time: thursday morning

day: march twentieth

place: bailey's bay, bermuda; engel residence.

(Coming from the bathroom and drying my face off, I sit down on the end of the bed. My television is about five feet away from me, with my video camera sitting on top of it. It's recording, I take a moment to collect myself, then I fix my eyes on the lens. My eyes show more stability than ever, but it's probably only temporary.)

VIRUS: I did a little research, Wilkie. It's fun proving you wrong. You know, when you were talking about living in a god forsaken barren place, you sure you weren't talking about your own hometown? You live in Cold Lake, Alberta.

Area? Twenty two point nine square miles.

Population? Nearly twelve thousand.

Not to mention the horrible farmland geography you've got going there.

Let's talk about my current residence. Bermuda.

Bermuda is two square miles less than your town. Yes, the country I live in is smaller than the town of Cold Lake. But the population? Survey says...

Sixty six thousand.

So, according to that, Bermuda -- which is smaller than Cold Lake -- has six times the amount of people per square mile than where you live.

Who lives in a more barren place, Alex? That's right, you do. I'm glad we've got that straightened out. Maybe you should think before you open your mouth. Or have you not learned? Rest assured, you will tomorrow.

(I laugh for a moment.)

VIRUS: And guess what I did that research on? The computer! Jesus, I've learned how to use the computer! Nothing can stop me now. I'm no longer some old barbaric man who doesn't believe in technology, I'm changing!

Listen, Alex. I probably know more about computers than you do. And I wasn't asking you a question of "What is My Space", I simply asked "My Space?" like it means something. What does this mean about us? About our match? Absolutely nothing. Just like your on-going pool with McNasty. It doesn't mean anything. I never said I took it in a literal way, as in a swimming pool. Are you that fucking dense?

You must be. And, my daughter watches what she wants to. She's at an age right now where she can handle it and still act responsibly and form her own opinions and perspectives, without people forcing theirs onto her. She's a smart girl. But, when she was at a younger age, she had more important things to deal with than cartoons, I'm afraid. That I will not go into with you, because it's simply not worth talking to a fucking idiot like you about.

And Mia and I have only been raising her since she was eight years old, so the earlier part of her life was in the hands of my brother Joe and his former wife Tara, may she rest in peace. So, you can talk to him about that if your heart desires, but quite frankly I don't see how this should even matter. Tomorrow, I'm going to destroy you.

And everything you stand for. Are you prepared? I hope so. I'd hate to embarrass you in front of Detroit.

I know what My Space is all about, Alex, and no -- I don't let my daughter get into that crap. It's pointless, Alex, just like you. But since you seem so determined to take shots at me AND my family -- because you can't help but bring my family into this -- I will tell you that I don't allow it.

My Space is a haven for child predators, don't you know? Why the hell would I let my daughter have an account on some place like that? Hell, even SHE agrees. She doesn't want one either! We've talked about this from time to time, and I've reminded her the dangers. If you had the slightest clue of what she's been through, you would know she would stay away from that like it's radioactive poison.

So, yeah, Alex. You called me out on being a responsibile parent. Point for you, I guess?

(I shake my head.)

VIRUS: You've got everything in the palm of your hands, don't you Alex? Isn't that the name of the game here? We're supposed to act this way. We're supposed to be confident in our abilities, both in the ring and out of the ring. What is so wrong with that? We're sports entertainment. Stop trying to make me look ignorant when that's exactly what you're coming off as. You wanna get angry about my confidence? About me saying I've already got this in the bag?

Then you go and say it?

You are a fucking hypocrite.

And hypocrites never win.

I don't admit to being angered by the fact you think you're going to win. I only laugh, and welcome your confidence. I'll use it against you, Alex, just like I've used everything else against you. Just like in the ring. You make a mistake, and you're going to pay the price. It may cost you a functioning arm, or your pride when I pin you for the one, two, three.

It's my decision.

And there's nothing you can do about it. You're as helpless as Corey Lazarus was last week.

I already explained to you that I knew exactly what kind of pool you were referring to. Didn't you? I made a reference to you losing money to Mark, but since you two have such a profound love for one another, I only assumed the payment would be sexual antics and not monetary. I mean, that's what homosexuals do, right? I was only trying to be fair to your sexuality, Alex.

You know, trying to be sensitive to your gayness?

But I did call you a fag.

So, it ends there.

Fag.

(A smile.)

VIRUS: I want to mangle his man-junk? What in the hell are you talking about? First of all, have you gotten your high school diploma yet? I just want to know, because the way you refer to a man's genitals is pretty sophomoric.

That's right, I did call you shit-for-brains, because when you spout off statements like "I was winning here first" and try to make me believe that it means something, it shows me you have just that: shit for brains. Alex, you could've been winning here two years ago, and it still won't matter. You're going to lose tomorrow. You're going to drop to eight and three, and I will enjoy every second of it. You won't get a World Title shot, because everybody knows you belong defending that Grizzly Beer title.

I will gladly take that title off of Raizzor, or whoever has it in April, and wrap it around my waist. I will represent a champion that the PWA has never seen. I will represent everything you wish you could be, Alex, because that's what I am.

I am everything you wish you could be, and more.

I'm already a legend, kid. What difference does it make whether you've heard of me or not? You ask anybody that was in the AOWF Community -- you know, the community that the PWA was in for a number of years? -- if they've heard of me, and they will say yes. Most of them will say they've fought me, and most of those will say they lost to me.

You? Well, who cares?

But let's put something you said into perspective. "Honestly, most things you say, Engel, don't get to me as much as the stuff I say to you..."

Yet, weren't you talking about how angry you get when you come across people who think they've got it all figured out? Who think they've got everything in the palm of their hand? That's all I've been talking to you about, how dumb you are and how I'm going to easily dispose of you.

Apparently what I say or don't say gets to you A LOT.

Hypocrite.

(I smirk.)

VIRUS: Oh my GOD! THIS SHIT TALENT HAS TWO WINS OVER ME! SOMEBODY CALL MY LAWYER! Jesus, Alex. Two wins. Give me a break. And guess who is the only person to actually pin me? Sirus Moran, a man I have a lot of respect for. This is a man that is on a much higher level than you. This is man that is a multiple grand slam champion. This is a man that has more talent in his little finger than you do in your whole body.

Sirus holds one pin over me, whereas I hold two over him. But, I've got nothing but respect for the Moran clan.

Sirus isn't part of the majority of shit talent in the Pioneer Wrestling, Alex. You are. Not him.

And Corey Lazarus? He's not either. While I hate that man more than you can ever imagine, he is a talented wrestler.

You are not.

So, those two men are the only ones that have "beaten" me in the PWA. They are not included in the shit talent that seems to be growing by the minute.

In the AOWF, where I debuted and fought for the majority of my career, you throw a rock and hit four or five men that could come in here and wipe the floor with you, Alex. And I beat the majority of them. Like I said, I've been with the best. I've beaten the best. Tomorrow, I'll be shutting you up for good.

My star is fading away. No, you're absolutely wrong.

It was a little over a year ago, losing to Protean and Damien DeSett in one month. Horrible, just horrible.

But now? My star is shining brightly. Not as bright as the glory days, but you never know. I'm not fading away, Alex. I'm not going to implode. I'm going to punish you. I'm going to beat some sense into you, and show you what you're messing with. I'm striking while the iron is hot, and you'll probably attack the referee after he declares me a winner because you think I cheated.

Fact: Karasu didn't cheat, you're delusional. Get over yourself.

(I check my watch. Shit.)

VIRUS: I have a plane to catch.

I do not forgive.

I do not forget.

Bring your A game, you're going to need it.

(fade.)