Fade In
* The scene begins with an exterior shot of a physical rehabilitation center in Tokyo, Japan. We cut to the front of the building and move through the front lobby. The cameras come to a stop after moving through the entrance leading to the facility’s physical rehabilitation rooms. We move into one of the rooms to find Michael James who has an ice pack resting on his forehead. We see his girlfriend Velvet enter the room and take a seat next to James *
Velvet: So how's it feeling now?
Michael James: Like I got hit in the head with a ####ing cinder block.
* Velvet looks at James with slight worry as he James adjusts the ice pack *
Michael James: You know what pisses me off the most about this?
Velvet: What?
Michael James: In the twenty some odd years I’ve been doing this kind of work, I’ve never had to go through any kind of rehab to get back on my feet. The last time I was here they said everything was fine and I was cleared for action.
Velvet: Babe, you got hit in the face with a damn shovel at point blank range.
Michael James: Yea. Close to three damn years ago. According to the medical records I didn’t suffer any permanent damage so I shouldn’t be having these problems.
Velvet: Well, you’re only human, babe. You bleed and break just like the rest of us.
Michael James: I don’t know. I guess I expected more out of myself. But it does prove one thing to be true I’ve been ignoring for a while now.
Velvet: What? That you need to step away--
Michael James: No. It’s living proof that if I don’t do something drastic soon it’s going to seriously effect my reputation in the company. You know me, babe. I’ve never been the type of guy to quit while I’m ahead and that’s not about to change because of some bullshit injury.
* Velvet rolls her eyes *
Velvet: So exactly how do you plan to compete against this Price guy?
Michael James: Busted skull or not Velvet, I’m going to finish what I started with Price. I'm in a lot of ####ing pain right now but once we make it to Blood, Sweat and Tears I’m not going to feel a thing. That’s why they make painkillers.
Velvet: I hope you’re right.
* A doctor enters the room holding a clipboard. He takes a seat across from James and Velvet *
Doctor: Okay Mr. James. I’ve been looking over your progress and it looks like if you stay active with the program you'll be back in the ring in no time.
Michael James: What’s "no time"?
Doctor: Well, at the pace you're going I would say somewhere between three weeks to a month.
Michael James: WHAT?!
* James tosses the ice pack across the room and looks up at the doctor *
Michael James: That’s not going to work for me, doc. I have one of the biggest matches of my career coming up and I’m sure as hell not letting something like this stand in my way of earning a paycheck.
Velvet: Here we go.
Michael James: Are you gonna pay my bills? HUH?!
Doctor: Don’t be crazy Miste—
Michael James: Crazy?
Doctor: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that—
Michael James: No, it’s okay. If you said it, you said it. Maybe I am crazy. Maybe I should be in a state asylum right now instead of paying you by the ####ing hour to sit around and tell me shit that I don’t want to hear.
Doctor: That’s certainly not the case I can assure--
Michael James: Then shut the #### up and remember what you're getting paid for. You're here to help me get my shit back into working condition and to sign your ####ing name on the line to clear me out of this hellhole. Understood?
Doctor: Yes. Mr. James.
Michael James: Good.
* The doctor walks away from James with a distraught look on his face and the cameras pan back to James who is seen pacing around the room. Velvet stands behind Michael James and begins massaging his shoulders. He begins thinking about the Stun Cutter he suffered on the most recent edition Havoc at the hands of Stu E Price. Velvet kisses James on his cheek and moves to the other side of the room. James keeps a mental focus on his upcoming confrontation at Blood, Sweat and Tears *
Michael James: Sick of me yet, Price? Yes, I thought so. But don’t worry. Because after I take this opportunity at Blood, Sweat and Tears to shove all of your pointless bullshit back down your throat you're not going to have the guts to show your face mildly close to anywhere I am. You might not remember every match you've had in the past Price but you’re sure as hell going to remember this one. Where you may not be special, original or out of the ordinary...this match is. Why? Because I say it is. You see, I’ve proven time and time again that I’m a man that can get things done. I’ve proven to people who are much better than you will ever prove to be why I’m a force to be reckoned with in the HWA. I’m a former world champion and king of the deathmatch where you’re just looking to earn your own recognition with a victory over the best the company has to offer. I eat the willpower of men like you for ####ing breakfast, Price. So don’t think you can intimidate me in any way, shape or form. And why do I walk around thinking I’m the best? It’s because it’s not just one man’s opinion. It’s a proven fact you simple minded piece of shit. Men like you go around their entire careers wasting time thinking about being only as good as you think you are and you know what? I don’t think it. I know I’m the best without a shadow of doubt. But you, Price? You must think you really suck because while you've been nothing more but a mid card clown wasting time on things that hold no significance whatsoever, the rest of us have been busy winning.
* James places a cigarette in between his lips and goes to light it but a second before he can flick his lighter we see the doctor call out to him *
Doctor: Sorry Mr. James there is no smoking in here...
Michael James: Huh?
Doctor: The building is non-smoking...
Michael James: What kind of selfish assholes won’t allow smoking in a ####ing physical rehab clinic?
Doctor: The Board of Medical Health.
Michael James: You gotta be kidding me.
Doctor: I wish I was.
* James rolls his eyes at the building's policy and tells Velvet to meet him out front. A few seconds later the scene cuts to the front of the building to see a pitch black 1985 5.0 Ford Mustang with the word "Selene" printed across the top of the front window. James heads to the driver side as we see the door open and out steps Velvet Winter who heads around the car and enters through the passenger side. James takes his seat on the driver side and closes the door, adjusts his mirrors and then places the shift in drive. A cross fade transition cuts to a shot inside of the Mustang to hear grindcore heavy metal pumping on the stereo while James is seen puffing on a cigarette. He places his trademark shades on his face and exhales a cloud of smoke from his mouth *
Velvet: So how did he say everything was coming along?
Michael James: He said I’d be ready in about three days.
Velvet: Well I hope that’s the case because this Price guy seems to really want a victory over you.
Michael James: Who doesn’t want a victory over me, Velvet?
Velvet: What?
Michael James: Every up and coming son of a b###h in that dressing room look at me as the big dog, which I am, so they think they can get in a cheap win over me to boost their careers. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind spotting a few guys over the years but not some run of the mill douche bag like Stu Price or Butch Parker. Be honest with me, babe. When you really look at Price what do you see?
Velvet: An idiot?
Michael James: Besides that.
Velvet: Zach Gowen?
Michael James: Exactly! That dude isn’t showing me anything I haven’t seen before so beating him isn’t going to be a difficult task.
* Velvet laughs to herself and leans over planting a kiss on his cheek. James grows a smile on his face while running his hand across her inner thigh. As the car continues to roam on the interstate we see the cameras pan in on James showing him exhaling a stream of smoke from his mouth while thinking to himself *
Michael James: No one asked you what you think about me Price. Unlike you, when people see that I have a new promo ready for viewing they're going rush to see what I have to say. Why do you think that is? Because when I speak people ####ing listen. When you speak all they do is laugh. And no, they aren’t laughing with you. They’re laughing at you like I have been this I arrived in the company. I can look around the HWA and see potential for miles with guys like Senester, Chuckles, Freddie Styles and even Antonio Romano. You know what I see when I look at you Price? I see a ####ing shadow and a memory. A memory of a guy who used to be a tough son of a b###h and now all I see is a pathetic goon who just wants to be the center of attention. One thing you need to do is take that overbearing and useless confidence and cram it right back up your ass because it’s not going to work. You're like those birds you see that fly into the electric cables seconds after they saw a flock of their own kind get blown to shit. How long are you going to keep it up until you eventually explode, Price? Everyone has a breaking point and after I beat you at Blood, Sweat and Tears you will learn where yours is. You aren’t an individual. You're just a damn lost sheep looking for a herd to blend into. When this is all said and done you can flame me for all I care. At the end of the day it’s my untouched reputation that keeps me on top. Not my popularity status amongst Skype sessions or useless chatter. You see, I call you a mid card piece of shit because that’s what you are. You worship guys like Butch Parker when you need to be earning respect from the man who is destined to become the future of the HWA. Despite what you think I have every right in the damn world to have the ego that I do. I mean, what can you really say you've done to support that pathetic ego you have? A few wins here and there? Sorry, but that’s not enough. In five years people might not remember anything you've to this point but they are sure as hell going to remember the beating you take at the hands of the Personification of Perfection.
* James reaches forward and switches the channel on the car’s stereo system. He pulls his hand away from the dial when he hears the sound of Max Cavalera’s voice *
Michael James: I can promise you this much Price. Whether you lose by pin fall or submission it is a ####ing GUARANTEE you will be LIMPING out of that arena after everything said and done. In this business you earn an ego by breaking people’s necks, taking them out of the game or earning more gold than you can keep track of. As far as I can tell you haven’t done any of those things so where is this ego coming from? Smoke from your ass? I would say so, mother####er. The stage is set and the pieces are all there for the world to see. People want to see Michael James defeat Stu E Price because they know it’s destined to happen. Sometimes in life things don’t work out the way you plan them to. This is one of those many situations for you, Price. We all know you want to win this but sadly we can’t always have what we want. You can’t do the impossible so do me a favor and give it a ####ing rest. Just show up like you usually do and consider yourself lucky if this loss turns out to be the only thing I take from you. You saw what happened to Heckler and Kosh. I took them out of the game and I can do the same thing to you. I don’t like you and I don’t respect you. More importantly, I have no way to benefit from anything you have to offer. Taking you out of the game would just be fun for me. You just need to follow the advice I gave you before and quit now. Quit before I’m forced to erase you from the competition like I did to so many others. Is that what you really want?
* He takes another drag from his cigarette and ashes it out the window. He looks across the car to see Velvet getting ready to take a nap. He smiles and exhales some smoke from his nostrils *
Michael James: The fans won’t miss you, the ones in the back won’t miss you and it’s a ####ing guarantee that I sure as hell won’t miss you. Just make it long enough to show up in Minneapolis for the one sided beating of a lifetime. After that you can leave like the pussy that you always have been. It’s more than obvious who the winner is here and it sure as hell isn’t you, Price. I broke another man's neck for failing to take me seriously so what makes you any different? Nothing. Nothing at all and that’s what you have going for you against the Personification of Perfection. Do you seriously want to compare yourself with the heavy hitters I have managed to add to my flawless list of accomplishments? B###h, please. Any one of those guys could take a shit, wrap it in tin foil and sell it off as a Stu E Price original because that’s what you amount to them. You aren’t on the level and you don’t have the right to claim such obvious lies. How about you start backing up your bullshit by calling some of them out? What’s that? They’re too much for you? That’s right. I forgot. You aren’t anything like me, are you? I will take on anyone at any time in any type of ####ing match and walk out the winner without as much as breaking a sweat. People like you and Parker speak it, but I live it. I live the life of a true champion and the only thing that’s missing is my own coveted championship belt. But soon enough, that’s all going to change. I don’t give a shit what you have to say from this point on and I could care less what you do. Just keep in mind that once that bell rings at Blood, Sweat and Tears, your ass will be due for execution and I'll be the one standing there ready to pull the switch.
* James switches gears and pushes the car’s accelerator pedal to the floor. The sound of the Mustang’s big block engine drowns out everything else in the car as he moves the car onto the interstate. He switches gears and moves the car into the far left lane *
Michael James: I’ve seen a lot of directionless bastards like you throughout my career. It’s a classic tell tale sign of an obvious “never was” and I hate to say this but you’re one of the worst I have ever seen, Price. The most pathetic part is that you truly fail to realize exactly what I am. What I am, is a million times stronger than your pathetic ego will ever make you out to be. I could crush your skull with my bare hands. I can toss you around like a rag doll and I can take this victory over you anytime I damn well see fit. You haven’t earned your place in the company and you sure as hell haven’t earned my respect. I’m never going to view you as a worthy opponent. Even if you miraculously make it out of this match in one piece I will never respect you until you actually earn it. At this point in the game this match isn’t just a match, it’s a ####ing slaughter. When this is over you are going to fade into the background of the HWA, just like the rest of the douche nozzles who are stupid enough to stand in the way of progress. Show up, or don’t show up. I really don’t care. Either way I will be there ready to win and take the first step towards my destiny as the future of the HWA. We both know you're no pro. We know you're no genius and we know you're far from perfect.
* James tosses his cigarette out the window *
Michael James: Price, when I burned you the first time I didn’t do it behind your back. I did it to your ####ing face because I thought it would be fun. And you know what? It was a blast watching you spread eagle on the floor crying like a little b###h so don’t be surprised when you end up doing the same thing at Blood, Sweat and Tears. I’m going to tell you the exact same thing I told Wayne Heckler and Michael Kosh. I’m nothing like you. I’m good enough to beat anyone I ####ing want. That’s what you need to get through your head, Price. You can talk and talk and talk about how great you are or the things you can do and it won’t mean a ####ing thing. I’ve shown the entire company what I can do and so far ninety percent of my opponents have been too chicken shit to strike back. You did the opposite. You put yourself out there and made your intentions known even if you knew it wasn’t the best idea in the world. I can give you credit for your effort but that’s all I can give you credit for. You suck on the microphone and you suck in the ring so if you want my approval you’re going to have to earn it. You see, I don’t have to think about earning victories. Success is to Michael James what failure is to you, Price. I was born to win so I do just that. You were born to lose so you adapt to living the life of a loser. It might not be your fault but that makes no difference to me. You decided to begin this war without having the ability to fight through it where I plan to end it. I just hope you know what you’re getting yourself into. I just hope you can lose this match with some actual dignity. I hope you can find a way to pick yourself back up and find a way to recover from the personal decimation you have awaiting you at Blood, Sweat and Tears.
* James slams his foot on the accelerator one last time and the car quickly moves out of frame *
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* A cross fade transitions cuts the scene to a random hallway of the house. The cameras gradually move along the marble tiled floors while Velvet is heard having an orgasm somewhere close by. We move into the bedroom to see James and Velvet sexually intertwined with one another underneath the sheets. A topless Velvet leans up and straddles James as we see nothing but her blonde hair and bare back as she begins moving up and down on top of James. The camera cuts to a close up on a glass lamp on the night stand next to the bed. As the bed begins to slam against the wall the lamp falls off and smashes on the floor below. We cut to an aerial shot above the bed to see both Michael James and Velvet in a state of exhaustion *
Velvet: Okay. You can go do your research now. I’m gonna sleep.
Michael James: Sure.
* James places a cigarette between his lips. He places a second cigarette between Velvet’s lips and lights both of them with his Zippo lighter *
Michael James: I’ll get right on that after you get your lazy ass up and make me something to eat. That was a damn work out.
* Velvet smacks James in the chest and the two share a laugh together *
Michael James: But all bullshit aside, you’re probably right.
* James sits up and places his feet on the floor. He puts on his t-shirt and jeans before standing up. He takes another drag from his cigarette as he puts on his belt. He tightens the loop and smiles as Velvet turns on her side. Her ass is exposed for the HWA viewers as Michael James looks into the camera with smug expression on his face *
Michael James: Do you need anything?
Velvet: Sleep.
* James reaches across the bed and smacks Velvet across her ass cheek before turning away from the bed. We follow James as he makes his way to the kitchen of the house. He opens a cabinet and pulls out a bottle containing the sedatives prescribed to him by the physician in Tokyo. He opens the bottle and places two sedatives in his mouth. He downs them with a glass of water and moves into the living room. James takes a beer from the refrigerator and casually moves into the living room. He takes a seat in his chair and pops the top on his beer. He takes a swig and looks towards the television *
Michael James: When it comes to the pecking order in the HWA I don’t have anywhere to go but up. People recognize my potential and they say “that guy is going to the world champion one day”. When they see you all they do is laugh. But who can blame them? You’re a ####ing disgrace to yourself and everyone you know. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. That’s just who you are, Price. You’re a douche bag, an embarrassment and a certified piece of shit. Ask anyone in the company and they will tell you the same thing. People look at me and clearly see that I’m a new breed of competition in the HWA. And you know what? That scares the shit out of people. It scares lesser people like you that are afraid of change and afraid of people who you know are better than you will ever be. I’m one of those people, Price. I represent that lack of confidence you share with the rest of the lackluster opponents I’ve had to humiliate throughout my career to make it to this point. I’ve always proven to be a constant man of action while you are still trying to pull your head out of your ass. If you lose to me at Blood, Sweat and Tears it’s because you didn’t do a damn thing to prevent it from happening. If I end up breaking your neck you’ll know it’s because you tried to play hero against a man who doesn’t take shit from anyone. I’ve ended careers for the sake of my own entertainment so if you want to test me, go right ahead. I want you to bring everything you have and put it on the line. I want you to bring your obvious lack of talent and limited vocabulary. I want you to bring your half assed catch phrases. Hell, you can even bring your boyfriend Butch to cheer you on if you want. Because when you step toe to toe with Michael James, you’re going to need a ####ing miracle to make it out in one piece.
* James begins flipping through channels until stopping on a direct pay-per-view commercial for Blood, Sweat and Tears. A promo runs for his match against Stu E Price showing footage involving both men. He rolls his eyes when they run the clip of James being hit the Stun Cutter in slow motion. He takes a swig from his beer and flips to the next channel *
Michael James: I don’t know about you Price but I’m very excited about this match. To be honest, I can’t ####ing wait. For someone like me, a match like this is more than just a battle of ego and wits. This is a gift that has been handed down to me by the good people of the HWA who are allowing this massacre to happen. For someone like you, this is punishment. There is no other way of putting it. You made the mistake of misjudging my capabilities and now you’re paying for it. Instead of being able to go home afterwards, you’re going to be stuck in some emergency room trying to recover from the near death experience you suffered at the hands of Michael James. You want to know where I’ll be, Price? At home drinking Sake and celebrating my first pay-per-view victory in the HWA. If I were you I would start praying right now. Pray for a miracle to give you the strength in a conflict you know you can’t win. Because as of right now I have no serious plans to keep you around for any particular reason after this is over. As far as I’m concerned you could disappear from the face of the earth and it wouldn’t make a difference to anyone. There are only a few things that I can promise you, Price. In this match you’re going to bleed, you’re going to suffer and you’re going to beg for mercy when there is none for you. This type of big fight atmosphere is my ####ing specialty where you’re doing nothing more but walking into yet another match with zero intention of actual success. We’re going to have a packed house ready to witness the demise of a man who is clearly out of his league no matter how you want to look at it.
* Michael James takes another swig of his beer and puts down the remote when he comes across a channel running a twenty four hour slasher flick marathon *
Michael James: This is my opportunity to prove why I’m the best the company has to offer. And don’t get confused, Price. I have nothing to prove to you. Until you’re able to score a victory over me I’m always going to be the better man. You can brag about your prior accomplishments and bore us all to death. Without a legit victory over the Personification of Perfection it still amounts to nothing more than a steaming pile of pointless bullshit. If you look at it from my enlightened point of view, you can understand exactly why I talk about Price the way that I do. It’s kind of sad knowing the truth about him. But that’s how things go sometimes. Even when you want to win, you lose. Just like Price would like to win this match it’s just not going to happen. I’m the only one bringing the talent so I’m the only one who truly stands a chance of survival. He can sugarcoat the loss any way he wants because it makes no difference to me. I’m not leaving Minneapolis without having my hand raised in victory over Stu E Price. If he wanted my undivided attention all he really had to do was ask and I would have been more than happy to grant it to him. But since he took the long route and decided to disrespect the one man who is recognized for taking lesser guys out the game, there is no telling where Price is going to be after Blood, Sweat and Tears. He can either take his place at the back of the line or he can hand in his resignation. I don’t really care. He won’t be my problem anymore. The HWA needs a new face, a new commander. They need someone worthy and talented enough to set company standards and make them stick. People like Stu E Price, Butch Parker and Bryan Deas have clearly proven their worth being nothing more than a much needed kick in the ass. And to tell you the truth I will have no problem being the one to give it to them while I continue proving to be the future of the company.
* James leans forward and picks up a wooden box from a table placed in front of him. He opens the box and looks inside to find a large stash of medicinal marijuana. He reaches inside and removes a pre rolled blunt from the box. He closes the box and places it back on the table. He places the blunt between his lips the lights the end with a match. He exhales a cloud of smoke from his mouth and removes the blunt *
Michael James: There comes a time when the simple point simply does not matter. Because even if I did reach a point I wanted to get straight, it would be useless due to the severe lack of intelligence stemming from the numerous imbeciles that I’m forced to tolerate on a regular basis. The truth is, I am simply the best. Everyone in the company knows that. EVERYONE. I'm the reason why people like Heckler and Kosh are too scared to compete. Just take a look at Price. He wanted to get recognized at my expense so I stood up and I told him to shut the #### up. Now he’s walking into a match that could very well end his career all because he wanted to be the center of attention. At Blood, Sweat and Tears he’s going to get exactly what he’s been asking for. He’s going to learn exactly what happens to men who are stupid enough to test me the same way the census taker tried to test Hannibal Lecter. Granted, cannibalism is always a last resort to any problem but you get the point.
* James takes another hit from the blunt and inhales it deep into his lungs. He slowly exhales the smoke through his nostrils before taking a swig from his beer *
Michael James: Before you strike back with everything that I’m expecting, please do me a favor and give me something I haven’t seen before. I want more than your usual shit stacked on shit because as you can tell from the piss running down your leg I’m not what you would consider one of your average opponents. You know this just as well as everyone else does. Go ahead and admit it Price. Admit the doubt you felt upon sight of your name next to mine. Go ahead and confess your feelings of predetermined failure knowing you’re placed in a contest where victory is not an option. Others like Heckler and Kosh had no problem admitting it and neither should you. There is no shame in the truth so I don’t see why you would have a hard time doing the same as they did. What’s that? You aren’t the same as them? Well, guess what? I’m calling your bluff, asshole. If you want to be different you’re gonna have to prove it. No one earns my respect without a fight. This isn’t going to be a simple ride for you. It’s just like going head to head with a pissed off bull. I’m not going to stop doing what I’m meant to do until you’re breathing your last breath. To you, this is a game. It’s a way for you to draw attention to yourself in hopes of gaining people’s acceptance. For me, it’s about my natural born ability to achieve constant success doing what I do best. I don’t give a shit what people think about me. I’m not in this business for them so I don’t need acceptance from anyone. I don’t need a bullshit moniker for people to know who I am and acknowledge my name as the best. I earn respect and win matches without the help of anyone and that’s exactly what I plan to do when I face you at Blood, Sweat and Tears.
* James downs the rest of his beer and slams the empty bottle down on the table. He leans back in the chair and gets comfortable with the blunt in his mouth. He props up his feet and turns up the volume on the television as the scene fades to black *
Fade Out
Message Thread
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