Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 13:57:42 GMT -5
The road to War is proving to be very interesting. Eric Price is ready to walk into the prestigious and dangerous eleventh annual War Match and is setting a goal of nothing short of victory. Despite the fact that he has not been with the company even a year as of yet, he still expects to come in strong as he has been a very dominant Television Champion and has been taking on all comers. Having beaten Jeff Purse for the title and beating him in a rematch and having nearly run him out of the company, he was riding in strong toward War.
Then Jeff Purse unexpectedly came back and took him to the limit in a post match assault the likes of which has not been seen in a while; a truly memorable moment. Having been rushed to the ER, he had a flash of his inner most wishes but once he came to, he was given some pain pills to calm the hurt of the wounds and he has been told he will be ready to go come War time. However, he has been having some issues in his recent public appearances wherein he says things he does not intend to be heard however, they reveal some of his hidden truths.
Day III: Thursday 9/27 – 9:45 AM – 320 W. 66th Street in New York City
Scene I: Getting Politically Correct
*Eric Price is shown in the backstage area of the set for “The View” where he is scheduled to do an interview. He is wearing a black suit with a burgundy shirt and tie and make up is being applied for television. This interview was setup so as to dispel any ideas that Eric Price is a misogynist as he has often been said to be. Although good PR can be a positive thing, getting it to be good PR is a challenge because on live television, anything can happen. He is currently speaking on his cell phone with his assistant.*
Eric (on cell phone): This has to go well.
Damian (on cell phone): Most of the possible questions have been screened and you’ve already been through them so it should be a synch.
Eric (on cell phone): I don’t know, I have this feeling, this ominous feeling that this will go badly. Plus, you know those “spasms” if you will that I’ve had lately.
Damian (on cell phone): We still can’t figure out the cause for those but as long as you keep yourself under control and try to stay on neutral topics you’ll be fine.
Eric (on cell phone): I suppose. If it can get the media and the people off my back for thinking I’m some elitist, misogynist asshole I think we’ll be fine.
Damian (on cell phone): You’re on in just a few minutes so good luck. I’ll be watching and rooting for you.
Eric (on cell phone): At least someone will be rooting for me because watching, trust me. There are a lot of people who will have eyes on this just to watch me trip all over myself and end up worse for the wear. I’ll talk to you later.
*click*
Eric: I have to stay positive and focused.
*Eric takes a deep breath*
Eric: Okay okay, that’s enough make up, I’ll be fine out there. You did a real good job covering the bruises though, thanks.
*The make up person walks away and reminds Eric they’re on in about 10 minutes. Eric gets up and goes to get a drink of water from the water cooler in the back.*
Eric: This week is War and as I said before, War is going to be interesting. I’ll admit, earlier in the week, in the ER, I focused a lot on Jeff Purse and Jonny Fly, after all they are both part of Pantheon and they both have decided to make it their mission in life to denigrate my good name and assassinate my character but I will not allow them to consume me, I must also think about my other opponents.
Take for instance, we have all of Prophecy in the ring. Admittedly, Prophecy is a joke. I’ve beaten all three members of the team already in one form or another and War will only prove just how much better I am than them. As much as it pains me to bring up, the Mulisha with which I started was an idea to elevate ourselves to the next level but really, when you look at Steeltoe Joe, Tek, and myself, the one who has had and has been the most resounding success has been me. Not any thanks to the group mind you but through my own hard work and determination, I realized that I had to get rid of that deadweight and move on to bigger and better things.
You have Pantheon of course in the ring. Pantheon is a group that I hate if not more, about the same as Prophecy because they decided to snub me. You see, in the beginning, I was thinking of joining that group but when it became clear to me that it was nothing more than a bunch of guys leeching off of Jonny Fly and an attempt for Fly to appear to be giving the younger talent a chance, I refused because I am a man of principle. Despite the fact that most of the group has written me off as no threat, I’ve attacked many of its members and taken some of them to their limits. I beat Reb just less than a week ago in a great main event match. I’ve attacked Fly, came nearly close to beating the Polar Phantasm had he not cheated to beat me, I’ve already beaten Jeff Purse twice and proven he is a joke. You see Purse, you ran your mouth for months saying you could easily dispatch me in a one on one contest and when we finally faced off, I won what is now my Television Championship and then I gave you a rematch and beat you again. By that point, your foot was so deep in your mouth, it started coming out your ass. Fly and Corey Black display more of this same arrogance that sickens me. Fact check, yes, I am arrogant, I will admit that but at least I’ll give my competition a shot to face me, I won’t hide like a coward and say “I am this and I am that and I won’t face you because I’m already better than you.” I am a fighting champion and I will prove that I am the best in a fight, I don’t cower and hide and then yell from an ivory tower. Now Purse, I definitely have more to say to you but that’ll have to wait because I don’t want to dwell on you right now.
Let’s move on to Genesis. Oh yes, this is an interesting and recently formed group. Mr. Venable, FPV and Roy Speede, you two make a very interesting duo to say the least. And in the War match, I will be more than happy to dispatch of both of you as I see fit. Now I know some may say “wait Eric, isn’t FPV in the World Title match, what if he isn’t in the War match because he wins the World Title?” I don’t see that happening, FPV, you were a joke of a fluke champion, more so than the next man I will mention, Waylon Cash. Admittedly, you and I have never squared off one on one in the squared circle and we will one week after War but seeing how you lost to Tek, I’m sorry but you don’t have a shot and you proved that you were indeed a fluke World Champion as well, after all, you beat the other fluke FPV for it didn’t you? And Fly has to face two flukes, no wonder Fly is World Champion so long, he doesn’t have any real competition stacked up against him.
We move on of course to…
*A producer for “The View” comes to tell Eric something…*
Producer: Mr. Price, 2 minutes to curtain.
Eric: Okay. Gentlemen, I’ll get back to you in a minute because I like the great celebrity and star that I am have an interview in a just moment here.
*Eric walks away from the backstage area and gets ready to go on stage as the scene fades to black*
Scene II: Live Television – You Get One Take
*The set of “The View” is shown. The audience is shown applauding as the 4 panelists on the show are on stage. From left to right, Joy Behar, Barbara Walters, Sherri Shepherd, and Elisabeth Hasselback are the panelists. As the show is coming back from commercial, their first guest is Eric Price and Barbara Walters is introducing him.*
Barbara: Today, our first guest wrote a book called “Secrets of Investment Success” to be able to show everyone what were his tricks of the trade to be the toast of Wall Street in the late 90s and still today. He is a media maven, controversial at times due to a recent incident he had, which will be discussed here today. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome an investment executive and professional wrestler, Eric Price.
*The audience and the panelists applaud as Eric steps out on the stage greeting everyone and shaking hands with each of the panelists. He sits between the panelists, to the immediate right of Barbara Walters*
Eric: Thank you for having me, it’s a pleasure.
Barbara: Well welcome, you’re here to promote your book “Secrets of Investment Success”.
Eric: That I am, I enjoyed writing the book. I figured if I can help even one person out with some of the tips I lay out in it, I’ll have achieve my goal with it.
Sherri: What’s it about? Mostly investing or is it a biography of sorts?
Eric: Biography? Hmm…I’ve always thought about writing one but I’m too young for that. I’m not going to be a cop out like Justin Bieber who made a film about his life and the kid is not even 20 yet. That’s not old enough to make a biopic and at not even 30 where I am, I’m not old enough to write a biography about myself yet. Would I like to at some point in the future? Absolutely. But for now, this is mostly a book about what I did to make it in the investment world. Although there are events in my life covered there, the book isn’t so much about me as it is about the market and the finance world.
Elisabeth: Some say that your conservative views are outdated and that your views on women are rather negative.
Eric: Negative? How exactly?
Elisabeth: Well, they say you’re not fair to women and see them as being below men and not as good as them?
Eric: They? Who is they? Where is this coming from exactly because I’ve always been a champion for equal rights. In my firm, there is not bias against women and we hire equally and pay equally, as we should. I believe in promotion and appraisal based on merit and ability, not on whether you’re a man or a woman.
Barbara: But on the television program Slam, which is the weekly episodic show of the wrestling promotion, the Wrestling Championship Federation, WCF, you are rather villainous and often denigrate women and say that they should be back in the kitchen where they belong.
Eric: It’s a show. People like theatrics, I like to give the people what they want. Every hero needs a good villain, without the Joker, we don’t have Batman. Without Luthor, we don’t have Superman. I will admit that my persona is every bit of myself only with the volume turned way up. It’s like when Henry Winkler described his character of the Fonz as “everything he wished he could be but was not”. That’s all it is.
Barbara: Ah but what of that recent incident you had? Albeit you claim and the police seem to back up the claim that it was in self defense but you killed a young woman behind a strip club. A woman who worked at that strip club for years and although it seemed she was threatening, some are saying that’s not the case.
Eric: Who is some Barbara? Is it you?
Barbara: No, but based on your track record with women, even though you say you’re fair to them, you have made many disparaging remarks on WCF Television about women and their place in the world. Additionally, there is a segment that aired recently where you forcibly knocked a woman by the name of Kari Kendall unconscious then took her body and kissed it passionately against her will. How do you respond to that?
Eric: Again, it was a show. Besides, for the record, she liked it. I didn’t force anything upon her, I made a bet that she agreed to, I won and then she didn’t want to hold up her end of the bargain. And see, this is where equal rights fall apart; sure if I had lost the bet, then I would have had to hold my end of the bargain up otherwise, I would have been considered “unfair”. Yet she bet that if I could beat her boyfriend, she would give me a kiss. She decided to slap me and I retaliated because I felt it was not fair to me for her to not hold up her end of the bargain.
Joy: So you slapped her?
Eric: Yes, I did.
Sherri: And you don’t consider that barbaric?
Eric: Why? She can slap me and everyone’s happy about it. What’s wrong with me slapping her? Isn’t that equal rights in effect?
*Eric starts thinking about what he’s saying and realizes he didn’t mean to say that but somehow felt compelled to do so*
Barbara: So you are saying it is alright for a man to slap a woman.
Eric: I will say this. A woman can slap a man. Therefore, to quote Sean Connery, sometimes a woman needs a good slap so yes, a man can slap a woman provided the circumstances are right. I don’t condone physical violence but you must defend yourself.
Barbara: That is such retrograde thought Mr. Price. I cannot and will not allow that type of bigotry on my program.
Eric: You better watch it Walters because I am a very powerful man. You asked me here on your show and I gave you my honest opinion. Would you rather I lie to you and tell you what you want to hear so I can politically correct and please everyone? No no, I tell it like it is. People don’t like the truth but I give it to them regardless.
Barbara: So you think it was fine for you to slap Ms. Kendall and I’m sure you thought it was fine for you to kill the other woman, Ms. Habargnic all because you felt wronged?
Eric: I didn’t kill her because I wanted to, she threatened me with a gun, I tried to take it away from her and then I accidentally pulled the trigger during that fight. I didn’t want to shoot her, I simply wanted to take the firearm away from her and hopefully calm her down. And as far as Ms. Kendall, yes, I did feel right in slapping her; in fact if given the chance I would do it again. That b*(beep)*ch deserved it.
Barbara: Well, it’s very clear that Mr. Price here has retrograde thoughts from the 1950s and treats women as objects. You probably really do think we should all stay in the kitchen.
Eric: First we give you the right to vote, then the right to wear pants, then the right to drive, and now you turn around and abuse that right! This society has turned into one that is so afraid to piss a woman off, that we’d rather let them walk all over us than actually stand up for what we really deserve, equal rights, real equal rights!
*The crowd starts booing heavily at anything that Price is saying as he’s clearly losing his temper*
Barbara: Mr. Price, why don’t you take your old fashioned garbage off my show and get off my stage.
Eric: You know what Walters, for years people have taken your crap but I will not. This is live television right! So take this.
*Eric gets up and slaps Barbara Walters right in the face knocking her out of her chair. The crowd is shocked and booing him as security is immediately called to drag Price away*
Eric: You haven’t heard the last of me Walters! My name is Eric Price and I deserve to be respected! I am always right!
Joy: Let’s cut to commercial!
*The show cuts to commercial as the other panelists go to check on Barbara Walters to see if she is alright. Eric Price is being dragged to the back and is thrown out of the studio as the show continues. The scene fades to black as Price is shown outside the studio getting up and recovering from what just happened.*
Scene III: Reality Bites
*Unlike many other psyche moments in Eric’s life, this one was not all in his mind and indeed happened and he is realizing that as the negative PR has begun rolling out. Eric Price is shown in his hotel room at about 12 noon in New York City where he is alone in his locked room, curtains all drawn as he is sitting in the shower with all his clothes on with the water running, wetting his clothes as he is sitting down with his legs flat stretched out as he has a lost look in his eyes.*
Eric: Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why did I do that? Why? It wasn’t in my mind, why did I do that? Why did I decide to slap her, I should have screamed and left, why did I do that? Why did I agree to appear on that show? I … I don’t know. Why?
*Eric’s cell phone rings. He picks it up and answers*
Eric (on cell phone): Hello?
Caller (on cell phone): Mr. Price, you haven’t forgotten about me have you?
Eric (on cell phone): What do you want?
Caller (on cell phone): I saw what you did on “The View”. After that, I don’t want you to do anything.
Eric (on cell phone): What do you mean?
Caller (on cell phone): I was going to have you do something denigrating this week but after that incident, I think I’ll leave you on that for now. Next week though, I’ll have something for you to do for me if you want me to keep my silence. It seems that glass house you built is cracking at the seams, isn’t it Mr. Price?
Eric (on cell phone): Go to hell.
Caller (on cell phone): Now that’s not very nice Mr. Price. You don’t want to make me angry. You do and well, you may be facing a few years up the river.
Eric (on cell phone): At this point what’s the difference? I already threw my reputation out the window.
Caller (on my cell phone): Not necessarily. Think about it Mr. Price, now, it is not customary for me to help someone like you but I like dealing with you. You make my life ever so interesting and each week with you is kind of an adventure so I don’t want to see you just fade away because of a lapse in judgment.
Eric (on cell phone): Lapse in judgment? That bitch decided to ruin me.
Caller (on cell phone): Not really. You know those pain pills you’ve been taking, the ones you were prescribed on Monday in the ER.
Eric (on cell phone): How do you know about that? Why … oh my God, you didn’t?
Caller (on cell phone): Relax. They were pain pills but I had them coated with a special liquid, amobarbital.
Eric (on cell phone): What did you do to me?
Caller (on cell phone): You may know this more commonly as truth serum so indeed, what it did was coerce you into telling the truth.
Eric (on cell phone): You piece of shit. You know what you did to me?! I didn’t deserve that. Now I can’t even do business properly. You know what, screw you, screw all of you, screw everyone. I’m taking all these pills tonight and no one can stop me!
*Eric downs the vial of pills and swallows as many as he can at one time.*
Eric: It’s done. Now, I die. I miss out on War, on life, on everything but at least I won’t be humiliated.
*Eric starts fidgeting a bit and quickly loses consciousness and what appears to be foam starts coming out of his mouth as he’s out of it as the scene fades to black.*
Scene IV: Death Becomes Him
*The scene opens up with Eric Price shown sitting in the center of a dimly lit room wearing a pure white suit. He looks around surveying the area not recognizing where he is. He gets up quickly wondering where he is.*
Eric: Where am I? Hello? Is anyone there?
*An ominous figure starts approaching him slowly*
Eric: Hello? Yes, who are you?
*Eric sees the figure getting closer and clearer. He notices a black robe being worn by the individual with a scythe in his right hand.*
Eric: Oh no, it can’t be!
*Eric realizes his predicament, as he believes he is dead. The figure of death approaches closer and closer as Eric attempts to run from it.*
Eric: You can’t catch me, you will never catch me.
*As he is running, he looks back and notices death is gone. He looks back and is proud of having outrun death. He then turns around and notices death is right in front of him.*
Eric: Oh no. Well, I suppose after having my reputation ruined, I suppose I may as well die and simply move on.
Death: Is that right Mr. Price?
*The voice of death ominous as no one can clearly be seen wearing the robe currently.*
Eric: You actually exist? I always thought you were some metaphorical idea rather than a real entity.
Death: I’m very real Mr. Price and now, I have come for you.
Eric: I guess it’s my time. So, I’ll be going to heaven now?
Death: Heaven? You think you’re going up to heaven? After all your dastardly deeds, you really must be joking. No sir, for a man like you, there is only one place befitting.
Eric: You mean … (dry gulp) … down there?
Death: Yes … down there. Or as you so often jokingly said to many people in life “I’ll see you in hell”. It seems however that you’ll be getting a VIP tour of hell first.
Eric: But why? I haven’t done anything bad in life. Well … not anything but nothing reasonably horrible enough to merit going to hell.
Death: You killed an innocent young woman didn’t you?
Eric: Innocent? That bitch deserved it. She was threatening to ruin me and to kill me.
Death: You say that like I don’t know what your real intentions were. Although I must admit, I did like you slapping Barbara Walters, that smug bitch deserved it.
Eric: Yeah, she is smug isn't she? It felt so good to slap her and I ...
*Eric notices that death starts moving the scythe so he stops talking about that*
Eric: What are you going to do with me?
Death: My role is of judge, jury, and executioner. Here, let me pull down the cap of my robe.
*Death pulls down his cap to reveal the face of Jeff Purse*
Eric: Jeff Purse, you’re death?
Death: Oh, not really. You see, I can take on the form of whomever I choose and generally I choose to take on the form most displeasing to the person whom I am dealing with. In your case, I figured why not Jeff Purse?
Eric: So what now?
Death: What now? Let’s see if you’re going up there or down there.
Eric: So where am I now precisely?
Death: Right now you’re in limbo. Nothing has been decided and you’re simply stuck here for now. Let’s examine what exactly you’ve done in life and where you should go.
Eric: But don’t I get some type of a trial.
Death: Yes you do. As I told you a moment ago, I’m the judge, I’m the jury, and I’m the executioner.
Eric: And what if I decide to run?
Death: Go ahead, there’s nowhere you can hide. You’re in my realm now, there’s nothing you can do to escape me.
Eric: If there’s nothing I can do to you, then let’s see you deal with this.
*Eric tries to slap Death but cannot as his hand goes right through him*
Death: You get it now? There’s nothing you can do to escape and nothing you can do to me. Let’s move on with what your fate will be.
Eric: What are you going to do to me?
Death: Let’s see, what should I do to a man who is nothing but a sick, demented, cold blooded killer?
Eric: How do you figure that I am those things? I’m not a bad person, I’ve donated to charity, I’ve helped others become successful, I’ve stimulated the economy and created jobs for others, how am I so horrible?
Death: On the surface yes, you’ve performed good deeds. But who are you really Eric Price? With all your insecurities, your deep-seated xenophobia and hatred of others, your constant egotism and looking down on others, the fact that you think because you have money and power you are above the law. See Mr. Price, you are nothing but filth of the lowest kind. You’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Eric: No I’m not, I don’t hate people, I’m not egotistical.
Death: No, let’s take a look at some video footage shall we.
*A montage starts playing of Eric Price shown on WCF Television saying the phrase “I am better than you. I am the best” repeatedly. The footage goes on for about 3 minutes without repeating a single scene.*
Eric: Okay, I get your point. But why not? I am better than them.
Death: Your pride and arrogance are your undoing in this case Mr. Price. It’s fine if you are actually better than everyone, there’s nothing wrong with being successful but having to constantly remind people about it and putting them down for it; if anything, it made you seem extremely insecure as if you were longing for something.
Eric: Like what? What would I long for?
Death: I know everything about you. What you long for most isn’t to show your dominance or even to prove that you’re the best, you just long to be loved.
Eric: Loved? What are you talking about, like by a woman?
Death: No, I’m not talking about your sick perverted acts with Kari Kendall. To call you a sexual deviant would be an offense to actual sexual deviants everywhere. No, I’m talking about being liked, being cheered, being beloved by your fellow man.
Eric: Beloved by my fellow man? My fellow man is a joke. They are nothing but beer sipping, drug smoking hippie liberals who need to be taught how to live properly. I tried to sympathize with them and all they did was shun me, I tried to be their friend, to try to act as the common man and what did it get me? It didn’t get me anywhere. I was not successful and I certainly was not respected like I am now.
Death: But secretly, you long for the people to like you.
Eric: I … I … I …
*Eric starts breaking up into tears*
Eric: Yes … I do long for them to like me. I long for them to be my friends and for them to show me the adulation they give to others whom they have grown fond of. All I want is for them to show me that bit of love they’ve shown others, is that so much to ask?
Death: I also know when you’re faking!
*Eric dries up the fake tears*
Eric: Ok fine, I don’t care. Is that what you want to hear? I don’t care, are you happy now? I am better than them, I have killed in cold blood and when forcibly kissed that girl, I liked it!
Death: I just wanted to see how much of a liar you are Mr. Price. There’s nothing worse than a liar you know. A thief is a thief but you expect him to steal something; a pervert is a pervert and you expect him to commit lewd acts; a prideful person is prideful and you expect him to be incredibly arrogant; but a liar, Mr. Price is a liar is the worst thing in the world because you never know what to expect from them as they can stoop to any low to reach their goals. That is you Mr. Price, you are a liar.
Eric: So what are you going to do to me? Send me to hell?
Death: Where you belong.
Eric: Fine, send me there! I welcome it! You hear me, I WELCOME IT! So go ahead, send me to hell!
Death: Oh no, hell would be to light of a punishment for you, I’m sending you where you really belong.
Eric: What the … where are you sending me?
Death: You’ll see.
*The scene turns blurry as Eric starts getting jumpy and looks like he’s being shocked constantly. The scene then fades to black and some voices can be heard.*
Voices: Clear! He’s almost got it, clear! Come on! And clear!
*The scene then opens up showing Eric Price lying on a bed as he is being revived by some medical professionals. His eyes are slowly opening up.*
Eric: Huh, where … where am I?
*One of the doctors comes up to him and explains as Eric is barely regaining consciousness*
Doctor: You’re in the emergency room at the NYU Medical Center.
Eric: Emergency room, but how?
Doctor: I heard we got a 911 call that alerted us to your situation. You’re lucky, we don’t know who called it in but whoever did saved your life otherwise, you probably would have died.
Eric: But the pills?
Doctor: We were able to pump out most of the poison, it didn’t affect you too much because you didn’t take all that many pills for a lethal dose and moreover, we were able to get you treated so quickly so you should be fine soon although for now, I would rest. You’ve had quite a long day Mr. Price.
Eric: What day and time is it?
Doctor: It’s uh … 11 PM, still Thursday September 27th. You were out for quite a few hours though, gave us kind of a scare.
Eric: But I was dead.
Doctor: Technically, you were clinically dead for about 15 minutes. But no sir, you are fully alive and although not 100% well yet, you will be soon enough. Just continue resting.
Eric: Okay, okay.
*Eric lays in the bed with his eyes wide open surprised that he survived. He mutters to himself and in his mind runs through the idea of him still being alive*
Day IV: Friday 9/28 – 12 noon – NYU Medical Center ER in New York City
Scene I: A Benefactor
*Eric Price is shown now up and out of bed. He had some clothes brought to him at his request and is now wearing a black sportcoat with a black shirt, no tie. He is shown sitting in a chair in the reception area of the ER just waiting for some checkout papers as he is so surprised to be sitting there, alive*
Eric: I don’t understand it. Just 24 hours ago, I wanted to kill myself and now, here I am alive and well with a brand new lease on life. You know what, to hell with my reputation, people want to hate me, they can hate me. At least yesterday I gave them a valid reason. After all, people have slapped Cindy Lauper and they’ve gotten over it, I can get over this. So I slapped Barbara Walters, big deal, time will heal all wounds and eventually, people will forget it and not care. For now, I will use this energy to feed myself and get better. After all, the doctor already cleared me and said I should be fine by the time War rolls around.
So listen up you losers, I …
*Eric’s cell phone rings. He answers it*
Eric (on cell phone): Yeah?
Caller (on cell phone): Hello Clarisse.
Eric (on cell phone): What the hell do you want?
Caller (on cell phone): Oh is that any way to greet the man who saved your life?
Eric (on cell phone): Saved my life? You didn’t do a damn thing. It was the doctors and nurses and the EMTs who saved my life!
Caller (on cell phone): Ah yes, but who do you think made the 911 call yesterday?
Eric (on cell phone): You? Why?
Caller (on cell phone): It’s very simple. I like doing business with you Mr. Price, it’s very entertaining to watch you squirm and I didn’t want to lose that pleasure.
Eric (on cell phone): Hmm…glad I amuse you.
Caller (on cell phone): Now now, no need to be angry Mr. Price. Next week, you’ll have another opportunity to pay me back. Until then.
Eric (on cell phone): Just what kind of game *click*
Eric: Bastard hung up on me.
*A nurse approaches Eric Price and hands him his paperwork*
Nurse: Alright Mr. Price. You’re free to go. You should be healthy within the next 24 hours and 100% in the next 48. Make sure to never try something like that again.
Eric: Oh I’ll be sure not to. Thank you so much!
*Eric walks out with a huge smile on his face as the scene fades to black*
Scene II: Near Death Experiences are Eye Openers
*Eric Price is shown walking in Central Park with a huge smile on his face as he sees the passers by. Despite his incident yesterday with Barbara Walters and many people looking down at him, he is on top of the world.*
Eric: I’ve never felt so happy to be alive, to be free, to be breathing this great, well New York City air I suppose. But life is great!
*Eric’s cell phone rings*
Eric (on cell phone): Hello?
Damian (on cell phone): Mr. Price? Are you doing okay?
Eric (on cell phone): Damian, I’m doing better than ever. What do you need?
Damian (on cell phone): What do I need? What do you need? We’ve had so many calls and hate mail come in because of what you did to Barbara Walters. You slapped her right in the face live on national television.
Eric (on cell phone): And?
Damian (on cell phone): Well, we need to do damage control on this.
Eric (on cell phone): Oh, I already got that figured out. You heard about the pills I overdosed on right?
Damian (on cell phone): Yes, I heard. I’m glad you seem to be doing well.
Eric (on cell phone): It’s simple, we angle it. We say because of the painkillers I was on, I wasn’t acting myself and apologize for the whole incident and try to put it behind us. Organize a press conference for next Tuesday and we’ll take care of this business quickly!
Damian (on cell phone): If that’s what you think is best.
Eric (on cell phone): Trust me on this son, I know what’s best.
*click*
Eric: I’ve never felt so happy and so willing and ready to live! But there’s a reason for everything, oh yes there is! Yesterday, I was on the brink of losing it all, I was at death’s doorstep, I actually met death and strangely enough, he kind of looked like Jeff Purse, I don’t know what to make of that.
Nevertheless, I am ready to move on and I know why I lived. It’s destiny, it’s God’s plan. You see, the reason I am still alive is because God wants me to continue living and why would he want me to continue living? It’s very simple, because he wants me to win the War match! Oh yes, that’s exactly what he wants.
*Eric walks over a bridge in Central Park and stands at the edge of the bridge looking down at the passersby with a huge smile on his face*
Oh yes, War is my match to win. I’ve already mentioned Pantheon more than enough and Prophecy and I have a history that dates back to forever so I’m not even going to go into it. Let’s see who else is in the match. You have Genesis, which I briefly mentioned. Interesting competitors but ultimately both losers. Let’s move on, The Misfits. This group is a joke in and of itself considering I’ve beaten pretty much every member in it with the exception of Johnny Stylez although I wouldn’t waste my time with you Mr. Stylez because everyone knows I could beat you without breaking a sweat. Hell, I could probably do it wearing one of my expensive suits without even wrinkling it.
You have others of course, some strong contenders and some that qualify for a Halloween exhibit and since I mention Halloween, who better to bring up than our latest incarnation of “Sarah Twilight”. This abomination if you will thinks he or she or it or whatever can actually win this year. I swear Logan Twilight must be an HR pet project or something to see how many quotas we can meet at once because this freak show shouldn’t even be allowed in the ring. You have Waylon Cash who I’ve already said is a loser and will lose to me not only at War but next week when I square off with him at Slam and he will not be any balder for the wear I believe.
Odin Balfore is an interesting caricature of a man because he’s quite strong and powerful but he hasn’t made all that much of an impact in my opinion this year. He has been floundering far too long. A year ago, he would have kicked my ass but now, I don’t see that happening. He’ll put a fight no doubt but he’ll fall as so many others will. People like Kale Windsor and Joel Hall who will fall to me so easily it will not even be funny. After all, I’ve already beaten Mr. Windsor what it is now, twice? What’s another time? Then you have a walking, talking joke in Adam Young. I’m not going to even waste my time on him and just say that he will be eliminated quickly as that is what deserves.
Doc Henry is one half of our tag team champions and an interesting competitor. I wouldn’t underestimate this man because he has done a lot in this business but by the same token, I will not allow said impressive resume to bring me down because this year it’s all about the new blood in this match. Now onto Mr. Steve Orbit, “The Mack” if you will. You know Steve, I actually like you, I like what you do and what you represent. True, I’m not a fan of the ethnic variety but I must admit that you are on cool cat and you know how to get the ladies. That doesn’t mean jack in the ring because let’s see, you are the United States Champion and I am the Television Champion. In my reign, I’ve defended my title 8 times, successfully I might add. Since winning your title, you’ve been relegated to irrelevance only having defended your title maybe once or twice, which makes you a paper champion and ripe for the picking. This Sunday I will show you why I am a superior champion to you by eliminating your ass from the match!
I was hoping to save this for the end but Sado, oh my Sado. As evil and sadistic as you are, I like that about you. You are oh my so attractive, so … hmm … I like a powerful woman! I’ll tell you, if you and I weren’t opponents in that match, I’d say you and I could go out maybe for some dinner, maybe a nice limo ride, a walk on the beach, maybe you go skinny dipping while I watch. Nevertheless, you and I could make sparks together. I want you to keep that in mind because I don’t want you to take it personally when I eliminate you from the War match. I will not eliminate you because I hate you because the fact is I don’t hate you but I must win to cement my legacy and my greatness here in WCF but after the match is over, maybe you and I can talk about a nice date. You let me know Sado.
*Eric kisses and winks at the camera toward Sado*
Moving on, we have some other competitors to address. Jay Price or should I say Jay Fucking Price or whatever, the man whom with I share a last name. Admittedly, you and I have never been in the same ring at the same time. At the time of my ascent, you took your leave so you and I have never really crossed paths. Let me say that I am not intimated by you or your unabashed and unwarranted arrogance. I already fully expect that you will do one of two things with me. You will either not mention me at all, which would be my preferred expectation or you will come up with some sex joke to make fun of me. In any event, you’re nothing but some cripple who’s been whining and bitching about coming back and threatening WCF to not come back because of some hatred between you and Mr. Lerch. You need to shut up, take your ball, go home and never come back! If you hate it so much, leave, many others and I certainly won’t miss you. But since you are deciding to participate in the War match, just know that you, like many others will be eliminated, maybe not by me but believe me, there is a price tag on your head and yes, I am aware that is a pun.
There are some surprise entrants in the match and admittedly, I do not like to be surprised but that’s quite alright, I’ll deal with what comes about. That finally brings me to the Church of Dark Saints and its members. Now you and I have teamed up on occasion and really don’t have any hatred toward each other as we’ve both tried to accomplish similar goals albeit via different means. Nevertheless, we must leave all personal feelings outside of the ring during the War match because it is every man for himself and it will be a warzone this Sunday in that ring.
I will show no mercy to anyone and everyone who steps foot in that ring with me. You see, I just had a scare in life but realized that I am still here because it is God’s will to have me win the War match then go on to One to become the World Champion! It is what I deserve and what I will do and I will stop at nothing to win! Let me leave you all with this parting thought, I have stared Death in the face and laughed. If I can beat Death, what makes you all think I am afraid of any of you? Consider that, if I have what it takes to face death, then all of you on Sunday will be a cakewalk.
*Eric gives an evil gleeful smile at the camera*
I will win the eleventh annual War event; see you all on Sunday.
*The scene fades to black*
Then Jeff Purse unexpectedly came back and took him to the limit in a post match assault the likes of which has not been seen in a while; a truly memorable moment. Having been rushed to the ER, he had a flash of his inner most wishes but once he came to, he was given some pain pills to calm the hurt of the wounds and he has been told he will be ready to go come War time. However, he has been having some issues in his recent public appearances wherein he says things he does not intend to be heard however, they reveal some of his hidden truths.
Day III: Thursday 9/27 – 9:45 AM – 320 W. 66th Street in New York City
Scene I: Getting Politically Correct
*Eric Price is shown in the backstage area of the set for “The View” where he is scheduled to do an interview. He is wearing a black suit with a burgundy shirt and tie and make up is being applied for television. This interview was setup so as to dispel any ideas that Eric Price is a misogynist as he has often been said to be. Although good PR can be a positive thing, getting it to be good PR is a challenge because on live television, anything can happen. He is currently speaking on his cell phone with his assistant.*
Eric (on cell phone): This has to go well.
Damian (on cell phone): Most of the possible questions have been screened and you’ve already been through them so it should be a synch.
Eric (on cell phone): I don’t know, I have this feeling, this ominous feeling that this will go badly. Plus, you know those “spasms” if you will that I’ve had lately.
Damian (on cell phone): We still can’t figure out the cause for those but as long as you keep yourself under control and try to stay on neutral topics you’ll be fine.
Eric (on cell phone): I suppose. If it can get the media and the people off my back for thinking I’m some elitist, misogynist asshole I think we’ll be fine.
Damian (on cell phone): You’re on in just a few minutes so good luck. I’ll be watching and rooting for you.
Eric (on cell phone): At least someone will be rooting for me because watching, trust me. There are a lot of people who will have eyes on this just to watch me trip all over myself and end up worse for the wear. I’ll talk to you later.
*click*
Eric: I have to stay positive and focused.
*Eric takes a deep breath*
Eric: Okay okay, that’s enough make up, I’ll be fine out there. You did a real good job covering the bruises though, thanks.
*The make up person walks away and reminds Eric they’re on in about 10 minutes. Eric gets up and goes to get a drink of water from the water cooler in the back.*
Eric: This week is War and as I said before, War is going to be interesting. I’ll admit, earlier in the week, in the ER, I focused a lot on Jeff Purse and Jonny Fly, after all they are both part of Pantheon and they both have decided to make it their mission in life to denigrate my good name and assassinate my character but I will not allow them to consume me, I must also think about my other opponents.
Take for instance, we have all of Prophecy in the ring. Admittedly, Prophecy is a joke. I’ve beaten all three members of the team already in one form or another and War will only prove just how much better I am than them. As much as it pains me to bring up, the Mulisha with which I started was an idea to elevate ourselves to the next level but really, when you look at Steeltoe Joe, Tek, and myself, the one who has had and has been the most resounding success has been me. Not any thanks to the group mind you but through my own hard work and determination, I realized that I had to get rid of that deadweight and move on to bigger and better things.
You have Pantheon of course in the ring. Pantheon is a group that I hate if not more, about the same as Prophecy because they decided to snub me. You see, in the beginning, I was thinking of joining that group but when it became clear to me that it was nothing more than a bunch of guys leeching off of Jonny Fly and an attempt for Fly to appear to be giving the younger talent a chance, I refused because I am a man of principle. Despite the fact that most of the group has written me off as no threat, I’ve attacked many of its members and taken some of them to their limits. I beat Reb just less than a week ago in a great main event match. I’ve attacked Fly, came nearly close to beating the Polar Phantasm had he not cheated to beat me, I’ve already beaten Jeff Purse twice and proven he is a joke. You see Purse, you ran your mouth for months saying you could easily dispatch me in a one on one contest and when we finally faced off, I won what is now my Television Championship and then I gave you a rematch and beat you again. By that point, your foot was so deep in your mouth, it started coming out your ass. Fly and Corey Black display more of this same arrogance that sickens me. Fact check, yes, I am arrogant, I will admit that but at least I’ll give my competition a shot to face me, I won’t hide like a coward and say “I am this and I am that and I won’t face you because I’m already better than you.” I am a fighting champion and I will prove that I am the best in a fight, I don’t cower and hide and then yell from an ivory tower. Now Purse, I definitely have more to say to you but that’ll have to wait because I don’t want to dwell on you right now.
Let’s move on to Genesis. Oh yes, this is an interesting and recently formed group. Mr. Venable, FPV and Roy Speede, you two make a very interesting duo to say the least. And in the War match, I will be more than happy to dispatch of both of you as I see fit. Now I know some may say “wait Eric, isn’t FPV in the World Title match, what if he isn’t in the War match because he wins the World Title?” I don’t see that happening, FPV, you were a joke of a fluke champion, more so than the next man I will mention, Waylon Cash. Admittedly, you and I have never squared off one on one in the squared circle and we will one week after War but seeing how you lost to Tek, I’m sorry but you don’t have a shot and you proved that you were indeed a fluke World Champion as well, after all, you beat the other fluke FPV for it didn’t you? And Fly has to face two flukes, no wonder Fly is World Champion so long, he doesn’t have any real competition stacked up against him.
We move on of course to…
*A producer for “The View” comes to tell Eric something…*
Producer: Mr. Price, 2 minutes to curtain.
Eric: Okay. Gentlemen, I’ll get back to you in a minute because I like the great celebrity and star that I am have an interview in a just moment here.
*Eric walks away from the backstage area and gets ready to go on stage as the scene fades to black*
Scene II: Live Television – You Get One Take
*The set of “The View” is shown. The audience is shown applauding as the 4 panelists on the show are on stage. From left to right, Joy Behar, Barbara Walters, Sherri Shepherd, and Elisabeth Hasselback are the panelists. As the show is coming back from commercial, their first guest is Eric Price and Barbara Walters is introducing him.*
Barbara: Today, our first guest wrote a book called “Secrets of Investment Success” to be able to show everyone what were his tricks of the trade to be the toast of Wall Street in the late 90s and still today. He is a media maven, controversial at times due to a recent incident he had, which will be discussed here today. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome an investment executive and professional wrestler, Eric Price.
*The audience and the panelists applaud as Eric steps out on the stage greeting everyone and shaking hands with each of the panelists. He sits between the panelists, to the immediate right of Barbara Walters*
Eric: Thank you for having me, it’s a pleasure.
Barbara: Well welcome, you’re here to promote your book “Secrets of Investment Success”.
Eric: That I am, I enjoyed writing the book. I figured if I can help even one person out with some of the tips I lay out in it, I’ll have achieve my goal with it.
Sherri: What’s it about? Mostly investing or is it a biography of sorts?
Eric: Biography? Hmm…I’ve always thought about writing one but I’m too young for that. I’m not going to be a cop out like Justin Bieber who made a film about his life and the kid is not even 20 yet. That’s not old enough to make a biopic and at not even 30 where I am, I’m not old enough to write a biography about myself yet. Would I like to at some point in the future? Absolutely. But for now, this is mostly a book about what I did to make it in the investment world. Although there are events in my life covered there, the book isn’t so much about me as it is about the market and the finance world.
Elisabeth: Some say that your conservative views are outdated and that your views on women are rather negative.
Eric: Negative? How exactly?
Elisabeth: Well, they say you’re not fair to women and see them as being below men and not as good as them?
Eric: They? Who is they? Where is this coming from exactly because I’ve always been a champion for equal rights. In my firm, there is not bias against women and we hire equally and pay equally, as we should. I believe in promotion and appraisal based on merit and ability, not on whether you’re a man or a woman.
Barbara: But on the television program Slam, which is the weekly episodic show of the wrestling promotion, the Wrestling Championship Federation, WCF, you are rather villainous and often denigrate women and say that they should be back in the kitchen where they belong.
Eric: It’s a show. People like theatrics, I like to give the people what they want. Every hero needs a good villain, without the Joker, we don’t have Batman. Without Luthor, we don’t have Superman. I will admit that my persona is every bit of myself only with the volume turned way up. It’s like when Henry Winkler described his character of the Fonz as “everything he wished he could be but was not”. That’s all it is.
Barbara: Ah but what of that recent incident you had? Albeit you claim and the police seem to back up the claim that it was in self defense but you killed a young woman behind a strip club. A woman who worked at that strip club for years and although it seemed she was threatening, some are saying that’s not the case.
Eric: Who is some Barbara? Is it you?
Barbara: No, but based on your track record with women, even though you say you’re fair to them, you have made many disparaging remarks on WCF Television about women and their place in the world. Additionally, there is a segment that aired recently where you forcibly knocked a woman by the name of Kari Kendall unconscious then took her body and kissed it passionately against her will. How do you respond to that?
Eric: Again, it was a show. Besides, for the record, she liked it. I didn’t force anything upon her, I made a bet that she agreed to, I won and then she didn’t want to hold up her end of the bargain. And see, this is where equal rights fall apart; sure if I had lost the bet, then I would have had to hold my end of the bargain up otherwise, I would have been considered “unfair”. Yet she bet that if I could beat her boyfriend, she would give me a kiss. She decided to slap me and I retaliated because I felt it was not fair to me for her to not hold up her end of the bargain.
Joy: So you slapped her?
Eric: Yes, I did.
Sherri: And you don’t consider that barbaric?
Eric: Why? She can slap me and everyone’s happy about it. What’s wrong with me slapping her? Isn’t that equal rights in effect?
*Eric starts thinking about what he’s saying and realizes he didn’t mean to say that but somehow felt compelled to do so*
Barbara: So you are saying it is alright for a man to slap a woman.
Eric: I will say this. A woman can slap a man. Therefore, to quote Sean Connery, sometimes a woman needs a good slap so yes, a man can slap a woman provided the circumstances are right. I don’t condone physical violence but you must defend yourself.
Barbara: That is such retrograde thought Mr. Price. I cannot and will not allow that type of bigotry on my program.
Eric: You better watch it Walters because I am a very powerful man. You asked me here on your show and I gave you my honest opinion. Would you rather I lie to you and tell you what you want to hear so I can politically correct and please everyone? No no, I tell it like it is. People don’t like the truth but I give it to them regardless.
Barbara: So you think it was fine for you to slap Ms. Kendall and I’m sure you thought it was fine for you to kill the other woman, Ms. Habargnic all because you felt wronged?
Eric: I didn’t kill her because I wanted to, she threatened me with a gun, I tried to take it away from her and then I accidentally pulled the trigger during that fight. I didn’t want to shoot her, I simply wanted to take the firearm away from her and hopefully calm her down. And as far as Ms. Kendall, yes, I did feel right in slapping her; in fact if given the chance I would do it again. That b*(beep)*ch deserved it.
Barbara: Well, it’s very clear that Mr. Price here has retrograde thoughts from the 1950s and treats women as objects. You probably really do think we should all stay in the kitchen.
Eric: First we give you the right to vote, then the right to wear pants, then the right to drive, and now you turn around and abuse that right! This society has turned into one that is so afraid to piss a woman off, that we’d rather let them walk all over us than actually stand up for what we really deserve, equal rights, real equal rights!
*The crowd starts booing heavily at anything that Price is saying as he’s clearly losing his temper*
Barbara: Mr. Price, why don’t you take your old fashioned garbage off my show and get off my stage.
Eric: You know what Walters, for years people have taken your crap but I will not. This is live television right! So take this.
*Eric gets up and slaps Barbara Walters right in the face knocking her out of her chair. The crowd is shocked and booing him as security is immediately called to drag Price away*
Eric: You haven’t heard the last of me Walters! My name is Eric Price and I deserve to be respected! I am always right!
Joy: Let’s cut to commercial!
*The show cuts to commercial as the other panelists go to check on Barbara Walters to see if she is alright. Eric Price is being dragged to the back and is thrown out of the studio as the show continues. The scene fades to black as Price is shown outside the studio getting up and recovering from what just happened.*
Scene III: Reality Bites
*Unlike many other psyche moments in Eric’s life, this one was not all in his mind and indeed happened and he is realizing that as the negative PR has begun rolling out. Eric Price is shown in his hotel room at about 12 noon in New York City where he is alone in his locked room, curtains all drawn as he is sitting in the shower with all his clothes on with the water running, wetting his clothes as he is sitting down with his legs flat stretched out as he has a lost look in his eyes.*
Eric: Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why did I do that? Why? It wasn’t in my mind, why did I do that? Why did I decide to slap her, I should have screamed and left, why did I do that? Why did I agree to appear on that show? I … I don’t know. Why?
*Eric’s cell phone rings. He picks it up and answers*
Eric (on cell phone): Hello?
Caller (on cell phone): Mr. Price, you haven’t forgotten about me have you?
Eric (on cell phone): What do you want?
Caller (on cell phone): I saw what you did on “The View”. After that, I don’t want you to do anything.
Eric (on cell phone): What do you mean?
Caller (on cell phone): I was going to have you do something denigrating this week but after that incident, I think I’ll leave you on that for now. Next week though, I’ll have something for you to do for me if you want me to keep my silence. It seems that glass house you built is cracking at the seams, isn’t it Mr. Price?
Eric (on cell phone): Go to hell.
Caller (on cell phone): Now that’s not very nice Mr. Price. You don’t want to make me angry. You do and well, you may be facing a few years up the river.
Eric (on cell phone): At this point what’s the difference? I already threw my reputation out the window.
Caller (on my cell phone): Not necessarily. Think about it Mr. Price, now, it is not customary for me to help someone like you but I like dealing with you. You make my life ever so interesting and each week with you is kind of an adventure so I don’t want to see you just fade away because of a lapse in judgment.
Eric (on cell phone): Lapse in judgment? That bitch decided to ruin me.
Caller (on cell phone): Not really. You know those pain pills you’ve been taking, the ones you were prescribed on Monday in the ER.
Eric (on cell phone): How do you know about that? Why … oh my God, you didn’t?
Caller (on cell phone): Relax. They were pain pills but I had them coated with a special liquid, amobarbital.
Eric (on cell phone): What did you do to me?
Caller (on cell phone): You may know this more commonly as truth serum so indeed, what it did was coerce you into telling the truth.
Eric (on cell phone): You piece of shit. You know what you did to me?! I didn’t deserve that. Now I can’t even do business properly. You know what, screw you, screw all of you, screw everyone. I’m taking all these pills tonight and no one can stop me!
*Eric downs the vial of pills and swallows as many as he can at one time.*
Eric: It’s done. Now, I die. I miss out on War, on life, on everything but at least I won’t be humiliated.
*Eric starts fidgeting a bit and quickly loses consciousness and what appears to be foam starts coming out of his mouth as he’s out of it as the scene fades to black.*
Scene IV: Death Becomes Him
*The scene opens up with Eric Price shown sitting in the center of a dimly lit room wearing a pure white suit. He looks around surveying the area not recognizing where he is. He gets up quickly wondering where he is.*
Eric: Where am I? Hello? Is anyone there?
*An ominous figure starts approaching him slowly*
Eric: Hello? Yes, who are you?
*Eric sees the figure getting closer and clearer. He notices a black robe being worn by the individual with a scythe in his right hand.*
Eric: Oh no, it can’t be!
*Eric realizes his predicament, as he believes he is dead. The figure of death approaches closer and closer as Eric attempts to run from it.*
Eric: You can’t catch me, you will never catch me.
*As he is running, he looks back and notices death is gone. He looks back and is proud of having outrun death. He then turns around and notices death is right in front of him.*
Eric: Oh no. Well, I suppose after having my reputation ruined, I suppose I may as well die and simply move on.
Death: Is that right Mr. Price?
*The voice of death ominous as no one can clearly be seen wearing the robe currently.*
Eric: You actually exist? I always thought you were some metaphorical idea rather than a real entity.
Death: I’m very real Mr. Price and now, I have come for you.
Eric: I guess it’s my time. So, I’ll be going to heaven now?
Death: Heaven? You think you’re going up to heaven? After all your dastardly deeds, you really must be joking. No sir, for a man like you, there is only one place befitting.
Eric: You mean … (dry gulp) … down there?
Death: Yes … down there. Or as you so often jokingly said to many people in life “I’ll see you in hell”. It seems however that you’ll be getting a VIP tour of hell first.
Eric: But why? I haven’t done anything bad in life. Well … not anything but nothing reasonably horrible enough to merit going to hell.
Death: You killed an innocent young woman didn’t you?
Eric: Innocent? That bitch deserved it. She was threatening to ruin me and to kill me.
Death: You say that like I don’t know what your real intentions were. Although I must admit, I did like you slapping Barbara Walters, that smug bitch deserved it.
Eric: Yeah, she is smug isn't she? It felt so good to slap her and I ...
*Eric notices that death starts moving the scythe so he stops talking about that*
Eric: What are you going to do with me?
Death: My role is of judge, jury, and executioner. Here, let me pull down the cap of my robe.
*Death pulls down his cap to reveal the face of Jeff Purse*
Eric: Jeff Purse, you’re death?
Death: Oh, not really. You see, I can take on the form of whomever I choose and generally I choose to take on the form most displeasing to the person whom I am dealing with. In your case, I figured why not Jeff Purse?
Eric: So what now?
Death: What now? Let’s see if you’re going up there or down there.
Eric: So where am I now precisely?
Death: Right now you’re in limbo. Nothing has been decided and you’re simply stuck here for now. Let’s examine what exactly you’ve done in life and where you should go.
Eric: But don’t I get some type of a trial.
Death: Yes you do. As I told you a moment ago, I’m the judge, I’m the jury, and I’m the executioner.
Eric: And what if I decide to run?
Death: Go ahead, there’s nowhere you can hide. You’re in my realm now, there’s nothing you can do to escape me.
Eric: If there’s nothing I can do to you, then let’s see you deal with this.
*Eric tries to slap Death but cannot as his hand goes right through him*
Death: You get it now? There’s nothing you can do to escape and nothing you can do to me. Let’s move on with what your fate will be.
Eric: What are you going to do to me?
Death: Let’s see, what should I do to a man who is nothing but a sick, demented, cold blooded killer?
Eric: How do you figure that I am those things? I’m not a bad person, I’ve donated to charity, I’ve helped others become successful, I’ve stimulated the economy and created jobs for others, how am I so horrible?
Death: On the surface yes, you’ve performed good deeds. But who are you really Eric Price? With all your insecurities, your deep-seated xenophobia and hatred of others, your constant egotism and looking down on others, the fact that you think because you have money and power you are above the law. See Mr. Price, you are nothing but filth of the lowest kind. You’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Eric: No I’m not, I don’t hate people, I’m not egotistical.
Death: No, let’s take a look at some video footage shall we.
*A montage starts playing of Eric Price shown on WCF Television saying the phrase “I am better than you. I am the best” repeatedly. The footage goes on for about 3 minutes without repeating a single scene.*
Eric: Okay, I get your point. But why not? I am better than them.
Death: Your pride and arrogance are your undoing in this case Mr. Price. It’s fine if you are actually better than everyone, there’s nothing wrong with being successful but having to constantly remind people about it and putting them down for it; if anything, it made you seem extremely insecure as if you were longing for something.
Eric: Like what? What would I long for?
Death: I know everything about you. What you long for most isn’t to show your dominance or even to prove that you’re the best, you just long to be loved.
Eric: Loved? What are you talking about, like by a woman?
Death: No, I’m not talking about your sick perverted acts with Kari Kendall. To call you a sexual deviant would be an offense to actual sexual deviants everywhere. No, I’m talking about being liked, being cheered, being beloved by your fellow man.
Eric: Beloved by my fellow man? My fellow man is a joke. They are nothing but beer sipping, drug smoking hippie liberals who need to be taught how to live properly. I tried to sympathize with them and all they did was shun me, I tried to be their friend, to try to act as the common man and what did it get me? It didn’t get me anywhere. I was not successful and I certainly was not respected like I am now.
Death: But secretly, you long for the people to like you.
Eric: I … I … I …
*Eric starts breaking up into tears*
Eric: Yes … I do long for them to like me. I long for them to be my friends and for them to show me the adulation they give to others whom they have grown fond of. All I want is for them to show me that bit of love they’ve shown others, is that so much to ask?
Death: I also know when you’re faking!
*Eric dries up the fake tears*
Eric: Ok fine, I don’t care. Is that what you want to hear? I don’t care, are you happy now? I am better than them, I have killed in cold blood and when forcibly kissed that girl, I liked it!
Death: I just wanted to see how much of a liar you are Mr. Price. There’s nothing worse than a liar you know. A thief is a thief but you expect him to steal something; a pervert is a pervert and you expect him to commit lewd acts; a prideful person is prideful and you expect him to be incredibly arrogant; but a liar, Mr. Price is a liar is the worst thing in the world because you never know what to expect from them as they can stoop to any low to reach their goals. That is you Mr. Price, you are a liar.
Eric: So what are you going to do to me? Send me to hell?
Death: Where you belong.
Eric: Fine, send me there! I welcome it! You hear me, I WELCOME IT! So go ahead, send me to hell!
Death: Oh no, hell would be to light of a punishment for you, I’m sending you where you really belong.
Eric: What the … where are you sending me?
Death: You’ll see.
*The scene turns blurry as Eric starts getting jumpy and looks like he’s being shocked constantly. The scene then fades to black and some voices can be heard.*
Voices: Clear! He’s almost got it, clear! Come on! And clear!
*The scene then opens up showing Eric Price lying on a bed as he is being revived by some medical professionals. His eyes are slowly opening up.*
Eric: Huh, where … where am I?
*One of the doctors comes up to him and explains as Eric is barely regaining consciousness*
Doctor: You’re in the emergency room at the NYU Medical Center.
Eric: Emergency room, but how?
Doctor: I heard we got a 911 call that alerted us to your situation. You’re lucky, we don’t know who called it in but whoever did saved your life otherwise, you probably would have died.
Eric: But the pills?
Doctor: We were able to pump out most of the poison, it didn’t affect you too much because you didn’t take all that many pills for a lethal dose and moreover, we were able to get you treated so quickly so you should be fine soon although for now, I would rest. You’ve had quite a long day Mr. Price.
Eric: What day and time is it?
Doctor: It’s uh … 11 PM, still Thursday September 27th. You were out for quite a few hours though, gave us kind of a scare.
Eric: But I was dead.
Doctor: Technically, you were clinically dead for about 15 minutes. But no sir, you are fully alive and although not 100% well yet, you will be soon enough. Just continue resting.
Eric: Okay, okay.
*Eric lays in the bed with his eyes wide open surprised that he survived. He mutters to himself and in his mind runs through the idea of him still being alive*
Day IV: Friday 9/28 – 12 noon – NYU Medical Center ER in New York City
Scene I: A Benefactor
*Eric Price is shown now up and out of bed. He had some clothes brought to him at his request and is now wearing a black sportcoat with a black shirt, no tie. He is shown sitting in a chair in the reception area of the ER just waiting for some checkout papers as he is so surprised to be sitting there, alive*
Eric: I don’t understand it. Just 24 hours ago, I wanted to kill myself and now, here I am alive and well with a brand new lease on life. You know what, to hell with my reputation, people want to hate me, they can hate me. At least yesterday I gave them a valid reason. After all, people have slapped Cindy Lauper and they’ve gotten over it, I can get over this. So I slapped Barbara Walters, big deal, time will heal all wounds and eventually, people will forget it and not care. For now, I will use this energy to feed myself and get better. After all, the doctor already cleared me and said I should be fine by the time War rolls around.
So listen up you losers, I …
*Eric’s cell phone rings. He answers it*
Eric (on cell phone): Yeah?
Caller (on cell phone): Hello Clarisse.
Eric (on cell phone): What the hell do you want?
Caller (on cell phone): Oh is that any way to greet the man who saved your life?
Eric (on cell phone): Saved my life? You didn’t do a damn thing. It was the doctors and nurses and the EMTs who saved my life!
Caller (on cell phone): Ah yes, but who do you think made the 911 call yesterday?
Eric (on cell phone): You? Why?
Caller (on cell phone): It’s very simple. I like doing business with you Mr. Price, it’s very entertaining to watch you squirm and I didn’t want to lose that pleasure.
Eric (on cell phone): Hmm…glad I amuse you.
Caller (on cell phone): Now now, no need to be angry Mr. Price. Next week, you’ll have another opportunity to pay me back. Until then.
Eric (on cell phone): Just what kind of game *click*
Eric: Bastard hung up on me.
*A nurse approaches Eric Price and hands him his paperwork*
Nurse: Alright Mr. Price. You’re free to go. You should be healthy within the next 24 hours and 100% in the next 48. Make sure to never try something like that again.
Eric: Oh I’ll be sure not to. Thank you so much!
*Eric walks out with a huge smile on his face as the scene fades to black*
Scene II: Near Death Experiences are Eye Openers
*Eric Price is shown walking in Central Park with a huge smile on his face as he sees the passers by. Despite his incident yesterday with Barbara Walters and many people looking down at him, he is on top of the world.*
Eric: I’ve never felt so happy to be alive, to be free, to be breathing this great, well New York City air I suppose. But life is great!
*Eric’s cell phone rings*
Eric (on cell phone): Hello?
Damian (on cell phone): Mr. Price? Are you doing okay?
Eric (on cell phone): Damian, I’m doing better than ever. What do you need?
Damian (on cell phone): What do I need? What do you need? We’ve had so many calls and hate mail come in because of what you did to Barbara Walters. You slapped her right in the face live on national television.
Eric (on cell phone): And?
Damian (on cell phone): Well, we need to do damage control on this.
Eric (on cell phone): Oh, I already got that figured out. You heard about the pills I overdosed on right?
Damian (on cell phone): Yes, I heard. I’m glad you seem to be doing well.
Eric (on cell phone): It’s simple, we angle it. We say because of the painkillers I was on, I wasn’t acting myself and apologize for the whole incident and try to put it behind us. Organize a press conference for next Tuesday and we’ll take care of this business quickly!
Damian (on cell phone): If that’s what you think is best.
Eric (on cell phone): Trust me on this son, I know what’s best.
*click*
Eric: I’ve never felt so happy and so willing and ready to live! But there’s a reason for everything, oh yes there is! Yesterday, I was on the brink of losing it all, I was at death’s doorstep, I actually met death and strangely enough, he kind of looked like Jeff Purse, I don’t know what to make of that.
Nevertheless, I am ready to move on and I know why I lived. It’s destiny, it’s God’s plan. You see, the reason I am still alive is because God wants me to continue living and why would he want me to continue living? It’s very simple, because he wants me to win the War match! Oh yes, that’s exactly what he wants.
*Eric walks over a bridge in Central Park and stands at the edge of the bridge looking down at the passersby with a huge smile on his face*
Oh yes, War is my match to win. I’ve already mentioned Pantheon more than enough and Prophecy and I have a history that dates back to forever so I’m not even going to go into it. Let’s see who else is in the match. You have Genesis, which I briefly mentioned. Interesting competitors but ultimately both losers. Let’s move on, The Misfits. This group is a joke in and of itself considering I’ve beaten pretty much every member in it with the exception of Johnny Stylez although I wouldn’t waste my time with you Mr. Stylez because everyone knows I could beat you without breaking a sweat. Hell, I could probably do it wearing one of my expensive suits without even wrinkling it.
You have others of course, some strong contenders and some that qualify for a Halloween exhibit and since I mention Halloween, who better to bring up than our latest incarnation of “Sarah Twilight”. This abomination if you will thinks he or she or it or whatever can actually win this year. I swear Logan Twilight must be an HR pet project or something to see how many quotas we can meet at once because this freak show shouldn’t even be allowed in the ring. You have Waylon Cash who I’ve already said is a loser and will lose to me not only at War but next week when I square off with him at Slam and he will not be any balder for the wear I believe.
Odin Balfore is an interesting caricature of a man because he’s quite strong and powerful but he hasn’t made all that much of an impact in my opinion this year. He has been floundering far too long. A year ago, he would have kicked my ass but now, I don’t see that happening. He’ll put a fight no doubt but he’ll fall as so many others will. People like Kale Windsor and Joel Hall who will fall to me so easily it will not even be funny. After all, I’ve already beaten Mr. Windsor what it is now, twice? What’s another time? Then you have a walking, talking joke in Adam Young. I’m not going to even waste my time on him and just say that he will be eliminated quickly as that is what deserves.
Doc Henry is one half of our tag team champions and an interesting competitor. I wouldn’t underestimate this man because he has done a lot in this business but by the same token, I will not allow said impressive resume to bring me down because this year it’s all about the new blood in this match. Now onto Mr. Steve Orbit, “The Mack” if you will. You know Steve, I actually like you, I like what you do and what you represent. True, I’m not a fan of the ethnic variety but I must admit that you are on cool cat and you know how to get the ladies. That doesn’t mean jack in the ring because let’s see, you are the United States Champion and I am the Television Champion. In my reign, I’ve defended my title 8 times, successfully I might add. Since winning your title, you’ve been relegated to irrelevance only having defended your title maybe once or twice, which makes you a paper champion and ripe for the picking. This Sunday I will show you why I am a superior champion to you by eliminating your ass from the match!
I was hoping to save this for the end but Sado, oh my Sado. As evil and sadistic as you are, I like that about you. You are oh my so attractive, so … hmm … I like a powerful woman! I’ll tell you, if you and I weren’t opponents in that match, I’d say you and I could go out maybe for some dinner, maybe a nice limo ride, a walk on the beach, maybe you go skinny dipping while I watch. Nevertheless, you and I could make sparks together. I want you to keep that in mind because I don’t want you to take it personally when I eliminate you from the War match. I will not eliminate you because I hate you because the fact is I don’t hate you but I must win to cement my legacy and my greatness here in WCF but after the match is over, maybe you and I can talk about a nice date. You let me know Sado.
*Eric kisses and winks at the camera toward Sado*
Moving on, we have some other competitors to address. Jay Price or should I say Jay Fucking Price or whatever, the man whom with I share a last name. Admittedly, you and I have never been in the same ring at the same time. At the time of my ascent, you took your leave so you and I have never really crossed paths. Let me say that I am not intimated by you or your unabashed and unwarranted arrogance. I already fully expect that you will do one of two things with me. You will either not mention me at all, which would be my preferred expectation or you will come up with some sex joke to make fun of me. In any event, you’re nothing but some cripple who’s been whining and bitching about coming back and threatening WCF to not come back because of some hatred between you and Mr. Lerch. You need to shut up, take your ball, go home and never come back! If you hate it so much, leave, many others and I certainly won’t miss you. But since you are deciding to participate in the War match, just know that you, like many others will be eliminated, maybe not by me but believe me, there is a price tag on your head and yes, I am aware that is a pun.
There are some surprise entrants in the match and admittedly, I do not like to be surprised but that’s quite alright, I’ll deal with what comes about. That finally brings me to the Church of Dark Saints and its members. Now you and I have teamed up on occasion and really don’t have any hatred toward each other as we’ve both tried to accomplish similar goals albeit via different means. Nevertheless, we must leave all personal feelings outside of the ring during the War match because it is every man for himself and it will be a warzone this Sunday in that ring.
I will show no mercy to anyone and everyone who steps foot in that ring with me. You see, I just had a scare in life but realized that I am still here because it is God’s will to have me win the War match then go on to One to become the World Champion! It is what I deserve and what I will do and I will stop at nothing to win! Let me leave you all with this parting thought, I have stared Death in the face and laughed. If I can beat Death, what makes you all think I am afraid of any of you? Consider that, if I have what it takes to face death, then all of you on Sunday will be a cakewalk.
*Eric gives an evil gleeful smile at the camera*
I will win the eleventh annual War event; see you all on Sunday.
*The scene fades to black*
