Scene: Nobody knows the trouble you’ve seen…
A man sits on a beach side cabana café watching the crystal blue waters off the coast. At his elbow, a glass with an amber liquid sits and drips onto the coaster under it as a small stream of smoke trails around it from the exhalation of the man. He is leaning back in a chair, his eyes covered by dark shades, his skin a pale shade of sunburn as he relaxes. If you were watching the man, you would think he had no cares in the world.
If you knew the man, you would know how wrong you were…
Voice: Connor Murphy, I hope this is your idea of a joke!
Connor sits up, his hand reaching for his sunglasses as a smile creases his face, the laugh lines deepening around his eyes as he takes in Pussy Willow dressed to kill in a light cotton dress that suggested innocence and sin all in one. Slowly rising to his feet, Connor moves over to the opposite chair and holding out a hand, reaches to invite Pussy to sit down.
Connor Murphy: Darlin’ this is no joke I swear. I decided that there was things to say and the one woman that I could say them to is you and only you. And that is why I called you here.
Pussy Willow sniffs angrily.
Pussy Willow: If I had known it was you Connor, I so wouldn’t be here right now talking to you when I could be somewhere else. After all, all you do is tease me and flirt then nothing happens…sometimes I think you are only using me because I am an interviewer and you need to get a message out.
Connor lays a hand over the faded shirt that is covering his chest. Hanging his head almost apologetically, he sighs and nods.
Connor Murphy: You are right Pussy, I have been very naughty and abusive of our friendship. Let me get you a drink and the two of us will have a nice long natter about what is going to be happening on Climax Control then I will buy you dinner to make it up to you. Deal??
Pussy lets a little smile cross her lips as she bites at her bottom lip. Giving Connor a calculating look, she nods once before pulling out a small recorder and sets it on the table between them. While Ms Willow was searching for the small machine, Connor waved over the waiter motioning for two beer. The young man walks to the table after drawing both glasses and sets them on the table. Connor holds up a five dollar bill and then waves off the waiter with a grin. The gleeful server murmurs ‘gracias’ as he backs away from the pair. Ready for the interview, Pussy begins to speak.
Pussy Willow: well Connor, this week on Climax Control you have a chance once again for the Roulette title in a match against the man that beat you for the belt at Summer XXXTreme, Goth. I don’t know about you Connor but it seems to me that you are circling the titles and everytime you get close to winning only to miss the brass ring.
Connor Murphy: Well darlin’ that is kinda hurtful, true but hurtful none the less. Can I help it if there are people that need to cheat to get where they need to be or win titles when they know they have no other option.
Pussy Willow: Are you implying that Goth cheated to win the roulette title?
Connor just laughs as Pussy lifts her glass and sips at the beer suspiciously before he is able to control his mirth.
Connor Murphy: Pussy love, I am not implying anything. I am just telling it like it is. See Goth knew that I was the only one that had any chance of beating him for the title and what happened hmmm? He needed to use fire to beat me. He wasn’t man enough to tough it out and took the easy win. But that is fine because if he can sleep with himself for taking the shortcut, so be it. Whereas I on the other hand know that I am someone that is willing to bleed to get what I want. I am willing to go the extra mile to take what I have deserved since I got into this company. I am the only one bat shit crazy enough to make that title something of worth once more.
Pussy Willow: But Connor, to hear Goth talk about the belt, he says he is the only one that is worthy to be Roulette champion. And given his track record, he has quite the win loss stats. Not that you aren’t good enough but time and time again, you come up just short..
Pussy holds up her fingers only a few inches apart which makes Connor wince at the double entendre.
Connor Murphy: Tis true, I do manage to beat myself up about that. But something tells me that this night when I face Goth, it isn’t going to be the same. At Climax Control, I am not focused on the one thing that everyone else thinks I should be.
Pussy Willow: You aren’t focused on winning the title?
Connor Murphy: That is the reward I will get after my match. My focus is squarely on the man that burned me for the title. My focus is on maiming him and making him realize that Nobody is going to let anything stand in the way of revenge.
Pussy looks at Connor in surprise as he leans forward, his hands clenched into fists. Leaning forward herself, she lays her own hand over one of his fists.
Pussy Willow: This is a different Connor Murphy talking. I mean you usually talk tough but sitting here, I am getting the impression that something in you has changed.
Connor Murphy: Oh I haven’t changed Pussy m’love. I have just realized that I was taking things too easy. I was treating all of this as a bit of a lark when it came to my matches and what I was doing in the ring. I have learned that maybe I need to bring back the old Connor.
Pussy Willow: The old Connor? You mean the NXT rogue Connor?
A cynical smile crosses Connor’s face as he slowly shakes his head.
Connor Murphy: I wish it was that simple but no. That Connor wouldn’t be crazy enough for a Roulette title match. That Connor would be suitable for the Internet title or maybe the tag titles. Let me tell you a story Pussy…
Connor lets his fingers unclench as he picks up his glass and drains it in one drink. Setting it back on the table top, he motions for another as he begins his story. Pussy listens in fascination.
Connor Murphy: The streets of Ottawa can be rather cold where I grew up. Lowertown was a sad, depressing little section of the city where gangs ran rampant and the boys needed to be tough. The home I spent the most time in was a dirty rundown house on a side street. My bedroom that I shared with three others looked out on a school yard what was decorated with graffiti. I was thirteen when I was fostered there and sixteen when I was pulled out. I was known as a delinquent. I seem to remember my foster dad calling me bad seed. But I was tough. I fought my way into acceptance in that school yard.
Connor pulls up his shirt slightly to reveal a jagged white scar traced along his abdomen. Pussy looks closer.
Pussy Willow: An appendix scar?
Connor Murphy: I wish it was. I still have my appendix, this was my initiation into that school yard. I was fourteen and this is from a small knife that a bigger boy pulled when I had him on his back. See, no matter what the case, when I get in that zone, nothing tends to stop me except something that takes a shortcut.
Pussy Willow: I think I understand what you are talking about Con…
Connor Murphy: No Pussy m’love, I don’t think you do. When I was fourteen, I fought for my life and won. I ain’t afraid to die. Summer XXXTreme I burned but I survived and I learned. Now on Climax Control when I have a chance to once again face Goth, this time I am not going to hold back. I am not going to worry about sending him home to his little wifie a beaten and broken man because that isn’t what I have planned knowing that is something that won’t get to Goth. No, beating him won’t cause the most pain…
The last comment is said almost to himself as Pussy tilts her head in confusion.
Pussy Willow: You would cause him pain by beating him Connor. A win will hurt won’t it?
Connor Murphy: I could win Pussy, but what if I win by disqualification? What if I win by Goth slithering out of the ring like the snake he is and by being counted out. No, that won’t hurt him in the least. The only way that I can hurt Goth, the only way he is going to feel the pain is if I take something he loves.
Pussy Willow: Are you threatening to take his wife like Shipman did?
Connor’s harsh bark of laughter sets Pussy back slightly as he lunges towards the recorder.
Connor Murphy: Come on Pussy, we both know that won’t hurt Goth. His wife is not the first love of Goth’s life. Oh he will say she is but I know that she is a distant third to the real loves of his life…the title and the spotlight. There isn’t anything that you could say that will make me believe otherwise.
Pussy Willow: Very harsh words Connor. What do you think that is going to do to Goth and how do you think he is going to react to your comments?
Connor Murphy: I don’t really care anymore Pussy. I am tired, damn tired of listening to Goth and his rants about how good he is and how he will be keeping the title because he is the best. Do you know what I have to say to that darlin’?
Pussy Willow: No, what?
Connor Murphy: On Sunday at Climax Control in that main event when all is said and done, there will be only one man standing and one man holding that title in his bloody hand and that man is going to be me!
Pussy Willow’s eyes widen in surprise at how vicious Connor sounds. Taking a slow breath, she reaches across the table for the recorder. The slight movement snaps Connor out of the frenzied trance he seems to be in. The intensity on his face fades as a smile then crosses it.
Connor Murphy: Now Pussy m’love, since I got that all off my chest, what say you and I hit this city and get dinner, my treat.
Pussy narrows her eyes slightly with concern.
Pussy Willow: Are you sure? I mean you do have to get ready for your match.
Connor Murphy: I would rather take a beautiful woman out for dinner.
Pussy Willow: Well in that case, let’s go.
Scooping up her recorder, she hides it in her purse as Connor gets to his feet as well. Motioning for her to go ahead of him out of the door, Connor and Ms Willow leave the café both intent on their now lowered conversation as the door closes behind them.
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Scene: Nobody knows your sorrow…
The quiet of the night is only broken by the sounds of a man walking along. Connor Murphy has a black hoodie over a pair of ratty jeans and a faded Dropkick Murphys shirt. Dark hair falls over his eyes as he squints into the faint light of the site of Climax Control.
Moving into the arena where Sunday he would be competing in the main event, he makes his way to the backstage area where he searches for and finds the wheel of matches. A smile breaks over his face as he lets his finger trail along the curve of it, tugging gently that draws the faintest click of the indicator moving between spikes.
Connor Murphy: Would you look at that. Up close and personal I am with the wheel that will decide how I take your title on Sunday Goth. I could sit here and spin and spin and spin this wheel and watch it click towards your fate.
Connor reads along the curved surface, his finger tracing the match type as it is indicated by the arrow. Spinning the wheel, he watches and listens as the clickety clack of the indicator slows and then stops at inferno match which causes a slight chuckle from the challenger.
Connor Murphy: Lookie here, an inferno match, probably the one match you would want most of all seeing as you like playing with fire. See, that is okay with me because since you last singed me, I have taken to playing with my own fire. I keep lighting up the ring with my own brand of crazy. I am like a pyro in search of pile of trash to burn. And guess what, if I am lucky enough to get the inferno match on Sunday, I will have found it in you Goth.
Reaching once more for the wheel, Connor again spins it crazily. His head spins slightly with the wheel as it slows then stops on another stipulation, this time the words spell out ladder match.
Connor Murphy: Maybe we will be lucky and get this match Goth. A match that will see your title taken out of your hands and hanging above the ring. A match that will see the two of us beating each other bloody and black and blue, all for the chance to lay out our opponent and climb the ladder to glory.
Connor spins the wheel then he lets it slow but not stop before he spins it again. He keeps spinning it over and over again as he speaks as if Goth is listening.
Connor Murphy: It is not going to matter Goth what stipulation happens on Sunday. It is not going to make a difference what match type is chosen for us to fight. The only thing I am looking for is the chance to hurt you. The only desire I have right now is to make you feel pain like you haven’t felt before. My ONLY want is to put you down like some kind of rabid animal and let you watch as I lift the Roulette title over you and let Justin Decent make that announcement that is going to set your blood to boiling as it slowly drips on the canvas.
Stopping the wheel, Connor turns his back on it and looks into the darkness surrounding the backstage areas.
Connor Murphy: I can hear you now Goth. Talking and whispering and trying to convince yourself you are ready to take me out and prove once again you are the beast of Sin City. I know what you must be thinking Goth, I can smell the wood burning from here. You are thinking that I am a Nobody and that is all I am ever going to be. While you are the elite as the Roulette Champion and there isn’t anyone or anything that will stop you. And that will be where you are wrong Goth.
Connor brings a finger up and gently taps at his temple as a vicious smile begins to creep across his face.
Connor Murphy: I’ve got it right here Goth…I have the strategy that is going to stop you and boy is it a good one. I bet you want to know what it is, I bet you are going to try and convince yourself of how invincible you are. But we both know Goth that you aren’t invincible hmmm.
Connor’s smile widens, the maniacal gleam lights up his eyes.
Connor Murphy: I have beaten you before Goth, do you remember. It may not have been for the title you were wearing at the time but I DID beat you. And on Sunday, I am going to do it again and again. This time though, this time it is for the title and this time I am going to take the title and there will be little to be done about it.
Connor begins to walk away but stops when he realizes that his thought was not complete. Holding up one finger, he turns back to the wheel then the darkness of the backstage area, his eyes seemingly focused on an unseen Goth.
Connor Murphy: That is right. The little that can be done is accept the fact that I am coming to beat the holy hell out of you and take your title.
Connor smirks then turns and walks away softly singing a song for Goth.
Connor Murphy: Nobody knows the troubles you’ve seen…Nobody knows your sorrows
Connor stops and turns.
Connor Murphy: This Nobody knows the trouble you’ll see…This Nobody will know your sorrows
Connor rounds the corner and disappears, the sound of his singing carried back faintly until it fades.
