A much Needed Rest

[Denise du Pris]

Act 1: A conversation with Neptune

“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.”
Mother Teresa

The scene opens on the beautiful city of Little Rock. A light rain had started to fall over the city, making the streetlights shimmer in the puddles on the drenched streets. The stars had disappeared from the night sky, and the moon no longer cast it's light to the earth below. The camera soon focuses on the Peabody Hotel which loomed up into the city skyline The camera moves around the building until it comes to the Vice President Suite, where we find the lights were dimmed, and very little movement coming from within. We soon see Denise lying in the middle of the bed still in her outfit she had been in earlier that night, sound asleep after the battle between her and Elena. As the camera pans around the large suite we see Neptune sitting across from the bed watching her sleep, bored to tears, knowing that if anything happened to Denise, there would be hell to pay. Denise begins to stir and soon wakes up seeing Neptune sitting across from her. Neptune sighs, not even trying to hide the fact that he'd rather be anywhere else but here.

Neptune: About damn time. I thought you were going to sleep for fucking hours. Geez...

Denise looks at him as she slowly sits up, putting a hand to her head. The last thing she remembered was the battle between her and Elena, and then blackness.

Denise: Nice to see you too. Where's Klayton?

Neptune's eyes show some sort of emotion but it is impossible to read.

Neptune: He had an interview to go to. Work stuff.

Denise: Figures. He would have been here otherwise. So why didn't you go with him?

Neptune gets up and walks over to the window. Is he annoyed? Is he bored? Can't tell. He looks out the window, into the night.

Neptune: He cares for you for some reason. I don't see why, to be honest. He wanted to make sure someone trustworthy was watching over you.

Denise sighs, and looks over at him. She knew that Neptune and Klayton had their differences and that Neptune would rather see Klayton alone and miserable, instead of having her on his arm.

Denise: I'm different than most women, that's why. Besides he and I seem to understand each other more than you would ever understand.

Neptune lets out an involuntary scoff. Well, it seemed involuntary. He turns to look at Denise as though he is looking at an inferior person.

Neptune: Your lot is always the same. You think you're special. For all you know he could be just using you for your mediocre skills. Ever heard of keeping your friends close, but your enemies closer? Maybe you should think more about why he's with you instead of just thinking so highly of your womanhood.

Denise smirks, and slowly gets to her feet. she had heard it all before and knew there was more to this then what he was saying.

Denise: Please. I've heard it all before Neptune. Do you realize how long I've been on this earth?

Neptune shakes his head as he sits down and puts his feet up on the table, making himself comfortable.

Neptune: Oh, please, not your sob story again. I don't care what you are. Klayton cares about you, maybe, who knows? But I certainly don't. I'm only here to make sure you don't go falling off the balcony and get your head chopped off or something.

Denise sighs, and shakes her head. Klayton must have told him what happened, but that didn't matter.

Denise: If anyone wanted to find me it wouldn't be hard. If they wanted to take my head there's nothing you could do to stop them.

Neptune lets out a chuckle. He looks at Denise and sees that she's serious. He shakes his head at her again.

Neptune: Well aren't you full of positive attitude... I think I could handle whoever comes my way with my feet, thank you. Well, except for Klayton. But other than him, I'm quite lethal with my feet.

Denise sighs, as she looks the window at the rain that was falling. It was like the first night that she had entered her new life. She shakes the thought from her head, and walks back toward the bed.

Denise: I would like to see that. You facing an immortal that has had centuries of experience in every style of fighting known to man, plus a sword... But I digress. There is one thing that you are good at...

Neptune raises an eyebrow.

Neptune: And what's that?

Denise smiles as she looks at him.

Denise: Being Klayton's bitch.

Neptune glares back at her.

Neptune: You fucking whore. Don't think just because Klayton can catch my feet that just anybody can. He's the exception. You're lucky I can't harm you, otherwise you'd feel the damage my feet can do to your fucking ugly face.

Denise just smiles and shrugs, as she removes her trench coat, seeing a few slash marks from Elena's blade.

Denise: You can try it, but I know I could beat you. I've studied in Japan under many sensi, and know how to kill a man with only one hit. So don't tempt fate.

Neptune rolls his eyes and shrugs it off. He really doesn't like Denise.

Neptune: Klayton uses my balls as toys to squeeze, I think that makes me more of an expert in enduring the highest pain there is. I don't fucking care what you studied, whore. All I care about is to get this 'watch over you' thing over and done with.

Denise soon tosses the trench coat back on, and smiles softly.

Denise: Then your job is done. I feel a lot better after a rest. Tell Klayton I'll be back later.

Neptune glares at Denise. He gets up but crosses his arms across his chest.

Neptune: I'd rather you give him a call right now and let him know you don't want me watching over you anymore. I'd rather he doesn't get annoyed that I left without him knowing.

Denise smiles and heads for the door.

Denise: I don't need you telling me what to do, but I have to call him anyway.

Neptune makes his way to the door and opens it.

Neptune: You do just that. I'm sure he's 'dying' to hear from you. Or at least, I'm sure he'll do a great job at pretending so. Hope I don't see you anytime soon. Fucking whore.

And with that, Neptune leaves, slamming the door behind him. Denise sighs, knowing it could have gone better but he insulted her from the beginning. That was one mistake that he wouldn't make again. She digs her cell phone out of her pocket, and begins to dial. It rings for a few seconds, but goes to his voice mail. Denise sighs, and waits for the tone.

Denise: Klayton it's me. I just wanted to let you know that I'm all right, and that Neptune has gone. I sent him away because I didn't need him to watch over me. But call me when you get this... We have a lot to talk about. Love you.

Denise hangs up, and turns back to the window once again. Lightening started to flash, and thunder ripped through the sky, rumbling as it came toward the city. Denise continues to stare out the window, as the scene fades to black.

Act 2: Final Words for Katrina

The scene reopens with Denise standing on the roof of the Peabody Hotel. The rain streamed down from the sky, while the thunder rolled, and lightening ripped through the sky. Her collar was pulled up around her neck, as she looked down at the city below. There still hadn't been any word from Katrina and Denise had to smile. She figured Katrina wasn't worth worrying about, and now she had proof.

Denise: What's the matter Katrina? Afraid to show yourself, or are you to busy staring at yourself in the mirror? Vanity is something that will kill you in the end. I've known many women that would rather look at themselves in the mirror then face the truth that is around them. They were vain, and didn't care for anything else, or about anyone else. I thought by now you would utter words from that thing that you call a mouth.

Denise just continues to stare out at the city, as the lightening flashes brightly lighting up the city below.

Denise: I look beyond the looking glass Katrina, and know that if I don't defend my title you will end up walking away with it, but guess what, you won't be walking away with anything. I put to much time into getting this title, and besides you don't deserve it. You tossed the Diva Title away and for what? So you could show the world that the Diva Title is far beneath you, or is it because you think you're better than the other Diva's in this place?

Denise walks along the roof top as if in search of someone. She kept her gaze toward the street as she moved along the top, watching the world below.

Denise: Katrina I want you think of me as the Angel of Death, just for the fact that after our match you will not be walking away. This will be your last match, and when all is said and done you will get what you truly deserve. You see I'm not going to play games, or go easy on you, because you need to be put in your place and shown that you are no longer the center of attention and the world does NOT revolve around you.

As Denise stares out at the city the rain seems to stop falling on her. She looks back and there stood Sam, with an umbrella. Denise smiles slightly.

Denise: What are you doing here?

Sam: I thought I would come and make sure you were all right. I called but you never answered. I knew something was wrong.

Denise: There's got to be something else. You know I bounce back every time I go through the quickening.

Sam: I know... The real reason I came is because Nick called... He needs to talk to you. someone was brought in that you need to see...

Denise: What do you mean?

Sam: I'm not sure... That's why you need to go and see him after your match this week. Are you ready to go inside?

Denise: I think so. I've spent enough time out in the rain. Klayton hasn't called me back... He must be busy.

Sam: I saw him when I was coming in. He was looking for you.

Denise smiles softly as she nods, and heads back to the stairs with Sam, as the scene fades to black.