Act III: The Big Reveal (Lessien)

[Jennifer Drew]

So I can't be as flowy as Lessien is wearing a hoodie instead of that damned coat but I could still make an entrance when I wanted to. Even when I know I've once again, through no fault of my own, screwed up again. I made an extra long loop around ringside, high fiving and of course I came to an empty seat. Empty long enough to drive me nuts the whole time.

Alright, you don't do well like this. Let's just jump in and stick to the script.

I'm just an doing a parody.

I said, doing my best to get the inflection right and everything.

You know, a funny thing happened to me, like one month ago tonight give or take. I was just sitting there having a grand old time and then someone threw a TV camera at my head. Now, I'm pretty used to that. It happens to everyone now and again.

Oh, but this time it was special. And that' s how I got wrapped up with my good friend and camera-chucker in chief, Lessien Melwasul.

And I thought to myself hey, we'll just fight it out right here in the ring. Nothing fancy just the two of us finally figuring out who's better right now. But I knew that with every fist, every kick, every chair shot I was jumping on one of the hot bandwagons these days. Racking up debt.

Maybe I was a little delusional but now I know for sure that's the way it works when you're holding on to something she needs. Tonight, Lessien, you're going to come right out here and I'm going to stiff you on every penny.

My eyes darted over again. Come on, whoever's sitting there. The beer line can't be that long.

I'm taking control back and that's all there is to it. You see, I could have very well just handed you this belt at the beginning of the month and not changed a damn thing else and the story would have made more sense.

I know when I've been showed up. I've never beat you. I've fallen victim to every devious game that you've maybe, very probably most likely been playing.

The seat's still empty.

I've looked like I'm the one who's got something to prove.

I can't go on like that. There's not a single person here who I'd let do that to me any more and if I can't beat you decisively then I should just go hit the showers now. And I know just how I'm going to do it too, so why don't you come on out.

[Lessien Melwasul]

Bazztard: A great summary of what has transpired these past weeks by the Champion. Don't tell her she doesn't know exactly what's going on.

Graciela: If her summary were any better, you'd be out of a job.

Bazztard: Well if Lessien pulls this all together, you may very well be too.

Graciela: You have to give Jennifer credit. Lessien operates on so many levels, it's a rare woman that can ride her messed up frequency. Our Champion is just that, rare and deserving.

Bazztard: Did you even listen to her? Even she admits she's been surfing Lessien's wave since this whole mess began. But this is her chance to change all that though I have to question where her mind is at ... she seems a little distracted to me.

~The form of Lessien paused at ringside, in front of a now famous empty chair. Betty did her best most insincere Vanna White impersonation, even though she knew perfectly well Drew's attention had already been drawn there. Betty was thorough if nothing else. Alice lowered the 'Vanna arms' and they rolled into the ring with her and rising until only their hang hung low.~

"I'm just a girl."

~Alice paused to look at the empty chair from the ring and let the crowd express their

true

feelings.~

"Oh where has my little dog gone?"

"Oh where, oh where could she be? Did you call a thousand times?"

~Betty picked it up without hesitation.~

"I really do think her best feature is her nose, don't you? It just fits with the rest of her lines so well."

Bazztard: Lessien with some private dialogue. Who is this mystery woman and what's with the chair? Is that what has the Champion distracted?

Graciela: Men, you're always the last to get it.

~Betty stepped forward, finally raising her head level and brushing the hair from her eye line.~

"From helpless victim caught in the storm."

"To parody?"

"Champion."

"Hm, my how you've grown before our very eyes."

~Eyes Drew had only really seen up close once and that was the night before ... where games had taken serious turns on dimes.~

"What do you see?"

~Alice inquired before Betty butted in.~

"If you think you see the end ... you had better think again. That is something not even 'control' can buy you, Lover. In case you hadn't noticed, I'm an old fashioned girl."

"'Til death do us part."

~Alice offered her hand.~

"Oh, you know I do."

Graciela: That's just spooky and wrong.

Bazztard: I'm with you 100% there.

"So how's it going to be, Lover? Hmm? Just how are you going to take me?"

"Now."

~The double edge was brought out again.~

"And what will be the price of that ..?"

~Betty could only wonder aloud as her attention accidentally drifted to the empty chair again.~

[Jennifer Drew]

A shrug.

It's a pretty serious gamble. But somehow I can't help but feel like my money's already down whether I like it or not.

Don't look. You'll only be disappointed.

Yep, disappointment. That's what I'm getting here.

Now, I was going to just run you through our first dance one more time, the Iron Woman match. I think we both know how that one's going to to turn out “OMG they both have 1 pinfall as the clock is winding down, it's going into overtime!”

I'm going to save your local cable providers a little trouble. Same principle, since we can't just leave it at one and let it go and I've got nowhere better to be than out here for a good long time. So, let's tear the roof off the sucka.

Two out of three.

[Lessien Melwasul]

~The crowd ate up Drew's tough talk like free ice cream. This was the pay off for them after weeks and weeks of build up ... Jennifer Drew was going to make her stand and they were going to stand with her. It had all been decided. Even the face of Lessien seemed to loose some of her annoying and ever present bravado, the Cheshire ran away. At thrity nine years old, "All night long" made a good catch phrase but a

long

hard

night in reality.~

Bazztard: I think everyone expected an Ironwoman match-up. But Drew has flipped the switch on all of us. She's building her 'Remember the Alamo' moment tonight.

Graciela: This is where Jennifer shines. Lessien in the Queen of mind games and she is razor on the mic. But when it's time? The Debutante Champion is in her prime and that gold around her waist says it's officially her time. I don't think Lessien 'I see dead people' Melwasul has enough left in her tank for this.

~The gears turned, as always, somewhere deep inside. Once the crowd and the commentators quieted down, Alice began to speak again.~

"Two to three to three to one."

~It was deeper than you think.~

"Ladders, cells, cages, rooms, parking lots, your bedroom. There isn't a place I haven't been, Lover. There isn't a place I can't leave little pieces of you and me all over it."

~Betty waved her hand all around the arena to illustrate until Alice piped in again.~

"I have the flesh and soul to spare."

~Betty turned and looked back into the face of the only woman that mattered to her now.~

"What ... you don't believe her?"

~Betty leaned closer, but the mic was still there to bring everyone along for the ride.~

"Then we'll just have to prove it to you."

~Betty turned away with carnival flair.~

"Send in the flesh, bone and pieces of Drew already. Before we all get washed away by the storm. Send down our mutual friend."

~Betty gestured to the stage, but eyes still on Drew.~

"Send her down now."

~Indie music blared from the speakers. Lessien's promise of rock-n-roll stardom seemed to be coming true for Deirdre Hahn. Just like the nice, green haired lady said. The lies. What every girl really wants to hear ... Betty knew that only too well and sold it all night long until Dee Dee was here now. Lessien's hands performed their best golf clap as the young woman came down, smiled and waved before security guided her to the very special seat, now filled. All the players were assembled, Betty turned back and the Cheshire had returned.~

[Deirdre Hahn]

For those of you playing along at home NO I didn't learn my lesson last time.

Kids, the moral here is to always, always always your local Ticketmaster/Live Nation outlet. Pay whatever service charge the ask, pay double. Don't get your free tickets because you “know someone in the business.”

Oh well, at least I've got another great seat for whatever this ends up being.

[Jennifer Drew]

Ugh, you know from now on I've got to only make friends within the industry bubble. I don't know if Deirdre can really do this much longer.

Hmm, an oldie but a goodie.

Well, I've been nailed. My record when I'm worried about her is spotty at best.

So, that's it? I'm doing the over-the-shoulder glance all night?

Please.

[Lessien Melwasul]

Bazztard: I get it now.

Graciela: I told you, and I don't like it all. Why couldn't they just wrestle and may the best woman win?

Bazztard: And bore Lessien to tears? I don't think that was ever an option.

~Betty seemed more than satisfied with herself and Alice too.~

"No, Jennifer Drew, that is not it."

"If only it could be."

"It is just beginning, Lover."

"Listen to me."

"This crowd. This arena. My shadow. Your place."

~Betty counted it all down with authority.~

"Your losses. Your abandonment. Your last fucking chance to belong."

~She was running out of fingers but she had twenty toes.~

"Who is here? Who isn't? Why and when? How long? Your heart and hers so close to you and me ... the history of it all."

~Betty looked over and smiled at Deirdre. What kind of lies had she been filling that girls head with? Promises of music fame and fortune under the GCW corporate banner. Faux friendship and sanity ... it would take days for Drew to straighten out everything to make it resemble the truth. Not Betty's problem as she looked back.~

"You can act all Punky Zen until the end of time."

"The lies don't suit you at all."

"The fact of the matter is, I've torn your focus into a hundred pieces ... while I? I have remained on a single track run. I am going to beat you tonight and take the title I forged back. It's better that way really, you can tend to your useless house of cards and hearts without that constant, gold distraction."

"Hm, one day you'll even thank me."

"She's such a pretty girl."

~Betty stepped back from the personal and back to the show at hand.~

"Jennifer Drew tonight is going to be the longest night of your life. I promise you. Your final fucking exam as I teach you once and for all who I am and exactly how many seconds and miles make up

all

night

long outside this precious little dream world. Hm, you're going to find out exactly how far off the map you are."

~Betty lowered her microphone and raised her arms high above her head as the announcers prattled on and on and on about what she just said. The form of Lessien rolled beneath the bottom ropes, to make her way back to her dressing room. But first she paused in front of Deirdre and smiled ... offering her the hand of friendship and affection one last time, a touch of the face before making her way up the ramp and into the back to prepare for the end of this single track race. She was the first Debutante Champion. She was going to be the last.~

"A plan for everything."

~Even Alice was pleased.~