After the Show

[The Jersey Devil Diva]

Act 1: Strange Outcome

“Victory is won not in miles but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later, win a little more.”
Louis L'Amour

The scene opens on the arena where Rush Hour had just finished. The people had left, except those brave enough to wait out in the cold for their favorite superstars to come out, and sign an autograph or two. The stage hands moved about the arena floor breaking everything down for the move to the next city in just a few days time. She played the match over and over in her mind, and yet it came out the same. Instead of fighting each other they put on a show for the crowd and they ate it up. She had won, by disqualification but it didn't matter. A win, was a win. Classy J had lived up to his end and so did she. The management had tried to have them turn on each other and they had found a way around it. It had been a match that no one would ever forget and now she had a higher respect for Classy J. He was just as underhanded as she was, and could be a possible ally.

Reno: Did you have any idea what he had planned?

Joanne: Not a clue. I have to say that the management probably isn't to thrilled with what we did, but you know what... It was worth every minute of it.

Rude: It was pretty damn funny. I wonder what's going to happen now though? I mean you two went against what the bosses said.

Joanne: When have I ever cared what the management wants? I've twisted the rules to win matches, or to make sure I used what I could on my opponent have I not?

Scarpaci: You have. I mean the last time you used your bass knucks, you nearly killed the guy.

Reno: Yeah you did break his nose however. That was pretty cool.

Rude: Then when you used the pepper spray on that one girl... What was her name?

Joanne's eye twitches slightly as she thought back to her days in the NWC. When she had finally reached the top, there was always one person standing in her way, no matter what she did. But she had gotten even with her. The last match Joanne ever had against her was an all out brawl and Joanne had managed to get pepper spray into the ring, and use it at least once. It was payback for everything, and something Zelda would never forget. Joanne snaps from her thoughts, and sighs.

Joanne: Somethin' that I would forget. That bitch has probably finally got what was comin' to her. But I need to focus on my match for next week. Any word about who I'm up against yet?

Scarpaci: Not yet.

Joanne: Damn. Oh well, lets get home. I miss my bed.

Scarpaci: Hey tomorrow, I need you and Rude to pick somethin' up at the airport for me.

Rude: We got the shipment before we left, what in the hell are you sending us for?

Reno: Yeah it's not her birthday either. See I remembered.

Reno leans over to Rude, as Joanne smiles softly.

Reno: *Whispering* It's no her birthday is it?

Rude shakes his head, as Joanne sighs, and then looks over at Scarpaci with wonder herself.

Joanne: What is waitin' for them at the airport?

Scarpaci: It's a gift for you. It's been 17 years since she took the family over this weekend, and I got her somethin' that no one else has ever thought to give her.

Reno: It's this weekend? Holy crap.

Rude: What you are going to get man?

Reno: I have no clue...

Joanne: Well you have time to figure it out. C'mon I wanna get the hell out of here before the sun comes up.

They start to gather up everything and are soon heading for the door. Joanne begins to dial her cell phone and sighs when it goes to voice mail. She had hoped they would have run into Classy but she hadn't seen him since their match had ended.

Joanne: Hey Classy it's me. Nice match tonight. Thanks for what you did tonight, and hopefully the next time that we have to face each other, it'll be a normal match. Anyway I'm havin' a get together this weekend, and I would like it if you stopped by. Hope I'll see you there.

Joanne hangs up, and smiles to herself. The kid had potential, and one day he would be in the top ranks with greats like herself. They reach the limo and she slides into the back, with the guys following in behind her. The limo soon roars to life, and they pull out into the night, as the scene fades to black.

Act 2: An Unexpected Gift

The scene opens on another beautiful day in Jersey. Newark Airport was busy with flights taking off and arriving at the terminals, while the cargo area, was slow with a few flights coming in carrying goods from all over the world. A black car is soon seen pulling up to one of the many doors in the cargo area. It soon stops and Reno and Rude step out as a small Indian man approaches them.

Man: Are you the ones the loud mouthed one sent?

Reno: That depends... Was he dressed in a suit like this?

Man: Yes yes... He was dressed like you. It took us a lot to get what he wanted, but we have it.

Rude: Well where is it?

Man: It's in the back. Follow me.

They walk to the back of the cargo area, and there on the floor was a rather large sack. Reno and Rude look at each other and then back at the sack, before the man walked over to it and smiled.

Man: It took us almost 3 days to find it. But here it is. Tell the loud mouthed one he owes another 1000. I lost 4 men bringing it here.

Reno: What in the hell did he get?

Rude: I don't know but we better get it back to the house.

Man: All you need to know that is if you are caught with it, you never saw me or even know me.

Reno and Rude pick up the large sack and start carrying it back toward the car. The Indian man had disappeared just as quickly as he had come. What he had said had unnerved them a little, but it was nothing that they couldn't handle. The police were on their payroll and the Feds never had anything to make it stick. They soon get the sack into the backseat and close the door wondering what it could possibly be.

Reno: What do you think it is?

Rude: I don't know but it was heavy. Maybe he got the boss a cabana boy or something.

Reno: I don't think they would have lost 4 guys bringing a cabana boy to the states.

Rude: Yeah, you're right. Maybe it's a snake.

Reno: If it was a snake, it would have been a lot heavier than that.

They are soon pulling out of the airport, and heading down the interstate back toward Jersey Shore. Reno glances back at the sack, and sees it move ever so slightly. His eyes get wide as he taps Rude on the shoulder.

Rude: What is it man?

Reno: I could have sworn that sack moved.

Rude: It's your imagination man. It's probably a rug or something.

Reno: Maybe it's a Nicaraguan.

Rude: I doubt that. That dude we met up with was Indian... and Nicaragua is in Central America.

Reno: When what in the hell did Scarpaci get her?

Rude: I don't know man...

Reno: Maybe it's something like from Indiana Jones or something.

Rude: Oh snap man... What do you think it is then?

Reno: I don't know... It's to big to be a crystal skull.

Rude: Hey maybe it's one of those statues from the Temple of Doom.

Reno: You mean a Kali statue?

Rude: Yeah. That would be awesome to have one of those in the house.

Reno: Nah, I don't think so. She's Catholic, and it would just end up in the closet anyway.

Rude: Then I have no clue what it could be then. I mean whatever it is it can't be anything alive.

They drive in silence heading back to the house, as the sack in the backseat begins to move. As it falls down, all that can be seen is a rather large male Bangle tiger. It growls slightly as it pokes his head between the seats. Reno and Rude turn slightly only to see the tiger between them. They start to scream as it roars loudly at them. The car swerves in the road, as the tiger takes a few swipes at them, only to have the guys calm down, trying to figure out what to do with the tiger in the back seat.

Reno: WHAT IN THE HELL WAS A TIGER DOING IN THAT SACK?!

Rude: I don't know, but he seems to quieting down... Maybe if we just calm down ourselves it'll stay that way...

Reno: You're right... We'll just stay calm... He's eating the backseat Rude.

Rude: Let him... We don't want to piss it off right now.

They continue back to the estate, and soon arrive at the gates. Scarpaci, and Joanne are waiting for them as they pull up in front of the house. Reno and Rude step out of the car, leaving the tiger in the backseat still tearing the seats apart. Scarpaci leads her over to the car, and she is taken back by what she sees.

Scarpaci: Well what do you think?

Joanne: It's a tiger! You got me a fuckin' tiger? What in the hell were you thinkin'?

Scarpaci: I remember you sayin' that you like tigers so I thought I would get you one.

Joanne: Yeah a stuffed one... Like one from the zoo in Central park.

Scarpaci: Well now you have a real one. I had it shipped from India. It's a real bangle tiger.

Joanne: It's thoughtful, but where in the hell are we goin' to put it?

Scarpaci: That's all taken care of. I had part of the yard made into a place where we can keep it.

Reno: So that's what was going on over in that part of the yard. How did you not see that?

Joanne: I don't know... I think I'll call the zoo and see if they can send someone to handle this. I don't think he's goin' to come out on his own.

Joanne walks away leaving the boys with the tiger still eating the car. She shakes her head as she closes the front door and heads to her office wondering what she was going to do with a tiger. She would be a bit safer now considering if anyone came over the wall and into the area where the tiger was, they weren't going to be walking away. She reaches her office and opens the phone book and starts looking for the number for what she wanted, as her cell phone began to ring. She answers it as she leans back in her chair.

Joanne: Hello? This is her. Main event? Really? I'm honored. Who's it against? Jake Eaton? Not a problem. I'll be there and trust me when I'm done he won't know what hit him. See ya soon. No, thank you.

Joanne hangs up her phone and turns facing the window, watching the guards make their daily rounds. She was main event after three weeks, and that meant she was already heading for the top. But this Jake Eaton could be a problem. She had watched the last match of the night, and he was good, but it was nothing that she couldn't handle.

Joanne: First off Jake let me say congrats on winnin' your match last night. I have to say that I'm not impressed really. I mean you managed to get one of your opponents disqualified, and destroyed your other opponent. It doesn't take a genius to do either one, but the way you did it was pathetic. I mean if you truly had any balls you would have gone in there and took it like a man. If you didn't win it wouldn't have been the end of the world would it? I know what you're thinkin' and I know my match against Classy J didn't go the way I wanted to. But neither one of us was goin' to give in to what the management wanted to do. It was a grudge match and neither one of us had anythin' against the other. I know you want gold, and that's what drives you in the ring. But me... It's a lot of thin's, and it's somethin' I don't want to get into.
Joanne starts flipping through the phone book again, and sighs as she passes ads for strip clubs, and restaurants on every other page.

Joanne: This week it won't be so easy to get past me. I'm goin' to do everythin' that I can to brin' you down. I'm not someone that plays games when I'm in the ring, and let me tell you somethin' when you face me you will see why I am called the Jersey Devil Diva. I am feared by those that stand before me in and out of the ring. I don't climb the ladder just to get gold, I climb it to see others fall, and sink far below me. Both of us are new to the UWA, but I am not new to the business. I've been doin' this game off and on for the last 8 years of my life, and I haven't been easy on any of my opponents. If you want to make a name for yourself then I would advise you to get off your ass and try to brin' someone like me down. I've been through hell and back, and still came back. I've faced ex lovers, old friends, and cocky kids like you tryin' to make a name for themselves by brinin' down a giant. You can't out smart me or cheat. I know every underhanded thin' that is done in the ring, because I've done it all.

Joanne smirks, as she turns back to her desk, and sets the phone book on the desk as she continues to flip through the pages. There was still plenty to do before the weekend, and now she had to deal with a tiger. Her guests would love it, and it was something that no one else had anywhere on the east coast.

Joanne: Tell me how long do you think you are goin' to last against me when we meet in the middle of the ring this week? You are so full of yourself that you can't see what's in front of you. You think you already have the match won, but you don't. A lot of thin's can happen, and I will make sure that you are on the mat wonderin' what in the hell happened as I walk off with another win under me.

Joanne turns back toward the window as she hears screams coming from outside. She sees the guards running across the lawn followed by the tiger in full sprint. Joanne sighs, and flips to the last part of the phone book. She dials the number and soon it's picked up on the other end.

Voice: Hello, Bronx Zoo. How can I help you?

Joanne: Hi, I was wonderin' if you could send someone out to the Canelli estate.

Voice: Can I ask why?

Joanne: The thin' is we have a bangle tiger runnin' loose, and I need someone to help us put it in its new home...

Voice: You know having a Bangle tiger in the US is illegal right?

Yes.

Voice: Ok... Is it male or female?

Joanne:I don't know... All I know is the thin' probably goes about 250 and is tryin' to eat my people.

Voice: It sounds like a young male. Do you have anyone to take care of it?

Joanne: No, but I will pay anyone who is willin' to come and take care of it on a weekly basis.

Voice: Can you hold please?

Joanne: Sure.

Joanne waits as the phone goes quiet on the other end. She turns back to the window as she sees the tiger trying to climb the big oak tree in the back.

Voice: We can have someone out there in about 10 minutes. I just hope you know what you're getting yourself into. They are expensive.

Joanne: I don't care what it takes, I'm willin' to pay.

Voice: That's good to know. We'll send the best we have in tiger care.

Joanne: Good... Oh and brin' tranq's if you have them.

The voice on the other end just laughs as Joanne sighs. This wasn't going to be easy, but it was something that had to be done. She hangs up, and heads back out of the office and starts to head back outside.

Joanne: Well that's one problem taken care of. As for you Jake, I just hope you know what you are gettin' into. You see I'm not goin' to play any games with you, nor will I stop until I get what I want. I've already started to climb to the top, and you are nothin' more than a steppin' stone in my path. Once I take you down, there will be another and another, but each of them will fail just like you will on Thursday night.

She smiles to herself as she heads outside onto the front stairs as she hears Reno and Rude coming toward her at full sprint.

Reno: Did you call someone about that thing?

Joanne: I did. They'll be here in 10 minutes or so.

Rude: That's a good thing, because it's got like 6 of our guys trapped up in a tree.

Joanne: I know. Don't worry he'll be in his happy little home before too long.

Reno: How do you know it's a male?

Joanne: The one I talked to said it was. Let's just stay here and wait for whoever they are sendin'. I'm not goin' to even tempt fate right now. Where's my brother?

Rude: He's up in the tree with the others. In nothing but his boxers...

Joanne sighs, as she leans against the railing, waiting for someone to arrive from the zoo.

Joanne: *Voice Over* Don't get to attached to anyone in the UWA Jake, because when I'm done with you, your career will be over, and once again I will be the best at what I do. If you are stupid enough to stand in my way on Thursday night, then so be it. I just hope you know what you are really in for. We are the Mafioso; and we get paid to kick your ass. See you soon.

Joanne smiles as she looks over the yard. The backseats of the car had been chewed to the point of no return and would have to be fixed. Soon a van marked with the Bronx Zoo logo pulls up, and a young woman steps out. She walks up to the front doorstep and smiles softly extending a hand to Joanne.

Woman: Hi I'm Sara. The zoo sent me. They told me you have a bangle tiger in the yard.

Joanne: Yeah. He's in the backyard. If you want to follow me I'll take you to him. I'm sure he's not quite done terrorizin' my guys yet.

Sara: I'm sure he's just scared. Once we get him into his new home I'm sure he'll be fine.

Joanne sighs, and starts for the backyard with the young woman following behind as the scene fades to black.