Off camera

We open to the inside of Maniac’s bus, Havoc is over, and Maniac is sitting at the bar having a drink in celebration of not only the victory for the New Age Psychos but him being named number one contender to the HWA Championship at Fatality. Maniac has just finished his second drink when there is a knock at the bus door, thinking that it’s Roderick wanting an interview Maniac heads over to the door and opens it to find the HWA Champion himself Stu-E Price. Maniac can only look on in disbelief for a few moments before he shakes it off and smiles.

Maniac: Well, hey, Champ wasn’t expecting you, but please come in.

Maniac heads back in motioning for Stu-E to follow.

Maniac: I thought you were Roddy looking for an interview, but you’re not him, and I doubt you’re looking for an interview. Would you like a drink?

Stu-E: I’ll grab a Dr. Pepper…

Maniac nods and heads behind the bar, fishing around he finds a Dr. Pepper finally and sits it on the bar.

Maniac: Have a seat, so to what do I owe the pleasure of this little visit champ?

Maniac makes himself another jack and coke and takes a drink before setting it down and leaning on the bar, resting his elbows on the bar itself and placing his fists on his chin focusing his full attention on Stu-E.

Stu-E: Why wait for a hastily edited promo, when I can just sit here and look you dead in the eye and see where you're at? Wasn't that long ago we were sitting in a bar sipping whisky and you telling me how you wanted to take over HWA, before our last match.

Maniac chuckles and nods, lifting up from his resting position and standing straight up. He grabs his glass and takes another drink.

Maniac: Those weren’t my plans, truthfully the one who made those plans is unfortunately still lurking around. I thought I got rid of it at Road To  Ruin, but I was mistaken, and it’s back now with a vengeance. Listen, if you see Wolfy stay away from him, the demon has him like it did Erica. Fuk, I’m tired of explaining this. Everyone seen it for themselves and have acknowledged its existence.

Maniac chugs the rest of his drink and makes another.

Stu-E: Mate, since I've been Champion I barely see anyone. It's to the ring, do my shit then it's meetings and interviews, appearances and trying to explain to Laney she ain't a wrestler!

Another chuckle escapes Maniac’s lips.

Maniac: How’s she doing? She’s a brave kid, and I can’t blame her for wanting to follow in her dad’s footsteps. However, Champ, I just want to know what bubble you’ve been living in? You haven’t noticed anything weird going on? Nothing at all? I hate to burst your DILF bubble, but there is a real full-fledged demon running around. After leaving me, it got a hold of Erica, and now it has Wolfy. How have you made it this far without noticing what’s going on around you?

Stu-E: Oh, I know what's going on, I'm just saying the window for me bumping in to Wolfy and having an issue is relatively slim, given my responsibilities. To be honest, when he first arrived I thought he needed a bit of bite to him, but you gave him the whole bloody cookie! Laney on the other hand, I brought her up to never be a damsel in distress. Just sometimes she gets her Dad's "#### it, I'm doing it" attitude and away she goes. Hopefully the arm is a warning to her, I know she's pissed off she can't play Gorilla Tag at the minute!

Maniac makes another drink and then comes out from behind the bar and sits down on the bar stool next to Stu-E.

Maniac: Don’t worry, once it has you in its sights, it’ll make itself known. And it won’t be shy to get right up in your face and turn your life upside down no matter your responsibilities, giving you that bite you just mentioned. And speaking of responsibilities of the champ, it looks like it’s you and I in the main event of Fatality for that title of yours.

Maniac takes another drink.

Stu-E: I'll take the warning, but it's nothing I haven't dealt with in the past. I used to know a group who enjoyed inserting a broomstick up people's arseholes so I'm sure I'll be just fine. But anyway, this title match is why I'm here. It was all those months ago when I showed the fans that behind the bullshit, you're actually a good wrestler. Truth be told, that match was probably the starting point for you not to be as hated with the general public!

Maniac stares in disbelief with the information he just received before shaking it off and taking another drink.

Maniac: Ok, I’ll process that later, but did you just say that YOU showed the fans that I was a good wrestler? You do know that I’ve been here before, right Stu? That I’ve not only won the world title but other titles when they were here, when that egomaniacal Madman Senester ran the place. When Buff Bridges, ICE, Luscious Lenny, and the rest of them were all running around here, I was in the middle of that. The fans know I’m a good wrestler from me putting in the hard work in that ring, not you. And if you knew me, you know that public opinion is something I’ve never been concerned with.

Maniac takes another drink before removing his pack of cigarettes and removes one, putting it in his mouth and lighting it. He takes a drag before continuing.

Maniac: Are you sure you don’t want something stronger than a Dr. Pepper?

Stu-E: You were nothing before our match, you were a gimmick and you know it. All people saw when they looked at you was the stupid shit you'd said and done.

Maniac stares at Stu-E for a moment before bursting out in laughter.

Maniac: Nice try, champ, but I’m not Sean. Besides, I don’t care for other’s opinions, remember?

Stu-E: You got me, haha! Just ####ing with you! I actually came here to say it's a pay per view named Fatality, I don't think we should just have a plain ol' wrestling match? I'm not talking Judy Bagwell on a pole match, but something more fitting of the event name.

Maniac chuckles and finishes his drink, then takes another drag off his cigarette.

Maniac: I agree. Truth be told, I have another match that I came up with that has only been shown once. Like the asylum match, it is brutal, but it is like nothing anyone’s ever seen. It’s called the room of thumbtacks match, the ring is surrounded by a glass dome with no doors, it only has holes at the top for air ventilation and one hole on the side of the dome where there is a huge air blowing machine attached to it. The dome is lowered down over the ring, and the ring area is covered with millions of tacks, and the ropes are replaced with barbwire. Every five minutes, the air machine kicks on, sending the tacks flying around, and, of course, would hit anyone and everyone in the ring. To win is simple, by pin or submission.

Maniac takes another drag off his cigarette.

Maniac: So what do you think?

Stu-E: I smell a little FMW, sunshine. To be honest, I’ve already beaten you in a wrestling machine so it would be good to give the fans something different this time around. It's been hard convincing some people I deserve to be Champion so maybe stepping in to your domain would silence some critics. Especially if I manage to beat you again. You think Butch and Wisdom would for go for such a thing? I don’t mind losing a bit of blood if it means it brings some validation to my title reign.

Maniac laughs nervously and scratches at the back of his head with one hand as he finishes cigarette with the other.

Maniac: I’m not sure. It took them a lot of convincing to do the asylum match, and in the end, it was Matt who convinced them to do it. Maybe if we both went and talked to them or at least you, they might listen, but if I just went and asked, they’d tell me to fuk off.

Stu-E: Maybe do something you've never done and asked them what they thought was best for business? That would catch them off guard! We want the match to be the best match of the night, we want it to be more than just a wrestling match. I'm sure they'd want it to be memorable too, it's just making sure it all fits in the confines of a modern day wrestling company.

Maniac nods sarcastically.

Maniac: Yeah, sure, Stu, that’ll totally convince them. Are you forgetting that I’m one of if not the least liked person on this roster, especially by management. And am I the crazy one here, but isn’t this supposed to be the place where matches like this are just as normal as a one-on-one? When did we have to start getting fuking permission to do these matches?

Maniac gets up and walks behind the bar to make himself another drink.

Maniac: Are you sure you don’t want a stronger drink?

Stu-E: #### it, get me a beer. It's not 1997 anymore, bud. Gotta follow company lines now, and I like my pay being what it is. No good for anybody if we get thrown off the air. The days of Cannibal Holocaust are gone, now it's the era of Stranger Things. This is the World we live in now.

Maniac chuckles as he retrieves a beer for Stu-E. He pops the cap off and slides the beer across the bar.

Maniac: That’s the thing Stu, does the past truly die? Or just parts of it that people want to die? I never agreed with one single thing that Demon said or did except one thing it said, and that was what it said about this place. This is a unique wrestling company unlike any other. We’re not scripted, nor do we rehearse anything. What we do is real and totally raw, and that’s what makes us stand out. That’s what makes us number one in the ratings. Because we don’t sugarcoat things nor do we fake it, we go out there and beat the ever living shyt out of each other and if we really hate each other then well the beatings are that much worse. Fuk what any haters have to say, the formula works it always has and always will and the fact that Butch and Wisdom want to change this place to make it another WWE or AEW, like the OTHERS makes me sick to my ####ing stomach.

Maniac downs his drink and gets another cigarette out and lights it.

Stu-E: Things just evolve, granted, not everything for the best but still; times change and those who don't change with it get left behind. If we as a company want to stay ahead of everybody else unfortunately, we have to be real about it and leave  the garbage with people like AEW. I'm sure if you, me and the Parker's put our heads together we can craft something perfect for Fatality.

Maniac takes a steady breath, holds it, then releases it, following up with taking a deep drag off his cigarette.

Maniac: I just don’t want to see this company lose what made it special is all, I don’t care for many things Stu but this company is something I love more than anything in this world and I will defend it with my last dying breath. But you’re right. Evolution is necessary for the success of this company. However,  one way or another, I won’t let people forget what made this company what it is today. I hope they listen. They’re pretty distracted with Senester popping back up…

Maniac involuntary shutters at the mention of his name.

Maniac: But I’m willing to sit down and discuss plans for Fatality if they agree to actually listen.

Stu-E: Can't really say fairer than that, see what they say. I'll send them a message saying you'd like to have a discussion about the pay-per-view and I'm happy to play in your playground to prove myself as Champion. Who knows, maybe you'll be pouring Butch a drink, next!

Maniac: Yeah…

Maniac looks over at the non-existent camera.

Maniac: The same time people in Hell get ice water.

Maniac winks and turns back to Stu-E.

Maniac: Only time will tell, I really hope they agree to this match because it would be one hell of a main event. And it would be the utmost honor to have you step into my playground, it only sucks that you’re going to lose..

Maniac smirks and takes another drag from his cigarette. Price smiles, and downs his beer.

Stu-E: In the words of Jack Burton, ‘Give me your best shot, pal. I can take it!’

Price gets up and nods at Maniac and goes to leave. Maniac chuckles and finishes his cigarette, putting it out and once again walks out from behind the bar.

Maniac: Haha, great movie. Seriously though, Stu, I look forward to this match whether it's the room of thumbtacks or just a one-on-one and not just because the title is on the line but because you're one hell of a competitor. You're one of the best today, and I want to be the best, so just like your buddy Ric Flair would say, "To be the man, you gotta BEAT the man! WOOOO!!!!" Thanks for stopping by Stu. It was nice sitting down and having a chat with you. Give Laney my best, would you?

Price just smiles and nods, “appreciate it" Maniac returns the nod and shows Stu-E the way out. As exit the bus, Maniac looks around to make sure no one else is there and then turns to the champ.

Maniac: One more thing, if you are looking for an interview, I would go with Roddy right now or another intern. Mandy is...ummm, not feeling like her usual cheery self.

Maniac smiles nervously and then looks around once more before heading back into the bus and closing the door as the scene fades.