ONE CONDITION I
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Wait!” [Hannibal pleads, stopping momentarily the next and potentially final blow. Hysteria slowly stalks around him, coming to a stand in front of his knelt adversary.] “Mike Lane sent me,” [he says through gritted teeth of agony.] “I asked him to join the Showcase team and he said he would, upon one fulfilled condition.”
[Hysteria’s head tilts.] “And what’s that, little guy?”“That you join too..” [He mutters back.] [Hysteria thinks about it for a minute, tilting his head back and forth as he almost comically weighs up his decision. Suddenly, abruptly, and without warning, he lifts his Sledgehammer up and gruesomely drives it through the skull of Hannibal Corvin, caving it in.]
“I already have a team, silly goose,” [he says, bending down to survey the damage. Hannibal spits blood, his eyes dangling from his skull. His entire skull has been caved into a gooey, messy, awful puddle.] “We’re called the Asylum.”
[He stands up, pulling the sledgehammer head to his own face and looking at the blood.]“Welcome to your final resting place.”
OLIVER ANGST VS. FRANKIE PRINCE
SINGLES MATCH
THE TRIBAL COUNCIL
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“There’s nothing we can do,” [he abruptly starts, silencing the crowd.] “Harrison enterprises will build upon this land. We cannot stop that. If we do not leave peacefully, he will have us escorted from our homes and imprisoned.”
“You’re a fucking traitor,” [shouts one of the men, standing up.] “You did this. You sold us out, Hawk. How much is he paying you to sell out your people and your ancestors?”
[Tommy bites his tongue.] “I understand that you are upset. I am too. I’m trying to do what is best for my people.” [Another man stands up, next to the other.]“What is best? You are telling us to leave our homes. You are abandoning us when we need you the most.”
[Tommy finally stands up, walking around the desk to be amongst the people. He looks back at Harrison, who shoots him a look that says ‘deal with it’, forcing his hand.]“If you want to fight them, you can try. I tried and look what happened to me. We cannot fight them, we cannot win. Just listen to me and vacate your homes peacefully. This need not become a problem.”
[One of the men spits at Hawk, catching him right in the face. He acts quickly, chopping him to the throat. The second man attempts an attack, but Tommy hip tosses him through the table, breaking it upon impact. The first man grabs him, pushing him backwards into the wall, though Hawk is quick to break the grip, snapping his arm violently in reaction.] [As both men lay unconscious on the floor, his people look on in disgust.]“You will leave this place. You will do as you are told. I will not here any argument of it.”
[Frank Harrison smiles in the back of the room, watching as Tommy Hawk’s people look at him with such disgust and disdain.]MAS VS. OMEGA NAKAZO
SINGLES MATCH
PREEMPTIVE STRIKE
[After finding himself on the losing end of the match with Omega Nakazo, Maaz Azim Salah seems in a very angry state as The Elder tries to lead him away from the crowds around them. These same fans seem to find the misfortune of Salah amusing, hurling various insults at him. The Elder turns to the nearest fan, and practically spits at him.]
“This is why America is doomed. You have trod on the bodies of those different from you for far too long. There will be an uprising, and Maaz Azim Salah will be the harbinger of your death.”
[Salah takes a swing at another fan, but he’s still recovering from the match he just wrestled. He doesn’t even notice another form sneaking through the crowd.] [PARALYZER!] [Cody Greer has come from nowhere to level the big man. The Elder stands back in disgust, kneeling to check on his charge.]“I ain’t stupid, old man!” [Greer begins.] “Your boy likes to hit first, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. You want to talk about the doom of America, but I just showed you that there’s a hell of a lot of fight left in the man you ought fear.”
[With gusto, he slaps the hand of the nearest fan, and yells out to the heavens.]“Somebody get me a fucking beer!”
[Greer walks into the throng of people, practically being showered in the drink while he just winks in the direction of his foes. Speaking of which, Salah has sat up, his eyes on the Elder.]“Americans don’t ever think, do they?”
[With a smile, Elder leads Salah away.] [Retribution is sure to come, however!]ONE CONDITION II
BACKSTAGE
“Stephanie, it’s Mike, let me in,” [shouts a voice from behind the wooden door. She walks over, carefully unlocking it to see.] “We need to talk.”
[Rose pulls the door open slowly, letting him inside. Mike shakes his head, almost ashamed of himself.]“I’m sorry I didn’t have your back last week like you had mine against The Asylum,” [he admitted, announcing the reason for his shame.] “But I did send The Knights out there in my stead.”
[She nods.] “Well, thank you. I… I just don’t know what to do now. He almost killed me, Mike.”“I know,” [he growls.] “And I’ll take him down for it, just you wait and see. But I need you, Stephanie. I need you to fulfil your obligations to Monday Night Showcase as its Champion and join our team for Face/Off.”
[Rose looks stunned.]“Me?” [she begs his pardon.] “Well gee, I don’t really know what to say.”
“Before you answer, there’s something you have to know. I told Hannibal that I’d join this team on one condition – if Hysteria did too.”
[She freaks out.] “No! No way! I’m not doing it,” [she shakes her head furious.] “No way Mike!” [He raises his arms to calm her down.]“Wait a second, just wait a second. I know you’re scared; I would be too,” [he admits, surprising her.] “But the best way to keep an eye on him is to have him by our side in this fight. Sometimes you need to k
eep your friends close but your enemies closer.”
[That resonates with Rose a little. She understands it.]“I told myself I wouldn’t be afraid, did you know that? I told myself that now I’m here and living my dreams, I would fight whenever I needed to fight. Last week, that man almost murdered me in cold blood. I want to sit in this room, lock that door and never come out. That’s what my mind is telling me to do, but my heart? That’s telling me to fight.”
[“Fight Rose, Fight” echoes throughout the tap room.]“Atta girl,” [Lane says with a smile.] “I promise you justice, Steph. I promise that Hysteria will pay for what he did to you, to Alex Reese and to Ozric Mortimer. I will make him pay. I will put him in the deepest darkest hole this side of oblivion.”
[Buzz.] [Mike reaches into his pocket, pulling out his cell phone. It’s a text message. He opens it, his eyes widening upon receipt of the image in front of him.] [It’s from Hannibal Corvin.] [And it’s what’s left of Hannibal Corvin.] [Stephanie peeks over his shoulder, the image making her psychically heave as she steps away. Mike quickly puts the phone away, his face as white as a sheet, knowing Hysteria has taken yet another victim.]HENRI DEGAUCORT VS. DOCTOR PANAX
SINGLES MATCH
オープンチャレンジ
RINGSIDE
♫ “I’m in Tokyo-oooo… Looking for a Ho-oooo… Tried to score some blow-oooo… But I don’t speak-a Japanese!” ♫
[Henri’s apathy is palpable; he’s obviously not a Steel Panther fan. Suddenly Omega Nakazo bounds into the area, hustling down the ramp before quickly sliding under the bottom rope.] [The Aristocrat sneers as Omega rises, coming face-to-face with Henri. Omega has a mic. It’s logged firmly in the back of his tights.]“Heard you were looking for a fight!” [De Gaucourt steps back, flinching.] “What’s the matter? Frog in your throat?”
“Merde. No, you uncultured ignoramus! You pulled that fetid thing” [Points to the mic] “out of your ass! Get away from me!”
“Ooohh, I solly.” [Steps forward] “You gonna fight or what? Didn’t you issue an Open Challenge last week? I’m ready to do this!”
[Omega puts his dukes up; Henri looks to be suffering a migraine.]“Where do I even begin? Un, I already wrestled my match. Deux, you already wrestled your match. And trois? If you recall, the prerequisite was anyone capable of basic hygiene…… of which you certainly are not!] [Henri chuckles arrogantly; Omega sniffs his puts and shrugs.]
“Look, I won my match and I’m answering your challenge. Are you really gonna live up to your stereotype and be a coward? That’s insulting to the French!”
[Hearing this, Henri boils over with chained foreign profanities! Nakazo drops the mic, and readies himself for the fight. Henri’s demanding the referee the ring the bell! HERE WE–] [……… Wait.] [Suddenly Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata pirouettes through the speakers. The two men turn to the entrance.] [Oliver Angst.]“Finally, someone with a sense of class!” [Henri accosts Omega] “Fashion faux aside, at least he has good taste in music!”
“You two and I share some things in common.” [Angst calmly muses, pacing] “For one, now we’re all looking for a fight. Omega, meet your alpha…. I am answering this challenge.”
[Henri and Nakazo listen.]“You see Henri, you are dirt and Nakazo is the sun. Henri, you are ash and he is the light. We share this duality, but I embody it. I am the fire that shapes you both…… and at Face/Off, I will be the one to deconstruct you.”
[A hush sweeps through the area as Angst studies his foes and– Oh, WAIT! Henri just BLASTED Nakazo with the mic! He’s high-tailing it out of here!] [Oliver watches in silence as De Gaucourt scurries past the bar and out of site. Omega’s been laid out!]THUNK VS. DAVID MANSON
SINGLES MATCH
THE HERD
RINGSIDE
“So, the sheep has joined his herd it seems.” [HAtE pauses, watching as Manson yells for a microphone.] I wouldn’t get so worked up, David. It’s not like a sheep to speak out of line. So do what those covered in wool do best and listen.”
[Manson snatches the mic from the employee and shouts back at HAtE.] “I am no pawn for you to use, HAtE! I only wished to help further open your eyes but you denied me! I will not play along with your games, I am NO follower.” [HAtE merely laughs, walking towards the ring.] “You were the weak link, and last weak you proved it to me. So sit among your kin and let reality sink in, David. Open your eyes and accept what you always were. A part of the flock.” [Manson stares down his former Awakening member, then without warning HE BREAKS THE NECK OF ONE OF THE SHEEP! Manson picks it up and tosses it to ringside, the corpse landing in front of HAtE who merely shakes his head.]“You will not try to convince me I’m something I’m not. You will not stop me from opening the eyes of society! Either learn that or join the animal at your feet.”
[HAtE frowns as he backs towards the exit, watching Manson as he kicks and beats the sheep, causing them to flee the ring in fear.]HANNIBAL CORVIN VS. FRANK HARRISON
SINGLES MATCH
WHAT LIES BENEATH
BACKSTAGE
“Oh Douuuuuubbbbbt!”
[The voice echoes over the speaker system as Doubt peers left and right, trying to triangulate the source.]“Well hello, brother. Why do you look so perturbed to hear my voice? Have you forgotten the good ol’ days of Knock Knock? Have you cast doubt upon our kinship? All because of some redheaded BITCH?!”
[The lights continue to flicker as Doubt straightens up and continues to walk.]“STOP IT!”
[Doubt doesn’t.]“GOD DAMMIT I SAID STOP, JONATHAN!”
[A brief shudder, but the emotion continues to ignore him. A laugh breaks over the intercom.]“Do you think the SILENT treatment is going to work on me?! We’re brothers, remember? And what does one brother do to the other when they ignore them?”
[A door opens behind Doubt as it turns right into a…] [CRACK!] [Smiley Junior connects to the mask of Doubt as it slams into the wall and falls downwards. In Smiley’s hand is an extension of the intercom. He speaks into it once more as his voice echoes down the halls.]“They beat the shit out of them. Next week, keep up with this little silent treatment, and I’m going to show the world what I already know.”
[Smiley leans down over it.]“What lies behind that mask of yours.”
[Smiley stands to his feet with a haunting grin upon his face before throwing his head back in a twisted, maniacal gurgle of laughter.]“Next week, brother.”
BLOOD RUSH
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Help,” [he gasps, muffled.] “Help me!”
[His face is slowly getting redder and redder as the blood rushes to his head. He’s still swinging, swaying back and forth as he tries to escape.] [Suddenly we switch to the darkness, a voice booming from it.]“I needed your help. I needed your help and you locked me away inside that asylum, never to be seen or heard from again. I remember what it felt like, being kept silent, dormant and docile. Why did you do it, Doctor?”
“It was the only way I could help you,” [he pleads.] “It was the only way I could help us both. Don’t you understand? I couldn’t let you hurt anyone else.”
[The Horror scoffs.] “And how has that worked out for you, huh? You tossed me aside like yesterday’s news. You didn’t care about me. You’ve never cared about me. You kept me locked away like some kind of rabid animal and all I wanted to do was take care of you.”“Don’t act like you did this for me,” [Panax yells back, frustrated.] “You never did any of it for me.”
[The Horror’s voice once again echoes.]“But I will,” [he barks.] “Because at Face/Off, I’m no longer playing this cat and mouse game with you, Doc. At Face/Off, it’s time to end this.”
[Panax struggles against his restraints, but can’t break free. The Horror is seemingly gone as quickly as he had arrived, leaving the Doctor there to remain upside down, swaying in the wind.]TOMMY HAWK VS. CODY GREER
SINGLES MATCH
SHARK ATTACK
BACKSTAGE
“Duuun dun! Duuun dun! Dun dun, dun dun, dun dun, dun dun DUN!!”
[The Shark playfully taunts Thunk as he observes him struggling to his feet and in an instant, the fork lift once again takes off; speeding towards the downed victim.] [SCREEEEEEEEACH!!] [The fork lift slides across the concrete floor, eventually stopping with a jolt and tossing the stack of wooden crates down on top of Thunk. The fall smashes into his body and head with force and the giant of a man slumps back to the concrete on the brink of unconsciousness.] [The Shark lets off a small grin before climbing out of the fork lift and slowly approaching his prey.]“When a great white finds a seal to feed on it will ATTACK, take one bite and then swim away” [The Shark says with a chuckle in his voice.] “give the seal time to bleed out before returning to finish the meal.”
[The Shark moves even closer, glancing down at Thunk who peers up through squinted eyes from underneath the pile of wooden crates.]“I’ll see you soon, little seal. I’ll see you soon!”
[The Shark backs away several steps before turning his back to his fallen prey in a confident manner. The camera angle returns to Thunk who appears to have succumb to the attack and we zoom in as he lays motionless on the floor. But then…] [Thunk comes to in a rage, forcing the pile of crates off of him in an explosive manner and sitting up from the floor, blood trickling from his forehead. A distorted look of anger and agony covering his face as we fade to black.]NIGEL ROYAL VS. STEPHANIE ROSE
SINGLES MATCH
SHE BOWS BEFORE NONE
RINGSIDE
“Bow before your King,” [Royal yells.] “Bow, you hag!”
[Stephanie shakes her head.]“You dare refuse a royal order? You dare to deny your King?” [Royal spews venomously.] “Off with her head!”
[The guards try to grab at her, but before you know it, Mike Lane is making an absolute b-line towards the ring! He slides straight in, just as Stephanie starts laying into guards with right and left hands! This girl is fighting back!]“Fight Stephie, Fight!”
[Lane demolishes guards, right hands and Shadowkicks like there’s no tomorrow. Rose meanwhile tosses the final guard out of the ring, leaving just them and Nigel Royal.] [She closes in on him, standing just inches before his face.]“Stephanie Rose bows before none,” [she screams at him.] “Do you understand me? None! Not you and not Hysteria. At Face/Off, you’re either with us or against us, Nigel. But if you’re against us, you had better know that every rose has its thorn.”
[SHADOWKICK!] [Mike Lane nails The King with a brutal Superkick, knocking him out of the ring with a thud. He turns to Rose, raising her arm as the fans celebrate in attendance. Team Monday Night Showcase may be on the ropes, but they’re coming out swinging – it’s just a shame it’s at each other.]DOUBT VS. SMILEY VS. HYSTERIA VS. THE SHARK
FATAL FOUR WAY MATCH
“Jonathan! What are you waiting for?! I’m right here, brother!”
[Doubt forgets all about the Shark, leaps from the apron to the barrier and barrels into the crowd. He sprints towards Smiley and steps onto a chair and launches himself at Smiley who just grins as Doubt DROPKICKS Smiley off the bar and into the mirror behind the bar! Glass falls all around Smiley as he falls into bottles of liquor. Doubt went down hard on the mahogany, and the Shark is back to his feet. He makes his way through the crowd towards the carnage. He spots Hysteria first and climbs the bar to meet him. He pulls the Mad Mastermind to his feet and BODY SLAMS HIM TO THE GROUND FROM THE BAR! He looks at the downed World Champion and takes a few steps back… SHARK DIVE!! Running Senton from the bar!] [Doubt climbs to its feet, mask bent from the Crowbar shot and leap into the glass where Smiley lies bleeding from his exposed back and the wound on his head. Smiley may not make it through the night, but Doubt doesn’t care. It picks up its former friend and throws him across its shoulder. Doubt throws Smiley back on the barm lifts him up and EATING YOURSELF ALIVE!!! One… Two… Thre…. THE SHARK BREAKS THE PIN! He spins Doubt around and SNAP SUPLEXES HIM FROM THE BAR TO THE FLOOR!! Both of them writhe in pain! All of the competitor are down!!] [Hysteria is the first to his feet. He grabs the Shark, his closest opponent, and APATHY!!! He takes out the Shark and covers! One… Two… Thre…. A BLOODIED SMILEY FLIES OFF THE BAR AND BREAKS THE PIN! Blood is smeared across all three men! Doubt is finally up. He sees the pile of inmates on the floor, and with everything he has left, he climbs back onto the bar… MISERY RAIN TO ALL THREE DOWNED OPPONENTS! It’s like the night before christmas in here: No one is stirring! After what seems like ages, all four begin to climb to their feet. They all look worse for the wear. Suddenly….] [They all start hammering one another with fists and kicks so fast that it is nearly impossible to see who is hitting whom! They are working their way back through the crowd towards the ring area again. Smiley throws the Shark over the barrier, and Doubt follows quickly being tossed by Hysteria. Smiley looks at Hysteria, covered in blood, and hammers him with a heavy right hand, knocking him over and into the ring area. Smiley leaps onto the barrier and jumps towards his opponents, but Hysteria grabs him midair and LOST HOPE!!!!!! LOST HOPE!!!! The crowd is beside themselves! One… Two… THRE….DOUBT AND SHARK BOTH KICK HYSTERIA IN OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE HEAD BREAKING THE PIN!]“THIS IS AWESOME!! THIS IS AWESOME!!”
[Shark and Doubt begin throwing punches at one another until the Shark gets the upper hand and throws Doubt, rolling back first and upside down into the ring steps! Shark stalks his prey, but is distracted by the sight of all Smiley’s blood and grabs for him instead, allowing Smiley to rolls him up! One… Two… Thr….Kickout! Shark fights his way to his feet and is LEVELLED BY A CHAIR SHOT FROM HYSTERIA!! Doubt gets up as well and CATCHES STEEL TO THE FACE!! Hysteria turns and SPINNING HEEL KICK KNOCKING THE CHAIR INTO HIS FACE!! Hysteria is rocked but stays on his feet… Stumbling… HIDEOUS LAUGHTER!! One… Two… THREE!!!!!!] [Smiley, beaten and bloodied, somehow climbs to his feet outside the ring, victoriously standing among the broken bodies of the Asylum. What a match!]ME, MYSELF AND I
RINGSIDE
“My girls!” [Suddenly screeches the voice of Hysteria, who has risen behind Smiley.] “Get your hands of my precious girls!”
[He runs at him, full speed, only The Shark manages to get in the way. The Great White shakes his head, telling Hysteria ‘no’. The Mad Mastermind tilts his head, if only for a moment before PLANTING Shark with a Headbutt!] [Doubt witnesses this, spinning Hysteria around and nailing him with a right hand. The World Champion is rocked, stumbling backwards. He readjusts his mask and storms at The Emotion, dropping him with a thunderous clothesline. The ‘Tap Room’ absolutely erupts here tonight, watching as The Asylum disintegrates before our very eyes.] [Smiley though, he still hasn’t moved a muscle. He has all three Championships in his possession and he’s fixated.] [Hysteria turns his immediate attention to him, spinning Smiley around – only the Double Feature Champion reacts, DRILLING HIM WITH ALL THREE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN A THUNDEROUS BLOW TO THE SKULL! The World Champion hits the deck, Smiley dropping the belts almost immediately.] [Doubt is back to his feet and my God, this whole thing is about to explode. Doubt grabs Smiley, kicking him low and looking for the Double Underhook position, only The Shark is up and pushes him away once more. The Great White is trying his damndest to keep The Asylum together, but both Doubt and Smiley wallop him with a Double Clothesline!] [They turn their attention immediately to each other, swinging left and right hands, beating the holy shit out of one another.] [With punches being traded, Monday Night Showcase goes off the air, watching as these two former brothers rip each other to pieces in the middle of the ring.] [Hysteria rolls to the outside, dragging both titles with him – only one actually belonging to the Mad Mastermind who thought he had a team, and may have just caused its implosion here tonight.] [Fade.]