Post by Will Washington on Sept 8, 2012 10:41:17 GMT -6
{Our scene opens in the living room of the home belonging to Will Washington. Our hero sits casually on the coach with his sneakered feet propped up on the coffee table. He fast-forwards through the commercials while watching the recorded Virginia Tech/Georgia Tech game from Monday Night. As he watches the screen, his fiancé walks by the living room and looks in, frowning before walking in. She approaches Will and folds her arms, staring at her future husband. As he pays her no mind, she clears her throat, loudly, gaining his attention.}
Will: “Uh… What’s wrong?”
{Kristen bends down and grabs Will’s ice cold glass of Mountain Dew, lifting it up for him to see.}
Kristen: “No coaster?”
Will: “I couldn’t find one.”
{Kristen bends down again, grabbing a coaster that was sitting no more than a foot away from the glass.}
Kristen: “Seriously?”
Will: “I plead ignorance.”
{Washington’s fiancé looks at him again and palms her face in disgust before plopping down on ot the sofa next to him.}
Kristen: “You know you’ve got a match this week, right?”
Will: “I assumed as much. Any word on who the unlucky opposition will be?”
Kristen: “If I remember correctly, it’s some guy named… James Warren I believe.”
Will: “Another one of the new guys? Works for me. It’ll be an easy week. I can just relax until Sunday.”
Kristen: “Actually…. I’m pretty sure you’re wrestling on Saturday.”
Will: “Saturday?”
{Our hero pulls his phone from his pocket and quickly navigates his way to New Championship Wrestling’s home page.}
Will: “TRAUMA?! That’s still a thing?!?”
Kristen: “I guess so. What’s wrong with Trauma?”
{Washington continues to look at his phone before sliding it back in his pocket.}
Will: “There’s nothing wrong with it… It’s just weird being there. I’ve only wrestled on Trauma once or twice the entire time I’ve been in NCW.”
Kristen: “They probably just needed a ratings boost, so they threw your name on the card.”
Will: “You’re probably right. They’ve always told me that I bring in Super Bowl-like numbers of viewers.”
Kristen: “Who tells you that?”
Will: “I tell myself that sometimes. Just so I can feel important.”
Kristen: “That is… uh…”
{She quickly changes the subject.}
Kristen: “Well at least you’ll be off on Sunday for once. You know how my sister has been hounding us to come over for Sunday Brunch.”
Will: “As…. Unpleasant as that sounds… I still have to be at Collision on Sunday as well. You know I’ve got that big thing planned with Everyman.”
Kristen: “Lameeeeeee. So you’re going to be working both days this weekend?”
Will: “Yep. I’m busy man. Moving and shaking and such.”
Kristen: “Well aren’t you special?”
Will: “You know… you’re kind of a jerk.”
{Kristen shoots Will a playful eye roll.}
Kristen: “So. What big things do you have planned for this weekend? Winning your match, I hope.”
Will: “Oh without a doubt. Then I’ve got the big Joe Everyman memorial on Sunday… It’s going to be a good time.”
Kristen: “I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to stop hearing that name. It’s really starting to grate on my nerves.”
{Washington slyly smiles to himself and starts to stand up.}
Will: “What name? You mean… Joe Everyman?”
Kristen: “Ugh. Stop it! It’s like nails on a chalkboard now.”
{He steps closer to his fiancé as she takes a step back.}
Will: “…. Joe Everyman.”
Kristen: “Seriously. Legend has it that if you say it one more time and he’ll show up behind you with a knife. Is that something you want to bring onto yourself?”
Will: “Oh god no.”
Kristen: “Exactly. So cool it with the talk of you-know-who…”
{Will rubs his chin and ponders silently as we fade out.}
_____________________________________________________________________________________
“I really don’t know what else there is for me to say anymore regarding the Joe Everyman situation. I mean… You saw Collision last week. He and I were in the ring together again for what felt like the hundredth time, and I beat him… for what felt like the hundredth time. Honestly it’s getting tiring beating him so many times, but the look of defeat on his face never gets old. Yet, there comes a time in every man’s life when he has to say enough is enough, and for Joe Everyman, that time will never come. So it’s up to me to do the right thing and officially put an end to the misery.”
“That’s why, as promised, this Sunday on Collision, we’ll officially close the book on the career of Joe Everyman. Whether he’s willing or not, it won’t matter. He’ll be forced to accept his fate and face his own grim mortality. We’ve all accepted that the Joe Everyman we once believed in is long dead and buried, and it’s time for Joe and his ‘Everymaniacs’ to realize this as well. So you’ll all join me on Sunday as we commemorate the man that once was Joe Everyman, and the ‘American Dream’ he once represented.”
“… But that’s on Sunday. First and foremost, I have a match on Saturday against…. James Warren.”
“A wrestling doctor, eh? Well that’s a new one. I’m not exactly sure how exactly a man who went through medical school would end up becoming a professional wrestler, but then again, not much in wrestling makes sense anyway, does it? You’re almost a throwback to the mid-nineties when the wrestling scene was flooded with dentists, trashmen, repo men, and plumbers… so I guess that’s something…. Not much, but something.”
“You’re another one of the new guys running around NCW, so there’s not much of a record on you at this point. You recently faced my good friend Philip Burns inside the ring and came up short, but I’m sure it was a valuable learning experience. Every time you get in the ring with a former World Champion, you learn something new. Now that you’re armed with that recently acquired knowledge, I’m sure you’re ready to put it to use against me, right? You’re going to step into that ring with a battle-tested veteran and show the world what James Warren is all about, right?”
“… Good luck with that.”
“That’s not how things go around here. You may have held your own in the ring with Philip Burns, but here’s the thing, James… I’m not Burns.”
“…. Philip Burns has an off-switch.”
“…. Philip Burns has a conscience.”
“Will Washington? He doesn’t have those burdens.”
“I’m sure Phil went into his match with you thinking that he’d beat you pretty easily, but at least it’d give you a little bit of rub for the future. That maybe one day you’d be a star and look back at him as the first guy to really test you. Me? I don’t care if you live or die in this business. That may sound harsh, but that’s just how it is, kid. Others may see you as a guy to build and groom for the future, but I see you as another guy just trying to take my spot. Your future in this company means absolutely nothing to me.”
“… and that’s the way it should be.”
“Anyone in the back that’s willing to take you under their wing and guide you is only grooming one more guy that’s going to end up putting them out of the business. People like Joe Everyman would come to you and offer you advice and guidance, ignoring the fact that it’s one more piglet suckling at the teat for those ever-so-important opportunities. As more of you come in and people like Joe Everyman and Andrew Jacobsen willingly let you cut in front of them in line… it’s only a matter of time before they never see the opportunities again. That’s not going to happen to me, James.”
“You’re going to step into the ring with me on Saturday with dreams in your eyes, looking to prove yourself to Kelly Knite. You’ll go out there and pull out all your best tricks, show your hand, and give it everything you’ve got to try and impress. I’m going out there to make sure that doesn’t happen. I’m heading to Trauma, fighting for my career. I’ll be damned if I let someone like you try and steal my spotlight… steal my spot… steal my job.”
“… Well… Who am I kidding? You don’t have what it takes to steal my spotlight.”
“Nevertheless, that doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to prove a point to you on Saturday. I’m going to show you that this business… this side job you’ve got going on? It’s not an easy one. This isn’t some fun little adventure for you to take a foray into when things get tough for you at home… It’s a lot more than that. I’ll make that point as clearly as possible in the ring, on Saturday.”
“See kiddo… This fledgling career of your’s? I’m going to end it before it can even get started. I don’t whether it was bravery or just plain stupidity that lead you to agree to this match, but either way, it’s all downhill from here. Everything you’ve been working toward so early in your career? Gone in a flash. I’m going to beat you, embarrass you, and make an example of you. Points will be proven, and you will be forgotten.”
“… Like a younger Everyman. At least he got to have a career to squander. You? You‘re not so lucky.”
“Just like I did with Joe, I’m going to cripple your spirit…. I’m going to tear you apart inside that ring….”
“Not even a doctor will be able to make you whole again.”
“… Isn’t it ironic?”
“Actual irony though. Not that Alanis Morisette song.”
_____________________________________________________________________________________
{Suddenly, we find ourselves in Will Washington’s bathroom as our hero stands in front of his sink. He throws some water in his face before slowly bringing his head up and looking in the mirror. After a moment of inner-dialogue, he opens his mouth.}
Will: “Joe Everyman. Joe Everyman…..”
{He pauses and takes a breath.}
Will: “Joe Everyman.”
{Washington quickly looks back over his shoulder and back in the mirror, relieved when no ghostly Everyman apparitions appear. He grabs a hand towel and wipes the water from his face before looking back up and seeing Joe Everyman standing behind him with a knife! Joe lunges forward with the knife. Before anything else happens, our scene quickly changes to a gasping Will quickly sitting up in his bed. Kristen wearily turns over at the commotion.}
Kristen: “Another nightmare where a ghostly serial killing Joe Everyman goes all Bloody Mary on you.”
Will: “…. Yeah.”
Kristen: “Maybe next time you’ll realize that eating a whole bunch of candy before bedtime is a bad idea?”
Will: “My bad.”
{Kristen rolls back over and Will cautiously lays his head back down on his pillow, keeping his eyes open as we fade back out.}
Will: “Uh… What’s wrong?”
{Kristen bends down and grabs Will’s ice cold glass of Mountain Dew, lifting it up for him to see.}
Kristen: “No coaster?”
Will: “I couldn’t find one.”
{Kristen bends down again, grabbing a coaster that was sitting no more than a foot away from the glass.}
Kristen: “Seriously?”
Will: “I plead ignorance.”
{Washington’s fiancé looks at him again and palms her face in disgust before plopping down on ot the sofa next to him.}
Kristen: “You know you’ve got a match this week, right?”
Will: “I assumed as much. Any word on who the unlucky opposition will be?”
Kristen: “If I remember correctly, it’s some guy named… James Warren I believe.”
Will: “Another one of the new guys? Works for me. It’ll be an easy week. I can just relax until Sunday.”
Kristen: “Actually…. I’m pretty sure you’re wrestling on Saturday.”
Will: “Saturday?”
{Our hero pulls his phone from his pocket and quickly navigates his way to New Championship Wrestling’s home page.}
Will: “TRAUMA?! That’s still a thing?!?”
Kristen: “I guess so. What’s wrong with Trauma?”
{Washington continues to look at his phone before sliding it back in his pocket.}
Will: “There’s nothing wrong with it… It’s just weird being there. I’ve only wrestled on Trauma once or twice the entire time I’ve been in NCW.”
Kristen: “They probably just needed a ratings boost, so they threw your name on the card.”
Will: “You’re probably right. They’ve always told me that I bring in Super Bowl-like numbers of viewers.”
Kristen: “Who tells you that?”
Will: “I tell myself that sometimes. Just so I can feel important.”
Kristen: “That is… uh…”
{She quickly changes the subject.}
Kristen: “Well at least you’ll be off on Sunday for once. You know how my sister has been hounding us to come over for Sunday Brunch.”
Will: “As…. Unpleasant as that sounds… I still have to be at Collision on Sunday as well. You know I’ve got that big thing planned with Everyman.”
Kristen: “Lameeeeeee. So you’re going to be working both days this weekend?”
Will: “Yep. I’m busy man. Moving and shaking and such.”
Kristen: “Well aren’t you special?”
Will: “You know… you’re kind of a jerk.”
{Kristen shoots Will a playful eye roll.}
Kristen: “So. What big things do you have planned for this weekend? Winning your match, I hope.”
Will: “Oh without a doubt. Then I’ve got the big Joe Everyman memorial on Sunday… It’s going to be a good time.”
Kristen: “I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to stop hearing that name. It’s really starting to grate on my nerves.”
{Washington slyly smiles to himself and starts to stand up.}
Will: “What name? You mean… Joe Everyman?”
Kristen: “Ugh. Stop it! It’s like nails on a chalkboard now.”
{He steps closer to his fiancé as she takes a step back.}
Will: “…. Joe Everyman.”
Kristen: “Seriously. Legend has it that if you say it one more time and he’ll show up behind you with a knife. Is that something you want to bring onto yourself?”
Will: “Oh god no.”
Kristen: “Exactly. So cool it with the talk of you-know-who…”
{Will rubs his chin and ponders silently as we fade out.}
_____________________________________________________________________________________
“I really don’t know what else there is for me to say anymore regarding the Joe Everyman situation. I mean… You saw Collision last week. He and I were in the ring together again for what felt like the hundredth time, and I beat him… for what felt like the hundredth time. Honestly it’s getting tiring beating him so many times, but the look of defeat on his face never gets old. Yet, there comes a time in every man’s life when he has to say enough is enough, and for Joe Everyman, that time will never come. So it’s up to me to do the right thing and officially put an end to the misery.”
“That’s why, as promised, this Sunday on Collision, we’ll officially close the book on the career of Joe Everyman. Whether he’s willing or not, it won’t matter. He’ll be forced to accept his fate and face his own grim mortality. We’ve all accepted that the Joe Everyman we once believed in is long dead and buried, and it’s time for Joe and his ‘Everymaniacs’ to realize this as well. So you’ll all join me on Sunday as we commemorate the man that once was Joe Everyman, and the ‘American Dream’ he once represented.”
“… But that’s on Sunday. First and foremost, I have a match on Saturday against…. James Warren.”
“A wrestling doctor, eh? Well that’s a new one. I’m not exactly sure how exactly a man who went through medical school would end up becoming a professional wrestler, but then again, not much in wrestling makes sense anyway, does it? You’re almost a throwback to the mid-nineties when the wrestling scene was flooded with dentists, trashmen, repo men, and plumbers… so I guess that’s something…. Not much, but something.”
“You’re another one of the new guys running around NCW, so there’s not much of a record on you at this point. You recently faced my good friend Philip Burns inside the ring and came up short, but I’m sure it was a valuable learning experience. Every time you get in the ring with a former World Champion, you learn something new. Now that you’re armed with that recently acquired knowledge, I’m sure you’re ready to put it to use against me, right? You’re going to step into that ring with a battle-tested veteran and show the world what James Warren is all about, right?”
“… Good luck with that.”
“That’s not how things go around here. You may have held your own in the ring with Philip Burns, but here’s the thing, James… I’m not Burns.”
“…. Philip Burns has an off-switch.”
“…. Philip Burns has a conscience.”
“Will Washington? He doesn’t have those burdens.”
“I’m sure Phil went into his match with you thinking that he’d beat you pretty easily, but at least it’d give you a little bit of rub for the future. That maybe one day you’d be a star and look back at him as the first guy to really test you. Me? I don’t care if you live or die in this business. That may sound harsh, but that’s just how it is, kid. Others may see you as a guy to build and groom for the future, but I see you as another guy just trying to take my spot. Your future in this company means absolutely nothing to me.”
“… and that’s the way it should be.”
“Anyone in the back that’s willing to take you under their wing and guide you is only grooming one more guy that’s going to end up putting them out of the business. People like Joe Everyman would come to you and offer you advice and guidance, ignoring the fact that it’s one more piglet suckling at the teat for those ever-so-important opportunities. As more of you come in and people like Joe Everyman and Andrew Jacobsen willingly let you cut in front of them in line… it’s only a matter of time before they never see the opportunities again. That’s not going to happen to me, James.”
“You’re going to step into the ring with me on Saturday with dreams in your eyes, looking to prove yourself to Kelly Knite. You’ll go out there and pull out all your best tricks, show your hand, and give it everything you’ve got to try and impress. I’m going out there to make sure that doesn’t happen. I’m heading to Trauma, fighting for my career. I’ll be damned if I let someone like you try and steal my spotlight… steal my spot… steal my job.”
“… Well… Who am I kidding? You don’t have what it takes to steal my spotlight.”
“Nevertheless, that doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to prove a point to you on Saturday. I’m going to show you that this business… this side job you’ve got going on? It’s not an easy one. This isn’t some fun little adventure for you to take a foray into when things get tough for you at home… It’s a lot more than that. I’ll make that point as clearly as possible in the ring, on Saturday.”
“See kiddo… This fledgling career of your’s? I’m going to end it before it can even get started. I don’t whether it was bravery or just plain stupidity that lead you to agree to this match, but either way, it’s all downhill from here. Everything you’ve been working toward so early in your career? Gone in a flash. I’m going to beat you, embarrass you, and make an example of you. Points will be proven, and you will be forgotten.”
“… Like a younger Everyman. At least he got to have a career to squander. You? You‘re not so lucky.”
“Just like I did with Joe, I’m going to cripple your spirit…. I’m going to tear you apart inside that ring….”
“Not even a doctor will be able to make you whole again.”
“… Isn’t it ironic?”
“Actual irony though. Not that Alanis Morisette song.”
_____________________________________________________________________________________
{Suddenly, we find ourselves in Will Washington’s bathroom as our hero stands in front of his sink. He throws some water in his face before slowly bringing his head up and looking in the mirror. After a moment of inner-dialogue, he opens his mouth.}
Will: “Joe Everyman. Joe Everyman…..”
{He pauses and takes a breath.}
Will: “Joe Everyman.”
{Washington quickly looks back over his shoulder and back in the mirror, relieved when no ghostly Everyman apparitions appear. He grabs a hand towel and wipes the water from his face before looking back up and seeing Joe Everyman standing behind him with a knife! Joe lunges forward with the knife. Before anything else happens, our scene quickly changes to a gasping Will quickly sitting up in his bed. Kristen wearily turns over at the commotion.}
Kristen: “Another nightmare where a ghostly serial killing Joe Everyman goes all Bloody Mary on you.”
Will: “…. Yeah.”
Kristen: “Maybe next time you’ll realize that eating a whole bunch of candy before bedtime is a bad idea?”
Will: “My bad.”
{Kristen rolls back over and Will cautiously lays his head back down on his pillow, keeping his eyes open as we fade back out.}