Saturday, August 8, 2015

Cavuto



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Trust
Off Camera
==========

The trust of the innocent is the liar’s most useful tool.
---Stephen King

After hearing those prophetic words, you may think that the author of so many chilling suspense novels may very well have penned the script to Karen McBride’s recent troubles within the Independent Wrestling Cartel.

Karen McBride, born Karen Leonard, grew up in a life where she could not trust anyone.  That is a mindset that she carried over with her when she was adopted by the McBride family at the age of eighteen.  The young beauty quickly figured out who she could and could not trust in this new life of luxury she had been adopted into and, among other things, she realized that her new sister Blaire and her new brother Stan Lee Jr. could not be trusted.

Melanie McBride, on the other hand, was different.  She didn’t trust her, just as she didn’t trust any of the McBride family, but quickly Melanie earned Karen’s trust by being honest and straightforward with Karen.  It was that honesty and trustworthiness that helped Karen and Melanie to grow closer and to become very close friends.  The two women bonded and became real sisters.

Still, Karen had a difficult time trusting people, it was a trait that would never go away.  That distrust came with her as she became a pro-wrestler and eventually joined the Independent Wrestling Cartel.  Karen knew that she couldn’t trust anyone on the streets, she learned that she still couldn’t trust anyone even in the corporate world, so she figured that she probably couldn’t trust anyone in the wrestling industry either.

Her thoughts were proven correct as she began negotiations with none other than Desmond Drake.  Desmond wanted to buy out IWC but he could not do it alone.  He went in with the help of Karen McBride and, together, the two bought IWC, Karen getting 25% of it.  Karen expected to get some favorable treatment in return.

What she got instead was overlooked by the ruling faction at the time.  She got abused and mistreated, much like she is getting now.  Karen grew desperate in her attempt to show up Desmond Drake and teach him a lesson.  She tried to reveal to the world that she was partial owner of the company but Drake kept stopping her.  In her desperation, Karen made her first mistake…

…she trusted Silas Mason.

Silas Mason used Silas World to help provide the protection needed so that Karen could make her announcement, that she was partial owner, revealing her deal with Desmond Drake and putting the pint sized problem in his place.  Unfortunately, by beginning this relationship with Silas, Karen was unknowingly opening herself up to future problems.

Silas wanted Karen to repay him for his efforts in protecting her and allowing her to make her announcement but she would not budge, she would not play a role in Silas Mason’s games.  He grew more and more impatient and began looking for a way to get back at her.

He waited for his opportunity, for his opening.

Karen’s second mistake was when she trusted Blaire.  Her sister, Blaire McBride, came to Karen expressing her sorrow for everything she had done in the past and told her that she wanted to help her.  Karen was wary at first but, eventually, trusted her.  Karen had given her a chance and, when she had fully earned Karen’s trust, Blaire began to abuse it by using Karen’s own principle ownership to take over and book matches.

Needless to say, when Karen found out about this she was absolutely furious.  The tension between Blaire and Karen grew to epic proportions.

That tension was just the opening Silas Mason needed.

He wormed his way into stealing the power and principle ownership from Karen AND Blaire.  Both sisters were out of power, at the mercy of Silas Mason, and at each other’s throats.

That was, until recent events forced the two siblings to reexamine the situation.  Karen did everything she could, with a  surprise assist from Desmond Drake, to try and win back principle ownership from Silas Mason but each time she was blocked by obstacles and hurdles…

…handicap matches…gauntlet matches…you name it and Silas Mason used it as a weapon against Karen McBride.

Meanwhile Blaire, feeling guilty and blaming herself for what happened, went about things her own way.  She convinced Melanie to lure Silas Mason into a trap and, tied to a bed, has was forced to give Karen one more opportunity at the principle ownership…

…an opportunity that comes at Awakening when she faces the monster Mordecai.  If she wins, she gets her one on one opportunity against Silas Mason for principle ownership.

Melanie McBride, her sister Blaire, and their sister Karen are all gathered in Karen’s bedroom.  Karen is sitting down in front of vanity, doing her hair and make-up.  She has an interview later today with Neil Cavuto, the Fox News senior business analyst.  Blaire sits on the edge of the bed while Melanie paces the floor.  Both Melanie and Blaire look very nervous as they watch their sibling get ready.

This is not gone unnoticed by Karen herself.

“What’s wrong, ladies?” She says with a knowing grin on her face. “You look…upset…”

“I’m just worried.” Melanie answers back. “That’s all.”

“Worried?  What are you worried about, Mel?”

“I’m worried about you, Kare-Bear…” being called ‘Mel’ is a signal to Melanie that it is safe to call Karen by her pet name Kare-Bear “…this isn’t the best of situations.”

“I am in just the situation I want to be in.”

Melanie stops her pacing momentarily and stares in shock at Karen.

“You WANT to fight Mordecai?!”

Karen would be nodding her head right now were it not for the fact that she is busy touching up her eyelashes.

“Yes, I do want to fight Mordecai.” Karen remarks. “And then I want to beat the holy hell out of Silas Mason.”

The younger McBride frowns. “I don’t get it, Kare-Bear…I mean, Mordecai is big and powerful and…”

“Nearly indestructible, evil incarnate, blah, blah, blah…”

Karen places her make-up tools down and slides around in the chair so that she is facing Melanie.

“Mel, let me explain something to you.  I became principle owner of IWC through deceit, by helping Desmond Drake and the Sinistry gain control of the company.  Later I lost my principle ownership due to SOMEONE’s deceit…”

Karen casts a nasty glare towards Blaire and if looks could kill, Blaire would be dead.

“…I fought to try and win it back, I fought through everything Silas Mason threw at me, and now, finally,  I have my opportunity to possibly win back my principle ownership, though it was, once again, done through deceit…”

Once again Karen glares angrily at Blaire, who now rolls her eyes.

“The deceit is over.  The deceit is done.” She reaches out and places both hands on Melanie’s shoulders. “This time, when I become principle owner of IWC, I want to have done it the right way.  I want to earn it.”

Melanie and Karen stare into each other’s eyes.  A tense moment passes before finally both women smile almost in unison.

“I think I understand, Kare-Bear.”

“Excellent.”  Karen motions to the door. “Why don’t you go and tell the driver that we’re almost ready?”

“Will do.”

With that said, Melanie quickly makes her exit out of the door to fulfill her sister’s wishes.  Blaire stands up and starts to go towards the door as well but Karen calls out to her…

“Blaire, wait…”

This stops Blaire dead in her tracks.

“…I want you to sit back down for a moment.”

Blaire sighs and walks over to sit back down on the edge of the bed, folding her hands in her lap and staring frustratingly at Karen.  Karen meanwhile gets up out of the chair she was sitting in and walks over towards the bed.  Karen stands towering over the sitting Blaire who just stares up at her.

“What is it, Karen?” Blaire asks in a frustrated tone. “Are you going to lecture me again?”

“The thought had crossed my mind,” Karen admits “but then I realized it would do you no good because you just simply refuse to listen.”

“What’s the supposed to mean?”

Karen balls up her fist and gently taps Blaire on the top of her head.

“You’re thick, Blaire.” She remarks. “You are sooooo thick that it isn’t even funny.”

Blaire’s eyes grow wide.  She looks genuinely confused.

“I…sorry, Karen, but I just don’t get it…”

“Then let me spell it out for you.”

Karen pulls up the vanity chair so that she can sit down and stare eye to eye, face to face, with Blaire.

“You’re here because you want to help me, you want to help me regain my principle ownership and I truly do believe that.  I would even go as far as to say that I believe that you feel guilty over what you did, not just in costing me the ownership in the first place, but also in putting Melanie’s life in danger in trying to get it back.”

Karen holds up one finger. “But there’s one problem.”

“And what would be…” Blaire’s voice trails off.

“You can’t be trusted.”

“Oh…”

“You already cost me the principle ownership once before, Blaire, and then you go further than that by lying to me and even roping Melanie into your grand scheme, you convinced her to lie to me and for what reason?”

“For what reason?!” Blaire looks shocked. “It was to help you!”

“I didn’t ASK for your help!” Karen exclaims loudly. “I did not need it and I did not want it, especially not that kind of help!”

“But…”

Karen shakes her head and speaks out, quickly shutting her off.

“No buts…the point is that you can no longer be trusted.  Melanie was an innocent who was deceived by you and tricked into lying to me, that’s why I am willing to trust her again, why I am willing to give her another chance.”

She points a finger at Blaire. “But you…”

She shakes her head “…no, we are done.”

Karen stands up and turns and walks towards the door.

“Karen, wait!”

Blaire calls out to her and Karen stops, her hand on the door knob.

“…I will try to earn your trust back.”

“Good luck with that…”

==========
Scene 2
On Camera
==========

IWC Awakening is just around the corner and Karen McBride is scheduled to face off against Mordecai in a match that very well could determine her future in IWC, whether she regains her power and principle ownership or if she will never again taste that great power.  The first great obstacle, though, is overcoming Mordecai, and as tall and powerful as he is, that will be quite an obstacle to overcome.

Awakening is to take place in the great country of Japan.  The lovely brunette already has a flight scheduled but she has one final commitment she has to meet before leaving for the land of the rising sun.

An interview with Fox News business anchor Neil Cavuto.

Now why would a cable news source want to speak to a pro-wrestler?  Why would a BUSINESS related news source want to speak to a pro –wrestler?  The answer is simple.  Pro-wrestling is only one of Karen’s jobs.  Another duty she enjoys is her duty as owner and CEO of McBride Incorporated, a powerhouse in the corporate world.

At the Fox News set in New York City we see Neil Cavuto at his usual anchor’s desk, wearing a black suit and an orange tie.  Then the director’s voice is heard…

“Neil you are back on in 5…4…3…2…1…”

“And welcome back to the show everyone and my next guest is well known in both the corporate world as well as the wrestling world.  She currently wrestles for Independent Wrestling Cartel but you may also know her as the owner and CEO of McBride Incorporated.  She is Karen McBride.”

The camera pans over to the other side of Neil’s desk where we see the lovely Karen McBride seated.  She is wearing a Navy blue sleeveless blouse and a matching pair of dress pants complete with a pair of high heeled sandals.  Her long dark hair hangs unrestrained to shoulder length.

“Thank you for having me, Neil.”

“Before we get too far into this, I would like you to tell us more about yourself and your upbringing, because your story truly is a story about the American dream.”

Karen nods her head. “It is true, and I cannot begin my story without mentioning that, yes, I am adopted.  McBride is not my birth name.  My birth name was Leonard and I grew up very poor in San Antonio, Texas with my two brothers and my mother.  Our father abandoned us and our mother did everything she could to make sure my brothers and I survived, but that’s all we did, was we survived.  Unfortunately my mother was murdered in a drive by shooting.  My brothers disappeared, presumed dead, and I would have been caught up in the mess that is social services were it not for Stan Lee McBride Sr. and Diane McBride adopting me.”

Karen reaches up and wipes a tear from her eye. “I have had a great many opportunities in my life, but none of them would have been possible were it not for the McBride family.”

“But you are sole owner of their company now, McBride Incorporated, and you weren’t even biologically a McBride.  How did that come about?”

“My parents, my adoptive parents that is, left the company to me and my new siblings; Blaire, Melanie, and Stan Lee Jr.  I merely bought my siblings out.”

Neil nods his head. “Impressive.  What is McBride Incorporated involved in?”

“We have our hands in a little bit of everything!” Karen says with a light chuckle. “But a few things we focus on more than anything, especially since I took over, is the modeling industry and charity.  McBride Incorporated stands tall with other charities trying to fight to get young girls off the streets and, just recently, we stuck our foot into professional wrestling.”

“That’s right,” Neil remarks “tell us about the wrestling industry.”

“It all started when I got my start in the wrestling industry, in the Global Division of Wrestling.  Later on I would join the Independent Wrestling Cartel and it was when I joined the Cartel that McBride Incorporated got involved.  With company approval I bought twenty five percent of IWC.”

“But I understand you no longer have that twenty-five percent?”

Karen sighs and nods her head. “That’s right, Neil.  Currently Silas Mason has it, but that’s going to change.”

“Explain.”

“Well, Neil, IWC has a pay per view event coming up, from Japan, and I will be catching a flight to Japan immediately following this interview, by the way, and in Japan  I will be fighting a seven foot beast named Mordecai.   If I win, I get another shot at my twenty-five percent principle ownership.”

“And if you lose?”

Karen smirks. “I don’t plan on losing.”

Neil extends his hand and Karen accepts it, shaking hands. “Well, good luck with Awakening, Karen.”

“Thank you, Neil.”



==========
Melanie McBride
On Camera
==========

You’re going to hear the term “monster” thrown out a lot by me, Blaire, and Karen.  That’s because Karen has to fight Mordecai at Awakening just to get one more opportunity to earn her principle ownership back.  She should already have it back.  She shouldn’t have to earn it back.  But nevertheless, it is what it is.

You can call Mordecai a monster and you would be right.  He is built like a monster at well over seven feet tall, muscular, and powerful.  This will be a monster who Karen has to take down and while most in IWC will doubt her, while most in IWC will pick against her, I am putting all of my money on my sister Karen because I know she has overcome worse than anything that monster Mordecai can bring.

The fact is that there is an even bigger and badder monster than Mordecai that Karen has to deal with and his name is Silas Mason.

Silas Mason is a vile human being.  He is a snake in the grass.  He is the scum of the earth.  He is the real monster, not Mordecai.  Mordecai is just a pawn that Silas Mason is using to do his dirty work because Silas is afraid of Karen.

That’s right.  Silas is afraid of Karen and that is evident because of everything he has done to try and stop Karen.  He has put her in handicap matches, gauntlet matches, and now he is using the monster Mordecai?

Nice try, Silas, but all you’ve done is revealed your true colors.  You have showed the world just what kind of person you really are.

You can try and try and try again to stop Karen but she will not stop.  She will never ever give up.  Even if she loses at Awakening she will never stop coming for you until she has gotten the principle ownership back.  That’s just the kind of person she is.  She is the kind of person who will not stop.

You will have to kill her and your hired gun doesn’t have what it takes to kill her.



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Blaire McBride
On Camera
==========

Karen and I haven’t always seen eye to eye, I haven’t always respected her upbringing, her previous upbringing before she was adopted by my parents.  I looked down upon her.  I could not bring myself to understand and accept the good things she brought to the table.

Karen McBride, MY SISTER, is a fighter.  She is more of a fighter than I could ever hope to be.  She does not give up, she does not quit, because she grew up knowing that giving up would lead to certain destruction.  She grew up with the knowledge that failure was NOT an option.  Unlike me, who grew up in a luxurious wealthy lifestyle all my life knowing that if I ever failed at something, that I could just buy myself another opportunity.

That is not Karen.  That never was Karen.  Since she wasn’t more like me,  I didn’t like her.  Shallow of me…I know.

I made a major mistake in trying to screw my own sister out of her principle ownership.  Not only was it wrong but it ended up costing us both as Silas Mason outmaneuvered us and took principle ownership of IWC away from us.

The good thing is that I can learn from my mistakes.  I can change and, from here on out, I support Karen McBride.

That’s a bad thing for you, Silas Mason, because while you did outmaneuver us once, you cannot stop us a second time, especially not when the McBride family stands united against you.

Do you honestly believe Mordecai can stop Karen?  That just shows your desperation.  Karen has overcome everything that has been thrown at her up until now and she has come out of each and every situation on top, she has come out victorious.  Now you think some giant monster can do the trick?  Do you really believe some monster from a Japanese movie can stop Karen McBride?

You have made a critical error, Silas.  And the McBride is ready to take advantage of your error.  We will regain the IWC Principle Ownership and you cannot stop us.



==========
Karen McBride
On Camera
==========

There is a script I am expected to follow.  The script says that I should be intimidated by Mordecai.  The script says that I should fear having to fight a monster like Mordecai; or if not fear, at the very least be intimidated by the seven foot plus pound monster who has been thus far unstoppable in IWC, a monster who has been virtually unable to put him down.

Except I do not follow the script.

I HAVE knocked down Mordecai.  I have put the monster down before and no, I did not keep him down, but by God if you give me one more chance then I will put him down and keep him down permanently.  My confidence doesn’t come from arrogance…

…ok, maybe a little bit of arrogance, but that arrogance is well-founded, well-earned, and deserved.  Ever since Invictus, ever since I was drafted by Silas Mason  to the Riot brand, I have had to overcome obstacle after obstacle, I have had to overcome hurdles that no other wrestler should have to overcome.

I fought three Cannon brothers.

I ran a gauntlet.

I fought and won handicap matches galore.

Silas Mason did all of this because he feels threatened.  He knows that I am coming back after MY principle ownership and that I will take it back.  He knows that I am stubborn as hell and determined and that there is nothing him or anyone else can do to stop me.  Case in point…after everything Silas has tried, all of the handicap matches and gauntlet matches, after everything Silas Mason has done to try and stop me…

…I AM STILL STANDING!  I AM STILL HERE!  I AM STILL COMING FOR MY PRINCIPLE OWNERSHIP!

Silas Mason even threw Mordecai at me.  You see, ladies and gentlemen, Awakening is not the first time Mason tried using Mordecai against me.  He has tried in the past and not only was this so-called monster unable to stop me, but I actually put HIM down!

In fact, I should THANK Silas Mason…that’s right, I should thank the cowboy because he has willingly and voluntarily stepped right into my trap by handing me Mordecai on a silver platter.  Do I have to compete in a handicap match?  Gauntlet match?

No…all I have to do is defeat Mordecai and then I get Silas Mason one on one for the principle ownership.

Defeating Mordecai is something that won’t be a problem.  I have already taken him down once, I just now have to take the next step and actually pin him or make him submit.

So I apologize for not following the script.  I apologize for not pretending to be afraid of Mordecai like so many others have and like so many of you are expecting of me.  But the fact of the matter is that I cannot be afraid of something I know I can conquer, someone I know I can defeat.  Hell, being afraid in general is just not in my DNA!  Nothing frightens me.

How can I be afraid?  Growing up as a child I lived through nightmares and a pure hell on earth that no child should have to endure.  Do you think I’m just some rich spoiled brat who doesn’t know what it’s like to fight for her life?  Clearly you must think that because every single time I survive one of Silas Mason’s little traps, each and every one of you act shocked, each and every one of you act surprised…

…but those who know the real me are not surprised.  Those who know the real me know that I have encountered real monsters, not some monster-mash reject named Mordecai, but REAL monsters out on the streets of San Antonio, Texas trying to fight to keep my birth family alive!

Those who know the real me know that the real person who should be scared at Awakening…is Mordecai.

You see, Mordecai is being led like a lamb to the slaughter as he goes to Awakening to face me and yet the big dumb bastard is too stupid to know it.  He’s too stupid to realize that Silas Mason has put him into an impossible situation and Silas Mason is too stupid to realize that he cannot win this…

…it’s all coming to an end, Silas. All of your games, all of your handicap matches and gauntlet matches, all of it is coming to an end because I am going to take down your hired hitman and then I am coming after you, I am coming after you and I will take back my principle ownership.

Fool me once, shame on you.

Fool me twice, shame on me.

You will NOT fool me again, Silas.  Mordecai cannot stop me.  You cannot stop me.  I will retake my principle ownership and there is no force on this planet that can stop me.

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Unscripted



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Scene 1
Off Camera
==========

The very first impression you generally get upon meeting Karen McBride is that she is a woman of wealth and power.  After seeing her one time, you may get the idea that her background and upbringing is that of a spoiled rich girl who has had everything handed to her throughout the entirety of her life.  The fact that she owns her own company, McBride Incorporated, seems to drive that point home even further.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

She wasn't brought up in wealth and privilege like some may think.  The truth is that Karen McBride was once Karen Leonard, a poor yet street smart young girl who fought and clawed with all of her might to help her mother make ends meet, to help her mother and brothers survive.  It is for this reason that Karen has an advantage over most of her enemies, enemies in both the wrestling world and the corporate world.

In the wrestling world and corporate world alike, people thrive upon order and stability.  Every powerful megalomaniac from your Silas Masons to your Donald Trumps thrive upon a plan, a plot, or a scheme to try and overtake and undercut their enemies.  Karen, after being adopted by the wealthy and influential McBride Family and learning the ways of the corporate world, has learned how to adapt to an orderly attack.  She has learned how fine tuned plans and schemes can get you a long way in the industry.

What happens to those megalomaniacs when things don't go the way they had planned?  What happens when a monkey wrench gets thrown into the equation and their entire scheme goes to hell?  Usually things fall apart and they fail.  When your Silas Mason's of the world do not take into account for every potential factor, things are bound to go wrong.

Ian Malcolm of Jurassic Park fame called it chaos theory.

Chaos theory is where Karen McBride has an advantage over most of her pro-wrestling counterparts, for she recalls quite well the days when she had to walk the streets to survive.  There were no plans or schemes there.  You had to be on your toes because anything can and usually did happen.  There was no way to prepare for anything.

The next IWC Riot event will feature one of those rare instances where no one can prepare for anything.  It is one of the rare times where order and stability is thrown out the window and chaos truly does reign supreme.  For on this night there will be no booking, there will be no match scheduling.  Everything will be completely random and unscripted, just as the card is titled.

Karen McBride knows that she could literally get put against anyone.  She could be the curtain jerker against some no-name jobber or she could end up in the main event against the world heavyweight champion.  She has no idea who she will face so she has to prepare for anything.

That's the kind of environment Karen McBride thrives in.

Things have been rough for Karen lately and she is rather glad that, at least for this afternoon, she can take a break from thinking about her wrestling career and focus on her business.  She recently obtained full control over McBride Incorporated.  Having bought out her brother and sisters, and now her adopted parents selling their shares to her, she now has full one hundred percent control of this company.

No doubt her older adopted siblings, Stan Lee Jr. and Blaire, will be upset and jealous over this occurrence.  For McBride Incorporated was started by the McBride Family and now it is completely owned and operated by someone who, by blood at least, is NOT a McBride.  Despite what she may think of Stan and Blaire, Karen does love her adopted parents and wants to make certain she does them proud and that she gives McBride Incorporated the success it so richly deserves.

The brunette beauty sits in her office in a smart red pantsuit combo and black blouse underneath.  She is typing furiously away at her laptop.  A cup of coffee, half full, is to her right.  Karen reaches over and takes a sip of her coffee and as she puts the cup of coffee back down onto the desk, she hears a buzzing sound on her desk intercom.

“Ms. McBride...”

“Yes?” Karen responds.

“You have someone here to see you.”

“Becky, I thought I told you I did not want any visitors today...”

There is a few seconds pause as Karen waits on an answer from Becky, her secretary.  And then...

“...you did, but...”

“But what?”

“...it's your sister.”

Karen sighs.  She considers asking Becky to tell her which sister is here, Blaire or Melanie, because if it's Melanie she can stand to talk to her a little but definitely not Blaire.  Definitely not her.  But, the thing is, Karen is not all that happy with either of her sisters right now.

Blaire's sins are fairly obvious.  She used and manipulated Karen for quite some time to take her principle ownership away from her and then she inadvertently helped Silas Mason get that very same principle ownership.  Silas Mason, a verifiable tyrant and sexist pig, has the twenty-five percent principle ownership Karen fought so hard to obtain and it's all because of Blaire.

That's not all.  Blaire just recently convinced Melanie to help her in a wild scheme to lead Silas on, trick him into thinking Melanie was interested in him, all in a ploy to tie him up and force him to give Karen one more shot at the principle ownership.  Karen is thoroughly upset with Blaire for placing Melanie in that dangerous position but she is also angry with Melanie for agreeing to do so and for not telling Karen about it.

Still, is is her sister out there, and whether it's Blaire or Melanie, Karen has something to say to both of them.

“Send her in, Becky.”

Karen leans back in her chair and watches the door to her office.  It slowly opens and in walks Blaire McBride, wearing a trendy black dress and heels.  She is sporting an uneasy smile, for Blaire knows how upset Karen must be right now.



“Hi, Karen!” Blaire says cheerfully. “Working hard today?”

“Shut up.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said, shut up!”

Blaire stops and places her hands on her hips. “Now is that any way to talk to your sister?”

Karen shoots up out of her chair. “Is that any way to talk to my sister?”

She walks out from behind the desk and begins to make her way over closer towards Blaire herself.

“Is that any way to talk to someone who used and manipulated me to steal my principle ownership of IWC?”

“Now Karen, we already went over this...”

Blaire backs up, trying to get away from Karen, but she is backed against a wall.

“Is that any way to talk to someone who manipulated Melanie into doing something extremely dangerous that could've gotten her killed?!”

Karen reaches out and grabs Blaire by the throat. “I could squeeze right now and end you.  Give me one good reason why I shouldn't?”

“Ummm...I don't think you want to go to prison?”

“Try again.”

Karen begins to squeeze, not hard but just enough to let Blaire know that she can hurt her anytime she wants.

“Look, Karen!” Blaire begins frantically. “I was wrong for lying to you.  I'm sorry.  But I did it with the best of intentions.  I did it for you because, quite frankly, you would not have agreed to my plan!”

Karen glares daggers right through her older sister's eyes.  Blaire, meanwhile, is honestly not sure whether or not Karen will kill her.  Finally, though, after several tense moments, Karen releases her grip.

“You're right, I wouldn't have agreed to your plan.” She points a finger in Blaire's face. “Because it was a stupid plan and it could have gotten Melanie hurt or worse!”

“But it didn't!” Blaire exclaims. “Melanie is tough, I knew she could manage it, and now look at what we have done!  You are prime to get back your principle ownership of IWC!  Isn't that what you wanted?”

Karen nods her head. “Yes, I do.”

“Then what's the big deal?”

“The big deal is that you put Melanie's health and well being at risk.  I'm adopted, Blaire.  You and Melanie are not related to me in any way shape or form.  But you and Melanie are blood.  You SHOULD be closer to her than I am to her.  And yet here you are using her as a pawn in your chess match with Silas Mason.”

Karen slaps Blaire across the face. “Don't you give a DAMN about her?!”

Blaire rubs her cheek. “Karen I...”

Karen's eyes are red hot with anger.  Blaire stares deep into her eyes.

“Karen...you really do care about her...don't you?”

The adopted sibling turns her back to Blaire. “You damn near got her killed.  And Melanie...well was stupid for agreeing to the plot!”

“Karen...look, I'm sorry, it's just that...”

“There is no apologizing for this.  Now get out of my office.”

Blaire just stares at her for a few moments.  Not yet moving, not yet leaving.

“Why aren't you leaving?” Karen demands in an angry tone. “Is there something else you wanted to say, Blaire?  Are you going to grovel and make more excuses?”

“No, it's just...” Blaire's voice trails off.

“What?”

“Melanie's here and she wants to speak to you.”

Karen pauses just momentarily. “Send Melanie in and get out.”

“Karen...”

“Send Melanie in and get out.”

Blaire sighs and turns to leave.  Just as she gets to the door she stops and turns back to face Karen.

“Melanie idolizes you, Karen.  Please don't be too angry with her.  Please be easy on her.”

Blaire opens the door and steps out.  Karen remains with her back to the door and waits until she hears the door opening again.  This time Melanie McBride steps in, wearing a flirty pink sun dress and flip flops.



“Hi, Kare-Bear...” Melanie begins uneasily.

“Karen.”

“What?”

“My name is Karen.” Karen explains. “I am angry right now and until I say otherwise you call me Karen.  Understood?”

“Yes...Karen.”

Karen turns and points to an empty chair. “Sit.”

Melanie nods and sits down in the chair.  Karen begins to pace the floor around the chair, which makes Melanie more nervous than before, if that's possible.

“Your sister was just here.  She seemed surprised to learn how deeply I care about you.  And it's true, I do care about you.  Outside of my husband Eric, I care about you more than anyone else.  But do you know why I care about you so much?”

Melanie shakes her head but utters no words, as she is still afraid to speak.

“I have lived out on the streets where I had to deal with thugs and gangsters.  I lived in the business world where I had to deal with corporate fat cats.  Many of them were allies but none of them were friends.  Not one did I consider a friend.  Not even my own blood relatives, my brothers Samuel and Gregory Leonard, I didn't even consider them friends.”

“Not even your brothers?” Melanie squeaks out.

“Not even them, because every last one of them, my brothers included, lied to me.”

She touches Melanie on her nose. “But you were different.  When I met you I expected you to be just the same but you began to prove me wrong.  You were always honest with me.” she laughs lightly. “Sometimes honest to a fault.  Blaire and Stan would take advantage of you.  That's when I began to take up for you, and that's how we became friends.  True friends.  True sisters because you never once lied to me.  Until now.”

“But Karen I...”

“I'm not done!” Karen's eyes are filled with tears. “You never lied to me until now!  You trusted her...you trusted Blaire!  You could have gotten yourself killed because of ME!”

“We just wanted to help you!” Melanie exclaims.

Karen motions for Melanie to stand up. “Stand up.”

Melanie is reluctant but she stands up anyway. “I know you were trying to help me...Blaire, not so much, but you I know you were trying to help.  And I forgive you.”

Karen embraces Melanie in a tight hug. “But NEVER do that again!  I never would have forgiven myself had you gotten hurt!”

Now both sisters are crying as they hug one another tightly. “I...I promise Karen!  I promise...”

The embrace is broken and Karen smiles weakly as she wipes tears away. “Kare-Bear.  Call me Kare-Bear.”

Melanie smiles back. “Ok...Kare-Bear.”



==========
Unscripted
On Camera
==========

It’s not a mystery to anyone that I have not had the greatest of years.  Between Prestige bombing, my own sister betraying me, and Silas Mason stealing my principle ownership from m e, my year has been pure hell.  Pure and unadulterated hell.  And to have to run gauntlet matches, compete in three on one handicap matches, all of that bullshit just rubs salt in the wound.  But if you’ve been paying attention then you’ll take note of how much more aggressive I have been, how much more fierce I have been fighting.  Again and again you can knock me down but I’ll keep getting back up each and every time.

Oh but on a traditional RIOT I can expect what is to come.  I know that Silas Mason will do whatever he can to screw with me.  He’ll send whatever goons he can after me to try and destroy me because he knows that I will not stop until I have taken back my principle ownership.

This time is different.  Riot is unscripted and anything can happen and that is where I thrive, that kind of environment is the kind of environment where I do my absolute best work.

So I can face any of you on the RIOT roster, anyone at all, it doesn’t matter.  Throw me I n against one of you, two of you, three of you, or all of you.  I have been overcoming adversity my entire life.  I have fought like hell to survive.  I have endured the worst kinds of punishment, humiliations, beatings, and yet here I stand.  I am still here.  And I am not going anywhere until I draw my last breath.

Unscripted?  It doesn’t bother me.  It doesn’t intimidate me.  Nothing Silas Mason or IWC can cook up will ever intimidate me, because I have been through it all, I have seen it all.  There is nothing that will ever surprise me.  I am ready for anything and I am ready for Unscripted.