Post by oldprydeaccountdoesnotwork on Mar 18, 2014 11:09:30 GMT -5
"I'm sorry if you can't stand the naked truth.
All you see is how you want it to be,
So you keep on living your life.
Release me from this cross after all these years.
Oh call my name and help me with this weight,
Even though it comes far too late"
What do you fight for?
Some people fight for boosts to their ego. They want to be called the greatest, they want to be idolized. Others fight for money or power, to enjoy the fruits of their labors. Some fight only for the joy of fighting. Those are the brutal mother fuckers, the ones who are in it just for the pleasure of the pain they cause. Roach, Fuller, I’m looking at you.
But what do I fight for? It seems to have become a mixture of different R’s. Redemption. Respect. Relevance.
Now add Revenge to the list as well. Maurako couldn’t wait a minute longer to prove that our partnership was at an end. They thought so little of me that they didn’t bother to offer me a spot with them. Not that I would have agreed to join them. They must have known it wasn’t going to happen. Maurako and his Family instead wanted to try to intimidate me, or maybe just wanted to put me out of action so the big-shot could get a forfeit win for the title. After the way we won at Massacre, I would not put it past him to try to get the cheap way out.
When Maurako was holding me in the La Omerta, and the other Family members started to take their shots, I thought to myself, it’s over. I’ve blown it. My climb to the top was going to stop here, all because of an egotistical blow-hard who decided not to take the chance that I could beat him cleanly at the pay-per-view. I was so thankful to hear the music start to play and wrestlers start to come out, as it gave me that moment to escape. I stood on that turnbuckle and watched your face as you realized that I still had fight in me. I saw in you what you hoped to see in me. A touch of concern. A touch of uncertainty. Maybe even a touch of fear.
You failed, Maurako. I’m still here. I survived. You still have to face me at Black Out 2. And now it’s not just about proving myself. It’s not just about my winning the championship. It’s about depriving you and your band of brotherly assholes of the gold you so badly want, by any means possible.
I have a lot to fight for now, much more than a man like you. Yes, you have done a lot in your life. You’ve been to the top many times. But it is my time now, old man. All that I’ve been seeking lies before me, the top of the mountain that I’ve been trying to climb, and you’re the sole obstacle left in my path. My whole life has been spent building to this moment. You will not deny me, Maurako. I will not fade away again.
Time – The Past
~We see back into the past where a man wearing hospital scrubs is standing in front of a glass window. He is smoking a cigar and is smiling at what he sees on the other side. A sign on the wall clearly shows it to be a non-smoking area but the man doesn’t care. He feels like he has the right, after bringing his son into the world. A nurse walks up next to him wearing a candy-striper outfit that barely holds her breasts in place. She has on the make-up of a woman seeking nightly companionship. As the man turns towards her, she looks through the window as well~
Nurse: Which child is yours?
Man: Two rows down, three over. The handsomest baby in there.
Nurse: Yes, he’s a future lady killer.
~The man looks at the nurse and he looks her up and down before going back to the view in front of him~
Man: He should be. He comes from good genes.
~The nurse smiles at the man and then looks away to check her charts~
Nurse: I am glad there were no complications. You were worried about his tests originally?
Man: Yes, I was concerned that there might be health issues due to his mother. Especially when he decided to come out early. But he came out perfect. Life is amazing. He has so much in front of him. He could be a future leader of the country, or maybe a professional athlete, or
Nurse: Or even a doctor?
Man: That, too. It would be nice to have someone to follow in his father’s footsteps. He should have the hands of a surgeon when he grows up.
Nurse: If he has hands like yours, he can end up doing anything.
~The nurse takes one of the man’s hands in her own, admiring it. She also kisses one of the fingers, looking slyly upwards while doing so. The man smiles, but then looks down the hall as if worried that a witness will appear soon, to see what was going on and inform his wife. The nurse drops his hand, knowing what he is thinking~
Nurse: So when is your next shift?
Man: I’m working tomorrow evening. My wife and my new son should be discharged by then and be safely at home.
~The nurse looks at the child again. She doesn’t look happy at hearing about the wife again. She makes a point to look at her notes again pressing the edge of the clipboard against her chest~
Nurse: I’m working that shift, too.
~The man knowingly smiles~
Man: Isn’t that a coincidence? I will see you at work, then.
Nurse: Yes, doctor. You will.
~The nurse struts off shaking her ass for the world to see. The father watches her go, admiring the view. He goes back to his child inside, looking guilty for a second. The cigar smoke puffs out his mouth~
Man: You are going to be great, son. I know you are. I love you.
~The man puts his hand up on the glass, as he leans forward, admiring what he has helped create. The view swings over to the cribs inside, where one baby in particular can be seen. It looks like any child you’ve ever seen before, sleeping away. There is a white tag around one arm, an identification tag. The baby doesn’t cry out or move around, looking content to be where he is. The child is unaware of what is to come~
Time – The Present
~We are now in front of a large building. The nameplate on the side of the building shows it to be the Oasis Professional Center, a residential treatment facility. It is a place for clearing yourself of the toxins in your blood. Inside the building, we see three people seated in the waiting room. On one side is Pryde. Sitting next to him and still looking weak is the lady rescued last week, Trix. She has Pryde holding her arm on one side and Pryde’s brother-in-law and friend, Grant, sitting nervously on the other. Grant keeps checking his watch as they wait~
Trix: You don’t have to be here. I know you have better things to do.
Pryde: Not at this moment. When a friend is in need, nothing else matters.
Trix: You say that, but it’s not true. I know you want to leave me here and get back to training for your match.
Pryde: The reason we are trying to check you in here in Orlando is so I can keep tabs on you for a time while preparing. This is a great place to use. It is well-rated.
Grant: It’s also the first place that didn’t laugh at the insurance we showed them.
~Trix lowers her head and Pryde stares at Grant~
Grant: It’s the truth!
Trix: I know, I am a burden to you, you can’t afford this.
Pryde: Let me worry about what can be afforded.
Trix: I don’t deserve this. You should have left me in that church.
Pryde: I’ve known you too long to do something like that to you. They would have found you, and you might never have been seen again.
Trix: Sometimes I think that would be a blessing.
~An administrator walks in and signals to Pryde to come over. Pryde leaves Trix and Grant and moves over there to talk to him~
Administrator: I just got through talking to the insurance company. They will only cover 25% of the costs. Would you be able to cover the rest?
Pryde: I can pay over time. I am going to win a championship this weekend and I hope that brings with it a pay increase.
Administrator: We can’t do payment plans, the bills will be due when they are issued and there is a substantial down-payment needed.
Pryde: My friend needs to be here.
Administrator: I know and I wish we could take more people in who need our treatment, but we would go out of business if we didn’t follow the payment rules. I’m sorry.
~Pryde knows it’s not the man’s fault. But it is hard to take. Failing another friend is something Pryde wants badly to avoid. He waves Grant over to him~
Grant: What is going on?
Pryde: Insurance isn’t going to cover this. We need to figure out another option.
Grant: How about locking her in a hotel room and going back to the gym OCW rented to prepare for Maurako?
Pryde: She would not stay there, not in her condition.
Grant: This is distracting you, bro. I get you have a past with Trix, but if you aren’t completely focused on Maurako and the Family, you’re going to lose at Black Out 2.
Pryde: I have not forgotten Maurako. But I am ready for our battle.
Grant: You’re ready for a Hazardous Ladder match? It is going to be the most dangerous match you have ever competed in. Either of your careers might be over after this one. That’s why I don’t want you off-track. You need to be 100% in this one, because you could lose everything you’ve been pursuing.
~Pryde angrily steps away from Grant. Putting his career in front of the safety of a friend does not sit well with him, but he has said he would do anything to gain his dream. It’s been his sole pursuit all month and he is close. But to abandon Trix to the world that almost killed her?~
Pryde: It just takes one stroke of luck to win this kind of match, Grant. It makes it an even playing field between Maurako and I. If I choose the correct ladder and make the climb, there’s nothing that could stop me from becoming the Southern Champion.
Grant: That’s true, you can’t prepare for which ladder will work. But you can prepare for the interference of the Family. You know they will get involved.
Pryde: Maybe I can talk to Dean about that. He owes me for putting me on Maurako’s team.
Grant: I believe he would say you owe him. It’s because of that pairing that you two are in the main event this week.
Pryde: We will see what Dean says and worry about that when we get to it.
Grant: Okay but what about Trix?
Pryde: Let me make some more calls. We will try to find another place here in Orlando.
Grant: I’ve already called many drug rehab clinics and they all said no.
~Pryde sighs but he is not ready to give up yet. Grant isn’t through talking though. He pulls out a stained piece of paper that Pryde doesn’t recognize~
Grant: But I knew how stubborn you can be so I did not stop there. I made one more call. I found this number in your girl’s purse.
Pryde: Who did you call?
~The doors to the clinic suddenly open and two older people walk in. They look around trying to find someone. Pryde sees them and realizes what Grant has done~
Pryde: You called her PARENTS??
Grant: I had to! We can’t deal with this right now, and they should be involved, right? They’re blood. She needs their support!
Pryde: You don’t realize what you’ve done.
~Pryde moves off to intercept the parents, who have seen where Trix was sitting. Both look surprised at the masked man getting between them and their daughter. Behind them, Trix sits up, noticing who has come in. She looks distraught at the sight of them~
Pryde: You don’t need to be here.
Trix’s Mother: I don’t know who you are, but you are the one with no business here. That’s our daughter over there!
Trix’s Father: We haven’t seen her in years, and then we get a call telling us where she is.
Pryde: There’s a reason you didn’t know that. She didn’t want you to be here.
~Behind them, Trix is now standing. She is stepping from foot to foot with anxiety at the angry words being said between her friend and her parents. Grant is watching from the side not sure what he should do, knowing that he caused this~
Trix’s Mother: I know there were problems between us in the past, but we are here to fix that.
Trix’s Father: She’s still my daughter for fuck’s sake!
Pryde: She told me all about her parents. Why she doesn’t trust you anymore.
~The father lowers his head for a second~
Trix’s Father: That was… a mistake. I never meant for things to get out of control the way they did. We did things the wrong way then, and we know it. But we’re here now! And who the fuck are you to get in our way? With your idiotic mask and messed-up voice?
Pryde: You need to leave. Now.
~Pryde steps forward menacingly. Grant comes up next to them looking behind~
Grant: Pryde…
Trix’s Mother: Who are you? Her pimp? The one who gets her drugged up? We should call the cops in here to arrest you!
Pryde: I am her friend. I am the one she called when she needed help. Not you.
Trix’s Father: You bastard!
~The father tries to shove Pryde out of the way but he holds his ground. Before Pryde can swing back, Grant steps between them, pushing them back~
Grant: That’s enough. We have a problem.
~Grant points back and both men turn. The seats are empty. Trix is now gone. She must have gone out a back door while the group was arguing. She could be anywhere by now. Trix’s mother gasps and runs after her to try and find her~
Trix’s Father: Shit! This is all your fault!
~The father goes after the mother. Pryde watches them go, and then turns to Grant~
Pryde: We have to find her first.
Grant: But Pryde
Pryde: You caused this. You’re going to help me fix it.
~Pryde goes out the front door to where the car is parked. Grant rubs his head and goes after him, cursing about all the time being wasted. Fade out~
Time – The Past
~We see a young boy playing on the carpet of his room, stacking some blocks. He’s the child from earlier, now several years older. He is trying to make a pyramid when he hears the fighting begin again. This time it’s louder than ever before~
Mother: You and your whores! All those nurses who will suck anything you put in front of them!
Father: Ella, please, the neighbors will hear you!
Mother: I don’t give a shit who hears me! They all deserve to know what a lying, cheating bastard you are!
Father: It’s not like that, I swear!
Mother: I saw you at the hotel! I know all about that little slut you met there!
Father: You know about, I mean, what hotel?
Mother: And to think all I’ve done for you! All I’ve sacrificed because you wanted it!
Father: Ella, think this through!
Mother: You son of a bitch!
~The yelling turns to objects being thrown. The kid stands up, not sure what to do. Tears start rolling down his cheeks, the sign of a helpless child~
Father: Stop it, damnit!
Mother: You fucker! You disgrace! You’ve ruined my life!
Father: You need to put that down and listen to, fuck!
~A particularly loud crash is heard~
Mother: I never wanted children! I never wanted to be a housewife! But you forced all this on me! Well, no more!
~The father’s voice is getting more angry, reaching a tone that the child has never heard before~
Father: You want to put all this blame on me? You were the one who didn’t want to do anything with me, you’re the one who drove me away! It’s not my fault you’re a terrible wife, and a failure as a mother!
Mother: Oh you asshole! I’m a failure? Fine, then you get to deal with it! See if that little skank you’ve got on the side will take over and raise your child! I’ve had it! I’m done!
Father: What are you doing? Wait! Come back!
~A door is heard, slamming. It immediately opens again with the father in pursuit. The crying child climbs up on a futon in the corner of his room and looks out the window. We see a woman carrying two suitcases and throwing them into a car. The father is looking around at any neighbors watching, and then pleads with his wife to come back inside. The wife throws her ring at him, cursing him out. The father tries to grab her, wanting to drag her back inside, but she knees him in the groin. He falls down to the ground and she gets in the car and backs out. The tires squeal as they spin on the asphalt. The father watches her go from his knees, unable to do anything more. He slumps down in despair. The child watches as well from the upstairs window~
Child: Mommy?
~The crying kid puts his hand on the window, leaving an imprint, much like his father once had done, as the car disappears in the distance. Fade out~
