One To Be Remembered

[Joe Everyman]

All of your kindness
All of your blindness
I hope you realize this
I'm giving it back to you

The scene slowly opens up inside of the bathroom to Joe Everyman's locker room in the backstage area of A Night To Remember. Melanie is sitting on the edge of the tub, looking down to the floor. She seems more rattled than she has been in recent memory.

Melanie Brooks: Come on Mel... you can do this. I mean, what's the worst that could happen?

She slowly stands up and looks herself in the mirror. Her eyes are shaking, not being able to focus on anything, not even herself. She puts her hands down onto the counter top, trying to hold herself level.

Melanie Brooks: Well... Joe could hate me. He could resent me for trying to ruin something good in his life. He could not feel the same back and think that I'm trying to sabotage his life. Oh god... I don't want that to happen.

She looks away from the mirror as a single tear rolls down her cheek. She closes her eyes and shakes her head violently from side to side.

Melanie Brooks: No no no, you can't think like that! Just think of what could happen if he doesn't say no. I mean, you could finally be with him. You've wanted that for years now! I mean, you've wanted it more than Sarah did! You never know, you could end up getting married to him. I mean, he's successful. Smart. Powerful. Already has a kid... but we can overlook that. This is what you want, Mel. This is what you want! Just walk up to him before his match on Sunday and tell him that you love him...

Sarah Rodgers: Is that so?

Melanie freezes in place. She slowly looks over into the doorway, where Sarah stands.

Melanie Brooks: I...

She doesn't have the strength or will to say another word. Sarah lets out a light sigh.

Sarah Rodgers: It really wasn't that hard to peg. I mean, he's all you talk about. You've talked more about him in the past month than I have... well, ever.

Melanie Brooks: What are you saying?

Sarah Rodgers: It may suck for me... and maybe for Joe for a slight second, but you have my permission to take that step, if you want. I'll end it with Joe tonight, but I'll have to tell him something is up so it doesn't get on his mind for his match. Sound reasonable?

Without saying a word, Melanie lunges at Sarah and throws her arms around her.

Melanie Brooks: Thank you, thank you, thank you! You don't have any idea how happy this has made me!

Sarah Rodgers: It's no problem, really. I think you're more Joe's type than I am.

Melanie Brooks: You really think he would choose the shy, nerd girl over the smoking hot physical therapist?

Sarah Rodgers: Sometimes, the best couples are made from two people who have little in common. You'd be surprised.

Melanie Brooks: I hope you're right. And again, thank you so much Sarah. I just hope Joe feels the same.

Sarah Rodgers: Something tells me he does.

Melanie cracks out a big smile as she hugs Sarah again. The scene then slowly fades to black.

I gave you such a big chance, but you just couldn't do it, could you Alex? I gave you a platform to speak your mind, as long as you spoke the truth. But you just couldn't manage that. I guess I'm not surprised, nobody seems to listen to me when I talk anyway. For as long as I've been doing this, that's the one constant I've always seen. But, it's no big deal. I've seen enough of this to just be able to brush it off. Bigger men than you have fallen into that same trap. It was only a matter of time until you did as well. The truth is a hard thing to come by nowadays. So many people lie on an hourly basis. And so many people fall for that trap. For example, the fans you talked about so dearly, fell for this trap. Look out at the masses of nCw fans. They aren't chanting "Alex Jones!". They're chanting "Alex Jones sucks!". But here you stand, trying to pull the wool over their eyes, trying to tell them that they are doing something that they aren't.

I mean, how low can one get? I don't want to compare you to Adolf Hitler, cause that would be silly of me... but quit being like Adolf Hitler! He somehow talked thousands of people into believing his ideals, not theirs. I don't know how he did it, but he did. And now, Alex, you're trying to do the same thing. And, just a word of advice, it would be wise to stop now when you still have a chance to get out of it alive. Maybe you'll be able to get some people to change their minds, maybe you'll be able to pick up a few extra follows and maybe you'll be able to get some more people to hate me... but in the end, they will turn on you. You have to give your fans respect. You can't lie to them with every sentence you muster, like you are doing. You have to speak the truth to these smart individuals. I guess, what I'm saying is Alex... you need to be more like me.

I only speak the truth to these people. When I say something, I mean it. When I talk about my accomplishments, it's the ones they know are true. When I talk about my future, they know it's something that will happen. And they can say, with pride in their words, that they were with me when I did it. They can say they supported me from the beginning when I hold up the National Championship for a record fourth time. They can say they supported me to my eventual World Championship reign. And they can say they supported me clear to my Hall of Fame induction. Without the fans, what are we? So many of us say we are only in it for ourselves. That we are out to prove something to ourselves. Deep down, we all know that notion to be bullsh*t. We crave the attention and affection of others. If we didn't, we would just hermit ourselves for everyone else. We would never go out in public. We would never find love. We would never have kids. None of that would be important to anyone. You and I both know that nobody can live like that. You know, deep down, you need your fans. And the only way to keep them is to tell them the truth.

Now would be a great time to start. Tell them how you really feel about me. Tell them what you truly believe about this match. Tell them how that maybe you aren't afraid, but you are worried. Tell them that deep down, you are worried about losing. Worried because you know what losing in this match would do to you. I know my standing in this company, I know where I will fall on the card each and every week. And I know how detrimental a loss to me can be on someone's career. And you know it too, Alex. You know that a loss to me, especially one that would give you a shot at the National Championship. Especially one that is in a big of a match as this. Especially one that is on A Night To Remember... you know what that loss would do to you. Everyone does. And as soon as that sinks in, I'll be able to fight the Alex Jones I want to fight.

I don't want to fight the push over Alex Jones so many of us have learned to accept. No, I want the old Alex Jones. The pre-Alex Jones you. I want the AJ Phoenix you back. He was someone I could look up to. He was someone I wanted to be. But he faded, just like I did. And this second coming of you is something I don't want to look up to. It's someone I never want to become. When my second coming begins, and it will be soon... I want to be something greater. You had to take some time off for injury, for personal deals, for whatever excuse you could muster... and you came back with a fiery passion. And it faded just as quickly as it appeared. Where as I have been here every single week, fighting my ass off to get where I know I belong. And after my fight with you this Sunday, I will know what I'll have to do for my second coming. As long as I do the exact opposite of what you did, I should be fine.

Don't be too discouraged that you're on the opening show instead of the big spotlight, Alex. I wasn't upset at all by it. I know Leo trusts me about as far as he can throw me, but I know I will prove to him that I deserve this win. And then, I'll headline every pay per view from here on out. My second coming will begin tomorrow night, Alex. You will come to an end in the same birthplace as mine. Maybe then, you can take a step back and really evaluate where you are at. Maybe set your sights on a prize that you actually have a chance of winning. The National Championship is just too high for you. But for me... it's ripe for the taking. A Night To Remember indeed. Everyone will remember what I did to you. Everyone will remember what I am fighting for. Everyone will remember my passion. My determination. And most of all, my hatred for you. It's not a secret that I don't like you. Maybe you want to believe something else, but I don't. And I never will. I will pound you into the ground with a smile on my face. Not only because I will finally vanquish the Phoenix, but because I will be one big step closer to capturing the National Championship again.

When I think of A Night To Remember, I always think of every bad thing and every good thing I've done for this company, and in life. They somehow always come together on that one special night. And even though I know I'm going to be in one of the biggest matches of my career that night, every thing somehow seems a little clearer and a little easier. And nothing will be easier than putting you down, Alex. Let the best man win... let the best man be remembered.

All of your hatred
That you hold so sacred
I am elated
To give it back to you