A Wolf to the Core

[Headmaster Bernard Core]

January 20, 2015- Core Household, Albany, NY

A commercial plays on a TV screen in Bernard Core’s office.

The first image is of a teacher reading a newspaper at his desk while students answer questions on a worksheet.

“Complacency.”

The second image is of a student sleeping at his desk.

“Laziness.”

The next image is a young girl who looks frustrated while she tries to read a book.

“Hopelessness.”

The final image is a math test with every question marked wrong.

“Failure. These are not words that only describe American education in 2015. These are also words that describe America herself. Foreign nations take advantage of us.”

Vladimir Putin and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appear on a split screen.
“Learning English is optional.”

A sign written in both English and Spanish.

“More people are on welfare than ever before; economic parasites taking your money."

A mother buying junk food with an EBT card.

All of the images previously shown are assembled in a collage. Bernard Core walks on screen. Below him reads:

Bernard Core

Headmaster, The Core Institute

“Do you want your child to grow up to become a failure, a drain on society? That is their destiny if they continue in the school they are currently in. But there is hope; a state of the art, K-12 private school where children will learn the skills and knowledge necessary to make America the supreme country that it once was. That school is The Core Institute.”

The Core Institute’s banner fades in to the background. Core continues to talk while more pictures fade in and out.

“Is your child’s schoolwork not preparing them for life after school? At The Core Institute, your child will face academic rigor that public schools are unwilling to provide.”

A picture of students sitting at their desks completing their work while a teacher walks up and down the aisles like a drill sergeant inspecting his troops.

“Afraid your child will grow up to join ISIS? Here, they will develop an unquestioning love for America.”

Students reciting the pledge of allegiance.

“Is your child insubordinate at home? From day one, the values of authority, subservience, discipline, and uniformity will be instilled in your child.”

Students, all wearing school uniforms, walking through a hallway in a straight line.

“My administration and faculty are highly trained and certified professionals waiting to make your students become the people that America needs them to be.”

Dean Wolf stands in front of a group of teachers. No one is smiling. All of them have their arms crossed.

“We’re right in the middle of the beautiful Hudson Valley in Hyde Park, New York, home of one of America’s greatest presidents, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”

A video clip from FDR’s first inauguration plays.

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

A close up of Core’s face appears.

“Don’t settle for the school your child is compelled to go to because of where they live. Our entrance lottery takes place on February 3. Register now before it’s too late to save your child from a life of deficiency.”

One last shot of the Core Institute’s emblem. A voiceover says “The Core Institute- Uniformity for All.”
The commercial ends. Huddled around the TV in Core’s office are Core, Dean Wolf, Jeffrey Cornelius, and Keith Gordon, the ad man that made the commercial.

Keith Gordon: What did you think, Dr. Core?

Core isn’t even paying attention. He’s thinking about the last words Mikey eXteme spoke to him at Slam.

“Get your affairs settled and buy yourself a one way ticket to Mikey’s America, because after Fifteen, you’re going back to Albany in a body bag!”

Keith Gordon: Dr. Core?

Core realizes he isn’t paying attention.

Core: Wh-what? I’m sorry. What was that?

Keith Gordon: Did you like the commercial?

Core: Oh, yes. It was great. Let’s roll with it. Jeffrey, I want this commercial on as many TV stations as we can get it on.

Jeffrey: You got it.

Jeffrey writes “Get stupid fucking commercial on TV" in his notepad.

Core: Mr. Gordon, thanks for all of your hard work. We’ll keep in touch.

Core and Gordon shake hands.

Core: Jeffrey, show Mr. Gordon out and then got on the phone to the TV stations.

Jeffrey: Can’t Briggs show him out? He’s the butler, not me.

Core stares a hole through Jeffrey. Jeffrey rolls his eyes.

Jeffrey: Right this way, Mr. Gordon.

Jeffrey and Gordon walk out of the office. Dean Wolf follows them but is stopped by Core.

Core: Wolf, stay here. Close the door.

Wolf closes the door. Core sits behind his desk.

Core: Sit down.

Wolf sits across from Core. Core doesn’t stare directly at Wolf. He looks slightly down and off to the side.

Core: Wolf, explain to me your rationale for accepting the Two out of Three Falls All American Weapons Match for me?

Wolf: He was embarrassing the entire Core Institute, not to mention that he was questioning your manhood and insulting your integrity. I couldn’t stand there and watch you take it. He had an entire arena full of people chanting the word “pussy” at you. With everything you’re trying to accomplish, you can’t afford to be put in that kind of position. I did what I thought was in your best interests. Plus, he wasn’t going to give you a rematch for the Championship of the United States without accepting his conditions.

Core thinks about Wolf’s response. He folds his hand and leans his lips up against his index fingers. All of a sudden, he shoots up out of his chair, slams his hands on his desk, and leans forward.

Core: ARE YOU TRYING TO FUCKING KILL ME, WOLF?! IS IT IN MY BEST INTERESTS TO DIE?! DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO DO TO ME?! YOU’RE GOING TO RUIN ME! IF I MAKE IT OUT OF THIS MATCH ALIVE, I’M GOING TO BE MAIMED FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE! HOW CAN I BE THE CHAMPION OF THE UNITED STATES IF I LOOK LIKE A CRIPPLED FREAK?! IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?! ARE YOU AND JEFFREY IN CAHOOTS TO DESTROY ME?! DID MY BITCH OF A WIFE PUT YOU UP TO THIS?! ARE YOU WORKING FOR MIKEY EXTREME?!?!?!

Wolf doesn’t react right away. He just stares at Core as he breathes heavy and looks disheveled. He thinks about how he put Seth Lerch up against a wall when Seth yelled at him a few hours before War XIV.

Yeah, that’s probably not the best way to react right now.

Wolf: Headmaster Core, what are you worried about?

Core calms down and falls back into his chair in a slumped position. He rubs his head.

Core: Do you understand what will happen to me if Mikey eXtreme gets to use hisweapon before me? It’ll be more one sided than the Gulf War. I’ll be completely destroyed.

Wolf: Why are you worrying about that? You’re a former NCAA D-III Heavyweight Champion. You’re amateur experience will put you over in the first fall, and then you’ll get to use your weapon first. It’s not like you haven’t used it on him before.

Core: Wolf, I can’t even train without thinking about what Mikey could do to me with that kendo stick. How can I win the first fall if I can’t make it through a training session? As far as my weapon goes, I was lucky during our first match because he was distracted after I pushed him into the ref. When you and I attacked him the next week, he wasn’t expecting it. Now, it’ll be just me and him in that ring and the weapons will be legal. It’s a level playing field. I’m not prepared for this type of match.

He leans forward and buries his face in his hands. Wolf walks behind the desk slowly and kneels down next to Core.

Wolf: You need to get those thoughts out of your head. You may not be a hardcore wrestler like Mikey eXteme, but that doesn’t mean you can’t adapt. I was deep into drug and alcohol addiction two months ago. That’s what I knew. That’s what I was used to. Then you brought me here and got me away from all of that. Do you think that was easy for me? Do you think it was an easy decision to leave that all behind and go through withdrawal, puking my guts out because all my body wanted was pills and beer? Do you think it was easy going from being a junkie to a professional? I’m not complaining, but it was hard. I’m glad that I went through it, though. It’s made my life better. YOU made my life better. You gave me something to fight for. Ideals. Values. Progress. America. I’m devoting my life to advancing your principles. If I can go from a having a one way ticket to death to being the enforcer of your movement, then you can go from being the greatest technical wrestler in the WCF to also being the greatest hardcore wrestler in the WCF.

Core picks his head up and looks at Wolf.

Core: But how? How can I make that transformation?

Wolf waits a few seconds before responding.

Wolf: You have to seek the wolf.

Core: What?

Wolf: You have to seek the wolf in thyself. You have to think about the man that you need to be at Fifteen. You need to think about the man you need to be when we fight Mikey eXtreme and Freakshow this Sunday. What will it take to be that man? You need to think differently than you’ve thought before. Isn’t that what the Common Core Learning Standards are all about, thinking differently? Using new methods to solve complex problems? What will it take for you to defeat Mikey eXteme in his type of match? You have to get rid of any reservations that you have. You need to use any method possible to win. If you think that something you’re about to do might cross the line, then cross it. Don’t worry about the consequences to yourself, your family, or your victims. And most of all, think about what will happen if you don’t win. 

Core’s face goes from worried to anger.

Wolf: If you fail in the All American Weapons Match, and Mikey eXtreme walks out with YOUR Championship of the United States, 

everything you’ve been fighting for over the past two months will belost. All the words you’ve said will be deemed empty. Your past accomplishments against Greybeard, La Gama Blanca, Andre Holmes, they’ll all be forgotten. No one will say “Well, he wasn’t pinned or submitted his first two months.” They’ll say “He couldn’t win when it counted the most.” Hell, people are saying you don’t deserve this rematch now because you went to a draw with Mikey the first time.

Core: I won that match!

Wolf: I know you did, but the record book will always read “draw.” And if the record book says “loss” under the category of “Fifteen,” people will always say that you were talented, but you weren’t the best.

Then think about Mikey’s America.

Core starts breathing heavily out of his nose.

Wolf: If you lose, then Mikey’s America prevails. A land filled with Freakshows and Vidalias and guys with paint smeared on their faces, talking to invisible doctors. A black hole of morality. Do you think Mikey’s America shares any of the values of the America that you envision.

Core: Absolutely not.

Wolf: Do you think Mikey cares about fixing education in this country?

Core: Hell, no! I’m the one who cares about fixing education in this country!

Wolf: That’s right. Tell me more.

Core gets up from his chair and begins storming around the office.

Core: I’m the only one who cares about America! I’m the only one who knows what’s right for it!

Wolf: And is Mikey what’s right for America?

Core: NO!

He clears his desk of anything that’s on top of it.

Core: I’m what’s right for America! My vision is what’s right for America! The Core Institute is what’s right for America!

Wolf: And what are you going to do to make sure that Mikey’s Darkness never falls over America?

Core: I’M GOING TO KILL HIM!

Wolf: And how are you going to do that?

Core: THE FIRST THING I’M GOING TO DO IS STRAP ON THE HEADMASTER LOCK AND BEND HIS FEET OVER HIS FUCKING HEAD UNTIL I HEAR HIS BACK SNAP IN TWO!

Wolf: And then what?

Core grabs the steel pole American flag that sits in his office and begins smashing his desk with it.

Core: I’M GOING TO SMASH THIS POLE OVER HIS HEAD OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL HIS FUCKING HEAD CAVES IN!!!

He continues to smash the desk until it breaks into pieces. He stares at the pile of wood that is left lying on the floor. He breathes in through his nose and out through his mouth to try and catch his breath. He’s sweating. Wolf takes the flag from him and puts it back in its place. He walks back over to Core. Jeffrey runs into the office.

Jeffrey: Is everythi---

Jeffrey sees the mess that’s been made. He looks up and sees Wolf put his hand on Core’s shoulder.

Wolf: I think you’ve found the wolf. Are you going to unleash it on Sunday?

Core: Yes.

Wolf: Are you going to unleash it at Fifteen?

Core: Hell yes.

Jeffrey looks on in horror as his father, the man that he hates and fears the most, seems to have found a new level of madness.