Prologue:
Jack was now preparing to try and regain the SCW world championship. It meant the world to him, so much so that without it, he seemed to slip into a depression like state, and it took Brian to get him out of that funk. With renewed vigor, Jack was able to rebound from the loss and start 2021 with a win over Brother David Shepard. He looked to keep the momentum rolling, as he looked forward to winning the championship back from Kris Ryans, however, the match which was originally slated to be one on one was changed to a two-fall triple threat match. It certainly did not please Jack at the outset of the match, this sudden change of adding O’Malley to the mix complicated many things. Jack now had to focus on two people instead of one.
But while this was another obstacle, it was, in a sense, a good thing. Now Jack would not have to worry about O’Malley interfering, he had him in the match right from the start. And that was more to Jack’s benefit, while dealing with one wrestler was more than enough, not having to worry about someone running down and getting involved was a great thing for Jack. Now, he could kill two birds with one stone. And now, more motivated and possibly dangerous than ever, Jack would be even more determined to get the SCW world championship back, a championship he wanted more than anything in the world. He knew he would have his work cut out for him, Kris and O’Malley were not slouches, but with her renewed vigor, Jack felt confident going into the match. He knew he had to train just like he had before, before he won the championship, he knew he would have to say things that were absurd, outlandish and outright cruel at times, but he knew he had to get under his opponents' skin before he could finish the job at Inception.
Outside the ring, while Jack recovered, things were indeed going smoothly as the Casino approached it’s grand opening. Jack of course would be in attendance for such an event, and having put Benny in charge, worked out in his favor. Of course, he would have to deal with Ana Sofia at some point down the road, considering what they knew, and what he knew that they knew. But Jack also knew that as long as they were happy they wouldn’t make a move, and all of that, would be coming up very shortly. Jack was trying to balance a lot of things on his shoulders, because in his own mind, he couldn’t trust anybody to really have his best interests in mind. This was all on him.
Not to mention what Jessica had told him and the mysterious piece of paper in his possession. What is said, only Jack knew. But would Jack actually rat out the Mexicans in order to save his own life, or would he live by the street code and not go out in his own mind, as a snitch?
Things were certainly getting interesting for Jack inside and outside the ring. --
Washington Estate
Las Vegas, NV.
Jack emerged from the shower; the towel wrapped around his waist. He carefully checks himself out in the mirror and lathers his face to shave. When he is finished, he wipes his face with another towel and heads into the bedroom, looking at the freshly pressed suit he laid out for himself. He nods and dresses in his suit, then heading back into the bathroom to tie his tie, going full windsor knot. He smirks to himself, once again checks his face, a little vanity on display. He puts on his suit jacket and slips his feet into his wingtips. He adjusts his jacket, and then puts on his nice watch and grabs his wallet and keys, placing them inside the jacket as he heads into the kitchen. Brian is seated at the table, and he is clearly not a morning person. He sips on a cup of coffee, his unshaven look and bathrobe, looking like a dad out of an ‘8o’s movie. Brian casually glances in Jack’s direction, not really paying him any mind as he begins to read the newspaper.
Jack on the other hand looks into the fridge and pulls out some orange juice and grabs a bagel from the counter. He sits down across from Brian and begins to eat and Brian reads the paper. There is a long period of silence as each man does his own thing, until Brian checks his watch and looks over at Jack, who is checking his phone.
Brian: What time is he supposed to be here?
Jack: He’s not, I’m taking the car.
Brian at first says nothing further, reading the paper until he looks back at Jack again.
Brian: Aren’t you going to be late?
Jack: No. I’m fine. I’ve got plenty of time. We can delay this if we need to, really.
Brian shook his head as Jack never once actually looked up from his phone. Jack eventually stood up, and patted himself down, looking around as if he lost something. Brian looks at Jack for a moment and then points in the general direction of the living room.
Brian: Under the yellow pillow.
Jack snaps his fingers and points at Brian, both men know exactly what the other was going for. Jack walks into the living room and sure enough, under the yellow throw pillow is Jack’s handgun. Jack places it in his suit jacket pocket and returns to the table to finish his food. Brian continues to read the sports section and glances again at Jack.
Brian: Lookie here, they’re promoting your championship match. Got your picture in the paper and everything.
Jack: Yeah, that will happen when you going for the world title.
Brian: You gonna win?
Jack: I plan on it. Why?
Brian: Well, I mean, they changed it here, it’s two fall match, against two people.
Jack: I’m aware of that. I’m in the match, I know what I’m up against. It won’t be easy, never said it would be, but they got my god damn belt, Brian.
Brian: Yeah, well, that one guy does, so what are you going to do to get it back?
Jack: Anything I have to do.
Brian: I see, well, I guess that makes sense. You do what you have to do then.
Jack nods and finishes his bagel, and downs the glass of orange juice.
Jack: We have a different problem though.
Brian peers over the newspaper and let’s it flop to the table. He takes a sip of his coffee before speaking.
Brian: And what’s that?
Jack: Do you remember when Ana Sofia asked me to do a favor for them?
Brian: No. Why? Did you? You went and fucked it up, didn’t you?
Jack shakes his head, and sighs.
Jack: No entirely.
Brian: Shit. Come on Stick. Why are you even out there doing things for them anyway? It’s supposed to be business! You can’t be jeaopardizing everything whenever they fucking call you, what are you, a dog?
Jack: Look, I didn’t know, okay?! I didn’t know what it was really about. They told me to go and get rid of a car. Probably something they used and it got flagged as hot. I was just trying to earn their trust.
Brian takes another drink of his coffee, his mood is ruined, clearly. He faceplams for a second and then looks up, gathering his thoughts.
Brian: So, what happened?
Jack: I took the car, and I burned it. Just like they asked me too. That wasn’t the problem.
Brian: Okay, so what was the problem.
Jack: They had a girl in the trunk.
Brian: Well, shit Jack. You trying to tell me you got a body on your record now? What the fuck did you do that for? Do you realize how much SHIT you can get into with this? This ain’t Philly, we can’t just erase shit off you anymore! The fuck! You really screwed this shit up!
Jack: Relax! Relax, I found her before we got rid of the car.
Brian still shakes his head, still upset at Jack.
Brian: And then what happened genuis?
Jack: I... I let her go.
Brian: Great, now you’ve got a witness too. Jesus you’re fucking batting a thousand, ain’t ‘cha? She see your face too? You got cop trouble now?
Jack shrugs.
Jack: Look man, I didn’t know her from anyone. She could have been anybody, I didn’t know. What was I supposed to do? I needed that business, Brian, WE needed that business.
Brian: No, you’re so fucking obsessed with money that you took it without understand what you were getting into. I tried to tell you that it was dangerous game to play, and you played anyway. And you have fucked it up beyond anything. This is why my brother, your father, only gave you shit you could handle!
Jack: I didn’t fucking know, okay! I let her go, and I figured, she’d be smart enough to walk away and never come back.
Brian: And?
Jack: Well, at the house party, I got a visit.
Brian: You what? A visit from who?
Jack: … Jessica.
Brian stands up out of his chair, even more pissed.
Brian: The fucking detective? Why the fuck are the cops showing up here from Philly, Stick? What the fuck did you get yourself into?
Jack: They know the girl isn’t dead. The cops, the Mexicans, they both know.
Brian: Well shit. You gotta cut ties, Stick. It’s as simple as that.
Jack: And then what?
Brian: Then you keep your fucking head down and pray they don’t come after you.
Jack turns away, sighing heavily and rubbing his head.
Jack: I can’t go out like that, Brian. I can’t. Jessica gave me an option.
Brian: Yeah? So?
Jack: I can’t do what she thinks I should do. It’s not how we work when we’re in this life, you know that.
Brian: So, you want to go out like a gangster? Is that is? You wanna go out like them? Because there’s two ways that happens. In prison, or in the ground. Now you have a real shot to do something better than my brother. You got a shot, Stick, you have to break this shit off.
Jack leans on the kitchen counter, his head lowered as he closes his eyes, trying to figure out what to do. He checks his watch and sighs.
Jack: I have to go. I’ll be back, we’ll have to figure something out.
Brian: WE? No, YOU. Because I ain’t part of that. Neither is Benny for fuck’s sake. This is a YOU problem Stick, and you need to figure it out.
Jack: Fine! Fine! Fuck! Fine!
Jack finally stormed out of the front door, briskly walking to his new car. He stopped and began to look around. With eyes wandering and looking for the slightest hint of anyone near him. When he is satisfied, and after he checks the car itself, kicking the tires, checking under the hood, in the backseat, anywhere a conceivable threat could come from, and not finding anything. Jack got into his car, windows nearly illegally tinted, and drives off.
--
Grand Flamingo Plaza
Las Vegas, NV.
Jack arrived well before the 11am press confrence and headed inside the casino itself, now done up nicely, with construction finally finished, and the place furnished. Jack was impressed, he had been spending less time at the Casino, and therefore didn’t really see what it looked like. It was lit up like a Christmas tree. Despite his current situation, Jack smiled at his surroundings and then headed up to the manager’s office, where Benny was waiting. A big, hearty smile on his face as he leaned back in Jack’s chair with his feet up, and puffed on a cigar of his own.
Benny: Jack! My boy! How you doing?
Jack: Good Benny, comfy?
Benny chuckled as he looked at Jack.
Benny: Breaking my balls already, and we’re just opening today. Jesus with this kid.
In the office, Benny had surrounded himself with security. Each man over 6 foot tall and burly. Some fatter, some skinnier. But the point was, all of them were huge. They laughed at his attempt at humor and Jack looked around the room at each of them.
Jack: You must all be security. Hope this place is all neat and tidy these days, yeah?
Benny: Of course, Kid, I told you I’d take care of it.
Jack: And yet, none of these guys know who I am, do they?
Benny sighed and rolled his eyes, at Jack, he didn’t really want to go down this road, but Jack was going to do this, whether he wanted him to or not.
Benny: Boys, this is Jack.
Jack: No, to all of you, I am Mr. Washington. I own this casino, and it’s coming out of my money, that you are getting paid. Don’t let this old prick tell you differently. Because he runs the day-to-day operations, but if we have an issue, or something comes up, I need to be notified. Just so we understand each other. Benny was in charge of hiring you, I’m well aware of that fact. But understand who really owns this place. We clear on that, fellas?
The big men all nod and murmur in agreement and Jack nods back, with a grin and a knock on the table.
Jack: Good good. Now, Benny, my friend, I’d like to take one last look at the Casino being all fresh and new, I’m very eager to see what new and great things you’ve done with the place while I’ve been busy, and seeing what you can do.
Benny leaned forward, the smile gone from his face, as he knew what Jack was doing, and he didn’t like it. Benny slowly stood up and motioned to the security team.
Benny: Boys, let’s make sure that this place is up to the standard, you head out, Mr. Washington and I will join you shortly.
The team leader nods, and the rest of the security team depart, leaving Jack and Benny alone. Benny heads over to the now full-sized fridge, which is full of alcohol, a private stock for the owners. He pours himself a drink, and readies another glass.
Benny: Drink, kid?
Jack: No. Thank you.
Benny: Suit yourself.
Benny throws back his drink and the satisfied exhale escapes him.
Benny: You know that wasn’t funny, kid.
Jack: What’s that Benny?
Benny: Breaking my balls like that, in front of my boys. You don’t have to do that, I thought we was partners.
Jack: We are, Benny. But I see you sitting on that chair and at that desk with your feet up, and I’m thinking that maybe you are starting to get a big head.
Benny: Big head? Fuck you. I’m putting this together.
Jack: That’s right, you are. And do you know WHY, you are putting it together, Benny? Because of me.
Benny looked down at the ground, mumbling under his breath.
Jack: Look Benny, I’m not trying to take over after you’ve done the work, that’s not what I’m about. I owe you a lot for putting this together and making it look all pretty and getting those tourists to get all happy about a brand-new place here. I know you worked hard and hired the right people, that’s all well and good, but I just needed to make sure you weren’t in over your head.
Benny: You’re funny. A funny kid, you know that?
Jack: I’ve been told once or twice.
Benny: Look kid, I put a lot of time and effort into this place, you trusted me to do that for you, right? Well, I did. I got this place up and running just like you asked me to. Now, I just want a little respect, that’s all.
Jack: You’re in charge Benny. I’m not going to go back on that. That’s the deal we made. I trusted you, now you need to trust me.
Benny: I do kid, I do. Let’s just let that little mess behind us, yeah? You’re going to love how this new place looks.
Benny pours himself another shot.
Benny: You sure you don’t want one?
Jack: Actually, yeah, let’s have one.
Benny smiles and chuckles as he pours another drink in another glass and hands it to Jack. They toast.
Benny: To business?
Jack: To business.
The two men down their drinks and Benny puts the glasses away.
Benny: Let’s have a look at our baby.
Benny leads Jack to the large window overlooking the casino. Once again, all the neon and flashing signs inside are lit up and look amazing, despite the fact there is no one inside the casino aside from staff and faculty.
Benny: It was a lot of construction to turn an office building into a casino, I tell you that. But, we got it done. We’ve got everything we need. Come on, I’ll show you.
Benny leads Jack out of the office and they get a security escort to the ground floor of the casino.
Benny: We’ve got everything we need. We got the slot machines, and the tables all set up. All of it is right in the front, really get their attention. That’s how you draw them in.
Jack takes notice of a few older men in suits, who don’t seem to doing anything in particular, so they stand out.
Jack: Who are they?
Benny: Watcher’s, Jack.
Jack: Watchers?
Benny: Of course, you need watchers. They make sure there’s no funny business going on at the tables or the machines. You always need these guys because the moment you don’t have them, the place gets cleaned out by cheaters. And trust me, the house needs to win, and it needs to win big.
Jack: I see.
Jack and Benny continue the tour heading towards the card tables.
Benny: We’ve got it all right here, we’ve got blackjack, we got poker, hell, we can even have some betting going on at these tables, that’s how it’s set up. Everything for the man, or woman, who’s feeling lucky, and ready to risk it all.
Jack: Are there any things in place to prevent us for someone getting super lucky here?
Benny: That’s what the watcher’s do, Jack. Look, the slot machines, they’re small time. People win a few hundred bucks, then so what? They go home happy, but they probably spend around a thousand just to win that hundred bucks. At the tables, that’s a different story. We need people watching because the guy three tables over is helping the guy at this table, and then we have a problem. I’ve got us covered, Jack. I promise.
Jack: Good to know.
Benny: Let’s get moving.
Benny and Jack continue to walk, heading to the inside restaurant.
Benny: You’ll like this, we’ll call it “Jack’s” since you’re the figure head, I figured we’d put your name on it.
Jack: Look at you, what a guy.
The group head into the kitchen area, but the staff present cooking some food, and others are still bringing it in.
Jack: Everything all set?
Benny: Of course, it is. These are world class chefs. We’re only getting top of the line food and preparing it. You know that’s a might inviting smell coming from over here. We’ve got this place to hold them over, but we’ve got the bar in the middle, and several drink stands and vendors.
Jack: What about food in the casino itself?
Benny: We’ll have some people walking around, maybe put a smaller place in with some uh... stadium food or something. But we’re going to make “Jack’s” the top of the line.
Jack: I appreciate that, Benny.
Benny: Alright, so, I guess, all we got left is the count room.
Jack: Sounds fun.
Benny leads Jack to a door, which reads “Authorized personnel only” on it.
Benny: And here it is.
Jack: So? Let’s go in.
Benny: Sorry Jack, only the people who handle the money are allowed inside. Hell, I’m not even allowed in there. It’s all the people counting the money. We’ve got our guys in there, making sure we get the money we have coming to us. I’m not allowed, and neither are you, even though you’re the owner. They only let the people in, who need to be let in. That way, those people can do their jobs, counting our money.
Jack: And they’re on the up and up?
Benny chuckles.
Benny: Yeah, Jack, they’ve been doing this type of stuff for a long time. I’m only hiring the best. If that’s what it takes, that’s what I’ll do. You know me. The people inside will make sure you get your money, and a few dollars here and there will go to the right people, so nobody checks further into this. We’ve got the commisioner’s family here, so as long as he’s here, and he’s happy, and the money keep pumping out of the casino into the town, so it can cycle back through.... we’re fucking golden, Jack.
Jack smirks and nods his head. He then checks his watch.
Jack: Well, I think it’s time we meet our public.
Benny: Is it?
Benny checks his watch to confirm this.
Benny: So it is. Let’s go.
Benny and Jack start walking to the casino entrance.
Benny: What do you think?
Jack: I think you’ve done well.
Benny: I knew there was a reason I liked you, kid.
Jack: I have my moments, but let’s make sure we get this rolling the right way.
Benny: Absolutely.
Benny and Jack head out the door and outside, there is mass gathering of reporters and the public. There’s a large red ribbon and novelty sized scissors as Jack takes the podium, and Benny stands off to the side.
Jack: Good morning everyone, I thank you all for coming out again. I know when we last spoke that we made a promise to all of you to keep this Casino up to the top-of-the-line standards, and to provide a whole new place to come and enjoy during a visit or a venture into Las Vegas. I’m confident with the location being a plus, the parking being a plus, and the accessibility and features, we can have the Grand Flamingo Casino, not plaza, but casino, providing top of the line entertainment for you. I was just inside taking a tour, and trust me, I was ready to lose a few bucks in there myself.
Some laughter from the crowd.
Jack: But from everything I have seen, and everything I have been told, I am more than happy and more than proud to be an official spokesperson for the Grand Flamingo Casino.
Applause.
Jack: Now, let’s not have these good folks waiting too long, so, I’m going to turn it over to Benny, who will conclude this little formality, and we’ll get to the good stuff. Benny?
Applause again as Jack steps aside from the podium and Benny steps up.
Benny: Thank you, thank you. It gives me great pleasure to be part of this event today. We are ready to open this casino to the public, and offer a variety of food, drink, and entertainment. I hear the David Cooperfield is still in town, but no word on if we can get him full time so, we may not have EVERYTHING, but I know that we have plenty of entertainment, at a great location off the strip, away from the craziness and cramping down there, and we will give you everything you can get there, right here at the Grand Flamingo!
More applause.
Benny: I’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Yes?
Reporter: Hello, April Turco, KLAS news 8, what precautious have you taken in this COVID-19 world?
Benny: We have installed barriers between all the slot machines, we have barriers at the tables between seats and the between the dealers and the patrons. We have cleaning crew that sanitizes constantly, and our Air conditioning in the building turns over 12 times an hour. We have followed all CDC guidelines in preparation for our opening, we’ve been cleared by all health officials, so we’re 100% in accordance with all the rules and regulations, yes.
Reporter #2: Matt O’Niel, KNTV. Do you feel this will be able to take a big enough slice of the gamblers market to really offset the strip?
Benny: That’s not our intention. Our intention is an alternative to what is currently out there. Our location is our greatest asset. We are away from the congestion so, if you just want to get away and come to a place more convenient? We're here. Alright, let’s not wait any longer, we’ve got patrons waiting to get in, so let’s not keep them.
Jack: Alright.
Benny and Jack grab the novelty size scissors, and prepare to cut the ribbon.
Benny: I hearby declare the Grand Flamingo Casino...
Jack: Open for business!
The two men cut the ribbon to applause, and hug one another. Benny returns to the podium.
Benny: And our doors, are open!
There is a rather large group of gamblers that hit the doors to be allowed in. Benny and Jack watch them all walk in, and then a short time afterward, the re-enter the manager’s office and peer down at the pretty good sized number of people inside and gambling.
Benny: Makes you feel good, doesn’t it?
Jack: Actually, yes, it does. I really am proud of this moment.
Benny: You should be kid, we worked long and hard to get to this point, even if it was a little rough at times.
Jack: Yeah, moves had to be made, Benny, you know that it’s business.
Benny: Yeah, it is, but you know, I gotta say, it feels pretty good to be working on the same side as opposed to how it started.
Jack: It does, Benny. I’m glad we could make this thing work.
Benny chuckles to himself.
Benny: You know, Sonny’s gonna be pissed.
Jack: Why? He’s got all the traffic on the strip. He shouldn’t be worried about us for some little rinky dink place like this. Just seems kind dumb to get pissed over it.
Benny: Nah, kid, he’s gonna be mad. Anytime anyone moves in on what you do, or shuts you down out of jealousy, you take it personal.
Jack: You think he’ll do anything?
Benny: Not right away. He’ll wait for us to fail on our own. And if we do, then we do, but if we can take just a little slice, that makes it all worth it.
Jack: I thought we weren’t taking slices?
Benny: All’s fair in love and business kid.
Jack: Is it?
Benny: Well, for the most part, of course.
Jack: Until someone brings it down...
Benny sighs.
Benny: Look, I know a lot of people hold it against you for what your old man did, but I don’t. This is a good opportunity. Let’s not waste a good thing like he did.
Jack: Yeah..
--
SCI Forest State Penitentiary
Marienville, PA
5 years ago. Jack is slightly younger. Aged 18, and walks the halls of the prison. However, he is not an inmate, but rather a visitor. He walks down the long white hallways of the prison, a name tag stuck to his hoodie. He was lead to the phone room where he sat quietly, the wall and glass barrier showing nothing on the other side. Then the door on the other side opens, and an middle aged man is led in with handcuffs and shackles. The inmate number 104 is clearly visible on his jumpsuit. He is uncuffed and looks happy to see Jack, who seems indifferent. The man sits down, and picks up the phone. Jack is hesitant at first, but does pick up the phone.
Jack: Dad.
Ethan: Hey.
Jack: How you holding up?
Ethan: About as well as I can. How you doing? How’s your mom?
Jack: She’s moving. She knows you’re not getting out, and she knows that sooner or later they’re going to kill her if she doesn’t.
Ethan groans
Ethan: Shit. Look Jack, I never wanted this for you, or her, or your brother.
Jack: Seems like he was the smart one and went in the Army.
Ethan: I’m sorry, I brought a world of shit down on you and you’ll probably hate me for the rest of your life for what happened, but it wasn’t what I wanted to happen, Jack. You have to understand that.
Jack: I don’t, dad. I really don’t. You always told me that you don’t rat out your friends, and you fucking did. How? Why?
Ethan: Because it was MY deal. My deal. I was the one in charge, Jack. I was the one who ran things, and even from in here, I could run things, and you know what they did? They took the guy that made them what they are, and they turn their backs on me. They cut me OUT. ME!
Jack: You’re not getting out dad. I know that and you know that.
Ethan: Well, you play with fire, you get burned.
Jack: But you burned it down for everyone else.
Ethan: That’s how this job works sometimes, Jack. If you can’t all play together and play nice, then nobody gets to play.
Jack: Yeah, well, thanks for that. They’re waiting for me now. I can’t get a job anywhere, because they know I’m your son. They know that and they won’t let me do shit! Do you know how fucked this situation is right now?
Ethan: Yeah, kid, I do. I fucked up. I know that, but it was my castle, and I ruled it. That’s the rule Jack, if you remember nothing else from me until the day I die, when you are the head of something, you need to be the head, don’t let anybody take the lead from you. You run the show, then run the show. If you can’t... always have a way out.
Jack says nothing for a moment, letting his father’s words wash over him.
Ethan: Loyalty is strong, I taught you that. It’s fucking important, and they see me as disloyal now, and by proxy, you must be disloyal too. Well, I guess we’re all disloyal in this game. You can’t trust anybody to really have your back when it counts.
Jack: Even my own dad, I guess.
Ethan: … Shit.
Jack: You sold out everyone to break up something that was fine, dad. You know that.
Ethan: Can you understand revenge, son?
Jack: Of course.
Ethan: That’s what it was about. Revenge. Payback. They cut me out so, I did what I did. I don’t feel fucking good about. I don’t feel I deserve anything over it. I felt it was something that had to be done.
Jack: And now?
Ethan: Now... those times are over. Everybody has to move on.
Jack: I can’t, dad. I can’t move on.
Ethan: Look, Jack, with the last bit of power I had, before all this went down, I told them not to touch you. I told Larry, and Jessica, and Mike to look out for you, protect you.
Jack frowns, the disappointment etched all over his face.
Jack: I don’t have anything, dad. I don’t have access to any money, the shit’s frozen until Larry can figure something out. I already told you I can’t find work. I got kicked out of the gym and lost all access to any place I wanna go. And now you want me to run to the cops? I ain’t doing that, dad. It’s not what we’re supposed to do!
Ethan: You’re right. I’m well aware of what we’re supposed to do. But you know what? Sometimes we have to do things differently. Look, talk to Jessica, and ask her about Rico. Rico can help you.
Jack: Who the fuck is Rico?
Ethan: Rico is an old friend of mine. He’s always been loyal. He’s loyal to Jessica. He can get you out of here, and somewhere where they aren’t ever going to come looking for you. I tried, Jack. I really did. Rico and Jessica can get you out of here before it all comes down on you. That way, after I’m gone... they’ll forget about you. Let you start over.
Jack: Start over doing what?
Ethan: Something other than this. I was wrong to bring you into this, Jack. I thought it would last forever. I was wrong. So, with all I got left, I’m getting you out of it. That’s my last promise to you, Jack.
Jack looked at his father, still angry, and filled with a lot of emotion. He does not say anything else, he simply stands up, hands up the phone, and turns and leaves, not bothering to look back at his father.
--
Washington Estate
Las Vegas, NV.
Having finished the opening Jack returns to his house, parking the car behind the locked gate in the garage, locking that as well. Jack slowly entered his house and sat on his bed, beginning to undress and getting into more normal clothing. Once his dressed in sweatpants and a t-shirt, Brian enters the room.
Brian: Did you tell Benny?
Jack: Tell Benny what?
Brian: About the Mexicans.
Jack: Shit. No. I’m not going to, either. The less he knows the better we’ll be.
Brian: Well if they come and shoot up your fucking casino, he’s sure as shit gonna know then. You didn’t think about that at all, did you?
Jack: No, had other things on my mind.
Brian: Well, Stick, you’d best start thinking of something.
Jack: I know, I know. Just... let me think.
Brian: Better be good.
Jack doesn’t answer as he reaches into the sports jacket pocket and removes all his possessions. He leans forward on the bed, thinking about his options. After a few minutes, and Brian going to get a drink and returning, Jack looks up.
Jack: Wait...Benny.
Brian: What?
Jack: Benny said that Sonny would be pissed about us opening the casino.
Brian: Yeah, so?
Jack: No, that could be something we could use.
Brian: You mean YOU could use.
Jack: Yeah, whatever, but think about it, the Mexicans are at war with Sonny. He’d do plenty to get revenge on them. They killed his kid to start the whole thing. What if, we used Sonny, to get us, out of our little jam?
Brian arches an eyebrow.
Brian: You think you’re going to make that work?
Jack: Yeah, yeah... we can talk to Sonny, and let him know about the Mexicans and how they’re moving. Sonny can do some damage to them, and we can use that are a bargaining chip to help ease any leverage the Mexicans might have. Think about it. They’re going to be pissed if Sonny starts fighting back.
Brian: And they will ask you for help.
Jack: Yeah, they might, but we just don’t have any way to really help, outside of a cover, and if that cover is blown...
Brian: Stick, you’ve got to go a long way to make that plan work. You’re still playing a very dangerous game with them.
Jack: But I’ll have an out. It’s a card I can play, and maybe, just maybe, the Mexicans will back off and I can get Sonny to do some dirty work for me, and I’ll be in his good graces, and keep him off me while the Casino works on it’s own. Hell, at the end of this shit, I might actually be able to get every distraction out of the way and be able to keep an eye on Benny.
Brian: That’s a plan, a crazy one, but it’s a plan.
Jack: I only have one other choice, and I’m not doing it.
Brian: Suit yourself kid... maybe you got something here.
Jack: I think I do.
--
On Camera:
ClickWe are inside Jack’s home, and Jack is pacing back and forth, both intense, and visibly angry.
Jack: Everything I had, was ruined. Everything I worked so hard, was taken away from me, and it’s some god damn bullshit. They brought a motherfucker out of the woodwork, and not only did that happen, they then some other shmuck decided to stick his nose in my business and it was basically 2 on 1. Together, they stole from me, and took MY world championship.
I don’t think any of you truly understand what that meant to me, and how it was a symbol of who I am. You took from me, with smiles on your faces like it was some kind of joke. I’m just a joke to you. Well, you know what, I’m going to get the last laugh on both of you fucks. Jack stares a hole through the camera as he continues to pace.
Jack: You see, what both stole from me, it’s my world. You took my world and everything that ever meant anything to me. This isn’t some pity party or a woe is me thing, this is a statement of the facts. I’m not going to lie, I’ve had it easy for the majority of my life, I never had to worry about money or having the best things or a roof over my head, and you know what? That pisses me off. Because people get the wrong idea about me, based on my early life. Like I don’t know what hard work is. Like I just cruised to this shit and had my ticket punched for me instead of doing it on my own. All my life people have doubted how serious I was, but man, I ain’t got no silver spoon in my mouth, Nah, while I had money, I still worked. I worked with my hands, I made things, and built things. Things had put me in the position I was in in my life, because I earned my stripes the hard way. Maybe nothing I did was too life threatening, but dammit I did shit in life. And you know what happened? Mother fuckers still didn’t believe me. Everything I ever accomplished had a fucking asterisk next to it, like I did fucking steroids or something. Nothing I ever did in my life was ever credited to me, but to my father for who he was, and I couldn’t and wouldn’t ever get the respect I truly deserved. And it fucking ate at me every single day of my life.
And then to top it all off, I had to go through life after my father went to jail, and he ratted out his friends, you know who took the fucking rap for that? ME, GOD DAMN IT, ME! I’m the one who had to sit there and deal with the repercussions of my father’s actions. I’m the one who got denied and thrown out despite not doing anything wrong. I played by the god damn rules and everything was taken away from me for shit I didn’t have any part of. And now, I can’t even go back to where I live and be safe. Ever since the trail and ever since my father did what he did, I have had to live with eyes in the back of my head. Always looking over my shoulder and wondering where the next attack was going to come from. Do you know what that’s like? No, of course you don’t. Jack chuckles out of frustration.
Jack: And then I started wrestling, I started to do something that my father wasn’t a part of, that I, and I alone would get all the credit if I succeeded or all the blame if I failed. And you what what I did? I FUCKING SUCCEEDED. That’s what I did. I rose straight to the top and I won a championship in my first ever match on television. People said I was destined for greatness. And then I arrived in Sin City Wrestling, and I cut through this company and I won the World championship faster than pretty much anybody. Why? Because I was that fucking good. And because I was unlike anybody else that was here. Before or since. Because I don’t need to be 7 foot tall, I don’t need to be 300 pounds, or pretend to be something I’m not like all these other fucks. No, I stood out, on my own, because that’s the way you do things. That’s how you get to the top, you take out your competition, and you do it in the loudest way possible. And I did that, and I did it better than anyone has, and ever will. I did and said what people were scared to do and say. And I backed up everything I’ve ever said and that’s really what stuck in some of these boy’s craw’s didn’t it? Yeah, I heard them all talking and they didn’t like the way I did things.
But you know what happened? The way I did things, got results, and I took that world championship and I made it something to be cherished to win. And for almost four months, including 4 title defenses, I raised the bar. I took it to the next level, and I don’t have anyone that I need to share it with. There’s not going to be anyone who takes that fucking accomplishment away from me. Nobody. I did that shit, and I did it on my own. You wanna know why I don’t trust none of you assholes, because I did what I needed to do on my own, and you can clearly see from the group of guys who are trying to be world champion and trying to get where I was, that they need a crutch to accomplish anything. Well, I don’t. I did all that, for me, and it’s Jack Washington, and nobody else. The best duo in the history of SCW is Jack Washington and NOBODY. I proved that I don’t need anybody and that I can do it on my own.
And then, you motherfuckers come in like thieves in the night, and you steal all that like it was nothing. So now, I’m going to make you pay. Jack oozes anger and hatred from his very being.
Jack: Everything was fine and dandy until you took it from me, and now here we are with this bullshit match where I not only have to win my title back from Kris Ryans, I have to do it twice. Why? Because they just enjoy making things hard for me. But you know what? That’s okay, I’ll beat Kris Ryan’s twice, and hell, I’ll beat O’Malley’s bitch ass twice if I have, just based on the principle of the idea.
First and foremost, O’Malley is the main problem of this whole thing. I beat him ass before, and then he comes out with his chest puffed out like he’s a new man. Sorry chief, but this ain’t it. You are still utter trash that doesn’t belong here. What have you done besides run your mouth the entire time, like you were ever a threat to me or anyone else. That’s all you’ve been your whole fucking SCW career. You are nothing but hot air. You’ve accomplished nothing, except cashing in a briefcase and getting mocked for it. You’ve been nothing but a failure as both a wrestler and as a man, and yet, you’ve somehow managed to wrangle your way into this. You know, as well as everyone else you have no business here, you’ve just stuck your stupid Irish nose in other people’s business in the hopes that some star power rubs off of them, onto you. That’s it, my guy, that’s you in a nutshell. You bring nothing to the table besies the woe is me and I’m fighting hard for my redemption and all this rah-rah bullshit that nobody buys. And you know why? Because you have failed time and time again to back up anything and you have become a shell of a man.
And yet you’re nothing thumping your chest like you’ve accomplished anything in your life besides moving on from your ex. We can all learn to rebound my dude, you ain’t showing anybody anything. You have done jack shit to earn this match, besides make a challenge. And even then I told you, to fucking earn it, and you didn’t. You just decided you would jump into other people’s business, much like you always do, and hope to benefit from it. The only difference now is, you have a chance to sneak in the back door and try and walk away a world champion. And I know, you’ll be fucking proud of that, wouldn’t you? Yeah, you totally would, because it’s the only way you could ever do it. You have nothing on your record and resume that tells me, or anyone else that deserve anything but all the mocking and ridicule you get. You’re pathetic and you’re chomping at every crumb to try and stay relevant. Jack shakes his head, still scowling.
Jack: And while your presence in this match disgusts me to no end, the fact is, you’re here, and you know what? That’s good for me. I’m happy you’re here, because at the end of all this, I want to see that look you’ve mastered over your legacy of failure, that look that everyone in your family seems to have down pat. That look of utter disappointment. That looks that says “I failed.” It’s the same look you gave your wife. Both of them, by the way, and it’s the same look you give your son. Because that’s what you are and that’s what you do. You’ve had chances, you’ve had every opportunity, and you’ve wasted all of them.
You know, I can feel you right now, O’Malley. I can feel you getting pissed at me for saying the things I say. You know why that is? Because you know it’s the truth. You know that you’re about to blow another chance at something important. Something you can hang your hat on and say you did. Because in your heart, you know I’m telling the truth, and it’s something you have to deal with all the time. At least, I hope you’re getting pissed. You should be getting pissed, but knowing you, you’re sitting there listening to me, and looking at your wife and just shrugging. You’re one tiny step away from just accepting this. I almost halfway expect that at Inception, you’re just going to sit in the corner and pout like a fucking kid because you’ve been exposed. And god damn it, you should. But I hope for your sake, that you put up some kind of fight, so at least you can fall back on effort. But then again, you know you don’t belong here at the grownup table, so at Inception, I will not only beat you, I will fucking break you. Because unlike you, I don’t have a family to worry about. Maybe, you should get your shit in order before you try and step up and play with the big boys. Maybe you should have your fucking head on straight before you try and claim the biggest prize in the game. But you aren’t, and you won’t. Because without the silly family drama you have submerged yourself in, you are just a joke of a wrestler, and even bigger joke of a man.
At Inception, I will put you out of your misery, and you will pay dearly for getting involved in this. Because let’s face it, you probably would have gotten an SCW championship match at this very show, against me, if you hadn’t interfered in my match with Kris Ryans. You screwed yourself over, because you are a fuck up. A complete fuck up who had only made his own job harder. You think that because you did this, and that you can fluke your way into a championship match, and then fluke your way to a victory is makes you something? You will always be all bark and no bite O’Malley, that’s the way it is. Sorry to tell you, son, but a victory for you is not going to happen, because you don’t have what it takes to be here on your own in the first place. I already beat your ass one on one before, and now you think you’re going to get ANYTHING out of this?
The bottom line is, you will fail, one more time, and hopefully, after the beating I give you, and Kris Ryans, you will slink back into the hole you crawled out of, and will go home and be a family man, and try to do better at something that you actually have a chance at. Because this championship match, ain’t it. Jack cracks his knuckles, continuing to pace, and that ever-present scowl still adorned on his face.
Jack: Now that that’s out of the way, it’s time to start talking about the man who benefitted from O’Malley, Kris Ryans.
I think it’s funny how much of a standard I set that you had to dig down so deep and throw up such a prayer and even with all that, you still needed interference to get the job done. You had to train harder than you have in your entire life and you still weren’t really able to get the job done. And yet, you’re gladly going to take that win, and call yourself a champion.
Fuck off.
I could have respected if you had actually done it on your own, but then we wouldn’t be in this mess if you had. It would just be me, earning my next shot at the championship but running through everyone else, like I did before and we’d be at the same spot, minus O’Malley. But that’s not what happened and you know that, but like the rest of the black sheep, you’re going to sit there with a smile and hold up MY championship like you did something. I’m not making excuses, I’m stating the facts, and the facts are, until you actually beat me legit, you have no business calling yourself the world champion. One win over some schmuck in a title defense means absolutely nothing to me. Jack shakes his finger, having finally stopped pacing, seeing beside himself with anger.
Jack: All you are to me Kris, is the man who has what belongs to me. That’s it. A means to an end. I don’t care about you, I don’t care about the black sheep and how you want to try and turn SCW in the Kris Ryans comeback story. I don’t give a rat’s ass about how you accomplished this or that or how you turned your life around. Maybe if you were a little smarter you wouldn’t have made such fucking stupid choices and threw your first run away and had to come back years later to redeem yourself and prove you can fucking act like an adult.
And you come back and you have a good year and you’re king shit now right? Cool. But you don’t even realize what you did to me and how I will enjoy ripping that title from you and putting it back where it belongs. There will be no repeat of whatever year you were on top, that shit is over. You, like so many other people, will be forced to learn that I’m not going away, I’m not a flash in the pan. You had to put on the best performance of your life because you knew anything less would be an absolute failure. And now you’re flying high, and living the dream.
And I am about to turn that dream into a nightmare, Kris.
Because for a while, while I was the champ, I may have let my guard down, and got a little soft. In fact, I know I did. Maybe it was just a little easier to do. Maybe I got a little less hungry than I was when I was going after that championship. But now, I have a valuable lesson to take with me into the future. No more letting my guard down, because everyone is now going to pull out all the stops just to try and prove themselves against me. I’ve raised the bar and I didn’t even know it, Kris. But now, I have the freedom again. The freedom to really cut loose and show you, and O’Malley just how dangerous I truly am. Jack chuckles again, but this time there is far more malice behind it.
Jack: I’m getting more and more excited as I think about it. I get to really go out to the ring in two weeks, and beat your ass so badly that you lose twice. I can absolutely cement how much that championship means to me, at your expense. And trust me when I say that I will do anything and everything to win my championship back. You thought it was bad before, oh, my guy, you have seen NOTHING yet. I told you and everyone else, as a result of what happened at the end of last year, everyone suffers now. And everyone includes you. And you, will suffer most of all, because you have what’s mine. Do you think I’m some kind of sucker of who just let’s people steal from him? Well, you obviously don’t me very well, Kris. No, I’m the type of dude who takes revenge tenfold. I believe in an eye for an eye. I believe that if you steal from me that maybe I should get to cut off your hand. Well... maybe that’s too much. But I’m a big believer in things like that. They send on of yours to the hospital, you send one of theirs to the morgue. It’s tit for tat where I come from. And since you stole from me Kris, one way or another, you have to pay the price. And believe me when I tell you that that price will be very, very heavy.
I don’t care if I have to gouge your eyes out of your head and blind you for life. I don’t care if I have to break your bones or permanently disfigure you. If I have to, fuck it, if I WANT to, I will kick you square in your baby nuts to put you down. By hook or by crook, but this time, I will always say I am firmly justified in doing any harm I can to you. I’m going to make you regret ever trying to make a fool out of me. You say I’m not trustworthy? Well, you hit the nail right on the head. You shouldn’t trust me in the ring to do anything other than try and whoop your ass and win. I care about the money and fame that comes with victory, I’ve had that pretty small taste, and now I’m fucking hooked Kris. And that means that I will stop at nothing to take my championship back.
If I have to beat you twice, or even just once, hell, not even at all, I could just beat O’Malley’s punk ass twice and I will call it a day and gladly take my championship victory, though, rest assured that you will suffer before it’s all said and done.
Inception is only 10 days away. I want the both of you to think long and hard about what you’re going to do in the next 10 days to survive. Not win, but survive. I will unleash all the frustration that has been building up since that title was taken from me. Think about how you will walk away and still have something left to continue on with your careers. Because you can bet your last fucking dollar that I am going to find even more to fuel me just as much as this frustration does. I was unjustly knocked off them mountain, so once again I will climb that mountain, plant my stake, and this time, I will put a goddamn deathgrip on that championship.
No more excuses, no more mercy.
Days. You have mere days to do what you need to do. Pray, write out your will, whatever it is you need to do, but we all know the truth here, you both are going to be dismantled and I will once again show every single person in this company that I am the face of this company. I am it’s star, and while I may have slipped, trust me, I did not fall, and I will once again rise to the very top, and at the end, hopefully neither one of you ever think of trying to take shit me ever again.
You are running out of time, chumps.
The clock is ticking. With that, Jack moves away and out of frame, and we fade to black.
Click.Everyone. Suffers.
