Recidivism: Part 2

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12/28/2018

Off Camera

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Freedom and liberty; two things that people all too often take for granted; not so for Melinda Jade. Melinda has not seen much of in her entire adult life due to armed robbery charges that landed her in Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Framingham.  Marie Jones, for her part, can only imagine what it must have been like to have damn near every action you take dictated for you, to have your very schedule dictated for you, to practically be property of the state of Massachusetts.

Most would probably argue that Jade was serving the time due to a crime she was lawfully convicted of in a court.  What society often overlooks are the x-factors that lead to people like Jade breaking the law.  Admittedly, Marie doesn’t even know the full story behind her friend’s descent into armed robbery, but she knows that her drug addiction led to it.  She needed money for her drug fix and robbing that convenience store seemed like the best idea at the time.

One mistake changed her life forever and now so many things society takes for granted, Melinda does not have.  Her family has completely disowned her.  For all intents and purposes, Marie is the only “family” she has right now.  Melinda would have been homeless with a little over forty dollars to her name were it not for Marie agreeing to house her and keep her in check until she could get back on her feet.

It’s the least she could do.  Even with all of the luxuries that come with being a part of a famous wrestling family like the Joneses, Marie still understands the difficulties that her friend Melinda is going through.  To give her a place to stay, help her get a job so that she can make a living, pay the bills, and maybe even move out into a place of her own, that’s something Marie wants to do for her friend.  Not everyone is as lucky as Melinda.  Most in Melinda’s situation, after being released from prison, is left at the mercy of society.  And if they have no family or loved ones to help them out, they would end up homeless or reverting back to their old ways and right back into prison.

Marie understands why there is such a high recidivism rate amongst felons and she wants to make sure Melinda does not become just another statistic.  And to her credit, Melinda does seem to be honestly wanting to improve herself.  But she doesn’t want to start that until tomorrow.  She just got released from prison and she wants to go out and have fun.

“Having fun” is not what Marie wants to do right now.  Just as Melinda has a goal to improve herself, Marie has a goal as well: winning the SCW World Championship.  To do so she will have to defeat Sienna Swann at the End of the Year Special and she knows it will be a tall hill to climb, but she also knows that this is what she has been after since signing a contract with SCW.  This is what she has wanted since leaving UWA after, in her own mind, being cheated out of a title opportunity there.  In an ideal world, Marie would just drop Melinda off at her and Arthur’s place in Boston while she went off to a local gym and did more match preparation.

Still, she can’t help but think at least a little bit about her friend.  Melinda has been locked up and separated from society for many years.  Of course she would want to have some fun and see what things were like from the other side of the prison walls.  Besides, it was Marie who planted this idea in Melinda’s head.  Marie herself suggested that, after ten years of being incarcerated, that it might be a good idea for Melinda to enjoy herself; even if for one evening.

Had Marie been thinking more clearly perhaps she wouldn’t have suggested it; but what’s done is done.  And against her better judgment, Marie felt that maybe it would be a good idea to just let her have this day.

Just this one day.

Currently Marie finds herself in a Verizon store with her freshly released friend.  It isn’t exactly a party place and, for the most part, looks drab and dull in its decor.  Cream colored walls, a dark blue carpet a few small aisles with products on their shelves.  Marie is sporting a warm, pleasant smile and, by contrast, Melinda seems to almost scowl.

“Great idea, Marie…” Jade’s voice is dripping with sarcasm “...just the place I wanted to go after being released.”

“No need to hide the sarcasm, Mel.” Marie says in a teasing tone. “Tell me how you really feel.”

“Right…” Melinda sighs and shakes her head “...it’s just that, I’ve been locked up for most of my adult life up to now, no booze, no boys...shit, no girls if I wanted to experiment...nothing!  And our first stop is here?”

“Yes.  Our first stop is here.  Do you have a problem with that?”

“Guess not.” She shrugs her shoulders. “But is this the best you can do?”

“Oh I can do better.” Marie winks at Melinda. “Trust me.”

With that Marie scans the store and finds an Apple logo.  She approaches the wall where she spotted the Apple logo, Melinda following closely behind.  She quickly spots what she was looking for; an iPhone XR.  She picks one up off of the shelf and hands it Melinda.

“There you go.”

“This?” Melinda chuckles. “I’d love to have it, I saw this shit on the commercials when watching TV back at the prison.  These look awesome.”

Melinda tries to hand it back to Marie. “But I can’t afford it.  No job, remember?”

“Yes, but you will have a job soon and you will be able to pay for it.”

“Doubtful.  Who wants to hire a chick with a record?”

“You’d be surprised.” Marie says, trying to cheer her friend up. “Besides, I have a few ideas on that front.  So trust me, you will have a job.  Until then, this is yours.  I’m paying for it and will pay for your bill until you get a job and can pay for it on your own.”

Melinda’s eyes grow wide in surprise.  This certainly wasn’t what she was expecting.  “You mean it?”

“Yes, the phone is yours; my gift to you.  You haven’t been exposed to the outside world in so long, Mel.  It’s time to get you caught up.”

“Thanks, Marie!” Melinda responds, embracing her friend in a tight hug. “You really are the best!”

“I try.” After breaking the embrace Marie motions towards the counter. “Now come on, let’s get this paid for so that it is officially yours.”

Marie cannot hold off her big wide grin.  She feels so good about this, about helping her friend Melinda.  She knows that a simple phone won’t be enough to get her back on the right path but any little bit helps.  Marie also knows exactly how Melinda will get a job.  Marie intends on getting her a job.  She has connections within SCW and GCW, due to wrestling there.  She also has connections with her aunt Kayla Jones and her own company that has its toes dipped into several different fields but primarily modeling.  And if all else fails, Marie can hire Melinda to work for her.  Surely Marie can find something for Melinda to do.  It’ll be a chance and that’s really all Melinda needs is a chance; a chance that so many felons upon being released do not get.

Jones and Melinda make their way to a station with a counter and a young brown haired woman in a verizon shirt and light brown khaki pants is there smiling politely.  Melinda places the iPhone on the counter.

“Is that all for you today?”

“Yes, I believe so.” Marie answers. “And I’ll be paying for this but it is a gift to my friend here.”

The woman scans the phone for an amount.  Then Jones slides the debit card across the counter.  The young woman swipes the card and reads the information from her computer.  Nodding her head she passes the card back to Marie.

“Now if you want to get your friend set up with her phone plan I can help with that as well.”

“Absolutely, that would be great.” Melinda chimes in.

“And your name is?”

“Melinda Jade.”

The young woman working for verizon nods and quickly gets back to work, keying away at the computer.  Marie notices the look of excitement on her face.  It’s enough to bring the somewhat arrogant Marie Jones back down to earth.  Melinda is excited, overjoyed even, over the simplest of things as getting her first cell phone.  Marie wasn’t going to be excited about her lot in life until she received a match for the SCW World Championship.  Now that she has that match, and seeing her friend Melinda here and now, it is a reality check for Jones.  She realizes just how good she has it and how others do not have it as good.

After what seems like forever, the woman behind the counter smiles and slides a piece of paper across to Melinda.

“This is your new number, Ms. Jade.”

“Awesome!  Thanks!”

“And the bill will go to…”

“Me.” Marie answers. “Send it to me for now.  We plan on changing that when she gets a job.  Right, Mel?”

“Right.” Melinda answers with a confident grin on her face.

With that business settled, Marie turns and walks towards the door. “Well now, aren’t you glad we got this boring crap out of the way?”

“Fine, I concede.  You were right, Marie.” Melinda says with a smirk. “So glad you brought me here.  And I’m so glad to have you as a friend.”

“Don’t mention it. Now let’s go have some real fun.”

Marie pushes the doors and exits with Melinda following closely behind.  Almost immediately after stepping out of the door the two women feel an incredibly strong shove that sends them tumbling to the hard sidewalk just outside of the verizon store.  Marie is dazed and almost a little dizzy as she landed on her face.  Melinda landed on her shoulder and is feeling the pain from that.  But they forget their mutual pain as they look up to see a long haired blonde man, no shirt but with a vest, torn denim jeans, and boots standing over them.

Normally Marie would not be afraid of a situation like this.  She’s been in worse and, as a wrestler, has taken down tougher looking individuals than him.  But what makes this different is what he holds in his right hand…

...a gun, pointing directly at Marie.

“Quiet!  Stay quiet and nobody gets hurt!”

“Hey!  You can’t do that!” Melinda shouts angrily at the gunman.

“What’d I say, bitch?!” He turns to point the gun at Melinda. “Shut up and no one gets hurt!”

“What do you want?” Marie asks meekly.

“Whatever you got.” He notices that new iPhone in Melinda’s hand. He smirks nastily. “Now that looks pretty nice.”

The gunman reaches down to try and snatch up the phone with his free hand but as soon as he takes it, Melinda, using rather quick reflexes, gets a grip with both hands on the gun and starts to pull.

“Are you nuts, lady?!”

“No!  I’m pissed!” She kicks him in the shin, causing him to lose his grip and Melinda takes hold of the gun.  She points it at the man. “You’re not stealing from us asshole!  Not today!”

The man is scowling angrily at the two.  If looks could kill both would be dead but looks don’t kill.  Guns do, and he knows it.  Thus he raises his hands in defeat, knowing he has no choice.

“Melinda…” Marie’s voice trails off, she isn’t liking this situation at all.

“Don’t worry.  I got this.” She points it right up against the man’s skull. “Leave now!”

WIthout uttering a word the man nods his head and he slowly backs away.  Once he is a safe distance from Marie and Melinda he turns and makes a run for it.  Melinda sighs as she lowers the gun.  Marie just stares at her in shock.

“Mel...are you ok?”

“Yeah, but I think we should go home.  Maybe partying wasn’t such a good idea.”

Jones was afraid of something bad happening but had no idea it would escalate into something like this.  Luckily it didn’t end any worse than it could have ended.  Marie turns and, with Melinda, makes an exit.  What neither notice is that the young woman from the verizon store had been watching it all.  Now she ducks back into the store and goes to call the police.

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12/28/2018

Off Camera

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“I am so damn sorry I got you in trouble, Marie!”

Melinda is sweating bullets and pacing the floor.  Marie watches her nervous friend pacing on the carpeted floor of her home in Boston, Massachusetts while sitting on the plush leather sofa in the living room.  Marie’s legs are tucked underneath her as she leans her head up against her loving husband Arthur.  Jones can sense the guilt that Melinda feels right now but, in all honesty, Marie feels a ton of that guilt herself.  She should not have agreed so quickly and easily to go out with Melinda immediately after her release.  She sensed it was too soon.  She sensed something could go wrong.  She just didn’t anticipate it would go this wrong.

Then again, who would predict an attempted robbery?  Marie certainly wouldn’t.  She always lived in the safest neighborhoods.  But she realizes that was due to her upbringing and who she lived with.  She was the daughter of Angelica Jones.  She always had a nice place to stay and Angelica always made sure she was safe.  She wouldn’t possibly know how she that incident could have ended differently had it not been for Melinda.

In fact, Marie is still in awe at how her friend handled it.  But then again, should she be surprised?  Melinda had dealt with the street during her youth when she got caught up in drugs and then the armed robbery.  Then she had to deal with the challenges of prison life and being around hardened criminals the duration of her sentence.  Of course Melinda would know what to do in a situation like the one they just endured.

Still, Melinda seems extremely nervous; she hasn’t stopped pacing since they got home.  Marie can understand.  She just got out of prison today and an hour or so later she’s already back in an attempted robbery situation, the crime that got her locked up in the first place.  It would be enough to rock anyone in her position trying to turn her life around.  It’s just another obstacle she has to overcome; the constant temptations to just give in and go back to her old ways.

“Do not apologize, Mel.” Marie remarks. “You did nothing wrong.”

“Marie’s right.” Arthur chimes in. “Besides, the way I hear Marie tell it, you were a real hero.  It could have gotten a lot nastier had you not fought back the way you did.  You were brave.”

“I wasn’t brave.  I was a dumbass.”

“Don’t say that, Mel.”  Marie immediately sits up and gives her friend a hard stare. “You had no other choice.”

“I always have a choice.  That’s what they told me in my classes back in prison.  But I didn’t listen.”

“It’s called fight or flight and flight was out of the question because he was pointing a gun at us.”

“You’re right, he did pull a gun on us, but then I took the gun from him and pointed at his ugly ass face.  Those were my actions and yeah, it saved us, but actions have consequences.”

Actions do indeed have consequences.  It’s a lesson Marie has learned the hard way in recent months.  It’s part of what motivated her to take the drastic steps she took in order to position herself to get more opportunities in Supreme Championship Wrestling and now it seems her actions are being rewarded with a world title shot.  Melinda knows this lesson too, for it was her actions of robbing a convenience store that got her locked up in the first place.

“You’re right, actions do have consequences.  Hopefully that jerk will get caught one day and he’ll learn the consequences of his actions.”

“I’m more concerned with the consequences of my actions, Marie.” Melinda answers quietly with some dread in her voice.

“You’re crazy, Mel.” Marie turns to look at her husband Arthur. “Tell her, Arthur.  Tell her she’s fine.”

“Uh...I’m not sure I can do that…”

“What do you mean?” Marie asks inquisitively.

“Marie, darling, she’s been convicted of a crime.”

“But she served her time.”

“Yes, but many ex-convicts still do not get the same rights as the rest of us.  Whether it’s right or not, it IS the law.”

“Bingo!” Melinda says with a ton of sarcasm dripping from her voice.

“She just got released from prison.  Now yeah, she did save you guys from certain disaster, but what you didn’t mention was that she pulled a gun on him.”

“I didn’t think that was important.”

“It’s very important.” Arthur answers with a nod. “If someone recognized her and saw her with that gun, she could potentially go right back to prison.”

Marie gasps.  How could she have been so dumb?  Arthur is right, this could be real bad.  She puts her feet on the floor and stands up.  She approaches her friend and embraces her in a hug.

“Gosh!  I’m sorry, Mel…” Marie’s voice trails off.

“Your hubby is right.  If I get caught, I’ll be arrested for violating probation.  I’m not supposed to possess any firearm.”

“But you don’t own a gun.”

“Still had possession of it.”

“You were using it in self-defense!” Marie shouts incredulously.

“The law won’t see it that way.  Trust me, I know.”

Marie cannot get another word in before the doorbell is heard.  “Stay here, Mel.  I’ll answer it.”

Her friend nods and stands there as Marie turns and walks out of the living room and down the hall towards the door.  Upon reaching the door she turns the knob and opens it.  Marie nearly gasps again as she sees the police on her doorstep; two, to be precise, one male and one female.  Almost as if on cue.

“Oh, uh...hi...may I help you?”

“Yes, ma’am.” The male answers. “Are you owner of the residence?  Marie Annabelle Jones?”

“Yes, that’s me, officer.”

“Someone called in about the robbery attempt outside of the Verizon store.  We just wanted to let you know that the suspect is in custody.”

Marie breathes a sigh of relief.  Seeing the officers made her think that Melinda’s worst nightmare was about to come true.  It turns out they were just notifying her about the suspect being caught.  That puts Marie’s mind at ease, at least temporarily.

“That’s great news!  Is there anything else?”

“Yes, ma’am.” The male officer nods his head and continues. “There is one other thing.  A blonde woman about your height was spotted with you.  Her name is Melinda Jade.  Is she staying with you by any chance?”

It doesn’t take a psychic to figure out what they want with her.   Marie knows and it pains her to no end.  She doesn’t want to see her friend locked up, especially the day she was released from prison.  But she may not be able to avoid it.  Although she could just lie and tell them Melinda isn’t there…

“Uh…” her voice trails off.

“Don’t lie for me, Marie.” To Marie’s surprise, Melinda walks up right behind her. “I can take it.”

“Are you Melinda Jade?” The officer asks.

“Yes.”

The female officer produces a pair of handcuffs as the male officer continues with what both Marie and Melinda knew was coming.

“You are under arrest for violating probation by being in possession of a firearm.” Melinda sighs as she holds out her hands, allowing herself to be cuffed. “You have the right to remain silent, anything you say may be used against you in a court of law…”

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12/29/2018

Off Camera

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Yesterday was certainly an eventful day in the life of Marie Annabelle Jones.  It was supposed to be a day spent with her good friend Melinda Jade, who had been convicted of armed robbery and served prison time.  She was released yesterday and Marie swore to make sure she would be taken of.  If not Marie, no one would take care of Melinda.  Her entire family had disowned her and she had no one else.  The lack of a support system and the constant black mark known as her felony conviction would more than likely make her just another statistic in the high recidivism rate across the nation.  But Marie wanted to Melinda to be different.  Over years of visiting with her, talking with her, she could tell Melinda wanted to change her ways and turn her life around.

Who could have guessed that someone would try to rob them the same day Melinda got released from prison?  Marie certainly would not have wanted her friend around that same kind of crime that got her locked up in the first place.  Lucky for them, Melinda’s quick thinking and reflexes allowed her to save themselves from the situation and run the potential thief away with his own gun.

Society can be a real bitch, though.  You’d think that Melinda would be praised for her quick thinking and bravery in a situation like that.  Instead she was arrested for violating her parole. Now she’s back behind bars the day after she was released from prison.

The only saving grace is that she currently resides in a local jail where she is awaiting bail or court.  Melinda is lucky to have a good friend like Marie willing to pay the bail and get her out of jail while she awaits the court date.

It isn’t fair, Marie thinks as she and her husband Arthur sit in the waiting room at the jail.  Sure, Melinda was not supposed to have a gun, but that was not “her” gun and it wasn’t like she used it to kill someone or rob a convenience store.  She used it to protect herself and Marie.

“It isn’t fair!”

And Marie certainly has no problem making her opinions known.

“Hush!” Arthur scolds in a whisper. “Not a wise move in the jail, darling.”

“Fine…” Marie lowers her voice to a whisper, matching her husband’s “...I still stand by what I said.  It isn’t fair.”

“It may not be fair, it may not be right…”

“You damn right it isn’t right!”

“...but it is the law.” Arthur answers, finishing his sentence.

“I just don’t understand it, Arthur.  She honestly wants to improve herself but she can’t help the circumstances dealt to her.  She can’t help that her family doesn’t give a damn about her and refuses to help her.  She can’t help that she has a record and employers won’t give her a chance…”

“Technically she could have helped the whole record part.”

“You know what I mean!” She hisses. “And what is she supposed to do when someone pulls a gun on her?”

“Like I said, Marie; it isn’t fair but it is the law.”

“The law should be fair.”

“Slavery was once the law.” Arthur points out.

“Touche…”

“Point is, Marie, the life isn’t fair.  You of all people should know this.”

Marie sighs as she nods her head.  Arthur raises a good point.  Life just is not fair and she does know this more than most.  Most young girls got to have normal lives with normal parents.  Her mother suffered from a mental condition that led her to murdering Marie’s father.  Most girls don’t have kids until they are ready.  That choice, and her innocence, was taken from her when she was raped at a very young age.  Even as a professional wrestler fairness has always seemed to elude her.  Only recently, when she threw her lot in with Kaya and Dark Fantasy, did she finally feel as if she’s being treated right and given opportunities she feels she deserves, such as the SCW World Championship match she gets at the End of the Year Special.

Fairness is something that always seems to elude Marie.  Yet still she is a strong advocate for fairness.  Hence why she wants to try to give Melinda a fair shake.  She wants to be there for her and give her the fair opportunity that she may not otherwise get.  But now, after yesterday’s events, Marie knows that getting Melinda back on her feet will be even more challenging.

“This isn’t about me, Arthur.” Marie shakes her head. “This is about Melinda.  She deserves a fair opportunity and it sucks that she’s not getting it because of some stupid technicalities.”

“I know, babe.” Arthur kisses Marie on the cheek. “I know.”

“I have a question, Arthur.  And I want you to answer it honestly.  Don’t tell me what I want to hear.  Ok?”

“Of course.” Arthur nods his head.

“Am I naive to believe in fair play?  Am I ignorant to believe in justice?”

“Well that’s a loaded question, isn’t it.” He chuckles. “I have a feeling you’re asking for more than just the obvious reasons.”

“Just answer the question, babe.”

“Fine…” he sighs “...you and Melinda have both been dealt bad hands.  Granted, Melinda has been dealt a worse hand than you, but at least she has you to look out for her and help her out.  Maybe you have been dealt a bad hand too.  I know you aren’t exactly a big fan of who has been getting the opportunities in SCW lately.”

“You can say that again…” she growls under her breath.

“And like Melinda, you have someone looking out for you right now.  But how long will your new friends be on your side?  Remember, they didn’t get you the world title match.  The fans did.  And let’s say you win the world title.  Do you really think they’ll still treat you fair in a match against Syren?”

“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”

“But to answer your question,” Arthur shakes his head “no, I don’t think anyone is naive or ignorant for believing in justice and fair play.”

He runs his hand through Marie’s long red hair. “I just worry about how you choose to go about it, that’s all.”

“Fair enough.” Marie nods her head. “And as I told my mom, I know what I’m doing.”

“I trust that you do.”

Before anything else can be said, an officer opens the door and leads Melinda Jade into the waiting room.  Marie immediately jumps up from her seat and greets her friend with a tight hug.  She truly is a sight for sore eyes as far as Marie is concerned.

“Mel!  Are you ok?!”

“As well as can be expected considering where I spent my first night out of prison.”

Marie nods her head and turns to face the officer. “Is there anything else?”

“No, you signed all of the necessary paperwork and you posted bail for her.  She’s free to go.  But you are responsible for her making sure she appears at court for her hearing.  Understood?”

“Yes.” Marie says stoically.

Nothing else is said as Marie and Melinda walk away.  Neither dare to look back.  They want to leave this horrible nightmare behind and hopefully forget it.  As they pass Arthur he gets up and joins them as they walk out of the door of the jail.

Once outside Melinda breaks the tension…

“You know, you don’t need to do all of this for me.”

“Yes, yes I do.”

“No, you don’t.  I did this to myself.” Melinda continues, sounding more and more depressed by the second. “I was dumb enough to get that gun and point it at that idiot.  It was my fault.  I wasn’t thinking.”

“No, that’s where you are wrong.  You were thinking; you were thinking about our survival.”

“There could’ve been a better way…”

“Maybe, but who knows?  Who else would have done the same thing had they been in your situation?  Damn near anyone.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Melinda shakes her head. “I wasn’t supposed to have that gun.  They’re even thinking it might be my gun.”

“Say what?!” Marie’s eyes grow wide. “How do they jump to that conclusion?!”

“Easy; I’m a convict.  I have a record and history of pulling guns on people.  So it’s easy to just assume I started it and lock me up.”

“This isn’t right.” Marie shakes her head. “This isn’t fair and we’re not gonna take it.  We’re gonna fight it.”

“It’s probably easier to just take a plea deal…” Melinda’s voice trails off.

“You are not taking a plea deal because you are not guilty!”

“Nice thought but you can’t defend me, Marie.  I have no representation.”

“She has a point, sweetheart.” Arthur chimes in. “She doesn’t have a lawyer and we don’t know one.  Unless she went with a court appointed one.”

“Bullshit to that.  I have a better idea; my aunt Kayla.”

“Your aunt is not a lawyer.” Arthur points out dryly.

“No shit,” Marie snaps back “but her stepbrother is.”

The trio stops dead in their tracks.  Marie places her hands on Melinda’s shoulders and stares into her eyes.

“You just have to trust me on this one, Mel.  Everyone deserves a fair chance, everyone deserves justice, and I am going to make damn sure you get it.”

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On Camera

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The SCW logo flashes upon the screen.  Then we cut to a standard gray backdrop.  Some of the cameras and lights are in the shot, oddly and strangely enough.  Marie Annabelle Jones, The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling,  then enters the scene from stage right. The Phoenix is wearing a long ankle length black skirt, black high heeled pumps, a red blouse, and her signature black leather jacket.  Her long gorgeous ginger red hair hangs unrestrained and straight down to below her shoulders.  Her nails, both finger and toe, are painted a bright red color.  A confident smirk is wrapped around her lovely features.  This should come as to no surprise to anyone considering this is the moment she has been waiting for, the moment she has been fighting for ever since she signed with SCW; her first ever opportunity at the SCW World Championship.

“New Year’s Eve is a time when people focus on one of two things; past or the future.  They focus on what happened in the previous year, both good and bad, or they focus on the things to come in the new year.  Most like to look backwards and reminisce on what happened in the past.”

“If I were to reminisce about the past, I would talk about how I have been busting my ass this entire year to earn my way into the position I now find myself in.  I would talk about how I fought, clawed, and bled through a world title contendership series, in a triple threat against two of the best ever at Rise To Greatness, how I stepped up and challenged the likes of Blake Mason and former world champions like Alistaire Allocco all in an attempt to get noticed and make an impact for myself, all with the hopes that someone in the back would take notice of me and grant me just one shot, one opportunity at the SCW World Championship…”

“...because all I have ever needed is one title shot and I guarantee I will leave as the SCW World Champion, but more on that later.”

“I could reminisce about how I have been denied opportunities.  But you’ve heard that song and dance before, right?  You know why I came to SCW in the first place, because UWA refused to grant me a world title rematch.  And then when I Andrew Raynes beaten, dead to rights in the middle of the ring for the Adrenaline Championship, that lunatic dumbass Dylan Howell interfered all so he could get his pathetic little revenge and was I given a fair one on one rematch?  No, I got my Adrenaline title match in a fucking chamber match while Howell was rewarded for breaking the rules.”

Jones shakes her head. “No, I’m not going to focus on the past because the past is full of nothing more than painful, cancerous memories.  I’m not going to focus on the past because I decided weeks ago that I would never again rely on outside forces to make my destiny.  I would be the one to write my own destiny and my own future.  And at the End of the Year Special, I am going to correct a hell of a lot of wrongs that have been done to me in these past few years.”

“Sienna Swann, you may not have done anything wrong to me directly or indirectly, but you are damn sure part of the problem here in Supreme Championship Wrestling.  You have been the ‘chosen one’ from the very first day you set foot inside SCW.  What were you called upon your arrival? What did Silas Mason refer to you as?  The Real Perfect Ten…”

The Crown Jewel chuckles “...that right there implies that you were the handpicked successor to Kelcey Wallace.  Don’t get me wrong, you definitely had to work for what you got, but you didn’t have to work nearly as hard as some of the others in SCW to get what you wanted because you had protection.  You had people looking out for you whether it was Silas World, Past Present Future, The Beauty Factory, or most recently, The Network.  Someone was always there to hold you up when you couldn’t stand on your own. Someone was always there to push you over the finish line just when it appeared as if you were out of gas.”

“I have never had such help.” The red headed Phoenix sneers, perhaps out of anger, perhaps out of jealousy or greed, but it is definitely a sneer that crosses her lips. “Everything I did to earn a United States title shot I did on my own and then I won the United States title on my own and I even successfully defended it against all comers, ON MY OWN!  I earned my opportunity at the Television title on my own and I won the Television Championship ON MY OWN!  No back up, no one in my corner, no one to watch my back, it was all me!”

“Again and again I would continue to try and earn my way, I would fight to earn my opportunities, but SCW continued to let me down by granting the opportunities I rightfully deserved to a fat ass comic relief Derek Adonis, a raging lunatic like Dylan Howell, or to a drug addict who has no business in this industry like GIovanni Aries.  Still others got opportunities handed to them on a silver platter just because of who they were…”

She points a long slender finger at the camera, indicating she is pointing directly at the reigning world champion Sienna Swann.

“...people like you.  I’m not doubting your ability, the fact that you are champion says you’re good.  What’s that other cute little moniker you gave yourself?  The Iron Angel…” Marie pats herself on the chest “...Sienna, I can go the distance with anyone. I can go thirty minutes, sixty minutes, and I know because I have had to before.  But does anyone credit me with those accomplishments?  Does anyone put me in sixty minute matches in SCW as an opportunity to show the world that I can do the same damn thing as you only better?”

She shakes her head. “No, they don’t, because I don’t have the right entourage.  It’s me and only me, fighting for every little scrap that falls from the fucking table.  You?  Let’s face it, powerful and influential people introduced you to this sport, you then surrounded yourself with even more powerful and influential people, and people just assume you should be granted opportunities.  People like you are what’s wrong with this industry because you can just walk right out to the ring with the pomp, the circumstance, and the entourage, and demand opportunities and you’ll get it.  Sometimes you have to bitch a little bit but you’ll get it.”

“But people like me are expected to shut up and just work our way to the top and if we ever open our mouths and speak up about it then we’re accused of whining and crying.  It’s a double standard, it’s hypocrisy, and damn it I am sick and fucking tired of it!”

The sneer fades and is replaced by a sly grin that forms across Marie’s face. “Funny, that reminds me of another aspect of New Year’s and that is the New Year’s Resolution. Most resolve to change some aspect about their lives, such as to lose weight.  Well I have a New Year’s Resolution as well and my New Year’s Resolution is to never again just sit back and accept my lot in life.  I am going to take life by the throat and make it do what I want!  I am going to rewrite the book of my professional wrestling career and it starts at the End of the Year Special with you, Sienna.”

“No one expects me to win, not even you.  You are so full of yourself due to the half-assed “yes-men” you call The Beauty Factory that you’ve surrounded yourself with, you are so full of yourself because of you believing your own hype, and you are so full of yourself because of how you have always gotten every God damn thing you have ever asked for in this damn company without anyone questioning you or saying otherwise, that you are just assuming this is going to be a cakewalk.  You are overlooking me, I know it, anyone with any kind of wrestling knowledge knows it, and that, Sienna, is going to be your fatal mistake.”

That same sneer from earlier returns to Marie’s face, a contrast with her lovely features.

“So listen and listen good you plastic ass fake bitch, I am not someone you want to underestimate or overlook.  I’ve been a world champion before, I’ve beaten the very best this sport has had to offer.  I have beaten people who are harder than you because they do not have your luxuries, they do not have ass kissers and brown nosers telling you what you want to hear and saving your ass every time you get in trouble.  You’re soft, you’re vulnerable, and at the End of the Year Special I will beat you and expose you for the weak little bitch you are.”

“And when I do beat you, when I am announced as the winner and the new SCW World Champion, when my arm is raised in victory and the many critics and doubters in the back who questioned me, and the fans who turned their back on me soak in the reality of me as their new world champion, they will all have to accept, just like you will have to accept Sienna, that the old way of doing things...just like the year 2018...IT IS OVER!  And with the coming of the new year comes the beginning of a new way of doing things in Supreme Championship Wrestling.”

“A meritocracy led by The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling and the new SCW World Champion, Marie Jones!”

The scene fades to black.