Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2014 12:31:40 GMT -5
(We open in a spacious log cabin cum dojo. A quick scan around reveals boxing bags, a free weights zone, crash mats and numerous colourful and shiny accolades proudly displayed from a variety of sports competitors. Grunts, groans and hellacious bangs emanate from a ring that is mostly off camera. Around the ring are a group of four young wrestling trainees, wincing in trepidation at the action before their eyes. Percy Micro is delightedly feasting from a trough positioned outside the other side of the ring.)
(In the ring, Brent Alpine is throwing two apprentice grapplers around like rag dolls. One of them gets up and tries to strike The Shine from behind but he rapidly ducks, runs to the ropes and flattens the youngster with an enziguri to the chin.)
Percy Micro: Sir, is this really necessary?
Brent Alpine: Excellence is always necessary.
Percy Micro: But, if rumours are believed, Serbia may not even show up to Timebomb. It looks like she has left the company and certainly won't be putting her all in even if she is there. Why are you training like a madman?
Brent Alpine: Strewth, a madman? Really mate?! Come and take my pulse.
Percy Micro (still gnawing on pig feed): Err, somewhat busy here.
Brent Alpine: Heart rate unchanged. No perspiration. Barely breathing. Do I look like a madman?
(The two pitiful trainees begin to come round.)
Brent Alpine: Come on then drongos. Come at me.
(The apprentice wrestlers look at each other wearily and slide out of the ring. They motion to Alpine with raised hands as if waving a white flag. Nursing their bruises, they limp to the other side of the dojo and collapse on the mat.)
Brent Alpine: No shame in that. I'm an advocate for giving up quick if you ain't got it. There's nothing more embarrassing than a flamin' galah trying to flog a cremated horse. Too many people subscribe to futile philosophies like self improvement. Hard work is admirable but you're setting yourself up for a painful fall if you believe greatness is in reach.
(Three of the four remaining academy students look discouraged. The other seems nonplussed.)
Brent Alpine: Don't get me wrong. If you're currently awful, laboring and toiling your way to mediocrity is a positive pursuit and absolutely worth your time and training fees. The majority of the WCF roster have done this and fair dinkum to them. Everyone's so petrified of taking their regrets to the grave. So listen to me clearly, blokes, this should be your burning ambition. Most trainers will come here and inflate you with impossible dreams of being like The Shine. NO!!!!!!!! That is too cruel for school. I doubt any of you are special. Look at it in the cold light of day, you can count on one hand those who truly excel in this world. Because of this sad reality, society is quick to band around words like 'legend' and 'superstar' because they always need a savior. That's why, when someone remarkable comes, mankind freaks out and either crucifies them or, in my case, ignores them.
(Almost to prove the point, one of the trainees yawns and looks at the wall.)
Brent Alpine: YOU. Yes, you, drongo! Come into the ring. NOW!
(The cocky student saunters into the ring. His peers look fearful for his safety as The Shine towers up against him, burning with malevolent intensity.)
Brent Alpine: Kid, you're yawning your way through what will be the greatest advice that can ever be gifted to wrestling hopefuls. Do you know what I'm going to say?
(The youngster shrugs dismissively.)
Brent Alpine: I was going to say... Don't strive for excellence, strive for mediocrity! However, you seem to have something different about you. Could you be special? I like your jib, mate.
(Alpine offers a handshake. The trainee laughs and looks away in arrogance. The Shine suddenly strikes him with a stinging slap that echoes around the dojo. The other wrestlers gasp. Enraged and losing his composure, the cocky upstart charges at Brent with a spear. Alpine reverses the spear into a DDT so hard that the canvas springs seem to break. He gets on top of the trainee and twists his arms and chin into the Mount Unpleasant camel clutch.)
Brent Alpine (genuinely concerned): SORRY MATE! AM I HURTING YOU?! I SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS!
(Although Alpine's remorse grows, so does the pressure he's exerting on the trainee. The other students shout at him to get off.)
Percy Micro: Mr. Alpine, leave him be. He's learnt his lesson.
Brent Alpine: I can't help it.
Percy Micro: Yes you can. Just get off him.
Brent Alpine: I can't. I don't know what's happening to me... Guys, get me off!
(Two of the other students enter the ring and cautiously approach Alpine to prise him off their comrade. However, The Shine swats them off with big punches as they get remotely close. They fall like dominoes. The other remaining trainee has entered the ring behind him and is ready to strike.)
Percy Micro: Behind you!
(The other student attempts a running dropkick. Alpine quickly dismounts the cocky student which causes the stealthy trainee to dropkick his peer in the back of the head. Alpine stacks all four of them on top of each other with their faces to the mat. He jumps atop them and secures all four in Mount Unpleasant at the same time.)
Brent Alpine: FORGIVE ME! YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE COME HERE!
(The hold is interrupted by the sound of a slam. The doors to the dojo swing open and a behemoth of a man steps through. He must be nearing seven foot tall, wears an ominous snarl and his shaven head is blemished with scars.)
Brent Alpine: Who on earth are you?!
(Brent gets up, leaving the four trainees in agony on the mat. The giant monster enters the ring and stares him down.)
Brent Alpine: Could it be... you are special?!
(The behemoth draws closer to Alpine and roars in his face. Brent recoils. This gives the giant chance to strike him with a hefty elbow shot. Alpine staggers. As the beast tries to do it again, Alpine catches his arm and kicks him in the gut. He performs the Glow Worm and the man topples like a tree cut from its base. Alpine stands over the carnage and observes the four decimated students, the motionless giant and two other students cowering on the crash mats outside the ring. Percy Micro comes and sniffs around them. They start to brush him away but, in fear of Alpine, let him smell and slobber on them.)
Brent Alpine: Is that clear, blokes? No matter how much you train, no matter how confident or big you are, radiance cannot be earned. Learn when to walk away. In your case, that's now. In Serbia's case, that's also now. She is being smart if she has indeed handed in her notice. She tried her best but the WCF already has the maximum allowance of brilliance physically possible in one place at one time... in the form of 'The Shine' Brent Alpine.
Percy Micro: But surely you must concede that you are not the only talent in the WCF?
Brent Alpine: I don't concede lies, Percy Wercy. The Shine is the only Talent with a capital T. There may be some people on the upper spectrum of mediocrity, granted, but the talent allowance has already been fulfilled and exceeded in yours truly. What a ripper I am!
Percy Micro: So why are you seeking to join a stable? You will be fine on your own, sir.
Brent Alpine: It was a generous overflow of mercy. I believe in miracles and am reminded of them every time I look in the mirror. I wish to bring about the greatest miracle in WCF history by bringing others into somewhere approaching my magnitude of supremacy. The only chance of that happening is for them to befriend me and hope to gain some of my SHINE by osmosis.
Percy Micro: This won't end well...
(Alpine leaves the ring and holds a slop drenched Percy Micro in his arms. The wannabee wrestlers are still slumped to the mat.)
(We cut to a dimly lit control room. It is being manned by a spectacle wearing prep boy and a woman whose demeanor can be best described as mousy. They are commanding ten monitors. The main screen has a close up of Brent Alpine's face as he carries Percy Micro out of the dojo. The other screens contain lines of illegible data and surveillance of the dojo, the rooms of a house and a garden. The mousy woman is listening through one earphone and clasps at a microphone.)
Prep Boy: Julie, we need to get ready for the handover in ten minutes. The night shift guys will be here shortly.
Julie: Give me a moment. Brent needs some positive reinforcement.
(Julie presses a button on the microphone. It glows red. She leans in to speak through it. We hear her human voice as well as the robotic voice alteration that the microphone produces.)
Julie: You did really well in there today. You should stay solo.
(We are back in the dojo. Alpine gazes adoringly at Percy Micro in his arms as he swings open the door and steps out to the woodland area outside.)
Brent Alpine: Aww thanks Percy. I'll consider it.
(Cut back to the control room. Julie turns off the mic and turns to the Prep Boy with a hint of sadness.)
Julie: Greg, do you ever wonder if this is the right thing to do? Brent really cares for Percy but he has absolutely no idea what our intentions are or who we work for.
Greg: And that's the way it'll stay for now! Choose to focus on the financial implications rather than the moral ones. You're in sympathy and that's just weakness.
(Julie sighs. Greg's phone rings.)
Greg: Hello boss. (inaudible response) Everything's fine. Alpine's just thrown around some wrestling apprentices. He seems mentally prepared for Timebomb. (inaudible response) No, I'm sorry. We're still not sure what group Brent's joining tomorrow. (inaudible response) I'm very sorry, boss. We have to try to keep our cover. We ask but Alpine just laughs it off by saying that he's joining the Dreamboys male stripper troupe. (inaudible response) No, nothing. No one seems to have contacted him at all. He's not a man in demand. I personally don't think he'll join any stable. If I hear anything on tomorrow's day shift, I'll obviously let you know. (inaudible response) We won't let you down. Thanks boss. Goodbye.
(Fade out.)
(In the ring, Brent Alpine is throwing two apprentice grapplers around like rag dolls. One of them gets up and tries to strike The Shine from behind but he rapidly ducks, runs to the ropes and flattens the youngster with an enziguri to the chin.)
Percy Micro: Sir, is this really necessary?
Brent Alpine: Excellence is always necessary.
Percy Micro: But, if rumours are believed, Serbia may not even show up to Timebomb. It looks like she has left the company and certainly won't be putting her all in even if she is there. Why are you training like a madman?
Brent Alpine: Strewth, a madman? Really mate?! Come and take my pulse.
Percy Micro (still gnawing on pig feed): Err, somewhat busy here.
Brent Alpine: Heart rate unchanged. No perspiration. Barely breathing. Do I look like a madman?
(The two pitiful trainees begin to come round.)
Brent Alpine: Come on then drongos. Come at me.
(The apprentice wrestlers look at each other wearily and slide out of the ring. They motion to Alpine with raised hands as if waving a white flag. Nursing their bruises, they limp to the other side of the dojo and collapse on the mat.)
Brent Alpine: No shame in that. I'm an advocate for giving up quick if you ain't got it. There's nothing more embarrassing than a flamin' galah trying to flog a cremated horse. Too many people subscribe to futile philosophies like self improvement. Hard work is admirable but you're setting yourself up for a painful fall if you believe greatness is in reach.
(Three of the four remaining academy students look discouraged. The other seems nonplussed.)
Brent Alpine: Don't get me wrong. If you're currently awful, laboring and toiling your way to mediocrity is a positive pursuit and absolutely worth your time and training fees. The majority of the WCF roster have done this and fair dinkum to them. Everyone's so petrified of taking their regrets to the grave. So listen to me clearly, blokes, this should be your burning ambition. Most trainers will come here and inflate you with impossible dreams of being like The Shine. NO!!!!!!!! That is too cruel for school. I doubt any of you are special. Look at it in the cold light of day, you can count on one hand those who truly excel in this world. Because of this sad reality, society is quick to band around words like 'legend' and 'superstar' because they always need a savior. That's why, when someone remarkable comes, mankind freaks out and either crucifies them or, in my case, ignores them.
(Almost to prove the point, one of the trainees yawns and looks at the wall.)
Brent Alpine: YOU. Yes, you, drongo! Come into the ring. NOW!
(The cocky student saunters into the ring. His peers look fearful for his safety as The Shine towers up against him, burning with malevolent intensity.)
Brent Alpine: Kid, you're yawning your way through what will be the greatest advice that can ever be gifted to wrestling hopefuls. Do you know what I'm going to say?
(The youngster shrugs dismissively.)
Brent Alpine: I was going to say... Don't strive for excellence, strive for mediocrity! However, you seem to have something different about you. Could you be special? I like your jib, mate.
(Alpine offers a handshake. The trainee laughs and looks away in arrogance. The Shine suddenly strikes him with a stinging slap that echoes around the dojo. The other wrestlers gasp. Enraged and losing his composure, the cocky upstart charges at Brent with a spear. Alpine reverses the spear into a DDT so hard that the canvas springs seem to break. He gets on top of the trainee and twists his arms and chin into the Mount Unpleasant camel clutch.)
Brent Alpine (genuinely concerned): SORRY MATE! AM I HURTING YOU?! I SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS!
(Although Alpine's remorse grows, so does the pressure he's exerting on the trainee. The other students shout at him to get off.)
Percy Micro: Mr. Alpine, leave him be. He's learnt his lesson.
Brent Alpine: I can't help it.
Percy Micro: Yes you can. Just get off him.
Brent Alpine: I can't. I don't know what's happening to me... Guys, get me off!
(Two of the other students enter the ring and cautiously approach Alpine to prise him off their comrade. However, The Shine swats them off with big punches as they get remotely close. They fall like dominoes. The other remaining trainee has entered the ring behind him and is ready to strike.)
Percy Micro: Behind you!
(The other student attempts a running dropkick. Alpine quickly dismounts the cocky student which causes the stealthy trainee to dropkick his peer in the back of the head. Alpine stacks all four of them on top of each other with their faces to the mat. He jumps atop them and secures all four in Mount Unpleasant at the same time.)
Brent Alpine: FORGIVE ME! YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE COME HERE!
(The hold is interrupted by the sound of a slam. The doors to the dojo swing open and a behemoth of a man steps through. He must be nearing seven foot tall, wears an ominous snarl and his shaven head is blemished with scars.)
Brent Alpine: Who on earth are you?!
(Brent gets up, leaving the four trainees in agony on the mat. The giant monster enters the ring and stares him down.)
Brent Alpine: Could it be... you are special?!
(The behemoth draws closer to Alpine and roars in his face. Brent recoils. This gives the giant chance to strike him with a hefty elbow shot. Alpine staggers. As the beast tries to do it again, Alpine catches his arm and kicks him in the gut. He performs the Glow Worm and the man topples like a tree cut from its base. Alpine stands over the carnage and observes the four decimated students, the motionless giant and two other students cowering on the crash mats outside the ring. Percy Micro comes and sniffs around them. They start to brush him away but, in fear of Alpine, let him smell and slobber on them.)
Brent Alpine: Is that clear, blokes? No matter how much you train, no matter how confident or big you are, radiance cannot be earned. Learn when to walk away. In your case, that's now. In Serbia's case, that's also now. She is being smart if she has indeed handed in her notice. She tried her best but the WCF already has the maximum allowance of brilliance physically possible in one place at one time... in the form of 'The Shine' Brent Alpine.
Percy Micro: But surely you must concede that you are not the only talent in the WCF?
Brent Alpine: I don't concede lies, Percy Wercy. The Shine is the only Talent with a capital T. There may be some people on the upper spectrum of mediocrity, granted, but the talent allowance has already been fulfilled and exceeded in yours truly. What a ripper I am!
Percy Micro: So why are you seeking to join a stable? You will be fine on your own, sir.
Brent Alpine: It was a generous overflow of mercy. I believe in miracles and am reminded of them every time I look in the mirror. I wish to bring about the greatest miracle in WCF history by bringing others into somewhere approaching my magnitude of supremacy. The only chance of that happening is for them to befriend me and hope to gain some of my SHINE by osmosis.
Percy Micro: This won't end well...
(Alpine leaves the ring and holds a slop drenched Percy Micro in his arms. The wannabee wrestlers are still slumped to the mat.)
(We cut to a dimly lit control room. It is being manned by a spectacle wearing prep boy and a woman whose demeanor can be best described as mousy. They are commanding ten monitors. The main screen has a close up of Brent Alpine's face as he carries Percy Micro out of the dojo. The other screens contain lines of illegible data and surveillance of the dojo, the rooms of a house and a garden. The mousy woman is listening through one earphone and clasps at a microphone.)
Prep Boy: Julie, we need to get ready for the handover in ten minutes. The night shift guys will be here shortly.
Julie: Give me a moment. Brent needs some positive reinforcement.
(Julie presses a button on the microphone. It glows red. She leans in to speak through it. We hear her human voice as well as the robotic voice alteration that the microphone produces.)
Julie: You did really well in there today. You should stay solo.
(We are back in the dojo. Alpine gazes adoringly at Percy Micro in his arms as he swings open the door and steps out to the woodland area outside.)
Brent Alpine: Aww thanks Percy. I'll consider it.
(Cut back to the control room. Julie turns off the mic and turns to the Prep Boy with a hint of sadness.)
Julie: Greg, do you ever wonder if this is the right thing to do? Brent really cares for Percy but he has absolutely no idea what our intentions are or who we work for.
Greg: And that's the way it'll stay for now! Choose to focus on the financial implications rather than the moral ones. You're in sympathy and that's just weakness.
(Julie sighs. Greg's phone rings.)
Greg: Hello boss. (inaudible response) Everything's fine. Alpine's just thrown around some wrestling apprentices. He seems mentally prepared for Timebomb. (inaudible response) No, I'm sorry. We're still not sure what group Brent's joining tomorrow. (inaudible response) I'm very sorry, boss. We have to try to keep our cover. We ask but Alpine just laughs it off by saying that he's joining the Dreamboys male stripper troupe. (inaudible response) No, nothing. No one seems to have contacted him at all. He's not a man in demand. I personally don't think he'll join any stable. If I hear anything on tomorrow's day shift, I'll obviously let you know. (inaudible response) We won't let you down. Thanks boss. Goodbye.
(Fade out.)
