As Marshall paced back and forth, the sounds of a woman yelling emanated from the cell phone plastered to his ear. As he tried to interject, the yelling only got louder, prompting him to move the phone farther from his person. If anyone had to guess, it was Vanessa delivering the verbal tirade, obviously upset at Marshall for not stoping Sean from agreeing to the title rematch against Drake Green.
Marshall: You don't think I tried? You know how he gets when...
voice: Fix it Marshall, and I mean fix it now. I don't care what you've got to do, but Drake Green had better not make it to Climax Control 100.
Marshall: But...
*click*
Marshall's eyes close as his head lowers ever so slightly. While he takes a deep breath, Vanessa walks into the picture, a look of concern covering her face.
Vanessa: I take it she isn't happy?
As Marshall turns to face her, his facial expression doesn't change. He is completely concerned with the conversation over the phone and for good reason, Sean Jackson was now scheduled to give a rematch to the ever dangerous Drake Green. A Drake Green who could legitimately end Sean's title reign after two short weeks....
Two small, insignificant, weeks.
Which would be a major embarrassment for the Sean Jackson camp.
*dun, dun*
After the Law and Order jingle ends, a date and location pops up on the screen.
November 23rd
Laughlin, Nevada
UAW Hall
The screen goes dark for a brief moment before coming back to life with Marshall Owens walking along a thin corridor. During the Cynthia Warren and Mikah match, the unknown female on the phone put a fear of God into Marshall Owens that had never been seen before, prompting everyone to wonder who the mysterious woman was....
Especially considering that Marshall was now taking orders from her without question.
He completely ignored the roar of the crowd as the diva match was drawing to a close. To him, it didn't really matter who won or lost, just that he had marching orders to eliminate a threat, which would be as tall as the Jacksonville Jags winning the super bowl. There wasn't a single diva on the roster that Marshall could beat, so how in the hell was he supposed to keep Drake from the title rematch next sunday night?
Marshall: She's crazy, she's bat retarded crazy. Just how in the hell am I supposed to...
As Marshall rounds the corner, he bumps into one of the male ring crew workers coming from the other direction. The collision catches Marshall completely off guard as he loses his balance and begins to fall backwards. However, the ring worker instinctively reaches out to catch Marshall by the arm, preventing him from falling to the floor. Once steadied, Marshall's face is filled with embarrassment as a man who wasn't even Drake's size and weight almost put him to the floor.
worker: Whoa, lucky I caught you my man. You almost ate some concrete.
As the worker shows geniune concern, Marshall can't get over the mishap, can't get over the rough start of the night, can't get over the butt chewing from earlier. Slowly he backs away, not even thanking the man, and continues down the hallway.
Marshall: She had no business yelling at me like that. I didn't tell him to go out there and make an ass of himself in front of everyone, and I sure as hell didn't sign up to be a punching bag for Drake Green.
The concern in his voice was well warranted. Drake Green held the SCW heavyweight championship for longer than anyone had ever expected, dispatching everyone placed in front of him. As far as Marshall was concerned, Drake was one of the best wrestlers in the world today and the mere fact that it took Sean Jackson multiple times to finally beat him, spoke volumes....
Spoke volumes indeed.
Marshall: Just how in the hell am I supposed to keep Drake from the 100th episode of Climax Control?
As Marshall struggled with a game plan, his client Sean Jackson sat alone in the dressing room, his head resting in his hands. What started out as a segment to rub a lost title into the face of Drake Green, ended up being a mistake of epic proportions. How could the master of the mind games himself, allow a fraud like Drake Green to manipulate his way back into a title match?
Unable to find an answer, he takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, his face rising to look at the ceiling.
Jackson: I should have seen this coming, I should have just stayed my ass in here. But no, I just had to rub it in Drake's face. I just...
Standing in a rage, Sean grabs the chair and launches it into the wall, causing a dent. Not satisfied, he picks up the chair and begins to ram it repeatedly into the wall, causing deeper dents to form. From outside, in the hallway, it sounds like shotgun blasts going off. The sheer vibration from the violent collisions causes his hands to tingle....
Which also catches the attention of an SCW security official. Concerned, he opens the door to see Sean in full temper tantrum mode. However, before he has a chance to say anything, he's forced to jump back out, just in time to prevent a chair from hitting him in the head. As the door slams shut, the chair bounces off and he hears Sean screaming at the top of his lungs.
Jackson: AND STAY OUT!!!
Lucky to be alive, the security official checks and then rechecks to make sure he's still in one piece. Meanwhile the sound of things breaking continues on the other side of the door, prompting him to simply walk away and avoid any further confrontations.
November 26th
Dallas, Texas.
I gave you simple instructions Marshall. You weren't to let him out of your sight for one second, not even for one second. But no, you couldn't even do that right. Imagine my surprise, watching Sean make his way out to the ring, and neither you or Vanessa was with him....
The scene comes to life with Marshall Owens seated in front of an intercom system, a woman's disappointed voice echoing from it. Inside of a conference room, he doesn't say a word. Yes, the vocal mouthpiece of Sean Jackson had finally been held voiceless, not daring to say a word as this mysterious woman held him responsible for the disaster at Climax Control 99.
Imagine my shock when Drake Green came out, and you STILL were nowhere to be found. Answer a question for me Marshall, exactly what am I paying you for?
Marshall struggles to come up with an answer. He struggles because he knows that no answer would be good enough, so he just sits there silently.
Does this mean I pay you to do nothing Marshall? because if that's the case, then I can just fire you right n...
Marshall: Okay, okay. We screwed up, but it wasn't anything on our part. We didn't know that Sean was going to...
Give me a break Marshall, you knew damn good and well what he was going to do. He's done that very same song and dance in every company that he's ever been a part of, and the mere fact that YOU let it happen with Drake Green is unacceptable.
Marshall: Come on now, we turn our backs for a split second and this becomes our fault? look, I'll do what I can. But there's no way to prevent Drake Green from appearing at the 100th episode of Climax Control. He's one of the...
I don't want to hear excuses Marshall, just results. If Drake takes that title belt from Sean this Sunday, there will be hell to pay, and it will be coming from your ass.
Marshall: What do you want me to do?
You'll figure it out Marshall. Because if you don't, and Drake regains the SCW heavyweight title. Well, let's just say that it won't be a very good new year for the Owens family.
Marshall: I'll figure something out.
You do that Marshall, you do that.
As the intercom goes silent, the door to the conference room opens and in steps the SCW heavyweight champion along with his Vietnamese second Vanessa. Completely oblivious to everything, Sean enters the room as Marshall puts on a fake smile.
Marshall: Hey champ.
Taking a seat next to his attorney, Sean kicks his feet up and places them on the desk, his right foot mere inches away from the intercom.
Jackson: Imagine the nerve of that son of a bitch. Coming out and interrupting me as I was celebrating the beginning of the Sean Jackson era...
Sean looks over his shoulder at Vanessa, who manages a fake smile. She too is concerned about the new player in the equation, a new player that Sean has no knowledge of.
Jackson: The Sean Jackson era, it has a nice ring doesn't it?
As Vanessa nods her head, she shoots a look towards Marshall, who in turn attempts to set a game plan in motion.
Marshall: You know Sean, I've got a great idea for the 100th episode of Climax Control. How about we do this. As soon as Drake gets to the ring and the bell rings, you simply slide out of it, and we leave. Drake wins a shallow victory and you retain the title. It will b...
Jackson: Whoa, whoa, whoa. I don't plan on giving Drake a damn thing. He had the audacity to punk me out in front of that Laughlin, Nevada trash and now I'm going to make him pay for it.
Marshall: Yeah I know, but can you imagine how pissed off Drake will be when you royally screw him out of his rematch?
Jackson: Are you kidding me Marshall? no, I'm going to take that bastard just like I did at High Stakes IV."
Marshall could feel his heart sinking. If only Sean knew the consequences of stepping into the ring, of how it would affect the entire wrestling landscape. Of how it would affect him and his family if Sean happened to lose.
Marshall: Oh, no doubt Sean. You beat him at High Stakes and at Climax Control 100, you'll do it again. But just think of the shockwaves if you screw Drake out of his rematch? He will win, but he'll have to go back to...
Jackson: What is it Marshall?
As the question echoes in his ears, there isn't a ready made answer. However, it doesn't stop him from frantically searching for something, for anything to change the direction. In doing so, Marshall stammers over himself, still searching...
Marshall: Well uh, there's uh, I uh, don't know what you're...
Jackson: What is it Marshall?
As Marshall takes in a deep breath, his hands begin to shake.
Marshall: I just think that we should give him...
Jackson: Forget it Marshall, I'm not giving Drake a damn thing. He made the mistake of interrupting me and now, he's going to pay for it.
Feeling himself getting upset, Sean decides that it's a good thing to walk away before more furniture gets broken. After kicking back from the desk, he wastes no time in reaching the door and opening it. But before walking out, he turns back and faces Marshall.
Jackson: Do I make myself clear?
Not saying a word, Marshall merely nods as Vanessa too makes her way across the room. As they both exit and the door closes behind them, Marshall turns his eyes back towards the intercom.
Marshall: She's not going to like this. She's not going to like it one bit.
Fade.
