DEF-456

[Deleted]

{It's 10 o'clock on Saturday night. Downtown Hartford is alive with the sights and sounds of junkies, hookers and drug dealers. Amid this flurry of activity Bobby stands outside of a phone booth waiting for a cab to pick him up. He checks his watch every couple of minutes until the cab eventually pulls up and he gets in.}

Cabby: "Where are you headed?"

Bobby: "I'm headed to... Explosion."

{The cab pulls off into the night as Bobby pulls a joint from his pocket.}

Bobby: "You mind if I light up?"

Cabby: "Go ahead, man."

{Bobby lights up and takes a toke.}

Bobby: "Ah, man, that's good shit. I tell you, bro, this is the only way I can lighten up before a big match."

Cabby: "What are you, one of those professional wrestlers?"

Bobby: "You could say that. Although I prefer the term 'sports entertainer.' 'Professional wrestler' is just so antiquated, don't you think?"

Cabby: "I got no idea what the fuck you're talking about, man."

(Bobby takes another hit from the joint.}

Bobby: "Nothing helps me relax like this stuff. Although there was once this girl... Lucy. Whenever I was with her, I never worried about nothing. She made everything better."

Cabby: "What happened with her?"

Bobby: "It was the same thing that ends most relationships; guy wins World Title, guys develops big ego, girl gets tired of guy's attitude and walks out."

Cabby: "That sucks, homey."

Bobby: "It's probably for the better. She would've wanted to get married and have kids at some point. Who needs that shit?"

Cabby: "Getting married and having kids was the best thing I ever did."

Bobby: "What the hell do you know? You're a cabby!"

Cabby: "I might be a cabby, but at least I don't have my head stuck up my ass."

Bobby: "Whatever."

{Bobby takes another hit.}

Bobby: "I can't even get mad at you, dude. Not when I'm smoking this sweet shit."

Cabby: "You sure that's healthy to be smoking, before a match and all?"

{Bobby chuckles heartily.}

Bobby: "Man, I was strung out on ludes the night I won the World Title!"

Cabby: "That's pretty fucked up."

{Bobby shrugs his shoulders and takes another hit.}

Bobby: "Tell you what though, this shit ain't cheap. I barely have money to pay my rent and buy food."

Cabby: "Sounds like you have a problem, man."

Bobby: "Nah, nah, man... I know what I'm doing. I'm Bobby Cairo!"

Cabby: "You're Bobby Cairo? Well, I'm Rick the Cabby."

Bobby: "Rick the Cabby? Didn't you used to work for WCW? Hahahaha! I'm just kidding, dude."

{Rick hums along to a tune on the radio as Bobby takes one last hit, then throws the joint out the window.}

Bobby: "Hey, did you catch that basketball game the other night?"

Rick: "Just cuz I'm a black man I gotta watch basketball!"

Bobby: "No, I was just wondering if..."

Rick: "I'm just playing with you, homey! Of course I saw that. Dwyane Wade is the shit!"

Bobby: "Yeah. He's pretty good. Hey, do you mind if I lay down and take a nap back here?"

Rick: "Go ahead, man."

{Bobby lays down and quickly drifts off to sleep. Meanwhile, Rick pops a couple of No Doz® tablets in preparation for the long haul ahead of him.}