The Braddock Legacy

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Scene 1

Off Camera

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“The Elders had nothing but contempt for human emotion; they considered it their biggest weakness.” — Michael Scott

I tend to agree with the elders.  Human emotion is a weakness that tends to get in the way of accomplishing one’s goal.  My husband, Tony Morgan, once tried to make me feel emotion.  He nearly succeeded in making me at least halfway human.  But he had no idea who…or rather what…he was dealing with…

…a sociopath.

I feel no emotion, no guilt or shame, I do not feel happiness nor grief; I feel nothing.  Tony Morgan did not realize that there was no hope for me.   He did not realize that trying to help me was not just an exercise in futility but it was a mistake that would cost him his life.

Yes, I had to kill him.  I had to put an end to his worthless life.  He was clearly inhibiting me from accomplishing my goals, both professional and personal.  This notion of feeling emotions is pointless and pathetic, as far as I am concerned.  I do not need them and I did not need Tony.

As much as I detest human emotion, there is also another concept which I do believe in and that is the concept of yin and yang.  Yin and Yang describes how seemingly opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another.

Thus while I may not feel emotions myself, perhaps I do occasionally require the need of someone who does.  And that individual is my brother, Mark O’Brian.

My brother may be an ape and Neanderthal (both in smell and intelligence quotient) but he also is a good ally to have in warfare.  He is fiercely protective of me and loyal to me.  Most of the time he does whatever I ask unquestioningly. He’s my muscle.  But on very rare occasions he will make a request of me.

I always oblige.

Mark and I have always been there for one another.  During our time growing up under the abusive drunken asshole George O’Brian we stuck together in order to survive the painful ordeal.  Mark helped me escape the situation shortly after he escaped.  We trained together at the Braddock School of Wrestling and got involved in the business together.  We have always been side by side, no matter what.  Through thick and thin, through the good times and bad.  And Mark, he rarely asks anything of me, so why shouldn’t I oblige the few requests he does make of me?

One such request may be slightly challenging for a sociopath such as myself.  He’s asked that I make peace with the Braddock family.  It becomes even more awkward because I have assaulted the patriarch, Glenn Braddock, and I have publicly declared myself the true heir to the Braddock Wrestling Legacy.

Yes, this will definitely be awkward.

I probably should meet with the patriarch himself, Glenn Braddock.  He would be more amenable to me and more willing to make peace.  Though I do not feel as if I am ready to face him.  Some may call this an emotion I am feeling, the emotion known as guilt, but I prefer to think of it as respect.  I respect him too much and am not ready to face him again after assaulting him.

Besides, it will give me a little pleasure to meet with his daughter, Glory Braddock.  She wronged me last year and I know that in her human weakness she feels guilt, so this gives me an opportunity to rub some salt into that wound while at the same time giving Mark what he stupidly desires.

I find myself sitting in the outside patio area of a small café in Phoenix, Arizona.  The patio area is decorated beautifully with green bushes.  It’s riddled with high top chairs and tables set up all over the place with no distinct pattern in mind.

One could find me sitting at one of these high top tables.  I am dressed in a pair of black dress pants, a matching black top with a green blazer, and sophisticated patent leather flats.

“Funny seeing you here…”

I turn my head to see Glory Braddock approaching.  She is attired in a shimmery midnight purple ankle length dress with a deep V-neck, showing off a hint of cleavage; the bodice of the dress was fitted through to the hips, where it flared out, giving her enough room to move about and feel elegant.

“It really isn’t funny,” I retort “I asked you to come here.”

“That’s why it is funny.” Glory responded as she pulls up a chair at my table and sits down across from me. “I never expected you to call, not after…”

“…not after you blackmailed me and forced me to serve you as a blood slave?” I snap back at her with venom dripping from my voice.  Glory’s own eyes narrow into a look of anger and frustration as she stares at me from across the table.

“I was going to say that I never expected you to call, not after you attacked my father!”

I chuckle lightly. “The grizzled veteran exaggerates.  A kick to the groin is hardly an attack.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Glory counters. “An attack is an attack.”

My mouth has gotten me into trouble before.  I decide not to use any further sarcasm and just nod my head.

“Tue enough, I guess we’re both guilty then of past sins.”

A tense moment passes as my former friend now enemy stares at me.  Finally she nods her head.

“Yes, I guess you’re right.” She points a carefully manicured finger at me. “But you’re the one claiming  to be the true heir to the Braddock Wrestling Legacy.”

Glory frowns skeptically, judgmentally. “What’s that about, Sophie?”

I chuckle at how I’ve already gotten under Glory’s skin and we’ve barely been here a minute.  I prepare my respond but I am interrupted when one of the ladies, a waitress, approaches our table and stares at Glory.

“What are you having?”

“French Vanilla.” Glory answers.

“It’s on me.” I remark.  The waitress nods and walks off to fill the order.  Glory turns to look at me skeptically.

“You didn’t have to do that.” She says. “I can pay for it.”

“I know you can, but Glory,” I wink at her “since when did you drink French Vanilla?  I thought you always had your coffee black?”

Glory pauses for a moment and shrugs. “I don’t know…my tastes have changed, I guess.”

“Not the only thing that changed about you, mate.” I respond, motioning to my former friend. “If I recall, you were quite the tomboy growing up.  Now while you’re still a vicious wrestler inside the ring, you’re a classy lady outside the ring.”

We may be enemies but it is almost as if that entire fact has been forgotten as Glory lets her guard down and lets out a slight chuckle.

“Yes, well, I guess I can thank mother for that.”

The waitress returns with a cup of French Vanilla, which she sets down in front of Glory.  Braddock nods a thank you and starts to sip on her coffee.  She sighs with pleasure.

“Yeah, there’s a great deal to thank mother for.”

“Yes, but Aphrodite Noel did more than just teach you how to dress properly.” A sly grin forms across my face.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t play innocent, Glory.” I press her with a sinister grin. “You know what I mean.  I remember watching you when you made your debut in GDW and then you went to MWA and MCW and FWA.  I got to follow you even closer when I became a wrestler as well and I joined you, fought by your side.”

I point a finger at her. “You were always the hero, Glory.  You were the hero the people looked up to, the hero that the company needed.  You were pro-wrestling’s superhero.  And me?  I was shunned.”

I shake my head. “No one cared for me because of my outlook on life.  We were both taught the same thing by the same man, your father, and I just interpreted him differently, yet I was shunned.”

“Oh bloody hell,” she rolls her eyes “are we really going to go through this again?”

“Yes, because it’s important.” I answer back. “Do you remember the final lesson Glenn Braddock taught us?  Do you remember those words he said to us?”

“I do,” Glory nods her head “he said ‘A professional wrestler is, him or herself, a lethal weapon. Know this and use this knowledge and ability you have wisely.’”

“That’s right,” I answer and point at her “and you thought it meant to be careful so as not to hurt people just because you can.  But I knew better, I always knew better.  I always had the proper interpretation of what Glenn Braddock meant by that and you wouldn’t believe me.  No one would believe me.”

A light laugh escapes my lips. “It means to destroy the enemy.  Eliminate them.  Do not waste energy.  When you go after someone, MAKE…IT…COUNT!”

I wink at Glory. “Now you are living breathing evidence that I was right all along.”

                                           

Glory’s frustration is growing, her anger bubbling up. “You’re pushing your luck here, Sophie.”

“What’s wrong?  You can’t handle the truth?” I sneer. “Let’s face it, you didn’t want to embrace your own father’s wrestling philosophy, you wanted to be a super hero instead.  And you were a great super hero for awhile, until you ran into Aphrodite Noel.  And what did she do?  She pushed you.  She challenged your morality.  She kept challenging and pushing until she pushed you over the edge and you snapped.”

I smirk at Glory. “You revealed your true colors, that you were no better than me, no better than the other villains you looked down upon.  You were no hero….”

I chuckle lightly “…funny, Aphrodite wanted to convert you into a Noel, but all she did was succeed in turning you into a TRUE Braddock.”

The anger in Glory’s eyes starts to boil over but then, in a quick moment, it starts to subside.  Perhaps she realizes that I am right and I have been right all along?  Or maybe she just wants to calm down so that she doesn’t cause a scene in this very public place.  Either way, I like having Glory right here, right where I want her.  She nods her head.

“I admit, you may be right about a lot of what you said.  You may even be right about what my dad meant when he gave us that lesson.  But even if that is my legacy, it doesn’t mean I have to embrace it.  I can create a new Braddock legacy, and yes, Sophie, that involves trying to be a hero.  And I put emphasis on the word try, because no one is perfect.  We all make mistakes.  But I will always do my best to do what’s right by myself, my friends, and my family.”

“You know, Glory,” I begin with a satisfied grin on my face “you and I may disagree on philosophy, but unlike the other pretenders in the world, at least you finally admit and own up to the darkness that lives inside you.”

I hold out my hand. “We’ve been enemies for years, Glory. It’s time we bury the hatchet and preferably not in one another’s skull.”

“You want to make peace?”

“Yes,” I answer, nodding my head “and I mean it.  I really do.”

Glory stares at my hand skeptically for a few moments and then back up at me before finally accepting the handshake.

“You have always been an enigma, Sophie, but despite your tricks and mind games, you have always been honest with me.  Sure, I’ll take you at your word.  Let’s make peace.  Just answer one question...”

She grins knowingly “…did Mark put you up to it?”

“Bloody hell,” I roll my eyes “am I that obvious?!”

“No, I just know you too well.” She responds with slight laughter.

“If you know me so well, then you should also know that I truly mean it when I say that I respect your father and his wrestling legacy.  You may wish to create a new Braddock Wrestling Legacy but I wish to maintain the original that he taught us.  So that is why I ask…” a deep sigh escapes my lips “…for permission to take up that mantle.”

“Sophie is asking permission?” She smirks. “I should really record this for posterity.”

“Shut it and just give me an answer.”

She giggles but nods her head. “Yes, Sophie, go right ahead; because what you spelled out, that’s not me.  You can have it.”

“Thank you, Glory…” I smile with satisfaction written across my face “…you have no idea what this means.”

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Scene 2

Off Camera

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Later that evening after my meeting with Glory Braddock, I decided to meet Mark and his girlfriend Ashley for dinner at a steakhouse in Phoenix, Arizona.  It is a dark atmosphere inside this restaurant with a somewhat western style theme to it.  At a rather large rectangular table my brother sits next to his lovely girlfriend Ashley, he in blue jeans, black boots, and a black “SCW” t-shirt while Ashley looks just a smidgen more refined than that, wearing a nice top and a maxi skirt with sandals.  I sit next to my brother, wearing a modest pencil dress with its beautiful rose patterned lace fabric in black that features a fashionable flared peplum waist line.  We’ve just been seated and are now waiting for our waitress to come and take up our orders.

 “Where the hell is she?!  I’m hungry!”  As anyone can tell by his bellowing, my ignorant baboon of a brother has little patience.  I roll my eyes but Ashley cannot help but laugh at his outburst.

 “What?  What’s funny?”  The poor oaf has no idea, does he?  His blonde girlfriend merely slaps him lightly on his back.

 “Nothing, Mark!  Just sit back and enjoy yourself!” Ashley answers back sweetly.

“There are two things I enjoy more than anything else…fighting and eating; and right now there’s no one here to fight.”

 “Actually,” Ashley holds up three fingers “there’s three things you enjoy more than anything else, Mark.”

Ashley grins knowingly, but Mark just stares at her dumbfounded.  “Huh?  What’s the third?”

 She gives him a playful shove.  “Me!”

My idiot brother’s face turns beet red.  Even I cannot help but laugh at his situation.  Despite the fun and games, my brother is still hungry and the impatient tapping of his foot tells that story.  To be honest, I’m getting a little famished myself.  Thankfully, I don’t have to wait too much longer until a waitress finally arrives at our table.  She is a curvy brunette who seems rather perky and cheerful.

She’ll probably annoy the hell out of me.

 “Hi, guys!  My name is Katie.  May I take your drink orders first?” She asks with a grin on her face and a pen and notepad ready to jot down the orders.

 “I’ll have anything alcoholic.”  Mark responds with a grunt which results in more laughter from our table.

 “Awesome!” Katie responds with a giggle as she scribbles down Mark’s order, for what it’s worth.  “And you, ma’am?”

 “I think I’ll just have a Pepsi, please.” Ashley answers back.

 “Can do.” Katie scribbles that order down and then turns to me.  “And for you, ma’am?”

“Guinness.” I answer.

“Great,” she scribbles it down “I’ll bring it right out!”

The waitress walks off in order to fill those orders.  As soon as she’s gone Mark lets out a sigh of relief.

“Finally!”

“You really should learn patience, dear brother.”

“Your sister is right, Mark.” Ashley says with a wink.

“Yeah, is that so?” Mark doesn’t seem so pleased as he turns to face me. “Well did she do what she promised to do?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Braddock.” He snarls. “Did you try to make peace with them?”

I roll my eyes. “You can take the tone out of your voice, Mark, and yes, I did make peace.”

“Who did ya talk to?”

“Does it really matter?”

“Yes!” He exclaims.

“I spoke with Glory.”

“Glory?” He sighs. “You shoulda spoke to Glenn.”

“Glory, Glenn, Julia, what does it matter?” I shrug my shoulders. “Point is, I made peace.  Everything is fine now.  Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“Yeah, I guess it’ll do…”

“It will have to do,” I remark, “because I am not going back to do it again.  We have to move forward with our plans for Rise To Greatness.”

“Whoa, hold on a second,” this time it’s Ashley, not Mark, who interrupts “the way I see it, Mark has no vested interest here.”

“Ash, you don’t have to get involved.”

“Yes, I do.” Ashley responds. “I don’t want Sophie using you to further HER career.”

“Now that’s not fair, Ash…”

“Hold on, Mark,” I respond “she makes a valid point.”

I look over to Ashley. “Trust me, Ashley, I am not going to selfishly use my brother for my own ends.  The Rise To Greatness Pre-Show…or Bree-Show or whatever the hell those idiots want to call it…I face Giovanni Ares, that much is true, and yes, I could use Mark’s…moral support…”

“You mean cheating to help you win?”

I smirk knowingly. “You can call it that if you wish.  But there’s no saying that Mark can’t get SOMETHING out of this weekend.”

“Watcha mean?” Mark says with a curious look on his face.

“You and I have been world tag team champions twice in GDW and twice in MWA.  That’s four times total.  We know how to succeed as a tag team and we could easily succeed here in SCW’s tag team division.”

“Are you saying…”

“Yes,” I nod my head “I’m saying we could enter Scaffold Scramble.  Now is that a guarantee we could get the tag title shot?  No, it’s not even a guarantee one of us gets a singles title shot, it’s not even a guarantee we get into the match at all, but if I talk to the right people, pull the right  strings, then maybe I can get us in.”

“Maybe that bloody Blake Mason dude can throw money around and buy Mr. D off!” Mark exclaims.

“I seriously doubt that would work, dear brother.  But all I want out of this Scaffold Scramble is the opportunity to get revenge, revenge against The Sisterhood.  We were on our fourth reign as tag team champions when they ended our run of tag team dominance in this sport and we haven’t been the same since.  It’s time to make them pay…with their careers…”

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On Camera

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Giovanni Ares, I want to be serious with you for a moment.  If it weren’t for your deluded babbling about lizard people and wonderland and every other inane topic under the sun that you’ve been rambling about since coming to Supreme Championship Wrestling, I might be inclined to accept your offer.

Someone with the…ahem…unique mental situation that you have, I can work with that. I can work great magic with that.  Jules is a bit of a wanker, though, but I figure I could ignore him.  You and I could work great magic in this company, exposing the lies of the imposters, tearing down the veil of hypocrisy that pervades Supreme Championship Wrestling.

I might be inclined to accept your offer, Gio.  In fact,  I still might accept.  You never know the long term plans of Sophie O’Brian.  For Sun Tzu says, “Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”

You won’t know what I will do to you until this bloody Bree Show kicks off.  Will we be allies?  Will I burn your face?  And if I do burn your face you can better believe that it won’t be for Mr. D, a lizard king, or anyone else.  Anything and everything I do is for one person…

…me.

If I side with you, it will be to further my own goals.  If I destroy you, it will be for my own purposes.  I do what I do for my own reasons to further my ultimate long term goals here in this company, goals and plans that I alone know about.

My own brother doesn’t even know the long term end game of this, primarily because I trust him to keep it a secret.

So if you fit into my plans, Gio, then I may let you live.  Otherwise, just live natural selection, you will go into extinction.  Your wonderland will become a burning blaze of nightmares as I burn it down into ash.  And I will do it for me…

…no one else…

And time remaining, hopefully, maybe, after I have had my play date in Wonderland, then perhaps Mark and I will make an appearance at Rise To Greatness?  Perhaps we will climb up a scaffold.  There’s still an old grudge we’d love to settle.  A grudge against Angelica Jones and Kayla Jones.

And we’d love to be tag team champions.

But that’s up in the air, that’s if SCW is willing to let us enter that bloody brawl.  First and foremost in my mind is this little Bree-Show and Giovanni Ares.  I have not forgotten you, my friend, nor will I forget you.  How could I forget someone as unique as you?  I’ve been called many things in my life…a sociopath, a psychopath, a monster…but I can honestly say you are the first to call me the agent of the lizard king.

That’s certainly a new one.

Trust me, Gio, I do what I do because I want to do it.  I work for myself, not for anyone else.  And what I choose to do this Rise To Greatness weekend is because I chose to do it.  No other reason.