*The scene opens inside of a familiar house in Staten Island, New York. Inside little Antonio Romano, who was then known as “The Human Horror Reel” Maniac is arguing with his brother. His brother, Santino, is visibly mad and isn’t tolerating the black-haired teenager. In the corner Antonio’s eleven-year-old cousin has tears in her eyes. Santino is holding a lead pipe in his hands.*
Santino Romano: Maniac I don’t have time for this crap. You saw mom! You saw what that prick, Jordan Tranglano, did to her. I know mom wasn’t the most honest or noble of people but no one deserves that. Never does a woman deserve that, especially my own mom.
Antonio Romano: But you’ve never gotten along with her for a single day in your life. She didn’t even really raise us. I don’t understand why you would risk anything to.....
Santino Romano: SHE’S STILL OUR MOTHER!
Antonio’s cousin: She was bleeding. Maniac, she was bleeding.
Antonio Romano: I know cuz. Look it’s going to be ok.
*Antonio wraps his arms around her and rubs his left hand over her reddish hair. Santino slaps the pipe against his hand. He nods to Antonio with a stern look on his face and storms out the door. Antonio moves to stop him but his little cousin is clutching him tightly. Antonino pushes her away.*
Antonio Romano: Look, I need to go after Santino. I just need to be there in case he needs help. I’ve got way more muscles. Jordan is bigger than he is. I’m going to go make sure he is ok. Stay here and take care of my mom ok?
Antonio’s cousin: I want to come too. I want to see the bastard who hurt her.
Antonio Romano: Look, I can’t look out for you and him. Just stay here and we’ll be right back if the cops haven’t locked us up. We should be fine. What could possibly go wrong?
*Antonio smiles and kisses her on the forehead and then rushes out the door after his brother.*
END OF INTERLUDE 1
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*We are once again inside the office of Dr. Melinda Ramirez. The good doctor is scribbling away at her clipboard when she suddenly stops and looks up at Antonio. Antonio is lounging back on the leather sofa and not even looking in the doctor’s direction. Melinda has a surprised look on her face.*
Melinda: You didn’t mention last time that you had gone after your brother!
Antonio Romano: Well, we hadn’t gotten in depth. It’s a little hard to try and dredge up all these old memories while my mind is so preoccupied.
Melinda: And what occupies the mind of the wrestling icon these days?
Antonio Romano: There is only one thought ringing throughout my mind. The complete and utter annihilation of Wayne Heckler and Michael Kosh! Sometimes I picture Jordan Tranglano in their place to help fuel my anger to the point where I hate them enough to want to tear their heads off. Wayne Heckler and Michael Kosh are just like everyone in my past, they want me to have nothing. Well, I wouldn’t let the people take it from me back then and I sure as hell wouldn’t let them take it from me now. And to make matters worse, I have to tag with that has been Buff Bridges.
Melinda: But the past has made you so cold and bitter. Your attitude towards people, your viciousness in the ring…these are sheer signs that you need to resolve the past. And what do you mean has been?
Antonio Romano: Don’t tell me you’re a fan of that geezer, you know what never mind. There is no resolution for the wrestling icon. There is only future success. With each success I feel like I pull away a little bit further from my failure laden past. To defeat the men put before me, to watch them as they suffer...just think of all the failure that would erase. Think of all the horrid memories I could let go of. It will be a pleasure to destroy these men at Outlawed and get myself closer to not only a shot at the HWA Tag Team Championship but get another shot at the HWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Melinda: But you yourself basically admitted that the break in pain wouldn’t last. You’ll have to strike out into the darkness again to find a new victim and then another.
Antonio Romano: Frankly Scarlet, I don’t give a FUK anymore. I need to free myself from the pain; I need their blood to wash away the old blood. Some victims were less deserving then Wayne Heckler and Michael Kosh and I can live easier if it’s their blood I see. Wayne Heckler and Michael Kosh deserves the grade A ass-kicking that I’m going to give them, they will bow down and call me Mr. Wrestling icon before it’s all said and done. I’ll psychically abuse them so badly that Jordan Tranglano would be proud.
Melinda: Were you there when....I mean did you witness your brother being shot?
Antonio Romano: No I was still a block away when I heard the gunshots. When I ran in he was on the ground dying. Jordan was there with four of his buddies. Jordan looked legitimately spooked. He said he heard Santino kicking in the door and got his father’s gun. When Santino burst through the door wielding a lead pipe he opened fire before he even knew whom he was shooting. I tried to kick his ass but his buddies held me back. He called the cops and I heard him say it was self defense because the guy had a pipe. So when they were all looking at him I snatched the pipe and took off. The cops never could prove I took the pipe or find it but all his buddies testified it was there and coupled with the broken in door he managed to get off. It didn’t help that mom wouldn’t testify about the beating or anything really. She sort of sunk inside herself and didn’t talk a lot after that.
Melinda: Does it still bother you to this day knowing he is out there free after what he did to your mother and brother?
Antonio Romano: Two days after the verdict I took the pipe Santino had previously employed and I went out for revenge.
Melinda: Wait? Weren’t you scared knowing he had a gun?
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INTERLUDE 2
*Antonino is suited up in black and he grabs the lead pipe and heads for the door. Suddenly his cousin grabs him from behind.*
Antonio’s cousin: Don’t go!
Antonio Romano: I have to go. Jordan can’t get away with this. I need to go over there and bash the shit out of him until he’s paid for what he has done. Some tonight, and then some more on another day, and then for the rest of his life he’ll live in fear that he’ll never know when I come for more.
Antonio’s cousin: The gun, Maniac! What about his gun? It’s still in the house. I know that after the trial his parent’s went back to their vacationing ways but I bet they still left that gun in the house…or another one.
Antonio Romano: I know! I’m not stupid like Santino. I don’t plan on kicking down the door. I’m all about the stealth and he can’t shoot what he doesn’t know is coming.
Antonio’s cousin: I can’t lose you. I’ve lost enough already. Just stay here with me.
Antonio Romano: Look it’ll be fine. I know what I’m doing. What could possibly go wro...
Antonio’s cousin: SAVE IT! I’ve heard that one before and do you know what could possibly go wrong? A LOT! I don’t need a freaking hero. This isn’t some made up game where Maniac the hero drinks his Super Juice and beats the bad guys. This is real life. I’m too young to bury a family member.
*Tears begin to fall. They fall slowly at first and then begin to pour thunderously from her ducts. Her face is a soaked reminder to Antonio that he still has one thing left in this world that he can care about. For a moment Antonio is sure that he won’t go out on this night. He is positive that his resolve has melted with his cousin’s tears and both have flowed away in a puddle of sorrow. But as if his brother demanding vengeance had sent a sign from the hospital, he could suddenly feel the heavy weight of the pipe in his hand again. Antonio glanced down at the pipe and realized it was the weight of his own conscience that he could not bare. Antonio knew he couldn’t live with himself if he had not sought revenge on this night.*
Antonio Romano: I love you cuz. But, I’m sorry! Sometimes in life you have to do more than just watch. Now keep it down or you’ll wake my mom from her drunken slumber.
Antonio’s cousin: NOOOOOO!
*But her screams are wasted as Antonio is already out the door and on his way to a fateful encounter that would change the course of four lives forever.*
END OF INTERLUDE 2
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Melinda: Did it ever occur to you to take your cousin’s advice and not go?
Antonio Romano: People always say stuff like that. Sometimes Ashley will start an argument with me about the upcoming tag match at Outlawed. She begs me not to go out of fear that I’ll get hurt. Sometimes I think she’s more afraid the monster inside me will be unleashed and she’ll have to witness it destroying every last trace of Wayne Heckler and Michael Kosh.
Melinda: Was The Human Horror Reel unleashed against Jordan that night?
Antonio Romano: Not exactly!
Melinda: Exactly what then?
Antonio Romano: Well see, that’s one of the things that suck about listening to sinners talk. Problem is that there’s always another point of view.
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INTERLUDE 3
*Antonio carefully inches his way closer and closer to the side of Jordan’s house. His lead pipe is gripped tightly in his hand. He works his way over to a window in one of the back rooms and through force eventually shoves it open. Antonio quietly enters the house and begins crawling along the floor. He hears a television in the front room and slides along the walls. Finally his target comes into view. Jordan is watching a television show in the living room. His feet are up on the table and he is stuffing copious amounts of popcorn into his orifice. He laughs loudly at something that happened on the show and Antonio is angered that Jordan could even laugh anymore after what transpired. Antonio crawls behind the couch and slowly kneels behind him. He raises the lead pipe and pops to his feet ready to strike. As the pipe comes down Jordan sees the reflection in the television and jumps around. Jordan screams and throws his arms up to protect himself. The pipe careens into his left arm with a sickening thud. Jordan falls to the floor and rolls up to his feet.*
Jordan: OWWW! #### my arm.
Antonio Romano: More than your stupid arm is going to hurt when I’m done Jordan.
Jordan: Antonio? Antonio Romano!
Antonio Romano: My name is Maniac. I’m the hero and you’re playing the part of the villain about to die.
Jordan: Look Antonio I’m sorry!
Antonio Romano: Maniac! My name is Maniac b###h! You tried to kill my brother. You tried to take his life and now I’m going to take yours. You made me this monster…you did this.
Jordan: Maniac you’ve got to believe me I never wanted your brother dead. We weren’t
friends by any stretch of the imagination but I didn’t want him to die.
Antonio Romano: Then why did you try to kill him you fuk?
Jordan: I didn’t mean to. I was so scared.
Antonio Romano: Was my mother scared when you beat her up?
Jordan: That wasn’t me!
*For a second Antonio was sure that the world had stopped spinning and up had become down. His brain was overloading.*
Antonio Romano: WHAT?
Jordan: I never touched your mom. She was working the streets as usual and my friend Kevin picked her up. You saw him on that night when your brother...well he was that tall guy with the goatee. He panicked when she asked him his name because he had never been with a prostitute before and he gave her mine. He was sensitive about it being his first time and he cracked. He said she laughed at something he tried to do and he beat her cause he snapped. I didn’t even know about it till the court battle started. Kevin was sure Santino had come here to kill him till you accused me, and then he came clean.
Antonio Romano: WHAT? Why didn’t this ever get mentioned in court?
Jordan: Kevin’s parents are rich and your mom wasn’t pressing charges. I was only on trial over the issue of it being self-defense so the lawyers told me not to mention any beatings but only to describe the events of that night. Why do you think your mom freaked out and shut down? She was horrified when she realized all of this was over some crazy misunderstanding. If Santino had gone to Kevin’s house he would have found no one.
*It was too much for Antonio to comprehend. His brain was fried from thirteen years of hell. He couldn’t think a second longer.*
Antonio Romano: It doesn’t change the fact that you tried to kill my brother!!!
*Antonio charged at Jordan with the pipe and swung. Jordan ducked it and ran for the door. He yanked the door open but Antonio grabbed him and shoved him backwards. The door stayed open and the night air rushed in. Despite the six years age difference, Antonio was as big as Jordan. Antonio kicked Jordan in the stomach as he was getting up and went to pick up his pipe. Jordan raced for the bedroom and opened a dresser drawer. He produced a gun, which he quickly loaded and raised towards Antonio. Antonio rushes at him and they struggled over the gun. The gun went flying out of their hands and slid towards the open door and stopped just short of sliding outside. Both boys went for it and Antonio was in front. Jordan tripped Antonio and then grabbed him in a chokehold. Antonio wrestled to his feet and used his strength to shove Jordan away from him. Suddenly two shots rang out and blood splattered over Antonio’s body. Blood smacked Antonio across his face and he raised his hands to his face to see them covered in blood. He glanced over to Jordan but he wasn’t there. Antonio’s eyes darted to the floor and there was Jordan, on the floor and very much dead. Antonio turned his eyes to the direction of the door and instantly wished he hadn’t.*
Santino Romano: GET THE FUK OFF OF MY BROTHER!
*In the doorway stood his little brother. He was shaking, and he was angry, and he was holding a smoking gun.*
END OF INTERLUDE 3
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Melinda: Oh my god! Your little brother escaped from the hospital and shot him?
Antonio Romano: Yup. He was way dead...like Kid Rock’s career dead.
Melinda: What happened after that?
Antonio Romano: Would you look at that! Time’s up! Much like the time is up for Wayne Heckler and Michael Kosh at Outlawed. I do hope you’ll watch me beat those clown and get one step closer to becoming the HWA Tag Team and World Heavyweight Champion.
Melinda: Antonio stop! Forget the clock. I’d really like to know what happened after that.
Antonio Romano: No can do. I’ve never told a single living soul and quite frankly I’ve been staring at your tits for three days now and they’re too lovely to have to kill.
Melinda: By law anything you say here is confidential. I cannot and will not tell a living soul be it a friend or the authorities. Let it out Antonio. I think its part of whatever is devouring you.
Antonio Romano: What happened next?
Melinda: YES! What happened next?
Antonio Romano: I proved without a shadow of a doubt that I am a monster.
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INTERLUDE 4
*Antonio slowly walked towards his brother but he walked right past him to the body. He was crying but he was also angry. He started kicking him and screaming.*
Santino Romano: That’s right you fuking b###h die like you tried to make me die. You tried to take Antonio too. I fuking hate you…I hate you.....I hope you fuking rot!
Antonio Romano: Santino, stop! Stop he’s dead. He cannot hurt you anymore.
*Antonio grabbed his arm and he dropped the gun. Antonio’s hands were covered in blood and he was smearing it all over him.*
Santino Romano: NO! Let me go I have to kill him. I saw him fighting you and I was so afraid. I love you Maniac. You are all I have in this world. Don’t let him take you away from me.
*Antonio was panicking. He was sure someone would have heard the shots and he was covered in blood. At thirteen your options never seem too broad but Antonio’s were thin. He needed to shut his little brother up. Less than a month until his birthday and now he was a killer. Antonio shook him but he wouldn’t come to his senses. He was screaming his intent to tear Jordan’s skin off from his body. Antonio needed to shut him up. He needed to do something. He panicked and did the first thing he could think of. He hit him! Not in a brotherly way at all but rather violently forcing his fist into his brothers face. He held him there as the rage and passion and hatred and hell of his entire life coursed through his body. He didn’t know what the hell he was doing. They looked at each other in shock for a moment before Santino spoke up.*
Santino Romano: We need to hide the body don’t we?
Antonio Romano: The cops…we should um....call the cops! I’ll tell them I did it!
Santino Romano: Cops? Cause they did so well for us before!
Antonio Romano: I don’t know bro. It’s like my life is like this blood on my hands. I can’t get the rid of the stain anymore. I don’t know what to do anymore.
Santino Romano: We can never tell anyone big brother.
Antonio Romano: OBVIOUSLY! They wouldn’t understand. It’s not to suppose to be this hard. I’m only thirteen; I don’t know how to handle this stuff.
Santino Romano: I’m scared Antonio. If they find out they’ll take us away. They’ll split us up. They will hate you.
Antonio Romano: Let them hate me. I don’t care anymore. What sense does this damned world make anyway? I didn’t ask for these cards to be dealt to me. I don’t care about anything anymore.
Santino Romano: You don’t mean that Antonio! We have each other, sins and all. Even this sin can be forgiven by the lord.
Antonio Romano: But who the hell is he to judge me? Tell him to rot in hell. I say to God that he can go fuk himself. If this is what he has given me than he can have it back. I’ll give it back to him and then some.
Santino Romano: Shhh! Keep your voice down! We have to get out of here...before someone finds out.
Antonio Romano: Fine....we’ll run then. They can’t catch a moving target. Let’s get while the getting is good.
Santino Romano: Ok....oh I am so tired! Why do they make the day so long?
Antonio Romano: I don’t know bro...But I know from here on out nothing can ever be the same again. Let me just clean this blood off me.
*Antonio is instantly reminded of what had just happened between them and realizes he can’t even bare to look at him.*
Voice: Oh my god...I can’t believe what I am seeing.
*Antonio spins around and comes face to face with his mother. She is staring at her bloodied sons and the dead body.*
Sara Romano: Is this the kind of god fearing kids I raised? Ones who kill people like degenerates?
Santino Romano: It wasn’t like that momma. I swear!
Antonio Romano: You raised? YOU RAISED? What the fuk did you ever raise? No one! You’ve done nothing but drink yourself senseless for longer than I’ve been alive and I refuse to take it one second longer. This whole mess is because you fuked us and everything else up. This is your mess mom, yours and yours alone.
*Sirens can be heard in the background and they are closing in.*
Sara Romano: The police. When I woke up and saw your brother’s note I came right over here. When I peaked in I saw the dead body and I ran over and called them from the pay phone.
Antonio Romano: You left her a note before you came here?
Santino Romano: I didn’t want her to get scared.
Sara Romano: GO!
Antonio Romano: What?
Sara Romano: Here is all the money I have left from what I made earlier today. Take it and take your brother and run. If this is my entire fault then let it be my entire fault.
*She rubs her hands all over the dead body and the walls and covers herself in blood. She picks up the gun and rubs her prints all over it. She shoves Santino into Antonio and screams for them to go. They run out the door and flea as the bright sirens approach the house. As they cross the block, four police cars arrive and the cops run inside the house. Antonio and his brother stop on the next block and Santino stops to count the money. Antonio stares at the lead pipe in his hand. He grabbed it before he left the house but he didn’t quite know why he did.*
Santino Romano: It’s not a lot but it’ll get us a train ticket to anywhere but here and we can start our lives over. Let’s never come back here again.
Antonio Romano: I’m sorry Santino!
Santino Romano: For what?
*Before he could even turn to look at him he nailed Santino with the lead pipe and was out cold. He knelt beside him.*
Antonio Romano: I can’t go with you. I’m just as tainted as she is and I can’t hold you down any longer. Take the money! Go to a new town or go back and stand at her side. You decide your fate. I’m going to disappear for a while. Maybe one day you’ll see me on TV and I’ll be a real superhero. Come on pipe, looks like you’re my only family left!
*Antonio kisses him softly on the cheek and then grips the pipe in his hand and runs off into the night and closes a chapter in his life.*
END OF INTERLUDE 4
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Antonio Romano: So that’s how it happened doc!
*Melinda is breathless. She just stares at him with eyes wide open. Antonio almost smiles in spite of himself.*
Melinda: You just left him there.
Antonio Romano: Yup. I thought he would go back and stand at mom’s side. After all it was the first selfless thing I had ever seen my mother do for anyone without a Mercedes. But he didn’t. The papers said that my mom claimed she was temporarily nuts due to the court letting Jordan go and so she killed him. They sentenced her to a mental institution. Because of my size I got a job at a gym and then got into wrestling. Once I had an address I wrote her and she wrote back saying that my brother was pissed at me. He took the money and ran but also wrote my mother. Mom said that my brother blamed that Kevin guy for everything and was going to kill him and that he would hate me forever. I never replied. I have no idea if he ever killed Kevin or if my Mom is still in the funny farm. I almost died when I first heard my brother’s voice again…it was just like I remembered it.
Melinda: But you won’t see him?
Antonio Romano: I was thirteen and I had beaten up my little brother for no reason. I led him to a place where he took a life. See I lied that night. Everything wasn’t my mother’s fault. It was mine! Their blood was on my hands. My mom, my brother, Jordan and myself…I ruined four lives in one night. I don’t want to see my brother ever again! I am the weapon. I am the smoking gun. That’s what it all boils down to. THE KILLER IN ME! That’s how I know that at Outlawed I will ruin Wayne Heckler and Michael Kosh’s lives. I destroy everything around me. In that ring, Wayne Heckler and Michael Kosh will fall and I will be closer to having what is rightfully mine, the HWA Tag Team and World Heavyweight Championship. It’s my gift, it’s my curse. I leave everything around me destroyed. My past made me a monster. And as a monster I destroyed everything around me. I am the catalyst for disaster. Enjoy the match…and I hope you enjoyed the trip down memory lane. Don’t thank me for the story. YOU’RE WELCOME!
*Antonio smiles and walks out the door. Ashley leaps up as always and hugs him. He gives her a deep kiss and then hugs her. He stares at Melinda, who is watching in horror from her office. He opens the door and holds it as Ashley leaves. Antonio then leaves and as he walks through the door he winks at Melinda. The door shuts and Melinda continues to stare. She is not at all sure how best to describe the three days she spent with a monster.*
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