Don Costantino: Dammit Antonino I am starving here! You’ve turned down every frigging food place in the city. You’re sick of Mexican, you don’t want Japanese, you hate Thai, and you loathe French. Seriously how bout we just stop at a Greek diner...this way we can each order a burger or something?
Antonino Romano: You want me to put burgers in this body? Do you think I got this chiseled from eating burgers and fries? Hell no! I am a wrestling icon...this body is a temple and no burger shall enter. I’m like a frigging wrestling god dammit! You know I’m the undefeated master of the Capiche right?
Don Costantino: Yes, Antonino!
Antonino Romano: And you know why Senester and I are going to beat those to pathetic excuses for human beings Ronnie McNeil and Heinrich von Richtoven. Because I am a winner and winners don’t get beaten by a couple of washed-up has-beens but no matter, because after this match not only will we beat Ronnie McNeil and Heinrich von Richtoven but I WILL get another match with McNeil and I WILL beat him and become the HWA World Heavyweight Champion. Everyone is going to learn why I am called the Italian Maniac and they are going to learn that when it comes down to it, I am the best in this business today.
Don Costantino: Let me ask you something, did you hear about the wrestling icon that got beat up by an old man because he wouldn’t choose a place to get a damn place to get some food?
Antonino Romano: Ok man sheesh, keep your clothes on. I know a nice little health food store on the other side of the city.
Don Costantino: Man I can’t wait till we get all the way to the other side of the city. There is a diner right here! It looks nice enough....it’s called the Golden Dove. Let’s eat here.
Antonino Romano: Here? Here in this dump? You got to be out of your fuc*ing mind! Look inside that window.......it’s nothing but fat out of shape bastard slurping down shitty soup. And the walls are green! What good diner has green walls honestly? And look at the lighting I mean...
*Suddenly Antonino goes silent. His gaze becomes fixed on something inside the diner. The camera follows his gaze inside and we see a woman. She is very skinny and stands about five feet tall. She has black hair and blue eye shadow. She has a piercing on her lip a silver ring on each finger. She is carrying a hot pot of coffee and steam billows around her. It almost seems as if she is walking in slow motion. She smiles and pours some coffee for her customer. Outside Antonino has a goofy smile on his face.*
Don Costantino: Antonino? Hello earth to Antonino! Antonino are you with me?
Antonino Romano: What? Oh yeah I’m here. I was just thinking!
Don Costantino: Che non può essere bene buono!
Antonino Romano: I was thinking you’re right! Here is a wonderful place to eat! The Golden Dove......it sounds regal! Let’s go inside and partake in the event of nourishment shall we?
Don Costantino: Ok something just happened. I don’t know what but something did. However, I am way too hungry to argue so let’s chow down.
*The two men scurry inside and wait at the counter. An old woman with a pink blouse on asks how many but Antonino is busy looking around for the girl he saw. Don Costantino shakes his head at Antonino and holds up two fingers. The old lady begs them to follow and she leads them to the back corner of the diner and sits them down with two menus. Don Costantino opens his menu and smiles.*
Don Costantino: NICE! They have quesadillas. Maybe I’ll get one of those.
Antonino Romano: *mumbling under his breath* Please let her be our waitress! Please let her be our waitress!
Don Costantino: What the hell are you mumbling about?
Antonino Romano: What? Huh? Oh nothing!
Don Costantino: Well, the quesadillas?
Antonino Romano: Those things are nasty. They are like meat and cheese in this nasty ass shell. Seriously they are gross.
*Suddenly two arms reach across the table and drop two glasses of water in front of them. Antonino turns and is suddenly awe struck as the girl from outside is standing in front of them with a pen and paper. Antonino’s mouth drops open and Don Costantino starts to stare at him oddly.*
Ash: Hi! My name is Ashley and I’ll be your waitress for the evening. You can call me Ash.......everyone else does. So do you two know what you would like?
Antonino Romano: Hi Ash! Oh......um well..........I’m my agent and this is my Don Costantino, Antonino Romano! No wait he’s not. Well I mean I am! Merda! What I mean is to say I’m not him.....well obviously I’m not I mean I were him who would be me right?
Ash: OK? Not sure I follow big guy!
Don Costantino: I believe he was trying to say he is Antonino Romano and I’m his agent Don Costantino!
Ash: Oh I knew that. I’m a huge HWA fan. I’ve followed them since they first opened; I was so excited when I heard that they re-opened their doors. I’m a huge Ronnie McNeil fan. He is the best!
Antonino Romano: *mumbling to himself* Ronnie McNeil? I could kill that bastard. Is he the wrestling icon.....no I am and the future HWA World Champion!
Don Costantino: What my articulate buddy is trying to ask is what do you recommend?
Ash: Oh I recommend the chicken quesadillas. They are awesome but that is my favorite food anyway.
Antonino Romano: MINE TOO! How weird is that? I was just telling Don Costantino that I was going to get some right? That is so strange! It’s like me and you are like connected...like there is me...and then there is you...plus like a...connection of some...like well you know...connected...and...*sigh*. I’ll have that please!
*Don Costantino just stares in disbelief at Antonino.*
Don Costantino: I’ll have the same! And two Mountain Dews!
Ash Ok guys coming right up! Need anything than just holler!
*She walks away to go put the order in and Antonino stares at her ass as she walks away. Don Costantino starts to chuckle.*
Don Costantino: Oh my god you want to fottere the waitress!
Antonino Romano: WHAT?? I do not.....what waitress.......I didn’t even notice her. Was she pretty?
Don Costantino: Oh please your eyes are glued to her ass. I swear Antonino nothing under this table better start poking me or we’re taking this shit outside. Listen man you don’t have time to be chasing double D’s man! In case all that black hair and Goth make up made you forget, you got to get ready for your match against Ronnie McNeil and Heinrich von Richtoven!
Antonino Romano: Oh please! Ronnie McNeil and Heinrich von Richtoven are nothing to me; they can think or say whatever they want but in the end it’s going to be my wrestling skills and Senester’s genius that will get us the win and me another shot at the HWA World Championship. Neither of them can hold a candle to me; all they are doing is preparing themselves for a beat down and major disappointment. They think that I am their stepping stone then they better think again because this is MY time and I will capitalize.
Don Costantino: Fair enough but don’t get distracted by a set of knockers and a thong!
Antonino Romano: You noticed the thong too? That shit was hot right?
Don Costantino: Focus Antonino! You are going to be in for a war and you are going to eventually win that HWA World Title! Your win at Havoc will cement your place as one of the best in the business today.
Antonino Romano: No doubt. I got it covered. Now give me a minute. I got to drain the main vein before I eat.
*Antonino excuses himself and heads towards the bathroom. When he notices Don Costantino is not looking he slips into the kitchen and begins to look for Ash. Finally as he walks down a side hall he sees her filling some ketchup bottles. She glances up and jumps out of her shoes.*
Ash: Antonino! You startled me! Why are you in the employees’ area? Did you guys need something? I’ll get it for you just ask.
*Antonino smiles and attempts to be cool.*
Antonino Romano: Relax baby girl. It’s not about what you can do for me but what I can do for you! Picture this if you will....it’s time for Havoc and a limo pulls up. Out steps none other than the future HWA World Heavyweight Champion, Antonino Romano! And who is this hot girl on his arm? Why, it’s former waitress turned celebrity icon, Ash! Now doesn’t that sound like magic darling?
Ash: Well if by magic you mean the single biggest piece of bullshit I’ve ever heard than...yes.
Antonino Romano: WHAT?
Ash: I also watch UCW and MCW all the time. I’ve seen you wrestle before. You think you’re too cool for school. You’re a schoolyard bully pretending to be something you’re not. You brag about how cool you are but it’s all-fake.
Antonino Romano: Fake? Are you saying I’m not great? Honey maybe you don’t know but I’m pretty much a huge deal in this industry. I’m the butter on your breakfast toast!
Ash: I’m on a diet!
Antonino Romano: Oh, come on. I grow on you!
Ash: Yeah, so do warts!
Antonino Romano: Don’t you get it? I’m a wrestling icon! I’m the soon to be HWA World Champion!
Ash: Is that right? So what’s the plan.... jump your opponents and attack them with your lead pipe and then hold them down while the ref counts to three? You know what I hope Ronnie McNeil and Heinrich von Richtoven beats you and Senester and you don’t win the title and you go back to whatever hole in the wall you crawled out of.
Antonino Romano: Oh please! I could beat Ronnie McNeil and Heinrich von Richtoven and the rest of those losers on the roster in my sleep, they are easy pickens. Come Havoc Senester and I will be the ones with their arms raised in victory while our opponents lies beaten and bloodied on the mat!
Ash: Whatever!
Antonino Romano: Well...fine! Be that way! I just wanted...I mean I just though...well you were...you were cute so...oh never mind.
Ash: WAIT! You thought I was cute? Did you just say something honest? Say something else honest or I’m walking away!
Antonino Romano: Honest! Easy! I am the greatest wrestler walking this earth right now! Face it....I’m too good to be true!
*Ash sighs and shakes her head. She walks away and Antonino follows behind. She picks up the two plates of quesadillas from a counter and starts to head to the table. Antonino is seemingly nervous. He doesn’t want her to go but he can’t think of something to say. He blurts out something immediately.*
Antonino Romano: I’M SCARED!
*Ash stops frozen, in her tracks. She slowly turns and sits the plates down in front of them. She glares into Antonino’s eyes.*
Ash: What did you just say?
Antonino Romano: I’m scared ok? For the love of god, are you fuc*ing happy? Is that real and honest enough for you?
Ash: It's a start! Scared of what Antonino?
Antonino Romano: I have to keep my performance up one-hundred percent and that is a lot of pressure. You think I don’t know that Ronnie McNeil and Heinrich von Richtoven is going to try to beat me? Do you know what it’s like to go out there, knowing that that you could get seriously hurt? Knowing that you pissed all over the legacy of your opponents and now they are going to try and rip your fuc*ing head off? I’m no idiot! I shudder and get excited at the same time to think of what they might do to me. And then I worry and smile when I think what I will have to do to him to keep them down. I know my opponents didn’t get to where they are today by accident. They are certified bad asses! Now I can take them. On my best day I can hand their asses to them. I’m a six-foot one monster. I’m not invincible but if I can do anything it’s hold my own in the ring.
Ash: Then why provoke them so much?
Antonino Romano: I’m not sure. Part of me was scared the last time I saw them wrestle. Scared that maybe I wasn’t the best wrestler like I thought I was. Maybe I’m second best. There is nothing in this world that scares me more than the thought of being second best! I wake up each morning and I know I am the best at what I do even if what I do isn’t so pretty. And then comes Ronnie McNeil and Heinrich von Richtoven and the rest of them, they walk around here like they are some sort of badasses from hell. But then I saw them fight from tapes I got of them and I knew they were legit. But then I began to feel it.....this need to measure myself against them. I was scared to know I might be second best but I was even more scared to think of what I might do about it?
Ash: What do you mean?
Antonino Romano: I am driven by a hunger to be the best and Ronnie McNeil, Heinrich von Richtoven, and the rest of the competitors stand in my way. I am six-foot one and strong as hell sweetie and vicious to boot. In the heat of battle sometimes I can see myself wrapping my hands around my opponent’s neck and never letting go. I could very well kill them in our match and then I have to live with it. And part of me worries I might not even care if I did. Then part of me worries I might wake up the next day in a full body cast after losing the match. I could very well be broken in two, but then part of me kind of savors that thought too. I long for the pain and the adrenaline and at least if I wake up in that hospital then I know it’s over and I can rest. But it never ends; it’s amazing when you’re in this business. You get a high, but when the high ends sometimes I long for it to be over. But then with that very same breath I want to hunt Ronnie McNeil and Heinrich von Richtoven and everyone else down and inflict damage upon them the likes of which they never dreamed in their worst nightmares they dared to dream! I want to tear them limb from limb. And then what does that make me? Am I still human? Am I a monster? And if I am a monster am I fighting other monsters? Will my opponents and I fight to the depths of hell for all eternity? And if we are damned to fight forever.....why do I enjoy the idea? All I know is that one way or another the penultimate chapter is about be written and it scares me and thrills me and chills me to the bone with excitement all at the same time. I am a professional wrestler, which is what I do. And I am on the brink......the very cusp of the greatest battle of my life. It’s like my own piece of heaven right smack in the middle of hell! But the only thing I can be sure of anymore is that at Havoc, when that bell rings…I will bring everything I can....and more and I will leave Ronnie McNeil and Heinrich von Richtoven and anyone else who steps in my way in a pool of their own blood. I will win that HWA World Championship or dammit.....I’LL ####IN DIE TRYING!
Ash: Wow!
Antonino Romano: Yeah so now you think I’m a loser.
Ash: No! Actually I was thinking you’re kind of cute when you’re not full of shit.
Antonino Romano: Really? So you want to grab a bite to eat later?
Ash: I don’t know! I still don’t know you all that well?
Antonino Romano: What else do you want to know? I like the color red...I like rock music....books...I hate ColdPlay....worst band ever. I really like Takoyaki.......and I’d really like if you’d go out with me tonight! What else?
Ash: Heh....I don’t know. Just keep talking and we’ll see where it goes.
*She smiles and Antonino can’t help but blush and smile back at her. On the brink of the war of his life Antonino may have found the love of his life. He seeks the quiet respite before the pandemonium. Antonino reaches down and grabs a quesadilla. He dips it into the salsa and then tears a bite out. He drips salsa everywhere and Ashley laughs. He motions for her to have a bite and she starts nibbling at the ones on the other plate as they talk and smile. And somewhere, out in the diner all alone, sits Don Costantino...hungry as hell as the scene fades to black.*
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