Carnival Cavalcade Wrestling
CCW Chaos, episode #6: Past, Present…and Future?
In the production truck…
Wink McLean, looking somber, uneasy — but his tuxedo and hair no less squared away — addresses the camera. Behind him, techs and TV crew prepare for this week’s show.
MCLEAN: “Hello again everyone and welcome to Carnival Cavalcade Wrestling. Horrific is the only way I can describe the end of last week’s show. Though Cassie Rae was able to defeat The Pack’s Gothica for control of the wrestler known as Blonde, she returned to the locker room to find the entire underneath roster laid out — electric burns dotting their bodies — and Chloe Suzuki, kidnapped by The Pack some weeks ago, hanging upside down from the ceiling.
“The rest of that scene is too horrible to revisit, but here is what we know. Chloe Suzuki is recovering well but, like Jessica Kelly before her, Chloe has this symbol…
…burned into her flesh just above her hip crest. All our thoughts are with Chloe, who told me earlier this week she intends to return to the CCW ring sometime soon. She also wants fans to know, ‘They never turned me.’
“Now there is the matter of Sunny Austin, who was missing from the underneath locker room when Cassie Rae found the others and has not been seen since.
“Last week, after we went off the air, one of our cameras followed Cassie Rae and CCW Deputy Commissioner Jules Moreno to an undisclosed location, where it captured this shocking confrontation between Cassie and Gothica, who now appears to be formerly of The Pack.
“Here is that footage, which, we warn you, is disturbing.”
In an undisclosed location…
Cassie Rae, in a zippered hoodie, low-rise jeans, and flip-flops, blows past the security guard who opened the hotel room door and runs right at the couch, where Gothica, barefoot in CCW-branded sweats, has no time to react before Cassie pulls her to the floor. She sits on Gothica’s stomach, straddling her.
CASSIE: “Where is she? Where the fuck is she, you fucking whore?”
GUARD: “Hey! Hey!”
The guard looks to grab Cassie, but Jules Moreno grabs his arm with both hands.
JULES: “No. Leave her. Go lock the door and don’t let anyone else in.”
On the floor, Cassie has both of Gothica’s wrists pinned to the cheap carpet in one hand and is pointing in her face with the other.
CASSIE: “You’re gonna tell me where Sunny is or I’m going to cripple you. It’s that simple. Where did she take Sunny?”
For all the sensual, slinky, feral bravado and depravity Gothica ever displayed as the Pack high priestess, it’s Aubrey Blackburn, little girl lost, pinned under Cassie now. Tears rolling from the corners of her eyes, she shakes her head.
GOTHICA: “I swear, Cassie, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t see Sunny tonight. Who…who would take Sunny?”
Her eyes almost as red as her face, Cassie pulls the sandal from her foot and smashes Gothica across the face with it.
CASSIE: “Tiana! (she releases Gothica’s wrists and slams the shoe across her face again) Tiana took Sunny right after she trashed everyone in my locker room and fucking…hung Chloe from the ceiling. (she grabs Gothica’s long ponytail and wrenches her head to one side) Don’t fucking tell me you didn’t know Tiana, and whoever else, was going do that while I was in the ring kicking your bitch ass.”
Gothica, panting, hands up in surrender, winces from the angle of her torqued neck.
GOTHICA: “I knew…about Chloe. And I knew our leader planned to-”
CASSIE: “Tiana! Say her fucking name! You knew that Tiana was going to-”
GOTHICA: “No! Cassie, I swear…if you’re saying our leader was Tiana, I did not know that! She never told us. And if she took Sunny I did not know abou-”
CASSIE: “Liar! (she slams Gothica’s head into the floor, drops the sandal, and wraps both hands around Gothica’s throat)”
JULES: “Cassie!”
CASSIE: You tell me where they are or you’re never leaving this room. (she starts to cry) I’ve tried to help you, Aubrey, but I swear to God, I will leave you right here if you don’t tell me where Sunny is. Right. Now.”
Jules and the guard move closer to Cassie.
On the carpet, Gothica lays out, arms over her head, and closes her eyes.
GOTHICA: “I didn’t know it was Tiana, Cassie, and I wish I knew where Sunny is. I wish that so bad. (she shakes her head) I’ve hurt so much for so long…and now you’re hurting because of what I was part of. (she puts her hands around Cassie’s wrists) I’m so sorry.”
Jules puts her hand on Cassie’s shoulder.
JULES: “Cassie…”
CASSIE: “Yeah. She doesn’t know.”
Cassie takes her hands from Gothica’s throat and sits on the couch.
Gothica sits up and makes herself small, knees pulled to her chest, feet together, arms wrapped around her legs.
Back to the production truck…
MCLEAN: “One week later, Sunny Austin remains missing. We hope to update this story as it develops. For now, let’s go to the ring for our first match…”
In the arena…
With the crowd still buzzing from what it just saw on the CarniTron, ring announcer Jimmy Swift exchanges an eyebrow raise with referee Roger Clayton and starts the introductions.
The Tale of the Tape
Russian Farmhand Olga is 30, 5’10”, 165lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. A star, she wrestles in a dark-red singlet, black knee pads, and dark-red boots. Olga’s record is 4-3. A towering, powerful star, The Iron Maiden is 35, 6’, 175lbs, with dyed silver hair and gray eyes under mushroom cloud contacts. She wrestles in a black & silver, sleeveless, full-length bodysuit, a silver-studded black belt, and chunky two-tone black & silver boots. She’s 9-3.
Olga, the slightly bigger, slightly stronger Russian Farmhand makes her way to the ring to her somber music and little reaction from the crowd. She climbs through the ropes and yells something, possibly in Russian, about victory.
This is The Iron Maiden’s return to the ring after The Pack, Gothica specifically, shocked her in both arms with a cattle prod three weeks ago. Her arms bearing no mark of that attack, she strides to the ring with purpose, ignoring the welcome-back roar she gets from the crowd.
The referee calls for the bell.
The Iron Maiden vs. Russian Farmhand Olga
The wrestlers meet center ring. Olga strapping but undefined with, like her sister Anya, a bit of tummy; Maiden all muscle, built like a strong safety. Hands on her hips, Olga spouts something else about victory and Maiden blasts a chunky-booted kick to the Russian’s stomach that threatens to touch spine.
With Olga bent over, making some ungodly noise, The Iron Maiden cinches the big Russian Farmhand up, hoists her up, and smashes her into the canvas with the Fallout powerbomb.
Olga, spread-eagle, eyes fluttering, offers nothing in any language as Maiden plants a boot on her stomach for the 1-2-3 at :21.
Just like that, Maiden goes to 10-3. Olga falls to 4-4.
Maiden stares into the hard camera, eyes and nostrils flaring, then leaves the ring and heads up the aisle just as she came down it.
In the commissioner’s office…
Hollander is seated at his big, dark desk, with security chief Duke Derringer — his bald head shiny, his bushy mustache wide — standing behind him.
Cassie Rae, Jules Moreno, Jessica Kelly, and Chloe Suzuki are standing in a semi-circle opposite the desk. Cassie and Chloe are in street clothes; Jessica is in her gear; Jules’ power suit and heels are blue this week.
HOLLANDER: “First and foremost, how are you Ms. Suzuki? I’m told you’re ready to start wrestling for us again.”
Jules fixes the commissioner with a look. Chloe, in an off-shoulder sweatshirt, red leggings and flip flops, sort of nods, sort of shakes her head.
CHLOE: “I mean…I could probab-”
HOLLANDER: “Excellent, we’ll see about getting you into a match next week.”
Jules’ gaze lingers on Hollander, then moves to Chloe and Jessica.
JULES: “The real reason you and Jessica are here, Chloe, is the company is going to pay whatever it takes (Hollander rolls his eyes) to get those…symbols The Pack put on you removed.”
Chloe brightens.
CHLOE: “That would be awesome, Ms. Moreno. Thank you.”
HOLLANDER: “Sure, she thanks you. Meanwhile, I’m the one-”
JESSICA: “Thank you, commissioner, Ms. Moreno. But I’d like to keep mine.”
Everyone’s eyebrows raise her way.
JESSICA: “It’s part of my story now. And if I’m going to become a star here, I want-”
Hollander wags his fingers at her.
HOLLANDER: “OK, thank you, Ms. Kelly. That will save the company some mon-”
JULES: “The company, Jess, will make sure you get a significant bonus in the hopes of compensating you for your trauma.”
HOLLANDER: “Oh, come on.”
Jules nods at Chloe.
JULES: “We need to speak to Jess alone for a moment, Chloe. But the commissioner and I are very happy to see you back home.”
Chloe nods her thanks, then shares a quick hug with Jessica, and moves to Cassie. They share a longer, tighter hug before Chloe leaves.
JULES: “Jess, with the way things ended here last week, we haven’t had a chance to ask you: What did Blonde…er, Shauna want with you last week?”
JESSICA: “She wants to keep wrestling. She asked me to train her.”
JULES: “She wants to keep wrestling here?”
CASSIE: “She told us she wanted to go home to her mother.”
JESSICA: “She didn’t mention that, Cass. And, yeah, I think she wants to continue as an underneath girl here.”
Cassie shoots Jules a look.
CASSIE: “I don’t trust that. What did you make of her, Jess?”
JESSICA: “Honestly? I have no idea. When we were in The Pack, she spent her time either fooling around with Gothica or eating what Gothica fed her. (she grabs her elbow) I was never comfortable there.”
HOLLANDER: “That’s right, Blonde is kinda fat, right? Maybe we could team her with that Irish underneather, have a fat-girl team. We’ve got people in this crowd who would love that.”
Jessica’s gaze wanders the room, looking anywhere but at the commissioner. Jules and Cassie stare at him, then Jules nods to Jessica.
JULES: “Thanks, Jess. We’ll talk more about this later…in my office.”
Jessica leaves.
JULES: “A ‘fat-girl team,’ huh?”
HOLLANDER (smiling): No?
CASSIE: “You want Shauna back because you think it’ll lead to Gothica coming back.”
HOLLANDER: “So you think, but speaking of that, (he swivels to face Cassie) nice fast one you pulled last week. You were supposed to deliver Gothica to me, so it’s a good thing I have this. (he pulls a contract from a drawer) Per our arrangement, Cassie Rae, you owe me five CCW fetish girl-style matches. (he grins) So I hope you’ve washed that bikini you’ve been running around in because you’re going to need it, starting next week.”
The commissioner smiles up at Derringer, who returns it only until Hollander looks away.
Jules is also smiling.
JULES: “Actually, Hollis, I think you’ll find that contract said Cassie would wrestle five fetish-girl matches…if she lost to Gothica. (she grins) Not if she failed to turn Gothica over to you.”
Wide-eyed, Hollander scans the document, tracing his finger along the bottom section. He looks up, red-faced.
HOLLANDER: “Dammit! Duke, escort these women from my office. I want to be alone to think of a suitable way to punish both of th-”
The big, pristine monitor on the wall hums to life, first with static, then with the image of the Cloaked, Masked Pack Leader.
Everyone exchanges glances.
HOLLANDER: “What the hell is th-”
On the screen, the leader whips the mask off and, indeed, it is Tiana Miles, rising star suspended weeks ago by Jules, now revealed officially as the leader of The Pack.
Cassie, quaking, tears up. Jules grips her shoulder.
On the screen, Tiana is too close to the camera to be able to tell where she is. She grins, her eyes wild.
TIANA: “If I’m correct, Commissioner Hollander. You’ve got goody-goody Jules in there with you right about now. (she puts a fingertip to her lips) And I bet my ex is in there too. (she waves) Hi, Cassie. Can still fill that bikini I see. And you know I like to see.”
Cassie roars at the screen. Jules stops her from throwing Hollander’s Rolodex at it.
TIANA: “Obviously, this is a recording, just for you guys. But later tonight, I’m going to be live on the CarniTron. Don’t ask how. It’s my little secret. I’ll be able to see you and hear you. And, like Cassie, it’ll go both ways.”
Cassie’s digs her nails into her palms.
TIANA: “I suggest the three of you be in the ring when I show up on that screen. I’ve got proposals. I’ve got demands. (she fills the frame with her face) And I’ve got something I know Cassie wants back. Real…bad.”
Tiana, lifts an orange-and-white bikini top into the frame, hanging from one finger.
Red-faced, Cassie bellows at the screen, her neck corded.
TIANA: “See y’all after the next match.”
Tiana giggles and waves, and the image vanishes.
In the arena…
Riley Slade and Sarah Lawrence are already in the ring for the next match. Both were last seen unconscious from the attack in the underneath locker room; a electrical burn on Riley’s back, another on Sarah’s stomach. Both marks have largely healed, but neither girl is comfortable in their corner.
Sarah stretches her arms and shoulders, her black half tee exposing much of her soft stomach, which pushes out slightly over her tight, plaid, knee-length pants. She shakes her blue-haired head.
SARAH: “This is certainly a way to keep us off balance.”
Riley, smaller but fitter in her knotted-off tee, denim booty shorts, and white Skippies, cocks an eyebrow while loosening her wrists.
RILEY: “How do you mean?”
SARAH: “I’ve only teamed with Josie so far. You teamed with Tiffany last week. We all lost, and now I’m with you, who I barely know. (she shrugs, shooting Riley a glance) We’re wrestling sisters. The matchmaking never favors us.”
Riley runs a hand over her tight little belly.
RILEY: “I mean…that’s why we get signed, so they can overmatch us all the time.”
SARAH: “You sound like Josie.”
RILEY: “But girls in our locker room do win. (she shrugs) Cassie won last week.”
SARAH: “You still sound like Josie.”
Riley catches Sarah’s eye, a little smirk on her face.
RILEY: “From what I’ve seen of her, that’s not a bad thing.”
The Tale of the Tape
The youngest wrestler on the roster, Riley Slade is 19, 5’4”, 115lbs, with light brown hair and hazel eyes. She’s an underneath girl with an 0-5 record. Underneath girl Sarah Lawrence is 21, 5’5”, 130lbs. Her record is 0-3. Their opponents, The Cowgirl Sisters, are a star tag team. Diamond is 26, 5’5”, 130lbs with blonde hair and blue eyes. She has a 7-5 record. Platinum is 24, 5’5”, 130lbs, with blonde hair and green eyes. Her record is 7-4. Both Cowgirls wrestle in black cropped tank tops, black bike shorts, black knee pads, and two-tone black & white boots.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Jimmy Swift introduces the Cowgirls, and Diamond and Platinum come down the aisle to slower, heavier music than before. Normally jawing at fans as they head to the ring, this is a Cowgirls team that’s lost twice recently, once to an underneath-girl team. They’ve been all business since aligning with Outlaw Annie Hook.
And they still have those ropes…
Referee Clark Sierra calls for the bell.
The Cowgirl Sisters vs. Riley Slade & Sarah Lawrence
Diamond and Riley start. The Cowgirl grabs a side headlock, which Riley turns into a hammerlock. Diamond reverses, but Riley reverses back and torques the shoulder.
DIAMOND (wincing): “Your momma teach you this stuff, Little Cassie?”
RILEY: “She’s not my momma, but yes.”
Diamond reaches to pick the leg but comes back over the top with an elbow to Riley’s temple that breaks the hold.
DIAMOND: “She teach you that one too?”
Riley, staggers back, holding her head.
RILEY: “Not yet.”
DIAMOND (sneering): “That’s a shame.”
The cowgirl swings a wild clothesline, but Riley ducks and sticks Diamond in the chest with standing dropkick that sends her into the corner.
Platinum tags herself in as Riley circles back to center ring. She exchanges a quick smile with Sarah.
Platinum feigns a tie-up and boots Riley in the stomach, then hooks her up and takes her over with a vertical suplex. Riley tries to sit up, but Platinum shoots an arm across her chest and hooks the leg.
The referee slides in.
1…
2…
Riley bucks with her free leg and gets her shoulder off the mat.
SARAH: “Yeah, girl! Fight!”
Platinum glares at Sarah as she pulls Riley to her feet.
PLATINUM: “Where’d y’all find this one? College?”
Riley has just enough length in her limbs, and weight, to wrap Platinum up in an inside cradle and take her shoulders to the mat.
1…
2…
Platinum kicks out and runs Riley over with a clothesline the second they’re back up. She grabs Riley by the backs of her knotted tee and booty shorts and tosses her into her corner.
PLATINUM: “Gimme the college girl.”
Riley tags Sarah, who steps through the ropes as if they’re electrified.
PLATINUM (smiling): “C’mon, college girl. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Determined, Sarah charges and throws a flying dropkick, but Platinum sees it coming from 10 miles away and sidesteps, letting Sarah crash to the canvas on her hip.
Sarah cries out on the mat, grabbing her hip, leaving her pale belly open to a stiff kick from Platinum’s black boot.
It’s all Cowgirls from there as, despite Riley’s encouragement from the corner, Sarah can’t even defend herself, let alone mount any offense. Over the course of a few Cowgirl tags, punches and kicks to her stomach, and forearms and elbows to her back are more than enough to wear Sarah down to the point she can barely stand.
Riley, teeth grit, stays in the corner. She pounds the turnbuckle, trying to will Sarah to fight, but it’s much too little, much too late.
The Cowgirl’s set Sarah up and polish her off with a well-executed Golden Lasso clothesline off the top. Diamond leans across Sarah’s chest and counts the 1-2-3 along with the referee, who calls for the bell at 3:13.
Diamond, grinning, pops back up to her feet and slaps the defeated Sarah hard across the face.
DIAMOND: “Class dismissed, college girl.”
The Cowgirls get back in the win column with an easy victory. Sarah and Riley, defeated in their debut as a team, each remain winless.
The Cowgirls keep Riley at bay with glares, then soak up their boos as they’re announced the winners and get their hands raised.
Riley slinks into the ring as the Cowgirls leave and scrambles to Sarah, who’s on her side, arms covering her face, crying. Riley kneels close, rubbing Sarah’s back.
RILEY: “It’s OK, babe. You’re gonna be OK…”
In the underneath locker room…
The battered metal door features a newly installed deadbolt lock.
Teresa Salazar, in street clothes, sits in front of her open locker.
Melora O’Brien, Tiffany Green, Jessica Kelly, and Josie Myer — all in ring gear — watch the little, cracked monitor, which replays the Cowgirls ending Sarah’s night with the Golden Lasso.
MELORA: “Poor Sarah. The Cowgirls look like they took losing to Sunny and me personally. And the office hasn’t let me back on the card since.”
TIFFANY: “I guess they don’t want you embarrassing any more stars.”
MELORA: “Or they don’t want me… (she squeezes her tightly wrapped lower-belly swell) looking this way in the ring.”
TIFFANY: “Girl, please.”
JESSICA: “Yeah, Mel, Tiffany was right the first time. The office hates when we win.”
JOSIE: “I guess that’s why I’m getting booked every week. (she smiles around at them) I’m reliably getting my ass kicked.”
JESSICA: “You’ve got your first singles tonight, though, that’s a big deal.”
MELORA: “Yeah, singles means the office is takin’ a look at you.”
JOSIE: “Well, they’ll be taking a look at me losing. I can’t beat Hannah Hammer.”
TIFFANY: “Not thinkin’ like that you can’t. C’mon, Jo.”
JOSIE: “Thanks, Tiff. I just mean (she shrugs) I’m not ready to beat her yet. This is my fourth match, my first singles match. I’ll try, but I’ll probably lose and, hopefully, learn from it.”
MELORA: “I think that’s how Sunny’s doin’ it, bless her.”
Everyone’s gaze drops to the cold concrete.
MELORA: “Lord help us, I sure hope we see Sunny again.”
JOSIE: “We will.”
The others exchange a look.
JESSICA: “I hope you’re right.”
TERESA: “She is.”
Everyone turns to Teresa, who joins the group, shaking her head.
TERESA: “What happened to us in here last week, even what happened to Chloe, is nothing compared to what Cassie is going to do to that Pack bitch. I wouldn’t want to be between Cassie and Sunny right now for the CCW Championship.”
In the arena…
A cloth-covered table and two chairs are set up in the ring with Wink McLean standing in front of them.
MCLEAN: “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guests at this time…”
HOLLANDER: “Hold on there, Wink. Hold on.”
McLean and the entire crowd look to the head of the aisle, where Hollander, Jules, Cassie, senior referee Jack Blake, Derringer, and four security guards make their way to the ring. Cassie and the commissioners have microphones.
Derringer, Blake, and the guards surround the ring as the others climb through the ropes. Jules has an off-mic word with the confused McLean, whose face blossoms into fear and apprehension as she speaks. Jules points McClean toward the hard camera.
MCLEAN: “I’ve just been informed tonight’s Tri-County Championship contract signing has been canceled. The match will take place two weeks from tonight, with champion Anna Konda and challenger Sizzlin’ Scarlett Jackson both in action next week. To explain further, her is CCW Deputy Commissi-”
The lights go out.
The crowd swells with Ooooos and Ohhhhs. At ringside, Derringer and Blake shout orders to the guards.
The huge CarniTron screen bursts to life, Tiana Miles’ face fills the screen, as it did in the commissioner’s office.
The house lights remain off, but a few spotlights snap on to illuminate the ring.
On the screen, Tiana smiles.
TIANA: “Aww, you came. I knew you guys could follow orders. (she winks) I know Cassie can.”
The crowd buzzes. Jules steps forward.
JULES: “You’ve got us here and you’ve got your audience, Tiana. Now what do you wa-”
TIANA: “I’m sorry, deputy commissioner, I’ll be with you all in a moment. First, I want to re-introduce myself to all these wonderful CCW fans.
“My name is Tiana Miles. You might remember me as that feisty girl who wrestled her way out of the underneath locker room only to lose the wrong matches at the wrong times and then disappear. Well, if caught the end of Chaos last week, you also know I was the cloaked, masked leader… (big, evil grin) of The Pack.”
Mixed reaction for this, but the whole crowd’s attention remains riveted to the screen.
TIANA: “Before I address the folks in the ring — one in particular — I want to make something clear: The Pack is over. (some boos in the crowd, some cheers) Whatever it was to start, The Pack was a means to an end for me. I took that group over from the fools who started it, I used it how I wanted to use it, and I let it die. It’s gone.”
Cassie gets up on the second turnbuckle closest to the CarniTron.
CASSIE: “That’s bullshit, Tiana. (the crowd cheers) The kidnappings, the terror, the attacks, the stupid fucking symbol; all of that was for one thing. Me. You still want me, Tiana, and everyone here knows it. (more cheers) So, let Sunny go, crawl out of whatever hole you’re in, and come down to the arena so I can make a woman out of you.”
Big cheers for that. But also a big smile from Tiana.
TIANA: “Oh Cassie. Beautiful, sexy little Cassie. (her smile contorts into a sick grin) My Cassie. You know and I know it’s me who made a woman out of you. (she feigns a quizzical look) Or, as I seem to recall, it’s me who made a bitch out of you. Especially that one ni-”
JULES: “That’s enough, Tiana. If you still have an issue with Cassie Rae, I’m sure we can work out a way to address it, but holding Sunny Austin is a crime. Return her before we involve the authorities in this.”
The crowd is devouring all of this. On the screen, Tiana’s face is expressionless.
TIANA: “Who says I have Sunny?”
CASSIE: “Tiana, you can do whatever you want with me. I know that’s something you love hearing. Tell me what you want and I’ll do it. Just let Sunny come back…(she wells up) back to the arena.”
Tiana, presses a fingertip to her lips.
TIANA: “Oh, baby girl. I always did whatever I wanted with you. But none of those people in that arena know just how true that is.”
HOLLANDER: “Now wait just a minute, young lady. Sunny Austin is a valuable asset to this company. If you have her, return her. If you know where she is, tell us. Otherwise, I’ve got two more matches to get to in this show, so state your business or we’re moving on.”
JULES: “Hollis…”
Cassie, watching the screen, lays a hand on Jules’ forearm.
CASSIE: “Wait.”
TIANA: “Why, Commissioner Hollander, always looking out for the talent, aren’t you?”
HOLLANDER: “Make your demands, Ms. Miles.”
Tiana glances off camera, then levels her gaze at the lens.
TIANA: “I do not have Sunny Austin with me, but I do know where she is.”
Now it’s Jules with a hand on Cassie’s shoulder.
TIANA: “I will appear in the CCW Arena next week. At that time, I want to be reinstated, and I want Cassie Rae in the ring…to talk.”
JULES: “You expect us to believe that, after what you and The Pack did to-”
TIANA: “I expect you to believe it; you’re the one who suspended me and you know why.”
The crowd buzzes anew. Cassie and Hollander exchange a look.
TIANA: “No tricks, no attacks, and no Pack. The Pack is dead. Just Cassie and I in the ring to talk. If she agrees to that, I will tell her where to find Sunny.”
Cassie holds her mic in two hands.
CASSIE: “Tiana, I will meet you in this ring, and I will talk to you about anything you want. But I am telling you now, if you’ve done anything to Sunny, there will not be a safe place for you. Anywhere.”
Tiana nods.
TIANA: “See you next week, babe. I can’t wait.”
The CarniTron fades to black, and the house lights come up.
Cassie, crying, rolls out of the ring and heads up the aisle.
In the ring, Hollander tries to catch Jules’ eye, but it’s Wink McLean, who’s been here the whole time, who asks the question.
MCLEAN: “Why was Tiana suspended?”
In the star locker room…
Both in their ring gear, Tri-County Champion Anna Konda and Sizzlin’ Scarlett Jackson, whose contract signing just got cancelled, watch the large, unblemished monitor, on which Jules is leaving the ring despite questions from McClean and Hollander.
KONDA (hands on her hips): “For this underneath drama bullshit they cancel us? I don’t like it.”
SCARLETT (arms folded): “I don’t either, but those girls have been through it. Cassie is good people, and I used to tag with Tiana. We couldn’t make it work. (she shakes her head) She seems even more lost now.”
KONDA: “All bullshit. This is a place for wrestling. I don’t care for you, but you seem to understand that.”
SCARLETT: “Girl, you’re far from my favorite, but think of this: Those matches we’re gonna wrestle next week are bound to be showcases…against underneath girls.”
Scarlett smiles. It spreads to Anna Konda.
KONDA: “There may be hope for you yet.”
Konda wanders to her locker, still smiling.
Scarlett looks at the monitor, then at Tiana’s locker, and her smile melts.
In the underneath locker room…
Jessica unlocks the door and opens it.
JESSICA: “What the hell do you want?”
Lyssa Lopez, known these last few months as Pequeno Tigre, founder of The Pack, is outside the locker room in a cheap brown tank top, low-rise jeans, and black flip-flops. Her makeup is minimal. She can’t quite meet Jessica’s gaze.
LYSSA: “I left a few things in my locker.”
JESSICA: “You’re not welcome here.”
MELORA: “Who is it, Jess? (she appears at Jessica’s shoulder) Ah.”
LYSSA: “I don’t have to get that stuff. It’s OK. I really just wanted to tell you guys I’m leaving. (her eyes get glassy) And that I’m sorry for everything I did. (she shakes her head) I’m so embarrassed.”
JESSICA (to Melora): “Deal with her if you want.”
Jessica leaves the door and goes to the long bench away from the lockers, where Riley and Sarah move to surround her.
Closer to the door, Tiffany and Teresa stand just behind Melora, backing her up.
Melora looks Lyssa over.
MELORA: “You can get whatever’s in your locker, but then you leave. If Jessica says you’re not welcome, you’re not welcome.”
LYSSA: “Thank you.”
Lyssa, head down, shuffles into the room. Tiffany, Teresa, and Melora hover near her as Lyssa pulls a small bag and a hoodie from her locker. She closes it, then looks across the room to Jessica between Tiffany and Teresa’s shoulders.
LYSSA: “I don’t expect you to ever forgive me. I brought you into The Pack. I took advantage of you. And I’m so sorry for everything that came after. (she glances around at the others) This world was just…too much for me. I’m sorry for what’s happened to all of you because of things I did.”
Teresa closes the gap between her shoulder and Tiffany’s, cutting off Lyssa’s view of Jessica.
TERESA: “Time to go.”
Lyssa nods, sniffling, and moves toward the door, which Melora is holding open for her.
JESSICA: “Hey, Lyssa…”
She turns, teary-eyed.
JESSICA: “I hope your sons forgive you.”
A tear rolling down each cheek, Lyssa nods and leaves the room.
In the arena…
Josie Myer is already in the ring for the next match, her first CCW singles match. Without Sarah to counsel and encourage, Josie’s demeanor is radically different. Her flip-flops already off and placed in her corner, her feet apart, her toes gripping the mat, Josie stretches and bends, getting ready to compete.
If her mind ever wanders to the fading electrical burn on her smooth, bare stomach, Josie doesn’t show it. Her wild, tight curls tied back, Josie, for the first time, has the bearing of a determined professional wrestler.
The Tale of the Tape
Josie Myer, an underneath girl with an 0-3 record, is 24, 5’6”, 125lbs, with a curly mop of dark brown hair and brown eyes. She wrestles barefoot in a plain, black sports bra and cuffed, gray, low-rise sweatpants. Hannah Hammer is a star with a 7-1 record. She is 23, 5’7”, 160lbs, with brown hair and hazel eyes. She wrestles in short denim overalls, a yellow tee, and brown work boots.
Jimmy Swift introduces Hannah, who hasn’t been seen in the CCW ring since she easily pinned a distracted Sunny Austin a month ago. Since then, she’s been a willing member of Commissioner Hollander’s Pack Task Force. But, with that threat seemingly gone, Hannah is her old jovial self as she makes her way down the aisle, shaking hands and smiling at fans.
By the time Hannah climbs through the ropes, Josie is pacing in her corner.
Referee Jessie Motley calls for the bell.
Hannah Hammer vs. Josie Myer
Hannah smiles at Josie as they circle.
HANNAH: “I know I ain’t the one to be talkin’ fashion, but you look like you just rolled off the couch, girl.”
Josie shrugs.
JOSIE: “Maybe I did.”
Hannah shakes her head.
HANNAH: “Nah, somethin’ tells me that ain’t the case.”
Hannah lunges, but Josie avoids it easily. Hannah uses her size to herd Josie toward the corner, but Josie cartwheels away from a big overhand forearm, then back handsprings away from a clothesline.
Back to circling, Hannah, smiles, shakes her head.
HANNAH: “I seen Sunny Austin pull off summuh that stuff, but you might be even faster.”
JOSIE (little shrug, little smirk): High-school gymnastics.
HANNAH: “I believe it, but that ain’t gonna be near enough to beat me, darlin’.”
Hannah makes a sharp move inside and looks for a short clothesline, but Josie drops down, pivots on one foot and swings her other heel square into the side of Hannah’s knee.
Yowling, Hannah staggers backward toward the corner.
HANNAH: “You been watchin’ tape?”
JOSIE (smiling): “Just like we did in high-school gymnastics.”
HANNAH: “Ah hell…”
With Hannah’s back to the corner, one hand on her knee, Josie charges in and looks for a monkey flip…
…but Hannah is way too big and way too strong. She grabs with both hands at Josie’s waist but, before she can pull her close, Josie gets both feet flat on Hannah’s chest and backflips to the center of the ring.
The crowd likes that.
Snorting, Hannah charges from the corner, but Josie ducks the wild clothesline and, from a crouch, times a thrust kick to the small of Hannah’s back that sends her careening, chest-first, into the opposite corner.
Staying in motion, Josie dashes to the opposite corner and works a double back handspring into a flying reverse elbow that lands right between Hannah’s shoulder blades.
The crowd likes that too.
Still moving, still on her toes, Josie cinches both arms around Hannah’s waist, plants her feet, and, with all her strength, pulls Hannah out of the corner into a schoolgirl roll-up.
Referee Motley is right there.
1…
2…
Hannah uses her abs and hips to power out, but Josie rides the momentum of the effort to land in the corner with both feet on the second rope, hands gripping the top rope.
As Hannah struggles to stand, Josie scrambles to the top turnbuckle, pivots on the balls of her feet, and dives, nailing Hannah with a hard cross-body block…
But Hannah’s got just enough wherewithal to catch Josie in her arms and use Josie’s momentum to rearrange things into the JackHammer — Hannah’s tilt-a-whirl version of the Boss Man Slam — crushing Josie between her shoulder and the mat.
JOSIE: “Gaaaaaawwwww…”
Josie sprawls on her back, all the air and fight driven from her. Anguish and frustration twist Josie’s face as Hannah reclines across her chest and shoulders and grabs her far leg for a tight leg hook.
Moaning, Josie manages a pair of desperate kicks with her free leg as the referee counts the 1-2-3 and calls for the bell at 2:04.
Hannah’s decisive win makes her 8-1. Valiant but defeated in her first singles match, Josie drops to 0-4.
Josie brings both palms to her forehead as Hannah releases the pin and rolls to one knee, then lays a hand on Josie’s heaving stomach.
HANNAH: “Goddamn, no one’s gonna want any part of you a few months from now.”
She pats Josie’s side, then pushes up to her feet, gets her glory, and gets her arm raised.
Josie pulls her feet up to rest flat on the canvas as Hannah leaves the ring. The referee drops to one knee over Josie.
MOTLEY: “You put up a fight, Myer. You should walk out if you can.”
Josie takes the referee’s hand and allows Motley to pull her back to her feet. The crowd gives her a nice hand as Josie collects her flip-flops and, favoring her lower back a bit, heads up the aisle.
In the deputy commissioner’s office…
Jules is standing behind her desk, phone receiver to her ear, scribbling on a small pad.
Wink McLean, arms crossed, taps his black, patent leather oxford on the carpet.
MCLEAN: “How many messages could you have?”
Jules hangs up the phone.
JULES: “Two, but they were both a bit… (she glares at him) I don’t have to answer to you.”
MCLEAN: “Ah, but you do have to answer to the CCW board of directors, and to our fine fans. (he shoves his mic at her) Deputy Commissioner Moreno, why was Tiana Miles suspended and did that lead to her involvement with The Pack?”
JULES (looking past McClean into the camera): “I would imagine Tiana’s suspension did have something to do with her taking over The Pack. It gave her a way back in here, and we’ve all suffered because of it.”
MCLEAN: “Ah ha. So-”
JULES: “No, I don’t regret suspending Tiana. It was my only recourse at the time, given the circumstances.”
MCLEAN: “Well then what w-”
JULES: “The circumstances of Tiana’s suspension are, for now, between Tiana and me. (she fidgets with something on the desk) Although I suspect those circumstances will become a matter of public record, whether I like it or not, when Tiana and Cassie Rae have their talk in the ring next week. (she shakes her head, shrugging) So there’s one more reason to tune in, folks.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, Wink, I have to go. The business of CCW needs to get back to being wrestling.”
MCLEAN: “Is it about those messages you received? Are they CCW business?”
JULES (sighing): “Yes. It seems both Shauna — the Pack member known as Blonde — and now Gothica both want to continue wrestling here.”
MCLEAN: “Both of those girls are currently in undisclosed locations. I’d like to take the proper precautions and tag along. The Pack fallout is a compelling, continuing CCW story, deputy commissioner, and the fans should know about it.”
JULES (rolling her eyes): Fine. I just want to get out of here for tonight.
In the commissioner’s office…
The door opens. Startled, Hollander looks up from his desk.
HOLLANDER: “Ms. Nepperhan, I told you, I’ve had enough tonight, I want to be aloh…hello. What brings you here?”
Zehra, formerly of The Pack, slinks into the room. Barefoot in her wrestling gear — a black beaded bra top and black harem pants — she pads up to the desk and leans over it with palms on the edge.
ZEHRA: “Mr. Commissioner. There is no more Pack. I wonder if maybe…I can be a wrestler for you.”
HOLLANDER (sitting up straight, hands flat on the desk): “For me? What did you have in mind?”
Zehra leans forward further, one foot off the floor.
ZEHRA: “Oh, I think, I stay here with you until it’s time to wrestle who you say. You watch me fight, try so hard. Maybe you like it if I lose…? (she brings her face to within inches of his) You take care of me after?”
Hollander stand up, slams the framed photo of Gothica on his desk face down, and plasters his mouth on Zehra’s.
She kisses back.
Hollander drops into his chair, Zehra’s lipstick smeared across his mouth. He reaches up and caresses the side of her face. She leans into his palm, eyes closed.
HOLLANDER: “You’re hired.”
In the arena…
Jimmy Swift, center ring, puts an extra bit of welly into this one…
SWIFT: “The following contest is scheduled for one fall…and it is for the Carnival Cavalcade Wrestling Championship!”
The Tale of the Tape
Betty Magnum, the CCW Champion, is 32, 5’7”, 145lbs, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She wrestles in a denim-patterned bra top, denim-patterned athletic leggings, and cowboy-style wrestling boots. She is currently 13-3. The challenger, Outlaw Annie Hook is a star currently 9-2. She is 35, 5’7”, 150lbs, with dirty-blonde hair and blue eyes. She wrestles in a black singlet, black knee pads, and cowboy-style boots with red highlights. She also wears a black cowboy hat and black leather vest as entrance gear.
Swift introduces Hook, who comes to the ring with no weapons and no backup. She does, however, carry the stolen CCW title belt — defaced with a black, painted steer head and some of Betty Magnum’s blood — over her shoulder. She climbs through the ropes, hands the belt off to referee Jack Blake, places her hat and vest in the corner, and gets ready to wrestle.
Betty gets a huge ovation and more jogs to the ring than walks. Once inside, she gets pumped and psyched up, blasting Hook with a few choice words before the referee calls for the bell.
Carnival Cavalcade Wrestling Championship Match
Betty Magnum [c] vs. Outlaw Annie Hook
The Outlaw promised this would be a classic professional wrestling match, and, for about two minutes, it is. Lots of reversals and counters of basic holds; blocking and scoring punches, forearms, chops, and kicks; each wrestler gets a near fall. Everything is textbook and scientific until Betty hits a flash belly-to-belly suplex, her finisher, at 2:34.
Hook is stunned. Betty goes for the pin, but Cowgirl Platinum pulls the referee out after two and slugs him.
Blake throws the match out from the floor at 2:54, disqualifying Hook.
Platinum slides into the ring, and she and The Outlaw square-off with Betty, who wants to take them both on.
Cowgirl Diamond slides into the ring behind Betty and clocks her in the back of the head with a horseshoe.
Betty goes down, arms wrapped around her head, as Hook retrieves the CCW title from the timekeeper’s table and the ring announcer’s mic from his lap. The Outlaw regains the ring, parts the Cowgirls, who were kicking the hell out of Betty on the mat, and lays the belt across the champion’s back.
HOOK: “You can have that belt back now, champ. It’s worthless. (she plants her boot on the title, pressing it into Magnum’s back) When you’re ready to have a real championship match with ol’ Annie Hook, you let the office know and I’ll be there. Then we’ll have a real champion around this place, with a real belt, and not some… (she looks down at Betty) tin-horn Barbie.”
The Outlaw spits on the CCW title, the Cowgirls cackle, and the three of them stroll from the ring as referee Blake slides back in to see to Betty, whose hair is matted with blood.
Fade Out
