Scene One - Never Again (flashback)
The camera zooms in on Seth laying at the bottom of the stairs. It rests on his face for a moment before he slowly opens his eyes. He gingerly lifts his head and looks around. He takes a moment to remember what happened then climbs to his feet. He stumbles as he makes his way to the closet by the front door. He opens the door and grabs the baseball bat from the back corner and heads back for the stairs.
Seth:
Never… Again…
He goes up the stairs and begins to head down the hall, but stop. He opens another door and walks in to what appears is his room. He opens the top drawer in the dresser by his bed and pulls out a zippo. Putting the lighter in his pocket, he leaves the room and heads down the hall.
Charles:
Stop resisting. Damn it, Mary!
Mary:
Please… Stop… Stop…
Hearing his mother’s pleading made him more enraged. Seth stepped across the threshold to see Charles with his pants around his knees on top of his mother. She notices him over Charles’ shoulder.
Mary:
Seth, no! Run!
He ignores his mother and approaches them. Charles jumps off of Mary and pulls his pants up but doesn‘t have time to block the swing Seth makes for his head. Charles collapses against the wall then drops to the floor. He slowly moves his head and attempts to get up but Seth takes the bat to him once more. Charles is no longer moving but Seth continues to beat him repeatedly until his skull caves in. With blood splattered over his face and clothes, Seth turns to his mother. He stares blankly at her as he pulls the lighter out of his pocket. He looks back to Charles’ body and flicks the lighter.
Mary:
Seth! Wait, no!
The scene erupts to white then fades in to show the outside of the house; bursting with flames. Fire trucks, police cars and paramedics flood the streets. The camera moves closer to show Seth wrapped in a blanket, staring on from across the street as the fire fighters try to control the blaze. A police officer walks up to Seth and rests his hand his shoulder.
Police Officer:
You alright there, son?
Seth turns his head, displaying the emotionless expression on his face to the officer. Without a word, Seth turns back and continues to watch the fire.
Police Officer:
We need to ask you a few questions. Can you step over here with me?
Seth doesn’t answer the officer. Instead, he continues to stare on as the scene explodes to white.
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Scene Two - Family BBQ (cont’d)
Seth nervously wipes off his apron as he makes his way back over to the barbeque. To his delight, Denise is no longer there. Seth approaches his brother and taps him on the arm.
Seth:
Hey Chris, can I talk to you for a second?
Chris nods and takes a sip of his Smirnoff.
Chris:
Sure. What’s up?
Seth motions for Chris to follow him and leads him towards the house. He stops just outside the sliding glass door to the kitchen.
Seth:
Look, Chris, there’s something I need to tell you.
Seth looks around for a moment.
Seth:
It’s about Denise…
Chris tilts his head to the side. Seth stares into his brother’s eyes for a moment, trying to find the right way to say what he needs to.
Chris:
What about Denise?
Seth moves his mouth but nothing comes out. He takes a deep breath.
Seth:
She seems like a great girl. Congratulations.
Seth immediately frowns but it goes unnoticed by Chris, who seems rather relieved.
Chris:
You had me worried there for a minute. So why pull me away to tell me something you already have?
Seth kind of rolls his shoulders, trying to think of an answer.
Seth:
Well… You know how I get when I’ve been drinking, eh? I always have to be melodramatic.
He smacks Chris on the shoulder and grins.
Seth:
Now c’mon, let‘s go back to the party and celebrate, eh?
He puts his arm around Chris’ shoulders and leads him back to the gathering. Chris spots Denise and, with a nod to Seth, he heads off in her direction. Seth sighs and shakes his head as he steps behind the barbeque again. Jalie walks up beside him.
Jalie:
So, did you tell him?
Seth:
No, I didn‘t.
Jalie
Chickenshit.
Jalie takes a sip of her Corona and Seth peers over at her.
Seth:
I didn’t see you jumping in line to tell him.
Jalie:
I’m not his brother. I shouldn’t be the one to tell him that his fiancée was the same woman fucking your daddy ten years ago.
Seth slams the flipper down on the table beside the barbeque.
Seth Thomas:
He not my father. My father died serving as fire fighter in Toronto when I was two. He gave his life to save others. What did we get in return? That piece of shit…
Seth closes his eyes and rubs his temples.
Seth:
And you’re right, it should come from me.
Jalie rubs her hand up and down his back. He looks down at her and puts an arm around her.
Seth:
But this isn’t the place. Not in front of everybody.
Seth leans down and kisses the top of Jalie’s head.
Seth:
I’ll do it before they leave.
Jalie wraps her arms around him and looks up.
Jalie:
Alright, we’ll take care of this later. But for now you need to cheer up. Brooding over it isn’t going to make it any better right now. Enjoy yourself.
She rubs his stomach and gives him a reassuring smile. He does his best to do that same.
Jalie:
C’mon, I know how to cheer you up.
She tugs on Seth’s apron. He smirks, knowing where this is going.
Seth:
Aha. And who is supposed to man the barbeque?
Jalie gives a big grin and licks her lips then turns away from him.
Jalie:
Jay! Get your ass over here!
Jay turns his attention away from one of the pool girls and looks in Jalie direction. He looks pissy as he gets up from his lawn chair and walks up to them.
Jay:
What’s your problem, Lie?
Jalie:
Take care of the barbeque. There’s a problem in the kitchen that Seth and I need to attend to.
Jalie picks up the flipper and extends her arm towards Jay. He rolls his eyes and reluctantly takes it from her. Jalie grabs Seth’s apron and drags him off towards the house as the scene fades out.
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Scene Three - Match Talk
The camera pans around the empty arena, showing a crew in the process of erecting the ring. It pans to the right to show Seth Thomas sitting in the upper part of the arena. Cutting to a closer view, Seth is sitting in a chair with his feet propped up on the one in front of him. The Youngblood title drapes over his lap.
Seth:
Last week, Simon wasn’t the only one who did as he promised. He promised to fight valiantly; with his back to the wall to the bitter end. He did just that. He fought back with everything he had until the numbers caught up with him. I, too, did what I promised to do. I walked away with the win.
Seth puts his feet down and adjusts in the chair.
Seth:
I can understand that Simon has a lot on his mind. Which is the only reason I can assume he would be going around making false accusations like he has. For some reason or another he is absolutely convinced that I hit him that steel chair. I‘ll admit, that’s what I assume it’s like to be hit with a little Satisfaction in Action, so I can see where the mistake might come from. He all worked up, head going every which way when all of a sudden BAM! Flat on your back. But Simon, my friend, it wasn’t from the chair shot. I did the same thing to you that I did to Angela earlier in the match. Refuse to believe it? Go ahead and log on to AWA.com and see for yourself.
Seth leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
Seth:
I agree with you that there is no strategy behind hitting somebody with a steel chair. That was not the purpose of me bringing it in there. Like I told you before, Alex, Jimmy and I were all on the same page. So I didn’t hit you with the leg drop attempt, not everything goes according to plan. But Alex knew what I was doing when I got in with that chair. Since you seem to be suffering a little memory loss, I know it can be a little strenuous tapping out the way you did, so let me enlighten you. Alex could’ve hit you with the chair at any time. Yes, he was the one with the chair in hand. Why did he wait? Because it would distract Margolis while I did my damage. A little bit of brilliant planning between the two of us, I like to think. How’s that for some strategy, Simon?
Seth sits back in the chair once more.
Seth:
I know exactly what you’re thinking. That was nothing but a cowardly move on our parts that you easily predicted. Call it what you will, because for some reason you think that I care. I did whatever it took to get the win. I promised it, and I delivered. That is what I’m showing everybody; I have the will to win. I have the willingness and the resourcefulness to do what I can to be victorious. It won’t do me much good to be the beacon of light if I don’t win, will it?
He pauses for a moment to look at the Youngblood title.
Seth:
Do you know the reason I have this title? I was coming off from another injury, I had that ridiculous outfit thing going on with Lexus, and I couldn’t seem to find a way past Angela. This title right here represents the first step towards me getting back on the right track. Do you think that, being a former World champion myself, I would be proud to wave this around? No. But this is where I let myself get to. I slowly let myself slip until I became nothing more than a punch line. When I beat Angela for this title I knew that everything was going to turn around. Everything was going to look up from here on out. I defended my title against Orphan in his style of match. I pinned Angela, now our World champion, again last week. So now I have the opportunity to pin the current Continental champion. Getting a pin over the World and Continental champions in the matter of a week would be huge for me right now. I know the severity of my situation. It doesn’t matter how I beat you, all that matters is that I do. That would be the first step in me making my way for your title. Fuck morals, those are for the naive.
Seth sets the Youngblood title on a chair next to him.
Seth:
But I am a straight-up guy. I do what I say I’m going to do. If I say I‘m going to pull out all the stops, you can bet your ass that’s what I‘m going to do. That’s one of the reasons I respect you, Simon. You tell it how it is. You say you‘re going to go in there and rely purely on your athletic ability regardless of the situation, and you do. I question your decisions, but that’s your thing. You believe that it’s purely athletic ability that makes you a champion. I believe that it not only takes athletic ability, but some degree of opportunism and resourcefulness to get the job done. You‘re not the type of person to back down from a challenge, and neither am I. Somewhere amongst your rambling you dished out a little challenge yourself. You want me to put aside the ‘cheating‘, as you call it, and wrestle a straight up match? Let’s get one thing clear. I don’t wrestle for the fans. I couldn’t care less about what they think of my matches. Are they going to help me win? Are they going to present me with title opportunities? No, so fuck them. I did that whole thing a long time ago and it got me nowhere. I look out for my best interests. If I’m put into a situation where I have to choose between having a match that people will talk about for years to come or securing myself in the record books, you can bet your ass that I’m going to take the latter. The people don’t make you a legend. What you do and what you accomplish inside that ring does, and that’s what I strive for. Excellence.
Seth looks off into the distance for a moment before turning back to the camera,
Seth:
So as far as your little challenge goes, I‘ll accept it. Be it against my better judgment, I’ll play by your rules. And because I’m telling you right here, you can rest assured that’s what I’m going to do. Not because I care about how the match goes. I know you’re a hell of a competitor. I may be an asshole but I’m not ignorant. I’m not going into this match believing it’ll be a cakewalk. I expect nothing lest then your absolute best, because you’re looking dead-on at a future contender for your title, Simon. In the coming weeks, this could be the Continental title sitting next to me. A few weeks after that it could be the World title. My potential is limitless so long as I don‘t restrict myself to how other people perceive me. This here isn’t a matter how much we like or dislike each other. Personally, I don’t like you. There are very few people that I do. But there are fewer people that I respect inside that ring, and you’re one of them. This is all a matter of pride, and it’s not a pill that I like to swallow.
Seth turns his head and stares off to the other side of the arena. The camera slowly backs away before fading to black.