{The scene opens inside Roxi and Keria’s home. Keira, now 8 months pregnant, sits on the couch plays Super Mario RPG on her Switch as Trixie, one the family dogs, sits next to her, her head near Keira’s stomach but resting on Keira’s thigh. Keira lightly rubs Trixie’s head and gives her scratches as the door opens, Buster, the other family dog, barks and is excited to see Roxi and Nate both walk through the door. Nate of course greets Buster who continues to bark as Keira seems annoyed at the loud barking.} Keira – Buster, please!
Roxi – Buster, relax. Nate go give your Mama a kiss and go put your stuff away, okay?
Nate – Okay, Mommy.
{Nate has his baseball gear and heads inside and walks up to Keira, who smiles and puts her switch down to kiss Nate.} Keira – Thank you sweetheart.
Nate – Love you, Mama.
Keira – I love you too.
Nate – How much longer until my sister gets here, Mama?
Keira – Not much longer.
{Keira groans as she says this causing Nate to hold her hand.} Nate – Are you okay, Mama?
Keira – Yes, I’m okay. Go put your stuff away, please.
Nate – Okay, Mama.
{Nate heads to his room to put it away, Buster following him every step of the way. Roxi puts her own bag on the kitchen table, checking the mail before heading into the living room and kissing Keira on the top of the head.} Roxi – Hey beautiful.
Keira – Hi.
{Roxi walks in front of Keira who looks up from her switch and smiles, albeit weakly.} Roxi – How are you feeling?
Keira – I'm tired.
Roxi – Well, take a nap. I’m here now, so get yourself some rest.
Keira – It's more than just physically tired, Roxi. I feel exhausted even though I haven’t really done anything. I just feel like I have no energy. Physically or mentally.
Roxi – You are carrying another human inside your body right now. You need to rest anyway.
{Keira has a frustrated look on her face as she adjusts on the couch.} Keira – I just feel like I’m useless right now.
{Keira sighs and goes back to her Switch. Roxi sits down next to her and holds her in a hug.} Roxi – You're doing great, Keira. I promise. You’re doing great.
{Keira shakes her head, putting the switch down and sighing loudly.} Keira – This isn’t helping either.
Roxi – What's wrong?
Keira – I'm not a baby, Roxi. And you keep treating me like I am.
Roxi – Keira, I’m just trying to make things easier for you. I know you are capable of doing anything you want. I have complete faith and trust in you to do whatever you want. I said you were doing great because you are. I’m trying to make things stress-free for you. I don’t want you getting upset or stressed out over this.
Keira – I can’t help it. Look at me.
{Keira looks down at her stomach and the baby bump that has swelled over the past 8 months.} Keira – I'm a blimp and I have to waddle around the house and be extra careful!
Roxi – Stop that!
{Roxi pulls Keira in and hugs her tightly before looking Keria dead in the eyes.} Roxi – You are beautiful. You are about to bring a person into the world, and that is amazing. You are not in any way useless. If anything, you have earned the ability to relax. You’ve done a lot, Keira. And we just hit 10 years!
{Keira half-chuckles as she keeps looking down at her belly.} Keira – We did, didn’t we?
Roxi – And this isn’t anyone on this planet that I would rather have spent 10 years of my life with. I can’t imagine how much stress or pain you can be feeling, but I want you to know that I am here for you.
Keira – I know that, but I don’t want to bring you down, I’m just... Maybe it’s the pregnancy, it’s just... it’s was more than I thought it was going to be. Even with Chris and Sasha’s help.
{Keira tries to get up, but Roxi stops her.} Roxi – Relax. You’re going to make yourself sick.
{Roxi instead stands up, and offers her hand to Keira. Keira looks at it, but stands up on her own.} Roxi – Stubborn, right to the end.
Keira – I’m not helpless Roxi. I can do this.
Roxi – I know.
Keira – I’m just going through a lot. I’m sorry.
Roxi – I know.
{Roxi hugs Keira tightly again, both of them standing and embracing.} Roxi – Hey... I love you.
{Keira smiles a bit wider this time.} Keira – I love you too.
{For a few moments, the two stand there in an embrace in silence, until Keira breaks it and sighs.} Keira – I just can’t wait for this little girl to be on the outside instead of inside.
Roxi – You're not the only one. But look, we’re taking this one day at a time. I’ll take the good with the bad, so long as I’m with you. Okay? You’re never gonna be alone. 10 years is where we are, and the next 10 will be just as big of an adventure of the first 10.
Keira – I know. Thank you for sticking this out with me.
Roxi – Sorry Keira, you’re stuck with me.
{Roxi smiles as she and Keira share a kiss, before Keira sits back down. She sighs and seems to be a bit more relaxed.} Keira – Sorry for being moody. I trust you have everything ready to go back to SCW this week.
Roxi – I do.
Keira – I wish I could go. Being back there, seeing old friends, and enemies, just thinking about how it wasn’t so long ago that we stepped away. I wish I could go back. Just to see how things are...
{Keira sighs again.} Roxi – You’re gonna be there, so long as I see this stuff, so do you. Because you are always with me.
{Keira smiles. And almost blushes at this comment as she stands up again to hug Roxi. Roxi smiles, but notices Keira’s body shaking. She pulls Keira up, and sees the tears in her eyes.} Roxi – What's wrong?
{Keira wipes her eyes, and shakes her head, regaining her composure.} Keira – I'm fine. I’m fine. Just... thank you.
Roxi – Keria, you are as much a part of this as I am. I’m gonna go and just take a look at the garden that you and I helped tend and ensure that it’s still growing the way it should. I promise.
{Keira sits down again, and smiles, almost laughing and crying at the same time.} Keira – Why are you so good to me?
Roxi – Because you deserve it. You’re taking on a task that I don’t know if I would be ready for. You are a lot braver for this than most of the stuff we’ve ever done. It’s why I’m doing all this running around and work. Because you have a more important task. This is just a quick trip back. Just a quick trip back to the garden.
Keira – I know you’ll do great.
Roxi – Just like I know how great you’ll be as a mom. Again.
Keira - ... Yeah. I think we’ve done pretty good for 10 years.
Roxi – So what’s another 10 then?
{Keira laughs and Roxi sits down beside her.} Roxi – Now, what am I making you for dinner?
{The scene fades.}
{Later that night, Roxi is checking on things as Keira in already in bed, sleeping peacefully as Roxi covers her with a blanket up to her neck. Roxi then heads out of their bedroom and down the hall, where there are still faint noises coming from Nate’s room. Roxi opens the door to see Nate playing video games as Roxi whispers to him.} Roxi – You should be in bed.
Nate – I was just finishing this game.
Roxi – You should have already been in bed, Nate.
Nate – I was just finishing!
{Roxi sternly holds up a finger.} Roxi – Hey, lower your voice, Mama is asleep.
Nate – Sorry, Mommy.
Roxi – Now hurry up and finish your game.
{Nate does a couple of quick things and then saves his game before turning off the console. He crawls into bed as Roxi makes sure everything is off. She looks over and sees Nate just looking at her as she peers down at him. She rubs his head and face and leans down to kiss him goodnight.} Roxi – Goodnight, Nate.
Nate – Mommy?
Roxi – Yes?
Nate – Is Mama okay?
Roxi – Mama is just going through a lot. She’s carrying your little sister around until she’s ready to come out.
Nate – When is that?
Roxi – I guess, sometime next month. I don’t know exactly when. When she’s ready, she’ll be here.
Nate – Mommy?
Roxi – Hmm?
Nate – Are you going to like her more than me?
{Roxi sighs, but shakes her head, reassuring Nate.} Roxi – No baby, of course not. I love you and I’m going to love your sister equally. You’re not going to get any less love from me or your Mama. Okay?
Nate – Okay.
Roxi – You're going to have a very important job when your sister gets here, you’re going to have to help Mama and me with making sure your sister is taken care of. We’re going to need you. Are you going to be able to help us?
Nate – Yeah.
Roxi – Good. It’s very important. I need you to be able to help Mama in case I’m not here.
Nate – Are you going away again?
Roxi – Only for a couple of days. But I will be back soon, and I will need you to look after Mama for me. Gramma will be there too, but we need you. Can you do that for me?
Nate – I will Mommy.
Roxi – Good, now get some sleep, you’ve got more practice in the morning.
{Roxi again kisses Nate before turning off his lights and leaving the room, before her mom, Elizabeth, comes around the corner.} Elizabeth – Do you need help with anything?
Roxi – No, I think I'm okay.
Elizabeth – You're working yourself to the bone, you know.
Roxi – Mom, I’ll be fine.
Elizabeth – If you say so.
{Elizabeth starts heading towards her room, but Roxi stops her.} Roxi – Mom?
Elizabeth – Hmm?
Roxi – Did Nicole and I ever ask you about each other?
Elizabeth – You were twins dear. Born at the same time. But honestly, I don’t remember, you’d have to ask your father. It wasn’t too long after you were born that I wasn’t there. I had... other concerns.
Roxi – Is that why you left?
Elizabeth – Honestly... I knew I wasn’t fit in my condition to be a mother. Especially not to two girls. I know your father won’t ever truly forgive me for what I did to him, but if I had stayed around, I would have made things worse, you and your sister might not have made it. There were days after you both were born that I just wanted peace and quiet, but also to just drink my pain away. And... I’m sorry for that.
Roxi – It’s... it’s okay Mom. I think we turned out okay.
Elizabeth – I know you did. You’re doing great. Just enjoy it, because before you know it, you’ll have two grown children and you’ll wonder where the time went.
Roxi – Yeah... I know.
{Roxi turns to her mother, patting her on the shoulder with a soft smile.} Roxi – Thanks, Mom.
Elizabeth – Goodnight, dear.
{Elizabeth walks away and Roxi walks downstairs and stands in the doorway of her trophy room where all of her titles, along with Keira’s hang up on display. Roxi sighs.} Roxi – Good times. Good times.
{Roxi nods to herself before heading down to train for her match as the scene fades. }
“Gotham is my city. In every way that matters”
- Batman (Detective Comics #686)
Hello once again, SCW!
It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I guess I should see if I remember how to do this anymore. It has been some time since I stood before you and actually talked about wrestling in SCW. I made a promise to all of you about a year ago that I would no longer be seeking SCW championships and I aimed to stay true to that promise. I don’t want to be in the spotlight in SCW, because I simply don’t need to be. Some took it as a blessing or so I’ve heard. But anyway, I said I wasn’t seeking those championships, and then earlier this year, I said I was talking a full-on step back, because my whole thing is, why compete and take an opportunity away from everyone else? and then also at the same time tarnish anything by losing because winning doesn’t do me any good. I aimed to stay true to both of those statements. And I’ve stayed away from the ring for those very reasons. I didn’t want to come back and start all over again, I didn’t want to take time away and then go back on anything either. I stayed away because it frees up others to take control and not have me to blame or bring them down if they don’t live up to expectations.
No, the reason I am returning to the ring on Sunday, is because I was asked. SCW’s 400th episode of Climax Control is a huge deal, it’s a celebration, and I’m all for a celebration of something of this magnitude. But again, this isn’t a comeback, don’t call it a comeback. This is just a piece of business. I made it very clear that I didn’t want to face a contender or someone in the middle of something else. So, nobody in SCW has to worry about Roxi coming back in and stealing anything, other than the show, I suppose, but I can hardly be blamed for that. But I’m sure certain people will find a way to do it anyway.
But anyway, things have been pretty different for me since I took that step back and walked away. It’s been very rewarding for me to not have to worry about doing things like this on a consistent basis, and being able to watch from afar has also been extremely rewarding.
The point is, life is good for me right now. It’s very good. I do miss you guys, and that will never change, but I’ve moved on with my life. Keira is pregnant, I’m having matches I want to have on my own schedule, and I’m still being a mom, that’s what’s important to me right now. That’s my life. And I wouldn’t have had it any other way at this point.
But this a special occasion and I want to do SCW justice by performing at the level I know I can compete at. This isn’t one last hurrah, or one more run, this is just, a fun little thing I get to do and I’m excited for it.
I’m even excited about wrestling Mercedes Vargas if you can believe that.
Now I know, Mercedes and I go way back, and you know, I applaud her for sticking it out and being as consistent as she is. It takes a lot to have been here as long as she has and be here, week in and week out like a trooper. I’ve had to step away from time to time, but not Mercedes, she’s here and she’s been here for a long time. I know Jessie Salco called herself the gatekeeper, but Mercedes really should have that title. She has basically been like a metronome or something like that she’s been so consistent.
Well, then again, there have been times, and I’ve pointed it out and others have as well, there are times that Mercedes just seems to be going through the motions and heck, I asked, well, no demanded that Mercedes not be given title opportunities simply because she has been consistent and successful. That resets after a while and I’m glad to see that it seems to have happened.
And I think that it finally clicked with Mercedes that I, and just about everyone else was saying the same thing. I think that now Mercedes has come to the realization that her reputation was simply being ruined because she wasn’t putting in the work. She can try and argue this point all she wants, but when everybody says the same thing, it’s easier to believe, that’s for sure. The proof was right there in front of her, and I think that finally she decided to do something about it. I mean, it’s been a while since I was in the ring, and I was saying back then, so while I actually respect Mercedes for picking herself up off the canvas and not trying to lay there and be the welcome mat for SCW, I must also say that it’s about time she did so as well.
It’s what makes this all the more frustrating, I think for all of us at this point. Mercedes is good. She’s very good. Great even. There is no denying that. I think the fact that she let her name, and her reputation get brought down so far, when she’s capable of just picking it up at any time and competing at a high level is just frustrating. It just becomes a question of “Why don’t you do that all the time?” I mean, the effort she put in against Tempest was great, it was like seeing the old Mercedes again. One capable of beating anyone at any given time. It’s nice to see that Mercedes again, but again, I have to ask, where has it been this whole time?
But that does make the upcoming match all the more interesting and exciting for me. While I still wonder which Mercedes will actually show up, I at least have a better chance to see the passionate, fiery Mercedes who’s going to give me a run for my money, as opposed to the last time, where I literally had to tell her she was a nostalgia act and she was just resting on her laurels and floating along when she was capable of so much more.
Maybe this has been a long con, but somehow I doubt it. Mercedes and I have tangled way too many times for this to be that. I think she’s finally trying to get back to where she thinks she should be. Heck, maybe where all of us think she should be. But I’m going to just throw a little monkey wrench into those plans on Sunday when I beat her. I don’t know what the all-time series is anymore, nor is it important. This match is where we are now, and I’m coming into it, to win. Just because I’ve been away for a while doesn’t mean I’m not coming into the match to give you everything that you have always gotten from me. That is a promise I’ve made to all of you since I first walked into the company over a decade ago. This endeavor, as it were, will be no different.
All in all, I am very much excited to return, even if it’s just for a visit, to the place I have called my garden for so many years. I have worked, and tended that garden for a long time and I am pleased to see what has grown and bloomed. It makes me happy to see that people are thriving, that the division is growing and more and more people are making an impact. Heck, they are the reason that SCW was able to hit 400 episodes! It could have gone down many times, but the work that was put in and continues to be put in, is what makes the garden grow.
So, I’m not sure if it’s just one more time, or if there will be others, but I am very looking forward to returning to the garden and giving it a little TLC. I look forward to seeing all of you again, and heck, even Mercedes herself. For me, this is fun, this is just fun, and hey, a win would be very enjoyable as well. And that’s what I plan to do. Because much like any other time I step into the ring, I’m going to make sure I give you everything that you expect. Because trust me, I have been training and keeping up with everything for shows like this.
It is cause for celebration, and hey, if I can toot my own horn for a second, I believe I will be the only person to compete at SCW 100, 200, 300 and 400, so, there’s that.
But anyway, I look forward to this Climax Control 400, I am so proud and happy of the SCW family for making it this far, and hey, if we’re still going when we hit 500... maybe I’ll be back again!
But for now, I’ll be ready to go for Climax Control 400. California, here we come!
I’ll see you all there!
