Black Widow

[Rotten]

"He was like a cock who thought the sun had risen to hear him crow."
~ George Eliot

[Fade up to the whispered voices of Jeff Fox and Johnny Rotten.]

Fox: You sleeping with my sister..?

Johnny: [Defensive] No... What... Why would you ask that... Of course not.

[It's early morning, Jeff is sprawled out on the floor of the Mill Woods apartment, and Johnny is next to him lying on the couch.]

Fox: She's trouble Johnny... She's like a Black Widow, or a Praying Mantis. When she is finished using you... She's gonna toss you aside.

[Awkward silence.]

Fox: [Changing the subject] What have you done to get ready for this match.

Johnny: I've watched some promos... A few of Jame's matches... Went for a run... [Abruptly] Nothing. [Pause] I haven't done nothing. Lilly has been by my side night and day. She doesn't give me a second to breathe.

Fox: [Disappointment] Oh..!

Johnny: What am I gonna do. I'm gonna get my ass handed to me.

[Jeff rolls to his feet, walks around the couch and plops himself down.]

Fox: Okay kid.... Lets throw the training for this match out the window. It's too late... It's not gonna do anything for you but get you stiff. We'll start up again after your match.

[Johnny nods. He can tell Jeff is formulating a plan and he doesn't want to interrupt.]

Fox: Cut a promo... Today. You need heat with both guys... So pick a fight.

I couldn't help but smile to myself. Jeff for maybe the first time was stepping up and actually managing me. He was putting out the fires, strategizing, and actually offering useful advice... Who knew.

Fox: Preparation...

[Jeff stops talking as he looks at the stupid grin on Johnny's face.]

Fox: What are you smiling about.

[Cuffs Johnny across the head.]

Fox: Pay attention...

[Johnny opens his mouth to say something but instead just nods.]

Fox: Preparation... From this second on, till you step through the ropes, I want you mentally preparing for this match. By the time we get to Regina I want to have wrestled this match in your a head a thousand times. See counters... See reversals... Chain wrestling... Momentum altering moves... and Finishes. I want you to visualize every scenario and have an answer for it.

[Johnny nods]

Fox: You can win this thing kid... I know you can do it.

Johnny: Thanks Jeff... This...

[Jeff cuts the emotional thank-you off in typical Fox style.]

BRAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

Johnny: Ahhh Christ... You shook the whole couch.

[Transitional fade]

Spiked Dog Collar... Check.

Rancid Concert t-shirt... Check

Doc Marten boots... Check

Baggy Black Cargos... Check.

[Rotten Promo]

[Johnny fills the screen. It's a close up shot, you can't see anything behind him.]

Rotten: Jeff James... Or is it Jekyll and Hyde. One minute your the proverbial good guy leaving no real room for me, and then the next second your trying to rub out Jay for heel of the week. [Sarcasm] Crazy much... [Pause] Or crazy like a fox.

[Johnny shrugs his shoulders]

Rotten: I'll tell you what I think... I think your scared of O'Brien. I think you fell for his Cocky, I'm Better than you like attitude, and figured it might work for you. You flip flopped cause Jay was getting over on you, and retaliated with the whole "It's a trap" thing which you probably got from my last shoot.

[Slight grin]

Rotten: Which means the teacher has become the student. The great Jeff James learning a lesson from two rooks. [Pause] Well here's another lesson for you. Focus too much on Jay O'Brien and your gonna find yourself laying on your back wondering how I was able to twist so many times before landing on you.

[The grin fades]

Rotten: And speaking of lessons and lesson learnt... [Pause] Jay O'Brien... I won't bore you with my book... Just one lesson. Giving credit... And giving too much credit. I gave you way too much credit going into our first match. Your great promos... Your work ethic... Your ability to twist every word in a promo to your advantage... And of course your undefeated streak. I let them get to me, and found myself counter wrestling. I wrestled defensively waiting for the counter or the reversal. I was waiting for my "Puncher's chance."

[Johnny steps back you can see his left hand balled into a fist.]

Rotten: Thing is I didn't need a puncher's chance. I just needed to fight my fight. Keep the pace fast, Stick and move... Take advantage of mistakes in the ring, and go big whenever I can. Cause when I did those things... I put you on your back.

[Wink]

[Smile]

Rotten: I think you know this too. I think that is why you told me keep low... Why you said you'd take it easy on me. You didn't want to wake the proverbial "Giant"

[Pause]

Rotten: Too Late..!!!

[Static]

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[While Johnny was out shooting his promo.]

[Back at the Mill Woods Apartment.]



Lilly: Your (BLEEP)ing with me Jeff... I had him where I wanted him, and you gave him an out with that little speech of yours today.

Fox: He's not your property...

[Lilly cuts him off with an open hand that snaps Jeff's head to the right.]

Lilly: He's a mule... So you better get on board, or so help me Jeff.

[Lilly steps into Jeff and grabs him by the crotch. It almost looks like a punch, and Jeff drops to his knees and weeps quietly for her to stop.]

Lilly: I'll cut these off...

[Jeff nods submissively.]

Lilly: Pathetic.

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[Johnny swings the door to the Mill Woods Apartment open and at first glance it looks like nobody is home.]

Johnny: Hello...

[Nothing]

Johnny: [Yelling] Anyone home..?

Lilly: [From the bedroom] In here.

[Johnny walks to the bedroom and pushes at the half open door. His eyes widen, his jaw drops.]

Lilly: You like.

She had dyed her hair jet black. Her skin looked so pale, against the black lipstick and eyeshadow. But more than that... She was wearing nothing but my Johnny Ramone memorial t-shirt.

Lilly: You dressed up for me the other night... Figured I'd repay the favor.

Johnny: Where's Jeff..?

Lilly: He took an early flight to Regina... Said he had some "Managerial stuff" to take care of. [Seductive] So it looks like it's just you and me.

[Lilly closes in on Johnny and removes the spiked leather collar from around his neck. As she does so, she leans into him and their lips meet. She steps back and pulls her shirt off.]

My heart races... I can't tell if it's excitement or fear. She tells me to close the door. My mind goes to the conversation I had with Jeff earlier in the day. She's a Black Widow.

[The door closes]

[End]