Act 1: Loyalties
Voice Over: When they told me that I would have to put my family first, and I said ok. But now I have a whole other life that I'm still tryin' to get use to. I am alive, but I'm dead. My heart doesn't beat and I don't need to breathe. I can hear thin's from half way across the house, and even out in the yard near the main gates. I love the way I am now, and I don't want to go back!
The scene opens on the beautiful city of Jersey Shore. The night had come on quickly, and the stars had come out in full force and the moon over head was almost full once again. The camera moves over the city and soon comes to a stop on one of the nicer parts of the city. The massive homes all sit behind the tall brick walls were mostly lit from top to bottom, while others were dark and the heavy gates were closed. The tall trees that lined the driveways were now mostly bare, and the long branches now looked like gnarled hands reaching out to anything that passed underneath them. The camera moves along the long street and soon we see an all to familiar wrought iron gate with the "C" in the middle of the gate. The camera moves up the long driveway, and to the massive estate that sat with lights on, casting shadows the grounds below. Guards make their rounds, keeping the house safe from those that would try to get in. The camera moves to the interior of the house where we hear quiet voices, coming from the living room, and the sound of a game of some sort being played. The camera moves over the empty hallway that lead back toward the back of the house were we see Joanne's office door was cracked open slightly. The smell of a vanilla mixed with a heavy brandy seemed to drift on the air, mixing with the smell of a cherry cigar smoke. We see Joanne coming in from the balcony and sits down in the high backed chair behind the massive deep dark chair wood desk. Joanne leans back in her high backed chair, and turns to face the window. She feels a chill move up her spine but yet she smiles softly as she turns the chair back around. She felt the figure before he steps out. Clad in black finery like a shadow out of a nightmare. There he was, her sire, Sephiroth a soft smirk across his face as she turns to him with a smile of her own.
Joanne: When did you get here?
He just shakes his head at the question.
Seph: You assume I'm not always watching. Such folly in one so young. It's like you don't know me at all.
Joanne leans forward in her chair, and rests her head on her hands.
Joanne: I'm still not use to this whole thin'. Let me guess you're here to see if I'm alright about facin' off against Emily? I mean I've been thinkin' about it and... If I beat her and Merxy it's another win... If I lose...
Seph: It's not about that at all.
He says interrupting his hands drawing over her shoulders rubbing them slightly as he stands behind the chair. His shadow casting a dark overlay to her face which only stays lit by the Tiffany style desk lamp before her.
Seph: Though the thought has worried me. Emily senses some division between you. I need to know that I can count on you. As you know my childers track record is not exactly the most illustrious. You are after all only the second that has felt my embrace.
Joanne looks over her shoulder as she leans back feeling his touch on her shoulders.
Joanne: Of course you can count on me. Have I given you any doubt in that as of late?
His face remains unchanged and yet he releases her shoulders turning his back to her as he walks the floor to the far end. The clock and his heels the only sound resounding in the room as he looks at the pictures in the room examining them.
Seph: Most of these belong to your father...
He lifts the lid on a box sitting on a nearby end table and smiles at it's contents.
Seph: Why haven't you sent them to him?
Joanne: I've been meanin' too. I asked him the last time we talked and he said whenever I got to it. He knew I was busy.
Seph: You're never too busy for your family, Joanne.
He says coldly at her flippant response. His hand moves into the box and he pulls out a Peacemaker revolver, hand engraved and beautifully kept.
Seph: I remember when I gave this to your grandfather. We had just made our first million together. It was an exciting time. Just after the great war. He saved my life you know. He didn't even realize it. I've always been loyal to your family, Joanne. I expect the same.
He reaches in the box with his other hand and turns his back to her to where he can't see him fiddling with the gun. Joanne gets to her feet and leans against the desk.
Joanne: Of course. Why would I go against you? Especially now.
He smiles finally turning around. Gun still in hand as he walks quietly looking at the gun in question. He sits nonchalantly falling into the seat before the desk before smiling at her with a devilish grin.
Seph: Your grandfather had a saying, Joannie. "Talk is cheap, but actions cost you plenty." So, I have a splendid idea. Why don't we play a little game?
Joanne raises an eyebrow and moves back to her seat behind the desk.
Joanne: What did you have in mind?
He smirks and then places a single bullet on the table made of pure silver as he looks at her with a smirk watching her reaction. Her eyes get wide as she looked down at the bullet and then back at him.
Joanne: Russian Roulette?
Seph: Six chambers. Five chances. A test of loyalty, of bravery. The question is... do you trust me?
He says picking the bullet up and unlocking the cylinder. Joanne swallows hard as she looks at the shimmering revolver and then nods slowly.
Joanne: I do.
He places the bullet inside spinning the cylinder before clicking it back in place and smiling like a cat with a mouse.
Seph: Good.
He settles the gun under his chin and with confidence pulls the trigger until a loud CLICK is heard and the cylinder revolves. He then places the gun before her on the desk. As she goes to grab it he places his hand on hers.
Seph: Calm yourself. You'll do fine.
He says before withdrawing his hand again.
Voice Over: What in the hell? Am I crazy? Is he serious? I mean is this all a test to see if I trust him or is it because... He doesn't trust me and what the outcome could be in my match against Emily and Merxy? Am I really goin' to do this? Should I do this?
Joanne picks up the gun and places it her temple and closes her eyes taking a deep breath and hears a CLICK. She opens her eyes and sets the gun on the desk. He chuckles at her response. Confidence in his mannerism and voice making her nervous. His smile never leaving his face as he grabs the gun this time putting the barrel in his mouth for added theatrics. She watches as the trigger pulls the cylinder moves and then... CLICK. The sound making her jump a bit as it does before he tosses the gun back on the table before her.
Seph: Your shaking. Afraid of a little silver, love? Or is it the pain? You don't have to do this you know. You could just take the failure. I won't be too disappointed.
Joanne picks the gun up once again, and spins the chamber once again.
Joanne: I'm not afraid. It's always been somethin' I expected to do one day... If it ever came to that at least. I'll keep goin' until the end if I have to.
Voice Over: I am freakin' out! I shouldn't be, but if my heart still beat it would be poundin' against my chest right now. Did he try this with you Emily? Did he want to make sure where your loyalties lie or did he do somethin' different? I trust him with everythin' that I have but I still can't figure out why I am doin' this...
She puts it to her temple once again, breathing deep and pulls the trigger hearing nothing more than a CLICK.
Seph: The whole point of being immortal, Joanne, is being able to go to the end.
She reluctantly sets the gun down and he doesn't hesitate. He places the gun right to his temple an empty hollow look in his eyes. he doesn't flinch doesn't even blink as his finger pulls at the trigger. the seconds agonizing until she hears the CLICK. Her body suddenly breaks tension like a rubber band as she thinks the game is over. They both made it but he instead moves the gun into his hand with a twirl pointing the handle to her and smiles evilly.
Seph: Your turn...
Her eyes go wide once again, as she looks at the gun realizing that it should have been it. There was still a bullet in one of the chambers.
Joanne: Wait a sec.... There's only 6 chambers... And there's only the chamber with the bullet in it...
His face goes cold. His smile fades and he looks at her with a very serious tone.
Seph: It's not about logic, Joanne. It's not about what you can see. What you know. It's about one thing.... trust. I need to know if I can trust you. If you trust me to the extent that you can carry out my orders even at the detriment of your own life. That is the game we are playing. This was always the possibility. You knew that. Now, I ask you again... do... you... trust... me?
Voice Over: This is it! This is where it all ends for me! This is the last thin' that I am goin' to see. This is not how I wanted to go... But if it was for him, then I guess it was meant to be.
Joanne takes the gun, and places it against her temple, closing her eyes waiting for the last flash, the last breath. She pulls the trigger and all that is heard a CLICK. She opens her eyes and looks at him shaking before putting the gun down on the desk.
Joanne: Holy shit!
He smiles so pleased laying the bullet he had hidden in his hand before her and setting it on the desk where she stares at it in amazement. He rises silently to his feet walking around the desk to her side and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder as she still stares at the bullet and gun. Her own faith in herself seemingly shattered as he nods approvingly.
Seph: Good girl.
He says before stepping back to the curtains behind her. She leans back in her chair, and puts her hands to her face. She takes a deep breath before picking up the silver bullet and gets to her feet.
Joanne: Jesus... What the hell happened? I mean I should have said no right? I should have said somethin' to stop this but... I didn't. I did it, and didn't even think twice did I? What kind of power does he have over me? Is it the fact that he's my Sire? Or is it just because I wanted him to... to be proud of me? Or maybe... Just maybe I wanted to.
A knock soon comes to the door as she looks up and sees Rude standing in the doorway.
Rude: Are you alright?
Joanne: Yeah... I'm... I'm...
Rude: You don't seem to be alright. Let me guess Seph was here wasn't he?
Joanne sighs, and gets to her feet. She nods and opens a small box that sat at the corner of the desk, revealing cigars. She takes out and lights it. A circle of smoke soon appears around her head as she leans against the desk.
Joanne: Yeah he was...
Rude: You're not your usual chipper self. What happened?
Joanne: I played a game of Russian Roulette. There were no bullets in the gun, but... I thought... I thought there was.
Rude: Damn. Did he make you do it? Or did you WANT to do it?
Joanne: That's just it. There was a part of me that didn't want but I didn't want to disappoint him. I wanted to do it, to prove that I trusted him. And he could trust me.
Rude shakes his head, as Joanne takes another drag from the cigar sending a sweet smell of cherry fills the office.
Rude: He has the power over people. But the question is would you do it again?
Joanne looks down at the floor, letting the cigar seeming to burn out. Joanne looks back up and smiles.
Joanne: I would.
Rude: That's the power he has over people and that's what should worry you.
Rude sighs, Joanne walks back to the desk and sits in the high backed leather chair once again.
Rude: Uh Oh made dinner if you want some. I'll give you a little bit of time to get your thoughts together.
Rude turns and walks out of the office, leaving Joanne alone once again. She turns the chair to the window and looks out into the night, letting her eyes follow the guards that moved about through the night.
Joanne: This match has me goin' insane... Well, no it's not. I've thought about it, and looked at it from every direction. I mean there is only one way this match can end and its with Necra and I winnin'. I can't let you and Merxy win. It's nothin' personal by any means and I don't have anythin' against you. It's your choice in a partner is what my problem is. Merxy took what wasn't hers and somethin' that was already won from you and that is what pissed me off more than anythin'. That is why I jumped Merxy. I know Necra agrees with me and that both know that you are better than Merxy. She already said she doesn't trust you... Maybe she has reason to...
Joanne smiles as she gets to her feet, and walks out onto the balcony feeling the cool night air moving around her.
Joanne: Merxy you have no right to have that title. You cheated your way to the top and that is what is goin' to make you a target if nothin' else. I started in this business a long time ago and yes I set the bar for women like you. I worked and clawed my way to the top and beat men and women a like to get what I wanted to where I am today. You come into this business and manage to get a title right off of the bat. It was a fluke. You are not worthy of any of the titles that are here. You are a weaklin, that just got lucky. I plan on takin' you down and not think twice about it. We will destroy you and I will enjoy each and every moment of it. I'm not goin' to hold back but I'm not goin' to underestimate you. I saw what you did in the last match you were in, and I'm not stupid.
She starts to walk along the balcony feeling the cold stone under her bare feet as she does. She soon reaches a staircase and walks down onto the soft grass passing by a few guards who just nod as she passes by.
Joanne: See how they respect me, how they fear me when I am among them? They know I'm their superior, their better. I am and always will be better than you Merxy, no matter what you do, or who you face. I've done it all before and I will do it all over again. You can try to stop me but we all know where that will get you... At the other end of my fist. We are the Mafioso and we get paid to kick your ass. See you soon and good luck, you're goin' to need it.
She smiles as she walks across the lawn heading toward a low wall. She looks down and sees what appears to be an empty enclosure. She smiles softly as her eyes glow red as the scene fades to black.
