The ICE BOX: New York is where the camera fades in. The scene begins inside of the third floor office of Talon Wilkinson. The large office features a perfect dark mahogany desk and matching book cases, each case full of archived wrestling footage from Talon’s career, as well as that of his students in the Ice Box… His desk features a few open files, applications for both trainers and aspiring students alike, as well as a photo on his desk of Talon and Blush from just over a year ago. Behind the desk, sits none other than the Reflection of Perfection himself. Talon is sitting at his computer, typing. Adding names and information from the files into his database, a job usually left for one of the secretaries, but this file has finally caught his eye. The file name reads “Kaleb Cross”. Talon types vigorously as he adds the data he has collected over the past week of watching Kaleb train, as well as the recommended path of training he should be set on for the upcoming month in the Ice Box. As Talon continues to work, the camera moves over to the observation window on the far wall of Talon’s office… the large glass window looks down into the warehouse area of the facility where all of the rings and octagons are set up for daily use. The camera peers down into the center ring, where Kaleb Cross is sparring with another student, with Ice Box trainer, Donnie Cash looking on and coaching both men. As the sound of keys typing in Talon’s office can still be heard, the camera simply focuses on the action going on two floors down, zooming in on the ring.
Kaleb has his opponent in a side head lock which he then transitions to a drop to hold, followed by a a STF. He has a tight grip on the opponent who quickly slaps the mat in submission… These drills continue to go one back and forth as each student takes turns working on technical transitions, counters, and submissions. After several rounds, it becomes obvious that Kaleb is a superior wrestler. His knowledge of mat wrestling, technical wrestling, and submission holds shows clearly as he out classes the other student in the ring. Donnie Cash instructs both men to take a breather, but as both men leave the ring, he waves Kaleb back to talk… The camera can’t hear what is being said, that is until Talon looks up and notices the camera looking out of his window.
Talon, “See that red button against the wall? …press it if you want to get the audio from down there…”
Camera man, “you have it rigged with mics?”
Talon, “What part of state of the art, did you not understand?”
The cameraman obviously presses the button because suddenly the voices of Cash and Cross can be heard as clearly, and sharply as if they were standing in the room with Talon.
Donnie Cash,”Kaleb, I see a lot of potential in your work. You look like you’re maybe only a 6-9 months away from being a legitimate candidate to be signed to the HWA…”
Kaleb, “I appreciate it Donnie, but I really think I’m ready now… I just want to be the best I can be when I do sign with the HWA, or anywhere else for that matter… I’m here for one reason, and that’s to learn from the man who’s path I’ve followed for a long time now. If Talon will take me under his wing and show me the ways of the wrestling world, I think I will be ready in 3-6 months… not 6-9… In fact, if he trained me personally and showed me the ropes, I could probably capture HWA gold by the summer.”
Donnie looks surprised at the over confidence of this young gun. He smirks as he cracks his neck…
Donnie, “Whoa kid, don’t get too far ahead of yourself, You’re small potatoes, what makes you think that you’re any different than anyone else who’s here?”
Kaleb, “With all due respect Don; I believe that my in ring talents will speak for themselves… I’m a once in a lifetime prospect, the Stephen Strausburg of Wrestling, the LeBron James, the Sydney Crosby, the…”
Donnie, “I get it, I get it. You’ve got a lot of…”
Kaleb, “I wasn’t finished.”
Donnie’s fists tighten, as he narrows his eyes and the hair on the back of his neck stands slightly…
Kaleb, “I was saying… while most people need development and advanced training before they can debut and dominate in their respective careers or sports, I… like a select few, am major league ready. I am just taking the road less traveled… I’m the guy who goes to College instead of entering the draft. I’m the guy who seeks the additional knowledge, not so that I can one day be ready to be a pro, it’s so that when I go pro, I am the most dominant force on the roster. I am simply sharpening my skills, and adding things to my arsenal of moves, knowledge, and know how... I told Talon this when we first met, and now I’m telling you. We both have a lot to gain from him training me and letting me shadow… letting me be an apprentice of sorts… I just want to get the feel for everything, and at the same time, help him better himself…. When I am ready to make it on my own, he will once again be wearing the World Heavyweight Championship… I GUARENTEE IT!”
Back in the office, Talon’s ear’s perk up as he raises his head after hearing the last string of sentences from Kaleb Cross… He stops what he’s doing and walks over to the window and looks down…
Talon, (to cameraman) “I’m telling you… the kid reminds me of someone…”
Donnie, (to Kaleb) “Listen to me boy. You can keep trying to gain his favor, but unless he really wants you around, you’re going to have to work like everyone else to get your shot at being a pro… Got it?”
Kaleb, “Oh… I got it alright….”
Donnie exhales hard, obviously flustered, leaving the ring and heading for the showers… when he does, Kaleb begins to stretch again and then beings to shadow box/wrestle… going over scenarios in his head…
As he does, a sudden knock at Talon’s door causes him to turn quickly… He smirks as he sees Eddie standing in the door way eating an apple.
Talon, “Hey bro, what brings you this way?”
Eddie, “Dropped off MJ to train with Anton and Davis, figured I’d come up and see if you wanted to grab lunch while they trained… so you want to?”
Talon, “Of course, let me just grab some of my stuff and get out of here…”
Talon begins to grab some of his things from his desk, as he does, Eddie grabs the New York Times off of his desk and opens it up…
Eddie, “I see your boy Jeter wants a billion dollars for what he USE TO be…”
Talon, “Man… I don’t know what’s wrong with him, he’s acting like Buff Bridges…”
Eddie lets out a loud laugh as the two leave the office and head out to get a bite to eat… as they do, the camera peers back out of the window to find MJ approaching the ring where Kaleb is training as the scene fades to black.
(continued asap gotta go to work)
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