Antonio Romano: Ash…honey are you ok?
Ash: I’m ok...I mean…dammit! It doesn’t make any sense! You guys are wrestlers; you’re supposed to occasionally get injured in a match. I worry every time you step into the ring that you might get some horrible injury that will end your career. I worry for all you guys. But no one is supposed to die. No one is supposed to get trapped in train crashes Antonio. You told me that one-day I might watch you leave in an ambulance with a neck injury or that some guy might take a chair to your skull in the back. You never ####ing told me I’d get phone calls about train crashes and that someone would get shot.
Antonio Romano: Ash…please. David was my friend…he and I use to wrestle together when we first started wrestling, we meet in Japan and became friends and one of the most dominating tag teams. I don’t know what happened…I don’t know if someone tried to rob him, or if it was random. Maybe some people tried to hijack the train. Maybe the crash and his murder were connected. I don’t know who was involved but trust me whoever is responsible will be found and they will pay for what they did.
Ash: So you’re going to go back to work then? Like David never existed? You’re going to enter that ring and still go against Buff Bridges?
Antonio Romano: Of course. David would have done the same. Besides that, I have to put this little has-been Buff Bridges in his place.
*Suddenly the doors open and another man with a black suit comes out. He walks up to Antonio and Ashley very slowly and gives Antonio a look. Antonio realizes that his agent, Don Costantino, needs to talk to him and he stands up to converse with him.*
Don Costantino: You two ok…you bolted out of there so fast that I…
Antonio Romano: We’re good. Ash is a little overwhelmed. Look David was a trooper…he knew when shit needed to be done. He was a damn fine wrestler, he always put on a great show and left the fans amazed. So I know that he’d be pissed at me if I sat on my ass when I should be training for my match. I’m going to take Ash out of here and then get some training done. If you want to come then cool…I’m sure you can get some of the boys to cover the business.
Don Costantino: Business as usual then huh? All right, I’m going to hang here a little longer. I didn’t get to meet David’s family much and I’d like to talk to them some more. I’ll swing buy the hotel later and we can talk game plan for your match with Buff Bridges.
Antonio Romano: AHH! Don’t say that name. I’m so sick of hearing about that washed up piece of garbage and how great he ####ing is. That bi#ch is the one who should be pushing up daisies, but that doesn’t matter because come time for us to meet in the ring I am going to wipe the floor with that piece of shyt. I wonder though, where was Buff Bridges when this happened?
Don Costantino: That fact hasn’t escaped me. Think he had anything to do with the murder?
Antonio Romano: If he did than he is going to experience pain like he never felt before. If I so much as find out he even owns a gun then he is going to learn that pain is a fact of mind over matter. Fact is I don’t mind him being in pain so it doesn’t matter. Ok, I’m going to take Ash home. Tell everyone I said goodbye.
Don Costantino: Ok…but ummmm….
Antonio Romano: But what…? Spit it out!
Don Costantino: What do you want me to do if your brother shows up?
*Antonio jumps when Don Costantino mentions his brother and stares in every direction. When he realizes he isn’t there he turns his attention back to his manager.*
Antonio Romano: If he shows up looking for me then tell him to kiss my ass. I’m not scared of my brother.
Don Costantino: Are you sure? He said that he showed up when you guys were talking game plans for your match and you freaked.
Antonio Romano: I didn’t freak!
Don Costantino: He said you ran in the bedroom and hid!
Antonio Romano: I was looking for something!
Don Costantino: And when he wouldn’t stop trying to get in you took them all out the window and escaped down the fire escape.
Antonio Romano: It was a fire drill dammit! Look you don’t know my brother! He is the most evil and vile…look if he comes here you tell him I left the state and went ahead to Havoc already! Just don’t tell him where I really went. It’s important…do not tell him that I went to the gym to work out.
Don Costantino: I got it Antonio! I’m not retarded. Go pump iron…it’ll get your mind off of things. Get Ash home safely though, she needs rest.
Antonio Romano: Ok thanks Don Costantino. C’mon Ash…let’s get you home.
*Antonio holds Ash around the shoulders and walks over to a limo. The driver pops open the door and the two get in. The driver gets in and the car wheels away as Don Costantino waves to them. Don Costantino waits until they are out of sight and then goes back inside.*
-------------------------------------------------
*The scene changes to the inside of a gym. Antonio is standing up and curling some large amount of weight. Sweat is dripping from his face. A few women are ogling him and a few of the men are taking notes on what his workout entails so they can mimic it. Suddenly and old man walks up to him and holds out a towel. Antonio looks at him but continues to lift the weight. Antonio stares at him quizzically.*
Antonio Romano: Can I help you old man?
Gus: Well, you can start by dropping the old man. Last man that called me old man never said old again! It was too hard for him to say after I ripped out his tongue. The name’s Gus Avila. I’ve owned this place long enough to notice a guy trying to lose all his problems in his workout. Want to know how it ends? You wake up tomorrow and you can’t feel your arms, you tear muscle and Buff Bridges beats you without breaking a sweat.
*Standing at only five feet, Gus was tiny compared to Antonio. Gus still seemed to be chiseled out of rock though and gray hair lined his arms. He had a full beard that was gray but was mostly bald on top. He scratched his beard and stared at Antonio. Antonio didn’t want to hear his opponent’s name but something about this old man screamed, "Do not #### with me boy”*
Antonio Romano: I’m not much in the mood to hear about my opponent. All I ever heard about is freakin’ Buff Bridges. I’m the freaking wrestling icon. I’m Antonio Romano. There is only one Mr. Wrestling and you’re looking at him.
Gus: Oh yeah… Antonio Romano. I’ve heard you talk about that before; I’ve even watched you wrestle before. I got to say kid, anyone can hit someone with a chair or put someone threw a table but it takes real talent to actually put on a wrestling match, get what I’m saying?
*Antonio nearly explodes. His face turns red and he finally puts the weight down. Gus notices Antonio’s temper but ignores it. He hands Antonio the towel.*
Antonio Romano: Look I’m not in the mood…
Gus: Not in the mood to hear it? Yeah I’ve heard that story from you Antonio...it’s getting old. My biggest enemy these days is the calendar...every day it moves and I get a little older. In four more years I’ll hit that big seven-zero! Seventy years…where the #### did it all go? I’ve become an expert at wakes and funerals. I’ve learned that even talented stars like Buff Bridges can eat well and exercise and still not make it to thirty. And others....they die while living. Look at you, fate has given you the perfect opportunity to give up hasn’t it? Fate is smacking you a pimp smacking a ##### that hasn’t been pulling her weight. Back in Vietnam I used to see it every day…people just give up. They’re still alive but basically they’re the walking dead. Your train crashes, your friend dies, everyone hates you, and even your co-workers want you gone. Hell fate is giving you the blessing of a lifetime. You give up now and no one will blame you. When they talk about you they’ll use their sad voice and say crap like "what a shame" and "poor guy". For the first time ever the most intense wrestler on earth can gain some sympathy. So after watching you on TV for a few years in Japan, the Hardcore Wrestling Alliance, in the Honorable Wrestling Alliance, the Great Lakes Wrestling Association, World Class Championship Wrestling, and the National Wrestling Alliance, I got to ask myself.....what kind of man has that brat kid that coined the phrase, " I was just finished with Capiche " grown up to be? Is that the man you’ve become? The kind who hides out alone in some crappy gym owned by an ornery old guy who doesn’t mind his own business? The guy who counts reps and tries to forget the mess his life has become. Because I got news for you kiddo…it gets a whole lot ####ing worse before it gets better.
Antonio Romano: Hiding? Who’s hiding? I just needed time to clear my head. That’s all! I didn’t want to give my opponent any advantages by going in there with a head full of clouds.
Gus: More like a head full of shit! What kind of crap are you spewing? I’m not some big-breasted blond drooling over your abs kiddo. All your brazen comments and cheesy catchphrases aren’t going to fool me and that aren’t going to intimidate Buff Bridges. You think mocking him is going to intimidate him? Think about if he did it to you. You didn’t scare him; you poked a giant sleeping T-Rex in the eye with a stick. Now for some reason you’ve lived your career like that and hell, maybe if I were six feet tall I’d fear no man or woman either. But your opponent isn’t the last big challenge in your path. You’ve got a bright future but you can’t seem to see it through the trees. You’re too content to just be a big bruiser who can piss everyone off. You put up a war of an effort in all your matches and I think you learned there are others with your fighting spirit. Because that is what it all comes down to. Fighting spirit! Buff Bridges’s is huge but so is yours. It’s what keeps you from staying down when normal men would be done....it’s what can let you kick out after you’ve taken the other guys’ finisher. You’ve got to have fire in your stomach and a drive to reach the top.....it’s got to be in you. You’ve got to live it and never let it go. Cute catchphrase will only get you so far....sooner or later kiddo you got to evolve. Evolve or die out! But maybe you’re afraid of something....
*The old man smiles and his hazel eyes gleam in the bright gym lights. Antonio glowers at him as he walks away from Antonio without another word. Antonio yells out to him.*
Antonio Romano: Afraid? I’m not afraid of anything. And I’m not afraid of a single person on this entire planet.
-------------------------------------------------
*Suddenly the scene changes to inside a funeral home. Don Costantino is standing by the doors with a cell phone to his ear. His back is to the door. We can see a pair of red sneakers walks up behind him but the camera doesn’t pan up to see who it is. Don Costantino talks on the phone.*
Don Costantino: Ok Ash....I just wanted to make sure you and Antonio got home ok. I know you’re down and something is bugging him that he isn’t letting on to. No he’ll be ok. He went down to that local gym we saw on Bradley Avenue to work out some frustration. Ok....I’ll talk to you later.....peace!
*Don Costantino turns around and there are some people scattered behind him who are smoking cigarettes and crying or talking sadly. Suddenly there is a loud screeching sound and tires peel off as a car flies out of the parking lot. Don Costantino jumps at the sound.*
Don Costantino: What the hell....who leaves a funeral home parking lot like that?
Mourner: It was some crazy guy. He was standing behind you and then he suddenly ran out of here. He kept demanding we all tell him where some guy named Antonio was!
Don Costantino: Oh......shit! Antonio’s going to be pissed!
-------------------------------------------------
*Inside the gym Antonio is finished up and has changed his clothes. He is about to leave when he stops and stares in the direction of Gus Avila. He wonders for a second if he should go and say something more to the old man. After all, the old man hit on some things that Antonio had been thinking about. Suddenly Antonio hears a man screaming outside.*
Man: Antonio!!!!!!! Antonio are you in there? Antonio where are you?
Antonio Romano: ####! Gus.......Gus buddy, pal! You need to help me sneak out of here. Don’t you have a back way out or something....that guy....don’t let him find me.
Gus: Why not? Antonio Romano isn’t scared of a sing living person on this planet if I recall!
Antonio Romano: This is different.....this is my brother! Didn’t you ever have a brother that you sort of…
Gus: Say no more kiddo. I got a brother I hide from all the time. Bastard hit ninety-three and he still won’t die.
*The camera cuts to the front door busting open. We see a pair of red sneakers standing there. We do not see his face. He walks up to the counter and questions Gus.*
Antonio’s brother: I’m looking for a man!
Gus: Well it’s not all that unusual for a man to come and try to pick up another man at a gym, if that’s what you like. What kind of guy you like?
Antonio’s brother: No shitstick! I’m looking for my brother.... Antonio Romano! Black hair, six foot one inches tall. You can’t miss him.
Gus: Well, I’m afraid you just did. Hey Kenny.....what the hell do I pay you for? Take that cart full of dirty towels around back and get them cleaned.
Kenny: Ok sorry boss.....I got caught up in all the commotion.
*The kid pushes a large cart full of dirty, smelly towels passed the desk and out the door. Gus looks up at the man in front of him. The camera stays locked on Gus and we do not see the man.*
Antonio’s brother: So I missed him then? Don’t mind if I look around then do you?
Gus: Help yourself....I don’t give a damn if you check the men’s room either....just be quick about it. I got paying customers trying to work out here and you’re distracting them.
*After a few minutes he seems satisfied.*
Antonio’s brother: Well, my brother isn’t here. Sorry to have bothered you. I’m off to go find him then, vederla dopo il vecchio.
*Outside Kenny has pushed the cart a few stores down and suddenly Antonio pops out and shakes his head. He grabs onto a sign post on the corner and breathes in deeply.*
Antonio Romano: Now I need another shower…those towels smell like this girl I dated in high school…damn I thought I would suffocate. Look, tell the old man I owe him one and thanks kid.
Kenny: Oh shit.....he’s coming out…get back down.
*Kenny shoves Antonio back down and pushes the cart forward and then steps in front of it. The red sneakers walk up to him and he looks nervous.*
Antonio’s brother: Um…Kenny was it? You seem like a good kid but didn’t you think you’d get in trouble with a lie like that back there?
Kenny: Lie? What lie......I never lie. When did I ever lie?
Antonio’s brother: Yeah you did shitstick! I distinctly heard your boss tell you to take those towels around back and wash them. I get that you want to slack off but to just throw the whole cart down the street is plain crazy!
Kenny: What??? NOOOO!
*Kenny turns around and the cart is gone. He pushed too hard and sent the cart wheeling down the street. Cars are screeching to a halt and two of them crash into each other as try to avoid the cart. After Antonio is a block or two away he finally gets up to find out why he is going so fast. A huge truck is heading right for him and honking its horn. Antonio screams out. Back up the block Kenny is shocked.*
Antonio’s brother: Did you just hear a scream?
Kenny: I think it might have been the signal for my impending doom!
Antonio’s brother: Well, that sucks! Anyway I have to go find my brother.....any idea where he went?
Kenny: This is a lucky guess here....but try the hospital! Just a hunch!
Antonio’s brother: Ok....good a place as any I suppose. Ok then, dopo il bambino.
-------------------------------------------------
*It is now much later in the day. Antonio is sitting on a brown leather couch inside a hotel suite and Don Costantino is on the floor. Don Costantino is hysterically laughing and rolling around on the floor. Antonio isn’t amused.*
Don Costantino: OH MY GOD THAT’S GREAT! So you jump out of the cart as it becomes one with a Dodge Durango and land right in a stack or garbage from the Indian food place.
Antonio Romano: Shut up femmina. This was a traumatic experience. That garbage smelled way worse than the dirty towels and I may never get in anything with wheels again.
Don Costantino: When I saw that some nutcase tried to drive down the street during rush hour in a laundry cart near the gym I was honestly afraid you’d beaten someone up and thrown them down the street…but this is too much. You know all this could have been avoided if you’d just faced your brother.
Antonio Romano: All of this could have been avoided if SOMEONE hadn’t told him where I was!
Don Costantino: I said I was sorry. He overheard me when I was on the phone with your women. How the hell was I supposed to know he was behind me? I haven’t seen him in a long time so I forgot what he looks like…he could have been in front of me and I wouldn’t have known.
Antonio Romano: Look enough of this! I’m sick of all of it. My bad luck needs to change. Even fate can’t be allowed to fuk with Antonio Romano. The wrestling icon is taking Buff Bridges down. Ever since I came to the HWA that is all I hear about. Buff Bridges is great; Buff Bridges is a future icon. The dude has been here WAY to long and everyone still kisses his ass. I’m so sick of fuking hearing about that piece of shyt, all that matters is that at Havoc I am going to show him and EVERYONE why I am the Wrestling Icon, I will show them why I am the best in this business, and I will show them why I am going to be the HWA World Heavyweight Champion. Buff Bridges, I know you are looking forward to this match and so am I. I look forward to it because I am going to beat you like you have never been beat before, I am going to show you, the fans, and the whole Goddam HWA roster why I am the best wrestler there ever will be. A new era has started and it begins at Havoc, it begins when I deliver to you what many have fallen to…The Capiche!!!!
*Antonio has an evil grin on his face and Don Costantino just studies his face and nods. Suddenly there is a large pounding at the front door.*
Don Costantino: This late…who the hell could that be? Did you call for anything Antonio.....? Antonio?
*Don Costantino looks and Antonio is gone. He glances around the room and notices the balcony door is open and a breeze is blowing in through it. He looks outside and realizes Antonio has run down the fire escape. He gets up and closes the window and then heads to his front door.*
Don Costantino: I need a hobby! Ok then......let’s see what he is all about!
*Don Costantino crosses the room and reaches for the doorknob as the pounding continues.*
TO BE CONTINUED.........
Message Thread
« Back to index