It’s Like A Prison
Season 1 Episode 1
The scene begins inside a small run down house in the confines of The High Society. It’s a Monday morning, around 11pm judging from the sky, and things are running as usual. Justin Cooper is writing down some notes at a table while drinking a cup of freshly made tea. To the right of Cooper is his newly won Mayhem Championship, a title he has worked so hard to achieve. As Cooper is writing, Vladimir comes running into the room in a panic.
Vladimir: Justin… … terrible… … fire, the people are freaking out.
Cooper: What? Compose yourself Vladimir before running in an interrupting my duties.
Vladimir gathers himself and points outside toward the right hand side of the house they are in.
Vladimir: Someone’s house is burning Justin and it spread onto the others. The people are trying to leave Justin, the society is revolting!
Cooper jumps to his feet and grabs Vladimir.
Cooper: Tell me this is some sick joke Vlad? You better be playing with me right now. Do you understand what it would look like if something happened under my control? Now explain what is happening and you better be as clear as possible. I don’t want any misconceptions.
Vladimir: One of the men was working and his jacket accidently caught fire on the spot. He threw it up in the air and it landed on the roof of a house and then the entire thing went up in the flames. With the strong winds and everything the other homes stood no chance. Now the people are panicking in streets and they are trying to knock down to the fence Justin. They’re revolting against us Justin, you must stop this quickly!
Cooper: How many are trying to leave or revolt as you keep putting it?
Vladimir: Most of them Justin, I think the troops are the only group not trying to knock down our fence at the moment. You need to bring these people to peace; you must do something to stop this.
Cooper: I don’t need this Vladimir; I’ve worked very hard to give these people the best that they could have. I allowed them to watch television, I made it so people could get married, I’ve done so much for these fools and this is how they repay me? Do they not understand that without me they would still be living in the dark ages and walking around naked? I made this society more than just some crazy retreat like it once was. Now when people look at The High Society they see power. I can’t allow those fools to ruin what I have created.
Cooper is visibly angry but he does not react with violence. Instead he relaxes himself down by closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
Vladimir: What are we going to do Justin?
Cooper: Simple. I’m going to talk to them.
Vladimir: Is that it? I mean, do you think just talking to them is really going to do any good when they are rioting?
Cooper: I’m not going to talk about ponies Vladimir; I’m going to explain to them just how pathetic they are without us. Do you really think they would have any success in life if it wasn’t for me? I’m the guiding light for them and if I turn against them now. All the little puppets will be forced to reattach themselves to my strings and I will control them once again.
Vladimir: Can you really do that just by talking to them?
Cooper: I’m Justin Cooper, the leader of The High Society, and Mayhem Champion, I can do anything!
Five minutes later a shot of a burning house and people panicking like mad is shown. From adults to children, everyone is freaking out and in an insane rush to get to safety. One of the people turns toward a large fence and then decides to run toward it. This man begins to shake the fence and moments later he has more people doing the same thing. Soon enough at least 20 people are trying to knock down this fence, which they do successful. A few run through the broken fence however a majority are hesitant to head out of this fenced area.
"Come on everyone follow me!”
“Move out everyone”
“Watch out for the big puddle of mud”
This man runs through the broken fence and to the outside of the society. Before anyone else can make their way out of the area Vladimir and Justin Cooper arrive on the scene. Slowly everyone begins to stop but some people continue to yell and act like mad men.
Vladimir: Nobody moves or else. You are all very lucky that this man beside me cares so much. If it was up to me I would have you all thrown in the prison for this type of behaviour. You are all like pathetic outsiders with this revolt. How dare you do this? After everything that this man has done for you, he sees this. What type of humans are you? Do you not have any respect for the man that saved each and every one of you from a life of uselessness?
Cooper steps forward and motions for Vladimir to stop speaking. Unlike Vladimir Cooper does not speak straight away, instead he goes around and looks each person in the eye. After that Cooper looks over at the burning houses and then the broken fence. Finally Cooper turns back to the people who now have lowered their heads in shame.
Cooper: I look at all of you and I see how much you haven’t grown at all. Most of you are still the same pathetic people that begged me for a place in this society. I watched as you all pleaded for a chance to live a better life. You came to me in a time of need and I answered your called. Not one of you would still be alive if it wasn’t for me, I freakin’ saved you from yourselves.
Cooper walks around the group and gets right up close to the people left in the area as his troops attempt to put out the fire.
Cooper: I helped you through tough times and this is how you repay me? You cause damage to buildings that we all built together as a sign of unity and trust. We were joined by that experience and now you all watched it burn to the ground instead of trying to put it out. I ask each of you to give me an excuse as to why I shouldn’t throw you out of this society and back onto the streets where you belong. I ask you all to give me a reason as to why I shouldn’t leave you to die in the gutter like I should have done for most of you years ago. I want you all to ask yourself, why do I deserve to be here after that?
Cooper moves over to the fence and raises his voice.
Cooper: After destroying this fence why should any of you people still be here after tonight! I’ve worked to long and hard for you people to screw this up. My legacy will be this society and making it the greatest union in the history of western civilisation. If any of you dare screw this up for me there will be hell to pay. I will not allow any of you to wreck this and I don’t care if you have family or if you don’t but at the end of the day I will kick you out onto the street with nothing more than the clothes on your back to survive.
One of the people falls down onto their knees and grabs onto the leg of Justin. The woman begins to cry as she looks up at Justin who isn’t pleased with his physical contact.
Woman: I’m sorry… … I never meant for anything like this. Please don’t kick me out, I need this place. Please.
Cooper calls for security, in the form of his own private guards, to pull this woman off him. She is dragged away from the main group of people as Cooper wipes his leg.
Cooper: I want to make this very clear to all you, leave it you want. You have an open window now and I want you to take it. I don’t want any doubters to be leaving amongst us here in the society. So now is your chance to break free if you really want to leave. I want you to take this chance and head out to a new life. Before you do I would like to one more thing.
Cooper walks over to the broken fence and climbs one of the bent poles.
Cooper: Just like you I was once seen as pathetic, I was seen a joke. Now I’m in a position of power and I’m no longer a joke. I’ve stepped up and now I am a contender. I’m moving forward with this society and WZCW. I’ve come further than anyone in the company; I am now a serious player. I’m not the guy that the people laugh at anymore instead I’m the guy people are telling their friends about. I went from being put in a match with a guy dressed in cardboard to being in a title match last week and now I’m better than ever. I’ve stepped up my game and I’ve become a better person through this society. If you all want to be like me then I strongly advise you all to make the right decision. You know deep down that this is the only way to live. It’s 2012, the New Year is here, and now Justin Cooper has arrived.
Cooper jumps down from the pole and stands next to Vladimir.
Cooper: The battles I have had are legendary and now I cannot wait to see what is next. My time has finally come and I now hold this (holding up the Mayhem Championship) after fighting for so long. I have taken my spot at the top of a division that needs me. Nobody else can do what I can. I have the chance to prove that I belong as a champion in WZCW and this week I will achieve that. I’ll be facing a man named Johnny Scumm who believes he can beat me. Blinded by his our arrogance this man thinks he has a chance. Don’t you agree Vladimir?
Vladimir: Of course sir, nobody stands a chance again you.
Cooper: I’m the greatest Mayhem Champion of all time and that is a fact. Unlike Armando Paradyse I will not fall in my first title defence. It’s a sink or swim situation and this week I’ll swim like never before. Johnny Scumm can try and break me but he will end up being broken himself. I have the mental advantage in this match and that will give me a victory. Scumm acts like he is a tough man but I see him as a phony. He portrays someone he is not. You people are lucky that I am so true to myself and I don’t sell out like Scumm does. He is a product of a machine and we are the outsiders who are superior. We are better than them and I am better than Scumm. This man can dream about holding this (taps the title) because that is the closest he will ever get to it. If any of you people disagree I want you to step out of here now. You must have the belief that I will always win. You must all support me and anyone who thinks otherwise must leave.
Cooper now places the Mayhem Championship on his shoulder as the crowd stir a little. Small groups of people discuss their situation and what they will do. With the fence broken and a chance to leave the society Cooper awaits his people decision. Slowly people begin to kneel down signifying that they are staying with the society. Soon enough everyone is keeling before Justin. With a sinister grin on his face Justin motions for the people to stand up and head back to their houses to put the fire out. With the people all walking away Justin turns to Vladimir.
Cooper: You see I control them Vladimir. Fear keeps people loyal my friend.
Vladimir: What do we do about the few that left? We can’t just let them walk away from this place.
Cooper: Ready the troops, I want them all back here before sunset. When they are all back, thrown them in the prison and alert me as to who made a run for it. I want to talk with them when you arrive back here.
Vladimir nods and goes off to ready his men to find the few members of the society that ran away from the cult. The scene comes to an end as Justin stares at his Mayhem Championship, shining it a little and giving it a small kiss.