Post by Jonny Cedrone on Feb 24, 2024 15:50:30 GMT -5
This scene opens inside a huge, state-of-the-art home gym. We see Jonny Cedrone jogging on the treadmill when his phone rings. He looks at the caller ID, turns off the machine and while catching his breath, he answers the call leaving it on speaker.
“Hi!!”
“Hey. How are ya?”
“Pretty good. How about you?”
“I’m okay. You sound out of breath. Are ya okay? What’s wrong?”
“It’s all good. I was just on the treadmill.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. I can go and let you get back to your workout.”
“It’s okay. I was stopping anyway.”
“Okay.”
“How’s the photoshoot going?”
“Good! I really enjoy this set. It’s a lot of fun to do!”
“Good!”
“You’ll like ‘em too! I’ll bring ya the sauciest ones baby.”
“I can’t wait!”
“So how’ve you been?”
“I’ve been alright. Missing you a lot.”
“I know what you mean Lovey. I miss you like crazy! You know what the marriage counselor said though.”
“I know. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” But still…”
“I know honey. It sucks. I promise though, I’ll be right there by your side when you beat Holiday for the US Title!! I wouldn’t miss that for the world!”
Jonny sports a huge grin.
“And she also said that with us living separately for a while will give us time to think about things and process our feelings on everything that’s gone on. I’m sure you still struggle with your trust issues with me, and I completely understand that. I would too if the shoe was on the other foot. In fact, remember when we first got together and how you were still playing the field? I struggled with trust issues for a while but I knew that my love for you outweighed any issue I had at the time. I know that sounds like I’m trying to downplay your feelings, but I swear I’m not.”
“No. It’s okay.”
“Thank you for affirming that but I still wanted to you to know that. Your feelings are just as important in this as mine are. We’ve gone through a lot over the years and I feel that our relationship deserves us to be completely open and honest with one another.”
Just then a woman dressed in a robe with long black hair walks into frame and up to Jonny and rests her head on his shoulder. Jonny sports another grin.
“I agree 100% sweetheart! Honesty is the key to make sure this works out!”
“Good! I’m glad we’re on the same page!”
Another woman’s voice comes across on Gloria’s side of the conversation, telling Gloria that they need to go.
“Okay sweetie. I have to go. Some of the girls and I are going to a Broadway show.”
“I’m glad you’re having fun! I can’t wait to see ya Sunday.”
“I can’t wait either baby! I’ll call ya again tomorrow. I love you!”
“I love you too!”
Jonny ends the phone call and puts his phone on top of the closest machine that he can find and turns his attention to the woman in the robe.
“I see ya found one of Gloria’s robes.”
“How’s it look on me?”
“Looks really good! But it looks better crumpled up in a ball on the floor or hanging on the bedpost of my bed.”
The camera is finally able to see the face of the mysterious woman and reveals that it’s Francesca Graziano, the psychiatrist that both Jonny and Gloria were seeing – professionally for Jonny and initially professionally for Gloria but led to a side adventure for her. Now it seems that Jonny’s having his fun with the psychiatrist. Jonny puts his arms inside of the robe and holds her close against his body as they looking yearningly into each other’s eyes.
“I’m so glad I recommended that marriage counselor to you two.”
“Yeah, me too!”
“We’ll have to show her our appreciation sometime.”
“Absolutely. But first, let me show you my appreciation!”
“I feel extremely appreciated but I’m down to feel it again.”
The camera shot starts panning down to the floor as Jonny and Francesca begin kissing. Once the camera reaches the floor, the robe crumples down around her ankles. The scene fades to black.
The scene opens up inside La Cucina where we see Jonny Cedrone sitting at his usual table, dressed in one of his expensive suits, enjoying some chicken parmesan. After a few moments Tony Malato comes walking into the scene.
“Oh! Look who it is!!”
Jonny looks up from his meal, smiles, stands up and greets his friend.
“There he is!”
Tony slips an envelope from the breast pocket of his suit jacket and hands it to Jonny who slips it into his own suit jacket. Tony sits down across from Jonny.
“How ya doin’?”
“I’m good J. How about you? You excited?”
“I’m good. I am! I dare say I’m a little nervous.”
“You? The Great Jonny Cedrone? Nervous? I don’t buy it for a second Boss.”
“It’s a big match with a lot of implications behind it. The US Championship. Moving on in the Match Madness.”
“Match Madness?”
“Yeah. It’s a new concept that General Manager Brady Bolt came up with. It’s a tournament that runs through the month of March…”
“To coincide with March Madness, huh?”
“…pretty much. It’ll end at the new March pay-per-view called Match Madness.”
“Makes sense.”
“The winner of the tournament will face the World Champion at the Monday Night Clash show April Fool’s Gold. One of the biggest Clashes of the year.”
“When does the tournament start?”
“Tomorrow night at Payback. My US Championship match against Doc Holiday? One of the First Round matches of the tournament.”
Tony’s face contorts with a shocked expression.
“Oh that’s awesome! So you win the US Championship AND advance in the tournament. Good for you Boss!”
“Feels pretty good to me.”
“That’s good.”
“So off-topic here. The psychiatrist you’ve had me tail for a while now?”
Jonny’s face briefly contorts into a bit of an “uh-oh” expression but he quickly rebounds, hoping that Tony didn’t notice it.
“Yeah?”
“The people I have in Chicago followed her from her office to a private residence out in the country.”
“Yeah?”
“They couldn’t go any further because it’s a long lane with a gate at the beginning and cameras all over the place. It looked familiar but I can’t put my finger on it.”
“Fuhgeddaboudit.”
“This morning, they were able to follow her from that place back to her office. I’m guessin’ she had some fun last night, stayed there, and just went to work this morning as if nothin’ happened. Either she brought a change o’ clothes wid her or this whore has done this countless times and has backups in her office.”
Jonny’s gotten pissed.
“She’s not a whore! She’s a lovely young lady who’s misunderstood! Drop the tail.”
“Are you sure Boss? Because I’m sure we can find out…”
“Have you got ear wax in your ears or somethin’? I said drop the tail Tony.”
“Okay. It’s as good as dropped. Jesus.”
“She doesn’t deserve to be treated like some wild game or somethin’ like that.”
Tony just puts his heads up in surrender.
“When do you have to get down to Hicktown?”
Jonny looks at his watch and is shocked at the time.
“Shit. I gotta go now.”
Jonny takes the final drink of his wine, cleans his mouth and fingers with his linen napkin and sets it down next to his plate. He stands up, takes out his money clip, takes out a couple of hundred dollar bills and sets it on the table as well. Tony stands up to see off Jonny.
“So when do you think I’d be able to go with you on one of these shows?”
“Whenever ya get your shit together and are able to have fun instead of havin’ to work all the time in order to keep your head above water. If you’d set your priorities, get your jobs done in an orderly fashion like a good worker, you might find yourself with a little more free time. Free time, in which, you could spend doin’ stuff like that instead of involvin’ yourself with the wrong people and partakin’ night after night of drugs and debauchery. But until then, March is comin’ up next week. You need to get your shit in line in order to get these bets for March Madness.”
“Yes sir.”
Jonny and Tony embrace in a hug.
“I’m only hard on you because I love you like a brother T. I only want what’s best for you and your happiness.”
They pull apart and Jonny looks into Tony’s eyes.
“Capiche?”
Tony nods his head in agreement with a look on his face that resembles that of a whooped pup.
“Good. I’ll see you next week and when I do, I’ll be the new US Champion!”
“Good luck J!”
Jonny starts to walk away, takes about five steps towards the door, stops, turns to face Tony.
“Oh! And Don’t forget! Drop the tail!”
“You got it Boss! Good luck!”
Jonny turns back and walks out of the camera shot. Just as he got out of the shot, Tony receives a phone call.
“Yeah.”
“---”
“Yeah. Don’t worry about it. He wants the tail dropped anyway.”
As Tony listens to the response on the other end of the line, his face shows his confusion.
“Huh? Why?”
Tony hears the next response and he goes from being confused to absolutely shocked as he turns and faces the direction in which Jonny just exited.
“Oh really?! I knew that entrance looked familiar!”
“---”
“Yeah. If you value your life, you’d drop that tail immediately!”
“---”
“Oh he has his ways, and believe me, he’ll use every one of them and come after you personally.”
“---”
“Smart man.”
“Hi!!”
“Hey. How are ya?”
“Pretty good. How about you?”
“I’m okay. You sound out of breath. Are ya okay? What’s wrong?”
“It’s all good. I was just on the treadmill.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. I can go and let you get back to your workout.”
“It’s okay. I was stopping anyway.”
“Okay.”
“How’s the photoshoot going?”
“Good! I really enjoy this set. It’s a lot of fun to do!”
“Good!”
“You’ll like ‘em too! I’ll bring ya the sauciest ones baby.”
“I can’t wait!”
“So how’ve you been?”
“I’ve been alright. Missing you a lot.”
“I know what you mean Lovey. I miss you like crazy! You know what the marriage counselor said though.”
“I know. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” But still…”
“I know honey. It sucks. I promise though, I’ll be right there by your side when you beat Holiday for the US Title!! I wouldn’t miss that for the world!”
Jonny sports a huge grin.
“And she also said that with us living separately for a while will give us time to think about things and process our feelings on everything that’s gone on. I’m sure you still struggle with your trust issues with me, and I completely understand that. I would too if the shoe was on the other foot. In fact, remember when we first got together and how you were still playing the field? I struggled with trust issues for a while but I knew that my love for you outweighed any issue I had at the time. I know that sounds like I’m trying to downplay your feelings, but I swear I’m not.”
“No. It’s okay.”
“Thank you for affirming that but I still wanted to you to know that. Your feelings are just as important in this as mine are. We’ve gone through a lot over the years and I feel that our relationship deserves us to be completely open and honest with one another.”
Just then a woman dressed in a robe with long black hair walks into frame and up to Jonny and rests her head on his shoulder. Jonny sports another grin.
“I agree 100% sweetheart! Honesty is the key to make sure this works out!”
“Good! I’m glad we’re on the same page!”
Another woman’s voice comes across on Gloria’s side of the conversation, telling Gloria that they need to go.
“Okay sweetie. I have to go. Some of the girls and I are going to a Broadway show.”
“I’m glad you’re having fun! I can’t wait to see ya Sunday.”
“I can’t wait either baby! I’ll call ya again tomorrow. I love you!”
“I love you too!”
Jonny ends the phone call and puts his phone on top of the closest machine that he can find and turns his attention to the woman in the robe.
“I see ya found one of Gloria’s robes.”
“How’s it look on me?”
“Looks really good! But it looks better crumpled up in a ball on the floor or hanging on the bedpost of my bed.”
The camera is finally able to see the face of the mysterious woman and reveals that it’s Francesca Graziano, the psychiatrist that both Jonny and Gloria were seeing – professionally for Jonny and initially professionally for Gloria but led to a side adventure for her. Now it seems that Jonny’s having his fun with the psychiatrist. Jonny puts his arms inside of the robe and holds her close against his body as they looking yearningly into each other’s eyes.
“I’m so glad I recommended that marriage counselor to you two.”
“Yeah, me too!”
“We’ll have to show her our appreciation sometime.”
“Absolutely. But first, let me show you my appreciation!”
“I feel extremely appreciated but I’m down to feel it again.”
The camera shot starts panning down to the floor as Jonny and Francesca begin kissing. Once the camera reaches the floor, the robe crumples down around her ankles. The scene fades to black.
The scene opens up inside La Cucina where we see Jonny Cedrone sitting at his usual table, dressed in one of his expensive suits, enjoying some chicken parmesan. After a few moments Tony Malato comes walking into the scene.
“Oh! Look who it is!!”
Jonny looks up from his meal, smiles, stands up and greets his friend.
“There he is!”
Tony slips an envelope from the breast pocket of his suit jacket and hands it to Jonny who slips it into his own suit jacket. Tony sits down across from Jonny.
“How ya doin’?”
“I’m good J. How about you? You excited?”
“I’m good. I am! I dare say I’m a little nervous.”
“You? The Great Jonny Cedrone? Nervous? I don’t buy it for a second Boss.”
“It’s a big match with a lot of implications behind it. The US Championship. Moving on in the Match Madness.”
“Match Madness?”
“Yeah. It’s a new concept that General Manager Brady Bolt came up with. It’s a tournament that runs through the month of March…”
“To coincide with March Madness, huh?”
“…pretty much. It’ll end at the new March pay-per-view called Match Madness.”
“Makes sense.”
“The winner of the tournament will face the World Champion at the Monday Night Clash show April Fool’s Gold. One of the biggest Clashes of the year.”
“When does the tournament start?”
“Tomorrow night at Payback. My US Championship match against Doc Holiday? One of the First Round matches of the tournament.”
Tony’s face contorts with a shocked expression.
“Oh that’s awesome! So you win the US Championship AND advance in the tournament. Good for you Boss!”
“Feels pretty good to me.”
“That’s good.”
“So off-topic here. The psychiatrist you’ve had me tail for a while now?”
Jonny’s face briefly contorts into a bit of an “uh-oh” expression but he quickly rebounds, hoping that Tony didn’t notice it.
“Yeah?”
“The people I have in Chicago followed her from her office to a private residence out in the country.”
“Yeah?”
“They couldn’t go any further because it’s a long lane with a gate at the beginning and cameras all over the place. It looked familiar but I can’t put my finger on it.”
“Fuhgeddaboudit.”
“This morning, they were able to follow her from that place back to her office. I’m guessin’ she had some fun last night, stayed there, and just went to work this morning as if nothin’ happened. Either she brought a change o’ clothes wid her or this whore has done this countless times and has backups in her office.”
Jonny’s gotten pissed.
“She’s not a whore! She’s a lovely young lady who’s misunderstood! Drop the tail.”
“Are you sure Boss? Because I’m sure we can find out…”
“Have you got ear wax in your ears or somethin’? I said drop the tail Tony.”
“Okay. It’s as good as dropped. Jesus.”
“She doesn’t deserve to be treated like some wild game or somethin’ like that.”
Tony just puts his heads up in surrender.
“When do you have to get down to Hicktown?”
Jonny looks at his watch and is shocked at the time.
“Shit. I gotta go now.”
Jonny takes the final drink of his wine, cleans his mouth and fingers with his linen napkin and sets it down next to his plate. He stands up, takes out his money clip, takes out a couple of hundred dollar bills and sets it on the table as well. Tony stands up to see off Jonny.
“So when do you think I’d be able to go with you on one of these shows?”
“Whenever ya get your shit together and are able to have fun instead of havin’ to work all the time in order to keep your head above water. If you’d set your priorities, get your jobs done in an orderly fashion like a good worker, you might find yourself with a little more free time. Free time, in which, you could spend doin’ stuff like that instead of involvin’ yourself with the wrong people and partakin’ night after night of drugs and debauchery. But until then, March is comin’ up next week. You need to get your shit in line in order to get these bets for March Madness.”
“Yes sir.”
Jonny and Tony embrace in a hug.
“I’m only hard on you because I love you like a brother T. I only want what’s best for you and your happiness.”
They pull apart and Jonny looks into Tony’s eyes.
“Capiche?”
Tony nods his head in agreement with a look on his face that resembles that of a whooped pup.
“Good. I’ll see you next week and when I do, I’ll be the new US Champion!”
“Good luck J!”
Jonny starts to walk away, takes about five steps towards the door, stops, turns to face Tony.
“Oh! And Don’t forget! Drop the tail!”
“You got it Boss! Good luck!”
Jonny turns back and walks out of the camera shot. Just as he got out of the shot, Tony receives a phone call.
“Yeah.”
“---”
“Yeah. Don’t worry about it. He wants the tail dropped anyway.”
As Tony listens to the response on the other end of the line, his face shows his confusion.
“Huh? Why?”
Tony hears the next response and he goes from being confused to absolutely shocked as he turns and faces the direction in which Jonny just exited.
“Oh really?! I knew that entrance looked familiar!”
“---”
“Yeah. If you value your life, you’d drop that tail immediately!”
“---”
“Oh he has his ways, and believe me, he’ll use every one of them and come after you personally.”
“---”
“Smart man.”
Tony ends the call, still looking off in the direction that Jonny went. Now he’s sporting a smile.
“Some guys have all the luck.”
The scene fades to black.
The scene fades back in, this time in front of the Greensboro Coliseum. After a few moments we can hear Jonny Cedrone narrating the scene.
“Doctor! Doctor! Give me the news. I got a bad case of…hating you.”
You can hear Jonny take in a deep breath and let out an audible sigh before continuing.
“There she is!”
“Greensboro Coliseum!”
“Home of some of the biggest wrestling matches in the history of this great sport! Starrcade 83: Ric Flair beat Harley Race to reclaim the NWA Worlds Championship in a brutal steel cage match. Starrcade 84: Ric Flair beat “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes to retain the Worlds Championship. In Starrcade 85: Tully Blanchard and Magnum TA fought in one of the most brutal steel cage matches ever witnessed for the US Championship. Great American Bash 86: Dusty Rhodes beat Ric Flair for the Worlds Championship…yep…you guessed it…in a steel cage match.”
The camera shot changes to being in front of Jonny Cedrone who’s dressed in a suit, but instead of his usual button-up dress shirt, he’s wearing a plain black Armani t-shirt. He’s standing in front of the main entrance to the Coliseum.
“A lot of blood, sweat and tears have been shed in this arena throughout the years. Some of the biggest matches between some of the biggest names have occurred in this very arena. One of the most famous sports arenas in the world, mostly thanks to the sport of professional wrestling. And that tradition continues this Sunday night as AW comes to town and delivers some of the most aggressive, some of the most violent, some of the most passion-filled and some of the most meaningful fights ever.”
“Every match on that card has a lot on the line. The World Championship. The Cruiserweight and Television Championships being contested in one match. The Tag Team Championships. A number one contender match for the World Championship. And of course, we have two First Round Match Madness matches - say that five times fast - both with Championships on the line. One with the Omega Championship and the other, of course, with the United States Championship on the line as well.”
Jonny opens the door and walks in. The camera shot follows him inside but the scene then cuts to inside the arena where the ring is set up and the staging is in the process of being set up. Jonny walks down the aisle towards the ring.
“The US Championship is one of the most coveted Championships in pro-wrestling today! The best of the best dedicate their careers – their lives to being able to call themselves Champion, but only one Championship represents those workhorses and that’s the Championship that you carry around Doc. The very Championship that you stole from that big oaf Odin Balfore.”
“Now, it’s no secret, ol’ Balfore and I don’t see eye-to-eye. Never have. Probably never will. But even I have to admit that his Championship reign was one of pride, prestige and merit. Your reign? I really don’t know how you can sleep at night, knowing how you “won” that Championship; how you’ve tarnished the good name and reputation of the US Championship. I mean, truth be told I’ve “won” Championships in my past under some nefarious pretenses but at least I bought and paid for it. You just straight up stole it!”
Jonny has reached the ring and he’s leaning against the ring apron.
“Sunday night, the landscape changes Doc. I get the shot at the US Championship that I’ve deserved for a long time. How are ya gonna to do it? How are ya gonna go into this match with the playing field even and your opponent isn’t layin’ up in the hospital? How are ya gonna feel after the match when I single-handedly crushed two of your goals in one fell swoop; when I beat you and take home the US Championship AND advance to the next round of the Match Madness tournament?”
Jonny looks around at the arena and soaks in the history.
“I’m sure ponds could be filled the amount of blood that has been shed in this arena. So many meaningful matches throughout the years, with so much on the line. But with everything on the line this Sunday night, rivers and oceans will run red with the blood shed in this very ring. Half of it will be from our match Doc. And all of it will be yours.”
“I’m not comin’ to play around Doc. You may be good once the bell rings, but no matter what, I’m taking what belongs to me and movin’ on in the Match Madness Tournament. And I’ll be wearin’ your blood as war paint!”
“See ya Sunday.”
The scene fades to black.