Post by Steve Sinclair on Jun 20, 2015 2:23:05 GMT
The scene opens up inside this little cabin somewhere, where? Who knows. It’s a small cabin, hunting shack even. If you listen closely you can almost hear banjos off in the distance somewhere and someone making pig noises. The front door is a old beat up screen door and inside the one and only room sitting around a old card table is Team Empire.
Joe.
Billy.
Rayne.
Nanook.
Playing poker (I would guess) (Also it’s not strip poker. Nanook isn’t naked so settle down Hardkore Comley, no boobies for you). The green felt top to the card table, a relic from the 70’s is faded and worn in spots. It has ring stains all over it where you would set your cup down during long games. Speaking of cups. They are mason jars full of Billy’s Shine. Billy has just dealt the next hand and everyone throws a chip in the pot.
Joe “This was a good idea. Chill out for a couple of days.”
Rayne “Yeah, but I would rather be at the gym and work on some stuff.”
Joe “True dat. But every once in a while you just have to say F*** it…..”
Joe’s train of thought trails off. Rayne looks up from her hand of cards as she is sitting across from Joe. Billy shuffles his hand and places his cards face down on the table. He too looks restless.
Rayne “But?” she taps her nails on the table waiting for Joe to answer.
Joe tosses his cards on the table too. He picks up his drink and takes a quick sip.
Joe “I dunno.”
Rayne “Bullshit ! Yes you do.”
Joe “What are we doing?”
Nanook sets his cards down and picks up his mason jar. He’s the most loaded of the four.
Nanook “Playing cards!” He says and laughs.
Billy glares at him as he leans on table top making it ever so slightly tip forward.
Joe “I mean really? What is this? We’re the hottest thing in the UWL right now and none of us have a freaking match this week. None of us ! Not even a bullshit tag match. Hell Billy. I can’t remember when you last worked!”
Billy purses in his lips and glances down at the table top and slowly nods.
Joe “We’re getting heat. Getting booed out of the place. We beat those guys asses Saturday night throwing another log on the fire and what do we have to show for it? You know….”
You can tell Joe is frustrated.
Billy “We’re being phased out.”
Joe “Thank you! I’m tired of this shit that is going on right now.”
Rayne slams her hands down on the table sending it tipping the otherway . “You?! What about me? I don’t see my son for weeks . I have to Skype with him unless he’s on vacation and he can travel with me.
I needed a change and I made this return to the ring because you guys asked me too. I didn’t have to do this right now with all that was going on in my life….but you said this would be fun. Fun to have the gang back and maybe we could change things, make an impact somewhere else besides ESW. To be champions again at our own pace without the Sinclairs on our backs.
The only thing we’ve changed is that I really want to punch Angie and Pierce in the face more than what I wanted too before. No seriously , I daily have to resist the urge to not beat the shit outta them . That is where this whole thing went friggin south. Those two thunder twonked two legged twat monkeys bailed on us leaving us holding the bags and looking like f*cking jackasses .
I thought we would push a couple of buttons, rub a couple of guys the wrong way and get in that ring and do what we do best. Compete and show the world why I am one of the best. Instead I get thrown in cluster F*** after cluster F*** and…..”
Rayne picks up her jar of Shine.
Rayne “Here we are.”
Silence in the room. Joe crosses his arms and Rayne leans back in hers. Nanook wonders what a twat monkey is .
Joe “This was Angelo’s idea you know. I just wanted to come in and go after those tag straps. I’m not interested in the Triple Crown, the TV title. I don’t know how many more matches I have i till my knee just totally gives out and I have to take a ton of time off. So when I get in that ring I want to make it count.
I don’t want to work my way up the ladder, earn this and earn that. Going somewhere else is out of the question. It won’t hold up for that kind of run in singles actions. I need someone in there with me to do some of the heavy lifting. I have to milk everything I have left in my stupid knee and tag teaming was the way to go. I have to pick my spots you know. Get the most bang for my buck.”
Rayne sighs “We should have known this was going to happen.”
Joe “We should…..we should.”
Rayne “Now look at this f*cking mess he started and left us with.”
Joe “Again.”
BIlly glances at Joe.
Billy “Again?”
Joe sighs.
Rayne “In the ESW Pierce would constantly take time off without telling anyone. He would be at the show, getting pushed, working his way towards the top and the following week after stuff was all set up for him. Big match, title on the line, he would vanish like Amelia Earhart ...no trace whatsoever .”
Joe “Leaving everyone else to pick up his slack.”
Rayne “Booking changes at the last second. Raven would have to beg him to show up and then he half assed it. You remember that time over the Survivor belt Joe?”
Joe nods. Billy looks at Rayne not knowing the story.
Rayne “Christian fixed his sights on Angie for the Survivor title. It was Angie’s first belt he won in the ESW I think...anyways. Pierce hunted him down and he beat Angie for the belt. It was also the first time he won that belt.”
Nanook “Three time champ of that belt he was.” He nods and takes another sip of shine.
Rayne “Yeah….meaning he won it three separate times and decided that was all he needed to do. He beat Angelo and disappeared .”
Joe “Raven was so livid she almost spit blood. Steve wanted to kill him.”
Rayne “Everyone held that belt in the highest regards. When Pierce didn’t show up the following week, it was no biggie. But the following week he was suppose to defend the belt in the main event against Angelo and he never showed up. Last second Raven and Steve had to change the main event to save the show and the ratings. Raven sent her guys out to find him.”
Billy “Guys?”
Rayne “ Raven has an interesting past . She has...connections.”
Joe “Don’t ask Billy.”
Billy’s eyes get wide and he stops himself from asking anything further .
Rayne “It took them all week but they found him and literally dragged him back. That night with some “urging” he had a match that night.”
Joe chuckles as he takes another sip.
Joe “Raven had me up against the wall with that index finger of hers.”
Rayne “The one that feels like a damn dagger as she jabs you in the chest?”
Joe “You ever really look at that finger? It is like straight as an arrow. I swear to god she had that thing worked on, the bones replaced with steel rods or something.”
Rayne “ Mmmm like Wolverine with adamantium nails.. I don’t want to see that damn finger in my face again. Or when she gets really irate her damn accent comes back and ye canna understand wha’ she’s sayin ”
Joe “Anyways.” Joe leans back and laughs. “She had me up against the wall in her office, jabbing me in the chest with that damn finger of hers minutes before the match and she says.
“Don’t you FOOKIN’ come back without tha’ damn title! Ye ken! I dunna care what ye hav’ to do, ye beat his sorry excuse fer an arse! I dunna care if yer Ted’s ladd. If ye dunna walk away from da ring with ta belt over yer shoulder, ye might as well keep walkin ’with yer tail ‘tween yer legs “
Nothing like pressure. Then you know I’m behind the curtain and I look at Pete and nod and he queues up my music. I don’t even take one step and Steve grabs me by the shoulder with his big beefy hand. Here I am on my way out to the ring, my chest is throbbing from Raven’s freaking finger and Steve goes. “Look, I don’t want to make you nervous, but if you don’t beat his ass and take that belt from him, you’ll force me to do something I don’t want to do. So if you know what is good for you…” 25 minutes later. I had the belt and everyone was happy.”
Billy “So why did Steve and Raven keep him around?”
Nanook “To be fair Pierce is a good hand. The people do like him, he makes the company money. In the end that was the driving force that kept some of the guys around in the ESW. If Steve could make a buck off of you, then so be it. Even if you were a flake.”
Billy “I see.”
Nanook “Which is why Jay and the rest of his crew keep us around despite the fact currently we are not working any of the shows. It’s hard to fire someone when they add to the bottom line. I saw the merch numbers. People out there do love Team Empire. They are buying the shirts. They are eating up Rayne’s stuff. Hence why we still have a job. But….”
Silence. Everyone was thinking it but no one wanted to say it. Finally after a minute or two Rayne chimes in.
Rayne “You know the last show, this little kid walked up with my Playboy and wanted me to sign it.”
Rayne shakes her head and Joe picks up mason jar and looks at Nanook. Billy looks at him too.
Nanook “But I think it’s time to go in a new direction. As far as I’m concerned the name Team Empire is a black mark on us. Those two knuckleheads ruined that on us. The four of us and Alan I guess even though he just joined us, are stuck waving the flag and clearly the UWL is going to use the old “if you don’t see them anymore, then you will forget about them.” tactic on us. They might not be able to defeat us in the ring but they will beat us by keeping us out off the shows. That is how they will win this war.”
Joe “But the match is made for Pure Aggression.”
Nanook “That’s fine. We’ll still have that match but it’ll be our last match under the Team Empire banner. Having the 5 of us on the sidelines isn’t going to get anything done. We need to forget the axe Angelo had to grind with the UWL. Let that be his fight and his problem when and if he returns. Leave him on the island by himself. We have goals of our own.”
Rayne:” The tribe has spoken and you have been voted off “
Joe “That’s what I’m talking about.”
Nanook “Let’s put the fire out, end the war and do what we originally wanted to do. Go after those tag belts.”
Nanook points at Joe and looks at Rayne.
Nanook “The world wants to see it so let’s give it to them. You two on the same team. There isn’t a team in the UWL than can stop you two and let’s get you back in the ring and do what you’re goal was all along. Capture one of the three singles belts in the UWL. It’s time you get back in the ring kid.”
Joe looks at Rayne and Rayne looks at Joe. Joe smirks, he’s already bought into the idea of teaming up with Rayne. Billy has the same restless expression on his face. He picks up his mason jar and holds it up for a second.
Billy “You mean just win that Triple Crown title.”
Billy takes a sip of his shine and sets his jar down before he stands up.
Billy “You get me in that Rumble match and I’ll take care of the rest.”
Nanook “Okay buddy.”
Billy turns and walks off. Nanook reaches for his phone as he has work to do. He too leaves stepping out onto the porch with the screen door slamming behind him a pig squeals and runs off. Joe leans forward and taps his fingers on the table top. He takes a chip and tosses into the pot.
Joe “Call.”
He picks up his cards. Rayne raises an eyebrow and tosses a chip in the pot as well.
Rayne “What are we playing for?”
Joe “Winner gets to name this team of ours.”
Rayne “Fine. Let’s see what you got….partner.”
Joe flips his cards over.
Joe “Pair of six’s, pair of nines.”
Rayne takes a deep breath , shakes her head ,and leans forward and reaches for her cards.
Rayne “Should have figured as much.”
Rayne flips her cards over and sits back and crosses her arms. Joe lowers and shakes his head.
Joe “Bitch.”
Rayne “And don’t you forget it either . Did I ever tell you that my Uncle Vinnie is a professional card player ?”
The scene fades out with four aces on the table………