BLYSS LOCKHART RP
”Back To The Start”
Friday
Location: Home in Philadelphia, PA Blyss is in the kitchen, making a special blend of lime juice, avocado, mango, chopped mint leaves and a secret ingredient. It took her nearly two months to figure out that last one to make the drink taste just like how her mother used to make. Of course all her recipes were in her journal but this was before Blyss discovered the little purple book which she kept till today.
She pours the mixture into a glass and takes a sip. It gives that nice little kick to start the day for that morning. She drinks the rest of it slowly as she thumbs through her mother’s recipe journal.
It’s October again... A sudden tinge of sadness causes her to pause for a moment as she stares at the neat and cursive handwriting of her mother’s. The pages are now quite worn due to her flipping through them so many times before. She hasn’t tried all the recipes in the book yet, just the ones she remembers from childhood. The rest didn’t seem to matter at the time. She started trying them by herself when she simply missed her mother’s cooking. And today would be the first time in a long while that she’s reading the book again.
You’re starting to do well again in your career. Don’t let this month ruin that. But this month has always been one of the more significant ones in the year for her which is exactly why she’s taking the opportunity to sign up for a match in Professional Wrestling Project. When she first heard of their planned all-women’s October show, she knew she had to be a part of it. Same goes for those charity events she personally asked to be involved in this month. They won’t be for her career, her fans, the IWF board of directors or the intention to gain fame and popularity. It’s simply personal.
Still as selfish if you do it for those reasons. Admit it. You are, aren’t you? You’re going to benefit professionally in the end anyways. Put your name out there. Ever since this last title fight started, you’ve been gaining more and more recognition and this PWP match will do wonders for your career. And that’s okay, Blyss. In fact, it’s perfect. She clenches her jaw as her hands grip the kitchen counter, looking away from the book.
You don’t do this for them, Blyss. Not your friends. Not your family... The anxiety mixed with sadness and anger begins to build up inside her.
...Especially not for her. She rakes her hands through her hair in a frustrated manner, leaning towards the counter and letting her elbows drop onto it.
She left us, Blyss. She made a promise and left us. She broke it! She broke US!
SHE
BROKE
US! Without realizing, Blyss swipes the book away and it hits the floor with an ominous thud.
Blyss Lockhart
(mutters) S-stop it... Please...
She bends down to pick up the book and hurries to her room, locking the door as if it would keep out the bad thoughts. She sits down on the bed and brushes a bit of dirt from the book cover and smoothes down some creased pages.
You shut me out even though all I am is your strength. Then you brought me back because you were beginning to fail again. You need me. Admit it, Blyss. If it weren’t for me, you would still be broken. You would still be weak. Blyss Lockhart
Sift together the flour, baking soda...
What the fuck are you doing?! Listen to me, Blyss! You need me! She clenched her jaw slightly but continued reading.
Blyss Lockhart
Add in... the vanilla...
She never came back, Blyss. She said she would but she didn’t! I will never leave you, Blyss. Never! She snaps the book shut and stares at the cover for moment before throwing it at the wall across the room.
Blyss Lockhart
SHIT! ARGH!
So much for wanting it to be different this year. Why is it still difficult? Why is she still angry? She glares at the purple book lying on the floor. It’s not her mother’s fault that she passed away from an awful sickness. It’s not her father’s or Kenzie’s. It’s not the doctor’s. It’s not God’s. It’s not... hers... She knows this and has assured herself this. But why, after eight years, is she still angry?
You don’t need to ashamed, Blyss. Anger shows strength. She sighs, massaging her temples.
Blyss Lockhart
No, I should be... I really should...
Anger only exposes the parts of her she wants to hide from the rest of the world. And so far, it’s winning.
Saturday
Location: US Century Center in Miami, FL The scene opens to Blyss doing some stretching in the locker room as she prepares for her match. When she sees the camera, she gives a little grin.
Blyss Lockhart
I’ve been looking forward to tonight ever since I first signed up for it. It’s all great timing really. I just won the High Impact championship and then I got called up for the main event on the PWP October show. If you’ve been following my career, you know I can’t pass this up. I was the last Queen of Wrestling champion and changed it to the Rising Phoenix later just so I can make challenge invites to guys too and also beat them. You see, there are still men out there who deny us women in this sport. They think we shouldn’t be allowed to compete in “a man’s world”. I got sick of them throwing stupid stereotypical cliches like that at their female opponents including myself so I made sure to prove them wrong while being the longest reigning champion for that title.
She shifts her body weight from one foot to the other while patting her fingers on the High Impact title belt hanging over her shoulder. The smile on her face remains.
Blyss Lockhart
Every week that I’m in the ring competing, I represent somebody. I represent that girl who wants to accomplish all her dreams. That person who defies everything said against them to win something by working their ass off. And even that guy who can only afford back row tickets but is still happy because he gets to be here. It happens. When you see your favorite wrestlers perform, you can’t help but want to feel a connection with them. And vice versa.
She chuckles lightly.
Blyss Lockhart
Sweet Potato, you can say that you only represent yourself and Any Given Fryday. That you don’t care about anything that isn’t Inferno Wrestling Federation. That you only want to spread the message of your Father Jones and show how you’re this money-making gimmick. But are you also going to deny fans who appreciate what you’ve done for this business? Don’t you think you represent them too in one way or another? But no, you feel that you’re better than them. You want so much to succeed just because you start doing well since putting on that mask and changing your name. This time it works for you and so you decide to stick to it no matter how ridiculous it may sound. A potato. Yeah, we don’t hear that everyday. But weird is the new cool. Like how Lady Gaga found her fame. Miley Cyrus and her... you know... Classless act she’s put on recently. It’s all for grabbing the spotlight and you know that because you want that. That’s okay, I’m not judging. Sometimes in this business getting attention is necessary. But then you go and think that you have more to show for in this match than me. Why? Because you want it more? What do you know about me? It’s fine if you don’t think of me as threat in this match. You probably think you’re just weirding me out with your “potato talk” or whatever. Honestly? Not really. I’ve faced this one guy who does blood bath group initiations and beat him so... (shrugs) I’ve seen a few tapes of your most recent matches and I gotta say that you’re good at what you do. And maybe it’s no wonder why we’ve been put to face each other tonight. Too bad you count me out from the start already just because I’m friends with Kelly Fury. Why should I be guilty by association? What has it got to with my ability in the ring? Guess you have something against Kelly and that makes it easier to possibly hate me and take it out on me when we meet in the ring. We all do that, don’t we? Channel our frustrations onto our opponents as if it were a personal fight. But you have to act like you’re the only person who’s trying to make their career here and that this match means more to you than it does to me. You make it sound like I’m just there like a prop in your little world, ready to make you look good in this match. But the reality is this, Sweet Potato. I will not let that happen. I’m not one to back down from fights too. In fact, I bring it every single time. I don’t rest on my laurels. I’m never satisfied with my match victories. And I always, always, make sure you walk away with a different perspective of me. No matter what happens, whether you win or not, you WILL respect me after this. I may not be the best with words, give you the worst verbal beating or intimidate you with the way I look but I’m sure my actions in the ring will speak clearly for me. I don’t joke about my career too, Sweet Potato.
She glances down at her attire she has specially for the match, a black top and pink shorts.
Blyss Lockhart
October is Breast Cancer awareness month and tonight fittingly celebrates the strength of a woman. I’m honored to be part of a show that holds tribute to female wrestlers and their talents. Besides Shark of course. (waves) Hey, bud! (laughs) Anyways, this match is going to mean so much for me. It’s more than showing off what a wrestler from “the other IWF” can do. It’s more than getting extra recognition to myself or the company I work in. So, Sweet Potato, don’t say that I have nothing to prove for this fight. Because if I really don’t, I wouldn’t even bother showing up. See ya out there!
She spins on her heels and walks away with a smile as the scene ends.