S|C|E|N|E| 001
ON CAMERA || Palm - Eagle Beach, Aruba || FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013
«Stretches of whitewashed pebbled sand, shallow, calm waters, and a gentle breeze. Just about what you would expect paradise to look like. The beaches of Aruba could very well make that the case. Beyond the sea, only the daring and foolhardy attempted to master the oncoming waves as a few windsurfers are seen. A few are lucky to get a nice wave and start to showoff to the vacationers on the shore, as some take in a moment to watch before the surf breaks up and they're back treading water again.»
«To the north of the beach, a pavilion. The camera pulls back to reveal customers being served by the staff. A radio is playing in the background, and if one can really focus beyond the idle chatter and the laughter, and the camaraderie, they could pick up the steel drum intro of the popular Beach Boys hit, "Kokomo". Was the song selection intentional? Maybe, maybe not. Regardless, everyone is enjoying themselves and is welcoming the start to the weekend.»
«The camera pulls back slightly as Mercedes Vargas enters the shot. She is wearing a t-shirt and shorts with a fresh flower in her hair. As the wind picks up and carcasses her face, she unconsciously brushes away strands of her brunette hair from her eyes as she talks directly into the camera.»
"So, I hope all of you enjoyed your summer. I know I did, because almost three months of perfect weather is never enough. Anyway, summer is nearly over and we’re a week removed from the Summer XXXtreme pay-per-view, and if you haven’t seen it, shame on you. No, seriously, SHAME. ON. YOU. But, there is hope for you yet. I could forgive if you catch the encore presentation of Summer XXXtreme in all its glory airing all week long on pay-per-view."
«Gasp! Was that a plug of a SCW pay-per-view? Why, yes. Yes it was. Will it directly equal a raise in Mercedes' contract remain to be seen, but hey, it was worth the effort. Goodwill ambassador, yup, that was her.»
"So I wasn't able to win the coveted Bombshell Roulette Championship, but you know something? You take the bad with the good. We have a new Bombshell Roulette Champion, Necra’s reign is mercilessly over, and, yes, Emma Rose was able to make it aboard the Royal Monarch after all. See? All’s well that ends well."
«She smiles. A waitress walks by with a tray of drinks and Mercedes takes up a spritzer in passing. She nods and mouths the word "thank you" before the waitress moves along to the customers.»
"Speaking of Emma Rose, and our new champion, Nessa Wall, I found out that neither one was able to make the trip to weekend's Climax Control. Aww, well, that’s too bad. I bet they’re probably kicking themselves right now knowing that they could be enjoying the surf, sun, and sand here in Aruba instead of the cold, artic, tundra of Canada. But, hey, you have to do what you have to do, right? ACW, from what I found out on the internet – still debating on whether everything I read there should be taken at face value –is having a tour of their own throughout all of Canada. Yeah, that sounds like fun, alright. Not knocking on them or anything, but it has to be said: Emma and Nessa can do so much better. I mean, they could face Alexis Morrison and Traci Patterson any old time. They should be enjoying themselves, but what do I know?"
«Mercedes shrugs, adding a condescending smirk.»
"I’m just Mercedes Vargas."
«Mercedes shields her eyes from the glaring sun as she steps out from under the pavilion.»
"Now, I realize that Necra Kane has a mixed tag match teaming with Brother Grimm against Spike Staggs and the ACW Women’s Champion herself, Vixen, which does sound like a great match and everything, and I won’t question why it’s before the main event. All I will say is good luck to Necra. And I mean that, I do. No sarcasm here, all genuine.
“And then there’s my match against the one and only Jessie Salco. (throws up the horns) I think it’s fair to say that Jessica – Wait, can I call her Jessica? Because, you know, some people don’t like it when they’re called by the long version of their names – and I have never been in a one-on-one match before, and you know how I feel about these one-on-one encounters. I've been on pins and needles all day, waiting for our match, and we're not too far off. SCW's own Heavy Metal Bombshell versus the Argentine Assassin, opening the show, getting the crowd hyped up for a full night of action..."
«Mercedes begins to trail off, but then cuts herself off suddenly. Her expression is a perplexing one.»
"What, you aren't buying this? Fair enough. The truth is, for some reason this match doesn’t get my heart pumping, Jessie. I don’t know why, maybe you can figure it out. Hey, you did pretty well for yourself at Summer XXXtreme, you held on to the very end, but unfortunately, like everyone else, you came up short. I didn’t think I did too badly, people thought I was going to be the first one out, although something tells me when SCW management finally get a highlight reel, there’s a good chance this match will be set to music.
“I’m thinking the Benny Hill theme song and Chariots of Fire for the eliminations in slow-mo.”
«Not more then five yards away, a volleyball game is being played between two teams of five, guys vs girls. After a pause in play one of the female players gestures if she wanted to join, to which Mercedes responds with a later gesture.»
"What you should really get out of this, is that I’m still undefeated. I mean, there’s only so much you can prove to the world in a paddle on a pole or what was essentially a glorified pool party match. And the mixed tag with Kain against Necra and Max Burke, well, technically, I didn't really lose because I wasn’t pinned, so, yeah, undefeated still. Now, I’m not going to tell you why I’m going to beat you, I think we both know the outcome, but you’re welcome to try and end my streak. You’ll fail miserably, of course, but at least I’ll make you feel better about it.
"I guess I could be just another one of your run-of-the-mill opponents who dig up your past and throw it right back in your face, but I’m not going to do that. Not because I can’t do it or that I won’t do it, but that I respect you as an opponent. And honestly, what you’ve done in the past isn’t going to matter when we step in between those ropes. It’s great that your brother tags along with you and keeps you in line, so I hope he accompanies you to the ring because I want to see the look on his face when you are defeated.”
«Tossing off her sandals, Mercedes slings them across her shoulders. The dry, soft sand felt hot, almost as if she was walking on coals, as it slips up on her feet and even gets between her toes.»
"You know, people tend to think they know me. Some say that I’m nothing but hype. Others say that my title reigns and accomplishments were just figments of my imagination. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they went as far as to say that I got to where I am today by sleeping my way to the top or sucking up to the right people, or just being at the right at the right time. Well, it’s none of the above, I’ll say that much. I’ve practically started from the bottom, climbing the ladder, rung by rung, until I was able to reach the top of the ladder. Nothing was handed to me, nothing was given to me. I earned it. I took the ball and ran with it. And that is why I’m here. That is why I have achieved success in my career. That is why I’m listed in the top rankings of the best female wrestlers year after year. That is why, Jessie Salco, why I just can’t lose to you. Can you imagine the bad image that would send? Can you imagine how embarrassed I would be if that happened? I'll never hear the end of it!”
«More often that not, matches such as these came under three categories: She didn't want to win this match, she didn't need to win this match. She was supposed to win this match, anything short of that would be failure. Mercedes stops and looks down, smiling and shaking her head at the same time. When she looked up again, she let out a sigh. It was time to put the finishing touches to her opponent.»
"I've defeated three people in one night, I've defeated former Bombshell Roulette and Tag Team Champions. Why? Because unlike you I don't make promises, I fulfill them. I don't make guarantees, they usually come with a warranty. And in a matter of forty-eight hours, Jessie, your words become null and void. A guarantee is only as good as the guarantor, and from where I'm standing, you're not THAT good, just pretty good. The only thing you've been guaranteeing lately is looking up at the arena lights, and I'm afraid that's going to continue. I’m sorry, Jessie. I know you mean well, and you want to get back in the Bombshell Championship title hunt, and I don’t blame you, it’s a pretty long list right now, so I guess the loser of this match – which, again, won’t be me – will have to take their number and get in line.”
«Perhaps in her best attempt at looking solemn, she pouts her lips all the while offering the camera a forlorn expression. Mercedes looks off back where the volleyball game has finished. She turns back to the camera for her last few words.»
"I just want to remind you, and I'll let you off with these words. In life, you’re only guaranteed three things: (she raising a finger at each point) death, taxes, and, oh yeah, my hand being raised in victory and looking down at you in certain defeat.”
"No guarantees necessary."
«And with that, our scene fades on Mercedes running off, but not before offering a parting wave and we fade to black.»
