Melinda: Ok so then I’ll ask you again. Do you understand why you are here today?
*The camera slowly turns in the direction of her gaze. A spacious leather sofa slowly comes into view. Outstretched on top is Antonio Romano as he stares back at the psychiatrist. Antonio is wearing a white wife-beater with a Black Spade on the chest with a skull insignia with a blend of the flag of Italy. He is also wearing a pair of dark green (almost black) dickie pants, with a black studded belt and red boots. He thinks about the question for a second before answering.*
Antonio Romano: Because they’re afraid!
Melinda: Afraid of what?
Antonio Romano: Hahahahaha! Look Dr. Ramirez….Melinda...can I call you Melinda?
Melinda: If that makes you more comfortable.
Antonio Romano: Ok then Melinda, we all know I’m six-foot one, I’m the wrestling icon…I am one huge BAMF!
Melinda: BAMF?
Antonio Romano: Bad Ass Motherfuker!
Melinda: Oh…of course!
Antonio Romano: My agent had gone away on his funeral, well he called it a honeymoon, and while he was away I kicked some ass. The HWA management got real scared of me. They think I’m insane and so they ordered me to come here and talk to your very sexy yet respectfully intelligent self. I admit…I did some violent things.
Melinda: Yes, I have it here that you recently had a match and tried to break your opponent in half. Plus you’ve vowed to destroy your brother. Why do you think you feel the need to be so violent?
Antonio Romano: Personally I blame my parents!
Melinda: Did your mom and dad beat you, Antonio?
Antonio Romano: Well, my dad wasn’t around alot. He was always away working or hanging out with his friends. My mom was around though. And I think she is the one who made me so maladjusted to civilized life.
Melinda: What did she do? Did she hit you? Did you she touch you in an unwanted way?
Antonio Romano: Wow you’ve got a dirty mind. I like it! No sadly my momma didn’t give me any play but she did lie to me. Like all parents do she lied to me.
Melinda: You think all parents lie?
Antonio Romano: It’s a fact that they do.
Melinda: What if I told you that my parents never lied to me?
Antonio Romano: I’d say you were crazier than me. That’s all we have when we’re little. The lies are parents tell us.
Melinda: I’m not following.
Antonio Romano: Life is great. People are good! You should always say please and thank you! There’s no boogeyman! The tooth fairy, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, you’re going to grow up to be somebody. You’ve heard them. They tell you you’re big-boned when you’re fat. They tell you that you look nice when you are uglier than Butch Parker after an all-nighter. They lie to us and tell us some bullshit made up god is watching over and keeping us safe. I prayed to the ceiling for two years straight, God never answered my prayers…NEVER! Two fuking years I sat in that room praying and waiting. Two years I wasted in there waiting and my potato and egg hero never showed up. God is bullshit and so are all the other lies are parents tell us.
Melinda: Ok but they tell us those to help us have a happy childhood and…
Antonio Romano: BULLSHYT! They tell us those lies so they can have what everyone wants. CONTROL! Everybody wants to be in control. They tell us about the Santa’s, and bunnies, and fairies so that we behave and go to bed early. They tell us that if we make ugly faces they’ll stick that way so that we don’t make them. They tell us if we cut class we’ll never get into college so that we go. They tell us we need to work hard to get into a good school or we’ll end up a bum…I make more money than most college graduates and I never went to college. I didn’t even show up for junior high. And God is the best lie to control someone ever. He even comes complete with a list of 10 things you are not allowed to do. It’s all about control.
Melinda: And who has control?
Antonio Romano: In my world the champions have control. You see, whoever is so lucky to hold a belt has control. Right Now only one person holds a belt and he makes the rules. But I learned early after watching my little brother and my mother fight and fuss that in this world if you want control you simply take it. You just reach out and take it. You just reach out, grab Senester by his throat and squeeze it till his eyes pop out. He is a obstacle in my way of getting what I want and at Havoc I have him in a one on one match.
Melinda: And this makes you angry?
*Antonio jumps up and startles Melinda. He casually strolls over to her desk and picks up an apple she had on it. She stares at him as he begins to toss the apple up in the air and then catch. He keeps doing it but never takes his eyes off of the floor. He seems to be in a daze.*
Antonio Romano: Senester is only a guest star in the HWA. He is nothing more than an underpaid actor who struts and poses as he acts his part for my amusement. Senester was created for the sole purpose of making me look good. When I defeat him at Havoc it will guarantee me a shot at the thing that I want most, the HWA World Heavyweight Championship The people hate him and they want to see me destroy him and that is exactly what I am going to do. Senester is in for a rude awakening and when his eyes are finally open I am going to pluck his eyes out. To crush him in front of his very eyes and eventually take away his HWA World Championship is the dream that now keeps me warm in my bed. It’s what I train for. I see them…I see the people looking at us in excitement. I see the little kids cheering their heads off as they look at the broken body of the person they were booing at so hard. As I wipe the blood off of my hands it will be the end of an era. No longer will I have to hear the mocking laughter and snickers in my head every time I think about what transpired at the previous Havoc. I will have revenge.
Melinda: You will have more blood on your hands.
Antonio Romano: THERE IS ALWAYS BLOOD ON MY HANDS! I am stained, tarnished. Long ago before I ever stepped foot into a ring I was already cursed with the blood. It will not come out and it will not wash off. I scream for it to leave me like a possessed Lady Macbeth but the stains will not lift. Now my very soul is tainted and it demands the continued supply of fresh blood to drown its sins in. I’m like the living vampire and I need new blood new sacrifices so that I don’t have to face the old ones. Once you run you have to continue running. Once you fight you must continue fighting. And when you kill, you must kill again and again until so much blood has soaked your vision that the faces of your old victims drown in it.
Melinda: Is that why you attacked Sheik Shakir so viciously last week?
Antonio Romano: Heh, Sheik Shakir. A fool he is! That was always his fate. From the second he thought he could beat me in the ring it was predetermined he would end up like this. See much like Senester will all soon be bloody faces buried in my past.
*Antonio catches the apple in his hand and squeezes it till it bursts apart. Pieces fly everywhere and Melinda jumps but quickly regains composure. Antonio smiles and strolls back to the couch. He hops on it and puts his feet up. Antonio leans back and closes his eyes as he thinks about his upcoming victory over Senester and becoming the new HWA World Champion.*
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INTERLUDE
*Suddenly everything is dark. We see a pair of black sneakers with white trim standing in the middle of darkness as a voice calls out. The voice is young and shaky.*
Antonio Romano: I can’t get the rid of the stain anymore. I don’t know what to do anymore.
*The voice comes from a young boy judging by its sound. Suddenly a pair of bunny slippers is standing next to him. We still only see shoes.*
Antonio’s brother: We can never tell anyone big brother.
Antonio Romano: OBVIOUSLY bro! They wouldn’t understand. It’s not to suppose to be this hard. I’m only ten; I don’t know how to handle this stuff.
Antonio’s brother: I’m scared Antonio. If they find out they’ll take us away. They’ll split us up. They will hate you.
Antonio Romano: Let them hate me. I don’t care anymore. What sense does this damned world make anyway? I didn’t ask for these cards to be dealt to me. I don’t care about anything anymore.
Antonio’s brother: You don’t mean that Antonio! We have each other, sins and all. Even this sin can be forgiven by the lord.
Antonio Romano: But who the hell is he to judge me? Tell him to rot in hell. I say to God that he can go fuk himself. If this is what he has given me than he can have it back. I’ll give it back to him and then some.
Antonio’s brother: Shhh! Keep your voice down! We have to get out of here...before someone finds out.
Antonio Romano: Fine....we’ll run then. They can’t catch a moving target. Let’s get while the getting is good.
Antonio’s brother: Ok....oh I am so tired! Why do they make the day so long?
Antonio Romano: I don’t know bro but I know from here on out nothing can ever be the same again.
*Suddenly Melinda is standing over Antonio while he is on the couch.*
Melinda: What did you just say?
Antonio Romano: What? I um...where did he go...I mean. Oh I don’t know what just happened. Is the blood still on my hands?
Melinda: Wow...you really are insane. I’m going to call some people to take you away.
Antonio Romano: NO! You can’t do that. My brother will find me if you lock me up. I have to hide. I’m not insane.
Melinda: Jesus Christ I feel dirty even looking at you. Hopefully you’ll die in the asylum. Hello…I need the police...
Antonio Romano: No you stupid bytch....
*Antonio grabs her head and twists her neck until it snaps. She slumps in his arms and he throws her through the only window in the room and screams in rage. He sneers down at her dead body as it lies in the streets and looks down at his hands. He frantically tries to rub the blood off but it never comes off.*
END OF INTERLUDE
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Melinda: Antonio.....ANTONIO WAKE UP!
*Antonio’s eyes snap open and he stares at Melinda. He jumps back and stands behind the couch. He stares past her at a wall filled with diplomas.*
Antonio Romano: Let them hate me. I don’t care anymore. What sense does this damned world make anyway? I didn’t ask for these cards to be dealt to me. I don’t care about anything anymore.
Melinda: What? Antonio are you ok?
Antonio Romano: But who the hell is he to judge me? Tell him to rot in hell. I say to God that he can go fuk himself. If this is what he has given me than he can have it back. I’ll give it back to him and then some.
Melinda: WHAT? Antonio! Antonio snap out of it!
*She snaps her fingers and suddenly Antonio stares at her. He looks confused.*
Antonio Romano: What just happened?
Melinda: I was going to inquire that answer from you, actually. You fell asleep for a few seconds. I thought you were trying to gather your thoughts but then you started snoring. When I woke you, you started saying something about judging and the world not making any sense. Where were you at in your head? What conversation were you having?
Antonio Romano: I...I don’t know to be honest. I hate when I miss a good conversation. My mom would always say a good conversation could warm the heart. Probably just another one of her lies! She used to tell me if I said my prayers and did all my homework then God would love me. But God is a myth, a trumped up tale of make-believe and wonder that the masses have jointly decided to believe in. They’re fooling themselves like she fooled me. God never came to my rescue. He was too busy trying to find the eggs that bullshit bunny hid. Why did she tell all these lies? When parents tell lies how can you ever find the truth in them? If she lies about going blind from masturbation, then how do we know she doesn’t lie about loving us? There is no trust when you grow up just a river of lies flowing into your brain. But I didn’t buy into them. When I glower at Senester’s fallen body my face will not freeze like that. And, if there is any God in this world then I want to see that pussy’s face if he has the guts. Let him come to Havoc and save Senester’s soul from damnation. If there is a Santa Claus then let him bring me years of presents that he owes me and may the first one he gives me is a barbwire bat so I can smash in the face of Senester. Do you think my mother lied when she said she loved me?
Melinda: Do you think she did?
Antonio Romano: I think....I think it doesn’t matter anymore!
Melinda: If it doesn’t matter then why ask the question?
Antonio Romano: What other purpose in life does a question have, if not to be asked?
Melinda: I don’t know. But in that case, I have a question for you! Your real name was never Maniac right? I mean you were given a different name at birth, correct? What happened to that young man? What happened to him when you became “The Human Horror Reel” Maniac? Why did you become Maniac? Is it merely a stage name for your wrestling career?
Antonio Romano: I was born with a different name; it is a long and dark story that takes me from birth to the birth of Maniac....the hardcore icon himself!
Melinda: Well, we’re out of time for today....but when you come back I’d really like to hear it.
Antonio Romano: Sure! I’ll bring the marshmallows and we can build a campfire right in the middle of your office by burning your desk. Then I’ll regale you with stories of my delightful past. Till then I’m leaving. Oh and I know I’ve been great company to you today so....YOU’RE WELCOME!
Melinda: Good. I’m looking forward to it Antonio. Please remind my secretary on the way out that you’ll be back for another session. I will let the HWA execs know you showed up.
*Antonio shakes her hand and walks out of her office. His girlfriend, Ashley, is waiting on a couch outside. She jumps up at the sight of him and runs to him. She hugs him tightly and gives him a kiss. Her brown hair is wavy and wraps around her ears. Antonio glances down at her breasts as they try to force their way out of her shirt and lets a sly smile cross his face.*
Ash: All done for the day?
Antonio Romano: I guess so!
Ash: What did you guys talk about?
Antonio Romano: Sheik Shakir sucks and he deserved the beating he got, Senester will die at Havoc and I’ll soon become the NEW HWA World Champion, Santa Claus is a #####, and my mom is a b###h! We pretty much sang all the classics.
Ash: OK then! Let’s get out of here and back to the hotel. I am in serious need of some kick-ass sex and you need to deliver. Handcuffs tonight?
Antonio Romano: Sure, why not?
Ash: Ok let’s bounce then!
Antonio Romano: Oh shyt! I got to go tell the secretary that I’ll be back for another session.
Ash: Ok! I’ll go get the car and bring it around front then. With you and your damn driver taking me everywhere I miss driving.
Antonio Romano: Ok I’ll be down in a second.
Ash: Ok but hurry up! I need some loving before I pass out. I’m so damned tired today. Seriously, why are the days so long?
*Ash ponders this question as she leaves through a door that leads down some stairs and out to the street. Antonio stares at the door as it closes.*
Antonio Romano: I don’t know bro .but I know from here on out nothing can ever be the same again.
*Antonio stands there in a daze, seemingly unaware that he even just said something. He quickly snaps out of it and locates the secretary to make his next appointment. He can’t wait to tell the tale of how Maniac came to be. But he’s not sure Melinda will want to hear it. Not all of it, anyway.....*
TO BE CONTINUED......
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