Problems with Squirrels

[The Jersey Devil Diva]

Act 1: Renovations

“The sin of Science is to attain conceptions so adequate and exact that we shall never need to change them. There is an everlasting struggle in every mind between the tendency to keep unchanged, the tendency to renovate its ideas. Our education is a ceaseless compromise between the conservative and the progressive factors.”
William James

The scene opens on Jersey Shore in the rich area of the city. The gated manicured lawns were already starting to turn into bright green laws once again, as sparrows, and robins bobbed around the yards in search of small seeds or insects. The sun was bright in the sky, hanging over the city against the blue sky, as white cloud floated in silence. The sound of hammering, and electric saws could be heard coming from one of the homes from behind the high walls, that lined the streets. The camera soon focuses on the Canelli estate where work was still being done after the attack that had been made on the house. The black limo is soon seen pulling up the front door where a white van was parked, filled with windows, and other glass pieces that needed to be replaced in the house. Bullet holes could still be seen along pieces of the deck that wrapped around the house, a well as the frames of the windows and doors. Joanne soon steps out and sighs. She had hoped that everything would have been done by the time they had returned, but a few things still needed to be done before the work would be completely finished. Joanne heads inside with the guys following behind. The statue in the fountain had a few chips out of it, but it was nothing that couldn't be fixed. A few of the pictures that lined the walls had the glass broken, but could be replaced easily enough. They head into the kitchen and look out at the old oak tree filled with bullet holes.

Joanne: I thought they would be done by now.

Reno: I did too. There must have been more damage then we thought.

Scarpaci: The squirrels are going to be pissed. Their tree was damaged.

Rude: Are you insane? Their animals.

Joanne: He's right. It's not like there's not any other trees in the yard.

Scarpaci: It doesn't matter if there's other trees. They've been in that tree as long as I can remember.

Rude: Don't tell me you're scared of them.

Scarpaci: Of course not. I'm not scared of anythin'!

Scarpaci opens the cupboard door to get a glass, and out flies a little brown squirrel. He screams like a little girl, and thrashes around, as the creature clings to his face.

Rude: Holy shit! I'll get the broom!

Reno: Where did he come from?

Joanne: I don't know, but kill it, don't just swat at it with a broom!

Joanne goes to the cupboard doors under the sink and pulls out a wooden bat. She takes a swing at Scarpaci's face, as the squirrel runs under Scarpaci's jacket.

Scarpaci: Damn that hurt! Get the squirrel not me!

Joanne goes to hit the squirrel again, and it moves only to have her hit Scarpaci in the mid section with the baseball bat. He falls to his knees, as it runs up Reno's leg.

Joanne: Baby hold still. I'm goin' to get it.

Reno: Wait don't do anyth...

Joanne hits Reno square in the groin, as he drops to his knees. The squirrel runs out the open door, and heads back into the tree. Reno falls to the ground clutching himself, letting out a girly scream.

Rude: Damn boss... Reno, you okay man?

Joanne: Baby I'm sorry. The little bastard moved before I could hit him.

Reno: It's... it's... okay. I'll be fine in a minute.

Scarpaci: Is it gone?

Rude: Yeah, he took off through the door.

Scarpaci: What in the hell were you thinkin'? You could have killed me with that bat!

Joanne: I wasn't tryin' to. I was tryin' to kill the squirrel!

Scarpaci: At least he's gone. Little furry bastards are nothin' but trouble. If I could, I would chop down the tree.

Rude: So why don't you?

Scarpaci: They'll kill me if I try.

Joanne shakes her head as she helps Reno to his feet, and sets him in one of the chairs that surround the table.

Joanne: It figures. I'm goin' to see what's been done in my office so far. You guys just stay here and rest until you can walk.

Reno: Thank you baby.

Joanne kisses him and walks out of the kitchen heading to her office. The hallway was dark, but she could still broken glass in a couple of the pictures that had been hit, and sighs. It was nothing that couldn't be fixed but it never should have happened. The attack had been unexpected, and she never thought it would be one of her closet friends that would have had it done. Joanne reaches her office door and opens it seeing that the window and sliding glass door had been fixed, but the bloodstain on the floor remained. Her mind started to go back to that night, where it all went wrong.

Flashback...
Feb 14, 2012

The night was quiet, as the guards made their rounds, making sure no one was trying to enter the compound that wasn't invited. The moon was bright, as it floated over head. The stars sparkled brightly over head, as the camera focuses on the lights that were burning brightly in the house. The living room lights were shinning through the curtains, casting shadows to the balcony outside. We soon see Joanne get up from where she was sitting heading toward her office after a long day filled with meetings, and the usual errands they had to run. Outside shadows moved along the lawn trying to stay hidden in the bright lights of the house. A guard falls onto the balcony as the shadows move toward the house, as the lights go out. Joanne stands in the middle of the hallway wondering if it was a normal power outage or something else.

Joanne: What in the hell?

Reno: Hey, we just found two of the guards down. Both sniped.

Rude: I think were under attack boss. What do you want us to do?

Joanne: I want you to go and find my brother, and make sure we don't lose anyone else.

Reno: Where are you going?

Joanne: I'm goin' to my office. If they want me dead, they're not goin' to have it easy.

Rude: Wait a minute... You're going off on your own?

Reno: I'd feel better if I stayed with you.

Joanne: No. You were given orders and I want you to stick to them. I'll be fine. They'll do somethin' stupid and I'll end up being the one left standin'. Now go.

Reno kisses her and walks off with Rude following behind. She moved quickly to her office in the blackness knowing every inch of the house. She reaches her office, and opens the door heading for her desk. She hits a button on the corner of her desk, and hits a button underneath. A drawer pops out, revealing a desert eagle. she pulls it out, and loads it, before seeing a shadow moving toward the window. She moves to one of the black leather couches and sits in silence as she hears the sound of screams coming from the tiger enclosure. Soon the window shatters, and the sound of footsteps could be heard coming across the broken glass. The figure walks into the middle of the office, and Joanne gets up slowly from the couch, and walks up behind him, placing the eagle at the back of his head. He puts his hands up slowly, as Joanne kicks him to his knees.

Joanne: All right asshole. start spillin' your guts or your brains are goin' to be all over my office floor.

Man: Fuck you Canelli! I'm not telling you nothing!

Joanne shakes her head, knowing that this wasn't going to be easy, but she had to know.

Joanne: That's not the answer I was lookin' for. Now tell me who sent you?

Man: I'm not telling you nothing. I got paid a lot of money to make sure you were dead.

Joanne: Really? Well lets see if you'll talk if we play a little game.

Joanne opens the chamber on the gun, and removes all but one bullet, and closes it back up, and pulls back the hammer. Click. Nothing happens.

Joanne: So far you're lucky. Who sent you?

Man: I don't know.

She pulls the trigger again, and once again the man is left alive but starting to sweat knowing Joanne meant business.

Joanne: Lady luck is with you so far. Who sent you?

Man: Some guy in a suit.

Joanne pulls the trigger once again, but once again nothing is heard but a click.

Joanne: I need a bit more detail then some guy in a suit. I know a lot of people that wear suits. Who sent you?

Man: The... the... the order came from Giovani.

Joanne stands there stunned. She had never crossed Giovani, nor did she have anything against him. But then again, Senior Giovani had retired, and his son was the Don. He was power hungry, and wanted anything he could get his hands on. She pulls the trigger again, but nothing came but a click.

Joanne: Why?

Man: He said if you were out of the way, he could start taking over Jersey and New York.

Joanne pulls the trigger once more, as the sound of a loud pop filled the office, and Joanne snapped from her thought, as the sound of her cell phone broke the silence.

Joanne: Hello? This is she. Of course I'm up for a match this week. Who am I facing? Really? Not a problem. I'll be there Thursday night. Thank you.

With that Joanne hangs up the phone, and walks to her chair. It had a couple of bullet holes in it, but it didn't matter.

Joanne: First off Manabu let me say congrats on winnin' against a little nobody last week. I mean if I had gone up against Andy Star, I'm sure I could have beaten him into nothin' but a bloody pulp. But this week it's goin' to be just me and you in the middle of the ring. I've watched your matches, and the night that you stood in the ring, against Classy J and myself with Jake at your side, you learned a very valuable lesson or so I thought. Never mess with someone like me. I don't play nice, nor do I like people that think they are better than I am.

She turns to face the window, and she sees a few repair men moving back and forth along the balcony taking large pieces of glass to windows that still needed to be repaired. The attack had been one of the worse ones that she had been through, but the house was something that could be fixed, but the lives they lost couldn't be. They had lost at least 4 guys to the attack, while the attackers had lost all but one. She sent a message to Giovani and she hoped it was something he understood.

Joanne: You know I could have died two weeks ago, but I didn't. I managed to make it through a hail of bullets as I moved through the house to find my guys, and make sure no one else died. I'm the same way in the ring, and trust me I'm not as pleasant as I am right now. I know you remember the night you stood in the ring across from me, and know what I am like, and how I handle myself in the ring. I just hope you remember it, and you'll be ready to face me alone this time.

She leans back in her chair, and looks out at the yard. Once again it was peaceful and quiet, even with the repairs being done.

Joanne: Tell me Manabu how long do you think you can really stand against me? How long will you stand before me, and try to fight me when you know it's just goin' to be a losin' battle all the way no matter what you do? I guess we'll have to see on Thursday night won't we? If I were you I would train my ass off, and hope for the best. I'm not goin' to lose, because as always I have numbers on my side, and I will do anythin' and everythin' to win a match or at least turn the odds in my favor. If you think you have what it takes to step into that ring with me, then do it. If not I truly understand, and will once again walk away with a win. We are the Mafioso and we get paid to kick your ass. See you soon.

Joanne just smiles as she turns back to face her desk seeing that the drawer where she got the eagle from that night. She takes the one of the holsters she wore and placed it back in, and shut it as the scene fades to black.