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DIRTY MANIFESTO
"Superior Mind."

Here we are at the end of our little run together.  We're looking into each other's eyes and we're waiting for the other to blink.  Yeah.  We're blowing a lot of smoke.  Nah Shawn, I'm not going to talk about Superiority Complex anymore because the shit ceases to have meaning to me.  You want to keep on talking about No Ca$h Value and how it rates--go ahead.  I'm through with it.  This has nothing to do with your clan and my merry men.  This has everything to do with you and me.  You make it about Bronwen because you don't want me to simply wrestle her, you don't want me to trust her.  You don't want her to trust me either.  You don't understand and haven't been paying attention to the fact that she and I are tight in ways you never will be with another.  Your puny little ego can't handle having to make sacrifices for someone else.  You make every one sacrifice in your name.  Yeah.  You're the leader alright.  You're the leader of a new generation of untrustworthy little snots that can't see beyond their shallow little natures.  Yes sir I think this could indeed have more to do with you than it does with me.  Your hunt for another trinket to keep your name atop the world has lead you to a crossroads.  This is make it or break it time for you--another match to me.  That's right.  You're the one backtracking every step of the way.

You wouldn't know the way up if not for gravity.  Yeah.  Gravity.  You'll know the bottom when you find it.  I am so sick of you projecting yourself onto me.  We are nothing alike and never will be.  You can't hang with me in the ring just like you can't match my wits.  You think you have it all figured out.  The city's burning alright Shawn and you're in the middle of it.  The fucking city's about to burn down around you.  It's about to eat you alive.  Fuck you're hardly worth my time anymore.

The only thing you've earned--the only thing you deserve is an ass whipping.  That's exactly what's going to happen too pal.  I know you want to pull a King and talk novels about how you like punking people out in the ring but you've gotta realize, I'm not that little bitch Tony Barrera, I'm not King-For-A-Day Christian Cage.  I'm Shane mother fucking Clemmens and I don't take guff from little slack jawed bitches like you.  Go prance around with your jews and fake girlfriends and unprofessional psychiatrists.  Dream about your Superiority and sip lemonade at your crew's little hang out.  Fucking have a ball man--go all out.  Realize though while you're beating off in your little fantasy land that you're doing it all without the F1X Universal Championship.

Fight One is my new playground bitch and I'm being nice enough to allow you to play.  Bronwen's gonna be there to fuck head and she likes to get rough.  We're going to beat the fuck out of you.  You're sitting there trying to raise doubts in our minds about each other--meanwhile we're both set on beating the living shit out of you.  Ha.  Yeah.  Really worried.  Shit man, I'd be less worried about how I'm going to treat Bronwen in the ring and consider how I'm going to treat you.  Furthermore you should be fucking concerned about Annika Reizeger.  She did after all just return off a beat down you and your goons gave her.

No Shawn, you haven't done anything but prove that you really don't know what to expect so you're hoping for any little scrap to come your way and secure your victory.  Shawn when it boils down and everything's gone, I know that we're going to have our chance at going toe to toe.  Whether or not Superiority Complex or No Ca$h Value are remembered--let's let them remember the night Walsh met Clemmens and learned the error of his ways.  Who knows, maybe you'll learn something. 
 

 

DIRTY AMERICAN DREAM
"Dare to dream."

It seems like Missoula never suffers from foul weather. Could be the fact that it’s surrounded by mountains or maybe it’s just charmed but it’s a clear beautiful day. The sun’s out—it’s in the sixties and that beats the hell out of twenty below. I only wish I was meeting up with my hometown under better circumstances. Today we’re putting my sister into the ground—we’re honoring her by gathering in this peaceful bond of sorrow. I’m hiding behind shades and I’m looking out over faces of family members. My heart is locked—we’d have to bury two more before this was all over.

The police couldn’t hold me and I’d made it to see the sad faces of my family. I couldn’t look them in the eye. After all I had done to the Clemmens name now I’m here and I’m supposed to have something to say to people that turned their backs on my sister anyway. Yeah, I’m the one chosen to speak because I was really the only one that knew her other than Dare.

My throat is so dry—swallowing is the equivalent of rubbing sandpaper together. My face tries to purse but I maintain my calm.

“My sister and I were the stubborn ones of the family. We shared similar experiences. We hardly ever fought and frankly there were few things she and I couldn’t handle when we put our heads together.”

Out towards the road I can see Dare standing by a tree—watching. My heart sinks.

“Everything Amanda did she did with kindness and calm. She was honest and good. We could learn from her. All of us. Each and every one of you turned your backs on her when she was raped. All of you. Me too—I condoned it. You were embarrassed. You think the family name is worth putting a loved one in exile. This entire time I’ve been thinking about what I was going to say to all of you and I wanted it to be light and humble. I wanted to just not say anything and get out of here clean. I think it’s about time we broke that little bit of silence for Amanda. For Dare. All of you have a nephew, cousin or grandson that you barely even know. He doesn’t even feel comfortable being around you.”

Family members begin to rise and leave in disgrace made to look like distain. They don’t care—the lot of them. Beside Mom and I see Amanda smiling. I close my eyes. The words though, they keep coming.

“Leave. Leave if you can’t face who you are. You don’t belong here anyway. The only one that really belongs here is a mile away right now—hiding from all of you.”

On the other side of the road Bronwen pulls up on a motorcycle.

My blood turns cold. At the Jarrell’s murder scene they found a jacket. That jacket I recognized as Bronwen’s. She was always good with guns. My heart begins to pound and I can sense the police sniper looking on. He’s waiting for someone to make a move.

The two murders were connected by a bullet. Bullets fired from Bronwen’s .45 ACP.

I swallow hard.

“I’m sorry Mom. You aren’t leaving so I know you know it’s true. She’s right with you there Mom. I think you need to meet Dare.”

I step up to Mom and take her hand.

I’ll get Mom and Dare the hell out of here and deal with Bronwen. Bronwen… I had her fitted for a ring. I was ready. This though will be no Valentine’s Day massacre. This will be the end of her lust for killing. Her apparent……Lunacy.

Mom takes my hand and I lead her towards Dare – away from Bronwen. I’m trying to spot that sniper. As much as it breaks my heart—I want him to shoot first and ask questions later. Still, I have to know why. Fuck this noise. I’ve just got to get Dare and Mom out of here.

“Dare, this is your Grandma Angela, Mom, this is Dare.”

I look over my shoulder and Bronwen’s walking up on us. On the far side of us a cab pulls up and Lola Duke steps out.

Lola… She disappeared…

“Shane!” Lola screams. “Shane!”

I turn at Bronwen and she’s whipping out a pistol. Lola’s pointing and screaming. My heart pounds.

“Turn around!” Lola falls to the ground in pain.

I turn as Dare turns a glare towards me. He reaches into his suit jacket and pulls out a long nose .45 acp. He grabs mom and points the gun at her head. I turn back to Bronwen.

“Shane get out of the way—I haven’t got a shot!”

“Wait!” I hold out my hands, “Stop!”

“Nobody move!” Dare screams.

“What the FUCK?!” I ask.

“Language!” Mom says.

“Shut the fuck up.” Dare screams.

He holds the gun at me.

“Tell the bitch to put the gun down. Put the fucking gun down!” Dare commands.

“Bronwen—what the hell is going on?” I ask.

“You tell me.”

“Why don’t you put the gun away and Dare here can explain himself.”

“He killed Jarrell!” Lola cries.

“I did ‘em both Shane. I got rid of them—they won’t ever cause us a problem again. Just like I got rid of mom.” Dare sneers.

“But the jacket. The gun.” I shake my head.

“Maybe I like her style.” He growls.

“Dare—you’ve fucken—“

Dare puts two into my chest. I fall to the ground and hit my back and I’m staring at the sky and everything’s framed in grass. Everything’s muffled.

“Put an end to a twenty eight year old curse!”

“Shane!” Bronwen pulls her gun again and looks for a shot but Dare pulls Mom up in front of him.

“Bronwen, I’m fine.” I sigh.

I gather up everything I’ve got left and rise to my feet. Dare fires once but the bullet zips past my head. I rush him and push Mom out of the way. Mom hits the ground and I swat the gun out of Dare’s hand.

“I did it all for you Shane.” Dare cries, mascara runs down his cheeks.

I throw my hands up into the air, “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!”

“You and I—together!”

Dare pounces on me—pushing me to the ground. His hands tighten around my head.

“The last target doesn’t have to be you Shane. It can be me.” Dare pulls the gun up and holds it below his chin. He cocks it, “I want you to see this.”

“NO!” I scream pushing the gun as he fires. The bullet rips through his jaw bone and he flies backwards.

I sit up and Dare’s squirming on the ground clutching his face. Lola pulls herself to her feet and rushes to him.

“Dare.” She sobs, “No.” She sobs harder.

Bronwen pounces on me, pulling me up into her arms.

“For fuck’s sake.” She groans, “Are you ok?”

“Bullet proof vest.”

“Oh.” She chuckles squeezing me tight, “So you’re not just happy to see me.

“I’m delighted to see you.” I squeeze her close.

We stand up together and lean on each other as we walk to Dare who is murmuring something...  Lola is listening on and crying out.

"What... What is he saying?"  Bronwen asks.

"He's singing."  Lola sniffles, "His favorite song...  Lady Thirteen."
 

DIRTY MANIFESTO
"Bronwen revisited."

Bronwen there for a while I didn't really know what to think.  I always knew we were the couple and I really didn't believe what they were saying about you.  Neither.  When I think about you I think about a comrade and I know just as well as the next guy that there are indeed no true alliances in a triple threat match but I know where things lie for us.  You and I are bigger than any one match--we're bigger than any one title.  Save the drama for the kids.  Let them have their fix.  We don't need that.  You and I we can shoot the moon together and make this sport something bigger than anything Shawn Walsh and the rest of the haters could imagine.

They wanna talk about quantity and quality when it comes to our "group of merry men" but frankly it's only jealousy shining through.  See Shawn and his boys might have this mythical power but we've got a fucken army.  We're all foot soldiers united for the same cause and that is making sure that fools like Walsh don't take glory they don't deserve.  Walsh doesn't deserve that title because he doesn't appreciate it.  He's earned jack shit--he's ripe for the picking.  You and I both see that.  My biggest hope is that we get him out of the way early into it and you and I can go toe to toe.

That's right Bronwen, I want you.  I want you one on one.  Walsh and his bozos take a back seat to my lust taking on members of No Ca$h Value.  Every time we push each other to the limit we're building a foundation to push our enemies past their own limits.  There is a reason two No Ca$h Value members are in this main event because we are proof positive that talent is indeed still priceless.  Seth knows it, Sean knows that, Johnny and Brett sure as shit know it...  You Bronwen, you represent it.  You have in you what it takes to be the very best there is in this business and if it takes me pushing it out of you then so be it.

There's something else I've been thinking about too Bron.  After all this shit we've been through and you've bent over backwards to be part of the team.  You have proven yourself time and time again and frankly I need to take notice.  I need to stop procrastinating and put the truth out to you.  I have lost a lot of people in my life and frankly it's not always the best idea to get close to me.  I mean, fuck, it's as if some fucking evil overseer really hates my fucken face because the worst fucking shit happens.  You though Bron, you've always been right there when the shit goes down and we've punched and kicked our way out of a lot of bad shit and I've come to a conclusion.

Be it a blessing or a curse I think that the two of us were meant to come together.  Just like all those years ago when Seth Dryden and I started No Ca$h Value, it's meant to be.  I expect you to try to win at Escape from Wonderland.  I will do the same.  That's all I expect from No Ca$h Value is-Win.  But we're not going to trade in our souls for the title.  We're getting back into the right frame of mind and doing this right.  With that said...  Bronwen, you know just like I do that every moment could be our last and we'd best not waste it.  Just like we can't waste this opportunity at Universal gold.

I'm done giving up on opportunities.

Bronwen, will you Marry me?

endo.