time: monday, bar close

day: march tenth

place: bailey's bay, bermuda; my tavern.

(The remaining folk leave the front entrance of the bar as one of the bartenders locks it up behind them. I'm sitting in the corner booth, a Landshark Lager on the table and a newspaper in my hands. I take a swig of my beer, as the bartenders start their cleaning and close routines. I stay around after close sometimes...just to monitor and make sure everything gets done. It's hard when you don't have a manager that can be here five to six days a week. I'll be working on hiring somebody soon.)

(Paulie comes over to me and sits down across. He was one of the first bartenders I hired. He's a good kid and brings in a lot of money.)

Paulie: Hey...you know we'll be fine. Conrad and I got this under control.

VIRUS: I won't be in your way. I got something to take care of, then I'll be out of your hair. You need anything, let me know.

Paulie: Sounds good man. It got pretty busy tonight?

VIRUS: Yeah, it did. I almost wanted to hop behind the bar and help, but you two did well.

Paulie: I didn't know you've bartended.

VIRUS: What, do you think I've been a wrestler my whole life? Heh.

Paulie: That's cool man.

(Paulie gets up from the booth and walks in the back. I take another sip of my Landshark Lager. I bring my video camera onto the table and set it up. I hit record, folding the newspaper and putting it next to me on the seat.)

VIRUS: So, we travel down this road again, Ridel. Except, maybe this time, we'll reach the end. I know you...and I know all about the MoA. I'm not the least bit impressed, making me follow some charade and getting Jamie Flynn drastically injured. It's been overdone, yet I still fell for it. I guess the easiest thing to do to get somebody's fierce attention is to attack, or make it seem like, their family.

Yeah, it's a travesty about Jamie. He was a hell of a talent, and I'm sorry that I even thought for a minute he had a hand in your disgusting plan to thwart yourself into the PWA.

But quite frankly, I haven't got even milliseconds to weep. You see...I've got this monster brewing inside of me. I can't control it. All I can think about is destruction and chaos. Maybe I'd be a perfect fit for the MoA, if you hadn't done what you did.

There's a storm of chaos inside me that won't calm down. There's a mountain of madness in my mind that nobody can climb. I can't stop myself from what I'm going to do. I won't sit by idly while the MoA comes in and tries to take control. I won't, especially with the mind games you play.

(All I can think about is Mia. I won't let you have her, you fuck.)

 VIRUS: You sick fuck. You get my wife involved for no reason, and you expect me to rise with the current? You gave me a choice, that's for sure. That'll be your first mistake.

I'll die before I rise with your current.

Send whoever you want here, Darren. Send Trevor. Send Dead End. Send Graham. Hell, send yourself. Whoever steps foot in the PWA under the MoA banner will be destroyed. Chamelion and Project X have issues with you guys, but they don't know. I'll wage a war with you so violent, so brutal, that the table of fear will be turned. You'll be looking down the hallways, paranoid, growing eyes in the back of your head hoping to God that I don't come around the corner and pummel you into infinity.

You take a man...and you mess with his family. You put him in a coma. You make him believe you've kidnapped his wife, twice, and you make him turn on somebody that was loyal to him, only to have that person be permanently out of commission. You do that to someone, Ridel, and you will turn him into the most feared person on this planet.

Vengeance is an ugly thing...and feared by even the most powerful people. This isn't the beginning.

This is the end. The final chapter of the MoA.

You brought them here, and you're going to pay the price. I'll make sure of it.

(I try to calm myself as I've gotten a bit riled up.)

VIRUS: My hands are never too full, Corey. Do you think I'm just going to let you off with a simple warning? You wish. The MoA...yeah...that will take a lot of my time, but I'll make time for you. I haven't forgotten you, nor will I ever forget what's transpired between us. I'm not letting you off with a slap on the wrist, and last week that's all that really was compared to what I plan on doing to you.

Consider that a threat all you want, but rest assured, it's a promise. I don't break promises.

I couldn't care less about my match this week. President Sommers just need to put me somewhere, and he did. But, that's something you're going to regret he did. I'll be around the halls at the Gund Arena. I'll be lurking, waiting for my opportune moment to show you what pain and suffering really is. Last week was a teaser trailer, so to speak.

The real blockbuster will be in a matter of days...and there won't be a happy ending.

Guaranteed.

(I finish my beer.)

VIRUS: You tried to take me out, Corey. Believe it or not, whether you claim your "bad side" took over, you tried to take me out. You wanted me out of the picture so you and Enika could move on without me to hassle you. That's just too bad, kid. You're gonna learn sooner or later that you don't deserve her. You're gonna learn sooner or later that for every action, there's an opposite and equal reaction.

You're gonna learn what real pain is and how horrible being useless feels. Being helpless...and hopeless.

What I went through, you will go through.

We're on a path that doesn't end well for you, Corey. There isn't a fork in the road. There isn't a side path or any other way. There's a straight path directly to your demise. Enjoy the trip.

(Paulie and Conrad are finishing up. They clock out...and walk out the front door. I say my goodbyes to them, and they lock the front door behind them. It's just me and the lights now.)

VIRUS: So Project X can't take a little comment by yours truly. That's alright. As the saying goes, if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

You put my sister through a ring, have you forgotten? What did you expect?

I wasn't going to let you get away with that. I'm like a fucking vigilante these days, and I don't care. I've snapped. I'm sick of taking shit from all of you. Either you're going to listen and do as I say, or I crack skulls. It's as easy as that. I'm not playing passive anymore.

You hurt my family? I'll lay you out. Simple as that.

You fuck with me? I'll make you bleed. Are you getting the picture, X? I don't care if you're the World Champion. You're not untouchable and your stupidity certainly shows when you think that I wouldn't react to what you did. The fuck's wrong with you?

You go on...have your little fun with Raizzor. I'm not going anywhere. You want to toy with me, or my family? I'll end you -- permanently. The MoA and Corey Lazarus have already signed their death warrants as far as I'm concerned. I simply don't care anymore who it is or how many there are; YOU MESS WITH THE ENGELS AND YOU'RE FUCKED.

(I try to slow down my breathing. The message can't be any clearer.)

VIRUS: Finally...onto the pressing matters of the week. I wasn't impressed with Doomsday's debut interview. The guy is all about taking over this place and making everyone bow to him. I don't get it.

Who's going to bow to you, freak? Nobody. You're nothing as far as the PWA roster is concerned. Just some new guy that needs to be taught a lesson in terms of manners.

Respect your superiors, kid. I'm no fan's hero, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let you kill midgets. Seriously. What did they ever do to you?

You wanna try to acheive your goal as being a tyrant and reigning as some retarded, masked dictator...you're not gonna get anywhere. Just have a seat, open your mind, and learn a thing or two.

Like the fact you won't be winning your first match...or be destroying any champions. Your partner is mentally insane, and my partner has a lot more ring experience than you. Not to mention, if you stack yourself up against me, you're going to find yourself being the midget. But, I won't kill you...because that's just terrible.

That, and you're not Corey Lazarus.

From what I understand, you haven't done anything in your career. The PWA is your debut...and you're talking about destroying champions like it's going out of style. Listen, why don't you eat a slice of humble pie, wrestle a match or two, then go after some gold.

I'm not a fan of the story David and Goliath, but I like the ending. David always wins. You run at me and I'll use your own momentum against you. I'll be a slingshot short, but I'll find some other way to take you and your partner down. What I lack in size I make up for in speed and intelligence. I can only hope my partner does the same.

(Sigh.)

VIRUS: Kyle, are you going to show up this week? I hope you do. You got close with Circa last week...and hey, tough luck. You don't exactly have an impressive record, but I got a feeling that you're going to do well this week. Just...don't fuck with me. Keep on your game and keep things interesting, but don't cross me.

That's all I ask.

And if you do, you'll end up like Corey will this week.

Just wait...just wait.

(I give the camera a sinister smile.)

VIRUS: Frost! You didn't show up last week, that's a shame. I hear that you were tied up, so to speak. That's fine, I just hope you show up this week. I'm looking forward to this match, looking forward to another mark in the win column, and looking forward to reenacting the oh-so-exciting story of David and Goliath. I trust you and Doomsday know the story and your inevitable fate.

You lose.

Simple as that. Whether it be me or Kyle that pins one of you retards, it will happen. I don't expect to walk away from the match unscathed like David did, but hey...you never know. I am, after all, Matthew Engel. One of the quickest men you'll ever meet.

I do not forgive.

I do not forget.

(fade.)