A New Leaf

The scene opens on Ringmaster Isaac Barnum and Vincent Garza, now known as “Vinny”. The two men sit across from one another with a chessboard between them. Barnum has one leg folded over the other and a hand stroking his goatee in thought as he studies the board. Vinny sits still as a statue as gazes at the board, preparing his next move very carefully. Finally, he moves a hand over a piece and slowly slides it into place. Barnum nods subtly in approval.

I must say. It is a breath of fresh air to have someone such as yourself around here, Vincent. A true intellectual equal. Giggles, the twins, they’re wonderful. But they are also quite…

Childish.

Vinny’s voice is firm and emotionless.

Yes. Childish. But Giggles has yet to lose. So who am I to try and fix what is not broken?

That’s fair enough. They are good kids. Just unfocused.

Barnum chuckles a little bit.

Oh. Giggles is not a child. He is, in fact-

Suddenly the door bursts open, causing Barnum to jump ever so slightly and snap his attention to the entryway. Vinny slowly turns his head as well.

A large black clown shoe steps through the door, followed by the rest of the gangly Giggles. The Bloom Twins, Tina, and Timothy poke their heads through the door as well.

Hello, Mr. Barnum! Hi Vinny!!!

Good evening, children. Hello Giggles.

Vinny raises a hand in a still wave.

It’s time for Giggles & Friendz! We got the golf balls and clay pigeons and sparklers and and and-!

Giggles! Giggles, son, I apologize. I forgot to tell you, there is no Giggles & Friendz this week. You see, Vince is going to take over this week.

Giggles gasps dramatically and claps his hands onto his cheeks.

Vinny & Friendz??? Yay!!!

Not quite. In fact, Giggles, I’m not much of a showman. Would you help me with this… *ahem* episode?

*GASP* Giggles would love to! Come, twinsies, we must prepare! To the basement trademark!

Giggles throws a smoke bomb down, disappearing into the cloud as it fills the room. When the smoke clears, the Blooms look at each other for a moment.

Do you have them? No, I don’t have them I thought you had them no you were supposed to have them.

The twins argue in perfect unison as they walk away to The Basement™. Barnum and Vinny turn to look at one another.

You will have to get used to that. Privacy is not something that the trio knows very well.

I understand. I will do my best.

Barnum nods and puts his cane in place to get to his feet. Vinny slowly rises and marches out the door, followed by the Ringmaster.

The two men make their way down to The Basement™, where Giggles is already fiddling with the camera on the tripod. Barnum sighs, made his way over to the camera, and holds a hand up to stop the excited clown. Giggles does as he is told and backs off. Barnum simply presses the red record button. Giggles “awww”s with wonder as if he’s never seen such sorcery before.

So, are you ready Vincen- sorry, Vinny?

Vinny nods slightly. Barnum nods in return and adjusts the sweater the bigger man is wearing.

Camera ready. Make me proud, son.

Vinny turns and makes his way next to Giggles, who is hopping up and down in excitement. Barnum takes his place behind the camera and holds a thumbs up to the people on the screen.

Giggles takes his queue to throw his arms out wide, making confetti explode from his sleeves. He goes off on his usual spiel.

HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! It is Giggles! That’s me, Giggles!!!

Another shot of confetti. Vinny stands perfectly still.

Giggles has a SuPeR dUpEr exciting news!!! This!

Giggles dramatically gestures to the statue-esque man standing next to him.

This is Giggles new friend Vinny!!! Say hello to our very special friends, Vinny!!!

Vincent slowly raises a hand to wave.

Vinny will be making his fantastical super exciting debut for AyePeeDoubleYou Metal this week! Oh, it will be so much fun!!!

Vinny! Would you like to say some words to Giggles bestest friends five ever???

Absolutely, Giggles. Thank you.

Yay!!!!!!

Giggles vanishes from sight. A lone spotlight shines onto Vinny as every other light shuts off. Vinny stands for a moment, his wild eyes staring through the porcelain mask pierce through the screen into the soul of the viewer. Finally, he speaks.

Everything is dark… I have crawled in darkness for months now. I fear I will never see the light again. Everywhere I go, everything I do, nothing helps. It’s jarring, going from a normal, satisfying life to a living hell. Your whole world going up in flames, quite literally… leaving you scarred, forcing you to hide behind a godforsaken mask for the rest of your miserable days… It’s enough to drive a man insane…

And then I found him. Or, more accurately, he found me. Mr. Barnum appeared just in time to save me from myself. He got into contact with me after scouting new talent and felt I was a perfect fit.

Allow me to say this right now. I do not enjoy violence against women. Not at all. Men should not hurt women without just reason. That being said, my match against Victoria Sabin is a fair exception. It is a professional wrestling match after all, no? She understands what she has signed up for and what she is risking. So I’ll pay no mind.

I would like to talk to you, Victoria. I would like to get to know my opponent more personally.

I understand you’ve met with a terrible fate. Your life has not been sweet or perfect whatsoever. I can relate. I can sympathize. However… You have never… never… faced true misery… I won’t try to discount the pain you’ve been through, but I will say you have barely broken the surface. When you step into the ring with me, I will give you a closer look at what it’s like to be me for a day… To live with the constant pain I feel. Don’t you worry, I am a great teacher…

My… overly excited partner here may have found success while perpetually happy, and that is fantastic for him. However, we may be a team but we are not the same. I will not be your friend. I will not laugh with you or hug you in the ring. I will hurt you. I will leave the fun and the showmanship for the funny clown man. I am not one to entertain.

Giggles loves making friends!!!

And that’s good, Giggles. But I unfortunately don’t. And I’m not going to pretend that I do.

Because lying is wrong!

Exactly. So Victoria, I will be truthful with you. I don’t want to be friends and I’m sure you don’t want that either. I just hope you don’t expect me to go easy on you because you’re a woman. You signed the same contract I did so you know full well what you are facing. I may not be a trained wrestler, I may not have been in this business my entire life. And I certainly did not have an inherent viciousness within me. All of this, all of what you see in me today was forced upon me. And now, it will be forced upon you.

I have experienced so much pain… It is time for me to be the one to cause the pain for a change… And you just so happen to be the first unfortunate victim.

I hope one day you experience the sweet sweet catharsis I’m about to achieve by defeating you, Victoria. As I drive the wind from your lungs, as my hands round your neck choke the life out of your body… I will feel nothing but ecstasy.

But the most important thing I want to say to you, Victoria? The one thing I want you to know above all else is…

I am so… so sorry for what I’m about to do. I hope you can forgive me… When you awaken, that is.

Vinny looks up to Giggles, the twins, and Ringmaster Barnum, who all have mouths agape in response to what the masked man just said. The five people stare at one another in silence for a moment before the Blooms speak up.

Oh. My Giggles! That was so cool!!! Jinx!

Giggles begins to clap. And doesn’t stop. He just keeps clapping. Perpetually. Eventually, Barnum takes over, sensing the clapping won’t end anytime soon.

Vincent, I believe you will do just fine in our little circus. I must say I am happy you are along for the ride.

Vinny tilts his head very subtly in a nod.

Thank you.

Giggles finally(!) stops clapping.

GrOuP hUg!!!!!!!

In the blink of an eye, Giggles is right up next to Vinny, his freakishly long arms wrapped around him in a tight hug. The Bloom Twins join in on the hug. Vinny looks over to Isaac Barnum, who stands at a respectable distance. The Ringmaster nods to the big man, who nods back.

Vinny slowly lifts his arms to embrace his new family. Barnum smirks and turns to face the camera.

And you all thought my Giggles was bad. You have not seen anything yet. At least with the happy clown, you know he will not maim you too too badly. But with Vincent? You get no such courtesy. The issue with Giggles is his deception. He lulls you into a false sense of security before striking like a snake. But you know exactly what you are getting with Vinny and there is nothing you can do to stop it.

My Carnival is undefeated in APW action. My Giggles became a champion in only three matches. And that is only the beginning of what my influence can do for my Freakshow. Now the ferocity of my Vinny will wreck a whole new brand of havoc for the world of Alpha Pro Wrestling.

So… Ms. Sabin. I must ask you, do you honestly believe the likes of Jason Ryan compare even a candle to my Vinny? That seems to be your obsession, right? This Jason Ryan lad seems to have your eye. On paper it makes sense, focusing on a former World Heavyweight champion. But you, miss, are fully obsessed. It is unhealthy and detrimental to your overall career. It proves how weak you truly are when you remain transfixed on one man who refuses to acknowledge your existence, it simply becomes a sad, feeble attempt at making yourself relevant.

Well, if notoriety is what you so desperately seek, Ms. Victoria, then you sure will get it. You will become the first of many victims of the mighty Vinny on his path to dominance. As I have said before for Giggles first opponents, every good story begins with a strong first chapter. You are the first chapter, my dear. Nothing more, nothing less. You will be forgotten to time but Vincent as well as the rest of my awe inspiring Freakshow will remember you fondly as the opening act for a wonderful show that is Vinny’s annihilation of the APW roster. Feel honored, dear Victoria. Feel blessed that you were taken down by one of the most violent men in this lovely business.

Enjoy your time before Metal, Victoria. Because this is your last time with any sense of normalcy before Vinny shows you his brand of… “entertainment”. I wish you the best of luck. Because you will most certainly need it against Mr. Vincent.

Oh. And of course…

Barnum gives the camera an evil smirk.

Do take care…

Barnum gives a small wave to the camera as he turns and joins the rest of his clan, joining in on the conversation as the scene fades out.