directly? Non-case related, of course.
The cat remains expressionless.
T. COCHRAN EARNHARDT, ESQ.: I’ll allow it.
ANA HAYDEN: Thank you.
Removing the eyeglasses and LIL tie, she puts the accessories back in her pocket and hands the cat back to Hubert, who cradles him accordingly. She motions to be handed the “microphone” and addresses him.
ANA HAYDEN: Listen, Hubes, I want you to know that the people I consider my friends: you, for instance, I would NEVER try to hurt!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
ANA HAYDEN: And the truth is, Bindy attacked me because she was jealous of my success. That’s what she does. She befriends people who are just plain better than her only to jump in their arms and try to end their career so that SHE can move up the ladder. And Hubert, that’s exactly what she plans to do to you.
HUBERT SMALLS: She...she does?
ANA HAYDEN: She does. But the one thing she didn’t count on is you having friends like me, Bren, Cosman, and Traveler to warn you about her evil ways before she has the chance! Because Hubes...look at me…
Hubert turns his eyes up to Ana, who moves in close and utters with “sincerity.”
ANA HAYDEN: I’m never gonna give you up. Never gonna let you down. Never gonna turn around and desert you. Never gonna make you cry. Never gonna say goodbye. Never gonna tell a lie, and hurt you.
Ana turns toward the camera with a shit-eating grin on her face.
ANA HAYDEN: I just wrote that like five minutes ago.
With this, Hubert takes a small step back, still holding fast to his cat. He appears to be mulling over Ana’s words. Gingerly, he walks up to the microphone that she still holds, speaking directly into it (despite the need to do so.)
HUBERT SMALLS: I...I still don’t know. I gotta go now.
And with this, Hubert walks off of the “set” of the Kool Zone with Tail Earnhardt to go dress for his match. As he leaves abruptly, Ana simply nods her head while the noise in the background continues to voice a disapproving tone.
ANA HAYDEN: Best legal mind in the business, I tell you...
"Country Fine" James Radford VS. Anastasia Hayden
NINA APPLEBAUM: And we’re back at ringside.
BRAD STOKES: Stunning revelations there, Nina. Is the cat suing me… or…. Like how does that work? Do I counter sue? Can I just have the cat put down before the trial? I mean, you know, if we weren’t such good pals and all in spite of our legal spats?
NINA APPLEBAUM: I really don’t think you should put too much stock into what that “cat” just said, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: You heard him, Nina. Why would Tail lie?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Because that wasn’t Tail Earnhardt, but Ana Hayden pretending to speak FOR Tail Earnhardt?
BRAD STOKES: ….wat?
NINA APPLEBAUM: You’re serious?
BRAD STOKES: ….wat?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Okay, while Bradley sorts that fact out in his mind we look in the ring where we see one James Radford, but no Ana Hayden.
BRAD STOKES: Radford’s real though, right? Or am I just imagining that, too? Are you real?
NINA APPLEBAUM: OW! Quit poking me! I’m real!
BRAD STOKES: Better be. I’m no longer playing any games.
Inside the ring, James Radford is waiting in his corner, eyeing the ring ramp, looking out into the crowd where a mild boredom has begun to set in. Lights flicker.
BRAD STOKES: Stunning revelations there, Nina. Is the cat suing me… or…. Like how does that work? Do I counter sue? Can I just have the cat put down before the trial? I mean, you know, if we weren’t such good pals and all in spite of our legal spats?
NINA APPLEBAUM: I really don’t think you should put too much stock into what that “cat” just said, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: You heard him, Nina. Why would Tail lie?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Because that wasn’t Tail Earnhardt, but Ana Hayden pretending to speak FOR Tail Earnhardt?
BRAD STOKES: ….wat?
NINA APPLEBAUM: You’re serious?
BRAD STOKES: ….wat?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Okay, while Bradley sorts that fact out in his mind we look in the ring where we see one James Radford, but no Ana Hayden.
BRAD STOKES: Radford’s real though, right? Or am I just imagining that, too? Are you real?
NINA APPLEBAUM: OW! Quit poking me! I’m real!
BRAD STOKES: Better be. I’m no longer playing any games.
Inside the ring, James Radford is waiting in his corner, eyeing the ring ramp, looking out into the crowd where a mild boredom has begun to set in. Lights flicker.
--The feed inexplicably cuts --
.
..
…
….
...
..
.
BRAD STOKES: --no damn entrance again. Who keeps doing that?!
NINA APPLEBAUM: We’re back fans after another brief broadcast interruption.
We’re back and Radford looks fed up in the ring, the crowd does as well as lights flicker momentarily once more before Radford finally rolls himself out of the ring and stomps up the ramp to a flurry of boos.
BRAD STOKES: And now Stetson Hat here is leaving, What the hell?!
NINA APPLEBAUM: James Radford may not be leaving, Bradley… he looks like a man on a mission. This is a no-disqualification match that has yet to begin… James Radford may be aiming to find his opponent and bring the fight to wherever she is.
Indeed, James Radford, even in the midst of the hail of boos from the crowd, steps up the ramp with determination and steps through the entry way. The cameras follow him backstage where James strides down the hallway on a direct route to Ana Hayden’s dressing room.
NINA APPLEBAUM: We’re following James Radford now as he is looking for his scheduled opponent, Ana Hayden.
BRAD STOKES: She’s probably conferring with her legal counsel away from prying eyes. I'm probably gonna get so sued I start living like Dom Lawson.
Radford rounds a corner and is suddenly contained within a trash bin that Ana Hayden has dumped right down on top of him!
NINA APPLEBAUM: AH! There’s Ana Hayden!
BRAD STOKES: SHE GOTEM!
DING! DING! DING!
A roar from the crowd as Ana Hayden begins unloading severe kicks into a struggling and blind James Radford who is trapped with the metal garbage can trapping his arms to his sides. Ana alternates her kicks, steering Radford into, first, the nearby wall, then she steers him towards a dressing room door where she slams a double dropkick into Radford, denting the can and slamming Radford through the door into the dressing room!
BRAD STOKES: Now we’re talking! What a way to start the show! As long as you forget about all the technical difficulties we’ve been having.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Barring those, truly this is the grudge match fans were expecting. These two have been ready to kill one another since last they faced in the finals of the Alpha Cup tournament!
BRAD STOKES: A match in which Radford cheated his way to victory, bee tee dubs.
NINA APPLEBAUM: HOWEVER you want to narrativize it, Ana Hayden and James Radford have directly and indirectly collided since Executive Action till this point right now, and we’ve evidently reached a—
The feed on the AlphaTron cuts to black and the crowd immediately boos at the unexpected interruption as the lights drop in the arena. Suddenly on the screen words flash in time to a deep, ominous voice:
BRAD STOKES: Uh…. What was that? Aside from, apparently, a Gen Now Production.
NINA APPLEBAUM: I honestly don’t know, nor do I think it bodes very well for this match.
BRAD STOKES: Someone needs to stop messing with the lights and the video if you ask me.
The lights kick back on and the feed on the AlphaTron abruptly cuts back to the fight in progress with James Radford, now free of the trash can, has airplane spun Ana Hayden right into a refreshment table. Ranch dressing and veggies have spilled everywhere, including on top of Ana Hayden. Radford runs and drops a stiff elbow into Ana’s spine! Before Radford can climb up and continue his assault, Ana traps him with a headlock and forces them both up to a stand then, with some runway in the form of the hallway, BULLDOGS Radford into the concrete floor as production crew scatter to the walls to watch the ordeal unfold.
NINA APPLEBAUM: We’re, semi, back on track now with Ana Hayden and James Radford having begun their fight backstage and it seems to be escalating.
BRAD STOKES: Ranch dressing’s everywhere. Got an Ana/Radford salad going on, hahahaha! Lame joke. I’m seriously having trouble keeping my energy up with all the interruptions. Somebody help.
NINA APPLEBAUM: We’ll have to soldier on, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: You do it. There is no snare in my headphones. There’s no snare. See? My words have no meaning or coherence. I’m dead in the water here.
Ana drags Radford to his feet and irish whips him down the hallway with enough force to send him slamming hard into a concrete wall, and charges after him leaping into a superman punch that Radford ducks out of the way of, letting Ana slam herself awkwardly into the wall and lets out a loud grunt of pain as she stumbles backward clutching her wrist.
NINA APPLEBAUM: These two combatants have been close to killing one another before, and this match looks no different!
Radford slams a knee into Ana’s stunned face, knocking her backwards then its his turn to irish whip her into a nearby set of double doors and before we know it we’re out into the parking lot!
BRAD STOKES: Man, I wish we could work outside tonight.
NINA APPLEBAUM: It might rain, though.
Radford stalks after Ana who rolls down a slight ramp before climbing to her knees. Radford grabs her by the back of the head and drags her towards a parked car and slams her head off the hood setting off the car alarm before swinging her around and SMASHING Ana’s head through the driver’s side window!
BRAD STOKES: Who’s car is that? Tell me it’s Dom Lawson’s car! Please? God? If you’re there!!!!
Radford steps towards Ana who’s halfway inside the car before she donkey kicks Radford backward, pulls herself, bloody gashes on her face and all, out of the window and surprisingly enziguri kicks Radford down to the pavement!
NINA APPLEBAUM: I, for one, appreciate the dedication of Theo Refano who has followed these two warriors the entire time ready to step in to call this match at any moment!
Ana angrily slams Radford’s head off the pavement before dragging him up to his feet and slamming him into that same car, the impact caving in the rear passenger door. Ana charges Radford and leaps into the air for a double knee drop but Radford rolls out of the way and Ana screams in pain at dropping her knees on the pavement. Both she and Radford are down and out in obvious pain, both bloodied, yet neither willing to relent. Ana slams her fist down into Radford as he struggles to sit up, before he slams a forearm into Ana that bowls her over. Radford struggles to his feet, clearly having trouble standing as he lays stomps down onto Ana who swiftly sends both feet up into Radford’s midsection and knocks him backward.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Amazingly, these two are still ploughing ahead in the face of what must be insurmountable pain.
BRAD STOKES: Are you kidding me? Ana’s a cyborg, and James Radford’s from the country. This is nothing these two can’t handle.
Ana claws her way back to her feet and slams Radford down to the pavement with a Russian leg sweep then leans up to slam her elbow into the back of Radford’s head, slamming him facefirst off the concrete!
BRAD STOKES: I gotta say, the level of brutality here is making me find my groove again. Keep it coming, kiddies! Unkee Brad’s ready to rock!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Finally!
Ana sluggishly rises to her knees, in pain and struggling, she forces a very much in the same boat James Radford over onto his back and she goes for the cover. Like a regular Johnny-on-the-spot, Theo Refano is there to make the count!
1…
2…
THR--!!!
NINA APPLEBAUM: So close!
Ana tiredly slides off Radford, and tries to drag him to his feet only for Radford to knock her off her feet with an improvised chop block that drops her nearly onto his shoulders. Radford powers up with what must be the last of his strength and reverse spinebusters Ana into the pavement!!!
BRAD STOKES: IS SHE DEAD?!?!? NO MORE LAWSUIT?! THE LAWSUIT CAN’T EXIST IF HE KILLS HER, RIGHT?!
Radford lays there on the pavement vaguely on top of a facedown Ana, both of them panting, clearly conscious though also clearly out of energy.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Not dead, Bradley… but… possibly very close.
Radford uses every ounce of his strength to roll Ana Hayden over and drape an arm over her! Theo Refano slides in, awkwardly, for the cover!
1…
2..
THRE-e
NINA APPLEBAUM: NO! KICKOUT! NO WAIT! YES!
BRAD STOKES: That’s confusing!
Ana Hayden’s kickout came just barely as the official’s hand slapped the pavement!
DING! DING! DING!
NINA APPLEBAUM: We have a winner!
BRAD STOKES: Just barely!
NINA APPLEBAUM: And without any interferences from Gen Now as that earlier video Tron interruption package would have suggested!
Radford rolls onto his back panting loudly as Ana Hayden struggles to roll to her side.
NINA APPLEBAUM: What a battle! These two never disappoint!
BRAD STOKES: Unless, like me, you wanted them to die. Which case, they always disappoint, but CHECK IT OUT, NINA! NO interruptions! This bodes well for the rest of our show.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Or you just jinxed it, lawsuit boy…
NINA APPLEBAUM: We’re back fans after another brief broadcast interruption.
We’re back and Radford looks fed up in the ring, the crowd does as well as lights flicker momentarily once more before Radford finally rolls himself out of the ring and stomps up the ramp to a flurry of boos.
BRAD STOKES: And now Stetson Hat here is leaving, What the hell?!
NINA APPLEBAUM: James Radford may not be leaving, Bradley… he looks like a man on a mission. This is a no-disqualification match that has yet to begin… James Radford may be aiming to find his opponent and bring the fight to wherever she is.
Indeed, James Radford, even in the midst of the hail of boos from the crowd, steps up the ramp with determination and steps through the entry way. The cameras follow him backstage where James strides down the hallway on a direct route to Ana Hayden’s dressing room.
NINA APPLEBAUM: We’re following James Radford now as he is looking for his scheduled opponent, Ana Hayden.
BRAD STOKES: She’s probably conferring with her legal counsel away from prying eyes. I'm probably gonna get so sued I start living like Dom Lawson.
Radford rounds a corner and is suddenly contained within a trash bin that Ana Hayden has dumped right down on top of him!
NINA APPLEBAUM: AH! There’s Ana Hayden!
BRAD STOKES: SHE GOTEM!
DING! DING! DING!
A roar from the crowd as Ana Hayden begins unloading severe kicks into a struggling and blind James Radford who is trapped with the metal garbage can trapping his arms to his sides. Ana alternates her kicks, steering Radford into, first, the nearby wall, then she steers him towards a dressing room door where she slams a double dropkick into Radford, denting the can and slamming Radford through the door into the dressing room!
BRAD STOKES: Now we’re talking! What a way to start the show! As long as you forget about all the technical difficulties we’ve been having.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Barring those, truly this is the grudge match fans were expecting. These two have been ready to kill one another since last they faced in the finals of the Alpha Cup tournament!
BRAD STOKES: A match in which Radford cheated his way to victory, bee tee dubs.
NINA APPLEBAUM: HOWEVER you want to narrativize it, Ana Hayden and James Radford have directly and indirectly collided since Executive Action till this point right now, and we’ve evidently reached a—
The feed on the AlphaTron cuts to black and the crowd immediately boos at the unexpected interruption as the lights drop in the arena. Suddenly on the screen words flash in time to a deep, ominous voice:
This is *garbled* speaking...
This is *garbled* speaking...
This is
G-G-G-Gen Now
*Deeper* GEN NOW
GEN now!
This is a GEN NOW production.
This is *garbled* speaking...
This is
G-G-G-Gen Now
*Deeper* GEN NOW
GEN now!
This is a GEN NOW production.
BRAD STOKES: Uh…. What was that? Aside from, apparently, a Gen Now Production.
NINA APPLEBAUM: I honestly don’t know, nor do I think it bodes very well for this match.
BRAD STOKES: Someone needs to stop messing with the lights and the video if you ask me.
The lights kick back on and the feed on the AlphaTron abruptly cuts back to the fight in progress with James Radford, now free of the trash can, has airplane spun Ana Hayden right into a refreshment table. Ranch dressing and veggies have spilled everywhere, including on top of Ana Hayden. Radford runs and drops a stiff elbow into Ana’s spine! Before Radford can climb up and continue his assault, Ana traps him with a headlock and forces them both up to a stand then, with some runway in the form of the hallway, BULLDOGS Radford into the concrete floor as production crew scatter to the walls to watch the ordeal unfold.
NINA APPLEBAUM: We’re, semi, back on track now with Ana Hayden and James Radford having begun their fight backstage and it seems to be escalating.
BRAD STOKES: Ranch dressing’s everywhere. Got an Ana/Radford salad going on, hahahaha! Lame joke. I’m seriously having trouble keeping my energy up with all the interruptions. Somebody help.
NINA APPLEBAUM: We’ll have to soldier on, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: You do it. There is no snare in my headphones. There’s no snare. See? My words have no meaning or coherence. I’m dead in the water here.
Ana drags Radford to his feet and irish whips him down the hallway with enough force to send him slamming hard into a concrete wall, and charges after him leaping into a superman punch that Radford ducks out of the way of, letting Ana slam herself awkwardly into the wall and lets out a loud grunt of pain as she stumbles backward clutching her wrist.
NINA APPLEBAUM: These two combatants have been close to killing one another before, and this match looks no different!
Radford slams a knee into Ana’s stunned face, knocking her backwards then its his turn to irish whip her into a nearby set of double doors and before we know it we’re out into the parking lot!
BRAD STOKES: Man, I wish we could work outside tonight.
NINA APPLEBAUM: It might rain, though.
Radford stalks after Ana who rolls down a slight ramp before climbing to her knees. Radford grabs her by the back of the head and drags her towards a parked car and slams her head off the hood setting off the car alarm before swinging her around and SMASHING Ana’s head through the driver’s side window!
BRAD STOKES: Who’s car is that? Tell me it’s Dom Lawson’s car! Please? God? If you’re there!!!!
Radford steps towards Ana who’s halfway inside the car before she donkey kicks Radford backward, pulls herself, bloody gashes on her face and all, out of the window and surprisingly enziguri kicks Radford down to the pavement!
NINA APPLEBAUM: I, for one, appreciate the dedication of Theo Refano who has followed these two warriors the entire time ready to step in to call this match at any moment!
Ana angrily slams Radford’s head off the pavement before dragging him up to his feet and slamming him into that same car, the impact caving in the rear passenger door. Ana charges Radford and leaps into the air for a double knee drop but Radford rolls out of the way and Ana screams in pain at dropping her knees on the pavement. Both she and Radford are down and out in obvious pain, both bloodied, yet neither willing to relent. Ana slams her fist down into Radford as he struggles to sit up, before he slams a forearm into Ana that bowls her over. Radford struggles to his feet, clearly having trouble standing as he lays stomps down onto Ana who swiftly sends both feet up into Radford’s midsection and knocks him backward.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Amazingly, these two are still ploughing ahead in the face of what must be insurmountable pain.
BRAD STOKES: Are you kidding me? Ana’s a cyborg, and James Radford’s from the country. This is nothing these two can’t handle.
Ana claws her way back to her feet and slams Radford down to the pavement with a Russian leg sweep then leans up to slam her elbow into the back of Radford’s head, slamming him facefirst off the concrete!
BRAD STOKES: I gotta say, the level of brutality here is making me find my groove again. Keep it coming, kiddies! Unkee Brad’s ready to rock!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Finally!
Ana sluggishly rises to her knees, in pain and struggling, she forces a very much in the same boat James Radford over onto his back and she goes for the cover. Like a regular Johnny-on-the-spot, Theo Refano is there to make the count!
1…
2…
THR--!!!
NINA APPLEBAUM: So close!
Ana tiredly slides off Radford, and tries to drag him to his feet only for Radford to knock her off her feet with an improvised chop block that drops her nearly onto his shoulders. Radford powers up with what must be the last of his strength and reverse spinebusters Ana into the pavement!!!
BRAD STOKES: IS SHE DEAD?!?!? NO MORE LAWSUIT?! THE LAWSUIT CAN’T EXIST IF HE KILLS HER, RIGHT?!
Radford lays there on the pavement vaguely on top of a facedown Ana, both of them panting, clearly conscious though also clearly out of energy.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Not dead, Bradley… but… possibly very close.
Radford uses every ounce of his strength to roll Ana Hayden over and drape an arm over her! Theo Refano slides in, awkwardly, for the cover!
1…
2..
THRE-e
NINA APPLEBAUM: NO! KICKOUT! NO WAIT! YES!
BRAD STOKES: That’s confusing!
Ana Hayden’s kickout came just barely as the official’s hand slapped the pavement!
DING! DING! DING!
NINA APPLEBAUM: We have a winner!
BRAD STOKES: Just barely!
NINA APPLEBAUM: And without any interferences from Gen Now as that earlier video Tron interruption package would have suggested!
Radford rolls onto his back panting loudly as Ana Hayden struggles to roll to her side.
NINA APPLEBAUM: What a battle! These two never disappoint!
BRAD STOKES: Unless, like me, you wanted them to die. Which case, they always disappoint, but CHECK IT OUT, NINA! NO interruptions! This bodes well for the rest of our show.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Or you just jinxed it, lawsuit boy…
The AWE Audio-visual team consists of two lead engineers, one for audio, and one for visuals and lighting. Winston is a 56 year old whiz with audio manipulation and nearly 30 years of sound mixing and engineering experience to draw from. It’s him you’re hearing when anything pumps through the speakers or is spoken through a microphone. Thomas is a 40 year old electrician and amateur filmmaker with nearly 300 credits to his name in the film and television industry. They work well together. Working under them are a varying team of assistants who aren’t dedicated to working solely for the audio-visual team, but tonight, they are.
Inside the booth overlooking the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, both Winston and Thomas have furrowed brows as they inspect lines of cable, and instruct teams over headset to ensure all the lines and feeds are properly connected and going where they’re supposed to. The problem is, A) more people, like Nina Applebaum, keep contacting them trying to understand what’s going on with the lights, and the broadcast feed and the sound, and B) since the entire show relies on them, Winston and Thomas have become a sort of makeshift central Command in the face of the problems.
THOMAS: It’s fine! It’s fine, Nina! The broadcast feed won’t cut anymore. Those cameras are running on independent lines.
WINSTON: *To himself* How the hell are they hijacking the booth remotely…?
The booth is a flurry of activity until the lights in the arena go out again, and both Winston and Thomas stare out bewildered onto the arena where cell phone lights illuminate in the darkness. Even Thomas’ headset fizzles and crackles, and interrupts his connection with Nina Applebaum at the announce booth. The two men look at each other in the darkness and shake their heads, having never encountered this before. And then Winston’s cell phone buzzes. He reads the display and looks with a grimace to Thomas before answering.
WINSTON: Hello?
He has to pull the phone away from his ear Kassandrah’s voice is so loud.
KASSANDRAH: WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON DOWN THERE?!
WINSTON: Look, Kass—
KASSANDRAH: DON’T CALL ME KASS. WHO IS RUINING MY SHOW?
Thomas looks to his audio-visual partner and shakes his head piteously, half glad its not him having to deal with a boss who’s grown increasingly less patient over the past few weeks.
WINSTON: We don’t know who’s doing that.
KASSANDRAH: Well, why not?!
WINSTON: It doesn’t make much sense, boss. It’s like we’re being haunted or something.
Winston chuckles at his attempt at lightening the mood. Silence on the other end, he can almost hear her fuming.
KASSANDRAH: Are you and your partner doing that? Are you two fucking with me?
WINSTON: I assure you, we’re not. Someone’s commandeering the board over here. We’re working on it.
KASSANDRAH: You damn well better be! Find out who’s doing that and kick them out of the building or YOU will be kicked out of the building.
And she hung up. Winston rolled his eyes and slid his phone back into his jeans pocket.
WINSTON: Her true colors show, I guess.
THOMAS: Yep.
The house lights come back on independently.
WINSTON: Here we go.
They slide up to the booth, shrugging off the unpleasantness of a boss who, previously, had seemed so pleasant and amicable. Thomas checks his earpiece.
THOMAS: Yeah. Nina? We’re back up. *Pause* We’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. We’re trying, okay? It’s like someone hacked us, you know? Trying to fix it.
After a moment a knowing chuckle, Nina Applebaum is always easygoing.
THOMAS: Yep. You too. Get your boots on, we’re going into a ditch. Laughter Good luck!
And we cut back to ringside.
Inside the booth overlooking the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, both Winston and Thomas have furrowed brows as they inspect lines of cable, and instruct teams over headset to ensure all the lines and feeds are properly connected and going where they’re supposed to. The problem is, A) more people, like Nina Applebaum, keep contacting them trying to understand what’s going on with the lights, and the broadcast feed and the sound, and B) since the entire show relies on them, Winston and Thomas have become a sort of makeshift central Command in the face of the problems.
THOMAS: It’s fine! It’s fine, Nina! The broadcast feed won’t cut anymore. Those cameras are running on independent lines.
WINSTON: *To himself* How the hell are they hijacking the booth remotely…?
The booth is a flurry of activity until the lights in the arena go out again, and both Winston and Thomas stare out bewildered onto the arena where cell phone lights illuminate in the darkness. Even Thomas’ headset fizzles and crackles, and interrupts his connection with Nina Applebaum at the announce booth. The two men look at each other in the darkness and shake their heads, having never encountered this before. And then Winston’s cell phone buzzes. He reads the display and looks with a grimace to Thomas before answering.
WINSTON: Hello?
He has to pull the phone away from his ear Kassandrah’s voice is so loud.
KASSANDRAH: WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON DOWN THERE?!
WINSTON: Look, Kass—
KASSANDRAH: DON’T CALL ME KASS. WHO IS RUINING MY SHOW?
Thomas looks to his audio-visual partner and shakes his head piteously, half glad its not him having to deal with a boss who’s grown increasingly less patient over the past few weeks.
WINSTON: We don’t know who’s doing that.
KASSANDRAH: Well, why not?!
WINSTON: It doesn’t make much sense, boss. It’s like we’re being haunted or something.
Winston chuckles at his attempt at lightening the mood. Silence on the other end, he can almost hear her fuming.
KASSANDRAH: Are you and your partner doing that? Are you two fucking with me?
WINSTON: I assure you, we’re not. Someone’s commandeering the board over here. We’re working on it.
KASSANDRAH: You damn well better be! Find out who’s doing that and kick them out of the building or YOU will be kicked out of the building.
And she hung up. Winston rolled his eyes and slid his phone back into his jeans pocket.
WINSTON: Her true colors show, I guess.
THOMAS: Yep.
The house lights come back on independently.
WINSTON: Here we go.
They slide up to the booth, shrugging off the unpleasantness of a boss who, previously, had seemed so pleasant and amicable. Thomas checks his earpiece.
THOMAS: Yeah. Nina? We’re back up. *Pause* We’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. We’re trying, okay? It’s like someone hacked us, you know? Trying to fix it.
After a moment a knowing chuckle, Nina Applebaum is always easygoing.
THOMAS: Yep. You too. Get your boots on, we’re going into a ditch. Laughter Good luck!
And we cut back to ringside.
Hubert Smalls VS. Jessie Roberts
NINA APPLEBAUM: And we’re back, thankfully, where, inside the ring stands two of, quite possibly, the most amiable roster members stand, set and ready to square off.
BRAD STOKES: The cat is at ringside, and has yet to pay me even the slightest, vaguest hint of attention, Nina. It’s over. The friendship is dead.
NINA APPLEBAUM: It’s a cat, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: Oh yeah. Right. We covered this. I forgot cause of all the distractions. Really glad those are done, though.
NINA APPLEBAUM: So far so good, Bradley. If you’re just joining us, fight fans, we were, earlier, experiencing some technical difficulties—
BRAD STOKES: Looked to me like Gen Now had hijacked our feed, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: That may be, but doubtful. For now, we’re looking in the ring, where Hubert Smalls and Jessie Roberts are set to face off!
DING! DING! DING!
NINA APPLEBAUM: And we’re off, but Hubert Smalls does not look like he wants to be in that ring right now.
BRAD STOKES: Of course he doesn’t. Jessie’s in front of her hometown crowd, Hubert’s looking down the cross hairs of a woman in kill mode.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Well, actually, if you’d been paying attention, you’d know that Hubert sent a message to Jessie stating he was prepared to let Jessie win this match, a fact Jessie herself hasn’t responded to overly positively.
BRAD STOKES: Would you? Hubert’s gonna throw this match? Should I go get the cat? You know, to help him really crash and burn like old times?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Leave it alone, Bradley. Call the match!
In the ring, Hubert has arms open with a look of innocent surrender at Jessie who stands there eyeing Hubert unsure of whether he’s literally just toying with her or if he’s serious. The crowd is cheering and encouraging her to take a swing, the other half is urging her to walk away. Hubert invites Jessie to hit him sincerely. Jessie looks out to the fans, unsure what to do.
BRAD STOKES: HIT HIM! DESTROY HIM! I HATE HIS ATTITUDE! HE’S TOO NICE, AND I HATE IT.
NINA APPLEBAUM: That’s not very nice, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: This all started when they mentioned suing me in that segment, Nina. Hubert started it. I'm the one who'll finish it.
The crowd is a mixed bag as Jessie and Hubert eye one another down, Hubert clearly leaving the door wide open. He’s just about to lay down on the canvas when Jessie stuns him with a sudden backhand that forces Hubert to back up.
BRAD STOKES: WHOA! That arm of hers comes loaded!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Hubert was not expecting that.
Jessie winces as Hubert looks stunned. Jessie’s ready for retaliation but nothing happens. Hubert shakes his head, denying any retribution. Jessie swings again with a hard knife-edge chop to Hubert’s bare chest backs him up again and Jessie lifts her fists, ready for Hubert to fight! Instead, he lays down one the canvas and invites Jessie to pin him!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Unbelievable! Hubert Smalls is willing to sacrifice this match to ensure his friendship remains with Jessie Roberts!
Again the crowd roars as Jessie is unsure what to do, looking down at Hubert who is willingly inviting her to make the pin, no questions asked!
BRAD STOKES: She has the easiest pin in the world right here, right in front of her, and she’s not taking it, is she high?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Jessie Roberts is one of the good ones, Bradley. She’s not willing to accept this win if she doesn’t earn it!
BRAD STOKES: You know what we call people like that in the wrestling industry, Nina? Losers. That’s what.
Jessie stands over the downed Hubert and shakes her head, she won’t do it. She backs away amid boos. Jessie backs herself into her corner, resolute. Hubert sits up and eyes her, pleading almost to pin him, but she refuses. Slowly, Hubert gets an idea and slides under the ring ropes.
NINA APPLEBAUM: He’s going to try to get himself counted out!
Jessie moves to the center of the ring and watches as Hubert stands on the outside. Beside Jessie Theo Refano shrugs and begins to count.
1!
BRAD STOKES: Booooooring.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Well what was management thinking pitting these two against each other like that?!
2!!
BRAD STOKES: They wanted to see two friends kill each other, what’s wrong with that?
NINA APPLEBAUM: I’m sure you would approve!
3!!
Jessie frowns through the ring ropes to the outside at Hubert who remains innocent and serene as ever.
4!!
Begrudgingly, Jessie slides swiftly out of the ring and prompts Hubert once more with a vicious knife edge chop that stuns him backward then she rolls him right back into the ring!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Jessie Roberts really wants Hubert to justify this match!
BRAD STOKES: Shame he won’t do it cause he’s lame!
Jessie rolls into the ring and hurries a kick into Hubert’s side to prod him up to his knees. Down the ramp, met with a pop from the crowd comes Trevor Miller and Cosmo Cooper of Gen Now.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Uh oh! What are they doing here?
BRAD STOKES: Turning this match from 0 to 11, hopefully.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Or making good on those earlier warnings from those interruptions.
BRAD STOKES: Right. So what you’re saying is that now is not the time to cheer for these guys. Booooo! You guys suck!
As Jessie confronts Hubert with some words encouraging him to fight back, Cosmo heads straight for the cat carrier, unseen by Hubert Smalls. Jessie sees, though, and disengages from Hubert and moves quickly to slide under the ropes to confront Cosmo who is backing his way slowly up the ramp with the cat carrier.
Theo Refano wastes no time starting the count.
1!
NINA APPLEBAUM: What on earth is going on?! Cosmo is taking Tail Earnhardt?!
BRAD STOKES: Probably owes him money.
2!
Meanwhile Trevor Miller has climbed onto the ring apron, right in between the view of Hubert and the ramp where his cat is being led away with Jessie in pursuit. Trevor distracts Hubert with small talk and comforting chit-chat. Hubert likes friendship over conflict.
3!
BRAD STOKES: The interference by Trevor Miller, and the buttonhook pattern by Cosmo seems to be working, but what’s their game here? This ain’t football, Nina.
4!
Jessie is trying to negotiate with Cosmo to give the cat carrier to her, but he has a wry smile on his face as he refuses to give up the cat carrier.
5!
ON the ring ring apron, Trevor is giving Hubert some wrestling pointers.
NINA APPLEBAUM: I honestly have no idea how to call this match, right now.
BRAD STOKES: It’s easy: It’s called Gen Now has decided to interfere in the entire show for some reason and we all have no choice but to sit here and take it and it's humiliating.
6!
Jessie is careful not to disturb Tail Earnhardt, and cautious to engage Cosmo as he continues to keep his distance, slowly backing his way up the ramp.
7!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Someone needs to get Gen Now out of here, they have no business being at ringside.
BRAD STOKES: They seem to disagree.
8!
Cosmo is near the entrance as Jessie is torn between going back to the ring and maintaing her attempted rescue of Tail Earnhardt from Cosmo’s clutches. He seems to be assuring her he won’t hurt the cat, but Jessie doesn’t trust. Trevor Miller continues the conversation with an easily distracted Hubert.
9!
NINA APPLEBAUM: This is despicable!
Jessie remains torn, turned sideways, one part of her ready to rush down to the ring, the other not willing to let Cosmo escape with Tail’s cat. Cosmo momentarily looks into the crowd, giving Jessie an opening to swiftly pry the cat carrier from his hands!
10!
DING! DING! DING!
BRAD STOKES: At least she secured the cat carrier!
Cosmo double-times it backstage as Jessie is left holding the cat carrier and looking down to ringside where Trevor Miller has rolled conveniently off the apron and makes his way up the ramp while Hubert stands in the ring dumbfounded as “Let’s Here it For the Boy” by Deniece Williams plays.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: Here is your winner… by Disqualification…. HUBERT…. SMALLLLSSSSSS!!!
BRAD STOKES: Pretty big win there for Hubert, gotta hand it to him.
NINA APPLEBAUM: No you don’t! That entire match never happened and turned farcical the second Gen Now got involved.
BRAD STOKES: I’d kindly ask you to stop filling these airwaves with facts, please?
Jessie Is absolutely confused and frustrated as she looks down into the ring at Hubert who is confused as to why she has his cat carrier. She moves quickly down to the ring where he exits to meet her.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Now they’re going to fight?!
It’s a moment of glances between them as Jessie explains to Hubert what happened away from the microphones and hands him back the cat carrier. Hubert takes it and cautiously checks inside to make sure Tail is okay. After a glare that hints at potential violence Hubert embraces Jessie!
BRAD STOKES: Awwww. They can’t even disagree right, dammit! This has got to be the weirdest Massacre I’ve ever had the dishonor of attending.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Well, it ended well, I guess.
BRAD STOKES: No it didn’t! Look at them! Hugging?! This isn’t Woodstock, Nina. It’s Massacre. He better stab her or something.
Unfortunately for Brad, Hubert and Jessie walk up the ramp together towards the backstage area.
BRAD STOKES: Someone kill me, at least. Spare me this indignity.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Unfortunately, the best I can do is have the show cut to a pre-taped segment of Tony Chu.
BRAD STOKES: That’ll be fine.
BRAD STOKES: The cat is at ringside, and has yet to pay me even the slightest, vaguest hint of attention, Nina. It’s over. The friendship is dead.
NINA APPLEBAUM: It’s a cat, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: Oh yeah. Right. We covered this. I forgot cause of all the distractions. Really glad those are done, though.
NINA APPLEBAUM: So far so good, Bradley. If you’re just joining us, fight fans, we were, earlier, experiencing some technical difficulties—
BRAD STOKES: Looked to me like Gen Now had hijacked our feed, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: That may be, but doubtful. For now, we’re looking in the ring, where Hubert Smalls and Jessie Roberts are set to face off!
DING! DING! DING!
NINA APPLEBAUM: And we’re off, but Hubert Smalls does not look like he wants to be in that ring right now.
BRAD STOKES: Of course he doesn’t. Jessie’s in front of her hometown crowd, Hubert’s looking down the cross hairs of a woman in kill mode.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Well, actually, if you’d been paying attention, you’d know that Hubert sent a message to Jessie stating he was prepared to let Jessie win this match, a fact Jessie herself hasn’t responded to overly positively.
BRAD STOKES: Would you? Hubert’s gonna throw this match? Should I go get the cat? You know, to help him really crash and burn like old times?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Leave it alone, Bradley. Call the match!
In the ring, Hubert has arms open with a look of innocent surrender at Jessie who stands there eyeing Hubert unsure of whether he’s literally just toying with her or if he’s serious. The crowd is cheering and encouraging her to take a swing, the other half is urging her to walk away. Hubert invites Jessie to hit him sincerely. Jessie looks out to the fans, unsure what to do.
BRAD STOKES: HIT HIM! DESTROY HIM! I HATE HIS ATTITUDE! HE’S TOO NICE, AND I HATE IT.
NINA APPLEBAUM: That’s not very nice, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: This all started when they mentioned suing me in that segment, Nina. Hubert started it. I'm the one who'll finish it.
The crowd is a mixed bag as Jessie and Hubert eye one another down, Hubert clearly leaving the door wide open. He’s just about to lay down on the canvas when Jessie stuns him with a sudden backhand that forces Hubert to back up.
BRAD STOKES: WHOA! That arm of hers comes loaded!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Hubert was not expecting that.
Jessie winces as Hubert looks stunned. Jessie’s ready for retaliation but nothing happens. Hubert shakes his head, denying any retribution. Jessie swings again with a hard knife-edge chop to Hubert’s bare chest backs him up again and Jessie lifts her fists, ready for Hubert to fight! Instead, he lays down one the canvas and invites Jessie to pin him!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Unbelievable! Hubert Smalls is willing to sacrifice this match to ensure his friendship remains with Jessie Roberts!
Again the crowd roars as Jessie is unsure what to do, looking down at Hubert who is willingly inviting her to make the pin, no questions asked!
BRAD STOKES: She has the easiest pin in the world right here, right in front of her, and she’s not taking it, is she high?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Jessie Roberts is one of the good ones, Bradley. She’s not willing to accept this win if she doesn’t earn it!
BRAD STOKES: You know what we call people like that in the wrestling industry, Nina? Losers. That’s what.
Jessie stands over the downed Hubert and shakes her head, she won’t do it. She backs away amid boos. Jessie backs herself into her corner, resolute. Hubert sits up and eyes her, pleading almost to pin him, but she refuses. Slowly, Hubert gets an idea and slides under the ring ropes.
NINA APPLEBAUM: He’s going to try to get himself counted out!
Jessie moves to the center of the ring and watches as Hubert stands on the outside. Beside Jessie Theo Refano shrugs and begins to count.
1!
BRAD STOKES: Booooooring.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Well what was management thinking pitting these two against each other like that?!
2!!
BRAD STOKES: They wanted to see two friends kill each other, what’s wrong with that?
NINA APPLEBAUM: I’m sure you would approve!
3!!
Jessie frowns through the ring ropes to the outside at Hubert who remains innocent and serene as ever.
4!!
Begrudgingly, Jessie slides swiftly out of the ring and prompts Hubert once more with a vicious knife edge chop that stuns him backward then she rolls him right back into the ring!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Jessie Roberts really wants Hubert to justify this match!
BRAD STOKES: Shame he won’t do it cause he’s lame!
Jessie rolls into the ring and hurries a kick into Hubert’s side to prod him up to his knees. Down the ramp, met with a pop from the crowd comes Trevor Miller and Cosmo Cooper of Gen Now.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Uh oh! What are they doing here?
BRAD STOKES: Turning this match from 0 to 11, hopefully.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Or making good on those earlier warnings from those interruptions.
BRAD STOKES: Right. So what you’re saying is that now is not the time to cheer for these guys. Booooo! You guys suck!
As Jessie confronts Hubert with some words encouraging him to fight back, Cosmo heads straight for the cat carrier, unseen by Hubert Smalls. Jessie sees, though, and disengages from Hubert and moves quickly to slide under the ropes to confront Cosmo who is backing his way slowly up the ramp with the cat carrier.
Theo Refano wastes no time starting the count.
1!
NINA APPLEBAUM: What on earth is going on?! Cosmo is taking Tail Earnhardt?!
BRAD STOKES: Probably owes him money.
2!
Meanwhile Trevor Miller has climbed onto the ring apron, right in between the view of Hubert and the ramp where his cat is being led away with Jessie in pursuit. Trevor distracts Hubert with small talk and comforting chit-chat. Hubert likes friendship over conflict.
3!
BRAD STOKES: The interference by Trevor Miller, and the buttonhook pattern by Cosmo seems to be working, but what’s their game here? This ain’t football, Nina.
4!
Jessie is trying to negotiate with Cosmo to give the cat carrier to her, but he has a wry smile on his face as he refuses to give up the cat carrier.
5!
ON the ring ring apron, Trevor is giving Hubert some wrestling pointers.
NINA APPLEBAUM: I honestly have no idea how to call this match, right now.
BRAD STOKES: It’s easy: It’s called Gen Now has decided to interfere in the entire show for some reason and we all have no choice but to sit here and take it and it's humiliating.
6!
Jessie is careful not to disturb Tail Earnhardt, and cautious to engage Cosmo as he continues to keep his distance, slowly backing his way up the ramp.
7!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Someone needs to get Gen Now out of here, they have no business being at ringside.
BRAD STOKES: They seem to disagree.
8!
Cosmo is near the entrance as Jessie is torn between going back to the ring and maintaing her attempted rescue of Tail Earnhardt from Cosmo’s clutches. He seems to be assuring her he won’t hurt the cat, but Jessie doesn’t trust. Trevor Miller continues the conversation with an easily distracted Hubert.
9!
NINA APPLEBAUM: This is despicable!
Jessie remains torn, turned sideways, one part of her ready to rush down to the ring, the other not willing to let Cosmo escape with Tail’s cat. Cosmo momentarily looks into the crowd, giving Jessie an opening to swiftly pry the cat carrier from his hands!
10!
DING! DING! DING!
BRAD STOKES: At least she secured the cat carrier!
Cosmo double-times it backstage as Jessie is left holding the cat carrier and looking down to ringside where Trevor Miller has rolled conveniently off the apron and makes his way up the ramp while Hubert stands in the ring dumbfounded as “Let’s Here it For the Boy” by Deniece Williams plays.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: Here is your winner… by Disqualification…. HUBERT…. SMALLLLSSSSSS!!!
BRAD STOKES: Pretty big win there for Hubert, gotta hand it to him.
NINA APPLEBAUM: No you don’t! That entire match never happened and turned farcical the second Gen Now got involved.
BRAD STOKES: I’d kindly ask you to stop filling these airwaves with facts, please?
Jessie Is absolutely confused and frustrated as she looks down into the ring at Hubert who is confused as to why she has his cat carrier. She moves quickly down to the ring where he exits to meet her.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Now they’re going to fight?!
It’s a moment of glances between them as Jessie explains to Hubert what happened away from the microphones and hands him back the cat carrier. Hubert takes it and cautiously checks inside to make sure Tail is okay. After a glare that hints at potential violence Hubert embraces Jessie!
BRAD STOKES: Awwww. They can’t even disagree right, dammit! This has got to be the weirdest Massacre I’ve ever had the dishonor of attending.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Well, it ended well, I guess.
BRAD STOKES: No it didn’t! Look at them! Hugging?! This isn’t Woodstock, Nina. It’s Massacre. He better stab her or something.
Unfortunately for Brad, Hubert and Jessie walk up the ramp together towards the backstage area.
BRAD STOKES: Someone kill me, at least. Spare me this indignity.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Unfortunately, the best I can do is have the show cut to a pre-taped segment of Tony Chu.
BRAD STOKES: That’ll be fine.
Recorded Earlier:
There’s a certain smell that best describes a hospital and it’s one where there isn’t really a smell, but there’s the sense that there’s a sterile substance attempting to cover up great filth. It’s that same kind of sense that the bet you’re lying in is likely one someone died in. Furthermore, that the gown you’re wearing is likely one someone died in. It’s not like they throw that shit away. In this particular hospital we find Dare Clemmens who is being hyper vigilant about keeping his hands clean and not inhaling someone’s Black Plague or perhaps eventual death. He’s in Ward B where they keep the chronically ill and he’s been directed there by a nurse who asked him to talk the inhabitant into leaving as soon as possible.
The exact way she put it was that he wasn’t actually injured or sick at all.
Also, as she puts it, he’s a bit of an asshole, too.
Dare enters the hospital room to find none other than Tony Chu in a hospital bed looking pathetic. The sound of Dare’s shoes clicking against the flooring causes Tony to jolt.
TONY CHU: Oh my god. Dare. I didn’t think you would come to visit me. Come. Let me get a better look at you child.
Tony lets out a weak and rather pathetic cough.
TONY CHU: You poor boy. I know you must be terribly lost without my guidance. Unfortunately, there is nothing we’re able to do. I’m likely...going...to...perish.
Another cough.
DARE CLEMMENS: I’m told you’re actually quite alright and need to leave this room. There are people waiting for beds, you know? I saw an old man with a chainsaw injury outside still waiting in the hallway.
TONY CHU: Oh Herb? What a whiny bitch. One small laceration via chainsaw and you own the world. Poor baby. Get over yourself.
Tony realizes that he’s showing that he’s actually quite healthy.
TONY CHU: Oh, I mean…
Tony coughs some more.
What may not be clear is that oh, about two weeks ago now, at an event also called “Massacre” Tony Chu was assaulted by a masked perpetrator. Tony was left in a heap in a bathroom stall like he had been manhandled at a circuit party. It was a whole lot of bad and it left Tony feeling like he could die at any moment. A bit gun shy, so to speak.
DARE CLEMMENS: Your health aside, I’d really like to talk to you about the money you owe me. I think it’s high time that we discuss the fact that you haven’t actually paid me yet. At first it seemed ok, for like comedic purposes, but now it’s getting ridiculous.
TONY CHU: I’m here practically dying and all you want to talk about is money? Really? This is what I represent to you now? A bank account? Can’t you see that I have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel? How are you going to feel when I buy the farm?
DARE CLEMMENS: I mean, that’s going to suck, when you die, but that’s probably not going to be for a while Asian folk live forever, right?
TONY CHU: Oh so now it’s a racial thing?
DARE CLEMMENS: We’re getting further away from the point. The point is that I want my money. I want what’s owed to me. So let’s just...cut a check...or whatever it is you do, so we can call it a day.
TONY CHU: Newsflash, there is no money. Ok? I spent it all.
Tony adjusts in his bed and hits the call button. A reasonable amount of shock overtake Dare’s expression.
DARE CLEMMENS: What do you mean there’s no money?
TONY CHU: There’s no money? More money was going out than coming in. It happens. Nothing to worry about. If I wasn’t here, I’d be sleeping in my car, but that’s not what’s important. What is important is that they think my name is Leonid Andropov and I’m Russian and have health care. So play along.
Tony gives Dare a “duh” look.
DARE CLEMMENS: I want what’s owed to me…
The nurse enters.
DARE CLEMMENS: ...Leonid…
Tony phonies up a Russian accent.
TONY CHU: I want a ginger ale! I’m suffering from a rumbly tummy!
NURSE: No one actually buys the Russian thing, you know that, right?
TONY CHU: You dare insult the great Leonid Andropov?! Get me my ginger ale at once, wench!
DARE CLEMMENS: So there’s no money?
TONY CHU: No. No money.
DARE CLEMMENS: Major bummer, dude.
The Nurse leaves as Dare just shakes his head. Tony shakes his head, not really giving a shit about Dare’s plight.
TONY CHU: Dare, there’s something I need to ask you. It’s not something I take lightly. It’s pretty important. You’re the only one who can do it.
DARE CLEMMENS: What.
TONY CHU: There’s a snack machine in the hallway and it has the Famous Amos chocolate chocolate chip cookies in it. Could you get me two packs of them? I’m so sick of hospital food.
Dare just sighs as he turns around and walks out of the room.
Fade.
The exact way she put it was that he wasn’t actually injured or sick at all.
Also, as she puts it, he’s a bit of an asshole, too.
Dare enters the hospital room to find none other than Tony Chu in a hospital bed looking pathetic. The sound of Dare’s shoes clicking against the flooring causes Tony to jolt.
TONY CHU: Oh my god. Dare. I didn’t think you would come to visit me. Come. Let me get a better look at you child.
Tony lets out a weak and rather pathetic cough.
TONY CHU: You poor boy. I know you must be terribly lost without my guidance. Unfortunately, there is nothing we’re able to do. I’m likely...going...to...perish.
Another cough.
DARE CLEMMENS: I’m told you’re actually quite alright and need to leave this room. There are people waiting for beds, you know? I saw an old man with a chainsaw injury outside still waiting in the hallway.
TONY CHU: Oh Herb? What a whiny bitch. One small laceration via chainsaw and you own the world. Poor baby. Get over yourself.
Tony realizes that he’s showing that he’s actually quite healthy.
TONY CHU: Oh, I mean…
Tony coughs some more.
What may not be clear is that oh, about two weeks ago now, at an event also called “Massacre” Tony Chu was assaulted by a masked perpetrator. Tony was left in a heap in a bathroom stall like he had been manhandled at a circuit party. It was a whole lot of bad and it left Tony feeling like he could die at any moment. A bit gun shy, so to speak.
DARE CLEMMENS: Your health aside, I’d really like to talk to you about the money you owe me. I think it’s high time that we discuss the fact that you haven’t actually paid me yet. At first it seemed ok, for like comedic purposes, but now it’s getting ridiculous.
TONY CHU: I’m here practically dying and all you want to talk about is money? Really? This is what I represent to you now? A bank account? Can’t you see that I have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel? How are you going to feel when I buy the farm?
DARE CLEMMENS: I mean, that’s going to suck, when you die, but that’s probably not going to be for a while Asian folk live forever, right?
TONY CHU: Oh so now it’s a racial thing?
DARE CLEMMENS: We’re getting further away from the point. The point is that I want my money. I want what’s owed to me. So let’s just...cut a check...or whatever it is you do, so we can call it a day.
TONY CHU: Newsflash, there is no money. Ok? I spent it all.
Tony adjusts in his bed and hits the call button. A reasonable amount of shock overtake Dare’s expression.
DARE CLEMMENS: What do you mean there’s no money?
TONY CHU: There’s no money? More money was going out than coming in. It happens. Nothing to worry about. If I wasn’t here, I’d be sleeping in my car, but that’s not what’s important. What is important is that they think my name is Leonid Andropov and I’m Russian and have health care. So play along.
Tony gives Dare a “duh” look.
DARE CLEMMENS: I want what’s owed to me…
The nurse enters.
DARE CLEMMENS: ...Leonid…
Tony phonies up a Russian accent.
TONY CHU: I want a ginger ale! I’m suffering from a rumbly tummy!
NURSE: No one actually buys the Russian thing, you know that, right?
TONY CHU: You dare insult the great Leonid Andropov?! Get me my ginger ale at once, wench!
DARE CLEMMENS: So there’s no money?
TONY CHU: No. No money.
DARE CLEMMENS: Major bummer, dude.
The Nurse leaves as Dare just shakes his head. Tony shakes his head, not really giving a shit about Dare’s plight.
TONY CHU: Dare, there’s something I need to ask you. It’s not something I take lightly. It’s pretty important. You’re the only one who can do it.
DARE CLEMMENS: What.
TONY CHU: There’s a snack machine in the hallway and it has the Famous Amos chocolate chocolate chip cookies in it. Could you get me two packs of them? I’m so sick of hospital food.
Dare just sighs as he turns around and walks out of the room.
Fade.
Cosmo Cooper VS. Kayla Wright VS. Ronnie Harris
Jumping to the ring, the next match is under way as Ronnie Harris is seen blasting Cosmo Cooper with multiple lefts and rights in the ring corner.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Welcome back, fight fans, and this match has kicked off like a firecracker!
BRAD STOKES: Not literally, though!
Cosmo eventually gets free and ducks under to throw Ronnie over the top rope. Taking a second to pose, Cooper gets his feet hooked by Harris and is dragged out of the ring. The two begin to throw punches back and forth again, but in the midst of all the action, it’s Kayla Wright who has found herself perched atop the top turnbuckle. With her two opponents focused on one another, she takes them both out with a top rope moonsault to the outside!
NINA APPLEBAUM: INCREDIBLE MOONSAULT BY KAYLA WRIGHT!
BRAD STOKES: These kids better be careful! Gen Now’s out in force tonight, and one of them is in that ring! We’ve already seen Cosmo affect one match outcome, who knows what Gen Now’s got planned next!
A “Holy Shit” chant breaks out as Kayla is the first to get up after the leap. It takes a lot of energy for her to roll Ronnie back into the ring and once she does, she tries for a pin!
ON--
NINA APPLEBAUM: It’s still way too early to put Ronnie away!
Kayla’s still disappointed with the early kick out. So disappointed that she’s completely unaware of Cosmo sliding back into the ring as he hits her with a three quarter nelson suplex, dumping Kayla right onto her head!
BRAD STOKES: Told you.
Harris gets back to his feet and comes up to surprise Cooper with a dragon suplex! But instead of following it up with a pin attempt, Ronnie just pulls his mouth guard out and grabs onto Cosmo’s foot, biting his big toe!
BRAD STOKES: I thought we were over this cannibalism thing?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Not sure… what that is.
BRAD STOKES: Is Mike Tyson dead yet? Cause Ronnie Harris may be Mike Tyson. Reincarnated, I mean.Wait, Tyson went for the ear, didn't he? Well, let me ask you this: Has Ronnie Harris ever been part of a soccer team crossing the Andes Mountain by plane?
Cooper yells out in pain and in an attempt to withstand the pain, he reaches out to Wright’s hand and bites her finger!
BRAD STOKES: Synchronized biting going on. I love it. Unorthodox. But I love it.
The biting lasts for a few more seconds before Cosmo’s able to bring his other foot up and kick Ronnie right in the face. Kayla rolls out of the ring, trying to shake the pain out of her hand as Cosmo gets up. A couple of elbow smashes to the side of the head stuns Harris long enough for Cooper to drop him with a snap brainbuster!
NINA APPLEBAUM: A follow up pin by Cosmo!
1
TW--
NINA APPLEBAUM: Wright’s back in it as she breaks the pin up!
Kayla rains clubbing blow after clubbing blow on Cooper, trying to wear down her larger opponent, but it’s not working for her as Cosmo is just shaking them off. As a last resort, Wright headbutts Cooper! That seems to do the trick as Cosmo’s a bit stunned and surprised by the headbutt, allowing for Kayla to bring him down with a Russian leg sweep. On the other side of the ring, Harris is up on one knee, but he goes right down to the mat head first with a DDT from Kayla! She kips back up to her feet and gets a loud roar from the crowd.
NINA APPLEBAUM: The fans have really taken to Kayla Wright since her debut at Massacre 9.
BRAD STOKES: The fans are perverts, Nina. It’s the same reason everyone loves me more than they love you. I have a great ass.
Getting back up with the ropes, Cosmo finds himself resting in the ring corner. With all her speed, Wright goes on the run and connects with a body splash in the corner, but she’s not satisfied with just one. She heads from one corner to the other, but only hits a splash onto the turnbuckles as Cosmo moves at the last second!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Nice evasion by Cosmo Cooper!
BRAD STOKES: You think that’s ring awareness, or has Gen Now implanted an earpiece so Cosmo can have help backstage?
NINA APPLEBAUM: That’s not even a tactical advantage.
BRAD STOKES: It could be if you just allowed yourself to imagine with me once in a while. Facts and empirical data are for losers. Dance in imagination land with me, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: No.
BRAD STOKES: No fun.
Cooper puts Wright in the corner and lifts her up onto the top turnbuckle, climbing up after her. He sets up for a suplex attempt, but a right hand to the stomach from Kayla stops him. But it’s Ronnie Harris who comes up underneath Cosmo and brings them both down with a tower of doom! Harris scrambles over to hook Kayla’s leg
1
TW--
NINA APPLEBAUM: One kickout and Ronnie goes right over to Cosmo for a pin
1
TW--
Ronnie’s not pleased with the result and picks Cosmo back up, hitting him with a strong European uppercut. A series of boxer’s jabs keep Cooper in a corner and Harris lifts Wright up, putting her up against Cosmo. He backs up to the opposite corner and gets a running start with a cornered European that sends Kayla down and out of the ring. He goes back for a second and Cooper hits a drop toe hold that sends Harris face first into the middle turnbuckle rung. With Ronnie’s head still against the turnbuckle, Cosmo creates some distance before hitting a running knee strike to the back of Ronnie’s skull.
BRAD STOKES: That’s going to hurt. Just think: Ronnie Harris came all the way across the pond for THAT.
NINA APPLEBAUM: He’s giving as good as he’s getting, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: Until he realizes his money’s worthless over here.
Cooper follows it up with some shoot stomps straight to Ronnie’s face until Harris is able to break away by rolling out on the apron. But he doesn’t find any peace there as Kayla Wright’s up on the apron with him and to the surprise of everyone in the building, she manages to pick the downed Ronnie Harris up for an orange crush onto the apron! Both crash onto the hard edge of the ring and fall onto the outside concrete in a mess all while Cosmo watched on in awe.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Impressive display by Kayla Wright!
BRAD STOKES: She is pretty spectacular.
Heading out, Cooper rolls Kayla into the ring and then gets back in. But as soon as Cosmo slides in, Wright’s ready with an enziguri! The move drops Cosmo down!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Kayla goes for a pin!
1
2
BRAD STOKES: Does she have it?!
THR—
NINA APPLEBAUM: NO!
The rookie keeps her cool and transitions into her next move, locking in a cross armbar! For a second, she manages to fully apply the armbar, but Cosmo is able to pull himself to the ropes, rolling over and forcing her to release the hold. When they both get up, Cooper shoots in for a double leg takedown and gets top mount over Wright. He cocks his elbow back, but lets it go, just opting to laugh at the situation, knowing full well the damage he could cause. Instead, he just spits right in Kayla’s face!
BRAD STOKES: There’s one for Kayla’s highlight reel!
Kayla gets an arm free for a forearm straight to the side of Cosmo’s face to get him off of her. A snap suplex sends Cooper out of the ring and allows for Ronnie Harris to sneak back in. Though this time the rookie is ready as soon as she turns around, dodging a dropkick from Harris and putting him down with one of her own. Wright hurries up to the top rope and as Harris gets back to his feet, she leaps for the Flight of Wright!
NINA APPLEBAUM: All eyes are on Kayla Wright!!! SHE’S GOT THIS!!
But Ronnie sidesteps it! Kayla manages to roll through with it, but when she goes back at Ronnie, he’s ready with a pop-up European uppercut! The move puts Wright down and Harris is quick to grab her arms back, hitting a brutal curb stomp!
BRAD STOKES: No she doesn’t. Ronnie Harris is too vicious for that.
The Kray Killer looks like it finished Kayla as Ronnie turns her over and hooks the leg
1
2
THREE!
BRAD STOKES: RONNIE HARRIS HAS DONE IT!
NINA APPLEBAUM: NO!
At the absolute last second, Cosmo Cooper drags Ronnie Harris out of the ring and sends him crashing into the steel steps! Cooper slides right into the ring and hooks Kayla’s leg
1
2
THRE--
NINA APPLEBAUM: Cosmo can’t believe it and neither can the AWE crowd!
BRAD STOKES: Neither can I, actually, and I'll believe anything. You wanna see some Sasquatch fur I bought on ebay?
The rookie has shown a lot of heart by kicking out, but Cooper isn’t going to allow for anymore cheering. He lifts Kayla back up in one motion and gets her into a tombstone position before hitting the Crater Maker! And while Wright showed an impressive display moments earlier, her energy reserves are tapped as Cooper makes the pin
1
2
3!
DING! DING! DING!
“Lifted” by CL kicks in! Leaping up in victory, the crowd boos the celebrating Cosmo Cooper, who might have just stolen the win from Ronnie Harris.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: Here is your winner… COSMO… COOOOOOPERRRRRR!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Impressive match all around. How about that Kayla Wright?
BRAD STOKES: You’re such a loser-lover, Nina. Get with the winner here. Cosmo Cooper pulled that win out all on his own.
NINA APPLEBAUM: True enough. As much as he stole that out from under Ronnie Harris, Cosmo Cooper planted his feet firmly on AWE ground with that win right there. With that fight in the books, don’t go away we’ll be back for more AWE Massacre after these messages.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Welcome back, fight fans, and this match has kicked off like a firecracker!
BRAD STOKES: Not literally, though!
Cosmo eventually gets free and ducks under to throw Ronnie over the top rope. Taking a second to pose, Cooper gets his feet hooked by Harris and is dragged out of the ring. The two begin to throw punches back and forth again, but in the midst of all the action, it’s Kayla Wright who has found herself perched atop the top turnbuckle. With her two opponents focused on one another, she takes them both out with a top rope moonsault to the outside!
NINA APPLEBAUM: INCREDIBLE MOONSAULT BY KAYLA WRIGHT!
BRAD STOKES: These kids better be careful! Gen Now’s out in force tonight, and one of them is in that ring! We’ve already seen Cosmo affect one match outcome, who knows what Gen Now’s got planned next!
A “Holy Shit” chant breaks out as Kayla is the first to get up after the leap. It takes a lot of energy for her to roll Ronnie back into the ring and once she does, she tries for a pin!
ON--
NINA APPLEBAUM: It’s still way too early to put Ronnie away!
Kayla’s still disappointed with the early kick out. So disappointed that she’s completely unaware of Cosmo sliding back into the ring as he hits her with a three quarter nelson suplex, dumping Kayla right onto her head!
BRAD STOKES: Told you.
Harris gets back to his feet and comes up to surprise Cooper with a dragon suplex! But instead of following it up with a pin attempt, Ronnie just pulls his mouth guard out and grabs onto Cosmo’s foot, biting his big toe!
BRAD STOKES: I thought we were over this cannibalism thing?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Not sure… what that is.
BRAD STOKES: Is Mike Tyson dead yet? Cause Ronnie Harris may be Mike Tyson. Reincarnated, I mean.Wait, Tyson went for the ear, didn't he? Well, let me ask you this: Has Ronnie Harris ever been part of a soccer team crossing the Andes Mountain by plane?
Cooper yells out in pain and in an attempt to withstand the pain, he reaches out to Wright’s hand and bites her finger!
BRAD STOKES: Synchronized biting going on. I love it. Unorthodox. But I love it.
The biting lasts for a few more seconds before Cosmo’s able to bring his other foot up and kick Ronnie right in the face. Kayla rolls out of the ring, trying to shake the pain out of her hand as Cosmo gets up. A couple of elbow smashes to the side of the head stuns Harris long enough for Cooper to drop him with a snap brainbuster!
NINA APPLEBAUM: A follow up pin by Cosmo!
1
TW--
NINA APPLEBAUM: Wright’s back in it as she breaks the pin up!
Kayla rains clubbing blow after clubbing blow on Cooper, trying to wear down her larger opponent, but it’s not working for her as Cosmo is just shaking them off. As a last resort, Wright headbutts Cooper! That seems to do the trick as Cosmo’s a bit stunned and surprised by the headbutt, allowing for Kayla to bring him down with a Russian leg sweep. On the other side of the ring, Harris is up on one knee, but he goes right down to the mat head first with a DDT from Kayla! She kips back up to her feet and gets a loud roar from the crowd.
NINA APPLEBAUM: The fans have really taken to Kayla Wright since her debut at Massacre 9.
BRAD STOKES: The fans are perverts, Nina. It’s the same reason everyone loves me more than they love you. I have a great ass.
Getting back up with the ropes, Cosmo finds himself resting in the ring corner. With all her speed, Wright goes on the run and connects with a body splash in the corner, but she’s not satisfied with just one. She heads from one corner to the other, but only hits a splash onto the turnbuckles as Cosmo moves at the last second!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Nice evasion by Cosmo Cooper!
BRAD STOKES: You think that’s ring awareness, or has Gen Now implanted an earpiece so Cosmo can have help backstage?
NINA APPLEBAUM: That’s not even a tactical advantage.
BRAD STOKES: It could be if you just allowed yourself to imagine with me once in a while. Facts and empirical data are for losers. Dance in imagination land with me, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: No.
BRAD STOKES: No fun.
Cooper puts Wright in the corner and lifts her up onto the top turnbuckle, climbing up after her. He sets up for a suplex attempt, but a right hand to the stomach from Kayla stops him. But it’s Ronnie Harris who comes up underneath Cosmo and brings them both down with a tower of doom! Harris scrambles over to hook Kayla’s leg
1
TW--
NINA APPLEBAUM: One kickout and Ronnie goes right over to Cosmo for a pin
1
TW--
Ronnie’s not pleased with the result and picks Cosmo back up, hitting him with a strong European uppercut. A series of boxer’s jabs keep Cooper in a corner and Harris lifts Wright up, putting her up against Cosmo. He backs up to the opposite corner and gets a running start with a cornered European that sends Kayla down and out of the ring. He goes back for a second and Cooper hits a drop toe hold that sends Harris face first into the middle turnbuckle rung. With Ronnie’s head still against the turnbuckle, Cosmo creates some distance before hitting a running knee strike to the back of Ronnie’s skull.
BRAD STOKES: That’s going to hurt. Just think: Ronnie Harris came all the way across the pond for THAT.
NINA APPLEBAUM: He’s giving as good as he’s getting, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: Until he realizes his money’s worthless over here.
Cooper follows it up with some shoot stomps straight to Ronnie’s face until Harris is able to break away by rolling out on the apron. But he doesn’t find any peace there as Kayla Wright’s up on the apron with him and to the surprise of everyone in the building, she manages to pick the downed Ronnie Harris up for an orange crush onto the apron! Both crash onto the hard edge of the ring and fall onto the outside concrete in a mess all while Cosmo watched on in awe.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Impressive display by Kayla Wright!
BRAD STOKES: She is pretty spectacular.
Heading out, Cooper rolls Kayla into the ring and then gets back in. But as soon as Cosmo slides in, Wright’s ready with an enziguri! The move drops Cosmo down!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Kayla goes for a pin!
1
2
BRAD STOKES: Does she have it?!
THR—
NINA APPLEBAUM: NO!
The rookie keeps her cool and transitions into her next move, locking in a cross armbar! For a second, she manages to fully apply the armbar, but Cosmo is able to pull himself to the ropes, rolling over and forcing her to release the hold. When they both get up, Cooper shoots in for a double leg takedown and gets top mount over Wright. He cocks his elbow back, but lets it go, just opting to laugh at the situation, knowing full well the damage he could cause. Instead, he just spits right in Kayla’s face!
BRAD STOKES: There’s one for Kayla’s highlight reel!
Kayla gets an arm free for a forearm straight to the side of Cosmo’s face to get him off of her. A snap suplex sends Cooper out of the ring and allows for Ronnie Harris to sneak back in. Though this time the rookie is ready as soon as she turns around, dodging a dropkick from Harris and putting him down with one of her own. Wright hurries up to the top rope and as Harris gets back to his feet, she leaps for the Flight of Wright!
NINA APPLEBAUM: All eyes are on Kayla Wright!!! SHE’S GOT THIS!!
But Ronnie sidesteps it! Kayla manages to roll through with it, but when she goes back at Ronnie, he’s ready with a pop-up European uppercut! The move puts Wright down and Harris is quick to grab her arms back, hitting a brutal curb stomp!
BRAD STOKES: No she doesn’t. Ronnie Harris is too vicious for that.
The Kray Killer looks like it finished Kayla as Ronnie turns her over and hooks the leg
1
2
THREE!
BRAD STOKES: RONNIE HARRIS HAS DONE IT!
NINA APPLEBAUM: NO!
At the absolute last second, Cosmo Cooper drags Ronnie Harris out of the ring and sends him crashing into the steel steps! Cooper slides right into the ring and hooks Kayla’s leg
1
2
THRE--
NINA APPLEBAUM: Cosmo can’t believe it and neither can the AWE crowd!
BRAD STOKES: Neither can I, actually, and I'll believe anything. You wanna see some Sasquatch fur I bought on ebay?
The rookie has shown a lot of heart by kicking out, but Cooper isn’t going to allow for anymore cheering. He lifts Kayla back up in one motion and gets her into a tombstone position before hitting the Crater Maker! And while Wright showed an impressive display moments earlier, her energy reserves are tapped as Cooper makes the pin
1
2
3!
DING! DING! DING!
“Lifted” by CL kicks in! Leaping up in victory, the crowd boos the celebrating Cosmo Cooper, who might have just stolen the win from Ronnie Harris.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: Here is your winner… COSMO… COOOOOOPERRRRRR!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Impressive match all around. How about that Kayla Wright?
BRAD STOKES: You’re such a loser-lover, Nina. Get with the winner here. Cosmo Cooper pulled that win out all on his own.
NINA APPLEBAUM: True enough. As much as he stole that out from under Ronnie Harris, Cosmo Cooper planted his feet firmly on AWE ground with that win right there. With that fight in the books, don’t go away we’ll be back for more AWE Massacre after these messages.
She nervously peeks through the curtain out onto the gymnasium floor, where a rival gymnast is completing her routine to furious applause. The walls reverberate as the judges scores are read out loud over the speaker system to an approving crowd. She sighs loudly and looks pensive down at the floor. Her coach is beside her.
COACH: Nervous?
The gymnast awkwardly weighs her answer.
GYMNAST: Ehhhhh, yeah, but it's--It's not that.
Her coach is thoughtful a moment before a bright-eyed epiphany occurs to her, followed by a knowing smile.
COACH: Here.
She hands her gymnast/pupil a package. The gymnast barely glances at what she's been handed before looking aghast to her coach.
GYMNAST: Performance enhancers? But--
The Coach smiles.
COACH: No, silly. Look at the box.
COACH: Nervous?
The gymnast awkwardly weighs her answer.
GYMNAST: Ehhhhh, yeah, but it's--It's not that.
Her coach is thoughtful a moment before a bright-eyed epiphany occurs to her, followed by a knowing smile.
COACH: Here.
She hands her gymnast/pupil a package. The gymnast barely glances at what she's been handed before looking aghast to her coach.
GYMNAST: Performance enhancers? But--
The Coach smiles.
COACH: No, silly. Look at the box.
The gymnasts' eyes light up. Cue awesome uplifting jungle.
JINGLE: You gotta do great,
so you're gonna do great!
And when you gotta do great
you're gonna gonna do GREAT!
With CHAMMMMPAAAAXXX!
Awesome star wipe to the gymnast returning to her coach waiting in the wings as the crowd gives a standing ovation after what is assuredly a gold medal performance!
COACH: WOW! You did so great out there!
GYMNAST: Oh, I can't take all the credit.
Looks at the camera with a bright smile as she holds up the box of Champax!
COACH: WOW! You did so great out there!
GYMNAST: Oh, I can't take all the credit.
Looks at the camera with a bright smile as she holds up the box of Champax!
JINGLE: You gotta do great,
so you're gonna do great!
And when you gotta do great
you're gonna gonna do GREAT!
With CHAMMMMPAAAAXXX!
Cut out to a street where a woman is glaring at the fact some thoughtless person has double-parked her into her parking space on the side of the street! She is fuming! She's going to be late. Two males are standing smirking at her predicament.
ARROGANT ASSHOLE #1: Awwwwww, check kitty kat out! Did someone block you in?
He mock pouts and dries tears as she glares at the pair.
WOMAN ON THE STREET: Do you mind? I'm going to be late!
ARROGANT ASSHOLE #2: Wut-oh! Looks like SOMEbody's on their period!
They snicker and mock as she gets a bright idea.
ARROGANT ASSHOLE #1: Awwwwww, check kitty kat out! Did someone block you in?
He mock pouts and dries tears as she glares at the pair.
WOMAN ON THE STREET: Do you mind? I'm going to be late!
ARROGANT ASSHOLE #2: Wut-oh! Looks like SOMEbody's on their period!
They snicker and mock as she gets a bright idea.
JINGLE: You gotta do great,
so you're gonna do great!
And when you gotta do great
you're gonna gonna do GREAT!
With CHAMMMMPAAAAXXX!
Awesome star wipe to the woman getting in under her car and lifting the car right out of her parking space! She stomps over the double-parked vehicle smooshing it terribly and sets her car on the road as the two men watch in humbled shock and awe.
ARROGANT ASSHOLE #1: Whoa... you, like, lifted that car.
ARROGANT ASSHOLE #2: Holy shit...
She smirks at them whilst standing beside her car, and reveals a bright smile and holds up her package of Champax. The two humbled men exchange amazed looks that turn into wide nodding smiles of recognition.
Blackout to a product presentation screen of Champax as the jingle music continues!
VOICEOVER ANNOUNCER: Champax. The Tampon of Champions. Perfect for athletes in every sport, but also for champions who work 9 to 5 and have to put up with everyone else's shit!
ARROGANT ASSHOLE #1: Whoa... you, like, lifted that car.
ARROGANT ASSHOLE #2: Holy shit...
She smirks at them whilst standing beside her car, and reveals a bright smile and holds up her package of Champax. The two humbled men exchange amazed looks that turn into wide nodding smiles of recognition.
Blackout to a product presentation screen of Champax as the jingle music continues!
VOICEOVER ANNOUNCER: Champax. The Tampon of Champions. Perfect for athletes in every sport, but also for champions who work 9 to 5 and have to put up with everyone else's shit!
Tornado Desencadenado VS. Tommy Stone
NINA APPLEBAUM: And we’re back and ready for some more wrestling act—
The lights in the arena go dark. A sea of cell phone lights rise amid a sudden shrillness of an uproar. The audio feed crackles as neither Brad Stokes or Nina Applebaum voice can be heard beyond a few cutting in and out. The AlphaTron crackles to life.
The lights in the arena go dark. A sea of cell phone lights rise amid a sudden shrillness of an uproar. The audio feed crackles as neither Brad Stokes or Nina Applebaum voice can be heard beyond a few cutting in and out. The AlphaTron crackles to life.
This is *garbled* speaking...
This is *garbled* speaking...
This is
G-G-G-Gen Now
*Deeper* GEN NOW
GEN now!
This is a GEN NOW production.
This is *garbled* speaking...
This is
G-G-G-Gen Now
*Deeper* GEN NOW
GEN now!
This is a GEN NOW production.
The feed crackles back to life along with the lights.
BRAD STOKES: That’s getting ominous.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Undoubtedly so.
BRAD STOKES: Can’t someone do something about that? Like that equipment is ours, right? We control the channel and junk?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Someone’s commandeering the feed. I’ve been in communication with the audio-visual team and they’re working hard to correct it.
BRAD STOKES: "Someone", you say? More like Gen Now is commandeering the feed. You're such a mark, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Well, for now, as usual, we soldier on.
Inside the ring, warming up amid the confusion, are Tornado Desencadenado and Tommy Stone.
DING! DING! DING!
NINA APPLEBAUM: And lets get right down to it!
Both men are instantly circling one another before Tommy bursts in for a quick tie up with TD.
BRAD STOKES: It’s high damn time we had a real wrestling match, and the damn lights better stop going out. I’m losing my mojo.
NINA APPLEBAUM: A seasoned veteran versus a newcomer. This one will surely give Bradley everything he’s been looking for!
Tommy works to overwhelm the Tornado, but soon finds the rookie powering back againat him and eagerly lets go of the tieup and drags Tornado down to the canvas with an armlock, but Tornado deftly twists and kips his way out of that and shoots Tommy a swift kick for his trouble.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Tommy Stone’s not had the greatest of entries into the AWE, but he remains hungry and that’s going to make the difference sooner rather than later.
BRAD STOKES: Like this Tornado kid. Won the Longitudinal Championship and it didn’t even exist before he joined the AWE. That’s gotta count for something.
Tommy circles Tornado before its Tornado’s turn to tie up and bear down on Tommy, powering him towards the ropes before Tommy drops backward and monkey flips Tornado over and immediately kips up and over to go for some ground and pound but Tornado twists his way free before Tommy can assert himself, and before long they’re both back on their feet eyeing one another down.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dreadfully even matchup so far.
BRAD STOKES: Weren’t expecting that, were you? I was. I am surprised by nothing. I am zen. I am… Tokyo Stokes.
NINA APPLEBAUM: No you’re not. You were just saying how you lose your mojo.
BRAD STOKES: That’s true. But I got it back after seeing these two ring generals go at it, okay? Is that so far-fetched?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Yes.
Inside the ring, Tornado has Tommy in a tight headlock and is marshalling him around the ring about to plant him before Tommy surprises him with a harsh back body drop and slides in for the quick cover!
1…
TW—
NINA APPLEBAUM: Kickout by Tornado Desencadenado! He’s going to need to keep his wits about him with a man like Tommy Stone in the ring.
BRAD STOKES: Reminds me a bit of myself, he does.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Which one?
BRAD STOKES: Whomever wins this match.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Of course. I should have guessed.
BRAD STOKES: Yes, you should have.
Tommy drags Tornado up but before he can muster more offense, Tornado slams Tommy with a sudden discus backhand chop that staggers Tommy back into the corner and Tornado quickly follows that up with a stunning snap powerslam into a cover!
1…
2..
Tommy kicks out!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Close call there!
Tornado drags Tommy up to his feet only to get rolled into a small package!
1…
2..
NINA APPLEBAUM: Tornado kicks out!
BRAD STOKES: Back and forth since the opening bell. Finally, some wrestling action!
Tommy is quick to his feet this time, and he drops a series of elbow drops to keep Tornado grounded before he forces the youngster up and slams him right back down with a DDT!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Tommy Stone’s looking to take some control here!
Tommy wrenches on Tornado’s arm, and forces him up to an uncomfortable stand before slamming his elbow into the back of TD’s arm forcing the Fundamental into an awkward attempt at reorienting himself before Tommy Stony irish whips him for the ropes, on and on the rebound slams Tornado with a superkick that flattens him to the canvas!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Tommy Stone goes for the cover!
1…
2..
THR—
NINA APPLEBAUM: Kickout right in the midst of that three count by Tornado Desencadenado!
BRAD STOKES: And the loogie champion maintains his grasp of that belt! FOR NOW!
Tommy grits his teeth and bears down as he drags TD back to his feet and slams several rabbit punches to keep the Spin Doctor off-balance before whipping him once more for the ropes but on the return TD stuns Tommy with a tornado DDT that sets the crowd buzzing!
NINA APPLEBAUM: That took a lot out of TD! He’s already faced a barrage of impact moves by Tommy Stone! This could be the reversal of fortune he was looking for!
Slowly, TD, climbs to his knees just as Tommy is rolling onto his side and finding his way under the ring ropes to the outside.
BRAD STOKES: Gonna catch his breath. Make TD work for this. Tommy Stone’s no fool. He knows the struggle is real. He even put it on a t-shirt.
1!
Tommy Stone catches his breath as he leans on the ring apron as the ref begins the count. TD rises to his feet, catching his own breath before he slides himself out of the ring to pursue.
Just then, the lights dim causing a sudden uproar around the arena.
BRAD STOKES: We still have sound this time. Right? Right?
NINA APPLEBAUM: We do. Not the best moment for this to happen.
TD hasn’t wasted any time finding Tommy in the dark and smashed his face of the ring apron and dropped him to one knee. As the lights come back on, in the next few moments as Tommy smashes a ceramic mug up off TD’s face! The powder is the only clue something’s gone wrong!
NINA APPLEBAUM: What? What just happened?!
BRAD STOKES: Nothing happened. Tommy’s fists are made of chalk or something.
2!
TD is stunned and staggering backwards as Tommy uses the opportunity to smash TD’s face of the ring post then slide him up onto the ring apron!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Something happened there, fans. Tommy Stone smashed something over Tornado Desencadenado’s head.
BRAD STOKES: The ref didn’t see it.
NINA APPLEBAUM: He never sees anything!
BRAD STOKES: I didn’t see it.
NINA APPLEBAUM: You only see what you want to see.
BRAD STOKES: You didn’t REALLY see it, though, did you?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Well…
BRAD STOKES: I rest my case.
Tommy slides into the ring and drags Tornado up through the ropes and SLAMS him down with a rope hung swinging neckbreaker!
NINA APPLEBAUM: The Omega Catastrophe Drop!
Tommy pulls Tornado in for the cover!
1…
2..
3!!
DING! DING! DING!
“Happy Pills” by Weathers kicks in as Tommy rises to his feet and raises his arm proudly, not allowing Theo Refano to raise his arm for him.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: Here is your winner…. TOMMY…. STONE!!!
BRAD STOKES: Nice clean win there, eh Nina?
NINA APPLEBAUM: It wasn’t a clean win! Tommy Stone smashed his coffee mug over TD’s head.
BRAD STOKES: Show me the footage that proves it.
NINA APPLEBAUM: I’m sure there’s some. That was not a clean win. Tommy Stone has no right to raise that belt of Tornado Desencadenado’s!
Tommy, indeed, has Tornado’s hard-fought Lagniappe Championship belt raised overhead as he bows curtly, and arrogantly, for the crowd.
NINA APPLEBAUM: THAT’S despicable. Not only did he NOT rightly win that match, the lights in the arena went down to help him! Is Gen Now helping Tommy Stone?!
BRAD STOKES: As much as I love a good Gen Now caper, Nina, I'm going to have to emphatically state for the record that Tommy Stone won that belt fair and square! Gen Now had nothing to do with Tommy Stone’s victory.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Oi. This night has been horrendous. Let’s go backstage fans, far away from this sight, and this ring, at least for the time being.
BRAD STOKES: Cry baby.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Let’s check up on a recovered Bindy Trent!
BRAD STOKES: Glory, Halleluah! My Bindy’s back!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Just glad you’re done selling this twerp, Tommy Stone.
BRAD STOKES: I’m sure I’ll find a reason to do that again later on.
BRAD STOKES: That’s getting ominous.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Undoubtedly so.
BRAD STOKES: Can’t someone do something about that? Like that equipment is ours, right? We control the channel and junk?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Someone’s commandeering the feed. I’ve been in communication with the audio-visual team and they’re working hard to correct it.
BRAD STOKES: "Someone", you say? More like Gen Now is commandeering the feed. You're such a mark, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Well, for now, as usual, we soldier on.
Inside the ring, warming up amid the confusion, are Tornado Desencadenado and Tommy Stone.
DING! DING! DING!
NINA APPLEBAUM: And lets get right down to it!
Both men are instantly circling one another before Tommy bursts in for a quick tie up with TD.
BRAD STOKES: It’s high damn time we had a real wrestling match, and the damn lights better stop going out. I’m losing my mojo.
NINA APPLEBAUM: A seasoned veteran versus a newcomer. This one will surely give Bradley everything he’s been looking for!
Tommy works to overwhelm the Tornado, but soon finds the rookie powering back againat him and eagerly lets go of the tieup and drags Tornado down to the canvas with an armlock, but Tornado deftly twists and kips his way out of that and shoots Tommy a swift kick for his trouble.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Tommy Stone’s not had the greatest of entries into the AWE, but he remains hungry and that’s going to make the difference sooner rather than later.
BRAD STOKES: Like this Tornado kid. Won the Longitudinal Championship and it didn’t even exist before he joined the AWE. That’s gotta count for something.
Tommy circles Tornado before its Tornado’s turn to tie up and bear down on Tommy, powering him towards the ropes before Tommy drops backward and monkey flips Tornado over and immediately kips up and over to go for some ground and pound but Tornado twists his way free before Tommy can assert himself, and before long they’re both back on their feet eyeing one another down.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Dreadfully even matchup so far.
BRAD STOKES: Weren’t expecting that, were you? I was. I am surprised by nothing. I am zen. I am… Tokyo Stokes.
NINA APPLEBAUM: No you’re not. You were just saying how you lose your mojo.
BRAD STOKES: That’s true. But I got it back after seeing these two ring generals go at it, okay? Is that so far-fetched?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Yes.
Inside the ring, Tornado has Tommy in a tight headlock and is marshalling him around the ring about to plant him before Tommy surprises him with a harsh back body drop and slides in for the quick cover!
1…
TW—
NINA APPLEBAUM: Kickout by Tornado Desencadenado! He’s going to need to keep his wits about him with a man like Tommy Stone in the ring.
BRAD STOKES: Reminds me a bit of myself, he does.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Which one?
BRAD STOKES: Whomever wins this match.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Of course. I should have guessed.
BRAD STOKES: Yes, you should have.
Tommy drags Tornado up but before he can muster more offense, Tornado slams Tommy with a sudden discus backhand chop that staggers Tommy back into the corner and Tornado quickly follows that up with a stunning snap powerslam into a cover!
1…
2..
Tommy kicks out!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Close call there!
Tornado drags Tommy up to his feet only to get rolled into a small package!
1…
2..
NINA APPLEBAUM: Tornado kicks out!
BRAD STOKES: Back and forth since the opening bell. Finally, some wrestling action!
Tommy is quick to his feet this time, and he drops a series of elbow drops to keep Tornado grounded before he forces the youngster up and slams him right back down with a DDT!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Tommy Stone’s looking to take some control here!
Tommy wrenches on Tornado’s arm, and forces him up to an uncomfortable stand before slamming his elbow into the back of TD’s arm forcing the Fundamental into an awkward attempt at reorienting himself before Tommy Stony irish whips him for the ropes, on and on the rebound slams Tornado with a superkick that flattens him to the canvas!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Tommy Stone goes for the cover!
1…
2..
THR—
NINA APPLEBAUM: Kickout right in the midst of that three count by Tornado Desencadenado!
BRAD STOKES: And the loogie champion maintains his grasp of that belt! FOR NOW!
Tommy grits his teeth and bears down as he drags TD back to his feet and slams several rabbit punches to keep the Spin Doctor off-balance before whipping him once more for the ropes but on the return TD stuns Tommy with a tornado DDT that sets the crowd buzzing!
NINA APPLEBAUM: That took a lot out of TD! He’s already faced a barrage of impact moves by Tommy Stone! This could be the reversal of fortune he was looking for!
Slowly, TD, climbs to his knees just as Tommy is rolling onto his side and finding his way under the ring ropes to the outside.
BRAD STOKES: Gonna catch his breath. Make TD work for this. Tommy Stone’s no fool. He knows the struggle is real. He even put it on a t-shirt.
1!
Tommy Stone catches his breath as he leans on the ring apron as the ref begins the count. TD rises to his feet, catching his own breath before he slides himself out of the ring to pursue.
Just then, the lights dim causing a sudden uproar around the arena.
BRAD STOKES: We still have sound this time. Right? Right?
NINA APPLEBAUM: We do. Not the best moment for this to happen.
TD hasn’t wasted any time finding Tommy in the dark and smashed his face of the ring apron and dropped him to one knee. As the lights come back on, in the next few moments as Tommy smashes a ceramic mug up off TD’s face! The powder is the only clue something’s gone wrong!
NINA APPLEBAUM: What? What just happened?!
BRAD STOKES: Nothing happened. Tommy’s fists are made of chalk or something.
2!
TD is stunned and staggering backwards as Tommy uses the opportunity to smash TD’s face of the ring post then slide him up onto the ring apron!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Something happened there, fans. Tommy Stone smashed something over Tornado Desencadenado’s head.
BRAD STOKES: The ref didn’t see it.
NINA APPLEBAUM: He never sees anything!
BRAD STOKES: I didn’t see it.
NINA APPLEBAUM: You only see what you want to see.
BRAD STOKES: You didn’t REALLY see it, though, did you?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Well…
BRAD STOKES: I rest my case.
Tommy slides into the ring and drags Tornado up through the ropes and SLAMS him down with a rope hung swinging neckbreaker!
NINA APPLEBAUM: The Omega Catastrophe Drop!
Tommy pulls Tornado in for the cover!
1…
2..
3!!
DING! DING! DING!
“Happy Pills” by Weathers kicks in as Tommy rises to his feet and raises his arm proudly, not allowing Theo Refano to raise his arm for him.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: Here is your winner…. TOMMY…. STONE!!!
BRAD STOKES: Nice clean win there, eh Nina?
NINA APPLEBAUM: It wasn’t a clean win! Tommy Stone smashed his coffee mug over TD’s head.
BRAD STOKES: Show me the footage that proves it.
NINA APPLEBAUM: I’m sure there’s some. That was not a clean win. Tommy Stone has no right to raise that belt of Tornado Desencadenado’s!
Tommy, indeed, has Tornado’s hard-fought Lagniappe Championship belt raised overhead as he bows curtly, and arrogantly, for the crowd.
NINA APPLEBAUM: THAT’S despicable. Not only did he NOT rightly win that match, the lights in the arena went down to help him! Is Gen Now helping Tommy Stone?!
BRAD STOKES: As much as I love a good Gen Now caper, Nina, I'm going to have to emphatically state for the record that Tommy Stone won that belt fair and square! Gen Now had nothing to do with Tommy Stone’s victory.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Oi. This night has been horrendous. Let’s go backstage fans, far away from this sight, and this ring, at least for the time being.
BRAD STOKES: Cry baby.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Let’s check up on a recovered Bindy Trent!
BRAD STOKES: Glory, Halleluah! My Bindy’s back!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Just glad you’re done selling this twerp, Tommy Stone.
BRAD STOKES: I’m sure I’ll find a reason to do that again later on.
Poor, poor Bindy. The last time she’d been seen on AWE she’d been on the receiving end of a pretty unexpected, uncalled for, and vicious beat down courtesy of Ana Hayden. The attack had kept her out of the ring for the next show, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be in attendance right? She didn’t want to get out of the groove of traveling that she was used to, and besides, she had friends here she wanted to help and support. She wanted to wish Hubert Smalls good luck in what would surely be an emotionally trying match against his former partner Jesse, tell Dare she was still rooting for him to retain his championship against Zack, even after their previous fight, and of course she needed to check in on Aaron and see how his progress of "being nice" was coming along.
So she was once again pulling her small suitcase behind her, one that did not include wrestling gear, but rather all the tools and tricks of the trade she thought might help to encourage Aaron on his path of nice-osity. Or whatever you’d call it. As she passed folks in the hall she gave little waves here and there, before after not too long she came across and odd looking pile on top of one of the cargo boxes. She picked it up, unfolding it a bit, and coming to recognize that it was herself but … in puppet form. It was confusing, if nothing else, and the young woman continued to stare at the clothe recreation of herself.
ABCDE: Oh man, it's like I'm seeing double!
Aaron's assistant said as he sheepishly approached. He was trying to make a joke but it didn't seem to go over well.
BINDY TRENT: Excuse me?
ABCDE: The … the puppet. It's you- I was … nevermind.
BINDY TRENT: Why is there a puppet of me?
ABCDE: I like to use if for Aaron.
Her eyes seemed to grow twice their size, and she dropped the puppet back where she'd found it.
BINDY TRENT: You … what?
ABCDE: You know, whenever Aaron's upset I just put this on and pretend to be you, and it kind of makes him happy.
This conversation had taken a dark turn far too quickly for her liking. She tried to side eye the puppet and make sure it wasn't home to any suspicious stains or dried spills.
ABCDE: Don't you remember, last week on the phone you said I should make a puppet or something. I called you at the hospital 'cause Aaron was being WAY mean. He was making fun of my dyslexia again.
BINDY TRENT: This was my idea?
ABCDE: Yeah. I'm not a weirdo who like regularly makes puppets. I prefer miniature dioramas.
BINDY TRENT: Huh, I guess that extra strength Tylenol they gave me in the hospital really messed with my head. But, uh … thanks for looking out for Aaron I guess?
Abcde muttered some things under his breath. Buried in the middle of it was a 'you’re welcome' but it came sandwiched between a lot of griping about his employer. Of course Aaron could never be too far off from someone who was speaking his name, which was why he now came strolling down the hall, looking quite pleased with himself. Not that that was much different than usual.
AARON PACE: Abcde! What are you doing harassing Bindy?! Didn't I tell you not to speak to anyone above your pay grade? Speaking of, Bindy! You’re not dead! You look like they sewed you back together and everything.
Aaron looked at the puppet as if it were Bindy, not realizing she was right there. Bindy paused, waiting for the joke but it never came. Abcde shrugged his shoulders at her, and so she picked up the puppet a second time and spoke through it.
BINDY/PUPPET BINDY: Aaron, look it’s me, Bindy. The real Bindy! I’m back after that nasty Ana Hayden attack.
Maybe that would get through to him.
AARON PACE: Holy shit..
He looked between the puppet and the actual Bindy.
AARON PACE: I can’t believe there’s two of you… This is some Face/Off shit. Which one of you do I shoot? Does anyone have a gun I can borrow?
He yelled out into the backstage area, hoping someone would happen to have a gun.
AARON PACE: No one? Now I know you guys are lying. Hubert Smalls probably keeps one of those on him for when it all becomes you know… ‘too much’.
Fearing this situation could escalate Bindy, the real Bindy, grabbed Aaron by the shoulders and gave him a bit of a shake.
BINDY TRENT: HEY! HEY!!! It’s me! Bindy in the real life. Actual Bindster! See?
She took his hand and tapped it against her face to prove she was flesh and bone, and then set the puppet aside.
AARON PACE: … Holy shit, Bindy. It is you! Then who is this? … I’m just fucking with you, I’m glad you’re back, kiddo.
Aaron proceeded to pat her on the back with a smile on his face, clearly ecstatic that she had returned. She was glad he actually hadn’t lost his marbles, because she wasn’t sure she could fix that. She was already struggling to try and get him on the right side of nice. The young woman gave him a quick hug.
BINDY TRENT: AWE can’t get rid of me that easily. I’m like a horror movie villain, I keep coming back. Only I come back even more preppy and exciting each time. And that means only one thing …
She turned around and started to open the bag she’d brought with you.
BINDY TRENT: I know you weren’t very excited about the chart I made for you the other week, and that band I got you to wear on your wrist somehow broke the second I walked away …
Aaron gave her an innocent shrug, still holding fast to the idea that the breaking of that band she’d given him was a complete accident.
BINDY TRENT: So I came up with a few other ideas. Maybe we can try making learning fun!
From inside her bag she pulled out several different coloring books. Looking at them for a few moments one would be able to decipher that they were indeed Christianity themed coloring books. However Bindy had taken the liberty of trying to remove the religious elements. She’d scribbled a cool backwards cap onto Jesus, and any mention of his name was blacked out and re-written at “Yeezus.”
BINDY TRENT: There are actually some good messages in these about being nice and helping your fellow man. Good moral stuff. I didn’t want to offend or exclude anyone though, so I made them secular. Also, check this out!
She flipped through a few of the pages and showed him some of the images she’d colored in, making sure that many of the characters in the background were representative of different ethnicities.
BINDY TRENT: I made it totes multi-cultural!
She shoved the coloring books and a few crayons into his hands. Aaron couldn’t help but roll his eyes, thinking about saying something mean but biting his tongue.
AARON PACE: This is so dum- ... Ugh you’re right. Thanks Bindy! I’ll take these home with me tonight, pinky swear. I think all this coaching is helping too. Did you know just the other day I tried to help a boy get his cat out of a tree?
Tried being the key word. That all clearly wasn’t what he was going to say at first, but he had caught himself, trying to shake off any potential anger or annoyance. He even put as much of a smile on his face as he could. Since it was Bindy’s first day back, he kind of didn’t want to dampen her spirits right out the gate. It worked too, she bounced up and down on her feet, and gave him another hug, this one much more spirited than the first.
BINDY TRENT: Really?! Oh my gosh, that’s so great! I knew we could find something that you’d like! I’m so proud!
She was almost hopping on her feet with excitement, and she rushed back to grab her bag by the handle.
BINDY TRENT: I’ve actually got some other stuff I brought too, just in case, but those can wait until after the show. Eeeee! I’m so glad you like the coloring idea! And you’re going to do great against Dom DiBona tonight, I just know it. Just remember to stay positive okay!
AARON PACE: Y-yeah. Positive. Yaaaay!
He half-heartedly raised his fists and shook them, to mimic excitement. Bindy seemed to be buying it though. As she continued to squeal with happiness as she took off.
BINDY TRENT: I’ve got some other people to say hi to! I’ll catch you later!
Once she was down the hall and turned the corner Aaron was getting ready to dump the coloring books in the nearest trashcan. That was when Abcde who’d managed to slink away a bit ago returned.
ABCDE: Hey Aaron, I thought since we were doing the whole puppet thing we could add another one in. Get you ready for the big fight and all. Look it’s me, Dom DiBona!
He presented his newest creation on his arm. A Dom DiBona puppet he’d been crafting over the last week, which he made wave at Aaron. Then he started speaking in a squeaky voice for it.
ABCDE/PUPPET DOM: Hi Aaron, it’s me Dom! I just wanted to let you know that in that ring I’m going to really let it all-
AARON PACE: Aaaahhhh!
In a fit of rage Aaron ripped the Dom puppet off of Abcde’s hand and threw it to the floor, where he started stomping on it wildly, seven, maybe even eight times before his leg got tired. That was when he picked up the trash can he had been planning to dump Bindy’s books in and started to beat it against the Dom puppet too, over and over. All while roaring like a madman. Once he’d worn himself out, he slumped back against the wall behind him and glared over at Abcde.
AARON PACE: That’s a spoiler for the Paramount Championship match tonight.
Abcde stared downward at the crumpled and torn remnants of his DiBona puppet, shocked, and almost slightly sick at the site of all this violence. While he fought to compose himself, Aaron walked off, ready to start preparing for his match now that the blood was flowing.
So she was once again pulling her small suitcase behind her, one that did not include wrestling gear, but rather all the tools and tricks of the trade she thought might help to encourage Aaron on his path of nice-osity. Or whatever you’d call it. As she passed folks in the hall she gave little waves here and there, before after not too long she came across and odd looking pile on top of one of the cargo boxes. She picked it up, unfolding it a bit, and coming to recognize that it was herself but … in puppet form. It was confusing, if nothing else, and the young woman continued to stare at the clothe recreation of herself.
ABCDE: Oh man, it's like I'm seeing double!
Aaron's assistant said as he sheepishly approached. He was trying to make a joke but it didn't seem to go over well.
BINDY TRENT: Excuse me?
ABCDE: The … the puppet. It's you- I was … nevermind.
BINDY TRENT: Why is there a puppet of me?
ABCDE: I like to use if for Aaron.
Her eyes seemed to grow twice their size, and she dropped the puppet back where she'd found it.
BINDY TRENT: You … what?
ABCDE: You know, whenever Aaron's upset I just put this on and pretend to be you, and it kind of makes him happy.
This conversation had taken a dark turn far too quickly for her liking. She tried to side eye the puppet and make sure it wasn't home to any suspicious stains or dried spills.
ABCDE: Don't you remember, last week on the phone you said I should make a puppet or something. I called you at the hospital 'cause Aaron was being WAY mean. He was making fun of my dyslexia again.
BINDY TRENT: This was my idea?
ABCDE: Yeah. I'm not a weirdo who like regularly makes puppets. I prefer miniature dioramas.
BINDY TRENT: Huh, I guess that extra strength Tylenol they gave me in the hospital really messed with my head. But, uh … thanks for looking out for Aaron I guess?
Abcde muttered some things under his breath. Buried in the middle of it was a 'you’re welcome' but it came sandwiched between a lot of griping about his employer. Of course Aaron could never be too far off from someone who was speaking his name, which was why he now came strolling down the hall, looking quite pleased with himself. Not that that was much different than usual.
AARON PACE: Abcde! What are you doing harassing Bindy?! Didn't I tell you not to speak to anyone above your pay grade? Speaking of, Bindy! You’re not dead! You look like they sewed you back together and everything.
Aaron looked at the puppet as if it were Bindy, not realizing she was right there. Bindy paused, waiting for the joke but it never came. Abcde shrugged his shoulders at her, and so she picked up the puppet a second time and spoke through it.
BINDY/PUPPET BINDY: Aaron, look it’s me, Bindy. The real Bindy! I’m back after that nasty Ana Hayden attack.
Maybe that would get through to him.
AARON PACE: Holy shit..
He looked between the puppet and the actual Bindy.
AARON PACE: I can’t believe there’s two of you… This is some Face/Off shit. Which one of you do I shoot? Does anyone have a gun I can borrow?
He yelled out into the backstage area, hoping someone would happen to have a gun.
AARON PACE: No one? Now I know you guys are lying. Hubert Smalls probably keeps one of those on him for when it all becomes you know… ‘too much’.
Fearing this situation could escalate Bindy, the real Bindy, grabbed Aaron by the shoulders and gave him a bit of a shake.
BINDY TRENT: HEY! HEY!!! It’s me! Bindy in the real life. Actual Bindster! See?
She took his hand and tapped it against her face to prove she was flesh and bone, and then set the puppet aside.
AARON PACE: … Holy shit, Bindy. It is you! Then who is this? … I’m just fucking with you, I’m glad you’re back, kiddo.
Aaron proceeded to pat her on the back with a smile on his face, clearly ecstatic that she had returned. She was glad he actually hadn’t lost his marbles, because she wasn’t sure she could fix that. She was already struggling to try and get him on the right side of nice. The young woman gave him a quick hug.
BINDY TRENT: AWE can’t get rid of me that easily. I’m like a horror movie villain, I keep coming back. Only I come back even more preppy and exciting each time. And that means only one thing …
She turned around and started to open the bag she’d brought with you.
BINDY TRENT: I know you weren’t very excited about the chart I made for you the other week, and that band I got you to wear on your wrist somehow broke the second I walked away …
Aaron gave her an innocent shrug, still holding fast to the idea that the breaking of that band she’d given him was a complete accident.
BINDY TRENT: So I came up with a few other ideas. Maybe we can try making learning fun!
From inside her bag she pulled out several different coloring books. Looking at them for a few moments one would be able to decipher that they were indeed Christianity themed coloring books. However Bindy had taken the liberty of trying to remove the religious elements. She’d scribbled a cool backwards cap onto Jesus, and any mention of his name was blacked out and re-written at “Yeezus.”
BINDY TRENT: There are actually some good messages in these about being nice and helping your fellow man. Good moral stuff. I didn’t want to offend or exclude anyone though, so I made them secular. Also, check this out!
She flipped through a few of the pages and showed him some of the images she’d colored in, making sure that many of the characters in the background were representative of different ethnicities.
BINDY TRENT: I made it totes multi-cultural!
She shoved the coloring books and a few crayons into his hands. Aaron couldn’t help but roll his eyes, thinking about saying something mean but biting his tongue.
AARON PACE: This is so dum- ... Ugh you’re right. Thanks Bindy! I’ll take these home with me tonight, pinky swear. I think all this coaching is helping too. Did you know just the other day I tried to help a boy get his cat out of a tree?
Tried being the key word. That all clearly wasn’t what he was going to say at first, but he had caught himself, trying to shake off any potential anger or annoyance. He even put as much of a smile on his face as he could. Since it was Bindy’s first day back, he kind of didn’t want to dampen her spirits right out the gate. It worked too, she bounced up and down on her feet, and gave him another hug, this one much more spirited than the first.
BINDY TRENT: Really?! Oh my gosh, that’s so great! I knew we could find something that you’d like! I’m so proud!
She was almost hopping on her feet with excitement, and she rushed back to grab her bag by the handle.
BINDY TRENT: I’ve actually got some other stuff I brought too, just in case, but those can wait until after the show. Eeeee! I’m so glad you like the coloring idea! And you’re going to do great against Dom DiBona tonight, I just know it. Just remember to stay positive okay!
AARON PACE: Y-yeah. Positive. Yaaaay!
He half-heartedly raised his fists and shook them, to mimic excitement. Bindy seemed to be buying it though. As she continued to squeal with happiness as she took off.
BINDY TRENT: I’ve got some other people to say hi to! I’ll catch you later!
Once she was down the hall and turned the corner Aaron was getting ready to dump the coloring books in the nearest trashcan. That was when Abcde who’d managed to slink away a bit ago returned.
ABCDE: Hey Aaron, I thought since we were doing the whole puppet thing we could add another one in. Get you ready for the big fight and all. Look it’s me, Dom DiBona!
He presented his newest creation on his arm. A Dom DiBona puppet he’d been crafting over the last week, which he made wave at Aaron. Then he started speaking in a squeaky voice for it.
ABCDE/PUPPET DOM: Hi Aaron, it’s me Dom! I just wanted to let you know that in that ring I’m going to really let it all-
AARON PACE: Aaaahhhh!
In a fit of rage Aaron ripped the Dom puppet off of Abcde’s hand and threw it to the floor, where he started stomping on it wildly, seven, maybe even eight times before his leg got tired. That was when he picked up the trash can he had been planning to dump Bindy’s books in and started to beat it against the Dom puppet too, over and over. All while roaring like a madman. Once he’d worn himself out, he slumped back against the wall behind him and glared over at Abcde.
AARON PACE: That’s a spoiler for the Paramount Championship match tonight.
Abcde stared downward at the crumpled and torn remnants of his DiBona puppet, shocked, and almost slightly sick at the site of all this violence. While he fought to compose himself, Aaron walked off, ready to start preparing for his match now that the blood was flowing.
Dominic Lawson VS. Akragth
BRAD STOKES: It was Akragth. He’s the guy messing with the lights and junk!
We’re back and the match in the ring is already in progress as Akragth and Dom Lawson go toe to toe trading blows.
NINA APPLEBAUM: It could be, Bradley. Welcome back AWEphiles to ringside where we’re already underway. Dominic Lawson and Akragth are on pretty equal footing.
BRAD STOKES: These two are likely the bigger drinks of water on the Resilience Roster. Not that you’d actually wanna drink them. That’d be gross. You want a people water, Nina?
NINA APPLEBAUM: No, thanks.
BRAD STOKES: Suit yourself.
Brad chugs a bottle of branded People Water at the announce table. In the ring Dom Lawson shifts his weight and delivers and stiff side elbow that finally staggers Akragth. Dom whips Ak into the corner and charges slamming Ak with a splash!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Nice follow up splash there by Dom off the irish whip.
BRAD STOKES: But if he IS Irish, does he even need to call it an Irish whip?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Some of your color commentary is absolutely pointless, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: Yeah, but don’t tell anyone else that. They might hire back that douchebag, Nate Hollis and replace me.
Dom pulls Ak from the corner and slams a series of elbow strikes and European uppercuts to keep the masked Destroyer off-balance before Dom follows it all up with a sudden fallaway slam!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Nice transfer and Dom goes for the cover!
1…
TW---
Dom slams a flurry of frustrated fists into Ak’s chest before dragging him once more to his feet and planting him once more with a snap DDT.
BRAD STOKES: How much you wanna bet that’s not the real Akragth? My money’s been riding on this weird, demented mind game in which that’s actually T.S. behind that mask.
NINA APPLEBAUM: An interesting theory.
BRAD STOKES: Someone’s been harassing Kassandrah, Nina. If it’s not Akragth, who’s been known to do that sort of shit, then it’s T.S. And maybe he put Akragth here up to it again. Would any of us be surprised?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Not likely.
BRAD STOKES: That’s why I think it’s Akragth who’s messing with the lights and the AlphaTron. He’s misdirecting us from his master plan of stealing a signed Zack Fantana jersey or something.
NINA APPLEBAUM: That’s your suspected master stroke?
BRAD STOKES: I’m not Akragth, Nina. I’m not wearing that mask so I can’t THINK like him, see?
Dom Lawson drags Akragth back to his feet only this time is met with a charging shoulder thrust into the corner where Akragth rams his shoulder repeatedly into Dom Lawson’s midsection before forcing him up and DOWN with a spinebuster!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Akragth with a cover—No!
BRAD STOKES: This could be where he walks out! WAIT FOR IT.
Akragth pulls Dom up before he goes for the cover and forces Dom Lawson up to his feet instead to unload severe right fists before slamming Lawson with a scoop slam! And Akragth isn’t done, angrily stomping down onto the fallen Lawson before gripping him by the throat and dragging Dom back to his feet!
NINA APPLEBAUM: UH OH! SOMEONE IS GOING FOR A RIDE!
The crowd is pumped as Akragth sets Dom up for the chokeslam, lifts him up but Dom reverses the momentum last minute and turns it into an unexpected arm drag that sends Akragth rolling across the canvas!
BRAD STOKES: REVERSAL BY MY MORTAL ENEMY! It’s a good thing that’s not the real Akragth!
Dom is sheer momentum and force as he is on his feet and slamming a stiff kick into Ak as Akragth rises to his feet, then Dom slams a stiff punch, kick combo to keep Akragth off guard and then carries through with multiple knee lifts to stun Akragth. Dom grits his teeth, fully of fury, and SLAMS into Akragth with a discus lariat that bowls the Destroyer over!
NINA APPLEBAUM: The long arm of the law! Akragth is OUT!
Dom drops for the cover!
1…
2…
THR—
NINA APPLEBAUM: Strong kickout by Akragth! There’s still some fight left in him.
Dom Lawson frustratedly smacks the back of his hand into his palm as he instructs Theo Refano how to properly count.
BRAD STOKES: I know Dom and I have had our differences in the past, but seriously, guy’s gotta lose some of his temper and just accept the fact that the AWE officiating is likely the worst in the business. I say that objectively.
NINA APPLEBAUM: I’m not going to support your claims.
BRAD STOKES: But you’re not going to deny them?
NINA APPLEBAUM: No comment.
BRAD STOKES: HA! No comment IS a comment. Gotem!
Dom turns as Akragth stumbles to his feet, Dom’s onslaught has done some damage and he goes right back to work slamming a salvo of punches to keep Ak down before slamming an elbow into Ak’s spine then lifts him to his feet and sets him up for a suplex. Ak blocks the suplex attempt, elbows Dom hard in the side of the head then completes his chokeslam to a raucous pop from the crowd!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Devastating chokeslam there by Akragth!
Akragth viciously grips Dom back up to his feet and folds him over to set him up for the package piledriver!
NINA APPLEBAUM: THE DEVILDRIVER!!! AKRAGTH WITH THE PIN!
BRAD STOKES: For real this time!? But the entrance is over there! WHY IS HE STILL HERE?!
1…
2…
3!!
DING! DING! DING!
“Here Comes Revenge” by Metallica starts in as Akragth rises to his feet and barely bothers acknowledging the victory. He makes his way out of the ring even as Marshall Douglas enters to call the match.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: Here is your winner… AKKKRAAAAGGGTTHHH!!
Akragth is halfway up the ramp when the lights go down and once more the words on the AlphaTron Flicker to life.
We’re back and the match in the ring is already in progress as Akragth and Dom Lawson go toe to toe trading blows.
NINA APPLEBAUM: It could be, Bradley. Welcome back AWEphiles to ringside where we’re already underway. Dominic Lawson and Akragth are on pretty equal footing.
BRAD STOKES: These two are likely the bigger drinks of water on the Resilience Roster. Not that you’d actually wanna drink them. That’d be gross. You want a people water, Nina?
NINA APPLEBAUM: No, thanks.
BRAD STOKES: Suit yourself.
Brad chugs a bottle of branded People Water at the announce table. In the ring Dom Lawson shifts his weight and delivers and stiff side elbow that finally staggers Akragth. Dom whips Ak into the corner and charges slamming Ak with a splash!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Nice follow up splash there by Dom off the irish whip.
BRAD STOKES: But if he IS Irish, does he even need to call it an Irish whip?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Some of your color commentary is absolutely pointless, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: Yeah, but don’t tell anyone else that. They might hire back that douchebag, Nate Hollis and replace me.
Dom pulls Ak from the corner and slams a series of elbow strikes and European uppercuts to keep the masked Destroyer off-balance before Dom follows it all up with a sudden fallaway slam!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Nice transfer and Dom goes for the cover!
1…
TW---
Dom slams a flurry of frustrated fists into Ak’s chest before dragging him once more to his feet and planting him once more with a snap DDT.
BRAD STOKES: How much you wanna bet that’s not the real Akragth? My money’s been riding on this weird, demented mind game in which that’s actually T.S. behind that mask.
NINA APPLEBAUM: An interesting theory.
BRAD STOKES: Someone’s been harassing Kassandrah, Nina. If it’s not Akragth, who’s been known to do that sort of shit, then it’s T.S. And maybe he put Akragth here up to it again. Would any of us be surprised?
NINA APPLEBAUM: Not likely.
BRAD STOKES: That’s why I think it’s Akragth who’s messing with the lights and the AlphaTron. He’s misdirecting us from his master plan of stealing a signed Zack Fantana jersey or something.
NINA APPLEBAUM: That’s your suspected master stroke?
BRAD STOKES: I’m not Akragth, Nina. I’m not wearing that mask so I can’t THINK like him, see?
Dom Lawson drags Akragth back to his feet only this time is met with a charging shoulder thrust into the corner where Akragth rams his shoulder repeatedly into Dom Lawson’s midsection before forcing him up and DOWN with a spinebuster!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Akragth with a cover—No!
BRAD STOKES: This could be where he walks out! WAIT FOR IT.
Akragth pulls Dom up before he goes for the cover and forces Dom Lawson up to his feet instead to unload severe right fists before slamming Lawson with a scoop slam! And Akragth isn’t done, angrily stomping down onto the fallen Lawson before gripping him by the throat and dragging Dom back to his feet!
NINA APPLEBAUM: UH OH! SOMEONE IS GOING FOR A RIDE!
The crowd is pumped as Akragth sets Dom up for the chokeslam, lifts him up but Dom reverses the momentum last minute and turns it into an unexpected arm drag that sends Akragth rolling across the canvas!
BRAD STOKES: REVERSAL BY MY MORTAL ENEMY! It’s a good thing that’s not the real Akragth!
Dom is sheer momentum and force as he is on his feet and slamming a stiff kick into Ak as Akragth rises to his feet, then Dom slams a stiff punch, kick combo to keep Akragth off guard and then carries through with multiple knee lifts to stun Akragth. Dom grits his teeth, fully of fury, and SLAMS into Akragth with a discus lariat that bowls the Destroyer over!
NINA APPLEBAUM: The long arm of the law! Akragth is OUT!
Dom drops for the cover!
1…
2…
THR—
NINA APPLEBAUM: Strong kickout by Akragth! There’s still some fight left in him.
Dom Lawson frustratedly smacks the back of his hand into his palm as he instructs Theo Refano how to properly count.
BRAD STOKES: I know Dom and I have had our differences in the past, but seriously, guy’s gotta lose some of his temper and just accept the fact that the AWE officiating is likely the worst in the business. I say that objectively.
NINA APPLEBAUM: I’m not going to support your claims.
BRAD STOKES: But you’re not going to deny them?
NINA APPLEBAUM: No comment.
BRAD STOKES: HA! No comment IS a comment. Gotem!
Dom turns as Akragth stumbles to his feet, Dom’s onslaught has done some damage and he goes right back to work slamming a salvo of punches to keep Ak down before slamming an elbow into Ak’s spine then lifts him to his feet and sets him up for a suplex. Ak blocks the suplex attempt, elbows Dom hard in the side of the head then completes his chokeslam to a raucous pop from the crowd!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Devastating chokeslam there by Akragth!
Akragth viciously grips Dom back up to his feet and folds him over to set him up for the package piledriver!
NINA APPLEBAUM: THE DEVILDRIVER!!! AKRAGTH WITH THE PIN!
BRAD STOKES: For real this time!? But the entrance is over there! WHY IS HE STILL HERE?!
1…
2…
3!!
DING! DING! DING!
“Here Comes Revenge” by Metallica starts in as Akragth rises to his feet and barely bothers acknowledging the victory. He makes his way out of the ring even as Marshall Douglas enters to call the match.
MARSHALL DOUGLAS: Here is your winner… AKKKRAAAAGGGTTHHH!!
Akragth is halfway up the ramp when the lights go down and once more the words on the AlphaTron Flicker to life.
This is *garbled* speaking...
This is *garbled* speaking...
This is
G-G-G-Gen Now
*Deeper* GEN NOW
GEN now!
This is a GEN NOW production.
This is *garbled* speaking...
This is
G-G-G-Gen Now
*Deeper* GEN NOW
GEN now!
This is a GEN NOW production.
BRAD STOKES: THERE IT IS AGAIN!
The lights come back on, and Akragth has disappeared through the entry way.
BRAD STOKES: See? I told you!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Whoever, or whatever it is that’s doing that is making a point of repeating that message.
BRAD STOKES: It’s T.S! He’s working with Gen Now and Akragth!!!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Now it’s too soon to jump to conclusions, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: But that’s my gimmick, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Fair enough. Let’s go backstage where I’m told an altercation is taking place.
The lights come back on, and Akragth has disappeared through the entry way.
BRAD STOKES: See? I told you!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Whoever, or whatever it is that’s doing that is making a point of repeating that message.
BRAD STOKES: It’s T.S! He’s working with Gen Now and Akragth!!!
NINA APPLEBAUM: Now it’s too soon to jump to conclusions, Bradley.
BRAD STOKES: But that’s my gimmick, Nina.
NINA APPLEBAUM: Fair enough. Let’s go backstage where I’m told an altercation is taking place.
Bobby Benson walks around backstage humming “Guitars and Cadillacs” when he turns a corner and someone pulls him back and throws him to the ground. Aokigahara Zombie then gets in front of him as he gets up.
BOBBY BENSON: What the hell was that?
Aokigahara pats him down and helps him dust off his jacket.
BOBBY BENSON: Alright, I’m sure that was a mistake. Now if you’ll excuse me.
Bobby tries to move around Aokigahara but he doesn’t move. Bobby puts the bullhorn to his mouth.
BOBBY BENSON: EXCUSE ME. I NEED TO GET OVER THERE. GET OUT OF MY WA-
Aokigahara pushes the bullhorn away before Bobby can finish.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Sorry about that. It’s just that I’m here on some business. Since Kimitsu’s a bit occupied at the moment I figured I’d do this for her.
BOBBY BENSON: Do what?
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Deal with you.
Bobby tries to turn and run but Aoki grabs a hold of him and makes him stay.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Don’t worry. I’m not the type to just ambush someone. Especially someone like you. That’s more of a Generation Now thing. Me? I’ll give you a fighting chance. Calm down.
Bobby Benson looks around nervously for someone, anyone to help him.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Look. You do deserve this. You know you do. Just be glad I got to you before she did. So remember, this is a fight not a beatdown. I’ll even let you get the first shot in and we'll take it from there. Just hit me here.
He points where the left side of his jaw.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Or up here.
He points at his left temple.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: And I’ll get a bit loopy. Maybe, just maybe, you might even knock me out. Wouldn’t that be great?! Now. I’m ready.
Bobby balls up his fists and looks at them feebly.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Hit me!
Benson flinches and reels back then hits Aokigahara with a strong right punch to the side of his chin then a left that smacks into the side of his head. Aokigahara stumbles back and looks a bit dazed and surprised but then he just smiles and focuses his eyes on a frozen Bobby with his head tilted to the side. He grins.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Subarashii! Now me.
Aokigahara kicks Bobby square in the middle of his chest which sends him flying back. He lands behind a wooden crate and Aokigahara follows and flies over the crate. He throws a flurry of punches and kicks to a downed Bobby while grunting like a maniac. We only see his flailing arms hear the jackal sound he’s making. and He stops after a minute and catches his breath and picks up Bobby’s limp body and pulls him onto his shoulders. He then walks down the hall to continue Bobby’s trip.
He stops by a door and knocks on it twice. James Radford opens it and tenses up when he sees Aokigahara holding Bobby up. Aokigahara sets Benson down in front of the door and lets him go. Bobby just balances wobbly on his feet and leans in. Radford doesn’t stop him and takes a step back to let Benson just flop onto the room. James and Aokigahara just stare at each other in a tense silence. Aokigahara finally smirks and nods at an expressionless James. Then Aokigahara walks away and Radford watches him leave. Then we see Radford go in and pull Bobby inside before closing the door.
BOBBY BENSON: What the hell was that?
Aokigahara pats him down and helps him dust off his jacket.
BOBBY BENSON: Alright, I’m sure that was a mistake. Now if you’ll excuse me.
Bobby tries to move around Aokigahara but he doesn’t move. Bobby puts the bullhorn to his mouth.
BOBBY BENSON: EXCUSE ME. I NEED TO GET OVER THERE. GET OUT OF MY WA-
Aokigahara pushes the bullhorn away before Bobby can finish.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Sorry about that. It’s just that I’m here on some business. Since Kimitsu’s a bit occupied at the moment I figured I’d do this for her.
BOBBY BENSON: Do what?
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Deal with you.
Bobby tries to turn and run but Aoki grabs a hold of him and makes him stay.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Don’t worry. I’m not the type to just ambush someone. Especially someone like you. That’s more of a Generation Now thing. Me? I’ll give you a fighting chance. Calm down.
Bobby Benson looks around nervously for someone, anyone to help him.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Look. You do deserve this. You know you do. Just be glad I got to you before she did. So remember, this is a fight not a beatdown. I’ll even let you get the first shot in and we'll take it from there. Just hit me here.
He points where the left side of his jaw.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Or up here.
He points at his left temple.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: And I’ll get a bit loopy. Maybe, just maybe, you might even knock me out. Wouldn’t that be great?! Now. I’m ready.
Bobby balls up his fists and looks at them feebly.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Hit me!
Benson flinches and reels back then hits Aokigahara with a strong right punch to the side of his chin then a left that smacks into the side of his head. Aokigahara stumbles back and looks a bit dazed and surprised but then he just smiles and focuses his eyes on a frozen Bobby with his head tilted to the side. He grins.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Subarashii! Now me.
Aokigahara kicks Bobby square in the middle of his chest which sends him flying back. He lands behind a wooden crate and Aokigahara follows and flies over the crate. He throws a flurry of punches and kicks to a downed Bobby while grunting like a maniac. We only see his flailing arms hear the jackal sound he’s making. and He stops after a minute and catches his breath and picks up Bobby’s limp body and pulls him onto his shoulders. He then walks down the hall to continue Bobby’s trip.
He stops by a door and knocks on it twice. James Radford opens it and tenses up when he sees Aokigahara holding Bobby up. Aokigahara sets Benson down in front of the door and lets him go. Bobby just balances wobbly on his feet and leans in. Radford doesn’t stop him and takes a step back to let Benson just flop onto the room. James and Aokigahara just stare at each other in a tense silence. Aokigahara finally smirks and nods at an expressionless James. Then Aokigahara walks away and Radford watches him leave. Then we see Radford go in and pull Bobby inside before closing the door.