Caliban vs Al Thoes

[Chris Casino]

Post RP's in this thread.

[Celtic Assassins]

Leland Conrad, Attorney at Law, with "The Scottish Wrecking Machine" Al Thoes. They wait in a restaurant for their third member.

Conrad: So I'm pretty sure Bobby is going to be upset. We need to be supportive. But we need to look forward. You have the biggest threat... ever in your career. Bigger than D-X. Bigger than Krenshov. Bigger than the Doomriders. Caliban is a monster. No reasoning. No remorse. Just an unstoppable beast. Even Richards couldn't stand up to him. But he doesn't have what you have..

Thoes: Exasperation?

Conrad: Forget the fans for one second, please!

Thoes: It's hard to feel motivated when the people hate you for no reason...

Conrad: I'm sure they have a good reason. But if you can beat Caliban...

Thoes: I wouldn't have challenged him if I thought I had no chance...

Conrad: Then why the gloom?

Thoes: You saw how Bobby's challenge went.

Conrad: he made a good accounting of himself.

O'Brady: And a bloody lot of good it did me!

O'Brady has entered the scene. He looks angry to say the least.

Conrad: Bobby! Great job on Tuesday! Most men would have tapped out in an instant!

O'Brady: (sarcastic) Well, when you put it like that, I feel so much better.

Conrad: Look, guys, I know things look bad right now, but it'll get better. I have an idea....

O'Brady: So do I, Leland.

Conrad: Oh?

O'Brady: I was thinking of what we've been doing wrong. And it came to me. We've been doing things the same way we did them in NAPW. We haven't tried to change at all in the time we've been here.

Conrad: Interesting. Where do you think you should start?

Cut to a sad looking Leland Conrad, peeking out the window of his plane as it takes off. Cut to Al and Bobby as they exit the airport.

Thoes: Harsh.

O'Brady: Needed to be done. We'd never be able to concentrate with him around.

Thoes: So now what?

O'Brady: Well Al. I prepare for the Battle Royal. And you? Start getting used to being put through tables.

To Be continued

[Iago [REBEL]]

Darkness. Darkness, and the sound of heavy breathing. Slowly, another sound... a crowd. They are cheering. There is a roar.

---

CRACK. Miranda stands in what appears to be a large cage. Her lengthy bull whip hangs in her hand, and she is rubbing her shoulder. Someone off camera applauds, and she turns to see the sinister and angular Ringmaster Iago step out of the darkness.

IAGO: It is always a pleasure to watch you work, my dear.

He steps around her, looking around the cage, swinging his cane idly.

MIRANDA:[/b] You're not usually around at this hour...

IAGO: I don't mean to intrude, I am merely the harbinger of news.

Miranda frowns.

IAGO:[/b] You needn't look so concerned, Miranda. It isn't ill news. Indeed, it is very, very good news.

Iago smiles. Miranda's frown deepens.

MIRANDA:[/b] It has to do with the Beast.

IAGO:[/b] You never cease to amaze me. Such a keen insight. Yes, it has to do with our good friend Mr. Richards.

MIRANDA:[/b] I admit that I hadn't expected such a... poor showing from him. I... I apologize for that.

Miranda drapes her whip around her neck. Iago's smile doesn't falter.

IAGO: You needn't be so hard on yourself. Richards' restraint was anticipated. But we saw a glimpse of it, Miranda. We saw a hint of what lurked beneath... and I'm not willing to give up on our Dr. Jekyll so quickly. I have arranged a second confrontation for our two favourite monsters.

MIRANDA:[/b] Have you?

IAGO:[/b] Indeed. And let us just say that I have something... special in mind. Something that should coax out the worst in our little project. I will have the satisfaction of a job well done. And then you, my dear, will have a new Beast to tame.

Miranda can't help but smile, eyes twinkling.

MIRANDA:[/b] I do love a challenge.

Iago chuckles and strolls around her.

IAGO:[/b] Speaking of challenges. Have you been preparing Caliban for Tuesday?

MIRANDA:[/b] I have been. Our Scot will be in for quite a engagement.

Iago snorts.

IAGO:[/b] The Scottish. I sometimes wish they were as civil as a proper Englishman... but you'd have better luck teaching a dog table etiquette. I tell you, Miranda, barbarians cannot help but be barbarians. Of course, you wouldn't be able to tell... Mr. Thoes is so very Irish, traipsing around with Mr. O'Brady on his drunken misadventures.

The sinister man strokes his pointy chin beard.

IAGO:[/b] I do find it intriguing that they're so intent on winning the adoration of the REBEL fans. More so that Mr. Thoes believes that defeating Caliban will somehow elevate him in their eyes. I'm afraid he's in for many rude surprises.

Iago laughs a bit.

IAGO:[/b] Rude! A rude surprise! For a Scot!

Miranda stares at Iago, clearly missing what was funny. Iago sighs and shakes his head.

IAGO:[/b] Well. I guess you have to be British. At any rate, this brings me to my second bit of news. I have received... a rather interesting invitation from an... unexpected source. I want you to accompany me, I have set up a meeting for tomorrow.

Miranda nods, and Iago turns to leave. Before he takes two steps, Miranda calls after him.

MIRANDA:[/b] Curious. Does it pertain to our match against Al Thoes, or our unfinished business with the Beast?

Iago stops. A wicked smile crosses his face, and his eyes twinkle devilishly. He glances over at a length of chain hanging from the cage.

IAGO:[/b] Perhaps both, my dear. When all is said and done, it may very well deal with both.

Iago leaves. Miranda pulls the whip from her shoulders, and swings it over her head. CRACK. Darkness.

[Iago [REBEL]]

Darkness. Darkness, and the sound of heavy breathing, muffled behind something. Slowly, another sound... a crowd, rowdy and ready for action. They are cheering, in fact they are chanting. There is a roar, loud, close, and stifled.

---

It is the evening. Ringmaster Iago stands outside of a fair somewhere in the vicinity of Raleigh, North Carolina. He tips his hat to us.

IAGO:[/b] Ah, the warm nights of spring. They bring everyone out to the fair, do they not? I, for one, wouldn't want to be anywhere else. The merriment. The thrills.

Iago starts strolling along the outskirts, twirling his cane. We follow.

IAGO:[/b] And yet, here I am on the outside looking in. Strange. For a person who claims to so love the fair, I appear to be hesitant to enter. To get the most out of it. Instead, I wander around the outside, occasionally nipping in and catching a thrillride, or perhaps getting a tuft of cotton candy. But that's really all I do. Otherwise, I just stroll around here, watching the ebb and flow of humanity, and listening to their joy, their tears and the sounds of life inside.

Iago stops and smiles.

IAGO:[/b] I'm not really enjoying the fair, now am I?

Iago's smile widens.

IAGO:[/b] But I guess I'm a little like Bruce Richards in that sense. Except, Bruce, that there is a difference between us. I stand on the outside of the fair. You stand on the outside of your own psyche. You dip inside to your primal id from time to time, but ultimately you prefer to stay safely away, where you cannot be hurt. Where you cannot hurt others.

Iago's smile fades.

IAGO: I'm afraid that's not the way to live. Cut off from a part of yourself that you only 'unleash' when you feel you can control it.

And there's the smile again.

IAGO:[/b] No more. Not for you. I have something special in mind for the REBEL-NAPW supershow. I intend to make sure that the Beast is harder than ever to 'unleash', Bruce. But more importantly, I intend to make it that much harder to put it back to sleep when we're done.

Iago laughs a bit.

IAGO:[/b] Al Thoes. Our friend from the highlands. I'm afraid I've got some business to attend with you first, this week. Don't fret. I'm not so focused on Richards that I've forgotten your amusing little challenge. Who knows... maybe you'll finally bring an end to Caliban's stampede through REBEL.

Iago glances at the fair.

IAGO:[/b] Or maybe you have no idea just what you're in for.

With that, Iago turns on his heel and walks into the fair. Darkness.

---

Iago sits a table in a nondescript location, with Miranda next to him. The image is washed out, grainy, and a little jumpy. As we watch, The Sinister Ringmaster smiles politely and strokes his beard, appearing to be in thought.

IAGO: An interesting proposal. I'm not entirely certain why you've come to me, but I think something could be arranged. Of course... we shall need something in return.

MIRANDA:[/b] Don't worry yourself with that detail yet, though.

IAGO:[/b] Indeed, we'll simply say that shall owe me a favour, to be repaid at the time of my choosing.

Iago leans forward, eyes twinkling, smile widening.

IAGO:[/b] Does that sound acceptable to you?

The image jumps and we miss the response.

IAGO:[/b] I don't think we need to worry about the specifics, really. Caliban works in a very specific way, after all, but we shall do what we can to direct. I will admit, though, I am curious why you've decided on this course...

Again the image jumps and we miss the response.

IAGO: I see. But your partner is not of the same mind as you on this subject?

The image jumps again, and this time Miranda has vanished.

IAGO:[/b] May I just say that I completely understand your thoughts on the matter. Indeed, I, too, am surprised that you took so long to come to this conclusion. The people of North Carolina... well, they aren't like us. They're fickle, and frankly not all that bright. I, for one, am pleased to see that you've determined not to dwell on their worthless opinions. Your partner, however...

The form leans in, and for the first time we see who Iago's been talking to.

BOBBY O'BRADY:[/b] He bloody well needs to learn, and I want for you to help me teach him.

Iago laughs.

IAGO:[/b] I am delighted to offer my services, Mr. O'Brady. He shall be shown what the people of Raleigh really think of him. Because the REBEL fans cannot help but cheer for the force of nature that is Caliban. And Mr. Thoes will hear those cheers ringing in his head as he is driven face first through a table.

O'Brady scowls.

O'BRADY:[/b] Just... don't be too hard on him. I need him unharmed for Tagstravaganza. We aim to win it again this year, and I'll be bloody pissed off if Al can't make it.

IAGO:[/b] He shall be perfectly serviceable. And perhaps my monstrous grindstone will have... shall we say, sharpened his edge for you.

O'Brady's scowl fades into a smirk.

O'BRADY:[/b] Good.

O'Brady reaches out and shakes Iago's hand. Iago laughs. The video cuts suddenly. Darkness.

[Celtic Assassins]

Al Thoes in a wrestling ring. He climbs to the top rope, an unfamiliar spot for him. He pauses. Takes a deep breath. And dives off, coming to a crashing stop on a table. The table shatters under the big man's weight. Thoes winces in pain. Bobby O'Brady stands over him.

O'Brady: This is your future Al. This is what you're going to get for sucking up to the fans. We could have won them over by going for the tag titles, by winning matches with our bloody skills. But you had to go for the quick fix. And look where you lay. In a pile of broken wood. Splinters in your back. Imagine how much it'll hurt when Caliban does it to you?

Thoes: I find your lack of faith bloody disturbing. Caliban won't be putting me through a bleeding table.

O'Brady: That's not what pretty much every wrestling fan in Raleigh thinks. They have Caliban as a dead lock to take the match.

Thoes: Then I'll prove the fans wrong.

O'Brady: You think they'll like that? All we've been doing the past month is try to win them over. And now you want to get on their bad side by making them look foolish? Not the brightest plan, lad.

Thoes: I just want to win...

O'Brady: Well, we're not going to win the way we've been going so far. So get up. I'll get another table ready. Training is only just begun.

Thoes grimaces as he gets up. O'Brady sets up another table. Thoes goes to the top rope and gets ready to take another plunge. The camera pans over to a darkened corner of the gym, where Iago stands, out of the view of everyone else. And he watches as Thoes crashes through another table. A bemused grin on crosses Iago's face.

Fade to black.