Fear Me

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Scene 1

Off Camera

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Supreme Championship Wrestling is off doing their big Asian Tour and Angelica Jones leaped at the opportunity to be there.  And by leap that’s almost in the literal term, as Silas World’s Dragon had to travel from the United States to Sheffield for a FRONTIER show and then from Europe to India for the SCW Asian Tour.  Normal people would have jet lag by now but Angelica Jones is built of tougher stuff than that.  Plus she’s traveled so damn much that she’s used to this kind of constant globe trotting.  It just plain doesn’t bother her any longer.

Jones has enjoyed her stay in Asia.  She got to see Malaysia, Hong Kong, and even China before finally making the trip here to India for SCW’s final stop on the tour.  But once this evening has concluded she will be jet setting it back to North America, specifically to Canada which plays host to the Independent Wrestling Cartel’s Last Stand pay per view, an event which features the Last Stand Rumble.

Angelica isn’t going just to support Silas Mason’s quest for IWC domination.  Instead Silas World’s Dragon is going to IWC Last Stand so that she can enter and win it all.  The winner of Last Stand will get to go to Invictus and compete for the world championship.

Many consider her a favorite, due to her experience and her ability to win in big match scenarios, but rumble matches are wild cards.  Anything can and will happen in a rumble match where there are no real friends and alliances.  Only enemies and only one winner.  Only one person can advance to get a world title match at Invictus.

Angelica knows this will be very challenging.  Any rumble match is challenging.  But when you look at the talent level competing in this year’s IWC Last Stand Rumble, you would note how difficult it will be for any superstar to win this one.  Whoever does win it will definitely have earned their prize.

Jones and her teenage daughter Kelly step out the doors that lead from the hotel itself and onto the poolside area.  Surprisingly, The Dragon and her daughter has this pool to themselves right now.  It is surprising to Jones because it is a lovely warm day here in Mumbai, India that you might think others staying at this hotel might want to enjoy the warmth and the sun.  But they are choosing to stay inside and this beauty of Silas World gets to enjoy this large pool all by herself; a pool with quite a view as it overlooks the city and has fake, but very realistic palm trees scattered here and there around the pool area.

“I don’t wanna swim yet, mom.” Kelly, dressed in a one-piece suit, remarks. “I just wanna sun for a moment.”

“That’s fine.” Angelica, wearing a red bikini. “As a matter of fact…”

She hands Kelly the cell phone. “Take any calls.  Unless it ‘s life or death, I don’t want to be interrupted.”

Kelly takes the phone and stares at her mother incredulously. “Since when did I become your secretary?”

“Since I let you come with me to Asia on this wrestling tour.”

“You didn’t have many other options!”

Angelica snickers. “Your Aunt Kayla…”

Kelly rolls her eyes. “All I woulda heard out of her is about her neck!”

“Now don’t laugh.” Angelica scolds. “Your aunt is really upset about that…”

Angelica then smirks. “Though you are right, you probably are better off here with me.”

Kelly rolls her eyes as she splays her towel out and then lies down.  Meanwhile, Angelica dives into the pool headfirst and begins to swim.  The red-headed Dragon of Silas World, Dragon of Supreme Championship Wrestling, is backstroking her way in the outdoor hotel pool.    The ginger makes it to the edge and then spins around and then does a traditional stroke back across to the other edge of the pool.  Swimming is a good exercise, one that Angelica enjoys thoroughly.  The beautiful red-head makes it across to the other edge but stops just as she prepares to make yet another lap.  Jones stops because she hears someone clearing their throat with an obvious intent of getting her attention.  Jones looks up to find her cousin, Monroe Jones, standing there.

“Monroe?”  Angelica turns to face Kelly. “Kelly, why didn’t you tell me that Monroe was here?”

“Huh?” Kelly looks up and seems oddly surprised. “Oh, hi Monroe!”

Kelly waves sweetly and Monroe greets her with a wave of his own. “Hello, Miss Kelly.”

Angelica rolls her eyes. “What good are you anyway, Kel?”

“You told me to answer any calls.” Kelly points out.  “He didn’t call, now did he?”

“True…”

“Am I interrupting a mother-daughter bonding session?” Monroe asks.

“No, no, you’re fine.” Angelica turns back to face Kelly. “Why don’t you go back to the room?  I forgot my sunscreen.”

Kelly sighs and shakes her head. “I will miss the good stuff.”

“Just do it, Kel.   Please?”

“Oh alright…” Kelly turns and makes her way back inside.  Once she is out of earshot…

“Monroe!” Jones is startled at first but quickly smiles warmly upon seeing him there. “What are you doing here?!”

“Is there something wrong with traveling to India?” Monroe chuckles. “The last time I checked this lovely nation was not on the United States ‘do not travel’ list.”

The Dragon smirks. “This is true, but you’re oversimplifying things, Monroe.”

“Am I?” He smiles warmly and politely at his cousin. “I just call it as they see it.”

“Sure, right,” she holds up her hand “now help me out of here.”

Monroe nods his head.  He leans down and takes her hand and gently tugs.  Angelica Jones, with Monroe’s help, pulls herself out of the pool.  Her cousin reaches down and picks up a towel.  He hands it over to Jones.

“Here is your towel, my cousin.”

“Thanks.”  Jones takes the towel and proceeds to dry off. “But in all seriousness, this is a little strange.”

Monroe tilts his head to one side. “How so?”

“The last time I saw you, you looked like you just emerged from the jungles of Cambodia after your Apocalypse Now moment.”

Monroe lets out a light chuckle.  His red-headed cousin is right, of course.  He was a very rough and rugged individual the last time they saw one another at Angelica’s home in Boston, Massachusetts.  He had gone days without shaving and even longer without bathing.  He looked like a complete and absolute mess, which is unusual for Monroe.  Angelica’s cousin normally takes pride in his appearance.  He takes pride in keeping himself well-groomed.  He indeed looked like an ape.  But this time, as Angelica finishes drying off and takes her first real good look at him, she notices how nice he looks in his white button up shirt, brown suit coat and matches brown khakis with a darker brown loafers.  He has sunglasses on over his eyes.

“Ah, yes, I did not look myself the last time we spoke.” He motions to himself and his attire. “But as you can see, I have returned to the norm.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” Angelica smirks. “But that’s not all, is it?”

“And what does that mean, cousin?”

“You know what I mean.” Angelica frowns. “Like, for instance, why did you travel all the way to Mumbai, India?”

Monroe shrugs his shoulders. “Perhaps I merely wanted to witness my beloved cousin compete in SCW?”

Jones places her hands on her hips. “You just wanted to see me compete?  Now come on, Monroe.  Don’t lie to me.  You know as well as I do that we Jones are NOT good liars.”

Monroe smiles warmly at Angelica, hoping to disarm his cousin but her stoic emotionless features remain steadfast.  Monroe then decides to take another tact, walking past her and approaching the edge to look at the view overlooking the city.

“What a beautiful view, Angelica!” He gushes. “You certainly chose well in staying here at this hotel.  Which one is it, again?”

“It’s a Palladium.”

“Ah, the Palladium.” He shuts his eyes. “A wonderful hotel chain.”

“Yeah, yeah it is…”

Angelica’s voice trails off as she realizes what just happened, she realizes that Monroe successfully changed the subject.  She quickly shakes her head.

“Oh no, not this time, Monroe!”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re not going to change the subject on me.” She folds her arms over her chest. “Answer me.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” He shakes his head. “I was not trying to change the subject.”

“Then tell me, why did you come to Mumbai?”

Monroe sighs, realizing that his cousin, his stubborn cousin whom everyone calls The Dragon, will not let him off the hook until he answers her question truthfully.

“Ok, I will tell you the truth.  But I fear you may think less of me when I am finished.”

Jones shakes her head. “I would never think any less of you, Monroe.  You are family.”

“So you say,” he nods his head “so you say.”

Monroe takes her by the arm and guides her towards two nearby pool-chairs.  Angelica sits in one and then Monroe sits down in the other.  The normally calm, cool, and collected gentleman sighs, clearly nervous over what is to come next.  He reaches into his coat pocket and produces a picture and he hands it to Angelica.

“Do you remember this girl?”

Angelica stares at the picture of a teenage girl.  She stares for just a moment before finally it hits her, like a light bulb going off in her head she remembers where she has seen this photograph before.  It is the photograph that Isabelle Jones, Monroe’s sister, had with her.  The same one Isabelle showed her the other week.

“Yes, I remember seeing this.” Angelica nods her head. “Isabelle had it.”

“Did she ever tell you who this girl was?”

The Dragon shakes her head. “No, she told me to ask you.”

The man chuckles ever so lightly. “I had a suspicion she would throw me under the bus.  But then again, I deserve it.”

“No, no you don’t.” Angelica shakes her head. “Don’t say things like that.  Don’t talk like that.”

“But it is true.” Monroe sighs deeply, shutting his eyes tightly. “If you only knew of the things I did in Europe.”

Angelica Jones opens her eyes slightly wider. “Then…Isabelle was telling the truth?”

“Oh, so she did tell you a few things, did she?”

“Not enough to know the whole story.  Besides, if you think I’m going to trust her then you’re nuts.”

Jones reaches out and takes Monroe’s hands into hers, squeezing them tightly. “I want to hear your side of the story first.”

“My story…” his voice trails off “…my story is not a good one, Angelica.”

“I don’t care.” The red-head states defiantly. “I want to hear it.  I want to hear the truth, not Isabelle’s version of it.”

Monroe stares at the defiant face of his cousin before nodding his own head. “Very well…”

Monroe takes the photograph and stares at it blankly.  “Her name was Katrina.”

“Was?”

Monroe chuckles. “Is…my apologies for the past tense form of the verb.  She isn’t dead.”

“Good to know.”

“As I was saying, her name is Katrina and she and I had a relationship while I was overseas in Europe.”

“How old was she, Monroe?”

“At the time we began our intimate relationship?  Sixteen.   We began dating when she was fifteen.”

He looks up at Angelica. “But despite what Isabelle tells you…Katrina was NOT Thaddeus Rogers’s daughter!”

“How did you…”

“I knew that’s what she told you because that is the line she tells everyone.  And she may very well believe it to be true.  But it is not true.  It is a lie made up by Thaddeus to hide his own guilt for he was guilty of far worse than I.”

He bows his head in shame. “Katrina and I had a consensual relationship whereas Thaddeus raped the poor girl.”

“In the eyes of the law you both would have been rapists.”

Monroe nods his head. “I know this…so did Thaddeus but he would have ended up on the worse end so he hid his guilt by making up this lie.”

He squeezes Angelica’s hands tightly. “What I did was wrong…”

“No shit.” Angelica’s anger begins to form but she does her best to keep it in check. “She was underage, Monroe.  Consensual my ass.  It is what it is.”

“I did it during a time when I was reckless in a reckless and anything goes part of Europe.  I realize now how wrong I was and…” he shakes his head “…I am prepared to face the consequences if need be.”

Angelica wants to hate him for this.  This is rape, what he and Thaddeus did, consensual or not, it was both rape, and rape hits home for the Jones family.  Kayla Jones, Angelica’s sister, was raped by her step-father.   Their mother was raped before being butchered while poor Angelica was forced to watch.  It’s enough to leave a mark on Angelica’s soul forever.  Yet at the same time she realizes that she has done far worse to people.  She has killed a man.  Truly, who is she to judge?

Angelica reaches out and embraces Monroe in a hug. “It’s ok, Monroe.”

“Don’t say that.” He shakes his head. “It isn’t ok.”

“No, what you did isn’t ok, but I am in no position to judge you.” She breaks the embrace and smiles. “So I don’t judge you.”

“You don’t?”

Jones shakes her head. “No…I’m just glad you told me the truth.”

The two embrace in a hug, but that heartfelt moment is shattered when…

“Mom!”

Angelica and Monroe both turn at the same time to find Kelly has returned and is waving the phone. “You got a call…”

“I told you, dear, I didn’t want to be bothered.” She motions to Monroe. “Can’t you see I’m busy?”

Kelly frowns, looking very grim and serious. “It’s Isabelle.”

“What did she want?” Angelica asks, suddenly growing colder.

“She says she’s on her way to India…”

“Now?!” Angelica exclaims. “How the hell did she…is she following me?!”

Monroe sighs, shaking his head. “I don’t need this right now.”

“I know,” Angelica sighs and looks at Kelly “and neither does she.”

“Hey!” Kelly protests. “I don’t mind Isabelle all that much.”

“Maybe not, but you don’t need to see how I might act around her.” Jones remarks before turning back to Monroe. “Why don’t you take Kelly out and show her some sights, ok?”

“But mom…” Kelly protests.

“No discussing this.” Angelica states definitively. “You and Monroe will be out while I…”

Angelica sighs, rubbing her temple “…while I try to deal with this.”

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Monroe Jones

On Camera

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Good evening IWC…it is IWC, isn’t it?  These alphabet soup organizations do get tiresome.  Nevertheless, my cousin Angelica Jones asked me to say a few words on her behalf for this Last Stand Rumble coming up and, what can I say, anything for family, correct?

Oh but excuse my rudeness.  I have not introduced myself, have I?  My name is Monroe Jones and I am Angelica’s cousin from her father’s side of the family.  I always have tried to look out for my sweet if not somewhat eccentric cousin and, in return, she tries to look after me as well.  One of the redeeming qualities about her is that she does care immensely for her family.  She would do anything for her family.

Thus the IWC roster should be very careful.  And I do mean VERY careful.  Angelica has a distinct edge because of family.  Think about it for just one moment.  Think about the IWC Queen of the Ring Champion Jessica Lasiewicz.  Think about the newest member of Silas World Marie Annabelle Jones.  And then think about their mother, The Dragon, The Golden Goddess, Firestar, whatever name you want to give her, whatever label you think she should go by, by any other name she is still Angelica Jones, the matriarch of one of the most powerful and decorated wrestling families in this industry.

All three of them are entered in the Last Stand Rumble.

Granted this does not guarantee a victory for my dear cousin.  And yes, I know the typical retort to what I just said is that a rumble match is every man…or woman in this case…for himself.  But face facts, ladies and gentlemen of IWC, the Jones family is too strongly bonded to be torn apart by something petty.  I do not know how Last Stand Rumble will turn out but I can tell you that Angelica will work together with her children and if it does come down to two or all three of them, then you will get to witness a great show of class and sportsmanship as they compete against one another for the final victory.

Yes, Angelica Jones does have the backing of Silas Mason and his so-called “World” and I do hope she chooses not to utilize his assistance.  I do hope she chooses to compete fair and by the rules, but nevertheless, fair or otherwise, Angelica is a deadly threat and is very good at what she does.

And what she does better than most in this sport is win.

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Angelica Jones

On Camera

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We open in a dark brown stained wood oak room.  Contained within this room is a large glass trophy case containing…what else…trophies.  Not just trophies, but championship belts and rings, rings that you can only assume would be hall of fame rings.  A large plant is on one side of the glass case and another large plant sits on the other side of the case.

“Welcome to my world.”

The clicking sound of heels across a hard surface signals the arrival of none other than Angelica Jones as she steps into view from stage right.  The red-headed Boston native is wearing a tight form fitting little black dress that stops at just about thigh length.  Her long red hair is left to hang unrestrained to shoulder length.  Sunglasses are over her eyes.    A look of calm, confidence is etched across her lovely features.

“Each one of the trinkets behind me in that glass case symbolizes an achievement, MY achievement, my very legacy.” She waves to the case, Vanna White style, with her arms. “All of it, contained within that case.  All of those trinkets and treasures, they tell the exact same story.”

“In the lead up to the Last Stand Rumble everyone has had to have a damnable press conference to declare to the world that they are entering the rumble and why they are entering the rumble.  Whether it be Katelyn Buehler and her sob story, Tina Valentine greedy over championships, Aiken Frost wanting to rule the world, or Ethan Von Aaron wanting to impress Rachel…or Rachel for that matter just wanting an excuse to kick some ass…they all have their reasons and they all have no problem telling the world their reasons.”

Angelica shakes her head. “I’m not usually like that.  Normally I’m not the type to go around trumpeting myself having these big announcements.  I just go out to the ring and do what I do best…which is win.  Ever since I began my career as a pro-wrestler at the age of eighteen, through all of the pain and heartache, the broken bones and everything else that has gone with it, I have always done one thing consistently…and that is win.  And that is why I truly believe that at Last Stand I will win the rumble, I will go on to Invictus, and I will become IWC World Champion.”

“That’s what I would normally do.  This time, though, is different.  I’ve been at this game for a long ass time now and I am owed.  I am owed a great deal for what I have put into this sport and I have decided to take some of what I am owed.  So you are all going to sit back, relax, and listen to my story.  You will hear why I have chosen to enter the rumble and more importantly you will hear why I will win.”

Angelica Jones reaches off screen and produces a photograph of someone that should be recognizable to the average IWC viewer.  It is a photograph of Angelica’s ex-lover and fellow Silas World member Brittany Lohan.

“Back a couple of years ago when I decided to return to the ring, my best friend, my compatriot, hell my lover at the time, a woman you know as Brittany Lohan, asked me why…why did I have to return?  I had already been inducted into a pro-wrestling hall of fame.  Hell, I had been inducted into three!”

She reaches into the glass case and produces the first ring and places it on her finger “The GDW Hall of Fame,” she produces a second, placing it on a finger as well “the MCW Hall of Fame,” she reaches back into the glass case one final time and produces the third and final ring, placing it on yet another finger “and the MWA Hall of Fame.   Three Hall of Fame rings on my beautiful hand.”

She mockingly waves her ringed hand at the camera. “Kiss ‘em!”

Angelica raises up both hands now, holding up all ten fingers.  “At the time I was a ten time world heavyweight champion.  There are those who have been in this sport for ages and have never even won their first.  I have a successful career.  I could stop now and the world could not argue my greatness and my spot, my legacy within the history books.”

“Thus, Brittany Lohan had a legitimate question……why did I have to return to the ring?” Jones shrugs her shoulders.

“The simple answer is that I am a competitor.  I am a competitor and I have to constantly challenge myself again and again and again.  When there are no longer any further achievements to be had, when there are no longer any further challenges to overcome, then either wrestling is a dead sport or I am dead myself, because I will ALWAYS find some way to challenge myself.”

Angelica Jones steps to one side and motions to a portion of the glass case containing replica title belts from her time in Global Championship Wrestling and Pro-Wrestling FRONTIER.

“When I returned to the ring I won three more world championships, ran The Godfathers of Wrestling away from Pro-Wrestling FRONTIER, and then I purchased Pro-Wrestling FRONTIER.”

The Dragon points to herself with her thumb.  “Me, I did all of that.”

“Am I done?” She shakes her head.  “No, because there are still challenges out there that await me and until I die or until I am physically to do this anymore, then I will continue to step out into the ring and it isn’t because of the fans because they can go to hell and it damn sure isn’t because of the love I have for professional wrestling.  As far as I’m concerned, professional wrestling OWES me for the years of blood, sweat, and tears that I have given it.”

“So yes, I am seeking out new challenges, but it isn’t to help out this industry, it isn’t for the fans, it is all for me.  It is all for my legacy to prove to any further doubters out there that I am the best professional wrestler to have ever walked this wretched planet.”

Angelica takes off her sunglasses and casts them aside, allowing the world to see the full measure of intensity in her eyes.

“There’s a reason why I call myself The Golden Goddess and it’s because I am professional wrestling’s deity.  I am GOD inside that squared circle, so do you think I’m sweating a rumble match at Last Stand?”

Jones smirks before shaking her head. “Not on your life.”

“Send the entire IWC roster after me.  Send ‘em all one by damn one and they will all fall like dominoes, one after the other, by my feet, by my hands they will all fail.  One by one I will illustrate to them all the folly of their thinking, the foolishness of thinking that they could ever stand a chance against Angelica Jones.”

“I do think Tina Valentine, Victoria Salinas, and Mary-Allison Chainz all have what it takes.  I do buy into Slay Revolution as the future of IWC.  Not so much Prii but the other three definitely.  I’ll give them that, I’ll give them the future…”

“But ladies, the sport of pro-wrestling does NOT operate on the future.  It operates on the here and now.  It operates in the PRESENT DAY and right now, in the present day, I am the best.  You will just have to recognize that and pray for a miracle because barring a miracle, it will be ME winning Last Stand, not any of you.  And Vicky, before you bring up your war with my sister, let me just remind you of one very important fact…”

She points to herself “…you haven’t had to deal with me yet.”

“Katelyn Buehler may be the sentimental favorite among the fans, and that’s all well and good, but Kate needs to realize a few important facts.  Namely, no one in IWC likes her.  No one in IWC trusts her.  Hell, I would dare say she will be the one with the biggest target on her back.  Everyone wants to beat her ass for one reason or another.”

Jones holds up two fingers. “The second most important fact for Buehler to note is that while she may be the favorite among the fans, ultimately the fans do not have any say in this outcome.  The fans are stupid.  They don’t know any better.  If they had any intelligence then they would realize that cheering you is pointless because you are NOT going to win.”

Will the fans chanting your name help to numb the pain when myself or someone else beats the holy hell out of you at Last Stand?” Again The Dragon shakes her head.  “No, I didn’t think so.”

“Finally there is the group that will definitely be targeting me and Silas World in the rumble and that’s New Eden.”

Jones chuckles lightly. “I know Aiken is going to be in this thing but I don’t know about how many of his useless tramps are going to be in this thing, but it really doesn’t matter to me, because I just look forward to getting my hands on them.  I look forward to getting violent with them.  The IWC roster fears New Eden…”

“…don’t fear New Eden.  Fear The Dragon.”

“I am a much worse kind of monster than any of them could ever hope to be.  That’s a fact.  Hell, I probably would fit in more with New Eden were it not for the fact that I actually like having my eyeballs and also because Silas is much cuter than Beetlejuice Frost.”

“Don’t fear the girls in Slay Revolution.”

“Don’t fear Katelyn Buehler’s sentimental sob story.”

“Don’t fear New Eden.”

Jones laughs maniacally. “Fear the most sadistic bitch to ever walk this earth.  Fear the most dominant female athlete in professional wrestling.   Fear Angelica Jones.  Fear The Dragon.”