I Fought The Law and The Law Won

[Mario Maurako]

ACT I: Il Mio Amore
Sassari, Italy

It’s Sassari, Italy. Torres Calcio is taking on Riviera Di Romagna in what has thus far been a complete manhandling provided by Torres Calcio. Nicoletta De Carlo has just substituted back into the game and the words of her father Delfino De Carlo are still ringing in her head. Nicoletta charges the net of Riviera Di Romagna. An attacker from her squad named Giulia Baldini lobs a pass up into the air and Nicoletta leaps into the air and redirects the ball using a vicious head-butt. Nicoletta grasps her neck and the lets herself tumble to the ground in what looks to be a lot of pain. Truth is the only pain the Nicoletta feels is in her heart, as she has to step away from the game she loves at least for the season, but likely forever. Within moments of hitting the ground Nicoletta is surrounded by her team doctors. The shot, for the record, was saved by the goal keeper.

The doctors spend several moments tending to Nicoletta’s fake injury. I guess that’s what a shit ton of money will buy you. A really convincing fake injury. The doctor’s load Nicoletta up onto a long spine board and equipped with a neck brace. The doctor’s then load her up onto a cart and whisk her away to the locker room. Once in the locker room and away from the prying eyes of the public they doctor’s quickly undo Nicoletta from the board. One of the doctor’s then hands her a set of x-rays to help sell the neck injury that she will be faking. Tears begin to roll down Nicoletta’s face and off in her nearby locker you hear her cell phone ring. Instantly Nicoletta knows that it is her father. She rushes off to her phone and answers it.

Nicoletta De Carlo: What?

Delfino De Carlo: You did a good job out there. I know you’re not happy about it. But I promise it will be all worthwhile at the end. If there was another way to do this I would go that route. This is our only option. Mario is an incredibly smart and conniving individual.

Nicoletta De Carlo: So what is next?

Delfino De Carlo: Well according to my sources Mario is on his way to Orlando Florida. I will fly you there and arrange for you to ‘bump’ into him. I’ve made a call to a friend who was able to plant some stuff on Mario’s record. Get to Orlando and we will go from there.

Nicoletta De Carlo: Okay, I’ve got to say my goodbyes and then I’ll be on the jet to Orlando.

Delfino De Carlo: You’ll hear from me soon.

Nicoletta hangs up the phone and turns back to the doctor’s. She hands the x-rays back to the doctors.

Nicoletta De Carlo: I can’t do this. I can’t lie to my coach and teammates. You’re going to have to do it.

The doctor’s look on, slightly dumbfounded. The part of speaking to the media and the teammates wasn’t a role they were prepared to take on. However they know that Nicoletta is serious when she says she can’t do it, and they know that if they let this fall apart not only will they lose their money, they’d have to answer to Delfino De Carlo, and they certainly don’t want that. So the doctor’s huddle up to decide their course of action and Nicoletta packs up her clothes and heads for the door to exit the locker room. Before opening the door and leaving she stops and turns back to the world that she has loved for so long.

Nicoletta De Carlo: Goodbye.

Another tear rolls down Nicoletta’s face, and then she turns and opens the door and leaves her futbol world behind her.

ACT II: I Fought The Law
Orlando, Florida

We join Mario & his good friend Dominic aka Big D in the back of a new 2014 Cadillac, to replace the one that was recently blown up in Memphis. Mario appears glued to his phone as he is streaming the Torres Calcio vs. Riviera Di Romagna match-up. Mario watches with joy and anticipation as his the object of his recent desire Nicoletta Di Carlo rushes out onto the field. Mario watches as the scene virtually plays out in slow motion as Nicoletta head-butts the ball toward the net and collapses on the ground. Mario’s jaw drops as watches her crumble to the ground on his screen.

Mario Maurako: NO!

Mario’s sudden outburst startles Dominic.

Big D: What in the hell is wrong with you?

Mario Maurako: She’s hurt!

Big D: Who is hurt? Are you watching that Soccer broad again?

Mario breaks his gaze with the phone and stare at Dominic.

Mario Maurako: It’s futbol you imbecile. Embrace it… and yes I am.

Big D: I’m just saying I think you have bigger fish to fry right now than drooling over your latest crush. I mean this is it, this is what you’ve worked so hard for. You vs. Pryde for the OCW Southern Championship. You’re 40th Birthday is tomorrow, there are too many distractions. You should be-

Mario Maurako: Celebrating. You’re right. I should be celebrating turning 40, I should be celebrating winning one of the biggest championships my sport has to offer. More important I should be celebrating the key to bringing OCW to it’s knees! When Ian and I walk out of Blackout with the Central and Southern Titles the entire federation will be eating out of the palm of our hands. So you’re right Dominic. We should be focusing on celebrating.

Big D: That’s not exactly what I was getting it.

Mario Maurako: Disney World!

Big D: What?

Mario Maurako: Whenever someone wins something big, they always scream that they are going to Disney World. So let’s fuckin’ go to Disney World!

Big D: But you haven’t won yet.

Mario Maurako: Correction Dominic. I won the moment that Pryde was named my partner. From that very second, I knew that all of this was in the bag. I had the greatest partner you could have in the Lethal Lottery Tournament. I didn’t have some washed up has-been who has to resort to underhanded tactics to attempt to prove that he still has something he never had. I didn’t draw the idiot that jumped me for some sort of ‘revenge’ before disappearing back into the hole he crawled out of. A waste of time and space that guy is. I didn’t draw the ever faltering Dangerous One. I got Pryde. Whether it was because I know a guy who knows a guy or by sheer luck that doesn’t matter. I knew I’d be headlining Blackout with him.

Big D: That’s great but that doesn’t win you the Southern Championship.

Mario Maurako: It doesn’t? Because last I checked I was the best thing walking the face of this planet. I mean I must be, everyone keeps calling me Marvelous. That’s not something I’ve asked them to do, they just do it. They must see something in me. I mean I am a two time OCW Hall of Famer. How many Hall of Fame rings does Pryde have? Zero.

Just then the sound of a police siren is heard and Mario turns around to see the flashing red, and blue lights of an Orlando Police officer.

Mario Maurako: Fuck man. I can’t go anywhere anymore.

Mario’s driver pulls the car over and Mario watches out the window as the Police Officer walks up.

Officer: License and registration please.

The driver begins to fumble through the glove box as Mario rolls his window down. The officer reaches his hand for his gun but pauses.

Mario Maurako: Excuse me Officer, my name is Mario Maurako. I’m not sure what the problem seems to be.

Officer: Oh, so you’re Mario Maurako. I’m going to have to ask you to step out of the car sir.

Mario Maurako: What? Why?

Officer: I ran your plates and found a warrant for your arrest.

Mario Maurako scoffs at the comments made by the officer. Instantly Mario knows that something is off.

Mario Maurako: There must be some sort of misunderstanding. You see I have diplomatic immunity. I’ve had it since 2009 or 2010. Look it up.

Officer: Yeah I can do that, once we get back to the station and get things sorted out.

Mario grows instantly annoyed by the Officer’s thirst for justice. Instinctively Mario reaches for his wallet.

Mario Maurako: Okay, I’ve been in this position a dozen times. How much is this going to cost to make it all go away? I’ve got a huge weekend ahead of me, I’ve got my Birthday, and I’ve got a title match with Pryde. I don’t have time for these foolish games.

Officer: Okay, so now I’ll add attempted bribery to the charges. Get out of the car, we are going down town.

Mario Maurako: You’ve got to be fucking kidding me right now.

Big D: Mario, just calm down. Go down town and get it all sorted out. It’ll be a few hour delay in the plans but that’s nothing.

The Police Officer laughs at Big D’s ideology.

Officer: More like a day or two.

Mario Maurako: A DAY OR TWO!?!? Okay seriously, what are my options here? A day or two in the clink for you to figure out that I should be let it is unacceptable. What is the warrant even for?

Officer: Unpaid parking tickets.

Mario Maurako: Fuck. That sounds like me. Okay fine. What are my options?

Officer: Well how about this? I think I have an option for you that we will both find beneficial. I’ll wipe the warrants away if you volunteer for 8 hours at Give Kids The World Village.

Mario Maurako: What in the world is that?

Officer: It’s a wish granting facility that partners up with the local theme parks to grant wishes for sick children.

Mario rolls his eyes.

Mario Maurako: Of course it is.

Mario pauses for a moment and looks at Dominic who nods in approval of the deal. Mario sighs and looks back at the Officer and then forces a smile.

Mario Maurako: I’d love to volunteer.

Officer: Great, here is the address and once I hear back that you’ve done your time I will take care of those warrants for you Mr. Maurako.

The Officer scribbles down an address onto his note pad. He rips the paper off and then hands it to Mario. The Officer then waves off the information from the driver of the vehicle and then makes his way back to his vehicle. Once the officer has entered his vehicle he reaches onto the passenger seat and picks up a cell phone. He then pounds a few numbers and the phone begins ringing.

Delfino De Carlo: De Carlo.

Officer: He is on his way to the site.

Delfino De Carlo: Excellent. I knew his Title match would be too important to him and that it would temporarily blind him. Very good my friend. You did well. You did very well.

TO BE CONTINUED…