Gold Lion

[Mercedes Vargas]

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2015
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA
CARMEN REYES' HOME

[Mercedes Vargas lies on her side on the sectional sofa against the wall, taking up the remote control and channel surfing. The days leading into the week following the pay-per-view started to become routine. Carmen walks through her living room, looking at the disheveled blankets, the strewn pillows, and the bowl of Wheat Thins spilled on the coffee table. Her cousin might not have noticed the mix of annoyance and grief on her face.]

.::CARMEN::..
Don't you have anything better to do?

[Mercedes says nothing, doesn't look at her for a long moment. She keeps flipping through the channels. The mid-day news. Sunshine Street. Talk shows.]

.::CARMEN::..
No matches, no booked flights, not even a last minute promo to work on?

.::MERCEDES::..
Nothing special, no.

[Carmen crosses her arms in front of her and watches her as she put down the remote. It was a soap opera. Spy My Spy, one of Mercedes's favorites.]

.::CARMEN::.
How about you finish the Sunday crossword.

[Mercedes gestures with the remote in the direction of the coffee table. Grease stains soils the Lifestyle section of the Los Angeles Times. The crossword is filled in red ink. How anyone could do a crossword puzzle in pen, let alone in that color was beyond her.]

.::MERCEDES::..
Already completed two days ago...

.::CARMEN::..
Then go outside.

.::MERCEDES::..
It's too hot.

.::CARMEN::..
Well, go to the beach.

.::MERCEDES::..
Why bother? Venice is only good for strolling Ocean Front Walk and the weirdos who stalk there, and Santa Monica is always crowded, not to mention The Pier and Third Street Promenade has seen better days.

.::CARMEN::..
Well, go do something, for chrissakes. You're driving me crazy.

[Mercedes ignores her as she studies the TV. Suddenly, it blips out. Mercedes looks back at Carmen holding up a second remote control.]

.::MERCEDES::..
Hey! I was watching that!

.::CARMEN::..
I'm serious. I'm not going to allow no cousin of mine to be a bump on a log. I mean, you've been cooped up in here ever since...
(Mercedes looks away)
You know, it's okay to talk about it, Merce. It won't hurt you, it could even help.

[Mercedes repositions herself to sit up on the couch, legs drawn up for comfort.]

.::MERCEDES::..
What's there to talk about? I lost how many matches against Emma fair and square. I don't even remember the last time I won a match against her. Before, it was neither here or there, but at Sacrifice...

.::CARMEN::..
But it doesn't have to be. Maybe this was for your own good.

.::MERCEDES::..
Oh, thanks, that made me feel better.

[Carmen enters the kitchen and then returns with a garbage bag and a miniature vacuum, which she sets down on the coffee table. Clearing away a throw pillow from her path with a kick from her sneakers, she slumps into the armchair opposite the sectional.]

.::MERCEDES::..
Now I've got to face her at the pay-per-view and I'm not even sure I can win.

.::CARMEN::..
What do you want, a Hallmark card? I don't have time to feel sorry for you because it's not going to help you.

.::MERCEDES::..
When I need your help, I'll ask for it.

[Carmen holds up her hands apologetically.]

.::CARMEN::..
Right, because you're doing a damn good job on your own. Good luck in your match though. Now come on. Outside with you.

[Mercedes says nothing as she gets up and Carmen leads her to the door.]

.::CARMEN::..
I think some fresh air will be good for you. Off you go, now.

[Fade.]

♦ ♦ ♦

..::EPILOGUE::..

Everyone has their weakness. Superman had Lex Luthor. Batman had The Joker. Wonder Woman, she had Cheatah. The Green Goblin to Spider-man. Roberto Verona could be considered a archvillian to Alex Jones. And I guess, depending on who you ask, I was the greatest threat to one particular Gamer Girl, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

In my six years in this business, I've faced a lot of people. Some were great, others not so much. And, yes, even I have had my share of opponents that I had a tough time against. One of those opponents just happens to be my opponent at the pay-per-view, and to be honest with you...
I'm not looking forward to it.

“But Mercy, you're game for any opponent. What changed your tune?” Good question. Anyone who knows the history between me and and Emma Danielson already knows the answer.

We've met in all kind of matches: battle royals, multi-person, tag team, singles. For a little over three years and four companies, I've never been able to beat her. OK, I've got a few tag team wins, even a win in a triple threat, but I still never managed to pin her. Add the fact that she's beaten me in all four of the singles matches we've had over the years and you can see why I really don't like my chances in this one.

But unlike opponents I've beaten and some that I haven't, it's never been personal. Never had a problem with Emma. A match against her, it was a stress reliever. I get a chance to cut loose, let the match come to me. You could say we have somewhat of a “friendly” rivalry. Not sure if Emma feels the same way about it, but whatever. To the occasional fan, this is your “David versus Goliath”, the underdog versus the odds-on-favorite. I'm almost sure the fans are expecting you to murder me out there, Emma, but you know what? Anybody else would have cowered in fear against the “Hardcore Hellion', but I'm not one of them. Intimidation doesn't exactly work on me. I think all of my opponents know this, especially here in this company.

It doesn't matter how many times you've outsmarted me and left me staring up at the arena lights, there is part of me that welcomes another opportunity to beat you, and now I finally have that chance for the first time in over two years since our last one-on-one. This was never personal, but this tournament is about to be.

You think you're better? Well my better will beat your better. You bring everything you've got, Em. Because every time you knock me down, I'm going to get right back up again. I may not be the biggest or the strongest, but I'm pretty damn smart, and brains beats brawn any day of the week. At the pay-per-view, you're going to find out why.

Don't get me wrong, I've overcame odds before; I've had to my entire career. Nobody thought I would amount to anything in this business, but you see Em, and you should know this, I've accomplished what I set out to do. It's obvious that you were a former Starlets Champion. I know that I'm a former Tag Team Champion in NCW – regardless of how that came to be.

The difference between you and me is this is just another match to you. For me, this is more than that. The thing is, I feel as if I'm still not taken seriously, that I'm a still taken as a joke. I mean, what do I have to do to get recognition around here? Strip? Sorry, I have too much style and class to do that. Winning this tournament and becoming the new Diamonds Champion is the only way I'll get that respect here in this company, but it all starts by overcoming the odds facing me. No, before I overcome the odds, I have to survive the odds facing me, and that's exactly what I'm going to do. If you thought your earlier matches were this difficult; if you thought beating Isabella Maldini was fun, then you just wait for Sunday, Em. I promise you won't be disappointed.

And just to show that there isn't any hard feelings, maybe I will take you up on that offer.