IN MEMORIAM
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“We have come here today for a number of reasons.”
[A single voice breaks the silence of our introduction, as we pan down from blue cloudless skies to the ground below. We’re in a cemetery, beside a grave, with mourners we recognize. The coffin rests, ready to be lowered, but we focus on the faces of those upset and distraught beside it.] [There aren’t many.] [Brent Kersh and his wife Nicole, Solomon Rhodes, Godfrey, Edward Newton and The Watchmen, dressed mostly in black attire, stand solemnly as the Reverend conducts his service.] [But more importantly, stood before Brent Kersh with her hand clasped tightly in his, is the very young daughter of Mike Lane; Michaela.]“We are gathered here today to pay our tribute and our respect to a man of God, our brother, Mike Lane. Not only have people from his community gathered, but we are in the presence of his beloved daughter.”
[Cough.] [Someone clears their throat abruptly, interrupting the Reverend. He turns around to feel a hand upon his shoulder. The owner whispers something to him, and watches as he carefully steps away and then flees.] [D’von Chambers.] [Immediately, everyone turns their attention to Michaela. They switch between her and him, knowing that right now isn’t the time to make a scene.] [The rage on Brent Kersh’ face is palpable.]“This man was not a man of God,” [Chambers barks proudly with his sinister pearly white smile.] “Oh no, he was but a heathen.”
[Solomon Rhodes steps forward, but Godfrey stops him.]“He betrayed his Lord and lived selfishly with his sin. The Warrior of Light offered him a chance to find salvation and he spurned it, committing the most heinous of treachery; suicide. Mike Lane will not be offered a place in paradise, oh no, he will burn in the fiery pits of Abaddon for his sins!”
[Brent Kersh grimaces, turning his back to Chambers. He bends his knee, looking at Michaela, who barely understands what’s going on. She’s but a young babe, two at most.]“Listen to me, darling,” [Kersh says softly, stroking her hair.] “Your father was a great man; a man of pride, of dignity, of honour. I was proud to call him a friend. I know you don’t understand what’s happening or why, but I won’t let you forget him. I won’t let you forget. He loved you more than anything in this world and what he did, he did for you, for us, for everyone.”
[Kersh looks up at Nicole and nods. She takes Michaela by the hand and walks her away, leaving The Enforcer to fume as he turns his attention back to a smiling Chambers.]“You can fill her head with lies, but she’ll know the truth when the world burns in hell fire!”
[The Enforcer storms over to Chambers, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck. He squeezes it as tightly as possible, bringing the preacher to his knees.] [Between desperate breath, he continues.]“Do you think your quarrel is with me, friend?” [Chambers scoffs, turning beetroot red.] “You’re mistaken. I didn’t kill your friend. He did.”
[Chambers eyes point in a different direction.] [They point towards someone else.] [Edward Newton.]“It was all because of him. He found the book, he handed it over, he brought the darkness upon the world. Your fight isn’t with me, it’s with him.”
[Brent tosses Chambers aside and to the deck, allowing him to catch his breath. He walks with a purpose over to Newton, who shows the war wounds of his battles from last week. They stare each other, intently, for just a moment.]“He’s right,” [Kersh says with rage.] “You did this.”
[He’s absolutely seething. Edward doesn’t say a word, he just looks at him, knowingly.]“You made his daughter an orphan. You cost OSW a pillar of its very foundation. But just as painfully, you cost me a friend.”
[The Enforcer strikes him with a fierce right hand, with such power that Edward falls to the floor, his glasses breaking on impact. Everyone dives in, pulling Brent away as he screams with rage.]“This isn’t over you son of a bitch!!” [He yells.] “You’re gonna pay, I swear to God, you’re gonna pay!”
[Edward looks up, for once, with sadness in his eyes.] [Cut.]MOTHER VS. D’VON CHAMBERS
SINGLES MATCH
INTRODUCING
BACKSTAGE
“Ah, gentlemen. How wonderful to see you all.” [Danvers says, with an unnerving sprightliness to his voice] [Helios and Proteus nod towards Danvers, Crowley beams a smile at Gable, whose black eyes stare blankly back for a moment. Pressure on the lead gives Gable a prompt and he tilts his head to one side and smiles back at Crowley.]
“I wished to present to you, Mister Crowley, my newest patient, Cael Gable. For he was truly SICK in the mind when I happened upon him, and now he is ENLIGHTENED. Does my work bring you PLEASURE?”
[Crowley looks Gable up and down for a moment, his smile fading slowly.]“Mister Danvers, it brings be great pleasure indeed. Excellent work.”
[Gable crouches and rubs his head against the thigh of Danvers affectionately, humming deeply as he does. Danvers places his hand gently on the head of Gable and lightly strokes his bald scalp.]“We shall leave you to your work, Gentlemen.”
[Danvers pulls hard on the lead and Gable lets out a whimper before the two turn, Gable raising to his feet, and walk down the corridor.]ANCIENT TEXTS
BACKSTAGE
“I can’t find the answer anywhere,” [Trébol bemoans with frustration.] “There’s lore and rules, but no-where does it state who the Watchmen were.”
[The Sharkman shakes his head.]“The man who approached us, the man who approached Marvolo, he’s vanished. He told me about you, about Marvolo’s father and mine but he failed to mention a fourth.”
[Suddenly, Marvolo shouts.]“EUREKA!”
[Everyone turns their attention to him. He smiles, leading the page with his finger.] [The Sharkman quickly interrupts.]“With the power of four, the damned can be rescued from their savage husks and offered a chance of paradise.”
[El Trébol looks stunned.]“Does that mean what I think it means?”
[They stare at each other.]“It’s the first mention of four in any of these ancient texts. It’s the first time we’ve seen it. It has to mean that, right? The Revenants can be saved. If we can just find our fourth member, we should be able to rescue their souls.”
[Suddenly, fire erupts from the book. The Watchmen leap backwards, watching as the flames consume it. Marvolo tries to pat it out, but a voice sinisterly echoes from within the chambers of the library.]“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
[Helios.] [Aion.] [The Watchmen grab at a lever on the wall, pulling it quickly. They’re immediately whisked behind a wall as it turns, allowing them a hasty retreat. Aion and Helios look at each other, then the books. Aion growls.]“Burn it down.”
[Cut.]JONES, CROWLEY & BOOGEY VS. MONTY, HEARTSFORD & GAIA
TRIOS MATCH
BALLS
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Jake?”
[Jeckel explodes out of the steel folding chair, but there is no one there.]“Cut the shit.” [Jeckel spits.] “I don’t play games.”
[With a whirl, Jake turns around to find himself face to face with Jacob Phoenix. Jacob has his hands up in a sign of peace.]“I know.” [Phoenix sadly mutters.] “That’s why I’m here, Jake.”
[Jeckel looks at the Nightwatch in disgust.]“Figures. My brother dies, and he saddles me with a big pussy.” [The Juggalo looks up at the sky.] “Thanks Jack!”
[Before Jacob can retort, Jeckel shoves a finger in his chest.]“We both showed up around here so we can stop this Judgement Day from happening. I’ve been leaving a pile of bodies in my wake, while you’ve been waxing fucking poetic with your dead ex’s daddy. You snapped Million’s neck, so off this asshole so there’s one less of them. A man died so we could roll back some of this shit around here, and your ass wavers. Did Stephanie take your balls with her when she shit out that hellspawn?”
[Phoenix’s eyes grow wide with anger, and Jeckel finally smiles.]“Yeah, fuck me. Kill me if you want to, I don’t care. That old man let your girl die, his own fucking daughter. Vengeance. Jensen Cussen. Creeping Death. Corey Black. Who gives a shit? All I see is the Virus. Is there anything left of the man inside? Maybe. But they killed my brother. They killed your girl. Grow your balls back, and let’s go cut their heads off.”
[Jacob Phoenix looks down at Jeckel’s finger, and slaps it away.]“You’re right. I knew I could count on you, Jake. It’s time to finish this.”
[The two men lock eyes and clasp hands even as we zoom into Phoenix’s eyes.] [White.] [We zoom out from the eyes, except now they belong to one Jensen Cussen, who is sat in the Family home. The Phoenix emblems glow on his hands, indicating usage of their connection. He looks to his side.]“Our enemies have united against us, it seems. They’re coming for us.”
[Creeping Death smiles in the darkness.]“Let them come.”
[Cut.]BLACK AND WHITE, NOT GREY
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Negative. Continuing search.”
[It walks across the small room towards a door opposite the one it stands near. Only, something blocks the Automaton’s path.]“Unidentified being, step aside. You halt my progress.”
“Meow…”
[A cat, curious about the new friend that had come to play with it stands before TAM. It tilts its head slightly as the Automaton speaks, clearly not understanding a word it says.]“State your intentions.”
“Meow…”
[The cat moves forward, rubbing up against the Automaton’s legs and purring. TAM springs into a fighting stance.]“Unidentified presence has attempted a hostile act. It presents an unknown danger, estimations are that it has been sent by Novan, Jacen… Force will be met with force.”
[The Automaton picks up the cat by its tail and swings it above its head. The howling of the cat is interrupted by the arrival of another presence which steps into the room, announcing itself immediately even before seeing the scene before him. Our attention is drawn to Novan’s arrival and away from the fate of the cat… Though out of shot the howling stops abruptly with a dull thud.]“You can search this entire Tap Room from top to bottom TAM but you will not locate the chip without my hel- what have you done?!”
[The Automaton stands over the body of the cat, very much dead having been swung against a concrete wall. It addresses Novan without emotion.]“I neutralized the spy presence that you sent after me. It was given a chance to identify itself. My protocols are clear, neutralize any threat which wishes to remain unidentified. Treat unidentified presences as hostile.”
[Novan drops to his knees over the body of the downed cat and hold his hand over it, summoning the Ashla. Try as he might, there is nothing he can do for it.]“TAM, you need me to help you analyze these situations to see the world outside your black and white. Can you not see that this did not need to end this way?”
[The Automaton shows no emotion, it cannot.]“Negative. A threat was neutralized. More will be unless you present me with the chip I seek. All presences within this location will be treated as hostile.”
[Novan pulls up his sleeve in response, showing his infected forearm. The infection has shrunk, back to the size of a bank note.]“When Mike Lane sacrificed himself, it gave us hope. It also made a difference in the virus, which the Ashla has been able to fight back against. You have to let me help you. I can heal you, given time.”
[The Automaton stops for a moment but remains in a defensive position ready to strike.]“My receptors present no health issues. I need no medical attention, again, you seek to deceive me. If you will not tell me where it is, I will find my chip, then I will silence your deceit.”
[Novan reaches out as the Automaton exits, leaving him alone.]“No, TAM. You have it all wrong. I can save you. I will… If only you’d let me.”
[Cut.]JACOB PHOENIX VS. CAEL GABLE
SINGLES MATCH
BREAK EVERY CHAIN
FLASHBACK
“I was trapped in this prison, forced to watch horrors unfold from a distance. I was kept here while my children wasted away everything I gave them. I thought I would never be free…until something changed.”
[We flash forward through the centuries, focusing on the battle between Hades and Ordell Terminus…and the subsequent fall of the King of the Underworld.]“The chains that held me were loosened, allowing me to escape…to plot my revenge. On the way out, I wandered through the Underworld in search of a soldier to carry out my Great War…and there I found you.”
[Amongst the wandering souls in the Underworld, one stands out as being delightfully devilish…The Boogeyman.]“From the beginning, I could sense that you were more than fitting for what I needed to accomplish. Your ability to change shape gave you the freedom to go in and out of the Underworld as you pleased…and your penchant for instilling fear gave me the opportunity I needed to prepare for war.”
[We watch as vines grow from the ground around Boogeyman, overtaking him and holding him down as Gaia approaches him with an evil smile. Moments later, we flash forward again, this time focusing on the arrival of Gaia and The Boogeyman in OSW…and eventually, the downfall of the Great War.]“If you’re not going to be my general in this war, I will simply have to break you like I broke the chains that bound me. I gave you a chance to have purpose, to have meaning…but you threw it away, and now I will give you destruction. Abandon all hope, Boogeyman, for Nature will reclaim what is hers.”
[Cut.]SHADES OF LIGHT
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Sir. We have brought the one who you asked. He came along willingly, there was no struggle.”
[Rhodes smiles at the words of the Templars, just as Lux Bellator enters on their request. Solomon smiles again as he repeats the word.]“Willingly?”
[Lux steps up towards Solomon and the pair stare at each other. Neither man is willing to back down in their spirit, for each believes himself to have righteousness on his side. Solomon breaks the silence.]“I guess you know what I am going to say, but I will say it nonetheless. Lux, I plead you… See how far you have strayed from the path of righteousness.”
[Lux smirks underneath his mask, his eyes twinkling.]“We both knew that our paths would cross once again, frater. As soon as your Templars got involved, it was only a matter of time until you tried to twist my soul with your lies.”
[Solomon waves his hand and the duo of Templars takes their leave. He paces slowly up to where Bellator stands defiantly. He speaks in a soft, yet stern voice.]“Lucas. We have danced this dance for years. Now, faced with what is on the horizon, it is our last chance to finally see eye to eye. Surely you can see that what you preach is leagues away from the will of your Lord.”
“The will of the Lord is just. As everything I have prophesied has come to fruition despite your efforts, those that live in the light have nothing to fear in the coming judgement. Yet, I sense fear in your eyes Solomon. Are you afraid that you are wrong? For as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For the Lord is with me.”
[Solomon clenched his fist, frustration building in his voice. No fear in his eyes.]“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist. Where once you spoke the torch of light, forgiveness and grace, now your message is of darkness, eternal judgement and damnation. You are so blinded by this deceit that you cannot see how far you have fallen. Perhaps that trait is hereditary. God did not spare the angels when they sinned, just as he will judge you harshest of all. Yet, Lucas, you march us all towards this End. See the error of your ways and turn back to the light before it is too late!”
[Bellator turns his back on Solomon, walking away. After a few steps, he turns once more and practically spits the words out of his mouth.]“Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a fruitless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. The Templars are a branch that have remained fruitless for centuries, yet you speak as thought you know the will of God. Will you not be thrown to the flames like the rest of those who have wandered away from the light?”
“You are blind to what you have become, Lucas. Soon, it will be too late to take my hand. Soon, the battle will be upon us once more. I will not hesitate to slay you should you be too stubborn to see how blind you truly are. Turn back to the truth of your mission, not this false teaching that you have been deceived with.”
[Lux does not listen, but utters a final word of retort.]“We each utter shades of light, shades of truth. But only one can speak the truth that comes from the Lord. All other ground is sinking sand. Just pray that your foundation is strong enough to save you, frater.”
[Lux’s last word comes with an edge of anger, and at the sound the very walls surrounding them shake. Lux does not falter; neither does Solomon. The Templar leader stares at the Light Warrior, neither blinking, neither speaking, neither backing down.]NOVAN & TAM VS. DTR & ZAPPA
TAG TEAM MATCH
ALLEGIANCE
BACKSTAGE
“My son, look how far you’ve come.”
[Captain Zappa’s face is shrouded in mystery as his eyes are pinned straight forward not giving the slightest bit of response. DTR continues as he prompts Zappa to walk alongside him.]“Just think, only a few months ago you were fighting against me as you were too blind to see. Then you opened up your eyes to my suggestion with Lee as we forced an enlightened state upon you. Something we never WANTED to do, but we knew it was something we knew had to. Then, over the past month, you’ve passed every step and every test with flying colors.”
[Captain Zappa stops where he is and looks into the eyes of DTR with black swirling in his.]“Every test? You wanted me to kill one of the Templars?”
[DTR strokes his beard for a moment.]“Taking life is a necessary step on the route to enlightenment, son. We must all take it if the situation arises and we must not falter.”
[Captain Zappa looks disgusted with DTR’s answer.]“No, life is not something you can just throw away at a whim! Life is precious.”
[DTR laughs cynically before smirking at Zappa.]“My son, you saved me from Solomon Rhodes. Someone who was told that you should hate and destroy me, yet you saved my life. For that, I am grateful to you, my son. I just need to know if I have your allegiance?”
[Captain Zappa begins to move away as DTR looks at him curiously.]“I think… I need to figure this out on my own.”
[With that, Captain Zappa steps away from DTR and begins to make his way further into the backstage area of the arena as DTR watches on.]“You’ll be back soon, my son. They always comes back.”
A BRAVE AND TERRIBLE HISTORY
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“You think you know me, don’t you?” [Jones asks, stood before his once jailer.] “When you imprisoned me, you thought you were saving my world, but you weren’t.”
[Alibistair squints.]“I liberated my time and I ruled fairly. You accused me of destroying worlds; propaganda fed to you by the traitors who stabbed me in the back.”
[The Detective doesn’t believe it.] “You zink I’m going to listen to you? Zis world will not fall like the others you have destroyed.” [Jones angrily punches him in the mouth, rocking his chair.]“Idiocy!” [He shouts.] “I was a slave, torn from the arms of my mother as a babe. I overcame my captors and changed the world. I liberated millions of people in the name of Jones. You don’t understand, do you? You were used as a pawn to imprison me in a place that offered me only one route of salvation; here.”
“And why would zey do zis?” [Ali questions.] “Why would zey want you gone?”
[The Brave and Terrible steps forward, looming over him.]“So they could rule the world.”
[He sneers.]“You’re going to take me back to my time, Detective. If you don’t, I’m going to kill you.”
[Cut.]SOLOMON RHODES VS. THE SHARKMAN
SINGLES MATCH
TIME TESTED
BACKSTAGE
“Hello, Trebol.”
[Trebol turns around to see a single man emerge from behind the bookshelves. Aion, Master of Time. His features seem to shift from young to old beneath his mask, the Revenant stepping towards the Watchman.]“I knew you’d return. Looking for another sacred text to try and shed light upon the secrets of the past. However, you’re too late.”
[Tick.] [The flames come to life again, Trebol surrounded by it, smoke covering him as he coughs and wheezes. Aion rushes forwards and grabs at Trebol, the Watchman grabbing the book from the table and SLAMMING IT INTO THE SIDE OF AION’S HEAD!] [Tock.] [Everything freezes again as Trebol leaps behind Aion, backing towards the door with the book in hand.]“Your tricks can’t stop me, Aion. You control time, but time has tested me. The Watchmen will free you, even if you refuse to allow it.”
[Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.] [The world fluctuates between frozen and unfrozen as Aion advances towards Trebol, the Watchman fleeing the room. As he escapes, Aion turns towards the library, grabbing a book from one of the shelves, barely saving it from the fire.]“You can run from me, but in due time, you’ll come running back.”
THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Have you reconsidered?” [The voice asks quietly and patiently.] “Are you willing to say yes?”
[The Chief shakes his head and laughs.]“I told you once, kid, I’m not saying yes. You can use my voice, you can use my family, you can do whatever you want to do but I’m not succumbing your falsities and lies. You won’t manipulate me!”
“I would never lie to you,” [The Chief’s own voice answers back.] “And I never have. I want you to be free and if you succumb to me, I can grant you that freedom.”
[That infuriates him.] “Why? Why should I succumb to you, huh Noah? Why should I help you destroy the world? Do you think that because you’re my only way out, I’ll take it? Do you think I’ll allow you to use me as a weapon to end the world?” [After a brief pause, the voice continues.]“You’re clearly not ready to do what needs to be done. But be assured, time is running out. There’s a clock on this decision and at Pandemonium, if you haven’t said yes, you will regret it.”
[The Chief scrunches up his nose.]“Until you tell me why you need me, I’ll never say yes.”
[He yells again.]“Do you hear me? Never.”
[Cut.]EL TREBOL JR. VS. JENSEN CUSSEN
DOUBLE FEATURE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
TO A CRISP
BACKSTAGE
“Are we destined to become that which we hate?”
[With a sigh he stands back to his feet.] [Helios stands behind him.]“What do you hate?” [The fire demon asks.] [Sharkman ignores the question, showing no fear.]
“You and I used to be on the same team, didn’t we? I remember your screams in the night. Eva. Grace. Jessica. They’re why they called you Hysteria. Were you really crazy? Or did you just want your family back?”
[Fire burns in the palm of Helios.]“I am not Proteus. You will not do as the Riddler did and manipulate me using LH Harrison’s life. There is nothing left of that man, or his family. Only Helios remains. There is no saving me.”
[Sharkman nods.]“Probably not. Besides, I remember way back. I laid there, a steering wheel pinning me in place, and as I heard those that I lived for dying, all I wanted to do was die with them. I didn’t want a savior, I wanted to burn to a crisp like the kids behind me. So yeah, I understand how you feel.”
[Helios seems to be distracted, looking away for a moment. Sharkman takes note.]“I believe you’ve got an important match coming up. Better get out of here.”
[Helios doesn’t even answer, vanishing in a puff of flame. The Sharkman bows his head.] [What was that about becoming what you hate?]DAVID, PART I
FLASHBACK
“Stop.”
[A voice urges caution from behind.]“You don’t have to do this, David; there’s another way.”
[He turns around, his eyes empty.]“There is no other way. I’ve lost everything. I beat Jimmy Sartyr and I thought in doing so, it would fill the hole in my heart but it hasn’t. I’m empty. I have no purpose, no place in this world.”
[Again, the voice speaks.]“That isn’t true. You have a purpose. You have a destiny, and I will help you to fulfil it. You won’t be able to do it alone, you’ll need a Family. You’ll need what you’ve longed for.”
[David doesn’t understand. He steps back from the ledge.]“I can give you a son.”
[Jonah.] [Jensen Cussen’s father.] [Cut.]THE SCARECROW & BRENT KERSH © VS. AION & HELIOS
TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
HE HAS RISEN
BACKSTAGE
“And thank you Lord for delivering us from evil” [Chambers clamors in a deep voice.] “We pray these things in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ… Amen”
“AMEN!”
[The members of the church echo their approval as they all lift their heads. Without hesitation, D’Von nods to his Church before turning to the door.] [And we exit with them.] [The Bishop leads his congregation down the steps and into the backstreet where only a few feet away from the entrance sits… The Chiroptera.] [Chambers scoffs as he shakes his head, standing over top of them.]“The poor bums. They might stick around this building until they rot away to hell.”
[The druids maintain a kneeling position in the shadows. Their heads bowed. They no longer see D’Von as their Bat God. The Darkness has lifted. Their minds are clear. And alone.]“I’m sorry I stole your hope, friends” [Chambers spouts in an almost regretful tone.] “You’re not the only one who was impacted by the darkness.”
[With that Chambers turns to lead his congregation away. And then…] [The flutter of bats.] [A sudden fog develops at the end of the street.] [Screeching.] [Those sounds freeze D’Von in his tracks as his blood runs cold.] [Footsteps.] [Slow, methodical footsteps.] [With Squinted eyes Chambers glances back over his shoulder. And from beyond the thickness of the fog…] [Michael Graves.] [The Chiroptera begins to bustle, coming to their feet as the congregation exchanges gasps.]“NO! It can’t be!”
“But D’Von” [The Bat’s Shadow smirks.] “It IS me. My Chiroptera’s hope has returned!!!”
“How?!? I….”
[Chambers is visibly shook as he stumbles backwards. Graves continuing his approach. A grin formed on his lips as his druids gather around him.] [The congregation; on the other hand, stirs in fright.]“Who is it?”
“Michael Graves?”
“He’s dead!”
“He DIED!”
[Graves lets out a deep chuckle as D’Von swallows deep.]“He has risen!”
[With fear coming over them, Chambers and his Church flee into the darkness, leaving Graves behind as the Chiroptera howl.]“HAIL BARBATOS!!!”
[Static.] [Cut.]LUX BELLATOR VS. JAKE JECKEL (C)
VHS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
WHO’S THERE?
THE TEMPLAR TEMPLE
“Who’s there?”
[The long and drawn out response comes from behind Heartsford, who turns around to find himself face to face with the Mad King himself. Lee Crowley.]“What’s the matter, old friend, you seem uncertain?”
[The taunt from Crowley gets no response from Heartsford. This is a man on a mission.]“I’m more certain now than I have ever been. That’s why I’m here.”
[Crowley grins, approaching Heartsford. The Knight puts some distance between he and Crowley though.]“I thought so. When I saw you headed down here, I thought I’d sneak in and see what you were up to. Those poor guards will look great by my throne. Speaking of which, won’t you come visit my domain, you won’t believe what I’ve done with the place. I’d love to give you an upgrade like I did that dreadful Ordell Terminus.”
[Heartsford plants his feet firm. Crowley is not surprised.]“It’s like that then. What brings you here, old friend?”
[Jonathan looks Crowley right in the eye.]“You.”
[The Mad King laughs, but his demeanor has went from welcoming to deadly serious as he studies Jonathan.]“Did you come here to find out how to kill me? Trust me, these guys have tried and failed.”
“Not quite. If it weren’t for you, things would have turned out differently for me. The emotion was always a target for powerful people, but you showed it what it meant to be in a family. What it meant to be betrayed, even. So now that I’m back, I’m making things right.”
[Crowley snorts.]“Hope was returned to this place. But the rest of the work is on us. If I could be saved, then so can you, Lee. I owe it to you. It won’t be easy, but I have to save you. Because it takes a Knight to defeat a King.”
[Crowley looks Heartsford up and down with a grin.]“You have changed, haven’t you? I liked the old you better. Everyone needs a little bit of doubt.”
[The Mad King perks his head as he hears running sounds in the distance. With a smile, he begins to walk away in the opposite direction.]“I’m going to enjoy watching you fail.”
[Crowley vanishes around a corner as several brothers of the Knights Templar run into view, circling Jonathan Heartsford with naked steel bared.] [Cut.]GOODBYE, DEAR SCARECROW
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Have you found what it is you’re looking for?”
[A feminine voice echoes throughout the chambers. The Scarecrow turns around to see Mother’s face directly before his. The lantern illuminates them both, almost terrifyingly.]“How did you know I came?” [The Scarecrow asks.] [She scoffs.]
“You’re my creation, my child; I know everything. Just like I know that you’re searching for the way to defeat me.”
[He smiles, his jagged teeth on display.]“I’m not trying to defeat you, Mother. I’m trying to destroy you.”
[Again, she laughs.] “Hah. You know that I cannot be destroyed, dear boy. You know that I’m immortal. You can search these caverns for your answers. You can seek the ancient texts of centuries gone by but no-where within these walls does an answer to me belong.”“Yet you came to meet me anyway,” [he remarks.] “I can smell your fear, Mother. It radiates from you. Your hubris is but a cover for the desperate truth that lies beneath; you know your end is coming and you know I will be the one to bring it to you.”
[Mother stops, and slowly backs away. She doesn’t speak, she just clicks her fingers.] [Rubble, rocks and stones suddenly begin falling from above, shrouded in dust. The Scarecrow is quickly toppled, buried beneath an avalanche of heavy material. His lantern drops and breaks beside him, consuming the tinder around and turning to flame. Mother steps back, watching the fire roar amongst the stones.]“It appears as if you have met your end first, my son. Goodbye Dear Scarecrow. Enjoy your tomb.”
[Cut.]EDWARD NEWTON VS. CREEPING DEATH
THE MAIN EVENT
A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
RINGSIDE
“Wait a minute, Kersh,” [Newton pleads.] “We don’t have to do this. We’re on the same side, you and I.”
[The Enforcer shakes his head.]“After everything you’ve done, you truly believe we’re on the same side?” [He yells.] “You led Mike Lane to his death. You brought The Darkness into our lives. You may have fooled everyone else in this war, but not me. I know you’re just looking out for yourself, Edward. I know it. I also know that the biggest obstacle in us saving the world isn’t David, Mother or Lux Bellator; it’s you.”
[Brent goes to step forward, but Edward interrupts.]“Me?” [He scoffs with disgust.] “I’m the obstacle? I used that book and that spell to unleash The Darkness because of you, Kersh. The Family had their hooks in you like everyone else does and you were about to spill enough blood to destroy these walls. You’re the one who was going to take their offer of saving your family over everyone else. Did you care about Mike Lane then? Did you care about his daughter? Or did you care about yourself? You don’t want to fight me because you believe I’m at fault. You want to fight me because you know, deep down in your heart, that you’re the one responsible.”
[Kersh screams, running towards Newton with his steel chair. It collides violently across the head of The Riddler, dropping him to the canvas in a heap. The Enforcer is furious, turning the chair on its side and driving it into his stomach with such force, the entire ring shakes.] [With every devastating blow, a little bit of Brent Kersh relents, until finally, he stops.] [He tosses the chair down and stumbles back into the corner, dropping to his ass in shame. He runs his hands through his head, watching as Edward spits up blood.]“I didn’t kill him,” [Kersh yells.] “It wasn’t me.”
[Cut.]