Post by Jonny Cedrone on Mar 24, 2024 12:19:29 GMT -5
The scene opens up with a camera slowly panning inside of a bedroom. Two red high-heels and two tan men’s shoes kicked off near the door. A man’s dress shirt crumpled up in a pile near the dresser with the dress pants and socks tossed haphazardly in different directions on the floor. The camera reaches the hope chess at the end of the bed and a black dress is seen draped over it. A female giggling is heard from the bed. The camera pans up and we see Jonny Cedrone and Francesca lying in bed. Jonny is lying on his back with his arm around Francesca, running his finger in random motions along her arm, shoulder and back, while she rests her head on his chest. She’s covered by sheets from her chest down but her arms are exposed.
“Mmmm. I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you too!”
“I’m glad you decided to come over.”
“Me too!”
“I take it Gloria still doesn’t know?”
“Not unless you told her.”
“Why cut my nose off to spite my face? I’m havin’ double the pleasure, double the fun outta this arrangement.”
“Honey, whatever you do to her really gets her motor running. She leaves you and comes to me hot and ready to go.”
Francesca grins.
“You’re welcome!”
They both chuckle.
“Serious business though. As we both know this arrangement between us is strictly business. It’s a lot of fun, but it’s strictly business.”
“Absolutely.”
“I think we need to get the deal moving forward soon.”
“I agree. I’ll set up an appointment with Tony after Easter.”
“Easter? That’s two weeks away. What do we do in the meantime?”
“I can think of a few things.”
“I mean I can too, and we’ll do them all, but I’m serious. Why so long?”
“Baby, I have a match in a few days that I have to focus on or I’m as good as dead. The week leading up to Easter is pretty busy with wrestling, Gloria, our families, you and me…we’ll get it done. Don’t worry.”
“We had better get it done or I’ll be as good as dead! There are a lot of moving parts in this deal. Let alone all of the people on the Board who don’t know about any of it. They’re gonna get hit from left field as it is and not going to like it at all.”
“I really don’t give two shits what any of them think or whether they like it or don’t like it. It’s what’s good for our business, and I suspect that our business is about to get real good.”
“Cedrone Labratories manufacturing for Harford University Medical Center and all of its affiliates across the state of Maryland and selling to many other medical facilities all over the country. That will definitely be a great opportunity and fantastic for business!”
“It’ll be a challenge for my staff but they’re not only up to the challenge, they’ve been waiting for somethin’ like this to come along.”
“I’m nervous what the Medical Board is going to think once they find out that it’s me who’s been the frontrunner of this deal.”
“Don’t worry your pretty li’l head about it. Everything’s goin’ to be fine. It’ll be a smooth merger. Nobody will lose their jobs. Everything’s ironclad and everything is goin’ to be above board so there’s nothin’ to worry about in the eyes of the law either.”
“And think of the growth that will take place because of it!”
“Through the roof! One day Cedrone Enterprises could have monopoly in everything all over the country.”
“And then the world.”
“I like the way you think!”
“And I like the way you taste. Come here!”
Francesca pulls Jonny’s face into hers and they kiss. The scene fades to black. The scene fades back in front of La Cucina. The camera fixates on the front entrance until Jonny walks up to the door, opens it and enters the restaurant. The camera cuts to the inside, back where Jonny usually sits. Jonny makes his way to the table, unbuttons his suit jacket and sits down. The usual waitress brings him some bread and salad, gets his order and pours him a glass of wine before making her way to the kitchen. Jonny tucks his tie into his suit jacket, unfolds the cloth napkin and tucks it into the collar of his shirt, dips a bread stick into the house salad dressing and eats. After a few moments, from behind Jonny and up to the table walks Tony Malato. He gives Jonny a squeeze on his shoulder before sitting down at the table.
“How goes it Boss?”
“I’m good T. How you doin’?”
“I’m better than good my friend! The sun’s shinin’. Spring is in the air. The Orioles’ openin’ day is next Thursday. And things are movin’ along on the deal with the hospital downtown. Life is good!”
“I can’t believe that the city was actually okay with the hospital closin’ down. The hospital in Bel Air stays overbooked all the time as it is. Where do they expect people in the Harmer’s Town, Perryville and Aberdeen communities to go?”
“They built that medical facility in Aberdeen that’s supposed to ease the strain on the Bel Air hospital.”
“Have you seen the size of that place? It’s not big enough. That’s why we decided to pay for any and all upgrades that Harford Memorial Hospital needs, turn it into another state-of-the-art hospital under the Harford University Medical Center banner and even expand it if need-be.”
“You’re doin’ a lot of good for the area Jon.”
“Just don’t tell anyone where some of the money came from.”
“Everyone’s so desperate for a change for the good around here, I doubt if anyone would really care if all the money was blood money. As long as good things were happening. Savin’ Harford Memorial is probably one of the best things to happen to this area in a long time.”
“Feels good to give back after all these years.”
“Tell Francesca that I look forward to meeting with her in a couple of weeks.”
“I will. She’s excited to talk business. I’m confident in your ability to make it a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
“We’ll make it happen Boss.”
“Chicago is one of my homes, and if any place in this country needs a change, Chicago is top of the list. This collaboration will do good for everyone involved.”
“Without a doubt! Not to change subjects or anything, but when do you have to leave for Calgary?”
“I’ll be home for a couple more days. In fact, I gotta get ready to shoot my promo.”
“How does it feel to be wrestlin’ in Calgary? I know Bret Hart is one of your favorite wrestlers. A lot of wrestlin’ history has come from and is still in Calgary.”
“It’s actually kinda surreal to be honest. I’ve been all over the globe, I think this may be my first time wrestlin’ in Calgary. What would make it cooler is if Bret was in attendance.”
“That would be kinda cool.”
“And it would light a fire even higher under my ass to get the job done.”
“For sure! Can I make a suggestion for the location of your promo though?”
“Sure.”
“The lighthouse and boardwalk. With all the history there? American history at that?”
“Not a bad idea. Thanks T. I’ll keep in touch with ya on this deal with Francesca.”
“I look forward to it.”
Just as the waitress comes in with Jonny’s food, the scene fades to black. The scene picks back up by the Concord Lighthouse. The camera is fixated on the water where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay. Next to the lighthouse is an old cannon. Into the frame and next to the cannon comes Jonny Cedrone who’s overlooking the river and bay.
“May 03, 1813 in the midst of War of 1812, a squadron of the British Royal Navy under Rear Admiral George Cockburn attacked this town. Cockburn and his men were heading up the Chesapeake Bay and vowed to destroy any town that showed resistance. He initially didn’t have any plans to attack Harmer’s Town but he saw the American flag proudly waving and the local battery fired shots.”
“Because, well… ‘Merica!”
“We didn’t stand a chance but we stood our ground defiantly. One hundred fifty against forty. The numbers just weren’t in our favor from the start, but one man boldly stood his ground and manned this very cannon – Second Lieutenant John O’Neill. He did his very best against the odds until the cannon recoiled and struck him. He retreated and fired at the British militia with his musket. Attempts to signal his militia to return proved futile and he ended up being captured and released by Cockburn and his men.”
“Despite that loss, this city and this country have bounced back and continue to grow spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially, in every aspect there is to grow. You don’t take a loss, tuck your tail between your legs and hunker in a hole until your days on Earth are done. Like a Timex watch, you take a lickin’ and you keep on tickin’! Despite any battle lost, the United States, more often than not, has come back and won the wars.”
“Doc Holiday, a few short weeks ago you and I went to battle in front of millions and millions of people. We threw everything we had at one another to include, but not limited to, the kitchen sink! You took me to limits that I forgot existed. I took you to limits you didn’t even know existed. Blood was shed. Sweat poured. Pain was felt and passion was on display! You and I went to battle over the US Championship and to continue in the Match Madness tournament. As we all know, you won that battle. You earned that win. You earned that defense. You earned your spot in the next round in the tournament. You deserved to etch your name in the annals of time as the next challenger for the World Cham…pion…ship. Oh wait…you lost the next round, didn’t ya? Yeah, you beat me to move on but you didn’t go deep, which I’m sure that’s not the first time you heard that. I’m sure a lot of your ex-girlfriends could tell ya the same thing but that’s neither here nor there!”
“You definitely earned and deserve the right to tell the world that you beat me and you can tell yourself that I’m an easy win but you know the truth. You know that I’m no easy win. You know that I had your number that night and I came within an eyelash of beatin’ you that night. You know all that and it scares you. You’re nervous about this match at Match Madness. You’ll be standing across the ring from two hungry lions preyin’ on you and one of them already came close to takin’ the US Championship from you fairly recently. At Match Madness Doc, you’re not gonna be as lucky as you were the last time we met. At Match Madness, your death grip on the US Championship will be released and a new US Champion will leave that ring with the Championship and that person will be ME!”
“But we won’t be in the ring by ourselves, will we? Nah. Like I said, you will be standing across the ring from two hungry lions who are preyin’ on you and truthfully, neither one of us are afraid to go in for the kill. Not me. Not TJ Alexander.”
“Now TJ, this is our first meetin’ in the ring. On the last Monday Night Clash I may have said some disparaging words about you and questioned your hunger; questioned your abilities in the ring; questioned whether you’re ready to be in the ring with Doc Holiday and myself. The time is fast approaching to truly find out those answers but I will say that I’ve watched some of your matches so far here in Action Wrestling and I admit…I was wrong to question your hunger. As I said a moment ago, you’re a hungry lion here to make a name for yourself and I respect that. I respect what you do in the ring. I know your British and given all of the different styles I’ve wrestled with and against in the ring…I do have to say that the British style is one of my favorites to wrestle against. But given the history lesson at the beginnin’ of this promo, and given the history between the United States and the Great Brittain, you can’t honestly think we’re gonna let you walk out of this match with the US Championship…do ya?”
“There’s no way!”
“We fought to get our independence from you almost 250 years ago. Sure the two countries became allies after the fact but the pride of the United States is too much to let a Brit become the US Champion. That’s just askin’ way too much.”
“Now sure, you can argue that if you were to become US Champion – and I emphasize the word “if” – you would have earned the win, and you’d be right. Because while you’re a young hungry lion in that ring at Match Madness, you’re not the only one. You have a defending US Champion who would hurt his own grandma if it means to keep the US Championship around his waist. You have a former US Champion who would hurt anybody that gets in his way and will stoop to any level to get the US Championship back!”
“Saddle up and hang on for a ride of your lives! We’re in for a long fight and a long night! Your credentials speak for themselves and I don’t take this challenge lightly. I respect what both of you do in the ring, but we all know what happens with that respect once the bell rings. It goes completely out the window. When we’re standing across the ring from one another, all three of us are enemies. No friends. No respect. It all becomes cutthroat. Every man for themselves. Each one has the same goal in this but only one can walk out with that goal achieved!”
“As I said earlier, the last time I challenged for the US Championship, I walked away disappointed. I walked away without the Championship. I walked away empty-handed. But as always, I didn’t give up. I’ll never give up! I’ll keep comin’ back! Time and time again if need be, I’ll keep comin’ back because the passion and the fightin’ spirit within me is always there! No matter the outcome of any battle I’m in, I come back in the next one stronger and smarter.”
“This challenge will not end the same way the last one did. No matter what the two of you bring to the ring, I bring a lot more. I can fly with the eagles, slither with the snakes and everything in between! This is MY fight to win and it’s MY fight to lose! The US Championship means way too much to me to let either one of you to walk away with the win. The US Championship means way too much to The People for anyone but me to win at Match Madness! So you know what that means, don’t you? That means that no matter what it takes, no matter what I have to do, no matter who or what’s standin’ in my way, I am walkin’ out of Calgary with the United States Championship around my waist!”
The camera pans over to the lighthouse and nearby is a flagpole with the American flag flying high and proud. The camera pans back down to Jonny who looks up and sees it. He places his hand over his heart…
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America! And to the People for which it stands, I vow to win this fight for each and every one of you and bring back home, the US Championship…”
“…by any means necessary!!”
The camera moves back up to the flag as the scene fades to black.
“Mmmm. I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you too!”
“I’m glad you decided to come over.”
“Me too!”
“I take it Gloria still doesn’t know?”
“Not unless you told her.”
“Why cut my nose off to spite my face? I’m havin’ double the pleasure, double the fun outta this arrangement.”
“Honey, whatever you do to her really gets her motor running. She leaves you and comes to me hot and ready to go.”
Francesca grins.
“You’re welcome!”
They both chuckle.
“Serious business though. As we both know this arrangement between us is strictly business. It’s a lot of fun, but it’s strictly business.”
“Absolutely.”
“I think we need to get the deal moving forward soon.”
“I agree. I’ll set up an appointment with Tony after Easter.”
“Easter? That’s two weeks away. What do we do in the meantime?”
“I can think of a few things.”
“I mean I can too, and we’ll do them all, but I’m serious. Why so long?”
“Baby, I have a match in a few days that I have to focus on or I’m as good as dead. The week leading up to Easter is pretty busy with wrestling, Gloria, our families, you and me…we’ll get it done. Don’t worry.”
“We had better get it done or I’ll be as good as dead! There are a lot of moving parts in this deal. Let alone all of the people on the Board who don’t know about any of it. They’re gonna get hit from left field as it is and not going to like it at all.”
“I really don’t give two shits what any of them think or whether they like it or don’t like it. It’s what’s good for our business, and I suspect that our business is about to get real good.”
“Cedrone Labratories manufacturing for Harford University Medical Center and all of its affiliates across the state of Maryland and selling to many other medical facilities all over the country. That will definitely be a great opportunity and fantastic for business!”
“It’ll be a challenge for my staff but they’re not only up to the challenge, they’ve been waiting for somethin’ like this to come along.”
“I’m nervous what the Medical Board is going to think once they find out that it’s me who’s been the frontrunner of this deal.”
“Don’t worry your pretty li’l head about it. Everything’s goin’ to be fine. It’ll be a smooth merger. Nobody will lose their jobs. Everything’s ironclad and everything is goin’ to be above board so there’s nothin’ to worry about in the eyes of the law either.”
“And think of the growth that will take place because of it!”
“Through the roof! One day Cedrone Enterprises could have monopoly in everything all over the country.”
“And then the world.”
“I like the way you think!”
“And I like the way you taste. Come here!”
Francesca pulls Jonny’s face into hers and they kiss. The scene fades to black. The scene fades back in front of La Cucina. The camera fixates on the front entrance until Jonny walks up to the door, opens it and enters the restaurant. The camera cuts to the inside, back where Jonny usually sits. Jonny makes his way to the table, unbuttons his suit jacket and sits down. The usual waitress brings him some bread and salad, gets his order and pours him a glass of wine before making her way to the kitchen. Jonny tucks his tie into his suit jacket, unfolds the cloth napkin and tucks it into the collar of his shirt, dips a bread stick into the house salad dressing and eats. After a few moments, from behind Jonny and up to the table walks Tony Malato. He gives Jonny a squeeze on his shoulder before sitting down at the table.
“How goes it Boss?”
“I’m good T. How you doin’?”
“I’m better than good my friend! The sun’s shinin’. Spring is in the air. The Orioles’ openin’ day is next Thursday. And things are movin’ along on the deal with the hospital downtown. Life is good!”
“I can’t believe that the city was actually okay with the hospital closin’ down. The hospital in Bel Air stays overbooked all the time as it is. Where do they expect people in the Harmer’s Town, Perryville and Aberdeen communities to go?”
“They built that medical facility in Aberdeen that’s supposed to ease the strain on the Bel Air hospital.”
“Have you seen the size of that place? It’s not big enough. That’s why we decided to pay for any and all upgrades that Harford Memorial Hospital needs, turn it into another state-of-the-art hospital under the Harford University Medical Center banner and even expand it if need-be.”
“You’re doin’ a lot of good for the area Jon.”
“Just don’t tell anyone where some of the money came from.”
“Everyone’s so desperate for a change for the good around here, I doubt if anyone would really care if all the money was blood money. As long as good things were happening. Savin’ Harford Memorial is probably one of the best things to happen to this area in a long time.”
“Feels good to give back after all these years.”
“Tell Francesca that I look forward to meeting with her in a couple of weeks.”
“I will. She’s excited to talk business. I’m confident in your ability to make it a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
“We’ll make it happen Boss.”
“Chicago is one of my homes, and if any place in this country needs a change, Chicago is top of the list. This collaboration will do good for everyone involved.”
“Without a doubt! Not to change subjects or anything, but when do you have to leave for Calgary?”
“I’ll be home for a couple more days. In fact, I gotta get ready to shoot my promo.”
“How does it feel to be wrestlin’ in Calgary? I know Bret Hart is one of your favorite wrestlers. A lot of wrestlin’ history has come from and is still in Calgary.”
“It’s actually kinda surreal to be honest. I’ve been all over the globe, I think this may be my first time wrestlin’ in Calgary. What would make it cooler is if Bret was in attendance.”
“That would be kinda cool.”
“And it would light a fire even higher under my ass to get the job done.”
“For sure! Can I make a suggestion for the location of your promo though?”
“Sure.”
“The lighthouse and boardwalk. With all the history there? American history at that?”
“Not a bad idea. Thanks T. I’ll keep in touch with ya on this deal with Francesca.”
“I look forward to it.”
Just as the waitress comes in with Jonny’s food, the scene fades to black. The scene picks back up by the Concord Lighthouse. The camera is fixated on the water where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay. Next to the lighthouse is an old cannon. Into the frame and next to the cannon comes Jonny Cedrone who’s overlooking the river and bay.
“May 03, 1813 in the midst of War of 1812, a squadron of the British Royal Navy under Rear Admiral George Cockburn attacked this town. Cockburn and his men were heading up the Chesapeake Bay and vowed to destroy any town that showed resistance. He initially didn’t have any plans to attack Harmer’s Town but he saw the American flag proudly waving and the local battery fired shots.”
“Because, well… ‘Merica!”
“We didn’t stand a chance but we stood our ground defiantly. One hundred fifty against forty. The numbers just weren’t in our favor from the start, but one man boldly stood his ground and manned this very cannon – Second Lieutenant John O’Neill. He did his very best against the odds until the cannon recoiled and struck him. He retreated and fired at the British militia with his musket. Attempts to signal his militia to return proved futile and he ended up being captured and released by Cockburn and his men.”
“Despite that loss, this city and this country have bounced back and continue to grow spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially, in every aspect there is to grow. You don’t take a loss, tuck your tail between your legs and hunker in a hole until your days on Earth are done. Like a Timex watch, you take a lickin’ and you keep on tickin’! Despite any battle lost, the United States, more often than not, has come back and won the wars.”
“Doc Holiday, a few short weeks ago you and I went to battle in front of millions and millions of people. We threw everything we had at one another to include, but not limited to, the kitchen sink! You took me to limits that I forgot existed. I took you to limits you didn’t even know existed. Blood was shed. Sweat poured. Pain was felt and passion was on display! You and I went to battle over the US Championship and to continue in the Match Madness tournament. As we all know, you won that battle. You earned that win. You earned that defense. You earned your spot in the next round in the tournament. You deserved to etch your name in the annals of time as the next challenger for the World Cham…pion…ship. Oh wait…you lost the next round, didn’t ya? Yeah, you beat me to move on but you didn’t go deep, which I’m sure that’s not the first time you heard that. I’m sure a lot of your ex-girlfriends could tell ya the same thing but that’s neither here nor there!”
“You definitely earned and deserve the right to tell the world that you beat me and you can tell yourself that I’m an easy win but you know the truth. You know that I’m no easy win. You know that I had your number that night and I came within an eyelash of beatin’ you that night. You know all that and it scares you. You’re nervous about this match at Match Madness. You’ll be standing across the ring from two hungry lions preyin’ on you and one of them already came close to takin’ the US Championship from you fairly recently. At Match Madness Doc, you’re not gonna be as lucky as you were the last time we met. At Match Madness, your death grip on the US Championship will be released and a new US Champion will leave that ring with the Championship and that person will be ME!”
“But we won’t be in the ring by ourselves, will we? Nah. Like I said, you will be standing across the ring from two hungry lions who are preyin’ on you and truthfully, neither one of us are afraid to go in for the kill. Not me. Not TJ Alexander.”
“Now TJ, this is our first meetin’ in the ring. On the last Monday Night Clash I may have said some disparaging words about you and questioned your hunger; questioned your abilities in the ring; questioned whether you’re ready to be in the ring with Doc Holiday and myself. The time is fast approaching to truly find out those answers but I will say that I’ve watched some of your matches so far here in Action Wrestling and I admit…I was wrong to question your hunger. As I said a moment ago, you’re a hungry lion here to make a name for yourself and I respect that. I respect what you do in the ring. I know your British and given all of the different styles I’ve wrestled with and against in the ring…I do have to say that the British style is one of my favorites to wrestle against. But given the history lesson at the beginnin’ of this promo, and given the history between the United States and the Great Brittain, you can’t honestly think we’re gonna let you walk out of this match with the US Championship…do ya?”
“There’s no way!”
“We fought to get our independence from you almost 250 years ago. Sure the two countries became allies after the fact but the pride of the United States is too much to let a Brit become the US Champion. That’s just askin’ way too much.”
“Now sure, you can argue that if you were to become US Champion – and I emphasize the word “if” – you would have earned the win, and you’d be right. Because while you’re a young hungry lion in that ring at Match Madness, you’re not the only one. You have a defending US Champion who would hurt his own grandma if it means to keep the US Championship around his waist. You have a former US Champion who would hurt anybody that gets in his way and will stoop to any level to get the US Championship back!”
“Saddle up and hang on for a ride of your lives! We’re in for a long fight and a long night! Your credentials speak for themselves and I don’t take this challenge lightly. I respect what both of you do in the ring, but we all know what happens with that respect once the bell rings. It goes completely out the window. When we’re standing across the ring from one another, all three of us are enemies. No friends. No respect. It all becomes cutthroat. Every man for themselves. Each one has the same goal in this but only one can walk out with that goal achieved!”
“As I said earlier, the last time I challenged for the US Championship, I walked away disappointed. I walked away without the Championship. I walked away empty-handed. But as always, I didn’t give up. I’ll never give up! I’ll keep comin’ back! Time and time again if need be, I’ll keep comin’ back because the passion and the fightin’ spirit within me is always there! No matter the outcome of any battle I’m in, I come back in the next one stronger and smarter.”
“This challenge will not end the same way the last one did. No matter what the two of you bring to the ring, I bring a lot more. I can fly with the eagles, slither with the snakes and everything in between! This is MY fight to win and it’s MY fight to lose! The US Championship means way too much to me to let either one of you to walk away with the win. The US Championship means way too much to The People for anyone but me to win at Match Madness! So you know what that means, don’t you? That means that no matter what it takes, no matter what I have to do, no matter who or what’s standin’ in my way, I am walkin’ out of Calgary with the United States Championship around my waist!”
The camera pans over to the lighthouse and nearby is a flagpole with the American flag flying high and proud. The camera pans back down to Jonny who looks up and sees it. He places his hand over his heart…
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America! And to the People for which it stands, I vow to win this fight for each and every one of you and bring back home, the US Championship…”
“…by any means necessary!!”
The camera moves back up to the flag as the scene fades to black.