Post by Mercedes Vargas on Nov 29, 2012 19:39:43 GMT -6
Don't you have someone else to annoy, like Freya Davis? If you hurry, she just might give you a free striptease.
(Ninety minutes after the Collision broadcast ended in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mercedes Vargas scurries around her locker room, ignoring the cameraman as she stoops down to pick up a pair of lip gloss and drops in a lipstick container inside her carry on luggage.)
Cameraman: Mercedes, as we all just witnessed earlier tonight, you just lost to Every Man's Fantasy in that handicap match. What are your thoughts right now? I'm pretty sure you're angry.
(Placing a hairbrush next inside the suitcase, she then looks up at the cameraman. His question seems to have put her on edge as she becomes animated, moving her hands around.)
Mercedes: What was your name again, Victor? (the cameraman nods) Am I angry? Am I pissed off? You damn right I'm pissed off! Wouldn't you be after something like what happened out there tonight? You do realize that the only reason why EMF won out there was because of a bias referee right? You do realize that whenever I'm up against Crystal and Sydney, something unfortunate happens that allows them to take advantage, right? Tonight was deja vu all over again. First Alysson, and now Kathleen? This never would have happened if a regular ref was in this match. But nooooo, Jake wants to throw his weight around, he wants to place Kathleen as the special guest referee in MY match?
(Mercedes continues packing while talking.)
Mercedes: I’m pretty sure the crowd ate it up. He loved it, he couldn’t get enough. Somewhere, Jake is probably laughing. You know what? Let Crystal have her a-ha moment. And as for Sydney, well, she can continue being Kelly's bitch.
(Mercedes shuts the suitcase and zips it up and faces the camera.)
Mercedes: As for my esteemed former tag team partner? This isn't over. This isn't over BY A LONG SHOT! If the Kat wants to play...
(The camera zooms in for a close-up shot of Mercedes.)
Mercedes: We'll play.
(Mercedes pushes the cameraman out of the way, grabs her trench coat from the coat rack and walks off, pulling a rolling tote bag behind her as we fade to black.)
(Our scene transitions to footage of busy streets and sidewalks in the heart of Los Angeles. Cut to find Mercedes sitting on the front steps of her cousin's home.)
Are you happy now? Are you happy you got what you wanted, Kathrine? Someone once said, "Revenge is a confession of pain." Was getting that sweet revenge worth it, Kathrine? Did you think what you did to me Sunday would make it all go away, huh? Well, have I got news for you. It doesn't Kat, it doesn't. No matter how much you try and deny it, no matter how much Jake tries to deny it, no matter how much you want to wish it away, it happened. Sure, you close your eyes at night thinking that everything will be OK, but the memory keeps flooding back.
It will always keep flooding back.
(Mercedes hugs her arms to her body, her fingers figit by her face.)
I don't get it. I honestly don't get it. Why am I the victim? Why am I seen as the bad guy here? If anything, Jake knew what he was doing. The kiss meant nothing? Okay, Kathrine. I want to believe you. I do. In fact, I would even agree with you, but then we'd both be wrong. What you call “nothing,” I call “something.” See, because, a kiss means something. Your husband may not even be saying it, but how do you know he's even thinking it? Unless, of course, you're psychic, I don't know. You seem to know me pretty damn well. And since you know me oh so well, perhaps you would like to come to the front of the class and tell me and them who I voted for in the election, or what's my favourite breakfast cereal. Come on, give a shot, Kathrine. I know you're up for the challenge.
(She stands up, brushing away a stand of hair from her eyes.)
It's what you've had to deal ever since we became a tag team. Opportunity...the name seems almost fitting. Everyone took the opportunity to voice their own opinion about how we were just a disaster just waiting to happen, and you know what? Maybe they were right. Maybe the reason why we weren't that successful was because I was that albatross across your neck, that cross you had to carry, the weight on your shoulders. I wanted to drown out the noise, but the whispering and grumblings from that locker-room was too much for anyone to bear, especially me. If only they knew.
(She shakes her head solemnly.)
It's been quiet ever since, peaceful even, ever since most of those detractors either walked from this company, were fired, or disappeared into obscurity, but we're still here, Kat. We're still here. We never had a choice in being a tag team from the start, but that isn't necessarily true. There was a choice. There was always a choice.
(She smiles, thinks for a moment, then looks up at the camera again.)
You know, I never thought I would say this, but this match could not have come at a better time for either of us. They say I set you back?
(She pauses, lets out a deep sigh.)
Well, now here's my chance to be set free.
If all you needed to get by in this world was a positive attitude and a “can do” spirit than I would be wearing a lot more title belts. I felt as if I was punched in the stomach. I've never seen Jake this angry the way he was towards me. It was if I was an orphan and I did something guilty. He left me there, in the cold. Slammed the door in my face. Maybe I was in over my head. Was it even worth it? Was this worth throwing a friendship away over? It was a question I could not answer.
At least, it was a question I didn't want to find an answer to.
(Now, a bar in Raleigh, North Carolina, Wolfgang's. Some slow and sad alternative rock song from the 90's is blaring over the bar's sound system. We find Mercedes sat by herself at the counter, her head buried in her hands. She could care less about the song's droning riffs and melody, though it did have an eerie country-rock sound. A bartender collects used shot glasses scattered on the counter, refills the ice tray, and, after washing the glassware stacks them on the shelf before he turns his attention to her.)
Bartender: You've been here for a while. Can I get you anything?
Mercedes: I'm playing a little dangerous tonight. Make it a Manhattan.
(She raises her head a little.)
Mercedes: No, an Emerald.
(The bartender turns around and grabs a few bottles from off of the shelf and sets to pouring. The door opens and a man walks up to the counter, orders a Jameson on the Rocks. He sits next to Mercedes, looks at her, and smiles.)
Man: Is this seat empty?
(Lost in her own thoughts again, she hadn't even heard him come into the bar.)
Mercedes: Wha-? No, I wasn't planning on saving it for anyone.
(Mercedes claims her drink, wrapping her hand over the chilled cocktail glass and takes a sample. Almost immediately, the taste of orange bitters overwhelms her. The man laughs, which gets him a dirty looks for his troubles.)
Man: I see Irish whiskey isn't your thing. It's a little strong for you, don't you think? (takes up his drink as he down a portion) So, what's a pretty girl like you -
Mercedes: Doing in a place like this? It's a nice place. For a nominal fee, you can drink your troubles away, without a care in the world. (takes another sip of her drink) Plus, you get some good music now and again.
(She gives him a fake smile then looks away.)
Man: I don't mean to prude, but what do you do?
Mercedes: What do I do? Well, right now, I'm drinking. (gets a raised eyebrow) And you?
They say a drunk person's words are a sober person's thoughts, so sometimes how you feel on the inside comes out when you're drunk. This was new for me, and it took about three Emeralds to do it.
(Mercedes gets up, feeling a little lightheaded.)
Mercedes: Wait, I don't care. (gets a raised eyebrow) I don't care, Jake.
Man: Uh, actually, it's "Blake." Are you OK?
Mercedes: Oh, I'm better than OK. I"M GRRRRRREAT!
(She starts stumbling then falls into the man's lap, putting her arms around him.)
Mercedes: Is that a new scent (she leans closer to smell his cologne) Mmm...You smell so good. I like Christmas carols. Do you like Christmas carols, Jake?
Man: My name isn't “Jake”.
Mercedes: (slightly off key) Have yourself...
(She tosses her hair back, laughing.)
Mercedes: …a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be light. From now on...
(She pauses, making a sad face.)
Mercedes: Well, aren't you going to help me?
Man: Oh, why not?
Both: Our troubles will be out of sight...
(They clink their glasses together.)
This was certainly not the way I planned to spend my evening, but you know? Things sometimes have a way of working out, even when you least expect it to. For that moment, my winter of discontent started melting, or maybe it was the alcohol talking. Either way, singing carols with a guy I would probably never see again made me feel better, if only temporarily.
(As they continued singing, the bartender pauses from cleaning to take in the scene before he grabs a towel and starts polishing the counter as our scene fades.)
(Mercedes enters her bedroom quietly. Carmen is already standing in the hallway and flips the light on. Mercedes turns to her and her cousin stands there, leaning on the door frame, her arms crossed.)
Mercedes: (Smiling, slightly surprised.) Carmen. Hello.
Carmen: What the hell? Do you know what time it is?
Mercedes: Yeah, it's, um, seventeen o'clock.
Carmen: Try 3 a.m.
(Carmen walks further in the room and is repelled away from her.)
Carmen: Please tell me you haven't been drinking. Have you?
Mercedes: (Slurring) Maybe...
Carmen: (Shaking her head) This isn't like you, Merce. What's going on?
Mercedes: I don't know. My car payment is due, I tried stealing my best friend's husband, which turned out to be a epic fail, my best friend never wants to see me again, and baby Jesus cried. Honestly, things couldn't get -
(Carmen silences her with a raised hand.)
Carmen: You've made you're bed, now you get to lie in it. (Shakes her head) Get some sleep. We'll talk in the morning.
(Carmen smiles and leaves.)
Mercedes: (Quietly to herself) If morning ever comes.
(Mercedes falls onto the bed, feeling the effects of a headache.)
(We return to Mercedes standing outside her cousin's home, though this time she's wearing a black trench coat and her hair is under a Mets baseball cap.)
Last year, the night before Halloween at the preshow at Road to the Gold, after you beat me, after you went on to challenge for the Starlets Championship, I knew, Kat, that you had one regret. You wanted to end my career. Or at least, you tried to. Turns out, I only missed a little over five months. And I came back. And now, I know you wish you had the chance to do it again this past Sunday. And I know that regret is tugging at your heart strings.
You should have done it when you had the chance, Kat.
Because you won't be getting that second chance.
This year isn't over yet, there are still the holidays. I mean, we had Thanksgiving a few days ago, Christmas is around the corner. I can tell you this much, Kat - I love presents. And, apparently, for me, Christmas comes a little early. See, because, me facing you is the best thing Jake could have done. I only wish he would have made this an unsanctioned match. What you did at Collision, screwing me over in a match I damn near should have won, just added a little fuel to my fire. It pumped up a little bit more adrenaline, and all that aggression, all the anger that I'm feeling right now will be unleashed on Sunday, December 2, less than a week away. And you better believe that whatever I do to you in that ring won't be short of you getting a broken nail. Oh no, you won't get the satisfaction.
You say that you're the only friend I have. But then when you think about it, in the end, maybe I never needed one. I didn't come here to make friends. I'm not at NCW to make friends. My main goal from day one is to wrestle and win championships. Yes, I know it's typical, I know it's cliche, but it's the truth. And the truth hurts. The truth being that our friendship, or what was left of it, is over. Let's not sugarcoat it, Kathleen. Everything I've accomplished, I did it ON MY OWN... No tag team partner by my side, I've done that. Now let’s set the record straight. I am tired of being the Jannety to your Michaels. I am tired of being the Crystal to your Sydney. I am tired of being the Robin to your Batman.
I like to consider myself as more of the Joker to your Batman.
We were never on the same page ever since our reunion, which brings us to turning to the last page of our story. You and me, one on one. One last time.
This Sunday at Breaking Away, pen will be put to paper and the final chapter will be written.
You sealed it with a kiss.
Now get ready as I seal your fate.
(Ninety minutes after the Collision broadcast ended in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mercedes Vargas scurries around her locker room, ignoring the cameraman as she stoops down to pick up a pair of lip gloss and drops in a lipstick container inside her carry on luggage.)
Cameraman: Mercedes, as we all just witnessed earlier tonight, you just lost to Every Man's Fantasy in that handicap match. What are your thoughts right now? I'm pretty sure you're angry.
(Placing a hairbrush next inside the suitcase, she then looks up at the cameraman. His question seems to have put her on edge as she becomes animated, moving her hands around.)
Mercedes: What was your name again, Victor? (the cameraman nods) Am I angry? Am I pissed off? You damn right I'm pissed off! Wouldn't you be after something like what happened out there tonight? You do realize that the only reason why EMF won out there was because of a bias referee right? You do realize that whenever I'm up against Crystal and Sydney, something unfortunate happens that allows them to take advantage, right? Tonight was deja vu all over again. First Alysson, and now Kathleen? This never would have happened if a regular ref was in this match. But nooooo, Jake wants to throw his weight around, he wants to place Kathleen as the special guest referee in MY match?
(Mercedes continues packing while talking.)
Mercedes: I’m pretty sure the crowd ate it up. He loved it, he couldn’t get enough. Somewhere, Jake is probably laughing. You know what? Let Crystal have her a-ha moment. And as for Sydney, well, she can continue being Kelly's bitch.
(Mercedes shuts the suitcase and zips it up and faces the camera.)
Mercedes: As for my esteemed former tag team partner? This isn't over. This isn't over BY A LONG SHOT! If the Kat wants to play...
(The camera zooms in for a close-up shot of Mercedes.)
Mercedes: We'll play.
(Mercedes pushes the cameraman out of the way, grabs her trench coat from the coat rack and walks off, pulling a rolling tote bag behind her as we fade to black.)
_______≈₪≈______
(Our scene transitions to footage of busy streets and sidewalks in the heart of Los Angeles. Cut to find Mercedes sitting on the front steps of her cousin's home.)
Are you happy now? Are you happy you got what you wanted, Kathrine? Someone once said, "Revenge is a confession of pain." Was getting that sweet revenge worth it, Kathrine? Did you think what you did to me Sunday would make it all go away, huh? Well, have I got news for you. It doesn't Kat, it doesn't. No matter how much you try and deny it, no matter how much Jake tries to deny it, no matter how much you want to wish it away, it happened. Sure, you close your eyes at night thinking that everything will be OK, but the memory keeps flooding back.
It will always keep flooding back.
(Mercedes hugs her arms to her body, her fingers figit by her face.)
I don't get it. I honestly don't get it. Why am I the victim? Why am I seen as the bad guy here? If anything, Jake knew what he was doing. The kiss meant nothing? Okay, Kathrine. I want to believe you. I do. In fact, I would even agree with you, but then we'd both be wrong. What you call “nothing,” I call “something.” See, because, a kiss means something. Your husband may not even be saying it, but how do you know he's even thinking it? Unless, of course, you're psychic, I don't know. You seem to know me pretty damn well. And since you know me oh so well, perhaps you would like to come to the front of the class and tell me and them who I voted for in the election, or what's my favourite breakfast cereal. Come on, give a shot, Kathrine. I know you're up for the challenge.
(She stands up, brushing away a stand of hair from her eyes.)
It's what you've had to deal ever since we became a tag team. Opportunity...the name seems almost fitting. Everyone took the opportunity to voice their own opinion about how we were just a disaster just waiting to happen, and you know what? Maybe they were right. Maybe the reason why we weren't that successful was because I was that albatross across your neck, that cross you had to carry, the weight on your shoulders. I wanted to drown out the noise, but the whispering and grumblings from that locker-room was too much for anyone to bear, especially me. If only they knew.
(She shakes her head solemnly.)
It's been quiet ever since, peaceful even, ever since most of those detractors either walked from this company, were fired, or disappeared into obscurity, but we're still here, Kat. We're still here. We never had a choice in being a tag team from the start, but that isn't necessarily true. There was a choice. There was always a choice.
(She smiles, thinks for a moment, then looks up at the camera again.)
You know, I never thought I would say this, but this match could not have come at a better time for either of us. They say I set you back?
(She pauses, lets out a deep sigh.)
Well, now here's my chance to be set free.
_______≈₪≈______
If all you needed to get by in this world was a positive attitude and a “can do” spirit than I would be wearing a lot more title belts. I felt as if I was punched in the stomach. I've never seen Jake this angry the way he was towards me. It was if I was an orphan and I did something guilty. He left me there, in the cold. Slammed the door in my face. Maybe I was in over my head. Was it even worth it? Was this worth throwing a friendship away over? It was a question I could not answer.
At least, it was a question I didn't want to find an answer to.
(Now, a bar in Raleigh, North Carolina, Wolfgang's. Some slow and sad alternative rock song from the 90's is blaring over the bar's sound system. We find Mercedes sat by herself at the counter, her head buried in her hands. She could care less about the song's droning riffs and melody, though it did have an eerie country-rock sound. A bartender collects used shot glasses scattered on the counter, refills the ice tray, and, after washing the glassware stacks them on the shelf before he turns his attention to her.)
Bartender: You've been here for a while. Can I get you anything?
Mercedes: I'm playing a little dangerous tonight. Make it a Manhattan.
(She raises her head a little.)
Mercedes: No, an Emerald.
(The bartender turns around and grabs a few bottles from off of the shelf and sets to pouring. The door opens and a man walks up to the counter, orders a Jameson on the Rocks. He sits next to Mercedes, looks at her, and smiles.)
Man: Is this seat empty?
(Lost in her own thoughts again, she hadn't even heard him come into the bar.)
Mercedes: Wha-? No, I wasn't planning on saving it for anyone.
(Mercedes claims her drink, wrapping her hand over the chilled cocktail glass and takes a sample. Almost immediately, the taste of orange bitters overwhelms her. The man laughs, which gets him a dirty looks for his troubles.)
Man: I see Irish whiskey isn't your thing. It's a little strong for you, don't you think? (takes up his drink as he down a portion) So, what's a pretty girl like you -
Mercedes: Doing in a place like this? It's a nice place. For a nominal fee, you can drink your troubles away, without a care in the world. (takes another sip of her drink) Plus, you get some good music now and again.
(She gives him a fake smile then looks away.)
Man: I don't mean to prude, but what do you do?
Mercedes: What do I do? Well, right now, I'm drinking. (gets a raised eyebrow) And you?
They say a drunk person's words are a sober person's thoughts, so sometimes how you feel on the inside comes out when you're drunk. This was new for me, and it took about three Emeralds to do it.
(Mercedes gets up, feeling a little lightheaded.)
Mercedes: Wait, I don't care. (gets a raised eyebrow) I don't care, Jake.
Man: Uh, actually, it's "Blake." Are you OK?
Mercedes: Oh, I'm better than OK. I"M GRRRRRREAT!
(She starts stumbling then falls into the man's lap, putting her arms around him.)
Mercedes: Is that a new scent (she leans closer to smell his cologne) Mmm...You smell so good. I like Christmas carols. Do you like Christmas carols, Jake?
Man: My name isn't “Jake”.
Mercedes: (slightly off key) Have yourself...
(She tosses her hair back, laughing.)
Mercedes: …a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be light. From now on...
(She pauses, making a sad face.)
Mercedes: Well, aren't you going to help me?
Man: Oh, why not?
Both: Our troubles will be out of sight...
(They clink their glasses together.)
This was certainly not the way I planned to spend my evening, but you know? Things sometimes have a way of working out, even when you least expect it to. For that moment, my winter of discontent started melting, or maybe it was the alcohol talking. Either way, singing carols with a guy I would probably never see again made me feel better, if only temporarily.
(As they continued singing, the bartender pauses from cleaning to take in the scene before he grabs a towel and starts polishing the counter as our scene fades.)
* * * * *
(Mercedes enters her bedroom quietly. Carmen is already standing in the hallway and flips the light on. Mercedes turns to her and her cousin stands there, leaning on the door frame, her arms crossed.)
Mercedes: (Smiling, slightly surprised.) Carmen. Hello.
Carmen: What the hell? Do you know what time it is?
Mercedes: Yeah, it's, um, seventeen o'clock.
Carmen: Try 3 a.m.
(Carmen walks further in the room and is repelled away from her.)
Carmen: Please tell me you haven't been drinking. Have you?
Mercedes: (Slurring) Maybe...
Carmen: (Shaking her head) This isn't like you, Merce. What's going on?
Mercedes: I don't know. My car payment is due, I tried stealing my best friend's husband, which turned out to be a epic fail, my best friend never wants to see me again, and baby Jesus cried. Honestly, things couldn't get -
(Carmen silences her with a raised hand.)
Carmen: You've made you're bed, now you get to lie in it. (Shakes her head) Get some sleep. We'll talk in the morning.
(Carmen smiles and leaves.)
Mercedes: (Quietly to herself) If morning ever comes.
(Mercedes falls onto the bed, feeling the effects of a headache.)
_______≈₪≈______
(We return to Mercedes standing outside her cousin's home, though this time she's wearing a black trench coat and her hair is under a Mets baseball cap.)
Last year, the night before Halloween at the preshow at Road to the Gold, after you beat me, after you went on to challenge for the Starlets Championship, I knew, Kat, that you had one regret. You wanted to end my career. Or at least, you tried to. Turns out, I only missed a little over five months. And I came back. And now, I know you wish you had the chance to do it again this past Sunday. And I know that regret is tugging at your heart strings.
You should have done it when you had the chance, Kat.
Because you won't be getting that second chance.
This year isn't over yet, there are still the holidays. I mean, we had Thanksgiving a few days ago, Christmas is around the corner. I can tell you this much, Kat - I love presents. And, apparently, for me, Christmas comes a little early. See, because, me facing you is the best thing Jake could have done. I only wish he would have made this an unsanctioned match. What you did at Collision, screwing me over in a match I damn near should have won, just added a little fuel to my fire. It pumped up a little bit more adrenaline, and all that aggression, all the anger that I'm feeling right now will be unleashed on Sunday, December 2, less than a week away. And you better believe that whatever I do to you in that ring won't be short of you getting a broken nail. Oh no, you won't get the satisfaction.
You say that you're the only friend I have. But then when you think about it, in the end, maybe I never needed one. I didn't come here to make friends. I'm not at NCW to make friends. My main goal from day one is to wrestle and win championships. Yes, I know it's typical, I know it's cliche, but it's the truth. And the truth hurts. The truth being that our friendship, or what was left of it, is over. Let's not sugarcoat it, Kathleen. Everything I've accomplished, I did it ON MY OWN... No tag team partner by my side, I've done that. Now let’s set the record straight. I am tired of being the Jannety to your Michaels. I am tired of being the Crystal to your Sydney. I am tired of being the Robin to your Batman.
I like to consider myself as more of the Joker to your Batman.
We were never on the same page ever since our reunion, which brings us to turning to the last page of our story. You and me, one on one. One last time.
This Sunday at Breaking Away, pen will be put to paper and the final chapter will be written.
You sealed it with a kiss.
Now get ready as I seal your fate.
