Post by Mercedes Vargas on Jan 31, 2016 22:01:23 GMT
__________________________
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA
RICK'S TAVERN
♦ ♦ ♦
F R I D A Y
2 8 J A N U A R Y 2016
M E R C E D E S ♦ V A R G A S
IWF DIAMOND
Oh, this is rich. I mean, I can't even...
[Mercedes Vargas almost couldn't watch the rest of the IWF Sacrifice Fallout segment without laughing hysterically. Glancing at her iPad and shaking her head in bemusement as the footage played, she quickly accessed Kat Conway's thoughts on the Diamond matches at Metamorphosis this Sunday.
M E R C E D E S ♦ V A R G A S
IWF DIAMOND
Right, because booking a four-way match for the title and having your gopher as one of the challengers isn't a sign of favoritism. OK, it's her word against mine. Emma is getting her third title match in six weeks. You know what? It doesn't matter anyway. The third time won't be the charm for Emma, she's going to strike out and Kat's confidence in her won't be rewarded. Emma thinks she's going to get away with what she did to me last Sacrifice? No problem. I'll let karma do its job.
[When Vargas hears her name mentioned by Conway during the interview, she goes stone-face.]
M E R C E D E S ♦ V A R G A S
IWF DIAMOND
I guess I now know where I stand on her evaluation of me. I haven't proven anything to her yet. Since when did I have to prove myself to her, much less anybody? I'm good enough, smart enough, fine enough, and strong enough. I don't need to validate myself to others. I know I'm valuable. I don't need to prove anything to anybody, and if she has a problem with that, than she might as mail my walking papers right now.
I've been jumping through hoops since I got here, and I'm about sick and tired of it. I'm a human being, my life has value. I'm not willing to bend and I'm not willing to break. I'm a strong-willed person, I'm a stubbon person. She needs to realize that this obstacle course she has me in isn't going to change that.
[As for this Sunday at the pay-per-view, Vargas will again face impossible odds when she faces Kayla Richards for the Shieldmaiden. Vargas must end Richards' title reign, or else she is prohibited from speaking at any live IWF program or event for the length of her probation. If the former Ruby Champion seems rattled by this, she isn't giving anything away. She simply shrugged at the latest stipulation to her title match.]
M E R C E D E S ♦ V A R G A S
IWF DIAMOND
I'm down, but not out. I have five matches left, so I'm going to make the best of it. Am I going to back down because Kayla hasn't lost a match in six months? No. She's beaten me before, but this our first time going on-on-one. I'm planning on walking out of Metamorphosis just like I did last year. Successful people rebound when their back is against the wall, against tough opponents, without so much as a single hope that they'll stand a fighting chance. Sunday will be one of these times. Kayla maybe the Shieldmaiden, but I'm fearless.
I may be walking into Tacoma as a contender, but I plan on waking out the next Shieldmaiden.
[Mercedes paused, then added.]
M E R C E D E S ♦ V A R G A S
IWF DIAMOND
Kayla is literally going to have to kill me if she wants to win on Sunday.
[Fade.]
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__________________________
LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT – CENTRAL BUREAU
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
♦ ♦ ♦
S A T U R D A Y
30 J A N U A R Y 2016
[A man sits at his desk with his feet up while polishing a trophy. There's a beautiful view of the Miami skyline behind him. He carries a tune, polishes the name at the base of the trophy, and then sets this on his desk. He picks up an apple and tosses into the air a few times before biting into it. A brunette woman, Carmen, comes in the office, leaning against the door frame.]
.::CARMEN::..
Malcolm?
[Malcolm looks up at Carmen.
.::MALCOLM::..
What's up?
.::CARMEN::..
What are you doing?
.::MALCOLM::..
What does it look like I'm doing?
[Carmen puts her hands to forehead as if she was predicting something.]
.::CARMEN::..
Well, my psychic powers are telling me
(as Malcolm pays rapt attention gesturing her to go on)
that you're doing "nothing."
[Malcolm gives her a thumbs up to Carmen's dismay as she crosses her arms in front of her.]
.::MALCOLM::..
Wow, you're pretty good at this. How about my favorite breakfast cereal?
[Carmen walks to Malcolm.]
.::CARMEN::..
We're supposed to be interrogation clients all day and you're just sitting here shooting the breeze, like this is some kind of game to you?
.::MALCOLM::..
They don't pay me enough.
[Carmen raises her an eyebrow.]
.::CARMEN::..
You earn five figures and you're a first-year attorney. Pretty sure that's enough reason to take this seriously. I could use some company. Walk with me?
[Carmen and Malcolm walk and talk.]
.::CARMEN::..
So did you hear about the Reyes-Shepherd case?
.::MALCOLM::..
You mean the case that was delayed like five times because reason? Yeah, I heard about it. I don't know why they just won't get it over with. Holidays and all. Thank God I'm not tied with that case.
[Carmen and Malcolm walk down stairs.]
.::CARMEN::..
Do you take anything seriously?
[Malcolm says nothing. When Carmen waited for an answer he gave a puzzled expression, then figured it out.]
.::MALCOLM::..
Oh, that wasn't rhetorical? I work around the clock for fun!
[Exposed skyline shows a beautiful sun as Carmen and Malcolm walk by.]
.::MALCOLM::..
Guidelines tattoos on my back.
[Malcolm and Carmen stop in front of a vending machine where they both get tacos. Carmen and Malcolm eat on their journey back to the meeting room.]
.::CARMEN::..
Malcolm. You don't know?
[There's a momentary pause between them as Phil Hartman applauds Malcom and Carmen smile at him.]
.::CARMEN::..
Meet me out front?
.::MALCOLM::..
Sure thing.
.::PHIL HARTMAN (DIRECTOR HARTMAN)::..
Alright, cut and print. Way to go, guys.
(to the rest of the film crew and extras)
Alright, folks, you're free to go. We're back filming in two weeks!
[Carmen walk up to Director Phil Hartman, a smile on her face.]
.::CARMEN::..
Two weeks off, Phil? You're getting soft in your old age.
.::DIRECTOR HARTMAN::..
Don't you have some far off jungle to get lost in?
.::CARMEN::..
No, but I think I'll be enjoying these next two weeks. Walk with me?
[Phil and Carmen walk and talk.]
.::DIRECTOR HARTMAN::..
So where to this time, Istanbul, the Bermuda Triangle, space the final frontier?
.::CARMEN::..
Well, when you put it that way, Puerto Rico sounds like band camp.
.::DIRECTOR HARTMAN::..
Puerto Rico, huh? Isn't that nice. Wait, this wouldn't have to do with another wrestling match, does it? We can't afford an injury to our most prized investment.
.::CARMEN::..
I'm a human being, damn it. My life has value!
[Lieutenant Gerald Thomas joins in and follows them.]
.::THOMAS (LIEUTENANT)::..
Director.
.::DIRECTOR HARTMAN::..
Lieuteant.
.::THOMAS::..
Officer.
.::CARMEN::..
Lieutenant.
.::THOMAS::..
So, what are we talking about?
.::CARMEN::..
Two week vacations? I think you'll enjoy that.
.::DIRECTOR HARTMAN::..
As if you can top movie trivia or a expense paid trip to Puerto Rico.
.::THOMAS::..
Seriously? I'm going to Puerto Rico?
.::DIRECTOR HARTMAN::..
Do I look like I'm made of money?
(pointing towards Carmen)
I'm talking about Carmen Sandiego.
.::THOMAS::..
Really. Man, I would have really love to come. Last time I went there, I never wanted to leave.
.::CARMEN::..
Did you have a good time?
.::DIRECTOR HARTMAN::..
Well, it was cut short. Had to come back at the weekend to work.
.::CARMEN::..
Aw, that's too bad.
.::THOMAS::..
So, uh, how was Colombia?
.::CARMEN::..
Went better than I expected. Shakira was actually there performing the Colombian national anthem. And I also brought some cocaine.
[Thomas eyes go wide.]
.::DIRECTOR HARTMAN::..
Isn't that illegal? How did you get through security?
.::CARMEN::..
I'm a woman of many talents. Would you like to see my stash?
.::THOMAS::..
Uh, I think I'll pass.
[Thomas runs off, leaving Carmen and Phil alone.]
.::DIRECTOR HARTMAN::..
I'm seriously worried you're going to drive him crazy one day.
.::CARMEN::..
Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
[Phil watches Carmen walks off, his eyes never leaving her backside. After she rounds the corner and leaves through the entrance he looks up in the ceiling, then turns around to walk back to the length of the set.]
~ ~ ~
[Carmen and Malcolm sit in the front; Mercedes is in the back. The car goes over the winding, two-lane Mt. Tamalpais road. The fog is heavy. It's starting to rain. We see the beach far below.]
.::MERCEDES::..
Do you have a cigarette?
.::MALCOLM::..
I don't smoke.
[She smiles, looks at him. A beat, and he turns away. Another beat, and she lights a cigarette up..]
.::MALCOLM::..
I thought you were out of cigarettes.
[A beat, as they look at each other, and then he turns away from her. Malcolm watcher her in the rearview mirror.]
[Carmen gets a dispatch over the walkie talike. Mercy is uncomfortable in the back seat, buckled up. It's hard plastic and is poorly circulated. Mercy makes small talk. It's interrupted when an 1122 comes over the phone.]
.::MERCEDES::..
What's an 1122?
.::CARMEN::..
It's a distress call.
_______≈₪≈______
..::EPILOGUE::..
So, it all comes down to this. Another match that I somehow get because I've ran my mouth one too many times. I get a title match with Kayla Richards, the big, bad Shieldmaiden Champion who, supposedly, is the greatest champion of all time, according to our Commissioner. Well, on Sunday, I think there's going to be a change to all of that because I'm walking into Metamorphosis with a clear gameplan, and that's to take Kayla down and become the new champion. Not because I have to, not because it's the stipulation.
It's because I can, and I will.
There is nothing Kayla can do to stop what's coming to her on Sunday, though I wonder what side of Kayla Richards are we going to get: the honorable champion, or the low down, dirty, underhanded version who will do just about anything to win?
You know what? It doesn't really matter. Kat calls this a business decision, and that's fine.
I'm see this as more of business meets pleasure because I'm going to take pleasure in beating Kayla so bad, her tatoos are going to feel it. Hopefully, she won't blame me for what' coming for her.
Blame Kat Conway.
The winds of change are blowing in in IWF when I become the new Shieldmaiden.
Well howdy there pardner.