*The scene opens up inside the APEX compound owned by David Shane. In the back corner, apart from the rest of the equipment, was a lone punching bag. Alexis Makarios was wearing some gym shorts and a tank top, punching the bag over and over. Her skin glistened from sweat, indicating she had been there for a while. One of the trainers came over to her.*
TRAINER: Miss Makarios?
*She had her headphones in and didn't hear the trainer.*
TRAINER: Miss Makarios?
*She still didn't hear him. He tapped her on the shoulder and she about jumped out of her skin, nearly decking him in the process! She ripped her headphones out of her ears.8
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: WHAT THE HELL?
You nearly gave me a heart attack! I almost took you OUT!
TRAINER: Sorry... I didn't mean to scare you.
*She took a deep breath and leaned forward, her hands on her knees, as she took a few breaths. She stood up straight.*
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: So... what?
TRAINER: I'm about to lock up, it's time for you to leave.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: No way. I'm not done yet.
TRAINER: You've been here for almost 8 hours... I wanna get heading home.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: So go home. No one is asking you to stay.
TRAINER: But I gotta lock up...
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: David gave me my own key. I'll relock the door I leave from and turn off the lights.
TRAINER: David would kill me.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: I'll take the blame. Don't worry... David has given me 24/7 access to train here before my World Title Match. It's all good
*The trainer shrugged and walked off. Alexis grabbed a bottle of water on the bench and chugged it down before putting her headphones back in. She goes back to punching the punching bag as some of the lights in the compound start to go out. A light is sparingly left on, so the place is now dim, and empty. Alexis is the only person left in the building. It becomes silent except for the sound of her punches landing, and her breath. After about 15 minutes or so footsteps can be heard. A hand reaches forward and taps her on the shoulder. She screams, turns, and without hesitation punches the person right in the nose!!!*
DAVID SHANE: OUCH!
*Alexis, realizing that it was her good friend and boss David Shane, stops dead in her tracks and covers her mouth with her hands. She quickly pulls the headphones out of her ears.*
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: OH MY GOD! I'm so sorry David!
DAVID SHANE: I deserved that... damn hard punch tho.
*He checked his nose to make sure he wasn't bleeding and shook it off a little bit.*
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: What are you doing here?
DAVID SHANE: Besides the obvious "i own the place" deal? I got a call from my head trainer saying you refused to leave, and wanted to confirm that you had access and such. I set him straight.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: Good.
DAVID SHANE: He also told me that you have been here pretty much all day. At least 8 hours with no breaks.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: Yeah. I need to make sure I am at 200% for Sunday. Destiny... is huge. And I have a few scores to settle.
*He chuckled a little as he crossed his arms. She goes back to using the punching bag.*
DAVID SHANE: So your little attack on Jenn last week wasn't enough to settle that score?
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: Are you fucking kidding me? The last two shows have given me a whooooooole new insight on this match!
DAVID SHANE: Oh?
*She punched the bag really hard*
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: See, I thought I was going to go into this match wanting to hurt Dan, or even Michael, the most. But as time went on... Jenn took that spot. The person in the match that I didn't think I would ever WANT to hurt... is the person that I never thought I'd want to hurt... ever. She was supposed to be my best friend. My partner in crime. My SISTER! We grew up together, we have always looked out for each other. And she goes and does this? It's an absolute and utter betrayal is what it is. No other word for it.
*She reached into her bag and grabbed a towel. She wiped the sweat off her forehead and arms. She tossed the towel back on the bench and sat down. She rested her elbows on her knees and looked up at David.*
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: The last time I was betrayed like this, I was smashed in the face moments after winning my WXW World Title. Smashed in the face - with the belt I just won - by the person who was always by my side ever since I made it to the big leagues. To say that what Jenn has done to me was worse than what Eddie did to me.
*David seemed shocked as he sat down next to her*
DAVID SHANE: Really? Why?
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: Why, you ask? Because Eddie did it for the title. I get that. I had the title, Eddie wanted the title, so he did what he had to do to push me. I respect that now, looking back. But Jenn? She slapped every little thing I have ever done for right in the face. She showed her true colors. Her little green monster came out in full force. She showed that all the support she has given me in the last few years was fake. I may not be perfect, I have made mistakes, but I own up to them. One thing you can say about me is that I am not fake. I'm human. I get jealous. But NEVER have I allowed that to come in the way of supporting my friends with their climb to the top.
DAVID SHANE: That's true. No matter what, I have always known you to be fiercely loyal. Especially to those you are close to, that you consider family.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: Thank you. And it's true. I've ended people's careers because they hurt some one I love.
DAVID SHANE: I've seen it.
*She sat up and tilted her head back for a moment, taking in a deep breath*
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: So if me holding the WXW Tag Team Titles with Lycra... YES I SAID HER NAME!... was such a bad move and made me a bad friend... then so fucking be it! What does she want from me? Does she want me to apologize for taking an opportunity when she didn't get one? Does she want me to beg for her forgiveness for holding the tag titles with some one else while she was out on an injury? Does she want for me to get permission to do something in my career that she isn't able to do? I seriously don't get it! I understand the troubles she had getting able to fight in the men's division. Believe me, I was there too. But you wanna know the difference between us? I fought and kicked and screamed and yelled and made a huge fuss to get to where I am now. I had to go out there and REPEATEDLY prove myself and my skills to management until I was finally given that shot. I, better than just about ANYONE, understand the struggle and frustration she went through.
DAVID SHANE: You really have. There's two kinds of people. Those that sit back and bitch, and those that take action to change what they are bitching about.
*Alexis raised her arms in the air, as if in victory*
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: EXACTLY! THANK YOU! But I, unlike her, am the second type. I didn't just sit back and LET them stomp on me! And I wasn't going to let that happen to her. So what did I do? I pushed her to keep fighting. I rooted her on. I knew doing so would put her in competition in the same division from me. But I didn't care. I just wanted to see my friend succeed in the business she loves. So if that makes me a selfish jerk... then so be it.
*She stood up, and started pacing back and forth while talking to David.*
DAVID SHANE: You are not a selfish jerk. I have seen you put yourself on the line for her. I have seen you put your career on the line for her. I just hate seeing you two at odds.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: So... yeah... Did I go a little overboard last week when I ran out after the main event? Maybe. Do I regret it? Not a single second of it. I needed that. It was theraputic for me. It helped me to get my head on straight with her. I'm angry, I'm hurt... I don't care what her reasoning is for it. She is treating me like a piece of garbage because she is frustrated with her career. She is upset that her career was in a stand still at the time, and I was given an opportunity and I seized it. Do you really THINK I would CHOOSE Lycra as my tag team partner OVER her? NO! Of course every single title defense we had, I'd look at James and say "God I wish it was Jenn at my side instead of Lycra". And I mean that!!!
DAVID SHANE: Yeah, I know! You said that to me too, repeatedly. And I can't say I blame you. I never trusted her.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: I shouldn't have... But what was I supposed to do? Look at that contenders match and say "No, thanks. My best friend is injured and I'd rather have no title shot... thanks but NO THANKS"
? NOW who is the selfish one? What would you have done?
DAVID SHANE: I plead the 5th.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: You do realize that if it was reversed... I would have been the one sitting there cheering for her! Rooting her on! But what did she do? Pretend to be happy for me while sitting there brooding and letting this resentment fester. Instead of talking to me about how she felt, she let it build and build and build until she did something awful. But it's all my fault because I didn't turn down an opportunity. And she is trying to make me feel guilty that my career took off faster, and has been bigger, than hers so far. Believe me, she has the potential to surpass me. I trained her, I know! But I am not going to let her make me feel like shit just because I fought back earlier and harder than she did? That I took a stand and did what I felt was right and what was needed.
DAVID SHANE: You did what you had to do. And you gotta respect that. It just sucks to see so much anger and hatred between two friends.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: Hatred? Do I hate Jenn? No. The opposite. She's my sister. Sisters fight. It's what happens. Just because we are fighting does not mean I care any less about her. But do I LIKE her right now? HELL FUCKING NO! She let her little green monster out and showed her ugly side. So I'm gonna do what I gotta do... and I'm gonna leave her in a bloody puddle in the middle of the ring while I hold MY title high in the air. At this point, I just don't care. I don't give a FUCK to be honest. She dug herself into this hole... and it's time for me to bury her in it. I'm sorry if that pisses people off... but she is going to get exactly what is coming to her.
DAVID SHANE: And as I told you last week. You gotta do what you gotta do. But, don't forget that there are two other people both vying for the same thign you are.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: Oh trust me... I haven't forgotten. Dan and Mike... Michael? What can I say about him. We used to be pals back in PWSi. I respected him... at first. Then he got this strange crush on me and things got really awkward... I mean, in the ring it is what it is. I know he feels similar to Jenn with the whole "me and Dan are stealing the spotlight" thing. But whose fault is that. It's theirs. Its not my fault that we are bigger names, with a bigger career, and a bigger fan base. It is what it is, and they could always try and change that. But they were content until they realized they were being overshadowed by those they "care" about. So, they started to fight back. And then there was Mike trying to be Dan's clone.
DAVID SHANE: I...would have to say that I don't agree with that.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: Oh come on... it's typical of the Russow's and every associated to them to try and be a comedian. To try and crack jokes at everyone else's expense. And then he jumped on the god damned "homewrecker" bandwagon.
DAVID SHANE: Ya know... you really need to get past that.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: I know. I've been giving it alot of thought. Trying to figure out what to do about that... it's been such a hot button issue ever since Levi started it back when things didn't go well between myself and Eddie. I told him from the start I wasn't looking for a relationship, but he liked me so much. We gave it a try. There were no sparks. It was like dating my brother. So I broke it to him as gently as possible and he didn't take it well because he felt the opposite at that time. So I apparantly broke his heart... and Levi and his crew jumped down my throat and have done so since. That's how homewrecker was born and it has driven me insane since then! So at the contract signing when Dan called me a homewrecker... I snapped.
DAVID SHANE: And I was able to use that to snap you back. Sorry about that... by the way.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: No hard feelings. You did what you needed to do, and I know you don't think of me that way. It's all good. So I have been thinking over the last few days, and I came up with a way to handle it.
DAVID SHANE: Do tell.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: By taking away the power they get by using it. By embracing it!
*She reached into her gym bag and pulled out a tshirt. She held it up and the front said "I'M A #HOMEWRECKER". David laughs*
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: Embrace the word... it takes away all the power.
DAVID SHANE: Brilliant.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: So once I get in that ring... total focus is on winning that title. I deserve to walk out of there with my head held high and gold over my shoulder. I deserve it more than the others. I have worked hard for this. Not saying they haven't... but I have worked so hard. And I want this. I NEED this.
DAVID SHANE: And that is exactly why you have my full support in this match. I know what you are like in the ring, even though last week was the first time you and I ever faced off. Which... by the way... we WILL be having a true rematch at some point.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: I'd be disappointed if we didn't.
*She sat down again next to him.*
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: Thanks for everything, David. Your support right now means the world to me, especially considering what I have been through the last few weeks. You are a dear friend to me... and dare I say it... like a big brother to me. The big brother I never really had.
*David smiled and pretended to cry a little bit then chuckled a little.*
DAVID SHANE: Anytime, Red. We are family, wether you like it or not. My kids love Auntie Lexi, and we look out for each other. That's what family does.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: Although we only started The Uprising to protect ourselves... right?
*They both started laughing. David spoke sarastically.*
DAVID SHANE: Busted.
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: I love how people make up whatever "facts" they want. The fact of the matter is with Dan... once you get past the Russow name... what is he? Just some one who rode his brother's coattails to fame and has been coasting on it since then. And Mike... ran away to Japan to do his own thing, and now he needs to try and make a name for himself in America. And then Jenn who wants to try and be this fed up little brat... but i can see right through her. She is nothing more than jealous and bitter. And I am TIRED of sugar coating things for people. I missed out on winning the United Title. I'm NOT missing this one. Destiny is going to be huge for me. Alexis Makarios... First Ever PWS: APEX World Champion.
DAVID SHANE: Not too shabby for the shy little red head who got eliminated in the first round of Queen of the Ring so many years ago, huh?
*Alexis smiled.*
ALEXIS MAKARIOS: That was rigged...
DAVID SHANE: Suuuuuure it was.
*She jokingly punched him in the arm and smirked as the camera fade to black.*