Post by "The Genius" James Davis on Apr 22, 2010 20:28:24 GMT -6
"SPEEDY'S CHINESE AND PIZZA EMPORIUM"
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A limousine pulls up to the curb in a strip mall. It's almost dark, the sky is a deep purple, and there are several people bustling about.
The driver rushes around to the passenger door and opens it, letting large clouds of smoke out into the night air.
James Davis, Reno, and Rude all climb out, laughing hard.
"Holy crap!" James blurts, "That's freaking hilarious! Ha ha ha ha!"
Rude slaps James on the back as they stagger forward.
"The best part is, he didn't even know it was there!" he chuckles, "He had the damn thing for a week before he noticed it! Ha ha!"
Reno is smiling, but not sharing the intense laughter.
"Yeah, it's a funny story guys. I had it removed, Rude."
"Yeah, but you still had a tattoo of rabbit on your a$$!"
"It was 'Thumper', you know from 'Bambi'..."
"'Bambi!'" James and Rude simultaneously say before busting into more laughter.
"Oh, oh, ow." James says, clutching his side, "Oh, it hurts. It's making my side hurt. Ha ha ow!"
"Okay, okay, let's stop. We're gonna make him cry." Rude says, "You gonna call your friend to join us, James, or what?"
James shakes his head.
"Yeah, yeah." he replies, "I'll get him to bring some.. stuff. You know, to replenish your stock."
"You don't have to, man." Reno says, "It's all good. You're part of the family now. We take care of each other."
"I know," James says, "But, let me, I feel I owe you guys one."
"You know, you're not that bad a guy, James," Rude says, half-laughing, "Once you loosen up a bit!"
James straightens up and looks up to the sky. He takes in a deep breath and sighs.
"Oh man," he murmurs, "I'm f*ckin' hungry!"
Rude steps up beside him, putting his hand on James' shoulder.
"It's time we introduced you to 'Speedy's'.."
Reno walks up on the other side of James and they all start laughing. They enter the restaurant and the scene fades.
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The scene fades in to the inside of the restaurant just above a table with two pizzas, breadsticks, and various sauces.
James Davis, Reno Renard, Rude Thompson, and a long haired fellow named Dave all sit around it. Dave is holding a slice of half eaten pizza, Rude is breaking off a breadstick, Reno is chowing down on a slice and James is holding his face trying to not look embarrassed.
"And so he's walking out of the class, thinking he's aced the test," he says, "Only to find out he was at the wrong exam!"
Everyone but James erupts in laughter.
Reno starts to choke on his bite and Rude slaps him on the back hard.
"Come on, man! Come on!" Rude says mid laughter, "Spit it out, you can't breathe it mother-f**ker! Ha ha!"
Reno spits out a chunk of pizza and continues laughing.
"Yeah, it was pretty funny." James says, smiling, "I was so wasted the night before, I couldn't help it."
"You see, man?" Rude says, "I knew you were a cool guy. Why are you always acting like a d**k?"
"I don't mean to, really," James replies, "I don't mean to."
"Yeah, it's just his nature!"
This sets the whole table laughing again.
A familiar ring swells from Reno's coat pocket.
"Oh my god, are you serious?"
"What?" Reno says, looking at the phone, "Oh sh!t, Rude! It's the boss!"
"Aw, man," Rude says, "She probably wants us home, James. Let's finish this up and head out."
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Outside...
Reno, Rude, James, and Dave are all standing outside near the trunk of the limousine. It pops open and Dave's eyes go wide.
"Will you look at that!" Rude says, "His eyes 'bout popped out of his head!"
"We know you want to show your gratitude, but let's just call this a fair trade, alright?"
Dave can only stand with mouth agape as he is handed a large plastic bag filled with something green.
"Dave," James says, pushing his arm, "You're mouth is dragging on the ground."
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Much later, back at the gym...
James is seen by the heavy bag, slamming his taped fists into it. Each hit echoes through the building, sounding like shotgun blasts.
He sees the camera over his shoulder and stops.
"Seems like I have a lot to discuss with NCW tonight."
James steps back from the bag, reaching out to stop it from swinging.
"I'm part of a 'family' now, as anyone who pays attention knows. A family that is going to grow into something big here in NCW. We've got a 'boss' who knows how to get things done and she's got enough power to shake the foundations if need be."
James walks past the ring, to the steel steps and picks up a white towel. He wipes his face of sweat and tosses it around his neck.
"We're a force to be reckoned with, something I'm positive fools are going to test. Everyone who disbelieves will need education, something I have some experience with."
James sits on the apron's edge, picking up a bottle of water.
"Now, I've been watching some NCW promos, so I know how things are supposed to work around here. I've seen the champions prance and spit their schtick, marching themselves around, getting in the camera and shouting. I'm not going to do that and maybe it's going to be my downfall, but I'm not like the rest of these wrestlers around here. Maybe that's why they pay me no mind. It's like mind over matter, really. They no longer mind, because they think I don't matter."
James smiles.
"Oh, how things will change."
James opens the bottle of water and takes a drink.
"I would think that shot to Nathan Doe's head would have maybe clued him in to me. But, I hypothesized correctly, his obvious mental derangement keeps him from focusing for too long. You should count yourself lucky to be on any show, anywhere, Nathan. You belong in a hospital. You say you're back on the 'C' show.. but let me teach you one more thing. Let me teach you something about grades."
"When you signed on to NCW, did you see it as a privilege or your right? I say that's delusion, plain and simple. I mean, you almost sound like you're disappointed to be facing Payne's boy. If he's such a pushover, if you've got a lesson for him, you should be glad. Or do you crave more of a challenge? You think the Payne's are development fodder? I think you're in for a rude awakening soon, Nathan. Something that will take that fragile, 1000 piece puzzle mind of yours and scatter it all over the living room floor."
James takes another drink, caps the bottle, and puts it down next to him.
"That brings me to Chris Payne."
James chuckles.
"I remember when you were just a kid, still wet behind the ears. Don't presume that you have what it takes against anyone. I know your dear old daddy's tricks, son. I've been there and been broken by them. I'm not making that mistake again. I have played his mind games, been lost in them, lost to them, and came back around again and again. You won't fool me with them, boy. So, you should just give them up. You have a chance to break the mold now, no matter how much 'piss' your father put in your gene pool. But, I'll take you up on your offer. You want to team up with 'poppa' and put this 'feud' to bed? I'm only going to leave you wanting, Chris. I'm only going to leave you with a longing, a void that needs filled. Your angst fuels me, Chris, it gives me an edge over you and your father. Someone is going to screw up and you're the most likely candidate."
James stands, wrenching his wrists.
"And then there's Tommy Victor."
"I have to admit, I felt that maybe I'd be facing your former tag partner, Nathan Doe, but it doesn't matter entirely. His words don't affect you, Tommy? He all but called you 'washed-up' and that doesn't bother you? I know that there's a bit of a challenger left in you. I saw it in your eyes, just seconds before you were going to give up. That 'warrior-spirit' burns in your eyes, Tommy. It drives you still."
"But are you going to channel it this Friday night? Are you going to be able to rise above and prove you're the better man? I'm taking everything that I know into that ring with me on Friday, every advantage, every misstep, every mistake, and every nagging feeling. Are you even worried about it? Nathan believes he doesn't need you, but I think he is in denial."
"You were the rock, weren't you, Tommy? The only solid foundation that psycho had to keep himself grounded."
James sighs.
"I'm going to take away that pillar, Tommy. I'm going to make you suffer. And it's nothing personal, really. On Friday, I'm stepping into that ring as an artist. You, my opponent, are going to be my canvas. I'm going to put you through punishment and make a masterpiece out of you. You're going to be a great work of art. A testament to the pain I can inflict."
"Before it's over, you will beg me to stop. You will submit. You will plead for release. I want NCW to pay attention, Tommy. I want Severe Payne and his boy to see what I'm capable of. I want them to see how far revenge has driven me. I'm going to educate you on the eccentricities of anguish, a level of suffering you are likely to never have felt before."
James takes the towel off from around his neck and wrings it. His face twists in a rictus of anger.
"You're going to pass this class with flying colors, Tommy. My lesson?"
James looks at the camera, stepping close.
"Pain."