Dan Ryan vs. Stephen Waltz
- Thread starter DBrunkGXW
- Start date
Palaver with Terry Anderson
SCENE BEGINS
(We fade into the cold, sterile setting of a hospital. Flourescent lights cut through the bitter dark with their searing luminosity. A variety of hospital sounds, ranging from announcements on the speakers to the hum of machines, fill the air. At the end of the hall lies a row of elevators, and a single window with a thin pink curtain pulled over it. Sunlight still manages to creep into the bustling recovery wing of the hospital.)
(Then one of the doors to an elevator shaft opens up, and the GXW Television Champion himself, Stephen Waltz, steps into the hall. He is dressed rather sharp, sporting slacks and a sports coat, both black, and a dashing navy dress shirt underneath, the top couple buttons opened up. He is well shaven, and his long black hair has been pulled back into a pony tail. He steps into the hallway with his hands in his pockets, regarding a few wall directories for a moment before making his way down the hall, the camera tracking backwards to follow his movement.)
(After passing a few doors, he finds the room he's looking for. The camera follows him in, and we find Terry Anderson occupying the bed of this single-occupant room. Terry lies with eyes closed, openly snoring, and his arms spread out to his sides, as if he had fallen into the bed this way. Stephen opens his mouth to speak, then closes it quickly when he remembers something. He turns to the camera and raises an eyebrow, then speaks in a tone just above a whispers.)
Stephen Waltz
Better be careful how I wake him this time...
(With a nervous smile, he tentatively comes to Terry's side. He waits a moment, then taps his shoulder lightly, speaking in a low tone.)
Stephen Waltz
Ter-ryyy...
(Anderson suddenly shoots up in bed. Slightly surprised, Stephen backs away in case his manager goes to such lengths as throwing a wayward punch or two.)
Terry Anderson
Who-the-what-said-when-where?!
(He suddenly darts his eyes to his left, where Stephen Waltz patiently waits for him to settle.)
Terry Andreson
Oh... it's Stephen.
(Waltz throws his customary half-smile, and Terry returns it with a chortle and his own toothy grin. The two take a moment to hug, Terry slapping his young protige on the shoulder in a mentoring fashion.)
Terry Anderson
Hey hey, kid! Good to see you!
Stephen Waltz
Terry, how are ya? It's good to see you're getting better...
(Stephen backs out of the hug, and gets a second look at Terry. He blinks once.)
Stephen Waltz
In fact, you look a LOT better. When are you supposed to be released?
Terry Anderson
Oh, somewhere around... three days ago?
(Stephen shakes his head in disappointment, yet still wears the smile. Terry laughs again.)
Stephen Waltz
Terry, you are the king of all moochers...
Terry Anderson
Well hey, at least I get by. I mean, this place is no Las Vegas. The food sucks, there's nothing on TV, this bed has as much comfort as a boulder wrapped in sandpaper... but it's all worth it.
Stephen Waltz
Heh... HOW is this all worth it?
Terry Anderson
The nurse, of course, damn you, boy! I swear to GOD, Stephen... she's the kind of girl where if you're a man, then you could almost think that if you touched her breast, you'd live forever!
(Terry is off in another of fit of his hearty laughter. Stephen, still smiling and wearing that friendly expression, roles his eyes.)
Terry Anderson
But hey... I'll be out by Christmas. I mean, hell, Gail promised me a great, uh... "present" for when I get back home, heh heh! Check this out...
(Terry reaches over to his nightstand and pulls out a Polaroid from a pouch of other pictures. He holds it up to show Stephen. The young prodigy of wrestling leans in to get a better view, then suddenly lurches back with a shocked and almost horrified expression. Terry, upon seeing this, breaks into laughter again.)
Terry Anderson
Ah, come on! Don't tell me you don't find that hot! I, personally, get turned on by the way she wheres that elf hat, you know?
(Stephen is turning red in the face, shaking his head as though he is trying to forget what he saw. At the same time, he's trying to defend himself, and stuttering over his own words as he does it.)
Stephen Waltz
Oh no, Terry, i-it's not like that, I mean, Gail's a strikingly beautiful woman, b-but i-it's just a little akward to, uh... you know, see her that way?
Terry Anderson
Heh, don't worry, kid... I won't tell your girlfriend.
(Terry rolls his eyes in obvious sarcasm. Stephen, meanwhile, tries to recollect himself. Terry adores the picture for another moment with a wide grin, then puts it away.)
Terry Anderson
But now you can see why I'm anticipating leaving before Christmas, right?
Stephen Waltz
Uh, yeah, I guess so, Terry.
Terry Anderson
Heh heh... just go back to my cozy home and put on the old Santa cap, and ride that sleigh with a merry "Ho ho HOOO..."
(Terry falls into another fit of laughter. Stephen patiently waits for him to finish. Terry finally calms down, whiping a tear from his eye.)
Stephen Waltz
And then after that, you fly over to Europe and meet up with me?
(Terry's expression suddenly changes to something very serious and taken aback. He hadn't hoped to dabble on this issue. Slowly, he turns his head to look into the eyes of his young student and prodigy... and boy growing into a man, if he isn't already there.)
Terry Anderson
Well, kid... you see, I've been thinking. You've been under my wing for a while, and it's where you'll do well. But the thing is... well, you know how you start to ride a bike?
Stephen Waltz
Yeah.
Terry Anderson
Well, you're first bike always has training wheels, and that's good, but... you know, you can't turn right, and it's always tipsy, but... anyways, the point I'm trying to make is, you know... I kind of feel like the training wheels to your bike.
(Stephen suddenly nods in understanding.)
Stephen Waltz
I get it... you want me to go to the ring on my own, while you manage me from here in the states.
Terry Anderson
Yeah... sorry kid.
(Stephen shakes his head.)
Stephen Waltz
No need to apologize, Terry. You see, I've been thinking over the issue of your role as my trainer and manager. And you've always come with me to the ring for support before, but maybe you're right... maybe you are like a set of training wheels. Maybe it's time I just cut the cord and went on my own. I kind of realized this after you had the heart attack, and I was on my own for that short time. It came kind of abrupt, but I feel the only way I can adapt as a professional wrestler is if I go to that ring independently, like all real wrestlers.
(Terry nods, a new smile forming on his face.)
Terry Anderson
Heh... glad you see it that way, kid! For a moment, I thought you wouldn't take it very well.
(Stephen shakes his head again.)
Stephen Waltz
Nope. This is an evolution... a learning experience. Granted, I don't want anybody else helping me in the gym or managing my appearances whose name isn't Terry Anderson. But we have to draw a line at some point.
Consider this a trial period... cause you aren't going to be there all the time. For the time I'm in Europe, I'm going to wrestle without you accompanying me to the ring. This way, I can prove that I can fight on my own, without you looking after me, evaluating my performance, or watching my back. Then, after Battleground Britain...
(Terry's grin widens.)
Terry Anderson
Then we team up again, prepping GXW for another splendid Anderson-Waltz extravaganza!
Stephen Waltz
Bingo. It's better that we decide to do this now. For your sake, it's not taking such a toll on your health...
Terry Anderson
Hey, there ain't ANYTHING wrong with my health.
Stephen Waltz
...and for me, I get a chance to break out on my own... so I'm not caught off guard, or anything. Kinda like I was at Revolution, you know?
Terry Anderson
Holy crap, I almost forgot!
(Terry sits upright in bed.)
Terry Anderson
Tell me, kid... what happened?
Stephen Waltz
Well...
Terry Anderson
Oh no... you lost the title!
Stephen Waltz
Ah, actually, no, you're STILL looking at the Television Champion.
Terry Anderson
...ha! I don't believe it! You beat DreamMaker?!
Stephen Waltz
Well, not exactly... the match ended with the time running out.
Terry Anderson
Oh, that makes sense... sorry to say this, kid, but you didn't have a snowball's chance of beating DreamMaker.
Stephen Waltz
Yeah, I figured... DreamMaker kinda carried me through the entire match. But you know what? I don't look at it as narrowly escaping a loss. I like to see that I outlasted DreamMaker... that he was unable to finish me off in fifteen minutes. Sure, I didn't get the win... but I've shown the world yet again that I have every right to hold the belt, and I'm still undefeated.
Terry Anderson
Yeah... yeah, you're absolutely right, kid! You DID outlast DreamMaker! But in the end, everything came out just the way I hoped it would...
(Terry's smile broadens.)
Terry Anderson
You're still the champ, but DreamMaker kicked ass either way!
Stephen Waltz
Heh... I'm glad you're happy. I'm a little disappointed that I couldn't do better. DreamMaker was on the offensive through almost the entire match.
Terry Anderson
Ah, you'll get another chance some day. So, what's next?
Stephen Waltz
Oh, glad that you should ask. I'm involved in a tournament leading up to Battleground Britain. Winner fights John Miller (or whoever is champion) for the Unified World Title.
Terry Anderson
Hey, sounds great! We've got a chance to go all the way to the top, huh?
Stephen Waltz
That's right. It's going to be a tough journey, but I'll do everything I can to win this tournament.
Terry Anderson
So, who's your first opponent?
Stephen Waltz
Dan Ryan.
Terry Andereson
GAAAAAHH!!!
Stephen Waltz
OH MY GOD, TERRY!!
(Terry moans and groans in bed, his legs spasming with pain. Stephen wears an expression of absolute horror. Suddenly, Anderson's expression goes into the tightened lock of a man laughing from the bottom of the lungs. He turns over on his side, tears rolling down his face, guffawing as if he heard the funniest joke ever. Stephen, now white as a sheet, realizes that Terry was merely joking.)
Terry Anderson
HAHAHAHAHA!! Holy sh*t, kid, you should have seen the look on your face!! God, that was CLASSIC!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!
Stephen Waltz
My God, Terry... that wasn't funny. That's not something to joke about.
Terry Anderson
Ah, kid... lighten up. The only thing that would give me another heart attack at this point is if both DreamMaker and Vince Jacobs were in a match against eachother... to the death, or something.
(Terry continues to laugh for another few moments, then calms himself.)
Terry Anderson
Heh... anyways, it's not to show any disrespect to Dan Ryan or anything. He's a hell of a competitor, and you'd be a fool to think you won't have your hands full with him. In fact, in some ways, he probably poses a greater challenge than DreamMaker. But you see... he just isn't... bah, I don't know. He just doesn't have the StarMaker personality, you know what I'm saying? You could be undefeated, have all the belts, be at the top of your game... but you ain't ANYTHING if you're name isn't DreamMaker, know what I'm saying?
(Stephen shrugs.)
Stephen Waltz
I have no doubts that Dan Ryan will be an equal, if not greater, challenge when compared to what I went through with DreamMaker. The guy's a living legend in OTHER federations... and what he is in Global X-Treme Wrestling puts the term "legend" to shame. He is above the average professional wrestler. He's probably as high as you can go on the scale. Fighting him will be challenge... definitely my greatest yet.
But I'm determined to meet hiim and fight, nonetheless. In spite of his reputation, I am undeterred. This is the Unified World Title we're talking about here! To have such a prize, at THIS point in my career, would be a significant jump out of mid-card status and into mainstream. It not so much about gaining respect... but also noteriety.
Dan Ryan may be deemed one of the best ever... but I'm not about to be defeated by his reputation alone. For the past year, Terry, you and I have done everything we possibly could. And this is how far we've come... the preliminary round of a Unified World Title Tournament. All our hard work and effort has brought us this far, but I'm hardly poised to back down now.
Looking back, I only see reason to move on... to take his opportunity for what it's worth. Many wrestlers in this industry would have given anything to be this far, and we accomplished it through determination and motivation.
Terry Anderson
"We?" Ah, come on, kid! You're too nice to me. I just gave you a little nudge out the door, is all.
Stephen Waltz
Still, I doubt I would have ever made it this far without your guidance.
Terry Anderson
Yeah, well, I never doubted your abilities for a second, kid. You have every right to be the Television Champion... and the same as Unified World Champion, if you ever get that far.
Stephen Waltz
Not if, Terry... when. I have a feeling that win or lose, I'll somehow end up back at this place. One day, either at Battleground Britain or in the future, I will become the Unified World Champion.
(Terry flashes him a thumbs up.)
Terry Anderson
And I'll be in your corner every step of the way, kid!
(Stephen looks down and checks his watch.)
Stephen Waltz
Ooh... I got a plane to catch, Terry.
Terry Anderson
Off you go then. Good luck, kid... give Dan Ryan a run for his money.
Stephen Waltz
Heh, I intend to give him more than that. He'll do more than work hard to get my shoulders on the mat. I will not surrender... not after having come this far.
Terry Anderson
Heh... that's what I like to here.
Stephen Waltz
Well... I'm off then. Dan Ryan or no Dan Ryan, I intend to bring that belt back to show off, Terry.
Terry Anderson
And we'll throw a hell of a party! See ya later, kid, and don't worry about me!
(Stephen leans in and shares a brief friendly hug with his. He breaks away and looks down at Terry for several moments, the two smiling at each other in a shared sense of respect. Then Stephen nods, turns, and steps out of the hospital room. As he does, Terry shakes his head.)
Terry Anderson
That kid's going to need a miracle...
(Suddenly, Terry gets an idea. With a devlish smile, he presses the button to call the nurse. From there we fade to black.)
SCENE ENDS.
SCENE BEGINS
(We fade into the cold, sterile setting of a hospital. Flourescent lights cut through the bitter dark with their searing luminosity. A variety of hospital sounds, ranging from announcements on the speakers to the hum of machines, fill the air. At the end of the hall lies a row of elevators, and a single window with a thin pink curtain pulled over it. Sunlight still manages to creep into the bustling recovery wing of the hospital.)
(Then one of the doors to an elevator shaft opens up, and the GXW Television Champion himself, Stephen Waltz, steps into the hall. He is dressed rather sharp, sporting slacks and a sports coat, both black, and a dashing navy dress shirt underneath, the top couple buttons opened up. He is well shaven, and his long black hair has been pulled back into a pony tail. He steps into the hallway with his hands in his pockets, regarding a few wall directories for a moment before making his way down the hall, the camera tracking backwards to follow his movement.)
(After passing a few doors, he finds the room he's looking for. The camera follows him in, and we find Terry Anderson occupying the bed of this single-occupant room. Terry lies with eyes closed, openly snoring, and his arms spread out to his sides, as if he had fallen into the bed this way. Stephen opens his mouth to speak, then closes it quickly when he remembers something. He turns to the camera and raises an eyebrow, then speaks in a tone just above a whispers.)
Stephen Waltz
Better be careful how I wake him this time...
(With a nervous smile, he tentatively comes to Terry's side. He waits a moment, then taps his shoulder lightly, speaking in a low tone.)
Stephen Waltz
Ter-ryyy...
(Anderson suddenly shoots up in bed. Slightly surprised, Stephen backs away in case his manager goes to such lengths as throwing a wayward punch or two.)
Terry Anderson
Who-the-what-said-when-where?!
(He suddenly darts his eyes to his left, where Stephen Waltz patiently waits for him to settle.)
Terry Andreson
Oh... it's Stephen.
(Waltz throws his customary half-smile, and Terry returns it with a chortle and his own toothy grin. The two take a moment to hug, Terry slapping his young protige on the shoulder in a mentoring fashion.)
Terry Anderson
Hey hey, kid! Good to see you!
Stephen Waltz
Terry, how are ya? It's good to see you're getting better...
(Stephen backs out of the hug, and gets a second look at Terry. He blinks once.)
Stephen Waltz
In fact, you look a LOT better. When are you supposed to be released?
Terry Anderson
Oh, somewhere around... three days ago?
(Stephen shakes his head in disappointment, yet still wears the smile. Terry laughs again.)
Stephen Waltz
Terry, you are the king of all moochers...
Terry Anderson
Well hey, at least I get by. I mean, this place is no Las Vegas. The food sucks, there's nothing on TV, this bed has as much comfort as a boulder wrapped in sandpaper... but it's all worth it.
Stephen Waltz
Heh... HOW is this all worth it?
Terry Anderson
The nurse, of course, damn you, boy! I swear to GOD, Stephen... she's the kind of girl where if you're a man, then you could almost think that if you touched her breast, you'd live forever!
(Terry is off in another of fit of his hearty laughter. Stephen, still smiling and wearing that friendly expression, roles his eyes.)
Terry Anderson
But hey... I'll be out by Christmas. I mean, hell, Gail promised me a great, uh... "present" for when I get back home, heh heh! Check this out...
(Terry reaches over to his nightstand and pulls out a Polaroid from a pouch of other pictures. He holds it up to show Stephen. The young prodigy of wrestling leans in to get a better view, then suddenly lurches back with a shocked and almost horrified expression. Terry, upon seeing this, breaks into laughter again.)
Terry Anderson
Ah, come on! Don't tell me you don't find that hot! I, personally, get turned on by the way she wheres that elf hat, you know?
(Stephen is turning red in the face, shaking his head as though he is trying to forget what he saw. At the same time, he's trying to defend himself, and stuttering over his own words as he does it.)
Stephen Waltz
Oh no, Terry, i-it's not like that, I mean, Gail's a strikingly beautiful woman, b-but i-it's just a little akward to, uh... you know, see her that way?
Terry Anderson
Heh, don't worry, kid... I won't tell your girlfriend.
(Terry rolls his eyes in obvious sarcasm. Stephen, meanwhile, tries to recollect himself. Terry adores the picture for another moment with a wide grin, then puts it away.)
Terry Anderson
But now you can see why I'm anticipating leaving before Christmas, right?
Stephen Waltz
Uh, yeah, I guess so, Terry.
Terry Anderson
Heh heh... just go back to my cozy home and put on the old Santa cap, and ride that sleigh with a merry "Ho ho HOOO..."
(Terry falls into another fit of laughter. Stephen patiently waits for him to finish. Terry finally calms down, whiping a tear from his eye.)
Stephen Waltz
And then after that, you fly over to Europe and meet up with me?
(Terry's expression suddenly changes to something very serious and taken aback. He hadn't hoped to dabble on this issue. Slowly, he turns his head to look into the eyes of his young student and prodigy... and boy growing into a man, if he isn't already there.)
Terry Anderson
Well, kid... you see, I've been thinking. You've been under my wing for a while, and it's where you'll do well. But the thing is... well, you know how you start to ride a bike?
Stephen Waltz
Yeah.
Terry Anderson
Well, you're first bike always has training wheels, and that's good, but... you know, you can't turn right, and it's always tipsy, but... anyways, the point I'm trying to make is, you know... I kind of feel like the training wheels to your bike.
(Stephen suddenly nods in understanding.)
Stephen Waltz
I get it... you want me to go to the ring on my own, while you manage me from here in the states.
Terry Anderson
Yeah... sorry kid.
(Stephen shakes his head.)
Stephen Waltz
No need to apologize, Terry. You see, I've been thinking over the issue of your role as my trainer and manager. And you've always come with me to the ring for support before, but maybe you're right... maybe you are like a set of training wheels. Maybe it's time I just cut the cord and went on my own. I kind of realized this after you had the heart attack, and I was on my own for that short time. It came kind of abrupt, but I feel the only way I can adapt as a professional wrestler is if I go to that ring independently, like all real wrestlers.
(Terry nods, a new smile forming on his face.)
Terry Anderson
Heh... glad you see it that way, kid! For a moment, I thought you wouldn't take it very well.
(Stephen shakes his head again.)
Stephen Waltz
Nope. This is an evolution... a learning experience. Granted, I don't want anybody else helping me in the gym or managing my appearances whose name isn't Terry Anderson. But we have to draw a line at some point.
Consider this a trial period... cause you aren't going to be there all the time. For the time I'm in Europe, I'm going to wrestle without you accompanying me to the ring. This way, I can prove that I can fight on my own, without you looking after me, evaluating my performance, or watching my back. Then, after Battleground Britain...
(Terry's grin widens.)
Terry Anderson
Then we team up again, prepping GXW for another splendid Anderson-Waltz extravaganza!
Stephen Waltz
Bingo. It's better that we decide to do this now. For your sake, it's not taking such a toll on your health...
Terry Anderson
Hey, there ain't ANYTHING wrong with my health.
Stephen Waltz
...and for me, I get a chance to break out on my own... so I'm not caught off guard, or anything. Kinda like I was at Revolution, you know?
Terry Anderson
Holy crap, I almost forgot!
(Terry sits upright in bed.)
Terry Anderson
Tell me, kid... what happened?
Stephen Waltz
Well...
Terry Anderson
Oh no... you lost the title!
Stephen Waltz
Ah, actually, no, you're STILL looking at the Television Champion.
Terry Anderson
...ha! I don't believe it! You beat DreamMaker?!
Stephen Waltz
Well, not exactly... the match ended with the time running out.
Terry Anderson
Oh, that makes sense... sorry to say this, kid, but you didn't have a snowball's chance of beating DreamMaker.
Stephen Waltz
Yeah, I figured... DreamMaker kinda carried me through the entire match. But you know what? I don't look at it as narrowly escaping a loss. I like to see that I outlasted DreamMaker... that he was unable to finish me off in fifteen minutes. Sure, I didn't get the win... but I've shown the world yet again that I have every right to hold the belt, and I'm still undefeated.
Terry Anderson
Yeah... yeah, you're absolutely right, kid! You DID outlast DreamMaker! But in the end, everything came out just the way I hoped it would...
(Terry's smile broadens.)
Terry Anderson
You're still the champ, but DreamMaker kicked ass either way!
Stephen Waltz
Heh... I'm glad you're happy. I'm a little disappointed that I couldn't do better. DreamMaker was on the offensive through almost the entire match.
Terry Anderson
Ah, you'll get another chance some day. So, what's next?
Stephen Waltz
Oh, glad that you should ask. I'm involved in a tournament leading up to Battleground Britain. Winner fights John Miller (or whoever is champion) for the Unified World Title.
Terry Anderson
Hey, sounds great! We've got a chance to go all the way to the top, huh?
Stephen Waltz
That's right. It's going to be a tough journey, but I'll do everything I can to win this tournament.
Terry Anderson
So, who's your first opponent?
Stephen Waltz
Dan Ryan.
Terry Andereson
GAAAAAHH!!!
Stephen Waltz
OH MY GOD, TERRY!!
(Terry moans and groans in bed, his legs spasming with pain. Stephen wears an expression of absolute horror. Suddenly, Anderson's expression goes into the tightened lock of a man laughing from the bottom of the lungs. He turns over on his side, tears rolling down his face, guffawing as if he heard the funniest joke ever. Stephen, now white as a sheet, realizes that Terry was merely joking.)
Terry Anderson
HAHAHAHAHA!! Holy sh*t, kid, you should have seen the look on your face!! God, that was CLASSIC!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!
Stephen Waltz
My God, Terry... that wasn't funny. That's not something to joke about.
Terry Anderson
Ah, kid... lighten up. The only thing that would give me another heart attack at this point is if both DreamMaker and Vince Jacobs were in a match against eachother... to the death, or something.
(Terry continues to laugh for another few moments, then calms himself.)
Terry Anderson
Heh... anyways, it's not to show any disrespect to Dan Ryan or anything. He's a hell of a competitor, and you'd be a fool to think you won't have your hands full with him. In fact, in some ways, he probably poses a greater challenge than DreamMaker. But you see... he just isn't... bah, I don't know. He just doesn't have the StarMaker personality, you know what I'm saying? You could be undefeated, have all the belts, be at the top of your game... but you ain't ANYTHING if you're name isn't DreamMaker, know what I'm saying?
(Stephen shrugs.)
Stephen Waltz
I have no doubts that Dan Ryan will be an equal, if not greater, challenge when compared to what I went through with DreamMaker. The guy's a living legend in OTHER federations... and what he is in Global X-Treme Wrestling puts the term "legend" to shame. He is above the average professional wrestler. He's probably as high as you can go on the scale. Fighting him will be challenge... definitely my greatest yet.
But I'm determined to meet hiim and fight, nonetheless. In spite of his reputation, I am undeterred. This is the Unified World Title we're talking about here! To have such a prize, at THIS point in my career, would be a significant jump out of mid-card status and into mainstream. It not so much about gaining respect... but also noteriety.
Dan Ryan may be deemed one of the best ever... but I'm not about to be defeated by his reputation alone. For the past year, Terry, you and I have done everything we possibly could. And this is how far we've come... the preliminary round of a Unified World Title Tournament. All our hard work and effort has brought us this far, but I'm hardly poised to back down now.
Looking back, I only see reason to move on... to take his opportunity for what it's worth. Many wrestlers in this industry would have given anything to be this far, and we accomplished it through determination and motivation.
Terry Anderson
"We?" Ah, come on, kid! You're too nice to me. I just gave you a little nudge out the door, is all.
Stephen Waltz
Still, I doubt I would have ever made it this far without your guidance.
Terry Anderson
Yeah, well, I never doubted your abilities for a second, kid. You have every right to be the Television Champion... and the same as Unified World Champion, if you ever get that far.
Stephen Waltz
Not if, Terry... when. I have a feeling that win or lose, I'll somehow end up back at this place. One day, either at Battleground Britain or in the future, I will become the Unified World Champion.
(Terry flashes him a thumbs up.)
Terry Anderson
And I'll be in your corner every step of the way, kid!
(Stephen looks down and checks his watch.)
Stephen Waltz
Ooh... I got a plane to catch, Terry.
Terry Anderson
Off you go then. Good luck, kid... give Dan Ryan a run for his money.
Stephen Waltz
Heh, I intend to give him more than that. He'll do more than work hard to get my shoulders on the mat. I will not surrender... not after having come this far.
Terry Anderson
Heh... that's what I like to here.
Stephen Waltz
Well... I'm off then. Dan Ryan or no Dan Ryan, I intend to bring that belt back to show off, Terry.
Terry Anderson
And we'll throw a hell of a party! See ya later, kid, and don't worry about me!
(Stephen leans in and shares a brief friendly hug with his. He breaks away and looks down at Terry for several moments, the two smiling at each other in a shared sense of respect. Then Stephen nods, turns, and steps out of the hospital room. As he does, Terry shakes his head.)
Terry Anderson
That kid's going to need a miracle...
(Suddenly, Terry gets an idea. With a devlish smile, he presses the button to call the nurse. From there we fade to black.)
SCENE ENDS.
Look into my crystal ball...
"You don't have a snowball's chance in...."
--------
FADE IN...
DAN RYAN sits idle on the apron of a ring whose apron reads quite vividly "Battleground Britain" across the length of the ring.
Ryan is half leaning against the ropes, half supporting himself on his hands....sunglasses drawn.....blue jeans and a black "Team Phenom" t-shirt on that's starting to look a little worn.
Ryan: "You know, I thought my eyes had deceived me for a moment there."
"I'm aware of the concept of gimmick development. It's a common practice to have company officials made aware of certain 'off camera' goings on in a wrestler's life, put to tape in order to give them a sense of.....I dunno....who the man is."
"Very rarely however, do I get the chance to see these tapes....especially during a promotional week. And yet there it was......fade in.....fade to black....."
"Not entirely unwelcome."
"For one thing, it offers a glimpse into the psyche of the man. For another, unlike the vast majority of lumbering mental neanderthals wandering this sport....you've so far managed to avoid pissing me off in the time I've been back."
"Shall I go so far as saying you've...impressed? After all, standing toe to toe with a seven foot monster like DreamMaker is no small task."
"Your manager....adviser....trainer....what have you....he's managed to turn out a student well versed in the things of wrestling. But if my short glimpse into your thought process shows me anything of value, it's that you lack the confidence that your words would have us believe you possess."
"Don't take that the wrong way. To compare your career against mine would be useless. To compare your experience would be equally so. Then again...."
"Do those things matter so much?"
"Can a man who is still little more than a rookie to this sport step up and turn away a man who has done all that there is to do?"
"On second thought.....I never did win the GXW TV Title...."
"I guess you have one up on me there...."
Ryan smiles....
"So what's the answer, my friend?"
"Adam Benjamin wanted his test and got it. He put forth a valiant effort which I facilitated by playing fairly. Sometimes rules are a good way to reign in the purity of things....to make sure the best wrestler wins. It's an easy concept to hold to when nothing is at stake."
"You understand....we're here now for a shot at the GXW Unified World Title."
"All bets are off."
"I do admire the ability you've shown in the ring so far. Five men stood around you after your match with DreamMaker....and as the world expected you to take a quick trip to the hospital...we instead saluted your effort."
"You are a champion...and you should be commended."
"But I don't lose first round tournament matches, Stephen."
smirk...
"I've spent the last year defeating former and current World champions.....and defending the honor of the company you've only recently had the privelege of gaining a spot in."
"No matter how far you've come....you have ten times as far to go. If Terry hasn't taught you that lesson yet....you're about to learn it."
"You may be held to be the future of GXW....."
"I am GXW."
"Hopefully you won't have to trade in those training wheels for crutches...."
Ryan hops down and walks off as we FADE OUT
"You don't have a snowball's chance in...."
--------
FADE IN...
DAN RYAN sits idle on the apron of a ring whose apron reads quite vividly "Battleground Britain" across the length of the ring.
Ryan is half leaning against the ropes, half supporting himself on his hands....sunglasses drawn.....blue jeans and a black "Team Phenom" t-shirt on that's starting to look a little worn.
Ryan: "You know, I thought my eyes had deceived me for a moment there."
"I'm aware of the concept of gimmick development. It's a common practice to have company officials made aware of certain 'off camera' goings on in a wrestler's life, put to tape in order to give them a sense of.....I dunno....who the man is."
"Very rarely however, do I get the chance to see these tapes....especially during a promotional week. And yet there it was......fade in.....fade to black....."
"Not entirely unwelcome."
"For one thing, it offers a glimpse into the psyche of the man. For another, unlike the vast majority of lumbering mental neanderthals wandering this sport....you've so far managed to avoid pissing me off in the time I've been back."
"Shall I go so far as saying you've...impressed? After all, standing toe to toe with a seven foot monster like DreamMaker is no small task."
"Your manager....adviser....trainer....what have you....he's managed to turn out a student well versed in the things of wrestling. But if my short glimpse into your thought process shows me anything of value, it's that you lack the confidence that your words would have us believe you possess."
"Don't take that the wrong way. To compare your career against mine would be useless. To compare your experience would be equally so. Then again...."
"Do those things matter so much?"
"Can a man who is still little more than a rookie to this sport step up and turn away a man who has done all that there is to do?"
"On second thought.....I never did win the GXW TV Title...."
"I guess you have one up on me there...."
Ryan smiles....
"So what's the answer, my friend?"
"Adam Benjamin wanted his test and got it. He put forth a valiant effort which I facilitated by playing fairly. Sometimes rules are a good way to reign in the purity of things....to make sure the best wrestler wins. It's an easy concept to hold to when nothing is at stake."
"You understand....we're here now for a shot at the GXW Unified World Title."
"All bets are off."
"I do admire the ability you've shown in the ring so far. Five men stood around you after your match with DreamMaker....and as the world expected you to take a quick trip to the hospital...we instead saluted your effort."
"You are a champion...and you should be commended."
"But I don't lose first round tournament matches, Stephen."
smirk...
"I've spent the last year defeating former and current World champions.....and defending the honor of the company you've only recently had the privelege of gaining a spot in."
"No matter how far you've come....you have ten times as far to go. If Terry hasn't taught you that lesson yet....you're about to learn it."
"You may be held to be the future of GXW....."
"I am GXW."
"Hopefully you won't have to trade in those training wheels for crutches...."
Ryan hops down and walks off as we FADE OUT