We Are The House
Click.
Static covers the screen as a Play ► symbol appears in the bottom right-hand corner.
Cold open.
A white wooden backdoor, with two glass panes in the middle. There’s a floral pattern on them.
Crash! Suddenly, a black sleeve punches through the glass, shattering it loudly and into many pieces. The arm reaches further into the door, reaching down low to unlock it by the handle inside.
It’s Gravedigger and he’s not alone. Accompanied by Malakai Midnight, he pushes the door open aggressively and steps inside.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: What the bloody hell do they think they’re doing!? They’re breaking and entering!
MATT RUBY: Don’t jump to conclusions, Bronco. That’s no way to start a show. Perhaps Gravedigger forgot his keys?
That suggestion is quickly proved incorrect as Mary Cade comes storming out of the living room to a screeching halt.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Oh no… You need to get out of there, Mary.
“What do you think you’re doing!? Get the hell out of my domicile!!” Mary screams at them. Gravedigger is the first to react, grabbing her by the throat and slamming her backwards up against the kitchen wall.
She chokes, helpless as he squeezes tighter. “Where’s hubby dearest?”
He releases the grip ever so slightly so she can talk.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: This is disgraceful!
MATT RUBY: Yeah, it is. But those Cade boys started it.
“He’s not here,” she says between choking breaths. Gravedigger looks back at Malakai with a grimace, unamused. “We should check the rooms.”
Midnight nods in agreement and heads further into the house, searching for George Cade. Meanwhile, Gravedigger releases Mary by the throat, leaving her with a large red handprint around her neck.
“Your boys came into my house and thought I’d just accept it,” The Shovel says angrily. “What they don’t realize is that we are the house, Mrs. Cade. We work with the man who rules it all.”
She gulps. “My husband isn’t here, but if you are when he gets back… you’re dead! Didn’t your boss tell you just who in the hell he is? The things that he’s done?”
Gravedigger scoffs, looking down right with disgust before snapping his head back and planting a Headbutt directly on her nose. It shatters, splashing blood across her face with a vile and sickening scream.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: [Shocked & Angry] HE CAN’T… HE DIDN’T JUST… OH MY GOD!
With a right hand, he pushes her head backwards into the wall as hard as he can.
Again.
Again.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Stop this! You’re gonna kill that poor innocent woman!
With one final slam, he knocks her unconscious and lets her fall to the ground. Malakai comes back into the room, his eyes widened with shock. He looks down at Mary and sighs.
“He’s not here. We should leave,” he advises. Gravedigger storms away, leaving Malakai to stop and look at the carnage before leaving too.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: I hope those graves are ready, Matt. When Jackson, CJ and George find out about this, Six Feet Under will be buried in them! I hope Mary is okay… I really do.
MATT RUBY: I get the feeling this’ll get real bloody, real fast.
Caught On Tape
Last week.
Aurora bursts into the backstage in a rage as she attempts to follow Jasper Redgrave! However, much to her dismay, Redgrave is nowhere in sight. She moves through the backstage, checking for anything to lead to her would be stalker when she comes across a singular open doorway.
"Get out here!" She snarls, pushing into the room to find the room drenched in darkness except for a single overhead light hanging over a button labeled 'PRESS ME'.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: I don't like the looks of this, Ruby.
MATT RUBY: Neither do I! The only thing scarier than Redgrave is the thought of him cutting up a looker like Aurora.
The Thrillseeker walks up to the button cautiously, unable to see anything else in the pitch black room. She takes a deep breath, reaches out, and clicks the button. In an instant, lights flash on throughout the rest of the room! Right before her are a plethora of polaroid photographs. Each and every one of them are of Jasper's creations, his terrible art pieces all laid out horribly for all to see.
Aurora steps back in shock, her twisted into an expression of pure disgust, a single tear rolling down her face.
CLICK.
FLASH.
A camera goes off in the center of the room, a single picture of Aurora's horrified expression immortalized in a photograph. Aurora snatches the photo from the camera, her face going from horrified to enraged as she looks it over.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: This is... Meticulous. Jasper knew Aurora would call him out.
MATT RUBY: Was he lying when he said it wasn't him?
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Time will tell, Ruby. Time will tell.
Cut.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Two new Titans clash here in the Fortuna as the debuting Old Nick Morningstar takes on Josh Conway who hunts for his first win.
MATT RUBY: North Star or Morningstar. These guys sound like they’d fit in with Mr. Sunshine and his band of goofy rejects.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: I’m not sure the Devil Himself would be a good co-star for Mister Sunshine.
Josh Conway charges at Morningstar, hitting a quick Clothesline. But he merely bounces off the powerhouse, staggering the Devil Himself slightly. Conway charges again…
RUNNING POWERSLAM!
OLD NICK MORNINGSTAR MET CONWAY HEAD ON AND FLATTENS HIM!
Conway is soon on his feet, ducking under a strike from Morningstar. An Elbow strike sends Morningstar into the corner.
NORTH STAR DDT!
Conway picks the Devil Himself up, attempting to suplex Morningstar. But Old Nick hooks his leg, stopping Conway’s momentum.
HE REVERSES!
OVERHEAD BELLY-TO-BELLY SUPLEX!
CONWAY WENT FLYING!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Old Nick Morningstar shows his power with a huge overhead.
MATT RUBY: The North Star just about got sent to the heavens.
Morningstar pulls Conway to his feet, hoisting him into the air.
CAST FROM PARADISE!
NO!
CONWAY SLIPS OUT AND BARRAGES MORNINGSTAR WITH A FLURRY OF ELBOWS!
He rebounds into the ropes and comes running back.
TRUE NORTH! ROARING ELBOW!
NO!
OLD NICK DUCKS!
Conway sails past and rebounds another time.
GREAT RED DRAGON! PUMPHANDLE POWERSLAM!
MORNINGSTAR NAILED HIM!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Both competitors have been impressive but only one can walk away with the win.
Morningstar pulls Conway to his feet once more.
CAST FROM PARADISE!
HE NAILS IT THIS TIME AND COVERS FOR THE PIN!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
BRONCO BLACKOOD: Old Nick Morningstar takes the win in his debut!
To Get To You II
The rubbish dump within the slums is about the worst place in all of Arcadia. A rotting, disease-ridden sesspool.
And that is exactly where Destructo Boy awakens.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: This is the dark underbelly of Arcadia. Destructo Boy has been dragged here, unconscious by the Gathering after trying to invade their territory.
MATT RUBY: A fitting, disgusting home for an annoying little piece of trash.
Destructo Boy slowly stirs. The dump is a giant hole in the ground, built with solid steel walls. Looking down from the edge of the hole, the jeering voices of the Gathering rain down.
“Look at the little piece of trash.”
“How you doin’ down there, fuckboy?”
Hatchet steps forward, to the edge of the dump.
“You want to come to my home, chase me down? You'd better bring an army. Not some pathetic little excuse for a boy hero.”
The Gathering laugh at Hatchet’s sentiments.
“You’re gunna die, m’fucka. Die the same way she did. Ah, it’s fucking poetry.”
Hatchet disappears from view.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Oh, this can’t be good.
Moments later, the pile of trash starts to move. The mountain is being sucked along a chute towards a huge inferno.
A trash furnace.
MATT RUBY: Bloody genius. How the hell is the little shrimp going to get out of this alive?
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Have some heart. That’s somebody’s son in there!
The Gathering rain down laughter and mockery. Soon, Destructo Boy becomes lost in amongst the trash, lost from view.
Cheers ring out.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: NO! They actually did it. They burned Destructo Boy alive!
Silence.
Only broken after an eternity by a blood curdling cry. One member of the Gathering falls from the top of the hole into the pile of the dump. A second, kicked off the top ledge into the dump.
MATT RUBY: The kid lives?! How?
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Who knows? I’m just happy he’s not toast.
Hatchet’s voice echoes out around the dump, seen but not heard.
“Who the hell was supposed to block off the access passage?”
Silence.
“Kid? Where the hell have you gone?”
Silence again.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Destructo Boy isn’t stupid. He knows when not to hang around.
MATT RUBY: But he’s stupid enough to come back, you can bet your ass on that.
Cut.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Reverend Graves is a force to be reckoned with! But I'm not sure even the Purifier can cleanse Nox's vapors.
The match begins with Graves forcing Nox into a lock up! The Harbinger uses his superior strength to throw him with a devastating overhead suplex! Nox lands in a heap and as he rises to his feet Graves careens into him with a massive big boot!
MATT RUBY: Graves is lifting him up for the Purgatory Plunge! He's going to powerbomb Nox!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: NO! GET OVER HERE! HE DROPS BEHIND AND PULLS HIM INTO THE SHORT-ARM CLOTHESLINE!
Nox drops Ezekiel with the powerful clothesline before pouncing on him with a series of vicious stomps in an attempt to keep him grounded! But Ezekiel fights back to his feet! The Purifier nails Nox with a powerful chop before whipping him into the corner! He flies forwards with a stinger splash!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: NOX DODGES! PENDULUM OVERHEAD KICK!
MATT RUBY: He's using his brain, Bronco!
The Reverend stumbles out of the corner and Nox rushes him down only for Graves to turn around with a tremendous discus clothesline! Nox goes sliding and Graves begins to stalk him as he rises to his feet!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: THE FINAL JUDGEMENT! MASSIVE CHOKESLAM PLANTS NOX IN THE DIRT!
MATT RUBY: HE COVERS! KICK OUT NOX! KICK OUT!
ONE!
...
...
TWO!
...
...
THREE!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: It seems the odds were on Ezekiel's side here tonight as he gets a very impressive win over Nox!
Skysnare
Previously Recorded
Arcadia Medical is under attack. Drone fire clears out a path towards a single target. A private room with the name Maxwell Rijen on the doorframe. But the door is not there, it’s been blasted off its hinges.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Last we saw of The Burned Man, he was lain out on his hospital bed after suffering a concussion.
MATT RUBY: Last we saw of him, he could hear drones coming and was freaking out. Looks like that’s exactly what we’re seeing now.
Drones buzz into the room, red lights aflash. But there is no soul in the bed. The Burned Man has gone, escaping out into a separate passageway.
He’s running for his life and the drones are giving chase. Eventually, after many twists and turns, TBM runs out of corridor. A dead end.
There’s no other choice. He has to turn and fight.
MATT RUBY: Nowhere left to run, coward.
“Come on then.” The Burned Man growls through gritted teeth, his head spinning from concussion.
Picking up a steel pipe from a nearby maintenance trolley, he starts swinging.
BANG! ONE DRONE IS SMASHED TO PIECES!
BOOM! DOWN GOES ANOTHER!
CRASH!
He lays waste to anything he can, but it’s a useless endeavour. There’s simply too many.
Eventually, the numbers overwhelm. One drone shoots the pipe out of his hand. Another Charges at him and knocks him to the ground.
Like wasps, they swarm around him, firing at him, colliding into him. Weakening him. They grab him by the bandages, by the arms, by the legs and lift him into the air. Dragging him away, back to the Observatory where Doom waits.
“No! Get off me.”
He claws and squirms, escaping the clutches of the many drones and falling back to the ground. He dashes to a nearby window, crashing through it shoulder first to fall out of the Medical compound, falling twenty feet to the dirt below, outside.
The drones swarm through the broken glass, but in all of their search, they cannot find him. TBM has gone.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: He’s escaped. Disappeared into the night. Battered… But alive.
MATT RUBY: For now.
Cut.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: We’ve got a one on one match coming up here, but Klaus Way has decided to bring the Unnaturals out with him.
MATT RUBY: They’re just here to entertain, which is more than I can say for that idiot Mr. Sunshine.
The bell rings and they collide in the center of the ring. Klaus unleashes a whirlwind of eclectic strikes, but Mr. Sunshine answers each one with a counter. A frustrated Klaus Way steps back, and goes for a clothesline, but Sunshine ducks and hits the opposite ropes.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Catch Me! The Running Cross Body hits flush!
Klaus, ruffled by getting taken off guard, gives a subtle nod to his cohorts. As Mr. Sunshine bounces off the ropes for another high-flying move, Damien Solus executes a sly trip.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: That damn Ajax is distracting the ref!
MATT RUBY: They had something on their shoe, Blackwood!
Taking full advantage of the chaos, Klaus hauls Mr. Sunshine up and sets up for the Cirque Douleur, but Mr. Sunshine is able to slip out, but Way is still on the offensive, hammering down on the back of Mr. Sunshine.
MATT RUBY: Finish him, Klaus! Roll up!
Way, having weakened his opponent enough, sets him up for the Bizarro.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: BIZARRO—NO!
MATT RUBY: Damn him!
Mr. Sunshine gets out once again, this time scooping Way up into a fireman’s carry. And now he begins to spin! The Unnaturals leap up onto the apron, but Mr. Sunshine whirls into them one at a time to knock them off. When they’re all down, he nails a thunderous Samoan Drop!
ONE!
…
TWO!
…
THREE!!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: The interference couldn’t dim Mr. Sunshine tonight, Ruby. He went the distance.
MATT RUBY: He should have been disqualified for attacking people outside the match!
Attempt Number Two
MATT RUBY: An emotionally crushing defeat for the Ringmaster. Luckily the kid and the Unnaturals are here to help him to his feet.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Well they better watch out, because Captain Arcadia is coming to rub salt into the wound!
Indeed, the former Python is seen sprinting down the ramp. Before the troupe can even react, he slides into the ring and smashes his shield into Ajax's face! As the Strongman falls down and the kid exits the squared circle, the Captain immediately turns to Solus and takes him down with a spear!
Arcadia stands up and shifts his attention to Klaus, who backs away from the Hero with his hands raised.
"Hang on now," the Warden of Weird says, pleading. "We can talk about this like gentlemen, can't we?"
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: After what he did to Arcadia this past week, he wants to talk peace now?
"Then talk," the Captain booms. "Tell me why you kidnapped this boy and turned him into one of your circus acts!"
"You got it all wrong!" Way nervously states, backing into a corner. "The boy joined my circus willingly! He wasn't abducted from his family! Heck, I wasn't even told that he had one to begin with!"
The Hero walks closer towards Klaus, unaware that the Unnaturals have recovered behind him. The Oddball notices this and smiles...
...BEFORE PENALTY KICKING ARCADIA'S TESTICLES!
The Captain grabs his sack as he turns around...
...INTO THE HUMAN MISSILE!
MATT RUBY: What an amazing strategy by The Ringmaster! Get a man's guard down by acting defenseless before going in for the kill!
Solus and Ajax begin to pummel Arcadia senseless. Klaus watches on with glee momentarily before leaving the ring to comfort the kid. The two of them leave, leaving the Unnaturals to their handiwork.
Cut.
By Invite Only
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: We’ve just received word that Reverend Ezekiel Graves is arriving at Let Him Cook…
MATT RUBY: I’m glad someone can get in.
The door swings open with a foreboding creak as Ezekiel Graves steps inside Chef Andre’s restaurant. The murmur of patrons fades into a tense silence, their forks suspended in midair as Graves' presence fills the room with a palpable chill.
Chef Andre, wiping his hands on his apron, approaches with a smile.
"Reverend Graves, to what do I owe this... pleasure?"
"Pleasure? No. I seek to cleanse, to purify," he declares.
Before Andre can respond, Graves lunges forward, his movements swift and brutal. He grabs Andre, dragging him to the center table of the restaurant.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: This man is a monster!
MATT RUBY: A man of god, BB!
The chef struggles, but Graves is unyielding, chaining Andre's wrists to the table.
Graves steps back, pulling a lighter from his pocket. His voice rises, fierce and unrelenting.
"Just like this den of iniquity," he spits out, sparking the lighter, "heaven is by invite only."
He tosses the lit flame onto a nearby tablecloth, the fire catching quickly, spreading its hungry tendrils across the fabric. Smoke begins to fill the room.
"And you, Chef Andre, are not invited," Graves announces, his voice cold as the flames grow.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Damnit, someone get the AFD down here! That’s a human being!
Andre pulls at the chains, his face a mask of desperation and fear, as the flames dance closer.
Cut.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: The Double Feature Championship is on the line tonight here in the Fortuna!
MATT RUBY: My money’s on El Mariachi Muerte over this snot-nosed goodie two shoes Destructo Boy, and if I’m right I’ll be five thousand credits heavier.
Referee River Moonfoot calls for the bell and like a bullet fired from a gun Destructo Boy is flying at Singing Death, Shining Wizard!
SEE
NO
POWERBOMB!
EMM snatches Faith out of the air countering the flying Faith driving his smaller opponent into the canvas quickly following it up with a Senton on Destructo Boy! The Mariachi peels The Kid off the canvas setting him up for the Pumphandle Half Nelson Driver...
IN
THE
BACKDROP DRIVER!
DESTRUCTO BOY FLIPS OUT AND LAYS OUT THE MARIACHI WITH TRUE JUSTICE!
The Hero kips up exhaustion etched on his face before he ascends to the top rope, calling his shot before taking to the sky Six-Thirty Senton!
MY
FINAL
*CRUNCH!*
KNEES TO THE BACK OF DESTRUCTO BOY! IN A SINGULAR FLUID MOTION CANTANDO LA MUERTE PULLS FAITH TO HIS FEET HOOKING HIS ARMS, LIFTING HIM UPSIDE DOWN BEFORE DROPPING STRAIGHT SOUTH WITH THE PACKAGE PILEDRIVER!
FADE
TO
BLACK!
EMM THROWS A HAND WITH A ROSE CLUTCHED IN IT ACROSS THE CHEST OF DESTRUCTO BOY FOR THE COVER! MOONFOOT SLIDES IN FOR THE COUNT!
ONE!
...
...
...
TWO!
...
...
...
THREE!
MATT RUBY: Papa’s gettin’ that bag tonight, BB!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: (Sighs Annoyedly) With that victory Singing Death is Still the Double Feature Champion and my broadcast partner still hasn’t learned his lesson about gambling on these matches.
The Blues
"What did you say you needed my help with again, Sunbeam?"
The cheery voice of Mister Sunshine rings out through the Gas Chamber. He stands in the center of Nox's chamber, staring at the Chemist on the other side of the glass as he locks the door. Nox gives a wheezy chuckle as he pulls out a cannister, the same one he was working on last week.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Sunshine is too kind for his own good. He's let Nox place him in that damned gas chamber of his!
MATT RUBY: Maybe if we're lucky he'll gas him with something that will make it so he can't talk.
"You see," he begins, "I've created a new mix, something I've never quite experimented with before. I call it... Liquid Gloom. Or, if you prefer, The Blues."
Sunshine tilts his head, his smile disappearing for a mere moment before he speaks again. "I'm not sure I like The Blues, friend."
"You're the perfect test subject." Nox says as he places the cannister into the chamber, pulling a lever and letting a blue gas fill its insides! "If my theory is correct, this mixture can make anyone experience inhuman levels of grief! Even you, Sunshine."
Mister Sunshine begins to hack and cough as the gas fills his lungs! Nox watches for a moment, letting it Sunshine breathe it in before, mercifully, opening the door. Smoke billows out as Sunshine stumbles out of the chamber!
MATT RUBY: Is he crying!? Please tell me he's crying.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: The smokes clearing, Ruby. We'll see what Nox has done to him.
However, as the smoke clears, Sunshine still stands tall, his smile plastered on his face like it always is. Nox looks on in shock as Sunshine holds out his arms.
"You know, I don't think that was very nice, Nox. But that's okay, you can still be my little Sunbeam."
Cut.
No Soup For You
The Slums.
The soup kitchen hums with quiet activity, the clatter of ladles against metal pots blending with the soft murmur of conversation.
Josh Conway stands behind the counter, a baseball cap pulled low over his brow, sunglasses obscuring his eyes.
MATT RUBY: What a chump, slumming it in the slums. Like he’s some kind of hero.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Josh Conway is a hero to a lot of people down there, Ruby.
Conway moves with purpose, ladling out steaming bowls of soup to those in need.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: I hear he’s using donations from Chef Andre himself.
MATT RUBY: Who got what was coming to him already.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: I’m sure…
The door bursts open, and a man stumbles in, wild-eyed, his face streaked with soot. His voice cracks through the room, shattering the calm.
"He burned it! Graves burned down 'Let Him Cook!' Chef Andre—he’s—he’s dead!"
The ladle clatters to the floor, soup splashing across the tiles as Josh freezes. He rips off the sunglasses, and without a word shoves through the crowd, the urgency in his stride drawing stares as he races out the door.
The streets blur as he runs, his breath coming in sharp bursts, but as he rounds the final corner, he skids to a stop, his chest heaving with exertion and dread.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: That bastard Graves has went too far.
MATT RUBY: Just a taste of what awaits in hell!
The once-proud restaurant is now a smoldering ruin, blackened beams jutting out from the wreckage like broken bones. A body bag is being zipped up—
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: That’s Chef Andre! That poor man.
The sight hits Josh like a punch to the gut.
MATT RUBY: Last week, Graves said Conway is next! He’d better run if he knows what’s good for him.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: The Northstar doesn’t run, Ruby. Ezekiel Graves has made the wrong guy an enemy.
Cut.
MATT RUBY: Up next we have a massacre in the making as the top tag team in OSW face off against our bastard sheriff and the blackened thief. Doomsie is going to make the attack from Chain Reaction look like a love tap BB.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: I wouldn't be so sure, The Burned Man isn't blindsided this time and he has a former world champion by his side. This may well be the toughest challenge the Besties have had so far.
The bell sounds as the Burned Man starts off with Felix Foley, TBM circling his side of the ring as Felix just stares at him with a frown on his face before sighing and immediately tagging out to DOOM. The Scientist rushes into the ring
SPLITTER...NO! TBM just dodges the Spear, rolling out of the ring as he tags in Jackson Cade in one swift motion. DOOM looks incensed, staring daggers at the Burned Man before turning back around
BREACH AND CLEAR! Slingblade takes DOOM down to the canvas as the Scientist staggers up to his feet right into a kick to the gut
MASTERKEY! Brainbuster spikes DOOM into the mat but Cade doesn't cover as he instead backs up, rushing to the ropes
KNEE TO THE BACK BY FELIX!
MATT RUBY: The simpelton showing some backbone tonight as he sets up the sheriff for a mammoth Lariat from DOOM.
DOOM quickly tags in Foley as both men begin to stalk the officer, looking to inflict that deadly 3D but as DOOM rushes forward
FLAMETONGUE! The Burned Man out of nowhere with the John Woo Dropkick sending DOOM flying into the ropes, the Scientist barely staying on his feet before he's sent to the outside by a dangerous clothesline from TBM.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Foley is distracted, turning around. HOSTILE...NO! Foley catches the kick, CUT THE STRINGS!
The Double Arm DDT hits flush as Felix drops down, hooking Jackson's legs as Mills drops down to count the fall
ONE
..............
TWO
..............
DOOM just manages to stop TBM sliding into the ring to break the fall.
THREE!!!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: The Besties manage to retain their gold once more as Felix manages to put down the Law tonight.
MATT RUBY: Hopefully a preview of next week BB when DOOM destroys the Burned Man and Cade gets buried alive. I can't wait to see it.
The Watchers
In the House of Judgement locker room, Zeus stands by with El Mariachi Muerte and Gemini. They’ve not yet figured out that he was behind Grizzly St. Claire’s attack and that’s probably a good thing.
The Baron has something on his mind. “Paragon,” he sternly says with a scowl. “Somehow, he knows too much. With the truth in his pocket, he’s the most dangerous man in Arcadia. He and The Watchers both.”
“Everything we’ve fought to keep private is vulnerable, mi amigo,” Muerte agrees. Gemini though, with her memory loss of the occasion in question, looks confused. He smiles uncomfortably at her.
“We’ll need you to go and find him, Muerte; alone,” he suggests with a knowing nod – after all, Gemini can’t be made aware of the truth. If she finds out, there’s no telling what she may remember. “I’ll send you with the support of Ares. Tombstone returned him and the forces back from Purgatory. Find Paragon and sing him a song only you and I will know well. Don’t return until the task is complete.”
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: He’s telling him to kill Paragon!
Zeus heads for the exit, leaving Gemini and Muerte alone. He grabs her by the hand, putting his other on her cheek.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: The rumours are true! Gemini and Muerte have been seen canoodling throughout Arcadia and..
MATT RUBY: [Interrupting] It’s sickening! He wears more make-up than she does!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: What does that have to do with anything!?
“Mi amore, I have to go and handle this problem,” he says solemnly. She isn’t best pleased; their relationship clearly having taken a turn to the romantic. “You heard The Baron… I must go alone.”
She shakes her head. “Why? What’s going on, Muerte? Why all the secrecy?”
Singing Death bows his head shamefully, his eyes slowly coming up to meet hers.
“I wish that I could tell you, amiga, but the truth would not set you free. It would only serve to complicate things,” he assures her, releasing her hand. “I’ll return soon enough and then; we can move past this.”
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: I don’t know what secret they’re keeping but it threatens to tear them apart, Ruby. Something has been afoot for quite some time and we’re clueless as to what.
MATT RUBY: I can’t believe that fine woman is dating him. It ruins my perception of the world, BB. Things just aren’t right in it.
He makes a steadfast walk towards the door leaving Gemini to stand alone, wondering what on Arcadia it is that she couldn’t remember.
Not On Tape
The Gallery.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: What is Aurora doing here? Is she trying to get herself killed?
MATT RUBY: She's a Thrillseeker, Bronco! You have to love a girl who knows what she wants.
Aurora approaches the door of Jasper's horrid home, her photograph in hand. She doesn't knock, no, she kicks the door in as she storms inside! However, as she enters, she isn't greeted by depraved sculptures, mutilated bodies, or even a blood covered painting. No, sitting inside the Gallery is simply Redgrave himself, a smile on his face.
"Aurora," he says, "It's so kind of you to join me."
"It was you, wasn't it?" Aurora approaches Redgrave, holding up the photo of her terrified face. "You took that video, you knew I'd guess it was you! And for what? Just to get another photo for your sick little collection? To play games?"
Jasper leans forward in his chair, chuckling. "Perhaps I did. Or perhaps I heard from a lucky little birdie that you might be looking into me? Maybe I was even... Inspired by that video. Who's to say?"
There's a pregnant pause as Aurora stares Redgrave down. "Just give me a straight answer, damn it."
Jasper tilts his head. "There's something beautiful about immortalizing someone's emotions, isn't there? The rage, the fear? The truth is, Aurora, you've been on film since you walked through that door."
Aurora steps back, watching as Redgrave gestures to multiple cameras in the corners of his Gallery. "Now, you have a choice. You can stay here, take out all that anger on video... Or you can leave now and make your match. I don't see how you can do both."
There's a moment of hesitation on Aurora's face as she mulls over her choices.
MATT RUBY: What do you think she's going to do, Bronco?
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: I don't know, Ruby. I'm not sure if she's safer here or with Tombstone!
The Thrillseeker leaves the room, rushing down the hallway. Meanwhile, Redgrave sits back, a sickening smile on his face. Just what is he planning for Aurora?
Cut.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: We have a huge OSW World Championship match here tonight as one week after brother versus brother, Thorpe faces off against a first time challenger in Captain Arcadia but will he even be able to fight with the beatdown he had earlier?
MATT RUBY: With any luck this'll be the squash it deserves to be BB. I can only hope this so called hero cripples the Coyote a little for the gold to go to a real star next week.
The bell starts as Captain Arcadia explodes out of his corner, flipping up and nearly spiking Thorpe on his dome with a big time Hurricanrana. CJ stumbles up to his feet into a flurry of lefts and rights before a big knee drops Thorpe down to one knee
PUNCH OF BROTHERS! Big time Superman Punch puts Thorpe on the mat before Arcadia rolls to his feet, springboarding to the ropes and flying back with a huge Moonsault, staying down on Thorpe as Demi Sky slides in to count the fall
ONE
...............
TWO
..................
MATT RUBY: KICK OUT! Oh thank god for that, we almost had a dumbass for a world champion there BB
Arcadia gets to his feet, rushing to the ropes as he tries for a second Moonsault but Thorpe manages to get out of the way this time, causing Arcadia to hit nothing but canvas. The Captain stumbles up to his feet
LARIAT...RAISE THE FLAG! Captain Arcadia with a Standing Shiranui out of nowhere as Thorpe gets planted in the mat again. Arcadia rushes to the ropes, leaping up to the top as he sizes up the fallen world champion for a moment
STAR SPANGLED...TRUST! THORPE KIPS UP, NAILING A DIVING ARCADIA WITH A BRUTAL KNEE IN MID-AIR!
MATT RUBY: YES Eat Knee you star spangled dickbag.
The Captain collapses to the mat, practically dead weight as Thorpe lifts him up, double underhooks him
AND SHOWS HIM THE RIGHT THING! Pedigree drives Arcadia into the mat, Thorpe rolling him over for the cover as Sky counts
ONE
...............
TWO
................
...................
THREE!!!
MATT RUBY: Hell yes, that dumbass Arcadia didn't win the gold, but I tell you one thing BB, that's going to change when Six Feet Under put the Cade brothers six feet down.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: That remains to be seen Ruby, the Cade brothers have survived a lot worse and if I was a betting man, I'd bet on this not being Thorpes last title defense.
The Cell
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Well folks, we’ve got a hell of a main event coming up—it’s…
"Tombstone!"
Felix Foley is walking through the crowd of the Fortuna, his voice booming over the clatter of chips and the whirl of slot machines.
MATT RUBY: This guy never learns, does he?
Gazump.
Darkness.
Flutter.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Ask and ye shall receive, Felix Foley!
As the lights come back up, Tombstone now stands across from Felix Foley. The patrons, sensing the imminent storm, scatter, leaving an open battleground.
“You’ll pay for what you did to her!” Felix says, uncharacteristically charging in. But Tombstone sidesteps with a ghastly grace. He grabs Felix, lifting him as if he weighs nothing.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Chokeslam through the table!
MATT RUBY: Foley just found out For Whom the Bell Tolls!
Felix tries to rise, unwilling to quit, but Tombstone's boot finds his chest, pinning him with an oppressive force.
"I’d ask how your momma is,” Tombstone taunts, his voice a cold whisper as Felix struggles beneath him, “but I have a good idea.”
The Ferryman's expression darkens.
"Her fear has put her mind in a cell, boy. She's trapped within herself, barely able to reach out, let alone let anything in." He pauses, letting the weight of his words sink in. "I know she told you I did this, and that’s why you have come."
Confusion flickers across Felix's face, replacing the pain for a moment.
"That's not what she told me," he gasps out, a laugh bubbling up despite his agony. "You think you know everything, Tombstone, but us Foley’s are full of surprises."
His laughter grows louder, mocking.
CRUNCH!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Tombstone just knocked Felix out!
MATT RUBY: Just what he deserves, BB!
Tombstone stands, scowling down at Foley before he strides away through the unsettled crowd, leaving Felix unconscious, surrounded by the remnants of his defiance.
Credit Terms
Recorded Earlier.
Ching Ching!
Buzz!
Ding Ding!
The sound of a bustling Casino fills the air. All the sounds you’d come to expect, from slot machines to the ball of a roulette wheel slapping around the spinner can be heard. Patrons are excitedly gambling the night away as the wrestling ring is setup behind them in the middle of the Fortuna.
One patron - a Juggalo, sits at a table, his shoulders tense and tight. His face is a picture of disgruntled sadness, worry lines adorning every corner of it. His face paint cracking at the edges. He taps the table.
“Hit me,” he demands. The dealer slaps another card down. It’s a six that now sits next to a ten. The man thinks about it for a moment. “Go on, fuckin' hit me again.”
The dealer turns over another card, revealing another 10. He shrugs, raking in the winners. “Bust.”
The man watches as his chips – the currency used to depict credits inside the Fortuna, are taken away.
“It doesn’t have to be over, you know,” a deep rousing voice says from a slick man that has appeared next to him. His moustache thick and his smile whiter than diamonds. “You may be out of chips, but there’s always another line of credit.”
The man turns towards him aggressively, about to yell, until he looks into the man’s eyes. There’s a dastardly glint – one that warns him against his intended action.
With a wry smile, the slick man offers a hand. “My name is Old Nick Morningstar. Would you like to discuss a new line of credit terms?”
“Do you work for the Casino, is that it?” The man asks with a shrug. “You wanna fleece me some more, huh?”
Old Nick laughs heartily. “I don’t work for the Casino, Danny. We’ve not met before. I’m just a man with the ability to offer you more credits than you’d ever dream possible and all for one small price. It’s a price you wouldn’t even recognise paying.”
Danny looks confused. How did he know his name? How can an offer such as this, which must be too good to be true, ever be realized?
To be continued…
Aurora calmly walks through the Casino backstage, heading towards the floor where her match with Tombstone is shortly to begin.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Aurora must be terrified. She’s heading to the ring for a match with a former World Champion and more than that, one of the most terrifying people in OSW.
MATT RUBY: If she needs someone to console her, I can help.
GAZUMP.
Suddenly, the lights go out. The entire corridor is thrust into darkness.
The lights flicker, struggling to come back on.
With each one, the figure of Tombstone lurks behind Aurora.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: RUN AURORA! RUN!
Until the lights return and TOMBSTONE IS RIGHT BEHIND HER!
GOOZLE!
He spins her around and grabs her by the throat, slamming her full force backwards into the corridor wall, denting the plaster with the impact. She struggles, but he takes her away, turns her around and RUNS HER STRAIGHT THROUGH THE FUCKING WALL!
AURORA SMASHES THROUGH IT TO THE CASINO FLOOR!
The gap she made is hardly big enough for The Ferryman to walk through, so he begins punching at the plaster, smashing through it as Aurora somehow begins crawling away, her body covered in the remnants of white plaster.
Finally, Tombstone steps through the gap and onto the Casino Floor, lurking behind her.
“You can run but you can’t hide,” he growls at her, reaching down from behind and scooping her effortlessly off her feet. “Nor can you escape, little girl.”
He lifts her high into the air… AND LAUNCHES HER INTO A SLOT MACHINE!
DING DING DING!
“WE HAVE A WINNER!”
The machine roars as credits fall from the machine, which static’s and shuts down with a thud. The glass is shattered, Aurora spread across it in a state of distress.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Oh God damnit, he’s going to kill her, Ruby! Tombstone is going to kill poor Aurora!
MATT RUBY: Not unless she escapes. That’s the goal here, Bronco – get the hell out of there!
Aurora rolls off the slot machine and begins crawling away, looking back in terror as Tombstone approaches methodically. He grabs a roulette wheel, forcibly snatching it from a position on a table, ripping it from the wood.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: GET OUTTA THERE!
WHAM!
HE SLAMS IT DOWN ONTO AURORA!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: SHE MOVED! SHE MOVED!
MATT RUBY: THAT COULD’VE BEEN DEADLY!
The roulette wheel smashes into pieces on the floor with the impact. Aurora grabs a shard of the wood, jamming it as hard as she can into the thigh of the Ferryman!
He drops to one knee, looking down at the wound. The wood sticks out of it!
Aurora gets back to her feet and stumbles away, climbing atop the table in which the roulette wheel was once attached before letting fly…
LEAPING DROPKICK TO THE WOOD SHARD IN THE THIGH OF TOMBSTONE!
DOWN… GOES… THE FERRYMAN!
But he sits up immediately.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: What is this thing made of!? How the hell is he sitting up after that?! Look at Aurora’s face… she can’t believe it.
MATT RUBY: Oh my God, he just ripped that shard out of his leg!!
The Ferryman sits there, chuckling to himself as The Thrillseeker gets back to her feet and stumbles away past the ring. There’s a massive sign above the nearest door that reads Exit and she’s making a b-line for it. She stumbles towards the door, collapsing on the push down handles… only it doesn’t move!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: What the hell!?
MATT RUBY: That door is locked, Bronco! She’s trapped in there!
She rattles the door in a panic, wondering why the hell it won’t open. It should open. This match should be over…
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: LOOK BEHIND YOU! TURN AROUND!
MATT RUBY: OH NO…
Tombstone stands there!
GOOZLE!
“Did you think it would be that easy?” He asks, looking through the glass windows on the door. Calypso stands there looking back at them, grinning from ear to ear.
Aurora gulps…
A SOUL TO CARRY!
BEARHUG! BEARHUG TO AURORA!
Tombstone drags her away from the door and back into the Casino, running her back first into ring post! She shrieks in agony as he stomps her away and SLAMS HER DOWN ON A BLACKJACK TABLE!
POWERBOMB!!
The Thrillseeker roars in agony.
Tombstone reaches down to grab her once again, only she tosses cards and chips in his face! He stumbles backwards, lunging forwards in a rage only for Aurora to SMASH A WHISKEY GLASS RIGHT UPSIDE HIS FUCKING HEAD!
THE FERRYMAN STUMBLES!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: THERE’S NO SHORT OF FIGHT IN THIS GIRL!
MATT RUBY: Just how I like em!
Tombstone looks dazed…
SOLAR STORM!
RUNNING METEORA OFF THE FUCKING TABLE!
DOWN GOES TOMBSTONE! DOWN GOES AURORA!
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE, GIRL! RUN LIKE THE FUCKING WIND!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: GO GO GO GO!
Aurora gets back to her feet, exhausted, pained and absolutely fucked up. She stumbles forwards, looking around for another exit. There’s one up ahead, and this time, she knows she must make it.
She walks her damndest, as hard and fast as she can but the pain has slowed her down.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: You’re almost there! C’mon Aurora! You can do it…
GAZUMP!
MATT RUBY: The lights! The lights! YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!
When the lights come back on, Tombstone stands there with a smirk. He lifts Aurora off the ground with a goozle, standing her on the bars that open the door, leaning her forward…
CASUALTY OF WAR!
EPITAPH!!
HE DROPS HER HEADFIRST RIGHT ON A BRUTAL FUCKING KNEE! SHE’S SPLIT WIDE OPEN! THERE’S BLOOD EVERY FUCKING WHERE!
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: He didn’t just kill it with fire! HE DESTROYED IT! That poor girl may be in pieces for years!
MATT RUBY: I’ll help her put them back together, BB.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: That’s even worse!
The Ferryman dusts his hands off, pushes down the bars to the exit doors and leaves the Casino.
Tombstone has won it. He has escaped The Fortuna and leaves the destruction of Aurora and the casino floor in his wake.
What a match!
Mother Mary
“All I’m saying is that we need to watch our backs…”
Those words are the first thing we hear as we arrive back at the Cade Residence, watching as Jackson and CJ Thorpe arrive at the font door of the domicile. CJ is hazarding caution against going full throttle, completely unaware of what lies on the other side of the door.
“I’ll make sure mom and dad are put under full police protection, but until we root out the Owl’s in my employ, I could be putting the wrong people in place,” Jackson says whilst using his key to gain entry.
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: They have no idea what they’re walking into.
MATT RUBY: Mother Mary quite contrary…
Both boys head through the hallway, only something catches Jackson’s eye. He stops suddenly and pulls out his pistol, putting a hand up to warn his brother to stand still.
He carefully pushes open the door to his parent’s bedroom, immediately noticing that it has been completely ransacked. Malakai Midnight didn’t just check for George – he tore the place apart.
“MOM!”
The shout from CJ sends Jackson sprawling out into the hallway in a panic. He rushes towards where his brother now kneels, cradling their unconscious – if not worse, mother.
“Oh shit, oh shit, oh fucking shit!” The Sheriff screams out, grabbing for his radio. “All units, all units, we need medical at the Cade Residence.”
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: I hope they’re not too late.
MATT RUBY: She’ll be fine. It’s nothing a little TLC can’t fix. Well, that and a fresh coat of paint.
With blood spatter on the wall from where Gravedigger had repeatedly smashed her head, Jackson’s eyes widen with white hot rage.
“They did this,” Thorpe angrily roars at his brother. “Because of what we did…”
Cade shakes his head. “This isn’t our fault, CJ. But I do have one question… where the fuck is dad?”
BRONCO BLACKWOOD: Where the hell is George!?
MATT RUBY: Not protecting his family, that’s for sure.
The brothers look at one another, the realization finally upon them that their father, who they left here to recover after what Tombstone did to him, could in fact be kidnapped... or worse.
Panic ensues.
Static.
Cut.
A Stop ■ symbol appears in the bottom right hand corner of the screen as a logo flashes up amongst static.