Monday October 9, 2011
The Nest- Living Room
Indianapolis, Indiana
11:10 AM Local Time
[Our scene fades in on what appears to be another television screen, a rather decent sized HDTV hanging on a wall. On the screen, in non HD footage, is an advertisement, one of those ‘sponsor a child ad. The host, a white bearded, balding man, is holding a young girl, who’s wearing a dirty dress and staring balefully at the camera]
Announcer: “These children are just like yours. The only mistake they ever made was being born poor. They need someone like you to help them, someone willing to give just eighty cents a day. And I know you’re touched by the images we show you, and that you *want* to help. But for some reason you haven’t picked up the phone. Well, you’re not doing anything now. Why not pick up the-”
Pollaski: “FUCK YOU MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
*SMAAAAAAAASH!*
[The picture is disrupted as a sledgehammer crashes into the screen, glass and sparks flying everywhere. The TV falls off the wall, crashing to the floor. The camera pans backwards, and we see Daniel Pollaski standing over the now-shattered television, a look of rage on his face. He tosses the sledgehammer at the television, and picks up a shotgun that was leaning against the nearby wall.]
Pollaski: “TAKE THAT, YOU GUILT-TRIPPING SON OF A BIIIIIIIITCH!”
*BLAM!*
[He unloads a round of buckshot into the television, then picks up a can of lighter fluid and a BBQ lighter that were lying on the ground. He quickly unscrews the lid, and begins dumping lighter fluid on the television.]
Pollaski: “HOW DARE YOU SAY I’M A BAD PERSON BECAUSE I DONT DONATE TO YOUR PIECE OF SHIT CHARITY! DIE IN A GODDAMNED FIRE!”
[Pollaski’s determined to make the television do just that, until-]
Wendy (off-camera): “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!”
[The camera rotates just slightly, and we see Wendy standing at the entrance to the Nest’s living room, a look of utmost horror and rage on her face. Fairly understandable, considering what she just walked in on.]
Pollaski: “Well, don’t you hate those too? Those damned guilt trip charities that try and make you feel horrible just because you’re better off than some people?”
[Apparently, Wendy thinks that isn’t cause for firing guns in the house and trying to set things on fire. She blinks several times, before turning to the camera.]
Wendy: “And you weren’t going to stop this?”
Terrence (obviously from behind the camera): “What? We have a fire extinguisher, and I already ordered another television from Best Buy. A bigger, better one!"
[Wendy’s not mollified. At all]
Wendy: “But... that... that was my birthday present to you last year!”
Terrence: “Well, we can just say the NEW television’s my birthday present! Then you’d be even more awesome.”
[At this point, Wendy looks like if it weren’t for the fact that her husband was carrying another valuable piece of technology, she’d have decked him by now. Instead, she just turns back to the wreckage, running her hand through her hair.]
Wendy: “I don’t believe you two. You guys honestly think this was the most adult way you could have gone about something like this? I mean, we could have donated the TV to a worthy cause if we weren’t going to use is anymore. Talk about your shameless excesses.”
Pollaski: “Well, yeah. But I always kind of wanted to shoot out a television. Kinda fun. And I don’t feel any guilt about it at all! Do you?”
Terrence: “Nah, but I wish I had gotten a turn with the shotgun before Wendy walked in... you got all the fun.”
[Wendy simply takes a deep breath, and shakes her head]
Wendy: “You’re right. We shouldn’t feel guilty about the blessings we’ve received, living in a place where we can take things like our next meal for granted. But at the same time, we SHOULD feel grateful about it. And a great way to show gratitude is by doing what you can to help others who aren’t as fortunate. It’s why so many people volunteer to help out at soup kitchens on Thanksgiving and Christmas.”
Terrence: “Oh, I thought it was because they had better cooking than you do.”
[Wendy narrows her eyes and glares at her husband, holding the glare for a few long minutes as the camera noticeably moves back a couple feet. Wendy turns back to her manager.]
Wendy: “Besides, Action Against Hunger isn’t even one of those ‘guilt-trip’ charities... as you call them. You go to their website, and all they talk about is what needs to be done, and how they’re going to do it. And that’s one of the reasons they’re rated as one of the most efficient ant capable non-profit organizations in the world today. And they’re effective too, because they’re not just simply about giving handouts. Obviously, they give out what they need to help people survive, but their most crucial line of work is making it so that people can sustain themselves, and not have to resort to assistance. They assist in helping crops and livestock go, and helping dig wells for water, and even helping to get rid of diseases than can wreck the local food supply.”
[Wendy grows brighter and more excited as she talks to her manager about the beneficiary of Byte This II, although she still takes a pointed glance over at the shattered television, which is apparently still plugged in, and occasionally sparking]
Wendy: “But what makes AAH the most effecitve is that they make sure their aid goes where it’s needed most. Although they provide assistance to people in over thirty countries, right now their priorities are the main food crises in the world- such as the recovery from the Haitian Earthquake, or dealing with the flooding from the monsoons in Pakistan. And of course the tragic famine that has broken out in the Horn of Africa...
Terrence: “Vuvuzelas?”
[Wendy and Pollaski both look over at the camera]
Wendy: “What?”
Terrence: “Aren’t vuvuzela’s the horn of Africa? And wouldn’t it be GOOD if there was a shortage of them?”
[Double facepalm!]
Pollaski: “No... dude. Just no. She’s not talking about those annoying things at the World Cup. She’s talking about a region in Eastern Africa, where Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia are. It’s pretty much the worst place in the world to be living right now, with the wars and the famine.”
Terrence: “Ohhh...”
[Wendy rolls her eyes in exasperation.]
Wendy: “That’s one of the reasons why Action Against Hunger is such a key organization- they’re one of the few charities that are actually able to maintain a presence in a place like Somalia, where the government has been rendered completely ineffective, and tribal warlords are almost constantly fighting with each other. The logistics of distributing aid is difficult in the best of times... I can’t even imagine what you have to go through when there’s an armed conflict around you. That’s why it’s so great that we’re working together with them for Byte This! Because people who donate will know that they’re donating to one of the most effective, transparent, and efficient charities in the world.
[Pollaski shrugs]
Pollaski: “Doesn’t hurt that the donation is only ten bucks, and it gets you an awesome evening of wrestling action. Well, except for the first match, because I don’t see how anyone can give a shit about-
[Interruption!]
Wendy: I just hope the weather holds up. It looks like the forecast says there’s going to be clouds in the morning, but it’ll clear up in the afternoon, although it will be a bit cool. A perfect evening to spend in beautiful Golden Gate Park! Personally, I can’t wait to...
[Wendy’s voice trails off as the gears in her head finally start turning, as she realizes that Pollaski just conveniently happened to be watching a television commerical for another charity when he broke the television, and that Terrence just happened to be conveniently recording the entire time.]
Wendy: “Did you guys set this whole thing up as my promo for Byte This?”
Pollaski: “No. But since you mentioned it...”
[Cheesy grin, while Wendy merely rolls her eyes.]
Pollaski: “You’ve gotten yourself into the main event- a good old-fashioned ten woman over the top rope battle royal!”
[Wendy smiles]
Wendy: “You know, I’ve been in a few of these before, but I haven’t ever managed to win one. The last one I was in was last June... and I was fortunate enough to be able to finish second. Unfortunately, the winner had a good two feet and three hundred pounds on me, and he chucked me halfway up the ramp to win the darn thing, but I still was pretty proud that I managed to make it that long. Of course, this time, I’d actually like to walk away with a victory...”
Pollaski: “Well, that last one was for a world championship. This one’s doesnt’ have quite as much on the line, but considering that you’re coming off a devastating loss at Sin & Sacrifice, you’ve got a great chance to rebound here. I mean, for starters, two of the four semifinalists in the Femme For All are... here...
[Pollaski’s voice trails off as Wendy shakes her head]
Wendy: “I’m trying not to think about stuff like that.”
Pollaski: “Youre... not?”
Wendy: “Nope. You’re righ though, my loss at Sin & Sacrifice was painful. Not really physically, although its never fun to be busted open like that. But from a pride standpoint, it really stung. It’s made me second guess myself, and wondered just how I could have dropped the ball like that. It’s not a fun experience to know you got beat, especially like that. And it’s led me to do some thinking.”
[Wendy shrugged]
Wendy: “And I realized something. I’ve spent too much time caring about the implications of a match. I dream about what I’ll gain if I win, and I fret about what I’ll lose if I’m defeated. And I think I lose focus on the match itself, because I’m caring about everything else. And I think it’s hurting my performance, and I think I’m not having as much fun out there as I ought to. And I’ve always told myself that the day I stopped enjoying wrestling was the day I hung up my boots.”
Pollaski: “Wait... you’re quitting?!”
[Wendy shoots her manager an exasperated look.]
Wendy: “Of course not. I’m just trying to change my approach. I’m not going out there and caring what winning or losing this battle royal will do. I mean, this is technically, my first pay-per-view main event in FFW, there’s going to be thousands watching in the park, and thousands more online. So I just want to go out there, enjoy the moment, and wrestle the best darn match I possibly can. Whatever comes of the result, comes.”
[Wendy actually sounds calmer, not her normal, tense self (well, calmer considering the still sparking wreckage of a television behind her.). Pollaski looks slightly concerned for his client.]
Pollaski: “But, you still can’t deny how big this match is, considering how many girls are in there...”
Wendy: “Of course not. And some of those girls are among my biggest critics in this company. People who say that I never truly was the Evolution Champion, because of the circumstances surrounding that match. People who are quick to point out that I’m the shortest reigning Evolution Champion in history. People who truly think that me and my wrestling style can’t hack it in the big stage of FFW. And I won’t lie- some of it’s gotten to me, and I let it get me down. And it’s been tougher than ever over the past couple weeks.”
[A deep breath, and Wendy smiles]
Wendy: “But the FFW fans still believe in me, as do people like Mr. Horton and Mr. Kincaid. Maybe it’s time I start truly belieivng in myself as well. Because anyone who deny’s that I’m one of the best, most consistent wrestlers in Femme Fatale Wrestling is simply fooling themselves. I might not win every match, but anyone who steps in that ring across from me knows that they are in for the fight of their lives. I give everything I have out there every single match, and I know that if anyone’s going to beat me, they had to wrestle one of the best matches of their careers to do it.”
[Small smile]
Wendy: “And people like Colleen can scoff all they want, but deep down, they know it’s true. Look at the promos that have been released so far for this battle royal. How many of them put much more of an emphasis on me, as opposed to some of the other competitors? That’s because they may not like me, they may hate the way I wrestle, but they can’t deny that it’s going to take everything they have to bring me down- if they can at all.
[Another shrug]
Wendy: “So maybe it’s time I start being secure in my own legacy. Whatever controversies anyone might want to exploit, the fact is, I have nothing but pride for what I’ve done in FFW, and I have nothing but eager anticipation for what I can do next. Because win or lose at Byte This, or Breaking Point, or Velocity, I know the best moments of my FFW career are still to come. And maybe Tuesday Night will be one of those moments. But all I can do is all I can always do- walk down to that ramp, get in that ring, and start throwing as many women over the top rope as I possibly can.”
Pollaski: “Well, speaking of the other women in the match, you have any particular thoughs on them?”
Wendy: “Of course! I think you look at the participants in this match, and it’s symbolic of just what FFW is all about. This is a collection of some of the best, and brightest talent any wrestling company would kill to have. Some are veterans, some are rookies. Some are riddled with accolades throughout their careers, and some are still looking for that first big break. And I think some are chomping at the bit to get in that ring, while I think that there’s a couple other’s who are praying the number on the card they draw is a nine or a ten.”
[The television sparks again, loud enough to make both Pollaski and Wendy jump. Annoyed, Pollaski grabs the fire extinguisher, and lets a blast out at the wreckage. This seems to remind Wendy just how annoyed she is at her husband and manager, and it’s another couple seconds before she’s regained her focus.]
Wendy: “Now, I’m sure one of the women falling into that last category is Casey Atherton. If there’s ever an adage to the old saying ‘Cheaters never prosper’- it’s her. She’s a dirty player, and proud of it. Casey’s tried for the quick and easy way out every time she steps in that ring, and the only one it’s ever worked on is Aly Summers. We saw the stunts she tried pulling in the ladder match at Unstoppable, and how much it came back to bite her. With people like Shane, Eileen, and myself in the ring this time, I can’t see her having any more success unless she quickly figures out how to PROPERLY wrest...le....
[Wendy’s voice trails off as she looks at her manager, who’s staring vacantly, into space]
Wendy: “Dan?”
Pollaski: “Mmm... Casey Atherton... dirty...”
*SMACK*
[It’s more a conk over the head than an out and out slap, but it still jars Pollaski back to his senses, rubbing his head, grinning sheepishly]
Pollaski: “What about Emma McIntyre... one of the living proof that you don’t need to be intelligent to have some success in this business. I mean, I’m pretty sure that the company asked us all to shoot promotional videos... and yet she goes and types up a blog. I suppose she could release a video of her typing up her blog. Seriously, it’d be more entertaining than half the bullshit she puts out. And your ‘New York accent.’”
[Even Wendy can’t help but laugh there. For the record, her inflectioin is considerably more midwestern, although she does carry a slight tinge of a Belfast accent from her parents]
Wendy: “Well, I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to identify the exact geographic location of her accent either. But I’m more concerned about the rampant negativity she’s shown me, especially considering we’ve never been in the ring together. I understand that Emma, like the rest of the family she’s married into, seems to have two emotional settings- apathetic and homicidal, so I apologize if I’m able to show more... temperate emotions from time to time. Such as my match with Lucas Peek. I don’t think I threw a tantrum over it, although I certainly was disappointed that he bailed, even if all signs pointed to it. But like I said, it just proves that he’s a coward. As for me, I wanted to finish the job, but I try to have high standards for my in-ring performances. It’s a shame Emma doesn’t seem to always carry the same sentiments.
[Hit the pause button, if you ever wanted a picture of Wendy looking catty, this is your moment.]
Wendy: And then there’s Madison Knight. Honestly, I’m almost hoping that when she gets thrown over the top rope, she lands on her head, because maybe that will make her wake up and realize that right now, she’s little more than Rori Snyder’s puppet. I think it would be nice to see her actually show herself as her own woman, instead of simply being Rori’s sycophant.”
[Pollaski scoffs]
Pollaski: “Right. There’s a reason that Maddi’s gone and anchored herself to Rori. Her own personality is so thin, she’d blow away otherwise. Perhapse in a bit of a... Briese.”
[Terrence groans. Wendy facepalms. Pollaski grins as if he just won... well, something]
Pollaski: “And then there’s Casey Atherton, who’s one of the HOTTEST newcomers in FFW. I mean, this girl can-”
Wendy: “We already covered her.”
Pollaski: “We did?”
[There’s a seconds pause, as Pollaski looks down, seemingly looking at his pelvis area. He looks back at Wendy.]
Pollaski: “You sure?”
Wendy: “YES!”
[That’s gotta be the fourth or fifth Wendy Death Glare of the promo. A couple more, and we’ll have a new record!]
Pollaski: “Oh. Well, what about Charity Deas? It’s funny how the your next two singles opponents are in this match as well. Really lets you send a statement. You know, if you were actually concerned about doing that...”
[Wendy merely rolls her eyes, ignoring Pollaski’s jab.]
Wendy: “I know a lot of people look down on Charity, which is kind of ironic, given the nature of this event. And I know that Charity has had some problems over the past... entire length of her career. But there’s one thing I can promise you... if she and Allison end up in that ring together, I honest to God would HATE to be the person standing in between them. That’s going to be one family quarrel I’ll be more than happy to steer clear of.”
Pollaski: “Speaking of ‘having problems’, what about Shane Sanders? Near as I can tell, she hasn’t been in a match since Unstoppable II!”
Wendy: “And that’s a shame, because Shane really is a great wrestler, who’s just caught a few tough breaks. It’s never fun to have to sit out that long, and I’m sure she’s absolutely restless right now. And I think after the difficulties she had with Rori, she’s got to feel like she’s has a ton to prove here. Honestly, I’m almost hoping I’m entering after her, because when she finally hits that ring, the term ‘house of fire’ won’t even begin to describe it. But that’s both Shane’s strength and weakness. She’s hard as heck to put down, and keep down in that ring, but at the same time, her aggression makes her mistake prone. There’s not much of a room for margin of error in this match, that’s for sure.”
[Wendy pauses again, as if trying to remember who is left in the contest. Finally she breaks into a grin.]
Wendy: “Oh! Eileen Amaro! I can’t believe I almost forgot her, because honestly, of all the women in this match, she’s probably the one I’d look forward to going one on one with the most. It’s not that I have any sort of personal grudge against her. In fact, the exact opposite! I genuinely like Eileen, and I hope that she wins the Chase for the Crown. I just think there’s a considerable amount of similarity between us. We’ve both gone across the world in hopes of perfecting our craft, and have found success on several different continents. And we both really hold honor and fair play in high esteem, and that’s not something thats common here in FFW. I think a match with us- whether as opponents or as team-mates, would positively tear the house down. So if I do eliminate her, I hope Eileen has no hard feelings. But I’m pretty sure that this won’t be the last time she and I stand in the ring together.”
Pollaski: “And then there’s Casey Atherton, who’s one of the HOTTEST wrestlers in FFW, coming off a huge...”
Wendy: “ARE YOU SERIOUS!?”
[Wendy takes a couple deep breaths, having finally pushed past the point of annoyance by her manager. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get much better for her.]
Terrence: “Dude, what the hell is with your fixation on Casey Atherton? I know she’s kinda good looking, but...”
Wendy: “Yeah, I was kind of wondering about that too. I mean, the scouting report you gave me about this match was like 75% devoted to Casey. I mean, it’s good that I’m going to be well-pepared for her, but...
[Pollaski shrugs]
Pollaski: “I just like watching Casey Atherton. Over. And over. And over. And-”
Terrence: “Is that why some of the pages were stuck together?”
[Wendy’s expression goes to one of horror in about a second flat, and she honestly looks like she’s considering cutting off whatever hand touched Pollaski’s scouting report. Pollaski, shameless to the end, merely shrugs]
Terrence: “I mean, really dude? You honestly want Alex Adonis’ sloppy seconds? I mean, Lord knows what...
Pollaski: “I know. But that’s why God made Febreze, right? Just a couple squirts, and good as new!”
[Wendy’s jaw’s nearly hit the floor at this point, and her face has gone almost completely white. Meanwhile, the camera’s slightly vibrating, because the man behind it is trying not to laugh.]
Wendy: “That’s...not...really...how... it...works...”
Pollaski: “It’s not?”
Wendy: “No. And now I kind of feel sick, and I haven’t even gotten to the two most nauseating participants in this match yet.”
[Wendy swallows hard, some color returning to her cheeks]
Pollaski: “So why are the members of the A-List most nauseating?”
[Wendy sighs]
Wendy: “Because honestly? I’m sick of them. I’m sick of them acting like FFW is their own personal playground, just becuase they’re eating out of the owner’s palm. I’m sick of them blindsiding people, like they’ve done twice now to Isabella. And I’m sick of them tossing offhand cheapshots at me, when not a single one of them has actually gotten into the ring and proved herself better than me.”
[Small shrug]
Wendy: “At least I’ve managed to win a big match here. Unlike Rose, who finally quit feeding on Samantha’s scraps, got into the ring for a title shot, and promptly was the first person eliminated. It’s real big of her to mock me for losing my belt when she couldn’t even win one of her own. She can come up with any excuses she wants, the fact is, all she’s proven herself is a bully. And she’s going to be hard bully to eliminate, but you know what? If there’s a will, there’s a way, and I’m going to find it. And I don’t care how many times I get thrown onto that mat, I’m not going to stop until Rose is over that rope, and onto the ground.”
[A derisive scoff]
Wendy: “But then again I’m sure the contingency A-List excuse plan is already in place, isn’t it. After all, is this really true wrestling by Colleen’s standards? After all, it’s a heck of a lot easier to chuck someone over the top rope than it is to climb a ladder and grab a title. Or maybe Colleen’s definition of true wrestling is ‘any match I have a chance at winning’. Or maybe she’ll just climb over the top rope and eliminate herself the moment the going gets tough. After all, so long as you keep running, and avoiding that element of finality, there’s always going to be an excuse, isnt’ there?
[Another sigh]
Wendy: “So I’m going to return the favor. I’m going to make the A-List sick of me. I’m going to make them sick of me running them off just when they think the time is right for a beatdown, like I did at Velocity. I’m going to make them sick of me never giving up, no matter what they throw at me. And most importantly, I’m going to make them sick of me beating their butts from one end of the ring to the other every single time one of them is unfortunate enough to get put in a match with me.”
[Another pause.]
Wendy: “I guess I lied. I guess there is one thing I do plan on accomplishing at Byte This. I plan on when the final bell rings, and Colleen and Rose go limping back to the locker room, where they can get consolation and pity from their buddies, they can look Jo McFarlane directly in the eye and tell her that she made the biggest mistake of her career when she picked me as her poison. Because I may be ‘nice’, but there’s only so much I can take. And right now, when it comes to the A-List, I’m quickly approaching my limit.”
[A small smirk]
Wendy: “As for everyone else, I’m ready for them too. There’s a lot of factors in a battle royal, but I know how to deal with them. And once I hit that ring, I’m not stopping until everyone else’s feet have hit that floor, or mine have.”
[The smirk turns into a grin.]
Wendy: “After all, who’d expect anything else from me?”
[Wendy finishes with a note of finality, and Pollaski grins, only for them both to jump as another pop emits from the television, a small fire starting- quickly spreading due to the lighter fluid. Wendy shrieks]
Pollaski: “Don’t worry... I gots this.”
[And the scene fades as another cloud of fire extinguisher jets across the room, towards the burning television.]
