The roar of the crowd can be heard backstage of the first Super Turmoil of the new year. Jim Black is wandering down the hallway glancing at each door then to a piece of paper in his hands.
Jim-It says I can’t miss it but what the hell?
Jim stops walking to take a deep breath, but is taken back and almost chokes on a certain lingering aroma that he just can't seem to place. Jim follows the smell to a door where two scented candles are placed on equipment crates on each side of the door. The door has a wax paper taped to it that states “Quiet Room” in sharpie. Jim looks around annoyed then knocks lightly twice when a voice rings from inside.
??-Please, do come in.
Jim enters a medium sized candlelit room and his breath is taken away by a rush of aromas and smoke. Jim coughs and waves his hand around before seeing none other than Joshua Tucker sitting on a little rug cross legged in a meditation position and grinning from ear to ear.
Tucker stands up and flips a switch turning on the lights and an exhaust fan
Tucker-My dear friend Slim Jim it is good to see you after what feels like years.
Tucker says as he blows out candles and snuffs a few incense around the room. Jim just looks on completely shocked at the new look Tucker he is seeing.
Jim- I-It’s good to see you too. I have so many questions. Where have you been? Why the incense and candles? Was that a bong?
Tucker smiles as he places his hand on Jim’s shoulder and guides him out of the room
Tucker-Well like I said the last time we spoke, I needed to do some deep soul searching. I traveled here and there gaining different methods of letting go instead of screaming let’s go aimlessly into the wind.
He chuckles as they walk down the hall
Tucker-Don’t get me wrong the let’s go movement got me to and through some great moments in my life and career, but I feel it’s time to lay it to rest for a while and take a more calming natural approach. That’s where the candles and incense come in, they are part of my meditation exercises.
Tucker winks at Jim
Tucker- Anyway like I was saying,I knew it was time for a real change. I was feeling all sorry for myself and beating myself up thinking I wasn’t worth a damn around here. I even contemplated retiring early from the ring after the end of last season.A little while into my travels I started to miss it all then I received notice that I had been promoted, I was elated. I took it as a sign and I packed my things, turned around immediately and here I am ready to begin this new journey in this new year with this new outlook.
Jim-Wow, I have to say that I didn’t see this one coming. I look forward to seeing where this takes you. Have you spoken to Caine since you have returned?
Tucker-No I have not. I did however see the match where he won the title and I am happy for soulman. I wish him all the best in his future endeavours.
He says as the two enter catering and Tucker begins filling a plate with food.
Jim-Fair enough. How do you feel about stepping into the ring tonight against Darryl Webster.
Tucker-I am pretty excited to tell you the truth. I am always thankful for the opportunity to step into an OCW ring and it’s an honor to be someone's first opponent.
Jim-Well I look forward to seeing you both out there good luck and enjoy your meal there.
Tucker-Thank you my friend, until we meet again.
Jim nods to Tucker who sits down and begins to enjoy his meal as the scene fades.
POWER & GLORY
vs.
THE WRESTLING CLUB
We go backstage to Jim Black standing by with Quartz.
Jim Black: Ladies and gentlemen... What an episode of Turmoil it has been thus far.... The man standing behind me seemed to have made his intentions clear at the top of the show. Quartz?
Quartz steps forward with a scowl on his face. He seems very serious as Jim Black raises the mic to his face.
Quartz: Jimothy, do you understand what it's like to be so far under the skin of someone like Rust Cohle... That they are rendered completely SPEECHLESS at your mere presence?
Quartz: Don't answer that, you idiot. It's a rhetorical question.
Quartz: No words in that moment, Jim. I've known Rust Cohle a very long time. I know what he likes. I know what he hates... and I know what he's feared since the moment he held that championship above his head.
Quartz: It's definitely not Harvey Ocean. It's not Mugen. It's not Thomas Archer...
QuartZ: No, Jim. It's the man who has stepped on, around, and through every one of those "stars" he surrounds himself with. He knows there's only one man in the entire OCW locker room who has beaten every relevant member of Dominion... and that's me, Ijitu Quartz, gah' dammit.
Quartz removes his PRISTINE SUNGLASSES and moves closer into Jim Black's face.
Quartz: He knew when I walked out there tonight and stared him in the eyes... He knew that I was the only man capable of knocking him off of his pedestal.
Quartz: Do you see it in my eyes, Jim? Do you see what he saw? Do you see what nightmares are made of, Jim Black? Do you see my eyes?!
Quartz, now screaming in Jim's face, starts laughing and boops Jim on the nose before throwing his PRISTINE SUNGLASSES back on his face and smiles into the camera.
Quartz: ...I hope you have had your fun, old friend, because my mind is made up.
Quartz: The universal truth that has been proven time and time again over the last 3 years is about to be proven again. You may be a bad man, RustVP, but I'm the one mountain you're never going to climb. I'm the one man you can't conquer. I'll be seeing you and that championship very soon.
Quartz smirks for a moment, but then takes a deep breath and puckers his lips.
Quartz: Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go find Spider.
Quartz shakes his head and walks off, leaving Jim Black alone.
El Parca is seen sitting in his locker room. As the graphic on the TV shows the upcoming Triple Threat match between Danny Watts, Colin Locke, and The Mantis. As he takes his attention away from the TV he looks into the camera.
Parca: Tonight, three men will step into the ring and we will find out who will challenge me for this.
Parca lowers his right arm, not taking his look off the camera as he pulls out the International Title.
Parca: As we all have seen, challengers have come and gone. And one thing has remained the same, I have stayed the International Champion.
Parca: But, tonight, three very different men are vying for an opportunity at this championship, THEE championship to hold in this company.
Parca: Danny Watts, you and I have gone to war many times. You almost had me at Anniversary and I won’t take anything away from you, as you are one of the most dominant wrestlers on this roster.
Parca: Colin Locke, ever since you came into this company I’ve been a fan of yours. Watching your growth, and evolution as a wrestler makes me happy to call you a friend. You’ve impressed each and everyone of us in the back and all of those fans in attendance.
Parca: And then there’s The Mantis, an interesting character to say the least. He has victories over some very, very impressive people in this company. But one thing I can’t take lightly is disrespect. Mantis, you came for my pride, my honor, and my integrity. Not only as a Luchador but as a man.
Parca stands up from the chair still holding the International Championship.
Parca: I wish all of you good luck tonight. It will be a match that many people will love to see, and I especially cannot wait to see who faces me next. Because, a champion is only as good as the challengers he puts away. So good luck gentlemen as tonight I’ll be watching very closely.
Parca: But, before I go. Tony, tonight, we go at it one on one once again. This time though? My emotions won't get the best of me. Oh, and don't worry about Big Country, he knows I wanna handle this like men one. last. time. So, you gonna face me like a man? Or are you gonna be a little bitch and bring back up?
Parca nods at the camera as he walks out of sight. The camera pans down fading to black.
The Camera Pans To The Rampway!
We return from commercial to find B17 posing in the corner with the crowd cheering him on and Stacy Clark clapping politely in the middle of the ring. She waves him over.
Clark: Bingo...At Lution you said good-bye to Doom Machine. But others have not. In fact many in the back, including Shepard have been demanding that you bring out the Doom Machine.
B17: Clark, I get it. Some don’t like me singing and dancing. I smile too much and a few too many people have seen my bare ass.
The women in the crowd, especially the above 50 crowd , mixed with a healthy amount of men, also the over 50 crowd: WOOOOOOOO.
B17: But at the anniversary I showed those same people that clamor for Doom Machine that The Last Action Hero is just as dangerous.
B17: Shepard gave into Doom at anniversary. All that hate, all that resentment. Doom only exists when you are so convinced that rage is your only answer. And it’s powerful. All the respect in the world to that man. It took two Mugen Died for my Sins, a Bingo Punch, an Ortiz Express and still the man kicked out.
B17 pauses and claps.
B17: I would have never expected it. I was in disbelief. I had to wear him down to the point his body could no longer obey his mind.
Bingo pauses again and looks out into the crowd: I could push myself to that without giving into Doom Machine because I have something better than that. I have pride. I get to walk out here and hold the CCW Championship high above my head every night knowing that I was made for this moment!
Crowd pops as B17 raises the CCW Championship high above his head.
B17: So tonight. When my mentor, The King of Kindness, Mugen faces my protege, The Prince of Flight, Ty Sparks and KD, the real gatekeeper of OCW, I will be watching intently. I will be studying them. I will--
TY Sparks: Bingo!
TY comes sprinting out to the ring.
Ty: I just wanted to say. I’m gonna win tonight!
B17: Good on you, kid.
Ty: And then I’m going to beat you at Chill Factor! Yeah! It will be different than last time! I’m ready!
B17: Kid, calm down. I believe in you. I believe you. But shouldn’t you be focused on the match?
Ty does wide eyed: You’re right! Bye, B!
Ty takes off out of the ring and to the back.
B17: You got this, kid!
DARYL WEBSTER
vs.
JOSHUA TUCKER
We pan to the extravagant office of General Manager Tiberius Octavian Dupree. This is NOT the same office infected with the smell of body odor and empanadas from the Anniversary Show.
This is his office in the Turmoil arena with his largest personal stash of maple flavoured snacks. He's deep in thought reviewing status reports from their recent live events when he hears a knock at his door.
He ignores the initial knock, but after the second he reluctantly answers with a heavy sigh.
Dupree: Enter.
Jim Black barges in the door like Austin Lee entering an all you can eat buffet with a half-off coupon. Jim then suddenly realizes he's not in the rookie locker room.
Jim Black: Uh...uh...ah Tiberius Dupree!
Dupree: Jimbo?!
Jim Black: Oh yes, I remember now. About the Anniversary Show.
Dupree: What about the Anniversary Show?
Jim Black: Lucha Country, the undisputed OCW Tag Team Champions… we all saw them enter your office and proceed to use your tombola.
Dupree: Use my what?!
Jim Black: Your tombola, you know the Lucha Country drawing.
Dupree: I’m not into children’s art Jimbo and have no clue who Tom Bola is or why he's being touched on by Lucha Country. But I did feel a strong scent of unkempt chest hair and mediocrity when I returned to my office for a snack.
Dupree: Luckily I spent most the show in the glorious company of Mr. Sensation, can’t go celebrating 16 years of greatness with some off brand muggle. Am I right?
Tibby cuts his classic half smile. Jim feels as if he’s referring to him so he shuffles his feet and fixes his collar.
Jim Black: So you’re saying there won’t be any repercussions for El Parca and Mark Reese?
Dupree: Repercussions, that’s a big word for such a low temperature IQ. I mean I can’t just fire them, they're the reigning OCW Tag Team Champs. Not to mention they didn’t really do anything as drastic as defecating in my desk or competing on live shows without proper undergarments.
Dupree: But I have little patience for insolence such as petty trespassing, especially when said trespassing circumvents my decision making.
Jim Black: So what action will you take?
Dupree defaults to his “thinking emoji” stance as he ponders a proper punishment.
Dupree: Hmmm…. As of tonight they will be banned from competing inside any Riot ring for the foreseeable future! They can share a locker room and shower with the goddamn Hattons here on Turmoil for all I care.
Dupree: I will also garner 10% of their wages which will go straight to supporting the OCW Combat Center and any Ambition development costs. I’ll hit them where it hurts most, their phreaking wallets.
Jim Black: Well then that’s quite the punishment, I’m sure Lucha Country have learned their lesson.
Dupree: Unlikely, there is no cure for stupid Jimbo, it’s a global pandemic.
Tibby kindly directs Jim out his office, immediately sanitizing his hands after closing the door.
The Camera Pans To The X-TRON
Teetering on a stool at the Galloway’s Turnpike, James Fraser sits, drinking alone. Well, not really alone. As only James Fraser can do, he’s talking shit to the bartender. Fraser slams back shot after shot, not even slightly phasing the man.
Bartender: Sir, I think you’ve had enough.
Fraser: I’VE HAD ENOUGH?! I’ll fookin’ tell you when I’ve had enough! If you don’t keep ‘em coming, I’ll hop behind this countertop and smack the shite out ya. Come on, rat face. Pour me four more.
The bartender trembles at Fraser’s threats as the man towers over this poor bartender. He pours James four more shots of his favorite whiskey, and not just any whiskey. Mama Reese’s Black Bourbon. James puts a shot to his lips and makes a noise one should only make in the comfort of his own home. He slams down the shot glass and shouts.
Fraser: GOD DAMN, I LOVE MAMA REESE! Where’s Mark Reese? MARK! GET ME HER NUMBER! YOU GOT A NEW PAPA! I--
Before James can finish his crude sentence, another man takes a seat besides him. As the camera pans back a bit, you can see it’s none other than his rival, Colby McCallum.
Fraser: Oh shit. NOT YOU! Why do you have to show your ugly arse face everywhere I go, Cuntby?
Colby laughs at James’ abrasiveness.
Colby: James, you’re an absolute gobshite. I’ve never heard a bald man talk so much nonsense while simultaneously trying to sexually assault an elderly woman. You’re the God damned Scottish Harvey Weinstein.
Fraser: SCOTTISH HARVEY WEINSTEIN? I outta smack the living taste outta yer mums mouth lad! Ye think ye pa can help ye here? Wrong there fuck-o!
Colby: Easy there, geezer. I don’t need my paw to help me. After you tried to end my career, I’m fine to slap some respect in ya my damn self.
Fraser: End yer career? Mate ye ever been in a fight before? Christ strike me down and may my mother sob you’re such a daft prick. I used to “try and end careers” all the time back in my Rugby days and I never heard as much jibber bullshit come from any of em! Gah, these young cunts nowadays.
Colby: That’s fair, James. I just hope you don’t come crying when I try to do the same. Honestly, you might even break a hip before I get my chance to cave your stupid face in. Old f**k.
Fraser: Old f**k?! YOU LOOK LIKE A 45 YEAR OLD WOMAN! What happened? Did your paw spoon feed you too much HGH?
Colby: At least I have something fueling me. What’s fueling you? Twenty tonnes of Mama Reese’s and cheeseburgers? I’m in the best shape of your life, champ. I don’t know what happened to you while playing rugby, but I’ve never seen a grown man devolve in an actual meat puddle. Fat-arse.
Fraser slams back another drink, as the bartender was going to fill up his cup he just yanks the bottle from him.
Fraser: Listen McCallum, rugby is a man's sport! I have done things in rugby that yer paw couldn’t even fathom doing sun! I scuffed me knee, and me neck but I’m still kicking aren’t I? Beside, me ole lady at home keeps me fueled with the Big Mama’s and thee bourbon! BARKEEP ANOTHER ONE!
Colby: Have you always been this much of a drunk? Yeah, rugby might be a “real man’s sport”, but consider this, geezer. I’m 1-0 against a former rugby player. Me. A rookie. How’s that, James? How does the man feel that another man bested in a fighting contest?
Fraser: Bold coming from the daft cunt like yerself McCuntums! Ye won the match lad, aye I’ll give it to you. But, you’re in a MAN'S place now boy, so choose yer next course of action wisely.
Colby: Next course of action? Well I got an idea, if you’re up for it. I know being forty is hard work, but I think this’ll interest you. How’s about a best of 7? You say you’re a real man. A fighter. Fight me. Prove to me you’re better than I am, and I’ll do exactly the same. I beat you once. I’ll do it again and again. Name the time and place.
Fraser softly lets out “I’m 35..”
Fraser: Alright McCallum, you say you want a best of seven lad? How about we start with our second outing tonight? HEY BARKEEP, GET ME FOUR MORE BOTTLES!
Fraser: So your word got any worth Colby? Let us take this to the next level and have us a drinking contest. Ye down ye wee shite?
Colby smirks and calls for the bartender.
Colby: You think cause I’m young that I can’t drink? Get ready to sleep until the table for the night, geezer.
As the bartender places down four more bottles of Big Mama’s Black Bourbon, Fraser smirks.
Fraser: We’ll see out that young one, let’s see how you hold the nectar of the gods!
James picks up the first shot and raises the glass.
Fraser: Ye know Cuntby, I thought ye were a dafty. Ye still are, but I’m proud that ye think ye can hang with the Titanium Liver himself. Good on ye. TO COMPETITION! And Mark Reese’s mama.
Colby laughs and picks up the next shot glass.
Colby: You really are a cunning linguist, James.
Fraser: Thank ye. It’s from years of eating cooch like you for breakfast. Now toast and let’s go!
Colby raises his glass.
Colby: To competition! And Mark Reese’s mama.
The two shot glasses clink together, and the drinking contest for the next point in the best of seven is under way.
