A slight problem with the match...

[Gregory "Ripper" Kennedy]

:: The camera opens up backstage on Timothy Draven. He is working hard filling out paper work, probably making sure everything is in place for the event this weekend or he could just be shuffling papers randomly pretending to be busy for the camera, who’s to say. The sound of the door opening and closing is heard as Timmy looks up from his paperwork and into shot walks Gregory Kennedy. Greg is wearing a pair of black suit trousers and a black shirt which is embroidered with tribal patterns and studs. The left side of his face is still horribly bruised although the swelling seems to have gone down . ::

Gregory “Ripper” Kennedy: “You wanted to see me Timbo?”

Timmy Draven: “Don’t call me that Ripper.”

Gregory “Ripper” Kennedy: “Fine. You wanted to see me Timmy?”

Timmy Draven: “I did yes. In light of your accident I’m going to have to cancel your match at Anything Goes.”

Gregory “Ripper” Kennedy: “Accident? What accident?”

Timmy Draven: “Your fractured jaw.”

Gregory “Ripper” Kennedy: “Accident. You call that an accident. Croc tied me up and crockicked me ten times in the jaw. He could have killed me and you call that an accident. No Timmy an accident is when I “accidently” push you out of the window because you have your head up your ass.”

Timmy Draven: “I’ll remind you who you are talking to. Regardless of how it happened you have a fractured jaw and as such you won’t be competing this weekend.”

Gregory “Ripper” Kennedy: “I know damn well who I’m talking too. I’m talking to a guy who, when I first arrived in the BWA gave me my first proper feud. The guy I fought for nearly three months in some of the deadliest matches that the BWA had ever seen. I seem to recall us being fairly injured by the end of that but none of this health and safety bullshit came up then.”

Timmy Draven: “Times have changed Ripper…”

Gregory “Ripper” Kennedy: “LIKE FUCK THEY HAVE! ALL THAT’S CHANGED IS THE CROSS IS ON YOUR BACK IF SOMETHING FUCKS UP AND YOU HAVE NO BACKBONE!”

:: Ripper seems legitimately cross at this however, Timmy doesn’t flinch instead he simply sets down his pen and sits up in his chair. ::

Timmy Draven: You are right about one this Ripper. The cross is on my back if something goes wrong and someone gets injured but that’s not why I don’t want the match to go ahead. I want the match to go ahead. I want to see you too kick the holy hell out of each other and I couldn’t give a fuck if your jaw gets broken.

Gregory “Ripper” Kennedy: “Then what the fuck is the problem‽”

Timmy Draven: The problem is the insurance company won’t cover someone who isn’t medically cleared to wrestle.

Gregory “Ripper” Kennedy: “ Really is that your only problem? Come on Timmy you know the solution. Make the match unsanctioned.”

Timmy Draven: “You know we don’t like to do that Ripper.”

Gregory “Ripper” Kennedy: “Like I care. Just make the match.”

Timmy Draven: “You understand that this means if you completely break your jaw in that match it won’t be covered by insurance. You’ll be all alone to deal with it. No help will come.”

Gregory “Ripper” Kennedy: “Timmy there is one problem with your plan.”

Timmy Draven: “And that is?”

Gregory “Ripper” Kennedy: “You assume I’m going to let that bastard kick me again…”

["The Aussie Icon" Croc]

(The show comes back from the in-ring action and shows Croc sitting in his dressing room. The sight of Croc on the AWA-tron sends the live crowd into a chorus of boos. Croc is icing his ankle which was subjected to a nasty ankle-lock at the hands of Ripper. Croc puts the ice pack down and tries to put some pressure on his ankle only to wince in pain and sit back down. Croc’s cell phone rings and he presses a button to answer the phone and put it on speaker)


(CROC)
Hello.


(DANNY)
Hey Croc. It’s Danny.


(CROC)
Danny Who?


(DANNY)
Danny your lawyer. The guy who has seen most of his children and his children’s children being put through private school by having you and all your brushes with the law and management on the payroll.


(CROC)
Oh that Danny. What do you want?


(DANNY)
Draven has sent me through an indemnity contract.


(CROC)
If that shithead tries and fines me again I am walking out.


(DANNY)
No he is not fining you. Supposably from his emails, he tried to cancel your match with Ripper because Ripper was medically unfit and the AWA doctors were not going to medically release him.


(Croc smirks and does a small fist pump, showing he is excited that his match with Ripper is being cancelled)


(CROC)
Oh that’s too bad. I really wanted to fight Ripper. Oh well I better just prepare to move onto the main event by the way of forfeit.


(DANNY)
Well not quite…


(With these three words the smirk disappears from Croc’s face)


(CROC)
What do you mean not quite?


(DANNY)
Well it seems when he told Ripper the news, Ripper flipped out and demanded the match become unsanctioned.


(CROC)
UNSANCTIONED?


(Croc has a look of horror on his face. He winces as he touches his ankle)


(CROC)
Can they even do that?


(DANNY)
Well if we sign this indemnity contract which Ripper has already signed they can do it. The AWA is in a win-win situation. They get their match and the money this match is going to generate and if either one of you gets injured they don’t have to worry about the insurance excess payments.


(CROC)
Well what does that mean for me?


(DANNY)
Well if you don’t sign it the match is cancelled. If you sign it, the match goes ahead but the AWA is taking no legal responsibility for whatever happens in your match. If you get injured you are on your own.


(CROC)
What I have to pay for my medical bills?


(DANNY)
That’s about it. You cannot sue anyone because by signing the contract you are putting all the responsibility and consequences on your own head. Ripper has already signed his life away.


(CROC)
Well what is your legal advice Danny?


(DANNY)
My advice as your lawyer and your friend is to not sign this contact. Ripper is a mad man and whilst he has always been involved in these hardcore matches in his past, they have always been sanctioned meaning there are some limitations to what he can do to you. But if you sign this indemnity contact… Well Ripper can do whatever the hell he likes to you. It is going to be a bloodbath and no one in the AWA will stop it. The referee will only be there to count the pinfall or rule on a submission… He isn’t going to stop it because you can’t defend yourself or that it has become too dangerous for the match to continue. And whatever injuries you sustain… Whatever surgeries you have to undergo is being all paid for out of your wallet. Plus that retirement pension you are entitled to because of the sacrifices you have done, well the AWA will say that all the ongoing medical bills and loss of employment opportunities have come because of this unsanctioned match and they will not pay you a cent. You are an absolute idiot if you sign this. You are pretty much signing your life away!


(Croc goes very pale as he digests what Danny has said to him. He seems to think about it for a short time before a smirk appears)


(CROC)
Danny…


(DANNY)
Yes Croc.


(CROC)
You said Ripper has already signed the contact


(DANNY)
Yes


(CROC)
Well that means that I can do ANYTHING to him? I can do anything to him and no one is going to stop me until I decide to finish the match… Right?


(DANNY)
Well yes…


(Croc has a sadistic grin on his face)


(CROC)
Sign the contract!


(DANNY)
Are you kidding Croc… This is ludicrous… I cannot stand by here and…


(CROC)
SIGN THE F**KING CONTRACT DANNY!


(DANNY)
Fine! But don’t expect me to help you getting out of this contract!


(CROC)
Danny you won’t have to do a thing. Because since Ripper has signed that contract, I can do whatever I want. And the only thing you were going to be doing on Sunday night was coming to the local cop shop and bailing me out after they arrest me for murder. Now, the cops cannot touch me and I can legally murder Ripper.


(DANNY)
Croc there is no such thing as legalised murder


(CROC)
Call it what you want Danny… Justifiable homicide, mercy killing or even god damn legalised euthanasia… I am going to finish what I was one kick away from in the parking lot and that is finally ridding the world of all the stupid dribble that comes out of that idiotic mouth of Ripper.


(Croc glares at the camera as if he is talking directly to Ripper)


(CROC)
And if a broken jaw is not going to do the job of shutting you up… I guess the next step is putting you in your long overdue grave!


(Croc hangs up his phone before laughing to himself as the scene fades to black)