FINDING PEYTON RICE
RIGHT FROM WRONG
For many Tabula Rasa was a clean slate, for Peyton Rice, it was a chance to impress, showcase her talent against some of the best the SCW has had in recent memory. Four former World Champions were in that eight-person tag team match, two Hall of Famers, a man who could have been Male Wrestler of the Year, a young upstart and of course a Hellbilly. Peyton hasn’t had the same success in SCW as she did in EMERGE and it has discouraged her a bit, not in the fact the road to get to the top is a hard and arduous one, but more the way things are going down in the SCW from the era of Katya taking over, Mr. D retiring and Sasha now in charge, nothing has changed the mindset of the roster including Jordan majors going as far to hire The Network to attack her team at the PPV…
An act that has Peyton Rice wondering to herself….
What the Hell did she get herself into?
SCW Tabula Rasa
Seattle, WA.
For the last week, after Peyton and Alistaire Allocco had a match on the Breakdown before the PPV, there seemed to be at least a mutual respect, his father Adam though saw things differently. A very beautiful young woman who had a good head on her shoulders and his son that while taking a lot of heat for trying to be a straight shooter and abiding by the rules so much it was sickening and turned many against him, the young former World Champion looked to compete in the eight-person tag match and didn’t have very nice things to say about his partners and yet he praised Peyton. They had the match though it started with a melee and Peyton was attacked by The Network. When everything was settled, Allocco and his team won only when Alistaire’s father decided to interfere and cost John Goddard the pinfall, something his son did not see but Peyton did.
After the match Alistaire was still in his ring gear, backstage, pacing back and forth. Peyton had tied her hair up in a ponytail, she was in her black and silver wrestling gear as well, approaching Alistaire, it was apparent Peyton was not happy…
Peyton: “Alistaire!”
He slowly turns around, smiling for a second but it quickly was wiped from his face when he saw the mood Peyton was in….
Alistaire:“Peyton?”
Peyton: “What in the heck was that out there!?”
Alistaire: “I had nothing to do with Jordan and this payoff of those miscreants. I am truly sorry that you were jumped out there and I do not condone it. I am about sportsmanship…. And womanship of course. I feel terrible about it….”
Peyton: “Cut the crap, that’s not what I am talking about. I knew you had nothing to do with that.”
Alistaire: “You did? I mean yes, I know you did. I meant what I said on Breakdown and before the match tonight, you have my upmost respect and I would NEVER in a million lifetimes cheat you out of something you wanted badly like compete with former Word Champions and legends, too bad they are all trying to cheat you out like desperate losers… especially that Jordan girl. I am not an advocate for using your money to buy hired help.”
Peyton: “Ali…. That’s not what I am talking about…”
He was caught off guard at Peyton calling him Ali. It was a term of endearment by this young woman who Alistaire could see didn’t have a malicious bone in her body. It was his dad, must’ve been his father and how overwhelming he could be at times with him…..
Alistaire: “Right… my dad.”
Peyton: “Yes!”
Alistaire: “Look, Peyton I am sorry for my father’s behavior. He should have not kept pushing like that, we are talking a sexual harassment suit, aren’t we?”
Peyton: “What? No…. Alistaire, not a Sexual Harassment suit.”
Alistaire: “Oh thank God. I was so worried about that; my father is wrong about what he is doing and please do not take offense with this. We both know that this would never work, we are good work colleagues. I know it was a little intense out there and he on color commentary, who knows what he said so please, do not pay any attention to it.”
Peyton: “Ali, your father did more than try to butter me up.”
His eyes widen….
Alistaire: “Did….. did he touch you?”
Peyton: ”…..”
Whispering….
Alistaire: “Sexually?”
Peyton: “Uh… no! No, he didn’t touch me… ewww. Ali, listen to me, okay? He cheated.”
Alistaire: “I never doubted that.”
Peyton: “Huh?”
Alistaire: “I’m pretty sure he cheated on my mom, his girlfriends, taxes, yes… he cheated and….”
Peyton: “No! Alistaire, listen to me, he cheated in our match, he hit Mr. Goddard and you capitalized on it and pinned him, is that how you want to win!?”
Alistaire looks stunned and shocked, he had no idea that his father cheated on his behalf…
Alistaire: “I… I didn’t know. I would never condone this. I thought I one with my superior wrestling skill, I mean, I know that this Hellbilly guy is your friend and seems like a protector, sure I didn’t see my father do that.”
Peyton: “Of course you didn’t. Watch the replay. I thought you were more honorable than that, Ali!? We had such an awesome match on Breakdown even if my head still hurts and tonight was like, a dream come true and it ends like this? That is why I am so sick and tired of this. I am always let down by the people I look up to and admire. I thought you were different!”
Alistaire: “Peyton… I didn’t know. I swear. I thought my father was commentating and then super excited because I won though he comes off very overbearing. I want to tell you that I promise I didn’t have anything to do with what he did. This is not right…. This is….”
“EPIC!”
Alistaire’s eyes slowly close, exhaling as all the air was seeped from his lungs with the huge sigh he gave. Peyton shakes her head with Adam Allocco walks up to them, he puts his arms around both….
Adam: “See? This…. THIS makes me happy. Even after you two went to war not once but TWICE, you are here talking, it is that magnetic personality of my boy, huh sweet cheeks? He like, draws you in and it’s hard, I get it, hard to resist, that is how we Allocco’s are. We are men of the ladies; this kid is a chip off the old block! So, where are you two headed?”
Alistaire: “Not now dad, please!”
Adam: “Aww, come on. Look at her, she’s hot! All glistening in sweat. She was fantastic out there, took a beating even. Her team lost and yet she is still here talking to you!? My boy, this girl is a keeper! You agree, right Pey-Pey? My son is attractive, right?”
Peyton: “…..”
Adam: “See? She is speechless. She doesn’t even know what to say. I bet your mom is hot too, huh?”
Alistaire slips from under his arms….
Alistaire: “Okay, enough dad! Did you help me win out there tonight?!”
Adam: “Me? Well….”
Alistaire: “Did you help me win!?”
Adam: “Maybe a little but it’s not because I didn’t think you could win. That Hellbilly guy is not very nice, he was mean to me last Breakdown, he thought I was trying to pester Pey-Pey here. Why? Because a man looks after his son? I want what is best for you and this….”
Adam points at Peyton who rolls her eyes….
Adam: “Is what’s BEST for YOU. So come on, I’m buying. We are in Seattle, you two go out, celebrate a great night of action. Where do you want to go? Take your pick! McDonald’s, Burger King… Carl’s Jr.? Jack in the Box? I’m feeling generous here!?”
Alistaire: “Peyton go.”
Adam: “Wait…. What? Where?”
Alistaire: “Please, just go.”
Peyton: “Ali….”
Adam: “Holy shit, she called you Ali!”
Alistaire: “Dad!? Peyton, please leave, I need to talk to my father.”
Something inside Peyton tells her not to leave, maybe it was her conscience, it could be that she felt sorry for what Alistaire was going through as she believed now he had no clue his father interfered in the match on his behalf. Reluctantly Peyton nods…
Peyton: “Okay Ali….”
Adam: “Ali! I’m gushing!”
Alistaire: “I’m sorry about tonight, please, I don’t want you listening to this anymore.”
Peyton: “I…. okay. Are you sure everything is going to be alright?”
Adam: “Yes, when you two go out on a date.”
Alistaire: “Peyton….”
It was her cue to leave. Peyton slowly backed away, glancing over at Adam who was both appalled and annoyed at his son for telling such a beautiful woman like her to leave. As she turns to walk away, Adam looks over at Alistaire….
Adam: “What the hell is your problem? Are you going to be a virgin all your life!? What is the matter with you? Women like men, not proper boys and you are acting like one. Toughen up, that girl is basically begging you to take her! Grow a set! You are weak!”
Alistaire: “Leave me alone.”
Adam: “I will not! Go after her! Maybe you aren’t man enough to date a girl like her….”
Peyton stops the minute she hears that. Standing there for a moment, she contemplates turning around and saying something. Alistaire told her to leave, she wants to respect his wishes but it’s hard for her to just walk away and leave him like that while his father berates him. She could feel the words at the tip of her tongue…..
Adam: “….. I’m disappointed…. I even help you beat that Hellbilly asshole….”
She clinches her fists, bites down on her jaw and closes her eyes for a second….
Alistaire: “…. We are done dad.”
…. Then opening her eyes back up and walking away. For a moment she felt inclined to turn around and defend Alistaire even if she doesn’t know him well and it seems the fans aren’t too fond of him but for Peyton, she forms her own opinions and can say that Alistaire Allocco….
Is an alright guy.
She went back to check on John Goddard who wasn’t exactly in the best of moods. She walked into the locker room where he stood. Looking over at the young Rice, obviously bothered by what happened…
Goddard: “Did you get the answers ya were lookin’ for, lil’ one?”
Peyton: “He didn’t know.”
Goddard: “So ya believe that he was innocent in all of this?”
Peyton: “I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, Mr. Goddard. I looked into Ali’s eyes….”
Goddard: “Ali?”
Peyton: “Oh heavens, why is everyone freaking out that I am calling him Ali? I talked to him, he was literally shocked and embarrassed. His dad… he’s weird.”
Goddard: “They both are.”
She shrugs her shoulders and sighs. The young Peyton sits down, letting her hair down and running her fingers through the sweaty strands in a show of frustration….
Goddard: “Don’t let it get ta ya.”
Peyton: “Kind of hard, Mr. Goddard. Between this match, that little bi…. Errr… paying off The Network, all of this was not necessary. Why can’t we just go out there and wrestle, huh? Why is it so hard to step in the ring and wrestle? Instead we must be jumped. We get attacked by a bunch of goons? It’s not right Mr. Goddard and what happened out there you didn’t deserve.”
Goddard: “It’s okay, this old fool can take it. I’m more worried about ya. What makes ya special and unique? Is the love for this sport, the drive to succeed? It is important that ya don’t forget where ya came from, who ya are and why yer here.”
Peyton: “It’s not that easy Mr. Goddard. I want to make my dad proud of me and yet I feel like I am losing him to someone who’s manipulating him like Sienna Swann. This match tonight, so happy to be a part of it then this Jordan ruins it. Adam Allocco ruins it. Scarlet Grey before this disrespecting Kelcey? All the shi…. All the crap with Chris Cannon and what he is doing, I fear for the safety of Kennedy Street, he is going to go out there later and hurt her. This is not what I envisioned. I go home and my dad has all kinds of new things Sienna bought for him, she claims it’s all For the People? I know that it’s to bring me closer and take more away from Kelcey than she has already. I’m flying out to Orlando in a few days, stay with Kelcey a bit. I’m worried about her.”
Goddard: “I know ya are. There is a lot goin’ on right now in yer life….”
One is the fact that her sister somehow showed up close to Tombstone, the compound that Goddard leads. He didn’t feel it was the right time to tell Peyton about Rhiannon especially with the circumstances surrounding why she was there in the first place. He wanted so badly to tell her but in the state Peyton was in, all it would do is add to her ire…..
Peyton: “… it feels like you want to tell me something.”
Goddard: “I do, that ya need ta stay focused on one thing on ya lil’ one. Forget about all the shit outside, this old goat will tell ya, stick ta the road, no one will ever run ya off it. Let them play their games, the snakes in the grass will crawl, ya will soar like an eagle. If ya late these gorgers….”
Peyton: “Gorgers?”
Goddard: “It’s wat we call people like that Jordan gal or even Alistaire.”
Peyton: “Mr. Goddard. He isn’t like all of them.”
Goddard: “That’s what makes ya special. Ya believe in people like him. Ya have a lot more belief and trust in humanity then I do.”
Peyton: “Where you come from, it must be different, huh?”
Goddard: “It is. Would ya like ta come see it sometime?”
Her interest was piqued……
Peyton: “Really?”
Goddard: “Yeah, really. I mean that. When ya get some time, ya should come visit the compound. See how the other side lives. It’s not a penthouse or a place ya really go take a vacation but I’d like for ya ta see it so that ya may better understand me and also, ya might find a few things very interestin’.”
Peyton: “Sure, I would like that. I need to spend some time with Kelcey, but I’d love to come visit soon.”
Goddard: “Let’s make it really soon, okay?”
Peyton: “Uh… yes, sure.”
Goddard: “Good, ya go on and get outta them trunks. I’ll be around, if ya need anythin’. I do not whatr ya ta be walkin’ around alone tonight. Ya might believe Chris Cannon, I don’t. Also, that little snake paid off The Network, don’t mean they are done, hear me?”
Peyton: “Yes, Mr. Goddard. I’ll be okay, promise.”
He nods and walks out the door. Peyton sits there for a moment; she lowers her head and takes a deep breath. All she can do is think about everything that has gone on in her life and career, reaching into her bag and taking out the phone, she sees a few messages from Ricky Octavius to her father. She dials as he answers….
Ray: “Well, I didn’t expect to hear from you this early.”
Peyton: “I wrestled at the top of the show dad.”
Ray: “I know, you were great out there, pumpkin.”
Peyton: “Liar.”
Ray: “Oh stop. Seriously, you put up a hell of a fight out there against all odds. I’m happy you’re okay. I guess I have a lot of PPV left to watch.”
Peyton: “You’re watching the whole thing?”
Ray: “Of course, gotta see my girl, Sienna Swann defend the title against your friend.”
Peyton: “Dad….”
Ray: “Come on Pey, what is there bad about Sienna? She treats your old man well, doesn’t ask for anything in return. She’s a good person, come on.”
Peyton: “Dad, I know you don’t want to hear this, but she is NOT a good person.”
There is a pause on the other side of the phone before finally he speaks…
Ray: “Do you trust me?”
Peyton: “Do you trust me? It seems like no matter what my opinion is of the situation you don’t want to listen to me and why? Because she showers you with gifts? She is so nice to you and everyone else when deep inside this woman is the devil incarnate?”
Ray: “Pey, what the shit? Are you serious right now? The last thing this woman is? The devil. Listen to me, I can understand why you don’t like her. She has not given me any reason to dislike her. So, I’m sorry that it bothers you but it doesn’t bother me.”
Peyton: “Dad… she’s a …..”
Ray: “No, Pey. I’m sorry but she has been good to us, she makes me feel alive and like I can do anything with all this new equipment she has given me. Get back to your hotel safe, text me when you do. I have to go….”
Peyton: “Dad… wait….”
Her dad hangs up. Peyton was a little surprised that her father reacted this way. It was worse than she thought and now Peyton finds herself at odds with her father much like Chris was with Kelcey….
All thanks to Sienna.
A Few Hours Later
After the PPV was over and Sienna Swann retained, Peyton was disappointed and felt bad for Owen Cruze. She knew that he would be smothered with people around him, she didn’t want to come off being one of those. Instead she decided to wait until the morning where Peyton would be able to have a more direct conversation.
She packed up her things, carrying her roll away. Peyton wore skinny jeans, a black halter top and open toed heels, her hair hanging down and nails polished white. Walking out to her rental, she wanted to talk to Chris Cannon but after what he did to Kennedy Street, she decided it was probably a better decision to let it be and catch him away from the ring. Arriving to her car, she sees a woman sitting on the trunk of her car, wearing a leather jacket, fishnet stockings, a black short dress, boots with her nails polished black and her long raven like hair hanging down….
Peyton recognized the woman from afar….
Peyton: “Excuse me?”
The woman raises her head, icy blue eyes staring right at Peyton as she smiles some…
Peyton: “Minerva?”
The youngest daughter of John Goddard. Wrestling all over the world in EMERGE, GCW and EAW, she was there to watch her father compete….
Minerva: “You’re prettier in person.”
Peyton: “Thank you.”
Minerva: “Now I see why my father is so enamored with you.”
Peyton: “He’s a very good man, your father protects me.”
Minerva: “No shit.”
Minerva hops off the car and walks up to Peyton, she starts to twirl some of the young rice’s hair….
Peyton: “Can I help you?”
Minerva: “No. I just wanted to meet face to face the girl that my father now treats like his own daughter. That’s all. You really are pretty.”
The situation is a little uncomfortable but Peyton nods and tries to force a smile. Minerva slowly licks her lips and smirks….
Peyton: “Thank you.”
Minerva: “You’re welcome. Goodnight and drive safe.”
The daughter of John Goddard winks and starts to walk away. Peyton slowly turns around and watches Minerva disappear into the night. She stands there for a moment trying to figure out what that was all about…..
Maybe it was nothing….
Or maybe it was.
All she knew was that Minerva was as dangerous as they came, and the last thing Peyton needed with everything else going on in her life….
Was making more enemies.
SCENE FADES
TRANSITION
The Scene Opens….
Old Town’s narrow streets and century-old adobe houses are home to New Mexican eateries serving enchiladas and sopaipilla pastries, and tiny artisan shops selling jewelry, rugs and pottery. Old Town Plaza is a charming spot overlooked by 18th-century San Felipe de Neri Church. Nearby, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science has dinosaur skeletons, while the Albuquerque Museum displays Southwestern art. Here is where we find Peyton Rice, the gorgeous young Arizona Native was not too happy after what happened at Tabula Rasa and now found herself getting an opportunity to get back on track. Peyton felt like her transition from EMERGE to SCW was not smooth, she knew it wasn’t going to be easy but found out that it was a lot harder than that. Now teaming up with John Goddard again this time against Team Desire 2.0, Gigi and Madison Steward, two women that Peyton has teamed with and hung out with before…
But in this match, friendships will be set aside.
REC:
Wearing ripped jeans, a white halter top and wedge open toed sandals, her long hair hanging down and nails polished white, she looks right at the camera while walking in Old Town, speaking in her sexy and adorable voice….
“Where do I start?
I want to stay positive; I want to believe that things happen for a reason and what we do early in our careers pave the way for the rest of our lives. Maybe I see the world through rose colored glasses? Live in a delusional existence trying to convince myself that people would not do those things I have seen on purpose to hurt others? Where World Champions hide in a hotel room and fake an injury to protect the belt they hold? Walking into a match, one of the competitors actually pays off The Network to jump us before it even starts?
When did we lose who we were as competitors?
The man I call a hero and always looked up to purposely hurts a woman that has done so much for wrestling already but blames her for his grief, yet he cost her the World Championship?
I want to believe…. Darn it, I do.
My father always told me, never give up hope. I see him every day struggling so hard to find light in the darkness. I was always the one person that encouraged him to never give up on anything and to prove to him and others like my mentors from David Helms to Matty Stone to Kelcey Wallace, there wasn’t quit in me. They showed me that to succeed you had to believe in yourself and the system. Do not lose faith, in time things will happen where I could look back at it and smile knowing someone like me was able to overcome this. Training in the business, wrestling in EMERGE, being a champion and leaving without ever losing the title was the highlight of my career but since coming to the SCW, I haven’t found that success.
I have a losing record.
It’s all part of the experience, I will learn to make my way up the ladder and one day fight against the best. Watching Owen Cruze was an inspiration, he gave it all he had but Sienna Swann was just too tough. This experience will only make him better just like mine at Tabula Rasa. Maybe I’m a little guilty of losing some faith, kind of hard to do so when the people you look up to and adore especially the ones that helped pave the way for someone like me decides that it’s no longer in their best interest to trust the fans, family and friends who have loved and supported him…
I don’t want to abandon hope…
I just feel like there is none right now.”
Peyton walks down the streets of Old Town, her hands snug in the jean’s pockets, looking down, almost dejected. She was upset about Tabula Rasa, she was upset about Chris Cannon, she was upset about Scarlet Grey, Adam Allocco, just everything hit her at one time. She looks back up and speaks…
“Much as I feel that way, I keep telling myself I have to believe in a system right now that I just don’t trust. It’s difficult to stay positive, to look at this business without losing a little respect for some of the members of this roster when I KNOW they can compete with anyone and on talent alone can be the very best. Owen Cruze is an example of it and even though he lost to Sienna Swann, he proved that he’s almost ready. That is a man who has done things the right way. That old saying goes… “Never meet your heroes”….. and yet I still try to convince myself that maybe…. You had the wrong heroes. Jordan Majors wants to make an impact by buying out a bunch of thugs. Savali and I are no strangers, I have been attacked and fought that monster in UWA, Emerge and now here in SCW.
I was there to team up with some great talent and wrestle some of my mentors and those that I respect and looked up to, Jordan was not one of them and it is people like her who I am allowing to ruin my experience in the SCW. People were asking how I felt about Kandis getting these title opportunities and I was just here, barely existing. That’s fine, I don’t care for when my opportunities come it will be because I did it the right way and earned every bit of it. I am not here cheat anyone and especially myself from some questionable tactics, oh no I came for one reason and that is to showcase my talent, improve and get to the top at some point. Tabula Rasa didn’t go the way I expected and that’s fine….
Because at Breakdown Mr. Goddard and I get another chance to make an impression, this time against Team Desire 2.0. First, I would like to thank Alexis Quinne and Aaron Blackbourne for being great partners and I hope we can do it again. I know Mr. Goddard feels terrible about taking the fall but we all saw it was Adam Allocco that interfered and cost us the match. Alistaire didn’t know, I truly believe him and deep in my heart I like to give people the benefit of the doubt as I know there are many who rather play by the rules than not. There have been times I lost faith in the system, I can’t keep doing that, I need to stay on the path, remember how hard I worked to get here and Maddy, Gigi, you girls are awesome to hang out with. I get it, Katie Steward wants to manage you gals now, she is a legend, I was in the ring with her and this alone was a highlight of my career but do not think that you have to follow her path, forge your own and maybe that is the answer to what has been hindering you girls….
Stop trying to be Katie, instead be Gigi and Maddy.”
Peyton stops, she looks around and enjoys the scenery and even if at times she feels a bit disturbed or down at the fact anyone and everyone seems to be doing what they can to get one over on another, she still keeps the faith in the SCW and what Sasha is trying to do….
“We have had talks, no one knows how bad you want it more than me, but you girls know how bad I WANT THIS too and like Mr. Goddard said, it is Tabula Rasa, “Clean Slate”, fresher start by not playing the games anymore and instead focusing on what is most important….
Competition.
Nothing else matters here. I want to be known as someone that did it right, I win and lose by my own merit and abilities. Gigi and Maddy, I hope that you two feel this way still and not think taking shortcuts and the easy way out is the best path to get to the top. I watch Kandis, a woman that started the same time as me and look where she is, and I am? I want to believe that she has earned every bit of this yet some question why I haven’t been given those opportunities and that’s easy to answer….
I haven’t earned them.
…but I will NOW.
Sometimes we are so afraid of disappearing into the crowd and becoming another face, we refuse to see the big picture in all of this. Wrestling isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon and we have a long way to go before I ever get to my final goal. Yes, I want to do half what Kelcey Wallace has. Yes, I want to have the success Syren, Kennedy Street, Selena Frost and Regan Helms had. Yes, I want to be known as one of the top female athletes in the world…
The only way to do that is by competing with the likes of the Stewards and come Breakdown? I am bringing everything that I have Maddy and Gigi, this is about winning, it’s about positioning but most of all?
Pride.
I won’t sit idly by and let those that want to use this platform for their own gain succeed. Maybe Mr. Goddard and I will go after tag team gold? Or perhaps this will lead to success, for truth be told? I didn’t come to the SCW just to exist….
I came here to make a name for myself, to show the wresting world what I already knew, I can beat anyone at any time. Maddy and Gigi, I hope we can still be friends after this, I don’t want this match to come between us but if there is one thing, I have learned….
I don’t control reactions….
I only can control the results.”
She slowly turns to the camera, looking with her narrowing green eyes….
“And you will see Maddy & Gigi that along with Mr. Goddard?
Peyton Rice isn’t just another “Pretty Face”.”
Peyton slowly forms a sly smirk on her face before turning and walking off….
FADE TO BLACK
/REC
Peyton: “What is going on? Where is Chris? Christian?”
Kelcey: “He’s changed Peyton, I don’t know what the hell is going on in him anymore. What he did to Blake, wasn’t necessary. What he did to Ikiro? Wasn’t necessary. What he did to Kennedy? Wasn’t necessary.”
Chris: “Not now Peyton.”’
Peyton: “Yes, I do. She needs you Chris, she is eight months pregnant, has Parkinson’s. She shouldn’t be alone. I don’t know what kind of falling out you two had but it can be fixed. Please Chris, you two are like the Perfect couple. I mean seriously, go talk to her.”
Peyton Rice 