Post by Jonny Fly on Dec 15, 2011 22:50:02 GMT -5
Flashback
The scene fades in with the camera looking directly at the front page of a newspaper. The paper is folded in half and is lying on a table. The date on the paper in the upper right hand corner reads ‘August 23rd, 2010.’ The headline of the paper reads ‘Jack Ridder Found Dead.’ A set of hands enters the scene and reaches for the paper. The person unfolds the paper allowing the camera to see the headline photo. The photo shows a man laying an alley. He’s surrounded by a crime scene tape and men in police uniforms. A closer look shows that he is missing all ten of his fingers. A blood pool can just barely be seen underneath his head in the black and white photo.
Our camera pans out. As it pans out we can see now that we are in a conference room or sorts. There are twelve men sitting around an oval wooden table, including the man whose hands had just unfolded the paper. We turn back toward the man to get our first look at who he is. We notice him as John Ridder from the previous ‘Flashback’ scene. Ridder is simply staring down at the newspaper. He cheeks are flushed white. He seems tense, and has formed a fist with both of his hands. He slams his right hand onto the table, whips the paper against the wall and gets to his feet. He slowly begins to walk around the table.
JR: How..does...this..happen?
Ridder stops walking and glances around the room. He seems intent on waiting for an answer from those sitting around the table. He points toward a man close to where the paper is lying on the floor.
Pick up that paper. Read the first paragraph.
The man slowly gets to his feet grabs the paper and nervously begins reading:
“At 3:00 p.m. yesterday New York City police found 74 year old Jack Ridder dead in Queens. Ridder’s death is being viewed as a murder after police found him with all ten fingers cut off and multiple puncture wounds. Ridder was the head of a well-known crime syndicate and news of his death is being hailed as a public service. Right now police are saying that they do not have any leads in the case…”
You can stop there.
The man sits back down in his seat and Ridder begins to pace around the room again.
Hailed..as..a..public..service. That’s my fucking father! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
Ridder pauses again, his face venting with anger.
I won’t stand for this type of incompetence in this organization. Right now I hold every..single..one of you responsible for his death. I don’t know how the fuck you just allowed Jonny Fly back into this city but it ends now. FIND HIM. I’ve made him a promise that I plan on keeping. That picture you see in the paper right now? Fly’s better look ten times worse. GO!
The men in the room slowly shuffle to their feet. John Ridder’s glare turns to the paper now sitting back on the table. He takes one last look at his dad before returning his attention to the men.
Also, find me that fucking FBI agent who let Fly escape. I want his head on this table in an hour. AN HOUR!
The men nod and exit the room. Ridder walks to the paper, grabs it, and disposes of it in a trash care by the door to exit the room. He exits the room and the scene fades.
[End Flashback]
[Present Day]
Our scene begins inside the WCF corporate offices. We are in the reception area and staring at a secretary at her desk. The cute, brunette, twenty-something year old is busy typing on her computer in front of a ‘Wrestling Championship Federation’ backdrop. She seems oblivious of the camera’s presence in the room. We pan around the area and notice nearly a dozen pictures and memorabilia of current and past WCF wrestlers hung on the lime green with black trimmed walls. There is seating area to the right of the secretary with chairs and couches. On the wall behind this area is a ‘fathead’ of WCF owner Seth Lerch. Lerch’s fathead is pointing to his left, and to the left is a cabinet filled with replicas of every WCF title ever commissioned. Our glance around the room is interrupted by a humming sound.
We pan back around, past the secretary, to a doorway. The humming sound grows in volume until its presence is seemingly right in front of us. Jonny Fly, in his usual suit, tie, custom-made shoes, and slicked-back hair, walks through the doorway and without breaking stride walks right past the secretary. She looks up from her computer, notices Fly, stands up, and remarks..
Secretary: Um, sir, is there something I can do for you?
Fly stops walking and turns to face her. He looks her up and down, smirks, and reaches into his pocket. Fly pulls out his phone and tosses it over to her. She catches the phone and looks back at him questioningly.
JF: You’re pretty cute. Go ahead and put your number in there, I’ll be back out in a bit.
Fly turns away from the secretary and begins walking toward the back of the room where there is another doorway. The secretary sits back down, looking unsure of what to do with the phone. Fly reaches the doorway, which forms a ‘T’ where a hallway goes to the left and right. He stops walking and looks both ways, unsure of how to proceed. He turns around and yells back to the secretary..
Hey, sweetheart, which way to Seth Lerch’s office?
The secretary responds..
Take a left. He’s all the way at the end of the hall.
Fly smiles, turns left (which as an aside makes him infinitely cooler than Derek Zoolander), and begins walking down the hallway. This hallway is also filled with pictures and memorabilia on the walls, and Fly makes a point to look at each one as he continues. He passes offices labeled ‘Cairo,’ ‘Price,’ ‘Z. Davis,’ and ‘S. Lerch’ before coming to the office at the end of the hall labeled, simply, ‘Lerch.’ Fly raises his hand to knock on the door, before moving it over to the door handle and letting himself into the office unannounced. As Fly barges in the door we notice Seth Lerch working at his desk. He looks up to see Fly entering. Jonny closes the door behind him, and then reaches for a chair across from the WCF owner. He pulls the chair to directly in front of the desk and sits down. Seth stares at him and then remarks..
SL: You know usually people knock.
Having to knock signifies that I’m not sure I’m invited in. I knew I was invited in.
Is that right? I thought it signified that you were courteous. This is the office of the man who runs the company you work for, you should show some respect.
I showed my respect for you when I signed here. I’ve sat where you’re sitting; you make a lot of money off of someone of my caliber. That’s the respect I’ve given you.
You’ve wrestled in, what, four matches? You’re not making me any money.
Jonny Fly leans in.
Yet.
Fly smiles, leans back in his chair, and plops his feet up onto Lerch’s desk. He continues.
I’m going to make you a lot of money, buddy. You haven’t even seen HALF of what I am capable of doing here. I mean that. Everyone is absolutely clueless. I love that about this place. One day soon this company will be flowing with wrestlers, all of them joining to get a crack at the top man in this business.
Which I presume, you’re about to say, is you?
Everyone here talks about the past, Seth. That’s all they have. These people want to exist forever as they were once upon a time. There is only one World Champion at once. Your former champs refuse to live in the now. They only want to exist during the period when they were the top dog. They want everyone to continue to recognize them for their past greatness. Let me ask you this, would you have sex with a chick who USED to be hot?
I don’t hit anything that is less than a 9.
Fly laughs at the comment, and then continues.
No, and who would? That shit is gross. My point is I don’t recognize anyone as better than me until they prove it. Right now, I haven’t lost, so fuck everyone else. They’re all worried about who beat who and when, and what match they can make that people would care about in 2008. None of that really matters. All that matters to me is that anyone ever associated with your company that has faced me, has gone done without so much as me breaking a sweat. The rest haven’t faced me, and they’re some lucky motherfuckers. If we want to talk about the past, mine is far more superior than anyone else’s here, and so will my future.
Your World Champion, whatever the fuck his name is, he identifies himself as the best wrestler in your company only because of that belt. He only has to defend it once a month, against whoever your heart desires. Does that really make him the best wrestler in the company? He just lost last week! That guy is already toeing the line toward the deep recesses of everyone’s memory. It’s about the future now, Seth. You’ve seen an influx of new talent over the last few weeks. These are the guys that are going to keep your product fresh. These are the guys who can lead your company to places that everyone else has failed to. I’m the best of that bunch. I’m the crown fuckin’ jewel. I’m the guy, whether you like it or not, you will be hitching your wagon to. I’m that caliber of a wrestler.
That’s quite the tangent. I would have to say judging by last week that you have your hands quite full with where you’re at right now in the pecking order of this company.
What are you talking about?
Aaron Miles is what I’m talking about. Miles is also one of our young stars here. I think you’re taking him way too lightly.
Miles? That guy is a joke. Anyone who starts a street fight with me isn’t very smart. Dumb fucks don’t beat me in a wrestling match. It’s usually that simple. You know I was focused on winning that battle royal, and seeing your allegiance with the default champion, you’re lucky as shit I didn’t. Between you and me, you know damn well Ryan Blake isn’t going to put up a fight against your boy. But no, Aaron Miles needed his beating and that’s exactly what he got.
You should be a politician with the way you’re twisting things around.
A politician? Like you?
Seth shakes his head in disgust and breathes in deeply. He smiles at Fly and turns around to grab a folder. He puts the folder in front of Fly with a pen on top.
Sign this. This is your official match contract for One against Aaron Miles for the Television Title. You’re a cocky son of a bitch, so I assume you won’t need much time to read it over.
Fly grabs the pen and opens the folder to reveal the contract. He flips to the back and signs his name on the signature line. He closes the folder and hands it back to Seth Lerch.
So tell me, boss, who do I get a chance to prove myself against this week?
Seth grabs the folder and files it in a cabinet underneath his desk. He sits back up.
I’ve booked you in a six-man tag match. You’re going to team with Roy Speede and Jam Willy Jesus versus Ryan Blake, Switches the Clown, and…Aaron Miles.
Interesting, but you know Seth; I’m just not sure tag matches are for me.
I assume you’re going to inform me of why?
Yep. In a tag match the other team can strategize to keep me out of the ring. That’s especially true in this match, where I have to wrestle with TWO other partners. I don’t know anything about Speede or Jam Willy, but I’m not too keen on putting my fate in anyone’s hands. I’d rather you just gave me a shot to wrestle all five of them at the same time.
This is why you aren’t booking the matches, Jonny. You’re missing the point. This is an opportunity to get Jam Willy and Switches into the ring with each other for just a bit before their match at One. Same thing applies for you and Miles. It’s like a warm-up for the real thing. This match is something we can build One off of, and something that should help us get great ratings this week.
I’m in the match, Seth. Your ratings are guaranteed. I get the sentiment, but, what if I hurt Miles? What if I hurt that clown freak? Then where does your precious PPV matches go? Do you honestly think if I’m in the ring and one of Miles’ worthless team members tag him in that he’s going to leave that ring in any condition to wrestle at One?
Yea, I do. Once again, you’re underestimating Aaron Miles. He’s going to be a tough opponent for you. I know Switches will be able to handle himself just fine as well.
Well, let’s at least establish this; Ryan Blake is going to get his ass kicked. You must be drawing straws in this office and he keeps coming up short, right?
Again, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.
In the last four weeks you’ve put that piece of shit in a ring with me three times. In my entire wrestling career I have never even lost to the same person TWICE. Blake stands no chance, and by now you have to realize that.
You know, I’m just the Owner of this place, what do I really know, but I thought he won that battle royal last week?
Seth, don’t be naive. I wasn’t even in that match! I was busy teaching Aaron Miles his place in this industry. Blake beat Hunter and Vic. Who gives a shit? I’ve beat Hunter, Vic, and Blake!
I really don’t care. Did you come here just to complain about your opponents?
No, I really just wanted to come and visit, see how you were doing. I haven’t been able to catch up with you since I signed.
Seth stares at Fly, raising his eyebrows at his answer to the question. Jonny, sensing the questioning, explains himself.
Like it or not, Seth, we’re business partners. We’ve both invested in each other. I’ve had a way of, let’s say, losing..my business partners in the past. I want to make sure that doesn’t happen this time around. Business aside, I’m happy to be here. I just wanted to come here, see your digs, and find out what you have planned for me at Slam.
Well, now you know. Thank you for stopping by.
Wait a second, not so fast. We have to talk about this Television Title. You can say whatever you want about Miles, but I’m already looking past him. I said it during one of our shows last week, but I’m just not impressed. I haven’t seen anything from him on tape that I haven’t seen from countless other run of the mill wrestlers. That Television Title is already mine. My question is how comfortable are you with someone holding a given title forever? Just using myself as an example, and I certainly understand that I’m an exceptional case, but if it’s common practice that the guys in the mix for the Television Title are relative new-comers or mid-card wrestlers, how do you expect any of them to beat me?
You have to be fucking kidding me. I don’t even know if you’re good enough to beat Aaron Miles and you’re already asking me what your title defenses are going to be like?
Well, yea, Seth. I’m legitimately concerned that a few months from now I’m still going to be lugging that belt around, fighting off all your bottom-feeders every week because none of them can beat me. I’m bringing this to your attention now in the effort of fairness. Once I win; I want real competition. Let’s make this Television Title legitimate.
You’re unbelievable.
Okay, fine, we’ll talk about this after I win at One. I understand you’re the boss and you have to remain neutral, whatever. Let me ask you this, do you know of anyone around here who can be my manager? I need a manager to handle all my shit. Now that I’m wrestling again I’m getting all this fan mail and bullshit, I don’t have time to deal with it.
Nope, you’re on your own there.
What about your sister? She seems like a perfect candidate.
Jonny, I’m busy, I think you should leave. I assume you’ll just ignore me, but you have a pretty big couple of weeks coming up. You should use them wisely. You’re just starting out here and if you don’t make full use of your opportunities now, you’ll never make it. Keep that in mind.
Fly sighs, slides his feet off Seth Lerch’s desk, and gets up to his feet. He turns to the door to exit the office and opens it up. Before closing the door behind he turns back to Seth.
You know, you really should get some pictures and shit of me on these walls. I’ll sign some photos and send them over to your secretary. Anything I sign is worth a lot of money, so take good care of them. Watch her with them too, I think she likes me. Might try and steal one, and then we’ll both be out, you know?
Lerch rolls his eyes and goes back work on his computer. Fly turns away and shuts the door behind him. He begins walking down the hallway again when he comes across Hank Brown. Hank seems startled to see Fly and bumps into him.
HB: Oh, Jonny Fly…I’m sorry about that. What…are you doing here?
Um, Seth wanted to meet me. You know, just tell me how good of a job I was doing and that bullshit. You’re Hank Brown, right? Hell, I didn’t know they gave you an office here. Why’d they do that?
Well, because I’m employed by the company…?
My bad, Hank, I didn’t mean to offend you. I just thought those token wrestling interviewer guys worked out of a van or something.
You thought I worked out of a van?
Nevermind, Hank, I assume you have a microphone or something on you? Why don’t you take the honor of asking me some questions? I’m busy this week so I have to get my television time while I have a chance.
You’ll have to come into my office. I have something in there.
Hank begins walking down the hallway toward his office. Fly follows a little behind him. Brown reaches his office door, pushes it in, and walks inside. The office is extremely small, cramped, and full of junk. Hank has two bookcases side-by-side behind his desk. Both bookcases are full of binders stacked on top of each other to the point where the shelves are bent downwards looking they’ll give out at any point in time. In front of Hank’s desk is one small, worn chair. The walls are ugly orange color and filled with posters Hank has had made of him interviewing some of WCF’s biggest stars over the years. Fly peers into the office as Hank goes to his desk.
Nice office, Hank. You’re really moving up in the world. What size is this, eight-by-eight?
Seven-by-seven!
Hell, you’d be better off in that van. Where the hell am I supposed to sit?
Hank is busy shuffling through papers that are sprawled out on his desk. He finally finds a cassette tape, sticks it into a tape recorder that is already on his desk, and looks up toward Fly, still standing in the doorway.
Well, on that chair of course.
Fly looks down at the chair. The chair looks like it’s from the 80’s. Its steel legged with what used to be a brown leather sitting area. The leather is torn in several different places, exposing the inner cushion, and the brown leather is faded white in several areas. Fly squints his eyes at the chair and remarks..
I think I’ll just stand.
Whatever suits you best, Jonny. Let me just rewind this tape here and we’ll be all set.
Cassette, huh? You’re really getting fancy with the technology. Just imagine, one day this will all be digital!
Yea, yea, it’s all I have in here. We’re good to go. I’ll record this and we’ll get it onto WCF television at some point this week. Let’s start with a recap in your own words about what happened last week during the battle royal.
I’ll tell you what happened, I was in the middle of wiping those other six worthless wrestlers off the map, gaining a shot at a second title at One, when Aaron Miles decided he wasn’t really interested in the Hardcore Title and forced me to beat up on him outside of the ring, backstage, and in the parking lot. That’s what happened.
I don’t know about that, Jonny. It did appear that you guys eliminated yourself on purpose, but I don’t know about the rest of that.
What the hell are you saying, Hank? Do you really think if WCF security didn’t get involved that Miles would even still be alive? There’s not a man in this world who can win a street fight against me. I don’t have any boundaries; I don’t have a switch that can be turned off. I…just…annihilate…that’s what I know how to do. Aaron Miles is the proverbial thorn in the side. He’s not really good enough to win against me, but he’ll annoy me up until our match.
So you’re confident that at One you’ll be able to beat him?
Being confident isn’t necessarily the same thing as being positive. Hank, I’m positive that I’m going to beat Aaron Miles at One. I don’t leave any room for interpretation on that. I’m not trying to make a statement here that I can wiggle out of in case I lose that match. I’m going to win. I’m going to win A LOT in the WCF. Miles won’t have anything to be ashamed of months from now when he looks back at losing his title to me.
After the show last week Aaron Miles requested that match be changed to include a 15 foot ladder. Have you heard about this?
Fly’s eyebrows rise. He smiles.
I didn’t hear about this until now. Fuck yea, if Miles wants to get his ass dragged up a 15 foot ladder and thrown off, book that shit. We can make that ladder as tall as Aaron can climb. If Miles want’s a 20 foot ladder, let’s do it. 25 feet? Bring it. If that motherfucker wants me to wrestle me on a hundred foot tall bridge, I’ll gladly throw him off, parachute down, and get my three count. Nothing is going to change the outcome of this match. NOTHING.
Let’s talk about the Television Title, that’s what is on the line at One. I know you’ve made some comments recently about it, and most take those comments as a bit disrespectful toward that Title and its rich history here in the WCF. How do you respond?
The Television Title will have a rich history once I’m holding it. As of right now, it’s held by Aaron Miles. It’s tough to get the perspective of the belt everyone might think I should have, when Miles is the champion. Either way, I’m going to take it from him. Once it’s mine I fully expect this company to give me the proper competition to defend it against. I don’t want Lerch booking me against these fucking nobody’s I beat every week just because he wants a title defended on every show. I won’t get my unbelievably talented ass out of bed in the morning unless someone is going to push me for that belt.
You do know of the stipulations placed on the person who holds that belt, right?
The Television Title is about to enter a new era, Hank. That belt is going to have to evolve. This company doesn’t even have ONE person who can wrestle at my level, much less someone each..and..every..week. It’s an impossible task. This company couldn’t invent a fuckin’ time machine and bring back all its ‘legends,’ put them on the roster, and find me a suitable opponent every week. I’m going to hold the Television Title division hostage until I can force them to just rename the damn thing the ‘Jonny Fly Television Title, ’at which time I’ll gladly vacate it. Perhaps, then, Aaron Miles will be able to come back out and play.
We do need to talk about Slam this week. I assume you already know who you’re facing?
Yea, Seth told me about it. Between you and me, that guy is toeing a real fine line here. I told him, it’s a mistake to put me in a ring against Blake, Switches, and Miles. He has big plans for all of them at One, and I’m the type of motherfucker who wrecks plans. I don’t care about ratings; I wrestle to make a point. There isn’t anything that can bring more attention to me and my rise here in the WCF, than ruining an entire PPV in one night. I’m a creature of chaos, and this week I’m going to cause a lot of it.
Is there anything that you would like to say directly to Aaron Miles in regards to this match?
I’d tell him to turn and run if he’s in the ring when I get tagged in, but that wouldn’t be any fun for anyone, would it? He better lace the fuck up. I’ll say the rest of what needs said on Sunday.
Fly walks towards Hank’s desk and presses the button on the tape recorder to turn it off.
I’m done here. Thanks Hank.
Fly walks toward the door and turns around before exiting. He takes one more look around the office, shakes his head disapprovingly, and exits shutting the door behind him. Fly starts humming again as he walks back down the hall. He comes back to the ‘T’ in the hallway, and turns right back into the reception area of the WCF offices. He walks toward the secretary and she greets him as he approaches.
Well, that took a long time.
The secretary smiles and hands Fly back his phone.
I put my number in there. My name is Stacy. Call me.
Fly winks at her, puts his phone in his pocket, and proceeds out the doorway of the WCF offices humming all the way out.
[END]
The scene fades in with the camera looking directly at the front page of a newspaper. The paper is folded in half and is lying on a table. The date on the paper in the upper right hand corner reads ‘August 23rd, 2010.’ The headline of the paper reads ‘Jack Ridder Found Dead.’ A set of hands enters the scene and reaches for the paper. The person unfolds the paper allowing the camera to see the headline photo. The photo shows a man laying an alley. He’s surrounded by a crime scene tape and men in police uniforms. A closer look shows that he is missing all ten of his fingers. A blood pool can just barely be seen underneath his head in the black and white photo.
Our camera pans out. As it pans out we can see now that we are in a conference room or sorts. There are twelve men sitting around an oval wooden table, including the man whose hands had just unfolded the paper. We turn back toward the man to get our first look at who he is. We notice him as John Ridder from the previous ‘Flashback’ scene. Ridder is simply staring down at the newspaper. He cheeks are flushed white. He seems tense, and has formed a fist with both of his hands. He slams his right hand onto the table, whips the paper against the wall and gets to his feet. He slowly begins to walk around the table.
JR: How..does...this..happen?
Ridder stops walking and glances around the room. He seems intent on waiting for an answer from those sitting around the table. He points toward a man close to where the paper is lying on the floor.
Pick up that paper. Read the first paragraph.
The man slowly gets to his feet grabs the paper and nervously begins reading:
“At 3:00 p.m. yesterday New York City police found 74 year old Jack Ridder dead in Queens. Ridder’s death is being viewed as a murder after police found him with all ten fingers cut off and multiple puncture wounds. Ridder was the head of a well-known crime syndicate and news of his death is being hailed as a public service. Right now police are saying that they do not have any leads in the case…”
You can stop there.
The man sits back down in his seat and Ridder begins to pace around the room again.
Hailed..as..a..public..service. That’s my fucking father! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
Ridder pauses again, his face venting with anger.
I won’t stand for this type of incompetence in this organization. Right now I hold every..single..one of you responsible for his death. I don’t know how the fuck you just allowed Jonny Fly back into this city but it ends now. FIND HIM. I’ve made him a promise that I plan on keeping. That picture you see in the paper right now? Fly’s better look ten times worse. GO!
The men in the room slowly shuffle to their feet. John Ridder’s glare turns to the paper now sitting back on the table. He takes one last look at his dad before returning his attention to the men.
Also, find me that fucking FBI agent who let Fly escape. I want his head on this table in an hour. AN HOUR!
The men nod and exit the room. Ridder walks to the paper, grabs it, and disposes of it in a trash care by the door to exit the room. He exits the room and the scene fades.
[End Flashback]
[Present Day]
Our scene begins inside the WCF corporate offices. We are in the reception area and staring at a secretary at her desk. The cute, brunette, twenty-something year old is busy typing on her computer in front of a ‘Wrestling Championship Federation’ backdrop. She seems oblivious of the camera’s presence in the room. We pan around the area and notice nearly a dozen pictures and memorabilia of current and past WCF wrestlers hung on the lime green with black trimmed walls. There is seating area to the right of the secretary with chairs and couches. On the wall behind this area is a ‘fathead’ of WCF owner Seth Lerch. Lerch’s fathead is pointing to his left, and to the left is a cabinet filled with replicas of every WCF title ever commissioned. Our glance around the room is interrupted by a humming sound.
We pan back around, past the secretary, to a doorway. The humming sound grows in volume until its presence is seemingly right in front of us. Jonny Fly, in his usual suit, tie, custom-made shoes, and slicked-back hair, walks through the doorway and without breaking stride walks right past the secretary. She looks up from her computer, notices Fly, stands up, and remarks..
Secretary: Um, sir, is there something I can do for you?
Fly stops walking and turns to face her. He looks her up and down, smirks, and reaches into his pocket. Fly pulls out his phone and tosses it over to her. She catches the phone and looks back at him questioningly.
JF: You’re pretty cute. Go ahead and put your number in there, I’ll be back out in a bit.
Fly turns away from the secretary and begins walking toward the back of the room where there is another doorway. The secretary sits back down, looking unsure of what to do with the phone. Fly reaches the doorway, which forms a ‘T’ where a hallway goes to the left and right. He stops walking and looks both ways, unsure of how to proceed. He turns around and yells back to the secretary..
Hey, sweetheart, which way to Seth Lerch’s office?
The secretary responds..
Take a left. He’s all the way at the end of the hall.
Fly smiles, turns left (which as an aside makes him infinitely cooler than Derek Zoolander), and begins walking down the hallway. This hallway is also filled with pictures and memorabilia on the walls, and Fly makes a point to look at each one as he continues. He passes offices labeled ‘Cairo,’ ‘Price,’ ‘Z. Davis,’ and ‘S. Lerch’ before coming to the office at the end of the hall labeled, simply, ‘Lerch.’ Fly raises his hand to knock on the door, before moving it over to the door handle and letting himself into the office unannounced. As Fly barges in the door we notice Seth Lerch working at his desk. He looks up to see Fly entering. Jonny closes the door behind him, and then reaches for a chair across from the WCF owner. He pulls the chair to directly in front of the desk and sits down. Seth stares at him and then remarks..
SL: You know usually people knock.
Having to knock signifies that I’m not sure I’m invited in. I knew I was invited in.
Is that right? I thought it signified that you were courteous. This is the office of the man who runs the company you work for, you should show some respect.
I showed my respect for you when I signed here. I’ve sat where you’re sitting; you make a lot of money off of someone of my caliber. That’s the respect I’ve given you.
You’ve wrestled in, what, four matches? You’re not making me any money.
Jonny Fly leans in.
Yet.
Fly smiles, leans back in his chair, and plops his feet up onto Lerch’s desk. He continues.
I’m going to make you a lot of money, buddy. You haven’t even seen HALF of what I am capable of doing here. I mean that. Everyone is absolutely clueless. I love that about this place. One day soon this company will be flowing with wrestlers, all of them joining to get a crack at the top man in this business.
Which I presume, you’re about to say, is you?
Everyone here talks about the past, Seth. That’s all they have. These people want to exist forever as they were once upon a time. There is only one World Champion at once. Your former champs refuse to live in the now. They only want to exist during the period when they were the top dog. They want everyone to continue to recognize them for their past greatness. Let me ask you this, would you have sex with a chick who USED to be hot?
I don’t hit anything that is less than a 9.
Fly laughs at the comment, and then continues.
No, and who would? That shit is gross. My point is I don’t recognize anyone as better than me until they prove it. Right now, I haven’t lost, so fuck everyone else. They’re all worried about who beat who and when, and what match they can make that people would care about in 2008. None of that really matters. All that matters to me is that anyone ever associated with your company that has faced me, has gone done without so much as me breaking a sweat. The rest haven’t faced me, and they’re some lucky motherfuckers. If we want to talk about the past, mine is far more superior than anyone else’s here, and so will my future.
Your World Champion, whatever the fuck his name is, he identifies himself as the best wrestler in your company only because of that belt. He only has to defend it once a month, against whoever your heart desires. Does that really make him the best wrestler in the company? He just lost last week! That guy is already toeing the line toward the deep recesses of everyone’s memory. It’s about the future now, Seth. You’ve seen an influx of new talent over the last few weeks. These are the guys that are going to keep your product fresh. These are the guys who can lead your company to places that everyone else has failed to. I’m the best of that bunch. I’m the crown fuckin’ jewel. I’m the guy, whether you like it or not, you will be hitching your wagon to. I’m that caliber of a wrestler.
That’s quite the tangent. I would have to say judging by last week that you have your hands quite full with where you’re at right now in the pecking order of this company.
What are you talking about?
Aaron Miles is what I’m talking about. Miles is also one of our young stars here. I think you’re taking him way too lightly.
Miles? That guy is a joke. Anyone who starts a street fight with me isn’t very smart. Dumb fucks don’t beat me in a wrestling match. It’s usually that simple. You know I was focused on winning that battle royal, and seeing your allegiance with the default champion, you’re lucky as shit I didn’t. Between you and me, you know damn well Ryan Blake isn’t going to put up a fight against your boy. But no, Aaron Miles needed his beating and that’s exactly what he got.
You should be a politician with the way you’re twisting things around.
A politician? Like you?
Seth shakes his head in disgust and breathes in deeply. He smiles at Fly and turns around to grab a folder. He puts the folder in front of Fly with a pen on top.
Sign this. This is your official match contract for One against Aaron Miles for the Television Title. You’re a cocky son of a bitch, so I assume you won’t need much time to read it over.
Fly grabs the pen and opens the folder to reveal the contract. He flips to the back and signs his name on the signature line. He closes the folder and hands it back to Seth Lerch.
So tell me, boss, who do I get a chance to prove myself against this week?
Seth grabs the folder and files it in a cabinet underneath his desk. He sits back up.
I’ve booked you in a six-man tag match. You’re going to team with Roy Speede and Jam Willy Jesus versus Ryan Blake, Switches the Clown, and…Aaron Miles.
Interesting, but you know Seth; I’m just not sure tag matches are for me.
I assume you’re going to inform me of why?
Yep. In a tag match the other team can strategize to keep me out of the ring. That’s especially true in this match, where I have to wrestle with TWO other partners. I don’t know anything about Speede or Jam Willy, but I’m not too keen on putting my fate in anyone’s hands. I’d rather you just gave me a shot to wrestle all five of them at the same time.
This is why you aren’t booking the matches, Jonny. You’re missing the point. This is an opportunity to get Jam Willy and Switches into the ring with each other for just a bit before their match at One. Same thing applies for you and Miles. It’s like a warm-up for the real thing. This match is something we can build One off of, and something that should help us get great ratings this week.
I’m in the match, Seth. Your ratings are guaranteed. I get the sentiment, but, what if I hurt Miles? What if I hurt that clown freak? Then where does your precious PPV matches go? Do you honestly think if I’m in the ring and one of Miles’ worthless team members tag him in that he’s going to leave that ring in any condition to wrestle at One?
Yea, I do. Once again, you’re underestimating Aaron Miles. He’s going to be a tough opponent for you. I know Switches will be able to handle himself just fine as well.
Well, let’s at least establish this; Ryan Blake is going to get his ass kicked. You must be drawing straws in this office and he keeps coming up short, right?
Again, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.
In the last four weeks you’ve put that piece of shit in a ring with me three times. In my entire wrestling career I have never even lost to the same person TWICE. Blake stands no chance, and by now you have to realize that.
You know, I’m just the Owner of this place, what do I really know, but I thought he won that battle royal last week?
Seth, don’t be naive. I wasn’t even in that match! I was busy teaching Aaron Miles his place in this industry. Blake beat Hunter and Vic. Who gives a shit? I’ve beat Hunter, Vic, and Blake!
I really don’t care. Did you come here just to complain about your opponents?
No, I really just wanted to come and visit, see how you were doing. I haven’t been able to catch up with you since I signed.
Seth stares at Fly, raising his eyebrows at his answer to the question. Jonny, sensing the questioning, explains himself.
Like it or not, Seth, we’re business partners. We’ve both invested in each other. I’ve had a way of, let’s say, losing..my business partners in the past. I want to make sure that doesn’t happen this time around. Business aside, I’m happy to be here. I just wanted to come here, see your digs, and find out what you have planned for me at Slam.
Well, now you know. Thank you for stopping by.
Wait a second, not so fast. We have to talk about this Television Title. You can say whatever you want about Miles, but I’m already looking past him. I said it during one of our shows last week, but I’m just not impressed. I haven’t seen anything from him on tape that I haven’t seen from countless other run of the mill wrestlers. That Television Title is already mine. My question is how comfortable are you with someone holding a given title forever? Just using myself as an example, and I certainly understand that I’m an exceptional case, but if it’s common practice that the guys in the mix for the Television Title are relative new-comers or mid-card wrestlers, how do you expect any of them to beat me?
You have to be fucking kidding me. I don’t even know if you’re good enough to beat Aaron Miles and you’re already asking me what your title defenses are going to be like?
Well, yea, Seth. I’m legitimately concerned that a few months from now I’m still going to be lugging that belt around, fighting off all your bottom-feeders every week because none of them can beat me. I’m bringing this to your attention now in the effort of fairness. Once I win; I want real competition. Let’s make this Television Title legitimate.
You’re unbelievable.
Okay, fine, we’ll talk about this after I win at One. I understand you’re the boss and you have to remain neutral, whatever. Let me ask you this, do you know of anyone around here who can be my manager? I need a manager to handle all my shit. Now that I’m wrestling again I’m getting all this fan mail and bullshit, I don’t have time to deal with it.
Nope, you’re on your own there.
What about your sister? She seems like a perfect candidate.
Jonny, I’m busy, I think you should leave. I assume you’ll just ignore me, but you have a pretty big couple of weeks coming up. You should use them wisely. You’re just starting out here and if you don’t make full use of your opportunities now, you’ll never make it. Keep that in mind.
Fly sighs, slides his feet off Seth Lerch’s desk, and gets up to his feet. He turns to the door to exit the office and opens it up. Before closing the door behind he turns back to Seth.
You know, you really should get some pictures and shit of me on these walls. I’ll sign some photos and send them over to your secretary. Anything I sign is worth a lot of money, so take good care of them. Watch her with them too, I think she likes me. Might try and steal one, and then we’ll both be out, you know?
Lerch rolls his eyes and goes back work on his computer. Fly turns away and shuts the door behind him. He begins walking down the hallway again when he comes across Hank Brown. Hank seems startled to see Fly and bumps into him.
HB: Oh, Jonny Fly…I’m sorry about that. What…are you doing here?
Um, Seth wanted to meet me. You know, just tell me how good of a job I was doing and that bullshit. You’re Hank Brown, right? Hell, I didn’t know they gave you an office here. Why’d they do that?
Well, because I’m employed by the company…?
My bad, Hank, I didn’t mean to offend you. I just thought those token wrestling interviewer guys worked out of a van or something.
You thought I worked out of a van?
Nevermind, Hank, I assume you have a microphone or something on you? Why don’t you take the honor of asking me some questions? I’m busy this week so I have to get my television time while I have a chance.
You’ll have to come into my office. I have something in there.
Hank begins walking down the hallway toward his office. Fly follows a little behind him. Brown reaches his office door, pushes it in, and walks inside. The office is extremely small, cramped, and full of junk. Hank has two bookcases side-by-side behind his desk. Both bookcases are full of binders stacked on top of each other to the point where the shelves are bent downwards looking they’ll give out at any point in time. In front of Hank’s desk is one small, worn chair. The walls are ugly orange color and filled with posters Hank has had made of him interviewing some of WCF’s biggest stars over the years. Fly peers into the office as Hank goes to his desk.
Nice office, Hank. You’re really moving up in the world. What size is this, eight-by-eight?
Seven-by-seven!
Hell, you’d be better off in that van. Where the hell am I supposed to sit?
Hank is busy shuffling through papers that are sprawled out on his desk. He finally finds a cassette tape, sticks it into a tape recorder that is already on his desk, and looks up toward Fly, still standing in the doorway.
Well, on that chair of course.
Fly looks down at the chair. The chair looks like it’s from the 80’s. Its steel legged with what used to be a brown leather sitting area. The leather is torn in several different places, exposing the inner cushion, and the brown leather is faded white in several areas. Fly squints his eyes at the chair and remarks..
I think I’ll just stand.
Whatever suits you best, Jonny. Let me just rewind this tape here and we’ll be all set.
Cassette, huh? You’re really getting fancy with the technology. Just imagine, one day this will all be digital!
Yea, yea, it’s all I have in here. We’re good to go. I’ll record this and we’ll get it onto WCF television at some point this week. Let’s start with a recap in your own words about what happened last week during the battle royal.
I’ll tell you what happened, I was in the middle of wiping those other six worthless wrestlers off the map, gaining a shot at a second title at One, when Aaron Miles decided he wasn’t really interested in the Hardcore Title and forced me to beat up on him outside of the ring, backstage, and in the parking lot. That’s what happened.
I don’t know about that, Jonny. It did appear that you guys eliminated yourself on purpose, but I don’t know about the rest of that.
What the hell are you saying, Hank? Do you really think if WCF security didn’t get involved that Miles would even still be alive? There’s not a man in this world who can win a street fight against me. I don’t have any boundaries; I don’t have a switch that can be turned off. I…just…annihilate…that’s what I know how to do. Aaron Miles is the proverbial thorn in the side. He’s not really good enough to win against me, but he’ll annoy me up until our match.
So you’re confident that at One you’ll be able to beat him?
Being confident isn’t necessarily the same thing as being positive. Hank, I’m positive that I’m going to beat Aaron Miles at One. I don’t leave any room for interpretation on that. I’m not trying to make a statement here that I can wiggle out of in case I lose that match. I’m going to win. I’m going to win A LOT in the WCF. Miles won’t have anything to be ashamed of months from now when he looks back at losing his title to me.
After the show last week Aaron Miles requested that match be changed to include a 15 foot ladder. Have you heard about this?
Fly’s eyebrows rise. He smiles.
I didn’t hear about this until now. Fuck yea, if Miles wants to get his ass dragged up a 15 foot ladder and thrown off, book that shit. We can make that ladder as tall as Aaron can climb. If Miles want’s a 20 foot ladder, let’s do it. 25 feet? Bring it. If that motherfucker wants me to wrestle me on a hundred foot tall bridge, I’ll gladly throw him off, parachute down, and get my three count. Nothing is going to change the outcome of this match. NOTHING.
Let’s talk about the Television Title, that’s what is on the line at One. I know you’ve made some comments recently about it, and most take those comments as a bit disrespectful toward that Title and its rich history here in the WCF. How do you respond?
The Television Title will have a rich history once I’m holding it. As of right now, it’s held by Aaron Miles. It’s tough to get the perspective of the belt everyone might think I should have, when Miles is the champion. Either way, I’m going to take it from him. Once it’s mine I fully expect this company to give me the proper competition to defend it against. I don’t want Lerch booking me against these fucking nobody’s I beat every week just because he wants a title defended on every show. I won’t get my unbelievably talented ass out of bed in the morning unless someone is going to push me for that belt.
You do know of the stipulations placed on the person who holds that belt, right?
The Television Title is about to enter a new era, Hank. That belt is going to have to evolve. This company doesn’t even have ONE person who can wrestle at my level, much less someone each..and..every..week. It’s an impossible task. This company couldn’t invent a fuckin’ time machine and bring back all its ‘legends,’ put them on the roster, and find me a suitable opponent every week. I’m going to hold the Television Title division hostage until I can force them to just rename the damn thing the ‘Jonny Fly Television Title, ’at which time I’ll gladly vacate it. Perhaps, then, Aaron Miles will be able to come back out and play.
We do need to talk about Slam this week. I assume you already know who you’re facing?
Yea, Seth told me about it. Between you and me, that guy is toeing a real fine line here. I told him, it’s a mistake to put me in a ring against Blake, Switches, and Miles. He has big plans for all of them at One, and I’m the type of motherfucker who wrecks plans. I don’t care about ratings; I wrestle to make a point. There isn’t anything that can bring more attention to me and my rise here in the WCF, than ruining an entire PPV in one night. I’m a creature of chaos, and this week I’m going to cause a lot of it.
Is there anything that you would like to say directly to Aaron Miles in regards to this match?
I’d tell him to turn and run if he’s in the ring when I get tagged in, but that wouldn’t be any fun for anyone, would it? He better lace the fuck up. I’ll say the rest of what needs said on Sunday.
Fly walks towards Hank’s desk and presses the button on the tape recorder to turn it off.
I’m done here. Thanks Hank.
Fly walks toward the door and turns around before exiting. He takes one more look around the office, shakes his head disapprovingly, and exits shutting the door behind him. Fly starts humming again as he walks back down the hall. He comes back to the ‘T’ in the hallway, and turns right back into the reception area of the WCF offices. He walks toward the secretary and she greets him as he approaches.
Well, that took a long time.
The secretary smiles and hands Fly back his phone.
I put my number in there. My name is Stacy. Call me.
Fly winks at her, puts his phone in his pocket, and proceeds out the doorway of the WCF offices humming all the way out.
[END]
