Friday, March 4, 2016

Nothing Great About Texas



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Off Camera
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It is to be expected that family would stick close together.  This holds true especially for the Jones family.  Standing by one another through thick and thin has been one of the guiding principles of the famous family ever since their emergence upon the wrestling scene in early 2001 when the youngest of the Jones women at the time, Kayla Jones, made her professional wrestling debut.  When her older sister and matriarch of the family, Angelica Jones, made her professional wrestling debut in 2003, the two siblings initially had a bit of a professional rivalry, but they never once betrayed one another, never once did they stab one another in the back.  Even during the rough patches when one of them, usually Angelica, would perpetrate horrible acts all in the name of winning, when every wrestling fan in the crowd and wrestler in the back would turn their backs on her and refuse to support her, the other sister would always be there for her to support her and try to guide her back to the light.  This closeness and this unity was passed down to the children; the oldest child Marie Jones, the middle child Corey Jones, and the youngest Kelly Jones, all of three try to support one another no matter what.  They try to show a united front no matter what.  If one member of the family needs support and assistance, the others have always been there to offer their support.

Al Pacino in his role as Michael Corleone in The Godfather told his brother Fredo to “never take sides against the family again.”  Kayla Jones adopted the phrase as not only an illustration of that guiding principle of unity that has always held the Jones family together but also to serve as a warning to any members of the family who would dare try to do anything to hurt one another.  And it all goes back to the beginning, to the first Jones who would dare do anything to harm members of the family...

...Bart Jones, Angelica and Kayla's father.

Now whether or not he intentionally or unintentionally did harm to his own children is up for debate, but his actions of giving them away after the murder of their mother directly and indirectly harmed the both of them.  It directly harmed them because they were separated from one another and from the family.  It indirectly harmed them because of who ended up with custody of them and, in Kayla's case at least, she ended up in the custody of an abusive drunk who would beat and molest her on a regular basis.  Angelica would eventually forgive Bart for what he did but Kayla never would.  For the sake of keeping the peace and for the sake maintaining the family unity she was willing to try and forget it, to move past it, but she would never forgive him for it.

So when a woman begins showing up in their lives claiming that Bart Jones adopted her while he was in Russia, claiming that she is their adopted sister, needless to say Kayla and Angelica both were not just skeptical about the notion of having an adopted sister but were not all that willing to open their arms and accept her into the family even after their father Bart Jones confirmed her claims to be true.

Unfortunately, when you are a family as powerful and well known as the Jones family, you make enemies very quickly.  And in that sense perhaps the comparison to the Corleone crime family in The Godfather is an appropriate description.  The Corleone family had enemies who wanted to destroy them.  The Jones family has enemies who want to destroy them.  These enemies are not just enemies Angelica and Kayla may have made during their wrestling career but enemies that their father made during his career as an FBI agent.

After The Bratva, or the Russian Mafia, murdered his wife, Bart traveled to Russia in order to personally deal some damage and exact some revenge.  While he was in Russia he young prostitute who escaped the Bratva.  He promised to take of her infant daughter for her, at least until such a time as she could take care of herself. And that's the story Bart told Angelica and Kayla.  The story they hear from the child herself, now a grown woman named Anastasia, is a different one.  The details are vague but she accuses Bart of abandoning her in much the same manner as he abandoned Angelica and Kayla.  She wanted to be recognized as part of the Jones family, which she claims is her right as an adopted child, and she also wants to know the location of Bart Jones, so she can exact her revenge.

Yet as much as Angelica and Kayla may hate what Bart Jones did to them by abandoning them so many years ago, the words of Al Pacino still ring true to them: “never take sides against the family.”  Angelica and Kayla refused to give up Bart to Anastasia.  And yet now, watching as Angelica paces the floor like a caged lion in the immaculate Jones estate, Kayla is beginning to wonder if they truly made the right decision in siding with the family...

“Why hasn't she fucking called?!”

The “she” Angelica is referring to is Anastasia Jones.  Angelica and Kayla returned home from the hospital the other night to find Kelly Jones, Angelica's youngest child, had been kidnapped.  A note was left behind, one that was written in Russian.  Angelica and Kayla had the police examine it and the translation was simple: they wanted someone named “Simpson.”  They wanted Simpson in exchange for Kelly.

But who is Simpson?  That's a good question.  Another good question could be, is Anastasia truly behind this?  Kayla Jones, who sits cross legged on the cream colored sofa in the exquisite, immense living room, lets out a sigh as she contemplates that very question and that very real possibility.

“Do we even know that Anastasia was behind this?”

“Of course it was Anastasia!  Who the fuck else could it be?!”

Angelica stops dead in her tracks and turns around, facing Kayla.  Angelica's eyes are red, partially with rage but also red from the tears that she has been crying ever since her daughter went missing.  Kayla knows her sister better than anyone else.  She realizes how serious this is, not just for the family but for Angelica herself.  Her children keep her sane.  If anything were to happen to them, Angelica would go off the deep end and who knows what would happen next, who knows what she might do?  Kayla knows she has to be very delicate with Angelica right now.

“I'm just saying we should not jump to conclusions.”

“Anastasia said she wanted us to turn over Bart or else we'd regret it.  She mockingly said a few nights ago that we weren't paying any attention to Kelly and then, lo and behold, Kelly goes missing that same damn night!  What the hell do you call that?!”

Kayla sighs and shakes her head.

“Unfortunately I have to call it circumstantial evidence.”

The younger Jones sibling knows what her sister needs right now.  Kayla gets up off of the sofa.  She takes her older sibling by the hand and gently and slowly guides her towards the sofa where they both sit down.  Kayla slowly and comfortingly runs her hand through Angelica’s long red hair.

“We’ll find her, sis.  You just have to have faith.”

Angelica reaches up with her right hand and wipes tears from her eyes.

“I wish I could, but my faith is lacking.”

Kayla gazes deep into her sister’s eyes.  The sadness and grief she sees makes her feel bad, oh so bad, for Angelica.  She wants to make her feel better but she doesn’t know how.  Kayla herself is finding it difficult to maintain her calm.  Kelly Jones, the little girl who was kidnapped, is her niece.  Kayla loves little Kelly.  Ever since the disappearance of Kelly, both Jones women, Angelica and Kayla alike, have found it difficult to focus on their everyday lives.  Everything else has come to a sudden halt.  Kayla is about to speak when the doorbell rings.

“I should get that…”

Angelica starts to get up but Kayla pulls her back down.

“No, you stay here.  I’ll go see who it is.”

Angelica nods and remains on the sofa as Kayla stands up and turns from the sofa.  Kayla exits the living room and then walks towards the front door.  The younger Jones sister opens the door and her jaw nearly hits the floor upon seeing her father, the infamous Bart Jones, standing there…

“Hi, Kayla…”

Kayla is stunned, too stunned to speak.  Angelica’s voice coming from the living room breaks the silence…

“Who is at the door?”

“Uh…”

Kayla finally regains her composure.

“…it’s not anyone important.  I’ll get rid of them.”

Kayla steps outside, joining her father on the front door step, and shuts the door behind her.  Kayla narrows her eyes as she glares across at her father, the man she has hated and despised for so long.

“What the hell are you doing here?!”

“I heard that my granddaughter has gone missing.”

“How the hell did you find out?  I never told you and know Angelica never told you.”

“I have my sources.”

“Those must be some damn fine sources.”

Bart smirks knowingly.

“The best.”

“Look, it’s sweet that you care, or at least that you are pretending to care…”

“Just stop right there.”

There is a firmness in Bart’s voice that shuts Kayla up almost immediately.

“I know you hate me, Kayla.  And to be honest, you have every right to hate me.  But damnit I love you and I will love you, just as I will always love Angelica, just as I will always love your children.  They are my grandchildren.  Do you really think I will sit idly by and do nothing while my granddaughter is in serious danger?”

“Yes because you did it before, to me and Angelica!”

Kayla says, snapping back at her father with venom in her voice.  Bart just nods his head in agreement.

“I agree, I did wrong by you and your sister.  I will not make that same mistake again.”

“Really?”

Bart nods his head.

“Yes, really.”

Kayla is still skeptical of her father.  He has let her and her sister down before on many occasions but, in this case, he may be their only hope.  Kayla sighs and throws her arms up into the air in a sign of frustration.

“Ok, fine, how can you help?”

“First of all I need some details.  What do you and your sister know?”

“Not much.  We came home to find the house ransacked and Kelly was missing with a note left behind, written in Russian.”

Bart frowns.

“Russian?”

“Yes.”

“What did it say?”

“That’s the strange thing.  We got a translation but it said they wanted some guy named Simpson in exchange for Kelly.”

Bart’s serious expression goes away.  His jaw drops and his eyes grow wide.  His face goes pale.

“…The Bratva.”

“What?!”

“The Russian Mafia.  They have come for me.”

Kayla shakes her head in confusion and bewilderment.

“Dad, what are you talking about?”

“Simpson…”

“Yeah, we don’t know who the Simpson guy is.”

“Simpson is me.  FBI agents have codenames.  Simpson was mine.”

Kayla tilts her head to one side.

“Simpson?  Really?”

“Think about it…”

Kayla pauses for a moment, staring at her father, and then a look of realization washes across her face.

“…BART Simpson?”

“Bingo.  Simpson as in BART Simpson, Bart as in BART Jones, that was my codename.  And the fact that this note asked for a Simpson at the JONES residence, and that the note was written in Russian no less, that tells me that this was the Russian Mafia.”

Bart sighs and nods his head.

“I’ll go find them…”

“NO!”

Kayla places a hand on his shoulder.

“You can’t go!”

“Why not?  I know I can find them.”

“I know…that’s why I don’t want you to go…”

“They don’t want Kelly.  They only want me.  Back when your mother was murdered by these creeps, they never wanted her, they wanted me, and had I been home instead of her, she would be alive today.”

He runs his hand through his daughter’s long red hair.

“This is my chance at redemption.  Don’t take this away from me.”

Tears are flowing down Kayla’s cheeks as she nods her head.

“I’m…I’m sorry, dad!”

She embraces him in a tight hug.

“But I lost mom…I don’t want to lose you too.”

“We’ll think of something, Kayla.  Believe me, we will.”



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On Camera
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We open outside of the large, grandiose Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.  The sporting venue towers high into the sky, looking almost elegant and regal in the backdrop of this big city which will soon play host to SCW’s Retribution pay per view.  A small noise, almost as if clicking on pavement, can be heard in the background.  It doesn’t take long for us to see what, or rather who, is causing this noise.  Eventually the lovely feminine figure of Kayla Jones steps into view, wearing a gold colored knee length half-sleeve sheath, chic and modern formal cocktail dress with a bateau neckline.  Her feet are encased in strappy three inch heels and her long red hair hangs down unrestrained to shoulder length.

“This great city, this great arena behind me, it will play host to SCW Retribution coming up in just a few days and  I have to admit, the term Retribution is an appropriate one in this instance.  One could talk all day long about Trinity Street seeking retribution against CHBK or Blake Mason seeking retribution against Dylan Howell.  But for me, I will be seeking retribution on behalf of the Jones family against a legitimate, bonafide bovine who keeps sticking her nose into Jones family business.”

A cocky smirk spreads across Kayla’s face as she waves mockingly at the camera.

“Hi there, Stacy!  You’ve been down on your luck lately, haven’t you?  Poor little Stacy Kissinger.  The last time you were relevant was when the other Kissinger, Henry I think his name was, worked with Richard Nixon in the State Department.  And just like your precious Dallas Cowboys, you live in a fantasy world where you truly believe that this time finally you will win the big one, but when the big one comes around, when opportunity knocks at your front door, you just fall flat on your face, which is typical of Dallas.”

“It’s typical of Texas in general, might I add.  Texas is called the Lone Star State and I think that Lone Star represents the Lone brain cell that all of you Texans share amongst yourselves.  I swear to God you are among the dumbest crowd I have ever had to deal with.  And that’s not all.  Jesus Christ could never have been born in Texas.  Do you know why, Stacy?  Because there were no wise men and no virgin to be found.  And do you know why there are so many unsolved murders in Texas?  That’s a simple one too; there are no dental records and all of you Texans share the same DNA, you inbred bitches and bastards.  So I guess it really is pointless for me to say that I will kick your teeth down your throat, because you have no teeth for me to kick down your throat.”

Kayla shakes her head in disgust.

“You Texans are all sick, disgusting, and you are all losers.”

Kayla motions to herself.

“But me, I am a winner.  When opportunity knocks I always answer in a big way.  When it’s time for the best athletes in the world to answer the call of duty I am always ready, willing, and able to take on any challenge at any time.  That’s just who I am.  I am a Jones and the Jones family is made up of winners, unlike you, a born loser who will never be great.  Back a few weeks ago on Breakdown I was trying to help you.  I felt charitable and decided to help you out but you turned and threw it all back in my face.  You attacked me for no reason.”

The redhead sighs and shakes her head.

“It’s sad, because I guess I made the mistake.  I made the mistake of thinking that a complete idiot, a moronic dumbass Texan like you would ever listen to wise words of a born winner like me.  Texans like you are beyond help, Stacy.  I should have realized that.  You are content with your second-rate, has-been and never-will-be-again career that you will not listen to the words of a great wrestler like me.”

Kayla frowns and glares at the camera.

“But that’s not me.  I am never content with what I have.  No wrestler worth their salt should be content with what they have.  A real wrestler, a true competitor with the heart and the drive of a champion should always be bound and determined to do whatever the hell it takes to improve, to become better, and to always reach up and grab that next brass ring.”

She points at the camera with a carefully manicured finger.

“You’re different, Stacy, and I think I’ve figured you out.  Hell, I think the wrestling world at large has figured you out by now.  You just have no drive, no determination, and no heart.  You are content to stay right where you are on your fat ass in the lower mid-card of Supreme Championship Wrestling.  Now even though I am in an elite class far and above you, I am willing to lower myself to your level so I can teach you a lesson and that lesson is to never mess with the Jones family.  I am willing to lower myself to your level so I can remind you of your place in this world.  Quite honestly, you don’t belong in the same ring as me, Stacy, but at Retribution you will be schooled by one of the greats and you will be granted a memory that you can tell your children and grandchildren about someday…”

Jones smirks knowingly.

“…the day you got your ass kicked by Kayla Jones.”

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