[Sam Marlowe]

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Scene:  Self Doubt

San Juan Puerto Rico where Sin City Wrestling held its latest supercard, High Stakes five, was a night of highs and lows for everyone on the roster, in the ring and out of it.  I hadn’t been booked for a match but I was there, soaking in the atmosphere and generally just enjoying watching what was happening and seeing the competition and friends.

Sidebar by the way…l was so happy to see my friend Ben Jordan win his match, good on you Cockney King!!

It had been all good, for the most part.  As you might have guessed, wherever I was with SCW, my sister Cyn had to be there to be seen and keep me under her thumb.  If you ask me, I think she misses the spotlight…

Why I do not know because she is always front and center in everything we do

Maybe I am too sensitive about it?  Maybe I should just ignore her talk and just worry about myself.  Or maybe I should just stop talking to myself and not even think about it.  But like Daddy says, maybes never fly in October.

Sitting in the hotel lobby by herself, Sam Marlowe is relaxed in a wrestling tee and a pair of faded and ripped jeans that hug her legs and dark black converse sneakers.  She has her phone out and resting between her knees as she lets her fingers fly over the touchscreen.  A faint pinging of the letters can be heard as she seems to be writing something on some document app.  At the sound of approaching footsteps, she looks up and rears back, the phone immediately pulled to her chest as a fiery rush of red covers her face.

“You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that Pussy, you might not have someone who is able to be so calm and nonviolent,” Sam jokes as she crosses her legs and rests her phone screen down on her lap.

Pussy smiles as she sits down beside her friend.  Leaning back, she tucks her left ankle under her right leg.  â€œI wasn’t sneaking Sam, you were just really busy not paying attention to the world,” replies the interviewer as she fluffs at her hair before sliding her fingers along her cheek to rest it on the palm of her hand as her eyes narrow slightly.  â€œSpeaking of,” she continues, “what’s that you are writing?”

Sam only spares the barest of glances down to her cell before waving a hand in the general direction of Ms Willow in deflection.  â€œY’all wouldn’t want to know the boring details,” she vaguely comments as Pussy reaches across and nabs the phone.  Sam desperately tries to grab at it while Pussy holds it further away and reads the comments.  Once she is done, she hands the cell back to Sam with a determined look on her face.  Sam ducks her head and holds up a delaying hand once more.  â€œI know what you are gonna say and I know I should listen but you don’t understand…”

“Make me understand Sam,” offer Pussy as she crosses her arms over her chest.  â€œAll I see is you having to be in the background while that b…your sister gets to be the one in the spotlight.  You are the one that is the wrestler, not her.   You need to build up your confidence,” says Pussy.

“I know,” answers Sam with a glum look on her face.  â€œI’ve been living it all my life and I guess I just never got past being number two in the family.”  Sam slumps down slightly as she sighs.  â€œIt all started I guess when we were little girls.  Cyn was the star, a complete tiara and toddlers diva that did Moms proud.  She was always on, always ready to shine.  I on the other hand…”Sam lets her voice trail off as she spared a quick glance at Pussy who was leaned forward, absorbed in the story.  â€œI wasn’t.  I didn’t like the dress up or the frilly clothes that Cyn did.  I was more at home in the mud playing with the boys, beating them at baseball and tearing it up on the football field.  Hell we’re from Texas and football there is king.  I was the son my Daddy never had.  I couldn’t do the pageant stuff but gimme a sport and there wasn’t anything I could do wrong.”

Pussy smiled at the picture that Sam presented of the ultimate tomboy.  â€œI bet you kept your hair short and didn’t wear a dress in your life,” teased Pussy.

“Oh I wore dresses,” Sam admitted.  â€œBeing my mother’s daughter, you couldn’t escape wearing them.  And in my house, Moms was the boss when it came to us girls.  But you are right about my hair.  I kept it in the shortest cut I could that was still ladylike.  Finally when I got to be twelve, my mother put her foot down and I wasn’t playing in the boys leagues anymore.  But all the time, Cyn was the apple of Moms’ eye.”

Pussy could only murmur in sympathy with Sam who sighed again.

“That’s why Cyn is the way she is,” offers Sam.  â€œShe is just like Moms in the way she acts and talks and….”

“And manipulates you,” adds Pussy.  â€œSam, Cyn isn’t your mother and you shouldn’t put up with that bull.  You made it on your own in SCW when Cyn couldn’t hack it.  You are the one in the spotlight, not your sister so you shine!”

The look Sam shoots at her friend gives Pussy hope as Sam gets up and straightens out.  â€œYou’re right Pussy, I am the one in the spotlight.  And when I get back to Houston, I am going to sit Cyn down and have this out with her about how she is treating me!” exclaims Sam as she pushes herself to her feet.  â€œAnd speaking of Houston, I have to finish packing because my flight is in like four hours.  I gotta go but thanks for the pep talk,” says Sam as Pussy herself stands.  Giving the interviewer a tight hug, Sam whirls away and heads towards the elevators, a bounce in her step and whistling.  As the elevator door opens to let Sam inside, she waves at Pussy Willow who is shouldering her purse.  The last sight Pussy sees is a smiling Sam reaching for the floor buttons as the door closes.

“Let’s hope that she follows through on what I suggested because she really needs to get her head in the game and realize that she shouldn’t listen to Cyn Marlowe if she wants to move up in the ranks of SCW,” Pussy comments to herself as she turns and heads out of the hotel herself.

Upstairs, Sam moves down the hall towards her room, pulling her hotel key from her back pocket.  The faint sound of the lock disengaging sounds loudly in the empty hall as she pushes the door open and steps inside to find Cyn waiting for her, a look of boredom on her face.

“I would have thought you would be packed by now,” offers the older redhead who is dressed in a silken blouse that leaves little to the imagination and a pencil skirt.  Barefooted for the moment, a pair of Loubotins rests near a set of packed bags ready to be put on.  Behind her on the bed is Sam’s open carryon bag with a scattering of clothes beside it.  

“I am almost done Cyn,” offers Sam as she moves to the suitcase and begins to stuff the extra clothes into it.  â€œWon’t take me much longer, so if you just want to sit over there…” she adds as she moves around a now obstacle older sister who is only slowing her down.

Cyn smirks as she slowly walks towards her own bag and gracefully puts on her shoes.  â€œSo Sammi, it’s time to come home huh?  What are you going to do with yourself until you finally get a match again in SCW?”” demands a catty Cyn.

From the bathroom where she is packing up her toiletries bag, Sam makes a snarky face at the comment but answers with her normal voice.  â€œI guess I am going to be training and figuring out what to do for the next couple of weeks.  What are you going to do?”

Looking at her nails, Cyn shrugs.  â€œWell I am going to help you train I  suppose,” she says slowly.  â€œMaybe I will be able to get you into winning shape finally.”

Sam glares at her sister as she walks through the doorway between the bathroom and the main room.  â€œYou know Cyn, if I am too much for you, you could always stay home and let me deal with wrestling for Sin City,” she blurts hopefully offering her sister a smile.

“Oh that is right, you don’t want me to help,” Cyn says nastily as she gets to her feet.  â€œIf that is how you feel then it is only because you know I am right where I need to be as your manager.”

“You aren’t my manager,” says Sam which is only ignored by Cyn who comes over and puts her arms over a now dejected Sam.

“You don’t mean that Sammiwich,” says Cyn.  â€œYou NEED me!  And I won’t let my little sister suffer the mean stuff that everyone else keeps telling you.  Now I am going to let you finish your packing and bring our bags downstairs while I go and arrange our ride to the airport.  Don’t be long.”

With that, Cyn leaves the room to her sister who turns to spy the set of luggage waiting for her.  Tossing her head back and forth between Cyn’s luggage and her small bag only makes Sam roll her eyes and collapse on the bed.

Reaching for her phone, she once again begins to type on the document app.

I don’t know what it is going to take but I have to figure out just what I need to say to get rid of Cyn.  If she listens to me to begin with…”

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Scene:  Selfish

The gym in the Houston mansion of the Marlowes is sparse of equipment but it is open and brightly lit as a young redheaded woman is seen standing in the middle of the room, hands on her hips as she contemplates what it is that she will be training on first. Dressed ready to train in a pair of black cycling shorts and a knotted tee and her hair in a long ponytail that is hanging down her back, Sam Marlowe catches sight of the wall of mirrors and starts towards it.

As she moves towards the rack of free weights near the mirrors on the wall, Sam is not surprised by the arrival of Cyn who is dressed in a pair of stonewashed jeans, Louboutins and a Cyn Marlowe Original Cyn tee that looks pressed and neat.  In her hand is a piece of paper that she waves at Sam.

“Well we finally have you in a match for Sin City and it took all my skills to get it for you,” says Cyn smugly as she sits on the bench near the weights.  Sam smiles as she begins to do bicep curls, watching herself in the mirror sparing a glance at Cyn every so often.  The other Marlowe sister waits impatiently for some comment from Sam but when none is heard, continues to speak.  â€œI told you that I would get you a match and this one means you might even have a chance at getting a title shot.  Well, if you can win that is.  Aren’t I good?”

Sam nods for a moment before commenting.  â€œOh very good but Cyn, I knew about the Going for the Gold tournament for all the Bombshells in SCW.  I don’t think that your input affected anything about it since all of us are in the tournament.  But thanks for reminding me about the match.  Have they said who I drew for my match and what kind of match it is?” asks Sam with a wide eyed innocence.

The sour look on Cyn’s face only makes Sam cough back a laugh as she turns to replace the weights before she realizes that Cyn hadn’t told her who she would be facing.  â€œYou have that match at Climax Control in Santo Domingo on the first of November.  Wait that is the day after your birthday and we always have a party for your birthday!  Whatever shall we do?  You can’t not have that party!”  insists Cyn as she turns the paper over.  From a pocket on her jeans, she pulls out a pen and begins to write.  â€œI will plan something for the hotel there.  My birthday gift to you!”

Without saying anything else, Cyn leaves Sam in the gym.  Sam watches her sister leave before starting to move the weights once more.  Lost in thought though, Sam isn`t paying any attention…

Flashback

An excited ten year old dressed in a pair of chaps, cowboy boots and a cowgirl shirt was pacing along the hallway outside of the room where the party was already started.  Sam Marlowe fixed the cowboy hat on the red yarn hair that she had braided to finish her costume.  Behind her, her father put a hand on her shoulder.

“Sammi, your sister planned all this for you,” her father says with a smile. “I hope you have a great time!”  He gives the little cowgirl a slight push into the room before stopping to look at the group of kids in the room.  Sam skids to a halt in confusion as she doesn’t see anyone she knows.  Moving to the side of the room, Sam finds a spot and parks herself into it.  Her father’s face darkens in anger as he sees Sam move off.

Shaking his head, he moves further into the room where he begins to see that the decorations aren’t birthday ones.  Moving to the food table, he tries to spy out the birthday cake only to see that it has a picture of Cyn on it with a Happy Halloween message.  Looking around, he finds Cyn as the center of attention of a group of boys who look very much older that middle school kids who were supposed to be at the party.

“Daddy, will you look at my party, everyone is having fun and nobody that wasn’t invited managed to get inside,” boasts Cyn as she puts her hand on his arm.

“Cynthia, this was supposed to be a party for your little sister’s birthday,” says her father angrily.

“I know that Daddy,” says Cyn with a pout.  â€œI wanted to introduce Sammi to a better class of people.”

Philip Marlowe swallows an angry retort as his fist clenches and unclenches.  â€œCynthia, I want you to send everyone home right now.  Look at your sister over there, miserable and it is your entire fault!”

Cyn turns to see Sam, one hand rubbing at her eyes as she fights to be brave.  â€œBut Daddy…”

“No buts young lady,” he says before being interrupted by his wife who whispers into his ear.  Giving her a look, he glares but says nothing more as he leaves the room.  Cyn smiles at her mother, joining her to introduce her to her friends.

Moments later, a commotion happens at the door at the other end of the room where a man in a cape and mask appears looking for something or someone.  Moving down the room, he stops in front of Sam and holds out his hand for the little girl.  Sam gives him a look of surprise then smiles as the hero winks at her.  Taking his hand, she is escorted out of the room.

“Let’s go get some ice cream Sammiwich,” says the hero.

“Okay Daddy,” she replies with a laugh.  â€œYou saved the day, my hero!”

Sam hears her name being called by a voice from behind her.  â€œSammiwich, did you want to go for some ice cream?”

“Daddy!  Of course I do, give me a few minutes,” she calls before heading towards the door and into her room.  Her father waits outside and is approached by Cyn who has an open book in her hands.  She stops and smiles at her father.

“Daddy can you do me a favor and tell Sammi that she is facing Amy Marshall at Climax Control and that I have her party under control,” says Cyn as she moves beyond Sam’s room.  Her father calls out to Cyn reminding her that Sam would want to have her friends at the party.  Cyn’s hand waves with nonchalance as Sam exits her room.

“What was that about Daddy?  Cyn planning my party?” asks Sam.

“Well she said to tell you that you are facing Amy Marshall.  And that she has your party all planned.  I just reminded her that you would want some of your friends there,” said her father as the pair walk down the hallway and around the corner.

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Scene:  Self Worth

“This is where I need to address what is going to be happening at Santo Domingo on Climax Control, the first night of the Going for the Gold tournament for all the bombshells in Sin City Wrestling.  If you hadn’t heard about this big event, all the bombshells are being given the chance at a number one contendership to Mikah’s title at December to Dismember.

Now before you ask, I know that my sister will tell you that I have a chance at the title shot but I am realistic in this approach.  Of course I have a chance but first I have to get to round two and there is a big roadblock in my way.

Amy Marshall.  This woman has done it all.  Every title, check.  Multiple year end awards, check.  Woman of the year, that’s her.  Great huh?

But no matter how good someone is, there is always someone better.  And no matter how talented someone is, there is always an element of surprise.  Well SURPRISE!  That’s me!  I am that unknown that could tip the balance between Amy Marshall advancing and Amy Marshall going down in flames like no other.  Lil ole me with my abysmal win loss record and defeatist attitude has made some big decisions on the eve of my birthday.  

I have decided that I am no longer going to walk into the ring with my mind dwelling on a loss.  Don’t get me wrong, I do know your talent Amy but I am just as good as you are.  And all those people that say I’m not are going to be snacking on a big piece of humble pie when I advance to round two over your beaten body.  

My birthday is the turning point in my career.  This Halloween I’ve done some growing up and I am not settling anymore.  And if you think I am, then it is you that will lose, not me.  The only thing I am settling for is the win.  And I am going to fight tooth and nail to get it and if that means taking the fight to you on your level, that is what I will do.  And when I rise to the challenge, I want you to know that I have respect for what you have accomplished and I want you to realize that I am going to earn your respect when I win.

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Scene:  Self Centered

Cyn Marlowe stands in the doorway of the hotel ballroom that she had booked for the party for her sister’s birthday.  Dressed in a rather sexy Mad Hatter costume, she claps her hands at the decorations and food.  Inside people were mingling in costumes as soft rock music plays.

“I am sorry sir but you aren’t allowed to go in there,” a voice can be heard which Cyn hears and rolling her eyes, she turns to spy a Roman Gladiator that looks very familiar.  She steps in front of him and holds up her hand.

“Oh no you don’t Ben, you aren’t on the guest list,” she says gloatingly.

“ Ah ’fraid so love.  Sam invited me, Maximus Cocknius,” he replies as he moves to enter the room once more while once more Cyn moves in front of him.

“Sam isn’t here and I am not letting you in to ruin her birthday party.  I have invited all my friends to celebrate with us and you aren’t one of them,” Cyn sneers.

“Well if he isn’t going to be there, neither am I,” says Sam who appears behind Cyn.  â€œEvening Ben, care to rescue a girl from a fate worse than death?”

Taking in the rather skimpy angel costume that could be said to be covering Sam, Ben smirks.  â€œThat’s me, knight in shiny…ah breastplate…” he responds with a teasing half bow.

“Sam! You can’t leave, this is YOUR birthday party,” says Cyn as she grabs at Sam’s arm.  â€œWhat will I tell everyone in here?”

Sam moves around Cyn and then takes the arm Ben holds out to her.  â€œFrankly dear sister, I don’t give a damn,” she utters with a full southern accent put on just for the comment.  â€œIt wasn’t my party to begin with and frankly, I really don’t know anyone here except your fiancé grabby hands.  Let’s go.”

The pair turn and walk out of the hotel leaving Cyn to silently scream in frustration.

Hours later, a rather tipsy angel sits on a bar stool shooting back a dark shot then sets the empty glass on a rather shaky pyramid of empty glasses before turning to an equally drunk gladiator.

“I bet you the next round that I totally pissed Cyn off because I didn’t want to stay at her boring old party,” offers Sam with a slight smirk.  Without even blinking, Ben picks up the shooter and tosses it back before setting the glass on the pyramid.

Giggling madly, Sam picks up her beer chaser and waves it at Ben.  â€œI have to say Ben that you saved me from a night of boredom.  But I really should be training for Climix…no climax control on Sunday.   Between you and me, I have a match that I need to win against Mamie Arshall.”  Snickering at the mistake, Sam takes a drink then softly and precisely sets the bottle down.  â€œI mean Amy Marshall.  And do you know what Ben?  I am going to win because it is only fair that I take this seriously and I just want to shut my sister up for once.”

“I’ll drink to that m’love,” says Ben as he raises his own beer slightly less inebriated than Sam.  

“I mean really, the way she talks to me I am surprised I haven’t beat the crap out of her yet,” muses Sam.  â€œI love her but she is a BITCH!”

Sam slowly gets to her feet and swaying slightly, she finishes off her beer then looks at Ben only to snicker again.  â€œYou’re drunk too.  We better get back to the hotel before Cyn decides to lock me out of it.  Come on, you drive and I will navigate.”  Grabbing two more beer, Sam begins the slow walk from the bar and raises a hand for a cab.  When none show up, Sam turns and finds a place to sit down.  The night air is sweet with the Caribbean breeze which begins to sober up the pair.

Sam looks lost in thought for a moment before turning to Ben and pointing at him.  â€œYou think I can beat Amy don’t you?” she asks only to be greeted with a nod from the gladiator.  â€œMe too but something tells me that I am lucky it is only Friday night and I have all day tomorrow and Sunday to sober up.  I am not going to feel all that good tomorrow am I?”

Ben shakes his head negatively as Sam lays her head on his shoulder while pulling her feet up under her.

“Wake me up when I need to go to the ring,” she murmurs before falling asleep as a cab pulls up.  Ben manoeuvers her toward the cab before sliding her in and then joining her for the ride back to the hotel.  The car pulls away from the curb and that is the last we see of Sam and Ben for the night.

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Scene:  Self Aware

This is where I admit that the drunk last night was not the best plan.  But it was worth it in the end.

See, as I lay there waiting for the room to stop spinning I thought about the match that I would be facing Amy Marshall in and decided then and there that I wasn’t going to be second best.  I wasn’t going to let Woman of the Year advance.  I decided in the wee hours of my birthday that I was going to do whatever it took to win.  

And win I shall Amy because there is nothing more that I want than to step up and face Mikah and take her title because that will prove three things to me.

One, that my sister has finally done what she has been trying to do and made me a winner in spite of myself.  Two, that anyone is beatable if you just put your mind to it and three…I am a real threat to the bombshells and nobody or nothing will change that.

So Amy, I wish you the best, I wish you good luck in our match at Climax Control and most of all, I apologize now for the fact that you will be losing the match to someone more determined than you have ever faced before.