Three Stages of Hell

[Delikado/J-Noble]

The Kingdom of Pride's "Survival of the Proud"
Qualifying Match: Eric Valor vs. Dru Tha Merc vs. Johnny Noble
March 20, 2011

The rather angry slamming shut of a metal cabinet drawer is the first thing to greet us as the scene opens with Johnny Noble being the culprit behind the noise. His face displays irritableness as he looks around his brother Kurt’s office. Only a single source of light is available from the small lamp on the GM’s desk, and judging from the fact that Johnny could perfectly well turn on the main overhead light, it’s obvious he’s trying to keep a low profile. Sighing, Johnny walks over to his big brother’s desk, opens the drawer and leans down as he looks inside. Meanwhile, Debra Mason walks into the office looking just as preoccupied with the search as her partner.

Debra Mason: Anything?

Johnny Noble: No.

As if to punctuate his point, Johnny slams the drawer and paces around behind Kurt Noble’s office chair.

Johnny Noble: Adze wanted us to go all the way out there to that district across town so he’d have time to send off all that intel to Kurt. There was never going to be any exchange, that stupid In Medias Res…

Debra Mason: Well, if there’s nothing here, we should get going, John. That janitor only agreed to let us in here for so long.

Johnny slams his hands down in frustration on the desk, shaking his head.

Johnny Noble: This is unbelievable. All of that information with our names on it!

Debra Mason: I tried to contact Adze’s office, but no luck yet on getting a call back from him.

Johnny Noble: Try not getting a call back from ANY of them. No doubt those tabloid-writing scumbags saw more to gain with the “boss” Noble on their side over us, over people who were more than willing to get the truth out there over the juiciest story. “Little brother of wrestling legend turned co-owner of established wrestling fed plots his own sibling’s downfall”? It might not fit on an entire page for a title, but the content sure as hell is the cream of the crop of dirty politics in journalism.

Johnny rubs his forehead and groans as he walks past Debra, who can only look on helplessly. It’s clear she can’t say much, given the ugliness of the circumstances. Yet like a good partner, she does at least appear to be trying to find some kind of positive in all of this.

Debra Mason: Well, let’s look at the facts, John. If Kurt DID have all that collected info from Adze sent to his office, and he received it, why hasn’t he acted? Why hasn’t he had us brought in and questioned for all the evidence given to him? I mean we’d clearly be the first priority he’d want to handle, and he wouldn’t be wasting his time booking you for a Super Show of all things if he knew you did indeed plan to sabotage his position in Pride or even personally, would he? Seriously, would that make sense for him to let this go?

Johnny turns and looks at Debra, his face steadily starting to lose the tension it had before. He nods his head hesitantly at first as he speaks.

Johnny Noble: Perhaps not…

He exhales heavily. It’s clear the young Noble is still feeling uneasy about all of this regarding Adze’s apparent betrayal and the idea of all their collected intel now floating about somewhere out there, but his partner has at least temporarily eased his mind a bit.

Johnny Noble: We still need to find Adze, though. We have to figure out what he did and why.

Debra Mason: Agreed. But for now, we should probably get going.

Debra nudges her head for the door and the two exit the office. Johnny stops and turns back to examine the room. Despite having had a mixed bag of anger and hurried intent in mind as he went through Kurt Noble’s office from top to bottom, it looks as if Johnny made sure to fix everything back up as he found upon confirming what he wanted to find was not in a specific area. The office looks like a normal office. Johnny nods once and then shuts the door. Waiting a few feet away is the janitor who let the two in. He tilts his head as Johnny and Debra approach him and speaks in broken English with a foreign accent.

Janitor: You done?

Debra Mason: We’re done. You can lock it back up now, thanks.

Janitor: Ok.

Nodding humbly, the rather awkward janitor strolls past the two, but not before Johnny grabs his arm and pulls him close enough so he can lean forward and talk to his face to face.

Johnny Noble: You tell nobody what went on here. Not a soul.

Johnny reaches into his pocket and pulls out his wallet.

Debra Mason: I already paid him, John.

Johnny Noble: I’m just making sure he gets the point.

Pulling out a fifty, Johnny shoves it into the janitor’s pocket and walks away. The janitor mumbles in confusion as he feels his pocket where the money was inserted and then hobbles away to go about his duties. Debra looks between her partner and the janitor before following Johnny out into the hallway. The two turn a corner and make their way down the arena hallway when a figure steps from the first door they start to pass and nearly bumps right into both of them. It’s none other than Pride’s sole interviewer, Alex Avice. Perhaps it’s due to some of the pressures of the night, but Johnny is initially taken aback by Avice suddenly appearing and voices a sharp expletive followed by some minor voicing to himself.

Johnny Noble: God…

Alex Avice: Oh, hey, John. Hey, Debra.

Debra Mason: Alex.

Johnny Noble: What are you doing here, Avice? Shouldn’t you be out and about elsewhere?

Alex Avice: I could ask you the same question, haha!

His charmingly harmless tone shows us that Avice is not suspicious or bothered or…well, really anything by Johnny’s question. Johnny rolls his neck and groans quietly as Avice fixes himself up.

Alex Avice: No, but for real, I was just here catching up on some paperwork, you know? Got a nice little blog coming along regarding the Super Show and, well, I don’t have a home computer and I can’t afford to go to one of those coffee shops where they have computers…so I…yeah…

Johnny Noble: Honest to a fault, huh.

Alex Avice: Yeah, I’m pretty honest to a fault. But hey, at least I’m proactive!

His nerdy smile causes Johnny to roll his eyes and Debra to smirk at the scene. It’s Johnny’s irritableness that breaks the scene, however.

Johnny Noble: Well, you have fun with being “proactive” here by yourself, Alex. Right now Deb and I have some things we need to-

Alex Avice: Actually, if you wouldn’t mind, I was wondering if I could get a quick word or two from you regarding the Super Show. Like I said, I’ve got a blog going about it; maybe I could put some of your comments or thoughts into it?

Johnny Noble: Not interested.

Johnny starts to walk off. Debra gives Avice a “good try, sorry” type of frown as she turns to follow her partner, but the interviewer clearly lives up to his persistent ways as he follows behind the two.

Alex Avice: C’mon, Johnny! It’s a Super Show! “Survival of the Proud!” You’re in a Qualifying match for the Valiant title! This is an event that could see you come out as the potential next Valiant Champion of the whole Kingdom of Pride, dude!

Johnny Noble: Do I look like a stoner, Alex? Don’t call me “dude.”

Avice sheepishly lowers his head.

Alex Avice: Yeah, sorry…But for real, Johnny, this is a pretty big moment for you, and you have nothing at all to say? If not on the entire night as a whole, maybe just your qualifier that puts you against Eric Valor and Dru Tha Merc? I know you and Dru have enough history that you could give me a statement!

Johnny, being capable of blocking out irritations like Avice well, carries on walking. Avice turns to Debra, hoping she might be a bit more of an interviewee than her partner.

Alex Avice: Help me out here, Debra. You’ve been Johnny’s partner long enough to see him wrestle back and forth with guys like Tha Merc. You care to comment on his upcoming opportunity at “Survival of the Proud?”

Johnny Noble: No, she doesn’t. Don’t waste your breath, Deb, or he’ll just follow us along all the way back to the hotel.

Debra flashes her partner a grinning look of amusement before focusing back on Avice. Clearly Ms. Mason is more approachable than Noble.

Debra Mason: Ignoring my partner’s skepticism in your interviewing abilities, Alex, I will comment and just say that while the event coming up isn’t exactly something we like to talk about, John and I will both be there with the intent to carry on with the show no matter what the initial outcome might be.

Alex Avice: And why is that?

Debra Mason: Because it takes persistence and it takes a level head to go into an event like this with so much going on. To not only make it in an industry like this but to also prosper as a longstanding athlete, you have to take nothing personal and make nothing personal.

Alex Avice: Now, I know this isn’t directly tied into Johnny’s first match, although it very well could tie in if he makes it to later on in the night, but I would like to ask you if making nothing “personal” is what was going through your mind or your partner’s mind during the tag team match last week when Johnny’s…well, I don’t know if “partner” is the right word, but when Eddie Nash was pretty much left high and dry to fend for himself against the current Valiant champion Josh Eagles and Jason Phoenix.

The question initially forces Debra to think for a minute, but she’s able to decipher it and then go for her best answer as she speaks on behalf of her partner.

Debra Mason: Well, taking into account what’s been our intention from the start with Ed Nash, last week was never meant to be personal. Not a personal attack, not a personal agenda being played out, nothing of the sort. It was just a statement being made that could have applied to anyone. However, because he was persistent and made it a case of trying to make this month or so of teaming one big loud scene, Nash just ended up becoming a prime case to show that you can’t just go about around this place week and week out playing some outlaw motorcycle club gang thing and not expect consequences. There are always consequences when you mess around in something you shouldn’t be, Alex, and Johnny leaving Nash “high and dry”, as you put it, was case and point. Now, is that something that could backfire and only cause more trouble? Sure. Is what I’m saying bound to be mistranslated by someone in the Kingdom of Pride? More than likely it will be. But it is what it is, and Johnny and I are prepared to deal with the fallout of the choices we make. All we ask is people quit making every word we say or action we take so personal.

Avice nods in understanding, clearly getting a little more than he bargained for from Ms. Mason, who has clearly kept up with Johnny in his career and taken on his ideals with the same energy and matter of speaking.

Alex Avice: And so what about this qualifier? What about Valor and Dru?

Johnny stops and turns to the interviewing pair, crossing his arms as he watches.

Johnny Noble: We’ll bribe them, by a lot, before the match gets underway. There. Go write that down on your blog and-

Debra hits her partner on the arm and turns back to Avice.

Debra Mason: Well while I’m not Johnny personally, I know his training and I’m aware of the work he’s capable of. It’s just a matter of being prepared as much as you possibly can. We’re not in this company to get famous off titles, victories, title victories, or highlight Main Events and the like. It’s all simply a matter of drive, having a love to be in a sport like this in a territory like this, and the skill here in Pride—while a bit on the downward spiral recently—is something that can inspire you to aspire to doing more than just being “some wrestler.” With Valor, I can’t comment because I know nothing of his work and I know Johnny is currently under his own process of prep for such an unknown. As for Merc, Johnny has given him plenty of matches in the past to the point this is an area that is known well enough to make the match a melting pot, so to speak.

Alex Avice: Okay, okay.

Johnny taps his elbow as he continues to stand there with his arms crossed. Debra eyes him and then smiles at Avice.

Debra Mason: Got anything else?

Alex Avice: So are you two looking at this upcoming night as a night of success or…?

Debra Mason: Well as I said, this isn’t going to be something based off becoming the next contender for a title. Success for this pair does not become achieved by just getting by with enough to grab some win under a “W” column or whatever. It really just boils down to giving this sport the detail and attention it deserves; it’s about mastering a craft my partner loves and that I’ve loved for years now. Against Valor and Dru Tha Merc could really just be being against the champion himself, because the same effort to strengthen the work we’ve done since both coming here and meeting up in the Kingdom of Pride is what it takes, Alex.

Alex Avice: Beautifully put. I think that’ll be more than enough, Debra. Thanks.

Debra smiles, looking genuinely pleased to assist Avice, which is more than most people—Johnny included—care about doing.

Debra Mason: You’re welcome.

Debra and Avice give each other a little nod before Johnny turns and walks off. Debra goes with him, leaving Avice there to go over his notes taken during the discussion. The camera follows Johnny and Debra as they move for a door with a sign reading “PARKING LOT” above it.

Johnny Noble: That was quite the production you put on, Deb.

Debra Mason: Stop. If anything, I was working on my own career rather than giving you an edge with the public.

They both smile as they exit the arena and enter the parking lot. Both carry on toward their vehicle as Johnny comments.

Johnny Noble: Well, I will give you that: you keep people like Avice listening. I’m surprised he didn’t break down after that “Beautifully put” nonsense.

Debra Mason: Aw, don’t be that way, Mr. Bitter.

Johnny Noble: Just thanks for keeping him busy with that. I wasn’t much in the mood to run down the credit line after all.

Debra Mason: John, don’t worry. Right now, just assume we’re in the clear and when we get into contact with Adze, this whole mess will be worked out.

They reach Noble’s car, but before Johnny can open the door, Debra stops him as she walks forward and reaches for a piece of paper stashed under the windshield wipers.

Debra Mason: Hold it.

She pulls the paper out from the wipers and turns it over, finding it to be an envelope with her name on it. She opens the unsealed envelope and pulls out a single piece of paper revealing text that she begins to read aloud after some minor hesitation.

Debra Mason: “Dear Ms. Mason,”

Named off, both Johnny and Debra flash each other glances before Debra continues reading.

Debra Mason: “In this business, there comes a time where you have to know who to trust and who to find as a coward, as a potential backstabber in the making. Throughout your career here with Johnny Noble, calls such as these have been made by you and your actions display those traits just as well. Sure enough, your actions have led you to a point where you don’t know what to think, what to expect, from anyone. The files you tried to obtain, the documents that have since vanished from you, are instead in the palms of those who stand to lose the most. Soon, Ms. Mason, this series of events will lead to your partner, Johnny Noble, to strike out against someone you both originally perceived as “legitimate” in this world. A man who was a partner to your partnership.”

Johnny blinks once as this is read aloud, his face unreadable in its present state as he listens.

Debra Mason: “This is a moment where you act, Ms. Mason. Caution--leaving Noble's side--is the key.”

Debra looks at the back of the paper but finds nothing. Johnny stands by unsure of what to think. He exhales slowly and looks around the parking lot.

Johnny Noble: This just keeps getting better and better. It’s like some three stages of Hell here.

Debra Mason: You think it was Kurt?

Johnny Noble: Honestly, Deb, I don’t know what to think here. Right now, let’s just get in the car and ride back to the hotel. We’ll figure this out there.

Debra nods and starts to walk around the back of Noble’s vehicle to go around when a screech of tires is heard echoing all around the lot and Debra turns just as a black Toyota hits her! Johnny spins around and watches in shock as his partner crashes onto the hood of the speeding car and then is thrown to the pavement with a single bounce that causes her to impact the ground with a gross crunch. The car speeds away past Debra’s body and roars out of the parking lot before Johnny can even get a glimpse of the driver. Johnny runs over to his downed partner, finding her still awake on her back but hyperventilating as some blood is seen coming from her mouth. Johnny looks up and focuses toward the arena.

Johnny Noble: *yelling *HELP!!

Debra weakly lifts her arm up but drops it back down as she continues to wheeze and occasionally cough a sick mix of air and gargled blood. A cut on her head has also begun to turn her normally blonde hair into a grotesque orange-red. Johnny pulls off his sports jacket and folds it up, placing it over Debra in a desperate attempt to comfort her despite the vehicular rundown she just suffered. Johnny looks toward the arena again and cries out at two stagehands that have exited the building and spotted the scene.

Johnny Noble: *yelling * She was hit by a car! Call 911!

One of the men runs back inside while the other pulls out his cell-phone and likely calls 911. Johnny focuses on his partner now and tries to talk to her.

Johnny Noble: Debra? Debra! An ambulance is on its way, you’ll be alright…

Desperately, Johnny Noble keeps speaking like this to his partner even as she fades in and out of consciousness and the scene fades out slowly…

<END OF FEED>