NWL Underground: Stephen Waltz vs. Poseidon
- Thread starter AUMedina
- Start date
- Status
SCENE BEGINS
(Fade in from black... into the all too familiar setting of a well-furnished personal gymnasium, complete with the standard-sized wrestling ring which we see in the background. But at this moment, it appears as though the gym is closed for the night. The flourescent lights are off, casting the large room under a veil of shadows, a silence lingering with it. Clearly uninhabited.)
(Or is it? Along the wall in the back of the room, we see a trace of light... and we hear sporadic mutterings that can only be voices conversing in the distance. The camera begins to track into this source of life, weaving around various pieces of exercise and training equipment, honing in on this scene.)
(We find what appears to be a video splashed against the wall, which is being used as a makeshift screen. The hum of the nearby projector that displays this image explains the rest. In this video, we see footage of the previously aired Combat being played, right around the spot where Aodhan Lorigan, a.k.a. "Poseidon", is moments away from finishing his NWL debut with an impressive victory over Rapier.)
Voice #1
There... did you see that?
Voice #2
...yeah, not bad.
(On either side of the projector sits a man of an extravagant frame upon a folding chair, their backs facing the camera. That brief exchange of words was spawned by the observation made by the man seated on the left, where Lorigan makes a quick reversal, dropping out of Rapier's Cadaver, and quickly following through with his own Trident. The exuberant words of Emmanuel Gonzaga needn't be played with this footage to match the visual impact of this skillful turn-a-round. The man on the right makes a brief nod, obviously impressed.)
Voice #1
Landed right on his feet... tells you right away taht you gotta be careful around this guy at every moment. Even when you're about to put him away.
Voice #2
Duly noted, Terry.
(On the reel, Aodhan makes the final cover, gets the three count, and begins the celebration following the ringing of the bell. With that, the man on the left, wearing a brown leisure suit as far as we can tell in this dim lighting, nods, turns to the projector, and stops it. The light cast upon the wall fades to black as the machine shuts down, and for a moment, the shaded silhouettes of both men disappear into the shadows. After a moment of chair legs scraping against the tiled floors and a scuffling of feet, the bright flourescent lights of the gymnasium suddenly snap on, flickering in succession until the room is fully lit.)
(Where once two men sat, they now stand, their chairs pushed to the side as they flank the cooling projector. The man on the left, in the tan leisure suit, stands in a swanky posture, one hand in his pocket while the other holds the remote control the lights. He wears one of those $800 smiles that every great cheesy actor has one his reputation. He is none other than the 80's professional wrestling icon, Terry "The Idol" Anderson, now retired. On the other side, dressed a bit more casual in denim shorts and a Project 86 T-shirt, is professional wrestling's rookie sensation, and Anderson's own student... a man who bears the name Stephen Waltz, with both hands on his hips, standing tall with his chin up.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Well, wouldn't you know it? We're all ready to get this party started!
Stephen Waltz
It sure seems that way, Terry.
(SW clears his throat as he quickly collects his thoughts. The camera zooms in on him slightly, so that he stands waist-up in the frame.)
Stephen Waltz
You know... for the past few months, I've always been hoping to break out of the federation where I made my beginnings, so I could compete in other federations across the globe. Things didn't really work out in Empire Pro, but that's okay. I've now come to a place where the talent is better, the schedule is less demanding, and the management is MUCH more accomodating...
Here I am... in the National Wrestling League, hoping to repeat the success I've made in GWE. It seems like only yesterday when I was the new kid in town... a mere rook in a man's sport. But because of my determination and perserverence, I proved to those who doubted me that I could play the game as well as any veteran. I managed to adapt to the professional wrestling industry well, like a duck to water.
Some call me a professional wrestling prodigy... and while I can't really say anything about that, I do leave behind an impressive record. All because one man had faith in me from the very beginning... who trained me vigorously, and stood at my side every step of the way. That man is right here, Terry "The Idol" Anderson.
(He uses both arms to point to the man to his right. The camera pulls back, fitting both men into the frame again, where we see Terry posing glamoursly, his pearly white teeth beaming out of his ear-to-ear grin.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Ha ha... that's ME, baby! And in case you hadn't realized by now, the man standing here at my side is Stephen Waltz.
(Waltz nods, and with the salutations finalized, begins again.)
Stephen Waltz
I come into NWL with high expectations... in both myself, and the other talents. Of course, I doubt that feeling is mutual with the rest of the athletes on the current roster... but I feel that it's only a matter of time before I start turning heads.
I came into this sport with one simple motivation: proving myself. It was that very notion that got me as far as I am today. And now, on NWL's Underground, it's my job to prove myself yet again. Win or lose, I can promise right here and now that I won't leave that ring without impressing the vast majority of people watching.
This industry is all about first impressions... and at Underground, my debut, I plan on making an impression with such IMPACT, you'd think I whacked you in the head with a big rubber stamp bearing my name! Either way, "Stephen Waltz" will be on everybody's head following the show.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Yeah... and the first man to be given the honor of fighting you, is none other than Ay-Od-Han Lorigan!
Stephen Waltz
...no, Terry. His name is Aodhan Lorigan.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
...what?!
Stephen Waltz
Aodhan, Terry. It's pronounced Ai-Den.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
What the hell are you talking about, kid? Didn't you see it in writing? A-O-D-H-A-N... Ay-Od-HAN!!
Stephen Waltz
But that's wrong.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Oh, who the hell cares? What kind of name is "Aodhan" anyways?
Stephen Waltz
I don't know. The foreign kind?
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Psh... foreign, eh? Where does "Aodhen" hail from, then?
Stephen Waltz
Ankara.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Illinois?
Stephen Waltz
No... Turkey.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Oh... but hey, now that you mention it, that ain't a bad idea! I'm going to grab me a sammich. You got this handled kid?
Stephen Waltz
Yes, Terry... I've got it handled.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Cool. I'll be back in a few...
(Anderson waves a final time the camera as he steps out of the frame. The camera recenters on Waltz, and after he rolls his eyes, he continues.)
Stephen Waltz
Meh... I'm afraid you'll have to excuse my manager. He can be a bit brash at times.
...well, no, come to think of it, he's brash ALL the time. But he can be a really great guy when you come to know him. Nevermind that now...
(He runs a hand through his sleek dark brown hair, which hangs loosely down to his shoulders, and continues.)
Stephen Waltz
Back to what I was saying about "first impressions", Mr. Lorigan. Upon seeing you the first time, I saw a rather "tough" looking individual. Lots of piercings... lots of tattoos... crazy colored hair... the "grunge rock" look, so to speak. Not surprisingly, that same sort of hardcore appearance matches the kind of man inside. Tough, gritty, and potentially dangerous.
Honestly, I look forward to our match. I've yet to have an opponent like you, Mr. Lorigan. It'd be interesting to compete against a man of different personality and style when compared to some of my usual rivals.
I think I could get a good idea of what kind of first impression I'm making right now, as I speak... in your mind, Mr. Lorigan.
(He smiles, seemingly amused.)
Stephen Waltz
You're probably thinking, "Here's a kid who doesn't know his elbow from his ass, who thinks he's a little too big for his britches. Doesn't know a damn thing about wrestling, but still thinks he's better than me. This will be a total pushover..."
(He shrugs, still wearing that smile.)
Stephen Waltz
Actually, Lorigan... "Poseidon", or however you wish to be called... I'm not the kind of man who says he's better than his opponent. After all, I've only been wrestling for a little over a year, and I've only recently come to another federation to try my luck. I can't go around bragging that I'm more experienced or talented... cause it's quite obvious that I'm not.
But while you may see a youthful and seemingly naive figure standing before you now, I can assure you that something greater lurks deeper within, and when the time comes to compete in that ring, it'll be brought out in full force. You see, Lorigan... the way we're different is that while you have your piercings and tattoos and black t-shirts, all of which reflect the kind of man you are in and out of the ring, I'm unpredictable. The way I look and the manner I speak don't give you a good idea of how I'm going to compete in that ring. You'll just have to see it for yourself.
Don't underestimate me, Lorigan... that will be your biggest mistake in the time building up toward this match. I'm not your typical bottom feeder with high hopes and weak logic to help him go the extra step. Many men have been caught off guard by my presence in the ring. The expected something less than what I am... something that you MIGHT see based on this, my first appearance. And because of their narrow-mindedness, many have fallen to power.
I personally don't care whether I win or lose this match, as long as I make a tremendous showing in my debut match. But if you have any of hope of winning this match, Lorigan, then all I can say to you is... expect the unexpected. Expect something a hundred times greater than what reason could gather from a simple first glance.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Hey, kid!
(Stephen looks off camera for a moment as Terry returns, now holding a half eaten turkey sandwich on rye in his hand. He's halfway through another large bite as he begins speaking again.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
You about finished? I want to look at that match one more time...
Stephen Waltz
Sounds good, Terry. Let me wrap this up real quick.
(He looks back to the camera, his youthful face still holding its benevolent grace, but now sharply focused, no longer smiling, as though he is meaning to get the point across.)
Stephen Waltz
In closing, Mr. Lorigan... "Poseidon"... I eagerly look forward to competing against you in the ring. It's quite the honor to be fighting a man of your stature. But this is my debut... and, because this industry works off of first impressions, you can bet that my heart will be set on victory. Until we meet for the first time at Elk's Lodge, Mr. Lorigan, good night and good luck.
(With a final nod, Stephen turns from the camera, and goes back to the projector. Terry pulls out of his pocket and cues the lights to turn off as both men take their seats. The projector starts up again, replaying Aodhan Lorigan's match at Combat. From this, we fade into Walt'z SW-Cross logo.)
SCENE ENDS
(Fade in from black... into the all too familiar setting of a well-furnished personal gymnasium, complete with the standard-sized wrestling ring which we see in the background. But at this moment, it appears as though the gym is closed for the night. The flourescent lights are off, casting the large room under a veil of shadows, a silence lingering with it. Clearly uninhabited.)
(Or is it? Along the wall in the back of the room, we see a trace of light... and we hear sporadic mutterings that can only be voices conversing in the distance. The camera begins to track into this source of life, weaving around various pieces of exercise and training equipment, honing in on this scene.)
(We find what appears to be a video splashed against the wall, which is being used as a makeshift screen. The hum of the nearby projector that displays this image explains the rest. In this video, we see footage of the previously aired Combat being played, right around the spot where Aodhan Lorigan, a.k.a. "Poseidon", is moments away from finishing his NWL debut with an impressive victory over Rapier.)
Voice #1
There... did you see that?
Voice #2
...yeah, not bad.
(On either side of the projector sits a man of an extravagant frame upon a folding chair, their backs facing the camera. That brief exchange of words was spawned by the observation made by the man seated on the left, where Lorigan makes a quick reversal, dropping out of Rapier's Cadaver, and quickly following through with his own Trident. The exuberant words of Emmanuel Gonzaga needn't be played with this footage to match the visual impact of this skillful turn-a-round. The man on the right makes a brief nod, obviously impressed.)
Voice #1
Landed right on his feet... tells you right away taht you gotta be careful around this guy at every moment. Even when you're about to put him away.
Voice #2
Duly noted, Terry.
(On the reel, Aodhan makes the final cover, gets the three count, and begins the celebration following the ringing of the bell. With that, the man on the left, wearing a brown leisure suit as far as we can tell in this dim lighting, nods, turns to the projector, and stops it. The light cast upon the wall fades to black as the machine shuts down, and for a moment, the shaded silhouettes of both men disappear into the shadows. After a moment of chair legs scraping against the tiled floors and a scuffling of feet, the bright flourescent lights of the gymnasium suddenly snap on, flickering in succession until the room is fully lit.)
(Where once two men sat, they now stand, their chairs pushed to the side as they flank the cooling projector. The man on the left, in the tan leisure suit, stands in a swanky posture, one hand in his pocket while the other holds the remote control the lights. He wears one of those $800 smiles that every great cheesy actor has one his reputation. He is none other than the 80's professional wrestling icon, Terry "The Idol" Anderson, now retired. On the other side, dressed a bit more casual in denim shorts and a Project 86 T-shirt, is professional wrestling's rookie sensation, and Anderson's own student... a man who bears the name Stephen Waltz, with both hands on his hips, standing tall with his chin up.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Well, wouldn't you know it? We're all ready to get this party started!
Stephen Waltz
It sure seems that way, Terry.
(SW clears his throat as he quickly collects his thoughts. The camera zooms in on him slightly, so that he stands waist-up in the frame.)
Stephen Waltz
You know... for the past few months, I've always been hoping to break out of the federation where I made my beginnings, so I could compete in other federations across the globe. Things didn't really work out in Empire Pro, but that's okay. I've now come to a place where the talent is better, the schedule is less demanding, and the management is MUCH more accomodating...
Here I am... in the National Wrestling League, hoping to repeat the success I've made in GWE. It seems like only yesterday when I was the new kid in town... a mere rook in a man's sport. But because of my determination and perserverence, I proved to those who doubted me that I could play the game as well as any veteran. I managed to adapt to the professional wrestling industry well, like a duck to water.
Some call me a professional wrestling prodigy... and while I can't really say anything about that, I do leave behind an impressive record. All because one man had faith in me from the very beginning... who trained me vigorously, and stood at my side every step of the way. That man is right here, Terry "The Idol" Anderson.
(He uses both arms to point to the man to his right. The camera pulls back, fitting both men into the frame again, where we see Terry posing glamoursly, his pearly white teeth beaming out of his ear-to-ear grin.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Ha ha... that's ME, baby! And in case you hadn't realized by now, the man standing here at my side is Stephen Waltz.
(Waltz nods, and with the salutations finalized, begins again.)
Stephen Waltz
I come into NWL with high expectations... in both myself, and the other talents. Of course, I doubt that feeling is mutual with the rest of the athletes on the current roster... but I feel that it's only a matter of time before I start turning heads.
I came into this sport with one simple motivation: proving myself. It was that very notion that got me as far as I am today. And now, on NWL's Underground, it's my job to prove myself yet again. Win or lose, I can promise right here and now that I won't leave that ring without impressing the vast majority of people watching.
This industry is all about first impressions... and at Underground, my debut, I plan on making an impression with such IMPACT, you'd think I whacked you in the head with a big rubber stamp bearing my name! Either way, "Stephen Waltz" will be on everybody's head following the show.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Yeah... and the first man to be given the honor of fighting you, is none other than Ay-Od-Han Lorigan!
Stephen Waltz
...no, Terry. His name is Aodhan Lorigan.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
...what?!
Stephen Waltz
Aodhan, Terry. It's pronounced Ai-Den.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
What the hell are you talking about, kid? Didn't you see it in writing? A-O-D-H-A-N... Ay-Od-HAN!!
Stephen Waltz
But that's wrong.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Oh, who the hell cares? What kind of name is "Aodhan" anyways?
Stephen Waltz
I don't know. The foreign kind?
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Psh... foreign, eh? Where does "Aodhen" hail from, then?
Stephen Waltz
Ankara.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Illinois?
Stephen Waltz
No... Turkey.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Oh... but hey, now that you mention it, that ain't a bad idea! I'm going to grab me a sammich. You got this handled kid?
Stephen Waltz
Yes, Terry... I've got it handled.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Cool. I'll be back in a few...
(Anderson waves a final time the camera as he steps out of the frame. The camera recenters on Waltz, and after he rolls his eyes, he continues.)
Stephen Waltz
Meh... I'm afraid you'll have to excuse my manager. He can be a bit brash at times.
...well, no, come to think of it, he's brash ALL the time. But he can be a really great guy when you come to know him. Nevermind that now...
(He runs a hand through his sleek dark brown hair, which hangs loosely down to his shoulders, and continues.)
Stephen Waltz
Back to what I was saying about "first impressions", Mr. Lorigan. Upon seeing you the first time, I saw a rather "tough" looking individual. Lots of piercings... lots of tattoos... crazy colored hair... the "grunge rock" look, so to speak. Not surprisingly, that same sort of hardcore appearance matches the kind of man inside. Tough, gritty, and potentially dangerous.
Honestly, I look forward to our match. I've yet to have an opponent like you, Mr. Lorigan. It'd be interesting to compete against a man of different personality and style when compared to some of my usual rivals.
I think I could get a good idea of what kind of first impression I'm making right now, as I speak... in your mind, Mr. Lorigan.
(He smiles, seemingly amused.)
Stephen Waltz
You're probably thinking, "Here's a kid who doesn't know his elbow from his ass, who thinks he's a little too big for his britches. Doesn't know a damn thing about wrestling, but still thinks he's better than me. This will be a total pushover..."
(He shrugs, still wearing that smile.)
Stephen Waltz
Actually, Lorigan... "Poseidon", or however you wish to be called... I'm not the kind of man who says he's better than his opponent. After all, I've only been wrestling for a little over a year, and I've only recently come to another federation to try my luck. I can't go around bragging that I'm more experienced or talented... cause it's quite obvious that I'm not.
But while you may see a youthful and seemingly naive figure standing before you now, I can assure you that something greater lurks deeper within, and when the time comes to compete in that ring, it'll be brought out in full force. You see, Lorigan... the way we're different is that while you have your piercings and tattoos and black t-shirts, all of which reflect the kind of man you are in and out of the ring, I'm unpredictable. The way I look and the manner I speak don't give you a good idea of how I'm going to compete in that ring. You'll just have to see it for yourself.
Don't underestimate me, Lorigan... that will be your biggest mistake in the time building up toward this match. I'm not your typical bottom feeder with high hopes and weak logic to help him go the extra step. Many men have been caught off guard by my presence in the ring. The expected something less than what I am... something that you MIGHT see based on this, my first appearance. And because of their narrow-mindedness, many have fallen to power.
I personally don't care whether I win or lose this match, as long as I make a tremendous showing in my debut match. But if you have any of hope of winning this match, Lorigan, then all I can say to you is... expect the unexpected. Expect something a hundred times greater than what reason could gather from a simple first glance.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Hey, kid!
(Stephen looks off camera for a moment as Terry returns, now holding a half eaten turkey sandwich on rye in his hand. He's halfway through another large bite as he begins speaking again.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
You about finished? I want to look at that match one more time...
Stephen Waltz
Sounds good, Terry. Let me wrap this up real quick.
(He looks back to the camera, his youthful face still holding its benevolent grace, but now sharply focused, no longer smiling, as though he is meaning to get the point across.)
Stephen Waltz
In closing, Mr. Lorigan... "Poseidon"... I eagerly look forward to competing against you in the ring. It's quite the honor to be fighting a man of your stature. But this is my debut... and, because this industry works off of first impressions, you can bet that my heart will be set on victory. Until we meet for the first time at Elk's Lodge, Mr. Lorigan, good night and good luck.
(With a final nod, Stephen turns from the camera, and goes back to the projector. Terry pulls out of his pocket and cues the lights to turn off as both men take their seats. The projector starts up again, replaying Aodhan Lorigan's match at Combat. From this, we fade into Walt'z SW-Cross logo.)
SCENE ENDS
SCENE BEGINS
(A little past noon on a rainy day in New York City, a black Lincoln LS pulls up in front of the Javitz Center, where preparations for the upcoming NWL Combat are still underway. The passenger side door opens, and the federation newcomer, Stephen Waltz, steps out onto the curve, wearing a navy blue windbreaker bearing the insignia of his hometown highschool football team, the Kokomo Wildcats, and simple jeans. The camera tracks in closer upon the car as he turns and leans back into the car for a moment to speak to the man behind the wheel, who happens to be his manager, Terry "The Idol" Anderson.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Now do like I said... check the place out, and be sure to find our room.
Stephen Waltz
I don't think they'll be giving us a private room, Terry... we're not even booked on the show. We're merely paying fans for this event.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Bah... well, we can still get backstage, right? We ARE hired talents, after all.
(Waltz holds up a laminated card, held by a laniard around his neck, bearing the NWL Combat logo. Anderson sees this and nods.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Yeah, that'll do. Anyways, grab our tickets, see if you can have a few words with Medina, and I'll pick you up in about a half an hours.
Stephen Waltz
Where will you be?
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Saw a nice looking diner about half a block behind us on our way here. I think I'll swing back that way and grab a burger.
Stephen Waltz
But Terry, you HATE diners.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Yeah, but the waitress I saw working there had a nice rack, know what I mean?
(Waltz puts on his handsome half-smile and nods.)
Stephen Waltz
Have fun, Terry.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Right. Half an hour, kid. Remember.
Stephen Waltz
Got it.
(With that, Waltz closes the passenger side door and steps away from the street as the vehicle pulls away, does a U-turn, and heads back up the road. Stephen looks after it for a moment, then up to the sky as the soft rain falls in heavier amounts. He looks to the camera and flashes that usual half-smile of his.)
Stephen Waltz
Well... we better get out of this rain.
(The camera follows him through the main entrance of the building and into the front lobby, where many other people, press, agents, and scouts alike are present, either drying themselves off or waiting for the rain to let up before they step outside. Waltz promptly walks over to the ticket booth, where a pretty blonde girl sits behind a pane of perforated glass.)
Stephen Waltz
Hello. I'm here to pick up a few tickets on reserve. Should be under the name of Waltz.
Ticket Salesperson
Uh, hold on... let me check.
(She looks into a drawer on the other side of a counter for a moment... sifts through a filed stack of envelopes... and eventually withdraws one near the bottom.)
Ticket Salesperson
Here we are.
(She slides it through the opening beneath the glass, where we see that it's labelled "Waltz, Stephen A.", next to a star drawn in red ink.)
Ticket Salesperson
No charge.
Stephen Waltz
Cool.
(With a nod and a smile, Stephen turns away and looks over the room for a moment, at the various people who have gathered. Combat wouldn't air until tomorrow, but already it seemed as though the place was alive and full of energy.)
Stephen Waltz
I can't believe... I'm going to be front and center at NWL's Combat, to get a look at my fellow competitors up close and personal, from the fan's perspective. I really can't wait, because there's a lot of talents I'm interested in seeing... including my own opponent at the first airing of NWL's Underground, Aodhan Lorigan.
Unfortunately, Mr. Lorigan couldn't find an opportunity to show his face on the airwaves this past week. I'm disappointed, cause I was really eager to hear what he had to say about me. But I won't hold it against him, as I understand he must have been busy preparing for this match...
And even so...
(He slowly turns to the camera, his eyes deviously narrowed.)
Stephen Waltz
I can't help but think that maybe he's been IGNORING me all this time. Is that really the case? I can't say for certain, but if it is... then I'm truly dismayed...
...because I hate having to squash the other guy.
I'm coming into this match with the hopes that my opponent will know exactly what he's up against. I want a good match against a prepared opponent... and if he doesn't feel he needs to make the effort to cut a decent promo building up to this match, then all that says to me is that he doesn't CARE enough to win.
That sort of attitude--which will assuredly lead to a disappointing performance--doesn't help me improve as an athlete. In many ways, having that sort of an opponent is a waste of my time.
(He shrugs, then shakes his head.)
Stephen Waltz
But hey, who knows? Maybe Mr. Lorigan will surprise me at Underground.
On the other hand, because he's decided not to speak to me before this match, I think that when we DO meet for the first time, face to face in that ring, I'll give him a performance to remember. I'll be sure that when I'm finished, and I leave him there in the ring, he will never forget the name of "Stephen Waltz" for as long as he has a career in NWL.
(He looks around for a moment, noting a doorway leading to the offices where a security guard stands.)
Stephen Waltz
Anyways, I have a few things to take care of, so I'm afraid I must leave you now, without having said much.
Aodhan... if you're listening, then good luck tomorrow, at Combat. I'll be watching your match very closely. I advise you make it your purpose to impress the hell out of me.
Otherwise... you won't have a hope in hell come Underground.
(With that, he turns from the camera, going to the guarded doorway. He flashes the uniformed man his laminated pass, who lets him walk by unharrassed. As he disappears into another hallway, we fade to black.)
SCENE ENDS
(A little past noon on a rainy day in New York City, a black Lincoln LS pulls up in front of the Javitz Center, where preparations for the upcoming NWL Combat are still underway. The passenger side door opens, and the federation newcomer, Stephen Waltz, steps out onto the curve, wearing a navy blue windbreaker bearing the insignia of his hometown highschool football team, the Kokomo Wildcats, and simple jeans. The camera tracks in closer upon the car as he turns and leans back into the car for a moment to speak to the man behind the wheel, who happens to be his manager, Terry "The Idol" Anderson.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Now do like I said... check the place out, and be sure to find our room.
Stephen Waltz
I don't think they'll be giving us a private room, Terry... we're not even booked on the show. We're merely paying fans for this event.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Bah... well, we can still get backstage, right? We ARE hired talents, after all.
(Waltz holds up a laminated card, held by a laniard around his neck, bearing the NWL Combat logo. Anderson sees this and nods.)
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Yeah, that'll do. Anyways, grab our tickets, see if you can have a few words with Medina, and I'll pick you up in about a half an hours.
Stephen Waltz
Where will you be?
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Saw a nice looking diner about half a block behind us on our way here. I think I'll swing back that way and grab a burger.
Stephen Waltz
But Terry, you HATE diners.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Yeah, but the waitress I saw working there had a nice rack, know what I mean?
(Waltz puts on his handsome half-smile and nods.)
Stephen Waltz
Have fun, Terry.
Terry "The Idol" Anderson
Right. Half an hour, kid. Remember.
Stephen Waltz
Got it.
(With that, Waltz closes the passenger side door and steps away from the street as the vehicle pulls away, does a U-turn, and heads back up the road. Stephen looks after it for a moment, then up to the sky as the soft rain falls in heavier amounts. He looks to the camera and flashes that usual half-smile of his.)
Stephen Waltz
Well... we better get out of this rain.
(The camera follows him through the main entrance of the building and into the front lobby, where many other people, press, agents, and scouts alike are present, either drying themselves off or waiting for the rain to let up before they step outside. Waltz promptly walks over to the ticket booth, where a pretty blonde girl sits behind a pane of perforated glass.)
Stephen Waltz
Hello. I'm here to pick up a few tickets on reserve. Should be under the name of Waltz.
Ticket Salesperson
Uh, hold on... let me check.
(She looks into a drawer on the other side of a counter for a moment... sifts through a filed stack of envelopes... and eventually withdraws one near the bottom.)
Ticket Salesperson
Here we are.
(She slides it through the opening beneath the glass, where we see that it's labelled "Waltz, Stephen A.", next to a star drawn in red ink.)
Ticket Salesperson
No charge.
Stephen Waltz
Cool.
(With a nod and a smile, Stephen turns away and looks over the room for a moment, at the various people who have gathered. Combat wouldn't air until tomorrow, but already it seemed as though the place was alive and full of energy.)
Stephen Waltz
I can't believe... I'm going to be front and center at NWL's Combat, to get a look at my fellow competitors up close and personal, from the fan's perspective. I really can't wait, because there's a lot of talents I'm interested in seeing... including my own opponent at the first airing of NWL's Underground, Aodhan Lorigan.
Unfortunately, Mr. Lorigan couldn't find an opportunity to show his face on the airwaves this past week. I'm disappointed, cause I was really eager to hear what he had to say about me. But I won't hold it against him, as I understand he must have been busy preparing for this match...
And even so...
(He slowly turns to the camera, his eyes deviously narrowed.)
Stephen Waltz
I can't help but think that maybe he's been IGNORING me all this time. Is that really the case? I can't say for certain, but if it is... then I'm truly dismayed...
...because I hate having to squash the other guy.
I'm coming into this match with the hopes that my opponent will know exactly what he's up against. I want a good match against a prepared opponent... and if he doesn't feel he needs to make the effort to cut a decent promo building up to this match, then all that says to me is that he doesn't CARE enough to win.
That sort of attitude--which will assuredly lead to a disappointing performance--doesn't help me improve as an athlete. In many ways, having that sort of an opponent is a waste of my time.
(He shrugs, then shakes his head.)
Stephen Waltz
But hey, who knows? Maybe Mr. Lorigan will surprise me at Underground.
On the other hand, because he's decided not to speak to me before this match, I think that when we DO meet for the first time, face to face in that ring, I'll give him a performance to remember. I'll be sure that when I'm finished, and I leave him there in the ring, he will never forget the name of "Stephen Waltz" for as long as he has a career in NWL.
(He looks around for a moment, noting a doorway leading to the offices where a security guard stands.)
Stephen Waltz
Anyways, I have a few things to take care of, so I'm afraid I must leave you now, without having said much.
Aodhan... if you're listening, then good luck tomorrow, at Combat. I'll be watching your match very closely. I advise you make it your purpose to impress the hell out of me.
Otherwise... you won't have a hope in hell come Underground.
(With that, he turns from the camera, going to the guarded doorway. He flashes the uniformed man his laminated pass, who lets him walk by unharrassed. As he disappears into another hallway, we fade to black.)
SCENE ENDS
- Status