time: wednesday evening
day: october fifteenth
place: bailey's bay, bermuda; sand & pebble tavern.
(All three Engel brothers; Joe,
Warren, and myself. We're sitting at the bar inside my lovely little
establishment. It has been successful, so successful that I haven't
been needed in quite some time. I pay someone to manage, and I show up
every once and awhile to make sure things are going the way I want them
to. It's a nice little setup, and it's almost becoming a staple here in
Bailey's Bay. But, I would assume anything I touch turns to gold. Every
time I step into a federation or start a business, it's on the tip of
everyone's tongue. Some people hate it.)
(Some people love it.)
(Joe is the only one that looks somewhat professional amongst us. I haven't shaved in quite some time, and Warren needs a haircut. We're playing some friendly games of bar dice.. the liquid courage helps me apologize for what I did to my family -- including my brothers.)
Matthew Engel: "Guys.. you know, I couldn't be more sorry about what happened."
Joe BoXeR: "It's alright, Matt. We're brothers, you don't need to say any more. Warren and I knew what was going on, we knew that you were troubled. I just wish you would have let us in more, and let us help."
Warren Engel: "I still feel bad that I had to get Jamie involved, but it seemed I had no other choice at the time."
(Warren rolls the dice.. nothing. He rolls it again, a 1 and two 6's.)
Matthew Engel: "I don't want to get philosophical or anything, but maybe Jamie's involvement was meant to be. Can you imagine how different things would have been if I actually trusted Jamie back in March, instead of taking a two-by-four to his head? It would have been Jamie and me taking on the MoA, and it would have been glorious. We're perhaps the best team that could never be."
(Warren rolls his third shake, another 6.)
Warren Engel: "What was point?"
Joe BoXeR: "Forty-five."
Warren Engel: "Forty-six right here, suckas. I'm out!"
Joe BoXeR: "Cheeky bastard. And who says you and Jamie could never be?"
Matthew Engel: "How could you team up with someone that held you at gunpoint?"
(Silence falls on all three of them. I made a good point.)
Joe BoXeR: "Jamie's a good guy, he realizes that now your intentions are pure and you plan to do great things. Hell, you're already World Champion."
Warren Engel: "Only because I'm not there."
Matthew Engel: "Get a load of this guy. How's the IWL doing again?"
Warren Engel: "Shut up."
(Laughter between all of us; it's a good feeling. It's Joe's turn on dice, best out of three between me and him. He rolls; three 1's and two 5's.)
Joe BoXeR: "Oh look at that beautiful roll. Good luck."
(I roll the dice, three 6's and one 1. Close. I bring it back, and roll again. Nothing. I roll a second time, nothing. I roll my final shake, and bam -- three 6's and two 1's.)
Matthew Engel: "Um... fifty-six.. todas dias!"
Warren Engel: "What?"
Joe BoXeR: "It means all day. How the hell do you get fifty six on your last shake? Unbelievable."
(Joe rolls. Two 1's, keeps them. He rolls again, three 1's and a six. All he needs is a six to tie. He rolls again - 5!)
Matthew Engel: "Oh yeah! Tied it up! Bring it back, Joe, you gotta win. I don't know if your wallet can take another pounding."
Warren Engel: "Joe takes a pounding every week."
(They laugh again, and Joe reaches past Matt and nails Warren in the shoulder. Joe rolls, two 6's and one 1. He keeps it.)
Joe BoXeR: "Thiry-six in one. Beat that."
Matthew Engel: "In my sleep, son."
(I take the dice and put it back into the cup. I shake'em up, and roll. Three 3's.. and the last die to settle is a 1. Forty-three, and victorious.)
Matthew Engel: "FORTY-THREE! Paul! Paul! Line'em up! One for yourself if you want."
Joe BoXeR: "You never lose at bar dice, it's amazing. We've played close to.. ten games, and you haven't lost once."
Warren Engel: "He cheats. Duh."
Matthew Engel: "Clearly."
(Paul the bartender lines up four shot glasses on the bar. Joe calls for Jameson, and I cringe.)
Joe BoXeR: "Yeah, that's right. You're lucky I'm not ordering Buddha Killers."
Warren Engel: "The fuck is that?"
Matthew Engel: "It's half Jim Beam, half Bitters. Disgusting, but Joe's favorite shot nonetheless."
Warren Engel: "That's just gross, Joe."
Joe BoXeR: "It's delicious, sir. And the great thing is that Bitters is ninety proof, surprisingly. Every week before the show starts I have somebody bring me a small rocks glass with half Jim Beam and half Bitters and three ice cubes. It keeps the night going better."
Matthew Engel: "I bet it does. Don't tell Robinson that."
Joe BoXeR: "It's all good; he drinks too much YooHoo."
(Paul does us a favor and chills the Jameson. He pours it into the glasses and hands them off to all of us. We raise our glasses.)
Joe BoXeR: "To a great weekend."
Warren Engel: "To.. finding a job."
Matthew Engel: "To survival."
(Paul says "Cheers" and they all down their shots. Warren has a sour look on his face, and Joe and Matt have absolutely no reaction. The true alcoholics in the family.)
Joe BoXeR: "We're trying to find out who had that mannequin hung from the rafters, Matt. Don't worry, I will not let that happen to you. Whoever is doing this, though.. he's a sick individual."
Matthew Engel: "And a little slow, too, as I'm not with the MoA anymore."
Warren Engel: "Maybe it was something you did while you were with the MoA. Maybe that's what it represents, your affiliation with the group is going to be your downfall."
Joe BoXeR: "This Rapture guy.. he's sneaky. We know he's not in the arena as those videos are pre-recorded, but someone is pulling strings for him inside our staff and I'm trying to find out who it is."
Matthew Engel: "Soonish would be good. I don't want to be hung before I have a chance to defend my World Title."
(I try to laugh.)
Joe BoXeR: "That's.. not funny. This is serious, Matt. He's threatening your life and you seem to not care one bit."
Matthew Engel: "Joe, I have so much on my plate right now, that a guy wearing a mask with X's over his eyes and hanging mannequins with MoA t-shirts isn't really concerning me. Once I enter that burning cage, I have to deal with two rabid animals that want to tear me apart."
Warren Engel: "He's got a point, Joe. A guy playing games compared to two men who want Matt six feet under and have a great opportunity to do so inside a cage that no one can escape and no one can enter?"
Joe BoXeR: "I guess so. I can't believe Robinson would do that, either. He clearly either wants you dead or severely hospitalized."
Matthew Engel: "No, he just wants to give his boy Viktor the best chance he can get to walk away with the World Title. They're in for a surprise, though."
Joe BoXeR: "What is that?"
Matthew Engel: "It'd be better if you didn't know, Joe."
Joe BoXeR: "Oh come on Matt, you--"
Matthew Engel: "Trust me."
(Joe falls silent, but speaks up again.. changing the subject.)
Joe BoXeR: "You know.. Matt, you're not being completely honest with us."
Matthew Engel: "What do you mean?"
Joe BoXeR: "You and Jamie, the team that could never be. Think I don't know you two have been taking the same limo back to the airport after shows? You're planning something, and once again you're not letting us in on it."
Matthew Engel: "I don't know what you mean. I've talked to Jamie a few times since the incident only to apologize and see how he's doing. Frankly, he's annoyed with me apologizing so much."
Warren Engel: "Then why do you take the same limo with him to the airport every week? Why isn't he severely pissed at you?"
(I look to my right. The Inquisition.)
Matthew Engel: "Like you said, Joe, he's a good guy. He knows that I wasn't exactly myself, and he knows that I'm ready to stop being Ridel's walking automaton and start being something great. I don't think he wants to disrupt that, he just wants to do what he loves."
Warren Engel: "Well if you two are planning something together.. then.. you might have to deal with fighting each other one last time."
Joe BoXeR: "Warren!"
Warren Engel: "What?"
Matthew Engel: "Whatever guys. It's fine, I don't mind fighting Jamie. There's a respect between us now and it would be professional, and quite a damn good show if you don't mind me saying. I mean, just go back to A Farewell to Arms -- we obviously were the true main event. I realize Jamie's in the World Title hunt, and now that I'm World Champion, he's hunting me regardless. Think he'll settle for that Tag Title if he gets it this weekend? Nah, I know him better than that. He doesn't settle."
(A small pause. I take a sip of my beer.)
Matthew Engel: "And.. he knows I don't plan to give up this title to anyone, including him."
Joe BoXeR: "It's good to have you back, Matt."
Warren Engel: "But you never denied the fact you two aren't meeting together every time after a show."
Matthew Engel: "What, we can't be friends, Warren? We both went through a traumatic experience and learned a lot about each other."
Warren Engel: "Hmm.. there's something going on, I can feel it, but okay. I see you want to play the mysterious man. I dig."
Joe BoXeR: "You dig?"
Warren Engel: "Yeah."
(Joe and I share a laugh.)
Matthew Engel: "Either way, I have a very important match to think about and plan for this weekend. So, I better sober up and get back to that."
Warren Engel: "Let me be ringside, Matt."
Joe BoXeR: "No, Warren. I got you tickets with Mia and your girlfriend."
Warren Engel: "Elizabeth, Joe. Her name is Elizabeth, but I want to be there, Matt. Let me be your manager for that night."
Joe BoXeR: "Then who's gonna sit with Mia and your girlfriend?"
Warren Engel: "It's Eliz--.. just find someone. What about Jeff?"
Matthew Engel: "Augustee?"
Warren Engel: "Yeah, he isn't doing anything these days and he loves our family. What do you say, Matt?"
Matthew Engel: "It's fine with me."
(We both pause and look at Joe.)
Joe BoXeR: "Fine, I'll give Jeff a call later today."
Matthew Engel: "This will definitely be one of my toughest matches to date. I've got two men in the ring with me that want to see me burn, for different reasons. I have no allies, no chance of teamwork. I have to be on top of my game the entire time, and I have to make sure that I don't make a mistake."
Joe BoXeR: "Viktor Stone is a mean guy, Matt. He won't give you any breathing room, and Strader? Well, let's just say he's not exactly a happy camper."
Warren Engel: "There's still no true evidence linking you to those deaths, though. Why did you even admit to it? Are you sure that you ordered it, or was it Ridel?"
Matthew Engel: "At this point.. the last four months seem like a blur to me. I can't honestly be sure, but deep down I feel like I did it. I mean, I know I burned down Duff's house. Why wouldn't I order Nathan Kelser to do what he did?"
(Silence again. It's amazing how madness can plague your mind and make you do things you would never dream of doing.)
Matthew Engel: "I have to pay for what I did, but I have to make sure I walk out World Champion. I can't let this be all for naught."
(I grab my keys.)
Matthew Engel: "Let's go back to the house. I need to sober up and take care of some business."
(fade.)