(Maniac): Shit, SHIT!! I'm fuked, oh God I'm fuked!
Maniac is pacing the room as he continues to drink. Erica who had been let onto the property was a regular guest at this point and knew her way around the estate. She had just arrived and was informed that Maniac was in the bar and she walked into the room finding her Maestro there having just heard him outside the door before entering.
(Erica): You tell me yours and I'll tell you mine Maestro! Anything I can do?
Erica walks over to the bar, taking the bottle of Jack from him and takes a swig. She hops up on a barstool and looks back at him still pacing the floor. Maniac shakes his head and walks back over to the bar, sitting down. He takes the bottle back and takes a swig.
(Maniac): No my dear, I'm afraid you can't help me with this. Did you have a fun night out?
She scoffs, swiveling around on the stool.
(Erica): Si, I got drunk, got down and shook my ass on the dance floor a bit, ya know...did my thing y got laid. Pero....
She reaches into her jacket pocket pulling out the envelope she was served a few nights ago and slides it across the bar to Maniac. She watches…waiting for his reaction. He unfolds the paper scanning it over and looks at it, then back at her.
(Maniac): I'll call Hammond and see what he can do, no promises though these summons are solid.
Maniac takes a deep breath.
(Maniac): Listen Erica, you know I've been fighting a demon and now I'm free from said demon and doing so…it's opened my eyes to the things that not only I've done, but we've done. I'm still you're Maestro, but things are going to change.
Erica cuts her eyes over at him. He suddenly seemed "vulnerable" to her in a small way. It worried her a little.
(Erica): Tus ojos a lo que? What's going on? Some bitch do something to you? Gimme her name, I'll handle it. What's the address?
Maniac smiles at the gesture.
(Maniac): No, nothing like that my dear. Erica, are you a religious person? I've been through something recently that’s brought me back to my roots. The me you've known these past few months hasn’t been the real me, that was...him. Think about it, would I have tried to run over someone with a bus back in the day?
(Erica): I'm not fuking Michelle religious, but yeah. You talking about the video Mandy showed at Havoc? Is that what this is about...back when fans were showing you the goddamn respect you deserve, on their feet cheering and shouting your name? And Matt attacked you remember, you didn't even make it through the door when his ass was assaulting you. Then that bitch Sarah jumped in to double-team you...that bus...that shit was self-defense Maestro. Fuk them!
Erica grabs a glass and pours herself a drink. Maniac begins to nod in agreement but quickly shakes his head. He grabs the bottle and takes a drink quickly changing the subject.
(Maniac): Never mind, are you ready for your match at Havoc?
There was definitely something he was struggling with, she replayed his questions in her head thinking there was something she might have missed, didn't read between the lines or something…but she wasn't sure. He had changed the subject now and she didn't want to press.
(Erica): I've been in the ring with guys before, pero esa fue Lucha Libre...esa fue Mexico. I'm not going to get in there and try to out power him, but I think I can stick and move ya know...I hit hard Maestro, tu lo sabes! I can take him, but you've been in there with him before, I've just watched him…so I'm all ears.
Maniac takes another swig off the bottle.
(Maniac): As you've seen he loves that spear, he'll try and break you down to soften you up for it. He favors power moves so your best bet like you said would to be stick and move, his game is slow and steady so speeding up the pace will throw them off his game. Don't let him get you in his grasp I'm sure you remember the ankle lock from this past Havoc, he'll be definitely looking to lock that in again. What I suggest is watch footage of his matches, study them and we can practice any counters to any of his moves that you want. I need to prepare for my match with Stu, don't want to be rusty.
Maniac let's out a nervous chuckle.
(Erica): Rusty?
Erica laughs...
(Erica): Brit Boy's got nothing on you Maestro. In fact the two of you have something in common...getting under little Matty's skin...whining little bitch.
Erica gets up and goes behind the bar grabbing a bottle of Corzo Tequila holding it up at Maniac, and he nods giving her permission as she pours some taking a shot, and pours another.
(Erica): Hans though...you're right. He's steady, he likes his power movbes like you said, and he damn sure likes to get his hands on you, I know that first hand...not that anybody but you gave a shit. He won't get the satisfaction this time. I want to humiliate him the same way he's humiliated me. I want that freckle-faced pendeja of his to watch me have my way with him. He thinks he's going to dictate terms to me, to us, this is over when we say it’s over...si maestro?
Maniac says nothing at first, just drinks from the bottle of Jack. He takes a deep breath before speaking.
(Maniac): After this match Erica it IS over. I told you, things are going to change and it starts with leaving Hans and Vanessa alone. Listen, I've been thinking we can go legit and be one Hell of a force to be reckoned with. I said that I would never be in a tag team again but I'm willing to make an exception with you, we could be the first male and female tag team to win some gold whenever they are reintroduced. How does that sound? And as for Stu…yes, we do have a lot in common but he is one hell of a wrestler nonetheless and I want to be on top of my game when I step into the ring with him at Havoc.
Maniac smiles genuinely, hoping for the best. She was mid-sip of her drink and nearly choked on it. If it wasn’t good tequila she might have spit it out having been caught a bit off guard by his tone and his seemingly genuine intent.
(Erica): What are you saying "it IS over"? What does that mean?
She tried to hold it in, but Erica began to cry. Her chin quivers as tears run down her cheek.
(Erica): You know what he did to me. He can't just get away with that shit. He...he made feel those things, he touched me in that ring, and he knew what he was doing, and they let him get away with it because he's friends with the boss. I'm on fuking pills, goddamn meds from these estupido doctors because of him. Cymbalta and Lamictal…I don’t even know what the shit is. And go Legit? I don't know what you're talking about. We're already legit...who's more legit in the damn company than us? Who keeps it real more than us?
Erica puts her drink down and moves over to Maniac, a sudden sense of desperation filling her as she grabs his hands.
(Erica): There's nothing I'd love more than to be a champion, una campeona para ti Maestro. Pero...I don't get it...I've done everything you said...I'm the only one of those fuks who took one of the greatest veterans up on his offer to help nurture us. You saw through their bullshit, how they treated me, even Brit Boy's commented on that damned Academy, he knows what's up. Am I doing something wrong?
Maniac smiles.
(Maniac): I mean that this bullshit with them is over, you have this match with him and win or lose you part ways. Listen, I appreciate you wanting to learn from me but like I said…when we first met, I wasn't myself. This whole time you've been under the wing of the DreamMaster, the demon that I've been fighting. But now he's inhabiting Santino and we're all in BIG trouble, after he tortures and kills me that is. That's beside the point though, I didn't want any of this Erica. This ISN'T how things are done, why didn't you go to the police after he "attacked" you. Come on Erica, when does it end?
Maniac's phone rings and upon noticing who's calling he ignores it, putting his phone down. She'd always known about DreamMaster, and Antonio, but they were a part of Maniac that she never truly experienced, and to a degree didn't understand. What he was saying to her now, she couldn't digest. Her head was spinning and the buzz she had from the drink suddenly felt like she had been drinking water.
(Erica): If that's what you want...fine...after Havoc...when I win...it's over...I owe you that Maestro. I didn't go to the police because who was going to believe me? They'd come and do some bullshit investigation...."Hey Mr. Parker...any wrong doing here...Ummm No sir, Hans is a straight arrow, known him all me bloody life....Ok good enough for me, I think we're done here."
Erica's in tears...
(Erica): But I'm the liar right? I'm fuked up in the head right? I'm some dumb list of psycho terms they wanna label me with and it's all my fault right? This "Isn't" how things are done, this "Isn't" how things are supposed to be, but this "Is" how they are, and it "Is" the card they dealt me. It doesn't end because they'll always do what they can to keep people like us down, to lock us up, or lock us away. “You need help Erica, professional help Erica.” No…I needed help when I was trying to get my Visa and green card…I needed help when I was working 3 jobs because HWA gladly used me but wouldn’t pay me shit because it would be “illegal and inappropriate, but we support you.”
Her tears are almost pleading with him.
(Erica): It WAS you all this time...it has to be...because if it wasn't you then who the hell am I?
Maniac nods his head in understanding, he knew what it was like to be labeled crazy and dismissed just as fast. He watches as she cries and doesn't know what else to do except walk over to her and hug her. He holds her close and squeezes not too tight but tight enough to let her know that he's there. He also knows that there are some people out there who are sick and don't realize it, and he knew Erica was one of them. He would do whatever it took to help her and at this moment this is where the healing began.
(Maniac): You're not crazy Erica, listen I'm going to help you in any way I can…I know the pain you're going through right now being labeled crazy and no one believing anything you say. But believe me things will get better and you will always have me to turn to, but I need you to be the bigger person and let this go. I know it's hard but you have to walk away. We'll do this together, I have my share of all this to bear it's not all your fault but I promise we'll get through it.
Maniac releases Erica and puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder. He hadn't steered her wrong yet, but this...this was unexpected. She listened to his every word, nodding, wiping her eyes.
(Erica): Si, maestro...after Havoc...prometo...prometo!
Maniac smiles and nods.
(Maniac): Great, and look don't take me as I'm ignoring your claim. I'm going to have Antonio's people look into it heavily and I promise you they will come up with the truth and if he needs to be dealt with Hans will be dealt with…that I swear to you. Now, let's have some drinks and relax and then hit the ring if you'd like? If you feel like talking more we can sit here and I'll listen while you talk, it's up to you.
Maniac lead her back to the bar where she sits and he sits beside her, each with their respective bottle alcohol. She was done talking, she needed to try wrapping he head around this conversation. Silence over took them in the room, the clinking of glass and the slosh of liquor the only sounds. She looked over at the restraining order papers on the bar where Maniac had put them down. She’d keep her promise, and heard his words again in her ear… “After this match Erica it IS over” As the scene fades to black.
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