Lord Blackwing's Plan

February 18^th, 2011
Liverpool, England

The scene opens inside of a large reading room. A fire is crackling and popping in the large marble fireplace, causing warmth to radiate throughout the room. The floor is black tile but, in front of the fire place, there is a large lion’s pelt rug on the floor. Two of the 4 walls of the room are lined with large intimidating book shelves, the wall to the left has a large world map along with a glass door leading out to a porch overlooking an expansive backyard. The wall directly in front of the camera has the fireplace but, above the fireplace, there are a wide variety of animal heads that have been stuffed and mounted on the wall.

There are two plush chairs in front of the fireplace. In one of the chairs sits a nicely dressed man. He is wearing a pair of black dress pants and a white button down shirt with a black tie. The man is puffing a pipe while he is reading the newspaper. You can suddenly hear him grumble from behind the paper

Duke Reginald Churchill
Bloody American ingrates

Suddenly, the door to the study opens and an older gentleman walks into the room wearing a black suit with a black bow tie

Jeeves
Excuse me Duke Reginald, Lord Blackwing just rang sir.

The man puts the paper down to reveal the smiling face of Duke Reginald Churchill Chesterfield Esquire III

Duke Reginald Churchill
Ah, excellent! What did the good Lord want?

Jeeves
He acquiesced as to whether you were free to meet him this afternoon

Duke Reginald Churchill closes the paper and folds it up before setting it on the table top beside his chair

Duke Reginald
I should think so Jeeves!

Duke Reginald Churchill pulls himself to his feet

Duke Reginald
Bring the car around Jeeves

Jeeves
Lord Blackwing informed me that he knew you would accept and has already sent his driver over to fetch you

Duke Reginald chuckles and claps his hands

Duke Reginald
That Lord Blackwing, he knows me far too well Jeeves old boy

-+-

Later that day…

Duke Reginald Churchill smiles widely

Duke Reginald
I say, what an absolutely smashing car Lord Blackwing

Lord Blackwing smiles as he and Duke Reginald step out of the black Bentley Continental

Lord Blackwing
I do agree old chap

Lord Blackwing and Duke Reginald walk up the front steps and are greeted by Lord Blackwing’s butler, Cockfoster

Cockfoster
Lord Blackwing, Duke Reginald, how wonderful to see you

Lord Blackwing smile as Cockfoster. Duke Reginald tips his bowler hat slightly. Old Cockfoster was a nice bloke and was quite a valuable confidant as well as a friend for Lord Blackwing.

Lord Blackwing
Ah, Cockfoster. I trust everything is prepared?

Cockfoster
As you requested, sir.

Lord Blackwing claps his hands once, bringing a smile to Cockfoster’s face

Lord Blackwing
Excellent Cockfoster. You may take the rest of the day off

Cockfoster bows slightly

Cockfoster
As you wish, sir.

Cockfoster nods his head at Duke Reginald and then turns and walks back into the house. Cockfoster makes his way up the stairs and disappears from sight. Once Cockfoster is gone, Lord Blackwing gestures towards the open front door

Lord Blackwing
Cockfoster has been kind enough to lay out tea and crumpets for us in the drawing room

Duke Reginald
Splendid!

Duke Reginald and Lord Blackwing enter the house and make their way to the drawing room. As they enter the drawing room. Lord Blackwing motions towards some chairs by the large fireplace

Lord Blackwing
Reginald, my boy, do have a seat

Duke Reginald
Thank you

Duke Reginald smiles slightly as he looks around the drawing room. He had actually modeled his drawing room to look like this exact drawing room. The first time he had ever sat in this drawing room he and Lord Blackwing had discussed the merits of the aristocracy and the situation between Ulster and the rest of Ireland…

Such a despicable country

Duke Reginald suddenly notices the tray with a large tea pot, two cups and some sugar and honey

Duke Reginald
Tea?

Lord Blackwing
Delightful

Duke Reginald picks up the teapot and pours tea in to the two cups as Blackwing walks over to a shelf and pulls out a couple of books.

Duke Reginald
So old boy, why is it that you wanted to see me?

Lord Blackwing walks back over to the chairs and places the books down on the table next to the tea service. Duke Reginald picks one of them up and inspects it, followed by the other. A confused look appears on is face as he reads the titles of the books aloud

Duke Reginald
'The Art of Professional Wrestling' by Harry Harper and 'The Marquess of Queensbury Rules For Fisticuffs Explained' by the Earl of Gloucester? I don't think I quite understand, Edward.

Lord Blackwing sits and takes a sip from his cup of tea

Lord Blackwing
Since I resigned my position as Dean of Oxford University I have been bored, Reginald. I have tried many pursuits, but none of them have TAKEN me. As I am sure you know, I maintain a property in New England, and like to keep up on current affairs in the United States. Well, yesterday I was reading a copy of the Los Angeles Times, when I spied that one of the big American wrestling federations, the No Limit Wrestling Federation, had shut down, after two felonious cads, a Chuck Matthews and Corey Casey had risen up in revolt against the leader.

Duke Reginald
Interesting…

Lord Blackwing
Quite. Well, naturally, this piqued my interest, and it seems they have formed their own federation, the Insurgency Wrestling Federation.

Duke Reginald nods, pretending that Lord Blackwing’s train of thought made sense. But, in the back of his mind, Duke Reginald found himself trying desperately to make the connection. Why would a man of such fine upstanding moral fiber give a damn about some American wrestling federation full of degenerate cads?

Duke Reginald
I’m still not sure where you are going with this old chap

Lord Blackwing ponders for a moment

Lord Blackwing
You were trained in combat sports at Eton, weren’t you?

Duke Reginald smiles warmly as he quickly flashes back to the carefree days he spent lounging about Eton. Such a beautiful place, a right proper place to get an education. It wasn’t a disease filled pit filled with harlots and drug abusers like those American universities.

Duke Reginald
Yes, I did some mat wrestling and also some boxing. I was school boxing champion two years running. But I haven't done any of that in years.

Duke Reginald sighs slightly. He hadn’t had a chance to get into a good scrap since his days at Eton. There were times when he missed the thrill of combat and the rush of adrenaline that came when one was doing battle against his enemy using naught but his bare fists

Lord Blackwing
Neither have I. But, I believe that one never forgets. A right hook isn't learned, it is built in. How would you like to revisit your past?

A wry smile appears on Duke Reginald’s face as he finally puts the pieces together

Duke Reginald
Are you saying we should go and join this place?

Lord Blackwing chuckles softly

Lord Blackwing
No, my boy, I'm saying we should go and DOMINATE it. I miss the thrill of combat. Don't you?

Duke Reginald takes a sip of his tea in an attempt to try and stop himself from responding too quickly with an enthusiastic “yes!”

Duke Reginald
Well, of course. But we are just two men

Lord Blackwing
Fear not. My son, Ian is on his way to discuss the very prospect of joining us, and I have another name lined up.

Duke Reginald
Oh? And who would that be?

Lord Blackwing
Do you know William Darlington?

Duke Reginald
Elsie Darlington’s boy?

Lord Blackwing nods

Lord Blackwing
The very same

Duke Reginald sets his tea aside. The pieces of the brilliant Lord Blackwing’s plan were beginning to make more and more sense. The man was a bloody genius

Duke Reginald
Yes, we're good chums. I think I can see where you are going with this. In recent years he has been working very successfully as...

Lord Blackwing
…A professional wrestler

Lord Blackwing smile wryly and takes another sip of his tea. Duke Reginald can’t help but to laugh heartily

Duke Reginald
How convenient

Lord Blackwing
Fiendishly convenient

Blackwing reaches in to the breast pocket of his jacket and pulls out a piece of paper, handing it to Reginald.

Lord Blackwing
This is his address in Nottingham. I want you to go and talk to him about the idea. Since his father tragically passed away I have taken him under my wing. He is a good boy and will be sure to join our endeavor.

Duke Reginald nods is head as he looks over the address

Duke Reginald
Right-o. I suppose I should be getting to it, then?

Lord Blackwing
Indubitably. Carruthers will be waiting outside for you with a car.

Duke Reginald
Very well then old bean. I shall send Carruthers back with an update on my progress

Duke Reginald stands up and places his bowler hat on his head. He nods at Lord Blackwing who returns the gesture, before Duke Reginald turns and walks out of the drawing room. There was no masking the little bit of a spring that had suddenly appeared in his step as he walked out of the drawing room. To think, that he, Sir Ian Blackwing, Lord Blackwing and his good friend William Darlington would soon be experiencing combat alongside one another for the first time. The four British men would lay waste to those who dared to stand in their way!

Duke Reginald walks out the large mansion of Lord Blackwing and towards the beautiful black Bentley Continental. He nods at Carruthers who opens the back door so Duke Reginald can enter the car.

Carruthers
Am I to bring you home then sir?

Duke Reginald
No I’m afraid not Carruthers…

Duke Reginald hands Carruthers the piece of paper with William Darlington’s address on it.

Duke Reginald
I need you to bring me here Carruthers. I am on official business for Lord Blackwing!

Carruthers nods his head

Carruthers
Very good sir

-+-

Lord Blackwing's Bentley slowly pulls up outside a large semi-detached house in a well to do area of Nottingham. The driver steps out and opens the rear door, allowing Duke Reginald to step out. Duke Reginald takes a deep breath, enjoying the cold crisp air. The Darlingtons were a good noble family with a long history of honorable gentlemen. Duke Reginald had met William at one of the London Wrestling Monarchy events after Duke Reginald went backstage to personally congratulate William Darlington on his amazing LWM Championship win.

Duke Reginald breathes deeply once more before turning and walking up the path outside the house. He strides confidently up to the door and knocks on it three times. There is a wait of a few seconds before a young man with handsome features opens the door. A smile forms and then broadens on the man's face.

William Darlington
Reggie! What a pleasant surprise! Where are my manners, come in!

Duke Reginald smiles at William and walks past him and into the house. William shuts the front door and then he and Duke Reginald walk to the sitting room, which is a lot smaller and less grand than the rooms in Lord Blackwing’s house. Duke Reginald notices that, despite the room being smaller and less grand, the fixtures are still very well appointed and taken care of

Duke Reginald
This is quite a nice house

William Darlington
Yes. Father left it to me in his will. One of many he owned. It's Victorian.

Duke Reginald nods his head in appreciation

Duke Reginald
You’ve certainly kept the place looking nice

William Darlington
He left me his cleaner too

Both men laugh as the two men walk into the sitting room. Darlington walks over to the liquor cabinet

William Darlington
Sherry?

Duke Reginald waves William off

Duke Reginald
No thanks old boy, gives me murderous heatburn. I would kill for a brandy, though.

William chuckles

William Darlington
Of course. Please, take a seat

Duke Reginald walks over to a large black leather chair and removes his bowler hat before he sits down. Meanwhile, William Darlington begins to pour two drinks

William Darlington
So, what brings you here Reggie?

Duke Reginald
I've just come from Lord Blackwing's house. He wanted me to come and talk to you about something.

William turns with both drinks in his hands. He walks over to Duke Reginald and hands him the brady

William Darlington
Uncle Edward? I haven't seen him for a good couple of years now. Played tennis with Ian last week though. What does he want?

Duke Reginald swirls the brandy around the glass before bringing up to his lips and taking a small sip.

Duke Reginald
Excellent brandy old boy. But, back to the topic at hand, Lord Blackwing has been following your career as a professional wrestler and he has noted that you have been doing rather well of late.

William Darlington
I’m not sure I understand

Duke Reginald smirks, two hours ago he had been in the same boat as William here

Duke Reginald
Have you heard of the No Limit Wrestling Federation?

William Darlington
Yes, it shut down last week after a bit of a rebellion.

Duke Reginald
Correct. But you know the old saying. "From the flames of devastation..."

William Darlington
"...a beautiful Phoenix shall rise." I read that a couple of the upstarts who caused its downfall have moved on and founded their own place. Still not sure I'm following you, Reggie.

Duke Reginald shrugs and takes another sip of his brandy

Duke Reginald
Well, Edward was being very cryptic, but he said something about wanting to head over there and give this place the once over. He said that you would be interested.

William Darlington
Am I ever! I have always wanted to wrestle across the pond. Tell Uncle Edward I am in.

Duke Reginald finishes his brandy and sets the glass down carefully. He stands up and places his bowler hat back on his head

Duke Reginald
Excellent!

William Darlington stands up as well as Duke Reginald turns and begins walking towards the entry hallway. Duke Reginald walks out the front door and is halfway back to Lord Blackwing’s car when he hears William’s voice call out from the house

William Darlington
When do we leave?

Duke Reginald pauses and flashes William Darlington a clever grin

Duke Reginald
I would start packing immediately my dear boy…