Heads Roll

[Ameronth]

*** Gary Bloomfield walks into Damion Black's office. In spite of his best efforts to maintain his composure, the look on Damion Black's face makes Gary visibly timid. Gary tries to placate his boss. ***

GB: "Mr. Black, I know what this is about and I know what you're going to say, and you're right, but I-"

DB: "Oh, you know what I'm going to say. Well, splendid! That will make this conversation all the quicker! Clean out your desk. You're fired."

GB: "Yes sir, I- wait, WHAT?!"

DB: "I will not tolerate my own staff going behind my back and against my wishes. You knew that when you signed Aldo Wyld to a new contract. You knew and now you must accept the responsibility of your actions. "

GB: "B-b-but.... Mr. Black, I signed the Masked S-shooter to a contract, not Aldo Wyld. I mean, this is pro wrestling! This doesn't give PWA a black eye-"

*** Damion slams his hand down on his desk, making Bloomfield jump. ***

DB: "I will NOT tolerate insubordination! I will NOT be made to look FOOLISH! Everyone knows that is Aldo Wyld under a mask and you are enabling him! Can you imagine the negative press we will receive if that old fool dies in a PWA ring?! We would not recover! MY reputation would be destroyed! I am not willing to accept that for the wishes of a washed up has-been or any of his misguided sycophants, yourself included! You are no longer the voice of PWA! Now, leave here immediately!"

*** Gary's mouth opens and closes, searching for words to say. Finding none, his shoulders slump forward and he hangs his head in defeat. Gary quietly turns his back on a seething Damion Back and closes the door behind him without a sound. ***

[Quillz]

(The scene opens in the training area of the Greco Wyld School of Wrestling. Rebel and Alyssa Wyld are seated at a card table in folding chairs watching the latest news update from the PWA Network. A newsflash airs announcing the unceremonious firing of PWA Head of Talent Relations Gary Bloomfield. Rebel pounds his fist on the table and stands up.)

REBEL: Dammit. I knew that something like this was going to happen.

ALYSSA: Damion Black never just lets anything slide.

(Rebel paces with his hands on his hips.)

REBEL: You know... if I'm being honest, I was a little relieved when Black approached Uncle Aldo about retiring. I've been concerned about his body breaking down on him for a long time now. And you know Aldo... he's always so secretive about his health. If he was dying, we'd be the last to know.

ALYSSA: Wait, you actually approved of Damion forcing Aldo into retirement?

REBEL: No... no not exactly. But to tell the truth, I was looking for an opportunity to talk to Aldo about it myself. He hasn't been the same during our training sessions. But how the hell do you bring up something like that to him?

ALYSSA: You don't... unless you want to get stretched six ways to Sunday.

REBEL: So I let it go. When I found out he agreed to hang up the boots on his own... that he set the day and date, I was relieved. I was the first one to congratulate him on a hell of a career. But then that bastard Watts had to open his mouth.

ALYSSA: You know what? I don't even know it would have made a difference if he didn't. Uncle Aldo was looking for an excuse to stay in the game. He would have jumped on anyone who gave him an opportunity for one more match. Watts made it easy for him.

REBEL: And now... I don't know what to think. If anyone deserves to end their career on his own terms it's Aldo. And if he's determined to make a last run as the Masked Shooter and fly in the face of what Black wants, then who the hell are we to tell him otherwise?

ALYSSA: But Rebel... this thing with Gary Bloomfield. It's not right. He's the voice of PWA. He was the one who signed us to our contracts. Do you think Damion Black would have ever given us a chance on his own, given his history with Akira?

REBEL: No you're right. Something has to be done. But how do we make this right? Aldo dodged a bullet. Despite the way things look, it looks like his place on the roster is secure, since Damion seems to have taken his frustration out on Bloomfield. If we interfere, we might just end up putting the Masked Shooter back in Damion Black's sights.

ALYSSA: And there's nothing we can do to get Bloomfield his job back anyway. It's Black's company.

REBEL: There has to be something though. I think it's time for a family meeting.

(Scene fades to black.)