Trouble in Paradise: Part 4

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Off Camera

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Marie Annabelle Jones had been giving SCW Television Champion Ravyn Taylor the fight of her life two weeks ago and could have potentially went on to become champion had it not been for a few individuals who decided to interfere in her business; namely, Bree Lancaster and Blake Mason.  One week ago Marie had an opportunity to rectify that situation and get some measure of revenge against Lancaster in a one on one match with none other than Kimberly Williams as guest referee.  That did not go as planned, for Marie’s identical twin sister lost her cool and went off on Bree.  Marie, not wanting to take a win that way, allowed herself to get disqualified.  Now the Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling is set to face her one more time and this time the match will take place at the SCW Under Attack pay per view event.  Marie wants no more games and no more shenanigans to interrupt her match this go around; just a straight up fight between her and Bree at Under Attack to shut this woman up once and for all.

Her professional wrestling career is one thing; Marie has a completely different set of issues she’s dealing with in her private, personal life outside of the ring.  Few people realize outside of immediate family that her husband, Arthur Pond, recently walked out on her.

Why did Arthur walk away from Marie?  Why did he leave the woman he supposedly loves?  Arthur blames Kimberly Williams, among other things.  Kimberly’s crazy, insane antics have driven Arthur up the wall and back again.  Kimberly just recently went through a psychiatric program in order to try and better herself.   She was released from the program into the care of Marie and Arthur but Arthur himself secretly did not believe Kimberly had changed very much.

Then there’s Marie’s wrestling career that bothered Arthur.  Marie Annabelle Jones is a wrestler who competes full time with a global powerhouse named Supreme Championship Wrestling.  SCW tours all over the world hosting events in every major city in the world.  SCW produces frequent house shows and Breakdown events as well as their pay per view extravaganzas.  Arthur told Marie that she was barely there for him due to her tough wrestling schedule and that, combined with his concerns over Kimberly, is the reason why he could not take it any longer.

So Arthur gave her an ultimatum; Marie can either choose wrestling and Kimberly or she can choose Arthur.  But she can’t have it all.

It was a trying time for Marie as she temporarily moved back in with her mother in Boston, Massachusetts.  She tried very hard to pull herself back together and tried very hard not to blame herself for what Arthur did.  Little did she know that she wasn’t the only one affected; Kimberly Williams, who knew that Arthur left because of her, attempted suicide, thinking that Marie might be better off without her.

Yes, Marie and the entire Jones family has been going through some stressful times as of late, but if there is any silver lining in all of it then it is this; Kimberly’s suicide attempt did give Marie a jolt of reality.  Marie realized that none of this is her fault, none of this is Kimberly’s fault.  This is entirely upon Arthur and Marie resolved that she would not be bound to Arthur’s ultimatum.  She would not allow him to dictate any terms.

Then the game changed when Arthur called Marie one afternoon when she and Kimberly were in the park.  Marie pretended not to care and for a while she did ignore his calls and his texts when he tried back later.  But curiosity, as they say, killed the cat and she finally decided to return his call, and that’s what brings Marie to this small café on the outskirts of Providence, Rhode Island, the city that will host SCW Under Attack.  Arthur and Marie agreed to meet here, since Marie had to be here for the pay per view anyway.

Jones is outside on the café’s patio area.  It lies less than two feet from one of the busiest roads in the city.  Under the unbroken cloud this late morning could be the pre-dawn and the street is all the more grey for it.  The cafe itself looks inviting, on the other side of those doors is warmth and soft jazz, but Marie has no time for that.  Marie is wearing a faux-wrap long sleeved sheath dress that includes a crossover V-neckline, empire waist with slight shirring.  It has a hemline that stops just below the knee.  Two hot beverages sit in front of The Phoenix; one is a hot French Vanilla and the other is a simple latte. Marie is sipping on the latte absent-mindedly, not even noticing when her husband, Arthur Pond, steps through the doors of the café out onto the patio and makes his approach towards the table.

“Marie?” He calls out as he approaches the table.  “Marie?”

“Huh?” She is startled just ever so slightly as she turns to face the direction of her name being called.  She sighs as she finds Arthur standing there.  There was a time that seeing Arthur would bring a warm, loving smile to her face.  Now it just brings trepidation, for she doesn’t know what this meeting will bring.  She isn’t even sure if meeting Arthur here today was a good idea or not.  She had been going back and forth the past hour whether or not she should just leave the café and stand him up; not having to deal with this inevitable meeting.

But therein lies the rub; it is an inevitable meeting.  Marie realizes this, she knows that she will eventually have to have this face to face with Arthur, either at a somewhat friendly environment of a café or in the cold unwelcoming environment of a courtroom during divorce proceedings.  A face to face with her husband is in her future.  She will have to face him eventually.

And there’s no backing down now.  He’s here.

“Oh, hi Arthur…” Marie says, forcing a smile upon her face as she motions to the table “…uh, sit.  I went ahead and ordered for you.”

“Ok…” Arthur’s voice trails off, clearly he is also having some issues with this meeting.  Marie is glad that she isn’t the only one.  Arthur sits down and takes the French Vanilla that Marie slides across to him.  He takes a sip and then a genuine smile spreads across his face as he tastes it.

“French Vanilla; my favorite.  You remembered…”

“Well it’s hard to forget,” Marie said with a wink “it’s my aunt Kayla’s favorite too.”

“Oh, well that is true.” Arthur says with a chuckle.  “What is the name of this place anyway?  I missed it on the way in.”

“I don’t see how you missed it.” Marie says snickering. “The name is plastered on the door in big bold letters; Small Point Café.”

“Oh…” Arthur again chuckles “…yeah, I guess my mind is just, elsewhere….”

“You’re not the only one whose mind is elsewhere.” Marie says with a sigh.

“I missed this, Marie.” Arthur says, motioning to him and her. “I missed this back and forth, I miss what we have…”

“What we had…” Marie says, correcting Arthur, who winces as he hears it.

“Yeah, right, but I do miss what we had and I want to see if we can work it out.  That’s why I called.  That’s why I wanted to meet.  I want to see if together we can make things right.”

“You know what you are, Arthur?” Marie says, glaring a hole through her husband, venom dripping from every word she utters. “You are an insensitive asshole.”

Once again Arthur winces in pain, but he nods his head in agreement. “Yeah, I guess I had that one coming, but try to understand why…”

“No, YOU listen to me!” Marie shouts, pointing a finger at Arthur. “You knew what you were getting yourself into when you started dating me, and then you should’ve known when you put this wedding ring on my finger…”

She flashes up her hand at Arthur, displaying the wedding ring she still wears “…that you were not just marrying me, you were marrying into my life; a life that includes my entire family, Kimberly included, and you were marrying into my career, a career that allows me to live the kind of life that we live.”

She pokes a finger into his chest. “You work PART-TIME as a secretary at my mother’s church.  Do you think you can manage to keep the both of us up with your paycheck?”

“No…” Arthur says, sighing as she shakes his head.

“No, you can’t.  I was and will be the money maker and bread winner of this household for the foreseeable future.  And my professional wrestling career is what allows us to live the way we live.  Is it a luxurious life?  Hell no, it isn’t!  We do travel a lot, we’re away from family and even each other a lot, but it’s the way I make my living.  I’m not like the Blake Mason’s and Bree Lancaster’s of the world who can buy up private jets and small island chains just for shits and giggles.  But my family is a proud wrestling family.  We have a legacy and reputation for being among the best athletes in this sport.  Us Jones women do this not for the money, though it does allow us to live our life; we do it because we love it.  And you…”

She pokes her finger at his chest again “…you are ignorant or just completely too wrapped up in yourself to even care about any of that.  You dumped this ultimatum on me a couple of weeks ago; remind me what that ultimatum was.”

“Do I have to?”

Yes!”

“Fine…” he sighs “…I asked you to choose your wrestling career and your sister Kimberly or me.”

“Right, you threatened to walk out on me, to walk away and leave me, if I didn’t dump not only my wrestling career but my own flesh and blood, my twin sister Kimberly, just to keep you happy.  Did you even have a plan what you were going to do to after the fact if I had decided to go along with you and dump my wrestling and my sister?  Because like I pointed out, you are a PART TIME secretary.”

“No, I guess I didn’t think that far into it.”

“Exactly.  And by the way, your timing thus far has been splendidly crappy.  You dumped that ultimatum on me a few days before I would challenge Ravyn Taylor for the SCW Television Championship.  Don’t you think THAT was on my mind instead of Ravyn herself?  And now you called me and want to meet me to discuss all of this, just a few days before I fight Bree Lancaster at Under Attack.”

“I’m…I’m sorry, Marie, I truly am.” He shakes his head in shame. “I just didn’t know.”

“You weren’t thinking.” Marie snaps at him venomously.

“I am sorry, Marie.  But try to understand where I am coming from, because I did not mean any of this with bad intentions.  I only wanted what was best for us.  I wanted us to have a normal life that normal people lead and, from what you yourself have told me before, you always wanted that normal life for yourself and for your son.”

Marie nods her head as she takes a sip of her latte.  Sean Connor Jones means the world to Marie.  She is her only son and she has always wanted him to have some kind of father figure, something Marie never had herself.  She had hoped that Arthur would finally be that father figure for Sean but now that hope is being put in jeopardy.

“You’re right, Arthur, at one time I did want to lead a perfectly normal life.  There was a time when I was ashamed of my own family.  That’s why my sister Jessica and I formed a tag team called Redemption.  We felt that it was our job to redeem the family name.”

She shakes her head. “But I realize now that I don’t need to redeem anyone or anything.  What my mother does, what my aunt Kayla does, what any other member of the Jones family who still actively wrestles, none of it should matter to me.  I should do the very best I can to be the very best person I can be and be the very best athlete I can be inside the ring.”

Arthur takes a sip of his French Vanilla and then sets it back down.  Marie then reaches out and takes Arthur by his hands and squeezes them tightly as she looks deep into his eyes.

“I’ve come to accept my family, stains and all.  Most importantly, I am happy with who I am.  I wouldn’t trade this life for anything.  And I do love you, Arthur.  I really do…”

“I love you too, Marie.”

“….but if you want to spend the rest of your life with me, you have to also accept The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling.  You have to also accept The Phoenix.  They are every bit a part of me as is the part that is your wife, Marie Annabelle Jones-Pond.”

“I think I can.” Arthur nods his head. “I do want to spend the rest of my life with you, Marie, and I admit, I was wrong for placing that ultimatum on you.  I didn’t consider how important wrestling was…still is…to you.  If you want to be a wrestler then you have my full support.”

“Good,” Marie says with a warm smile “but that’s not the end of it.  If you want to spend the rest of your life with me, then you also have to accept my family, and that includes Kimberly Williams.”

“Right, Kimberly.”  Arthur says, showing signs of trepidation.

“What is your problem with her?”  Marie demands as she and Arthur break their grip on one another’s hands.

“I get it, she is your sister and you care about her.  That is sweet and touching.  But understand who Kimberly is.”

“She is my sister.”

“Yes, and she’s also the same woman who kidnapped you and held you hostage while she tried to take your place in your life.  She is the same woman who to this day will attempt to switch places with you and sneak a kiss with me, knowing that I would have no way of telling the difference between the two of you.  You told me all of the stories, Marie, do not make me list all of the times she attempted to ruin your family.”

“She’s trying to change.” Marie responds. “She even checked herself into a mental health program in order to deal with her problems.”

“I’m skeptical.” Arthur states plainly. “Who is to say she isn’t just pretending to be ok, leading you on until the time is right to strike?”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“Am I?  She did it before.  She pretended to befriend you so that she could kidnap you.  So it wouldn’t be the first time she pretended to be normal in order to lead you into a trap.”

Arthur sighs as he takes a sip of his French Vanilla. “Look, Marie, I’m sorry if I sound insensitive about Kimberly.  And I’ll be the first person to apologize to the both of you and especially to her if I’m wrong, but I just don’t…I don’t…”

Real tears form in his eyes “….I don’t want to see her hurt you again.”

Jones gazes into the tear filled eyes of her husband and is genuinely touched by how much he cares.  She reaches out and grasps his hands again.

“You know, maybe I take for granted how much you and the rest of my family worry about me?  You weren’t the only skeptic regarding Kimberly.  Our own mother was skeptical for awhile about her.  But she’s changed, Arthur.  I truly believe she has changed.  What she needs now is support; support from everyone.  And if she gets the message that people do not think she’s capable of bettering herself, if she gets the idea that she can’t make it, then she’ll get worse.”

Tears now form in Marie’s eyes. “Kimberly, she…she attempted to kill herself the other week.”

“My God,” Arthur gasps “I had no idea…”

“Luckily we got to her when we did, otherwise I shudder to think of the possibilities.  I may not have a sister right now otherwise.  But she blamed herself, Arthur.  She blamed herself for everything that had been going wrong in my life, including you walking out on me.”

Arthur sighs. “I…hate to hear that…”

“Arthur, please, she needs our support now more than ever.”  She squeezes his hands tightly.  “And so do I.”

“I think…” his voice trails off as he nods his head “…I think we can work something out.”

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On Camera

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People today erroneously claim that money is the root of all evil.  This is not the case and that, in truth, is a misquote of the good book.  The quote actually says that the love of money is the root of all evil.

I guess I can see why Blake Mason and Bree Lancastar are vilified and hated by damn near all human beings.  Well, at least any human worth a damn.  After all what they love more than anything else isn’t just money, because God knows Blake Mason has plenty of that, but it is the accumulation of the power and influence that comes with wealth and privilege.

In a way I pity Bree.  I pity her because I tend to believe that she’s been corrupted by people like Blake Mason.  The taste and lure of money and power twisted her and corrupted her, it reshaped her into the conniving little bitch she is.

I should know because I was there once.  I had the allure of money and power before me once upon a time and it turned me into something I hated.  I never again want to go back to being that person, that self-centered conniving little bitch.

Bree, you ARE there right now.  You ARE that person right now, but this match between you and I at Under Attack isn’t a mission of mercy.  Oh no, I don’t do missions of mercy.  I’m through with being a missionary.  I’m through with redemption because that’s yesterday’s news.  This mission is about me kicking your ass all over Providence, Rhode Island.

And if I can be perfectly honest with you for a moment, I think that despite all of the money and power you wield by being Blake’s woman, I still have a pretty damn good chance of whipping your ass at Under Attack.

You have all of the money in the world because you’re engaged to a walking piggy bank.  That walking piggy bank has gone as far as to purchase The SCW Rise To Greatness Pre-Show for you and rename it the BREE-SHOW…can you get any more pathetic?

In your case, yes you can.  Blake flashes his money and buys you the world.  He bought you a shot at the SCW Women’s Championship.  How did that turn out for you, by the way?

Failure number one.  But that wasn’t all.  Blake would go on to throw his money around to try and give you the world but each time you failed to deliver.  What happened to that Adrenaline Championship Tournament you were entered in, sweetie?

Failure number two.

This isn’t to demean or undermine any of your achievements or abilities.  Make no mistake about it, you are a tremendous competitor.  Your battles with Sienna Swann were some of the best matches I’ve seen.  You don’t need your piggy bank to flash his money everywhere in order for you to get ahead in this business.

Yet that’s exactly what you’ve been just as happy to do lately.  Instead of trying to do things the right way you’re content to try and buy your way to the top.  It’s been said that everybody has a price, but that’s not true.  What is true is that there is a price you have to pay for your actions, good or bad, and Bree, it’s time to pay the piper.

Your wealth and privilege will not save your ass from the beating you will receive at Under Attack.  You say I tried to duck you?  No, I SAVED your ass from getting maimed by pulling my sister off of you.  And with her as guest referee, I could’ve had you dead to rights but I wanted to win the right way.  That’s just who I am.  Mock me for it if you like, quite frankly I don’t care what you think or what anyone else thinks.  I know who I am and I am happy with who I am.  That’s why I took the disqualification.  I didn’t want to win it that way.  I have a little something that is sorely lacking in this sport today, something you’ve clearly forgotten about…

….honor.  Pride.  Respectability.  I care about this sport too damn much and I care about myself too damn much to cheapen this sport or to cheapen myself to take a win like that.  Everything I’ve accomplished in my career as a professional athlete I’ve earned.  I earned my way here to Supreme Championship Wrestling.  And hell, you earned your way here too, but now that you’re here and now that you and Blake are an item, you’re content with just letting his money and influence buy you everything instead of earning anything else in your career.

That’s going to change at Under Attack because I’m going to beat you and I’m going to beat you the right way, MY WAY, at Under Attack.  And even if you do manage to get past me, if you manage to beat me at Under Attack, I’m damn sure going to make you earn it.  And I am going to make damn sure that you know you’ve been in a fight when all is said and done.

Trouble In Paradise: Part 3

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Off Camera

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The redheaded Boston native, The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling, The Phoenix Marie Annabelle Jones, enters a park just on the outskirts of Boston, Massachusetts.  She feels a slight breeze that rustles the leaves making them fall to the solid ground one by one.  The park was a scrub of moss and weeds.  Used needles lay amidst the shabby greenery, invisible and able to pierce the common light-weight shoes the children wear.  They had benches, ornamental trees, flowers year round and water fountains in clear lakes.  The air was warm, the beams of sunlight glowing on Marie’s skin as she makes her way through the grass.

The beautiful redhead is wearing an ankle length flowing floral print skirt, a black sleeveless top, and flip flops. Her long red hair hangs unrestrained to shoulder length.  The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling is not walking alone.  With her is her identical twin sister, Kimberly Williams.  Kimberly is wearing torn denim jeans, flip flops, and a black t-shirt.

Marie and Kimberly are spending some quality time together, time that Marie feels is necessary considering the troublesome past few weeks.  It all started when Marie’s husband, Arthur, walked out on her.  He left Marie due in large part to Kimberly’s actions as well as Marie focusing too much time on her wrestling career and not enough time on Arthur; at least, that’s Arthur’s perspective.  Things would get worse when Kimberly, blaming herself for what appears to be the end of Marie and Arthur’s relationship, attempted to commit suicide.

Lucky for the Jones family, paramedics were able to arrive in time to save Kimberly.  Still, the moment was scary and made the entire family, especially Marie, stop and think very carefully about Kimberly.  They want to savor every moment they have with one another, and Marie wants to try to understand why Kimberly did what she did.

“You really are lucky, sis.” Marie remarks.

“Well…” Kimberly’s voice trails off mockingly “…let’s see, I am a Jones, you’re my sister, I guess I am lucky…but I still haven’t won the lottery.”

She sighs with disappointment. “Maybe I’m not so lucky.”

“Be serious, Kim.” Marie answers back. “You know what I mean.”

“Oh do please divulge!” Kim says with a grin.  Marie, not really impressed, frowns.

“Your psychiatrist, Dr. Warren, she could’ve suggested you go back to the institution after that little incident…”

“You mean the whole trying to kill myself thingy?”

“Yes, that.” Marie sighs deeply. “She could’ve had you put back in the institution but she allowed you to stay under my care.”

“Yeah, well, maybe I should’ve been locked up in the loony bin…” Kim’s voice trails off.  Marie then stops dead in her tracks.  The two sisters face one another.

“Why would you say that, Kim?”

“Do you have to ask?” Kim asks, tears forming in her eyes. “I mean, if it weren’t for me, Author wouldn’t have left you.”

“We’ve already been through this.” Marie insists. “It wasn’t your fault.  Hell, it wasn’t my fault, either, even though he says I should pay more attention to him than to my wrestling career.”

She shakes her head. “It’s Author’s own fault.”

Marie and the entire Jones family have been trying to convince Kimberly that Author leaving Marie wasn’t her fault.  But this statement made by Marie is pretty big.  This has been a big step for Marie to take, for she, much like Kim, has been blaming herself, at least partially, for the separation.  She had begun to consider the very real possibility that she had been letting her wrestling career take up too much of her life.  And that mindset, perhaps, caused her to take her mind off of the game and cost her the SCW Television Championship against Ravyn Taylor.

True, she could blame the outside interference.  She only lost by disqualification.  But she isn’t going to make excuses.  That’s not the wrestler is or was born to be.  She is the type of athlete who will own up to her mistakes and then move on to the next big challenge.

That next big challenge will be in the form of Bree Lancaster.  She is a former SCW Women’s Champion, SCW World Tag Team Champion, and a former challenger to the SCW World Championship.  If Marie were to win this match, she realizes it will catapult her in a big way in the SCW standings.

But more importantly, Marie will not go into this match blaming herself for Author Pond or even thinking about Author.  She will be completely and one hundred percent focused on the match against Bree…

…at least that’s the plan.  Marie places an arm around her sister’s shoulder.

“Listen, Kim.  I’ve already decided, if Author wants to be with me then he has to accept me for who I am and part of me includes YOU and a big part of me is this business, this whole wrestling business, and if he wants me, then he was to accept ALL of it, all of me.  I’m not compromising who I am for him.  If that makes me wrong…”

She shrugs her shoulders “…well I’m sorry, but I’m wrong.”

Before anything else can be said Marie’s phone rings.  She produces an iPhone and looks at the number.  She sighs and immediately puts the phone away.  Kimberly looks curiously at Marie.

“Who was that?”

“Arthur.”

Kimberly frowns. “Wait a minute…call him back!”

“Why should I?” Marie asks. “He walked out on me, Kim.  If he wants to talk about this NOW…I’ll make him wait…”

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On Camera

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Obviously that Television Championship Match didn’t go as planned.  I would love to stand here and say that I am the new SCW Television Champion but thanks to some outside interference that didn’t happen.  But I’m not going to make excuses, I’m not going to whine or even dwell on the past.  I’m looking forward to the future and the future has Bree Lancaster in my sights.  I’m going to do anything and everything within my power to put myself back not just in the win column but back in the discussion as a real contender by beating a former champion.  That’s my future…and I’m ready to open my arms up embrace that future…I’m ready to take that future, to take that flame and run with it.

It all starts this coming Breakdown…

Trouble in Paradise: Part 2

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Scene 1

Off Camera

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The sunlight streaming in through the window doesn’t immediately wake up Marie Annabelle Jones, who sleeps rather soundly in a double bed on the second floor of her mother’s Boston, Massachusetts estate.  Instead it is a combination of the warmth of the sun’s rays and a nice aroma from downstairs that penetrates the room and her nose that seems to cause Marie’s eyes to flutter open.  She sits up in bed and stretches out her arms wide.  A yawn escapes her mouth as she looks out the window at the brightness of the Boston skyline.  She realizes it must be late morning and she turns towards the clock on the nightstand for confirmation: ten o’clock.  Definitely later than Marie is used to.

Then again, sleeping late isn’t the only thing Marie isn’t used to; she also isn’t used to sleeping alone, but it is the status quo now that her husband, Arthur Pond, has left her.  He left her a month ago with an ultimatum…

She remembers it as if it were yesterday, even though it was a month ago…

~~~~~~FLASHBACK, August 31^st, 2017; MORNING AFTER BREAKDOWN~~~~~~

“Author?” Marie asks inquisitively as she sets her gym bag down. “I thought you would’ve been asleep already.”

“I thought you would’ve been home a long time ago.” Author remarks coldly, stoically.

“Yeah, sorry for not calling, sweetheart, but I was in a real bad place after Breakdown.  You were watching, weren’t you?”

“Yeah, I watched.” Author remarks, nodding his head.

“I didn’t deserve that spot in the Adrenaline Championship Tournament but I got the opportunity anyway, then to squander it the way I did and lose to Tina Valentine, I felt as if I was right back in the bottom of the barrel.  But thankfully Kimberly, she…”

Marie is cut off when Author immediately stands up. The mere mentioning of Kimberly’s name seems to set him off.

“Kimberly!  Again?!” His voice is raised ever so slightly. “What did she do this time?!”

“Nothing.” Marie says, shaking her head. “In fact, she did me a world of good by talking me out of that dark place.  And she took me out afterwards to show me a good time, to lift my spirits.  That’s all.”

“That’s all?” Author asks skeptically.

“That’s all.”

“Yeah, right…” Author’s voice trails off as he shakes his head “…look, Marie, I know she’s your blood, she’s your sister, and because of that I’ve tried to remain supportive of you, but I have been silent for too damn long.”

Marie frowns. “What do you mean?”

“You made a great deal over nature versus nurture regarding your sister.  And who knows?  Maybe if she had been raised like a normal human being she wouldn’t be the way she is, but the fact is that she was raised in complete isolation for eighteen years by a sociopath.  I don’t care how much therapy she receives from the best psychiatric doctors in the world, nothing will fix her brain.”

“But she sought out treatment herself!” Marie exclaims, defending her sister. “She checked herself into a mental institution to get herself help!”

“It doesn’t matter.” Author remarks, shaking his head. “Deep down inside she is still a monster and you brought that monster into our household by agreeing to be her legal guardian.”

“So that’s what you’re pissed off about?!” Marie asks incredulously. “You’re angry that I want to help my family?  Damn it, Author, you should know by now that I care deeply about my family!”

“You say that, but am I not your family also?”

Marie blinks curiously. “What are you saying, Author?  What are you implying?!”

“What I’m saying is that this isn’t the first time you’ve pulled crap like this, Marie.  Again, just like with your sister I’ve remained silent, but I can’t keep silent any longer. You come back to the hotel at late hours, long after Breakdown has ended.  And I can’t have meaningful conversations about this or any other issue that concerns me because YOU are so damn focused on wrestling.”

“Wrestling is my life!” Marie snaps back with tears forming in her eyes. “It’s what I do!”

“That’s the problem, because you can’t have both me and wrestling as your life.”

Marie’s eyes grow wide with shock. “Are you suggesting…”

“I have played second fiddle to wrestling and to your crazy sister for too damn long.  The fans get The Phoenix, The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling, and they get her all of the time, but I just want my wife.  I want Marie Pond.  I would even like children of my own.  But do you think I’m going to get that while you’re competing?” He shakes his head. “Not a chance in hell, you wouldn’t want pregnancy to get in the way of your precious career.”

Author starts to walk past Marie.  She reaches out and grabs him by the arm. “Wait!  Where are you going?!”

“Leaving.” He responds stoically. “It is clear you’re married to wrestling, not me, so I’ll leave you two alone.”

He pulls away from her and again starts to walk away. “Author, wait! Don’t go!”

He stops and turns to face her one last time. “Look, I’m tired of this wrestling nonsense getting in the way of our marriage.  I want my wife.  And I’m genuinely fearful for my safety so long as your crazy sister is in our lives.  Are you prepared to be the wife I want and ditch Kimberly?”

“I…Author, I just…” Marie looks to her left, at the wall, a wall which separates their hotel room from Kimberly’s, then she looks back at Author “…I can’t.”

“Then goodbye.” He turns and starts to walk away. “Call me when you’re ready to be the wife I want.”

With that Author opens the door and steps out, slamming it shut behind him.  Marie drops to her knees and starts crying uncontrollably.

~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~

The mere reminder of it is enough to bring further tears to Marie’s eyes, despite the fact that, by now, she has started to get used to being alone.  But there is a difference for Marie; a difference between being used to being alone and being lonely.  She is lonely and desires her husband and that part of her considers the very real possibility that she did make a mistake in focusing too much on Kimberly, in focusing too much on trying to help Kim at the expense of being a good wife to Arthur.  That part of her would do almost anything to get him back, including forfeiting her own wrestling career; another item that Arthur listed as part of his ultimatum.

A more realistic part of Marie’s mind tells her that forfeiting her career and family just for Arthur is wholly unacceptable.  That part of her mind tells her that Arthur is asking for too high a price for his love and that he is the one at fault, not Marie.

Marie is torn as far as what she should do but the other aspect of this whole issue that troubles her even more than that is the question of Kimberly.  Kimberly heard every bit of the argument that Marie and Arthur had.  Kimberly heard everything that Arthur had to say and while Kimberly doesn’t appear to be showing any signs of conflict or problems on her end, Marie still wonders what might be lying deep down in the psyche of her identical twin sister.  Kimberly Williams, a woman who was raised by a sociopath, is notorious for keeping her true emotions bottled up.  Marie knows this and is definitely concerned about her sister’s well-being, perhaps more-so than her own.

Jones throws the covers off of herself and then swings her legs over the side of the bed, planting her feet firmly on the floor.  Marie used to dress rather provocatively at night in skimpy lacey undergarments, but that was done specifically for her beloved Arthur.  With him out of the picture, at least temporarily, she feels no desire or need to look good.  She is wearing loose fitting shorts and an oversized red t-shirt.  Her long red hair hangs down to below her shoulders.

After a few moments of pause and reflection, Jones stands up out of the bed and then walks over towards the door.  She opens it and steps outside into the hall.  The stairway is to her left but instead she goes right and enters the very next door, another bedroom, where she finds her sister Kimberly, staring almost blankly ahead into a full length mirror.

“Kim?”

Marie waits but there is no answer.

“Uh, Kimberly?”

“Huh, wha?”  Kimberly is startled as she turns around and finds Marie there.  Kimberly laughs lightly, though Marie notices that it is forced. “Oh, hi sis.  Did you forget to knock or something?”

“Like you ever believed in knocking.” Marie remarks with a wink.

“Touché.”

“Anyway, I just wanted to check up on you.” Marie states. “How was your very first experience sleeping at the Jones estate?”

“It certainly is a nice place.” Kimberly answers. “I didn’t realize mom had enough cash to buy a place like this.”

“Well she didn’t buy it.  She inherited it.  It was actually our grandfather’s.  The federal government paid him damn good money to do what he did.”

“Oh yeah, Bart was a secret agent type wasn’t he?” Kimberly snickers. “Like a double o seven!”

“Yeah,” Marie laughs lightly at Kimberly’s humor; even if it noticeably forced, Kim can still make Marie smile and Marie needs to smile during times like this “something like that.”

“Well maybe I should thank the government then?” Kimberly says with a wink.  “Or maybe you should thank mom for the both of us?”

“You can thank her yourself.” Marie uses her thumb to point towards the door. “She’s downstairs and from that smell she’s made something for breakfast.”

“Yeah, that smell is what woke me up.” Kimberly smiles warmly before pausing, uneasily.  She stares ahead blankly at Marie, who begins to grow concerned.

“Uh, Kim?  Are you spacing out on me?”

“Huh?” Kim once again is startled back to reality.

“Are you ok, Kim?” Marie asks with genuine concern on her face.

“Yeah, I’m fine!” Kimberly says with a forced smile on her face. “Why don’t you go on downstairs and get some of that breakfast mom prepared?  I’ll be down later.  I want to freshen up first, y’know?”

Marie realizes that her twin sibling is lying through her teeth.  Kimberly never freshens up.  Kimberly, the woman who once wanted to go to Catholic Mass wearing a “Hail Satan” t-shirt never gives a damn about looking nice, or what anyone thinks about her appearance for that matter.   Her gut tells her to pressure Kimberly about what’s wrong.

“Is something wrong, Kim?”

“Nah!  Everything is great!” Kimberly shakes her head. “You go on downstairs!  I’ll be down in a bit!”

Marie still doesn’t believe Kim, despite the assurances. Though she knows Kim quite well and doesn’t think she’ll get any further information out of her right now.  Kimberly may use their father’s last name, but she still has Jones blood running through her veins, and that means she inherited that same stubborn streak all of the Jones women seemed to inherit.  Marie’s gut still tells her to pressure Kimberly, but this time Marie decides against it.

“Ok, I’ll see you downstairs…”  Marie turns and starts to walk towards the door, stopping when Kimberly calls out to her.

“Hey, Marie…”

“Yeah?”

“…I love you.”

That’s odd.  But Marie thinks nothing of it.  She just smiles back at her. “Love you too, Kim.”

Marie exits the bedroom and turns left, walking down the hall and she heads downstairs.  The aroma she smelled earlier, the sweet odor that woke both her and Kimberly up, grows stronger and stronger as she nears the bottom of the staircase.  Once she reaches downstairs she heads down another hall towards a light.  Once she reaches that light she enters in through a door and finds her mother, the matriarch of the Jones family, Angelica Jones, sitting at the head of a long table in the kitchen, eating some scrambled eggs.

“Took you long enough, sleepy head.” Angelica says cheerfully. “I thought you were an early bird like me?”

“I was…” Marie’s voice trails off and she sighs “…Arthur gave me something to wake up to.”

“Oh…” Angelica sighs as she gets up out of her chair and walks over towards her daughter “…I’m sorry, Marie.  I truly am.”

“It’s ok,” Marie says through a forced grin with tear filled eyes after the embrace is broken “I guess I should expect it, huh?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s our family curse, you know?  You’ve been married, what, four times now?  Aunt Kayla has been in two failed relationships before this latest marriage to Trenton Snow.  Arthur was my second real relationship and first marriage.  I had high hopes.  I thought what we had was real.  And maybe it was…”

She sighs and shakes her head “…but I screwed it up.”

“No!” Angelica says forcefully. “You did NOT screw anything up!”

“But Arthur said…”

“What Arthur asked of you was entirely too damn much!” Angelica exclaims, the rage of a mother boiling over. “He asked you to give up your career and your family for him?  That just isn’t right.”

“You don’t get it, mom.  It’s not about the wrestling or even Kimberly.  He believes I didn’t devote enough time to him, that he was secondary or even third in importance in my life when he, as my husband, should be closer to the top of the list.  And as much as you hate to admit it, as much as I hate to admit it, he brings up a good point.”

“Good point or not,” Angelica begins with her counter “he cannot ask you to abandon Kimberly when she needs you the most, and he cannot ask you to give up your wrestling career entirely.  You have a SCW Television Championship match coming up, correct?”

Marie nods her head.  It was just one month ago that Marie felt undeserving and unworthy of any opportunities SCW offered her, after she lost at Rise To Greatness in a United States Championship match and then she had squandered a shot at the Adrenaline Championship on Breakdown.  But Marie has since rebounded and SCW has granted her a shot at the SCW Television Championship currently held by Ravyn Taylor.

The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling still doesn’t believe she is worthy of this great opportunity, but she also will not dwell on that the way she dwelled so much on the Adrenaline Championship tournament.  Whether she deserves it or not, the opportunity is there and Marie is going to give it her best shot.  Win, lose, or draw, this is a great chance for Marie to show what she’s made of against another SCW legend in the form of Ravyn Taylor.  And Marie plans to make the most of her opportunity.

“Yeah, I face Ravyn for the SCW Television Title.” Marie answers. “I’m not sure I deserve it, but you know, I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. The opportunity is there and I plan to make the most of it.”

“Exactly.” Angelica smiles proudly. “That’s how I raised you.  Do the very best you can and do not worry about Arthur.  He cannot ask you to give up this opportunity.”

“Mom, I…” Marie’s voice again fails her; she shakes her head “…can we just not talk about Arthur?”

“Of course.” Angelica nods her head. “I’m sorry for even bringing him up, it’s just that what he did and said, it makes me so mad…”

Angelica pulls up a chair and motions for Marie to sit down. “Sit.  I’m going to get you a plate of eggs.  Do you want pancakes, too?”

“Please.” Marie says with a half-smile.

Angelica nods her head as she walks off to fill Marie’s order.  Usually Marie would not like being coddled and mothered in such a way; but in times like this, with Arthur having left her, it feels good to have someone treat her like this; to treat her like a princess.  So she accepts the pampering and coddling as if she earned it.

Her mother returns to the kitchen with a plate of eggs and a stack of two pancakes.  She sets the plate down in front of Marie but before she can dig in a prominent, loud thud is heard.  Both mother daughter exchange worried glances.

“Marie, where did that noise come from?”

“Sounded like it came from upstairs.”

“That’s what I thought.” Angelica says, nodding her head in agreement. “You may want to go check on your sister.”

Marie nods and without a word uttered she exits the kitchen and heads back down the hall towards the staircase.  She quickly heads up the stairs and once she gets upstairs she heads down the second floor hall towards Kimberly’s bedroom; or at least it is the room Kimberly is using as a bedroom while the two are staying with their mother.  Marie opens the door and looks inside.

“Kim?” At first glance inside she sees no one. “Kimberly?”

Marie hears a small groan.  It is barely audible but definitely there and she believes it is coming from the bathroom.  Marie walks the bathroom door and pushes it open.  She steps inside and immediately shrieks with terror as she finds her sister lying face first on the floor, pill bottles litter the floor.  Marie drops to her knees and tears flow down her cheek uncontrollably.

“Kim!  Oh God, no!  No!  KIM!  Why did you do this?!”

Jones stands back up and rushes out the door.  Once out of the bedroom she shouts as loud as she can…

“MOM!  CALL 911!  KIMBERLY ATTEMPTED TO KILL HERSELF!”

==========

Scene 2

Off Camera

==========

Suicide is when one decides to take his or her own life.  For whatever reason, whatever the difficulty may be, whatever the challenge may be, that individual feels that he or she cannot handle it any longer and decides to end his or her life.  What many do not realize is that suicide impacts not just the one individual ending their life but all of those close to them.  The consequences of suicide are not just that one person is dead; it is also a tragedy for those left behind.  A person’s pain is very real and understandable but it is never the answer.

The Jones family knows this all too well; suicide has been the one dark plague upon their otherwise illustrious, damn near perfect family.  It all centers around the matriarch, Angelica Jones.  In the aftermath of watching her mother get brutally raped and killed, Angelica attempted suicide.  Then she attempted suicide again after giving up her firstborn child, Marie Annabelle Jones, only to have her then boyfriend and father of the child Sean Williams dump her.  Both times Angelica’s suicide attempts were failures, obviously but the fact that there is a history of them in the family is enough to raise some red flags, especially for the children.

Marie certainly had enough problems and troubles in her life that could’ve led her down that path.  She, herself, was raped, much like her grandmother whom she never got to meet.  But she managed to stay strong through it all and cope with all of the pain and heartache.  Jessica Jones, Marie’s half-sister, has always had both parents and thus has always had a rather stable relationship and life, despite her occasional identity crisis.  The youngest of the Jones children, Kelly, is still too young to see how the Jones curse will affect her.

Then there’s Kimberly.  No one even gave pause to consider how the ramifications of the Jones past might affect Marie’s identical twin sister, primarily because, at least based upon outward appearances, nothing ever seemed to bother Kimberly.  She shrugged everything else off like it was nothing.

That was before the therapy; that was before the psychiatrist broke through Kimberly’s mental blocks and helped her become, according to Kimberly’s own words, “a normal person.”  No one stopped to think if Kimberly might be affected by these emotions now, emotions that she once kept bottled up for so long.

Marie blames herself, and that is becoming quite apparent as she paces the floor of the waiting room of a hospital emergency area late at night as she and Angelica await an answer regarding the fate of Kimberly Williams.

“I shouldn’t have left her up there by herself…”

“You had no way of knowing what was going to happen.”

“I knew it was going to happen!” Marie exclaims. “My gut told me that something was wrong!  My instincts told me to stay with her and keep talking to her, but I didn’t listen…”

Her voice trails off; she shakes her head “…I just didn’t listen.  I thought she was just being stubborn, like me…like all of us Jones girls…”

“That’s right, just like us Jones girls.” Angelica remarks quickly. “And just like us Jones girls she is tough and she is tough enough to pull through and survive this.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Marie shakes her head. “Even if she does pull through, it is still my fault because I didn’t pay enough attention.  I let it happen.  The psychiatrist said she was MY responsibility.  Well, mine and…”

Again her voice trails off as tears form in her eyes “…mine and Author’s.”

“You seem to have the same problems me and Kayla have had for quite awhile.” Angelica chuckles as she stands up and steps in front of her daughter, who just tilts her head to one side, studying her curiously.

“What do you mean, mom?”

“Anytime something bad happened to Kayla, I would blame myself, and I was very emotional and public with it.  Kayla was more like Kimberly, she was good at bottling things up and keeping these things hidden, but when something bad happened to me, Kayla would blame herself, even though she may not advertise it like I did.”

“What are you suggesting, mom?”

“I’m just saying that you shouldn’t blame yourself.” Angelica remarks. “God knows you have enough stress on your shoulders as it is.”

“It’s difficult,” Marie says while shaking her head “I mean, how can you be this calm when Kim is in there and we don’t even know her condition?”

“I’m a damn good actress, Marie.” Angelica says with a smirk. “Inside, I’m probably more broken up than you.  I’m just hiding it right now.  You don’t need to see me going crazy but…really…I am going crazy. That’s my daughter in there, after all, and she is fighting for her life.”

Mother and daughter share a tight embrace.  Shortly thereafter a doctor emerges from the doors.  He clears his throat to get their attention.  Angelica and Marie break the embrace and turn to face him.

“Well it appears that you got her to us just in time.” He says grimly. “Had she arrived any later, we wouldn’t have been able to save her…”

Marie gasps as Angelica holds onto her hand tightly “…but she’ll pull through.  In fact, she is awake and able to converse.”

“Will she be able to come home with us today?”

The doctor shakes his head. “Not tonight, I would like to keep her hear overnight for observation.  But you may go in and speak with her if you like.”

Marie and Angelica both nod their heads in unison.  The doctor then leads the two redheaded Boston natives, mother and daughter, back through the double doors he had just emerged from.  He leads them down a long hall until he comes to a door.  He steps through the door, with Angelica and Marie following closely behind.  There, lying on a hospital bed, Marie and Angelica spot Kimberly. She is wide awake and has a half-smile on her face.

“I’ll leave you three alone.” The doctor responds as he turns and exits the room.

“Hi, mom…hi Marie…” Kimberly says with a light chuckle in her voice “…I guess I still am a bit of a troublemaker, huh?”

“We’re just glad you’re ok, Kim.” Angelica responds.

“Marie,” Kim states, looking over at Marie “I’m sorry…”

“No, Kim.” Marie says as she walks over to Kim’s bedside and takes her by her hand. “You have nothing to apologize for.”

“Sure I do.” Kim remarks. “I’m sorry that I didn’t succeed…that my suicide attempt was a miserable failure…but then again, like mother like daughter right?  Mom couldn’t get the job done, neither can I!”

Angelica can be seen rolling her eyes at Kimberly’s rather macabre joke.  Marie is just stunned to hear these words from her sister’s mouth and immediately begins to shake her head vehemently.

“No, Kim!  Do not even think like that!”

“Why not?” Kim asks. “I’ve been nothing but a pain in the ass since I returned to your life.  I’ve nearly got you arrested, Mr. D over in the S-C-Dubya probably wants to fire you just to get rid of me, and your marriage is now in shambles all because of me.”

Kimberly chuckles. “Hell, you’d still have Author if I hadn’t returned.  That’s why I tried to kill myself.  With me dead at least Author would come back because I’d be dead.”

“Shut your trap right now!” Marie snaps at her, somewhat angrily. This startles Kimberly and she nods her head slowly. “Look, Kim, I’ve thought long and hard about this ever since Author left me and I thought about his words, his ultimatum, and you know what I think?”

“What?”

“To hell with that asshole and his ultimatums!”

“But I thought…I thought you loved him?”

“I do love him, but you are family, you are my sister, which makes you my baggage, just like I am YOUR baggage.  Anyone who wants to be a part of my life has to accept the baggage that comes with me, just like anyone who comes in your life should have to accept the baggage that comes with you, Kim.  It’s part of being a family.  And you ARE part of this family.  You are MY baggage and if he is unwilling to accept you as part of the package, then he just isn’t for me.”

“But Marie…” Kimberly sighs “…wouldn’t your life be so much better without me to screw it up?”

“Kim, my life would be boring without you.” Marie grins as tears form in her eyes. “You are a very big reason why I can still smile.  Had you succeeded, you would’ve taken that smile away.”

Marie squeezes her hand tightly. “Promise me you will never try anything like that again!”

“You really do love me, don’t you?” Kim asks, tears forming in her eyes.

“Yes, Kim…of course I do…I’d do anything for you .”

“Then yeah,” Kimberly nods her head “I promise.”

==========

On Camera

==========

It's been a couple of weeks since Apocalypse, the night I picked up a win over three very game, amazingly talented athletes, one of which being Brittany Lohan, a woman I respect deeply.  This break, this period of rest since that win has given me time to pause for reflection.  It gave me time to think about where I am right now and where I ultimately want to be.

Before I tell you where I want to be, let me tell you where I do not want to be; I do not want to be stuck living in the past.  Yes, I've had quite the roller coaster ride here in SCW that brought me here to this point.  And yes, I have made my fair share of mistakes, but even those mistakes contributed to forming me and shaping me into the woman I am today and, if I could go back, I would not change a damn thing.

In short, I am proud of who and what I am.  I am proud of where I came from. I am proud to be The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling and Apocalypse does not mark a continuation of the past, but the beginning of a new era as I look forward to the future, towards my future.

I have plans, ladies and gentlemen, big plans. This new season that started at Rise To Greatness and continued into Apocalypse will eventually come to be known as The Era of the Phoenix.

It will all begin with you, Ravyn.

From one “bird” to another, I wish you luck. As a student of the game who has done her homework on you, let me say that I respect you and look forward to being tested like I have never been tested before.

But also understand that I do intend to make this The Era of the Phoenix, and that means I have to go through you.  That means I have to clip your wings.

I hope you don't mind the pun. I'm sure you've heard them all from people like Kelcey Wallace, Sienna Swann, and others you've feuded with in the past. Many of whom may not even be here any longer.

So what makes what I say any different?

I’m not going to stand here and say that I have any more heart and drive or will to win than someone like a Kelcey Wallace who has done everything there is to do here in Supreme Championship Wrestling.  I’m not going to stand here and claim that I have more determination someone like Sienna Swann who is a future SCW World Champion.

Hell, I can’t even speak for my own aunt, a two time SCW World Tag Team Champion Kayla Jones, who once challenged you for the United States Championship during your historic run with that belt.  And that’s my own family you beat.

No, I cannot speak for any of them or anyone else who has come before me and tried to put a stop to you.  I can only speak for myself.  I can only speak about what I bring to the table in this Television Championship match and why I believe that I am the person to take this Television Championship away from you, the person who will take the Television Championship away from you on Breakdown.

Maybe you’re going to underestimate me?  I’m just a second generation superstar.  Everyone in SCW knows my mother but me?  Who cares about me, right?  I can understand you looking past me.  That may be what does you in, because if you look past me, I will take you out.  Just ask some of the biggest names in this business who underestimated me and ended up getting beat by me because they looked past me.

Vanilla Skyy.

Regan Street.

I could go on and on and on.  I beat the best of the best in my time.  I’m no one to look past.  But surely someone as intelligent as you would know that.  And you are known for your intelligence, Ravyn.  So surely you won’t look past me?  Surely you won’t underestimate me.

So maybe it’s something else?  Maybe, just maybe, the stars will be aligned and the great Ravyn will get taken down by the Phoenix.  After all, on any one night anybody can be beaten.  You’ve been on a roll, I’ll give you credit.  You do some strange things at times, and people may love you or hate you accordingly, but there’s no denying how good you are.  So maybe the planetary alignment is right, maybe the stars in the sky are reading a good prophecy for yours truly, and maybe on this one night, The Phoenix will get one over on The Ravyn?

No, I don’t believe in planetary alignment or crap like that.  And I’ve already established you’re too smart to underestimate me. So what is it, then?  What is going to get me over the hump?  What one advantage do I have that will edge me the SCW Television Championship?

Simple; it’s my never say die attitude.

There’s a reason I call myself The Phoenix and that’s because, like the mythical bird itself, even if you do manage to kill me, I’ll still just get right back up and be a pain in your pretty little ass.  You can knock me down as many times as you want and I’ll get right back up.  You can kill me as many times as you want and I’ll get right back up like the Walking freaking Dead!

I will keep coming at you, Ravyn!  And I won’t even sugarcoat it with cutesy little Sun Tzu quotes the way Sophie O’Brian seems to do all the time.  I’ll tell it to you straight; on Breakdown, I am going to punch you in your mouth and take the SCW Television Championship!

Quote THE PHOENIX…The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling…