Post by Meatball-kun on Apr 26, 2014 13:49:38 GMT -6
Chicago, Illinois
April 20, 2014
Matthews Residence
Gavin Casey: "Uncle Chuck, I found one!"
Chuck feels a tiny hand tugging at his pants leg. Gavin clutches at Chuck's jeans with one hand. In the other, he proudly holds up a green plastic egg, smiling as though he's just found the Holy Grail. Chuck kneels down next to his nephew.
Chuck Matthews: "Ooh, you found one of the BIG eggs. What's in it?"
Gavin shakes the egg, his smile growing wider when he hears the rattling inside it.
Gavin Casey: "Candy!"
Chuck Matthews: "Candy? But you'll spoil your appetite!"
Gavin doesn't seem to care. Chuck takes the egg and opens it, spilling an assortment of M&M's into Gavin's open hands.
Chuck Matthews: "Where's your sister, Gav? Where's Ray?"
Gavin shrugs.
Gavin Casey: "She's osside."
Chuck looks out the screen door that leads out onto the back porch. Sure enough, Raylynn is romping around the yard, searching for more Easter eggs.
Chuck Matthews: "Well, you go and see if you can find some more eggs for Uncle Chuck, yeah?"
Gavin jumps up and down. Chuck smiles, and holds out his hand.
Chuck Matthews: "High-five, buddy."
Gavin enthusiastically slaps Chuck's hand, then charges out of the kitchen to continue his hunt.
Corey Casey: "There's something disgustingly sweet about that."
Chuck turns to see Corey leaning against the archway between the kitchen and the dining room. Behind him, Chuck can see Jessica and Sofia setting the table for Easter dinner.
Chuck Matthews: "About what?"
Corey Casey: "Just you, being....fatherly. It's strange."
Chuck shrugs.
Corey Casey: "Nervous about the new kid?"
Chuck Matthews: "Do I ever get nervous?"
Corey smirks.
Corey Casey: "When you don't know what's going to happen, yeah. That's how you function. Everything is smooth sailing so long as you see it from three miles away."
Chuck frowns. He takes a seat at the kitchen table.
Corey Casey: "Fact of the matter is, Chuck, kids are not something you can plan every step of the way. You don't know what's going to happen. You don't know what choices they're going to make, or what the world they grow up in will be like. Take it from me, Chuck: The best you can do is teach them the skills they need to tackle whatever comes their way, and hope that they can take it from there."
Chuck Matthews: "Did you write that yourself?"
Corey's smirk vanishes as Chuck's sarcastic remark.
Corey Casey: "Just passing along some friendly advice."
Jessica Casey: "About what?"
She walks up behind Corey, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. Corey smiles, pulling her close.
Corey Casey: "Just helping ol' Chuckles deal with daddy anxiety."
Jessica Casey: "Always the sweetheart, Core."
Chuck shakes his head. The doorbell rings. Jessica looks at Chuck, a bemused look on her face.
Jessica Casey: "Who else are you expecting?"
She seems to be counting the people in her head. Chuck turns a faint shade of pink.
Chuck Matthews: "I...may have invited-"
Jessica's eyes snap to Chuck, her puzzled look immediately replaced with a shocked and upset one.
Jessica Casey: "Charlies, you didn't."
Chuck smiles innocently.
Jessica Casey: "Why? Why would you-"
Chuck Matthews: "Oh, come on!"
Jessica Casey: "She's insane!"
Chuck Matthews: "She's part of the family."
Chuck refuses to hear any more of Jessica's objections, instead quickly retreating from the room and heading to the front door.
Raylynn Casey: "Uncle Chuck! Someone here!"
Chuck smiles at his niece.
Chuck Matthews: "Do you wanna get the door?"
Raylynn nods excitedly and races to the front door. Chuck laughs and follows her, picking her up so she can reach the doorknob. Raylynn opens it, to see...
Amy Matthews: "Well now, look at you, answering the door for me!"
Raylynn Casey: "Nana!"
Raylynn worms her way out of Chuck's grasp, and crashes into her grandmother's legs, hugging her tight. Chuck leans against the door, a light grin forming. Amy looks at Chuck.
Amy Matthews: "Happy Easter, Charles."
Chuck nods.
Chuck Matthews: "Happy Easter, mom."
Amy Matthews: "Be a dear and help your old mother out with her bags?"
Chuck nods, and lifts the heavy suitcases up the steps of the front porch.
Chuck Matthews: "Why did you bring these?"
Amy Matthews: "Well I'm here until Wednesday, aren't I?"
Chuck Matthews: "Well...yeah, but is this three days or three weeks? Fucking hell."
Amy Matthews: "Language, Charles!"
Amy looks at Raylynn.
Amy Matthews: "Your uncle, my goodness!"
Raylynn Casey: "Wash- wash- wash Chuck mouth with soap!"
Amy Matthews: "I just might have to!"
Chuck shakes his head.
Amy Matthews: "So Jessica is here, I take it?"
Chuck Matthews: "Yeah, she's in the dining room, I think."
Amy Matthews: "She got that husband of hers with her? They got married now, right?"
Chuck Matthews: "Yeah, mom, they're married now. You were at the wedding."
Amy Matthews: "Was that them?"
Chuck takes a deep breath. Maybe this wasn't his best idea. Amy looks around the foyer as she steps into the house.
Amy Matthews: "I see you cleaned the place up a little bit."
Chuck Matthews: "Yeah..."
Amy Matthews: "Still kept that ugly chandelier though."
Chuck frowns. He liked that chandelier. Amy makes her way to the kitchen. Chuck hurries after her. He didn't want to miss the show.
Amy Matthews: "Now, Chris isn't going to make it, I hear?"
Chuck Matthews: "I requested he get a chance to visit, but they never got back."
Amy Matthews: "Well, that's a shame. It's so rare that we get the entire family together for a holiday."
Chuck Matthews: "He's a busy man."
Amy Matthews: "Family comes first. You understand that, Charlie."
She steps into the kitchen, where Corey and Jess are kissing. Jessica sits up on the counter, leaning fully into her husband. Amy frowns when she sees them.
Amy Matthews: "You keep doing that, girl, you're going to choke."
Jessica gasps, and immediately breaks away from Corey, who looks mildly disappointed.
Corey Casey: "Hello, Mrs. Matthews."
Amy Matthews: "Hello, Corbin. Happy Easter."
Corey Casey: "Happy Easter to you, too."
Chuck stifles a laugh when Corey doesn't correct her on his name. Since the day the two had met, Corey had tried everything in his power to stay on Amy's good side. He wanted to appease the Matthews matriarch, no doubt...and it was amusing to see Corey, one of the most vicious and violent individuals Chuck knew, reduced to a humbled, nervous teenage boy whenever his mother-in-law was around.
Jessica Casey: "His name is Corey, mom."
Amy Matthews: "I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you. Perhaps you should take that boy's face out of your mouth before you speak."
Jessica Casey: "That doesn't make-"
She stops herself and lets out an exasperated sigh. There was no point in arguing. Amy turns on Chuck, whose amused smirk vanishes instantly.
Amy Matthews: "What about you? I hear you got married."
Chuck Matthews: "I did."
Amy Matthews: "And you didn't invite your own mother?"
Chuck Matthews: "We, ah...ran into some complications."
Amy Matthews: "Well, that's a shame. It's not every day your baby boy gets married. Now if we could get Chris to do it..."
She sighs.
Amy Matthews: "So where is she? You still seeing that girl from Connecticut?"
Chuck frowns.
Chuck Matthews: "Aubrey? Mom, that was three years ago."
Sofia Sinclair: "Who's Aubrey?"
Sofia has just walked into the room. She raises her eyebrow at Chuck.
Chuck Matthews: "Ex-girlfriend. Don't worry about it, just...ah...Hey, I'd like you to meet my mother. Mom, this is Sofia."
Amy Matthews: "How pregnant are you?"
Chuck buries his face in his hands.
Chuck Matthews: "Real fucking subtle."
Nobody seems to notice this remark, because Sofia answers as if nothing out of the ordinary has been asked.
Sofia Sinclair: "Almost eight months."
Amy Matthews: "You know if it's a boy or girl?"
Sofia Sinclair: "It's a boy."
Amy pauses.
Amy Matthews: "You have an accent."
Sofia turns pink.
Sofia Sinclair: "I was raised in Oklahoma."
Amy looks delighted at this news.
Amy Matthews: "Charles, you didn't tell me you married a southern girl!"
Amy reaches out to Sofia and pulls her in for a hug.
Amy Matthews: "Did you know that my daughter married some boy from Boston. Boston, can you believe it?"
Jessica glares at her. She grabs Corey's hand, and storms from the room, stopping only at Chuck.
Jessica Casey: "This is your fault, Charlie."
Chuck shrugs.
Chuck Matthews: "Love you too, Jessie."
He turns his attention back to Amy and Sofia. Amy is putting her ear to Sofia's belly. Sofia looks at Chuck, seeming very confused. Chuck holds his hands up innocently and mouths "I'm sorry" to her, trying hard not to crack a smile.
Amy Matthews: "Have the two of you thought about his baptism?"
Chuck Matthews: "We have, actually."
Amy Matthews: "Got the godparents ready?"
Sofia nods.
Sofia Sinclair: "My brother has accepted the godfather role."
Amy Matthews: "That's a little different. Shouldn't Charles have chosen the godfather?"
Chuck Matthews: "We wanted Sofia's brother to take the responsibility. He's a priest. We figured he was the best candidate for the job, really."
Amy Matthews: "And what about the godmother?"
Chuck opens his mouth to speak, and closes it. He remembered that day...when he had confronted the godmother about it...
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Los Angeles, California
April 4, 2014
A Restaurant
Tiffani Stearns: "Chuck!"
Chuck looks up from his phone. Above him stands Tiffani, her usual bubbly smile on her face.
Chuck Matthews: "Tiff!"
Chuck stands, and hugs her, before offering her the empty seat at the table.
Chuck Matthews: "Take a seat!"
He motions to his wife, sitting in the seat next to him.
Chuck Matthews: "My wife, Sofia. Sofia, meet Tiffani Stearns. She's an old friend."
Tiffani and Sofia shake hands across the table. Chuck notices Tiffani steal a glance at Sofia's stomach.
Tiffani Stearns: "Oh my gosh, you look adorable! How far along are you?"
Sofia looks down at her own pregnant belly.
Sofia Sinclair: "Almost seven months."
Tiffani Stearns: "Congratulations. To the both of you. I'm sure you must both be thrilled."
She smiles at the two of them.
Chuck Matthews: "Speaking of better halves...yours couldn't make it?"
Tiffani's smile falters for a second.
Tiffani Stearns: "Something came up. He wanted to apologize for not coming today."
Chuck shrugs.
Chuck Matthews: "It happens. Give him our best."
Tiffani Stearns: "So have you two thought of any names for the baby?"
She seemed more excited about it than Chuck was. That seemed to be a commonality. Once upon a time, it was marriage. Marriage was a word that had repulsed Chuck more than anything else. Truth was, there was a time when Chuck was sure he would never be married. But that was a different time. Now, he had met Sofia, and things were going well. Perhaps it would be the same with the baby. Was Chuck afraid of the child? Or was he afraid of what the baby meant? Chuck was a father. That alone was cause for alarm. Chuck had never seen himself as much of a father figure...and yet, was it not for the same reasons he had once hated the thought of being a husband? Chuck put himself first. That's just who he was. He enjoyed the freedom that being alone had granted him. But he was happy with Sofia....very happy, in fact. A part of him wondered why he had ever been repulsed by the thought.
Sofia Sinclair: "Not really."
She looks over at Chuck with a smile.
Sofia Sinclair: "I guess we should get on that, shouldn't we?"
Chuck smirks.
Tiffani Stearns: "It's a boy, right?"
Chuck nods. They had only figured out a couple weeks ago themselves. A happy baby boy. Chuck would have a son.
Tiffani Stearns: "I'm so happy for you, Chuck. A mini Chuck on the way!"
Chuck smiles sheepishly. Not knowing what else to say, he instead grabs a bun from the bread basket in the middle of the table, taking a bite to give him an excuse not to speak. Tiffani was sweet like that. It was actually a little strange. She was a friend. Chuck had made friends in the past. John Eastwick was still one of Chuck's closest friends in the world. Derek Mayfield had always been on Chuck's good side...but besides them? Did Chuck have any long-lasting friends? Was there anyone that Chuck could truly confide in anymore? His family, sure...but who honestly told people that their sister was their closest friend? Sofia...but she was his wife. Tiffani was a genuinely good person. She seemed to really care about what was going on in Chuck's life...and that was new to him. Perhaps a bit unsettling at first...but he appreciated the gesture. And perhaps that's why the decision had been so easy to ask her to-
Chuck is brought out of his thoughts by Sofia, gently nudging him under the table with her knee. Chuck glances over at her, and Sofia subtly motions towards Tiffani. Chuck looks over at her. She's happily taken a piece of bread for herself, looking around the restaurant and the other patrons scattered around the dining room.
Chuck Matthews: "So, Tiff."
Her attention immediately snaps back to him.
Chuck Matthews: "Sof and I were thinking a while back about how...um..."
Chuck fumbles over his words. He couldn't understand why it was so difficult to say. It wasn't terrible news. It wasn't even an awkward question. It was because it was a decision that involved the baby. Chuck was finding that the closer the baby came, the more Chuck needed to make decisions regarding the child's future, the more reserved he was. He was determined not to make a mistake, and every decision for him was requiring more and more careful thought...more and more hesitation.
Chuck Matthews: "We're going to raise him Catholic, you know...keep with the tradition and all, and..."
Tiffani looks like she wants to say something, but doesn't. Chuck's not sure whether it's because she's being polite and not interrupting Chuck, or whether it's because she's just taken another bite of bread, and her mouth is completely full.
Chuck Matthews: "Tiffani, we'd like you to be the godmother."
Tiffani chokes on her bread. She clutches her throat for a second, coughing loudly before finally managing to swallow her food.
Chuck Matthews: "Tiffani, are you o-"
Tiffani Stearns: "CHUCK!"
Tiffani leans across the table, wrapping her arms around Sofia and Chuck's necks.
Tiffani Stearns: "I wasn't expecting this in a million years! I would be honored."
She returns to her seat. There was that smile again. She seemed genuinely happy about this. That was comforting, to say the least.
Chuck Matthews: "Thank you, Tiffani. It means a lot to us.
Tiffani Stearns: "Don't thank me, I'm going to have a godson! I already can't wait to meet him!"
Chuck smiles. A friend, indeed.
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Chuck snaps back to the present.
Chuck Matthews: "It's an old friend of mine...she's an amazing person, she'll be a great godmother."
Amy nods, slowly.
Amy Matthews: "Well, I'm happy for you two. Congratulations."
She pats Sofia's belly once more, and offers a warm smile at Sofia. Chuck lets out a sigh of relief. He was happy to see that Amy and Sofia were getting along. Their meeting had weighed on his mind for some time. Now that it was finally over, and had been successful, Chuck could take a step back and breathe a little easier. For a while, he had feared that Amy would reject Sofia and Chuck's marriage, just as she had done to Jessica and Corey. Of course, it wouldn't have made much difference. Chuck would still be married...but he valued his relationship with his mother. She often lamented that he was the only child that still made an effort to see her now and again. For now, it seemed that their relationship was still intact.
And as Chuck's world rocketed towards the uncertainty of a newborn child, he was happy to maintain any constant he could find.
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Chuck Matthews: "I am going to sit here today and I'm going to say something that I don't often get the opportunity to say:
I slipped up.
I made a mistake. And let's not pretend that it was anything more than that. I went into my match against Mr. Steve Lenton, and if I may say so myself, I wrestled exactly the style of match that people have come to expect from me. There was never a point where things were outside my control. I was countering moves at every turn. I was taking hits where I could afford them. I was thinking ten steps ahead.
But I made a single mistake. I made one critical misstep, and I took a nasty hit that took me down just long enough to give my opponent the win.
Take your victory and enjoy it. You won, captain. Congratulations. Superman defeats Brainiac, fucking marvelous. I suppose that means that all my plans are shot. The seeds were killed before they could take root. The foundation was destroyed before it was set!
....well....no, not exactly.
You see, ladies and gentlemen, there are three parts to every good plan. Every strategist worth his salt knows that there are three all-important rules when you're devising a master plan. And one of those rules, dear friends, is this:
Never rest your entire operation on the outcome of one event.
Sad to say Stevie, but your win, while impressive, means nothing. You slowed the momentum of a guy who had none to lose. Now, I'm up against Nathan squared. Soto and Dixon. And as I look at the card, and as I think of my opponents, I take a step back and I think to myself...what's on the line for THEM?
I mean, me? I've been here what, a week? But I think I've made it quite clear what I'm after. I've made it perfectly plain why I've arrived in EXODUS. There is a plan set in place, and that plan is far bigger than anything Steve Lenton or Nathan Dixon or Nate Soto can understand.
Which, then, leads back to that question: What is it for the two of you? I mean, Nate Soto...shit, how long have you been here? How long have you been competing? And now...what do you have to show for it?
Here's the bottom line, Soto. You should be the odds-on favorite to win this thing. You should be. I mean, you know the EXODUS ropes better than either of the other guys in this match. You've been around longer. You're the most familiar face to these fans.
So why is it that nobody seems to think you've got it in you to win? Ask yourself that. Why is it that nobody thinks Nate the Great is going to wipe the floor with the two EXODUS rookies? Is it because despite your experience in this ring, you haven't done shit to earn the people's respect? Is it because you have this really bad habit of making stupid mistakes just when they'll cost you the most?
Or...perhaps, is it because everyone knows that you're outmatched? I mean...if there's one thing we know about you, Nate, it's that when the going gets tough, you make some really stupid play calls. You make rookie mistakes. You let frustration get the better of you. But most importantly, I think your biggest downfall is that you refuse to see exactly where you're outmatched.
I'll explain something to you, Nate. You've made your name as a fast little bugger. You're a submission specialist. You rely on agility, on speed, in order to out-maneuver your opponents. I know this. I've seen you compete. I've done my research. And I've got experience fighting exactly those types of people. I know that to beat you, I need to keep control of the match. I need to ensure that I'm not left in the open. I need to be completely aware of what's around me. Know where you are. Know where Dixon is. Know where I am, where my arms are, where my legs are. I need to have complete control of every appendage, lest I let it fall into your grip and find myself in one of your deadly submissions.
Now...let's turn this on you. Do you see the obstacle you're up against? Do you know, like I know, what distinct advantage I have over you?
Because I think everyone around us knows it. Now, Steve...you can't learn from Steve. Sure, he beat me, but it was a perfect storm of happenstance that he did. I made a mistake, which is something that I rarely do. I had just enough rust that my instincts weren't clear enough to kick out, which is something that is no longer a factor. And, of course, Steve Lenton happens to be built like a freight train, which is something that you certainly aren't. Fact of the matter is, Nate, you can't simply run full-charge into me and expect to daze me enough that I can't kick out. You can't count on me making a mistake. You're talking three weeks since my last match. Three weeks for me to examine my mistake, and ensure that I don't make it again. Three weeks of training, making sure that if I DO take a shot like that, it won't take me down for the three. No, no...you're going to need to do some damage. You're going to need to bring a new level.
And so, we turn to Nate Number Two. Good morning, Mr. Dixon. Are you listening? Because now, I'm going to ask you the same question. What's the advantage that you have here? And how are you going to use it to negate the Smartest Man in Wrestling?
I mean...you're the wild card, aren't you? Fact of the matter is, as much as I would love to say I've done my research and I've prepared for anything you can throw at me...I haven't. I can't. There's nothing to see. There's nothing to prepare. You could very well be the best in the world...or you could be some loud-mouthed punk not even worth my time or attention. So go on. Enlighten me. What's in the big ol' mystery bag? What's this magical ingredient that's going to stop me?
I want you two to look at something, alright? I want you to see the things that so few people see...that so few people factor into a match like this.
The two of you have your own little groupies that you like to bring to ringside. Your managers, your manservants, whatever the fuck you call them. I don't. Why is that? What sort of effect does that have on a match like this?
Would you believe that they cancel each other out? Would you believe that you've drawn each other's attention without even realizing it, solely because you see each other as multiple entities? Soto, you're aware that you can't just keep an eye on Dixon, because you know Ashford will be right behind him. Dixon, you know you can't focus solely on Soto, because Miss Chase will make her presence known. Now...who gets ignored in this happy little scenario?
The man that, of all three men in this match, is the one that you must absolutely ensure that you DON'T let slip from your mind. Because I will. I will go out of my way to avoid your eyes. Let you two duke it out. Let you two tear each other apart. Then, like a lion stalking the hyenas, I'll swoop in, finish the job, and reap the spoils.
See...Soto, there was a match you had some time ago. Triple threat. You, Wulf Erikssen, and Angela Jameson. And you said something...do you remember? You said there's no strategy for triple threat matches. There's nothing you can do to prepare for them. No strategy that can ensure success. They're too unpredictable.
That's adorable. Well, please, I invite you to sit back and watch as I do exactly that. Watch as I do the impossible, and think my way through a triple threat. They're unpredictable, you say! Fortunately for me, you two happen to be dealing with a man who succeeds BECAUSE he's unpredictable.
Well...no, honestly, I'm not. If you knew me...if you understood how my mind worked, you'd realize there really ISN'T any unpredictability. You'd know my moves before I did them. You could, in theory, ascend to this same level that I find myself. Do you know why that doesn't happen? It's the same reason I've been called the Smartest Man in Wrestling. You can't get in my head. You can't understand how my mind works. You can't plan for me, because you can't understand what my plans are.
And there IS a plan, don't you think otherwise. I want you...all of you, not just the Nathans here...I want you to pay special attention. There is always a plan. There is always a greater purpose. Always an end result that reaches far beyond the events of a single night. And now, as summer is finally coming upon us, everything is starting to come together. And I promise you...if people aren't paying attention to what I say now, I give it three months time before they realize the weight of my words. By the time the summer is over, EXODUS is going to be VERY interested in what Chuck Matthews has to say. They will hang on my every word, waiting to see what I do next.
Did you remember that? Is it logged into your brains? Because eventually, I'm going to come back to this. I'm going to recite these words again at the end of August, and you're going to call bullshit. Then you'll rewind. You'll play back the tapes, and you'll realize: "Holy shit, Chuck was right all along."
That's what I do. I hope you realize that. I hope it's starting to sink into your minds. I'm a planner. I'm a thinker. That's what I do best. That's what gives me power. You can call me a villain. I've been called worse. You can tell me I'm inhumane, insane, in over my head. But I've got all those strengths that the two of you seem to lack. I've got that passion. I've got that will to win. I've got the foresight to realize where I'm outmatched. And that's what gives me the edge. That's what gives me power. I'm the most dangerous breed of reprobate:
I'm the kind with vision."
April 20, 2014
Matthews Residence
Gavin Casey: "Uncle Chuck, I found one!"
Chuck feels a tiny hand tugging at his pants leg. Gavin clutches at Chuck's jeans with one hand. In the other, he proudly holds up a green plastic egg, smiling as though he's just found the Holy Grail. Chuck kneels down next to his nephew.
Chuck Matthews: "Ooh, you found one of the BIG eggs. What's in it?"
Gavin shakes the egg, his smile growing wider when he hears the rattling inside it.
Gavin Casey: "Candy!"
Chuck Matthews: "Candy? But you'll spoil your appetite!"
Gavin doesn't seem to care. Chuck takes the egg and opens it, spilling an assortment of M&M's into Gavin's open hands.
Chuck Matthews: "Where's your sister, Gav? Where's Ray?"
Gavin shrugs.
Gavin Casey: "She's osside."
Chuck looks out the screen door that leads out onto the back porch. Sure enough, Raylynn is romping around the yard, searching for more Easter eggs.
Chuck Matthews: "Well, you go and see if you can find some more eggs for Uncle Chuck, yeah?"
Gavin jumps up and down. Chuck smiles, and holds out his hand.
Chuck Matthews: "High-five, buddy."
Gavin enthusiastically slaps Chuck's hand, then charges out of the kitchen to continue his hunt.
Corey Casey: "There's something disgustingly sweet about that."
Chuck turns to see Corey leaning against the archway between the kitchen and the dining room. Behind him, Chuck can see Jessica and Sofia setting the table for Easter dinner.
Chuck Matthews: "About what?"
Corey Casey: "Just you, being....fatherly. It's strange."
Chuck shrugs.
Corey Casey: "Nervous about the new kid?"
Chuck Matthews: "Do I ever get nervous?"
Corey smirks.
Corey Casey: "When you don't know what's going to happen, yeah. That's how you function. Everything is smooth sailing so long as you see it from three miles away."
Chuck frowns. He takes a seat at the kitchen table.
Corey Casey: "Fact of the matter is, Chuck, kids are not something you can plan every step of the way. You don't know what's going to happen. You don't know what choices they're going to make, or what the world they grow up in will be like. Take it from me, Chuck: The best you can do is teach them the skills they need to tackle whatever comes their way, and hope that they can take it from there."
Chuck Matthews: "Did you write that yourself?"
Corey's smirk vanishes as Chuck's sarcastic remark.
Corey Casey: "Just passing along some friendly advice."
Jessica Casey: "About what?"
She walks up behind Corey, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. Corey smiles, pulling her close.
Corey Casey: "Just helping ol' Chuckles deal with daddy anxiety."
Jessica Casey: "Always the sweetheart, Core."
Chuck shakes his head. The doorbell rings. Jessica looks at Chuck, a bemused look on her face.
Jessica Casey: "Who else are you expecting?"
She seems to be counting the people in her head. Chuck turns a faint shade of pink.
Chuck Matthews: "I...may have invited-"
Jessica's eyes snap to Chuck, her puzzled look immediately replaced with a shocked and upset one.
Jessica Casey: "Charlies, you didn't."
Chuck smiles innocently.
Jessica Casey: "Why? Why would you-"
Chuck Matthews: "Oh, come on!"
Jessica Casey: "She's insane!"
Chuck Matthews: "She's part of the family."
Chuck refuses to hear any more of Jessica's objections, instead quickly retreating from the room and heading to the front door.
Raylynn Casey: "Uncle Chuck! Someone here!"
Chuck smiles at his niece.
Chuck Matthews: "Do you wanna get the door?"
Raylynn nods excitedly and races to the front door. Chuck laughs and follows her, picking her up so she can reach the doorknob. Raylynn opens it, to see...
Amy Matthews: "Well now, look at you, answering the door for me!"
Raylynn Casey: "Nana!"
Raylynn worms her way out of Chuck's grasp, and crashes into her grandmother's legs, hugging her tight. Chuck leans against the door, a light grin forming. Amy looks at Chuck.
Amy Matthews: "Happy Easter, Charles."
Chuck nods.
Chuck Matthews: "Happy Easter, mom."
Amy Matthews: "Be a dear and help your old mother out with her bags?"
Chuck nods, and lifts the heavy suitcases up the steps of the front porch.
Chuck Matthews: "Why did you bring these?"
Amy Matthews: "Well I'm here until Wednesday, aren't I?"
Chuck Matthews: "Well...yeah, but is this three days or three weeks? Fucking hell."
Amy Matthews: "Language, Charles!"
Amy looks at Raylynn.
Amy Matthews: "Your uncle, my goodness!"
Raylynn Casey: "Wash- wash- wash Chuck mouth with soap!"
Amy Matthews: "I just might have to!"
Chuck shakes his head.
Amy Matthews: "So Jessica is here, I take it?"
Chuck Matthews: "Yeah, she's in the dining room, I think."
Amy Matthews: "She got that husband of hers with her? They got married now, right?"
Chuck Matthews: "Yeah, mom, they're married now. You were at the wedding."
Amy Matthews: "Was that them?"
Chuck takes a deep breath. Maybe this wasn't his best idea. Amy looks around the foyer as she steps into the house.
Amy Matthews: "I see you cleaned the place up a little bit."
Chuck Matthews: "Yeah..."
Amy Matthews: "Still kept that ugly chandelier though."
Chuck frowns. He liked that chandelier. Amy makes her way to the kitchen. Chuck hurries after her. He didn't want to miss the show.
Amy Matthews: "Now, Chris isn't going to make it, I hear?"
Chuck Matthews: "I requested he get a chance to visit, but they never got back."
Amy Matthews: "Well, that's a shame. It's so rare that we get the entire family together for a holiday."
Chuck Matthews: "He's a busy man."
Amy Matthews: "Family comes first. You understand that, Charlie."
She steps into the kitchen, where Corey and Jess are kissing. Jessica sits up on the counter, leaning fully into her husband. Amy frowns when she sees them.
Amy Matthews: "You keep doing that, girl, you're going to choke."
Jessica gasps, and immediately breaks away from Corey, who looks mildly disappointed.
Corey Casey: "Hello, Mrs. Matthews."
Amy Matthews: "Hello, Corbin. Happy Easter."
Corey Casey: "Happy Easter to you, too."
Chuck stifles a laugh when Corey doesn't correct her on his name. Since the day the two had met, Corey had tried everything in his power to stay on Amy's good side. He wanted to appease the Matthews matriarch, no doubt...and it was amusing to see Corey, one of the most vicious and violent individuals Chuck knew, reduced to a humbled, nervous teenage boy whenever his mother-in-law was around.
Jessica Casey: "His name is Corey, mom."
Amy Matthews: "I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you. Perhaps you should take that boy's face out of your mouth before you speak."
Jessica Casey: "That doesn't make-"
She stops herself and lets out an exasperated sigh. There was no point in arguing. Amy turns on Chuck, whose amused smirk vanishes instantly.
Amy Matthews: "What about you? I hear you got married."
Chuck Matthews: "I did."
Amy Matthews: "And you didn't invite your own mother?"
Chuck Matthews: "We, ah...ran into some complications."
Amy Matthews: "Well, that's a shame. It's not every day your baby boy gets married. Now if we could get Chris to do it..."
She sighs.
Amy Matthews: "So where is she? You still seeing that girl from Connecticut?"
Chuck frowns.
Chuck Matthews: "Aubrey? Mom, that was three years ago."
Sofia Sinclair: "Who's Aubrey?"
Sofia has just walked into the room. She raises her eyebrow at Chuck.
Chuck Matthews: "Ex-girlfriend. Don't worry about it, just...ah...Hey, I'd like you to meet my mother. Mom, this is Sofia."
Amy Matthews: "How pregnant are you?"
Chuck buries his face in his hands.
Chuck Matthews: "Real fucking subtle."
Nobody seems to notice this remark, because Sofia answers as if nothing out of the ordinary has been asked.
Sofia Sinclair: "Almost eight months."
Amy Matthews: "You know if it's a boy or girl?"
Sofia Sinclair: "It's a boy."
Amy pauses.
Amy Matthews: "You have an accent."
Sofia turns pink.
Sofia Sinclair: "I was raised in Oklahoma."
Amy looks delighted at this news.
Amy Matthews: "Charles, you didn't tell me you married a southern girl!"
Amy reaches out to Sofia and pulls her in for a hug.
Amy Matthews: "Did you know that my daughter married some boy from Boston. Boston, can you believe it?"
Jessica glares at her. She grabs Corey's hand, and storms from the room, stopping only at Chuck.
Jessica Casey: "This is your fault, Charlie."
Chuck shrugs.
Chuck Matthews: "Love you too, Jessie."
He turns his attention back to Amy and Sofia. Amy is putting her ear to Sofia's belly. Sofia looks at Chuck, seeming very confused. Chuck holds his hands up innocently and mouths "I'm sorry" to her, trying hard not to crack a smile.
Amy Matthews: "Have the two of you thought about his baptism?"
Chuck Matthews: "We have, actually."
Amy Matthews: "Got the godparents ready?"
Sofia nods.
Sofia Sinclair: "My brother has accepted the godfather role."
Amy Matthews: "That's a little different. Shouldn't Charles have chosen the godfather?"
Chuck Matthews: "We wanted Sofia's brother to take the responsibility. He's a priest. We figured he was the best candidate for the job, really."
Amy Matthews: "And what about the godmother?"
Chuck opens his mouth to speak, and closes it. He remembered that day...when he had confronted the godmother about it...
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Los Angeles, California
April 4, 2014
A Restaurant
Tiffani Stearns: "Chuck!"
Chuck looks up from his phone. Above him stands Tiffani, her usual bubbly smile on her face.
Chuck Matthews: "Tiff!"
Chuck stands, and hugs her, before offering her the empty seat at the table.
Chuck Matthews: "Take a seat!"
He motions to his wife, sitting in the seat next to him.
Chuck Matthews: "My wife, Sofia. Sofia, meet Tiffani Stearns. She's an old friend."
Tiffani and Sofia shake hands across the table. Chuck notices Tiffani steal a glance at Sofia's stomach.
Tiffani Stearns: "Oh my gosh, you look adorable! How far along are you?"
Sofia looks down at her own pregnant belly.
Sofia Sinclair: "Almost seven months."
Tiffani Stearns: "Congratulations. To the both of you. I'm sure you must both be thrilled."
She smiles at the two of them.
Chuck Matthews: "Speaking of better halves...yours couldn't make it?"
Tiffani's smile falters for a second.
Tiffani Stearns: "Something came up. He wanted to apologize for not coming today."
Chuck shrugs.
Chuck Matthews: "It happens. Give him our best."
Tiffani Stearns: "So have you two thought of any names for the baby?"
She seemed more excited about it than Chuck was. That seemed to be a commonality. Once upon a time, it was marriage. Marriage was a word that had repulsed Chuck more than anything else. Truth was, there was a time when Chuck was sure he would never be married. But that was a different time. Now, he had met Sofia, and things were going well. Perhaps it would be the same with the baby. Was Chuck afraid of the child? Or was he afraid of what the baby meant? Chuck was a father. That alone was cause for alarm. Chuck had never seen himself as much of a father figure...and yet, was it not for the same reasons he had once hated the thought of being a husband? Chuck put himself first. That's just who he was. He enjoyed the freedom that being alone had granted him. But he was happy with Sofia....very happy, in fact. A part of him wondered why he had ever been repulsed by the thought.
Sofia Sinclair: "Not really."
She looks over at Chuck with a smile.
Sofia Sinclair: "I guess we should get on that, shouldn't we?"
Chuck smirks.
Tiffani Stearns: "It's a boy, right?"
Chuck nods. They had only figured out a couple weeks ago themselves. A happy baby boy. Chuck would have a son.
Tiffani Stearns: "I'm so happy for you, Chuck. A mini Chuck on the way!"
Chuck smiles sheepishly. Not knowing what else to say, he instead grabs a bun from the bread basket in the middle of the table, taking a bite to give him an excuse not to speak. Tiffani was sweet like that. It was actually a little strange. She was a friend. Chuck had made friends in the past. John Eastwick was still one of Chuck's closest friends in the world. Derek Mayfield had always been on Chuck's good side...but besides them? Did Chuck have any long-lasting friends? Was there anyone that Chuck could truly confide in anymore? His family, sure...but who honestly told people that their sister was their closest friend? Sofia...but she was his wife. Tiffani was a genuinely good person. She seemed to really care about what was going on in Chuck's life...and that was new to him. Perhaps a bit unsettling at first...but he appreciated the gesture. And perhaps that's why the decision had been so easy to ask her to-
Chuck is brought out of his thoughts by Sofia, gently nudging him under the table with her knee. Chuck glances over at her, and Sofia subtly motions towards Tiffani. Chuck looks over at her. She's happily taken a piece of bread for herself, looking around the restaurant and the other patrons scattered around the dining room.
Chuck Matthews: "So, Tiff."
Her attention immediately snaps back to him.
Chuck Matthews: "Sof and I were thinking a while back about how...um..."
Chuck fumbles over his words. He couldn't understand why it was so difficult to say. It wasn't terrible news. It wasn't even an awkward question. It was because it was a decision that involved the baby. Chuck was finding that the closer the baby came, the more Chuck needed to make decisions regarding the child's future, the more reserved he was. He was determined not to make a mistake, and every decision for him was requiring more and more careful thought...more and more hesitation.
Chuck Matthews: "We're going to raise him Catholic, you know...keep with the tradition and all, and..."
Tiffani looks like she wants to say something, but doesn't. Chuck's not sure whether it's because she's being polite and not interrupting Chuck, or whether it's because she's just taken another bite of bread, and her mouth is completely full.
Chuck Matthews: "Tiffani, we'd like you to be the godmother."
Tiffani chokes on her bread. She clutches her throat for a second, coughing loudly before finally managing to swallow her food.
Chuck Matthews: "Tiffani, are you o-"
Tiffani Stearns: "CHUCK!"
Tiffani leans across the table, wrapping her arms around Sofia and Chuck's necks.
Tiffani Stearns: "I wasn't expecting this in a million years! I would be honored."
She returns to her seat. There was that smile again. She seemed genuinely happy about this. That was comforting, to say the least.
Chuck Matthews: "Thank you, Tiffani. It means a lot to us.
Tiffani Stearns: "Don't thank me, I'm going to have a godson! I already can't wait to meet him!"
Chuck smiles. A friend, indeed.
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Chuck snaps back to the present.
Chuck Matthews: "It's an old friend of mine...she's an amazing person, she'll be a great godmother."
Amy nods, slowly.
Amy Matthews: "Well, I'm happy for you two. Congratulations."
She pats Sofia's belly once more, and offers a warm smile at Sofia. Chuck lets out a sigh of relief. He was happy to see that Amy and Sofia were getting along. Their meeting had weighed on his mind for some time. Now that it was finally over, and had been successful, Chuck could take a step back and breathe a little easier. For a while, he had feared that Amy would reject Sofia and Chuck's marriage, just as she had done to Jessica and Corey. Of course, it wouldn't have made much difference. Chuck would still be married...but he valued his relationship with his mother. She often lamented that he was the only child that still made an effort to see her now and again. For now, it seemed that their relationship was still intact.
And as Chuck's world rocketed towards the uncertainty of a newborn child, he was happy to maintain any constant he could find.
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Chuck Matthews: "I am going to sit here today and I'm going to say something that I don't often get the opportunity to say:
I slipped up.
I made a mistake. And let's not pretend that it was anything more than that. I went into my match against Mr. Steve Lenton, and if I may say so myself, I wrestled exactly the style of match that people have come to expect from me. There was never a point where things were outside my control. I was countering moves at every turn. I was taking hits where I could afford them. I was thinking ten steps ahead.
But I made a single mistake. I made one critical misstep, and I took a nasty hit that took me down just long enough to give my opponent the win.
Take your victory and enjoy it. You won, captain. Congratulations. Superman defeats Brainiac, fucking marvelous. I suppose that means that all my plans are shot. The seeds were killed before they could take root. The foundation was destroyed before it was set!
....well....no, not exactly.
You see, ladies and gentlemen, there are three parts to every good plan. Every strategist worth his salt knows that there are three all-important rules when you're devising a master plan. And one of those rules, dear friends, is this:
Never rest your entire operation on the outcome of one event.
Sad to say Stevie, but your win, while impressive, means nothing. You slowed the momentum of a guy who had none to lose. Now, I'm up against Nathan squared. Soto and Dixon. And as I look at the card, and as I think of my opponents, I take a step back and I think to myself...what's on the line for THEM?
I mean, me? I've been here what, a week? But I think I've made it quite clear what I'm after. I've made it perfectly plain why I've arrived in EXODUS. There is a plan set in place, and that plan is far bigger than anything Steve Lenton or Nathan Dixon or Nate Soto can understand.
Which, then, leads back to that question: What is it for the two of you? I mean, Nate Soto...shit, how long have you been here? How long have you been competing? And now...what do you have to show for it?
Here's the bottom line, Soto. You should be the odds-on favorite to win this thing. You should be. I mean, you know the EXODUS ropes better than either of the other guys in this match. You've been around longer. You're the most familiar face to these fans.
So why is it that nobody seems to think you've got it in you to win? Ask yourself that. Why is it that nobody thinks Nate the Great is going to wipe the floor with the two EXODUS rookies? Is it because despite your experience in this ring, you haven't done shit to earn the people's respect? Is it because you have this really bad habit of making stupid mistakes just when they'll cost you the most?
Or...perhaps, is it because everyone knows that you're outmatched? I mean...if there's one thing we know about you, Nate, it's that when the going gets tough, you make some really stupid play calls. You make rookie mistakes. You let frustration get the better of you. But most importantly, I think your biggest downfall is that you refuse to see exactly where you're outmatched.
I'll explain something to you, Nate. You've made your name as a fast little bugger. You're a submission specialist. You rely on agility, on speed, in order to out-maneuver your opponents. I know this. I've seen you compete. I've done my research. And I've got experience fighting exactly those types of people. I know that to beat you, I need to keep control of the match. I need to ensure that I'm not left in the open. I need to be completely aware of what's around me. Know where you are. Know where Dixon is. Know where I am, where my arms are, where my legs are. I need to have complete control of every appendage, lest I let it fall into your grip and find myself in one of your deadly submissions.
Now...let's turn this on you. Do you see the obstacle you're up against? Do you know, like I know, what distinct advantage I have over you?
Because I think everyone around us knows it. Now, Steve...you can't learn from Steve. Sure, he beat me, but it was a perfect storm of happenstance that he did. I made a mistake, which is something that I rarely do. I had just enough rust that my instincts weren't clear enough to kick out, which is something that is no longer a factor. And, of course, Steve Lenton happens to be built like a freight train, which is something that you certainly aren't. Fact of the matter is, Nate, you can't simply run full-charge into me and expect to daze me enough that I can't kick out. You can't count on me making a mistake. You're talking three weeks since my last match. Three weeks for me to examine my mistake, and ensure that I don't make it again. Three weeks of training, making sure that if I DO take a shot like that, it won't take me down for the three. No, no...you're going to need to do some damage. You're going to need to bring a new level.
And so, we turn to Nate Number Two. Good morning, Mr. Dixon. Are you listening? Because now, I'm going to ask you the same question. What's the advantage that you have here? And how are you going to use it to negate the Smartest Man in Wrestling?
I mean...you're the wild card, aren't you? Fact of the matter is, as much as I would love to say I've done my research and I've prepared for anything you can throw at me...I haven't. I can't. There's nothing to see. There's nothing to prepare. You could very well be the best in the world...or you could be some loud-mouthed punk not even worth my time or attention. So go on. Enlighten me. What's in the big ol' mystery bag? What's this magical ingredient that's going to stop me?
I want you two to look at something, alright? I want you to see the things that so few people see...that so few people factor into a match like this.
The two of you have your own little groupies that you like to bring to ringside. Your managers, your manservants, whatever the fuck you call them. I don't. Why is that? What sort of effect does that have on a match like this?
Would you believe that they cancel each other out? Would you believe that you've drawn each other's attention without even realizing it, solely because you see each other as multiple entities? Soto, you're aware that you can't just keep an eye on Dixon, because you know Ashford will be right behind him. Dixon, you know you can't focus solely on Soto, because Miss Chase will make her presence known. Now...who gets ignored in this happy little scenario?
The man that, of all three men in this match, is the one that you must absolutely ensure that you DON'T let slip from your mind. Because I will. I will go out of my way to avoid your eyes. Let you two duke it out. Let you two tear each other apart. Then, like a lion stalking the hyenas, I'll swoop in, finish the job, and reap the spoils.
See...Soto, there was a match you had some time ago. Triple threat. You, Wulf Erikssen, and Angela Jameson. And you said something...do you remember? You said there's no strategy for triple threat matches. There's nothing you can do to prepare for them. No strategy that can ensure success. They're too unpredictable.
That's adorable. Well, please, I invite you to sit back and watch as I do exactly that. Watch as I do the impossible, and think my way through a triple threat. They're unpredictable, you say! Fortunately for me, you two happen to be dealing with a man who succeeds BECAUSE he's unpredictable.
Well...no, honestly, I'm not. If you knew me...if you understood how my mind worked, you'd realize there really ISN'T any unpredictability. You'd know my moves before I did them. You could, in theory, ascend to this same level that I find myself. Do you know why that doesn't happen? It's the same reason I've been called the Smartest Man in Wrestling. You can't get in my head. You can't understand how my mind works. You can't plan for me, because you can't understand what my plans are.
And there IS a plan, don't you think otherwise. I want you...all of you, not just the Nathans here...I want you to pay special attention. There is always a plan. There is always a greater purpose. Always an end result that reaches far beyond the events of a single night. And now, as summer is finally coming upon us, everything is starting to come together. And I promise you...if people aren't paying attention to what I say now, I give it three months time before they realize the weight of my words. By the time the summer is over, EXODUS is going to be VERY interested in what Chuck Matthews has to say. They will hang on my every word, waiting to see what I do next.
Did you remember that? Is it logged into your brains? Because eventually, I'm going to come back to this. I'm going to recite these words again at the end of August, and you're going to call bullshit. Then you'll rewind. You'll play back the tapes, and you'll realize: "Holy shit, Chuck was right all along."
That's what I do. I hope you realize that. I hope it's starting to sink into your minds. I'm a planner. I'm a thinker. That's what I do best. That's what gives me power. You can call me a villain. I've been called worse. You can tell me I'm inhumane, insane, in over my head. But I've got all those strengths that the two of you seem to lack. I've got that passion. I've got that will to win. I've got the foresight to realize where I'm outmatched. And that's what gives me the edge. That's what gives me power. I'm the most dangerous breed of reprobate:
I'm the kind with vision."