Post by Andrew Jacobsen on Mar 4, 2012 4:58:28 GMT -6
Open on Andrew Jacobsen sitting in his living room. He shakes his head, running a hand through his hair, and looks into the camera with a somewhat exhausted grin on his face. When he speaks, it’s clear he’s trying to keep his volume down.
”So that’s what you had to say, Will. I can’t say I’m surprised at everything. One thing that did shock me…I didn’t expect you to back down. I didn’t want to see you whimper and walk away like a coward. I wanted this match. I damn sure wanted it. You think that your return to help me is some benevolent act of God, that you’re being this generous, charitable person by showing up and, in your deluded mind, getting me a match I would have never had otherwise? Sit down, Will. It’s time for a history lesson.”
Andrew cracks his neck a bit, shifting in his seat and leaning forward.
“The first pay-per-view I was an active member of the nCw roster for was Mind Games 2009. I beat Mr. Happy on the preshow. Not a very glorious debut, I know. Since then, I have had a match on every single pay-per-view nCw has produced. Not a single one missed. No matter what, I have been there. If you think that the only reason I’m here is because of your divine grace and consideration, you’re completely delusional.”
He leans back, a grin on his face that most men would do anything to wipe off.
“So no, Will. I don’t see a reason to give your ideas a second thought. Why not? Because I am on a ROLL, with or without them. I’ve won match after match, I’ve beat former World Champions, I have put away my enemies and I have silenced my naysayers. I did it my way, not yours. I heard what you said, I listened…and I realized you’re just Doc on repeat. Yeah, you came back for my sake. Congratulations. You’re back. But I think that despite all the thought and planning that went into this grand scheme of yours, you’ve overlooked something very important. You want me to be a vicious, opportunistic, bloodthirsty man. You want me to be you. Here’s the flaw…”
Andrew’s grin drops from his face, and his voice becomes deadly serious.
”I’m not you.”
”Oh, I’m sure you think your way is the best. But what works for one man might not work for another. I’m not the kind of person you think I should be, and I don’t need to be that kind of person to be successful. Will, I have gone up against some of the best this business has to offer. Hall of Famers. Legends. Men you couldn’t beat. I took them down, not because I decided to pull a complete personal 180, but because I stuck to who I am. I played on their expectations. After all, I’m just Andrew Jacobsen. I’m just the lovable loser, the guy that can never get it done. Isn’t that what you’re saying? Isn’t that what everyone has said?”
He shakes his head slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose, and looks up into the camera again.
”You doubt me. You question me, and you mock me, and you hurl insults from afar, even as you claim to be better than everyone else who’s done it. Will, I’m sick of this. I appreciate your intent. You came back because you thought you needed to fire me up. News flash: my career is nowhere near dead. It’s more alive than ever. You think you’re better than me? You think you have the right to lecture me on my career? Let me see how diplomatically I can put this…go to hell!”
Andrew’s still forcing himself to remain relatively quiet, but his voice seethes with anger. His fist clenches and unclenches, almost as a reflex, and he sighs, leaning back.
”I’ve taken crap from far more people than I probably should have. I’ve taken abuse and insults and everything you could possibly imagine, and I have never once thought about leaving. Will, you just walked away from nCw and now you think you can come waltzing back in at any time? I have to sit here and listen to every flash-in-the-pan whose fifteen minutes were up a long time ago tell me how worthless I am, and now you? No more. None of that crap. Sunday, you and I…you get to put your money where your mouth is…and I’ll prove you wrong just the same. See you then.”
Andrew sighs, standing and turning towards the stairs. He takes a few steps towards them, stopping as he sees a tired Danielle Chase walking down the hall. He smiles up at her, and she smiles back at him sleepily.
“Hey Andy…y’wanna make some coffee? Sleep was nice, but I need to wake up…”
Andrew nods, ducking into the kitchen and setting to work getting a pot of coffee going. Danielle walks into the kitchen, grabbing a coffee mug from the cupboard and leaning on the counter. A wry grin spreads across her face.
“So. Big match time. You ready?”
Andrew nods, exhaling slowly and grabbing the coffee pot. He walks to the sink, filling it with water and returning to the coffee maker as he speaks.
“Ready isn’t quite the word. Excited? Yeah. Nervous? Oh yeah. But I feel good about my chances. This has been a good month, and it’s only going to get better. Just gotta keep my eyes on the prize.”
He pours the water into the coffee maker, putting a filter in and pouring some ground coffee in before closing the lid and starting the maker. Andrew turns around, looking over to Danielle.
“I just can’t get the mentality of people like Will sometimes. He’s a good guy in general, but sometimes he just takes a right turn into being a completely arrogant dick. What is it? I…I just don’t understand.”
Danielle grins, walking over, and pats his shoulder.
“You’re too Minnesota nice. You’re like a walking caricature sometimes, Andy. Will’s a dick because people are dicks. They’re selfish, angry, vindictive, and arrogant. But you know what? Only you know what’s best for you. If what you’re doing is working, and your win-loss record says it is, then you don’t need to listen to him. Yeah, management’s not going to give you opportunities because you’re a good guy. They’ll give you them because you kick ass and take names. Just keep it up and we’ll be all good.”
Andrew nods, smiling at her. He pauses for a second, glancing over at her, but shakes his head and stands up fully again, turning and opening the fridge.
“Well then, suppose I better make us some breakfast before we have to hit the road again. After all, last thing I want to do is get to Arizona on airline peanuts and airport food. You gonna need cream for your coffee?”
Danielle nods, and Andrew begins pulling things out of the fridge, setting them on the counter. Danielle watches him, a faint smile on her face. She bites her lower lip, hesitating, and shakes her head as well, sighing. Andrew, oblivious, closes the fridge door and sets to work making breakfast as we fade to black.
”So that’s what you had to say, Will. I can’t say I’m surprised at everything. One thing that did shock me…I didn’t expect you to back down. I didn’t want to see you whimper and walk away like a coward. I wanted this match. I damn sure wanted it. You think that your return to help me is some benevolent act of God, that you’re being this generous, charitable person by showing up and, in your deluded mind, getting me a match I would have never had otherwise? Sit down, Will. It’s time for a history lesson.”
Andrew cracks his neck a bit, shifting in his seat and leaning forward.
“The first pay-per-view I was an active member of the nCw roster for was Mind Games 2009. I beat Mr. Happy on the preshow. Not a very glorious debut, I know. Since then, I have had a match on every single pay-per-view nCw has produced. Not a single one missed. No matter what, I have been there. If you think that the only reason I’m here is because of your divine grace and consideration, you’re completely delusional.”
He leans back, a grin on his face that most men would do anything to wipe off.
“So no, Will. I don’t see a reason to give your ideas a second thought. Why not? Because I am on a ROLL, with or without them. I’ve won match after match, I’ve beat former World Champions, I have put away my enemies and I have silenced my naysayers. I did it my way, not yours. I heard what you said, I listened…and I realized you’re just Doc on repeat. Yeah, you came back for my sake. Congratulations. You’re back. But I think that despite all the thought and planning that went into this grand scheme of yours, you’ve overlooked something very important. You want me to be a vicious, opportunistic, bloodthirsty man. You want me to be you. Here’s the flaw…”
Andrew’s grin drops from his face, and his voice becomes deadly serious.
”I’m not you.”
”Oh, I’m sure you think your way is the best. But what works for one man might not work for another. I’m not the kind of person you think I should be, and I don’t need to be that kind of person to be successful. Will, I have gone up against some of the best this business has to offer. Hall of Famers. Legends. Men you couldn’t beat. I took them down, not because I decided to pull a complete personal 180, but because I stuck to who I am. I played on their expectations. After all, I’m just Andrew Jacobsen. I’m just the lovable loser, the guy that can never get it done. Isn’t that what you’re saying? Isn’t that what everyone has said?”
He shakes his head slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose, and looks up into the camera again.
”You doubt me. You question me, and you mock me, and you hurl insults from afar, even as you claim to be better than everyone else who’s done it. Will, I’m sick of this. I appreciate your intent. You came back because you thought you needed to fire me up. News flash: my career is nowhere near dead. It’s more alive than ever. You think you’re better than me? You think you have the right to lecture me on my career? Let me see how diplomatically I can put this…go to hell!”
Andrew’s still forcing himself to remain relatively quiet, but his voice seethes with anger. His fist clenches and unclenches, almost as a reflex, and he sighs, leaning back.
”I’ve taken crap from far more people than I probably should have. I’ve taken abuse and insults and everything you could possibly imagine, and I have never once thought about leaving. Will, you just walked away from nCw and now you think you can come waltzing back in at any time? I have to sit here and listen to every flash-in-the-pan whose fifteen minutes were up a long time ago tell me how worthless I am, and now you? No more. None of that crap. Sunday, you and I…you get to put your money where your mouth is…and I’ll prove you wrong just the same. See you then.”
Andrew sighs, standing and turning towards the stairs. He takes a few steps towards them, stopping as he sees a tired Danielle Chase walking down the hall. He smiles up at her, and she smiles back at him sleepily.
“Hey Andy…y’wanna make some coffee? Sleep was nice, but I need to wake up…”
Andrew nods, ducking into the kitchen and setting to work getting a pot of coffee going. Danielle walks into the kitchen, grabbing a coffee mug from the cupboard and leaning on the counter. A wry grin spreads across her face.
“So. Big match time. You ready?”
Andrew nods, exhaling slowly and grabbing the coffee pot. He walks to the sink, filling it with water and returning to the coffee maker as he speaks.
“Ready isn’t quite the word. Excited? Yeah. Nervous? Oh yeah. But I feel good about my chances. This has been a good month, and it’s only going to get better. Just gotta keep my eyes on the prize.”
He pours the water into the coffee maker, putting a filter in and pouring some ground coffee in before closing the lid and starting the maker. Andrew turns around, looking over to Danielle.
“I just can’t get the mentality of people like Will sometimes. He’s a good guy in general, but sometimes he just takes a right turn into being a completely arrogant dick. What is it? I…I just don’t understand.”
Danielle grins, walking over, and pats his shoulder.
“You’re too Minnesota nice. You’re like a walking caricature sometimes, Andy. Will’s a dick because people are dicks. They’re selfish, angry, vindictive, and arrogant. But you know what? Only you know what’s best for you. If what you’re doing is working, and your win-loss record says it is, then you don’t need to listen to him. Yeah, management’s not going to give you opportunities because you’re a good guy. They’ll give you them because you kick ass and take names. Just keep it up and we’ll be all good.”
Andrew nods, smiling at her. He pauses for a second, glancing over at her, but shakes his head and stands up fully again, turning and opening the fridge.
“Well then, suppose I better make us some breakfast before we have to hit the road again. After all, last thing I want to do is get to Arizona on airline peanuts and airport food. You gonna need cream for your coffee?”
Danielle nods, and Andrew begins pulling things out of the fridge, setting them on the counter. Danielle watches him, a faint smile on her face. She bites her lower lip, hesitating, and shakes her head as well, sighing. Andrew, oblivious, closes the fridge door and sets to work making breakfast as we fade to black.
