Post by matt on Sept 21, 2022 13:33:47 GMT -6
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Boston, Massachusetts
Off Camera
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Is she an agent of chaos? Definitely. Is she eccentric? Oh yes. But the one question that remains on the mind of Kimberly Williams; is she a monster? Is Kimberly Frances Williams, daughter of Angelica Jones and Sean Williams, two murderers in their own right, also a monster herself? This question has been asked by The Woman Scorned for over a year now. Ever since she began digging into her own past in order to find out about her father, his family, and who they were and what she may have inherited from them, a search that led to her discovering about how her uncle Douglas Williams was a convicted serial killer and that Sean was suspected of being involved himself. This search also stirred up a hornet’s nest so to speak when she accidentally got the attention of Carol Johnson, the younger sister of one of Douglas and Sean’s victims. A deranged Carol Johnson out for revenge on behalf of her dead sister sought to murder Kimberly.
Most would argue that yes, Kimberly is a monster. It would be a justifiable and easy argument to make, especially if all you had to go off of was the history of her murderous family and the way she herself acts on television. There is a reason she calls herself The Queen of the Death Match. Kim herself leans in that direction, but there is a seedling of doubt in her mind. That doubt comes as a result of the mercy shown by The Woman Scorned towards Carol Johnson. Kim could have easily murdered Carol and would have been justified in calling it an act of self defense. Instead she allowed the police to do their job and arrest the deranged and vengeful Johnson. Furthermore, Kim could have insisted that charges be pressed against Carol. Yet instead Kim has publicly come out requesting that the district attorney not press charges against Carol for assault and attempted murder. She has requested that leniency be shown towards Ms. Johnson.
If that isn’t mercy then what is? And would a monster really show mercy? The Queen of the Death Match chose to show mercy because she does not want to cause the Johnson family any further troubles. She wants this whole evil episode, an episode that began with the despicable acts of her own family, to be over and that all parties involved can move on with their lives. Kim herself wishes she could move on from the whole situation. Unfortunately there are those who seemingly want to utilize this as a publicity stunt. This is where Eduardo Hernandez comes in.
Backstage after an edition of SCW Breakdown she was approached by Eduardo Hernandez who offered up his services as an agent to Kimberly Williams. The Woman Scorned has been burned before by agents and managers. Besides, she really doesn’t see herself in the same light that Hernandez sees her. He somehow believes he can market her as quite a star, a role model even. But Kim views herself as an agent of chaos and nothing more. How can an agent of chaos be a superstar or a role model? Regardless of any positive light she may cast by showing mercy on Carol Johnson, Kim doesn’t see how anyone can change the perception the public already has of her.
“Then I kicked her ass! CAUSE I’M A BELIEVER!”
We are in the brand new home of Marie Annabelle Jones in Boston, Massachusetts. Marie’s original home was burned down by Carol Johnson. She recently moved into this new one which is much nicer than her old one. Marie is seated on a comfy cream colored leather sofa watching and waiting patiently for her sister to finish getting this excitement out of her system.
“Not a trace of doubt in my mind! I’ll maim her, I’m a psycho, she couldn’t beat me if she tried!” Williams strikes a pose. “TA-DA! What do you think?!”
“Bravo!” Marie claps enthusiastically. “That was great, Kim! You were incredible!”
Kim walks over to the sofa and sits down next to her identical twin sister. The two may look alike but the one way anyone can tell them apart is their fashion sense. Marie is the fashionable one and far more feminine dresser. She is wearing a floral print skirt, a white sleeveless blouse, and high heels. Kimberly, by contrast, is barefoot and wearing torn denim jeans and a black t-shirt that reads ‘Fire Shaun Cruiserweight’ in red lettering.
“Great!” Kim exclaims. “Sooooo now that the entertainment portion and sisterly bonding portion of tonight’s proceedings are finished, may we please move onto the main event?”
“Main event?”
“Yes…Carol Johnson?”
“Oh right.” Marie rolls her eyes. “I did speak with the district attorney about the state’s case against Carol.”
“And?”
“He really wants to press full charges against Carol. He really wants to throw the book at her. She already had a history of arson, and that was before she set my home on fire. Adding assault and attempted murder to that list makes him believe that she should be behind bars for a long time. And quite honestly, I agree with him.”
“Marie…” Kim’s voice seems to indicate a slightly growing frustration “...we already talked about this.”
“I know.” Marie nods her head. “And despite my own personal reservations, I insisted that you and I do not want the state to press full charges against Carol.”
“Awesome!:” She embraces Marie in a tight hug. “You’re the best!”
“Don’t go praising me yet! I can’t guarantee anything! The district attorney may ignore our request and press full charges anyway. All he promised was that his office would take things slowly and fully investigate the matter before coming to a decision on how to handle her.
“Fine. As long as Carol isn’t charged.”
“But she may get charged with something anyway. Even if he charges her with a simple assault charge and drops the attempted murder charge, his office may and probably will charge her with something simply because of her past criminal history.”
“Whatever.” Kim rolls her eyes.
“Why do you want Carol to walk free anyway?” Marie asks curiously. “She attacked both of us, our family, and she tried to kill you.”
“Think about what led to that…our uncle murdered her sister. That act is what put her down that dark path. Is it really her fault she snapped and went crazy? And think about her mother…her mother only had the two children, one of whom is dead. If Carol were charged and convicted, she would have essentially lost both…both of them lost thanks to our family.” Kim shakes her head. “I don’t want that on my conscience.”
“You really are a better person than me.” Marie reaches out and places a hand on Kim’s shoulder. The Woman Scorned swats her hand away and then shakes her head.
“No I’m not. You and that Eddie guy are both dead wrong about me.”
“Eddie?” Marie furrows her brow in curiosity. “Who is Eddie?”
“That’s what I call him. He says he is Eduardo Hernandez!” Kim puts on a really awful fake Spanish accent when pronouncing his name. Even Marie cannot help but laugh a little at this. “I saw him backstage at Breakdown. He approached me about being some kinda marketer…agent…manager…” The Woman Scorned shrugs her shoulders “...I dunno, some shit like that.”
“What’d you tell him?”
“I told him to get lost. I’m not interested in any agents.”
“But Kim, he would be perfect!”
“Perfect for annoying me, yeah.” Kim says sarcastically. “Just listening to that snob sell me his load of crap made me wanna stab him. And I did consider stabbing him.”
“Listen, having an agent could be very good for you. You DO want the district attorney to show leniency on Carol, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Well an agent could put together a real nice marketing campaign to advertise for leniency. He could put the kind of pressure on the DA that you cannot.”
“Yeah, I thought about that.” Kim nods her head, agreeing that Marie has a point. “But do YOU remember the last agent I had? Sorinah Floreschu? She tried to take advantage of myself and Jessica.”
“I do remember that. But this guy could be different.”
“Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t?” Kim shakes her head. “I’m not willing to take that chance. Look at all the other manager and agent types running around this business. Howe…Damron…Van Stanton…all of them scum. I do not TRUST agents.”
“What about Adam Chase?” Marie points out. “He negotiated me out of my Uprising contract and into a much better SCW contract.”
“Ok, that’s one…but can you name another?”
“Tabitha Silverstone.” Marie states. “She was the agent for both of us at one point, negotiated our contracts so that we could pull off The Ginger Hoax and have you stand in as the Uprising Tag Team Champion on my behalf when I no longer wanted to be tag champion.”
“Fine, that’s two…” Kim sighs “...I might be willing to let Tabsy manage me again.”
“But she can’t and you know it. She is the general manager of Global Championship Wrestling. Even if she had the time to manage that and manage you, there would be an obvious conflict of interest. But this Eddie…Eduardo…he could make a difference.”
“What makes you think he can make any difference with me?” Kim is still skeptical despite her twin sister’s insistence. Marie, for her part, will not relent.
“Think about it, Kim. This whole ordeal involving Carol Johnson, and how you are showing her mercy despite what she tried to do to you…to both of us…this is forcing the world beyond professional wrestling to finally look at you in a different light. The world is beginning to realize that there is more to you than just this outer layer of insanity and chaos that everyone sees on camera.” Marie once again places her hand on Kim’s shoulder. This time Williams does not swat it away. “I have always known that there was more to you than the chaos you display to the public. Now, the world can know too. And this Eddie guy can help with that.”
“You really think he can make a difference?” Kim asks. She does not trust agents or con artists. But she has always had a hidden, deep desire to be normal. For a long time she just embraced her chaotic life, she gladly and joyfully portrayed the monster the world thought she was. Kim was grateful when her own family finally treated her like she was normal. But now, the thought of the world accepting her, that is promising. Hopeful.
“I think you should at least give him a chance.”
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Springfield, Massachusetts
Off Camera
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Kimberly Williams finds herself sitting in a small waiting room in a very small office space in the town of Springfield, Massachusetts. The eccentric redhead has already taken note of how small this place is and the lack of luxury decor. Typically these snotty con-men types have the finest of the fine luxury and opulence surrounding them. But this one is different. The chairs are not very comfortable; simply gray chairs with little to no cushions. The carpet is a matching gray color. The walls are supposed to be blue but the paint is fading in some spots. There is a desk where it appears as if a secretary or legal assistant would sit but there is no such person manning that position. In fact, the only person in this waiting room is Kimberly herself, dressed in flip flops, torn denim jeans, and a t-shirt with the German flag colors on it, Konrad Raab’s face on it, and the phrase ‘I Love Oktoberfest’ plastered on the front.
The self-proclaimed Queen of the Death Match is growing impatient. Eduardo…or Eddie as she prefers to call him…is late. She keeps her eyes locked on what she assumes is his office door, waiting for him to come and talk to her. But a few moments later she hears the front door opening. Kim turns and spots Mr. Hernandez entering through the front door entrance. He is dressed in a brown suit and is carrying a briefcase with him. Kim immediately stands up and waves playfully at Hernandez.
“Hiya, Eddie!”
“Ms. Williams!” He seems rather surprised to see her. “Uh, I apologize for being so late, I lost track of time eating lunch.”
“You take it off my bill, Eddie.” Kim winks.
“Right but…uh, how did you get in?”
“I didn’t break in if that’s what you’re asking. You left the door unlocked. Which, quite frankly, disappoints me.”
“You are disappointed in my lack of security?” He sighs. “There is a reason for that.”
“There’d better be a good one! Breaking and entering is much more fun when you actually have a legitimate security system for me to get around! You leaving the door unlocked is just so damn boring! Give me a real challenge next time!”
“Right…” his voice trails off as he tries to take in Kimberly’s rather unusual personality. “...so, let’s just go into my office, shall we?”
Eduardo walks right on past Kimberly and towards his office door. Williams follows closely behind. He opens the door and steps inside. Kimberly follows him and then shuts the door behind her. Just like with the waiting room, his office is not what she expected. It looks like a total wreck with paperwork strewn about everywhere in his office. There are only two chairs in this tiny area…one behind his desk and another in front the desk. Kimberly isn’t exactly known for her organizational skills but even she has to wonder how this man manages to keep up with himself and his business.
“Have a seat, Ms. Williams.”
“Kim!” She snaps back, correcting him immediately before she sits down. Eduardo chuckles softly as he places his briefcase down on the desk and then sits down.
“Right, of course. Kim…we do have much to discuss and may I begin by saying that I am elated that you changed your mind and agreed to…”
“Whoa, shut that mouth of yours before you say something that makes me want to staple your forehead!” Kim says patting the pockets of her jeans. “And I did bring my staplegun!”
“Oh, yes, of course.”
“I have NOT agreed to anything yet. I have definitely not agreed to hire you as my agent.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Look, Eddie, I am going to be straight up honest with you. I do not trust your type…agents, managers…you are all slimy snakes as far as I’m concerned. I’ve been manipulated by your type before. So while I am willing to hear you out that doesn’t mean I am agreeing to anything. Are we clear?” Kim sounds very demanding in her tone. It was definitely enough to intimidate poor Eduardo who gulps and has a sense of concern across his face. He nods his head.
“I understand, Ms. W…errr, Kimberly.”
“Good. Then what do ya have to say? I have chaos and havoc to create and you are taking up my precious time! I want to hear your plans for me, and I want specific details, nothing vague or generic. Do your best to sell me on your SPECIFIC plans for me and then I will make up my mind if I want to give you a chance.”
“Oh, of course, Kimberly. I would never want to waste your time, that is why I will get right down to business and tell you about the vision I have for you, and that vision first begins with renegotiating your current contracts.”
“You want to renegotiate my contracts?” She scoffs. “I don’t care about the money.”
“It goes beyond that, Kimberly. Your campaign against Shaun Cruze has raised awareness of abuses by management not just in SCW but in other promotions as well.”
“Seriously?” Kim arches a brow. “I only bother Shaun Cruiserweight because its fun.”
“Fun…and at the same raising awareness of a serious issue. Just like awareness of the serious issue of showing mercy and rehabilitation towards felons.”
“You mean Carol?” Kim asks. He nods his head.
“Exactly. What I see when I look at you is not this madwoman with a staplegun…”
“AND an infinity gauntlet…and a Dalek…and a raptor…and a knife glove…and a shank…and a penguin…” Kim says correcting him.
“Yes, yes, and that is nice for the fans, but I think the world beyond the SCW universe should get to k now the REAL Kimberly Williams, the woman who cares about justice, right, and wrong. And I can make that happen. All you have to do is say yes! Let me manage your career, Ms. Wi…err Kim! What do you say?”
“I say you’re full of shit.” She says chuckling nastily. “I know I am not a good person. I definitely don’t care about justice. I do care about what is fair which is different from justice, right, and wrong and all that crap. I am an agent of chaos, Eddie. Understand that.”
“So no deal?” He asks, sounding somewhat disappointed thinking that his sales pitch failed. Kim smirks.
“Not necessarily.”
“Oh? So we are negotiating then?”
“Always. You have a deal IF you can promise me one thing.”
“Name it.” He insists. “It is yours.”
“I already feel guilty enough that my uncle and maybe my own father was involved in murdering Carol Johnson’s sister. If Carol gets put away behind bars for a lengthy period of time, that would probably kill her mother. And quite honestly, my family has done enough damage to them. Use your sleazy snakey con-artist skill to convince the district attorney to back off and at the very least go easy on Carol if not drop the charges against her altogether. If you can do that, you will have proven to me that maybe you’re not just full of shit and that maybe you can do some good for me.”
“You have yourself a deal.” Hernandez smirks as he extends his hand. Most would look at that sly smirk and think that he is up to something. But not Kim, she isn’t like most people. She doesn’t really care. The Woman Scorned extends her hand and accepts the handshake. Perhaps a new partnership has been created?
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Boston, Massachusetts
Off Camera
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A couple of weeks ago The Woman Scorned came into contact with a self-described agent named Eduardo Hernandez who seemed desperate to do business with the deranged ginger. Why would anyone want to risk their own health and well-being by doing business with the uncontrollable Kimberly Williams? Kim doesn’t even particularly like agents anyway. Very few agents have done right by her and thus she has a hard time bringing herself to trust them. Just like all of the other agents who have spoken to her, Hernandez promised Kim the entire world. What none of them realize is that Kim is a complex and complicated woman. She doesn’t want the world handed to her on a silver platter. Just look at the squalor she lives in; her home is a very small residence with just one kitchen, one bathroom, one living room, and one bedroom. Those rooms are all tiny and ratty.
While most would prefer to live in opulence and luxury, Kim is just as happy living in filth. She is lying on her ratty torn up sofa that rests upon unwashed, dirty, raggedy green carpet. A tiny cage containing her pet hamster, Caligula, rests on a nearby coffee table. It isn’t much, it is very simple, but this is all the “luxury” Kimberly requires. You can offer Kim money and power and she would turn it down. She doesn’t want that. What does The Woman Scorned want? What could Eduardo Hernandez offer Kim that would make her consider his offer to represent her as her agent?
There is one thing Kimberly wants that she cannot seem to get by herself; she wants the district attorney’s office in Boston, Massachusetts to drop the charges against a woman named Carol Johnson who is accused of multiple assaults and attempted murder of Kimberly and her family. The charges are very much true, which is why the DA wants to press charges to the fullest. But Kim also recognizes why Carol was pushed over the deep end. Carol went crazy when her oldest sister was murdered by Kim’s uncle Douglas Williams. Kim’s family had taken her sister from her, Kim would be indirectly responsible for taking Carol away from the Johnson family as well if she were prosecuted. Kim doesn’t want her family to be responsible for any further damage done to the Johnson family. Kim wants mercy shown towards Carol, and if Eduardo Hernandez were to convince the DA’s office to be lenient then Kim would give Hernandez a chance.
Surprisingly enough, this sleazy looking agent did manage to convince Massachusetts officials to drop the attempted murder charges. He’s still in talks to try and get all charges dropped, but even dropping the attempted murder charge is an incredible feat in and of itself. Therefore Kim has to live up to her word. Call her a psycho, an agent of chaos, or sadistic, but she is a woman of her word. She promised to give Hernandez a chance if he could come through, so he will give him a chance at managing her career. And the first bit of business is to work on her image.
The Woman Scorned is at home waiting for the arrival not of her new agent Eddie, but on Eddie’s associate, a woman he called Savannah. Kim isn’t sure what to expect. She wasn’t told what she looked like, she wasn’t even told what Eddie meant by ‘working on her image’, she was just told that Savannah would meet her this afternoon.
“I wonder where this Savannah chick is anyway?” Kim asks out loud, even though no one is there with her. Well, no one except her hamster Caligula. The deranged ginger reaches into the cage and pulls out Caligula. She places him on her chest and smiles at him. “Do you know where this dipshit is, Caligula, huh?” Kim rubs noses with Caligula. Just then she hears a knocking at her front door. Kim’s face lights up like a Christmas tree.
“That must be here! Come on, Caligula! Let’s go see her!” Kim places Caligula back in his cage. Then she hops up off of the ratty sofa and walks over to the front door. Kim opens the door and spots a woman standing there in a dark green maxi dress and sandals. She has a stoic look upon her face. Definitely doesn’t look like very fun. But that’s ok, Kim is fun enough for the both of them.
“Are you Ms. Williams?”
“Call me Kim! Kimmy! Or Sasha! Or Katya! Or Kennedy Street!” She chuckles. “Yeah! Call me Kennedy Street! Keenie for short, honey!” Kim reaches out and embraces the woman in a tight hug. Based on the look of disgust on her face, the woman isn’t exactly thrilled with this show of affection. Eventually the embrace is broken. The woman quickly dusts herself off, as if Kim were dirty.
“Yes, of course…Kim…” she rolls her eyes “...my name is Savannah, Savannah Darling.”
“Like Wendy?”
“Wendy who?”
“Wendy Darling. Like in Peter Pan!” Kim says happily. “I love that story!”
“No…not that Darling. Now may I come inside so we can get down to business?” Savannah pushes her way past Kim and walks into the home. Williams is a little taken aback with how rude Savannah is, how NOT FUN she is! Kim sticks her tongue out at Savannah while her back is turned, then she follows Savannah into the main living room area. Kim stands next to Savannah. Ms. Darling’s face is contorted into a look of sheer disgust as she takes in the view of the nasty looking living room that Kim calls home.
“Is this the dump that you live in, Ms. Williams?”
“Yeah, isn’t it great?!” Kim exclaims happily.
“Why on earth would you INTENTIONALLY live in trash?” Savannah asks as she turns to face Kim and places her hands on her hips, staring down The Woman Scorned with a judgmental look.
“Why not?”
“Must I spell it out? Ms. Williams, I was under the assumption that you were connected to a great deal of wealth. Mr. Hernandez informed me that you inherited some wealth from a Sorinah Floreschu. Correct?”
“Uh-huh!” Kim nods her head. “I am thinking of using it all to buy a tank! Or a zoo!”
“Why? Why waste your money like that and live in filth like this when you could buy such a better place to live in? You could have all of the luxury in the world, Ms. Williams. You could hire a maid or a butler to clean up this mess at the very least. Why do you choose to live in such nastiness when you could afford better?”
“I dunno,” Kim shrugs her shoulders “I just want to! I don’t need that shit that stuck up rich bastards think they need! This kind of living is what I’m used to, even if it is filth as you want to call it.” Kim winks. “Besides, Caligula like it this way!”
“Who?”
“Caligula!” Kim repeats. She rushes past Savannah and then goes to the hamster cage. She reaches inside the pulls out Caligula. She brings the hamster over to Savannah and shoves him into her face. “Say hi to the nice lady Caligula!”
“Hi there, sweet cheeks. Now gimme a kiss!” Kim provides the voice of Caligula.
“No thanks, Ms. Williams.”
“C’mon, you hot piece of ass, kiss me!”
“It’s just an animal, Ms. Williams. Please quit this nonsense of pretending that it is speaking with me.”
“I am talkin’ to ya, bitch!” Kim…errr Caligula exclaims.
“Please, Ms. Williams, no one actually believes your hamster can actually talk.”
“Oh fine!” Kim says as she pulls Caligula back towards her and starts stroking him. “You’re no fun.”
“And you should grow up.” Savannah points out. “We are here to work on your image, Ms. Williams, not to play games. Mr. Hernandez informed me that you were willing to proceed with his plans to market you and that begins with your image. Are you going to be serious about this or should I leave and inform Mr. Hernandez that you changed your mind?”
Kimberly already is beginning to regret her decision to go along with this. But she did make a deal with this Eddie Hernandez character. She agreed to work with him and whatever his plans were if he could help her out with the Carol Johnson situation. He did his part and now Kim feels obligated to do her part. The Woman Scorned sighs and nods her head.
“Fine, just let me put Caligula back in his cage.” Kim walks back over and places the hamster back in the cage. Savannah follows her.
“Very good. Now may I see your wardrobe?”
“A wardrobe, eh? How fancy!” Kim smirks. “Right over here!” Williams approaches a nearby door that is actually just closet space. She pulls the door open and tons of shirts and jeans fall out onto the floor at their feet. Savannah looks down at this pile and takes a few steps back away from this laundry. She looks down at the pile and then back up at Kim.
“Do you clean your clothes?”
“Sometimes.”
“Sometimes is better than never, I suppose.” She says as she bends over and picks up a t-shirt. She looks at it and contorts her face as she reads what the t-shirt has printed on the front. “I Groped Mr. D…”
“You did? You dirty little bitch.” Kim chuckles.
“I did not!” She exclaims angrily and points at the shirt. “That’s what your shirt says!”
“Oh so it does!” Kim replies with a grin. Savannah drops the shirt and picks up another. Once again she reads it out loud.
“Oktoberfest?” She points to the image of Konrad Raab next to a thing of beer underneath the wording on the shirt. “Why is this man’s head sitting next to a thing of beer?”
“Oktoberfest. Duh!”
“Of course…” Savannah drops that shirt and picks up a third shirt “...Ice Ice Kimmy?”
“It was a record hit, baby! It went to number one on the charts like a rocket!”
“Right…well let’s look at these…” she drops the shirt and picks up a set of jeans, they are tore. She looks through the rest of pile and finds more torn jeans and torn jean shorts. She then stands back up and glares at Kim. “...all of these are torn! Raggedy!”
“Thanks for noticing!”
“Do you have anything stylish, Ms. Williams?”
“Nope.” Kim shakes her head. “I never ever dress fancy. The only time I have ever worn fancy clothes was when I stole my sister’s clothes. We are identical twins, you see, so same size and shit!”
“That does it!” Savannah throws her hands up in frustration. “I cannot work with this!”
“So does that mean you’re going away?” Kim asks hopefully. Her hopes are dashed when Savannah shakes her head.
“No…we are going shopping. Mr. Hernandez authorized me to use his cash to buy you a new wardrobe if necessary and that is exactly what I am going to do.”
“When are we gonna do that?”
“Right now!”
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Boston, Massachusetts
Off Camera
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The psychotic ginger has been in an upscale luxury shopping center in Boston, Massachusetts browsing through a clothing store with a woman she had only just met about an hour ago, Savannah Darling. And to say that Kim looks like a fish out of water would be quite the understatement. Williams doesn’t feel right being here amongst the fancy feminine dresses in the lady’s section. For the past several minutes since they arrived Savannah has been trying to encourage her to try something fancier, or at least somewhat more ladylike than the attire she typically wears. Apparently ‘working on her image’ means a completely new wardrobe and a completely new look for Kimberly Williams and The Woman Scorned isn’t having any of this…
“I look stupid!”
Currently Savannah is seated just outside of a changing room. She hears the voice of her companion, Kim Williams coming from within the changing room and she sounds quite upset. But Savannah doesn’t seem to care. She stands up and pokes her head inside.
“Come on out, I’m sure you look fine.”
“No!”
“Fine. I’m coming in.” Savannah walks right on through the door and into the changing room. There she finds Kim with a fancy pink dress…but the dress isn’t why she looks stupid. Kim is still wearing her torn denim jeans. Savannah has been quite stoic with almost no sense of humor since she arrived and met Kim, but even Savannah cannot help but laugh ever so slightly at this woman’s appearance.
“Don’t laugh!” Kim complains.
“I apologize, Ms. Williams, but you did it to yourself.” She points to the outfit. “You’re still wearing the jeans. You should remove them.”
“You want to take off my pants?” Kim feigns shock. “You really are very fast for a first date.”
“We’re not dating!” Now Savannah’s old, agitated tone has returned. “I’m just trying to assist you.” She points to Kim’s bare feet. “And why aren’t you wearing the shoes I found for you?”
“I HATE wearing heels!”
“You’ve worn them before. You said so yourself.”
“Yes, I wear them pretty much only when I’m pretending to be my sister. I steal her clothes and put them on and no one can tell the difference. It’s real fun. I took her place for an entire month several years ago…Marie didn’t think it was very fun because I had kidnapped her and locked her in a basement…”
“You did what?” Savannah sighs and shakes her head. “Actually, I don’t want to know.”
“I take Marie’s place quite often, actually. Usually it’s just to help her. And that’s the only time I wear heels. And trust me, if I weren’t doing it for my sister I would never wear a pair of those fucking shoes again!”
“Do you even have the shoes with you?” Savannah asks. “The ones I bought you.”
“Yeah,” Kim points to a pair of strappy black sandals on the floor “why?”
“Take off the jeans. Put on the heels. And then we’re leaving.”
“Not in this.”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“It just isn’t my style.” Kim shakes her head. “Look, you and everyone else can be fake plastic Barbie dolls but not me. I’m real and this just isn’t real, at least it isn’t the real me.”
“Ms. Williams, please, even though those jeans make you look rather ridiculous right now, I can still tell that the dress looks good on you. The shoes would complete the look. Why won’t you just…” before she can get the thought out of her mouth, Savannah is silenced by Kimberly reaching out and snatching her by the throat.
“I said NO!” She exclaims angrily. “I promised Eddie that I would follow along with whatever plans he had but this is going too damn far! Tell me this, bitch, why the hell does he want to change my image so damn much? What is wrong with the way I look now?” The Woman Scorned releases her grip on Savannah.
Savannah can see the rage, the deranged look in Kimberly’s eyes and for the first time since meeting The Woman Scorned, Savannah is actually afraid. She takes a few steps back just in case she has to make a run for it. She does her best to compose herself and answer Kimberly’s questions.
“I understand that this isn’t your normal. But be honest with me, Ms. Williams, do you honestly believe that walking around wearing obscene shirts is normal?”
“What exactly is normal?”
“Fair point.” She nods her head. “But what if any of the promotions you wrestle for…say, SCW…MWE…GCW with their promotions and events. When you win matches and win titles. Don’t you want to look your best for the after party?”
“There will be no after party.” Kim states defiantly.
“Then let me put it to you this way, Ms. Williams. When people look at you, they do not see a normal human being. I don’t mean to sound rude but let’s face it, you pretend your hamster talks…you are actively trying to murder a pair of children’s show characters…”
“FLAY!” Kim points out, correcting her. “Flaying is not murdering.”
“Whatever. My point is that your reputation precedes you. And you do not help your image or your reputation with how you dress and behave. People look at you and they see a deranged lunatic.” She sighs. “Is that the way you want to perceived? I thought that you wanted to be viewed differently. I was under the impression that you wanted the world to see the REAL Kimberly Williams.”
“Yeah, I do. But…”
“So answer this question…is the REAL Kimberly Williams the psychopathic monster that people perceive you to be? Or is the REAL Kimberly Williams someone who can be looked up to? A psychopathic monster would not have spared the life of Carol Johnson. Only someone truly pure of heart would have spared the life of the woman who had assaulted her and tried to kill her.” Savannah smiles warmly. “That is the what Mr. Hernandez sees as the REAL Kimberly Williams. And that is what I am trying to bring out in you. Someone who is warm, kind…and classy.” She pats Kim on the shoulder. “Think about that. I will be outside waiting on you.”
Savannah exits the changing room and returns to her spot sitting just outside. She isn’t sure yet whether what she said got through to the Queen of the Death Match. To be honest, she isn’t sure she could even get her this far, to a clothing store to shop for nicer things. The mere possibility that she could be successful would be incredible. Mr. Hernandez will be quite happy with this development. A few minutes into her wait and Savannah considers calling her boss. But she is stopped when she hears footsteps approaching. She turns and is pleasantly surprised to see Kimberly standing there in her pink cocktail dress and heels.
“Now there we go! We are all on our way to showing the world the real Kimberly Williams! How do you feel?”
“I already told you. I feel stupid.” Kim complains.
“You shouldn’t feel that way. You should feel gorgeous. Because you do indeed look gorgeous.” She grins knowingly.
“Thanks, I think…”
==========
Las Vegas, Nevada
Off Camera
==========
Las Vegas is the gambling capital of the world. Gambling involves heavy risk taking and Kimberly Williams was forced to take a huge risk at Rise To Greatness by competing in not one, not two, but three matches through the two night SCW spectacular. Just how did Kimberly’s luck work out? As they say, not too good. The Woman Scorned lost the SCW Underground Championship to Deanna Frost, she didn’t win the gimmick battle royal, and she failed to capture the SCW World Tag Team Championship with Sarah Wolf. Kimberly went zero and three in her SCW Rise To Greatness performance.
The failure to leave with championship gold doesn’t bother Williams. She has said it before and she meant it when she said that championships, while a nice perk, are not that important to her. Even the fact that she couldn’t win any of her three matches at Rise To Greatness only stings just a little. She is a proud wrestler and proud of her abilities. Losing stings. But even then she can block that out and ignore the sting of the loss. What ultimately bothers The Woman Scorned is how she is perceived by management and how she is being treated by management. The commissioner, Shaun Cruze, is the one who double booked her. Wrestling multiple times in one night was not Kimberly’s choice. If she had it her way she would have just had the one match against Deanna Frost and Sarah Wolf could have gotten a different partner. But Cruze saw it necessary to put her in a situation where she would have to wrestle on both nights in two brutal matches. And the commentary team of Sharper, Knots, and Lyman, they all seem to want to paint this picture of her as a troublemaker within SCW.
It is this that bothers Kim the most. Despite her outward appearance and antics, despite the fact that she may come across as a deranged sociopath, Kim does have real feelings and emotions. She may keep them bottled up and locked away but she does have them. The fact that a company that she once thought trusted her and accepted her looks down on her as just a troll really does hurt her feelings. The one solace she has is the fact that the fans are still solidly on her side. Whatever Cruze and the commentators may say about her, the fans still support Kim and that does bring a bit of happiness to her weary soul.
Rise To Greatness concluded just twenty four hours ago. The Queen of the Death Match and reigning HKW Bloodlust Champion is inside one of the famous Vegas casinos, seated at a table playing Texas Hold ‘Em with a group of three other people. The eccentric ginger is dressed in torn denim jeans, a t-shirt with a penguin on the front, sunglasses over her eyes, and a police hat on her head. A confident grin is on her face as she gazes down at the cards in her hand. Her opponents in this game? One a heavyset balding man in a denim shorts, a blue t-shirt, and baseball cap; a tall, thin wiry man with a polo shirt and khaki pants; and a young woman with a pink silk blouse and denim jeans.
“Wow! This is a great hand!” Kim exclaims. She tilts her head to one side and studies her cards some more. She furrows her brow in confusion. “I mean, I think it is. Not really sure. I just have pocket aces.” She looks up at her opponents and grin. “What good are pockets anyway except for storing keys, wallet, loose change, and shit like that?”
The three other players groan as they all fold. Williams smirks as she applauds giddily. “Yay! I win!” The Queen of the Death Match is definitely proud of herself. Whether is she aware or unaware of what she did is uncertain. What is certain is that she doesn’t care. She’s having fun out here on the gambling floor. Kimberely’s excitement is brought to an end when a masculine hand is placed on her shoulder. She looks up to see the domineering look of one of the casino employees gazing coldly and sternly at the demented ginger.
“Ms. Williams?”
“That’d be me!” She shows him her hand, the pair of aces. “Is this good? My Dalek got broke in that battle royal at Rise To Greatness last night. I usually ask Dalek for poker tips but he’s not here.”
“Ahem, yes, it is a good hand…”
“Great.” She shoos him away. “Now go away. I’m busy!”
“Actually, Ms. Williams, I think you should leave this table.
“Awwww, why?” Kim sounds genuinely disappointed at first. But then she quickly perks up. “Oh, wait, you want me to play another game?”
“Uh, sure, yes, why don’t you just go play another game?” He turns and points to the slot machines. “There are slot machines available for you. Where you won’t be able to bother any of the other guests.”
“You mean those machines next to the great big statue of the naked lady with big boobs?” Kim asks. The casino employee sighs and nods his head.
“Yes, that’s the one.”
“Thanks!” Kim hops up from the poker table, embraces the worker in a big hug, and then rushes towards the slot machines. She finds a machine that is all by itself with no one else around her. Kim sits in front of the machine and then reaches into her jean pocket to produce some loose change. She puts the coins into the slot to start the machine. “Come on! Big money! Nooooo whammy annnnnnnnd stop!” Wrong game. But right concept. The machine does eventually come to a stop showing three pictures; one of an orange, one of grapes, and another of an orange. Kim waits for her prize but nothing comes.
“Hey! What’s wrong with this stupid machine?” She smacks the machine with her right hand. “I won two oranges and a thing of grapes! Where’s my damn fruit?!” She reaches into her pocket and produces more coins. She puts them in the machine to start it up. This time the machine stops on three apples. Coins start pouring out of the machine. Williams, however, is still angry. “Hey! This stupid thing is rigged! It said I won three apples but all I’m getting is stupid money!”
The Woman Scorned steps away from the machine and starts walking away. Meanwhile the other guests try to take advantage of Kim’s eccentricity. They leap on top of the pile of coins, the winnings, on the floor that Kim has abandoned. Williams is not completely naive. She is well aware of the chaos she has just caused and this does bring a bit of a grin to her face. The Woman Scorned then does a double take as she spots a familiar figure near the exit of the casino.
“Mom?” Kim stares at the figure standing far away. Perched atop patent black leather high heel pumps, wearing a knee length black skirt and a red silk blouse, is indeed Angelica Jones, Kimberly’s mother. This was an unexpected but definitely pleasant surprise for Kim, a surprise she needs when she has had nothing but letdowns the entire SCW Rise To Greatness weekend. “Mommy!” The Woman Scorned bolts towards her mother. Angelica chuckles as she holds out her arms in anticipation. Angelica and Kim catch one another and embrace in a tight hug.
“It’s nice seeing you too, Kim. But I think maybe we should make an exit.” They break the embrace. Angelica then motions towards two casino employees trying to deal with the slot machine fiasco Kim created while another two employees appear to be making their way towards Kim and Angelica. “It appears you have created quite a disturbance.”
“It’s what I do best!”
“Indeed it is.” Angelica takes her daughter by the arm and gently drags her along. They step through an open door and out into the hallway of the casino, away from the main gambling floor. Angelica and Kim find a bench nearby where they sit down. Kim, for her part, still looks absolutely stunned to see her mother here in Vegas.
“Y’know, mom, I gotta admit that I am impressed. Very few people can trick me and yet you managed to sneak into Vegas underneath my notice. How long have you been in Vegas?”
“Since Friday.”
“Friday?” Kim is now thoroughly confused. “So wait, you were here for the entire Rise To Greatness weekend?”
“Oh now don’t act so surprised.” Angelica says with a smirk on her face. “My daughters played a huge role in this entire weekend. You were in three matches…”
“No! Only two!” She holds up two fingers. “The gimmick battle royal was all Marie.”
“...right, ‘Marie’.” Angelica winks at her daughter. “And Jessica was also in that battle royal. Not to mention I myself am an SCW alum. I’d like to think one day I might get inducted into this company’s Hall of Fame.”
“Don’t bet on that.” Kim says in a sour tone. “At least not while Shaun Cruiserweight is in charge. He hates me. But nevertheless, you’re right, I had no idea you were here.”
“Well I was here for the entire weekend. And I just want to say that I am very proud of your performance.”
“You’re proud of my performance?” Kim says with a strong note of sarcasm in her voice. “Listen to me, mom, I know your type. You are all about winning and specifically winning as many titles as you can. I lost all three of my matches…”
“I thought you said you were in just two?” Angelica says with a sly grin. Kim rolls her eyes.
“Fine! Marie wasn’t actually in the battle royal! It was me, Angel! It was me all along!” Kim throws her arms up out of frustration. “And I lost…I lost all three matches. I couldn’t even walk away with one single championship.”
“But you don’t care about titles.”
“You’re right, I don’t. But you do care about them and maybe that’s why it stings right now? It stings knowing you were there, watching me fail.”
“I don’t believe that.” Jones shakes her head. “You have never been one to care about wins, losses, and championships. You never once lost any sleep over that kind of thing. I wish I could be more like you and wrestle for the sheer enjoyment of it. But you’re right, I have to win the gold. So the thought of you suddenly caring about titles is hard for me to believe.” Angelica places a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Why don’t you tell me what’s really wrong?”
Kim folds her arms over her chest. “I don’t wanna and you can’t make me, mommy!” Kim says while intentionally acting like a child. Angelica chuckles.
“Why don’t you give it a try? It can’t hurt to get it off your chest.”
“Alright…” Kim sighs “...I just hate being lied to.”
“Who lied to you?” Angelica asks, arching an eyebrow out of curiosity.
“My new agent. I suppose that’s former agent.”
“Eduardo?” Angel asks. Kim nods her head.
“Sounds like Marie told you bout him? Yeah, he promised me lots of crap. Money, fame, success. And you know me, I could give a shit less about that nonsense. But there was one thing he promised me that I actually wanted. He promised to improve my public image and in doing so introduce the world to the real Kimberly Williams…the real me.”
Kim always keeps up this front of being an eccentric lunatic, but it is just that; a front. She is not really a lunatic, she is not really Crazy Kim. But she pretends to be that insane individual in public, even around her own family. Rarely does she ever let her guard down and allow herself to be vulnerable. She is dropping that guard right now and letting her mother see the real her.
“I know I’m not perfect but I’d like to think that deep down inside I am a good person. I thought maybe it would be nice if the world got to know the real me. Eduardo promised me all of that.” She shakes her head. “But he didn’t deliver. He just tried to make me into a carbon copy of what he thought a megastar should be. I sensed what he was trying to do to me but I went along with his silly games because I still held out hope that he would give me what I wanted. But did any public perception about me change? Did the world get to know the real me?” She shrugs her shoulders. “All I know is that the SCW commissioner holds some kind of fucking grudge against me and he took it out on me by double booking me at Rise To Greatness, the commentary team tries paint a picture of me as this troublemaker who doesn’t give a damn about this business who has no respect for this business…” real tears forms in her eyes “...I am proud of being a wrestler and I love this business! Ignoring that stupid gimmick battle royal, I wrestled in two violent, barbaric matches! I took years off of my life! And I did it all for SCW! I did it all for idiots like Cruze, Knots, Sharper, and Lyman and others in that damn company who ridicule me and accuse me of being someone I’m not!”
“I take it you blame Eduardo?” Angelica asks. Kim nods her head.
“Partially. Enough to fire his ass.” Kim shrugs her shoulders. “I can just get by on my own like I always have. Who needs an agent anyway?”
“Do you really think that’s wise? You said it yourself. SCW isn’t exactly high on you right now. You could use an advocate of sorts arguing on your behalf.”
“Who cares if SCW is against me? The fans still love me.”
“The fan support is great but you could always use an advocate.” Jones grins knowingly. “And I may have just the idea.”
“I don’t know what you’re thinking but forget it.” Kim shakes her head. “I have tried agents, managers, advocates, and all of them ended up screwing me over. I’m done with them.”
“That’s because you placed your trust in complete and total strangers. You need an advocate who you can trust.”
“I can’t trust anyone, mom.”
“You can trust family.” Angelica’s grin has now grown to an ear to ear smirk. Kimberly is now beginning to pick up on exactly what her mother is suggesting.
“Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?” Kim asks. Her mother nods her head.
“Look, Kim, I admit that I have been getting the itch to get back into wrestling. You already saw how I accepted the job to run and promote the new GCW show Fever. I am even looking into actively competing from time to time. Now I wouldn’t think of competing in SCW again, because I wouldn’t want to steal the spotlight from you or my cousin Glory. But I could be backstage at the shows, I could advocate on your behalf.”
“Seriously?”
“There are two very different sides of your personality, Kim. The real you and then there is the Crazy Kim you show the world. But neither one knows how to talk to people like Cruze. I speak his language. I can speak to him in a way that he will understand and therefore you will get a more fair shake with him. I can’t promise that I can do anything about the commentary team but over time they will change their tune. And besides, even if my efforts are futile, we can still be guaranteed of success in one vital area.”
“What’s that?”
“It gives us a chance to bond.” Angelica hugs Kimberly. “You were ripped from my arms at birth. You and Marie both were. I reunited with Marie when she was still very young. I raised your half-sister Jessica from birth. But you…I never actually got to meet you until you were eighteen. I missed out on so much. We owe it to each other to create some of these special mother-daughter moments.” She breaks the embrace. She gazes deep into Kim’s eyes. “So what do you say?”
“I dunno…” Kim sighs “...I have been wronged so many times with this whole manager deal. But you’re right, I haven’t had the time to bond with you the same way Marie did and Jessica did.”
“It’ll be fun.” Angelica says. “I’ll even let you bring that stupid trash can.”
“He’s a Dalek! Not a trash can!”
“Right, that thing. You can bring him along too.”
“Do ya mean it?” Kim says, her smile returning.
“I promise.”
“Well…” Kim shrugs her shoulders “...I suppose things can’t get any worse than they already are.” She extends her hand. “Let’s do this.” Angelica looks at the hand and then back up at Kim. She shakes her head.
“You know a handshake isn’t good enough.” Angelica hugs her daughter once more.
The Queen of the Death Match has been wronged many times. Sorinah Floreschu tried to manipulate her. Eduardo tried to manipulate her. The only one to ever work out for Kim, Tabitha Silverstone, is no longer available for managerial duties. Kim literally has no one to trust to help manager her career. If anyone knows enough to help and actually cares enough to help, perhaps it is Angelica? Perhaps Angelica is the answer.
Boston, Massachusetts
Off Camera
==========
Is she an agent of chaos? Definitely. Is she eccentric? Oh yes. But the one question that remains on the mind of Kimberly Williams; is she a monster? Is Kimberly Frances Williams, daughter of Angelica Jones and Sean Williams, two murderers in their own right, also a monster herself? This question has been asked by The Woman Scorned for over a year now. Ever since she began digging into her own past in order to find out about her father, his family, and who they were and what she may have inherited from them, a search that led to her discovering about how her uncle Douglas Williams was a convicted serial killer and that Sean was suspected of being involved himself. This search also stirred up a hornet’s nest so to speak when she accidentally got the attention of Carol Johnson, the younger sister of one of Douglas and Sean’s victims. A deranged Carol Johnson out for revenge on behalf of her dead sister sought to murder Kimberly.
Most would argue that yes, Kimberly is a monster. It would be a justifiable and easy argument to make, especially if all you had to go off of was the history of her murderous family and the way she herself acts on television. There is a reason she calls herself The Queen of the Death Match. Kim herself leans in that direction, but there is a seedling of doubt in her mind. That doubt comes as a result of the mercy shown by The Woman Scorned towards Carol Johnson. Kim could have easily murdered Carol and would have been justified in calling it an act of self defense. Instead she allowed the police to do their job and arrest the deranged and vengeful Johnson. Furthermore, Kim could have insisted that charges be pressed against Carol. Yet instead Kim has publicly come out requesting that the district attorney not press charges against Carol for assault and attempted murder. She has requested that leniency be shown towards Ms. Johnson.
If that isn’t mercy then what is? And would a monster really show mercy? The Queen of the Death Match chose to show mercy because she does not want to cause the Johnson family any further troubles. She wants this whole evil episode, an episode that began with the despicable acts of her own family, to be over and that all parties involved can move on with their lives. Kim herself wishes she could move on from the whole situation. Unfortunately there are those who seemingly want to utilize this as a publicity stunt. This is where Eduardo Hernandez comes in.
Backstage after an edition of SCW Breakdown she was approached by Eduardo Hernandez who offered up his services as an agent to Kimberly Williams. The Woman Scorned has been burned before by agents and managers. Besides, she really doesn’t see herself in the same light that Hernandez sees her. He somehow believes he can market her as quite a star, a role model even. But Kim views herself as an agent of chaos and nothing more. How can an agent of chaos be a superstar or a role model? Regardless of any positive light she may cast by showing mercy on Carol Johnson, Kim doesn’t see how anyone can change the perception the public already has of her.
“Then I kicked her ass! CAUSE I’M A BELIEVER!”
We are in the brand new home of Marie Annabelle Jones in Boston, Massachusetts. Marie’s original home was burned down by Carol Johnson. She recently moved into this new one which is much nicer than her old one. Marie is seated on a comfy cream colored leather sofa watching and waiting patiently for her sister to finish getting this excitement out of her system.
“Not a trace of doubt in my mind! I’ll maim her, I’m a psycho, she couldn’t beat me if she tried!” Williams strikes a pose. “TA-DA! What do you think?!”
“Bravo!” Marie claps enthusiastically. “That was great, Kim! You were incredible!”
Kim walks over to the sofa and sits down next to her identical twin sister. The two may look alike but the one way anyone can tell them apart is their fashion sense. Marie is the fashionable one and far more feminine dresser. She is wearing a floral print skirt, a white sleeveless blouse, and high heels. Kimberly, by contrast, is barefoot and wearing torn denim jeans and a black t-shirt that reads ‘Fire Shaun Cruiserweight’ in red lettering.
“Great!” Kim exclaims. “Sooooo now that the entertainment portion and sisterly bonding portion of tonight’s proceedings are finished, may we please move onto the main event?”
“Main event?”
“Yes…Carol Johnson?”
“Oh right.” Marie rolls her eyes. “I did speak with the district attorney about the state’s case against Carol.”
“And?”
“He really wants to press full charges against Carol. He really wants to throw the book at her. She already had a history of arson, and that was before she set my home on fire. Adding assault and attempted murder to that list makes him believe that she should be behind bars for a long time. And quite honestly, I agree with him.”
“Marie…” Kim’s voice seems to indicate a slightly growing frustration “...we already talked about this.”
“I know.” Marie nods her head. “And despite my own personal reservations, I insisted that you and I do not want the state to press full charges against Carol.”
“Awesome!:” She embraces Marie in a tight hug. “You’re the best!”
“Don’t go praising me yet! I can’t guarantee anything! The district attorney may ignore our request and press full charges anyway. All he promised was that his office would take things slowly and fully investigate the matter before coming to a decision on how to handle her.
“Fine. As long as Carol isn’t charged.”
“But she may get charged with something anyway. Even if he charges her with a simple assault charge and drops the attempted murder charge, his office may and probably will charge her with something simply because of her past criminal history.”
“Whatever.” Kim rolls her eyes.
“Why do you want Carol to walk free anyway?” Marie asks curiously. “She attacked both of us, our family, and she tried to kill you.”
“Think about what led to that…our uncle murdered her sister. That act is what put her down that dark path. Is it really her fault she snapped and went crazy? And think about her mother…her mother only had the two children, one of whom is dead. If Carol were charged and convicted, she would have essentially lost both…both of them lost thanks to our family.” Kim shakes her head. “I don’t want that on my conscience.”
“You really are a better person than me.” Marie reaches out and places a hand on Kim’s shoulder. The Woman Scorned swats her hand away and then shakes her head.
“No I’m not. You and that Eddie guy are both dead wrong about me.”
“Eddie?” Marie furrows her brow in curiosity. “Who is Eddie?”
“That’s what I call him. He says he is Eduardo Hernandez!” Kim puts on a really awful fake Spanish accent when pronouncing his name. Even Marie cannot help but laugh a little at this. “I saw him backstage at Breakdown. He approached me about being some kinda marketer…agent…manager…” The Woman Scorned shrugs her shoulders “...I dunno, some shit like that.”
“What’d you tell him?”
“I told him to get lost. I’m not interested in any agents.”
“But Kim, he would be perfect!”
“Perfect for annoying me, yeah.” Kim says sarcastically. “Just listening to that snob sell me his load of crap made me wanna stab him. And I did consider stabbing him.”
“Listen, having an agent could be very good for you. You DO want the district attorney to show leniency on Carol, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Well an agent could put together a real nice marketing campaign to advertise for leniency. He could put the kind of pressure on the DA that you cannot.”
“Yeah, I thought about that.” Kim nods her head, agreeing that Marie has a point. “But do YOU remember the last agent I had? Sorinah Floreschu? She tried to take advantage of myself and Jessica.”
“I do remember that. But this guy could be different.”
“Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t?” Kim shakes her head. “I’m not willing to take that chance. Look at all the other manager and agent types running around this business. Howe…Damron…Van Stanton…all of them scum. I do not TRUST agents.”
“What about Adam Chase?” Marie points out. “He negotiated me out of my Uprising contract and into a much better SCW contract.”
“Ok, that’s one…but can you name another?”
“Tabitha Silverstone.” Marie states. “She was the agent for both of us at one point, negotiated our contracts so that we could pull off The Ginger Hoax and have you stand in as the Uprising Tag Team Champion on my behalf when I no longer wanted to be tag champion.”
“Fine, that’s two…” Kim sighs “...I might be willing to let Tabsy manage me again.”
“But she can’t and you know it. She is the general manager of Global Championship Wrestling. Even if she had the time to manage that and manage you, there would be an obvious conflict of interest. But this Eddie…Eduardo…he could make a difference.”
“What makes you think he can make any difference with me?” Kim is still skeptical despite her twin sister’s insistence. Marie, for her part, will not relent.
“Think about it, Kim. This whole ordeal involving Carol Johnson, and how you are showing her mercy despite what she tried to do to you…to both of us…this is forcing the world beyond professional wrestling to finally look at you in a different light. The world is beginning to realize that there is more to you than just this outer layer of insanity and chaos that everyone sees on camera.” Marie once again places her hand on Kim’s shoulder. This time Williams does not swat it away. “I have always known that there was more to you than the chaos you display to the public. Now, the world can know too. And this Eddie guy can help with that.”
“You really think he can make a difference?” Kim asks. She does not trust agents or con artists. But she has always had a hidden, deep desire to be normal. For a long time she just embraced her chaotic life, she gladly and joyfully portrayed the monster the world thought she was. Kim was grateful when her own family finally treated her like she was normal. But now, the thought of the world accepting her, that is promising. Hopeful.
“I think you should at least give him a chance.”
==========
Springfield, Massachusetts
Off Camera
==========
Kimberly Williams finds herself sitting in a small waiting room in a very small office space in the town of Springfield, Massachusetts. The eccentric redhead has already taken note of how small this place is and the lack of luxury decor. Typically these snotty con-men types have the finest of the fine luxury and opulence surrounding them. But this one is different. The chairs are not very comfortable; simply gray chairs with little to no cushions. The carpet is a matching gray color. The walls are supposed to be blue but the paint is fading in some spots. There is a desk where it appears as if a secretary or legal assistant would sit but there is no such person manning that position. In fact, the only person in this waiting room is Kimberly herself, dressed in flip flops, torn denim jeans, and a t-shirt with the German flag colors on it, Konrad Raab’s face on it, and the phrase ‘I Love Oktoberfest’ plastered on the front.
The self-proclaimed Queen of the Death Match is growing impatient. Eduardo…or Eddie as she prefers to call him…is late. She keeps her eyes locked on what she assumes is his office door, waiting for him to come and talk to her. But a few moments later she hears the front door opening. Kim turns and spots Mr. Hernandez entering through the front door entrance. He is dressed in a brown suit and is carrying a briefcase with him. Kim immediately stands up and waves playfully at Hernandez.
“Hiya, Eddie!”
“Ms. Williams!” He seems rather surprised to see her. “Uh, I apologize for being so late, I lost track of time eating lunch.”
“You take it off my bill, Eddie.” Kim winks.
“Right but…uh, how did you get in?”
“I didn’t break in if that’s what you’re asking. You left the door unlocked. Which, quite frankly, disappoints me.”
“You are disappointed in my lack of security?” He sighs. “There is a reason for that.”
“There’d better be a good one! Breaking and entering is much more fun when you actually have a legitimate security system for me to get around! You leaving the door unlocked is just so damn boring! Give me a real challenge next time!”
“Right…” his voice trails off as he tries to take in Kimberly’s rather unusual personality. “...so, let’s just go into my office, shall we?”
Eduardo walks right on past Kimberly and towards his office door. Williams follows closely behind. He opens the door and steps inside. Kimberly follows him and then shuts the door behind her. Just like with the waiting room, his office is not what she expected. It looks like a total wreck with paperwork strewn about everywhere in his office. There are only two chairs in this tiny area…one behind his desk and another in front the desk. Kimberly isn’t exactly known for her organizational skills but even she has to wonder how this man manages to keep up with himself and his business.
“Have a seat, Ms. Williams.”
“Kim!” She snaps back, correcting him immediately before she sits down. Eduardo chuckles softly as he places his briefcase down on the desk and then sits down.
“Right, of course. Kim…we do have much to discuss and may I begin by saying that I am elated that you changed your mind and agreed to…”
“Whoa, shut that mouth of yours before you say something that makes me want to staple your forehead!” Kim says patting the pockets of her jeans. “And I did bring my staplegun!”
“Oh, yes, of course.”
“I have NOT agreed to anything yet. I have definitely not agreed to hire you as my agent.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Look, Eddie, I am going to be straight up honest with you. I do not trust your type…agents, managers…you are all slimy snakes as far as I’m concerned. I’ve been manipulated by your type before. So while I am willing to hear you out that doesn’t mean I am agreeing to anything. Are we clear?” Kim sounds very demanding in her tone. It was definitely enough to intimidate poor Eduardo who gulps and has a sense of concern across his face. He nods his head.
“I understand, Ms. W…errr, Kimberly.”
“Good. Then what do ya have to say? I have chaos and havoc to create and you are taking up my precious time! I want to hear your plans for me, and I want specific details, nothing vague or generic. Do your best to sell me on your SPECIFIC plans for me and then I will make up my mind if I want to give you a chance.”
“Oh, of course, Kimberly. I would never want to waste your time, that is why I will get right down to business and tell you about the vision I have for you, and that vision first begins with renegotiating your current contracts.”
“You want to renegotiate my contracts?” She scoffs. “I don’t care about the money.”
“It goes beyond that, Kimberly. Your campaign against Shaun Cruze has raised awareness of abuses by management not just in SCW but in other promotions as well.”
“Seriously?” Kim arches a brow. “I only bother Shaun Cruiserweight because its fun.”
“Fun…and at the same raising awareness of a serious issue. Just like awareness of the serious issue of showing mercy and rehabilitation towards felons.”
“You mean Carol?” Kim asks. He nods his head.
“Exactly. What I see when I look at you is not this madwoman with a staplegun…”
“AND an infinity gauntlet…and a Dalek…and a raptor…and a knife glove…and a shank…and a penguin…” Kim says correcting him.
“Yes, yes, and that is nice for the fans, but I think the world beyond the SCW universe should get to k now the REAL Kimberly Williams, the woman who cares about justice, right, and wrong. And I can make that happen. All you have to do is say yes! Let me manage your career, Ms. Wi…err Kim! What do you say?”
“I say you’re full of shit.” She says chuckling nastily. “I know I am not a good person. I definitely don’t care about justice. I do care about what is fair which is different from justice, right, and wrong and all that crap. I am an agent of chaos, Eddie. Understand that.”
“So no deal?” He asks, sounding somewhat disappointed thinking that his sales pitch failed. Kim smirks.
“Not necessarily.”
“Oh? So we are negotiating then?”
“Always. You have a deal IF you can promise me one thing.”
“Name it.” He insists. “It is yours.”
“I already feel guilty enough that my uncle and maybe my own father was involved in murdering Carol Johnson’s sister. If Carol gets put away behind bars for a lengthy period of time, that would probably kill her mother. And quite honestly, my family has done enough damage to them. Use your sleazy snakey con-artist skill to convince the district attorney to back off and at the very least go easy on Carol if not drop the charges against her altogether. If you can do that, you will have proven to me that maybe you’re not just full of shit and that maybe you can do some good for me.”
“You have yourself a deal.” Hernandez smirks as he extends his hand. Most would look at that sly smirk and think that he is up to something. But not Kim, she isn’t like most people. She doesn’t really care. The Woman Scorned extends her hand and accepts the handshake. Perhaps a new partnership has been created?
==========
Boston, Massachusetts
Off Camera
==========
A couple of weeks ago The Woman Scorned came into contact with a self-described agent named Eduardo Hernandez who seemed desperate to do business with the deranged ginger. Why would anyone want to risk their own health and well-being by doing business with the uncontrollable Kimberly Williams? Kim doesn’t even particularly like agents anyway. Very few agents have done right by her and thus she has a hard time bringing herself to trust them. Just like all of the other agents who have spoken to her, Hernandez promised Kim the entire world. What none of them realize is that Kim is a complex and complicated woman. She doesn’t want the world handed to her on a silver platter. Just look at the squalor she lives in; her home is a very small residence with just one kitchen, one bathroom, one living room, and one bedroom. Those rooms are all tiny and ratty.
While most would prefer to live in opulence and luxury, Kim is just as happy living in filth. She is lying on her ratty torn up sofa that rests upon unwashed, dirty, raggedy green carpet. A tiny cage containing her pet hamster, Caligula, rests on a nearby coffee table. It isn’t much, it is very simple, but this is all the “luxury” Kimberly requires. You can offer Kim money and power and she would turn it down. She doesn’t want that. What does The Woman Scorned want? What could Eduardo Hernandez offer Kim that would make her consider his offer to represent her as her agent?
There is one thing Kimberly wants that she cannot seem to get by herself; she wants the district attorney’s office in Boston, Massachusetts to drop the charges against a woman named Carol Johnson who is accused of multiple assaults and attempted murder of Kimberly and her family. The charges are very much true, which is why the DA wants to press charges to the fullest. But Kim also recognizes why Carol was pushed over the deep end. Carol went crazy when her oldest sister was murdered by Kim’s uncle Douglas Williams. Kim’s family had taken her sister from her, Kim would be indirectly responsible for taking Carol away from the Johnson family as well if she were prosecuted. Kim doesn’t want her family to be responsible for any further damage done to the Johnson family. Kim wants mercy shown towards Carol, and if Eduardo Hernandez were to convince the DA’s office to be lenient then Kim would give Hernandez a chance.
Surprisingly enough, this sleazy looking agent did manage to convince Massachusetts officials to drop the attempted murder charges. He’s still in talks to try and get all charges dropped, but even dropping the attempted murder charge is an incredible feat in and of itself. Therefore Kim has to live up to her word. Call her a psycho, an agent of chaos, or sadistic, but she is a woman of her word. She promised to give Hernandez a chance if he could come through, so he will give him a chance at managing her career. And the first bit of business is to work on her image.
The Woman Scorned is at home waiting for the arrival not of her new agent Eddie, but on Eddie’s associate, a woman he called Savannah. Kim isn’t sure what to expect. She wasn’t told what she looked like, she wasn’t even told what Eddie meant by ‘working on her image’, she was just told that Savannah would meet her this afternoon.
“I wonder where this Savannah chick is anyway?” Kim asks out loud, even though no one is there with her. Well, no one except her hamster Caligula. The deranged ginger reaches into the cage and pulls out Caligula. She places him on her chest and smiles at him. “Do you know where this dipshit is, Caligula, huh?” Kim rubs noses with Caligula. Just then she hears a knocking at her front door. Kim’s face lights up like a Christmas tree.
“That must be here! Come on, Caligula! Let’s go see her!” Kim places Caligula back in his cage. Then she hops up off of the ratty sofa and walks over to the front door. Kim opens the door and spots a woman standing there in a dark green maxi dress and sandals. She has a stoic look upon her face. Definitely doesn’t look like very fun. But that’s ok, Kim is fun enough for the both of them.
“Are you Ms. Williams?”
“Call me Kim! Kimmy! Or Sasha! Or Katya! Or Kennedy Street!” She chuckles. “Yeah! Call me Kennedy Street! Keenie for short, honey!” Kim reaches out and embraces the woman in a tight hug. Based on the look of disgust on her face, the woman isn’t exactly thrilled with this show of affection. Eventually the embrace is broken. The woman quickly dusts herself off, as if Kim were dirty.
“Yes, of course…Kim…” she rolls her eyes “...my name is Savannah, Savannah Darling.”
“Like Wendy?”
“Wendy who?”
“Wendy Darling. Like in Peter Pan!” Kim says happily. “I love that story!”
“No…not that Darling. Now may I come inside so we can get down to business?” Savannah pushes her way past Kim and walks into the home. Williams is a little taken aback with how rude Savannah is, how NOT FUN she is! Kim sticks her tongue out at Savannah while her back is turned, then she follows Savannah into the main living room area. Kim stands next to Savannah. Ms. Darling’s face is contorted into a look of sheer disgust as she takes in the view of the nasty looking living room that Kim calls home.
“Is this the dump that you live in, Ms. Williams?”
“Yeah, isn’t it great?!” Kim exclaims happily.
“Why on earth would you INTENTIONALLY live in trash?” Savannah asks as she turns to face Kim and places her hands on her hips, staring down The Woman Scorned with a judgmental look.
“Why not?”
“Must I spell it out? Ms. Williams, I was under the assumption that you were connected to a great deal of wealth. Mr. Hernandez informed me that you inherited some wealth from a Sorinah Floreschu. Correct?”
“Uh-huh!” Kim nods her head. “I am thinking of using it all to buy a tank! Or a zoo!”
“Why? Why waste your money like that and live in filth like this when you could buy such a better place to live in? You could have all of the luxury in the world, Ms. Williams. You could hire a maid or a butler to clean up this mess at the very least. Why do you choose to live in such nastiness when you could afford better?”
“I dunno,” Kim shrugs her shoulders “I just want to! I don’t need that shit that stuck up rich bastards think they need! This kind of living is what I’m used to, even if it is filth as you want to call it.” Kim winks. “Besides, Caligula like it this way!”
“Who?”
“Caligula!” Kim repeats. She rushes past Savannah and then goes to the hamster cage. She reaches inside the pulls out Caligula. She brings the hamster over to Savannah and shoves him into her face. “Say hi to the nice lady Caligula!”
“Hi there, sweet cheeks. Now gimme a kiss!” Kim provides the voice of Caligula.
“No thanks, Ms. Williams.”
“C’mon, you hot piece of ass, kiss me!”
“It’s just an animal, Ms. Williams. Please quit this nonsense of pretending that it is speaking with me.”
“I am talkin’ to ya, bitch!” Kim…errr Caligula exclaims.
“Please, Ms. Williams, no one actually believes your hamster can actually talk.”
“Oh fine!” Kim says as she pulls Caligula back towards her and starts stroking him. “You’re no fun.”
“And you should grow up.” Savannah points out. “We are here to work on your image, Ms. Williams, not to play games. Mr. Hernandez informed me that you were willing to proceed with his plans to market you and that begins with your image. Are you going to be serious about this or should I leave and inform Mr. Hernandez that you changed your mind?”
Kimberly already is beginning to regret her decision to go along with this. But she did make a deal with this Eddie Hernandez character. She agreed to work with him and whatever his plans were if he could help her out with the Carol Johnson situation. He did his part and now Kim feels obligated to do her part. The Woman Scorned sighs and nods her head.
“Fine, just let me put Caligula back in his cage.” Kim walks back over and places the hamster back in the cage. Savannah follows her.
“Very good. Now may I see your wardrobe?”
“A wardrobe, eh? How fancy!” Kim smirks. “Right over here!” Williams approaches a nearby door that is actually just closet space. She pulls the door open and tons of shirts and jeans fall out onto the floor at their feet. Savannah looks down at this pile and takes a few steps back away from this laundry. She looks down at the pile and then back up at Kim.
“Do you clean your clothes?”
“Sometimes.”
“Sometimes is better than never, I suppose.” She says as she bends over and picks up a t-shirt. She looks at it and contorts her face as she reads what the t-shirt has printed on the front. “I Groped Mr. D…”
“You did? You dirty little bitch.” Kim chuckles.
“I did not!” She exclaims angrily and points at the shirt. “That’s what your shirt says!”
“Oh so it does!” Kim replies with a grin. Savannah drops the shirt and picks up another. Once again she reads it out loud.
“Oktoberfest?” She points to the image of Konrad Raab next to a thing of beer underneath the wording on the shirt. “Why is this man’s head sitting next to a thing of beer?”
“Oktoberfest. Duh!”
“Of course…” Savannah drops that shirt and picks up a third shirt “...Ice Ice Kimmy?”
“It was a record hit, baby! It went to number one on the charts like a rocket!”
“Right…well let’s look at these…” she drops the shirt and picks up a set of jeans, they are tore. She looks through the rest of pile and finds more torn jeans and torn jean shorts. She then stands back up and glares at Kim. “...all of these are torn! Raggedy!”
“Thanks for noticing!”
“Do you have anything stylish, Ms. Williams?”
“Nope.” Kim shakes her head. “I never ever dress fancy. The only time I have ever worn fancy clothes was when I stole my sister’s clothes. We are identical twins, you see, so same size and shit!”
“That does it!” Savannah throws her hands up in frustration. “I cannot work with this!”
“So does that mean you’re going away?” Kim asks hopefully. Her hopes are dashed when Savannah shakes her head.
“No…we are going shopping. Mr. Hernandez authorized me to use his cash to buy you a new wardrobe if necessary and that is exactly what I am going to do.”
“When are we gonna do that?”
“Right now!”
==========
Boston, Massachusetts
Off Camera
==========
The psychotic ginger has been in an upscale luxury shopping center in Boston, Massachusetts browsing through a clothing store with a woman she had only just met about an hour ago, Savannah Darling. And to say that Kim looks like a fish out of water would be quite the understatement. Williams doesn’t feel right being here amongst the fancy feminine dresses in the lady’s section. For the past several minutes since they arrived Savannah has been trying to encourage her to try something fancier, or at least somewhat more ladylike than the attire she typically wears. Apparently ‘working on her image’ means a completely new wardrobe and a completely new look for Kimberly Williams and The Woman Scorned isn’t having any of this…
“I look stupid!”
Currently Savannah is seated just outside of a changing room. She hears the voice of her companion, Kim Williams coming from within the changing room and she sounds quite upset. But Savannah doesn’t seem to care. She stands up and pokes her head inside.
“Come on out, I’m sure you look fine.”
“No!”
“Fine. I’m coming in.” Savannah walks right on through the door and into the changing room. There she finds Kim with a fancy pink dress…but the dress isn’t why she looks stupid. Kim is still wearing her torn denim jeans. Savannah has been quite stoic with almost no sense of humor since she arrived and met Kim, but even Savannah cannot help but laugh ever so slightly at this woman’s appearance.
“Don’t laugh!” Kim complains.
“I apologize, Ms. Williams, but you did it to yourself.” She points to the outfit. “You’re still wearing the jeans. You should remove them.”
“You want to take off my pants?” Kim feigns shock. “You really are very fast for a first date.”
“We’re not dating!” Now Savannah’s old, agitated tone has returned. “I’m just trying to assist you.” She points to Kim’s bare feet. “And why aren’t you wearing the shoes I found for you?”
“I HATE wearing heels!”
“You’ve worn them before. You said so yourself.”
“Yes, I wear them pretty much only when I’m pretending to be my sister. I steal her clothes and put them on and no one can tell the difference. It’s real fun. I took her place for an entire month several years ago…Marie didn’t think it was very fun because I had kidnapped her and locked her in a basement…”
“You did what?” Savannah sighs and shakes her head. “Actually, I don’t want to know.”
“I take Marie’s place quite often, actually. Usually it’s just to help her. And that’s the only time I wear heels. And trust me, if I weren’t doing it for my sister I would never wear a pair of those fucking shoes again!”
“Do you even have the shoes with you?” Savannah asks. “The ones I bought you.”
“Yeah,” Kim points to a pair of strappy black sandals on the floor “why?”
“Take off the jeans. Put on the heels. And then we’re leaving.”
“Not in this.”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“It just isn’t my style.” Kim shakes her head. “Look, you and everyone else can be fake plastic Barbie dolls but not me. I’m real and this just isn’t real, at least it isn’t the real me.”
“Ms. Williams, please, even though those jeans make you look rather ridiculous right now, I can still tell that the dress looks good on you. The shoes would complete the look. Why won’t you just…” before she can get the thought out of her mouth, Savannah is silenced by Kimberly reaching out and snatching her by the throat.
“I said NO!” She exclaims angrily. “I promised Eddie that I would follow along with whatever plans he had but this is going too damn far! Tell me this, bitch, why the hell does he want to change my image so damn much? What is wrong with the way I look now?” The Woman Scorned releases her grip on Savannah.
Savannah can see the rage, the deranged look in Kimberly’s eyes and for the first time since meeting The Woman Scorned, Savannah is actually afraid. She takes a few steps back just in case she has to make a run for it. She does her best to compose herself and answer Kimberly’s questions.
“I understand that this isn’t your normal. But be honest with me, Ms. Williams, do you honestly believe that walking around wearing obscene shirts is normal?”
“What exactly is normal?”
“Fair point.” She nods her head. “But what if any of the promotions you wrestle for…say, SCW…MWE…GCW with their promotions and events. When you win matches and win titles. Don’t you want to look your best for the after party?”
“There will be no after party.” Kim states defiantly.
“Then let me put it to you this way, Ms. Williams. When people look at you, they do not see a normal human being. I don’t mean to sound rude but let’s face it, you pretend your hamster talks…you are actively trying to murder a pair of children’s show characters…”
“FLAY!” Kim points out, correcting her. “Flaying is not murdering.”
“Whatever. My point is that your reputation precedes you. And you do not help your image or your reputation with how you dress and behave. People look at you and they see a deranged lunatic.” She sighs. “Is that the way you want to perceived? I thought that you wanted to be viewed differently. I was under the impression that you wanted the world to see the REAL Kimberly Williams.”
“Yeah, I do. But…”
“So answer this question…is the REAL Kimberly Williams the psychopathic monster that people perceive you to be? Or is the REAL Kimberly Williams someone who can be looked up to? A psychopathic monster would not have spared the life of Carol Johnson. Only someone truly pure of heart would have spared the life of the woman who had assaulted her and tried to kill her.” Savannah smiles warmly. “That is the what Mr. Hernandez sees as the REAL Kimberly Williams. And that is what I am trying to bring out in you. Someone who is warm, kind…and classy.” She pats Kim on the shoulder. “Think about that. I will be outside waiting on you.”
Savannah exits the changing room and returns to her spot sitting just outside. She isn’t sure yet whether what she said got through to the Queen of the Death Match. To be honest, she isn’t sure she could even get her this far, to a clothing store to shop for nicer things. The mere possibility that she could be successful would be incredible. Mr. Hernandez will be quite happy with this development. A few minutes into her wait and Savannah considers calling her boss. But she is stopped when she hears footsteps approaching. She turns and is pleasantly surprised to see Kimberly standing there in her pink cocktail dress and heels.
“Now there we go! We are all on our way to showing the world the real Kimberly Williams! How do you feel?”
“I already told you. I feel stupid.” Kim complains.
“You shouldn’t feel that way. You should feel gorgeous. Because you do indeed look gorgeous.” She grins knowingly.
“Thanks, I think…”
==========
Las Vegas, Nevada
Off Camera
==========
Las Vegas is the gambling capital of the world. Gambling involves heavy risk taking and Kimberly Williams was forced to take a huge risk at Rise To Greatness by competing in not one, not two, but three matches through the two night SCW spectacular. Just how did Kimberly’s luck work out? As they say, not too good. The Woman Scorned lost the SCW Underground Championship to Deanna Frost, she didn’t win the gimmick battle royal, and she failed to capture the SCW World Tag Team Championship with Sarah Wolf. Kimberly went zero and three in her SCW Rise To Greatness performance.
The failure to leave with championship gold doesn’t bother Williams. She has said it before and she meant it when she said that championships, while a nice perk, are not that important to her. Even the fact that she couldn’t win any of her three matches at Rise To Greatness only stings just a little. She is a proud wrestler and proud of her abilities. Losing stings. But even then she can block that out and ignore the sting of the loss. What ultimately bothers The Woman Scorned is how she is perceived by management and how she is being treated by management. The commissioner, Shaun Cruze, is the one who double booked her. Wrestling multiple times in one night was not Kimberly’s choice. If she had it her way she would have just had the one match against Deanna Frost and Sarah Wolf could have gotten a different partner. But Cruze saw it necessary to put her in a situation where she would have to wrestle on both nights in two brutal matches. And the commentary team of Sharper, Knots, and Lyman, they all seem to want to paint this picture of her as a troublemaker within SCW.
It is this that bothers Kim the most. Despite her outward appearance and antics, despite the fact that she may come across as a deranged sociopath, Kim does have real feelings and emotions. She may keep them bottled up and locked away but she does have them. The fact that a company that she once thought trusted her and accepted her looks down on her as just a troll really does hurt her feelings. The one solace she has is the fact that the fans are still solidly on her side. Whatever Cruze and the commentators may say about her, the fans still support Kim and that does bring a bit of happiness to her weary soul.
Rise To Greatness concluded just twenty four hours ago. The Queen of the Death Match and reigning HKW Bloodlust Champion is inside one of the famous Vegas casinos, seated at a table playing Texas Hold ‘Em with a group of three other people. The eccentric ginger is dressed in torn denim jeans, a t-shirt with a penguin on the front, sunglasses over her eyes, and a police hat on her head. A confident grin is on her face as she gazes down at the cards in her hand. Her opponents in this game? One a heavyset balding man in a denim shorts, a blue t-shirt, and baseball cap; a tall, thin wiry man with a polo shirt and khaki pants; and a young woman with a pink silk blouse and denim jeans.
“Wow! This is a great hand!” Kim exclaims. She tilts her head to one side and studies her cards some more. She furrows her brow in confusion. “I mean, I think it is. Not really sure. I just have pocket aces.” She looks up at her opponents and grin. “What good are pockets anyway except for storing keys, wallet, loose change, and shit like that?”
The three other players groan as they all fold. Williams smirks as she applauds giddily. “Yay! I win!” The Queen of the Death Match is definitely proud of herself. Whether is she aware or unaware of what she did is uncertain. What is certain is that she doesn’t care. She’s having fun out here on the gambling floor. Kimberely’s excitement is brought to an end when a masculine hand is placed on her shoulder. She looks up to see the domineering look of one of the casino employees gazing coldly and sternly at the demented ginger.
“Ms. Williams?”
“That’d be me!” She shows him her hand, the pair of aces. “Is this good? My Dalek got broke in that battle royal at Rise To Greatness last night. I usually ask Dalek for poker tips but he’s not here.”
“Ahem, yes, it is a good hand…”
“Great.” She shoos him away. “Now go away. I’m busy!”
“Actually, Ms. Williams, I think you should leave this table.
“Awwww, why?” Kim sounds genuinely disappointed at first. But then she quickly perks up. “Oh, wait, you want me to play another game?”
“Uh, sure, yes, why don’t you just go play another game?” He turns and points to the slot machines. “There are slot machines available for you. Where you won’t be able to bother any of the other guests.”
“You mean those machines next to the great big statue of the naked lady with big boobs?” Kim asks. The casino employee sighs and nods his head.
“Yes, that’s the one.”
“Thanks!” Kim hops up from the poker table, embraces the worker in a big hug, and then rushes towards the slot machines. She finds a machine that is all by itself with no one else around her. Kim sits in front of the machine and then reaches into her jean pocket to produce some loose change. She puts the coins into the slot to start the machine. “Come on! Big money! Nooooo whammy annnnnnnnd stop!” Wrong game. But right concept. The machine does eventually come to a stop showing three pictures; one of an orange, one of grapes, and another of an orange. Kim waits for her prize but nothing comes.
“Hey! What’s wrong with this stupid machine?” She smacks the machine with her right hand. “I won two oranges and a thing of grapes! Where’s my damn fruit?!” She reaches into her pocket and produces more coins. She puts them in the machine to start it up. This time the machine stops on three apples. Coins start pouring out of the machine. Williams, however, is still angry. “Hey! This stupid thing is rigged! It said I won three apples but all I’m getting is stupid money!”
The Woman Scorned steps away from the machine and starts walking away. Meanwhile the other guests try to take advantage of Kim’s eccentricity. They leap on top of the pile of coins, the winnings, on the floor that Kim has abandoned. Williams is not completely naive. She is well aware of the chaos she has just caused and this does bring a bit of a grin to her face. The Woman Scorned then does a double take as she spots a familiar figure near the exit of the casino.
“Mom?” Kim stares at the figure standing far away. Perched atop patent black leather high heel pumps, wearing a knee length black skirt and a red silk blouse, is indeed Angelica Jones, Kimberly’s mother. This was an unexpected but definitely pleasant surprise for Kim, a surprise she needs when she has had nothing but letdowns the entire SCW Rise To Greatness weekend. “Mommy!” The Woman Scorned bolts towards her mother. Angelica chuckles as she holds out her arms in anticipation. Angelica and Kim catch one another and embrace in a tight hug.
“It’s nice seeing you too, Kim. But I think maybe we should make an exit.” They break the embrace. Angelica then motions towards two casino employees trying to deal with the slot machine fiasco Kim created while another two employees appear to be making their way towards Kim and Angelica. “It appears you have created quite a disturbance.”
“It’s what I do best!”
“Indeed it is.” Angelica takes her daughter by the arm and gently drags her along. They step through an open door and out into the hallway of the casino, away from the main gambling floor. Angelica and Kim find a bench nearby where they sit down. Kim, for her part, still looks absolutely stunned to see her mother here in Vegas.
“Y’know, mom, I gotta admit that I am impressed. Very few people can trick me and yet you managed to sneak into Vegas underneath my notice. How long have you been in Vegas?”
“Since Friday.”
“Friday?” Kim is now thoroughly confused. “So wait, you were here for the entire Rise To Greatness weekend?”
“Oh now don’t act so surprised.” Angelica says with a smirk on her face. “My daughters played a huge role in this entire weekend. You were in three matches…”
“No! Only two!” She holds up two fingers. “The gimmick battle royal was all Marie.”
“...right, ‘Marie’.” Angelica winks at her daughter. “And Jessica was also in that battle royal. Not to mention I myself am an SCW alum. I’d like to think one day I might get inducted into this company’s Hall of Fame.”
“Don’t bet on that.” Kim says in a sour tone. “At least not while Shaun Cruiserweight is in charge. He hates me. But nevertheless, you’re right, I had no idea you were here.”
“Well I was here for the entire weekend. And I just want to say that I am very proud of your performance.”
“You’re proud of my performance?” Kim says with a strong note of sarcasm in her voice. “Listen to me, mom, I know your type. You are all about winning and specifically winning as many titles as you can. I lost all three of my matches…”
“I thought you said you were in just two?” Angelica says with a sly grin. Kim rolls her eyes.
“Fine! Marie wasn’t actually in the battle royal! It was me, Angel! It was me all along!” Kim throws her arms up out of frustration. “And I lost…I lost all three matches. I couldn’t even walk away with one single championship.”
“But you don’t care about titles.”
“You’re right, I don’t. But you do care about them and maybe that’s why it stings right now? It stings knowing you were there, watching me fail.”
“I don’t believe that.” Jones shakes her head. “You have never been one to care about wins, losses, and championships. You never once lost any sleep over that kind of thing. I wish I could be more like you and wrestle for the sheer enjoyment of it. But you’re right, I have to win the gold. So the thought of you suddenly caring about titles is hard for me to believe.” Angelica places a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Why don’t you tell me what’s really wrong?”
Kim folds her arms over her chest. “I don’t wanna and you can’t make me, mommy!” Kim says while intentionally acting like a child. Angelica chuckles.
“Why don’t you give it a try? It can’t hurt to get it off your chest.”
“Alright…” Kim sighs “...I just hate being lied to.”
“Who lied to you?” Angelica asks, arching an eyebrow out of curiosity.
“My new agent. I suppose that’s former agent.”
“Eduardo?” Angel asks. Kim nods her head.
“Sounds like Marie told you bout him? Yeah, he promised me lots of crap. Money, fame, success. And you know me, I could give a shit less about that nonsense. But there was one thing he promised me that I actually wanted. He promised to improve my public image and in doing so introduce the world to the real Kimberly Williams…the real me.”
Kim always keeps up this front of being an eccentric lunatic, but it is just that; a front. She is not really a lunatic, she is not really Crazy Kim. But she pretends to be that insane individual in public, even around her own family. Rarely does she ever let her guard down and allow herself to be vulnerable. She is dropping that guard right now and letting her mother see the real her.
“I know I’m not perfect but I’d like to think that deep down inside I am a good person. I thought maybe it would be nice if the world got to know the real me. Eduardo promised me all of that.” She shakes her head. “But he didn’t deliver. He just tried to make me into a carbon copy of what he thought a megastar should be. I sensed what he was trying to do to me but I went along with his silly games because I still held out hope that he would give me what I wanted. But did any public perception about me change? Did the world get to know the real me?” She shrugs her shoulders. “All I know is that the SCW commissioner holds some kind of fucking grudge against me and he took it out on me by double booking me at Rise To Greatness, the commentary team tries paint a picture of me as this troublemaker who doesn’t give a damn about this business who has no respect for this business…” real tears forms in her eyes “...I am proud of being a wrestler and I love this business! Ignoring that stupid gimmick battle royal, I wrestled in two violent, barbaric matches! I took years off of my life! And I did it all for SCW! I did it all for idiots like Cruze, Knots, Sharper, and Lyman and others in that damn company who ridicule me and accuse me of being someone I’m not!”
“I take it you blame Eduardo?” Angelica asks. Kim nods her head.
“Partially. Enough to fire his ass.” Kim shrugs her shoulders. “I can just get by on my own like I always have. Who needs an agent anyway?”
“Do you really think that’s wise? You said it yourself. SCW isn’t exactly high on you right now. You could use an advocate of sorts arguing on your behalf.”
“Who cares if SCW is against me? The fans still love me.”
“The fan support is great but you could always use an advocate.” Jones grins knowingly. “And I may have just the idea.”
“I don’t know what you’re thinking but forget it.” Kim shakes her head. “I have tried agents, managers, advocates, and all of them ended up screwing me over. I’m done with them.”
“That’s because you placed your trust in complete and total strangers. You need an advocate who you can trust.”
“I can’t trust anyone, mom.”
“You can trust family.” Angelica’s grin has now grown to an ear to ear smirk. Kimberly is now beginning to pick up on exactly what her mother is suggesting.
“Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?” Kim asks. Her mother nods her head.
“Look, Kim, I admit that I have been getting the itch to get back into wrestling. You already saw how I accepted the job to run and promote the new GCW show Fever. I am even looking into actively competing from time to time. Now I wouldn’t think of competing in SCW again, because I wouldn’t want to steal the spotlight from you or my cousin Glory. But I could be backstage at the shows, I could advocate on your behalf.”
“Seriously?”
“There are two very different sides of your personality, Kim. The real you and then there is the Crazy Kim you show the world. But neither one knows how to talk to people like Cruze. I speak his language. I can speak to him in a way that he will understand and therefore you will get a more fair shake with him. I can’t promise that I can do anything about the commentary team but over time they will change their tune. And besides, even if my efforts are futile, we can still be guaranteed of success in one vital area.”
“What’s that?”
“It gives us a chance to bond.” Angelica hugs Kimberly. “You were ripped from my arms at birth. You and Marie both were. I reunited with Marie when she was still very young. I raised your half-sister Jessica from birth. But you…I never actually got to meet you until you were eighteen. I missed out on so much. We owe it to each other to create some of these special mother-daughter moments.” She breaks the embrace. She gazes deep into Kim’s eyes. “So what do you say?”
“I dunno…” Kim sighs “...I have been wronged so many times with this whole manager deal. But you’re right, I haven’t had the time to bond with you the same way Marie did and Jessica did.”
“It’ll be fun.” Angelica says. “I’ll even let you bring that stupid trash can.”
“He’s a Dalek! Not a trash can!”
“Right, that thing. You can bring him along too.”
“Do ya mean it?” Kim says, her smile returning.
“I promise.”
“Well…” Kim shrugs her shoulders “...I suppose things can’t get any worse than they already are.” She extends her hand. “Let’s do this.” Angelica looks at the hand and then back up at Kim. She shakes her head.
“You know a handshake isn’t good enough.” Angelica hugs her daughter once more.
The Queen of the Death Match has been wronged many times. Sorinah Floreschu tried to manipulate her. Eduardo tried to manipulate her. The only one to ever work out for Kim, Tabitha Silverstone, is no longer available for managerial duties. Kim literally has no one to trust to help manager her career. If anyone knows enough to help and actually cares enough to help, perhaps it is Angelica? Perhaps Angelica is the answer.