Chances, Part 2: Preparation

[Rick Mad]

Chances, Part 1
Preparation, Chapter 1

We open up in a gym. A personal gym, not a public one. It seems to be located in someone's basement. A few posters line the walls, most of them depicting one man. This man has short blonde hair, and is sometimes wearing a gray sports shirt, sometimes wearing a camo shirt, usually with jeans. Rick Mad is in the gym, wearing black gym shorts and a white wifebeater. He's currently on the bench press, and the man depicted on the posters is spotting him. Beside the bench is a piece of notebook paper with several names written on it, though we can only read the first one, which is crossed out.

Rage

The man is Rage, Rick Mad's long ago tag team partner in a team known as Mob Mentality. Rage has clearly kept himself in good shape. Rick lifts the bar up one last time before stopping. He sits up, sweat pouring down his face, and grabs a towel to wipe himself off.

Rage: Well, Rick, I'd have to say you're honestly in as good shape as you've ever been. Physical condition has never been your strong point, you know that, but you're more than capable to win against anyone you're thrown against.

Rick Mad: It ISN'T "anyone" I'm being thrown against, its Corey Black. But yeah, strength isn't going to win this competition either way. Its all about endurance. I'm not just aiming to beat Corey, I'm aiming to win this damn thing. I need endurance.

Rage: And like I said, you're as good as you've ever been, despite your age. You could go out there and wrestle an Iron Man Match if you wanted to.

Rick Mad: Hah, how awful would that be? An Ironman Death Match, just wailing on each other with weapons and barbed wire and fire for an hour. Both guys would probably be dead a half hour in. But okay, good. I've got the whole physical thing down. Thank you, Rage, old friend.

Rick has gotten to his feet and is picking up his bags, ready to go. He grabs his piece of notebook paper as well.

Rage: No problem. I figure I should help you out every now and then, or else you're going to end up turning on me.

Rick Mad: What's that supposed to mean?

Rage: Oh, nothing. So who are you going to visit next?

Rick looks at Rage, a bit stung by the comment, but is happy to change the subject.

Rick Mad: Two old friends from PCW. Well, one old friend from PCW, and one guy I see every week, though we're not really close anymore.

Rage: Those guys? What in the world are they going to help you with?

Rick Mad: I guess we'll see.

Rick takes a pen out of his pocket and crosses off two more names on his list.

Bob the Cameraman
Kyle Steel

Chances, Part 1
Preparation, Chapter 2

Bob the Cameraman: Rick, I really don't know what you want from us.

Bob and another man are seated on a couch while Rick is seated on an adjacent loveseat. Bob, better known as Zach Davis, voice of WCF, was Rick's tag partner back in PCW when they were known as the Wifebeaters. The team captured the Tag Team Titles and Bob also helped lead Rick to the World Title. Of course, following that he became the announcer of WCF Slam under his real name, Zach Davis. He is wearing black khaki pants and a white T-shirt. The other man is overweight, wearing a dirty black shirt and dirty jeans. He is Kyle Steel. He is also a former WCF announcer, though currently unemployed. He was also Rick and Bob's stablemate in their PCW run. He seems as if he is back to living on the streets.

Bob the Cameraman: And I don't appreciate you bringing Kyle into my house. No offense, Kyle, but you're dirty and you stink.

Kyle Steel: None taken.

Rick Mad: Guys, guys. With you two I was able to win the PCW World Title. Not just once, but on multiple occasions! You have to have some help to offer me, there has to be some way you two helped me.

Bob the Cameraman: I don't know, Rick. Besides being comic relief, we didn't do much other than spending a lot of time gangbanging your wife behind your back.

Rick's eyes light up.

Bob the Cameraman: Ah, er, I'm sorry! It was forever ago, things were different-

Rick Mad: I don't care, I don't want to hear that shit. You keep your mouth shut. I mean, I guess I always knew, I was too caught up in the PCW lifestyle and all of our success to care, but now I look back on her so fondly... I don't want you two ruining it. I don't want you to speak another word about her.

Bob the Cameraman: I'm sorry. But seriously, I'm not sure we have much to offer you, Rick. I heard you were with Rage earlier, I'm sure he helped you a lot with your physical training. But all we could do for you is be a laughingstock, and that isn't the kind of thing you need for a death match.

Kyle Steel: Besides, you'd just end up turning on us anyway.

Rick turns his head angrily towards Kyle.

Rick Mad: What was that, Kyle!?

Kyle Steel: Like you turned on Corey Black.

Bob the Cameraman: Sorry, Rick, don't listen to him. He just means-

Rick Mad: Oh give up, Bob, I know what you think. I hear what you say on commentary on the shows. The fact of the matter is this: I didn't turn on Corey. He happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sure, this is pro wrestling, maybe I got a little dramatic. He and Torture hate each other and I'm with The Tort now, what do you expect me to do? But I'm no turncoat, I'm as loyal as anyone.

Bob the Cameraman: Rick ... I don't know who you think you're fooling. I'm sorry, but I don't think any of your friends trust you anymore.

Kyle Steel: But that's not what you need for this Death Match tournament! You don't need your friends to trust you. You just need to win.

Rick Mad: ...You're right. You're both right. I've been a little too caught up on what people think. Not just you two, but... okay, I'll be honest. A few days ago I went to visit Danita.

Bob the Cameraman: You what? None of us have heard from her in ages, and I thought you were seeing some other girl.

Rick Mad: Yeah, Lisa and I broke up. So I.. I don't know what I was thinking, I went to visit Danita and I actually tried to get back with her. She wouldn't even listen to what I had to say, and the last few days its been killing me. But I can't let it bother me, I can't be thinking about that crap. I have a Death Match to prepare for.

Bob the Cameraman: Well you are exactly right, though I fear that realization is all we have to offer you.

Rick Mad: And that is plenty, Bob. I have one more person to visit, so I better get going. I think he'll be able to help me plenty.

Bob the Cameraman: Who's that?

Rick pulls out his paper and crosses the next name off his list.

Mr. Hardkore

Rick walks out of Bob's house.

Bob the Cameraman: Kyle, you smell like crap. Get the hell out of here, too.

Kyle Steel: But Bob, we're friends-

Bob the Cameraman: Get out!!

Kyle quickly leaves the house as well.

Chances, Part 1
Preparation, Chapter 3

Mr. Hardkore: No.

We reopen now in a hospital. Rick is standing over the hospital bed, which has a man laying in it with a bloodied bandage over his head. He is Mr. Hardkore, one of the most hated men of XCW, and someone Rick fought with plenty of times. Also, a noted deathmatch participant.

Rick Mad: Come on! I need someone to help me prepare for this deathmatch, and the only one that can do it is you.

Mr. Hardkore: I don't care. I haven't heard from you in years, first of all. Second of all, I'm still mad from that one time you stood me up when we both went to see Raw.

Rick frowns.

Rick Mad: Look, Kore. You've spent these last few years killing yourself on the independent circuit. What did it get you? A spot here in the hospital!

Mr. Hardkore: What's your point?! That's exactly why I don't feel like helping you!

Rick Mad: My point is, this is your chance to do something worthwhile. Not just fight in front of a few dozen fans for a few hundred bucks. If you help me, maybe I could get you in the door at WCF or something.

Mr. Hardkore: Hmm.. really?

Rick Mad: Yeah! The guy in charge now puts Eric Bischoff to shame when it comes to hiring people to huge salaries for no reason! But you've got to help me become the King of the Deathmatch first.

Kore thinks it over...

Mr. Hardkore: Alright... fine. I'll do it. Once I'm out of the hospital, which should be later today.

Rick Mad: Awesome! Great. We can do it at my house, I have anything we'd need-

Mr. Hardkore: No, no. I already have a place picked out for our little training session.

Rick Mad: Oh?

Mr. Hardkore: The XCW Arena.

Rick's eyes go wide for a second before he smiles.

Rick Mad: You got it.

Rick shakes Mr. Hardkore's hand as the scene fades to black.