It's Heating Up

[SouthernBoy]

{{...FADE-IN: Shane Southern is sitting in his an empty locker room backstage after IMPACT has gone off the air. He's showered and gotten dressed in his street clothes except for his shirt. His ribs have been taped up and he grimaces each time he bends over to put something in his gym bag. As he finishes packing his bag, a ring crew guy knocks on the door and lets him know that they'll be locking up the building in ten minutes. Southern thanks him, then zips up the bag leaving the NFW World Title out on his lap...}}

SHANE SOUTHERN: " So many things happenin'. Two months ago I thought tha' NFW might go tha' way of garbage heap, but now....tha' NFW's heatin' up like ol' Bessie in tha' summertime and Shane Southern's leadin' tha' way. Ya' know, I never imagined it could be THIS good. Impact TEE-VEE, Main Event. Thousands a' people chantin' my name. Whatta' high! But now it's all over, n' it's time ta' move on ta' other business. "

" First of all, Mike Manson. Ya' know...I don't know if ya' think you're actually doin' something "mean" ta' me by makin' me defend tha' title on every show until tha' Pay-Per-View...or if you're just doin' it for tha' sake of tha' NFW fans. But do ya' really think that bothers me? Hell, I woulda' done it anyway...no need ta' bark out orders. It's no secret that I don't like you Manson. Even though somma' tha' fans cheer ya' now...Even though you're gettin' over quite a bad injury, I STILL see ya' asa' lyin', no-good, manipulatin', sick-ass, sun-uva-<BLEEP>. But that's just me. You've made tha' match tha' whole WORLD's wanted ta' see...you've given ME and Bloodhunt tha' match WE wanted, so for that...I thank ya'...but that's where it ends. You've done me a favor, but don't execpt one back. Stay outta' my way from now until tha' Pay-Per-View...LET me defend MY title, tha' way EYE wanna' defend it...and we don't havva' problem. <BLEEP> with me, and you can bet that wheel-chair or no, COMMISIONER or no, I'll take that purple Pez n' shove it up your "candy" ass. Do we understand each other? "

" Now, we also got tha' COCKY one himself, Craig Miles...back for another run. Craig, you n' me...we havn't seen eye ta' eye on MANY a' thing since tha' NFW opened. I've always seen ya' asa' guy that only thought about HIMSELF n' could care less 'bout tha' guys who he "signs tha' paychecks" for. Goin' after Bloodhunt this way PROVES that in my mind. Insteada' comin' back n' RUNNIN' yer orgainization, you're comin' back ta' settle a SCORE witha' man who never TRULY will let tha' score be settled. Do ya' really think that by gettin' inna' match with Bloodhunt that's gonna' all uva' sudden STOP him from bringin' up TIME after TIME after TIME after TIME tha' night he was screwed over against Ricky Zane? It's not Craig, and YOU KNOW it's not. You're hear 'cause you want tha' spotlight again...n' that, in and of itself, ain't a bad thing. But if it happens at tha' expense of tha' guys yer SUPPOSED ta' stand for...then I've gotta' problem with it. Because, like it or not Craig, SHANE SOUTHERN represents this organization now. This title belt means that I am not only tha' people's champion, not only tha' NFW Champion, but YOUR champion Craig. So when I see <BLEEP> goin' on in tha' NFW that shouldn't be happenin'...I'm gonna' voice my opinion. But you've never really been one ta' CARE about that right Craig? Well ya' better START carin', or ya' may eventually have a SCORE ta' settle with ME. "

" Now before I get to tha' Prince, lemme' just take a few minutes ta' give a few shouts to some other guys. First, Doc. Nice ta' see ya' again...it's beena' while. N' even though yer in tha' TAG ranks right now...I hope you n' I can get ta'gether one day soon. 'Cause Lord knows, this "whippin' boy" would LOVE ta' get his southern paws 'round that oreo swallowin' necka' yers.

"Second. Castor Strife. Ya' see Castor...I'm not really one ta' say I told ya' so but, I TOLD YA' SO. You didn't have what it took ta'night, but ya' wrestled one helluva match. I'll be feelin' {{...puts his hands on his ribs...}} that forra' long time I'm sure. Ya' pulled out all tha' stops n' it wasn't enough ta' take this belt. You think 'bout that real hard Castor...then maybe you'll understand that ever'thin' I told ya' over tha' past few weeks was tha' TRUTH. Let's see if you can HANDLE it. "

" Now, on ta' my opponent at Crash. Prince...Rick, we both KNEW that we'd have ta' do this eventually. Like ya' said, we're both competitors...we both want THIS {{...holds up the belt...}} n' that, in tha' ring, makes us enemies. You know tha' feelin' of respect is mutual my friend, n' in tha' comin' weeks before Crash...we MAY have a few "no so nice" things ta' say 'bout each other. I run my mouth sometimes without thinkin', so just know that none of that is a sign of disrespect. Hell, you know that Prince...you've been in tha' game damn near as long as I been alive. You KNOW what I'm talkin' 'bout. "

" I also think ya' know how much this belt means ta' me. You know that I'm gonna' do everythin' I can in that ring ta' keep it. I'm a stand-up kinda' guy, and I'd never brake any rules on ya' Prince...but beyond that...it's gonna' be a knock-down, drag-'em-out WAR n' I plan on bein' tha' one that walks outta' it holdin' tha' gold...n' facin' Bloodhunt at tha' Pay-Per-View. Don't get me wrong, I ain't lookin' past ya'. You're mah' SOLE focus. Facin' 'Hunt is just MOTIVATION fer me right now...you're my opponent, you're tha' man comin' ta' try ta' take what I got...YOU'RE tha' enemy Rick. It's time ta' fight tha' battle. "

" Party's Over. "

{{...FADE OUT as the lights behind to go off around him...}}

 

[jediPREZ]

What have we forgotten?

(FADEIN: 'COCKY' CRAIG MILES sitting in an office. MILES' barefeet are kicked up on the desk. He's not wearing a shirt, but does have on yellow-tinted Oakleys and a pair of ripped to shreds blue jeans. MILES smiles as he smokes a cigarette...)

MILES: "I want the spotlight? You know Shane, the topic was gonna come up (pauses) I guess I'm just a little disappointed that you were the one to do it. See Shane, you must've missed the first year and a half of this league with wax between your ears and the wool over your eyes. From Day One, I said you got a problem with someone in the back - you take it out on them and don't whine. Will Bloodhunt ever stop whining? YES, 'cause sooner rather than later he'll have NO excuses."

(MILES takes a drag...)

"Unlike you Shane, I know what buttons to push on my adversaries. Unlike you Shane - I DO KNOW HOW TO RUN THIS PLACE. See, when I hired 'Hunt I envisioned a man hellbent on blood, brutality and deception. What did we end up getting? A bad sequel to another movie. See, 'Hunt tried to walk the footsteps of the men who had hired him in the past. 'Hunt started hiring other people to do HIS dirty work. When Bloodhunt was supposed to be about the LONE sniper. THE UNABOMER. (smirks) So I squashed his bid to go down in the books as Doc Silver Part Deux and in his eyes I committed the crime of the century. (gasps) I evened the playing field for once! Maybe the next time you face 'Hunt should I should just let the ATC beat you down with chairs for five minutes? You're a (BLEEP)'in putz, you'd want me out there makin' sure it don't happen..."

(MILES takes another drag...)

"So then what does Bloodhunt do from there? He starts blaming me. He starts calling me out. In the proverbial attempt to avoid attracting the spotlight, Sullivan and I decided I should take a break. For peons like YOURSELF who don't understand - I tried to let 'Hunt redirect his anger at the ring by leaving. HE DIDN'T. 'Hunt kept blaming management from stopping a three on one beatdown that he orchestrated to keep that title. I don't care if Rickey Zane deserved that title that night, all I know is that Bloodhunt DID NOT. So since you're so smart, lemme ask you if a couple things. Since I left, was that a 'spotlight' grab too? And how about 'Hunt? Did he give up the goonsquad angle? Plan the coup for the title himself? Become the lone gunman? Nope - he fell further into being a cheap, scared son of a (BLEEP!)."

(MILES blows out a smoke ring...)

"That's right. I'm sure you remember that time period. He brings in Gladiator, he joins Armando Montezuma to form the ATC. They cripple Manson, try to cripple you and Rick. AND THEN HE LAYS OUT SULLIVAN."

(MILES flicks his cigarette into the ashtray, lifts his shades up and for once shows some anger in those eyes!)

"See, Shane after that night - I was ready to come back and take care of business right there. But Sully said, "No Craig. Let me heal, I wanna be there to keep it cool. Keep it under control" And lemme tell 'ya Shane, you know something is up when I'M NOT COOL and NOT under control. See, I've been rumbling and stumbling months for this. I'm not doing this for the (BLEEP!)'in spotlight. I'm doing this to teach ANYONE a lesson that if they try and take out my boy, Quent...they're gonna have to deal with the boss first-hand. And Shane, even if we don't see (makes quote motion) EYE to EYE about certain things, I think we see EYE to EYE on protecting OUR friends and colleagues that don't stand a chance against an (BLEEP!) like Bloodhunt. So (BLEEP!) your spotlight accusations, Shane. I'm (BLEEP!)'IN CRAIG MILES - I don't NEED the spotlight. Maybe you're just a little jealous that 'ol Craig has somethin' you don't. HEAT. I don't know why you care about me, Shane - I've never done (BLEEP!) to you. So, I'll chalk it up to you only wishing you could be as (smirks) PROFESSIONAL as me. Otherwise, all you're doin' is tellin' a brother not to stand up for an innocent friend. I'll try to believe that ain't true, Shane - but I'll say it again, I thought you'd be the last person to bring up the 'spotlight' card."

(MILES puts back down his shades, takes a deep breath and pulls out another cigarette and lights it...)

"And I wouldn't be damned if in the 3 months since 'Hunt dropped Sullivan we've watched him flop worse than a dead fish in the desert. We've watched 'Hunt let the cameras in on him and Miss Cuba. We've watched him cut cover songs and (BLEEP!)'IN SING. It's gonna end, Shane. Not only has the guy royally pissed me off by takin' out Sully, he's driving my ratings into the ground with his As the World Turns BULL(BLEEP!)."

(MILES takes a drag...)

"By the time I'm done with 'HUNT he's gonna be the psychotic, neurotic, sociopathic lone gunman that he listed as 'personality trait' on his application here. See, 'Hunt HATES me. He doesn't hate you, hell I think he's scared. But he won't be scared come FUTURESHOCK, Shane. Oh nooooo, by the time I raise the HEAT on this SON of a (BLEEP!) you'll be wonderin' how the hell I created the monster known as BLOODHUNT. If I get to kick his (BLEEP!)'in (BLEEP!) in the process. It's all good, me and Sully think that's a GOOD thing. The only thing you should be worrying about is when I'm done with him, you'll JUST be getting started. So Shane, you stay out of MY business - I'll stay out of YOURS, unless I see its reasonable to save YOUR (BLEEP!) from an ATC mauling. You don't tell me how to RUN NFW, I won't tell you to RUN yer head up your (BLEEP!). See, this ain't nothin' but a spotlight attraction for 'Hunt. He just needed a new director and new direction. AND don't (BLEEP!)'in forget this is MY house and if someone is messin' with SULLY, payback WILL be a (BLEEP!). And if YOU got a problem with that, just name the time and place, BOY."

(FTB)

 

[DocKGB]

I remember it all

(FADEIN: Bloodhunt in a NFW locker room. He's looking at the camera in disgust. He shakes his head and then bows his head down before finally lifting his face to the camera to talk.)

BLOODHUNT: I didn't ask Jacobs and Pyle...To help...To say I took any pride in how I won the NFW World Title would be a joke...But I'm not long for this business...I'm not a big name like you Craig Miles...Chad Merritt doesn't have my number on his Rolodex...I don't exactly get offered 6 figures to go and work for companies that sell out 40,000 seat arena's on PPV...So I took what I got...And what did I get? A match with Torch...That's fine...And how did I fight that match Craig? 1 on 1...Until Mike Manson, our ESTEEMED Commish distracted Torch...And I won, and Torch fell off the face of God's Green Earth...Then I had to fight Ares...What happened there? 1 on 1...A fair fight...Until Ricky Zane...The man you slaved over like a Catholic Priest who's trying to help a young boy deal with his parent's divorce...Zane ran in...Zane caused a No Contest...You wanted Lone Gunman? You wanted a man who could win it by himself? YOU HAD IT...and YOU DIDN'T WANT IT...You wanted run-ins, you wanted screwjobs...You wanted ACTION...You talk about ME being Doc Silver the bad sequel...YOU WROTE THE SCRIPT...You had the power to STOP the run-ins...You had the power to KEEP people OUT of my <BLEEP>ING matches...And let me stand or fall on my own...But you didn't...You told me to go <BLEEP> myself if I had problems with it, deal with it myself...Fix things myself...Take care of business MYSELF...And so I DID...

(Bloodhunt shakes his head...He walks around a bit...And then finally pulls out a piece of gum and starts chewing it.)

Thought I was done with his <Throws wrapper away>...But you...You...You son of a <BLEEP> The NERVE of you to DARE mock me...Then Banned for Life...THINGS WERE TAKEN CARE OF...No run-ins...Nothing...Just me, Ares and Zane...The fact that I knew from DAY ONE that the fix was in...That your BLIND OBESSIVE LUST over Ricky Zane would be a problem...I knew I needed an edge...So I talked to Ares...And we decided Zane was leaving that ring in a body bag...And then YOU...YOU...YOU ARROGANT BASTARD...RUINED MY CAREER...You broke up the fall...You gave Zane another shot...And I'm sure if I had come close again, he woulda gotten another shot and another...Until he finally beat me...And YOU have the nerve to claim I'm the one who was the problem? Give me a break...

<Bloodhunt spits the gum and hits hit away from himself a la Mr. Perfect...Before chewing another piece>

About my personal life...<BLEEP> All of you...<Bloodhunt kicks a chair across the room> I HATE YOU? NO <BLEEP> I want you DEAD MILES...You <BLEEP>ING COWARD...<Bloodhunt throws another chair across the room> You screw me...And you RAN...Ran like the little <BLEEP> You are...And I really don't care if I make the DRS blush at the words I'm using...I'm gonna hurt you Miles...You complain about Sullivan...And what I did to him? <Laughs> That's cause YOU were not man enough to take the beating...You BOLTED...You fled NFW because you didn't have the time to deal with me...You didn't have the NERVE to face up to what you did...

<Bloodhunt spits his gum out and then grabs another chair and drives it into a locker>

RATINGS?! You wanna talk about <BLEEP>ING Ratings?! You wanna tell ME that my personal life and a couple joke songs were the problem...I got 3 words for you A<BLEEP>HOLE...RICKY...ZANE...ERA....You wanna look at the problem with NFW's ratings, then remember it was YOU that put a no talent worthless piece of <BLEEP> in the position of World Champion...Not me...YOU were the one who decided that "Worthless" Roger Powell being molested by Ricky Zane, was Main Event action in NFW, and while being molested by Ricky Zane might very well be main event action in YOUR BED...It's not gonna fly with the fans of this company...
(Bloodhunt sits down in a remaining folding chair that he hasn't managed to kick or other wise destroy before breathing deep a few times and then looking at the camera.)

Between us...It's no DQ Miles...Cause if there are DQ's...Then I'm getting DQ'ed...Make no mistake about it Miles, this is BEYOND personal...I'm hurting you...If the ref trys to disarm me when I hit the ring with a weapon in hand...He goes down...Cause I'm out to maim you, Future Shock be damned, your dream match between me and Southern be damned...You...You're going to pay Miles...You took my career's one shining moment from me...And you're going to bleed, and suffer and pay...You want a nut case? You'll get one...But I PROMISE you...You're getting more then you want...I'm beating you within an inch of your life...And if that doesn't make me happy...I'm taking that inch...<Shakes head> You pay Miles...Ratings, jokes, tounge rings...None of it matters in that ring...In the ring, you'll bleed until you pass out...And I know it's wrong...But inside me...There really is a part of me, that really hopes you NEVER...Wake up...<FADEOUT>

 

[SouthernBoy]

Ask yourself that question.

{{...FADE-IN: Shane Southern is sitting on his Bourbon Street apartment balcony. He's leaning back on the back two legs of a folding chair, his feet on the railing. The NFW World Title is over his left shoulder. In his right hand is a half-empty Hurricane glass from Pat O'Brein's...}}

SHANE SOUTHERN: " Ya' know, I was just gonna' sit back n' let tha' two of you whynin' <BLEEP>holes ##### n' moan ta' each other 'till CRASH. But there's justa' few things I just gotta' say. "

" First of all, You're a <BLEEP>in' hipocrit Miles. For WEEKS, hell...MONTHS before tha' "Ricky Zane" incident I had people attackin' me from all angles, interferin' in my matches, attackin' me in the locker room, bashin' in my knees...WHAT THA' HELL did ya' do about that? Nothin'. 'Cause you said, time n' again that if ya' gotta' problem with somebody in tha' back...ya' take it up with them YERSELF. N' GOD KNOWS that I hate agreein' with Bloodhunt on somethin'...but Craig he's RIGHT. He may whine and moan and ##### and complain and throw tantrums about it over n' over again, but you DID screw him Miles. 'Hunt, in his own, shall we say, "unique" way, was handlin' his "problem". You chose ta' not allow him ta' do that on tha' account of YOU wanted an even playin' field. What a pitiful excuse. "

" If all ya' wanted ta' do was "push some buttons" on Bloodhunt, ya' sure triggered suthin' that's now WAY outta' control. YOU created tha' man ya' CLAIM yer tryin' ta' FIX Miles. Tha' attack on Sully was unfortunate n' Hunt has never been more of a pus<BLEEP> in my eyes. IF you're TRULY back ta' defend tha' HONOR of Sully, then I admire ya' for that Craig, but don't try n' fool tha' world inta' thinkin' that, n' "fixin'" 'Hunt are tha' ONLY reasons. Yer hear ta' defend yer OWN honor...yer hear ta' make sure ya' don't LOOSE yer "heat"...yer hear for that spotlight. N' if ya' wanna' talk about "heat" Craig that's fine. Ya' listen real close tha' next time I walk from behind that curtain. You LISTEN to tha' decibles ringin' in yer ears n' count yer money as it flows in. "

" That's right Craig. I'm normally not one to toot my own horn, but since YOU brought it up...Since EYE've been in Main Events for yer company, it hasn't been tossed from it's building, it hasn't been losing money...Party's Over merch has been FLYIN' off tha' shelves n' it's because THOSE PEOPLE up in tha' stands are HAPPY now. Since you left Craig, tha' NFW has taken OFF...n' now you wanna' peice of tha' action. "

" So you go ahead n' do what you gotta' do with Bloodhunt. I've said my peace about it. I hope ya' do turn him around. Make him tha' MAN he claims he once was. Then, when I pin his ASS at Future-shock, he'll have NO MORE EXCUSES. He'll have NOBODY left ta' blame, includin' you. N' then...for him, and hopefully for YOU TOO, tha' PARTY WILL BE OVER, for good. "

{{...FADE OUT...}}