Food Poisoning

[Rotten]

"Women come and go, but friends last forever."

~Author Unknown

"So take the women while they're coming, cause you know your friends will be there when your done."

~Johnny Rotten

I might have thought about running after Jeff after our blowout. He was my friend, and I didn't mean for things to happen the way they did. I took a step for the door, but Lilly pulled at my arm. I turned and she threw herself at me. The embrace led to one kiss. That one kiss led to the bedroom... And the bedroom led to the reason why I wasn't able to apologize to my manager.

[Fade into Johnny Rotten lying under the covers of a queen sized bed. A smile maybe permanently etched on his face. The blankets move and a second later Lilly pops her head up. She kisses Johnny on the nose and grabs a flimsy robe that doesn't leave much to the imagination.]

Lilly: You hungry Johnny..?

Johnny: Starving... But, I should really grab a shower and then get to the gym.

Lilly: Tell ya what... How bout you grab your shower. I'll make you something to eat, and then you can go to the gym afterwords.

It was the first time in weeks that Lilly was trying to hinder my training. She hadn't given me any room breathe let alone think. Maybe with Jeff gone, I was seeing the true Lilly. Maybe things are really turning around... No more Jeff Fox screwing me out of my money. No more couch... And the only shit I'd be smelling from now on, would be my own.

[Johnny smiles.]

Johnny: Sounds great.

[Johnny heads for the shower, and in the background Lilly can be seen smiling deviously as he closes the door.]

Lilly: Hope you like Stir Fry..!

Johnny: [Water running in the background] Yeah, that's great.

Lilly: [Evil] Great

[Fast Forward to after supper.]

Johnny: That was great Lilly...

Lilly: Glad you liked it. [Looks at the clock] You better get going if you want to get a workout in tonight.

[Johnny pushes away from the table and as he is in the process of standing up, his hand goes to his stomach.]

Lilly: You okay..?

Johnny: Yeah... Just my [Groan] Stomach...

It started as a belch, but as I opened my mouth to let loose the trapped air, supper decided to free itself as well. My stomach twisted, and it was all I could do to get to the bathroom.

[Two hours later. A shot of Johnny at the hospital.]

Salmonella poisoning... The doc blames it on the chicken in the stir fry.

[Two days later. A shot of Johnny still in bed. No workouts, No training.]

I was going into the biggest fight of my career. I was fighting a giant of a man. I was fighting the Provincial Champion and if that wasn't enough, he was apart of the most dominant stable in the NAPW. How can I compete when I can't hold down a handful of crackers and a glass of ginger ale.

Saturday, Feb 24th, 2007

[6:00 AM]

[Johnny rolls out of bed and rubs his stomach as he slips on a pair of track pants and a sweater. He makes his way to the door, and as he is pulling on his mitts and a toque, Lilly breaks the morning's silence.]

Lilly: [Yawning] Where you going..?

Johnny: For a run.

Lilly: So your feeling better..?

[Johnny nods and then walks out closing the door behind him. Walking from the steps to the sidewalk, Johnny breaks into a slow canter to start off his run. He only gets a block, when a familiar brown station wagon pulls up. The car slows down and Johnny goes from a jog to a walk, and then to standing still. The car stops and Johnny opens the door.]

Johnny: Jeff... I'm so

Fox: Save it kid... [Eyes up Johnny specifically looking for the studded collar] You cut a promo yet..?

[Rotten shakes his head side to side.]

Fox: Get in..!

[Johnny does, and a second later the wagon is rolling down the road.]

Fox: All right kid... I want to clear something up.

Johnny: [Apprehensive] I don't want to talk about Lilly.

Fox: [Short] Good..! Because I'm talking shop. You know when we first showed up, I was kinda steering you towards the heelish aspects of this sport.

Johnny: Yeah.

[Fox shakes his head.]

Fox: New Plan kid... Ever been a hero before.

[Johnny lets out a short incredulous laugh.]

Fox: Me either... Thing is, there is a war brewing in NAPW. There is a good side, and a bad... And we're wearing white hats.

Johnny: So what are we gonna do..?

Fox: Your gonna cut the proverbial Good sportsman [Thumbs up] promo, and I'm gonna make some phone calls.

Johnny: Who you calling.

Fox: Remember how I said there was a bad side, and a good side.

[Johnny nods]

Fox: Well the good side isn't actually formed yet.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Rotten Promo.]

[Horlick Park, downtown Edmonton.]



[Black studded collar.]

[Johnny walks, the camera follows.]

Johnny: Kurt Castle, Chris Casino, Kenny Krenshov, and [Deep Breath] Jay O'Brien... Fab Four eh.. The Untouchables.

[Johnny tries to smile, but his lips don't cooperate.]



Johnny: I'm not a hero... I'm not the [Air Quotes] Good guy. I'm just a guy.

[Shoulder shrug]

Johnny: A guy who happened to get handed a gift in the form of a title shot. A gift I don't plan on squandering... And if that means I have to fight one of you... Or all of you in order to get that belt around my waist then so be it.

[Johnny comes to a stop. He shoves both hands into his pockets. You can see his breath exhaling through his nose as it hits the cold February air.]

Johnny: Heed this though... My name is Johnny Rotten, not Johnny B. Goode. I will stoop to any level... Even yours. You said people don't recognize the risk, cause they're too busy looking at the reward. I've looked at both. [Pulls his left hand out of his pocket.] The risk... A four on one beat down. A broken ankle... Permanent injury... Maybe worse. [Pulls out his right hand.] The reward on the other hand... The NAPW Provincial title... A Championship... The definitive goal of every wrestler. [His right hand lowers] Doesn't seem like much of a decision does it. The reward far outweighs the risk... And I got nothing to lose.

[Johnny shoves his hands back in his pockets. He moves under a tree and leans against it.]

Johnny: You know what's funny about this whole thing. I keep thinking this has to be a trap... But the truth is, your so god damn cocky, that you probably don't even think I'm a legit threat to your title reign. I mean I only "Almost" impressed you.

[Wink]

Johnny: Well that's fine... Jeff James underestimated me.

[Smile]

Johnny: Jay O'Brien thought his win column would have the number five beside it.

[Smile fades]

Johnny: And you Mister Slice Bread... I'm not just gonna take your title... I'm gonna eat your lunch.

[End]