No Place Like Home, Part X (Mr. Perfect, Part II[No Country For Old Souls])
“Is this really what it has come to Court’?” Scott asks his lovely girlfriend/valet, Courtney Allen, as he shuts his laptop computer. “I mean really … cold open, talk, talk, talk … thought for thought rebuttal? Is this what professional wrestling has become?”
Courtney, perched on the far left of the couch attempting to watch television, replies; “Well, from what I’ve seen … pretty much.”
Scott leans forward and sets his laptop down on the coffee table.
“This is not what I want to be involved in. Do you know how many ‘spots’ I did in Texas?” Scott asks.
Knowing the answer; Courtney humors him, “How many?”
“Two. Two in six months Court’ … Two! Hell, in Mexico City I may have down three. Back in the states I thought I’d excel off sheer wrestling skill and my third last chance is against this oiled up jobber; who has cut at least twenty spots in the span of four … almost five shows.” Scott pauses for empathy from Courtney. Courtney’s blank stare tells the tale of no response.
“…And he hasn’t done anything! He claims he won ten grand and we ALL see this Curt Hennig mini-me run down the aisle with the brief case at the OPEN of every Chain Reaction! And don’t get me started on this …”
Scott conjures up his best Perfection imitation with a less than intelligent sounding twist and continues, “Curt? Hennig? Who is that? Who is Mr. Perfect?”
Scott reaches passed the laptop for his cigarettes and retrieves the lone ‘square’ from the pack. He holds it up to his lips to light it but his oral habits are broken by his own thought. He snatches the cigarette from his clinched lips to launch into another irritated diatribe.
“I can’t stand these oiled up, roided up, non-workers who populate this business today. They step in with ‘the look’ and a few hand fed moves; thinking they can dominate the business. No passion, no love, no heart! I mean who the hell in this business today DOESN’T know who the hell Curt mother****ing Hennig is? For **** sake: Hennig versus Hart? What self-respecting wrestler doesn’t know who Mr. god damn Perfect was?”
Scott raises the cigarette back to his lips again, only to snatch it away to continue on.
“…this business has gone to hell. It isn’t about skill, talent ... There is no love anymore. It’s these ignorant ass clowns like Jimmy Dean here ruining it. I never even attempted a shot at the big time for that SOLE REASON. I had no idea it had sunk down to what’s left of the territories as well.”
Courtney, coming to the realization she won’t be finishing her television program in peace, eggs Scott on. “Well, Scotty … I think that’s why you’re here. Bring back that old school vibe with a new school edge. You’re …”
Scott interrupts, “Your damn right … I don’t have Seti’s power. I don’t have Kerry’s expensive training, or Mateo’s … speech impediment. I certainly don’t have Mary Lynn’s tits or Jimmy Jam’s arrogance.”
Courtney interrupts, “Excuse me? What was that last one?”
“Jimmy Jam, I don’t have his pompous, unproven, astronomical illusions of grandeur. Jimmy Eat World. Jimmy Johns. James Dean … You know, are friend According to Jim.” Scott responds comically with a grin.
“No, the one before that smart ass.” Courtney snaps back.
Scott plays it up as if he now understands, “Ohh, Toe … or I mean, Erik Mateo. The retard; that talks like that comedian with the cut off sleeves and what not. Honestly I don’t know WHAT he is saying but it is CLASSIC comedy to say the least. I’m talking Pyor/Live, Eddie/Raw … I mean…”
Courtney, losing her patience, clarifies “No, between Mateo and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, asshole.”
“Oh damn, my mistake. Well, let me just start by saying yours are exponentially better and...” Scott responds quickly on the defensive playfully pretending to just now have caught on.
Courtney interrupts again, “Agreed… continue.”
Scott laughs, “I barely even noticed she had tits honestly. I actually believe whole heartedly that Jimmy Jazz should’ve stole that ten grand from YOU!”
“Alright, alright … if you were a Native American, you name would be ‘Dances Around Point’ … back to the issue at hand.” Courtney interjects.
Scott snaps to, “Yeah, that’s right. I have technical SKILL! And, need I say, the streets of Seattle taught a young Scott Douglas a thing or two!” He lifts the cigarette to his lips yet again.
“Don’t’ talk about yourself in third person babe. It makes you sound like Jim Beau Weather-vain. Very unattractive” Courtney interjected.
Snatching the cigarette from his lips yet again to retort, Scott agrees. “Noted. I don’t know if I really belong here anymore though, Court’. I came home to hang it up and get a regular gig… all this IWF stuff nearly fell into my lap. There is no country for old men … and I’m beginning to feel like there is no place here for old souls.”
Courtney is surprised by this talk from Scott and doesn’t respond right away. She contemplates her response tactically and attempts to come up with most appropriate, yet positive, remark possible. After considerable deliberation she responds, just as Scott finally lifts the lighter toward his face to ignite the long awaited cigarette. “Shut up!” Courtney laughs.
Scott drops the lighter and allows the cigarette to hang limp from his bottom lip and blankly stares at Courtney in amazement of her caviler response. A smirk slowly draws up across his bearded face and he remarks: “You right. **** ‘em all. Feed ‘em fish. This is my year! Twenty Twelve. The Sup Pop Era!”
Courtney’s face lights up with utter elation. She leans in toward Scott; seductively. The cigarette, dangling from his mouth, is finally ready for inhalation as Scott raises the lighter up once again. The flame flickers as it ascends towards Scott’s patient nicotine deliver system.
“Pop … pop … pop” states Courtney.
She snatches Scott’s cigarette and places it between her own lips and instantly lights it with her own lighter and smirks as she inhales the first thick drag.
Scott astounded but nearly amused barks, “That’s the last one …”
Courtney giggles and enjoys the only cigarette left between the pair.
“Can I at least get a short?” Scott asks.
Courtney leans forward and flicks her ashes in the green glass ash tray on the coffee table.
“I’ll wrestle ya’ for it.”