Post by Joe Everyman on Nov 26, 2010 2:19:32 GMT -6
I feel insane every single time I'm asked to compromise
‘Cause I'm afraid and stuck in my ways and that’s the way it stays
So how long did I expect love to outweigh ignorance?
By that look on your face I may have forced the scale to tip
‘Cause I'm afraid and stuck in my ways and that’s the way it stays
So how long did I expect love to outweigh ignorance?
By that look on your face I may have forced the scale to tip
---{April 27th, 2002. 6:32 p.m.}---
The scene opens up inside of the living room of an unfamiliar house. The camera is filled with many people running around, most of them of a younger age. After a few moments, the camera slowly fades and then opens up inside of another room in the house. A younger Joe can be seen standing in front of a mirror, wearing a dark blue tuxedo, minus the jacket. Behind him sitting on the bed is a younger Scotty Callaway too, also in a tuxedo.
Joe Everyman: Gah... why can't I get this damn tie right?!
Scotty lets out a light chuckle, earning him a death look from Joe.
Joe Everyman: You're suppose to help me with his, ya bastard!
Scotty Callaway: Yeah yeah, hold on.
Scotty hops off of the bed and stands in front of Joe, adjusting his tie for him so it centers correctly.
Scotty Callaway: You know, you're usually fine with these types of things. Is, uh... it's her, isn't it?
Joe Everyman: Shut up...
Joe's cheeks quickly turn a bright red. Joe tried to hide his face from Scotty's judgmental eyes.
Scotty Callaway: I knew it!
Joe Everyman: Well come on, wouldn't you feel the same way I do?!
Scotty Callaway: Yeah I would too, but remember... she's only a sophomore. I mean, she is two years younger than you.
Joe Everyman: So? You're only a junior.
Joe gets a sly look on his face as Scotty punches him in the arm.
Scotty Callaway: Fine, fix your own damn tie.
Joe lets out a laugh, clearly the first one he's let out all night. Joe then grabs his jacket off of his desk chair and throws it on quickly, but being mindful of the tie.
Joe Everyman: Ok... you ready to do this?
Scotty Callaway: Yep... let's do it!
---{November 25th, 2010. 5:21 p.m.}---
Joe sits alone at his dining room table. Behind him stand Scotty and Amber, both cleaning up dishes from their small scaled Thanksgiving dinner. Half of a turkey still sits on the table, along with a bowl of mashed potatoes and some dinner rolls as well. Joe reaches down and takes a drink of wine. The looks on his face is clearly the one of who is drunk.
Scotty Callaway: So... do you think he's going to be ok?
Amber Williams: I sure hope so... I haven't seen him like this in a long time.
Scotty then slowly turns around and sees Joe still looking at the turkey. He leans down and puts his hand on Joe's shoulder.
Scotty Callaway: You going to be ok, Joe?
Joe Everyman: Yeah... I'll be fine. But, I'm going to go take a quick walk. I'll be back in a few.
Scotty Callaway: Ok, whatever you need man.
Joe slowly stands up and grabs his hoodie from his chair and walks into the living room and eventually out the front door. Scotty looks back at Amber, who has a worried look on her face.
---{April 27, 2002. 11:02 p.m.}---
Joe and Scotty are sitting down at a table in a large, crowded room. The large room attached to it is the ball room, where the dance is going on. Joe and Scotty look fairly exhausted from the night so far.
Scotty Callaway: Man... how long does it take them to freshen up?
Joe Everyman: Freshen up? You really think that's what they went to do?
Scotty Callaway: Well, I... uh...
Joe Everyman: They just go to the bathroom or wherever they go to talk about us. I know it.
Scotty Callaway: You're sure of it?
Joe Everyman: Oh yeah. That's what Russell told me, and he's very good with the ladies.
Scotty Callaway: Ok, I'll trust you.
Just at that moment, two girls walk up to Joe and Scotty. One girl is unfamiliar, but the other is clearly Maria Williams, wearing a beautiful teal colored dress.
Maria Williams: You two ready to go?
Joe and Scotty slowly stand up, their knees beginning to buckle from all of the dancing they did earlier in the night. Maria puts her arm around Joe's back as they walk out into the parking lot together. After a few moments, Maria stops Joe as the other stop as well.
Maria Williams: Here Scott, go warm up the car with Jessica.
Scotty Callaway: Wait... you're going to let me drive Amber's Chevelle?!
Maria Williams: Nope... just for you to warm it up.
Maria smiles at Scotty as he hangs his head, still still takes the keys. Scotty and the girl start walking into the parking lot more in search of their car. Joe then turns towards Maria, wondering what she stopped them for in the first place.
Joe Everyman: So uh... not a bad first date, eh? I mean, I know senior prom is sorta cliche and all, but...
Before Joe can speak another word, Maria grabs his shoulders and pulls him in and kisses him. The two embrace for a moment before Maria releases and smiles up at Joe.
Maria Williams: It was... wonderful.
Joe Everyman: ...
Maria giggles at the look on Joe's face, one of stupor and amazement.
Joe Everyman: I... wha... yeah...
Maria giggles again as she grabs Joe's hand tightly but lovingly in her own.
Maria Williams: I know this is our first date and all, but we've known each other for four years now. You're pretty much best friends with my sister. My parents love you. I uh... I can see this going really far. I know it's just high school, but sometimes you can just tell with these types of things. Don't you think so too, Joe?
Before Joe says anything, he leans down and gives Maria another passionate kiss. As he releases, Maria smiles widely again.
Maria Williams: Well... I guess that answers my question then.
Joe smiles down at Maria and gives her another light kiss before walking again.
Maria Williams: And uh... Amber is gone tonight, if you wanted to come back to the house. I don't think my parents would mind... but we still need to be quiet.
Joe Everyman: Um... sure. I mean, of course!
Maria Williams: Great!
Maria smiles widely again as they walk hand in hand into the crowded parking lot towards their car.
---{November 25th, 2010. 10:58 p.m.}---
Joe is standing outside of the Washington Monument in the National Mall in Washington D.C. He is looking up at it from a distance. He almost has a small smile on his face, but it is a fake euphoria that he feels.
Joe Everyman: I... am living the American nightmare. And I am not the only going through this same thing. When people come to the United States, they are promised the American dream. Streets of gold. A brand new, perfect future. It never happens like this. Death, loss, broken. All things that these people find before they see even a glimpse of the gold. Why do we have to go through these things? Is it because that these truths are backwards? These promised are all hypocritical lies? Even from an early age, we are shown fairy tales, trying to show us a lesson. Make the younger kids learn before they can grow up to be another less than perfect. But this never happens. We have been poisoned by these fairy tales. They do not tell of real American life. Heartbreak, despair, solitude... the only things that are guarantees in our lives. No matter how perfectly we live out lives, we will not only see the light at the end of the tunnel. Heaven is not a guarantee, even for those who live their so called perfect lives...
One guarantee, one other perfect part of this life is the sweet embrace of death. Many people live their lives without even questioning death. We cannot stop it. We cannot suppress it. We cannot contain it. It will happen no matter what. Some people go into every day thinking about it. Others never speak of it until the day they have to face it. Fate will decide when we live and when we die. Sometimes though... fate has to be changed. Fate has to be twisted. I feel like one of those people who can take life by the wheel and steer it any which way I want. But even for me, it can get out of hand, like it has these past couple months. Everyone I know asks me if I could go back and live it all again, would I do anything differently? Would I even want to live it all over again? No. Life is lived the way it is, and there is nothing we can do to change that fact. Along with ruining my own, single life, I managed to ruin the lives of countless others... most importantly my wife, Maria's. And this is what this is all about for me. Lex, Maniac, you both got into Gabriel and I's blood feud. Neither of you, however, will be able to live up to your own self-embraced hype. Gabriel and I were going to finally end it... to put the final nail in the coffin if you will. But, no. You two had to add yourselves in. And for what? To get the spotlight that neither of you could get on your own? Or... was it something deeper?
I noticed that you two both went after me first. Why was that? Was it because you thought you had the upper hand on a weakened opponent? Because you thought you could back me into the corner? Because you are dead wrong on both parts. Ask anyone I have ever beaten in the ring. All of them will say the same thing... I am not someone you want to toy with. I am not someone you want to f*ck with at all! And yet, you two still didn't take the blindingly obvious hints to just stay out of my way. But instead, I will have to spill the blood of two seemingly innocents to get to Gabriel. But, I am glad of one thing here though. We are in a Nightmare Cage. Something that I should be afraid of, but I'm not. I've lost so much in my life to be afraid of anything anymore. I mean, after all... the name of the match is in my name and my theme.
The American Nightmare will run over you three before you even have a change to blink. I will not stop, I will continue to torture, maim and destroy until I get what I want... just like the real American nightmare. When you think of that poor girl who was raped, left in the alley on her way hope from work... you will think of me. When you think of the suicide teen who doesn't believe in themselves or their future anyone... you will think of me. When you think of that last dying patriot, still clinging to his torn and burned flag... you will think of me. When the last lights go out, my fires will still blind the night's sky. The cities will burn with this flame. Families will be destroyed. Homes will be ransacked. Friends will turn amongst one another. Loved ones will hate every fiber of that other's being. And why? Because the American dream is a crock of lies and hypocrisies. But the American nightmare will always be there, in your shadows. The one truth in our lives. I will be the barer of death in this match. Lex, Maniac, and most specifically Gabriel, will pay for your sins. Not the sins against God, but your sins against this country. Trying to live the American dream is now punishable by death; slow and miserable. And please, if you have a problem with these stipulations, please bring it up with the judge, jury and executioner of Breaking Away, me, Joe Everyman.
Everyone I know, everything I've read, everything I've seen are all pulling for me. Why? I am a broken man. I am a dark man. I live, not for the lives of every American's dreams, but for my own dark and burning life. What does one do when every piece of love and caring has been ripped away from their lives? They hunt down the one who caused it until they feel exactly what you have felt. Until they know the truest pain in the world, the victim will not stop until the hunted pays for their sins. What does a man do when everything has been lost? When the American dream is merely a poisoned fairy tale? Find out at Breaking Away. Maniac, Lex and Gabriel will experience first hand what happens when a man is torn away from it all. Blood will flow. Darkness will reign. The American Nightmare will burn into the night... as the flag will burn beside it. The streets of gold are melting into nothingness. The promises are being killed. The lies are coming into the spotlight. Everyone will soon see. Everyone will soon know. Everything you have ever known about this country, this company, this match and this man... will change forever. Gabriel... you will die. You will be sent to hell for your sins. Maria will be back in my arms. And Gabriel will lay in the ring. Nobody holding him in their arms. He will die the same way he has lived his entire life. The same way that his creator meant for him. He will live his final moments... alone...
Shame pulses through my heart from the things I've done to you
It's hard to face but the fact remains that this is nothing new
I left you bound and tied with suicidal memories
Selfish beneath the skin but deep inside I'm not insane
It's hard to face but the fact remains that this is nothing new
I left you bound and tied with suicidal memories
Selfish beneath the skin but deep inside I'm not insane