March 24, 2015
Jiu Valley
Aninoasa, Romania
Getting into the Jiu Valley was difficult. At one time Aninoasa was home to one of the most powerful coal mining companies in Romania, but now it was just a town that couldn't even pay it's bills. Home to a population of just under 3,000 people, it was determined that the trend couldn't be reversed and the decision was made to cut it's losses and file for bankruptcy.
The coal mining company was closed in 2006 because it had become too costly to maintain and there simply wasn't enough money to keep it going...even with the bailout from the European Union.
But maybe that was all about to change. Even before Sean Jackson landed in Bucharest, Romania with his wife Pamela, his attorney Marshall Owens, and personal valet Vanessa...his mind was on a land grab that was sure to pay off. Right there in Aninoasa.
To the average person, it seemed to be a disasterous decision. Why would anyone pour any money at all into this portion of Romania, exactly 205 miles from Bucharest? to somebody like Sean Jackson, why not? with the town filing bankruptcy, that meant people were in dire straits and land would come at a very cheap price...
So would the labor.
As the black in color 2015 Cadillac Escalade finished it's seven hour trek from Bucharest to Aninoasa, Sean's eyes lit up. It was everything he had hoped it would be, the railroad track in disarray, the buildings falling apart, it was heaven. However, to his wife Pamela, it looked to be a wasted project...at best. Besides, Duke Oil wasn't in to coal mining, so what was it that had drawn her husband to this location.
Pamela: This is what we're investing in?
She shakes her head.
Pamela: There's no way daddy will go for this.
However, Sean viewed it differently. After all, Romania was the leading petroleum exporter of Eastern Europe and having Duke Oil with a foot hold in even the smallest portion of Romania could be a good thing.
Sean: I wouldn't be so sure about that Pam. Cheap land, cheap labor, I could see us saving Aninoasa and at the same time, garnering interest from other Romanian towns who could give Duke Oil an even bigger footprint here.
Sean looks over to Marshall, who also sees the monetary value in this portion of the Jiu Valley.
Sean: Do you think the Romanian Government will attempt to stop us from "investing"?
Upon seeing Sean doing the finger quotes, Marshall can only shrug his shoulders. After all, it is the Romanian Government and the world economy still hasn't recovered fully...if it will at all.
Marshall: Well, American companies are investing almost daily and the Romanians haven't said anything yet. But maybe we can keep suspicions down if we keep the name Duke Oil out of any investments me make.
Hmm, land grabbing and investing in the name of Duke Oil, without using the name Duke Oil? Sure, Cameron Duke would go for that. Couldn't see one thing going wrong with that scenario.
Pamela: Wait, you're implying that we use Duke Oil money to do this, but not using the Duke Oil name? sorry, but daddy will not go for that and neither will the board, which might I add, we need the approval of in order to do something like this.
Sean rolls his eyes, not wanting to hear negative Nancy raining on his parade. As far as he was concerned, there's been enough of that from Christian Underwood and Gabriel Stevens, so he didn't want to hear any of it from his wife.
Sean: Look, if I have to, I'll use my own money to get this thing done. There's a potential gold mine here and I won't let anyone stand in my way of getting it done. Once I win the world title from Gabriel, I'll walk right on in to the bank, take out a loan and within five years, all of the Jiu Valley will be mine.
He then turns, looking into Pamela's eyes.
Sean: Then when the new business investors come in, throwing all their money at me. I'll make sure to let your daddy know that he could have been in on the deal as well, but you balked on telling him.
She takes a deep breath, letting the words resonate. If there was anything Cameron Duke loved more, other than his only daughter, it was money and power. With the Keystone Pipeline still hung up with Congressional bickering back and forth, Cameron was always looking towards overseas markets and businesses....as long as it made him a solid profit. But there was also one other thing she knew all too well, and that was the trust issue.
Pamela: Sean, you know my daddy doesn't like you, doesn't even trust you. So we can do without the empty threats, okay?
Upon entering into Aninoasa, her heart drops even further. The majority of the people she observes are elderly, dressed like bums, while walking the streets. Some don't even look as the black Escalade rolls by them, while others stop to gaze at the vehicle that's worth more than their homes.
Pamela: Jesus Sean, are you kidding me? there's no way these people can make us money.
Sean drops a smile. He understands the skepticism of a woman born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but he also understands that desperate people will do anything for money, especially when they don't have any.
Sean: That's where you're wrong. Just look at them, it's obvious that's the norm here, and they will do anything to change their situation.
Pamela still isn't convinced.
Pamela: What about the language barrier?
Sean: What about it?
Seeing the frustrated look on Pamela's face, he knows that there will be only one way to get her on board.
Sean: Driver, stop the vehicle.
As ordered, the driver pulls the vehicle off to the side and comes to a stop. Sean then opens the left back passenger door and steps out, prompting Pamela to reach for his arm.
Pamela: Where are you going?
Without answering, Sean steps out of the vehicle which causes Marshall to do the same thing.
Marshall: Sean, what are you doing?
Much like he did with Pamela, he also ignores his attorney and walks up on the sidewalk and towards an older man walking up the sidewalk.
Sean: Excuse me sir, do you speak english?
The older Romanian man, clearly not understanding, waves the well dressed Sean Jackson off, and continues walking. However, not deterred, Sean tries to get another man's attention.
Sean: How about you? you speak english?
He too, continues walking by, not even acknowledging the presence of the american wrestler.
Marshall: Come on Sean, let's forget about this and get back in the car.
Yeah, that would probably be the prudent direction to go. After all, it is going to be dark soon and instead of the seven hour drive back to Bucharest on that often closed road, it would be better to tackle it in the morning when the sun was up, and not having to deal with armed thugs waiting to rob them.
Sean turns and faces Marshall.
Sean: Not until I find someone who speaks english...
He points towards the sky, the sun obviously going down.
Sean: Besides, we're going to need directions to one of the local hotels. So until...
Marshall shrugs.
Marshall: Give us a break Sean, you wouldn't have come here had you not already gotten directions to whatever hotel you wanted. So can we please...
At that moment, an older Romanian woman walks up on them, wearing what appears to be an older hotel uniform. As she gets closer, she speaks in broken english.
woman: May...I...help...you?
Hearing the older woman, Sean turns to face her. Looking to be somewhere in her mid 40's, she does look semi attractive although she isn't wearing any makeup. Her appearance takes him a bit by surprise, but broken english is better than no english.
Sean: You speak english?
She slowly nods her head.
Marshall: Can you...
Marshall never gets to finish as Sean speaks up, basically cutting him off.
Sean: We're here on business for a couple of days, and are looking for a hotel to stay at for the next couple of days. Would you happen to know of a....
She smiles and points down the street, towards a modest looking building several blocks down and on the right.
woman: I work there, and it's one of the better hotels....
Sean: We'll take it.
The woman nods and begins the slow walk towards the hotel. As Sean and Marshall begin to make their way back to the Escalade, he cocks his head towards Marshall.
Sean: You see, there's always going to be someone who speaks our language...no matter where we go. Matter of fact, this Sunday there's going to be an entire arena filled with Romanians who understand and speak the english language. They will understand every freaking word we say, and they will understand every action taken we take.
He points towards his wife.
Sean: Pamela fails to realize this because she doesn't have any confidence in my business sense. But that will change before it's all over.
Pamela, still frustrated, partially exits the vehicle long enough to yell at her husband.
Pamela: Sean, get back in the car. It's time to leave.
As she pokes her head back into the car, Sean cuts loose another smile in the direction of Marshall. He can just see the transformation taking place in front of him. This desolate place where all the younger people have left to go elsewhere, now being drawn back by wall to wall businesses where a bustling economy was ultimately aided by the most hated man in professional wrestling.
Sean: Soon, she'll discover who's really running the show here.
Later on that night
Inside his hotel room.
In a completely relaxed atmosphere, Sean is seated in front of a camera, ready to address the man who stole his world heavyweight championship. Dressed in shorts, an SCW logo shirt, and a pair of slip on sneakers, he decides that tonight will be the night he doesn't pull any punches.
Sean: Gabriel, you talk a very good game on twitter. But inside of those ropes, you aren't half as good as you think you are. Now don't get me wrong, I know that you're a very good wrestler and a top notch competitor, but the bottom line is this....
Nope, tonight he isn't going to pull a single punch.
Sean: You can't beat me legitimately. You know it, I know it, hell Christian Underwood knows it. That's the reason Drake Green and Drexel Matheson was allowed in our matches, the reason Christian is working overtime as I speak, looking for some kind of angle to keep the belt on you this Sunday...
He smiles.
Sean: Because he wants to protect you. Because he realizes that you are a soon to be, first ballot, bonafide hall of famer in this company. That there is more to you than just a tag team specialist who was carried by Despayre for a better part of five years. But Gabriel, what Christian fails to realize is that you can't be protected. Once you step in that ring, with no third person to act as your buffer, your career and very life will be in my hands. Or maybe you forgot about the bang up protection job Christian supplied to Jamie Dean and his good buddy Justin Halliwell?
Sean looks up at the ceiling, taking a deep breath.
Sean: Gabriel, I just want you to know that this Sunday, you aren't getting off as easy as they did. You aren't getting off as easy because you cheated your way to my championship, and that is unforgiveable.
He looks back down towards the camera.
Sean: This Sunday, there is going to be a target on the back of your skull. This Sunday I'm going to peel back that layer of protective padding on the arena floor, and I'm going to hit you with the Hook em Horns driver. This Sunday, it won't just be about taking back my title belt, it will be about making an example out of you. Out of anyone who thinks that they can cheat me, and get away with it.
Fade to black.
