Act I: Mastermind?
The scene opens inside the log cabin of The Maurako Family on Maurako Island. The fireplace crackles in the distance as we see an old bald man sitting at the oak kitchen table. He’s wearing reading glasses and has a yellow #2 pencil stuck behind his right ear. Not exactly sure why it’s there as he’s holding another yellow #2 pencil in his right hand that he is tapping against two of his front teeth. Of course the old man is none other than the oldest of The Maurako Family, Matteo Maurako.
Matteo is writing down numbers on a piece of paper as his oldest son Martino walks into the room and into the kitchen. Martino opens the refrigerator door and grabs a gallon of milk.
Martino: How are things coming along dad?
Matteo: Things are looking really good Martino.
Martino retrieves a glass from the cupboard and then pours himself a glass of milk before returning the milk to the fridge.
Martino: That’s awesome. It sure was nice of Lee Best to cut us that check.
Matteo: Yeah, he certainly didn’t have to do that. I’m going to have to rethink of what our relationship is with Lee.
Martino takes a drink of his glass of milk and then sits down next to Matteo at the table.
Martino: What do you mean?
Matteo: Well we don’t have a very strong history with Lee Best if you think about it. Mario joined how in 2008 as a member of the Best Alliance and quickly left it. Since that moment The Maurako’s and Lee Best have never really been on the same page, that is until Mario testified in his favor last week.
Martino attempts to take a peek at the paper that Matteo has been writing on but Matteo keenly keeps the paper covered.
Martino: So you think that we have a lot to benefit from Lee then, is that what you’re saying?
Matteo pauses briefly as if he is choosing his words very wisely.
Matteo: I think that we have the ability to help Lee Best out while he simultaneously helps us out, that’s all that I’m saying.
Martino rubs his right index finger around the rim of his milk glass as he tries to digest the impact of what Matteo has just said.
Matteo: In other news though we have a substantial sum of money as the result of the Care-a-thon and Haiti text messages.
Says Matteo Maurako blatantly changing the subject.
Martino: That’s great news, did you tell Mario yet?
Matteo: No I haven’t seen Mario in a few days. I think him and Mosé have been out helping Carey prepare for Aceldama.
Martino: Doesn’t that make you worry about Mario a little bit?
Matteo puts down the pencil that was in his hand and looks Martino dead in the eye.
Matteo: What makes you think we should worry about Mario?
Martino: Well I’m just thinking he has been spending a lot of time with Carey. Maybe if he wasn’t around her like all the time we would have regained the HOW Tag Team Titles by now.
Matteo slaps Martino across the face and immediately sticks his index finger out at Martino.
Matteo: Listen Martino, what Mario is doing is very commendable. You shouldn’t doubt your brother, he is obviously doing what he feels he has to do for the betterment of this Family. Maybe you should try to be a little bit more like him… besides if I remember right you were responsible for some of our short comings too.
Martino sits there in shock as Matteo picks the pencil back up and goes back to work. Martino sits there silently not knowing what exactly he should do, that’s when the sound of the front door opening and closing is heard. A Set of foot steps are heard making their way closer and closer to the kitchen table, and then out from around the corner emerges Mario Maurako with snow all over him. Mario brushes it off and removes his big coat and scarf.
Mario: No wonder why we got this island so cheap. We should have splurged and bought a place that was at least warm all year.
Matteo: Maybe that can be an expansion plan.
Mario chuckles at the thought as Martino gets up from his spot, taking his glass of milk with him as he goes. Mario and Martino make eye contact as Martino exits but there are no spoken words.
Mario: What’s up with Martino?
Matteo: Oh he’s just mad that when we were in Minnesota last week Candy didn’t give him any.
Mario: That’s good, because we don’t have a doctor out here yet, and the last thing we need is a case of the crabs running around.
Matteo finishes writing and puts the pencil down, he then turns the paper inviting Mario to take a look.
Matteo: I just finished balancing the budget.
Mario: With a piece of paper and an pencil?
Mario makes his way over to Matteo and swipes the paper up taking a look at all the figures.
Matteo: Yes, what else am I supposed to use?
Mario: Well I’ve heard that computers are really good for this kind of thing dad. You should try it sometime… regardless this is looking pretty sweet.
Matteo scoffs at the idea of using modern age technology to do what simple brain power and human will can do instead.
Matteo: The day I use a computer to do something I can do perfectly fine by hand is the day that I die.
Mario laughs at his fathers stubbornness.
Mario: Suit yourself dad, but if you don’t mind I’m going to go to the HOW Website and send a little message to Aceldama.
Matteo is curious what Mario is up to, but a little hesitant to let Mario know as much.
Matteo: Aceldama you say? But aren’t you fighting Alpha Beta Slam on Turmoil?
Asks Matteo, who knows damn well what the card is for Thursday. Mario makes his way out of the kitchen and through the living room and takes a seat at the computer desk. Matteo follows along behind him awaiting the answer.
Mario: I didn’t know that I was tagged in for the match against Alpha Beta Slam. I didn’t think we had come to a decision.
Matteo: Well I think it’s in The Family’s best interest if it’s you and Mosé. Your brothers head is a little out of it right now.
Mario: Marvelous, I have no problem with Marvelously Manhandling Ryan Faze’s ignorant ass on Thursday.
Mario clicks on the Firefox ICON and up pops the HOW Website. Mario logs into the forums and then leaves a message for Aceldama that reads:
“This Thursday at Turmoil we will all hear the words we've been longing to hear... "Here is your winner and NEW HOW Champion.... BOBBINETTE CAREY!!!"
Get ready Ace... because now you're going up against someone who knows how to beat you. Carey has done it by herself in the past... and I've taught her what I know, since I'm the only guy to make you tap out. And I'm confident that this Thursday there will be a new holder of that Title.
Learn it, Live it, and Love it.”
Matteo: So, what is all of that about?
Mario smiles as he decides he has let the curiosity eat at Matteo long enough.
Mario: What I’m doing here dad is trying to fire up Aceldama. I want to get him pumped up and get him on top of his game.
Matteo sits there for a moment as you can tell he is putting the pieces of the puzzle together in his head.
Matteo: Ah… get him fired up so that he destroys Bobbinette Carey . I love it.
Mario: Precisely. I can’t wait for her to be put in her place by Aceldama on Thursday, I just wish that I could be the one who does it.
Matteo: Yeah I know you do Mario. But you’re making a great sacrifice for The Family and I won’t let it go unnoticed.
Matteo puts his hand on Mario’s shoulder offering him sympathy.
Mario: Thanks dad. But obviously the main goal on Turmoil is to defeat Alpha Beta Suck and advance to the next round of the Lee Best Invitational, just like I did last year.
Matteo’s face lights up as a mischievous smile forms on his face. Mario looks at his father and asks inquisitively.
Mario: What are you thinking about dad?
The smile remains on Matteo’s face as he answers.
Matteo: You still have those photos from last year right?
Mario: Which photos?
Mario asks, baffled as to what Matteo is talking about.
Matteo: The photos of Amanda & Ryan Faze.
Mario smiles looking much like his father right now.
Mario: Am I thinking what you’re thinking?
Matteo: Well that depends. Are you thinking we plant those photos and let Mosé discover them to fire him up for this big match?
Mario shakes his head, agreeing with Matteo.
Mario: That’s exactly what I’m thinking about.
Matteo: It will be just what the doctor ordered. You two can take care of the Faze Brothers and then Aceldama will destroy Carey in the-
Mario cuts off his dad.
Mario: Well there is one thing I’m worried about with that. While I would love nothing else see Bobbinette Carey get her ass kicked all over the Kallisten…. The Best Arena. I absolutely don’t want her to take any huge head shots. We can’t risk her somehow getting her memory back. Not right now, not this close to our goal.
Matteo rubs his chin with his right hand as he begins thinking.
Matteo: Yeah, you’re definitely right. We can’t have anything bad like that happen to Bobbinette Carey .
Bobbinette Carey : What’s up guys?
Shocked to hear Bobbinette’s voice the two Maurako’s whip around to see that Mosé and Bobbinette had both snuck into the room. Mosé looks at his father and grandfather disapprovingly as he stands next to Carey who is anxiously awaiting the response from either Matteo or Mario as the scene fades out to black.