Once More With Feeling

[Jessica Reed]

{ Wind whistles softly through the branches of the overhanging tree’s outside a small hospital room as birds swoop majestically through the air. In the bed we can see Jessica Reed, a bandage wrapped around her skull from the chair shot suffered at the hands of Amber Richards and Eternity. A small beep can be heard, followed by the sound of moving gears as the morphine is slowly pumped into Jessica through a drip by the side of her bed. Jessica stretches her arms and yawns as the room begins to blur. Rubbing her eyes Jess tries to adjust her vision when suddenly the curtains close and a figure appears at the foot of her bed. }

Jessica Reed: Who… who is it?

{ The figure steps forward into the light, soon to be revealed as Jessica’s father. }

Jessica Reed: Daddy? Why are you here?



{ Jessica’s father steps forward as her ears begin to pick up the faint sound of music blowing through the open window. Sitting beside her he smiles, running a hand through her hair. }

Jessica’s Father: You want to go outside?

Jessica Reed: What? No, I….

[Jessica’s Father]
Why, Jessica. Look at you, as fragile as a flower, still a little sapling, just a sprout.
You know why we stayed up in our tower? That's right, to keep you safe and sound, dear.
Guess I always knew this day was coming, knew that soon you'd want to leave the nest
Soon, but not yet, trust me, pet, Father knows best!

{ Jessica goes to sleep but as she does so her father stands up and disappears as the room goes black, except for the light of her medical equipment. The music that was once faint get louder as suddenly her father emerges from the dark beside her, singing. }

[Jessica’s Father]
Father knows best, listen to your Father
It's a scary world out there
Father knows best, one way or another something will go wrong, I swear!

{ Suddenly he disappears and re-emerges beside Jessica who yelps. }

[Jessica’s Father]
Sticks, pipes, barbed wire, dustbins
Tables and chairs, the blood!

Jessica Reed: But…

[Jessica’s Father]
Also steroids, men with no teeth and…
Stop, no more, you'll just upset me!

Father's right here
Father will protect you
Darling, here's what I suggest, skip the drama, stay with papa
Father knows best!

Jessica Reed: But, it’s my dream!

{ Jessica’s father roles his and cross his arm, nonchalantly flicking his wrist as he turns his head. }

[Jessica’s Father]
Go ahead, get trampled by Amber
Go ahead, get mugged and left for dead
Me, I'm just your father, what do I know?
I only bathed and changed and nursed you
Go ahead and leave me, I deserve it
Let me die alone here, be my guest
When it's too late, you'll see - just wait
Father knows best

Jessica Reed: I didn’t mean…

[Jessica’s Father]
Father knows best
Take it from your daddy, on your own, you won't survive
Sloppy, underdressed, immature, clumsy - please! They'll eat you up alive
Gullible, naïve, positively grubby, ditzy and a bit, well, hmm...vague

{He leans down and pinches her cheek }

[Jessica’s Father]
Plus, I believe, gettin' kinda chubby
I'm just saying cause I wuv you…

Father understands, father's here to help you
All I have is one request…

Jessica Reed: Yes?

Jessica’s Father: Stop this wrestling dream at once…

Jessica Reed: Father, I…

{ Suddenly he leans forward and wraps his arms around her, holding her in a tight embrace. }

[Jessica’s Father]
Don't forget it, you'll regret it, Father knows best!

{ Jessica closes her eyes and sighs, almost ready to consign herself to his control again before she opens them and realises that he has disappear completely, leaving her dazed and confused in her room before looking up and seeing another figure. }

You know, Amber, Eternity… Ana. I guess, in a way, I should thank you.

When you cracked my skull like a nut and left me in a hospital bed, unable to compete for weeks, I had a lot of time to reflect. A lot.

Why am I here? Is this really what I want to do with my life? Is all of this worth it?

Questions rolling around in the muddled mess that you left with your chairs, over and over, doubt gnawing at me as I sat crying through the pain and the misery you have brought me, you and Simon de Montfort. You have played with my soul for sport.

Yet, there was always a voice, deep down inside me that kept reminding me why I am here. I fought for years and years to escape my father and pursue my dream, one which isn’t considered “normal” for a little girl. I should have been playing with Barbies, but instead I was wearing custom kneepads and wrestling with a pillow. All my life people have tried to break me, they look at me and see a stupid little girl. My father tried, Simon tried and so, Amber, did you. Even if your motives all differ.

But you cannot break me.

As I sat in that hospital, my eyes puffy and my hair caked in blood it dawned on me. This… this is the life I want. Despite the pain, despite the trauma and despite the heartache you have put me through this past month there is nothing I want to do more in this world than strap on my boots, skip my bubbly little ass down to that ring and wrestle. I am the IWF Diamond’s Champion, I am everything I ever wanted to be and there is nothing, nothing you can do ruin that dream.

You wanted to light a fire under my tushy? Well done sister, it’s baking those buns as we speak

I have suffered for months at the hands of Simon de Montfort, and now I am suffering at the hands of his true handpicked golden girl. You hurt me, Amber, I always knew you’d play mean to get ahead, but I never knew that you’d go to these lengths. You are no better than he is and what's worse is, just like him, you do not even care as long as you get what you want.

He used me and now, so will you, if you get your way. I stand between you and your goal and judging by the way you have treated those you convinced you loved, I have no reason to believe that this weekend there will be anything you would not do to beat me. Which should probably frighten me.

Yet, as much as all of this is your dream, Amber, it is mine too. It is a dream that my father tried to suffocate, it is a dream that Simon de Montfort tried to end and one that you will do everything in your power to destroy this weekend to fulfil your own. Only one of us can live our dream, Amber, fate is cruel like that and as much as you view this weekend as a coming of age for yourself, the end of a long road…

I see it as my chance to prove myself to be the champion I’ve always claimed to be.

There were times when people lost faith in me, when they bought into the illusion that Simon wanted to portray that I cared only for myself and my own success. Every word I uttered rang hollow as I was showered with riches and everything I stood for was made to look like a lie.

Integrity, honesty and respect.

All of it was tossed in the mud and my dream to be a role model for all of the girls out there who are just like me was stamped on to suit Simon’s twisted goals and to help raise you to the top of the mountain. This weekend I want to prove that everything I stand for isn’t a lie, that my reign has and will always be founded on the values I pride myself in following.

That I am always going to be the hero.

No matter what anybody says about me or does to me, I need to prove that I will never stop being who I am, I will never let you pressure me into giving up so you can take what you want and profit from your horrible behaviour. My dream didn’t stop when I beat Miss Conway all those months ago, it simply begun.

It will not be finished until I prove that no matter who you are, no matter what your dream is and no matter what odds are stacked against you, you can achieve everything your heart desires if you do your very best. I will not quit until I set an example worth following and there is somebody who is worthy of continuing that legacy.

This weekend, I will do everything in my power to ensure that legacy continues to grow.

I will do everything to stop you from destroying it.

{ Jess stares at the figure, trying to make out who it may be. Soon realising that it is no longer her father, as her morphine drip kicks into action again and her vision blurs we soon see that it is none other than Simon de Montfort standing before her. }

Jessica Reed: What… what are you doing here? Get out! You’re the reason I am here! You and those three…

{ Simon doesn’t respond him simply smiles as Jess clutches her head, the room around them beginning to phase into a blur as she screws her eyes to try and focus. When she re-opens them Simon has his back turned to her, his head bowed as an eerie orchestra begins to scrape away at their strings, the paint on the walls slowly beginning to peel whilst Hellish flames suddenly erupt outside the windows. Jess tries to shake herself back to reality but as she looks up Simon turns around and begins to sing. }



[Simon de Montfort]
In the dark of the night I was tossing and turning
And the nightmare I had was as bad as can be --
It scared me out of my wits -- A corpse falling to bits!
Then I opened my eyes and the nightmare was...me!!

I was once the most powerful man in all Britain.
When Verona betrayed he made a mistake!
My curse will make him pay, but one little girl got away!
Little Jess, beware, Simon's awake!

{ Simon throws and arm out and begins to pace around Jessica’s bed as a chorus of insects begin to peel through the walls and from under her bed, bellowing mournfully as Jessica buries her head into her knees whilst screaming. }

[Creatures]
In the dark of the night evil will find her.
In the dark of the night just before dawn!

[Simon de Montfort]
Revenge will be sweet, when the curse is complete!

[Creatures]
In the dark of the night…

[Simon de Montfort]
She'll be gone!

{ Simon bows close to Jessica’s face, venomous spit spewing from his lips as he stares at her whilst she trembles uncontrollably, peaking out with one eye at the eerie spectacle around her. Suddenly, Simon rears up, clasping his hand in a fist. }

[Simon de Montfort]
I can feel that my powers are slowly returning! Tie my sash and a dash of cologne for that smell!
As the pieces fall into place, I'll see her crawl into place!
Dos Vidaniya, Jess, your Grace! Farewell...

{ Simon waves at Jess whilst a ghoulish grin runs across his lips, his face lit with an ethereal green glow, as he walks to the foot of her bed. Standing for a moment he lets some of the insets crawlf up his arms and legs before he continues to sing. }

[Creatures]
In the dark of the night terror will strike her!

[Simon de Montfort]
Terror's the least I can do!

[Creatures]
In the dark of the night evil will brew.

[Simon de Montfort]
Soon she will feel that her nightmares are real.

[Creatures]
In the dark of the night…

[Simon de Montfort]
She'll be through!

{ Suddenly Simon throws his arms out, sending scorpions and an assortment of other creepy crawlies flying through the air as he looks up to the sky laughing whilst Jessica grabs at her hair screaming as the music continues to play. }

[Creatures]
In the dark of the night evil will find her.
In the dark of the night terror comes true.

[Simon de Montfort]
My dear, here's a sign –

{ Simon lunges forward, causing Jessica to jumps and scramble frantically to the head of the bed. }

[Simon de Montfort]
It's the end of the line!

[Creatures]
In the dark of the night... In the dark of the night... In the dark of the night...

{ Simon jerks back violently and lifts a fist into the air as a cloud of green smoke begins to envelop the room as it billows from behind him and he begins to chant. }

[Simon de Montfort]
Come my minions, rise for your master, let your evil shine!
Find her now, yes, fly ever faster…

{ The smoke begins to swirl around the room, shaking the ill fitted medical equipment as Jessica clings to blood sodden covers, peaking out to see the faces of Amber Richard, Eternity and Ana Valentine gradually forming from the mist, cackling and grinning with glowing red eyes as Simon continues to raise his arms in the air. }

[Creatures]
In the dark of the night... In the dark of the night... In the dark of the night...

[Simon de Montfort]
She'll be mine!

{ Simon cackles as the three women join him in unison whilst Jessica breathes heavily, clutching her head and shaking with fear as she rocks back and forth in the bed, tears streaming down her cheeks as the macabre scene continues to play out around her. }

I’ve never looked past one simple fact, a division is only as strong as the sum of its parts.

People look at me as the invincible champion, a majestic phoenix you’re all desperate to knock off its perch, but I am not responsible for the success alone. I am the champion I am because of the rest of you, I wouldn’t be nearly as respected if I hadn’t bested Kathleen Conway at the start of this adventure, survived Eternity and triumphed over you against the odds a month ago.

This division does not need saving from me.

You want this belt, and you’ve tried to justify it with half-truths and lies. Even now, when you’re being honest, you’re still covering your bases with silliness about Zelda Knite and how you want to help make sure I don’t become the villain, as if my character is somehow still in question. Despite being offered the world by Simon, trick or not, I never took it.

You did. You sold your soul for a few pounds of silver, but you can bet your manipulative little booty he won’t be following through on his offer of gold, not if I have anything to say about it.

Jessica grabs the Diamond’s Championship.

You want this? I want to see you try and take it. All of your little games, all of the peoples who lives you have destroyed and all the lies you’ve told, they will come back to haunt you this weekend. The fact is Amber, for all the God given talent you possess, you do not deserve to call yourself the IWF Diamond’s Champion. This belt comes with a responsibility to represent your colleagues and women everywhere, it is not just to serve your desires.

People may disagree with the way I conduct myself, but I have always been honest and tried my best to be the woman this belt deserves. You are a liar, you are a cheat and if you manage to take this from me this weekend, you’ll be a fraud too.

We may be alike, Amber, of that I have no doubt, but somewhere along the way you turned sour. You decided to corrupt a pure and beautiful dream and take every shortcut you could to achieve it. You use people and treat them as if they are disposable, once they have served their purpose you discard them and move onto the next victim.

Well, I'm through being just another one your victims.

Inside that ring, you are one of the most gifted women I have ever seen strap on a pair of boots. You are rightfully considered one of the new golden generation of female wrestlers and if we were judging your suitability to be a champion on ability alone there would be no doubt that you deserve to be a champion.

Yet as a woman? You do not even deserve to be in the same ring as me. There is more to being a champion than arm bars and moonsaults and for all my faults, I am at least pure of your heart. Yours, on the other hand, is black. You represent everything that is bad about the fairer sex.

There is only one of us who can save this division. I cannot allow you to be our representative to a wider world with a title won through treachery, lies and deceit on top the broken lives of so many poor people. This weekend isn’t just about little Jessica Reed, the bubbly silly girl getting her revenge, this is about proving to all the little girls who look up to us that evil never prospers and what you have done to get here is wrong.

There may be a day when the courage of women fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship and consume ourselves, but it is not this Sunday.

Jessica reaches into her pocket and pulls out a gold ring, twiddling it in her fingers before clearing her throat and sliding it back.

What did, you really think I had the dork completely beat out of me? Aragorn won't mind...

This Sunday, I will prove to everyone that cheats, liars and users never prosper. It is my responsibility as champion of the Diamond’s Division to do everything in my power to ensure that my crown passes to somebody worthy of it. You, Amber Richards, do not deserve to be our Queen and as long as there is a beat left in my heart I will never relinquish my title to you, not until you prove yourself fit to rule.

If this weekend is to be my last stand, then I will die as what I have always been.

A true champion.

{ Suddenly, we are brought back to Jessica’s hospital room, which gradually fades back to resemble its normal character, the insects crawling back into the holes from whence they came. Yet, despite this, at the foot of her bed still stands Simon and the trio of Amber, Ana and Eternity, their backs slightly crooked as they cower gleefully at the side of de Montfort. Just as Jess begins to lower the her covers music begins to play again as green towers of smoke explode from the rear of the room down to where her unwanted guests are standing, Simon lifting up Amber’s chin with a single finger as the pair smile at one another. }



[Simon de Montfort]
I know that your powers of retention are as wet as a warthog's backside
But thick as you are, pay attention, my words are a matter of pride
It's clear from your vacant expressions, the lights are not all on upstairs
But we're talking kings and successions even you can't be caught unawares

{ Simon wraps his arms around the three, laughing and smiling before letting ago and running to the corner of the room where he leaps onto a nearby chair, towering above everyone. }

[Simon de Montfort]
So prepare for a chance of a lifetime, be prepared for sensational news
A shining new era, is tiptoeing nearer

[Amber]
And where do we feature?

[Simon de Montfort]
Just listen to teacher.
I know it sounds sordid, but you'll be rewarded, when at last I am given my dues and injustice deliciously squared, be prepared!

[Eternity]
Yeah, be prepared. Yeah-heh... we'll be prepared ...For what?

{ Eternity stands by Jessica, looking up quizzically at Simon. }

[Simon de Montfort]
For the fall of Verona.

[Ana]
Why? Is he sick?

[Simon de Montfort]
No, fools, we're going to kill him. And Jessica too.

{ Simon flashes a smile at Jessica who tries her best to remain composed, but a squeal of fear emerges from her lips as Eternity begins to roll her long golden locks around one of her fingers before looking back at Simon, suddenly very perky. }

[Eternity]
Great idea! Who needs a king?

{ Eternity lets Jessica go and rushes back to the other two girls. }

[Amber, Ana and Eternity]
No king! No king! la--la-la--la-laa-laa!

{ The three begins to link arms and skip around at Simon’s who’s eyes bulge from his head as he bellows out startling them. }

[Simon de Montfort]
Idiots! There will be a king!

[Ana]
Hey, but you said, uh...

[Simon de Montfort]
I will be king! ... Stick with me, and you'll never be overlooked again!

[Eternity and Amber]
Yay! All right! Long live the king!

{ Eternity and Amber hug and cheer as Ana claps her hands. }

[Amber, Ana and Eternity]
Long live the king! Long live the king!

{ Simon raises his chin and opens his arms as the three girls suddenly form into rank and file and begin to march around Jessica’s bed whilst she cowers into her bed, her eyes darting between the three women and Simon. As she does so, in between the women the partially opaque figures of Angel and Spike Kane can be seen, visible only from the waist up. }

[Amber, Ana and Eternity]
It's great that we'll soon be connected, with a king who'll be all-time adored.

[Simon de Montfort]
Of course, quid pro quo, you're expected, to take certain duties on board.
The future is littered with prizes and though I'm the main addressee.
The point that I must emphasize is, you won't get a sniff without me!

{ Suddenly Simon leaps from the chair, causing the three girls to scatter to different corners of the room leaving Jessica in the middle of the pack. }

[Simon de Montfort]
So prepare for the coup of the century, be prepared for the murkiest scam.
Meticulous planning, tenacity spanning decades of denial, is simply why I'll be king undisputed, respected, saluted and seen for the wonder I am!
Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared, be prepared!

{ Simon leans forward, his eyes glowing a disturbing yellow as the darkness begins to consume the entire room, leaving a fiery red light shining up to reveal his features as the three women slowly appear by his side, all of them looming tall over Jessica. }

[All]
Yes, our teeth and ambitions are bared.
Be prepared!

{ The four begin to cackle as they stare right through Jess who suddenly pushes herself up, screaming as she shuts her eyes. Her hands grasp the sheets tightly, almost pulling them from the mattress as she collapses breathing heavily, afraid to open her eyes. But slowly, bit by bit, they creep open to reveal an empty room, everything in place exactly where it should be. Jess lays back, letting out a sigh of relief as she wipes the last few tears from her face. Turning she sees a bundle of flowers by her bed and the IWF Diamond’s Championship which shimmers in the light. The machine next to her beeps again and the sound of a motor dispensing more medication can be heard as Jess continue to look at the belt, smiling, as her body eventually gives out and she slips into a deep sleep. }