Henry Van Stanton (RP for EOTY Open Invitational)

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January 2005

Off Camera

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We cut backstage to the ready area.  Nineteen year old Henry Van Stanton, even at this young age, has already had quite a few wrestling matches in his young independent wrestling career.  His style is that of a wrestling machine, a mat technician and submissionist the likes few have seen before.  In his first thirty fights, he has tapped out every single one of his opponents.  But now comes his biggest test to date.   For tonight, in his hometown with the pressure on, in front of friends and family, he gets a championship match for a regional title against an undefeated opponent.  You might expect an athlete in this position to be at least a little nervous.  Henry, though, feels no concern or worry whatsoever.  Part of his confidence stems from his string of submission victories.  Another part of it comes from being surrounded backstage with his lovely wife Autumn Van Stanton.  Also with him is his younger brother, seventeen year old Mason Van Stanton.

“Almost that time, everyone!” Henry exclaims with a wide grin on his face, a grin that exudes confidence bordering on arrogance. “Almost time to bring some championship gold to the family!”

“Championship belts always did look good on our family.” Mason remarks in agreement with his brother. “Our father was…”

Henry holds a hand up in front of Mason’s mouth so as to silence him. “Hold on there, Mason.  Don’t bring him up.  Never EVER bring him up.”

Mason sighs, shrugging his shoulders. “You’re right, but still, he did win titles and that means  kicking  ass is in our blood!”

Henry nods his head. “This is true, but tonight I do things my way, the HENRY VAN STANTON way, and tonight I write a new chapter in our family’s history book.”

There is no denying it now.  That grin on the elder Van Stanton’s face is now one of pure arrogance and cockiness.  “There ARE laws of professional wrestling but tonight is the beginning, tonight is the beginning of the era when I rewrite those laws.  The laws of professional wrestling are MINE and they WILL obey me!”

“Damn right!” Mason exclaims, high fiving his brother Henry.

“You seem awfully confident.” Autumn says, sounding rather disconcerted about her husband rather nonchalant approach to this championship match he is about to participate in, the first of his career. “You really don’t know what’s going to happen out there when the bell rings, do you Henry?”

“Oh, Autumn.  My Autumn.” He rubs her cheeks gently with the back of his hand. “You’re right, you are absolutely right.  When that bell rings anything can happen…with anyone else…”

He smirks “…but with me, I have complete control out there in that ring.  I decide what happens.  Up until now, I have decided that every one of my opponents will tap out…and tonight will be no different.”

Loud music can be heard in the background.  Henry smiles knowingly. “That’s my cue…”

He embraces Mason first and then embraces Autumn as well before planting a kiss on her cheek. “When I come back, I’ll be about ten pounds heavier!”

Henry turns and walks out towards the curtains and steps through them.  He sees the crowd, which erupts into even louder cheers upon seeing their hometown hero arriving for this title match.   How he managed to secure a championship match in his hometown is anyone’s guess but he managed to pull it off.  He spins around at the top of the ramp and then pumps his fists, drawing further cheers from his fans.  Henry is eating this up.

“And his opponent, the challenger, from RIGHT HERE IN RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA…” those words bring the crowd to an epic fever pitch “…he is The Carolina Crippler, he is HENRY VAN STANTON!”

Henry struts the first few steps down the aisle before making a sudden bolt the rest of the way, sliding underneath the bottom rope and into the ring.  He hops up to his feet in a single jump and then hops up onto the turnbuckle, pumping his fists out at the crowd to draw further cheers.  Henry hops down off the turnbuckle and then turns to face the reigning champion, who looks on at Henry with a look of utter disdain.

The bell rings and the two men meet in the center of the ring for a collar and elbow tie up.  The champion goes for a side headlock immediately, hoping to keep Henry controlled, but Henry shoves him off into the ropes.  The champion bounces off and hits Henry with a hard shoulder block, knocking him down.  The champion runs back off the ropes.  Henry is up and leap frogs over the champion.  The champion hits the ropes again and comes back only to have Henry connect with a deep arm drag into an arm bar.

The champion, “The Great” Leeland Ashe, fights to his feet and reverses into a hammerlock.  Henry reverses into a hammerlock of his own.  Ashe reverses again and then drops Henry with a hammerlock suplex.  Ashe goes right into the cover, hoping to get a quick win, but only gets a one count.

Ashe with an Irish whip into the corner.  He rushes in but Henry gets his boot up into Ashe’s face.  Henry then comes off with a second rope flip-over neck breaker followed up by a neck snapper.  Henry applies a neck vice.  The champion eventually fights back to his feet and Henry switches into a side headlock.  Ashe breaks the hold with three elbows to the gut.  Ashe then attempts another Irish whip but Henry reverses and nails a knee to the gut followed by a swinging neck breaker.    Henry reapplies the neck vice from earlier.

Again the champion manages to fight his way to his, though it takes longer this time.  Nevertheless Henry drives a knee to the gut and drops him with a hangman’s neck breaker before reapplying the neck vice.  Ash fights back to his feet and breaks the hold with three elbows to the gut and then begins to fire off right hands to the skull.  Ashe whips Henry into the ropes and then nails a running knee lift.  Ashe with a snap suplex and then a belly to belly overhead suplex.

The champion has the momentum now and signals for the end.  He places Henry’s head between his legs and underhooks both arms as he goes for a double underhook face buster but Henry back drops his way out of it.  As soon as Ashe is to his feet he is met by a boot to the gut from Henry followed by an even flow ddt.  Henry covers, thinking that’s it, but only gets a two.

Henry pulls Ashe to his feet, places his head between his legs, and drops him with a pile driver.  Henry covers again but Ashe shoots his right shoulder off the mat right before the three count.  Henry is shocked but is still focused and intent on finishing this.  He pulls Ashe back to his feet, gets him in position, and drops him with a second straight pile driver.  He covers and once again Ashe shoots his right shoulder up off the mat just in time.

The referee asks Henry to be merciful but Henry says the match isn’t over yet.  He pulls Ashe up, hoists the champion up onto his shoulder and into a different position, this time dropping him with a tombstone variation of the pile driver.  After this move is completed the referee calls for the bell…

DING! DING! DING!

Henry has Ashe covered but the referee isn’t making the count.  Instead the referee is speaking with the ring announcer.  The referee then is handed the championship belt and hands it to Henry.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the referee has stopped this contest…the winner of this match and your NEW champion, The Carolina Crippler Henry Van Stanton!”

Henry is somewhat disappointed that his streak of submission victories has come to an end but his undefeated streak is still intact and he is now a champion!  That in and of itself is enough to make this the greatest day in his professional career as he clutches the belt tightly to his chest and then holds it up high over his head, allowing the fans to shower him with cheers.

Van Stanton doesn’t even bother to look back into the ring at Ashe, who is still in the ring on his back.  Nor does he notice the referee calling for assistance from the back.  Henry is soaking up the adulation of the public and of his victory as he takes his newly won title back and begins to walk with it back up the ramp, slapping a few hands of the fans along the way.  At the top of the ramp Henry turns around to face the ring one last time.  He grins from ear to ear…only to have that grin disappear just as suddenly when he sees Leeland Ashe being loaded on a stretcher by medical personnel.

Henry steps through the curtain and heads back to where he finds Autumn and Mason, watching on, Mason happily and joyous over his brother’s title win, Autumn a bit more cautious and concerned over what just happened in the ring to the former champion Ashe…

“What just happened out there?”  Henry asks in a demanding tone of voice.  “Tell me what just happened?”

“Um, you won?” Mason asks curiously. “That’s what I saw.”

“I don’t think that’s what he means.” Autumn says somewhat fearfully.

“What else is there?” Mason taps Henry’s newly won championship. “THAT is all that matters.  He won.  That’s it.”

“No…” Henry’s voice trails off as he steps up to Autumn, placing both of his hands on her shoulders “…what just happened?”

“I’m not sure,” Autumn begins slowly, quietly “but…”

“But what?!” Henry demands. “Tell me!”

“When the medical personnel were about to go to the ring, I heard one of them mention that it looked to them like you may have broken his neck.”

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January 2014

Off Camera

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We open in the Raleigh, North Carolina headquarters for Global Championship Wrestling.  The lobby is empty except for a brown haired secretary sitting at her desk, playing solitaire on her computer when she should be doing work.

“Helllloooooo Raleigh!”

The secretary almost jumps out of her seat when the door swings wildly open and a charismatic man in a tweed jacket, dark pants, suspenders, white button up shirt, and a red bow-tie enters the lobby.  This is Henry Van Stanton and next to him is his lovely wife Autumn, dressed in a maxi skirt, sandals, and a nice silky white blouse.

Henry approaches the secretary and takes her by the hand and shakes it.  “Hello, I am Henry Van Stanton, Dr. Henry Van Stanton.  You may call me The Doctor, or Henry, or Van Stanton, or just Hey You!  I will answer to just about anything really.”

He motions to Autumn. “This is my wife, Autumn.   She won’t answer to anything.  Just Autumn.”

He reaches into his pocket and produces a bag of candy. “Want a jelly baby?”

“Um…” the secretary reluctantly takes some of the candy “…sure, thanks.”

“Fantastic!  Now then, can you tell Glory Braddock that The Doctor and his lovely companion are here to see her?”

The secretary nods. “I will let Ms. Braddock know, Doctor.”

“Fantastic!” Henry and Autumn sit down as the secretary gets up and makes her exit, to tell Glory of his arrival.  Once she is gone Autumn breaks the silence.

“Henry, darling, are you sure you want to go through with this?”

“Totally.  Completely.  The complete of completeness.  I am absolutely totally completely sure.”

“I know you think you are but don’t you think this will be a little…oh I don’t know…”

“Awkward?” Henry offers, finishing her statement for her. “Yes, Autumn, this will be very awkward for me.  But this is something I must do.  I have done horrible things in my past, Autumn, and I have to make up for it in some way.  This is one way I can do that.”

Autumn sighs, shaking her head. “What happened in the past in the past…”

“That’s not how I think.  You know this.”

Autumn nods her head. “Yes, unfortunately I do.  Still, if you are insistent on taking this job, shouldn’t you at least tell Ms. Braddock the truth?  She has no idea who you are.”

“And it is better that way.” Henry remarks. “It’s awkward enough as it is for me, imagine how poor Gloria would be if she knew the truth, if she knew my father is the man responsible for ending her father’s wrestling career?”

He shakes his head. “It’s best she doesn’t know.  I can then make up for my father’s sins undercover.”

“But you don’t have to make up for his sins!”

Henry nods his head. “I do…someone has to …and you know Mason won’t.”

At that time the secretary returns.  Henry and Autumn turn to face her. “Doctor, Ms. Braddock is ready to see you.”

“Fantastic!” Henry stands up. “Now wait here, Autumn.  I’ll be right back.”

Henry follows the secretary down a hall and through an open door.  Immediately upon entering he spots Glory Braddock sitting at her desk.  Henry smiles politely at the brunette beauty, the legendary world champion wrestler.

“Ms. Braddock,” the secretary begins “Dr. Henry Van Stanton.”

“Thanks, you may leave.”

The secretary nods and makes her exit, shutting the door behind her.  Henry approaches Glory’s desk and the two shake hands.

“It is so marvelous and ever so cool to get called in for a second interview, Ms. Braddock!”

“Oh don’t be so formal.  Call me Glory.” She grins knowingly. “My friends call me Glory.”

“Ah, Glory it is then.”

He finds a seat. “And I must say, the facilities here are fantastic.”

“Thank you, Dr. Van Stanton.  I do what I can.”

“Don’t be so formal.” Henry winks. “Call me Doctor…or Henry…or John Smith…”

Glory can’t help but let out a slight laugh. “Ok, Doctor…but when you start this job, we may have to be at least a little formal with one another.”

“My first day?” Henry’s light up. “Are you telling me I got the job?”

Glory nods her head. “Yes, that is exactly what I’m telling you.”

Henry is now grinning so broadly that it may have to be surgically removed.  “I must admit I am a little surprised.  This will be my first attempt at an executive position in a wrestling company.  Surely others applied with more experience than me?”

Glory nods her head. “Yes, there were others.  But I know the background of each and every one of them real well and I don’t trust them.  Not one iota.”

“But how can you trust me?” Henry asks. “You never really met me.”

“True, but you seem trustworthy.  And then there’s the fact that you used to be a wrestler yourself.  I may not know you well enough to trust you right now but I can learn to trust you and besides, I think as a wrestler yourself, you would be more likely to put the needs of the wrestler first, which is what we in GCW are looking for.”

“And I will do everything I can in my power to make sure GCW’s interests are defended.”

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Present Day

Off Camera

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Now that you know how Henry Van Stanton  came to be who he is…now that you know how he came to be in the position he is in…we can now cut to the present day, where we find the good doctor in his office at GCW Headquarters.  He sits at his desk, his face buried in paperwork, but the look on his face tells a story of a man who is not focused on that paperwork.  This is a man who is hurting, a man who is troubled and is in pain.  He had secretly swore to protect the interests of GCW and the Braddock family, as a debt he felt his family owed to the Braddock family since it was Henry’s father who ended Glenn’s wrestling career.

So, when Aphrodite Noel brainwashed Julia Braddock, turning her into Aphrodite’s “daughter” Julia Noel, and is now attempting to do the same to Glory Braddock, Henry knew that he had to take action.  He had to declare war on Aphrodite.  He had to do it as part of the debt he owed to the Braddock Family.  Only in the process it cost him his wife Autumn.  Mason Van Stanton, Henry’s brother, turned on Henry out of jealousy, aligning with Aphrodite.  Mason apparently told Aphrodite of a dirty secret about Autumn, which she used to blackmail her into joining Aphrodite as well.

Now Henry is faced with the fight of his life and he doesn’t quite know what to do now…except bury himself in his work…but his concentration is broken by knocking at his office door.

“Come in!”  The door opens and Henry is somewhat surprised to see Glory Braddock…only now it ‘s Gloria Marie Noel…entering the room. “Gloria…what are you doing here?”

“I came to speak to you.” Gloria walks over and sits down across from Henry.

“I know you are the owner of this grand company and can go anywhere you want in this facility, but still, I find it rather odd that her not so royal majesty Aphrodite Noel would allow you to come.”

Gloria shakes her head. “You still don’t understand our relationship.”

“I understand that the terms of the relationship were dictated by Aphrodite and not you.” Henry snarls. “That’s enough for me to judge.”

“I have freedom to do as I please, so long as I remain loyal to her.  Besides…” she sighs “…she doesn’t know I’m here.”

“Ah, now we’re getting to the heart of it then, aren’t we?”

Gloria sighs, shaking her head. “Look, let me just say what I wanted to say and then leave, ok?”

Henry leans back in his chair. “I’m listening.”

“I wanted to put your mind at ease regarding Glenn Braddock.”

“You mean your father?”

Tears form in her eyes, tears which she quickly wipes away. “Glenn is no longer my father.  I am a Noel and Aphrodite is my mother.”

“Please!” Henry exclaims. “You are not brainwashed like Julia.  You know better.  You’re just being FORCED to say these things.  So just drop the act and…”

“It’s not an act!”Gloria is now on the verge of crying. “It’s my reality and I have accepted it now!  The sooner you accept it and quit trying to save me…the better off you’ll be…”

“I won’t stop trying, Gloria.” Henry snaps back. “I owe it to you and your family…THE BRADDOCK FAMILY…to  continue trying to save you until my last breath!  And when Jason Redfield defeats Aphrodite this coming Saturday at For Glory & Gold…you will be free, I will have won.”

“But you won’t win.” Gloria shakes her head. “And neither will Redfield.  But Henry, I do appreciate the sentiment, and I appreciate what you are trying to do for me.  That’s why I came.  I wanted to let you know that you do not have to do this for me.  What your father did to my fa…to Glenn Braddock, that was not your mistake.  That was his.  But what you are trying to do for me…”

Gloria begins to choke up “…it’s sweet.  Thank you.”

“Don’t give up hope.  My experience is that there is, surprisingly, always hope.”

“Not for me.” Gloria shakes her head.  “However…”

“However?”

“In the unlikely event you and Redfield are successful and I am freed, then you will have a bigger war on your hands.  My mother Aphrodite will not take defeat so easily.  I would prepare if I were you.”

“Oh?” Henry leans forward. “And how do you propose that?”

“Get back into wrestling again.  You are a wrestler, Henry.  You need to remind the world, and my mother, of what you can do.   And I know just the place you can do that…”

“Where?”

Gloria grins “…it’s called Supreme Championship Wrestling.”

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Present Day

On Camera

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“Hello?  Hello?  Is this thing on?”

“It’d help if you turned on the lights, sir.”

“Oh, right!  Yes!  That would be helpful…the helpfullest of helpful!  Right-o!  Do it!”

“…you’re standing RIGHT THERE at the light switch.  I’m on the other side of the room, sir.”

“Oh…well, there you go.”

The lights switch on and we see Dr. Henry Van Stanton standing there grinning from ear to ear.

“End of the Year Special is a time when we can look back on the previous  year and celebrate the good times while remembering also the bad times, for we must always learn from the past or we shall be doomed to repeat it.  Isn’t that right Mr. Cameraman?”

“Yes, sir.”

Henry nods. “I recently watched the Independent Wrestling Cartel’s End of the Year Special and it was quite a blockbuster, one that will prove to be a tough act to follow, but Mr. D, the owner with a last name so cool that people just call him Mr. D for short…”

“Actually, sir, I think…”

“You know, anyone who answers to just one name like that, is cool.  Like me, I am Henry Van Stanton and I come from a line of professional wrestlers.  I also have a PhD in history so some people call me Doctor.  And I’m cool with that.  But you REALLY have to be extraordinarily awesome to be able to go by just one letter of the alphabet…”

“Uh, sir…”

“D!  Yes, that’s what I will call him.  D!”

“SIR!”

Henry frowns, rather agitated. “What?  What is it?”

“That’s NOT why they call him Mr. D…they call him that because his full name is too complicated to try and say!”

Henry pauses. “…ok, now I’m a touch embarrassed.  Dangerous, isn’t it?”

“What’s dangerous?”

“Embarrassment.”

“To my knowledge, embarrassment is NOT dangerous, sir.”

“Good!  Because I am QUITE embarrassed right now!” Henry says, chuckling. “Nevertheless, Mr. D with the cool last name knew he had a tough act to follow so he books something that very well could top the IWC event.  He booked…get this now…an OPEN INVITATIONAL BATTLE ROYAL!”

He rubs his hands together. “Open Invitationals are so cool because you quite literally can see anything from time and space in this event…roman soldiers, German built funnybots, Texans in motorized wheelchairs calling people babies, Daleks, cybermen, and…even…”

He gasps “…EVEN WILLIAM MASON!”

He laughs “…ok so that one MAY be a little out there, but Daleks?  A real possibility!  You could see wrestlers from other companies come in and try their hand.  SCW superstars will really have to bring their  A-Game if they want to defend their turf.  ANYONE could come in, even someone who hasn’t wrestled a match in ten years.”

He frowns. “Namely someone like me.”

Henry folds his arms over his chest. “So who am I, you ask?  Allow me to introduce myself.  I am Dr. Henry Van Stanton, President of Global Championship Wrestling, former professional wrestler and soon to be reactive professional wrestler.   Back then I was known as The Carolina Crippler.  I answer to that…Henry Van Stanton…or just The Doctor.  Either way, I am who I am, and if you are smart you will do your homework.  Find out who I really am.  And then you will know that you have just one option…run…”

No one quite like me

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Angelica Jones

On Camera

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So people are upset at how I got one over on Chris Cannon?

Well boo-hoo!  He lost, I won, and that is all that matters in this game.   Winning is the name of this game and that’s what I do best.  I win…and I win by any means necessary.

I’m also a smart wrestler.  I am a thinking wrestler.  I strategize and plan, I think things through.  I’m not going to unleash The Dragon on a man I hate, because I know what would happen.  I would not let up.  I would bludgeon him, bloody him, and get disqualified.

What a smart woman would do is instead of getting disqualified, get the other guy disqualified.  And that’s exactly what I did.

Now I’m up with two points in this tournament.  I have all the momentum necessary to carry me over into Breakdown and my showdown with Bolu.

Bolu…sucks to be you…because I’m going to beat you, and I’m going to rack up even more points as I continue my march right through this tournament until the very end.

Until the championship.

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Scene 1

Off Camera

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Angelica Jones is a lot of things.  You can call her The Dragon, The Golden Goddess, or Firestar.  One thing Angelica definitely could be called is an enigma.  It is a difficult task to try and figure her out.  There have been few people outside of family who truly understood Angelica Jones, who actually know what makes her tick.  One of those individuals is none other than Brittany Lohan.

Brittany Lohan and Angelica Jones began as enemies.  Brittany attacked her sister in order to force her into a brutal seven stages of hell match which Angelica won.  Later they became allies out of a mutual respect with Angelica acting as her trainer and manager.  She taught Angelica everything she knew.  That relationship evolved into a sexual one.  Granted they have had their ups and downs, like any pair of friends would, but they have always maintained that respect for one another, even in the tough times.

So the fact that she seems suspect of Angelica, or at least disappointed in her actions as of late, is enough to make Angelica accept the fact that perhaps something does need to change.  She does not want to lose Brittany Lohan as a friend and ally.

Naturally, when Brittany expressed disapproval with her victory over Chris Cannon, Angelica knew something was up and she wanted to nip it in the bud immediately.  So a meeting was arranged…

The natural red-head with dyed blonde hair Boston native known to one and all by many names, Golden Goddess or Dragon, but ultimately as Angelica Jones, walks ever so gracefully over to the bar.  She is wearing a tight, form fitting gold dress that stops at thigh length, strappy heeled sandals, and her long blonde locks of hair hang unrestrained to shoulder length.  Jones has a  specific seat in mind, namely the one next to her best friend and Silas World comrade-in-arms Brittany Lohan.

“Hi there, Britt!” Angelica says overly cheerfully. “I didn’t keep you waiting did I?”

Britt shakes her head. “No. Not at all.”

“Excellent!” She sighs deeply, still forcing a smile on her face. “I had to take care of some unexpected business but all is good now.”

Brittany feast her eyes on the gold dress Angelica wore for the occasion. “You look nice.”

“Thanks!  You look quite stunning yourself…” she winks.

Brittany takes a sip from the drink she was halfway done before Angelica arrived. “Yeah... so.. where should we begin?”

“Let’s start with the overarching problem.” She points to Brittany and then at herself. “What’s wrong between us, Britt?  I mean, I get your issues with my daughter...and sure, we can discuss those too…but that’s between you two.  What’s wrong between us?”

“I care about you. We’ve been through to much. How many people can say they are still friends after the other shot a fireball in their face? Not many.”

Brittany smirks. “We’ll always have a connection. I owe you, a lot. My problem Angelica.. I’ve watched the way you’ve conducted yourself since becoming Silas’ Baby Red.” Brittany rolls her eyes. “I knew you care more about winning period then winning with honor. I’m not an honorable person, either. The countless times your used Apocalypse in GCW. To the way you “beat” Chris Cannon.  I ask myself sometime, what happened to the woman who made me pass out?”

Brittany sighs. “What happened to the woman who trained me to maximize my potential? She is replaced by this automation who hops on Twitter promoting Silas as the second coming of Jesus.”

Brittany points her finger at Angelica. “You are the reason you won World Titles this year. Not him. Frontier would have went on sale without him. I know you would have found a way to make that happen. Not about Silas. Remember Sam Hodgson? You went to her because you lost faith in you. So what you had not become World Champion in four years? I don’t know who you are anymore. Is the woman I can’t get enough of one big lie? Did you pull a bait and switch on me?”

The bartender brings Angelica a drink.  She thanks the bartender before taking a sip.  She then turns to Brittany, sighing.

“Look, you know I will do whatever it takes to get ahead, whatever it takes to win.  That’s how I always have been and that’s how I always will be.  That person you know, The Dragon, the person who made you pass out?”

She grins. “She’s still here...and yes, I easily could have gone Dragon on Chris and odds are he probably wouldn’t be walking around right now.  But after losing to him before I knew that it would take a little more finesse to get those two points for this tournament.”

Angelica taps her head. “Tournaments like this you have to rely on strategy, Britt.  I can’t go full bore Dragon or else I’ll get too many disqualifications and I’ll lose.  As for Apocalypse, I only reformed it to get revenge on Abigail.  And you know why I wanted revenge.  She took my title from me by helping Katelyn Buehler.  And she knowingly allowed my daughter to remain in captivity.  Apocalypse is about to run its course, Britt.  It served its purpose.  I’m not sure how much longer I’ll allow it to continue.”

Jones laughs lightly. “As for the Silas Mason flag waving…”

She takes another sip of her drink “...I’m just trying to be happy and be the jokester on social media.  Nothing more.  It’s my defense mechanism, my way of forgetting certain personal issues going on right now that I cannot control.”

“Still makes me want to find the nearest trash can or toilet to unload what I just ate.” Brittany shrugs. She then places her hand on Angelica’s hand. “What personal issues? Why haven’t you come to me?”

“Tell me something...since I believe you do know me pretty well...what is the single most important thing to me in this world?”

“Other than winning? Your freedom.”

“That’s part of it...but why do I want to win?  And furthermore, why do I want to win and be the best?”

“Being the best mother, sister you can be. It’s been a long road. I’m glad you finally reached a point everything appear in order.”

Angelica nods her head. “That’s right, Britt...my family.  I damn near lost my family once but I have been given a second chance.  And I can’t lose them.  I won’t lose them.  So you have to know that I will do anything to protect them…”

She grows quiet until… “....anything…”

Brittany nods, knowing the lengths Angelica is willing to go to preserve everything she worked so hard to earn back. An evil smirk forms on Britts face. “Let me deal with it.”

She shakes her head. “I can’t let you get involved.  This man has me over a barrell.  You know I spent time in a mental asylum?  Well this guy is my doctor and he is the one who allows me to stay free.  One word out of him and I’ll go back.  The only way he won’t is if I...pleasure him.”

Brittany hisses. “Where can I find him?”

“You can’t get involved!” Angelica says in a panic. “If he utters a word I’ll go back to the asylum.”

She shuts her eyes. “The only way out I can think of is to see if I can get guardianship over me transferred to SIlas.  That would be damn easy, considering his connections, but I dare not give him that much control over me.  I don’t want to put myself in the same situation Kelcey put herself in.”

Brittany ponders what Angelica said. She was right. The War Machine could clobber the problem, what good would that do? “I have a guy. His name is Deacon Cross. That’s how I found out who Sebastian Knight/Alistair Taylor really is. He has connections. I ask him to do a job from time to time. I don’t ask questions. I only rely on him when my usual charm hits a brick wall. I can ask him to dig into your problem’s past. Once we gain enough leverage, he will have no choice to cave into your demands.”

Angelica nods her head. “Ok...but ONLY have him dig into his past.  I don’t want any physical confrontation risking me going back to that horrible place.”

She takes another sip of her drink. “His name is Thaddeus Rogers.  He is a clinical psychiatrist.  That’s really all I know about him considering we only see each other for our…ahem...’sessions’…”

Brittany rolls her eyes. “Sure. Deacon is discret. Chances are he has run this same game with other patients. Unlikely you’re his first. My guy will find the smoking gun in no time.”

“Thanks Britt…” she smiles “...so are we good?”

Brittany nods. “If we weren’t good I wouldn’t be helping you out of this.”

“Thanks...I owe you…”

==========

Thaddeus Rogers

On Camera

==========

Bolu?  MY Angelica is fighting a useless waste of oxygen by the name of Bolu?

It reminds me of Baloo the Sloth Bear from the Jungle Book.

Rudyard Kipling described him as a “sleepy brown bear” and, I must ask, are you, Bolu, going to be a slothful, sleepy individual, uncaring about anything?  Ignoring the threats around you?  Ignoring the fact that the danger of a real beast is overshadowing you…

The Dragon, my dear Bolu.  The Dragon is coming and no sleepy brown bear is going to be able to survive it.  Quite honestly, not even the king of the beasts himself, the brave and valiant lion, can overcome The Dragon.

None of your skill set, none of your tricks or gimmicks, none of your charm, NOTHING can save you, you sleepy brown bear, when The Dragon comes to consume you , because MY Angel is focused now more than ever.  She is focused on winning this tournament and taking one step closer towards gold.

The sleepy little animal is but a mere  nuisance in her path, one that will be exterminated and disposed of rather quickly.

You cannot stop MY Angel, Bolu.  Accept this fact and move on.

==========

Scene 2

On Camera

==========

The most important thing in Angelica’s life is family.  Angelica Jones wants nothing more to protect her family, she will do anything for her family.  That strong desire to protect her family, though, has led to some questionable decisions.  One such decision involved murdering Sean Williams, the father of her oldest daughter Marie Annabelle Jones, in cold blood when it appeared as if he may gain full custody of her with no visitation rights granted to Angelica.  Angelica had made it look like a suicide and for years she had gotten away with it.  No one questioned that Sean Williams had indeed killed himself.

Everything changed when further evidence forced authorities to reopen the case.  After another investigation it wouldn’t take long before the police and detectives built up enough evidence to arrest Angelica for first degree murder.

The trial itself was a three-ring circus considering Angelica herself was a celebrity and she was lucky that her attorneys were able to successfully pull off an insanity defense.  She was declared not guilty by virtue of insanity but was sentenced to time in a mental hospital.  And despite the not guilty verdict, the time she would spend in the mental hospital was as good as a guilty verdict, it was as good as prison time because, for Angelica, time away from her children, away from her family, was punishment enough.  It was a terrible punishment that she could not bear.

No time with Jessica Lasiewicz…

No time with  Marie Annabelle Jones…

And no time with her youngest, no time with sweet Kelly Jones…

It almost seemed as if none of it had been worth it.  She went above and beyond the call of duty, she moved mountains to try and help her family, and yet this one small mistake had seemingly cost her everything.

But then Thaddeus Rogers entered her life…

Thaddeus Rogers was a clinical psychiatrist who had treated Angelica while she was at the mental asylum.  Shortly after he began treating her, he began showing reports of her progress.  Then came the final report, a report that she was ready to leave the asylum and return to society…

…under his constant supervision, of course.

No one batted an eye, least of all anyone at the mental hospital.  The doctors, nurses, and staff hated Angelica for how she was acting and wanted her gone anyway.  Thaddeus Rogers volunteering to take her out himself was a godsend as far as they were concerned.

What no one knew was that there were certain unspoken and unwritten stipulation that Thaddeus had in mind regarding the release of Angelica Jones.  Specifically, the redheaded Boston native would  do whatever he wanted, would pleasure him in any way he saw fit, and if she didn’t, he would make sure she got put back in the mental asylum, having claimed she suffered from a relapse and needed further treatment.

Angelica had her own form of retribution if he were to do that.  She had evidence of her own that he was forcing himself on her.  Doctors forcing themselves on their patients is not looked well upon in the medical field.  He would never be a doctor again.  But Angelica would suffer the worst.  She would be locked up again.  She would again be isolated and separated from her family, from her children.

What exactly was Angelica willing to do for her family?  She was willing to be a sex slave to Thaddeus Rogers so that he would remain silent, so that he would allow her to remain free and away from the mental asylum.  She was willing to do all of that just for her family…

…and yet, what happens when her family decides to return the favor?

The front door of the Jones estate, jokingly called “Purgatory” by Angelica herself, opens and the blonde bombshell enters the front door and into the main hall area.  The lights are all out and the entire house is silent.  This is to be expected and is exactly what Angelica was hoping for.  Kelly is spending the night with his aunt Kayla and Lindsey is still away on business, expected to return any day now.

Angelica sighs, thankful that Lindsey and Kelly are not here.  She does not want them to see her like this, completely helpless and unable to do anything for herself.  And unfortunately, she also knows that there should be one individual in this house…

“Thaddeus!”

Angelica doesn’t hear an answer from him just yet.  Thus she begins to slowly strip the gold dress off of her body.  Once it is off she kicks it and the strappy heels she was wearing away to a far corner.  She is now wearing only a skimpy lacy red bra and panty.

“Thaddeus!” She shouts again, a little louder this time. “I’m here!”

Still no response.  Angelica begins to grow wary of what is wrong.  Thaddeus never misses these dates.  Just then she notices the lights come on in the main living area.  That must be him, she realizes.  So Angelica turns and makes a beeline towards the living room.  She enters, expecting to find Thaddeus there ready to sexually have his way with her, but instead she finds Thaddeus bent over, breathing heavily.

“Thaddeus?!” She says in total shock. “What’s wrong?!”

He looks up at her and a scowl forms on his face. “Like you don’t know!”

“Huh?”

Thaddeus rushes her and grabs her by the throat, throwing her down onto the sofa.  He jumps on top of her, mounting her, only not in the sexual manner Angelica halfway expected when she arrived.  He is choking her!

“You told!”

Angelica can barely utter a word but she does manage to make out what he said. “…wha…what?”

“You told someone of our arrangement!”

Now she gets it…the ‘arrangement’…Angelica shakes her head. “No…I didn’t…”

“DO NOT LIE TO ME!” He squeezes her throat. “YOU TOLD!”

“I…told…ACK…” she is having trouble breathing now as his grip tightens “I…ACK…told no one!”

“LIAR!”

Thaddeus Rogers jerks her up and throws her roughly into the coffee table, knocking it over.  Angelica scrambles up to her feet and backs away slowly as Thaddeus approaches her menacingly.

“Wait, Thaddeus!” Angelica says pleadingly. “Please!  Don’t do this!”

“You had your chance, Ms. Jones, and you blew it!  I’m going to put you right back in the funny farm I found you in!”

“And  I…” she gulps “…I’ll tell the world how you had sexual relations with your patients!”

“Fine!  DO IT!  I may suffer monetarily, but I have the money to pay it off and I can get another job.  But you…YOU ARE DONE!  You will NEVER see your family again!”

Before Angelica can say anything else, and before Thaddeus Rogers can say or do anything else, a gunshot is heard.  Thaddeus’s eyes glaze over before blood begins coming out from his temple.  Another gunshot rings out and more blood from Rogers.  Finally Thaddeus falls over, crumpled up on the floor in a heap.

“Oh God!” Angelica bends over to check on him.

“Don’t touch him, Angelica!”

She knows that voice.  Angelica stands up and turns to look and finds Monroe Jones, her cousin, entering the main living area, wielding the presumed gun that did the dirty deed to Thaddeus Rogers.

“We don’t want any of your finger prints on his clothing or his person.”

Angelica shakes her head vehemently. “Monroe…I can’t believe you…”

“I told you that I would take care of it.” He places the gun down on the sofa. “And I have.”

He glares angrily at the corpse lying on the floor. “I have chased this monster out of the house, down the streets, and finally tracked him back here.”

“And now he’s…”

Monroe nods his head, hugging Angelica tightly. “He’s dead now.  He cannot harm you.”

Jones shakes her head vehemently after breaking the embrace. “But you killed a man, Monroe!  You…”

“I know I did.” He runs his hand through Angelica’s long blonde hair. “You have done so much for this family, you have sacrificed so much, and to hear what you were doing now, for this man, just so you could remain free and be with your children and protect them…”

He shuts his eyes. “I knew I had to do something.”

“But not this!” She exclaims. “You killed a man!  You committed a murder!”

“I know this.”

“But you shouldn’t have!  You should have let me…”

“I should have let you do what?  Continue on this path with this scum?” He shakes his head. “No…”

“No?”

“Angelica, darling cousin, you have done so much for this family.  For once, let this family do something for you.”

==========

Monroe Jones

On Camera

==========

My cousin may use rather questionable tactics but no one can question her dedication to this industry or her dedication to her family.  She would do anything for professional wrestling and would die to protect her family.

Yes, I am disappointed in how she chose to “defeat” Chris Cannon. But nevertheless, that doesn’t change the fact that she is an extremely talented individual, an extremely gifted wrestler, easily  one of the best there is in the entire world.

And I should know, as I have traveled the world and wrestled all over the world myself.

Bolu, I wish you the best of luck.  And perhaps you should also invest in an extra set of eyes for the back of your head just in case she brings out Silas World.  No doubt Sienna Swann and her short, youthful, rather annoying pal will be closely around her.  So good luck…I hope you and my cousin have the best match of the night.

I really do.

But I also understand that reality is what it is and you are facing someone who is damn difficult to beat as it is.  And she has an army backing her up.

As the kids might say…kiss your ass goodbye.

==========

Angelica Jones

On Camera

==========

The camera begins to roll.  What we see, or rather WHO we see, in front of a black backdrop is none other than Angelica Jones.  The blonde bombshell (even if she is a natural ginger) is wearing jeans, black boots, and a black t-shirt with a dragon embroidered on the front.  She is wearing her signature black leather jacket and her long blonde hair hangs down unrestrained to shoulder length.  A pair of sunglasses covers her eyes.

“The Golden Lion…king of the beasts…against The Golden Goddess…queen of the ring…”

Angelica snickers. “I have to admit, it sounds like a marquee style match if you ask me.”

“And it no doubt will be a five-star match.  Any match with me in it turns out to be a show stopper, a show stealer, the REAL main event.  I force my opponents to raise their game to the next level because, the simple fact is, that you have to raise your game to the next level to even hang with me, otherwise you will be smoked.”

She points into the camera with a carefully manicured finger. “But what about you specifically, my dear?”

“You are no ring veteran, Bolu.  That inexperience right there works against you, that much is obvious.  But there’s another way your inexperience in this great sport of ours that will ultimately prove detrimental…”

“I mean, have you even been in a tournament quite like this?” She pauses, almost as if awaiting an answer. “I have, Bolu.  I have been in a tournament EXACTLY like this with damn near the exact same rules, with just a few minor differences.  It was called the Eye of Ares Tournament and do you know who won the inaugural Eye of Ares Tournament?”

A grin forms upon her face as she nods her head. “That’s right.  Me.”

“I have experience in this style of tournament, I know how to win in this style of tournament.  Winning this style of tournament requires endurance because it is a marathon and it also takes a damn good mind, something that I have after twenty years in this industry.  I can’t say what you have and have not encountered before, Bolu, but I can say this much…”

Jones removes her sunglasses and places them in her leather jacket “…you have never encountered anyone quite like me.”

“The Angelica Jones Experience is something few have encountered and fewer still have survived Bolu.  Do you know what makes me unique amongst any wrestler in the world?  With me you never really know what you’re going to get.”

She flicks a strand of her long blonde hair back behind her head. “Right now you can call me The Golden Goddess because I exude confidence.  It’s called confidence, by the way, not arrogance.  It is confidence because it is fact that I am one of the best in the world.  It is fact that any match I am in is a spectacular five star performance each and every time.  It is fact that I am going to beat your ass at Breakdown.”

“Or you may get Firestar, a high flying, almost luchadore style daredevil who has no problem putting her own body on the line.  You don’t have a problem with heights, do you darling?  Because I may very well hit you from all angles, including up and down…”

Jones frowns. “…or you could get The Dragon, a beast that just doesn’t care, a monster that will consume you.”

“Which is the real me?” She shrugs her shoulders. “The fact is that ALL of them are the real me and the fact is that there is NO preparing for me.  I am someone you cannot prepare for, Bolu, and that’s what makes me more dangerous than anyone you have ever had the opportunity to face.”

“Another thing that makes me dangerous is the fact that I want this.  I want this more than anyone could ever imagine.  I damn sure want it more than you and I will not let you stand in my way.  This tournament belongs to me, just like your ass will belong to me at Breakdown.”