Post by: The Jersey Devil Diva on September 06, 2013, 08:32:29 PM
“A man builds a fine house; and now he has a master, and a task for life: he is to furnish, watch, show it, and keep it in repair, the rest of his days”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The scene opens on the beautiful Jersey Shore area. The sun was high in the bright blue sky. The lawns were still bright green and the gardens were bringing forth fresh flowers, and vegetables while the large trees were still crowned with their leaves for at least a few more weeks. Kids were playing out in the yard enjoying the last few days of freedom before they would have to go back to school for the year. They jumped rope, rode bikes, and ran through the sprinklers that sat on the bright green lawns. Their squeals from the cold water filled the air, as the sound of lawnmowers soon mixed with them. We soon see a black limo heading to one of the vast estates that lined either side of the street. The limo stops in front of the black wrought iron gates of the Canelli estate and waits for the guards to open the gate. It slowly starts to slide open, and the car heads up to the main house, passing under the tall willow trees that covered the road in a makeshift tunnel of leaves. The car soon pulls up to the house, and stops at the bottom of the stairs. The door in the back opens and out steps Joanne. Scaffolding surrounded the house and workers came and went for the last month. Joanne sighs as she looks up at it, knowing that another attack could come at any time. Someone had tried to kill her but that wasn't the first time it had happened. She already had at least three attempts on her life, but she managed to survive every last one of them, because of Reno. She leans against the back of the limo staring up at the house, letting her mind drift back to the night it all happened.
Canelli Estate 12:00am
The scene opens on the Canelli estate late at night. A few lights still burned on the upper floor while the rest of the house was plunged into darkness for another night. Guards made their rounds ensuring the safety of the woman they called the Don for another day. The high wall circled the estate while cameras moved ever so slightly taking in each and every corner of the grounds. Shadows moved along the high brick wall and appeared behind one of the guards. He slumps over as a small noise was heard, and the shadow seems to move unseen, and unopposed at least for the moment. One of the cameras moves but the dark figure stays out of it's view and hits it with a sharp object slicing through the cords and it falls to the ground with a soft thud. Two more guards round the corner only to have a single shot fired at each of them dropping them to the ground. The figure moves through the grounds only to be joined by two more. They move in silence heading toward the main house and the one room on the main floor that still had a light on. The camera pans in, and we see Joanne sitting at her desk pouring over papers from a few odd jobs that had been done, as well as a schedule of the latest shipments that would be coming in for the next month. She sighs, and leans back in her chair, and starts to drift off to sleep. The door to the balcony opens slightly, and she opens her eyes, but doesn't turn around. It could be one of the guards checking the doors, because no one would be stupid enough to try and attack her in her own home. She reaches for the desert eagle that was still under her jacket, and readies herself just in case. Two shots from a small handgun knock out the lights, that still burned plunging the room into darkness.
Joanne: *Whispering* Shit... This isn't good. Damn it, why it did have to be tonight? The guys are out, and...
The dark figure moves by the chair, not seeing her sitting there. She gets up, and grabs him from behind and grabs his arms, only to slam him down face first onto the desk.
Joanne: Who sent you?
The figure just smiles and tries to over power Joanne, but she holds onto him tightly.
Joanne: I'll ask you one more time, who sent you?
Joanne snaps from the thought as Reno shakes her by the shoulder.
Reno: You ok?
Joanne: Yeah. I was just kind of hopin' that they would have been done with the repairs by the time we got back.
Rude: Damn. They're still not done? Shit what are you paying them for?
Joanne: I don't know, but they better be finished soon. The last time this happened they took three extra weeks just to get the lawn back together.
Joanne sighs, and heads inside, as her cellphone starts to ring. She soon answers it, as they walk into the newly renovated foyer.
Joanne: Hello? This is her. No, it's good to hear from you. A match? Sure thin'. I'm up for it, and it'll feel great to get back into the ring after this long. Who's it against? Laura Jackson huh? No it's fine. Where is it? St. Thomas? I'll be there in a few days. Thanks.
Joanne sighs and shakes her head. They had just gotten back from Italy and now it looked like they were going to be leaving again in a day or so for the show.
Joanne: Gawd damnit! We just got home and in like two days we have to fly out to St. Thomas.
Scarpaci: Are you fuckin' serious? We just got home!
Joanne: I know that, and I'm not thrilled about leavin' that soon either, but hopefully when we get back every last bit of the renovations will be done.
Joanne heads toward her office and opens the door that had been replaced. The desk had a few holes in it but it could be sanded down, and fixed. The glass in the balcony door had been replaced with thicker bullet proof glass to keep her safe, or at least a little bit safer. She sits in the high backed chair, as her mind wanders once again.
12:40am
Joanne smacks the guy's head onto the desk once more, only to have him pass out. Joanne sighs, and shakes her head, as she lets his body slide to the floor, only to have a shot fire past her and shatters the glass in the balcony doors. She jumps over the desk and ducks behind it and starts to fire off a couple of rounds. She hits her new would be assassin, and he runs off. Joanne gets up, and takes off after him. As she runs out of the room, another shot is fired, and grazes her right cheek. She starts to dial her phone, and waits for it to be answered.
Joanne: Damnit pick up!
Soon there comes a voice on the other end, and she lets out a sigh.
Reno: Hello?
Joanne: You guys have to come back. We're under attack! I don't know how they got in, but I've seen at least two of them!
Reno: We're on our way back now! Keep out of sight, and call the police at least.
Joanne: Fuck the police! They won't do anythin'! I'll deal with them myself until you guys get back.
She hangs up, and starts to move down the hallway in complete darkness. Joanne shakes from her thoughts as the sound of the TV floats on the air. She gets up, and heads toward the living room. She walks down the hall and walks into the living room as she sees the latest promo from Laura. She leans against the back of the couch and watches it, before it fades into nothingness.
Rude: Damn, this is her last match?
Reno: Easy win...
Joanne: No if she wants a match that would put all the others to shame then I'll give it to her.
Joanne walks off and heads toward the stairs. One side was still blocked off with a heavy piece of plastic. Joanne sighs, as she heads up the stairs, and toward her room. The stairs had been damaged in the assault but even those were being fixed. She reaches her room, and starts shedding the suit that she wore. She had to train for her match and try to give Laura the match that she wanted.
Joanne: It's a shame that you're done after our match on Sunday. You're a great competitor and I have to say that you are one of the best that I have ever seen. You and I have met time after time, and both of us have won at least once against the other. Hell you and I have even teamed up, and almost took out those little bitches from the Fallen. Sunday night I will put everythin' into this match and give you one that you won't forget, or anyone else for that matter. I'm goin' to start trainin' for this and give you everythin' that I have in this match. I will bring everythin' that I have, and everythin' that I am and put you to the edge and bring you back just enough to show you that I am one of the best and why I am. After this match Laura they'll be talkin' about it for a while. Wherever the wind takes you, I wish you the best. We are the Mafioso, and we get paid to kick your ass! See you soon Laura.
Joanne walks into her room, and smiles seeing that the repairs had been finished in her room. The windows had been replaced along with parts of the wall. She lies on the bed, and looks up at the ceiling knowing she only had two days to get ready for the match, as the scene fades to black.