{The scene opens inside Roxi and Keira’s home, where they have unpacked everything after the moving scare. Roxi sits on the couch watching the news as Nate plays on his tablet being held by Elizabeth, and Keira is taking a nap in the bedroom.}News Reporter – City Officials and local police are conducting an investigation tonight after several officers were recorded on by protesters using excessive force to stop even more protesters today, and those who are outside violently protesting the mask requirement after the state today reported a drop in virus outbreaks. However the state governments still want to see more drops before they will consider easing off the regulations.
Elizabeth – I’ll never understand these people.
Roxi – Who? The police? The protesters?
Elizabeth – Both. Or just people in general.
Roxi – People have a right to not like things, I guess.
Elizabeth – We all don’t like the fact that we need to wear masks or the police step over the line. That’s not the point. The police are supposed to protect us, and put those who break the law in jail.
Roxi – Sadly, it’s not that black and white mom. There’s just a lot of gray area in the world when it comes to the law.
Elizabeth – I’m not asking everyone to obey the “letter” of the law. Nor the spirit of the law. Goodness know I’ve had that debate with myself to try and justify some of the things I did in my life. I’m just asking people to be smart, and it just seems like every week something else happens that messes it up because people are dumb.
Roxi – I know, it’s odd sometimes to see it. But people get influenced by TV and media and now everything has to be left or right, red or blue or black and white. But I get what you’re saying. Things are just… crazy.
Elizabeth – I can see why now Keira just tries not to watch this stuff.
Roxi – She can get very riled up watching things on the news. She’s… she wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s emotional. But that’s who she’s always been.
Elizabeth – I’d hate to see what would happen if she had to see this.
Roxi – She’s probably want to go out and fight the cops. And the people not wearing masks.
Elizabeth – Probably?
Roxi – Okay definitely. But… we’re trying to teach Nate better than that.
{Nate looks up from his tablet, confused upon hearing his name.}Nate – What you say, Mommy?
Roxi – I just said we’re trying to raise you to be big and strong.
Nate – Oh… okay.
Elizabeth – He really shouldn’t be watching this stuff either.
Roxi – Maybe… maybe not. He’s not even really watching this, so it’s not like it’s the end of the world. But he should be… informed.
Elizabeth – He’s three. He doesn’t care about world politics yet.
Roxi – No… I suppose not.
Elizabeth – He does need to get outside more though. He needs exercise and all that.
Roxi – It’s not wise to have him outside playing when all this is going on.
Elizabeth – Still, should be som –
{Elizabeth stops, staring at the TV}Roxi – What?
{Both Roxi and Elizabeth look at the screen and see the image of an older man, who they clearly both recognize}Roxi – Dr. Keene?
Elizabeth – Turn it up.
{Roxi reaches for the remote and turns up the TV.}New Reporter – … between 9pm and midnight last night. Keene apparently wrote a rambling letter making outrageous claims. The letter was found on the families’ kitchen table and he been confiscated by police, who were called to the house this morning. Keene is 76 years old and may be suffering from a psychotic episode. If he is spotted, you are encouraged to contact local authorities.
Roxi – Oh no…
Elizabeth – I never would have expected that.
Keira – Expected what?
{Keira walks in yawning and scratching her head.}Roxi – Dr. Keene.
Keira – Little help here.
Elizabeth – Mr. Keene was Roxi’s pediatrician when she was younger.
Keira – Okay?
Roxi – Look like he… has a psychotic episode and he’s on the streets somewhere.
Elizabeth – That poor man.
Keira – He’s missing too?
Roxi – Yeah… Guess he walked out of his house or something last night.
Elizabeth – Hopefully they find him.
Roxi – Yeah, I hope so.
Keira – So… we’re not going to look for him?
Roxi – Well… no. The police already are. Who knows what his mental state could be.
Keira – I just… I don’t know, it’s getting weird.
Roxi – What?
Keira – That people you know are just disappearing left and right.
Roxi – I know them, but it’s not like it’s other people don’t know them. Dr. Keene treated a lot of kids.
Keira – And there’s Syd, and the other guy too. Bobby.
Roxi – Syd lived in another state. Bobby I knew barely in elementary school.
Keira – But you ARE a connection, and they are still missing
Roxi – I don’t think I’m THE connection though. These things take time.
Keira – That’s why I say we go look for him. I mean, maybe he is a crazy old man, but if he’s missing and we can find him, then hey, maybe it’s just a coincidence.
Roxi – I don’t know about all that. Dr. Keene was always so nice. It’s really sad that he’s had a…
Keira – What?
Roxi – I just… had a thought. I think we may need to talk to the family.
Keira – I’m ready.
Roxi – No, it’s fine, let me do it, it’s just a simple thing. We don’t need to go overboard thinking the worst.
Keira – If anything happens….
Roxi – Nothing should happen. If they tell me what happened, then I’ll know for sure.
Keira – What are expecting to hear?
Roxi – That Dr. Keene has been suffering with a mental illness for a long time. At least… that’s what I’m hoping to hear. Just… stay here, and try to focus up for your match.
Keira – Fine.
{Roxi kisses Keria, and then Nate, as she grabs her purse and exits the house, headed to gets some answers as the scene fades.}
{Roxi is actually driving as uses her phone for GPS, and eventually pulls up the house belonging to Dr. Keene. There are still some media people outside who is packing up for the day. Roxi walks past them and knocks on the door. A woman angrily answers.}Woman – What more do you –
Roxi – Hi. I’m… I’m not a reporter or anything. My name is Roxi. I actually was one of Dr. Keene’s patients when I was a kid. So, I’m sorry to hear about him walking out on you. I just wanted to know if there’s anything I can do to help.
Woman – What do you think you can do?
Roxi – I don’t know, maybe not anything, but I just… I’m saddened by this and I wanted to see if you guys maybe had any information. I mean, I haven’t seen Dr. Keene since I was 8, So it’s just… odd to me that he would have this happen.
{The woman looks around, and eventually invites Roxi in. Roxi steps in, and there are picture and family photos up everywhere. The house looks immaculate and Roxi takes notice.}Roxi – This is a beautiful place.
Woman – Thank you. I’m… I’m sorry about out front, the media and the police just wanna hound us. My name is Alice. Dr. Keene is my father.
Roxi – I’m sorry we have to meet under unfortunate circumstances.
Alice – My father isn’t crazy.
Roxi – I didn’t think he was either. I’m just going on what the news said.
Alice – That… letter was so… chilling and it didn’t make any sense.
Roxi – Has this happened before?
Alice – No.
Roxi – Hmm…
Alice – He was fine, sure he needs some help to do things every now and again, and sure he forgets things, but this letter was… like from a lunatic.
Roxi – And he didn’t show any signs?
Alice – No. That’s what makes this so odd.
Roxi – It is odd. Did anything else happen that you can remember?
Alice – No. Nothing. It’s like he just… upped and went crazy all of a sudden and he’s gone. Wandering the streets I guess.
Roxi – The police have the letter?
Alice – Yeah, it’s the only evidence they have.
Roxi – Hmm… This all so strange.
Alice – I know. What causes a man to just snap like that?
Roxi – Do you remember what the letter said?
Alice – Something about he knew where the crown jewels were and that he was a descendent of King Henry the VIII
Roxi – The does sound crazy. No offense.
Alice – I know that, but if he went crazy that’s one thing. But he had no signs or anything.
Roxi – Was… anything missing from here?
Alice – No.
Roxi – Any… signs of a struggle?
Alice – No… Are you sure you’re not a cop.
Roxi – I’m not. I promise. I’m just concerned. But… you’ve been very helpful. I won’t take up any more of your time. I’m sorry about what’s happened, and I hope they find him.
Alice – Me too. Thank you for… at least not judging me.
Roxi – Dr. Keene was always the nicest person to me. Always gave me a lollipop and everything. I just want to make sure he’s brought home safely.
Alice – Thank you.
Roxi – Here.
{Roxi grabs a sticky note from the coffee table and scribbles her number on it.}Roxi – If anything comes up, or if you need anything at all, please let me know.
Alice – Yeah… sure.
{With that Roxi nods and slightly hugs Alice before starting to leave. She eyeballs around the house one last time before leaving, and getting back in her car. She looks down at her phone, which is buzzing and shows two missed calls from Keira. Roxi dials back}Roxi – Hey.
Keira – Hey. You find out anything?
Roxi – Nothing concrete, but I’m going to need to talk to AJ.
Keira – About what?
Roxi – Everything right now. According to his daughter, Dr. Keene didn’t show any signs prior to this.
Keira – Meaning?
Roxi – People just don’t go crazy out of nowhere. At least not that I can recall. I’ll going to go see AJ, I’ll be back soon.
{Roxi hangs up, and then begins the drive to visit AJ. She first texts AJ, letting her know of her impending arrival}
{Roxi soon arrives at AJ’s house and knocks on the door. AJ greets her and invites her in, but as soon as the door closes, AJ’s face is one of concern.}Amy Jo Smyth – What do you think you’re doing?
Roxi – What are you talking about?
Amy Jo Smyth – You know good and well what I’m talking about. Why didn’t you use the fireballs?!
Roxi – AJ…
Amy Jo Smyth – Don’t AJ me! I told you what you were in for and you didn’t listen. She beat your head in.
Roxi – I’m aware of that.
Amy Jo Smyth – So now, are you going to actually listen to me?
Roxi – AJ, I know you mean well, and I know you know Amber. Probably better than most people. But the truth of the matter is, this is my fight, and I have to fight it. I know you want to help, and I appreciate it. More than you can imagine. But you have to let me do this.
Amy Jo Smyth – She would have permanently injured you if the referee didn’t stop the match.
Roxi – Maybe. But I know what I’m doing.
Amy Jo Smyth – Yeah, good job nearly getting yourself killed.
Roxi – How many times have you said that about me over the years?
Amy Jo Smyth – … Too many.
Roxi – Exactly. This is no different. I just… I need you to trust me. I can handle this.
Amy Jo Smyth – I am not about to have you getting disfigured for life because you could “handle it”.
Roxi – I won’t. I promise.
Amy Jo Smyth – You better not. I’ll strangle you myself.
Roxi – Listen, there’s a reason I came here, other than to be scolded. I need your help.
Amy Jo Smyth – FINALLY. Now, how much cloth do you need?
Roxi – It’s not that. I need you to keep tabs on a few people for me.
Amy Jo Smyth – Spying?
Roxi – They’re missing. But I have a suspicion that Keira may be onto something.
Amy Jo Smyth – Okay…. I’m intrigued.
Roxi – First, How much do you know about psychotic episodes?
Amy Jo Smyth – I’m really happy you came to me about this.
Roxi – Very funny.
Amy Jo Smyth – Well, there’s a lot that goes into that. Are we on the schizophrenia scale?
Roxi – Just answer me this. Can a person seem normal and show no signs of a breakdown, just… have one?
Amy Jo Smyth – I mean… it’s possible. But highly unlikely. Usually a breakdown comes from pent up stress or other emotions. Or something traumatic. You don’t see someone acting normal and then a minute later they’re bouncing off the walls crazy-pants.
Roxi – That’s what I thought.
Amy Jo Smyth – Why? Who’s gone crazy?
Roxi – I don’t think anyone has gone crazy. Which is why I need you to run some names and track everything you can on them.
Amy Jo Smyth – I’ll see what I can do.
Roxi – Bobby Fuller, Sydney Dunbar & Frank Keene.
Amy Jo Smyth – Okay, who are these people?
Roxi – People I know. Or… knew.
Amy Jo Smyth – That’s cryptic.
Roxi – They’re all missing, all of them in the past few months. Most recently Dr. Keene. They say he went crazy, but his daughter says that it didn’t happen.
Amy Jo Smyth – He didn’t go crazy?
Roxi – The guy wrote a letter rambling on about this, and is now gone. This was out of nowhere.
Amy Jo Smyth – Interesting. What about these two?
Roxi – Bobby Fuller I knew in elementary school. He… kinda had a crush on me when we were kids. But, I mean, I haven’t seen him since the 6th grade.
Amy Jo Smyth – And the Dunbar woman?
Roxi – I knew Syd in high school. We were on the gymnastics team. I haven’t seen her since after high school. She moved away. Bobby stayed here but… that’s really all I know.
Amy Jo Smyth – Where did she move to?
Roxi – Georgia.
Amy Jo Smyth – And Fuller is still in Florida?
Roxi – Yeah, he was a security guard.
{AJ casually jots the information down before marking the paper with her pen.}Amy Jo Smyth – Alright, I’ll look into everything I can about them. See if they pop up anything interesting. Why does Keira think they’re connected to you?
Roxi – Simply because I know them all. It’s not a lot to go on, but the fact that Dr. Keene is now missing with a shaky explaination… I dunno, shot in the dark.
Amy Jo Smyth – Well, again, I’ll get some people on it. See what I can pull up.
Roxi – Thanks. I really appreciate you doing this.
Amy Jo Smyth – What are friends for? Besides not heeding their advice.
Roxi – AJ… Please don’t start this again.
Amy Jo Smyth – Just do me a favor and don’t get yourself maimed!?
Roxi – I’ll do my best. And… look, if I need you, I will call on you. You know that.
Amy Jo Smyth – You god damn well better.
{Roxi and AJ hug before Roxi departs to go back home and the scene fades.}
“Sometimes it’s only madness that makes us what we are.”
- Batman
(Batman: Arkham Asylum - A Serious House on Serious Earth)
Hello SCW,
I come to you this week no longer in a state of flux, but rather, with fire that, while has always been there, got even more fuel added to it. I of course am not satisfied with what happened at Summer XXXtreme and I want to make that right. I am bound and determined to make that right. I’m not going to stop until it’s made right. But, I know that based on what happened, there might be some who are thinking that perhaps this isn’t the best course of action. I have no reason to lie or cover up what happened. At Summer XXXtreme, I was left in a bloody heap by Amber. There’s no denying that she put a hurting on me that very few have ever witnessed.
So, the question then becomes, why go back for more? People are thinking I have some kind of death wish by continuing to fight someone who did something like that to me. And maybe, just maybe, they have a point. But you guys have known me for a long time. I can be very stubborn, especially when I think I’m right. But in this case, it’s a little different. I know I’m right. I know that I can take Amber down. I was pretty close despite what happened, and who knows, if she doesn’t have brass knuckles in her pockets, I may have been able to get the submission.
Now, this isn’t me trying to find a needle of positivity in a haystack of negativity, I’m just looking at what happened. And it has only served to make me more determined to beat Amber when the times comes. And trust me, the time is coming. Amber may say she knows that we’ve just started, but she has absolutely no idea what she started. And she also has no idea how long we’re going to go. Because much like the Joker said to Batman in the Dark Knight. You and I, are destined to do this forever. But… my hope is that it’s not forever.
But I am preparing to go that long if need be.
But while I have not, and will not forget about Amber Ryan and the fight in the future. I will have another fight this week against Johanna Krieger. And it’s a fight I’ve been looking forward to for some time now.
My first ever real sighting of Ms. Krieger was when she was bad-mouthing my friend Bliss. It broke my heart to see her get disparaged, knowing Kahlan as well as I do. I know that she made some mistakes in life and in her career, but she didn’t deserve that. I felt mad for Kahlan. I wanted to chalk it up as hey, Johanna is new, she’s trying to make an impression, and it’s her first big time match and all that. I wanted that to be the case and Johanna decided that that wasn’t the case at all. Because after she won, she still continued to disparage my friend. This wasn’t even close to necessary, but I wanted again to chalk this up as a young, impressionable rookie.
But what starts to happen to younger wrestlers a lot of the time is they get some success, maybe even a lot of success, and then they believe that everything will be this easy. That nothing stands in your way because look, you made it this far. There becomes that air of arrogance. And then, you run into an obstacle or issue, and then you start to go “well, this isn’t going my way, I’m going to do something else.” Rather than stick it out. I don’t hear Johanna boasting anymore, but rather a far more humble Johanna.
At least, to me, anyway.
And maybe it’s her police training that has opened her eyes to this behavior as not being constructive, you don’t need to be the bad cop in every situation. Most of the situations you find yourself in as cop can be defused without escalation. Wrestling is obviously the complete opposite because being loud, obnoxious, rude and brash gets you attention. It must have been weird to just make that change randomly when you become a pro wrestler. I mean, Johanna grows up in Bavaria, and you know, a lot has changed in Germany over the years. At least I guess it has, I’m not 100% brushed on my Germanic politics or anything so, maybe I’m wrong. And you know, it’s a major accomplishment to be a police officer. The training isn’t easy. Anywhere around the world. You are simultainously a picture of justice, and injustice. It has to suck to be vilified for no reason.
I know from experience in that department, let me tell you.
But I can applaud Johanna for chasing her dream of being a police officer. I can also say hey, it’s cool she also wanted to be a pro wrestler on the side. Luckily, those two things didn’t combine, I mean, I don’t know if I could do with Johanna constantly talking about “serving hard time” or something like that. And all the cop puns? Yikes. That would have been bad. But hey, it’s not that. Though I am going to be alert for possible handcuff usage.
But obviously something makes you want to give up your lifelong dream of cop work to become a pro wrestler all of a sudden. It makes me curious what it was. Oh goodness there’s like a whole Killing Joke monologue here, but I won’t get into it. But Johanna found a way to make her second dream a reality. Training under Alex Jones isn’t easy, but it’s paid off her his students. I guess Johanna was like really special because Alex decided to tag with her and win the mixed tag team titles. And hey, that was a heck of a run with those tag titles.
But now, here we are, tag titles gone, and back into the singles division.
I don’t mean to tell Johanna that this is now a step up in competition. I’m sure she knows that, or she wouldn’t have been as respectful as she was to me. I know she fully gets what this means for her and what it could mean for her career. Alex has hopefully coached the disrespectful things I saw before out of her. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to forget those things said about my friend. I’m not going to let that slide because here, I have a chance to get a little payback for my friend.
I wanted to chalk it up to just being young, but then I remember that Alex Jones has done the exact same thing, and continues to do the exact same thing. So there’s no reason to believe fully that this isn’t all an act to lure me into a false sense of security. I was born at night, but not last night.
No, in this match, I will be sharp as I can be, because I also have to show Amber that despite what she did to me, I’m still standing, and I’m not going to just go away nor am I going to fall off because of what happened. No, this is me, getting everything back on track because I need to. I have to. Because I have to show that nothing to going to dampen my fighting spirit. Especially when it comes to Amber.
I respect what Johanna has accomplished, but right now, she is in the wrong place, and the totally wrong time. What I’m in the middle of, is important. And I’m not about to let Johanna simply take one from me because she doesn’t think I’m paying attention. Oh no, I’m paying attention. This is just as important for me to put my stamp on things as it is for Johanna to try and get a foothold in singles competition after all the tag team success.
This isn’t going to be a time where Johanna is going to be able to rely on Alex for help. And while she may think that she’s hungry for a big opportunity, she will find out that I am just as hungry to win. This is just as big of test for me as it is for her in my eyes. I’ve been itching for a fight ever since Summer XXXtreme and it’s going to be me scratching that itch against Johanna.
Unfortunately for her, this is one of those times I talked about before, where you run into an obstacle and you have to make the choice to stick it out, or do something else.
August 23rd, is not about to be Johanna Krieger’s day. [/color]
