Maskageddon

Ransacked

[Cold Open.]

[INT. THE TEMPLE — CORRIDOR — NIGHT.]

[The camera tracks backwards as Marvolo strides purposefully through the halls of the Temple.]

[Santiago Siniestro walks a pace behind him.]

[Calm.]

[Alert.]

[Every movement measured.]

Signal: "Welcome to Maskageddon... and Marvolo doesn't look like he's slept all week."

Black Scar: "When you've got enemies coming from every direction, sleep's a luxury."

[They arrive outside Marvolo's office. The door sits slightly open. A sliver of darkness visible through the gap. Siniestro immediately raises a hand, stopping Marvolo. His other hand draws a pistol in one smooth motion. [He silently pushes the door wider with the barrel.]

[Then slips inside.]

[The room is silent.]

[He clears one corner.]

[Then another.]

[Finally lowering the weapon.]

Siniestro: "Clear."

[Marvolo steps into the office.]

[Stops.]

[The room has been torn apart.]

[Books scattered across the floor.]

[Drawers ripped from the desk.]

[Cabinets overturned.]

[The red phone hangs from its cord, swinging gently.]

[Someone wasn't looking for valuables.]

[They were looking for something.]

Signal: "Good Lord... they've turned this place upside down."

Black Scar: "That's not vandalism. That's a search."

[Marvolo slowly surveys the destruction.]

[His expression hardens.]

Marvolo: "I know who did this."

[A beat.]

Marvolo: "Deadeye."

[Siniestro holsters his weapon. He kneels beside an overturned filing cabinet, studying the mess.]

Siniestro: "No."

[Marvolo looks at him.]

Siniestro: "Deadeye wants revenge."

[A pause.]

Siniestro: "For the setup."

[He rises.]

Siniestro: "He wants your blood."

[He gestures around the office.]

Siniestro: "But why would he do this?"

[A beat.]

Siniestro: "There's nothing here he needs to know."

[Marvolo says nothing. Siniestro steps closer.]

Siniestro: "I'll deal with Deadeye at Ring of Dreams."

[His voice is cold.]

Siniestro: "But this..."

[He slowly shakes his head.]

Siniestro: "This wasn't him."

[Marvolo looks around the ruined office once more. The overturned desk. The emptied drawers. The dangling red phone. His certainty begins to fade.]

[He doesn't speak.]

[He simply... thinks.]

Signal: "If it wasn't Deadeye..."

Black Scar: "Then somebody else is digging for answers."

[Cut.]

Devotion

[The Temple - Backstage]

[A door stands before Dolly. From behind, we hear the muffled sounds of a familiar voice]

Glitter: “Oh, yes. Right there. Harder…”

[Dolly moves her hand to knock, but shrugs her shoulders.]

Dolly Daydream: "Eh... we’re friends."

[She pushes open the door, finding Glitter lying on their front, with two of their toys scratching their back.]

Signal: “Right… That’s not what I thought was going on.”

Black Scar: “That might not be the only place they’re scratching.”

[Dolly smiles, oblivious. Glitter sits up and she unhooks the Hardcore Championship and places it between them.]

Glitter: “I’ve done a lot for you, Dolly.”

[Dolly nods in agreement.]

Glitter: “Protected you, time and time again. Glitter has cared for you. But you know that Glitter goes both ways.”

[Glitter winks, Dolly merely winks back innocently in befuddlement.]

[Glitter sighs.]

Glitter: “Devotion, babe. That’s what we’re talking about… That.”

[Glitter motions towards the Hardcore Championship. Dolly smiles.]

Signal: “Glitter is still expecting that dolly just hand them the title.”

[Dolly picks up the belt. She looks it over… then hands it right to Glitter.]

Dolly Daydream: “Sure. You can have it.”

[Glitter smirks.]

Dolly Daydream: “I want you to see that I am devoted to you. You can take the title into our match.”

Glitter: “That’s not quite what Glitter-”

[Dolly cuts Glitter off.]

Dolly Daydream: “But I’m not going to go easy on you. You may not be walking out with the title.”

[Glitter is taken aback. They collect themselves and smile once more at Dolly.]

Glitter: “It’s a start. But we must watch out for each other. That’s what you do for those you care about. Remember… devotion goes both ways.”

[Glitter picks up the title and leaves with it. Dolly watches them leave, doe-eyed and completely smitten.]

[From the shadows, a sigh emanates.]

[Silas steps into view.]

Black Scar: “Just how long was Silas hiding there for?”

Signal: “I’m not sure we want to know.”

[Dolly stands up as Silas approaches. The usual playfulness is gone from her face.]

Silas:“Monsters are created every day because of how humans treat each other. You’re just one wearing a sickeningly sweet smile.”

[Dolly looks confused, hurt.]

Silas: “You can’t see how you’re being used. Just another example of humanity covering up atrocities with trinkets and medals. It sickens me."

[Silas closes in to Dolly.]

Silas: “But I’m going to strip away those trinkets and expose the sick truth that lies underneath. You… Glitter… You’re every bit as much of a monster as those that look the part.”

[Silas slinks away, the colour restoring to the world.]

Signal: “Dolly has given away her title and this thing is ready to burst.”

[Cut.]

Signal: “We’ve seen the Warrior of the Light taking on a Leader of a Family so diabolical that I’m surprised the word Manson isn’t anywhere in there.”

Black Scar: “Oh, come on Sig, the Padre leads his own congregation; he’s no different than Lux.”

Signal: “Scar, Bellator has been poisoned by Venganza, assaulted by that alleged “congregation”, and is still prepared to do battle with the Padre.”

Black Scar: “All of it done in self-defense Signal, Lux brought this onto himself.”

[The bell sounds and we’re underway with this thirty-minute Iron Man match.]

[Padre – 0 Bellator – 0]

[No feeling out process The Virus and Bellator functioning on pure Adrenaline have muckled onto each other’s masks hammering one and other with their left hands with while they rain Rights into the face of the other man.]

[Venganza get the upper hand with a poke to the eye as he moves quickly starting to tear at the mask of The Warrior of Light.]

Signal: “That’s low.”

Black Scar: “No, that’s expected.”

[25 minutes.]

[Bellator manages to get off a headbutt staggering The Virus.]

[TRIBULATION – PAYDIRT- NO, VENGANZA MANAGES TO TRAP THE ARM AND DRIVE BELLATOR INTO THE MAT IN A CROSSFACE – BLACKEND JUSTICE!]

[PADRE DEL LA VENGANZA WRENCHES BACK SINKING THE HOLD IN DEEP!]

[BELLATOR ROLLS INTO THE HOLD TO ESCAPE...]

[NO DICE!]

[PADRE SINKS HIS FINGERS BACK INTO THE EYEHOLE OF LUX’S MASK ONCE MORE TEARING AT THE FACE COVERING USING IT FOR LEVERAGE!]

[LUX TAPS! LUX TAPS! LUX TAPS!]

[Padre – 1 Bellator – 0]

[The Ruleador forces a momentary break to allow Lux to stand up mask gaping wide over his left eye, bald head starting to become underneath.]

[15 minutes.]

[Bellator shakes his arm out and cracks his neck before rushing back at The Virus.]

[Venganza scoops him up for a Running Powerslam, Lux slips out the back, Dragon Sleeper dragging Black Heart to the canvas, Bellator grapevines Padra’s body with his legs cranking back – CONFESSIONAL LOCKED IN DEEP!]

[VENGANZA IS FADING AS HE REACHES FOR THE BOTTOM ROPE!]

[AND JUST BEFORE BLACK HEART GOES UNDER, HE TAPS TO STAY CONCIOUS!]

[Padre – 1 Bellator – 1]

[5 minutes.]

[Once again, the clock still ticking and both men exhaust, but the Ruleador stands them up.]

Signal: “All tied up, down to the last five minutes, and it’s taking them a good minute and half to reset.”

Black Scar: “Time is precious right now, Sig, but I’m glad the Ruleador is playing fair letting Padre get back to his senses.”

[Bellator looks like he’s about ready to drop sweat accumulating on his exposed bald head where The Virus has torn his mask.]

[With will and resolve of his name Bellator darts back at Padre once more into the breach but his sickness catches up with him and Bellator stumbles...]

[Back Body – DISCIPLE MAKER – CANADIAN DESTROYER!]

[5 SECONDS.]

[AFTER IMPACT BELLATOR LANDS ON TOP OF THE VIRUS WHOSE SHOULDERS ARE DOWN!]

[4 SECONDS.]

[ONE!]

[...]

[...]

[...]

[TWO!]

[...]

[...]

[...]

[THREE!]

[The Bell sounds signaling the expiration of time in this Iron Man match.]

[Pandre – 1 Bellator – 2]

[Bellator lays on top of The Virus unmoving and respiration bordering on agonal.]

Signal: "That was a half hour of hell, and Lux Bellator not only survived it; he came out the victor in the end!"

Black Scar: "Yeah, but he doesn’t look like a victor, looks like he may have one the battle, but the virus has won the war, Sig."

Winner: Lux Bellator

A Light in Darkness

[As the bell tolls and the smoke clears we are left with Padre de Venganza looming over Lux Bellator as the Family closes in.]

Signal: "He's surrounded, Scar! Padre has spoken for months about snuffing out Lux's light and he's going to finally make good on it!

Black Scar: "Padre's hounds are licking their chops, Sig. We may need rain coats."

[Venganza leans down, grabbing Lux by his throat and yanking him close.]

Padre Del La Venganza: "Bellator. Finally ready to tell us who's been helping keep your flame lit?"

[The Family moves in closer, Lux gripping Padre's wrist, teeth grit as he suppresses a cough.]

Padre Del La Venganza: "Tell us. Now. We might even make this quick."

[Bellator's fingers dig into Padre's skin, a darkness behind his eyes as the festering wound on his shoulder begins to-]

Signal: "Scar? What the hell is that?"

Black Scar: "I'm no doctor, but it looks like his wound is leaking bile!"

[The inky ichor slowly drips down Lux's body, the darkness clinging to his mask and ring gear!]

[His pale skin turns ashen as he stands tall, strong.]

Lux Bellator: "No one helped me, Padre."

[Bellator peels Padre's hand from his throat to Vengeance's shock.]

Lux Bellator: "Every broken rib, every fractured bone?"

[He tightens his grip, the darkness fully covering his mask, conforming to it in a disturbingly familiar visage.]

Nox Bellator: "It was all me."

[CRACK!]

Signal: "BIG RIGHT HAND BY BELLATOR! PADRE JUST FELT THE WRATH OF GOD!"

[Bellator sends Padre over the top rope! Nox unloads on the Family, sending members reeling left and right until he's cleared the whole damn ring!]

Black Scar: "Look at them run, Sig! Padre's and his Family are clearing out!"

[The crowd looks on uneasy as Nox stands in the middle of the ring.]

[No cheering, no booing.]

[Just silence.]

[Cut.]

Deviation

[The Temple - Backstage]

[Jurassic Colossus is ready for war.]

[Pacing the corridors with heavy stomps, he soon finds another standing in his way.]

Black Scar:“That’s Bryce Sterling, Sig. The CPD liaison responsible for keeping watch on Sujeto Cero.”

Signal: “But he seems more interested in Jurassic Colossus right now. Does he know what kind of danger he’s in?”

Black Scar: “I hope he gets eaten.”

[Bryce Sterling is holding a clipboard that he’s frantically scribbling notes on. Behind him, Sujeto Cero stands, looking ready to tear Colossus apart.]

Bryce Sterling: “Interesting. Deviation from my notes but a specimen worth observing.”

[Sterling looks Jurassic Colossus up and down, taking notes as he moves about the hulking frame of the monster.]

Bryce Sterling: “Much like my subject here, you deserve to be studied.”

[He steps back so that Sujeto Cero and Jurassic Colossus are standing in front of each other, with him no longer in between. Colossus growls a warning.]

Bryce Sterling: “Look at Sujeto Cero. A constant state of flux, constant instability worthy of constant monitoring. Cells rupturing and regenerating simultaneously. It’s scientifically… outstanding.”

[He turns to Colossus.]

Bryce Sterling: “But you… You’re something else entirely. I know of entire teams that would love to study you. I would love to take notes on you, see if there is a biochemical or atmospherical aspect that could be explore for further subjects.”

[Sterling reaches towards Colossus.]

Bryce Sterling: “I just need to-”

[Jurassic Colossus isn’t having it. He grabs Sterling around the throat and hoists him up into the air.]

Signal: "Oh, this isn't going to end well."

[Sujeto Cero snaps.]

[Driving himself full-force into the Last Dinosaur, he slams the pair of them through an open patch of drywall. Sterling falls to the ground, clipboard snapped clean in half.]

Bryce Sterling: “No! You have a match! A Match! Save it for the ring!”

[As 'The Dollhouse Rumble' hits the arena in the background to signal the entrance of the titleless Champion, Jurassic Colossus and Sujeto Cero pull themselves out of the wreckage.]

[With Bryce Sterling pleading, they square off against each other again, trading heavy blows.]

Black Scar: “This one isn’t waiting for the ring. These two monsters just want to hurt each other.”

[Cut.]

Black Scar: “We need to make like Tokyo and scram before these kaiju bring The Temple down!”

Signal: “It’s customary for the Champion to enter last. Dolly has had to come out while those two monsters battle, but Glitter is posing with Daydream’s belt - what a mess!”

Black Scar: “All that, and whoever gets pinned loses their mask! Good luck takin’ it off either o’ those two!”

[Dolly, Glitter, and Silas enter a standoff. The Ruleador looks outside, where—]

[RUMBLE!]

[SUJETO SPEARS COLOSSUS INTO THE STEEL STAIRS!]

Black Scar: “He’s got a better shot of opening the Strait of Hormuz than he does separating them!”

Glitter: “Glitter would love to be in the middle of that monster mash…”

[Shrugging, the official holds the Hardcore Championship over his head, and calls for the bell to start the match.]

Dolly Daydream: “Excuse me, but I’d like that back now.”

[Dolly takes hold of the belt.]

Glitter: “We don’t think so. It’s ours now.”

[Glitter grabs it, too.]

Silas: “It should go to the one who knows pain more than anyone else—”

[DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE BY SILAS!]

[Meanwhile, at ringside…]

[CRUNCH!]

[JURASSIC CHARGES CERO THROUGH THE FREAKIN’ BARRICADE!]

Signal: “THEY’RE ON A RAMPAGE OUT HERE!”

Crowd: “HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT!”

[An uncaring Silas goes shopping under the apron, and tosses a trash can full of goodies into the ring!]

[Dolly gets up—]

[SNAP!]

[WAIT - GLITTER JUST TOOK A CANE TO THE RIBS FOR HER!]

[SILAS SWINGS AGAIN—]

[DOLLY DUCKS…]

[RIPCORD KNEE!]

Black Scar: “OFF WITH IT!”

[Daydream grabs a cookie sheet…]

[CLANG!]

[SHE WAFFLES SILAS, WHO GOES DOWN!]

[The Champion covers to retain…]

[ONE!]

Black Scar:: “Makin’ Silas take that friggin’ frown off might be the best thing for him!”

[TWO!]

Signal: “COLOSSUS BREAKS IT UP!”

[The Last Dinosaur flings Dolly into the corner. She slowly rises, nowhere to run…]

[STINGER SPLASH—]

[BUT GLITTER TAKES THE BULLET!]

Black Scar: “Glitter just ate a PALEO CRASH for Daydream - what a feminist!”

Signal: “That’s the second time they’ve saved her!”

[Jurassic sets his sights on Dolly once more…]

[SAUROPOD SWEEP!]

[Flooring her with the underhook, he advances—]

[CRACK!]

[SUJETO BRAINS HIM WITH A BARBED-WIRE BAT!]

Signal: “GOOD GOD, HE’S GONNA… EXTINCTIFY HIM!”

[Colossus falls through the ropes. Cero takes a hit of serum, then clutches the empty bin and heads up high…]

Black Scar: “If he hits this on Dolly, there won’t be no Toy Story 6!”

[SUJETO LEAPS WITH THE RECEPTACLE IN HAND…]

[TOP-ROPE DIVING ELBOW!]

[CRUMPLE!]

Signal: “E SERUM INJECTOOORRR—!”

Black Scar: “BUT GLITTER SACRIFICES THEMSELVES AGAIN!”

[Dolly can’t believe it: three times Glitter has saved her bacon!]

[Cero looms over her—]

[JURASSIC CLOTHESLINES BOTH OF THEM OVER THE ROPES!]

Signal: “They're gonna tear each other's throats out at ringside!”

Black Scar: “Hey, Silas is gonna sneak one—!”

[The Sorrow pins Glitter.]

[ONE!]

[TWO!]

[THRE—NO!]

Signal: “Good Golly Miss Dolly just saves it!”

[Silas dusts himself off. He walks to the corner and fetches his trademark black guitar!]

Black Scar: “This is no time for Wonderwall!”

[Daydream puts up her dukes as Glitter recovers…]

[SILAS SWINGS THE GUITAR—]

[DISINTEGRATION!]

Signal: “DOLLY DAYDREAM STEPS IN FRONT OF GLITTER TO REPAY THE FAVOUR!”

[The Dreamer goes down!]

[GLITTER SCREAMS WITH FURY—]

[A BIG BOOT TAKES SILAS’S HEAD OFF!]

[The Sinful One rubs his heel in the musician’s face!]

Black Scar: “Catch the BUKKAKE BULLET TRAIN!”

Signal: “Wait - CERO is back!”

[Glitter turns round, coming face-to-face with El Activo Tóxico!]

Glitter: “Mmm, Glitter loves breath play…”

[SUJETO LUNGES–]

[Glitter scoops him up…]

[SITOUT TOMBSTONE!]

Black Scar: “DRIVER ‘69 - NICE!”

[Dolly, however, rushes in and covers him before Glitter can!]

[ONE!]

[TWO!]

[THREE!!!]

Signal: “Dolly retains her Hardcore Championship, and Cero must lose his mask!”

Black Scar: “If he takes it off, will he die!?”

Winner & Still Hardcore Champion: Dolly Daydream

Breathe It In

[Ringside — moments after the Hardcore Championship Match. Sujeto Cero stirs amongst the wreckage. The ring is littered with weaponry of all kinds. One by one, the other competitors roll from the ring or leave ringside.]

[Cero drags himself to his feet.]

[His breathing is ragged behind the battered containment mask.]

Signal: "Sujeto Cero lost... but he's still standing."

Black Scar: "Good luck getting that mask off him."

[Cero notices the referee approaching. Then another official. Then security. His body language changes.]

[Panic.]

[He lashes out.]

[A wild forearm drops one official.]

[A boot sends another sprawling.]

[Security rushes him.]

[Cero hurls one through the ropes before another retreats.]

[Within seconds... The ring belongs only to him. He backs into the corner. Hands desperately gripping his mask.]

[Silence.]

[Then—]

[CRACK.]

[A lead pipe smashes across the back of his skull.]

Signal: "WHO WAS THAT?!"

[Cero crumples to one knee. Academius stands behind him, having entered from the crowd.]

[Lead pipe in hand.]

[Emotionless.]

Black Scar: "Academius!"

[Cero tries to rise.]

[CRACK.]

[Another shot.]

[Across the ribs.]

[CRACK.]

[Another.]

[Across the shoulder.]

[The pipe clatters to the mat.]

[Academius kneels.]

[Both hands gripping Cero's mask.]

Signal: "No... don't..."

[Cero claws desperately at Academius' wrists. His muffled screams grow frantic.]

[Academius pulls and the mask tears free. A horrifying rasp fills the Temple. Cero's exposed face is a nightmare.]

[Skin blistered beyond recognition.]

[Flesh blackened and split.]

[Burn scars twisted across every inch.]

[His clouded eyes widen as fresh air reaches him.]

[He inhales.]

[Once.]

[Twice.]

[Then screams.]

[A tortured, inhuman sound echoes throughout the Temple.]

[His body convulses violently.]

[Within seconds...]

[It goes still.]

Signal: "He's... dead..."

[Academius slowly rises.]

[Cero's mask hanging from one hand.]

[He looks down at the fallen man.]

Academius: "Another lesson concluded."

[Without another glance...]

[He walks away.]

[Leaving Sujeto Cero lifeless in the centre of the ring.]

Signal: "This has gone beyond masks..."

Black Scar: "Academius just killed him."

[The camera lingers on Cero's broken body.]

[Cut.]

Oh Brother

[Dr. E Vinell's Labratory.]

[Lined with barrels of chemicals, a plethora of tools and machines decorate the interior in an organized mess. Ziggy Robbins sneaks down the hallway, eyes darting from side to side.]

Ziggy Robbins: "I don't like Vinell... But I should motivate him to keep his workplace clean. It does wonders for your mental health."

[Robbins turns a corner, his head on a swivel as he looks at a wall of doors.]

Ziggy Robbins: "And labels! The power of labels would do wonders for organization!"

[He rubs his chin.]

Ziggy Robbins: "Now, if I were hiding my brother... Which room would I choose?"

[Ziggy closes his eyes, picking at random and walking into a room. We hear growling, a small scuffle, then see Ziggy leap out, slamming the door behind him.]

Ziggy Robbins: "Not there."

[The Motivator checks a few more doors before getting to the end of the hall and pressing forwards into the darkness of the last room.]

[Click.]

Ziggy Robbins: "... Oh my God."

[Ziggy stops in his tracks as the lights flick on, the Motivator coming face to face with his brother.]

[What was his brother.]

[Robbins stands silently as before him sits his caged brother. His body large, fleshy, monstrous. He would be almost unrecognizable if not for the bit of humanity left behind those eyes.]

Dr. E. Vinell: "HehehehHAHAHAHA"

[Vinell's mad cackle makes Ziggy turn around, fists balled up.]

Ziggy Robbins: "What have you done to him!? What did you do!?"

Dr. E. Vinell: "What I did was make progress.

[He chuckles again.]

Dr. E. Vinell: "Now, why don't you stay still so I can get more data."

[VINELL LEAPS AT ZIGGY WITH A NEEDLE! ROBBINS SENDS THE DOCTOR CRASHING INTO HIS BROTHER'S CAGE!]

[Robins doesn't think twice, rushing out the door, tears streaming down his face as he makes a desperate escape.]

[Leaving his brother still in Vinell's clutches.]

[Cut.]

Bullet With Your Name

[INT. THE BLACKHAND CLUB — NIGHT.]

[Moretti sits alone behind his heavy oak desk, cigar smoke curling lazily toward the ceiling. His pistol rests within arm's reach. The room is quiet.]

[Too quiet.]

[Without warning—]

[The lights die.]

[Pitch black.]

Signal: "What now?!"

[A gunshot.]

[BANG!]

[Then another.]

[BANG! BANG! BANG!]

[Gunfire erupts from every direction, echoing violently around the office. Wood splinters. Glass explodes. Moretti dives from his chair, snatching up his pistol.]

Blackhand Moretti: "COME ON THEN!"

[He fires wildly into the darkness.]

[BANG! BANG! BANG! CLICK!]

[Silence.]

[Smoke hangs in the air.]

[The lights flicker back to life.]

[The office is devastated.]

[Bullet holes pepper the walls. Framed photographs are shattered. The liquor cabinet has been blown apart. Moretti slowly rises. Standing in the centre of the office...]

[Rambro.]

[Calm.]

[Unflinching.]

[Not a mark on him.]

Signal: "Rambro... he was never there."

Black Scar: "He made Moretti shoot his own office to pieces."

[Rambro takes one slow step forward.]

Rambro: "You tried to kill me."

[A pause.]

Rambro: "You failed."

[His voice hardens.]

Rambro: "Failures have consequences."

[A beat.]

Rambro: "At Ring of Dreams... there'll be no escape from the war."

[Moretti snarls and raises his pistol.]

[He pulls the trigger.]

[CLICK.]

[Empty.]

[Rambro doesn't even flinch.]

Blackhand Moretti: "Next time..."

[He tosses the useless gun onto the desk.]

Blackhand Moretti: "I'll have a bullet with your name on it."

[Rambro simply stares back.]

[Neither man blinks.]

[Cut.]

Signal: “This promises to be a chaotic championship match, especially knowing that the one being pinned will lose their mask!”

Black Scar: “Not a single one of these luchadores wants that to happen, and I’m hoping that it results in bloodshed!”

[The bell is rung and all four competitors rush towards each other before pummeling one another with left and right hands.]

[Del Toro nails a right cross to Aranza!]

[Siniestro with a left hook to Deadeye!]

[Aranza retaliates with a jab to Del Toro!]

[Deadeye answers Siniestro with a wild haymaker!]

Black Scar: “This match has already devolved into a full on brawl, and the bell has only just rung. I love it.”

[The fisticuffs come to a close when El Frio dropkicks the Desperado into the Huntress and El Matador!]

[Both Del Toro and Aranza fall to the mat along with the Cowboy, which turns their ire onto him.]

[Del Toro throws his cape over Deadeye’s head, blinding him as he gets up!]

[He swings wildly as he stands, but gets nailed with a PARTING SHOT spinning roundhouse kick and SINISTER MULETA forearm smash with the cape!]

Signal: “A rare double team move by two bitter enemies!”

[As the Desperado collapses, Siniestro leaps at Aranza with a running Thesz Press knocking her down!]

[As the Assassin rains fists on her face, El Matador lines El Frio up before locking in a cobra clutch!]

[With the ETERNAL SILENCE locked in, Siniestro pulls himself up to his feet and attempts to make way for the ropes.]

[Before he can, however, Deadeye gets back to his feet and clocks Del Toro with the BOOMSTICK!]

Signal: “The Desperado unleashes a new move in the form of a Superman punch! Will that be enough to turn the tides of this match?”

Black Scar: “Doubt it, Sig. Look, Aranza’s already back up to her feet!”

[The Cowboy turns around just in time to get nailed by a running TEN POINTER double foot stomp!]

[The Huntress calls for the end as she tries to hoist Deadeye back to his feet.]

[She doesn’t realize, however, that Del Toro is right behind her, lunging at her with a PHANTOM CORONADA busaiku knee to the back of the head!]

[El Matador can’t go for the pin, as Siniestro springboards off the middle rope before spinning around with EL ULTIMO ADIOS Mexican Destroyer!]

Signal: “All four luchadores are down on the mat! Which ones will get up first!?”

[Siniestro and Deadeye get up first, with El Frio making the first move.]

[He goes for a superkick, but Deadeye ducks it!]

[DEADSHOT!]

[Stunner from out of nowhere sends the Assassin into the air!]

[The Desperado tries to cover, but Siniestro rolls out of the ring, forcing Deadeye to pick a new target.]

[Aranza.]

[But just as she gets to her feet, Del Toro rushes at her with a PHANTOM CORONADA!]

[Aranza gets knocked into Deadeye, who rolls out of the ring!]

[Cover on the Huntress!]

[ONE!]

[...]

[TWO!!]

[...]

[THREE!!!]

Black Scar: “El Matador is still the champion, but the Huntress is about to be unmasked!”

Winner & Still Ultraviolent Champion: Del Toro

Death Cometh

[The bell has rung.]

[Aranza remains on one knee in the centre of the ring, every breath heavy, one hand instinctively gripping the mask she has just lost the right to wear. The referee cautiously backs away.]

[The crowd is subdued.]

Signal: "It's over..."

Black Scar: "The Huntress has lost her mask."

[Aranza slowly rises. Her pride outweighs her exhaustion.]

[Then—]

[The arena lights dim.]

[A bitterly cold wind sweeps across the Temple.]

[Mist rolls over the canvas.]

[Santiago Del Toro rises opposite her.]

Signal: "Del Toro..."

Black Scar: "He came to collect."

[Aranza locks eyes with him. She snarls, then explodes forward.]

[Del Toro doesn't move.]

[Not until the very last instant.]

[His cape snaps through the air.]

[CRACK.]

[Like a bullfighter's muleta.]

[The crimson fabric coils around Aranza's mask for the briefest of moments before violently tearing it from her face. The cape unfurls. Del Toro catches the mask effortlessly.]

[Aranza stumbles past him...]

[Before collapsing to both knees.]

[Her face finally revealed.]

[The crowd gasps.]

Santiago Del Toro: "I warned you."

[He slowly raises her mask.]

Santiago Del Toro: "I would take it."

[He walks around her.]

[Admiring his newest trophy.]

Santiago Del Toro: "And your soul... would join the warriors already bound to mine."

[He places one hand upon her head. His fingers spread across her forehead. Then slowly... deliberately... they press into her eyes.]

[Aranza lets out an agonising scream.]

Signal: "NO! SOMEBODY STOP HIM!"

[The lights throughout the Temple begin flickering wildly. A freezing wind tears through the arena. Black mist pours from beneath Aranza.]

[Then...]

[A pale, spectral figure begins to emerge from her body.]

[Weightless.]

[Shimmering.]

[It twists through the air before being drawn into Del Toro's chest.]

[His body convulses.]

[His eyes close.]

[He breathes deeply.]

[Satisfied.]

[Aranza collapses face-first onto the canvas.]

[Motionless. A husk.]

Black Scar: "He... he actually took it..."

[Suddenly—]

[BLACKOUT.]

[Total darkness.]

[The unmistakable roar of a motorcycle engine reverberates throughout the Temple.]

[Closer.]

[Closer.]

[Then...]

[Silence.]

[The lights return.]

[Standing directly opposite Del Toro...]

[Mr. Grimm.]

[The skull helm catches the light.]

[He doesn't move.]

[He doesn't need to.]

[Death itself has arrived.]

Signal: "Mr. Grimm..."

Black Scar: "No.. The Reaper."

[The two men stare at one another.]

[Neither blinks.]

Mr Grimm: "You've mistaken your purpose."

[A pause.]

Mr Grimm: "I'm the one who collects souls."

[His voice is devoid of emotion.]

Mr Grimm: "You've taken enough."

[A beat.]

Mr Grimm: "Now..."

[He takes one slow step forward.]

Mr Grimm:"I want what's owed."

[Del Toro smiles beneath his mask. Without another word... He violently whips his cape and a dense cloud of black smoke erupts around him.]

[When it clears...]

[He's gone.]

[Only Mr. Grimm remains.]

[Standing over Aranza's fallen body.]

[Waiting.]

Signal: "Death just came looking for the soul thief."

Black Scar: "And sooner or later..."

[A beat.]

Black Scar: "One of them is leaving with the other."

Welcome To CandyCrusher

[Ringside. The lights flicker with an unmistakable digital distortion. The tron springs to life.]

[INT. CANDYCRUSHER — LEVEL TWO]

[Everything is rendered in bright, exaggerated pixel art. Giant candy canes sway in the background. Chocolate rivers bubble beneath floating platforms. Gumballs bounce across the landscape.]

[PixelShift stands on one side of the screen.]

[The Candy Man stands opposite, turning slowly in circles.]

[He looks around in utter confusion.]

Signal: "We're... back inside the game and folks, I'm told this match will be for the Gift of the Gods Championship."

Black Scar: "That Respawn lunatic actually did it!"

[The Candy Man pokes a giant jellybean tree.]

[It squeaks.]

[He recoils.]

The Candy Man: "What is this place?"

[He looks up at the pixelated sky.]

The Candy Man: "Where's my Temple?"

[A pause.]

The Candy Man: "Where's my candy?"

[PixelShift rolls his shoulders.]

Pixelshift: "Welcome to CandyCrusher."

[A grin.]

Pixelshift: "It's... kinda under construction."

[The scenery suddenly trembles. Platforms briefly flicker in and out of existence. Textures load around them. PixelShift looks upward.]

Pixelshift: "Respawn?"

[A beat.]

Pixelshift: "You ready?"

[The world answers.]

[The ground rumbles.]

[The candy castle in the distance rises another floor.]

[A huge pixelated sign slams down from the sky.]

READY

[The whole level shakes.]

Signal: "I think that's a yes."

Black Scar: "Game world's talking now. Why not?"

[The Candy Man's confusion slowly gives way to rage.]

[He clenches his fists.]

[His breathing deepens.]

The Candy Man: "You tricked me."

[A step forward.]

The Candy Man: "You stole my stash..."

[Another.]

The Candy Man: "Now I'm gonna crush you."

[PixelShift drops into his fighting stance.]

[A confident smile crossing his mask.]

Pixelshift:"Cool."

[A beat.]

PixelShift: "I'm counting on you trying."

[The screen flashes.]

BOSS FIGHT INITIATED

[The level locks itself down.]

[The fight begins.]

Pixelshift: "This place is pretty sweet. Too bad you're so sour."

The Candy Man: "So. Much. Candy..."

[Pixelshift rushes down Candy Man, catching the Butcher with a massive drop kick that sends him careening into a wall of gum that sticks Candy Man in place!]

[AND UNLOADS IMMEDIATELY WITH AN 8-BIT COMBO OF KICKS AND CHOPS!]

Pixelshift: "A! B! DOWN! UP!"

[Candy Man is knocked loopy and Pixelshift hits the far side of the room, bouncing off of a rope of taffy and flying at Candy Man!]

[BEFORE GETTING CAUGHT WITH A SOUR DROP! SAMOAN DROP PUTS PIXELSHIFT THROUGH THE FUCKING WALL!]

[Both men land in a room filled with candy! Candy Man looks like a kid in a... Well, you get it.]

The Candy Man: "SO! MUCH! CANDY!"

[Pixelshift is quick to his feet but Candy Man grabs a lollipop scepter and rushes him down!]

[CRACK!]

[LOLLIPOP PIECES FLY EVERYWHERE AS PIXELSHIFT CATCHES A SCEPTER TO THE MOUTH!]

[The Glitch gets peeled up off of the ground and Candy Man begins twirling him around and around, laughing maniacally as he flings Pixelshift with a Biel Toss that sends him crashing atop a pile of candy corn!]

[Pixelshift's health bar begins to dip as Candy Man begins to rain down boots onto the poor hero! He giggles to himself, forcing Pixelshift to his feet by his mask!]

[POP! POP! POP!]

[PIXELSHIFT JUST THREW A HANDFUL OF POP ROCKS INTO CANDY MAN'S FACE! THE EXPLOSION BLOWS BOTH MEN AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER!]

[Pixel crawls away as Candy Man slowly lumbers back to his feet, eyes looking around for a sweet treat before landing on a flaming cinnamon skull floating his way!]

The Candy Man: "CINNAMON!"

[Candy Man palms the skull, bringing it to his lips and devouring it whole!]

The Candy Man: "HOT! HOT! HOT!"

[CANDY MAN BREATHES OUT AN ARC OF FLAMES TOWARDS PIXELSHIFT!]

[Pixelshift runs behind a chocolate door, the flames melting it and singing slivers off the Glitch's health bar as he escapes deeper into the castle. Candy Man laughs as he follows, grabbing a hold of a bag of candy and stuffing his face every step of the way.]

[Crunch.]

[Crunch.]

[Crunch.]

[Every last bite slowly refills his HP as he kicks open a chocolate door and barges into the throne room searching for Player One!]

The Candy Man: "Come out, come out... I have candy for you!"

[Candy Man moves to the center of the throne room, looking high and low for Pixelshift when the 1UP Wonder finally speaks.]

Pixelshift: "No thanks, I brought my own."

[LICORICE WHIP CATCHES CANDY MAN ACROSS THE BACK!]

[Candy Man turns around only to catch another wild whip to the chest! He tries to rush forwards but Pixelshift wraps the whip around a leg and pulls it out from under him, sending Candy Man on a sugar crash to the ground!]

Pixelshift: "Pixel Belmont has a ring to it, right?"

[Player One begins to spin, the whip growing taut as Candy Man takes off from the ground!]

[ONE!]

[TWO!]

[THREE!]

[FOUR!]

[FIVE!]

[CRUNCH!]

[PIXELSHIFT JUST SENT CANDY MAN COLLIDING WITH THE CANDY THRONE!]

[A million pieces of pixelated sugar explode through the throne room! Pixelshift looks at the HP bar then back to Candy Man as he lays in a heap on the remains of the throne. He grabs a gum drop from the ground, chewing before slowly blowing a bubble!]

[One that gets bigger and bigger until Pixelshift is floating into the air above Candy Man! Wings flash across his visor as he drops!]

[SKY DIVER PRESS SENTON- NO! CANDY MAN CATCHES HIM!]

[LEAPING POWERBOMB FROM THE THRONE DOWN TO THE MARZIPAN FLOOR! THE FLOOR CRACKS BENEATH THE IMPACT!]

[Pixelshift's health bar plummets from the slam, the 1UP Wonder barely clinging to life as Candy Man grabs him by the head and slams him into the floor again and again!]

[Every last hit making the floor crack and crumble beneath them.]

The Candy Man: "ONE MORE TREAT FOR YOU!"

[Candy Man grabs a large gummy from the wreckage, shoving it in his mouth as he bounces up and down! The floor creaks as he takes one massive leap!]

[THE GUMMY LET HIM BOUNCE TO THE CIELING!]

[GLASS JAR BY CANDY MAN!]

[NO! HARD RESET! CODEBREAKER! CODEBREAKER BY PIXELSHIFT!]

[BOTH MEN FALL INTO THE DEPTHS OF THE CANDY CASTLE AND WITH THEM SO DOES THEIR HP!]

[They both land with a thunderous crash.]

[Pixelshift's HP bar clinging on by a sliver.]

[Candy Man's entirely depleted.]

[GAME OVER!]

[PIXELSHIFT WINS!]

Winner & Still Gift of the Gods Champion: Pixelshift

CandyCrushed

[GAME OVER.]

[The words remain suspended above the ruined Candy Castle. PixelShift stands victorious. Barely. His HP bar flickers with a single pixel of health remaining. He laughs breathlessly.]

Pixelshift: "Cool... Respawn, did that do it?"

[Then—]

[CRACK.]

[A platform beneath him fractures.]

[Another.]

[Then another.]

[The entire world begins to tear itself apart.]

[The candy mountains collapse.]

[Chocolate rivers evaporate into corrupted code.]

[The bright pixelated sky fractures like shattered glass.]

Signal: "What's happening?!"

Black Scar: "The level's falling apart!"

[PixelShift stumbles.]

Pixelshift: "Respawn?!"

[The ground gives way beneath him.]

Pixelshift: "RESPAWN!"

[The scenery answers with violent glitches.]

[Sprites blink in and out of existence.]

[Entire sections of the map simply... disappear.]

[The Candy Castle implodes.]

[Suddenly—]

[ZZZZT.]

[A brilliant white flash engulfs both competitors.]

[INT. ARCADE ROOM.]

[PixelShift crashes onto the concrete floor.]

[Candy Man lands nearby.]

[Completely unconscious.]

[PixelShift coughs.]

[He looks around, paniced.]

Pixelshift: "Respawn?"

[Standing across the room...]

[Respawn hangs helplessly in the air.]

[One enormous hand wrapped around his throat.]

Signal: "Who's got Respawn?!"

[The camera pans upward.]

[Warlord Mars.]

[His eyes burn with something different.]

[Something darker.]

[Something changed.]

Black Scar: "Mars..."

[Respawn claws desperately at the hand around his neck.]

Pixelshift: "M-Mar—"

[Mars throws him. Respawn crashes bodily through the CandyCrusher cabinet. The arcade machine EXPLODES into sparks and shattered glass. The screen dies. Smoke pours from the wreckage.]

Signal: "HE DESTROYED THE GAME!"

[Mars slowly turns toward PixelShift.]

Warlord Mars: "You know somethin', Pixel-PUKE?"

[A grin spreads across his scarred face.]

Warlord Mars: "That game..."

[A beat.]

Warlord Mars:"Changed me."

[He pounds a fist against his chest.]

Warlord Mars: "Made me sharper!"

[Another.]

Warlord Mars: "Hungrier!"

[A roar.]

Warlord Mars: "MORE VIOLENT!"

[He leans down until he's eye to eye with PixelShift.]

Warlord Mars: "And now..."

[A pause.]

Warlord Mars: "I WANT MORE!"

[PixelShift instinctively backs away. Mars points toward the shattered arcade cabinet.]

Warlord Mars: "Get your little code-monkey..."

[He gestures dismissively at the unconscious Respawn.]

Warlord Mars: "...to build me the biggest..."

[A beat.]

Warlord Mars: "Baddest..."

[A grin.]

Warlord Mars: "Most brutal level he's got."

[He jabs a finger into PixelShift's chest.]

Warlord Mars: "Because at Ring of Dreams..."

[His voice becomes a guttural growl.]

Warlord Mars: "This..."

[A pause.]

Warlord Mars: "Is..."

[Another.]

Warlord Mars: "WAAARRR!!"

[Mars shoulders past him. Storming from the arcade room.

[Leaving broken machines... an unconscious Candy Man. aAn unconscious Respawn and one very worried PixelShift.]

Signal: "Mars wants back in..."

Black Scar: "And after what that game did to him..."

[A beat.]

Black Scar: "I'm not sure PixelShift should let him."

Fun

[Backstage.]

[The muffled roar of the Temple seeps through the walls. Rambro sits alone on a wooden bench ,his head lowered, dog tags hanging between his knes.]

[Propaganda stands over him. Several followers linger silently behind.]

Signal: "Their match is next."

Black Scar: "And Propaganda looks like a man who's already won."

[Propaganda places a hand on Rambro's shoulder.]

Propaganda: "Tonight, the world sees what I created."

[Rambro doesn't react.]

Propaganda: "A man stripped of weakness. A man freed from doubt. A man reborn."

[The followers nod approvingly.]

Propaganda: "They'll call you a monster. Good. They should."

[Rambro slowly lifts his head. His eyes remain fixed on the floor.]

Rambro: "You know..."

[A pause.]

Rambro: "...I've heard speeches like this before."

[Propaganda's smile fades slightly.]

Rambro: "Different words. Different uniform. Same bullshit."

[Silence.]

Propaganda: "Do you question your rebirth?"

[Rambro chuckles.]

Rambro: "No."

[He finally looks up.]

Rambro: "I got brainwashed into fighting one war already."

[A beat.]

Rambro: "Country. Honor. Duty."

[He shrugs.]

Rambro: "Didn't do much for me."

[Rambro rises.]

Rambro: "Then I came here."

[A smile.]

Rambro: "You didn't brainwash me. You just reminded me..."

[He cracks his neck.]

Rambro: "...how much fun it is."

[The followers glance uneasily toward Propaganda.]

Signal: "...Did Rambro just reject Propaganda?"

Black Scar: "Nah. He just told him he was never in charge to begin with."

[Propaganda looks at Rambro for a long moment. Then smiles.]

Propaganda: "Intent is irrelevant."

[A beat.]

Propaganda: "So long as the destruction is real."

[Rambro smirks as he shoulders past Propaganda.]

Propaganda: "Go to war."

[Rambro never turns around.]

Rambro: "I never left."

[He disappears through the curtain.]

[Cut.]

Signal: “Maskageddon is certainly apropos, folks, as one more luchador is about to live in the end-times of losing their identity!”

Black Scar: “I’m blessed, Sig - if ever I lose my mask, I’m gorgeous under this thing! I bet that ain’t the case for these ugly mugs!”

Signal: “Beauty is skin-deep, Scar. I think each of these men wants to cut to the bone of their rivals in this one!”

[Blackhand and Rambro instinctively step towards one another - only for Moretti to swing for Newton instead!]

Signal: “The Mobster wants a measure of revenge for the Newton Brothers’ interrogation at Slam!”

[Edward puts his guard up in the corner, but the heavy-hitting Don of Destruction breaks through and bodies him!]

Black Scar: “Rambro don’t look too happy at comin’ second place, Sig!”

[The Last Survivor grabs Moretti by the shoulder and spins him round.]

[As though something primal is awoken in them, Blackhand and Rambro go at it!]

Signal: “Look at this - amidst the carnage, Propaganda is laughing in his corner!”

[Newton staggers out from the turnbuckle, nursing potentially broken ribs…]

[The Voice of Obedience advances—]

[And clubs Moretti in the back?]

[Then kicks Rambro!?]

[The embattled belligerents reach a ceasefire as they turn round.]

[Propaganda slips away, leaving them to burn a hole through Newton!]

Black Scar: “Propaganda is pullin’ these guys’ strings!”

[Edward sighs.]

Edward Newton: “Fools…”

[THEY CHARGE HIM—]

[CHOPBLOCK BY RAMBRO!]

[CLOTHESLINE FROM HELL DEALT BY BLACKHAND!]

Signal: “THAT’S A TRIPWIRE-SLEEP-WIT’-THE-FISHES COMBO!”

[The ceasefire ends prematurely as they go right back at it - leaving Propaganda to cover the downed Newton!]

[ONE!]

[TWO!]

Black Scar: “We’re gonna see The Enigma unmasked!”

[MORETTI BREAKS IT UP!]

[The Boss grabs Propaganda by his scruff, but—]

Signal: “DROP TOE-HOLD BY PROPAGANDA!”

[—He eats turnbuckle!]

[Meanwhile, Rambro drags Edward by his foot…]

[BUT HIS BOOT COMES OFF!]

[The Ruleador is busy checking on Blackhand—]

[LOW BLOW TO RAMBRO BY NEWTON - MIND OVER MATTER!]

[The grizzled Veteran slumps into the corner.]

[Edward and Propaganda peer over their shoulder at each other.]

[Propaganda tees off on Moretti, the crowd chanting along with each shot—]

Crowd: “BE-LIEVE, BE-LIEVE!”

Signal: “He’s got Blackhand in the ECHO CHAMBER!”

[Concurrently, Newton bashes Rambro’s head off the top turnbuckle over and over again!]

Black Scar: “RIDDLE ME THAT, to a guy with mashed potato for brains!”

[The tandem offence ends. Both men share another glance…]

[PROPAGANDA WHIPS MORETTI!]

[EDWARD THROWS RAMBRO - WHO COUNTERS!]

[BLACKHAND BRINGS UP HIS BIG BOOT—]

Signal: “OMERTA!?”

[NO - NEWTON GRABS IT AND ROLLS THROUGH!]

[HE’S GOT MORETTI IN THE ANKLE LOCK!]

Signal: “CHECKMATE ROLL!”

Black Scar: “If The Don taps, every fed and every wiseguy will know his face!”

Signal: “Wait—!”

[HIGH KNEE TO THE RIDDLER BY RAMBRO!]

Signal: “The Genius got AMBUSHED!”

[No sooner does The One-Man Battalion land, though…]

[V-TRIGGER BY PROPAGANDA!]

Black Scar: “It’s you, Sig! That’s THE SIGNAL knee strike!”

[The fans are at a fever pitch!]

[Standing tall, Propaganda conducts the masses in a chilling chorus.]

Propaganda: “OBEY… SUBMIT… BELIEVE!”

[Rambro rises groggily. Propaganda kicks his knee out and straddles his back…]

Signal: “I guess the soldier really will be free of indoctrination very shortly!”

[ACCOLADE SUBMISSION—]

[THE UNFINISHED MISSION DUCKS BEHIND!]

[SLEEPER HOLD…]

[INTO A LIFTED BACKBREAKER!]

Signal: “LAST EXTRAAACTION!”

[Rambro covers!]

[ONE!]

Black Scar: “Propaganda can’t lose his mask!”

[TWO!]

Black Scar: “What about the message!?”

[THREE!!!]

Signal: “Rambro has silenced it - how fitting! Propaganda must surrender his visage!”

Winner: Rambro

Hypocrisy

[Propaganda kneels in the centre of the ring.]

[Defeated.]

[The referee cautiously approaches. The crowd rises, anticipating the unmasking. Before anyone can lay a hand on him—]

[Dozens of hooded followers flood the ring. They pour over the barricade. Through the crowd. Down the entranceway. They surround Propaganda in a protective circle. Officials scatter.]

[Security hesitate.]

Signal: "His followers are protecting him!"

Black Scar: "The congregation has answered the call!"

[One follower hands Propaganda a microphone.]

[He slowly rises.]

[Breathing heavily.]

[His eyes scan the crowd.]

Propaganda: "No."

[A pause.]

Propaganda: "I will not surrender my mask."

[He grips it tightly.]

Propaganda: "I will not surrender my identity."

[He raises a finger.]

Propaganda: "The people..."

[A beat.]

Propaganda:"Will obey."

[Another.]

Propaganda: "They will submit."

[Another.]

Propaganda: "They will believe."

[Silence.]

[Then...]

[One follower grabs him.]

[Another.]

[Another.]

[Propaganda's eyes widen - the whites of them on display. A fear unlike anything we've ever seen out of him..]

Propaganda: "What are you—?"

[They attack.]

[Punches.]

[Kicks.]

[They drag him to the canvas.]

Signal: "THEY'VE TURNED ON HIM!"

Black Scar: "His own followers!"

[The arena erupts.]

[Propaganda desperately fights them off.]

[But there are too many.]

[His microphone rolls across the ring.]

[Then... Academius walks onto the stage. [Lead pipe resting across one shoulder. A microphone in his free hand. He strolls toward the ring, utterly composed.]

Academius: "Class..."

[A pause.]

Academius: "Pay attention."

[He enters the ring.]

[The followers immediately release Propaganda.]

[Only to hold him down.]

Academius: "Maskageddon..."

[A beat.]

Academius: "Belongs to DEMASQ."

[He looks down at the struggling Propaganda.]

Academius: Not men like you."

[Propaganda spits at his feet. Academius doesn't react.]

Academius: "Your congregation... required only a little education."

[He nods. The followers seize Propaganda's mask. One violent pull and the mask comes free.]

[The crowd gasps.]

Signal: "They've unmasked him!"

[Academius takes the mask and raises it high.]

Academius: "Let this serve as notice."

[He slowly turns.]

[Showing the mask to every side of the Temple.]

Academius: "DEMASQ..."

[A pause.]

Academius: "Will put an end to this ludicrous obsession with masks."

[He lowers the trophy.]

Academius: "We've only just begun."

[The crowd immediately erupts.]

"HYPOCRITE!"

"HYPOCRITE!"

"HYPOCRITE!"

Signal: "Listen to this crowd!"

Black Scar: "They've got a point."

[Academius smiles. He soaks in every boo. Every insult. Every ounce of hatred.]

[Then calmly walks back up the ramp.]

[Propaganda remains on the canvas.]

[Unmasked.]

[Abandoned.]

[Alone.]

REC

[Ringside — moments after Edward Newton's match. Newton slowly rises from one knee, catching his breath. He barely has a moment to recover.]

[The tron flickers.]

[Static.]

[The arena falls eerily quiet.]

Signal: "Not again..."

Black Scar: "Somebody's got a message for the Riddler."

[RECORDED FOOTAGE.]

[The image is grainy.]

[Shaky.]

[Someone walks through a dimly lit corridor with a handheld camera. Concrete walls. No windows. Only the faint hum of fluorescent lights. The camera stops outside a steel door. It slowly opens.]

[Inside...]

[A teenage girl sits on a mattress in the corner of the room.]

[Scarlett.]

[Scared.]

[Her eyes immediately dart toward the person behind the camera.]

[She hugs her knees tightly.]

[A voice behind the camera speaks.]

Voice: "Go on."

[A pause.]

Voice: "Say hello to Uncle Eddy."

[Scarlett looks directly into the camera.]

[Her lip trembles.]

Scarlett: "Hi... Uncle Eddy..."

[She swallows.]

Scarlett: "Please..."

[Tears begin to form.]

Scarlett: "Come and save me."

Signal: "Who is that?!"

Black Scar: "Newton knows."

[The camera slowly turns.]

[Revealing—]

[Dr. Cube.]

[He stands perfectly still.]

[Hands folded behind his back.]

[Watching.]

Dr. Cube: "Don't bother looking for me tonight."

[A pause.]

Dr. Cube: "This... is a recording."

[He smiles beneath the mask.]

Dr. Cube: "By the time you understand that..."

[A beat.]

Dr. Cube: "She'll already be somewhere elsea and should you interfere in my match or attack me at the end of the show.."

[The camera briefly pans back toward Scarlett.]

[She looks terrified.]

[Then returns to Cube.]

[A pause.]

Dr. Cube: "I'll make certain..."

[His voice lowers.]

Dr. Cube: "You never find her."

[Silence.]

[Cube takes one slow step toward the camera.]

Dr. Cube: "Our war was never over, Edward."

[A beat.]

Dr. Cube: "It never could be."

[He tilts his head.]

Dr. Cube: "The Game Master has a future planned."

[A faint smile.]

Dr. Cube: "And you're a very important piece..."

[A pause.]

Dr. Cube: "Instructions to follow."

[The recording abruptly cuts to static.]

[Back in the arena.]

[Edward Newton hasn't moved.]

[For perhaps the first time...]

[The master strategist looks genuinely shaken.]

Signal:"Scarlett..."

Black Scar: "Cube just found the one riddle Newton can't solve with logic."

[The screen fades to black.]

Signal: And here it is folks, our monumental Maskageddon main event. There's no masks on the line here but what is on the line is a possible future World Championship title shot. If any of the other five competitors can outlast Dr Cube here, they will get a World Championship match after Ring of Dreams. This could very well be the biggest match of any of these competitors careers here.

Black Scar: But for Dr Cube, it's a Sunday. The Game Master has gone through damn near every competitor in OSW so far and emerged victorious. He won Wrestle Heroes, he became one of the very few to beat Edward Newton in a World Championship match and he even beat his ungrateful former minions in a brutal Triple Threat. Nobody and no one has been able to beat this guy yet and this won't change tonight.

Signal: That remains to be seen Scar, it only takes three and there's five very hungry luchadors coming for the doctor tonight.

[All around the ring, four chambers almost glow in a darkened silluette of shadow and malice. The Good Doctor Vinell rubbing a sharpened scalpel across his lab coat arm.]

[Academius rigid and tall, his eyes focused in on the two unfortunate souls who have to start this contest. ]

[Warlord Mars, near 500 pounds of pure fury and rage, shaking the chamber pod hard enough to nearly shatter the glass and prematurely enter himself into the contest.]

[And The OSW World Champion himself. Slumped back in the chamber with a posture of pure relaxation. Cool, calm, collected, as if he's waiting to begin to easiest game he's ever completed.]

[Inside of the ring are the other two individuals. Both men being cheered by the crowd but they couldn't be more different.]

[Darkwish. The brooding, angry hero caught up in a mystery he nearly has the answer to. Visible tension in his muscles as he glances over at his prime suspect, who simply smirks, The Professors eyes flashing with a gleeful malice. Darkwish visibly breathing deep as he focuses in on the man across the ring from him.]

[The most jovial, inspirational, optimistic Luchador in all of Molvania. Ziggy Robbins is usually all smiles but underneath the smile this time is something much darker underneath. His gaze crosses the pod for a moment to Doctor Vinell and the smile fades for just a moment.]

[Visible anger and fury flows through Ziggy Robbins for just a moment before he breaths deep, letting it pass before he bounces on his feet, almost leaping forward as he extends his hand to Darkwish.]

[Justiciero Nocturno looks at it for a moment before nodding, shaking Ziggy's hand as the bell officially rings.]

[**DING DING DING**]

[Darkwish explodes forward, looking to eliminate Ziggy early with Darkness Falls but Ziggy manages to dodge the Superkick. EAR CLAP!]

Ziggy Robbins: 'Nice try buddy, little too obvious as an opener but I know you can do better next time"

[Darkwish nods, rushing forward again but a clothesline attempt is again dodged, A SECOND EAR CLAP! Followed by a third in rapid succession.]

Ziggy Robbins: Come on Darkwish pal, you're letting yourself be intimidated by the teach. I know you can do better, I'm Rooting For You"

[Ziggy gives a big thumbs up, wide smile on his face as Darkwish nods, wiping his jaw before turning back around and getting himself into a boxing stance. Dodging and Slipping forward, he feints a wild right that Ziggy dodges]

[But DARKWISH GRABS HIS ARM, SPINNING HIM AROUND]

[DAWN! Brutal V-Trigger on the button nails Ziggy and rocks him at the same time.]

Signal: Darkwish finally landing a blow on Ziggy and that one was a doozy. Robbins rocked as Darkwish turns him around, trying to lock in that Chickenwing

[Ziggy slips out, tripping Darkwish to the mat before rolling him into a La Magistral Cradle. Darkwish struggling as the ruleador drops down to count]

[ONE]

[...............]

[.................]

[TW....]

[Darkwish manages to kick out.]

[Dark Justice staggers to his feet right into a kick to the face as Ziggy rushes to the ropes, bouncing off]

[TURN! Slingblade]

[YOUR! Slingblade]

[LIFE! Slingblade]

[AROUND! A quartet of Slingblades leaves Darkwish for a loop, out on his feet as Ziggy rushes to the ropes, springboarding off]

Ziggy Robbins: You seem a little unfocused my friend, don't worry. Let your old pal Ziggy free you from your troubles"

[And he does, with a massive springboard Tornado DDT that spikes Darkwish right into the mat.]

Black Scar: Well that's new. Is Ziggy actually starting to become a competant luchador all of a sudden?

[Robbins rolls to his feet, rushing to the top rope as he stands tall. He doesn't leap off, instead begins clapping his hands with vigour as he cries out to the crowd.]

Ziggy Robbins: Come on people, let's give it up for the determination of Darkwish here. You know how to do it, let's all cheer for him to get to his feet"

Ziggy Robbins: CLAP CLAP DARKWISH CLAP CLAP

Ziggy Robbins: CLAP CLAP DARKWISH CLAP CLAP

Ziggy Robbins: CLAP CLAP DARKWISH CLAP CLAP

[Darkwish stumbles to his feet, Ziggy leaping off]

Signal: DARKNESS FALLLS! DARKNESS FALLS! Ziggy lept right into that huge Superkick from Darkwish and that may be all she wrote for Mr Motivation here

Black Scar: Maybe so Siggie, but the next entrant is about to enter and that spotlight just went down on someone that may well take Darkwish's attention away.

[***BUZZZZ***]

[The first chamber pod opens as Academius slowly stalks his way into the ring. Darkwish stumbling on his feet from that huge Superkick, turns noticing and immediately rushes at the Professor.]

[Academius dodges a Superkick attempt, rocking Darkwish with a huge headbutt before gripping him in a double underhook]

[CHALK DUST! Butterfly Suplex slams Darkwish into the mat, Academius dusting his hands off with ease before he pulls his pursuer up from the mat.]

[Knee after knee being delivered to the gut of Darkwish as Academius tries for another Chalk Dust]

[Darkwish flips out, rushing to the ropes]

[DARKNESS FA...NO! Academius manages to dodge out of the way, Darkwish rushing forward as he manages to get his foot caught up in the ropes. ]

Signal: Darkwish dangling precariously here, trying desperately to get free but Academius is on him and he looks to have evil intentions.

[DRAGON SCREW LEGWHIP! Darkwish's right leg recoils through the ropes, sending him crashing down hard onto the mat in a crumpled heap. ]

[Academius keeps hold of the leg, pulling Darkwish up as he delivers a second and then a third Dragon Screw before flipping Darkwish onto his back]

Black Scar: Single Leg Crab applied Siggie and that one is deep. Darkwish may well be forced to tap out here.

[Darkwish screams out in pain but slowly manages to pull himself towards the ropes. There's no breaks here but the vigilante uses them to slowly pull himself up to his feet, crawling to a vertical basis that Academius doesn't fight.]

[Darkwish staggers up on one leg, Academius trying to pull him back down to the mat but Darkwish leaps up into the air]

[ENZIGURI OUT OF NOWHERE ROCKS ACADEMIUS! He lets go of Darkwish, staggering back as Scarred Justice tries to stand on one leg. He stumbles into the ropes, staggering forward]

[RIGHT INTO A TILT A WHIRL BACKBREAKER!]

Signal: Academius nearly snaps Darkwish in half there but he's not done as he kneels down, hooking Darkwish's bad leg around his neck, cranking down before planting himself right down onto Darkwish's back

[DETENTION!]

[The seated stretch muffler is pulled back tight, Darkwish screaming in pain, his hand hovering off the mat.]

[DOUBLE HANDED BULLDOG BY ZIGGY ROBBINS OUT OF NOWHERE BREAKS THE HOLD]

Black Scar: Why the hell did he do that? Darkwish was about to be eliminated.

[Ziggy gets to his feet, shaking off the cobwebs from that Superkick still as he wages his finger, adominishing Academius.]

Ziggy Robbins: For a teacher, you're very unsportsmanlike Academius. You're not supposed to cripple your opponent, but just beat him. Surely a man like you has better morals then that?

[Academius staggers up, eyeing down Ziggy for a moment before seemingly nodding. He slowly walks up, clasping Ziggy around the shoulder]

[BEFORE KICKING HIM RIGHT IN THE DICK]

Academius: You interrupted my lesson Mister Robbins. I don't tolerate interuptions, so I think you and I have to demonstrate why for the entire class. Shall We?

[Academius rushes to the ropes, bouncing off]

[EXPLUSION! Brutal Running Knee to the jaw rocks Ziggy, dropping him down to one knee before he's lifted up and slammed down onto the mat with a Snap Suplex. Academius floats over, nailing a picture perfect Fishermans Suplex]

[He doesn't hook the leg though, rolling through once more before lifting Ziggy up and nearly breaking his neck with a brutal Brainbuster.]

Academius: Have you learnt your lesson yet Mr Robbins or do we have to continue?

[Ziggy stirs, body wobbling, voice shaky but he's still lucid.]

Ziggy Robbins: It's going to take more then that to put me down Academius, my mind is ready for whatever knowledge you want to impart...

[ACADEMIUS GRABS ZIGGY'S ARMS BEFORE NEARLY BREAKING HIS FACE IN WITH A BRUTAL KNEE STRIKE! ]

Black Scar: Well that's it, that annoying idiot is finally done.

[Academius doesn't cover, instead staring at the pod as the lights begin to flash once more.]

***BUZZZZ***

[And The Doctor enters the ring. Vinell slides his scalpel across his covered arms, staring at Academius]

[Before outstretching his hand.]

Dr. E. Vinell: Professor Academius, I believe a mind like yours would work incredibly with mine. Maybe we should teach these imbecials something more advanced...together?

[Academius studies the hand for a moment before nodding as he shakes the Good Doctor's hand. And the pair lock eyes onto the fallen Ziggy Robbins]

Signal: Oh no, this can't be good. Run Ziggy Run.

[Ziggy tries to crawl to the ropes but he's grabbed by Academius who peels him backwards. He holds him in a seated position on the mat as Vinell crouches down in front of Ziggy. A hard slap rocks him before he reaches down]

[And begins opening Ziggy's shirt. Pulling the buttons off as he slowly opens it up, revealing the thin, wirey muscled frame underneath.]

Dr. E. Vinell: Shhh it'll be all over soon Mr Robbins. Just a few incisions to start.

[AS VINELL REACHES DOWN WITH THE SCALPEL AND BEGINS CUTTING INTO ZIGGY ROBBINS]

Black Scar: Oh that's messed up.

[Vinell gets one long cut down Ziggy's chest before Ziggy roars in anger, rearing forward and delivering a hard headbutt that rocks Vinell back. He manages to slip out of Academius's grip, quickly getting to his feet.]

[Right hand to Vinell! Left to Academius! Right! Left! Right! Left! ]

Signal: Ziggy Robbins fighting back here, the crowd going absolutely wild as he goes ham on the two rudo's

[A hard enziguri nails Vinell before Robbins rushes to the ropes, bouncing off]

[EUROPEAN UPPERCUT! Academius nails Robbins mid-stride, knocking him out on his feet before spinning him around]

[A-PLUS! LEG HOOK BELLY TO BACK SUPLEX LANDS FLUSH! Academius bridging back for the pinfall attempt as the ruleador drops down]

[ONE]

[...............]

[..................]

[TWO]

[..................]

[......................]

[THR....]

[......................]

Signal: He just broke up the pinfall. Why the hell did Academius break up....oh no

Black Scar: Is DeMasq about to strike once more?

[Academius lets go of the bridge, dropping Ziggy to the mat as he locks in a Camel Clutch. Vinell slowly shakes off the cobwebs, kneeling down to watch as Academius reaches down through the submission and begins to lift up Ziggy's mask.]

[Academius is trying to unmask Ziggy Robbins. The material slowly lifts, revealing a chin,]

[then the bottom of a jaw,]

[then Ziggy's real teeth....]

[DARKNESS FALLS MOTHER FUCKER!]

[Darkwish out of nowhere using Doctor Vinell as a launching pad to land a brutal Superkick to the jaw of Academius.]

[Academius flies backwards, letting go of Ziggy's mask as the motivational speaker pulls it back down quickly. The Teacher slowly staggers up near the ropes as Darkwish roars in anger, sprinting forward]

[AND SPEARS HIM THROUGH THE ROPES, SENDING BOTH MEN TUMBLING OVER THE STEEL FLOORING INTO THE WIRE MESH CAGE.]

Signal: Academius and Darkwish are out of the picture here. Ziggy Robbins looks down and nearly out as Doctor Vinell is up, and he has evil intentions written all over him.

[Vinell watches Ziggy rise to his knees before kicking him hard in the chest, dropping him down into a seated position. He looms over him for a moment before chuckling.]

Dr. E. Vinell: If you wanted your brother back Mr Robbins, you only had to ask. I can fix him, make him just like you remember him. Do you trust me?

[Vinell reaches out his hand, Ziggy staring at it. For once, there's no witty lines, no smile. Just contemplation as he looks at the hand before slowly reaching forward with his left.]

[AS HIS RIGHT GRABS THE FALLEN SCALPEL AND STABS DOCTOR VINELL RIGHT IN THE LEG!]

[Vinell screams out in pain as Ziggy gets to his feet, hands balled into fists as he looks not motivational but determined.]

Ziggy Robbins: The only thing I trust Doc is that I'm going to kick your ass for what you did to him.

[Vinell rushes forward right into a brutal clothesline that turns the Doctor inside out, Vinell staggering up into a flurry of lefts and rights before he's kicked hard in the gut]

[DOUBLE ARM DDT! BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME!]

[Ziggy doesn't cover, instead rolling Vinell over onto his stomach, dropping down]

[GOT YOUR BACK! Ziggy locks in the Rear Naked but he's not cheering for his opponent, he's screaming at Vinell to tap out!]

Signal: Vinell looks like he's about to give up but he's reaching for something in his pocket, that vial of sickening sustance he always carries around

[VInell throws it behind him, OCULAR ASSAULT INTO THE EYES OF ZIGGY ROBBINS!']

[BUT ZIGGY FIGHTS THROUGH THE PAIN, LOCKING IN THE HOLD TIGHTER]

[AS DOCTOR VINELL IS FORCED TO TAP OUT!]

[DOCTOR VINELL HAS BEEN ELIMINATED]

[Ziggy lets go just as Vinell taps, exhausted and blinded as the chemical begins to take its toll. ]

[And the lights flash once more.]

***BUZZZZ***

[The World Champion emerges, cool, calm, collected as he watches the exhausted and broken fighters in the ring. Ziggy slowly convulsing on the mat, Darkwish and Academius battling it with hard lefts and rights on the outside. ]

[Darkwish dodges a wild right, leaping off the cage with a hard roundhouse to the skull of Academius. He tries to lift him up for the Fisherman Buster but Academius slips out, grabbing him from behind.]

[RELEASE GERMAN SUPLEX..RIGHT INTO THE CELL WALL!]

[Academius gets to his feet, Cube peeling the World Championship belt from his waist and palming it in his hands as he casually walks behind Academius.]

[AND SLAMS THE BELT INTO THE BACK OF HIS SKULL]

[Academius goes down hard but Cube doesn't let him fall, pulling him before lifting the teacher high up into the air.]

[GAME]

[OVER!]

[Package Piledriver onto the steel floor, the pinfall is almost academic as he covers the Teacher with a lateral press, the ruleador dropping down to count]

[ONE]

[...............]

[..................]

[TWO]

[..................]

[......................]

[THREE!]

[ACADEMIUS HAS BEEN ELIMINATED]

Signal: And just like that, Dr Cube has eliminated Academius with two moves. Darkwish is struggling, Ziggy Robbins is barely concious, this ring is the world champions at the moment.

[Darkwish slowly struggles right into a hard kick to the jaw before his arm is wrapped around his back]

[RUSSIAN ROULETTE! Hammerlock DDT into the steel floor. Cube doesn't cover though, pulling up the apron as he grabs a steel chair before sliding into the ring. ]

[Ziggy tries to stand but a steel chair shot to the spine drops him down to the mat. Cube opens the chair, seating it down onto the canvas but he doesn't sit down on it. Instead, grabbing something from his pants.]

[A steel chain.]

[A chain he wraps around the opening of the final pod.]

[A chain he locks.]

Signal: Did...Did he just lock Warlord Mars in?

[Mars screams in rage, pounding at the pod but the glass doesn't give. Chuckling to himself, Cube sits down on the chair, staring directly at the raging Warlord Mars. ]

Dr. Cube: You know why I didn't choose you for this match originally Mars? Because you're not worth my time. You're my past, a forgotten fool who thought he could beat me and failed.

Dr. Cube: Worthless, mindless. Just another obstacle that I could put in everyone's place. You were always just a massive tool and tonight I dismantle you for good

Black Scar: Ummm...is Dr Cube insane? Why the hell is he talking trash to Mars of all people?

Signal: I have no idea but it's working.

[Mars scowls and screams, pounding down both hands on the glass but to no avail. Fist after fist drives down as the lights flash but thanks to Dr Cube, the pod cannot open.]

Dr. Cube:You are going to watch while I destroy these two, and then because you cannot enter the ring, I will win via forfeit. You don't get to put your hands on me again you brainless twit. You only get to watch as I beat you again and there's nothing you can do about it.

Black Scar: Is he right? If Mars doesn't get in the ring after everyone else is going, Cube wins by default?

Signal: Technically yeah. If Mars can't enter the ring, he loses.

Warlord Mars: YOU'RE GONNA DIE YOU CUBOID SHIT! I'M GONNA TEAR YOUR HEAD OFF AND MAKE YOU INTO A FUCKING RUBIX!

[Cube just shakes his head, getting up as he turns to the struggling Ziggy, not noticing that as Mars strikes the glass, it begins to crack.]

[BAM! Another crack]

[BAM! Another crack]

[WHAM! The glass audibly splinters, Cube swinging his head around but it's too late]

[As Warlord Mars bursts through the glass with an arena shaking roar. ]

[Glass goes flying through the air, Mars stepping over the chain as his feet slam down hard into steel floor. His eyes an inferno of rage.]

[And it's all focused on Doctor Cube.]

[Who is trying to run the fuck away.]

Signal: Well Cube is dead.

[Cube barely gets through the ropes before he's pulled back by a large meaty hand.]

Warlord Mars: DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO CUNTS LIKE YO...AHH BITCH!

[Cube reaches back, spraying something in Mars eyes that blinds him temporarily. Cube scrambles onto the mat, grabbing the chair as he throws it full force at Mars head.]

[The chair bounces off.]

[And does absolutely nothing to Warlord Mars.]

Warlord Mars:THAT ALL YOU GOT PUSSY?!

[CHECKMATE! Spinning Back Elbow hits hard, right into the jaw of Mars. Mars steps back a few places, wiping his jaw before smiling viciously.]

Warlord Mars: I"VE FELT MOSQUITO BITES HARDER THEN THAT YOU FUCKING PUSSY!

[Cube rushes to the ropes, looking for another one but he's stopped mid-run]

[BY A MASSIVE BIG BOOT THAT TURNS HIM NEARLY INSIDE OUT!]

[Mars pulls Cube up, lifting him up high]

[POWERBOMB! He lifts him up again]

[A SECOND POWERBOMB! He lifts him up again before rushing forward]

[RUNNING POWERBOMB OVER THE ROPES INTO THE STEEL CELL!]

[Cube slowly gets up, holding his back in pain but he barely gets up before he's squashed into the chain link by nearly 500 pounds of pure muscle. ]

[Mars grips him up, GOOOZLE....DICK KICK!]

[A SECOND DICK KICK!]

[Mars falters but still has the grip]

[RAPID FIRE DICK KICKS!]

Signal: He keeps kicking him in the dick and it's barely effective.

[Mars does finally let go, Cube stumbling back before rushing forward]

[RUNNING BASEMENT DROPKICK RIGHT TO THE DICK! That finally stumbles over Mars, dropping him down to one knee.]

[AS DARKWISH LEAPS OFF HIS BACK]

[DARKNESS FALLS TO DR CUBE! Leaping Superkick nails Cube right on the chin but Darkwish can't follow up as Mars grips him around the throat]

[GOOOZLE]

[CHOKESLAM!]

Warlord Mars: THIS ASSHOLES MINE GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY

[Cube slowly stumbles to his feet, staggering into the clutches of Mars who lifts him up high onto his shoulders]

[WAR]

[MACHINE!]

[ARGENTINAN POWERBOMB NEARLY DRIVES CUBE THROUGH THE MAT]

[But Mars isn't done as he slowly begins to climb up the turnbuckles.]

Warlord Mars: THIS

Warlord Mars: IS

Warlord Mars: WAR

[WAR CRIME! Massive Moonsault nearly squashes Dr Cube into the mat, Mars staying down for the pinfall as the ruleador drops down.]

[ONE]

[...............]

[..................]

[TWO]

[..................]

[......................]

[THREE!]

[DOCTOR CUBE HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!]

Signal: THE CHAMP IS GONE! THE CHAMP IS GONE! We have a confirmed #1 contender after Ring of Dreams but will it be the dominant Warlord Mars? Will it be Darkwish or miracle beyond miracle, will it be Ziggy Robbins?

Black Scar: It's gotta be Warlord Mars. Freshest man and he just decimated the world champion like he was nothing.

[Ziggy Robbins and Darkwish slowly get up, looking at one another as they realise Warlord Mars is in their way.]

Warlord Mars: COME ON YOU PUKES! COME TO DIE LIKE THE BITCHES YOU ARE!

[Ziggy and Darkwish nod at one another.]

[Before rushing forward.]

[Ziggy lands a flying forearm that basically bounces off Mars.]

[DAWN! The V-Trigger slightly staggers Warlord but he shakes it off.]

[WARHEAD! Brutal headbutt drops Darkwish to his knees.]

[ASSISTED LEAPING FRONT DROPKICK! Ziggy leaps off Darkwish's back, delivering a hard dropkick that sends Mars staggering into the ropes. Ziggy pulls Darkwish up as they both charge.]

[HIGH/LOW! Dual Crossbodies crash into Warlord Mars, sending the big man tumbling to the outside. Darkwish goes flying out too, peppering Mars with hard lefts and rights as Ziggy goes up to the top rope]

[FROM THE BOTTOM]

[TO THE TOP!]

[Massive Moonsault wipes out both men as Ziggy lands on Mars, hooking both legs as the ruleador tries to drop down to count]

[But he doesn't even lift his hand]

[Before Ziggy is thrown off Mars with a gutteral yell.]

Black Scar: Well so much for that.

[Both Darkwish and Ziggy roll to their feet, rushing at Mars]

[DOUBLE GOOZLE]

[DOUBLE CHOKE TOSS!]

[Mars throws both men into the nearby pod, cracking it from the sheer force. ]

Warlord Mars: ALRIGHT YOU FUCKERS! TIME TO GET SQUASHED LIKE THE MAGGOTS YOU ARE!

[Mars sprints forward as both men stagger to their feet]

[ZIGGY AND DARKWISH DODGE OUT OF THE WAY]

[AS WARLORD MARS SPEARS HIMSELF THROUGH THE POD!]

[The crowd erupts as glass once again shatters everywhere. Mars slowly stumbling out of the pod]

[ROLLUP BY ZIGGY ROBBINS!]

[Mars is caught as the ruleador drops down to count]

[ONE]

[...............]

[..................]

[DARKWISH JUMPS ON TOP OF THE PINFALL ATTEMPT!]

[TWO]

[..................]

[......................]

[THREE!]

WARLORD MARS HAS BEEN ELIMINATED]

Signal: THEY DID IT! They somehow did it! Warlord Mars is out as only Darkwish and Ziggy Robbins are left.

Black Scar: One of these men will be the #1 contender after Ring of Dreams. But Warlord Mars might not let either of them get there.

[Mars is furious, pushing aside the ruleador as he grabs both men.]

GOOZLE]

DOUBLE CHOKESLAM!]

Warlord Mars: RAGGGHHHH! YOU CUNTS CHEATED ME! I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU!

[Ruleador after ruleador flood into the chamber, swarming Mars as they force him out of the ring, Mars throwing official after official into the crowd and barricade as he storms to the back.]

[Both Darkwish and Ziggy are crawling on their knees as they slowly roll into the ring and crawl to a corner on opposite sides.]

[Both men started this contest.]

[And now both men are the final two to finish it.]

[The crowd begins to erupt as Ziggy and Darkwish slowly rise to their feet.]

[CLAP CLAP BOTH THESE GUYS CLAP CLAP]

[CLAP CLAP BOTH THESE GUYS CLAP CLAP]

[Ziggy begins clapping alongside the crowd as Darkwish doesn't clap but simply nods, exhausted]

[As both men rush forward.]

[RUNNING KNEE..>NO! Darkwish ducks underneath]

[DARKNESS FALLS! Superkick on the button. Ziggy stumbles into the ropes]

[REBOUND LARIATO! The almost desperation like move sends Darkwish inside out as Ziggy slowly stumbles into the corner, climbing up to the top]

[The crowd cheering his name as Ziggy leaps off]

[FROM THE BOTTOM]

[TO THE CANVAS! Darkwish moves at the last moment as Ziggy lands chest first onto the mat.]

[Robbins stumbles up to his feet ]

[DAWN! V-Trigger out of nowhere rocks Ziggy, dropping him down to his knees as Darkwish rolls backwards]

[DARKNESS FALLS! Superkick to the jaw rocks Ziggy, still on his knees as Darkwish sprints back, bouncing off the ropes]

[DARKNESS FALLS! Superkick to the back of the head. Robbins falls forward but Darkwish doesn't cover.]

[He simply slashes his throat and calls for the end.]

Signal: This may well be it Scar. If Darkwish can land that Night Terror, he's all but won the #1 contendership here.

Black Scar: Ziggy fought well here but there's no way he can come back now.

[Darkwish pulls Ziggy up but Robbins collapses to the mat.]

[Darkwish tries to pull him up again but Ziggy is absolute dead weight, Darkwish powering him up]

[BUT ZIGGY WAS PLAYING POSSUM!]

[ALWAYS A CHANCE! SMALL PACKAGE OUT OF ABSOLUTE NOWHERE! Darkwish struggling as the ruleador drops down to count]

[ONE]

[...............]

[..................]

[TWO]

[..................]

[......................]

[THREE!]

Signal: ZIGGY DID IT! ZIGGY ROBBINS WINS THE ELIMINATION CHAMBER AND IS THE NEXT #1 CONTENDER AFTER RING OF DREAMS!

Black Scar: Gotta give credit to the idiot, he perserverd and picks up the biggest win of his career and a future world championship match.

Signal: But will that match be against the current champion Dr Cube or the Pandemonium winner Padre Venganza?

Winner & #1 Contender After ROD: Ziggy Robbins

W For Wurder

[Darkwish, battered, slowly makes his way up the entrance ramp.]

Signal: "What a war that was..."

Black Scar: "And somehow Darkwish's night's about to get worse."

[CRACK!]

[Jack Standard blindsides Darkwish from behind with a vicious forearmm crashing him down onto the floor.]

Signal: "STANDARD!"

[Jack doesn't give him a second. Still bruised. Still bandaged from Darkwish's assault weeks earlier.He rains down punches with pent-up fury.]

Jack Standard: "Remember me?!"

[He hauls Darkwish to his feet and drags him kicking and struggling through the curtain.]

[INT. BACKSTAGE – PARKING GARAGE.]

[A long black limousine waits with its rear door already open. Jack throws Darkwish bodily inside. He rashes across the leather seats and looks up. Academius sits opposite.]

[Perfect posture.]

[Hands folded.]

[Surrounding him, hanging from rails inside the limousine like trophies...]

[Masks.]

[Reverend Blackheart.]

[Sujeto Cero.]

[Propaganda.]

[Fresh from tonight.]

[Others.]

Signal: "Good God..."

Black Scar: "His collection..."

[Academius studies Darkwish.]

Academius: "I know your game. Murder innocent people..."

[A beat.]

Academius: "Then blame us."

[Darkwish frowns.]

Darkwish: "What? Murder? You're the one who murdered someone tonight, Academius."

[Academius calmly reaches beside him. He throws a stack of photographs into Darkwish's lap.]

[Crime scene photos.]

[The bodies.]

[The painted letters.]

Academius: "Look closer."

[Darkwish picks one up.]

[Academius points.]

Academius: "The 'M'."

[A pause.]

Academius: "Turn it over."

[Darkwish slowly rotates the photograph. The painted M becomes a W. You can't see his face, but the tension in the limosine shifts. You can be his expression changes.]

Academius: "It was never D... M... A... S"

[Another photograph lands.]

Academius: "It was..."

[A pause.]

Academius: "D."

Academius: "A."

Academius: "W."

Academius: "S."

[He leans forward.]

Academius: "Darkwish."

Signal: "No..."

Black Scar:"He's saying the clues pointed at Darkwish all along!"

Academius: "I've solved it."

[Darkwish shakes his head.]

Darkwish: "No."

[A beat.]

Darkwish: "You're wrong."

[He throws the photographs back.]

Darkwish: "I haven't murdered anyone."

[Academius watches him.]

[Searching his tension.]

Academius: "You expect us to believe that?"

[Jack Standard leans through the partition from the driver's seat.]

[A cruel smile across his battered face.]

Jack Standard: "I don't."

[He starts the engine.]

Jack Standard: "But I do look forward..."

[A pause.]

Jack Standard: "…to doing to you..."

[His eyes meet Darkwish's in the rear-view mirror.]

Jack Standard: "Exactly what you did to me."

[The limousine's tyres SCREAM.]

[It tears out of the parking garage.]

[Darkwish trapped inside.]

Signal: "They've kidnapped him!"

Black Scar: "And they're convinced they've got the killer!"

[The limousine disappears into the Molvanian night.]

[Cut.]