Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2011 15:34:13 GMT -6
The scene opens outside a small Italian restaurant, “La Vecchia Scuola” written across the top of the windows in a gold calligraphic font. The streetlamps light up the front of the building, which is surrounded by a rim of small potted plants on the window sills. The camera zooms in slowly before fading and reappearing inside the restaurant itself which is dimly lit. The walls are painted a crimson red whilst the furniture is furnished with a deep green, the rest of the décor made of a dark wood to match the colour scheme. The camera slowly moves towards a booth in the corner of the restaurant where a man and woman are sitting, enjoying a meal and it soon becomes apparent that the man is none other than Roberto Verona, although the camera settles to the rear of the woman leaving her out of shot. Ignoring the camera Roberto carries on his conversation.
Roberto Verona : He probably wished he’d seen the last of me in Chicago, but then again maybe he should have paid up when he was meant to. Now I can completely focus on Gardner this weekend…
Roberto turns his head and notices the camera crew, scowling slightly in disgust.
Roberto Verona : That is if I can have a moments peace. Why don’t you go freshen up and we’ll continue our meal in peace in a few moments? Grazie.
The woman pushes herself out of the booth without argument and walks out of sight, never showing her face, before the camera pans back to Verona who is wiping him mouth with his napkin before taking a sip of red wine and looking back at the camera, which is now opposite Roberto.
Roberto Verona : I thought I told you to arrive at 8? That said I suppose I should have anticipated a level of incompetence, I just presumed time keeping was simple enough. I suppose getting this over with means I can get back to my evening earlier, however.[/color]
Roberto lifts the wine glass again and swallows the remaining contents, placing the glass out of shot before continuing to speak.
Roberto Verona : It has been a strange week really hasn’t it, not only did I manage to lose but the entire male roster has to watch their step now that EMF are undertaking their scrupulous review of their appearance. I can’t say I am too concerned what a failed actress and a nerd have to say about my looks although having seen some of the guys in the locker room I don’t envy their task one bit, seriously they must be glutens for punishment if they are going to go through the entire roster based on appearance. Hey, if it keeps them busy I suppose; heaven forbid Crystal has to go home to Todd this week now his head is overinflated and he is a little bit giddy after our match at Trauma. Credit to him, he struck lucky. It won’t happen again.
Roberto pick up his knife and fork and spirals a coil of spaghetti before placing it in his mouth before continuing to speak.
Roberto Verona : You know, you really did catch me at a bad time. Anyway, I guess you’d like to hear my opinion on Chris Gardner’s little rant, but I will get to that in due course. I have been having a little think, some time for reflection and it occurred to me that I have neglected my duties to give you my views on last week’s bout with Todd Williams. Let’s just say I was as mortified as you all were, I couldn’t quite believe that I had just lost to that eccentric no mark but, credit where its due, Todd sure did bring his A-Game at Trauma and achieved the biggest victory of his career. As I said, it won’t be happening again anytime soon so I must say congratulations Williams, enjoy your time in the sun whilst you still can because I don’t plan on dwelling about our match for too long, you raised a good point I have done a lot of talking and need to start proving myself and this weekend nCw has seen fit to give me another opportunity to truly make a point. Now I get to take a shot at the current Honour champion so it seems that somebody up top is listening, I had pinpointed a victory over Williams as a means for making a tremor but now I see that perhaps I placed my efforts into an opportunity a week too early, it seems this week is my real shot at making the headlines this weekend and I don’t plan on messing it up.
Roberto pauses for a moment, before reaching to his left to pick up a mirror. Gazing into it for a moment making mocking poses he throws it to one side non-chalantly.
Roberto Verona : Sorry about that, I just realised I hadn’t looked at myself for a while and lord knows I just can’t survive if I don’t, looks like somebody found out my terrible secret. Now, later this week I will face Chris Gardner a man whose very fear of mediocrity epitomises the utter waste of time he really is. Chris was last seen nose deep in a brand spanking new, hot off the press, edition of “Greek Mythology for Dummies”, setting himself paces ahead intellectually of the rest of the imbeciles on the roster who merely resort to Google or, heaven forbid, Yahoo. I must congratulate you Chris for comparing myself with Narcissus, it was actually quite a swerve ball you threw me there and you really managed to prove yourself the academic superior of such mental heavyweights as Todd Williams, DDK and Freakke the Clown. The small problem you ultimately failed to realise is that, other than the fact that I can draw myself away from my own reflection, I would whole heartedly agree with you, I do have a lot in common with Narcissus; I am handsome, smart, brave but most of all I am completely, one hundred per cent, confident in my own abilities. You seem to mock me for my confidence Chris, as though having belief in myself is a negative? To achieve greatness Chris you need to believe in your abilities, you need to possess a level of arrogance. If Caesar had simply accepted mediocrity he would never have conquered Gaul, if Napoleon had lack self-belief he would have been lost to history as a humble Corsican dwarf. History may well provide you tall tales which you select at a whim to mock me Chris, but it also tells you that to be remembered, to become an icon of your time, you must possess a level of self-confidence that could be construed as arrogance, self-doubt will only hold you back.
Roberto pauses for a moment before signalling for waiter, a small young woman answering his call quickly and efficiently.
Waitress : May I help you sir?
Roberto Verona : May I have another bottle of the Merlot? Grazie.
Nodding the young waitress jots down Roberto’s order in her notepad before disappearing out of shot again as Roberto turns back to the camera.
Roberto Verona : Where was I? As yes, Gardner you wanted to know what I take seriously, whether I take the wrestling business seriously? I take this business damn seriously, probably a lot more than you evidently give me credit for. You seem to have this mistaken belief that simply because I think of myself as better than most of you that means I do not take this all seriously, that I just take it in my arrogant stride with little care for what we all do week in week out. Well, you are dead wrong my friend. My career is incredibly important to me Gardner. You think that because I walk down to that ring each week thinking I am better than my opponent is a hindrance? Let me be completely blunt, anybody who walks down to that ring with a seed of doubt in their mind has already lost the match before it has even begun. If you don’t even believe you can put your opponent away then what the hell are you doing in this business? I will never enter that ring with a single doubt that I could possibly fail to do the job Chris, and that is what separates me from the talentless no marks that make up far too much of this roster. Too many of them just turn up, try their best and go home to their families and forget about it. I turn up prepared and ready to compete and anything but a win is completely unacceptable to me, I do not accept defeat lightly and certainly do not just forget about it. You’re quire right, losing to Todd was an embarrassment and that proves my point, I am completely dedicated to my career, I only want the best and will not accept coming last.
The young waitress returns bearing a bottle of Merlot, removing the cork she proceeds to pour its contents into the two empty glasses on the table before walking away as Roberto politely nods in acknowledgement.
Roberto Verona : Seen as you fancy yourself the amateur psychologist Chris, how about I give you a little food for thought. From extensive analysis of your recent rant I couldn’t help but get the impression that you are missing a little something from your life? You seem very sad that your opponents underestimate you and feel the need to reinforce just how you showed those big bullies what for and that is why you are where you are today. Which is where exactly? Opening the show with a man you mocked for losing to Todd Williams? Yeah, well done there Chris. If I suck so much then evidently your accomplishments mean absolutely sod all, but then we both know the reason you and I have been booked together is because I am more than capable of competing with you. All I heard when you were talking Chris was a man screaming “I matter, no really I do!”. You are so upset that nobody seems to take you seriously, except the humble Xander Famularo. Are you starved of approval Chris? Do you just want somebody to notice you? There is a term for what you may be suffering, so I bring you hope….
Roberto coughs before pulling out his mobile phone, tapping away at the screen before raising a finger in the air in a “lightbulb” gesture.
Roberto Verona : Ah yes, here it is. Chris, I think we have pin-pointed your disorder here: you suffer from a severe inferiority complex my friend. “An inferiority complex is a feeling that one is inferior to others in some way. Such feelings can arise from an imagined or actual inferiority in the afflicted person. It is often subconscious, and is thought to drive afflicted individuals to overcompensate.” Does this sound familiar Christopher? You see you spent a lot of time trying to demand respect from me, because if I don’t I am just another one of the “blind people” backstage who just see you as…well, average. Sure, you are the current Honour champion, sure you have some impressive victories under your belt but then that is why I do take our match seriously Chris. I know you won’t just waltz down there, lay down and take it like a bitch. I know you will throw everything you have got into this match like you do every single week, but I am going to show you that sometimes that just isn’t enough. I will not let my blip last week phase me when I stare you down at Collision, I am focused and I am ready to face you and I do not plan on being on the wrong end of a result for a second week running and I am confident that I won’t be.
Roberto takes another pause, sipping from his wine glass before continuing again.
Roberto Verona : You may call that arrogance; I call it believing in myself and my goals. Losing to Todd was an embarrassment you are correct, but when I beat you this weekend people will soon forget about it as I will have proved myself against a current champion instead of a contender, ironically maybe losing to Todd was what I needed, to wake me up and force me to focus on my goals after I was gifted another chance to show the nCw roster that I am a force to be reckoned with. After last Saturday I got a wakeup call, that I needed to start showing why I am the future of this company and this Sunday I will show everybody just why I aren’t all mouth and no trousers. I will start by putting you in your place Chris, and that’s beneath me by the way, and then….well. You’ll just have to tune in and find out like the rest of the millions of drones won’t you? The time for talking, at least on my part, is over Chris. The question remains, are you going to prove me wrong? I suppose we’ll just have to find out…
Roberto begins to trail off as his companion slowly returns to the booth, again her face is never shown on camera.
Roberto Verona : Now, if you don’t mind I’d quite like to enjoy the rest of my evening.
The camera slowly begins to drag itself backwards as Roberto turns to the woman opposite him.
Roberto Verona : Sorry about that, let’s get back to business…
Roberto’s conversation begins to fade out as the camera is too far from earshot as the screen begins to fade to black, leaving the pair alone to finish their meal.
Roberto Verona : He probably wished he’d seen the last of me in Chicago, but then again maybe he should have paid up when he was meant to. Now I can completely focus on Gardner this weekend…
Roberto turns his head and notices the camera crew, scowling slightly in disgust.
Roberto Verona : That is if I can have a moments peace. Why don’t you go freshen up and we’ll continue our meal in peace in a few moments? Grazie.
The woman pushes herself out of the booth without argument and walks out of sight, never showing her face, before the camera pans back to Verona who is wiping him mouth with his napkin before taking a sip of red wine and looking back at the camera, which is now opposite Roberto.
Roberto Verona : I thought I told you to arrive at 8? That said I suppose I should have anticipated a level of incompetence, I just presumed time keeping was simple enough. I suppose getting this over with means I can get back to my evening earlier, however.[/color]
Roberto lifts the wine glass again and swallows the remaining contents, placing the glass out of shot before continuing to speak.
Roberto Verona : It has been a strange week really hasn’t it, not only did I manage to lose but the entire male roster has to watch their step now that EMF are undertaking their scrupulous review of their appearance. I can’t say I am too concerned what a failed actress and a nerd have to say about my looks although having seen some of the guys in the locker room I don’t envy their task one bit, seriously they must be glutens for punishment if they are going to go through the entire roster based on appearance. Hey, if it keeps them busy I suppose; heaven forbid Crystal has to go home to Todd this week now his head is overinflated and he is a little bit giddy after our match at Trauma. Credit to him, he struck lucky. It won’t happen again.
Roberto pick up his knife and fork and spirals a coil of spaghetti before placing it in his mouth before continuing to speak.
Roberto Verona : You know, you really did catch me at a bad time. Anyway, I guess you’d like to hear my opinion on Chris Gardner’s little rant, but I will get to that in due course. I have been having a little think, some time for reflection and it occurred to me that I have neglected my duties to give you my views on last week’s bout with Todd Williams. Let’s just say I was as mortified as you all were, I couldn’t quite believe that I had just lost to that eccentric no mark but, credit where its due, Todd sure did bring his A-Game at Trauma and achieved the biggest victory of his career. As I said, it won’t be happening again anytime soon so I must say congratulations Williams, enjoy your time in the sun whilst you still can because I don’t plan on dwelling about our match for too long, you raised a good point I have done a lot of talking and need to start proving myself and this weekend nCw has seen fit to give me another opportunity to truly make a point. Now I get to take a shot at the current Honour champion so it seems that somebody up top is listening, I had pinpointed a victory over Williams as a means for making a tremor but now I see that perhaps I placed my efforts into an opportunity a week too early, it seems this week is my real shot at making the headlines this weekend and I don’t plan on messing it up.
Roberto pauses for a moment, before reaching to his left to pick up a mirror. Gazing into it for a moment making mocking poses he throws it to one side non-chalantly.
Roberto Verona : Sorry about that, I just realised I hadn’t looked at myself for a while and lord knows I just can’t survive if I don’t, looks like somebody found out my terrible secret. Now, later this week I will face Chris Gardner a man whose very fear of mediocrity epitomises the utter waste of time he really is. Chris was last seen nose deep in a brand spanking new, hot off the press, edition of “Greek Mythology for Dummies”, setting himself paces ahead intellectually of the rest of the imbeciles on the roster who merely resort to Google or, heaven forbid, Yahoo. I must congratulate you Chris for comparing myself with Narcissus, it was actually quite a swerve ball you threw me there and you really managed to prove yourself the academic superior of such mental heavyweights as Todd Williams, DDK and Freakke the Clown. The small problem you ultimately failed to realise is that, other than the fact that I can draw myself away from my own reflection, I would whole heartedly agree with you, I do have a lot in common with Narcissus; I am handsome, smart, brave but most of all I am completely, one hundred per cent, confident in my own abilities. You seem to mock me for my confidence Chris, as though having belief in myself is a negative? To achieve greatness Chris you need to believe in your abilities, you need to possess a level of arrogance. If Caesar had simply accepted mediocrity he would never have conquered Gaul, if Napoleon had lack self-belief he would have been lost to history as a humble Corsican dwarf. History may well provide you tall tales which you select at a whim to mock me Chris, but it also tells you that to be remembered, to become an icon of your time, you must possess a level of self-confidence that could be construed as arrogance, self-doubt will only hold you back.
Roberto pauses for a moment before signalling for waiter, a small young woman answering his call quickly and efficiently.
Waitress : May I help you sir?
Roberto Verona : May I have another bottle of the Merlot? Grazie.
Nodding the young waitress jots down Roberto’s order in her notepad before disappearing out of shot again as Roberto turns back to the camera.
Roberto Verona : Where was I? As yes, Gardner you wanted to know what I take seriously, whether I take the wrestling business seriously? I take this business damn seriously, probably a lot more than you evidently give me credit for. You seem to have this mistaken belief that simply because I think of myself as better than most of you that means I do not take this all seriously, that I just take it in my arrogant stride with little care for what we all do week in week out. Well, you are dead wrong my friend. My career is incredibly important to me Gardner. You think that because I walk down to that ring each week thinking I am better than my opponent is a hindrance? Let me be completely blunt, anybody who walks down to that ring with a seed of doubt in their mind has already lost the match before it has even begun. If you don’t even believe you can put your opponent away then what the hell are you doing in this business? I will never enter that ring with a single doubt that I could possibly fail to do the job Chris, and that is what separates me from the talentless no marks that make up far too much of this roster. Too many of them just turn up, try their best and go home to their families and forget about it. I turn up prepared and ready to compete and anything but a win is completely unacceptable to me, I do not accept defeat lightly and certainly do not just forget about it. You’re quire right, losing to Todd was an embarrassment and that proves my point, I am completely dedicated to my career, I only want the best and will not accept coming last.
The young waitress returns bearing a bottle of Merlot, removing the cork she proceeds to pour its contents into the two empty glasses on the table before walking away as Roberto politely nods in acknowledgement.
Roberto Verona : Seen as you fancy yourself the amateur psychologist Chris, how about I give you a little food for thought. From extensive analysis of your recent rant I couldn’t help but get the impression that you are missing a little something from your life? You seem very sad that your opponents underestimate you and feel the need to reinforce just how you showed those big bullies what for and that is why you are where you are today. Which is where exactly? Opening the show with a man you mocked for losing to Todd Williams? Yeah, well done there Chris. If I suck so much then evidently your accomplishments mean absolutely sod all, but then we both know the reason you and I have been booked together is because I am more than capable of competing with you. All I heard when you were talking Chris was a man screaming “I matter, no really I do!”. You are so upset that nobody seems to take you seriously, except the humble Xander Famularo. Are you starved of approval Chris? Do you just want somebody to notice you? There is a term for what you may be suffering, so I bring you hope….
Roberto coughs before pulling out his mobile phone, tapping away at the screen before raising a finger in the air in a “lightbulb” gesture.
Roberto Verona : Ah yes, here it is. Chris, I think we have pin-pointed your disorder here: you suffer from a severe inferiority complex my friend. “An inferiority complex is a feeling that one is inferior to others in some way. Such feelings can arise from an imagined or actual inferiority in the afflicted person. It is often subconscious, and is thought to drive afflicted individuals to overcompensate.” Does this sound familiar Christopher? You see you spent a lot of time trying to demand respect from me, because if I don’t I am just another one of the “blind people” backstage who just see you as…well, average. Sure, you are the current Honour champion, sure you have some impressive victories under your belt but then that is why I do take our match seriously Chris. I know you won’t just waltz down there, lay down and take it like a bitch. I know you will throw everything you have got into this match like you do every single week, but I am going to show you that sometimes that just isn’t enough. I will not let my blip last week phase me when I stare you down at Collision, I am focused and I am ready to face you and I do not plan on being on the wrong end of a result for a second week running and I am confident that I won’t be.
Roberto takes another pause, sipping from his wine glass before continuing again.
Roberto Verona : You may call that arrogance; I call it believing in myself and my goals. Losing to Todd was an embarrassment you are correct, but when I beat you this weekend people will soon forget about it as I will have proved myself against a current champion instead of a contender, ironically maybe losing to Todd was what I needed, to wake me up and force me to focus on my goals after I was gifted another chance to show the nCw roster that I am a force to be reckoned with. After last Saturday I got a wakeup call, that I needed to start showing why I am the future of this company and this Sunday I will show everybody just why I aren’t all mouth and no trousers. I will start by putting you in your place Chris, and that’s beneath me by the way, and then….well. You’ll just have to tune in and find out like the rest of the millions of drones won’t you? The time for talking, at least on my part, is over Chris. The question remains, are you going to prove me wrong? I suppose we’ll just have to find out…
Roberto begins to trail off as his companion slowly returns to the booth, again her face is never shown on camera.
Roberto Verona : Now, if you don’t mind I’d quite like to enjoy the rest of my evening.
The camera slowly begins to drag itself backwards as Roberto turns to the woman opposite him.
Roberto Verona : Sorry about that, let’s get back to business…
Roberto’s conversation begins to fade out as the camera is too far from earshot as the screen begins to fade to black, leaving the pair alone to finish their meal.