Post by Jessica Reed on Nov 24, 2013 1:16:17 GMT
A surgical light flickers as we enter a sterile mock lab where Jess lays completely motionless, only a surgical gown to cover her modesty. Standing beside her, looking quite nervous is Katherine Lockheart who stares down at her, lost in her own world of thought. Suddenly that calm is broken as Simon de Montfort, dressed in scrubs walks over to the tray full of numerous surgical paraphernalia. Picking up the scalpel he raises it to the light and in the distance we can hear the muffled sound of gunfire. Katherine squeezes Jess’ hand before looking up at Simon.
Katherine Lockheart: Are you really sure this will work?
Simon barely acknowledges her, continuing to look at his scalpel.
Simon de Montfort: She’s the only person who is immune to this God forsaken virus, something inside her holds the answer. If not, she will be a symbol for hope for us all.
Katherine Lockheart: I know… but she never agreed to this. I told her she wouldn’t be harmed…
Simon de Montfort: Then you’re the liar, not I. Did you really convince yourself that we could find the answer with a mere physical?
Katherine bows her head.
Katherine Lockheart: No, but you gave her no choice. Drugging her food after showering her with gifts, you never gave her the option…
Simon de Montfort: Then I made her final hours pleasurable ones, what good would it do to worry her? This way her final memory will be a happy one.
Katherine Lockheart: Perhaps, I just…
Simon turns and looks at Katherine.
Simon de Montfort: This is for the best, we have to do what is best for everybody, not one little girl. Whether she agreed or not is fudging the issue, her name will be remembered forever and humanity will be saved. Would it all be worth throwing away for a simple “no”?
Katherine looks down and mutters something under her breath but as she does do the door suddenly bursts open and Roberto Verona flies into the room, handgun raised.
Roberto Verona: Nobody move!
Roberto’s hand shakes as he looks down at Jess laid flat on the slab, completely motionless. His brows furrow as he glares furiously as Katherine and Simon who stand with their hands raised above their heads.
Roberto Verona: What have you done to her!?
Simon de Montfort: Nothing which she wouldn’t want. Think about this Roberto, by my calculations you have only a single bullet left. Would it truly be wise to waste it on a fruitless endeavour?
Roberto Verona: How would you…
Simon de Montfort: You forget that I know my own weapons, I heard you discharge your weapon on your way to this room. There are two of us, Roberto, don’t do something you may regret…
Roberto Verona: Oh, believe me, I won’t regret it… Now, stand back, I am taking Jessica with me.
Roberto steps forward but immediately pauses as Simon does so also.
Roberto Verona: I am not joking, Simon.
Simon de Montfort: I simply cannot allow you to do this. She is too important.
Simon slowly lowers a hand and strokes Jess’ long golden locks, smiling down at her briefly before his face returns to a picture of calm.
Simon de Montfort: Jessica must fall, so others may rise. That is her destiny.
Roberto Verona: You have no right to choose what her destiny is.
Simon de Montfort: And you do? You’re holding a gun to our heads, all because you cannot bear to let her go.
Roberto Verona: No!
Simon de Montfort: You’re selfish, you would put your emotions ahead of the good of the collective.
Verona shakes his head.
Roberto Verona: No! I am doing what is best for her!
Simon de Montfort: What is best for her? Do you not think that sacrificing herself for the rest of humanity is a noble enough cause? You know that the cure is inside her, Verona…
Roberto Verona: It isn’t your decision to make. You can’t just use her like a toy, she’s a human being. It should be up to her, she’s not your toy to play with.
Simon de Montfort: I only want what’s best for her.
Roberto Verona: So do I!
Simon de Montfort: Then, old friend, we are at an impasse.
Simon takes a step forward, his arms still raised above his head.
Roberto Verona: What are you doing? Stay where you are.
Simon de Montfort: I am ending this.
Simon takes another step forward.
Roberto Verona: I am warning you!
Simon de Montfort: Give me the gun, you have to let her go, her fate is sealed, she has to give herself for us all…
Simon moves ever closer.
Roberto Verona: Don’t make me do this, Simon…
Simon de Montfort: You can’t save everybody, Roberto… Jess must give herself for the greater good… for every man and woman…
Roberto’s grip begins to tramble as Simon takes another step forward, but as he goes to grab the gun from Verona Katherine suddenly springs to life as the surgical lamp blows a fuse and sparks fly through the gloom, followed by the resounding noise of a gunshot…
A small camera kicks into life and standing before it, it's a room with a green screen is Jessica Reed, dressed as a rather fancy pirate, though he face is far more sombre than her colourful garbs.
This isn't the first time somebody has locked me in a cage.
I am being entirely metaphorical before anybody rings the police, my upbringing wasn’t that bad.
Although, it is that very upbringing that has shaped me into the woman I am today, regardless of what people think of me.
Jess removes the brunette wig from her head and tosses the pirate hat to one side.
I dress in these outlandish costumes not only because I enjoy them and feel at home, but because they allowed me to escape the reality of my existence as a young girl. Whenever my Dad would throw my sister’s success back in my face, I’d dress up as Wonder Woman and pretend that I was the golden girl. When he told me I would never amount to anything I would putt on some paint cans and kitchen utensils and pretend to be Ironman so I could feel successful.
In my heroes I found a place where I felt safe and for a few fleeting hours I could pretend to be somebody else and forget my troubles. Yet, until recently, after so many years of trying to be anybody but myself I was finally happy with just being me. I finally got over the silly insecurities so many of us girls go through.
Jess pauses and lifts off the large white frilly shirt to reveal a simply sports bra underneath.
But, it seems that it isn’t good enough for Simon.
It seems I need to be protected from the world and for all that he says, I can see it in his eyes that it has little do with protecting any sort of investment. Just like father, he doesn’t have faith in me, he has done everything to stack the deck in my favour despite everything I’ve proven because he doesn’t believe I can do this by myself.
Jess kicks off her large leather boots, pushing them to one side with her feet.
He wants to build up this image of the super invincible Jessica Reed, yet by constantly protecting me all he has done is show his complete lack of faith in me. Let’s be honest girls, I am not the brightest lightbulb in the room but we all know that if he thought I was everything he says I am, he’d not need to leave you to get you head’s beaten in last week.
Whenever I look around the locker room and into the eyes of my fellow girlies, I see one of two things. True, unrelenting pity or real, unmoving hatred. I am the most heated topic in the back, either the girls feel sorry for me because they can see through all of the silliness and realise I just want to wrestle or…
They look at me and see the golden goosey and even if they’re intelligent enough to realise Simon has motives, at the back of the minds they’ve bought into what he wants.
I know this is meant to be a banned subject, but he knows what Zelda Knite represented. She was the girl nobody could touch, the one person who could inspire something, albeit hate, from her colleagues. She was the one subject nearly all her colleagues could agree on and it drove them to raise their games to try and de-throne her.
All he is doing is moulding me in her image, at least to you guys whilst I take all the flak.
In a month he has managed to get most of you to hate me, the crowd to turn their back on me and judging by the words in the past few weeks the fire he wanted to light under your tushies is starting to toast the buns.
This week I have two girls who will be willing, for whatever twisty turny reason they may use, to tear me apart to get a taste of the glory. I am quite literally being fed to the wolves and what exactly can a goose do to defend herself? Simon has got exactly what he wants, a title match people actually care about, a champion who has become a… what’s the word, pharaoh… pheasant… pariah? Plus two women willing to butcher me live on pay-per-view.
Well this goose has no intention of being sent back to the gander or becoming fox food.
So here I am.
Jess lifts up the small pad of cotton wool and gently wipes her face clean of the last remaining eye liner. She stands in front of the camera in her plain sports bra, black leggings and bare feet. He blonde hair messily falling behind her.
Laid bare before all of you, no flashy gimmicks, no mask, just me. Jessica Reed. The same starry-eyed dreamer who genuinely believed that she could achieve greatness and inspires others along with it, above all the odds. Who just wanted to be everything she could and hopefully, along the way, make a difference.
I’d sooner lose as myself, than win as a corporate puppet.
The sun pierces through the tall trees as we find Jessica Reed and Roberto Verona slowly walking along a mountain pass as the sound of birdsong fills the air and a few leaves float softly to the ground. Jess walks ahead, kicked at stones as she hops up onto a fallen tree, turning to face Roberto. Verona carefully walks along a small stream which trickles gently down the centre of the pass, only stopping to look up at Jess who calls towards him.
Jessica Reed: There really wasn’t a cure? After all of this?
Roberto gulps and his eyes dart away.
Roberto Verona: No… they were lying to you, Jess.
Jessica Reed: I don’t understand, why would they do that?
Roberto Verona: Because they were willing to cut you open and pray, there are few greater motivators for humanity than the hope of salvation. They had no proof that anything inside you could be used to save them, but the mere glimmer of hope was enough…
Jessica shudders.
Jessica Reed: I can’t believe they saw me naked. Was that really necessary?
Roberto laughs and shakes his head.
Roberto Verona: You were nearly mutilated and your biggest concern is you modesty?
Jessica Reed: Hey, you haven’t had a bundle of pervs trying to grope you for the past year constantly. Unless there’s something you’re not telling me?
Jess playfully barges her shoulder into Roberto.
Roberto Verona: Well, there was that one member of the IWC who was eyeing me up a little funny…
Jessica giggles as she climbs some rocks, carefully balancing herself as she reaches the top whilst Verona follows her. Lifting himself up her walks over to her and looks down into the valley below where we can see the signs of civilisation slowly beginning to rebuild itself. Jessica stands, looking down at the makeshift village, smoke pluming from the chimneys as the sun rises over the peak of the mountain ridge at it’s rear. She stands in silence, a tear running down her cheek.
Roberto Verona: Are you ok?
Jessica Reed: I… I don’t know. My whole life, everybody told me that I could save the world and now… now I am just a freak of nature with a new home, but no purpose. I’ve gone from Wonder Woman to… just some other woman… they made me out to be the saviour or mankind, somebody who should be protected and praised but now I see that it was all lies…
Tears begin to flow down Jess’ face as she turns to Roberto.
Jessica Reed: Who am I, Roberto? Am I the superhero they told me I was, or just another cog in the wheels?
Roberto steps towards her, grabbing her firmly by the side of her shoulders.
Roberto Verona: You’re Jessica Reed, and I would take one of you over a thousand “saviours”.
Jessica Reed: But without my purpose, I am nothing…
Roberto Verona: Listen to me! Jess, you’re much more than some lab rat for humanity. Those people filled your head with lies, they raised you on a pedestal and the told you it was for the good of everyone and yourself. All of my life, I’ve never met anybody like you. Even with the weight of the world on your shoulders, you’ve kept going. You’ve survived where other’s would have perished, and you’ve done it all with a smile. You think that just because they can’t put you in a syringe or market you on mugs and cure the world that you have no purpose?
Roberto shakes his head.
Roberto Verona: You’re wrong, you’re infectious spirit and determination to be who you are is worth more to humanity than your death. You can do more for those who have survived by picking them up when they are down, by always, no matter what, keeping a smile on your face and doing your best. Inspiration surpasses sacrifice, you can still change the world and save us all, but you can do it without changing who you are or throwing yourself into the abyss.
Jessica smiles a little, wiping away her tear before looking through her glazed eyes at Roberto.
Jessica Reed: I need you to promise me something.
Roberto Verona: Anything.
Jessica Reed: I want you to look me in the eye and swear to me that everything they told me was a lie, that there is no cure and that I shouldn’t carry around this guilt for the rest of my life. I want you to promise that there isn't something I can do.
Roberto looks down.
Jessica Reed: I cannot live with myself knowing that I could save the world, but am hiding from that responsibility by continuing to breathe. That is a weight I cannot bear and I need you to promise me that they were lying all along.
Roberto continues to avoid matching her gaze.
Jessica Reed: Please, Roberto! You want me to believe that just being myself is enough to help save everybody, I cannot do that if you are lying to protect me! All my life I was told that was good enough and I believed it, I need to know that I wasn’t living a myth, that just being who I am is all that matters!
Roberto closes his eyes and let’s out a deep breath.
Roberto Verona: I swear.
Jessica looks at him and the pair stand in silence until she begins to nod, sniffing whilst wiping away the remaining tears with her sleeve.
Jessica Reed: I believe you.
The audible shake in Jess’ voice slowly begins to dissipate as she pulls her rucksack up and clutches onto both straps tightly.
Jessica Reed: Let’s go home. Do you think these guys will have cable?
Jess smiles again before turning and skipping carefully down the mountain path towards the village as Roberto smiles. As Jess slowly ambles out of view Roberto looks down at his handgun, letting out a sigh of relief. Pulling out the clip we can see that it is empty, the last bullet conspicuous by it’s absence.
Roberto Verona: I swear, I did what is best for you, Jess…
Jessica Reed: Hurry up Snorlax, do I need to bring my flute up there?
Roberto slides the gun back into his belt whilst rolling his eyes as Jess waves to him. Taking a step forward he begins to follow her as the pair slowly descend to safety, a new life and a new home.
So, Ana, Amber, you’re the two ladies selected to have the opportunity to take my Diamond’s Championship away from me. At least, that’s if you can get past my partner Ashley first, although I’m not sure I am in her BFF’s list anyway.
I suppose I ought to start with you first, Amber, after all you said so many nice things about me, but…
The problem I have with you, Amber, is the same problem I have always had. I never know whether I can trust a single thing you say. You have a habit of using the tone and personality which best suits your opponent and contradicting yourself every other week. This time you’re all sweetness and light, telling me you believe in me and you know how I feel being trapped by Simon…
Yet other weeks I am an airhead, inferior to you and all sorts of other unpleasant things. Which used to really hurt, but now are par for the course. Heck, you even call me little miss perfect to wind Ashley up before planting a big smooch on my booty.
I’d like to think you’ve matured, but you have to accept that considering you just got beaten to a pulp by my old nemesis Eternity with a chair that I can’t quite believe your intentions are genuine. It’s a shame, I like to see the best in everybody but try as I might, and believe me I have tried to lift myself to be trusting this week, but I can’t help but feel like you’re trying to leading a lamb to the slaughter.
Nobody goes from believing they are “the best” to “one of the best” without at least a little bit of bad feeling towards the girl who is making her share that accolade. I know deep down that you wish you were in my position, albeit without the overbearing daddy figure. Heck, only a few weeks ago you were taking my personal property and smashing it on live television.
Oh, don’t think I’ve forgotten about that one missy.
I know that would do anything, and I mean anything to be Diamond’s champion, Amber, including lie to my face and perhaps that should really worry me. Yet, it doesn’t. I know that under all of the silliness people say about me, I haven’t gotten to where I am today because I suck, and yes I am aware of the double meaning. For once.
You and I have crossed paths more than once and I know that I have it in me to beat you, even though it’s never been with so much on the line before.
I don’t say that to belittle you, it isn’t my style, only to make it clear that even though you’re willing to hurt me, and badly, as a real champion I know I have to stand up to be counted and no matter how good you are, I am capable of making sure your wishes remain unfulfilled, for another month at least.
You see, for all you wish to break my cage for me to do me a favour, you said it yourself that your motives are twofold and I am pretty sure I know which one drives you the most. And before anybody gets silly, it’s clearly the one where you become the champion and get to say you proved to everybody you’re just as good as you say you are.
Only here is the difference, Amber, and it’s what makes me the champion I am. I’ve never needed to say how good I am. I just go out there and prove myself, without shouting from the rooftops about it. As much as I would like to think beating me would make you a little more humble, I have a feeling you wouldn’t start you reign with the same ethos. One week’s humility is pretty quickly followed by one of ego rubbing with you.
They always say a leopard can’t change it spots, and maybe that is true and if nothing else after this weekend, at least I can say I stayed true to who I am, I guess only time will tell if this is the real face of Amber Richards, or just another act to keep the bad feelings away.
If I have underestimated your sincerity, then I will be the first girls to apologise. But forgive me for wanting to see how long this lasts before I shake hands again and begin to trust you.
Also, you owe me several hundred dollars. Just throwing that out there…
Which I guess brings me to you, Ana, and boy, somebody has a potty mouth, don’t we.
You want me to be honest with you? I don’t like you. As much as it pains you to hear I do respect you as a wrestler, but as a person? Not really. You’re no different to the rest of the mean spirited women who come in here and call everybody names, I guess deep down it’s because somebody hurt you and you’re lashing out, but I have little time for it.
Does that make me a bad person? Am I turning my back on my “goody girl” image?
Who knows, in some of your eyes I am a monster because I am successful, I simply can’t win, no matter what I do. You’ve no interest in what I have to say, you’ve already put the words you want to hear in my mouth.
Perhaps I don’t have your eloquence, or even, surprisingly, your imagination but what I do have is the most important thing in this company. The few pounds of leather and gold wrapped around my waist. Maybe that makes me more or a false idol than a pop idol in your eyes, but for a woman who wants to talk a lot about symbols, it symbolises one thing.
I am the champion, whether you like the way I represent you or not or whether you like that I am proud to do so. It really doesn’t matter to me, I am not here to seek your approval. I turn up every week and try my best and put on a show, you turn up and take chunks out of everybody verbally, would you like to tell me again who the better role model is?
The raving lunatic or the honest girl, who yes, happens to have boobs and jumps around a lot. I’m not really in a position to apologise for genetics and I am certainly not going to justify how I represent women to you because despite your protests, we both know you don’t care.
You think I’m a cheap floosie who makes you “real girls” look bad and nothing I say will change your opinion.
You’re a tough cookie, Ana, one which won’t just soften when dipped in a little milk and believe me, after fighting Eternity I know the danger of what a “crazy” can do. You pushed me close to my limits once already and as much as you have to be the last person anybody would invite to a party I am aware that you can, and will, bring the fire this week, as you’ve promised to metaphorically do.
Maybe I’ll never convince you that I am genuine, that I care for more than belts and my name in lights, but one thing I can convince you of is just how hard I am willing to fight.
Bring your judgement, Ana, and I’ll do what I have been doing since I first entered this company. Proving people like you wrong.
Well howdy there pardner.