-The Luckiest-Tuesday Night Riot
Las Vegas, NV
Tuesday, September 15th, 2020“Have Faith In Me”(We see the cameras rolling backstage at Riot where the main event has just ended, Sierra Williams is still celebrating in the ring as Jack Russow comes gingerly flowing through the curtain holding his ribs and the back of his neck wincing in pain but also with a smile on his face when all of a sudden he’s tackled by Alanah O’Connell.)
Jack Russow: Ahh! Ah ah ah...easy...easy babe…
Alanah O’Connell: Oh! I’m sorry mo chroi! I’m just so PROUD of you!
Jack Russow: Well...I didn’t win.
Alanah O’Connell: Technically you did! Runner up in that barbaric battle royal still gets you a title shot!
Jack Russow: I mean hey!...I’ll take it, ya know!
(Alanah suddenly gets very withdrawn as she pulls away from Jack who slumps over with his hands on his knees.)
Jack Russow: What? What is it? What’s wrong?
Alanah O’Connell: I just...realized who you’re going to have to face.
(The look on Jack’s face sombers as well.)
Jack Russow: ...sonuvabitch.
Alanah O’Connell: Babe it’s okay! We can go talk to your dad and-
Jack Russow: And what? Listen to him brow beat me about how this “is the opportunity of a lifetime” and “this is the proudest he’s ever been of me”?
Alanah O’Connell: ...well maybe we can get him to change the match!
Jack Russow: ...change the match?
Alanah O’Connell: Yeah...like, what if we talked to Aiden Reynolds and you two switched places so you fought Haze instead?
(Jack suddenly gets a bit of a stern look on his face as he continues trying to catch his breath. He runs his fingers through his hair and motions back to the ring and then back to the backstage and wildly asks.)
Jack Russow: Why would I do that? I’m not getting involved in that daft Collateral Damage division and besides! I EARNED my shot at the United Title!
Alanah O’Connell: But...Bella…
Jack Russow: What? What are you trying to say, love? I know who it is...I’m quite aware. But I’m pretty sure we all knew it was going to come to this one day. We’re both on a pretty shoestring roster, a clash was bound to happen and why SHOULDN’T I take my shot at being a champion?
Alanah O’Connell: I’m not saying you shouldn’t, babe! I’m just saying that with the news earlier you’re going to have to team with Malachi and now you’re going to be fighting his fiancee’ who’s also your oldest friend that...y’know!
Jack Russow: ...baby, I love you more than life itself but I’m not going to let my life be dictated by MY family...OR yours.
Alanah O’Connell: ...and what exactly do you mean by that?
Jack Russow: I mean exactly that. I’ve got my dad telling me what to do, I’ve got your brother telling me what I CAN’T do, and now I’ve got you telling me what NOT to do.
Alanah O’Connell: I’m NOT telling you what not to do, I’m just saying it’s BELLA!
Jack Russow: I...wait, is that it?
(Jack turns away and rubs his mouth and then turns back with his hands on his hips.)
Jack Russow: ...you don’t think I can beat her...do you?
Alanah O’Connell: I NEVER said that! Jack I-
Jack Russow: Wow. Mmkay. I’m gonna go shower now...I think we both need a cooldown.
(Jack storms up to Alanah and kisses her on the forehead as he storms off down the hall as she looks at him with tears in her eyes as he goes.)
PWS: Apex Riot
Tuesday Sept. 29th, 2020
Las Vegas, NV(The curtain once again flails open as Jack Russow storms through and starts absolutely chucking everything throwable in eyesight down the hallway as Alanah O’Connell follows behind him when suddenly behind her, Malachi and Bella storm through as the argument starts again, both girls trying to hold their boys back.)
Malachi: What the BLOODY fuck was that!?
Jack Russow: That was a WIN you ungrateful asshole! I’m not surprised you don’t recognize it since you haven’t had one in awhile!
Malachi: I’ve had more wins than you’ve had meals you cocky prick! And if you hadn’t suckered me out of that one, I’d have that too!
Jack Russow: ...WHAT!? You DO have the win, you daft FUCK! And you’re WELCOME by the way!
Malachi: I had that match won while you were spending most of your time crying on the outside you pampered shitheel!
Jack Russow: Really? Cause I’m pretty sure if I didn’t tag myself in, they had you dead to rights big man.
Alanah O’Connell: BOTH OF YOU STOP IT! THIS IS STUPID!
Malachi: Alanah you keep your FUCKING plaything away from me before I break his fucking neck!
Jack Russow: Don’t fucking talk to her that way you family abandoning FUCK.
Bella Madison: WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY!?
Jack Russow: You can keep the fuck out of it too while we’re at it! This is between ME and FUCKBOY over here!
Alanah O’Connell: DO NOT TALK ABOUT MY BROTHER LIKE THAT!
(Malachi has tried to charge Jack who was distracted by Alanah’s outburst and Malachi narrowly misses connecting with a right directly to Jack’s jaw until Bella grabs him and corrals him down the hallway as Alanah holds on to Jack with all her might as he tries to give chase screaming after him.)
Jack Russow: CHEAP SHOTS AND EXCUSES, THAT’S ALL YOU’RE FUCKIN’ GOOD FOR!!!
Alanah O’Connell: JACK ALEXANDER RUSSOW!!!
(Jack spits on the ground and turns around...actually GLARING at Alanah. And surprisingly...coldly...he states.)
Jack Russow: You can let go of me now.
Alanah O’Connell: But...but I don’t want to…
Jack Russow: No seriously, you can let go of me now. What the hell, ‘lanah?
(Alanah lets go of him and looks at him confused.)
Alanah O’Connell: What do you mean, Jack?
(Jack paces back and forth pulling at his hair and rubbing his mouth again in bewilderment.)
Jack Russow: Is there ever gonna be a time where you take MY side?
Alanah O’Connell: I’m ALWAYS on your side!
Jack Russow: Are you? ‘Cause your brother was throwing some pretty heavy bombs there and all YOU said was “don’t talk to my brother like that”...you couldn’t, I don’t know, maybe even scream “don’t talk to my boyfriend like that” back at HIM?
Alanah O’Connell: I...I’m sorry…
Jack Russow: Nah it’s cool...HE’S family, isn’t he. I don’t need anyone to fight my battles for me but...God, it’d sure be cool if my girlfriend actually WANTED to...y’know? Just in case?
(Alanah is crying again as Jack sighs and tries to hug her.)
Jack Russow: Alright...that was too far...I’m sorr-
(Alanah pushes him away.)
Alanah O’Connell: No you’re right! I must not give a DAMN about you, huh! I-...
(Alanah can’t form the rest of her sentence as she busts out crying and runs off down the hallway to go find Mattie as Jack puts his hands on his head looking up with his eyes closed trying to fight back tears of his own.)
“Who will fix me now?
Dive in when I’m down?
Save me from myself?
...Don’t let me drown.”(The scene opens to show Alanah laying in the pillow fort with the dogs, gently stroking Pip’s head as Jack enters the room and starts looking for stuff. She shuffles to the opening and sits there looking at him...they haven’t been the same lately. Quietly she calls out…)
Alanah O’Connell: Umm...babe?
(Jack answers her somewhat...coldly.)
Jack Russow: Yeah.
Alanah O’Connell: Do you...d’you wanna come lay down and watch some movies with us?
Jack Russow: Can’t.
Alanah O’Connell: Oh...wh-...why not?
Jack Russow: Too busy.
Alanah O’Connell: Wh-...well what are you looking fo-
Jack Russow: I found it.
Alanah O’Connell: Oh...okay…
(She pulls her knees up to her chest and folds her arms on top of them resting her chin on them looking at him...tears start to fill her eyes.)
Alanah O’Connell: J-Jack...are...
are we okay?
Jack Russow: Fine.
(Jack opens the door and looks out and doesn’t even turn his head to her.)
Jack Russow: ...Mattie’s coming. Love you.
Alanah O’Connell: D...D’you mean it?
(Before she can get an answer he’s stormed out of the room just as Mattie has slithered in as she feels the wind from Jack rushing past her and her eyes get wide as she looks back at Alanah.)
Mattie Cormier: JESUS where’s the fire!?
(Mattie sees Alanah sitting there...face buried in her hands...and hears her absolutely bawling as she rushes forward.)
Mattie Cormier: Oh my God, chica! What happened!?
Alanah O’Connell: He...he doesn’t love me anymore...
Mattie Cormier: WHAT!? The fuck he doesn’t, girl! What makes you say that!?
(Alanah raises her bright red and tear streaked face to look at Mattie trying to compose herself between sobs as Mattie’s face displays heartbreak and she pulls out a fabric sample to dry her tears.)
Alanah O’Connell: I-I don’t know...we...we got into a fight after the battle royal and...and...and he was just so...the look in his eyes. All I did was try to get him to ask Aiden to change title m-matches! I-I-I just didn’t wanna see him and Bella’s friendship go through that pain!
Mattie Cormier: Aww honey!
Alanah O’Connell: He...he said that means I don’t b-believe in him...like I don’t think he can beat Bella.
Mattie Cormier: Aww baby girl, did you tell him that’s not what you meant!?
Alanah O’Connell: I-..I...I couldn’t...he said he was going to shower and we needed a “cooldown”...and when he got out we got back here and he just went straight to bed. Then we were okay for a couple days and then...then the tag match got closer…
Mattie Cormier: Oh no...that thing was ugly!
Alanah O’Connell: ...we got into it after that one too.
Mattie Cormier: ...wait, WHAT? What about!?
Alanah O’Connell: H-Him and Mal...were throwing insults at each other...just trying to hit a sensitive spot, y’know? And I was just tryin’ to separate them and I STUPIDLY used the “mom voice” and his full name and when he turned to look at me I lost my temper and all I could say was “Do not talk about my brother like that”.
Mattie Cormier: Well? You were just trying to stop it!
(Alanah starts tearing up again as Mattie shuffles over and lays Alanah’s head on her shoulder.)
Alanah O’Connell: But I...I...I didn’t...oh Mattie, I didn’t say anything to MAL about what he was saying to JACK!
Mattie Cormier: Ohhhh honey no!
Alanah O’Connell: Mm-hmm! And so...and so..and so Jack thought I was always gonna pick my family over him and he wasn’t family and he asked if I was ever gonna take his side or have his back!!!
(Alanah is full blown bawling again at this point as Mattie’s face is wrenching with heartbreak.)
Mattie Cormier: Oh baby, no! What did you say to him!?
Alanah O’Connell: I DI-...I DI-...I DIDN’T!!! I just said I must not care about him and I just ran away from him cr-crying and now he hates me!!!
(Mattie rocks Alanah back and forth shushing her as Alanah’s tears absolutely soak her shoulder until she lifts her face and wipes her tears making her look at her.)
Mattie Cormier: Listen to me, chica. That boy loves you with all his heart and soul. I know it, you know it, anyone who’s ever tried to fuck with you knows it!
Alanah O’Connell: M-Mattie...I found an engagement ring in his pocket m-months ago…
Mattie Cormier: ...oh…
Alanah O’Connell: And I keep thinking...we’ve had all these beautiful moments he could have asked me but he never did and now...now I don’t think he’s ever going to!
(Alanah starts to cry again as Mattie shakes her shoulders a little bit.)
Mattie Cormier: LISTEN TO ME! If he does...he’s making sure it’s the right moment. Maybe he’s waiting for a bigger spectacle! What YOU need, right now...is snacks!
Alanah O’Connell: ...I AM pretty hu-hungry…
Mattie Cormier: SEE! Then lessgo!
(Mattie almost deadlifts Alanah onto her feet as she locks arms with her once they’ve exited the door...as soon as they exit the room and enter the little hallway that leads to the living room area, Mattie whistles a little tune.)
Alanah O’Connell: Why are you so happy today?
Mattie Cormier: Oh my darling...ANYTHING can change in a day!
(The whistle must have been a clue because before they enter the living area, they hear the piano situated in the middle of the room start to play. Alanah looks immensely confused as Mattie looks absolutely giddy.)
Alanah O’Connell: ...what’s going on?
(Mattie shushes her and pushes her gently into the room...there, Alanah looks around and sees every available area one could put a vase absolutely adorned with sunflowers...her favorite flower. As she looks around marveling at the spectacle she looks at the piano...where Jack Russow is sitting playing a soft melody. Alanah starts to cry again...but for a whole different reason this time as Jack softly sings to her.)
Jack Russow:“I...don’t get...many things right the first time.
And in fact...I am told...that a lot.
...Now I know all the wrong turns,
The stumbles,
...The falls brought me here.”
(Alanah gently approaches the piano as Jack’s face reflects a deep caring and love towards her. Alanah suddenly absolutely loses it as Mattie walks up and puts her arm around her as Bella walks out of her room and puts her arm around her on the other side...as all the doors open. Alanah is suddenly surrounded by her Ma...Lach and Mal...and the rest of their friends and family. They’re all smiling warmly at her as she covers her face before looking back at Jack with her hands resting on her cheeks.)
Jack Russow:“And where was I before the day…
That I first saw your lovely face?
...Now I see it...everyday.
And IIIII knooooow…
That IIIIIIII am…
...IIIIIIIII am…
IIIIIIII am….the luckiest.”(One of Jack’s former bandmates slides out of one of the rooms and slides next to him at the piano as he takes over playing the soft melody as Jack gets up. He grabs a sunflower and he walks up to her as the girls let go of her and back up. He hands it to her and presses his forehead to hers.)
Jack Russow: I...am moody, stubborn, weird, and brash...and for the longest time I thought...I just KNEW...that was going to drive you away from me at some point. But you stayed...you’ve always stayed. What I see as major defects in myself, you see as character traits that make me who I am. And it’s only because of you I DO know who I am. Alanah, I think of every night you and I have spent...cuddled in that blanket fort like kids shutting the cruel, harsh world out with our furry little children and it makes my heart soar every single time.
(Jack takes the sunflower from her and sets it on the piano as he takes her hands looking into her eyes.)
Jack Russow: We’ve been fighting a lot lately...and I am SURE...that’s my fault. And for that, I am so incredibly sorry. But we were told that TRUE love comes with arguments. The important part is...you and I radiate back to each other every time. Stronger and more attached than ever. You are...LITERALLY...every single piece of me that was missing and all the pieces I didn’t even know I needed. I know...your brother doesn’t think much of me...and it bothers you that he and I don’t get along and I’m gonna work on that. But I had a good heart to heart with my parents...and a better heart to heart with Ma...then I talked to your brothers. I did this...because I had a question for all of them. Well...more a question for Lach and a statement for Mal.
(There’s a smattering of laughter...not from Mal who is almost trembling with rage having to watch this happen. Who cares...it’s not his moment and he can go suck eggs! Anyway…)
Jack Russow: And the question I asked, I’m happy to say, was met with a resounding yes. And so now...I have a question...for you.
(Jack takes her left hand...and drops to one knee...this is it! Alanah is covering her mouth and crying almost hysterically as Jack’s eyes tear up as well...you look around the room and see there’s barely a dry eye in the house. Emma snuggles into Levi’s arms with tears streaming down her face. Lach wraps his arm around his Ma as she wipes her tears with a handkerchief. Even the massive Slappy McGoo is audibly boo-hooing in the back hugging little Rosie tight who is just adoring the pageantry. Jack’s voice almost cracks...but still he persists. And on cue, Jack pulls the same little box that’s been teased for months out of his pocket and he opens it up to present the ring towards her.)
Jack Russow: ...I don’t know...what the future holds for us, for the world, for ANYTHING. But I know...I’ve always known...from celebrating victories with you to feeling the breath sucked from my crushing chest holding your hand in the hospital...that my future is now, and forever, in your eyes. Alanah Isolde O’Connell…
...will you marry me?(Alanah can’t even speak but she nods her head fervently as Jack slides the ring on her finger and then scoops her up in his arms twirling her around before they kiss multiple times. As he sets her down...she starts smacking his shoulders angrily...but also happily.)
Jack Russow: OW! OW! OWW!!!
Alanah O’Connell: DON’T YOU EVER DO THAT TO ME AGAIN!!!
Jack Russow: OKAY! I’m sorry...I love you...Mrs. Russow.
(This makes Alanah throw her arms around him and kiss him again...this time passionately and held for a moment until they part and give two other little kisses before turning around and being met with a raucous round of applause and cheers as the girls rush Alanah to look at the ring and the boys congratulate Jack.)
-We Knew It Would Come To This-
“I am NOT throwin’ away my...shot!
I am NOT throwin’ away my...shot!
Ay yo, I’m just like my country!
I’m young, scrappy, and hungry.
And I’m not throwin’ away my shot!”(The scene opens with Jack Russow sitting in an easy chair with one leg crossed over the other with a big grin on his face that busts out into a smile as he fiddles with a bottle of water balanced on his knee.)
Jack Russow: As I’m sure you all know by now...as much as 2020 has sucked royal balls for the entire world...I can’t actually complain too much on my end! I’ve already held a massive championship in a company that didn’t know my legacy...I’ve been on a bit of a winning streak lately...and I just asked the most perfect woman in the world to be my wife and she...said..;yes. But now...see that winning streak I was talking about? TECHNICALLY...I “lost” but I still count it a WIN...because it still bore a title opportunity for me. And therein...lies the rub.
(Jack gets contemplative for a moment and we see a lifetime of memories flash across his face...she is his oldest best friend...they shared victories together...they held each other's hands when their world was burning around them...and yet in the back of their minds they knew that IF they took this path...SOMEDAY...this would happen.)
Jack Russow: ...I have to fight my best friend. No offense to Mack, he’s my brother...but Bella...I almost want to say no to this opportunity. I almost want to walk into our parents office and tell them that I can’t go through with this. I WON’T go through with this. I DON’T...want to HURT YOU. And I ALMOST want to avoid all the drama this is going to invoke!
...
almost.Jack Russow: But the fact of the matter is, Bells...this ain’t personal...it’s business. I knew. I knew going into that battle royal, I was going to be screwed either way. When it came down to the final three I THOUGHT about throwing myself over the top rope and taking my fight to Heather Haze’s doorstep. I THOUGHT about taking the bronze medal and letting Mack teach me how to hurt the human body with such precision that the current Collateral Damage champion is afraid of. Because I knew if I was in the final two...I was damned if I did and damned if I didn’t. And I didn’t…and that has put me across the ring from you. Sierra got me. There’s no denying that, that fuckin’ woman is a wildcat. And I guess...my future sister-in-law? THAT’S a weird thought…
(Jack uncrosses his legs and gently sits the water bottle on the side table before leaning forward and pressing his fingers together in front of him.)
Jack Russow: ...so what do we do now, Bells? Where do we go...from here. I already have to tag with your st- (Jack stops himself wincing because he promised Alanah) your...fiance’. We have enough problems with THAT. But now? You and me going one on one? How am I supposed to process that? How am I supposed to PREPARE for that!? We KNEW that someday...if we walked this path...it COULD happen. And we prayed to God or whoever would listen that it didn’t. But now we don’t have a CHOICE. This is HAPPENING. And I WANT...I NEED...that United Title!
(Jack starts to lose his composure as he slaps the coffee table in front of him and starts acting jittery before wiping his face with one hand and pointing at the camera.)
Jack Russow: I can’t LOOK at you like a friend! I can’t LOOK at you like family! I cannot LOOK at you...like the rock of my history. My fixed point that I could always rely on to STEADY me! I HAVE to look at you...like an enemy. Because I know, Bella. You and I both know. We have been there for nearly EVERY one of each other’s matches! You know my entire playbook and I know counters to your counters, counters! This match could go down in the history books as one of the greatest fights of all time if I can just MAKE myself FIGHT you! And I will. I’m going to. I HAVE to. I’m going to love you up until that bell rings...and then I’m gonna try to take your head off. When the second bell rings...I’ll love you again. THAT...will never CHANGE. And I know, I know...I have no way of knowing if you will feel the same! You and I...are gonna punish each other...our significant others are going to be standing side by side, holding hands, praying to God it ends soon. Mal is gonna want to rush that ring and take my damn head off and for ONCE…
...I can’t BLAME him!Jack Russow: You think Alanah is gonna enjoy just standing there...watching two of the biggest loves she has in this world beat the ever loving shit outta each other!? It took...every ounce of her beautiful beating heart...to handle her feelings when SHE had to fight you. Everyone we know...everyone we LOVE...is going to HATE this match. Slappy is gonna beg for the bell to ring. Our parents are going to feel a sense of twisted pride but THEY will be standing side by side hoping for the best! But we’re DOING this, Elizabeth! We’re DOING this...because this is what we DO! THIS is who we ARE! WE...are the NEW...PWS!!! And we can’t sit back and let this new era be defined by bow-legged old fossils like Heather Haze and Alexis Makarios! Mack is doing his job to be the face of this company but I KNOW you...I KNOW that deep in the cockles of your soul you HATE that. It’s YOU...and ME...WE were born and bred to be the faces of this company and so to DO that...WE have to damn near KILL each other to prove our Goddamn POINT! We may not LIKE it...but we will RESPECT it. I am coming for your United Championship, Elizabeth. So I SUGGEST...you mount up...and get ready to tear the still beating heart from my chest! Because physically or emotionally...at the end of all my Dishonorable deeds…
...I intend..to break yours.
(Jack clicks his teeth and winks at the camera as he lifts himself out of the chair and saunters out of the shot as we fade to black.)