This is why one should stay away from Detroit!
[updated:LAST EDITED ON Aug-08-03 AT 07:31 PM (EST)]Fade in: to a plain looking apartment. White walls with a beige paint imprint pattern covering it....a couple black vinyl couches surrounding an entertainment center....a mini-bar. Okay, a bit more than plain. But nevertheless, it is where we find Larry Tact, who sits on one of the couches with a cocktail in hand, and a little umrella in the glass. Tact just sits with a big ol' smirk on his face as he looks straight ahead in khakis, blac boots, and a royal blue t-shirt with "Simply Tactilizing" written in a golden cursive. After this opening silence, Tact leans forward and places his glass on the table, after taking a sip, and leans back on the couch, his arms spread across the back of the couch as he lets out a small sigh. His expression has changed, though, from smirking to looking more deadpanned.
Tact: Jarod, oh Jarod....why have you forsaken the GLCW? Has it been tough for you, Jarod...? Knowing that you'll be facing me twice in two cards, very soon? Is it disgusting to think? A waste of time? Well, Jarod, you're such a tough guy, right? I'll tell you again, just like last week...go grow a set, tough guy, and stop the moaning about the circumstances you're in. You sound like....well, a sissy.
Tact leans forward, his look more malevolent as he grins.
Tact: Oh! Should I have not said that...? Have a slandered the name of Jarod Poe? What a horrible act! I'm sure I'll be in for it now, oh yeah....you're really going to give it to me now. It won't just be the "Fading Light"...oh no, maybe it'll be the "Sudden Impact" too! (feigns fright) I'm just in DEEP s*** now, aren't I....I just shouldn't bother to show up. After all, what do I have to go there for? Poe said I couldn't improve the wrestling product....he said I wasn't going to make any progress in my goals...he said I wasn't going to hurt him, even! He's like....invincible! He's JAROD FREAKIN' POE! HOLY CRAP! What have I done?! How could I make him, JAROD POE, out to be NOTHING SHORT OF....beatable. AND...flawed. And worst of all....something resembling....human! Ohh no, oh no oh no oh no......
Tact procedes to mutter this repeated to himself, looking down to the floor.
Tact: I should NEVER have disagreed with him...I should have just gone along with everything he said....I should have known he was right....maybe I should go retire, cuz he said so and insulted my TEE SHIRT!
(Tact looks up with a blatant mock horrified look, his mouth opening in an exaggerated-type of slow manner, and his eyes unnecessarily wide open, bulging out of his head.)
Tact: That's GOTTA mean something....after all....I'm all about the t-shirt sales...it's not anything to do with wrestling....after all, Jarod said I was never going to change the facts. Which means.....
Tact gasps, but then looks calm again, suddenly.
Tact: That Jarod Poe will never admit to anything that portrays himself in a bad way. Jarod Poe will not think anyone is more certain of their direction than he. Jarod will not admit flaw. And most importantly....Jarod Poe....will NEVER....see it all come crumbling down for him. Not before it has already begun.
A slight, lopsided grin forms along Tact's lips before he continues, leaning forward, forearms on knees.
Tact: And THAT is something that even the Cannonball Kidd may never be able to help with. Quite simply because...it is not the Kidd's job to lift people up and take them over their obstacles. It is not for Cannonball Kidd to walk people through their every demon and bad dream, alike. It is not for the CANNONBALL KIDD, Jarod Poe, to just lay out the weakness that he sees in you. What help does that provide you? And what satisfaction would there be for the Kidd to gain, from literally giving the answers away to you? Tell me, Jarod, cuz even I'M interested to know how Cannonball Kidd identifying your weakness is going to do anything to help you remedy it? Don't you know, Poe....identifying and accepting the problem -- or in your case, problems -- is something you have to do, if you want to overcome them. Cannonball Kidd isn't going to make it all better for you, sorry....he's not pretending to be some diety, like you. He's not claiming to be invincible, or God, and neither am I. But what we are....is just plain better, Jarod.
Tact takes up his cocktail and sips some more, then returns it to its place on the table in front of him and leans back on the couch.
Tact: Of course, being the better man, Cannonball Kidd does want to help you, Jarod. But first, he wants you to help yourself. Jeez, haven't you been listening AT ALL? Then again...forgot who I'm talking to. No matter to me, though. Because while the Kidd wants you to identify your problems...I really could care less. Hell, I'll give you one of your problems. It's....ME, Jarod. Larry Tact. And while I may only be a problem of temporary lasting, my effects can certainly be long-term. Because for the past few weeks, Jarod, you have given the same tiring schpiel for everyone to hear. The fans, ME, and most notably...Scott Malec. Yeah, he's been watching this little series of ours rather closely. And I must say, I think this is as bad a time as any for you to be saying that you're half-***ing it. Which is, essentially, what your mannerisms and words have expressed. You've talking mostly about how pointless it is to face me yet again, citing our previous two matches. If it hasn't been that, you've been talking about how you're bored, too tough for me, or making general conceited comments. And, of course, the usual slandering of me. So I thought turnabout would be fair play, and I'd start this appearance with a display of just what you're coming off as, Poe. Only, with the roles reversed, as it were. I'm not into the whole midget-as-insults campaign...nor the impersonators-as-insult deal. Just isn't my style....(shrugs) Cuz I'm just about the, yep, cold truth, Poe. And it smacked you so hard the past couple times, you've been trying it on for size, yourself. Unfortunately, it just isn't that easy, and you're making yourself look even more ridiculous, by trying to pass your slandering as truth. But I appreciate that you admit I provide honesty and facts to the audience, unlike you. And if you want to go making fun of what I do, that's fine. But there's a difference between making mistakes relating to just me, and....
Tact pauses... and slowly, his eyes narrow a bit. He leans forward once more, hands clasped now, and seemingly clenched to each other, as he speaks with a savage expression and a bubbling, though still evened, tone.
Tact: ....and making mistakes...referring to what I say about others. Like how you made my comments towards Nemesis out to be attacks. You know, Jarod, although I'm going to take great satisfaction in doing whatever I deem necessary to beat you...twice...in a row....I can't help but grow tired of your repetitive rambling. And while I'll admit, there are times when I am qute repetitive myself, at least when I say something more than once...it has purpose. It's a guideline. But with you, it's just trying to scrounge up something more to say. It's trying to cover...for lack of attentiveness. For an inability to make an effort to really know your opponents. And if you had even a slight idea of Larry Tact, or listened to my statements to Nemesis, without the intent of making him feel as insignificant as I make YOU feel...then maybe I'd consider that you did earn a victory over me because of something other than a fluke. Maybe I'd say that wrestling to a draw with you, in our first meeting, was something memorable. But instead, you go and do these stupid things! You want Nemesis to trust you? Well you shouldn't have tried turning his rival's remarks to something completely negative the first chance you got. The first chance you actually managed to hear something of what I said to him, that is. And yeah, you heard me right....I didn't say 'his mortal enemy,' or 'his hated rival.' I just said his rival. Nemesis and I aren't enemies, Poe. We're rivals. We have a certain degree of RESPECT for each other. And while I will always look to be superior, I can admit to teh facts, as well. I can admit that I have yet to disgust Nemesis for beating me. Dislike, yeah, maybe, but I can admit he was the better wrestler on the nights he beat me, because he outperformed me. Now, I can also admit that you were the better man on the night you pinned me. But it wasn't because you outperformed me, Poe. And that fact is enough to drive me towards retribution. I won't look to Nemesis for retribution, you see....I just look for a new challenge, the next time I face him. Cuz HE...is tough. But with you, I seek retribution because Jarod Poe, after the matches we've had here, I can honestly say that...(with a sneer)...you really do DISGUST me!
Tact breaths heavily, but remains stone faced, and his voice returns to a dangerously calm tone.
Tact: Whether you think I'm trying to intimidate, cheap shot, insult, or in any way inflict something upon you, Poe, I really couldn't care less. Quite frankly, I'm sick and tired of hearing you talk about one night of wrestling between us like it was a match to close the doors on our personal score with one another. And that is most certainly what it has become, you are right. It is a score to be settled. But not with any one match, Jarod. I don't even see an end to this. Because retribution can be gained over and over...and over again. There are things aside from marks on a record to gain retribution for. Like you being so conceited that it blinds you. There's a weakness if I ever saw one, not that you would pick up on it, Poe. That would contradict the meaning of it, after all. And to top it off, you're a conveyor belt of one-liners and rehashed 'done befores.' You know who you remind me of? Jean Rabesque. The king of conceit...and in addition, another person who cannot admit they lost at their own game. You, of course, almost top Rabesque in that category, because you are a man of many styles, aren't you Poe....yeah. Like I said, you want to cover any flaw, no matter how glaring or miniscule it might be, and to do that you'll go to great lengths....GREAT lengths....much like Rabesque. And don't give me some cock-eyed bull**** about how I'm in denial about losing to you. I lost, I know it, and I'm way past that by now. I wasn't intending on even bringing it onto the table, so to speak. But you just don't have anything better to say, do you? Instead of trying to analyze, you try to demoralize. You try to 'get under my skin.' But what good does it do? Even if I admit I hate you above all, Jarod Poe, what does it do? You're already reckless, and I'm not. So I already have a foot up there, already, and who's to say I can't control my emotions? You? I'd be hard-pressed to believe a conceited man with an enormous chip on his shoulder, despite having lost, over a man who practices what he preaches...meaning I humble, yet I am humble. To those who deserve it. But can you make such a comparison, Jarod? Of course not. It'd make a scratch on that shiny armor of false conviction you've suited yourself up in, wouldn't it.....
Tact takes his drink in hand once more, and downs the little bit remaining, then stands up and starts speaking in a mock voice of Jarod Poe.
Tact: 'But Larry, it is YOU who is full of false conviction! It is YOU who is not accepting! It is I who am tough! ToughEST! Certainly moreso than you.' (returns voice to his own typical, deep tone) Just can that, if it's coming. You might as well replay your last two appearances, Poe, if you're planning on feeding us all that bit again. Face facts...when you lost the Television Title, you lost some of that 'tough' image of yours. Cuz it was only half there to begin with, Jarod. The tattooes, the piercings, the forked tongue...in short, the general physical damage you willingly do to yourself...outside the ring? It's no more painful than what you experience inside the ring, Jarod. And not to burst your fat bubble head, but...we ALL go through that pain. In one way or another, we've all gone through some pretty harsh pain. In the ring, we make sacrifices out of our bodies, and we give ourselves to wrestling. It's like a freaking credo by now, isn't it? You used to preach some of it pretty vocally yourself. (shakes head disparagingly) But not anymore....now you've become full of yourself, and think you're the one making great sacrifice...but it all ties together, doesn't it? No? Well, at Wired, I'll be there to gain great satisfaction in showing you, Jarod. I'll be there to present your problems to you, rather than wait for you to identify them. Cuz while the Kidd has a good approach...I think we can mesh enough to get some gratuitous thrashing of your sorry carcass in as well. And who knows? Maybe you'll improve some, too. But I won't get my hopes up, since it's not like you're about to accept all this, coming from me. But I'll be happy to play off your denial, so that after I tally a plus on my score with you at Riptide, I can tally one more positive mark, at Wired.
Tact turns and walks up the steps to the mini-bar. Fade out.