Endgame

[Stylin' Kyle Roberts [REBEL]]

(1998. Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. In the Central Collegiate gym, Coach Gordon Jago is winding down an amateur wrestling training session.)

COACH JAGO: Okay, guys. Hit the showers.

(The team exits to the locker room.)

COACH JAGO: Kyle, you mind if we talk?

(Hey! It's Stylin' Kyle Roberts! Well, pre-Stylin'. Hell, pre-Roberts. At this point, Kyle's seventeen years old, doesn't have quite the muscle tone as his older self, and is quite a bit thinner. He's still pretty tall, though.)

KYLE: What's up?

COACH JAGO: How're ya feelin'?

KYLE: Not bad.

COACH JAGO: Going to be ready for the city championships on Friday?

KYLE: Sure, I guess.

COACH JAGO: Focused?

KYLE: Yeah?

COACH JAGO: Stay away from Jade Thompson.

KYLE: What? Come on!

COACH JAGO: She's a distraction, Kyle. And she's not going to do you any good.

KYLE: But she's hot!

COACH JAGO: Trust me, boy. That girl is trouble. I've seen it over and over.

KYLE: (sullen) Fine.

COACH JAGO: It's for your own good.

KYLE: Can I just go now?

COACH JAGO: Yeah, go on. Rest up for Friday.

KYLE: Okay.

(Kyle leaves the gym, on his way to the locker room. A pair of hands envelops his eyes from behind.)

FEMALE VOICE: Guess who?

KYLE ROBERTS: Please let it be Selma Hayek.

JADE: No!

(She whirls him around, to kiss him. They kiss as only high school kids can: lacking technique, but making up for it in sheer hormones.)

JADE: (after coming back up for air): Hi.

KYLE: Hey.

JADE: What are you doing tonight?

KYLE: Well, that's in the open right now. I can think of a few things. But for now, I shower!

JADE: Yeah, that's a good idea. (She wrinkles her nose.)

KYLE: Wait right here. I'll be back in ten minutes.

JADE: Right here.

(Kyle leaves, and we see Coach in the background, with a disapproving look on his face.)

* * *

(A modest dining room. Kyle's mother, Cheryl, is preparing food when we hear a door open and shut.)

KYLE ROBERTS: I'm home!

CHERYL: Finally. It's one in the afternoon.

(Kyle enters and kisses his mother on the cheek.)

CHERYL: You weren't at church.

KYLE ROBERTS: I was out last night.

CHERYL: I know. You never came home.

KYLE ROBERTS: (avoiding her eyes) I crashed at Heath's after a night full of the Silo.

CHERYL: Heath's out of town.

KYLE ROBERTS: (pause) I know. I've got his spare key.

CHERYL: Ah. Well, the Eggs Benedict is almost ready.

KYLE ROBERTS: Awesome.

CHERYL: So, see anyone you knew at the club?

KYLE ROBERTS: Well, Jade Thompson was there.

CHERYL: Uh huh. You know she's got two kids now?

KYLE ROBERTS: What? She didn't tell me that!

CHERYL: Well, of course she wouldn't. Her mom's taking care of them.

KYLE ROBERTS: Yeah?

CHERYL: Yeah. I just remember how into each other you guys were during Grade 12.

KYLE ROBERTS: Like young puppies.

CHERYL: All tongue. I wonder what Amy would say if she knew about you two back then.

KYLE ROBERTS: I wouldn't know. She doesn't return my calls right now.

CHERYL: You're trying to reconcile?

KYLE ROBERTS: Yeah.

CHERYL: Good. I wouldn't want to see that relationship dissolving. Especially with something like infidelity.

KYLE ROBERTS: Mom-

CHERYL: Kyle, I don't want to see you end up like your father.

KYLE ROBERTS: (blowing up) I'm not my dad, okay? He left us for some other woman, and he's a (BLEEP)ing (BLEEP)!

CHERYL: Language!

KYLE ROBERTS: I am NOT Dad. Okay?

CHERYL: Good. So nothing happened last night?

KYLE ROBERTS: Other than Jade and I talking and drinking? No.

CHERYL: You wouldn't lie to your mother, would you?

KYLE ROBERTS: I'm not Dad.

CHERYL: Fine. Eat up. Your hollandaise is getting cold.

* * *

(Kyle Roberts walks into frame right outside the Civic Centre.)

KYLE ROBERTS: This is where it all happens, Kurtis. Where you and I make history. A match for the ages, because Kyle Roberts deems it so! But yet, you seem to think that for some reason, I'm complimenting you. Don't get the wrong idea, Chad, I'm the one who will have my arm raised in victory. I just know what I'm getting into against a man that never gives up, never quits. The question Chad, is do you know what you're up against?

Kyle Roberts is THE MAN, Kurtis. Sure, I'm known for my tag team awesomeness. Yet, who's been undefeated since he went solo? Me. Who's taken down bears, horses, and Teutonic giants? Me. I will go into there and give you the match of your life, Kurtis, but don't expect me to bow to you. I'm going to give you one hundred and seventy percent. I'll take you to your limits, and at some point, you will fall at my feet. It will be a challenge to make you tap, and I'm looking forward to seeing exactly what you're made of.

Kyle Roberts is smarter than you, Kurtis. Your willpower will not be enough to win this one, because I will use every trick I know in that ring. I'll try to outwrestle you. But if that doesn't work? I'll simply outsmart you. Let's face it, a man who tries a Canadian Destroyer from six feet in the air isn't a mental giant. You're willing to take risks, but I'm willing to exploit those risks, Chad. And when you fall? And, let's make no bones here, Chad, you WILL fall, don't feel too bad. A loss against Kyle Roberts has made bigger men than you.

I'm Kyle Roberts, and I approve the beating that Chad Kurtis will get in that ring.

(Fade to black.)

Edited for formatting purposes.