The Rage

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Scene 1

Off Camera

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Jessica emerges from the hall, stepping into the living room and stands before Kyle Butler, who has been sitting this entire time on the sofa, waiting on his beloved to emerge.  He is wide-eyed as he gazes at Jessica, who is wearing a sequined trim pointelle long sleeve black dress with a hemline that stops just above the knee.  Her feet are encased in strappy black high heeled shoes and her long raven black hair hangs unrestrained to shoulder length.

“Do you like what you see?” She asks playfully.

Kyle smiles he like just walked through the gates of heaven; “Like? I love what I see, Jess.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” The young Polish woman approaches Kyle and plants a kiss  on his lips. “I really am.”

“Every minute with you is a blessing.”

Young Lasiewicz sits down on his lap.  A somewhat bittersweet grin is etched across her lovely features.

“I don’t deserve you, Kyle.”

Surprised by Jessica’s statement, Kyle lifts an eyebrow. “Why would you say that?”

“You’re so kind and humble.”  Jessica shakes her head. “I’m the exact opposite.”

A light chuckle escapes her lips. “I mean, look at me, I am a dark figure, a dark character.  I may as well be as villainous as my sister or mother.  Just...in other ways…”

Kyle wraps his arms around her. “Wasn’t too long ago I was far from the paragon of humility. Didn’t happen over night, I got back in touch with my sweet ole Alabama upbringing. Eventually. Better late than never.”

Jessica grins. “Better late than never…”

She kisses him again. “That’s one way to put it.  I know you meant well, even before we dated I can see now that you had good intentions.  My sister means well.  My mother means well.   But throwing their hat in with Silas Mason is a big mistake.”

“Yeah.. he is differently not good for the sport of professional wrestling and any of his clients. Aside from his shady character, an agent is supposed to remain in the background. Why can’t they see Silas wants the world to revolve around him. Your mother and sister are intelligent women. How did they allow that snake oils salesman to con them.”

“It’s what they want.” Jessica says with a sigh. “They just want to succeed by any means necessary.”

She looks deep into Kyle’s eyes. “I’m not like that, am I Kyle?”

“I don’t believe you will sell out your values for championship cold. That’s what makes you different than your mother and Marie. I mean that with no disrespect intended. Grant it, your mother has admitted winning is the only thing that matters. Am I fair to say shes never represented the purity of the sport?”

Jessica nods. Kyle continues.

“Marie on the other hand, I get it. From everything you’ve told me about her, I get why she would walk down this road. I can’t imagine the pressure she’s under being a second generation wrestler. I don’t have famous parents. I didn’t grow up in anyones shadow. I am Kyle Butler, no one expected a gosh darn thing from me. We all make choices in life. I don’t agree with the road Marie has taken to cement her name in wrestling history. There’s hope for her. What I am trying to say in a long winded way, you are not your mother or Marie.”

At that time Candra Stevens walks into the room, also dressed in a rather nice black cocktail dress.

“So, are we about ready to…” she stops as she sees Kyle and Jessica “...am I interrupting?”  

“We... didn’t get that far yet so no.. you didn’t interrupt anything.” Kyle chuckles.

“That’s good.” She responds with a chuckle. “But are YOU gonna be able to control yourself tonight at the big end of year party?  All those cheerleaders in one room…”

“I’ll be fine. The only cheerleader I want is the one sitting on my lap.” Kyle smirks.

“Plus if his eyes ever did stray to another cheerleader, that cheerleader would be gutted…” Jessica remarks somewhat jokingly.

Jessica leans over and kisses Kyle on his nose. “Why don’t you be a doll and go and get the car?  Candi and I will be out momentarily.”

Kyle nods his head. “Sure thing, Jess.”

With that, Jessica hops up off of Kyle’s lap.  Kyle then gets up himself and walks out of the room.  Jessica hears the front door slamming shut, which tells her that Kyle has now officially exited the house.  Immediately she turns to her friend Candra and her smile turns into a look of trepidation.

“Are you ok, Candi?”

“What do you mean?” Candi asks, feigning innocence.

“You know what I mean.”

There is a momentary pause as Candra and Jessica lock eyes.  Eventually Candra relents and nods her head.  She knows full well that she can’t keep anything from Jessica.  She’s too smart.  She knows Candra too well.  Jessica knows all about Jessica’s past, especially the painful one involving her father, a man who had beaten Candra routinely up until recently when Jessica convinced her to move away from her father and move in instead with her to live.   Recently Candra’s father has tried to contact her, claiming he wants to make things right with Candra.  Jessica, of course, is very much doubtful of her sincerity.

To say that Jessica Lasiewicz is not your typical girl would be an understatement.  She is the type who wants to take on the world.  While others in her situation are worried about themselves, she is too busy worrying about others.  She is worried about taking care of her friend Candra.  She is also worried about convincing her mother Angelica and sister Marie that Silas Mason is a bad dude.  Jessica always seems to put others ahead of herself.

“I know what you mean, Jess, but really, I am fine.”

Jessica approaches Candra. “You haven’t contacted him, did you?”

Candra shakes her head. “No, no I haven’t.”

“Good.” Jessica remarks. “The last thing you need is to be in touch with that monster.”

“That monster is still my father, Jess.”

Jessica nods her head. “That may be true, but he gave up any and all parental rights when he decided to abuse you.”

“I suppose you’re right…” her voice trails off and Jessica can detect hints of uncertainty.

“I know I’m right.” Jessica wraps an arm around her friend’s shoulder. “You do not have to give him the time of day.  You owe that man nothing.”

“But what if he has changed?”

Jessica sighs. “Look, if you want to give him a chance then I can’t stop you.  I can only tell you what I think and I do NOT think it’s a good idea to give him another chance.”

Candra chuckles lightly. “Jessie, you’ve been a real good friend to me throughout all of this…”

“…because I care about you.” Jessica interrupts.

“…right, and that’s why I’m taking everything you tell me seriously, especially this.  But you know tonight,” she sighs “tonight I really don’t want to think about any of that.”

Candra shakes her head vehemently. “Tonight is supposed to be a fun time out.  This is supposed to be an enjoyable party for you, me, Kyle, and the others.  We shouldn’t let this other stuff distract us.”

Jessica smiles, nodding her head in agreement. “You’re right, Candi.  We should enjoy ourselves and not focus on the negative.  Let’s focus on the positive.”

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Jessica Lasiewicz

On Camera

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Funny how things work, isn’t it?

It’s only my third match with Supreme Championship Wrestling and I’m facing Amy Chastaine.  What makes this so funny is the fact that both of us came to SCW at about the same time.  And this is your second or third match too, isn’t it Chastaine?

Now we’re on a collision course, you and I.  A collision course for Breakdown.  And I hope you’ve been paying attention to what happened to Arcadia Chavez and to Ransom.  I hope you’ve been paying very close attention, sweetheart, because what happened to them may very well be your future.

I dropped Arcadia on her head.  I dropped Ransom on his head.

And if you’re not careful, if you’re not prepared, then I will drop you on your head as well.

You and I are pretty evenly matched in almost every category except for one.  To quote a popular movie, there is one particular skill set that makes me a nightmare for people like you…

…my rage.

 I have a rage that is matched by very few in this industry but what makes it even deadlier is that, unlike most competitors, I can control it.  It is not an uncontrollable rage.  It is a rage that I can harness and use as a weapon.

No, I don’t hold any particular grudge against you, Amy.  You’re just another opponent.  You’re just another person set in my way, put directly in my path.  You’re just another obstacle between me and my real goal.

And I will not let you stop me.  I will not let you stand in my way.

You will go down and go down hard, just like Chavez and just like Ransom.  You, too, will get dropped on your head.  Or maybe I’ll just make you tap out to the Four Card Trick?  Either way, you will be defeated and I will move forward because my rage will allow it.  My rage will keep me moving forward.  My rage will allow me to run right through you.

I have no doubt that you will bring your A-Game and I have no doubt that the two of us will have quite a match on Breakdown.  But still, at the end of the day, the bigger picture has to take center stage and for me, the bigger picture is me saving my family from a lifetime of career mistakes.

I’m going to get who I want.  You can bet on that.  If I have to make an example out of you in order to force SCW management to sit up and take notice, then so be it.  If your lifeless form is what it takes for them to give me what I want then so be it.

Be prepared, Amy, for the rage of Jessica Lasiewicz.  Be prepared for The Morning Star.

Dobranoc…