Apology Considered
[updated:LAST EDITED ON Feb-05-03 AT 01:42 PM (EST)]FADE IN...
(Wood floor in a wicker pattern. Unstained, just with a smooth, clear varnish. The camera zooms out, getting a view of most of the floor, the coffee table, the red leather sofa with wood fixtures, and the two end tables. The coffee table, decked out with a newspaper, a few random magazines, and a bowl of Hershey's miniature candy. The table is wooden with a polished glass surface. The end tables are designed similarly with glass and wood. Each has a set of three coasters, one has a box of tissues and the other a deck of cards. The table with the cards also has the leather-bound book, and a glass of ice water.
The camera pans around the room, and directly across from the sofa is a large, marble fireplace. With of course, a small fire, but mostly just glowing red embers. Atop the mantle are some photos of various nouns; people, places, things. Unfortunately, all are too far off to make any sure-identifications. Beside the sofa, off to the right, beyond the end table is a large sliding glass door. Beyond the glass door, the patio, and just beyond that, the white outdoors.
The camera takes a few moments to pan the landscape outside. Much of the same, snowy wilderness and lake... but in a thaw, and sparkling as it begins to melt away. The winter beginning to peel away for spring. Another gorgeous day, with only a few white clouds in the sky, visible over the cliffs of the far off edge of the lake. The camera returns to the room, and settles towards the red leather couch, positioned toward the cushion nearest the cards, the book, and the glass.
Into the shot walks our hero, dressed in dark gray slacks rolled up just below the knee, barefoot, and an untucked, white-buttoned shirt. The top two buttons left alone, the silver chain is once again seen... but any pendant on it is hidden beneath the man's clothing. The sleeves of his shirt, too are rolled up, just below his elbows. He seems very relaxed and comfortable... and his face adds to that.
His expression is one of humor. The smirk on his face has widened to a half-smile, and his brow is smooth with calm. His eyes are dark in color but bright in brilliance, and his overall composure is one of cool and collected. He eyes the camera, takes a sip of his beverage, and sits back in the sofa. He begins...)
NEMESIS: Heh heh... Kidd... you've certainly amused me, if nothing else. Fortunately, there are a few other things you've elicited out of me as well. You're entire presence is a bit incredulous... but to each his own. Nice goggles, by the way.
I appreciate your acceptance of a good match. One will surely be made at Riptide, and we will both be to thank for it. Good luck, train up, and rest on... because you are going to need it.
Sadly, you could not heed my last request, to leave my well-being, well enough alone. now, I am not understanding what is about me that everyone feels the need to go on a Crusade in attempts to help me out. Kidd, you're not the first one to try and offer me advice, not by any means. Your entire persona towards me has been played out more than any well-worn catchphrases. I've heard it all... everyone else always has the answers for me... specifically when I make it clear I have no questions for anyone. You're right... I never did claim self-actualization. I never claimed to be seeking out such a thing. In fact, I admitted my problems right out... I did not hide them or attempt to conceal them through my words. Eloquence and intelligence are not used to mask who I am. They just are parts of me that come out every once and a while, and certainly one with a similar grasp of words like "amicably," "defeatist," and "exude" can understand the lack of denial and secrets that come out of natural speech.
(Our hero sits up, and plants his feet firmly on the hardwood floor. he eyes the camera intently, and his humorous disposition vanishes.)
NEMESIS :So many competitors claim to know so much about me. And so often they are so clueless, diluting themselves with false statements of knowledge to boost their egos. Confidence is one thing, Kidd... Blind assumptions are something else. Making conclusions about who I am and what I need from a five-minute promo is ludicrous. Being so confident in your conclusions is insanity.
The Simple Truths
The simple truth, Kidd, is that I made it very clear I was dealing with my "issues" in my own way. You may think I live a lie... but you don't know me much at all... so how can you begin to presume such things? Surely, self-actualization cannot be given away to someone... it must be sought out. If you could provide someone else actualization, then it wouldn't be "self" anything. Realizing my potential is something that I must do, should I choose to do so. You don't know much about me at all, it seems...
Now, while we both may indeed be new to the GLCW, I am not new to the wrestling scene. I've been all over the world, in countless matches in countless federations. My history, in the business, is no mystery. It's no hidden secret either. For one claiming to know so much about me, you haven't done much homework. You could ask the majority of workers in this company who I am, and where I've been. They see me now, and realize something that you have yet to realize. They do not make such calculated assumptions, because they know who I am. And who I was.
(He sits even closer, now more to the edge of his seat. trying to get as close to the camera as possible. He takes another gulp of the water and clears his throat. He looks directly into the camera like a man in staredown. His eyes don't blink throughout the rest of his dissertation, and his eyes never leave the lens. The brilliance, still remains... his glare as intense as ever.)
NEMESIS: Not only did I never claim to be self-actualized, I let it be known I was in a process of re-assessment, reflection, and rebuilding my life. Now, I never said your program didn't or couldn’t' work. Never put down your mission as a man with a message, never said a word about your practices. I did say I was having success with my own beliefs, my own practices. And as the old saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." My methods are going along fine, at a pace I enjoy and can deal with. I appreciate your offering help, regardless of the blind way you went about making your diagnosis... as having people concerned about another's well being is hard to come by in this business.
Thanks for Playing
Unfortunately for you, I get the unsettling feeling that your walking, talking, sideshow infomercial spectacular is merely a poorly made attempt at getting inside the head of your competitors. Make them question themselves, and allow you to squeeze yourself beside their psyche. Mind games are key in this business... and psychology is everything. But Mr. Kidd... your attempts are hollow and fail... this is coming from one who knows.
Your attempts at reading my mind are shotty. Your conclusions, even more so. Had you done your homework, you could easily see my progress from a considerably "less than" self-actualized person... to the stable and aspiring man you see before you. No games, no hidden tricks, no mirrors.... this is who I am. Good luck at Riptide, Mr. Kidd... and let's hope the match is something more worthwhile than your petty attempts at psychoanalysis.
(Our hero gets up from his seat, finishes what's left of the water, and walks off. The camera once again pans to the scene outside, as the shot fades...)
FADE OUT.