Act 1: A Week of Celebration
“May you live to be 100 and may the last voice you hear be mine.”
Frank Sinatra
The scene opens on the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. The morning sun had already started to rise over the Las Vegas Skyline. The hotel was just starting to come to life, and the Villas that lined the back area were still silent. The camera focuses on the two villas that were side by side but comes over one that was littered with liquor bottles. A few of them were floating in the pool, while the light posts were knocked over and lying on the edge of the pool and a couple were even in the lush bushes. The camera pans into the Villa where we find footprints on the ceiling, and it was totally trashed. We see Joanne lying in a bed big enough for at least 4 people curled up underneath the covers. Her eyes slowly open and there beside her on the pile of pillows sat a black rose along with a red one. She smiles softly and sits up. That's when it hits her. Her head starts to spin with pain, and knew she had a hangover. Joanne tries to get to her feet, but only falls back on the bed. She finally manages to get to her feet, and she staggers out into the living room. There one of the couches was Ex with at least half a dozen beer bottles sat around him, while Reno and Rude were playing a game on one of the many systems that had appeared.
Rude: Hey boss. You're finally awake.Joanne: What day is it?Rude: Wednesday.Joanne: Oh good, I've only been out for the night then.Reno and Rude laugh as Joanne leans against the couch.
Reno: It's been longer than that. It's been a week.Joanne: A WEEK? I didn't have a match last Sunday did I?Reno: Nope. That's why we started on your birthday and kept it going.Rude: How much do you remember?Joanne: I don't really remember a lot.Reno: It was an awesome party. Everyone left last night. Well almost everyone.Joanne: If Ex is here then Necra isn't far behind. Where is she?Joanne looks out the sliding glass doors and spots Necra wearing a long black and gold toga, and a pair of dark sunglasses. Joanne smiles softly as she shakes her head. Necra was a light weight when it came to booze, and knew she was passed out. She walks back to the couch where Ex is sound asleep and shakes him awake.
Joanne: Hey, hey wake up!Ex stirs and sits up. He looks around and stretches, as he sees Joanne standing over him.
Ex: What time is it?Joanne: About 9. When did you and the sleeping Goddess get here?Ex: I don't know... Sunday night after her match. that was an awesome party.Joanne: Thanks I think.Rude: You don't remember any of it do you?Joanne: None of it.Reno: No wonder. You had a few drinks last night, along with 2 days of coke in your system. You disappeared last night, and so did Seph... Then Maria...Joanne's face goes white and looks back into the bedroom where the roses sat. She sighs, and walks into the kitchen where a fresh omelet sat. It still had steam rolling off of it. She takes a bite, and that's when she noticed the pile of white powder along with a stack of money.
Joanne: Where did the money come from?Rude: You won it. Well Seph helped you win it like three days ago.Reno: Yeah. They were going to give you the High Roller Suite but you told them to go fuck themselves because it was a cheap ass room when you already had a villa.Joanne shakes her head and sighs. She had been drinking and she always got a little more aggressive then usual.
Joanne: Great. Were they upset?Rude: Nope. They said ok, and let you head back here with the pile of money. Then the senators that you invited got a hold of the girls you brought back with you and they all seemed to head back to their rooms for the evening.Joanne: What about my father?Reno: He left a while before you disappeared. But you got a phone call earlier this morning saying that he was disappointed in you about something... Wouldn't say what.Joanne: Great. Any other calls?Ex is on his feet, and heading for the pool side where Necra was still asleep. Joanne follows him outside as Sara appears on the other side of the wall.
Ex: How long has she been out Sara?Sara: I'm not sure, but she said if anyone woke her up, she would make sure that they were tossed into a pit and covered with scarab beetles, and snakes.Ex: Don't worry about Necra. She's catatonic right now. Watch.He takes out a small pin and pokes her, and she doesn't even flinch. Joanne picks up an arm and feels for a pulse, and drops it, once she can't find one.
Joanne: She's dead.Ex: She's fine. See ya later Joanne.Ex picks Necra up, and heads over the wall with her, leaving Joanne alone once again. She heads back into the villa as the sound of her cell phone fills the air. She starts looking for it, and finally finds it under a blanket and answers it.
Joanne: Hello? This is her. No, you didn't interrupt anythin'. What can I do for you? A match? Sure. I'm up for anythin' that you can throw together. Against who? Really? Sure thin'. I can be there for Sunday night. No, thank you.Joanne hangs up the phone and sits on the couch beside Reno. She leans back and stretches.
Reno: So you have a match huh?Joanne: Yeah. I never thought I would be one against her though.Rude: Who?Joanne: Odette Ryder. I'm really movin' up in the company if they want me to face off against her.Reno: Damn. You haven't even been in the company that long and you're already at the top.Joanne: I know. I've stood against some big names but Odette is one that I have yet to beat. I'll be back in a bit. I think I'll hit the gym. I want to be ready for this one.Reno: Are you sure you want to do that right now? I mean I know you probably have a hangover from hell right now.Joanne: I do, but I'll be ok. I'm goin' to change before I go.Joanne heads for the master bedroom and opens the door, as Sothren appears on the other side with a full length mirror in hand. He smiles as he passes by heading for the door.
Soth: Good morning. I had a wonderful time, and I see that my daughter and Ex have gone, so I shall take my leave. Well me and my mirror.Joanne: Right... I'm not even goin' to ask.Sothren walks out of the room holding the mirror with a smile on his face. Joanne sighs, and heads into the room closing the door behind her. The door opens once again a few minutes later, and Joanne is dressed in a tight fitting tank top, and a pair of tight pants. She heads for the door, and kisses Reno on the way out. She closes the door behind her, and heads down the trail towards the main part of the hotel. The sun was shinning brightly and the heat had already started to rise above 80.
Joanne: Well Odette it looks like fate has brought us into a match. I've waited a long time to get to the top of the company from the time I started and now it looks like I am. I know other Bombshells have faced you and walked away with a loss but I won't. I'm not an easy target and I think you already know that. I've taken down almost every one that they have tossed against me, and even walked away with the Bombshell Roulette Title. But you, you had the most coveted title in the Bombshell division didn't you? But this isn't for a title, but just really shit and giggles isn't it?Joanne smiles to herself, as she heads toward the door that would take her inside.
Joanne: I may feel like crap right now, but I'm not goin' to let that stop me from gettin' some trainin' in for this match. I'm the one that's goin' to be walkin' away with that win under me. I've watched you in every match that you had knowin' that one day that you and I would face each other. It was only a matter of time before we did anyway right?She reaches the interior of the hotel. People look at her as she passes by and even a few of the male staff stop and stare at her. She smiles to herself as she continues to head through the vast expanse of the hotel. The long stretch of water moves and curves with the floor, and the walkways that went around the water, and connects with the bridges that go over certain spots. Joanne stands on of the bridges and looks down into the clear water.
Joanne: Have you ever been to Venice Odette? It's such a beautiful city, but it's one that has been war, and tragedy, victory and disasters. I know both of us have been through a lot in our lives, but Sunday night we can't let any of that get in our way. I know you want to win this match but I'm not goin' to let you off that easy. I will do everythin' in my power to bring you to your knees and show you that I am better than you. I know a lot of them backstage cower before you and praise you for everythin' that you've done, but not me. I don't give praise to anyone or respect for that matter to anyone that doesn't show me respect in return. I've been raised in a family where respect and honor are the only two thin's that matter and I have lived by that since I was just a girl. Tell me Odette will you show me respect in this match or will you try and bring me down just because you think you're better than me? Or will you actually shake my hand when all is said and done?Joanne continues on, still getting looks from the people around her. She had a small following within Vegas now, and was recognized by people. A few flashes from camera's go off as she passes and she smiles to herself.
Joanne: Tell me Odette why do you step into the middle of that ring week after week? Is it somethin' that you do for yourself, or is it for them? At one point and time I did it for me, but now I do it for them. I make a livin' off of my "family" business that I really don't have to do this, but I've gotten so use to the sound of the fans screamin' my name, the sound of my music comin' in over the speakers, the smell of the pyro fillin' the air around me, but mostly it's because of the fans I keep doin' what I am doin'. So ask yourself truthfully why do you do it Odette and maybe you'll understand a lot more about me. We are the Mafioso and we get paid to kick your ass. See you soon Odette.Joanne moves through the crowd that filled the hotel lobby. It was a busy time of year for every hotel in Vegas, and Joanne loved the life of living in a Casino. The people were always different, and the sounds of the casino drifted on the air, while families moved to the other places in the city to hit every attraction that they could before the night life started to appear. Joanne soon reaches the elevators and presses the button for the up and waits. The doors soon open and she steps inside, as the doors close and the scene fades to black.
