Marking Time, Tempting Fate, The Second

«Our scene opens backstage at CPW # 3 as referee James Young is being interviewed.»

Cameraman: James, you just called the Sirens tag match earlier in the night, which some may see it as the match of the night, but it wasn’t without controversy. Now, while Roxi did get the pinfall, Mercedes Vargas had a pinfall as well. What’s your take on what happened?

Referee James Young: Look, I was just doing my job, OK. There was no hidden agenda behind it. I saw Roxi’s pinfall on Crystal first before I saw Mercedes’ on Zelda, and that’s how the match ended. I have no qualms about my decision.

Voice: “No qualms about your decision.” Did I hear that right?

«The camera shifts to Mercedes Vargas nearby, who walk into the scene.»

Referee James Young: Mercedes, what are you doing, here?

Mercedes Vargas: It’s a free country, last time I checked.

Cameraman: This is an intervie -

Mercedes Vargas: [directed at Cameraman] Shut up. What am I doing here? I’m waiting for my apology.

Referee James Young: Apology? What for? I did nothing wrong.

Mercedes Vargas: Oh, you sure did. You did do something wrong, James Young. You failed to call the match properly. You screwed me over in a match I should have won.

Referee James Young: I did no such thing. I called the match the way I saw it.

Mercedes Vargas: No, that’s not good enough. You know what? I’m not taking this lying down. I’m not going away quietly. I’m glad this happened tonight because now I have all the more reason to file a complaint to the Board of Directors. And we’ll see if you’ll be calling any more matches in CPW.

«Mercedes storms off as the cameraman and referee James Young looks on in concern as our scene fades.»



I really can’t put the blame on Zelda. Like she always does, she gave out 115%, though you could say Roxi made up 100% of it. I’ll go as far as to say she was her “sidekick of the night.” We all knew that I was the superstar on my team and who was demoted to extra. In the end, after dropping Roxi on her head, I'm sure she has already set aside a place for me in her rogues gallery.

There are two sides to every story, just as there are two sides to Zelda Knite. For lack of a better analogy, she’s a lot like a light switch. When she’s on, when there’s something that she wants, when there is something worth fighting for, especially when she’s easily distracted by shiny objects such as championships, you better believe that she will do everything a human being can do in order to achieve her goal. That is the Zelda you saw at CPW #2 two weeks ago. And then there is the Zelda you saw the week after in the tag match. When she’s offline, this is the Zelda who will step back and let everything come to her, she’s just going through the motions, she’ll play her role as a good little tag team partner should, and depending on the outcome, she will probably say in her next promo that she really didn’t care about the match either way. If she loses, she’ll roll her eyes, acting as if nothing ever happened while ridiculing you to your face. If she wins, as was the case last week, she’ll go ahead and tell anyone who would listen that she was able to once again snatch victory out of the jaws of certain defeat…while also ridiculing you to your face.

It’s her thing. It’s what she does.

There just aren't many people who can give Zelda a run for her money the way I can. Had I not signed a contract with CPW, she probably would end up with all the titles, because that’s just the kind of person she is. Tournament final be damned, I should be competing for the Siren’s Championship at Undisputed, not having to earn my way into one at the next pay-per-view. I have to contend with facing Cynthia Warren.

I guess I’ll take it?

I mean, honestly, I’ve got nothing to prove. Most people know that I’m a dangerous opponent on any given night so it’s not like I’ve got nothing better to do than to embarrass a member of the Warren clan on Sunday night. I’ve got nothing better to do than to once again defeat Cynthia Warren in singles competition, just like I’ve done in the past. Leave it to the infinite wisdom of CPDub Management to give you to me at pay-per-view. Somehow in their delusional mind, they give you a number one contender’s match against me. “Yeah, Cynthia has been going through hell these past few weeks. Let’s give her a number one contender’s match to make her feel better about herself.”

Uh, yeah. As it turns out, Cynthia, something tells me you’re going to feel less than that come Sunday. What you are is an unfortunate victim of bad timing and being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Not to mention facing the wrong opponent Sunday at Undisputed.

So, if I were you, and I'm soooooooo glad I'm NOT, I would take this week to prepare for what's coming to you Sunday.

CPW EXCLUSIVE
CPW CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013

«Mercedes waves at us as the scene fades in on her standing before a building.»

Mercedes Vargas: Hello, all. It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, especially right here in Baltimore, Maryland – the home of Championship Pro Wrestling World Headquarters. Believe me, the three-hour trip was well worth it. So, yeah. Let’s take a little tour inside, yeah?

«The camera frame the exterior of the building as Mercedes walks up the steps and disappears inside. Once through the double doors, the camera pans through the lobby. It was mostly quiet, with a few employees lounging around on their lunch break. Mercedes waves at them as she gets strange looks. The linoleum floor reflected the sunlight from the large windows. Above was an atrium, which reached several feet up, the apex arching into a glazed skylight.»

Mercedes Vargas: Well, well, well. Are you getting this, camera guy? [camera pans up to where we see a Undisputed promotional banner featuring Fergus Callghan and Adam Knite] Imagine that. Adam Knite is in the main event. [shaking her head] Some things never change.

«The camera pans over to where Amber the Secretary called out to her and was just ending a phone conversation. Mercedes walks up to the desk with a smile on her face as the brunette puts a caller on hold and hangs up the phone.»

Mercedes Vargas: Yes, you can help me. I am here to see none other than the Chief Executive Officer of Championship Pro Wrestling, Joseph R. Reagan. I believe his office is on the Executive building on the third floor, thank you very much.

Amber the Secretary: [as Mercedes is walking away towards the elevators] Do you have an appointment?

«Mercedes stops and turns around.»

Mercedes Vargas: Excuse me?

Amber the Secretary: Do you have an appointment?

Mercedes Vargas: I got an e-mail. Have a nice day.

«Mercedes smiles at Amber before turning her back on her as her expression changes to one of disgust as she heads towards the elevators.»

Mercedes Vargas: [mumbling to herself] Mamerta.

«The elevator door opens. A male employee exits as he is talking on his cellphone while a female employee is not too close behind carrying paperwork and distracted by a PDA tablet.»

Mercedes Vargas: Third floor, Executive offices, please.

«The doors closes in on them as tense silence ensues. A female wearing glasses slightly glances at her. Mercedes, perhaps to ease the awkward moment begins humming the tune to Zelda's entrance theme.»

Mercedes Vargas: [singing] I don't believe your dull reaction, What we need's a call to action. Display it in your coldest caption, What we need's a call to act -

«She doesn't get to all of it before the elevator opens again and she takes her leave.»

Mercedes Vargas: Oh, there's our floor.

«Mercedes walks down a corridor seeing mostly closed office doors. She stops in front of one door and looks at the name plaque reading "Joseph Reagan, CPW CEO".»

Mercedes Vargas: Well, we're finally here, folks. The office of the CEO himself. [aside] Hopefully, he's not too busy to see little ole' me.

«Mercedes opens the door, finding the desk stacked high with paperwork.»

Mercedes Vargas: Mr. Reagan, sir, I’m here for my appointment?

«The stacks of papers parted in two as Maria Salvatore looks up at Mercedes in surprise.»

Maria Salvatore: What are you doing here?

Mercedes Vargas: What am I doing here? What are you doing here? Where’s Mr. Reagan?

Maria Salvatore: Mercedes, don’t you know? He’s at the golf course on Saturdays. Is there anything I can help you with?

Mercedes Vargas: HE TOLD ME HE WOULD BE HERE!

Maria Salvatore: I guess he forgot to mention? One-track mind, that’s Mr. Reagan for you. [shrugs]

Mercedes Vargas: Just tell him I stopped by.

«She spins on her heel and walks away without a backwards glance as Maria gets back to her work. She calls after her.»

Maria Salvatore: Could you close the door behind you?

«The CPW President cringes as the door slams before she gets back to the overwhelming paperwork that demanded her time.»



Cynthia, it’s like this, OK? I know how much you cherish your job as a nurse, and it’s a demanding one. You practically have people’s lives on the line – everyday. You save people’s lives on a daily basis, but come Sunday – who’s going to be saving you? There isn’t going to be a lifeline. Roxi Johnson, despite claiming to be a superhero and all, has other priorities, plus she said that you aren’t really cut out to be a wrestler. And divine intervention won’t be saving you either, unfortunately. Still, it’s better than nothing, right?

We all know how this match is going to end, which makes me feel even worse that I’m going to have to travel three hours away from New York just to embarrass you again. You put up a good fight against Roxi, but you lost. A hell of an effort, but you lost. And now you have to face me in less than twenty-four hours.

Yeah, I agree with you. It kinda sucks to be you right now.

You know, I can't help but feel I'm forgetting something. Oh, right.

CRYSTAL! CRYSTAL! AT LAST, YOU'RE ON YOUR OOOOOOOOWN!

Actually, no, that kinda loses its meaning when you've practically been in Zelda’s shadow since, well, ever. I almost forgot to mention the plot twist in my match Sunday at Undisputed. There’s going to be a special guest referee.

Isn't life grand?

Now, Chrissie, sweetheart, this isn’t a slight against you or anything, but I’ve seen your work while wearing the zebra stripes, and the last time wasn’t a pleasant experience to watch. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Crystal, look, okay? This is something I’ve had to think over since our loss last week. Sure, you may have been the one who got pinned, and maybe CPW’s hype of your debut on Twitter as if you were the second coming of Christ – well, that’s more up Zelda’s avenue – was a little premature, and sure the match itself was probably the worst screwjob since Montreal, or even Phoenix, no thanks in part to a short sighted referee, but we lost just the same. I’m not saying it was your fault.

I’m saying it was mostly your fault, but that’s okay, I’m over it. Somehow, we’ll get through this. It may take a little while to process what happened in my first ever tag match, but we’ll get through this.

I can look at this a hundred different ways on why you would put yourself into the match as the referee. Could it be to screw me out of a title shot opportunity? Could it be that you so want to get your hands on Cynthia Warren and screw her out of a title shot? Could it be that you could care less who wins as long as the cameras are on you? Who knows?

I don’t often do this, but in this situation I feel that I must. Crystal, I’m going to give you a warning – once. There will not be a twice. You better call this match the way it should be: fair and square, down the middle. Because if you don't, just like your movie and acting career, you won't have a future.