My Road to Redemption #1

[Stephen]

Scene One: Inclement Weather

The scene opens in the Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. The camera is fixated on Jacques Mercier and his friend, Dex Crawford, who are sitting in Terminal C-13 waiting on their flight to Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Virginia. Having already had their flight delayed once due to inclement weather, the two men look very anxious and impatient as they converse in their seats.

Jacques Mercier: I can't believe this. The weather lately hasn't been sunny and wonderful, but I never thought it would be this bad.

Dex Crawford: Yeah, and it's convenient that it would get this bad the day before your match.

Jacques Mercier: Just my luck, huh? We've been in this airport going on six hours now, and I don't think I can take it much longer.

Dex Crawford: I know what you mean. Haven't felt this claustrophobic since that time we got locked in my uncle's basement with his stash.

Jacques Mercier: At least we had something to do. Here, our options are to sit and wait or go home.

Jacques shook his head as he scanned the area. It was nearing eleven PM and most of the people that remained in the terminal were either asleep or on their way to being asleep. Jacques couldn't blame them; it had been a long and tiresome day. He'd woken up at around six earlier that morning so he could pack and take care of a few last minute errands before he met up with Dex at around noon. They packed up Dex's car before heading to their buddy Nathan's place to smoke with him. Nathan was one of the few people that supported Jacques other than Dex, his uncle Antoine, and now Madame Duvale. Jacques brought Nathan up to speed about his recent work in FGA since they hadn't spoken since a little before Jacques signed with the company.

Jacques Mercier: At least we got to see Nate before we left.

Dex Crawford: That's good for you. I see the little bastard at least twice a week.

Jacques Mercier: That's because I have shit to do during the day.

Dex Crawford: Don't kid yourself. You go to the gym and check out that girl that's on the treadmill everyday. What's her name? Josephine?

Jacques Mercier: Julia, and I don't check her out... Anymore.

Dex Crawford: What happened?

Jacques Mercier: We went out and we just didn't have any chemistry.

Dex Crawford: What was wrong with her?

Jacques Mercier: She's way too obsessed about her cats man! She has like fourteen of the fuckers and she wanted me to come back to her place after telling me that.

Dex Crawford: Did you?

Jacques Mercier: Well, yeah. I'm not going to turn down some pussy because of some cats.

Both Dex and Jacques grin. Their conversation is then interrupted by one of the women at the terminal desk speaking through a microphone. She announced that their flight would be delayed another hour causing those waiting in the terminal to let out groans of annoyance and disappointment.

Dex Crawford: You know what? I'm not even upset about this shit anymore.

Jacques raised an eyebrow.

Jacques Mercier: Really now?

Dex Crawford: No reason to get upset seeing how fate doesn't want any harm done to that Nic Venum guy you're supposed to face tomorrow.

Jacques grins.

Jacques Mercier: You have a point. I do seem to have a way of crushing the hopes of a debuting wrestler. Just ask Asro Kast.

Dex Crawford: The guy didn't have a chance. Now he's not even with the company anymore, right.

Jacques Mercier: That's what I've heard. Doesn't matter to me anyway. He clearly wasn't on my level, and Nic Venum won't be either. My Road to Redemption started with me defeating Asro Kast and it continues with me facing and defeating Venum.

Dex Crawford: If we ever get on the plane.

Jacques laughs.

Jacques Mercier: I hope we get on the plane. I'm excited for the match. I've got my confidence and swag back and I don't plan on losing either of them again any time soon.

Dex Crawford: That's what I like to hear. Next stop, the Frontier Heavyweight Championship.

Jacques nods, a look of serious determination on his face.

Jacques Mercier: That's the other reason I really want to make it to the show. Mike Tompkins and Blaine Harrison are going at it for the belt, and whoever wins it will ultimately be my target until the belt is safely at home around my waist.

Dex Crawford: That should be a good match to watch.

Jacques Mercier: Not better than mine though. Even if Venum can't throw a punch, I'll make him look like a legendary superstar. I'm just that damn good.

Dex Crawford: What about the next super show? Spring Breakage. You're not even on the card yet and there are only two shows between now and then.

Jacques Mercier: I'm not too concerned about that. Either way the championship match goes tomorrow the opponents for both men have been set for the super show. Either way, I won't be competing for the belt which is all that matters.

Dex Crawford: Yeah, but you could at least make a statement with a win over somebody at the super show.

Jacques Mercier: True, but there are only a few super stars left that don't have opponents that will bump me up the power rankings. Jared James and Chandler Scott are the only other two that will be credible victories. I wouldn't mind having another shot at Chandler though to be quite honest. He's the one that helped to put me in the slump I was in and I'd love to return the favor.

Dex opens his mouth to respond, but he's interrupted by the woman behind the terminal desk. She announces to all of those waiting in the terminal that the flight has officially been cancelled causing a lot of the people to get upset. Jacques shakes his head.

Dex Crawford: Maybe you can catch an early flight tomorrow morning.

Jacques Mercier: I already asked and the only two flights they have that'll give me enough time to get prepared for my match are already filled. Chances are those two flights will get cancelled too.

Dex and Jacques stand up and collect their belongings. Jacques looks disappointed so Dex pats him on the back.

Dex Crawford: Hey, it's just one match man. You'll get another one next week and we'll make sure you make it to it.

Jacques grins before nodding.

Jacques Mercier: Who knows, maybe I'll get a credible opponent this time around.

The scene ends with Dex and Jacques finishing up with the collecting of their things and walking towards the exit of the airport.

Scene Two: No Church in the Wild

The scene opens in the smoke filled, Boston apartment of Jacques Mercier. Shapes can be made out as the camera begins to shake and move. The camera then focuses on Jacques Mercier's face as he holds the camera towards him. His eyes are low and red and a grin is on his face.

Jacques Mercier: What's up FGA? "Black Magic" here, back in my apartment.

He turns the camera around and shows Dex Crawford and the cameraman both passed out on his couch. Dex's head is on the cameraman's shoulder and the cameraman's head is resting on Dex's head. Jacques turns the camera back towards him and starts chuckling.

Jacques Mercier: Don't they just look comfortable?

Jacques laughs as he places the camera on the table so it's still focused on him.

Jacques Mercier: My boys here, Dex and Ronnie, did a little more then they could handle and you see the result. I knew Ronnie probably couldn't hang, but Dex usually can go as much as I can. I'm a little disappointed in him.

He takes a freshly rolled blunt from Dex's unconscious hand and lights it up.

Jacques Mercier: Last week I was unable to attend the show because my flight kept getting delayed and ultimately cancelled. My opponent was supposed to be Nic Venum and I thought he was going to get a win by forfeit, but apparently I wasn't the only one that was affected by the weather.

Jacques pauses to take a hit from the blunt. He holds it in for a few seconds before letting the smoke escape his mouth.

Jacques Mercier: Now we're set to face off at Spring Breakage to have that match and I'm actually happy about that. Last week you, the fans, were robbed of seeing me in action and that just doesn't sit well with me. You deserve quality matches and I'm one of the few competitors in this company that can produce quality matches on a week to week basis.

Jacques pauses to take another hit of the blunt before continuing.

Jacques Mercier: But before I can give the fans the match they deserve, I must face a man who has been on a rampage over the last few weeks. He's attacked and destroyed the former champion, Mike Thompkins, on multiple occasions. He brought Blaine Harrison's moment of glory to an abrupt end when it was announced that Blaine would be the first number one contender to the championship. He's made it clear that he doesn't care how old you are so you can share a drink him. He's "The Slammer" Mickey O'Reilly, and I couldn't be more pleased that I'm to face him on the next show.

Jacques knocks some of the ash into the ashtray before taking another hit and continuing.

Jacques Mercier: Ever since I lost to Thompkins, management has been throwing me these bullshit newcomers instead of placing me in matches against the proven top dogs of the company. That was completely unacceptable and had I been placed in a match against one of the recent signees, I would have had to talk to management and find out why they were making me the "Deflowerer" of FGA.

Another pause to take a hit of the blunt.

Jacques Mercier: Now, I'm finally pitted against one of the big dogs, and how lucky am I that he's undefeated. I had a chance to end Thompkins' undefeated streak and came up short. I think that ending the undefeated streak of the man who's been laying out Thompkins over the last few weeks will make up for that.

Jacques pauses, but he doesn't take a hit. He puts the blunt in the ashtray, but he doesn't put it out. He then leans back in his seat.

Jacques Mercier: A lot of people give O'Reilly a lot of shit because he comes off as an arrogant drunk. The truth is, he's an arrogant drunk that has proven that alcohol doesn't always impair one's senses. He comes off as a clown until that bell rings and then he becomes a machine. I've watched his matches over and over, and the more I watched, the more I wanted to get in the ring with him. Why would I want to get in the ring of someone I know is a proven winner? Quite frankly, it's because I know I can beat him.

Jacques lets this sink in before continuing.

Jacques Mercier: Just in case you're too fucked up to hear what I just said Mickey, I said that I know I can't beat you. No, that's not the ganja talking. I know I can beat you. The me from two weeks ago probably wouldn't have stood a chance. Now I limit my mistakes and I'm focused on having the FGA title in my possession. You're the next step on my Road to Redemption and you're a step that I will crush. When that bell rings, you're not the only one that will turn into a machine. I will beat into such a state of soberness that you'll have a hangover the moment the referee slaps his hand against the mat for a third time while I have you pinned. Or maybe I'll choke you into a such a state unconsciousness, you'll think you had one too many and you'll never want to touch a drink again.

Jacques picks the blunt back up and takes a hit.

Jacques Mercier: We can trade insults as much as we want Mickey, but all that matters is what happens inside that ring. And what will happen in that ring is me ending the undefeated streak of a fellow up and comer and taking his place in the rankings. I've come to the realization that this business is survival of the fittest Mickey, and there ain't no church in the wild. I'm at the top of the food chain now, and I'll gladly make you and anyone else that stands between me and my goals my appetizer. And once I'm done feasting upon you, I'll let my buddy Michael Thompkins have your remains at Spring Breakage. I hope you enjoy the time you have until our match Mickey. Savor it. Savor it like I'll savor the moment my hand is raised at the end of our match. 'Til then, peace.

Jacques fumbles around with the camera for a while until the scene just cuts to black.