[updated:LAST EDITED ON Aug-06-03 AT 12:27 PM (EST)]10:20 PM
Silver Cross Field
Joliet, Illinois
Fade in.
&l;Yuji Yamashita is seated in the lobby as a river of people flood through the doors, adding to the growing ocean of those already inside. Everyone is buzzing about in the familiar swarm that comes before any big event. Many of the security, officials, and wrestlers alike seem to be extremely busy and stressed out, but none of this shows on Yuji's face. The only recognition he gives to any of it is a short moment to turn and stare over at the mass of swirling bodies and humming voices to his right.&r;
YAMASHITA: "Hmmm. So much to do, so little time to do it."
&l;Yuji turns back around and takes a large swig of the Mountain Dew sitting at the table in front of him. He leans back in his armless metal folding chair, holding the Mountain Dew in hand. Yamashita is bedecked in a black GNARKILL t-shirt, black, slightly baggy Spalding athletic pants, and black Vans shoes. A black watch adorns his left wrist, which Yamashita casts a quick glance at before setting his soda down on the table and returning to his relaxed position.&r;
YAMASHITA: "After a few days, I decided to finally get out of that cramped motel room and come down here to the Field to see what's up. I didn't think it'd be this busy, but I was told it'd be a good idea to sit and wait for a camera man in case I wanted to make a bit of a personal appearance for all the adoring fans out there in TV land. Well, it just so turns out that I do."
&l;Yuji chuckles darkly.&r;
YAMASHITA: "After I was asked by readers of a magazine I was giving an interview for to talk about my past, Scotty Sanders took it upon himself to do the same. Then he turned around and got a phone call from a loved one encouraging him to hang it up. Your past was quite interesting, really. It seems I'm not alone in having something taken from me. Unfortunately, I see this far too often. The one thing I dislike about speaking of my injury is that my opponent's always try to compare or outdo me. They sit down and waste time with some sob story about how their parents died in a plane crash and they were stranded on an island with their brotehrs and sisters for 25 years before their siblings were eaten by natives in front of their eyes and it traumatized them for life."
&l;Yamashita makes a vexed noise with his tongue.&r;
YAMASHITA: "Excuses. People tend to blame their upbringing on their situation when, in fact, much of their situation is their fault, themselves. If you go through a traumatic experience as a child, it's understandable that you need help, but you're not the only one with problems. People get used to the support from others. They'll grow up leaning on someone else and, when it's time to move on with their lives, they never manage to let go. During this time, they start doing things, stupid things, and blaming their upbringing on it. Going through hell when you were a kid is no excuse for stupidity."
&l;Yamashita gulps down some more of his soft drink, but doesn't put it down this time.&r;
YAMASHITA: "How does all of this relate to Scotty Sanders, you ask? Well, it's really quite simple. The problem with comparing and outdoing comes when people blame their actions and feelings on occurrences that happened long ago. Rather than sit back and realize that there's more than one side to the story, they're too bent on believing they were right and others were wrong. They'll either sit and hold a grudge forever or try and know absolutely everything in some sad, heart-wrenching story about how life isn't fair. What should happen is that, rather than treating their past as a roadblock they can't get over, they should use the experience as a stepping stone, despite what may have happened to you way back when. You see, Sanders, you'll never know everything and will never win unless you move forward. Oftentimes, moving forward will feel like you're giving something up and moving backwards. You'll certainly have to swallow your pride and give up your stance, but you're not moving back at all. It will seem like everything changes or nothing changes at all, but something does change and you can finally take those steps forward and heal. Part of wisdom lies in knowing that and part of courage lies in going on anyway."
&l;Yamashita drinks the rest of his Mountain Dew, crushes the can, and tosses it onto the table with a flick of his wrist. Before it even hits the surface, though, Yuji's attention is back to the camera. He leans forward in his seat, with his hands clasped together and elbows on his knees; staring straight at everyone sitting and watching this. It's quite clear, however, that he's glaring straight at really only one person.&r;
YAMASHITA: "Sit back and think, Scott. Think about what went wrong and why. It's rarely just a case of someone disapproving of what your love is and coaxing you to come back. It takes two people to **** a relationship up. Do you think noone else on the planet has experienced hurt, Scotty? Why do you want to prove something to anyone? Did the conversation you had with her jar your confidence so much that you feel the need to reassure yourself and everyone else of your ability to do your job? Wrestling is your life, right? Wrestling is your passion. So why, then, does a single phone call make you defensive and make you want to prove something to anyone? Confidence in yourself, Scotty. Too many people have gone out to the battlefield hoping to prove something and either come back empty handed or never came back at all. I'm telling you all of this, because I want you to stand back a moment and think of all the things that you may have done to **** this up. That is the first step in healing. Anger is fine, but you need to focus, friend. I don't want to step in the ring with someone who's half-cocked and thinking about someone else. If I'm not really your top priority, as you say, then I damn well need to be, or that will be your undoing. I mean, after all, what's the point in going out to prove yourself to someone if you wind up losing due to you not concentrating on the match, but rather the person you're looking to prove yourself to? An ironic end, hm?"
&l;A quick half-smile flashes across Yuji Yamashita's face as he leans back in his chair once again. His eyes, however, never move at all.&r;
YAMASHITA: "I want you to think about what I've said and deal with this little problem of yours. I don't want my first victory to be a tainted one. I don't want to go in there and beat some guy who isn't even into this. On the surface, it seems as if you're focused, but unless your mind, your body, and your heart are all sharpened to an arrow's point, you aren't even close to focused enough to defeat me. A half-ready, love-hurt sap who can't seem to admit that punching walls and feeling sorry for himself is going to help things isn't what I came here for. I traveled here to learn, but it seems that you very well need lessons taught to you, my friend. Focus on me and nothing else. Prepare your mind and give me a fight that I can be proud of. Do not disappoint me. I've come too far to be let down by mediocrity."
&l;A sharp whistle off to the left draws Yuji's attention. He thankfully takes those intense, unsettling eyes off of you and slowly turns his head towards the source of the noise. In a flicker of time, Yamashita's face no longer looks as if it were carved from stone. He nods his head upwards towards the person who whistled at him, then turns back to the camera. It's as if his earlier speech had never happened at all.&r;
YAMASHITA: "I'll see you later. I have some business to attend to."
&l;With that, Yuji Yamashita flashes a quick smile and stands up, his chair scooting backwards with a small screech. He cracks his knuckles absently and walks off towards the person waiting for him. The camera slowly pans to the left, over to the crushed can of Mountain Dew laying on the table.&r;
Fade out.