Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2011 12:24:08 GMT -6
The scene opens to reveals an unnamed hotel somewhere in Raleigh, North Carolina. The sky is dark, a foreboding red sky intertwined with a tangle of dark grey clouds and the sounds of rolling thunder echoes in the distance. The camera pans from the top of the building to what appears to be the lobby, a large set of windows and revolving doors spitting out customers and whilst consuming them at almost the same rate. Bus boys dart back and forth to collect luggage from the parked cars, the image of nCw is visible on the side of some of the equipment being unloaded from the trunks. Amidst the chaotic to and fro a figure in a dark black suit, navy shirt and black tie can be seen walking slowly back and forth just to the left of the rank and file of vehicles. As the camera gets closer it becomes apparent that it is Roberto Verona and before long we are able to overhear his conversation, a mobile phone placed against the side of his head.
Roberto Verona : I already told you, I aren’t interested in negotiating. Either play by my rules, or lose my number. Goodbye.
Roberto lowers his arm and presses down on the touchscreen in frustration, the phone call clearly striking a nerve. Mumbling something underneath his breathe he slides his phone back into the inside of his jacket, looking up to the sky as another roar of thunder rumbles across the horizon. Verona is noticeably agitated, standing in the shadows lost in his own thoughts, oblivious to the frantic scene around him. Roberto remains perfectly still as the first splatter of raindrops cascade down from the heavens and raindrops begin to form more frequently on the lens of the camera. As the cameraman tries to get beneath cover to avoid the increasing density of rain he stumbles slightly, snapping Verona out of his own thoughts, turning sharply to face the camera.
Roberto Verona : What do you want? It’s like my very own stalker since I signed that *** damned contract…
Roberto trails off, moving towards the camera and pushing his way past. The cameraman steadies himself and pursues Verona towards the lobby, following him with a level of intent. Roberto tries his best to escape the gaze of the camera, darting in-between the river of bodies that rush but he fails to lose his determined pursuer. Roberto enters the lobby of the hotel before turning to confront the camera that has managed to keep up with him.
Roberto Verona : Seriously, follow me one more time….
Before he can finish his sentence Roberto is interrupted by the emergence of Jason Dunn who rushes inside from the rain, placing one hand on the cameraman before keeling over out of breath. Trying to regulate his breathing Jason looks up at Verona.
Jason Dunn : Rob…er…to… I won…der..ed.. if you’d… mind….. let….ting….me ask…you a f…ew… quest….ions…
He gasps. Roberto sighs, screwing his eyes up and rubbing the crown of his nose with two fingers. Composing himself Dunn begins to stand up straight, his breathing returning to normal.
Roberto Verona : Let me guess an obligatory introduction interview is in…
Jason Dunn : Your contract, yes.
Roberto Verona : Don’t finish my sentence’s for me Jason.
Verona snarls, visibly irritated by the constant pursuit. Jason begins to stammer nervously as Verona sighs deeply.
Roberto Verona : If I have to do this at least let me prepare myself for your tedious agenda, Jason. You know where my room is, bring your camera in ten minutes. Oh and Jason…
Jason Dunn : Yes?
Roberto Verona : Lay off the doughnuts, you made your cameraman look like an Olympian.
Verona turns and makes his way towards the lift, fumbling inside his pocket to locate his room key. The scene fades to black as Jason grasps at his stomach uncomfortably. As the camera begins to fade back in we find ourselves in Roberto’s hotel room, along the far wall draped across the entire length of the room is a familiar red, white and black tricolour, “RV” once against sprayed in the centre. Sat beneath it in a large chair is Roberto Verona, his legs cross impatiently and his arms likewise. Sat just beyond the camera is Jason Dunn as Roberto remains the only person in shot.
Roberto Verona : Can we please get this over with? Your presence in my personal space is disturbing Jason.
Jason Dunn : Erm…yes, of course. Well, I will begin by welcoming you to nCw, we are delighted to have you on our….
Roberto Verona : Cut to the chase Jason, I couldn’t care less about your idiosyncratic ass kissing routine. Let’s just get down to business.
Jason is dumbstruck, stammering once again. Collecting himself his continues the interview.
Jason Dunn : OK. Well, could you tell us, how are you looking forward to your debut this weekend at Crossroads? Are you excited?
Roberto Verona : Excited? Stepping into the middle of that ring? Hearing the roars of the masses shaking the very foundations of the RBC Center?
Jason Dunn : Well, yes!
Roberto Verona : What is there to be excited about, Jason? I mean seriously, let’s not go kidding ourselves that I am some giddly little schoolboy about to go on my first big trip away from home. This weekend is all about getting the business done, not about being all sentimental because it is the first match I will compete in.
Jason Dunn : Clearly your confident about your chances then?
Roberto Verona : Confident? Not at all, I just aren’t stupid enough to believe that Demetrious Young or Scotty Havok have a hope in hells chances of walking away from our match as the victor. Call it what you want, I call it common sense.
Jason Dunn : Do you not have any concerns at all about either of your opponents?
Roberto Verona : None whatsoever, Jason. I mean seriously? nCw has decided to put me in the ring with a man who has ruined his anterior cruciate ligament and has come off the back of what can be loosely described as a victory over Tommy the Cat and a man trapped in a middle life crisis sporting a haircut you’re more likely to see in a gay bar than in a wrestling ring. I’d say it will be an accomplishment if either of them even shows up at all and even if they do I have absolutely no worries about their abilities in the ring at all.
Jason Dunn : Well, you sure seem like your pretty certain you’ll get the result you’re looking for on Sunday. With that in mind, what are your intentions should you pick up the victory?
Roberto Verona : I am hardly stupid enough to tell you my intentions on national television Jason, just how did you get this job? You know as well as I do that my base intentions are the same as anybody else who walks down that ramp to get into that ring and that’s to win as much glory as is possibly attainable. Anyone who joins this business, regardless of the fact that the majority of them haven’t an ounce of talent in their entire body, has the same basics goals. As for my more important aspirations, you’ll just have to watch what happens like the rest of the idiots who tune in every week. My mission will become abundantly clear as time goes on, rest assured there are some people in this company that won’t know what hit them.
Jason Dunn : Speaking of other members of the roster, you were quite outspoken about the current nCw Women’s Champion this week and “The Dreamer” Todd Williams…
Roberto Verona : If you call speaking the truth outspoken Jason, I just call it as it is.
Jason Dunn : I couldn’t agree more, but surely you shouldn’t be trying to make too many enemies so early in your nCw career? Aren’t you worried about possible repercussions?
Roberto Verona : Well, if you can remove your lips from my ass for a moment Jason I will explain something very simple to you. I don’t care whose nose I put out joint, I have nothing to fear from either of them. What’s Todd going to do? Hire a lookalike and karate kick him? Scream his name in my face? I will not keep my opinions, my cause, to myself out of fear of somebody else in that locker room. If it all culminates in a few people hating my guts then they can take it up with me to my face, I’ll be more than happy to spell out what I really think of them, although judging by the mental capacity of some of the guys here I’ll need the help of Big Bird and Elmo to get it across.
Jason Dunn : So you fear nobody?
Roberto Verona : Nobody. Now, do me a favour and sit there, shut up and listen. I will address who I want, when I want, but tonight is all about Demetrious Young and Scotty Havok, my partially able-bodied and certainly unable-minded opponents at Crossroads and I could do without what you believe constitutes questions getting in the way of telling these two exactly what I think of them.
Snatching the microphone from Jason’ hand Roberto leans back nonchalantly in his chair and smirks, slowly raising the mic to his mouth as Jason thinks better of continuing his interview.
Roberto Verona : Now, seen as we have got all that inane twaddle out of the way let me talk very directly to the both of you. Demetrious Young, Scotty Havok, this Sunday you will step into the ring, grace the same location and ignite the same show as me and there are a few ground rules we need to go over before you get ahead of your stations.
Number One, don’t walk out there with any pre-conceptions about taking home a victory, because I can guarantee to you both right now that the only thing that remains uncertain about our match is which of you two pantheons of mediocrity I pin to the mat. There is no way that I will be leaving Crossroads on my debut as a loser, unlike you two it isn’t in my character. I don’t quit, I don’t settle for second best, I only acknowledge one thing: I am the best.
Number Two, if you want to put on a show for the cerebral simpletons in the crowd don’t concentrate too much on me, the only real question that hangs over our match is which of you two is better than the other, the fact that I am in every way your superior isn’t up for debate. Personally I just can’t pick between you both, the stench of inadequacy is far too strong to make any sort of solid prediction.
And finally, Number Three. Once I have sealed my inevitable first step on the road to destiny, glory and infamy just remember that it was you two that started the glorious revolution of nCw. That is something to be proud of, you will have contributed to the most important series of changes this company will ever undergo, and your defeat will be the very start of the best thing this company could have hoped for.
Shuffling in his seat Roberto learns forward, raising his right arm and pointing into the camera, still hold the mic to his lips.
Roberto Verona : Demetrious, let me give you a little bit of advice before you think about threatening to kick my ass again. Remember that the more you defy me the harder it will be to take your defeat this Sunday. The more you build yourself up the harder it will be to accept your fate when I drive my knee into your skull. The more you believe you can really do it, the more crushing the blow to your morale when you look up dazed and confused to see me with my hand raised right up in the air. Give up now and do yourself a favour my Slovak friend, you cannot win this fight, you were just unlucky in the draw my friend. nCw saw fit to put you in the ring with me when your still rusty, still getting back into the game and they are going to set you back. Months of hard work will be for nothing, all that work you did in the gym only for your employers to feed you to the lions.
You have the heart of tiger Demetrious, and for that I commend you, but next to me you’re just a pussycat. Fate has spoken, you are destined to go 1/1/0 this Sunday and no matter how much trash you talk, no matter who much blood, sweat and tears you spill and no matter how determined you are when you walk to that ring you just can’t overcome the irresistible force of my revolution. You are but a man Demetrious, but this Sunday you enter the ring with somebody who is much, much more.
Clearing his throat, Roberto continues his direct attack on his opponents.
Roberto Verona : As for you Scotty Havok, you remain an enigma to me. Don’t get me wrong your defeat is assured, I don’t have any worries in the world about your decrepit old ass standing in my way but your future is certainly uncertain. Demetrious has heart, enough to swill around the middle of the roster that’s for sure, but you, you have a proven track record of being second best and frankly I can only see one way out for you and it doesn’t look pretty. Either you can rise up to regain your former, well let’s call them “glories” or you can explode onto the biggest stage in the business only to utterly embarrass yourself. This Sunday your path to tedium will begin Scotty, can you turn the tide and make something of yourself? I have my doubts, severe doubts. To get where you want to go Scotty you need to be a few steps ahead every time and this weekend I am going to knock you back a yard or two. My advice to you, and your privileged enough to be getting it, is to give up now. Turn up this Sunday, do your duty and stay out of my way and just quit. You can’t become what you want to be, you joined the nCw at the wrong time, this is my time and there is no way I will let a crippled Slovak and a washed up fading star stand in my way.
The world is changing Scotty, your time has come and gone. Do us all a favour and just accept that you will never, ever, be the top man in this business now I have arrived. Learn to accept your utterly average career and, like Demetrious, find solace that you were one of the men to launch me on the path my own glory. Because that is the best you can ever hope for. Well that and you get a spot in a decent retirement clinic. This is my time, and neither you nor Demetrious will change that.
Roberto lets the mic slip out of his hand and drop to the floor, staring into the camera with intent before turning to face Jason Dunn.
Roberto Verona : Now, you two can make your own way out. You got your exclusive, don’t expect another unless it’s on my terms.
Roberto gets up and walks off camera, as the scene begins to fade we can here a mobile phone begin to ring, Verona appears to answer it.
Roberto Verona : Hello? I knew you’d call back…
Roberto Verona : I already told you, I aren’t interested in negotiating. Either play by my rules, or lose my number. Goodbye.
Roberto lowers his arm and presses down on the touchscreen in frustration, the phone call clearly striking a nerve. Mumbling something underneath his breathe he slides his phone back into the inside of his jacket, looking up to the sky as another roar of thunder rumbles across the horizon. Verona is noticeably agitated, standing in the shadows lost in his own thoughts, oblivious to the frantic scene around him. Roberto remains perfectly still as the first splatter of raindrops cascade down from the heavens and raindrops begin to form more frequently on the lens of the camera. As the cameraman tries to get beneath cover to avoid the increasing density of rain he stumbles slightly, snapping Verona out of his own thoughts, turning sharply to face the camera.
Roberto Verona : What do you want? It’s like my very own stalker since I signed that *** damned contract…
Roberto trails off, moving towards the camera and pushing his way past. The cameraman steadies himself and pursues Verona towards the lobby, following him with a level of intent. Roberto tries his best to escape the gaze of the camera, darting in-between the river of bodies that rush but he fails to lose his determined pursuer. Roberto enters the lobby of the hotel before turning to confront the camera that has managed to keep up with him.
Roberto Verona : Seriously, follow me one more time….
Before he can finish his sentence Roberto is interrupted by the emergence of Jason Dunn who rushes inside from the rain, placing one hand on the cameraman before keeling over out of breath. Trying to regulate his breathing Jason looks up at Verona.
Jason Dunn : Rob…er…to… I won…der..ed.. if you’d… mind….. let….ting….me ask…you a f…ew… quest….ions…
He gasps. Roberto sighs, screwing his eyes up and rubbing the crown of his nose with two fingers. Composing himself Dunn begins to stand up straight, his breathing returning to normal.
Roberto Verona : Let me guess an obligatory introduction interview is in…
Jason Dunn : Your contract, yes.
Roberto Verona : Don’t finish my sentence’s for me Jason.
Verona snarls, visibly irritated by the constant pursuit. Jason begins to stammer nervously as Verona sighs deeply.
Roberto Verona : If I have to do this at least let me prepare myself for your tedious agenda, Jason. You know where my room is, bring your camera in ten minutes. Oh and Jason…
Jason Dunn : Yes?
Roberto Verona : Lay off the doughnuts, you made your cameraman look like an Olympian.
Verona turns and makes his way towards the lift, fumbling inside his pocket to locate his room key. The scene fades to black as Jason grasps at his stomach uncomfortably. As the camera begins to fade back in we find ourselves in Roberto’s hotel room, along the far wall draped across the entire length of the room is a familiar red, white and black tricolour, “RV” once against sprayed in the centre. Sat beneath it in a large chair is Roberto Verona, his legs cross impatiently and his arms likewise. Sat just beyond the camera is Jason Dunn as Roberto remains the only person in shot.
Roberto Verona : Can we please get this over with? Your presence in my personal space is disturbing Jason.
Jason Dunn : Erm…yes, of course. Well, I will begin by welcoming you to nCw, we are delighted to have you on our….
Roberto Verona : Cut to the chase Jason, I couldn’t care less about your idiosyncratic ass kissing routine. Let’s just get down to business.
Jason is dumbstruck, stammering once again. Collecting himself his continues the interview.
Jason Dunn : OK. Well, could you tell us, how are you looking forward to your debut this weekend at Crossroads? Are you excited?
Roberto Verona : Excited? Stepping into the middle of that ring? Hearing the roars of the masses shaking the very foundations of the RBC Center?
Jason Dunn : Well, yes!
Roberto Verona : What is there to be excited about, Jason? I mean seriously, let’s not go kidding ourselves that I am some giddly little schoolboy about to go on my first big trip away from home. This weekend is all about getting the business done, not about being all sentimental because it is the first match I will compete in.
Jason Dunn : Clearly your confident about your chances then?
Roberto Verona : Confident? Not at all, I just aren’t stupid enough to believe that Demetrious Young or Scotty Havok have a hope in hells chances of walking away from our match as the victor. Call it what you want, I call it common sense.
Jason Dunn : Do you not have any concerns at all about either of your opponents?
Roberto Verona : None whatsoever, Jason. I mean seriously? nCw has decided to put me in the ring with a man who has ruined his anterior cruciate ligament and has come off the back of what can be loosely described as a victory over Tommy the Cat and a man trapped in a middle life crisis sporting a haircut you’re more likely to see in a gay bar than in a wrestling ring. I’d say it will be an accomplishment if either of them even shows up at all and even if they do I have absolutely no worries about their abilities in the ring at all.
Jason Dunn : Well, you sure seem like your pretty certain you’ll get the result you’re looking for on Sunday. With that in mind, what are your intentions should you pick up the victory?
Roberto Verona : I am hardly stupid enough to tell you my intentions on national television Jason, just how did you get this job? You know as well as I do that my base intentions are the same as anybody else who walks down that ramp to get into that ring and that’s to win as much glory as is possibly attainable. Anyone who joins this business, regardless of the fact that the majority of them haven’t an ounce of talent in their entire body, has the same basics goals. As for my more important aspirations, you’ll just have to watch what happens like the rest of the idiots who tune in every week. My mission will become abundantly clear as time goes on, rest assured there are some people in this company that won’t know what hit them.
Jason Dunn : Speaking of other members of the roster, you were quite outspoken about the current nCw Women’s Champion this week and “The Dreamer” Todd Williams…
Roberto Verona : If you call speaking the truth outspoken Jason, I just call it as it is.
Jason Dunn : I couldn’t agree more, but surely you shouldn’t be trying to make too many enemies so early in your nCw career? Aren’t you worried about possible repercussions?
Roberto Verona : Well, if you can remove your lips from my ass for a moment Jason I will explain something very simple to you. I don’t care whose nose I put out joint, I have nothing to fear from either of them. What’s Todd going to do? Hire a lookalike and karate kick him? Scream his name in my face? I will not keep my opinions, my cause, to myself out of fear of somebody else in that locker room. If it all culminates in a few people hating my guts then they can take it up with me to my face, I’ll be more than happy to spell out what I really think of them, although judging by the mental capacity of some of the guys here I’ll need the help of Big Bird and Elmo to get it across.
Jason Dunn : So you fear nobody?
Roberto Verona : Nobody. Now, do me a favour and sit there, shut up and listen. I will address who I want, when I want, but tonight is all about Demetrious Young and Scotty Havok, my partially able-bodied and certainly unable-minded opponents at Crossroads and I could do without what you believe constitutes questions getting in the way of telling these two exactly what I think of them.
Snatching the microphone from Jason’ hand Roberto leans back nonchalantly in his chair and smirks, slowly raising the mic to his mouth as Jason thinks better of continuing his interview.
Roberto Verona : Now, seen as we have got all that inane twaddle out of the way let me talk very directly to the both of you. Demetrious Young, Scotty Havok, this Sunday you will step into the ring, grace the same location and ignite the same show as me and there are a few ground rules we need to go over before you get ahead of your stations.
Number One, don’t walk out there with any pre-conceptions about taking home a victory, because I can guarantee to you both right now that the only thing that remains uncertain about our match is which of you two pantheons of mediocrity I pin to the mat. There is no way that I will be leaving Crossroads on my debut as a loser, unlike you two it isn’t in my character. I don’t quit, I don’t settle for second best, I only acknowledge one thing: I am the best.
Number Two, if you want to put on a show for the cerebral simpletons in the crowd don’t concentrate too much on me, the only real question that hangs over our match is which of you two is better than the other, the fact that I am in every way your superior isn’t up for debate. Personally I just can’t pick between you both, the stench of inadequacy is far too strong to make any sort of solid prediction.
And finally, Number Three. Once I have sealed my inevitable first step on the road to destiny, glory and infamy just remember that it was you two that started the glorious revolution of nCw. That is something to be proud of, you will have contributed to the most important series of changes this company will ever undergo, and your defeat will be the very start of the best thing this company could have hoped for.
Shuffling in his seat Roberto learns forward, raising his right arm and pointing into the camera, still hold the mic to his lips.
Roberto Verona : Demetrious, let me give you a little bit of advice before you think about threatening to kick my ass again. Remember that the more you defy me the harder it will be to take your defeat this Sunday. The more you build yourself up the harder it will be to accept your fate when I drive my knee into your skull. The more you believe you can really do it, the more crushing the blow to your morale when you look up dazed and confused to see me with my hand raised right up in the air. Give up now and do yourself a favour my Slovak friend, you cannot win this fight, you were just unlucky in the draw my friend. nCw saw fit to put you in the ring with me when your still rusty, still getting back into the game and they are going to set you back. Months of hard work will be for nothing, all that work you did in the gym only for your employers to feed you to the lions.
You have the heart of tiger Demetrious, and for that I commend you, but next to me you’re just a pussycat. Fate has spoken, you are destined to go 1/1/0 this Sunday and no matter how much trash you talk, no matter who much blood, sweat and tears you spill and no matter how determined you are when you walk to that ring you just can’t overcome the irresistible force of my revolution. You are but a man Demetrious, but this Sunday you enter the ring with somebody who is much, much more.
Clearing his throat, Roberto continues his direct attack on his opponents.
Roberto Verona : As for you Scotty Havok, you remain an enigma to me. Don’t get me wrong your defeat is assured, I don’t have any worries in the world about your decrepit old ass standing in my way but your future is certainly uncertain. Demetrious has heart, enough to swill around the middle of the roster that’s for sure, but you, you have a proven track record of being second best and frankly I can only see one way out for you and it doesn’t look pretty. Either you can rise up to regain your former, well let’s call them “glories” or you can explode onto the biggest stage in the business only to utterly embarrass yourself. This Sunday your path to tedium will begin Scotty, can you turn the tide and make something of yourself? I have my doubts, severe doubts. To get where you want to go Scotty you need to be a few steps ahead every time and this weekend I am going to knock you back a yard or two. My advice to you, and your privileged enough to be getting it, is to give up now. Turn up this Sunday, do your duty and stay out of my way and just quit. You can’t become what you want to be, you joined the nCw at the wrong time, this is my time and there is no way I will let a crippled Slovak and a washed up fading star stand in my way.
The world is changing Scotty, your time has come and gone. Do us all a favour and just accept that you will never, ever, be the top man in this business now I have arrived. Learn to accept your utterly average career and, like Demetrious, find solace that you were one of the men to launch me on the path my own glory. Because that is the best you can ever hope for. Well that and you get a spot in a decent retirement clinic. This is my time, and neither you nor Demetrious will change that.
Roberto lets the mic slip out of his hand and drop to the floor, staring into the camera with intent before turning to face Jason Dunn.
Roberto Verona : Now, you two can make your own way out. You got your exclusive, don’t expect another unless it’s on my terms.
Roberto gets up and walks off camera, as the scene begins to fade we can here a mobile phone begin to ring, Verona appears to answer it.
Roberto Verona : Hello? I knew you’d call back…