Post by BrainScratch on Aug 7, 2019 2:53:13 GMT -5
The oft-titled 'World War Zepp' has long since settled into dust, but something far more sinister has yet to run it's course: Judiciary procedure. Senator Montgomery Peterson remains in a coma, and most of his top subordinates are nowhere to be found. That only leaves one man to be thrown upon the courtroom floor, and that man is Isaiah Zepp.
A stout bailiff shifts into position and addresses a crammed and stuffy courthouse, and an RSW cameraman finds himself shoved into a corner of the room. "All rise. The third district of the Superior Court is now in session. Judge Vandelay presiding. Please be seated."
Isaiah, clad in a slick three piece gold-colored suit but with an expression of extreme irritation, remains standing, hands pressed onto his desk next to his brother Edward. This hesitation causes his supporters in the back to whoop and holler, and the aging judge Arthur Vandaley slams his gavel on its block.
"Order! Order in my court! Now please will you sit... " With a smirk, Isaiah acquiesces. "Right then, good morning to everyone here today as we call the case of The People of the State of California versus Isaiah Zepp." In the background, someone raises their phone and loudly plays the sound of bell ringing as if this were a wrestling match, which creates a burst of laughter and yelling. "Goddammit, I will have you all arrested for contempt of court if this keeps up! Let's get this thing over with. Is the prosecution ready?"
A portly and slimy looking individual by the name of John Fulmer sneers through a set of grimy teeth. "Ready for the People, your honor." There's a short round of booing, but it stops once he judge raises his gavel threateningly.
"And the defense? Where's your lawyer, Zepp?"
"My brother and I will suffice."
Before Vandelay can ridicule him, a young woman named Sadie Parker pushes through the doors and quickly slams a stack of books and folders onto the desk in front of Zepp. "The defense is ready!"
The judge folds his arms and huffs. "Miss Parker?... I would have expected better discretion form you. But As it were, let's have the opening statements."
Isaiah Zepp whispers to the lady. "I appreciate the sentiment, but this isn't necessary."
"You saved my best friend from that death camp. The least I can do is stop you from talking yourself into a firing squad."
Fulmer gives them a dirty look until they stop whispering to each other and starts his statement, gesturing pompously. "Unbridled destruction and the careless loss of life. THAT is what this so-called 'HERO' has caused, with absolutely ZERO repercussions. Today the People hope to prove that Isaiah Zepp was not only culpable for the damages done in the riots of downtown San Diego, but the biggest instigating factor."
Isaiah raises his arms flippantly, which nearly incites the crowd again, but Sadie jabs him in the side with the cap of her pen and makes him sit down. She then delivers her rebuttal. "People of the court, it was indeed a tragic outcome all those months ago, and many questions are left unanswered, but assigning blame to one man will not sweep the issue aside. Especially this man, who I will reaffirm to be the reason our city was lucky to not suffer a worse fate."
Isaiah nods and shrugs his shoulders. He points to his brother. "Ed's speech was going to be longer and more dramatic, but we liked yours."
Sadie rolls her eyes, knowing enough of the Zepp family to catch his sarcasm. "This isn't like one of your wrestling things, Zepp. Please take this seriously."
What follows is a slow process of eye witnesses brought forward by Fulmer to condemn Zepp, only for Parker to swiftly discredit their testimonies. Among them, a police chief brings up Isaiah's past with the law, but Sadie has a copy of his record, showing the only time Isaiah has been charged with a crime in his life was as a 15 year old (when he spray painted a penis on the face of a Ronald Reagan statue). A convenience store owner posits that Zepp caused the damage to his business and many other buildings in the metropolitan area, but Parker has a video file ready to show that Isaiah was specifically diverting people away from looting to aim their spite at Peterson.
After a slew of witnesses are examined and crossed, Isaiah clasps his hands behind his head and yawns. "This seems to be a cakewalk for you, Miss Parker. Now if only it were over already."
Parker sighs. "Oh if I weren't here, it would be over. You'd be rotting in a cell with no one but yourself to blame."
"Excuse me..." John Fulmer's teeth clack as he chides his opposition. "I have one more witness if you two would shut up. The prosecution calls Johnathan Kane to the stand."
The crowd boos Johnny Kane, once again earning the wrath of Judge Vandelay's gavel. The judge rubs his temples in frustration. Isaiah stares a hole through the biker, who's wearing his ripped jeans and leather vest as if it were any other day.
Fulmer continues. "Mr. Kane. You are personally acquainted with Mr. Zepp, yes?"
Johnny is slightly confused. "Uh, naw nothing like that, I've just had a bunch of fights with him."
"That's... That's what I meant. Okay, so when you say a bunch of fights, what does that refer to?"
"Oh this sumbitch always-"
The judge interjects. "Clean up your language in my court, please!"
"Fine, this... GUY... he always cheats! He throws sucker punches! Then there's the time he and got me beaten up by big Oscar, and then he brought all those illegal immig-... I mean, other GUYS... and we had that rumble and he sneak attacked me with that stupid pool stick!" Johnny points to a scar on his forehead. "And yet if I try to hit him, it's racial dissemination or whatever! It ain't right!"
Fulmer gestures with his hands extended, trying to spin this oafish tale into sympathy. "So you say that Isaiah Zepp, the defendant in that very chair, has assaulted you multiple times, caused you an inordinate amount of stress and injury, and also incited a mob to attack you?"
"Uhh..." The greasy lawyer has to nod to coax an agreement out of the biker. "Yeah, man! Exactly like you say it."
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have to ask yourselves if that sounds like the actions of a hero, or perhaps a stone cold criminal building up a cult to do his bidding."
Isaiah juts up with his fists cocked, and Sadie Parker has to ask Edward to help subdue him. "I've got this!" she says, trying to reassure Zepp. He sits back down in his chair roughly as Sadie clears her throat for the cross examination. "So, Mr. Kane, you mentioned a 'rumble'. That would be a fight between two large groups, yes?"
"That's right, dollface."
She recoils in disgust, but continues. "And what group were you in on that day?"
"Oh that was our parade rally!"
"What type of parade was this?"
Fulmer tries to jump in here. "Objection! A parade is a parade, your honor."
Vandelay doesn't bite. "Overruled, the questions can be answered. I hope it's going somewhere..."
Johnny glances to the jury, some of which are minorities, and he begins to sweat. "Oh, right... So it was a Pride Parade. Yeah. Kinda." He rubs his forehead and stammers as Parker is looking for more information. "A pride parade for... for... America! Yeah. We were just being prideful about being Americans."
Sadie is irritated at the tip-toeing. She starts to rifle through her folders, and finally on the last flap, she finds a slightly tattered paper.
"Your honor I'd like to submit this flyer as evidence. Is this an advertisement for your rally, Kane?"
"Uhhh, no! I mean, maybe...."
She slaps the bar in front of his seat. "You are under oath, sir!"
"Objection! She's badgering my witness!"
"Overruled. Answer the question, son."
"Yes! Okay, that's the one."
"And what is the title of the event?"
"It was the Wh..." He tries to whisper the answer but all that does is gain more enmity, and he speaks up. "The... White Pride Bash 'n' Trash."
John Fulmer starts to pull his hair out as the crowd starts to heckle the whole preceding.
Kane looks at him and is furious. "Hey you didn't say nothing about shitty questions like this! You better be paying me double!"
The Judge bangs the gavel again. "That's it, bailiff remove this man for contempt of court! Fulmer you're going with him unless you have something intelligent to say!"
Fulmer is flabbergasted. "I'm sorry your honor... The defense rests."
Isaiah's laugh bellows through the court as he waves goodbye to Johnny, but Parker calms him, as it isn't over yet.
"Parker or Zepp, a closing statement?"
"Yes your honor." She waits until the crowd murmur dies down again and brings a few pictures to a projector at the side of the room. As she speaks, we see various photos from the events of World War Z. "It's overtly apparent that my client is a strange man, who does things his own way. Sometimes that oversteps the bounds of the law, but remember the horrors what we saw from Montgomery Peterson's compounds. It's impossible to imagine how many more tragic deaths would have happened if my client hadn't shed light on it. There are officers, detectives, and army sergeants that have attested to this man's will and courage, the type of people he's polar opposites. Even if he were guilty of starting those battles, would the punishment be community service? He's already doing that, for our city and others. The man works tirelessly to use every penny he can to help people. To convict him of crimes of destruction would be counter-intuitive at best. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I know we want justice for the atrocities, but the men responsible are simply not on trial today."
Isaiah offers a light clap, so as not to incite more noise. The jury enters their side chamber, and not five minutes goes by when the return to render the quick verdict of Not Guilty. Now, however, Isaiah Zepp springs to his feet and pumps his arms exuberantly.
"Oh! I thought for sure this was a setup, but for once the system works! Free at last!" The crowd goes bonkers, leading to more banging of the gavel.
"Order! Congratulations, Mr. Zepp. I hope you continue to do good works and keep yourself out of my courtroom in the future..." Isaiah smiles and gives Vandelay a hearty nod as he speaks. "BUT, I do not appreciate this circus sideshow atmosphere, so to MOTIVATE you to stay clear from here, I'm finding YOU in contempt of court as well. Bailiff!"
Isaiah is beside himself. He can't believe it, but he eventually complies as the crowd becomes raucous, and other court attendants herd them out of the building. Sadie Parker scratches her head and looks to Edward Zepp, who gives her a well deserved thumbs up.
- LOCK UP -
Isaiah Zepp has undone his golden suit jacket, and with the sleeves of his shirt rolled up, he sits in a holding cell while fidgeting with the Cactus Pete Friendship Bracelet that he "won" from Senor Vinnie. He peers up and notices the RSW camera rolling and angrily chuckles to himself.
Isaiah: "I'm sure there's a lot of people out there who are enjoying the view, hmm. None the least would be our darling Esmeralda. But this is only temporary. It will be a much colder day in hell when you actually get rid of me. Until then, as the saying goes, I'm not stuck here with you, you're all stuck here with me. The pieces of our History have scattered again to the wind, following the half centennial. The new edge begins another dull chapter, and the Gate has rechristened itself into something Global. These may seem like fresh escapes, but what's inescapable is that I have unfinished business with all of you. One day, one glorious day, you'll have to face that. Until then, this isn't goodbye, just another passing of ships."
He snaps the friendship bracelet against his wrist.
Isaiah: "And that includes you, Vincenzo. You are not done here. People always read me wrong, including one insolent bootlicker, Gideon Rodgers. They say I intentionally raised those stakes to take you off your game and make you leave the RSW. No, I wanted to heighten you. Awaken you further, if you will. Because there is a dormant beast in you beyond even what we've seen, and my goal was to unleash it. This bracelet started as a prodding joke, but now it's your ticket back, whenever you're ready. The belts would have been a small price to pay."
Zepp wags his finger to the side, and his youngest brother Ike struggles to carry the RSW Legacy and Anarchy championships into view. Isaiah picks them off his shoulders and fastens them around the bars of his cell.
Isaiah: "These are more of a prison then the steel bars around me. The weight isn't just physical. There's a mental strain that drains your essence by just being in contact with the leather. Your impulses subvert to keep them. They become precious to you, as if they're an extension of your being. That... can be as deadly as a drug. Is it even worth trying to collect more of these hunks of metal?"
Zepp grips onto the bars of the cell above the belts, his knuckles turning white.
Isaiah: "And yet, there's no time to dwell on that. As another challenger comes forth. The innocent Mila Rader, into this cold vortex to warm our hearts. Such a nice girl. Is this what you really want? Because I can attest that it is not! It's not about the collection of metal, it's the test of mettle. It's going out there and using your best to prove to the soul across the ring that your spirit is stronger. The belts, the bells, the whistles, those are for everyone watching."
He stares into the camera lens, as if looking for Mila's soul.
Isaiah: "We search for answers in the ring, but the only answer we find... eventually... is how much time is left."
Isaiah sighs, unclenches his hands from the bars, and closes his eyes. He rests against his cell, weary from the last several months of competition.
Cut.
A stout bailiff shifts into position and addresses a crammed and stuffy courthouse, and an RSW cameraman finds himself shoved into a corner of the room. "All rise. The third district of the Superior Court is now in session. Judge Vandelay presiding. Please be seated."
Isaiah, clad in a slick three piece gold-colored suit but with an expression of extreme irritation, remains standing, hands pressed onto his desk next to his brother Edward. This hesitation causes his supporters in the back to whoop and holler, and the aging judge Arthur Vandaley slams his gavel on its block.
"Order! Order in my court! Now please will you sit... " With a smirk, Isaiah acquiesces. "Right then, good morning to everyone here today as we call the case of The People of the State of California versus Isaiah Zepp." In the background, someone raises their phone and loudly plays the sound of bell ringing as if this were a wrestling match, which creates a burst of laughter and yelling. "Goddammit, I will have you all arrested for contempt of court if this keeps up! Let's get this thing over with. Is the prosecution ready?"
A portly and slimy looking individual by the name of John Fulmer sneers through a set of grimy teeth. "Ready for the People, your honor." There's a short round of booing, but it stops once he judge raises his gavel threateningly.
"And the defense? Where's your lawyer, Zepp?"
"My brother and I will suffice."
Before Vandelay can ridicule him, a young woman named Sadie Parker pushes through the doors and quickly slams a stack of books and folders onto the desk in front of Zepp. "The defense is ready!"
The judge folds his arms and huffs. "Miss Parker?... I would have expected better discretion form you. But As it were, let's have the opening statements."
Isaiah Zepp whispers to the lady. "I appreciate the sentiment, but this isn't necessary."
"You saved my best friend from that death camp. The least I can do is stop you from talking yourself into a firing squad."
Fulmer gives them a dirty look until they stop whispering to each other and starts his statement, gesturing pompously. "Unbridled destruction and the careless loss of life. THAT is what this so-called 'HERO' has caused, with absolutely ZERO repercussions. Today the People hope to prove that Isaiah Zepp was not only culpable for the damages done in the riots of downtown San Diego, but the biggest instigating factor."
Isaiah raises his arms flippantly, which nearly incites the crowd again, but Sadie jabs him in the side with the cap of her pen and makes him sit down. She then delivers her rebuttal. "People of the court, it was indeed a tragic outcome all those months ago, and many questions are left unanswered, but assigning blame to one man will not sweep the issue aside. Especially this man, who I will reaffirm to be the reason our city was lucky to not suffer a worse fate."
Isaiah nods and shrugs his shoulders. He points to his brother. "Ed's speech was going to be longer and more dramatic, but we liked yours."
Sadie rolls her eyes, knowing enough of the Zepp family to catch his sarcasm. "This isn't like one of your wrestling things, Zepp. Please take this seriously."
What follows is a slow process of eye witnesses brought forward by Fulmer to condemn Zepp, only for Parker to swiftly discredit their testimonies. Among them, a police chief brings up Isaiah's past with the law, but Sadie has a copy of his record, showing the only time Isaiah has been charged with a crime in his life was as a 15 year old (when he spray painted a penis on the face of a Ronald Reagan statue). A convenience store owner posits that Zepp caused the damage to his business and many other buildings in the metropolitan area, but Parker has a video file ready to show that Isaiah was specifically diverting people away from looting to aim their spite at Peterson.
After a slew of witnesses are examined and crossed, Isaiah clasps his hands behind his head and yawns. "This seems to be a cakewalk for you, Miss Parker. Now if only it were over already."
Parker sighs. "Oh if I weren't here, it would be over. You'd be rotting in a cell with no one but yourself to blame."
"Excuse me..." John Fulmer's teeth clack as he chides his opposition. "I have one more witness if you two would shut up. The prosecution calls Johnathan Kane to the stand."
The crowd boos Johnny Kane, once again earning the wrath of Judge Vandelay's gavel. The judge rubs his temples in frustration. Isaiah stares a hole through the biker, who's wearing his ripped jeans and leather vest as if it were any other day.
Fulmer continues. "Mr. Kane. You are personally acquainted with Mr. Zepp, yes?"
Johnny is slightly confused. "Uh, naw nothing like that, I've just had a bunch of fights with him."
"That's... That's what I meant. Okay, so when you say a bunch of fights, what does that refer to?"
"Oh this sumbitch always-"
The judge interjects. "Clean up your language in my court, please!"
"Fine, this... GUY... he always cheats! He throws sucker punches! Then there's the time he and got me beaten up by big Oscar, and then he brought all those illegal immig-... I mean, other GUYS... and we had that rumble and he sneak attacked me with that stupid pool stick!" Johnny points to a scar on his forehead. "And yet if I try to hit him, it's racial dissemination or whatever! It ain't right!"
Fulmer gestures with his hands extended, trying to spin this oafish tale into sympathy. "So you say that Isaiah Zepp, the defendant in that very chair, has assaulted you multiple times, caused you an inordinate amount of stress and injury, and also incited a mob to attack you?"
"Uhh..." The greasy lawyer has to nod to coax an agreement out of the biker. "Yeah, man! Exactly like you say it."
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have to ask yourselves if that sounds like the actions of a hero, or perhaps a stone cold criminal building up a cult to do his bidding."
Isaiah juts up with his fists cocked, and Sadie Parker has to ask Edward to help subdue him. "I've got this!" she says, trying to reassure Zepp. He sits back down in his chair roughly as Sadie clears her throat for the cross examination. "So, Mr. Kane, you mentioned a 'rumble'. That would be a fight between two large groups, yes?"
"That's right, dollface."
She recoils in disgust, but continues. "And what group were you in on that day?"
"Oh that was our parade rally!"
"What type of parade was this?"
Fulmer tries to jump in here. "Objection! A parade is a parade, your honor."
Vandelay doesn't bite. "Overruled, the questions can be answered. I hope it's going somewhere..."
Johnny glances to the jury, some of which are minorities, and he begins to sweat. "Oh, right... So it was a Pride Parade. Yeah. Kinda." He rubs his forehead and stammers as Parker is looking for more information. "A pride parade for... for... America! Yeah. We were just being prideful about being Americans."
Sadie is irritated at the tip-toeing. She starts to rifle through her folders, and finally on the last flap, she finds a slightly tattered paper.
"Your honor I'd like to submit this flyer as evidence. Is this an advertisement for your rally, Kane?"
"Uhhh, no! I mean, maybe...."
She slaps the bar in front of his seat. "You are under oath, sir!"
"Objection! She's badgering my witness!"
"Overruled. Answer the question, son."
"Yes! Okay, that's the one."
"And what is the title of the event?"
"It was the Wh..." He tries to whisper the answer but all that does is gain more enmity, and he speaks up. "The... White Pride Bash 'n' Trash."
John Fulmer starts to pull his hair out as the crowd starts to heckle the whole preceding.
Kane looks at him and is furious. "Hey you didn't say nothing about shitty questions like this! You better be paying me double!"
The Judge bangs the gavel again. "That's it, bailiff remove this man for contempt of court! Fulmer you're going with him unless you have something intelligent to say!"
Fulmer is flabbergasted. "I'm sorry your honor... The defense rests."
Isaiah's laugh bellows through the court as he waves goodbye to Johnny, but Parker calms him, as it isn't over yet.
"Parker or Zepp, a closing statement?"
"Yes your honor." She waits until the crowd murmur dies down again and brings a few pictures to a projector at the side of the room. As she speaks, we see various photos from the events of World War Z. "It's overtly apparent that my client is a strange man, who does things his own way. Sometimes that oversteps the bounds of the law, but remember the horrors what we saw from Montgomery Peterson's compounds. It's impossible to imagine how many more tragic deaths would have happened if my client hadn't shed light on it. There are officers, detectives, and army sergeants that have attested to this man's will and courage, the type of people he's polar opposites. Even if he were guilty of starting those battles, would the punishment be community service? He's already doing that, for our city and others. The man works tirelessly to use every penny he can to help people. To convict him of crimes of destruction would be counter-intuitive at best. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I know we want justice for the atrocities, but the men responsible are simply not on trial today."
Isaiah offers a light clap, so as not to incite more noise. The jury enters their side chamber, and not five minutes goes by when the return to render the quick verdict of Not Guilty. Now, however, Isaiah Zepp springs to his feet and pumps his arms exuberantly.
"Oh! I thought for sure this was a setup, but for once the system works! Free at last!" The crowd goes bonkers, leading to more banging of the gavel.
"Order! Congratulations, Mr. Zepp. I hope you continue to do good works and keep yourself out of my courtroom in the future..." Isaiah smiles and gives Vandelay a hearty nod as he speaks. "BUT, I do not appreciate this circus sideshow atmosphere, so to MOTIVATE you to stay clear from here, I'm finding YOU in contempt of court as well. Bailiff!"
Isaiah is beside himself. He can't believe it, but he eventually complies as the crowd becomes raucous, and other court attendants herd them out of the building. Sadie Parker scratches her head and looks to Edward Zepp, who gives her a well deserved thumbs up.
- LOCK UP -
Isaiah Zepp has undone his golden suit jacket, and with the sleeves of his shirt rolled up, he sits in a holding cell while fidgeting with the Cactus Pete Friendship Bracelet that he "won" from Senor Vinnie. He peers up and notices the RSW camera rolling and angrily chuckles to himself.
Isaiah: "I'm sure there's a lot of people out there who are enjoying the view, hmm. None the least would be our darling Esmeralda. But this is only temporary. It will be a much colder day in hell when you actually get rid of me. Until then, as the saying goes, I'm not stuck here with you, you're all stuck here with me. The pieces of our History have scattered again to the wind, following the half centennial. The new edge begins another dull chapter, and the Gate has rechristened itself into something Global. These may seem like fresh escapes, but what's inescapable is that I have unfinished business with all of you. One day, one glorious day, you'll have to face that. Until then, this isn't goodbye, just another passing of ships."
He snaps the friendship bracelet against his wrist.
Isaiah: "And that includes you, Vincenzo. You are not done here. People always read me wrong, including one insolent bootlicker, Gideon Rodgers. They say I intentionally raised those stakes to take you off your game and make you leave the RSW. No, I wanted to heighten you. Awaken you further, if you will. Because there is a dormant beast in you beyond even what we've seen, and my goal was to unleash it. This bracelet started as a prodding joke, but now it's your ticket back, whenever you're ready. The belts would have been a small price to pay."
Zepp wags his finger to the side, and his youngest brother Ike struggles to carry the RSW Legacy and Anarchy championships into view. Isaiah picks them off his shoulders and fastens them around the bars of his cell.
Isaiah: "These are more of a prison then the steel bars around me. The weight isn't just physical. There's a mental strain that drains your essence by just being in contact with the leather. Your impulses subvert to keep them. They become precious to you, as if they're an extension of your being. That... can be as deadly as a drug. Is it even worth trying to collect more of these hunks of metal?"
Zepp grips onto the bars of the cell above the belts, his knuckles turning white.
Isaiah: "And yet, there's no time to dwell on that. As another challenger comes forth. The innocent Mila Rader, into this cold vortex to warm our hearts. Such a nice girl. Is this what you really want? Because I can attest that it is not! It's not about the collection of metal, it's the test of mettle. It's going out there and using your best to prove to the soul across the ring that your spirit is stronger. The belts, the bells, the whistles, those are for everyone watching."
He stares into the camera lens, as if looking for Mila's soul.
Isaiah: "We search for answers in the ring, but the only answer we find... eventually... is how much time is left."
Isaiah sighs, unclenches his hands from the bars, and closes his eyes. He rests against his cell, weary from the last several months of competition.
Cut.
