TEAM PLAYERS
BACKSTAGE
“Looking for something barbarian?” [TRE inquiries.] “A new sword perhaps?”
“Aye!” [North groans.] “And when I find one I’m going to stick it up your…”
“Gentlemen!”
[North is suddenly cut off by an approaching voice. The view immediately shifts to a different perspective and there standing in the hall nearly between the two deadly warriors is none other than Lazarus.] [The crowd explodes in the background as Viktor North and The Red Emperor glare at Lazarus in suspicious frustration.]“I come in peace” [Lazarus bargains as he lifts his palms into the air.] “I come for your help!”
“A Christian?” [North chuckles.]
“Asking us for help?” [The Emperor follows in near disbelief.]
“That’s right” [Lazarus nods.] “I’m leading Team VHS at Face/Off and I want you on the team. Both of you!”
[North and TRE look away from Lazarus to exchange a stare of slight discomfort before returning in time for a caveat.]“But I do expect you to function as part of a TEAM!”
[Both TRE and North appear somewhat taken aback by the near reprimand and Lazarus instantly notices the hostile glares.]“I’m saying I need you to use tonight to put your differences aside. If VHS is going to win, it’s going not going to be as individual warriors, but together as a single unity!”
“Berserkers have been known to work in groups throughout the history of our lineage” [North says proudly.] “It will not be an issue.”
“Roman Centurions perfected the art of group warfare.” [TRE scoffs.] “Not only will working together come naturally, but I’ll do it better than anyone else.”
[North snaps his eyes back to The Red Emperor.]“Fool! You think a mercenary is suitable to put the interests of a group above his own?”
[TRE strikes right back.]“Imbecile. You think a scavenger possesses the ability to care for anyone but himself?”
[The Red Emperor and North move even closer; their noses inching in until suddenly the hands of Lazarus pushes them apart by their shoulders.]“Yes! The answer is yes. To both questions. I want the berserker. I want the centurion. I want them both. On my team. A team that will come together… after tonight!”
[Lazarus pats the shoulders of his recruits before walking away, keeping their attention for several seconds before North and The Emperor slowly bring their intense stares back to each other.] [Can Viktor North and The Red Emperor put aside their differences or does their hatred for each other burn too deep? Can they function as a team or will they be too concerned with proving their superiority as warriors? Only time will tell.]ETHAN EARHART VS. LUCAS WILLIAMS
SINGLES MATCH
WHY
BACKSTAGE
“Ready for round two.” [Bird comments with a smirk.] [Bellator only shakes his head.]
“I’m not here for a fight.” [Lux calmly states, his palms forward in a gesture of peace.] “I just want to talk.”
“Shocking.” [Bird sarcastically replies.]
“I can understand if you have an issue with me, or if you have an issue with Mother, but why are you using her children to make us fight one another?”
[Bird cockily grins as he strokes his beard.]“For two reasons,” [Bird begins,] “and since you asked nicely I will share.”
[Bellator’s muscles tense as he crosses his arms. Perhaps he is right to expect an attack at this point.]“First and foremost, the two of you needed to learn a lesson.” [Bird keeps rolling the words off his tongue.] “Mother needed to see that her children are not the pliable material she thought they were. And you, Lux Bellator…”
[He laughs right in the face of the warrior.]“You needed to see that there’s only one god out there, and you’re looking at him. For all that you worship and pray to your own, I wanted you to see that I am able to play you like a fiddle. Maybe next time you bow, you’ll remember who is in control of your life.”
[Bellator lowers his arms, and steps closer to Bird.]“All false gods fall, Ethan. You are nothing more than a man.”
“We’ll see.” [Bird smirks.]
“What’s the second reason?” [Lux asks, curiosity getting the best of him.]
“Because I can.” [Bird responds, shouldering his way past Bellator to walk down the hall.] [As Bellator walks away as well, the lights flicker.] [Mother stands in the midst of the hallway, her fists balled up and hate in her eyes.]
“Soon.”
[These three will be able to tear each other apart in due time as they square off for the Rewind Championship.]KAITO VS. THE BIG SHOT
SINGLES MATCH
GAME OVER
RINGSIDE
“Is that Big Trouble we see? Or just another sacred little man about to give my rope the meal she’s waited so long for?” [He raises the heavy hemp] “Have you given our game any more thought? Or will tonight end like all the others?”
[He steps forward; Junior’s fists are clenched.]“It’s time. Guess again.”
[He reveals another card.]“Can you beat The Hangman? Can–”
[Junior snatches the mic away!]“Can Marvolo, jr. beat The Hangman?” [Scoffs] “You forget the first thing Junior said. This brain up here? It’s half the Real Number One’s bodyweight! From the moment you and your overgrown dental floss arrived and threatened Big Trouble, its been thinking…..” [The Hangman listens, bemused] “You want another letter? Well, get ready to go home hungry, here it is!”
“………. O!”
“Correct.”
[The Hangman chuckles, quickly writing his answer down, before presenting the card.]Hangman-4.png ___ _O_ ___ _E_
“….. if you’re so smart, you should know I’m not leaving until my little girl gets her fill….. Guess again.”
“NOW.”
[Junior smirks.]“You don’t realize it, but Marvolo jr. has been strategically winning your little game. Now, with the only possible letters available, it’s obvious the only name in OSW that can fill The Hangman is…… ‘Rose.’”
[The Hangman chuckles sadistically, tightening his grip.]“BUT you don’t play fair, right?” [The Manslayer quiets] “Right. ‘Cause ya see, of the nearly dozen possible names that could’ve filled your blank card, in one guess…. Junior eliminated seven. The next guess? Two more. Face it. Tonight, Big Trouble beat you at your own game. You said four weeks; Marvolo, jr. did it in three!”
“It’s not ‘Rose,’ because it’s a not a letter you want, it’s a number.”
“Number….. ONE.”
[Suddenly, The Hangman bursts into hysterical laugher! He scribbles some more, throwing the card at Junior! Big Trouble catches it……]Hangman-6.png
_#_ _O_ _N_ _E_
“You weasely little know-it-all! You actually did it!” [Composing himself] “Congratulations. You ‘beat’ The Hangman.”
“Now….. It’s time for my rope to gets her fill.” [Glances at Ricardo] “And just because we can, after she’s sucked the last ounce of oxygen from your miserable little body, I’ll feed her your fat friend as dessert!”
[WAIT! JUNIOR’S HEARD ENOUGH! He’s WEARING HIM OUT with rights!] [THERE’S THE BELL!!]THE HANGMAN VS. MARVOLO
SINGLES MATCH
THE FLAWS IN NORMALITY
RECORDED EARLIER
“Well if it isn’t The Painkiller.”
[The remark comes from one-half of the OSW Tag Team Champions as Bruce Van Chan stands in front of him with his title on his shoulder. Painkiller looks at him and glances at his title momentarily before boring a hole through the back of his head with a gaze.]“What? No foreboding words or have you just forfeited yourself completely to him?”
[Neville Sheldon walks into the picture with those remarks with his title around his waist. For the first time, it appears as if one of The Circus members are actually outnumbered.] [Painkiller closes his eyes.]“Why don’t you just keep walking, you Steve Urkel-looking-fucker?”
[Neville Sheldon takes a step forward at the remark, but Bruce Van Chan puts his arm out. He shakes his head as he glares at Painkiller.]“You really have just given up, haven’t you? Here we were feeling guilty about letting Ali brainwash you, but maybe that’s not the case. Maybe you just want someone to order you around.”
[Painkiller brings his arms down as his fists tighten. Bruce beckons Neville on.]“C’mon Neville. The Knights have a match to win.”
[They begin to walk away as Alistair Huxley walks into the picture with a curious smile on his face and Fluffy standing behind him. Mr. Freakshow seems to notice his uneasiness.]“Don’t let them disturb you, Painkiller. They’re far too normal to ever know what it’s like to be like us. Those Knights don’t know, could never know what it’s like to be unaccepted by the world. That’s why we have The Circus. That’s why we’re Nightmare Anatomy. And tonight?”
[Painkiller steps towards him and looks him up and down before completing Freakshow’s thought.]“Tonight, we show them the flaws in normality.”
[Painkiller turns and begins walking towards the entrance ramp. Huxley looks at Fluffy and they both simultaneously shrug before Huxley scoops his top hat onto his head.]THE KNIGHTS VS. THE CIRCUS
TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
UNTIL KINGDOM COME
RINGSIDE
“My Royal subjects,” [he abruptly announces, only adding to their confusion.] “Your King hath returned to rule thy Kingdom. As Knights of the King, bend your knee and hand over my gold…”
[Bruce and Neville look at each other.]“The King has spoken. Bow to your King and hand over my gold!”
[Nothing.] [Nigel closes in, his eyes different than before. He’s furious.]“How can you be Knights if you disobey an order from your King?” [He demands to know.] [Bruce has finally had enough, retrieving a microphone of his own.]
“What are you talking about?” [Bruce questions.] “These Tag Team Championships belong to us,” [he points at himself and Neville.] “Besides, you’re not even on this roster, Nigel.”
[That infuriates him.]“You dare to disrespect your King? At Red Snow, we competed in defence of those Championships. Those Championships belong to your King, not to you, the fraudulent Knights. Off with their heads!”
[The Guards suddenly swarm the ring, beating down the Tag Team Champions in the middle of it whilst Royal watches. They stomp the holy hell out of Bruce and Neville, leaving them laying in the middle of the ring holding their stomachs in agony.]“You will bow your King,” [Royal scorns, looking down at them.] “And at Face/Off, when I join team Monday Night Showcase to abolish this rival insolent Kingdom, you will no longer dare call yourselves the Knights!”
[Bruce looks up at him with weary eyes, receiving a big kick to the skull by Nigel.]“For I am King Royal, your Tag Team Champions, ruler and defender of Monday Night Showcase. All hail your King.”
[He tosses the microphone down, raising his arms to boo’s from the Tap Room crowd as we go to a commercial break.] [It looks like Monday Night Showcase have fired the first shots in the battle of Face/Off here tonight.]THE RED EMPEROR VS. VIKTOR NORTH
SINGLES MATCH
IS HE LISTENING?
BACKSTAGE
“Is he listening?”
[It is Lazarus’s head that rises first, his eyes opening as Jack Jeckel slinks into view.]“What? Who’s there?”
[Jeckel looks slightly dishevelled. Bloodshot eyes with bags underneath. He has the look of a man that sleep eludes. Lazarus instinctively backs away slightly and brings his arms up into a defensive stance as the Boogeyman draws closer.]“Your God… Is he listening?”
[It is the third voice that answers Jack’s questions, Lux Bellator having now also raised his head from prayer.]“He is always listening, always watching. Omnipresent. Why, something troubling you?”
[Jack runs his hands through his hair, grabbing a tuft in his fingertips then releasing it again. His voice spits with venom as he turns to Bellator.]“Oh, you think your so special don’t you Light Warrior? Wasting your time in a dark room having a one-sided conversation.”
[Lazarus rises to his feet, grabbing Jack by the scruff of his neck and dragging him upwards as well. He brings the Boogeyman closer to him, but Jack smiles a wild smile and brings his hands up in mock-surrender.]“Relax… I don’t deny your God’s existence. He just doesn’t seem very chatty. What has he done for me lately. I still have no brother.”
[Lux stands and moves behind the Phoenix, trying to intervene and insert his own pearls of wisdom but he is waved away from Lazarus.]“He doesn’t need the Lord’s forgiveness right now, brother. He needs a dose of reality. The reality that his brother is gone forever and isn’t coming back.” [He turns back to the Boogeyman] “The reality that, even though he may not have done the deed, he killed him.”
[Lazarus releases his grip and lets Jeckel go. Jeckel turns away and holds his head again, screaming.]“Stop saying that!”
[But Lazarus does not stop. As Jeckel falls to his own knees, Lazarus stands above him.]“You ultimately sealed his fate as soon as you stepped foot in OSW and sought his crown. If you cared about Jake, you would have stood by him as a brother, not tried to tear him down. This is not a quest of love, Jack. It is a quest of guilt.
Your iniquities have overtaken you, so that you are not able to see.”
[Jack Jeckel snaps. He leaps to his feet, knocking Lux down and grabbing Lazarus by the throat. He lifts Lazarus up and slams him against the concrete wall, knocking the candle holder over and killing all but a small wavering flicker of light. In that light he brings his face right up to that of the Phoenix.]“Your God has the power to bring Jake Jeckel back if he wants to. He did for you. Why am I so different? Is he such a petty God that he chooses favourites?”
[Jack draws in a deep breath, then exhales. He still holds Lazarus in place, looking at him with wild eyes.]“Your God will help me, even if I have to beat you into it.”
[He releases the hold and lets Lazarus fall to the ground.]“No… Not yet. Not here.”
[With his final thoughts spoken out loud, Jeckel slinks back into the darkness and leaves Lazarus. Bellator comes to his aide, but it is Lazarus who speaks.]“Do you see now? He needs to be judged for his sins, if only to bring closure to himself. You can forgive what is left of him.”
JACOB PHOENIX VS. JENSEN CUSSEN
SINGLES MATCH
DADDY
RINGSIDE
“Daddy?”
[Those words echo like a symphony being played inside his head. Jensen Cussen turns around to see his poor daughter, standing in the middle of the Tap Room entrance. Before he can exit the ring to comfort her, a man appears, standing alongside her with a menacing grin.] [He slowly places his arm uncomfortably upon her shoulder.] [Jensen halts immediately.] [He stands there as if in a trance, unable to move in any direction. Jacob though is hardly so impaired and rolls under the bottom rope, running towards his beau and the man who stands alongside her.] [With everything he has, he swings a right hand that’s blocked, then a left boot that is kicked away. Whoever this man is, he’s well trained despite his age. Phoenix swings a chop that catches him in the throat and sends him stumbling backwards. That only seems to anger the man, who lunges forward, grabbing him the throat and tossing him through some nearby bar stools and tables.] [Stephanie tries to reach out, but the man pulls her away. Jensen exits the ring and walks up the aisle, standing opposite him like some kind of soldier. The man points to Phoenix, who’s getting up across the way, nodding at him.] [Cussen walks straight over and picks him up.] [DESOLATION STRAIGHT THROUGH THE TABLE! BEER, GLASS AND WOOD FLY IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS! HOLY SHIT!] [That spinning Burning Hammer knocks the stuffing out of Phoenix. He lays there amongst the beer soaked floor, glass stabbing him in the back as he does. His eyes barely able to open, his hands unable to move.] [Then pitch black.] [With the Phoenix out cold, Jensen joins the man with his daughter on the entrance ramp, walking backstage with them. He doesn’t even blink. He doesn’t look back, he doesn’t falter. Jensen Cussen just leaves.] [But the Phoenix rises.] [And fuck, does he look pissed.]LUX BELLATOR VS. ETHAN BIRD VS. MOTHER
REWIND CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
GARBAGE
BACKSTAGE
“Leave me alone you fucking psycho!”
[Kaito shakes his head as he walks forward, forcing Big Shot back into the door.]“No. I will NOT be mistreated and insulted for weeks only to show the mercy you did not allow me.”
[He leans towards Big Shot, reaching up AND HE CRACKS BIG SHOT’S NOSE BACK INTO PLACE! Big shot yelps in pain AND KAITO NAILS HIM WITH A RIGHT THAT BREAKS THE NOSE ONCE MORE! Big Shot is thrown backwards, tumbling out of the door onto a concrete patio overlooking the dumpsters behind the Tap Room.]“WHY!? Why did you break my-”
[Kaito nails Big Shot with a stiff kick to the jaw! He’s on his hands and knees, trying to collect himself as Kaito grabs him by his shirt and lifts him up.]“Let this be a lesson to garbage like you. I am not taking any more abuse, I will defeat any foe who comes my way. Leave here and never return!”
[Kaito headbutts Big Shot! He’s stunned AND KTFO! BIG SHOT IS THROWN FROM THE PATIO INTO A DUMPSTER! Kaito spits on him as he turns around, adding insult to injury as he leaves the patio.]LAZARUS (C) VS. JACK JECKEL
VHS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
NEVER TRUST A JUGGALO
RINGSIDE
“Bring my brother back, you bastard. Bring him back now!”
[Lazarus though, he just looks at him, unable to act or speak. He doesn’t know how he returned, nor how to bring back Jake Jeckel.] [Jack gets angry, scooping him up and straight into The Hatchet! He drops him on the canvas, brutally, and rolls back to his feet.] [He’s distraught.] [Suddenly, the lights inside the Tap Room go off. There’s not a single ray of light anywhere. Jack stands in the middle of the ring surrounded by darkness.]“Why do I call myself a Juggalo? Cause we be bangin’ the Wicked Shit and swimmin’ off in the blood of mosh pits. We misfits are misunderstood. We got chapters of Family off in each and every hood.”
[The sound of ‘Raw Deal’ plays over the PA system sending the entire audience into an absolute frenzy. Lights start flashing all over the arena, sending Jack Jeckel into an absolute stunned silence. He stumbles backwards into the ropes, watching the entrance intently.] [Only nothing happens.] [There’s no Jake Jeckel.] [The lights come back on and the fans boo, looking at Jack who starts laughing hysterically. He demands a microphone and steps back towards the centre of the ring.]“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t resist,” [Jack says smugly.] “What makes you people think I’d care about my brother, let alone want to see him resurrected?” [He admits.] “I used Ethan Bird to leverage myself into this position, for this Championship opportunity and I used Jake to get inside Lazarus’ head.”
[The fans boo, throwing cups of beer into the ring.]“Why do I call myself a Juggalo? Cause we be bangin’ the Wicked Shit and swimmin’ off in the blood of mosh pits. We misfits are misunderstood. We got chapters of Family off in each and every hood.”
[All of a sudden, ‘Raw Deal’ hits one more time, further infuriating the crowd who feel like they’ve been taken advantage of here by Jack Jeckel. Jack looks a little confused.]“What are you doing? Once was enough.”
[Then it happens.] [Jake Jeckel.] [It’s fucking Jake Jeckel!] [Alive and in the flesh. The Juggalo stands by the entrance, grinning from ear to ear like a chesire cat. Jack almost falls over in shock, watching a Jake takes a slow and patient walk to the ring, sliding under the bottom rope.]“How can you be…?” [Jack mutters.] “You’re dead. I saw the photos. You’re fucking DEAD!”
[Jake walks over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. He smiles.] [THE FUCKING HATCHET!!] [Jake Jeckel just fucking planted him!] [The Juggalo spins to his feet, receiving a rapturous ovation from the rowdy tap room crowd as he bows, cockily thanking them for their support. He reaches down and picks up the microphone dropped by his now unconscious brother, laughing as he speaks.]“It would appear that rumours of my demise have been greatly fuckin’ exaggerated, bro,” [he says barely able to contain his amusement.] “But don’t worry, long live the Juggalo King.”
[Jake tosses the microphone down nonchalantly and steps way, the fans going wild with celebration.] [What the fuck just happened?] [How the fuck is Jake Jeckel still alive?]THE INFERNO
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Come on out, little birdies,” [he beckons, walking fearlessly through the flames.] “You’re tapped inside this inferno. There’s no use in hiding.”
[Suddenly, stood in the flames opposite him; is The Lone Star.]“I warned you, didn’t I?”
[The Lone Star nods.]“Where are they?” [Scarecrow demands to know.]
“They’re safe. They’re in a place you cannot hurt them. I beckoned you here, Scarecrow. I drew you into this Inferno to fight.”
[The Scarecrow clenches his fist.]“You should have never shown me mercy. You should have never let me go. That’ll be your undoing.”
[They both run into each other, colliding in the middle of the burning hall. The Scarecrow grabs him, tossing him through the air into the living room, crashing through a burning table onto the floor. The Lone Star rolls away, getting back to his feet and blocking a kick, swooping underneath it and running towards the wall. He leaps up, bouncing off it, connecting with a powerful right hand that stuns The Scarecrow – knocking him backwards.] [The fire rages around them as The Lone Star grabs a vase and launches at The Scarecrow’s head. He swats it away, storming forward and into a Drop Toe Hold that sends him through the fiery banisters, cracking them with his head.] [He steps away, demanding that The Scarecrow get back up.]“Come on damnit, get back up. Fight me!”
[The Hayman pulls himself from the bannisters, his hat on fire. He stares at The Lone Star and grins.]“I underestimated you, little birdie,” [he hisses.] “But now I know the truth. Now I know exactly what you want.”
[They both step forward into battle…]THE SCARECROW VS. THE LONE STAR
SINGLES MATCH
“I told you, didn’t I little birdie?” [The Scarecrow barks at him viciously.] “I told you, did I not?”
[The Lone Star though is as brave as he is stupid. He looks up at The Scarecrow without fear, without a filter and hisses at him.]“Do it!” [He begs.] “You know you have to!”
[The Scarecrow is about to snap his neck, tilting his head one way so that he can whip it back the other when suddenly, the decides to do something else instead. He grabs the mask from the bottom, lifting it up and over the Lone Star’s head.]“No, Don’t!”
[He whips it off, tossing it aside, looking into the eyes of a kid he’s seen before.] [Trevor Kersh.] [The son of Brent Kersh.] [The Bloodline continued.] [The Scarecrow cackles in amusement. He’s got his hand wrapped around the throat of Brent Kersh’ son and in that moment, he could take one giant step to ending this saga once and for all. He squeezes, choking the life out of poor Trevor.]“And he said I’d never find you,” [The Scarecrow muses amongst a chuckle.] “Yet here you are. Say hello to your father, young Trevor.”
[Snap.]SNAP
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“B-but, you’re…” [he mutters and stammers.] “How are you… it cannot be..”
[The man reaches out a hand, pulling Trevor to his feet.]“Dad?”
[The camera spins around to reveal Brent Kersh, stood there with his son firmly in his grasp. He lets go, turning to The Scarecrow who can hardly believe his eyes.]“I killed you,” [The Scarecrow growls.] “I saw the light extinguish from your eyes.”
[Brent looks him up and down, standing over him like a different kind of man – like a man that survived something he never should’ve.]“Do you feel that?” [He asks calmly, bending down to meet The Scarecrow at eye level.] “Can you feel it? My wife found the answer to you, Scarecrow. You’re a monster, but you were always built to remain on your perch. It exists as long as you do.”
[The Scarecrow can’t seem to lift his head and scrambles for his neck, trying to pull something out of it.]“But it’s also your weakness. You can burn it, break it, saw it into pieces and it’ll always return whole. But it cannot exist within you, and you cannot exist within it.”
[Finally, he pulls the shard of perch from his neck, his head returning to normal. He’s weakened though, and it shows.]“How?” [He asks.] “How did you know?”
[Kersh grins.] “My brother told my wife,” [he admits.] “And now, I’m going to break this curse, Scarecrow. I’m going to break it once and for all.” [With whatever strength he had left, The Scarecrow rose just long enough to vanish in a flutter of darkness. Brent turns to his son, embracing him.]“It’ll be over soon, son. I promise.”
[REC comes to an end with the return of Brent Kersh, hugging his son Trevor, whilst The Scarecrow retreats into the darkness to regain his strength.] [Cut.]