[Mercedes Vargas]

 S|C|E|N|E| 001
[T H E | E X E C U T I O N]

[REC•]

[The long trek down these dimly lit halls seem to take forever. A prisoner shackled at the ankles and handcuffed at the wrists is escorted down the dark, rank corridor of a jail facility. The prisoner hop-marches through each turn of the corridor during the passage before they reached the east end of the tunnel. Minutes later, they stand before an empty cell that most wouldn't exactly call a Motel 6 by any means, but nonetheless provided the bare essentials of what appeared to be a bed in the wall. It's not before long before a jangle of a keys opens the cell and the inmates is thrown in roughly before we hear the clang of the celldoor close shut. The inmate stands there watching, waiting, hoping that their escape won't be long, but it may not come again.]

“Don't you feel sorry for that inmate? I know I do.”

[Mercedes steps into the camera shot as an overhead light keeps flickering above her.]

“If you ever seen a movie prison scene or a read a book with a prison scene, you notice how there's that one person who rattles a cup against the door of the cell? I'm not sure WHY they do that, maybe it's to get attention or tipping off the other inmates that the guards are coming or just a simple mating call, who knows. For some reason, I find these make the better characters. In any case, some of these folks will never see light of day again, others have been thrown in here for crimes they didn't commit. But they all share a common bond. You probably don't know where I'm going with this, but sit tight. I'll explain a little later.

“So, we're now in the second half of 2015. Crazy, huh? Time sure flies when you're having fun. And believe you me, I'm having the time of my life these past two weeks. What can I say, nothing breeds success like success. So, this month is a very special month for me. For one, can you believe two weeks ago this past Tuesday was my second-year anniversary since my debuting in SCW? In fact, now that I think about it, kinda hard to believe in the almost fifty matches since then, a lot of opponents I've been in the ring with are no longer around. It's sad, I know, but as I've learned over the years, people come and go.”

[True words were never spoken. Since her debut at Climax Control 52 on June 2, 2013, Mercedes has faced some of the best - and no so much - of the Bombshells Division. From names like Faith, Ambrosia Gray and Laura Jackson to Emma Rose and Lizzie Short to Felony Fontana and Rock Rose of The Freakettes and the Chastain Sisters, Zuri and Blanca. Even the recent departures of Melody Grace, Vixen, Joanne Canelli, Necra Octavian Kane and Misty produced some great battles inside the six-sided ring. While they may be gone from SCW, they would not be forgotten - at least in her mind.]

“Oh, and this Sunday will be the 299th match of my career. To translate, that's a lot of flights and bus rides and being stuck in crappy four-star hotels for three to five hours, getting beat up on a nightly basis. You get use to it, eventually. I've had to for six years. Anyways, the go-home edition of Climax Control is two days away and just when I thought I've seen it all last show...”

[She frowns and shrugs shoulders in indifference.]

“Out comes the next card for this Sunday, and my next opponent. But not just an opponent, a woman. But not just any woman, the “Goddess of War”, Amanda Cortez. And not just Amanda Cortez, but an angry, upset and pissed off Amanda Cortez. Showing off those tatoos and that unibrow. She's like...

[Mercedes makes an comical angry face and intimidates Amanda.]

“Grrr, I am Ms Goddess of War! Grr! I'm the Tickle Cutie Biker Chick! Don't make me angry, you won't like when I'm angry! I like candlelight, long walks on the beach, and being tickled with feathers into submission.”

[The amusement fades from her face, replaced with a bewildered expression.]

“And I bet you bake cookies, too, right? How ANYONE takes you seriously, I'll never know. Someone needs to call Oprah and have this bitch sit on her couch, because the girl has issues. I'm still not sure whether I sure should be intimidated or shaking my head in mock pity because when Mandy took to the Twitter machine and called me out for a match against her, I wasn't too bothered by her request. In fact, I “Favorited” her tweet, which she didn't like, at all, but that's besides the point. She said she wanted the match on the go-home show, I said no problem. She said she wanted me to come alone. Okay. She said she wanted Delia Darling to be banned from ringside. Just as long as Veronica stayed in the back, fine by me. A lot of people are probably scratching their heads right now and wondering why I gave in to her demands, but like I said, I'm not too bothered by it. You would be surprised what I had to put up with in my career.”

[Shaking her head with mock pity, a smile appears. There wasn't anyone on anything she hasn't seen before in her six years that could make her bat an eye. SCW catered to Amanda's pleas for a match with Mercedes, and that's exactly what those fans will be in for Sunday, she guaranteed it.]

“See, Mandy, I'm giving everything that you want, and it's not because we're going to be the best of friends. I think you already admitted how much you hate me, which makes me a sad panda because I'm trying to change my ways since leaving the Mean Girls. It's been five weeks since Mayhem in Morocco, five weeks since I left to strike out on my own in the cold, cruel world that is the Bombshells Division, and even though there are a few of the other Bombshells who still aren't trusting of me turning over a new leaf, it's obvious that actions speaks louder than words, so that's why Delia and I did what we did several weeks ago when we broke free from the shackles of severe arrested emotional development, a case of low self esteem and insecurity, and just being plain sick and tired of the whole high school scene. Most of all, we did something we should have done a long time ago – we grew up. We poured ourselves to the fans and asked for their forgiveness and the girls in the back, the whole of SCW. I can understand why you and Veronica have made fun of us for it, but that's okay. In the end, we got the last laugh.”

[She holds up her set of the SCW World Bombshell Tag Team Championship which until this moment had been around her waist. She cradles the unmistakable red title belt, holding it in front of her.]

“And I get it, you're coming for our heads. Delia and I ended up doing what none of the roster couldn't for three months. Keira Fisher and Jessie Salco were notably pissed after finding out about the title change. I'm sure The Fallen doesn't care much for it, focusing on singles gold again, and people like Candy Overton must be kicking themselves after realizing that it could have been her winning championship gold, but the fact is, they just didn't have it in them. See, Mandy, these girls don't know you like we do. You were a part of one of the most dominant stables of all time, OF ALL TIME. I'm not sure what you were doing when you left SCW for over a year and a half, but you when you came back in mid-December and decided to join the stable, we welcomed you with open arms. Sure, it was Delia's idea to bring you into the group, but I was all for it. Because I'm a team player, I was ride or die for the Mean Girls. Who was there setting up the merchandise table with all of our stuff three hours before Climax Control was about to air? Me! When SCW needed someone to help promote the Mean Girls brand, who was stuck doing marathon interviews, meet-and-greets, photo-ops, and other promotional events? Me! When Veronica needed a shoulder to cry on after a loss, who was there for her? Me! When she complained about facing a opponent that was beneath her or if  any one of us lost a match, who was focused on the bigger picture? Me! Me! Me!”

[She points at herself three times to show emphasis. Everyone knew that there was no bigger cheerleader of the Mean Girls than Mercedes. For all the grief she has gotten since joining the stable over ten months ago and even today, she ignored them for the success of the stable more than her own stubbornness. While being a part of the group did pay dividens for her own career, Blaze of Glory IV was the writing on the wall. She just turned a blind eye until it was too late. Lowering her head to look down at herself after a breath, Mercedes looks back up with the same expression on her face.]

“And when you came on board, Amanda, I was more than happy to welcome a new Mean Girl since Liz ditched the group, because the void was there. You had the charisma, you had the accolades as a former World Bombshell and Tag Team Champion and you backed up your words in the ring. Why WOULDN'T we refuse someone of your talents? But no, this is about something else, isn't it? In your mind, this is about payback, it's about revenge, but Mandy, no matter what you do, you can't repeat Climax Control 115 when Delia pinned your shoulders to the mat and you can't repeat Veronica costing you both the tag titles in the main event the following show. You can't bring them back, I'm sorry. You beat me this Sunday, it won't change anything. So I'll see your sending me to the hospital and I'll raise you sending you to the morgue.

“The look on your face speaks volumes. It's clear that you fear me when I'm near because you've been embarrassed before. You've got this whole Xena Warrior Princess thing going on, but I can see right through you, Amanda. Not only are you a walking contradiction, you're vulnerable, and I've proved that on Twitter, I've proven that in our promos, and I'll be more than happy to prove it again inside the ring.”

Feathers? Who needs them? Not Mercedes, because she had no need for them. She didn't need that to get under Amanda's skin, she already was skilled enough in pulling her strings. It wasn't the first time she was clearly in an opponents head and it was sure not to be the last. Amanda Cortez wasn't dealing with just any opponent, she was dealing with a very smart one – who, by the way, also happens to be an ex-Mean Girl.

”You like calling people idiots when they don't agree to your asinine way of thinking, but this is one idiot who has grown wise to your act. See, I know where this is going. You're thinking by taking out the least threatening member of the tag champs, that just leaves you and Veronica against Delia at the supershow, and you guys beat her down to the point where she isn't able to continue and you easily win the tag titles. Am I gettting somewhere with that? I think I'm getting warmer. Don't get me wrong, this plan is simple, it's foolproof. Dare I say, it's brilliant. I mean, it's probably not as simple as the time you were simply handed the tag straps when Trish Newborn got injured, and you and Laura were the new title holders, am I right? Sorry, Mandy, but you're not going to get another free title reign, no matter what devisious plan you got cooked up in that empty brain of yours. You don't think I have a chance against you and that makes me excited. I love proving people wrong, especially in SCW, because I've done that for the past 2 years since I got here.”

[Nobody said that Mercedes didn't act like she always had a chip on her sholder, but she did face quite a challenge at Climax Control, but if she thought her opponent was going to roll ovr her Sunday, she had another thing coming. Mercedes walks a few feet as she passes by empty cells and some that were already occupied.]

”But what is a loser? Does a loser actually win over 50 percent of her matches? Maybe a loser is someone who have only been pinned just three times in singles competition since joining the roster 19 months ago? Or maybe that loser is the fastest Bombshell to become an overall six-time champion, let alone have held both the Bombshell Roulette and Bombshell Tag Team Championship three times each. For someone who you don't find as a threat, I find it funny that you want to end my career. Because you did such a fine job of that when you ended Jessie Salco's, right? Riiiiight. It takes a special brand of person to actually want to end my career, sweetheart, and bigger, badder, and better have failed each time. It's not for lack of trying, though. They just didn't know that they were dealing with this Porteña, this Latina who is as tough as they come. But, hey, you want to be the next one in the batting order, don't talk about it, be about it.

"As of right now, make your threats, draw up your game plan, do whatever you have to do, sweetheart, because come 6/14 at the go-home show before Into the Void IV at Climax Control 118 in Qatar, you and the rest of the world will find out what happens when a Goddess of War falls to earth. If you're going to finish me off, if you're going to end me, if you're going to make Sunday the last night you ever see Mercedes Vargas inside an SCW ring, or any ring for that matter, you better hope to live up to every word and you better get the job done, sweetheart. Take your best shot, and it better be good one. Because if you don't, as God as my witness, I'll make sure you live to regret it."

[Mercedes stops and turns to the camera, tossing her hair about. Apparently, she was ready to bring this promo to a close as she folds her arms crossed in front of her with an unfazed look]

”Mandy, I'm giving you everything that you asked for. You get me all to yourself, Delia won't be around, and you finally get to end my career. I'm not doing this just to make you comfortable, I'm just preparing the way. I did say last time that having Veronica as a partner was your prison sentence. Now, I'm giving in to your demands – I'll even let you have a few words or a last smoke if you want – because just like that prisoner dragging that cup against the cell door, you've finally annoyed me enough to get my attention, and just like what happens on Death Row, everyone gets what they want.“

[Half whispering, a sinister smile creeps on her face.]

”Everything before the execution.... See you Sunday.“

[Mercedes chuckles a bit before she waves and promptly walks off as the scene fades.]