Let It Go: Act 4

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Let It Go

Act 4 ; Scene 1

Off Camera

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The Bluebird Café is an iconic spot in Nashville, Tennessee.  It is legendary for being a spot where young up and coming country music artists become discovered, where they become famous.  Yet, at the same time, on any given night you could be lucky enough to see an already established star make an appearance, an established star such as Leann Rimes, Carrie Underwood, or even a superstar like a Garth Brooks.

In many ways, The Bluebird Café is a metaphor for what will happen at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee when SCW Breakdown comes to town, when Angelica Jones and her sister Kayla team up to face Craig Thomas and Tyler Tucker of Adrenaline Rush.  Angelica and Kayla have been working together as a tag team in the world of professional wrestling for a long time now.  They by far have more history together as a team than Thomas and Tucker.  Yet, when it comes to SCW, Adrenaline Rush are more established than The Sisterhood.  Angelica and Kayla have only teamed together one time in SCW, and that ended in a draw against Blood Grove.

This time, as Adrenaline Rush prepares to face The Sisterhood, both teams realize that, just like the stars who play at the iconic Bluebird Café, this is their chance to step out and establish themselves as tag team title contenders.

Angelica Jones is no stranger to the Bluebird Café.  In late 2003 she stepped into that famous restaurant for the first time and played for a small crowd in anticipation of the release of her first country album “Firestar”, named after her in-ring wrestling moniker at the time.  Jones would return to the Bluebird in 2005 after “I Light The Fire” was released.  Nine years would pass as Angelica would seemingly forget about her country music career and focus solely on her wrestling.  Nine years would pass until Angelica Jones felt the tugging at her heart to create another album.  And so, in 2014, “Legacy” was released and, once again, shortly after its release she would go to the Bluebird and play to the audience.  This year the part-time country singer full time wrestler released “Welcome To My World” and she has plans to return to the Bluebird Café…

…tonight.

Angelica Jones leads the way into the iconic Bluebird.  Following behind her is her sister Kayla Jones and Kayla’s boyfriend Trenton Snow.  Trenton is wearing jeans, boots, and a white button up shirt while Kayla, walking arm in arm with him, wears a red sundress and sandals.  Angelica is dressed in a knee length black skirt, a three-quarter sleeve red sweater, and black high heeled pumps.

Pictures of famous artists who have sung at this place are hanging on the walls as the trio make their way deeper and deeper inside.  The tables are simple and round with three to four chairs each.  There is a small, simple stage at the front of the room with microphones and a guitar.

“I take it you’ll be up there.” Kayla states, motioning to the stage.

“Eventually.” Angelica smiles knowingly as she leads her sister and Trenton to an empty table in the back of the room. “But first, I want a drink.”

Angelica sits down at the table first.  Trenton, being the gentleman and trying to impress Kayla, pulls out the chair for her, allowing her to sit down.  Finally, Trenton himself sits down next.  A short wait later and a waitress approaches, smiling broadly.

“Good evening and wel…” her voice trails off “…you’re Angelica Jones, aren’t you?”

Angelica nods her head. “That’s right.”

The waitress can’t help but giggle lightly. “I should be able to compose myself more.  I should be used to seeing famous people but…you…you’re different.”

She turns and looks at Kayla. “And you must be Kayla.”

Kayla smiles politely. “Nice to meet you.”

The waitress is still somewhat flustered. “I am a wrestling fan…can you tell?”

Angelica chuckles lightly. “I kinda guessed.”

The waitress sighs and shakes her head as she attempts to regain some semblance of composure so that she can do her job.

“Anyway, I’m sorry about that, I just love you two, that’s all.”

“It’s ok, we’re used to it.” Kayla remarks.

“So what can I do for you?” The waitress asks.

“Bring out a red diamond merlot,” Angelica motions to herself, Kayla, and Trenton “for all of us please.”

“Coming right up.”

The waitress turns and walks away to fill the order.  Trenton leans back in his chair and wraps an arm around Kayla's shoulder.

“So, this is the famous Bluebird Cafe...?”

“That's right,” Angelica remarks “it's where many country artists got discovered.  Including me.”

Trenton chuckles lightly. “I somewhat doubt you needed much discovering, Angelica.”

“Everyone needs discovering of some sort.” Angelica answers back. “Even a wrestler.  Not everyone watches wrestling, Trenton.  Not every wrestler is a big star.”

“She's right, you know.” Kayla chimes in. “Angel had really just begun her pro-wrestling career back in 2003 before she began her country music career.”

Trenton nods his head. “Well that makes sense, I guess.”

The waitress returns with a wine bottle in hand and wine glasses.  After placing the glasses on the table, one in front of each of her patrons, she then proceeds to pour each of them a glass of wine.  She leaves the wine at the table as she turns and makes her exit again.

“I remember my first time here...”

Angelica's voice trails off and a smile wraps around her face as she fondly recalls this memory.  The elder Jones takes a sip of her wine and sighs.  Kayla grins with a hint of mischief in her eye.

“I remember it too and I seem to remember you were scared to get up on that stage.”

“The great Angelica Jones was scared?” Trenton chuckles. “Say it isn't so!”

“Everyone is entitled to a little stage fright every now and then.” Angelica answers. “I was nervous before my first wrestling match in front of a live television audience.”

“I also remember that.” Kayla grins knowingly as she sips on her wine. “I remember giving you hell over it.”

“You did,” Angelica responds “and it wasn't funny!”

“Sure it was.” Kayla says, now pointing and laughing at her older sister. “The great thirteen time world champion, hall of famer, was scared.”

“At least you were there for me.” Angelica says, playfully leaning her head up against her shoulder. “My sister!”

“Yeah, whatever,” Kayla gently shoves her away “I just so happened to start wrestling before you so I had more experience.”

“Having you there to help calm my nerves was invaluable.  I mean, it wasn't as if I could go to mom and as for dad...well...”

Kayla's face contorts into a look of anger as she hears their father mentioned.  The younger Jones immediately tips her wine glass back and chugs the rest of it down in one giant slurp and slams it down onto the table.

“Yeah...he was never there for us after mom died.”

Trenton hugs up close to Kayla in an attempt to comfort and console her.

“You need to try and understand the situation he was in, sis.” Angelica says in an attempt to defend Bart Jones, their father. “He really didn't have many options.”

“Do not try and defend him, Angelica.” Kayla says, her voice dripping with venom.

“I'm not defending him.  I'm just saying...”

“No, don't.” Kayla remarks. “Not now, not ever.  That man has no defense, Angelica, and you know it as well as I do.  So do not try and defend him.”

“Sorry if I'm butting in on a personal issue,” Trenton chimes in “but what is the deal with your father?  You've never told me.”

“That's because I don't like talking about that sack of shit.”

Kayla snaps back.  Trenton leans back. “I'm sorry, Kay...”

Angelica gazes at Trenton apologetically. “It's a touchy issue with us, Trenton.  Very touchy.  Especially with Kayla.”

“If you don't want to talk about it,” Trenton begins, only to be cut off by his girlfriend.

“No, it's ok.  You should know what you're getting into by dating me.”

Kayla sighs, shutting her eyes tightly. “I was spending the night with someone else when it happened.  Angelica took the worst it, because she was home when the intruder broke into our home, raped, and murdered our mother.”

“I'm...sorry.” Trenton says quietly.

“What happened after that was what impacted me the most.” Kayla says, tears forming in her eyes. “Our father gave us up to social services who, in turn, separated us.  I ended up in a foster home.  My foster father was an abusive drunk named Oliver Hardy.”

“I see...” Trenton's voice trails off.

“Oliver Hardy beat me and molested me on regular basis.” She glares at Angelica and then at Trenton “Do you see why I can't forgive Bart?  He abandoned us.  He put me in that situation.”

Trenton smiles sheepishly as he sips his wine. “You're not going to like what I have to say.”

Angelica finishes off her glass of wine and then sets it onto the table.  The elder Jones sees an opening and an opportunity to get away from what she thinks is coming next.

“I think my cue to sing is coming up.”

“Knock 'em dead.” Kayla remarks.

“I will do my best.”

Angelica winks before turning and heading towards the stage to get ready for her performance.  Once Angelica is out of earshot, Kayla turns to face Trenton and frowns.

“So, what was it you were going to say?”

“You're not going to like it.”

“What is it?”

“Are you sure you want to hear it?”

“Yes.”

Trenton shrugs. “Simply put, I think you're being too hard on your father.”

“Don't you start on that same shit my sister is on...”

“Look, your dad should never have just handed you and Angelica over to social services, I agree with that, but that isn't what you are really upset about, that isn't what really hurt you.  The person who really and truly hurt you is Oliver Hardy and your father had no control over that and had no idea that would have happened.”

“But if he had never abandoned us then I would not have been put into that situation!”

“Don't you think he knows that already?” Trenton suggests. “Don't you think he feels guilty enough as it is over what he inadvertently put you through?  He doesn't need you piling on.”

Kayla remains quiet, silent, as Trenton stares into her eyes.  “Look, I'm just saying give your old man a chance.  That's all.”

“Fine,” she holds up one finger “one chance and that's it.  For you.”

Trenton and Kayla remain silent, not uttering another word, as they turn towards the stage and listen to Angelica as she begins singing her cover song, “Welcome To My World”...

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Let It Go

Act 4 ; Scene 2

Off Camera

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It is a tense moment in this airport terminal in Nashville, Tennessee as Angelica Jones sits side by side with her younger sister Kayla waiting upon the arrival of their father, Bart Jones, from his flight in from Boston, Massachusetts.

The phrase “be careful what you wish for, you just might get it” proves oh so true in this case, for Angelica has wanted a meeting like this to happen for a long time.  Angelica has long wanted to attempt to bring peace between her, Kayla, and their father Bart.  Bart is the last living connection they have to their childhood.  Residing within his wise mind are memories of their beloved mother, memories that will be lost to time forever without Bart Jones around.

Plus Angelica knows that the Jones family is much stronger when they are united.  Angelica and Kayla worked hard to talk some sense into Angelica’s oldest daughter, Marie Annabelle Jones, thus bringing her back into the fold.  Emotionally, mentally, and yes, even physically, the Jones family will be stronger if Angelica and Kayla can make peace with their father.

Now that the time for a potential reunion has come, Angelica isn’t so sure that she wants it.  She is nervous, anxious of how things will turn out, especially when Kayla sees Bart again.

Kayla Jones hates her father.  She has hated him ever since he abandoned them to social services when they were just kids.  Kayla blames Bart for her ending up in the foster care of a drunken abusive bastard named Oliver Hardy who regularly beat and molested her.  She is only here because her boyfriend Trenton Snow convinced her to give her father one last chance.  She would not be here today otherwise.

“I’m glad you came, Kay.”

“You sound happy.” Kayla responds stoically. “Don’t sound happy.  This may not be the reunion you’re hoping for.  I may kick that asshole’s teeth down his throat the moment I see him.”

Angelica smirks. “You’d spend a few nights in jail.”

“No I wouldn’t.”

“I think you’re assuming I would bail you out.”

“You would bail me out.” Kayla retorts. “And if you didn’t, I’m sure Marie would.”

“Why do you say that?”

“If it wasn’t for me,” Kayla begins definitively “she wouldn’t have her tag team title shot back over in IWC.”

Angelica sighs. “You have a point there.”

“Seriously, Angel, do not get your hopes up.” Kayla continues, looking her sister directly in the eyes. “I am here because Trenton wants me to give our father one last chance.”

“That’s all we want, that’s all Trenton and I want, is for you to give Bart one last chance to explain himself.”

“Yes, and I will gladly listen, but I cannot think of anything that he could say that would get through to me.”

“Are you that stubborn?” Angelica asks.

“I am a Jones.” Kayla smirks. “Do you even have to ask?”

The sisters share an uneasy laugh.  As they laugh and chat they both realize that there is an elephant in the room, an uneasy feeling of dread of this coming meeting.  Both women know that this meeting has to take place and yet neither woman wants it to.  The laughter is merely to liven up an otherwise depressing mood.

“There he is…”

Angelica points over to the far right corner.  Kayla looks over in that direction and she spots their father, the aged and grizzled Bart Jones.  The lines on this man’s face tell the story of someone who has been through a life of pure hell, and the true story of Bart Jones is not far off of that mark.  Bart worked for the FBI once upon a time and he made many enemies in that position, many foreign enemies, enemies who wanted him dead.  This is the story of a man who had to make a decision, a difficult decision, to keep his children and risk placing them in danger of the same man who killed their mother to send a message to him, or to send his children away as a means to protect them.  The story of Bart Jones is not a pleasant story to tell.  Angelica watches on nervously while Kayla’s emotions begin to boil over, glaring down at Bart Jones as he approaches them.

“Hi girls.”

Despite the look of rage on Kayla’s face, Bart is smiling pleasantly as he approaches.  Angelica stands up and greets Bart with a friendly hug.

“Hi, daddy.”

Bart and Angelica break off the hug and then he turns towards Kayla and holds out his arms to her in anticipation of a hug but none comes.  She merely greets one with one little word…

“Hi…”

Kayla stands up but still doesn’t embrace her father.  Angelica can’t help but wince, feeling as if this meeting is already going downhill fast.  She decides to break the ice as she, Kayla, and Bart begin to head towards the exit.

“How was the flight?”

“It was good.” Bart responds. “They had a nice in-flight movie.”

“Which you slept through, no doubt…”

“You know me too well, Angel.”

Kayla is still silent, dead silent, as her sister and father talk.  The silence gives Angelica an uneasy feeling.

“Did you get your tickets to Breakdown?”

Bart nods his head. “I did, thanks again, by the way.  I look forward to seeing my daughters fight…ummm…Adrenaline Rush?”

“That’s right, dad.” Angelica says, smiling. “We’re fighting Adrenaline Rush.”

“Are they any good?”

“I thought you were following our careers,” Angelica responds jokingly “so you tell me!”

“I follow YOUR careers.” He says with a wink. “No one else matters to me.”

“They MAY matter if they manage to beat us.”

“Which they won’t.” He answers back. “You’re both tremendous wrestlers and I am very proud of you both.”

The father and his two children find the exit and they step outside into the parking lot area.  Now they begin to make their way through the parking lot and towards the car Angelica and Kayla drove to get here today.  At this time Kayla decides to speak up.

“You sure know how to put on a good act, Bart.”

“It’s not an act, Kayla.” Bart answers back politely. “I do follow your career, Angelica’s too, and I am proud of both of you for what you’ve accomplished.”

“Riiiiight,” Kayla draws out the “I” sound, allowing the sarcasm to drip from her voice “sure you are.”

“I mean it, Kayla.” Bart answers back. “I am proud of you.”

“Says the man who abandoned us.” Kayla retorts.

“Do we have to do this right here and right now?” Angelica asks.

“Yes...”

Kayla stops right where she is at, turns and slaps Bart across his face.  The elder Jones rubs his stinging cheek in pain.

“...I think now is the perfect time to do this!”

“Kayla...”

“No!” Angelica is cut off by her younger sister. “If we're doing this, we're doing this my way.”

Kayla turns to face Bart. “You abandoned us!  You abandoned me and do you know where I ended up?!”

Bart nods his head. “Of course I do.”

“Yeah, you know where I ended up.  I ended up with Oliver Hardy, the man who...who...” Kayla breaks down and starts crying uncontrollably “...hurt me...”

“I know he hurt you, Kayla.  And if there was anything I could do to fix it, I would, but what was done to you, that's permanent damage.  Permanent physical, emotional, and mental damage.  The guilt I feel every single time I think of what Hardy did to you is enormous, because I know had you been with me it wouldn't have happened, because I know I put you into social services, who gave you to Hardy.”

“But listen to me Kayla,” Angelica chimes in finally “Bart should not have given us up to social services, but it was not Bart who gave you to Hardy.  Social services did.”

Angelica grabs Kayla by the head and forces her to look up at their father.

“Look at him.  Don't you think he's suffered enough?”

Kayla stares at Bart for a long period of time without saying a word.  Bart finally sighs.

“You don't have to say anything, Kayla.  I understand and I don't deserve you forgiveness.”

“I'm not sure when and if I can forgive you, because even if you didn't directly hand me over to Oliver Hardy, you did still abandon me and Angelica.” Kayla holds open her arms. “But we need to start somewhere...dad...”

Tears well up in Bart's eyes as he accepts the embrace, hugging his youngest daughter for the first time since she was thirteen.

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Grand Ole Opry

On Camera

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Stage lights light up, shining high from the rafters down upon the light brown stage.  The backdrop on the stage is red and shaped like a barn complete with windows and two fake doors that look like barn doors.  Across the front of this backdrop is the following text: Grand Ole Opry.

A female figure steps into view from stage right.  This is none other than Angelica Jones, who sports a leather skirt with an intricate botanical design rendered in sleek faux leather that creates a delicate overlay on this prim miniskirt that is fitted with a nipped-in waist.  Her shirt is a plain white sleeveless top and her shoes are a simple pair of black patent leather pumps with a peep toe.  Her long gorgeous red hair hangs unrestrained to shoulder length.

Another female figure is now seen entering the scene from the opposite side.  This female is none other than Angelica’s sister, Kayla Jones.  The younger Jones sibling is wearing a simple and chich A-Line black dress with a scoop neckline, three quarter inch sleeves, and a hemline that hits just above the knee.  Her feet are also encased in black patent leather pumps, only without the peep toe, and her long red hair flows to just beyond her shoulders.

“Welcome to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee!”

Angelica says this with a wide ear to ear grin on her face.  Kayla looks over at her and frowns.

“You are enjoying this too much.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Shall we get on with it then?”

Angelica nods her head. “Yes, let’s.”

“The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concern founded in 1925 by George D. Hay as a one hour radio barn dance.” Kayla begins. “This place right here hosted such artists as Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson, and Rascal Flatts.  This place is touted as the show that made country music famous.”

Kayla motions to her older sister. “Angelica here has played the Opry.   You ask her and she will tell you, it is like the ‘Rise To Greatness’ of country music.”

“It is like the ‘Rise To Greatness’ of country music.” Angelica says, nodding her head.

Kayla shoots her an annoyed look.

“You don’t have to repeat me.”

“Sure I do.”

Kayla rolls her eyes. “Point is, Nashville is like our second home, we have known success in this city, the city of Nashville, the capitol of country music.  And it is here in this city, not too far away in the Bridgestone Arena, where The Sisterhood will attempt to obtain more success as we face Craig Thomas and Tyler Tucker, better known as Adrenaline Rush.”

“Thanks, sis,” Angelica says with a wink “now it’s my turn, right?”

“Right,” Kayla answers “so get on with it.”

“I had a country music contract and was making songs back in 2003 but it wasn’t until 2005 when I played the Opry and it was then that I knew I had really made it in country music.  Now Kayla and I have returned to Nashville but this time it isn’t about my singing career, it’s about mine and my sister’s wrestling careers, because we are coming after the SCW World Tag Team Championship.  That is our goal, that is our objective, and we know exactly who we have to go through if we expect to win it all.”

She points a finger at the camera. “You two…we have to go through Adrenaline Rush.”

“I’m not going to be like some so-called legends and brag about my achievements.” Angelica continues. “Neither is Kayla.”

“But what if I want to brag about my achievements?”

Angelica shakes her head. “Sorry, you can’t.”

“Damn.” Kayla feigns disappointment.

“The fact is that you two have already established yourselves in Supreme Championship Wrestling.  You were just competing against Standing Room Only for the SCW World Tag Team Championship and you came oh so close to winning the gold.  So if we want to be champions, or at the very least contenders, we need to beat the former contenders.”

Kayla nods her head. “We know what we have to do and boys, you are good, you deserve the gold and you deserve another shot.  Unfortunately, you’re not getting that shot so long as The Sisterhood is around.  We want it and I would dare say that we want it more than you.  We are going to get to the top of the tag team ranks and we are going to get there at your expense.”

Angelica looks to the left and then to the right.  She smiles warmly. “This place, The Grand Ole Opry, it hosted greats, it hosted legends, and it won’t be long until the Bridgestone Arena hosts future SCW legends Adrenaline Rush and The Sisterhood.  It will be a hell of a fight and we’re coming out on top.  Why is that, Kayla?”

Kayla smirks. “Because we’re going to kick their teeth right down their throat!”