Burning in the Ashes (Judgement)

[jediPREZ]

Burning in the Ashes (Judgment)

Whatever was intended when he began this story changed dramatically since Anaheim, California. When Mike Randalls had returned to the sport of professional wrestling, namely the CSWA...it was under the pretense that under this roof he would have the opportunity to make amends.

Much has changed since that year, the hiatus arrived, once again leaving Randalls only to his thoughts. These days, he does not possess the phone number of Eli Flair. Nor does he want to after watching Flair recently on television. Hornet's friendship is a faded memory since its inception was born out of greed, betrayal and bloodlust. Nothing either man believes in anymore, at least not Randalls. Ivy...he's spoken to sparingly, but he's kept his distance because he knows the opportunity to make amends here has been lost.

It has died.

And now with the CSWA's rebirth, Randalls realizes that his presence is neither needed nor wanted for the reasons he wishes to compete in this sport.

As the cameras fade into 'The Wolf' sitting by a candlelit desk, the 'letter' that was started for the Claimstakers is almost complete. It is his gift to them for Anniversary, but also his goodbye.

Randalls knows what comes next won't be easy to express, especially to Ivy - her faith has renewed his spirit elsewhere, but all in all, Randalls just wants her to let go of her hopes for him here.

The Unified Title is the last link between the Mike Randalls of yesterday and the Mike Randalls of the future...that is why he has brought it back...that is why he intends to return it...

...but to reach that point...to warn Eli and Hornet...to convince Ivy to let go...the 'letter' must be finished. So they know his heart has been set in stone for too long and it cannot be crossed.

 

[jediPREZ]

(FADEIN: 'The Wolf' at his desk, continuing to write...)

"I have no hope for myself. This is not from self-pity nor from some vision out of a self-righteous dream. Whatever world I had entered, my soul only fought to purge itself of the poison that controlled my body & mind for the majority of my life..."

"The reason I fought at the mention of Ivy's name, the motivation instilled in my heart was not out of hidden love nor mutual respect..."

"For all your experiences, Ivy...for all the troubles you've endured...your soul was not destroyed...your innocence...your hope for a better world, always remained. The threat wasn't just out of malice, it was to prove that my destruction, my 'darkness' was evolving and would continue to do so if it survived."

"What Paul did to your life might have scarred you..."

"In my hate, in my glory - if it was a woman's 'innocence'...her hopes becoming my prey...I would've destroyed you and anyone willing to try and stop me..."

"Mark..."

"Eli..."

"Sean..."

"...It wouldn't have mattered in their minds if they believed that what lied inside themselves would be strong enough..."

"I know my curse. I know my poison..."

"I know what I was born with..."

"I am unstoppable, I am relentless...and I have no hope for only I can put all of it to an end..."

"...and the end will come...it is the path to my salvation."

 

[jediPREZ]

(cueup: 'Fearless' - Pink Floyd)

(FADEIN: A majestic bird plumaged with orange, red and black feathers gracefully glides under a sunlit, cloudless and expansive blue sky...)

"You say the hill's too steep to climb,
Climb it...
You say you'd like to see me try,
Climb it!"

(CLOSEUP: As the 'thunderbird' suddenly reaches a thick patch of clouds, it immediately flies straight downward at a breakneck speed. The further the bird 'falls,' the fog surrounding the bird thickens. Suddenly, an area of black rock emerges which the creature lands on, signified with it cawing.)

"You pick the place and I'll choose the time
And I'll climb..."

(CUTTO: The camera fades back from the 'phoenix,' and nearby, laying facedown on the black granite with a bloodied, scarred back is 'The Wolf' Mike Randalls. His eyes look into the distance with a glazed veil as a result of the pain he's endlessly endured. Standing coldly over his broken and beaten body, holding a 'stake' from a broken staff is the 'dark' Mike Randalls...)

"...the hill in my own way
just wait a while, for the right day..."

'dark' RANDALLS: "You are afraid...it sickens me."

RANDALLS: "You know nothing of fear..."

'dark' RANDALLS: (with a quizzical expression) "In your last hour you speak with such arrogance? Perhaps, our time should be made to last longer..."

(The 'dark' Mike Randalls lightly strokes the sharpened edge of his 'stake'...)

"And as I rise above the treeline and the clouds
I look down hear the sound of the things you said today..."

RANDALLS: "I do not fear pain, where I hurt you cannot touch any longer. Remorse is not a bone you can break, Regret is nothing you can tear out of me..."

(The 'phoenix' comes into the view of the 'The Wolf'. In a glazed desperation, RANDALLS reaches his arm out towards it as the bird turns and faces him...as RANDALLS' arm outstetches the scars from his suicide attempt still looked fresh. Above him, the fog begins to dissipate...the 'dark' Mike Randalls looks up in confusion...)

"...Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd, smiling..."

(RANDALLS' arm hits the cold surface as the bird quietly caws and bends over inserting its beak into the suicide-carved scars of 'The Wolf'...RANDALLS' eyes clench as the 'phoenix' begins pulling out a long, black, slimy dead wormlike...thing. Slowly, through RANDALLS' pained face - a smile escapes...)

"...Emotionless the magistrate turns 'round, frowning..."

(CUTTO: Sunlight begins to hit the face of'dark' Mike Randalls, causing his evil smile to slowly turn into an angered scowl...he looks down at RANDALLS just as the 'phoenix' flies away...)

RANDALLS: "You are becoming angry because you no longer understand my fears, while I still know yours..."

(The 'dark' Mike Randalls plunges downwards with the stake violently, while screaming "SHUTUP!" 'The Wolf' Mike Randalls, even though he can't see...rolls out of the way to avoid the attempted severe puncturing. The stake's force breaks through the surface and becomes stuck in the ground causing the 'dark' Mike Randalls to violently pull at it in frustration...)

"...and who's the fool who wears the crown..."

RANDALLS: (while struggling up to his feet) "Speak to me, tell me what you're afraid of...show me your fears..."

(The 'dark' Mike Randalls lets go of the stake and stands up slowly, staring straight into "The Wolf's" emerald eyes...)

'dark' RANDALLS: (while swinging a fist) "I have NO FEAR."

(RANDALLS blocks it and catches the 'dark' Mike Randalls with a headbutt staggering him, then swiftly thrust kicks him in the chest...the 'dark' Mike Randalls stumbles backwards blood trickling down his nose, which he angrily wipes off...)

RANDALLS: "You lie. You've always feared one thing..."

'dark' RANDALLS: (arrogantly smiling) "And what would that be..."

"...Go down in your own way
And everyday is the right day..."

(Behind RANDALLS, the fog has completely broken. An orange and red sun looms ominously behind him...the 'dark' Mike Randalls' smile begins to falter as the emerald eyes of 'The Wolf' do not blink nor turn away from his own...)

RANDALLS: (begins running at full-speed) "Anyone willing to sacrifice more than yourself..."

"...And as you rise above the fearlines in the frown..."

(CLOSEUP: The 'dark' Mike Randalls whispering the words, "...this cannot be..." as RANDALLS slams into him with a vicious collision sending them both flying off the edge of the mountain. CUTTO: "The Wolf" falling with his eyes closed as the 'dark' Mike Randalls screams...RANDALLS' eyes open and he faintly smiles as he stares down at the ground beneath him...)

"...You look down
Hear the sound of the faces in the crowd..."

(Suddenly, the ground begins to open up surprising RANDALLS as the 'dark' Mike Randalls starts to laugh sinisterly. RANDALLS stares in awe as the earth opens up revealing a canyon of flame and fire...)

'dark' RANDALLS: (still laughing) "Your sins have not been forgotten...hell comes for us BOTH."

(music cut)

(CUTTO: Near the point of entry, large flames dance over the surface. From above, we see "The Wolf" Mike Randalls and the 'dark' Mike Randalls freefalling. 'The Wolf' falls through first and is swallowed by the ground as it completely closes just before'dark' Mike Randalls arrives and explodes on the earth upon impact. BLACK.)