“More health issues”
(It’s been a couple of weeks since Jorge went to the hospital with stomach issues, but he’s back there again after he felt the same issues again and the doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong with him. The first time around, he scared the family when Madison called them to say that he went to the hospital. He fell when she was visiting him and she’s the one who called it in but this time the nursing home he was in called after he took a fall and complained about these issues. He’s having trouble walking as of late even with his walker, and he refuses to be put in a wheelchair full time, mostly because of his stubbornness and the macho persona he has. It’s the same Macho Persona that his son has and his granddaughter has as well, all of them hate asking for help or refusing to get help. This is currently happening at the hospital right now, he’s refusing any help and wants to be left alone. Between Jorge’s health issues becoming more of a normal thing and the new baby coming, their stress level is at an all-time high and it’s beating them down emotionally but they’ll never admit it. For the moment, Jorge is resting in the room after taking some tests, and he’s watching his favorite TV show, Gunsmoke. It’s always been his favorite tv show ever since he migrated north from Mexico. Jenn showed up at his room.)
Jenn: Hey you.
Jorge: Hey kiddo.
Jenn: Doing alright?
Jorge: I guess so, they just ran me through some more tests, like they did a couple of weeks ago and I told them they wouldn’t find anything and they were wasting their time.
Jenn: Not wasting their time….
(Jorge has never been a fan of the hospitals at all in his life and this trip is no better. With the trip he had a few weeks ago, they made him stay for 4 days before they released him and he was getting agitated by the entire thing. He had a stomach lining issue that caused that problem, but now? Who knows.)
Jenn: They want to make sure that you’re healthy but my sister told me that you said you’re a peace with what happens next…
Jorge: Honestly? I am. I told your sister that, the only thing that’s pretty much keeping me here is my great-granddaughter. I just want to meet her, get a picture with her and then what happens next I’m ok with you know? I lived a fantastic life and I’m at peace with everything right now.
(The old man noticed a facial expression changed in Jenn, he always knows when she’s thinking about something or doesn’t agree with the stuff he says. But this time, there is no changing his mind and she knows that.)
Jenn: I wish you wouldn’t talk like that…..
Jorge: Hon, It’s impossible for me to live forever, I don’t care what Lexi says about it. But just know, I will ALWAYS be here no matter what. I’m at an age now where these hospital trips are going to be more common and I can tell it’s being a burden on you kids, and I always promised myself I would never do that...and here we are...
Jenn: Stop that, you aren’t. It’s just everything happening all at once and yeah it’s stressful but we’re fine. I’ve noticed that with this family, things are good for a while but when shit hits the fan, everything goes wrong all at once.
Jorge: It’s always been that way even in my childhood! I find it funny how people think this family is perfect, which we aren’t. We’re far from perfect. Just like every family we share the same success, failures, and tragedies. Like, I lost my parents when I was 19 and then I lost my brothers along the way. I’m the only one left of my family still here, it hurts. But it doesn’t hurt as bad as losing my wife, I still haven’t gotten over it. I often ask myself, what more do I need to do? I’ve done everything I’ve always wanted to do, I’ve been around the world, I’ve shared laughs, I’ve even shed tears and I have 6 amazing kids, and the world only knows of 2. Then you showed up and I’m proud of you too… I still have no idea why your dad would ever walk out on you but his loss is my gain. You ARE one of my kids now, you belong in this family, there’s a reason why we let you keep our name after the divorce. Even my wife said the same thing too. Like I said I miss her, when she died it feels like a part of me did, I’m still heartbroken and I don’t think it’ll ever change until I see her again... It’s not me saying goodbye yet it’s just me accepting reality, and I’m at peace with what happens next.
(Jenn has always loved listening to Jorge’s stories even when she first met him years ago when she first started out this wrestling journey. He’s ALWAYS treated her like a daughter and the same respect was given back. She’s always seen him as a father figure she never had. After a second of silence, we heard Jorge chuckle for the first time since being at the hospital and a warm smile crept along her face.)
Jorge: I know my memory isn’t good anymore but I can still remember the good times she and I had with the kids too. It’s stuff like that you can’t ever forget no matter what. You know?
Jenn: Of course! You guys seemed happy when I saw you guys together. I know her and Eddie didn’t get along.
Jorge: They’ve always butted heads no matter. They never hated each other though, but always had different opinions. But I know for a fact that she’ll be happy for Eddie as he becomes a grandfather and you too! How do you feel about it?
Jenn: I'm not sure if I can handle being a grandparent...
Jorge: Stop that, you'll be a great one. You've helped raised Gracie for the last 10 years. You did an amazing job, and you'll do great being a grandparent, you're caring enough... just because you can't have kids on your own doesn't mean anything. Crystal and Gracie are your kids, never forget that. who cares if they came from different relationships. they belong to you... hell, you went as far as to adopt Gracie...when they told you it’ll be difficult too.
(Jenn grows this big bright smile on her face, she knows Jorge is right. There’s a whole new experience and world to explore as a grandparent and through the nervousness and the self-doubt, Jenn is ready to embrace it and she’s ready for the ups and downs.
Jorge: I can’t wait to see you grow into that role, trust me, it’ll be an amazing ride. It’ll be challenging too, and growing pains but in the end, it’s worth it. Trust me. But for now, I’m getting a bit tired and I need a nap.
Jenn: I’ll get going then, I’ll be back later though. I may sneak in some food….
Jorge: Pizza!?
(Jenn chuckles and hugs the elderly man before she walks out of the door. As she walks down the hallway and turns the corner everything seems to be fine until she reaches the elevator then she started to hear a stampede of footsteps running down the hallway towards a room.....She tried to see what was going on but one of the running doctors stopped her. The scene comes to an end.)
“I don’t owe anybody anything.”
Next day.
(The scene opens up In LA at Jenn’s place. We see her sister with her who doesn’t have her normal smile on her face. Neither of them if we want to be honest about it. They’re worried about the old man in the hospital. They haven’t heard much since Jenn got chased out of the room after the machines started to beep. Everyone else in the house is sleeping, by everyone meaning Crystal who’s in one room, and her best friend Charlee, who is now the roommate of Jenn is in another, but more on her story soon. Right now, Jenn and Madison are sitting in the front room, having something to eat.)
Madison: I think his health problems are getting worse.
Jenn: You’re not the only one. I mean I get why he struggled to move into that nursing home but it’s the best thing for him. Everyone is busy with their own stuff and it’s kinda hard to visit him when he has days like this. I mean it may seem sound selfish there, but it’s true you know?
Madison: It’s not selfish at all. Someone needs to watch him and that’s why the nursing home was a good idea, He’s just...he’s stubborn, this entire family is that way and I know he hates it but it’s the best place.
Jenn: Broke my heart to see him with all those tubes hooked up to him but I think that’s going to the future...
Madison: A couple of weeks ago, Gracie was broken-hearted too by it and she broke down. Crystal was there to support her and that’s the first time I saw those 2 bond. It was an amazing moment. I’ve never seen Gracie so choked up before but I understand why I really do.
Jenn: Crystal and Gracie are bonding is a good thing, it took us a while to do that...
Madison: It did, but I’m glad it did! But if anything bad happened to Jorge, they would have called us by now.
Jenn: That’s true….
Madison: I’m sure we’ll get answers soon, isn’t Eddie coming up today?
Jenn: In an hour or so. But before he gets here, I wanna get something off my chest.
Madison: Go ahead….I cant wait to hear this….
Jenn: I heard someone make some remarks about this family and I’m going to respond to it, I don’t have too but I feel like I need to. This family means everything to me and I’m going to express it, I’m proud of everything these kids are becoming in this business and rather you like it or not, they’re going to be part of this business for the next 10 to 20 years, even longer with the new baby coming and I’m going to be here every step of the way even in my retirement years...I’ll still talk about them. The loyalty they’ve shown to me outweighs any of the stupid ignorant opinions that some people have with no knowledge of my past. I’m sorry I’m open with my life….way, no I’m not. Sorry, not sorry.
(Jenn shrugs her shoulders.)
Jenn: I talked about Loyalty with that, let’s bring it up again. I’ve been loyal to this company since I started my wrestling journey. I started off without the blue hair, white face babyface, unrecognizable from what I am today, Let’s just say those days were a struggle, I wasn’t myself. I was pretending to be something I wasn’t and trying to make everyone happy. After a rocky start, I started to find who I really am. About that time, that’s when the Anti Divas started to form with me, Brittany and Alexis... A group formed because we didn’t like management at the time and quite frankly we still don’t.
(The impact the Anti Divas made is still being felt to this day, they may not be in a group anymore but the girls still carry on that legacy.)
Jenn: I’ve won a couple of championships with this company before It closed its doors and then I went on to a different company. It was in that different company where I found out who I truly was and that’s when I started to not give a shit what people thought about me, I changed my hair and attitude and that’s what have now. A zero fucks given person who cares less about people’s little feelings...however even at that company, my loyalty was still with PWS. That’s why I never changed my Twitter handle because I never forgot the place that gave me a chance and where I broke out as a wrestler and the experience it gave me.
(Jenn looks back at the shadowbox of the championships she has won over the years, including the early years.)
Jenn: I know I’m going to get some flack for this, but I honestly don’t care. I don’t play anybody’s games. But, I’m not going to forget that company either, they believed in me and they pushed me to stardom, something I don’t think PWS could do because of the stars they had that the time. Honestly, do you blame me for going to a different company after the original place closed? What else was I supposed to do? Just sit home and do nothing? No, i wasn’t going to do that. I wanted to better myself, sure that talent there wasn’t that good but that didn’t matter to me. They believed in me and that’s all that matters in the end.
(Everything she’s said so far about her career is nothing but facts. She’s held over 10 titles in her career and it’s not because of luck, it’s because of hard work she puts into her craft every single week, and she’s been on top for so long now because of it.)
Jenn: When they decided to try to bring PWS back I was one of the hand full of people they called to see if I was interested in returning. I was like hell yeah I’d return…. One thing led to another and it failed at first but then this place finally reopened with new management. Now, I got had a couple of world title matches here, but I never got a true one-on-one for it until now.
(Jenn smiles a bit after she said that, it’s a huge match in her career for sure, but she’s ready for it. Even if she fails to get it, she knows that she’s opened that door for her, much like Gracie has on being a main event star.)
Jenn: Now, I know what you people are saying. I don’t deserve to be here, and I say you’re wrong. Sure I haven’t done much since I came back from a break a couple of years ago but I needed that break for my sake and for my mental status. I was physically burnt out from just anything at that point, and the divorce I had weighed heavy on my mind as well. I was just a broken-down person at that point in my life. Let’s be honest, everyone would be that way too if they told you you couldn’t have kids... and then just being physically burnt out of YEARS of wrestling without a break…. I’ve been rebuilding my career back to this point and I’m ready for it. I’m ready for this challenge and I don’t care if you people like it or not. I don’t any anybody anything. Nobody was there at the weakest point in my life, so why should I let you people decide what’s best for me at the highest point of my career?
(Jenn looks towards her sister with a smile on her face.)
Jenn: When I came back from the break, they forced me into a tag team with my sister. Now, I don’t have a problem with that, She’s a budding star if they’d let her actually do something… She’s talented much like Gracie is and it’s a shame that they let her just sit on the sidelines for no reason whatsoever. I did this same thing for Gracie too, that’s where she and I picked up 5 tag title reigns for a different company this place doesn’t like because of their bruised egos. But, I’m not built for the tag division... never have been never will be. But will I help Gracie or Madison when needed? Yes, I will, I’ll never deny them. So, it’s a struggle to get out of this division just like it was with the women division. But if I can break out of that Prison cell known as the Women’s division, I can break out of this just as easily.
(Madison nods her head. This team between her and her sister is NOT a long-term thing, and both of them know it. It was a way to break Madison into this company.)
Madison: Well with that said, let’s talk about why we are here. The world title, the main event...something you really deserve. I could hype you up all i want but I’m going to let you do that yourself.
(Jenn nods her head towards her sister, and she’s about to talk about the world title match and what it means to her. Which it means everything to her.)
Jenn: Sierra, I know you’re probably overlooking me and thinking that I’m just some stepping stone who is in your way, right? That will be the biggest mistake of your life if you think that. I’m not some broken-down bitch walking around here anymore. Getting ready for this match lit a fire under my ass and it’s re-energized me. Hell, I could have you left for dead if I wanted too but I didn’t. I could have let you face one of the dick ryders we have here or some other jobber so you could have an easy payday but I didn’t. I know you’re gonna twist my kindness into some petty 3rd-grade insults that I’ve heard so many times over the years to a point where it bores me to death…
(It’s true, she’s heard every insult was thrown at her over the years and nothing gets under her skin anymore like it used to. She’s far from caring about people’s opinions at this point, and the same is for Sierra too. She respects the girl but she doesn’t care for anything she has to say.)
Jenn: Now, I know you haven’t heard many compliments in your life but I’m going to give you one. Not because of “kindness” but because it’s the truth. You’re a very talented person, and you’ve dominated the roster since you’ve held that championship and you also have the system on your back too. But none of that makes me shake in my boots, terrified. I’ve faced way too many people, way too long to be scared of someone like you, if I’m honest about it. But this match brings the excitement out of me that’s been lacking for a while now. It’s something that I’m looking forward to and you brought out of me….so congrats on that I guess?
(Jenn shrugs her shoulders.)
Jenn: You are about to see what I’m about in this ring, what this company hasn’t seen in so long. The Passion, the heart, the desire to win, and a person who is determined as hell to take that championship away from you. This isn’t about any dreams, dreams are always meant to be broken and mine was broken a long time ago. I could say that this match is dedicated to my father who is laid up in the hospital right now, but that’ll be kinda silly don’t you think? You dedicate something to a dead person and he’s not dead yet, but I’m doing this for him too. The Passion I have for this business and the loyalty outweighs anything you’re about to say about me, and it’s your opinion, it’s cute but I don’t care about it.
Madison: You’ve been saying I don’t care a lot….
Jenn: At this point in life, I don’t. Life and this business have thrown everything at me, tried to beat me down, and every step of the way. So, give me a legit reason why I should care what she has to say about me? I didn’t rebuild my life 2 twice to please her or anybody on this roster and I’m not going to bow down to anybody either. I didn’t come back to stroke people’s egos. Win, lose, it doesn’t matter. I’m still a legend in this business and I’ll still have my spot in the hall of fame waiting for me, I don’t care what these people have to say about it.
(Just then the phone starts ringing and Jenn checks to see who it is. It’s the hospital, Jenn was going to walk outside on the back porch to take the call but it’s storming outside, so she decided to go to her bedroom to take this call, leaving madison in the living room wondering what the call is about, is it about Jorge? Is it about something else? Madison waits for Jenn to return as the scene cuts to black.)
End.