Post by Rotten on Feb 22, 2007 20:04:30 GMT -5
"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow."
~ Mary Radmacher
~ Mary Radmacher
[Post TNF, somewhere backstage.]
[Josh Reynolds and his backup Bob, stand in front of two camera crews as a NAPW executive hands out work details. Both men reach out for the paperwork, but Josh grabs both of them and waves at his crew to follow.]
Bob: Josh, What are we doing.
Josh: [Reading the assignment] I got two stories... The Untouchables and [Low] Johnny Rotten.
[Bob lowers his head, and begins to walk away.]
Josh: Bob... [Tosses the Rotten assignment at him.] Take this one... He's a loser anyways.
Bob: [Fumbling for the paper.] Thanks.
Josh: [Thumbs up] You deserve each other.
[Scene Switch.]
[Bob stands outside Johnny's door and is just about to knock when the door swings open. Jeff Fox comes out first and collides with Bob knocking him to the ground.]
Fox: What the (BLEEP)..!
Bob: [On the ground] I'm so sorry... That was all my fault. I'm here to do an interview with Johnny Rotten.
Fox: [Making a Finger Pistol] Tough Brakes kid...
[Jeff pulls the imaginary trigger.]
BRAAAAAAAAPPPPPPP
[Johnny walks out waving a hand in front of his face.]
Johnny: He's just kidding.
[Johnny helps Bob up to his feet.]
Fox: This better not take long.
Bob: It won't... Three questions that's it.
[Bob positions his crew and then stands beside Johnny with a brick wall backdrop behind them. Johnny is dressed casually in a pair of Blue Jeans, and a NAPW T-shirt.]
[Lights]
[Camera]
[Action]
Bob: I'm here backstage with the Number One contender for the Provincial Championship, Johnny Rotten.
[Johnny gives a nod and then smiles.]
Bob: Your match tonight was a huge win for you... Was it a surprise to you that you were able to beat Jay O'Brien..?
Johnny: [Smile fades] No... [Pause] It was a surprise that I was able to beat a guy like Jeff James. He a tough guy, and a former champion. I look forward to wrestling him again down the road.
Bob: What about Jay O'Brien... Is that feud in the books..?
Johnny: [Choosing his words carefully] Jay O'Brien... Vicious competitor... Devious mind... And a win at all cost like demeanor. [Sarcasm] How are the ribs Jay..!
[Bob cracks a smile but tries to stay impartial.]
Johnny: Bottom line... We're not done by a long shot. Jay doesn't give gifts... And I'm not buying it for a second.
Bob: Your referring to the Provincial title shot, that O'Brien turned down tonight.
[Johnny nods.]
Bob: Do you think this is some kind of Untouchable's trap..?
Johnny: Hell yeah... But when you use a NAPW Provincial Championship as bait... Well lets just say you'll catch me every time. Infact... The title is the cheese, I'm the mouse... And Castle is the moustrap... Mister Devastator... Word to the wise... [Wink] You better build a better mousetrap... [Smile] Cause I'm about to steel your cheese.
Bob: So are you predicting....
[Fox steps in front of Bob cutting him completely out of the shot.]
Fox: Three questions are up Bob..!
[Fox grabs Rotten and pulls him out of the shot as they head for the exit. In the background you can hear Fox explaining to Rotten why they're leaving so abruptly.]
Fox: Alway leave them wanting more kid.
[Transitional fade back to the Mill Woods Apartment.]
We pulled into Edmonton early the next morning with a stopover in Saskatoon. The drive was alot less exciting as Lilly took Jeff's return flight back to Edmonton. The two had been at each other's throats ever since TNF, and unlike all their arguments before, Jeff wasn't taking a backwards step this time. I wasn't even fully unpacked when Jeff was pushing out the door for a training session with Tsurto.
Johnny: [Dressed in his workout attire] You coming Jeff..?
Fox: [Walking towards Lilly's bedroom.] Actually kid... I got something I need to take care of.
[Johnny leaves closing the door behind him.]
[Jeff barges into his room. On the way in, he grabs Lilly's suitcase and throws it on the bed, and starts packing her clothes.]
Lilly: What the hell do you think your doing..?
Fox: Time to hit the bricks sister. I'm not going to let you sink your claws into him.
Lilly: Too late..!!!
Fox: We'll see about that.
[Fade.]
-----------------------------------------------------------
[Tsurto's gym.]
[Private session]
The dojo was empty and the lights were off. I would have guessed that the place was closed if not for the open door.
Tsurto: [Holding a broomstick in his right hand] Johnnyson... Long time, no fight.
Johnny: Sorry Mister Tsurto, it won't happen again.
[Tsurto nods and waves him in.]
Tsurto: Jeffreyson says you have big fight.
Johnny: Yeah... I'm fighting for the Provincial Championship.
[Tsurto swings and catches nothing but air as Johnny sidesteps the broom handle.]
Tsurto: It is not the title that make the fight big... It's your opponent.
[Tsurto points to the floor and Johnny sits.]
Tsurto: Close eyes. See the Fight... See the Fighter.
Six Foot Seven... Almost Three Hundred Pounds. Kurt "The Devastator" Castle.
Tsurto: [Reading Johnny's mind.] Bigger...
I gotta be fast. Most of my moves aren't going to work... He's too big. Hit and move.
Tsurto: Stronger...
Endurance is the key. Mine and his... Survive when he catches me, wear him down... He"ll get tired... He'll make a mistake, and I'll be there to take advantage.
Tsurto: Tougher...
I hear the word, but nothing comes to mind. I blank out and when I'm finally able to visualize my match, all I can see is Jay O'Brien. [Pause] Then Krenshov... And just like that, I'm on his shoulders like Ravager was... O'Brien flies off and spikes me with a DDT off Kenny's shoulders. I'm looking up at four faces... The Untouchables [Doubt] How can I win.
[Tsurto reads the inner struggle written on Johnny's face.]
Tsurto: [Whispering] By Trying..!
[The doubt is replaced by confidence. The struggle is over with two words. "By Trying" Johnny smiles.]
-----------------------------------------------------------
[Johnny returns from his session with Tsurto. He barely gets in the door when Lilly comes flying out. Tears race down her cheeks. She flies into Johnny's arms and it's deja vu like the day they first meant Jeff follows Lilly out with her suitcase in his hand.]
Lilly: Jeff is kicking me out.
Johnny: [Surprise] What... What's going on.
Lilly: I told him about us... [Blurting] About us sleeping together..!
[Johnny's jaw drops. Jeff comes to a halt. It's a shock to both men. Fox drops the suitcase.]
Fox: [Angry] God Dammit Kid..!!!
[Johnny starts to shrink. He tries to take a backwards step, but Lilly won't let go. She puts his studded leather collar in his hand.]
Lilly: Don't let him kick me out Johnny..!!!
[Johnny and Jeff lock eyes.]
Fox: She's a slut Johnny. She'll wreck you..!
What happened next was pure reaction. If I could have gave myself a second to think things through, it might have ended differently, but I exploded.
[With one arm around Lilly, Johnny uses his free arm to pie-face an incoming Jeff Fox.]
He never saw it coming, and he walked right into it. I caught him square in the face with the palm of my hand and it was enough not only to knock him down, but to draw blood.
Johnny: [Cold] She stays.
Fox: [Dusting himself off.] Kid...
[Fox stops talking and walks out the front door. Just as he is about to leave he turns.]
Fox: [Wipes the blood.] This is going to be the mother of all "I told you so's."
[End]