QueenOfTheRing
AKA Mom
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- Messages
- 2,625
- Points
- 36
Between the Ears
Fade-in...
The faux-wood paneling of the office reminded her of a hunting lodge; a strong, sturdy support for the showing of trophies and big game prizes. While it wasn't necessarily the best choice of locale, it was decided, by her, that it would do for the purposes of this exercise.
Lindsay Troy sat at a large mahogany desk, wearing a long-sleeve mahogany shirt, black pants and black boots. On the wall behind her hung various plaques and framed degrees, suggesting achievements in academics and in the professional world. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves framed the wall ornaments and upon closer inspection one would see that the books resting inside were on the subjects of psychology, psychiatry, the human mind and the inner workings of it. In front of her, lying face-down on top of the table, were white pieces of cardboard.
Pushing herself forward, closer to the desk, Troy runs a hand through her thick curls and cocks her head, studying the camera in front of her for a moment, before speaking.
"I'm sure you've seen this countless times in the movies, so there's no reason for you to be unfamiliar with what I'm about to do."
She paused.
"In front of me I have some cards with pictures on them. I'm going to hold each one of them up and I'd like you to tell me what you see on the cards. There's no right or wrong answer to these, I just want you to be as honest as you can. After each picture, I may ask you some questions, which you are not obligated to answer if you don't want to."
The person on the other side of the camera heaved a sigh.
"Honest I can do. Whether or not anyone believes me or gives a **** is another story."
The camera turned to address the person sitting on the other side of Troy's desk.
It was ... Lindsay Troy?
Via the magic of high-tech video editing?
Dressed in a white crinkled cotton blouse, tight jeans and Steve Madden wedge sandals, the Empire Pro World Champion sat..or, rather, reclined...in an overstuffed arm chair, her long legs hanging off one of the arms and her head resting against the other. She looked back across the desk and nodded.
"Patient" Troy: Let's get on with it, Doc.
"Doctor" Troy nodded and held up the first picture: http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/9571/peoplecare2oj.jpg
"Patient" Troy: The emptiness of Karl Brown's words.
"Doctor" Troy turns over the picture to look at it, studying it for a second.
"Doctor" Troy: Why are they empty?
"Patient" Troy: He implies too much. He's mentioned these magazines, ones that have chronicled his matches, yet never identifies them by name. They're fleeting, perhaps nonexistent, intangible. Do they exist? Do they matter? Will I wake up tomorrow wondering if I had read one would I have learned something that I didn't already know? Would I have prevented something from happening...winning or losing? Will the rest of my life hinge on something questionable in the first place?
"Doctor" Troy: Well, will it?
"Patient" Troy: Y'know, I've never thought of things in those terms. I consider myself a learned individual, perhaps smarter than most; graduating high school early and finishing college before I turned the all-important age of twenty-one. But more importantly I'm learned in life. Sometimes I think I've lived a lifetime already.
"Doctor" Troy: How so, exactly? What goes on behind closed doors?
"Patient" Troy: Not so much that but, rather, what's gone on in the past.
"Doctor" Troy: You don't talk much about that do you?
"Patient" Troy looks at the "Doctor" and crinkles her face.
"Patient" Troy: Would you if you were me?
"Doctor" Troy: I think you know the answer to that.
Silence.
"Patient" Troy (after a time): Hiding what Joey and I are...it wouldn't do much good I don't think. I tried hiding things for awhile, you'll remember, not too long ago. If I thought it would have been easier I would have concealed things longer.
"Doctor" Troy: But it wouldn't have been easier.
"Patient" Troy: No, it would have been more of a hassle. Trying to hide what you are or who you're with...it doesn't make sense to me. Examples like that are what start rumors.
"Doctor" Troy: And the rumors Karl brought up?
"Patient" Troy (shrugging): I've heard them. But Empire has always been Dan's brainchild and contrary to what most seem to think, I hold no political power in it. I don't go throwing my weight around, or demanding things, or changing plans because I supposedly hold some clout over others. When I'm asked my opinion, I give it. When I'm told what I'm doing on a given week, I do it. No questions, no discussions outside of particulars. Just because I may not have defended the World title on any given night, or maybe not as much as I would have liked, doesn't mean I don't still represent it. I've never heard any champion representing this company question the bookings that are given out and I like to think I help set the example.
What he mentioned about the pre-emptedeness of shows? Is he to say that he didn't have some handle in that himself with the TEAM tournament? Or Marcus isn't to blame for defending his title in A1E at the time as well? Or Joey is excluded from the blame-placing because of his being in New Frontier and doing shows on the West Coast, Japan and Mexico? Or Dan himself, who not only is the owner of Empire Pro, but also competes in four other companies?
What do any of these matter, Doc? How does the saying go? If it's on the Internet it has to be true?
"Doctor" Troy: So some would say.
"Patient" Troy: I can't get behind that. In truth, no one is to blame. But everything I've said from the beginning of this promotional week until now has had no basis in conjecture, gossip, or water-cooler talk. Biting lines that were uttered out of respect, knowingly, at one point, dragging people into the discussion and waving their name around like they're a catch of the day, throwing rumors out on a hook and line like a worm in hopes of catching a fish to sustain an appetite for supper, is idle chatter. The rumors won't keep me from getting out of bed, from doing my job, from walking down the streets of Chicago or from getting on an airplane. The rumors won't take away a title that I've earned and the rumors won't be the reason that I win or lose this match.
And for the record, Doc: Am I the only woman to have won a world title? Of course not. Am I the only one on this circuit? Yes.
"Doctor" Troy: I think that's all the time we have here today. You have my number the next time you need an appointment.
"Patient" Troy: Thanks Doctor. Talking to you has really helped.
Fade...
Fade-in...
The faux-wood paneling of the office reminded her of a hunting lodge; a strong, sturdy support for the showing of trophies and big game prizes. While it wasn't necessarily the best choice of locale, it was decided, by her, that it would do for the purposes of this exercise.
Lindsay Troy sat at a large mahogany desk, wearing a long-sleeve mahogany shirt, black pants and black boots. On the wall behind her hung various plaques and framed degrees, suggesting achievements in academics and in the professional world. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves framed the wall ornaments and upon closer inspection one would see that the books resting inside were on the subjects of psychology, psychiatry, the human mind and the inner workings of it. In front of her, lying face-down on top of the table, were white pieces of cardboard.
Pushing herself forward, closer to the desk, Troy runs a hand through her thick curls and cocks her head, studying the camera in front of her for a moment, before speaking.
"I'm sure you've seen this countless times in the movies, so there's no reason for you to be unfamiliar with what I'm about to do."
She paused.
"In front of me I have some cards with pictures on them. I'm going to hold each one of them up and I'd like you to tell me what you see on the cards. There's no right or wrong answer to these, I just want you to be as honest as you can. After each picture, I may ask you some questions, which you are not obligated to answer if you don't want to."
The person on the other side of the camera heaved a sigh.
"Honest I can do. Whether or not anyone believes me or gives a **** is another story."
The camera turned to address the person sitting on the other side of Troy's desk.
It was ... Lindsay Troy?
Via the magic of high-tech video editing?
Dressed in a white crinkled cotton blouse, tight jeans and Steve Madden wedge sandals, the Empire Pro World Champion sat..or, rather, reclined...in an overstuffed arm chair, her long legs hanging off one of the arms and her head resting against the other. She looked back across the desk and nodded.
"Patient" Troy: Let's get on with it, Doc.
"Doctor" Troy nodded and held up the first picture: http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/9571/peoplecare2oj.jpg
"Patient" Troy: The emptiness of Karl Brown's words.
"Doctor" Troy turns over the picture to look at it, studying it for a second.
"Doctor" Troy: Why are they empty?
"Patient" Troy: He implies too much. He's mentioned these magazines, ones that have chronicled his matches, yet never identifies them by name. They're fleeting, perhaps nonexistent, intangible. Do they exist? Do they matter? Will I wake up tomorrow wondering if I had read one would I have learned something that I didn't already know? Would I have prevented something from happening...winning or losing? Will the rest of my life hinge on something questionable in the first place?
"Doctor" Troy: Well, will it?
"Patient" Troy: Y'know, I've never thought of things in those terms. I consider myself a learned individual, perhaps smarter than most; graduating high school early and finishing college before I turned the all-important age of twenty-one. But more importantly I'm learned in life. Sometimes I think I've lived a lifetime already.
"Doctor" Troy: How so, exactly? What goes on behind closed doors?
"Patient" Troy: Not so much that but, rather, what's gone on in the past.
"Doctor" Troy: You don't talk much about that do you?
"Patient" Troy looks at the "Doctor" and crinkles her face.
"Patient" Troy: Would you if you were me?
"Doctor" Troy: I think you know the answer to that.
Silence.
"Patient" Troy (after a time): Hiding what Joey and I are...it wouldn't do much good I don't think. I tried hiding things for awhile, you'll remember, not too long ago. If I thought it would have been easier I would have concealed things longer.
"Doctor" Troy: But it wouldn't have been easier.
"Patient" Troy: No, it would have been more of a hassle. Trying to hide what you are or who you're with...it doesn't make sense to me. Examples like that are what start rumors.
"Doctor" Troy: And the rumors Karl brought up?
"Patient" Troy (shrugging): I've heard them. But Empire has always been Dan's brainchild and contrary to what most seem to think, I hold no political power in it. I don't go throwing my weight around, or demanding things, or changing plans because I supposedly hold some clout over others. When I'm asked my opinion, I give it. When I'm told what I'm doing on a given week, I do it. No questions, no discussions outside of particulars. Just because I may not have defended the World title on any given night, or maybe not as much as I would have liked, doesn't mean I don't still represent it. I've never heard any champion representing this company question the bookings that are given out and I like to think I help set the example.
What he mentioned about the pre-emptedeness of shows? Is he to say that he didn't have some handle in that himself with the TEAM tournament? Or Marcus isn't to blame for defending his title in A1E at the time as well? Or Joey is excluded from the blame-placing because of his being in New Frontier and doing shows on the West Coast, Japan and Mexico? Or Dan himself, who not only is the owner of Empire Pro, but also competes in four other companies?
What do any of these matter, Doc? How does the saying go? If it's on the Internet it has to be true?
"Doctor" Troy: So some would say.
"Patient" Troy: I can't get behind that. In truth, no one is to blame. But everything I've said from the beginning of this promotional week until now has had no basis in conjecture, gossip, or water-cooler talk. Biting lines that were uttered out of respect, knowingly, at one point, dragging people into the discussion and waving their name around like they're a catch of the day, throwing rumors out on a hook and line like a worm in hopes of catching a fish to sustain an appetite for supper, is idle chatter. The rumors won't keep me from getting out of bed, from doing my job, from walking down the streets of Chicago or from getting on an airplane. The rumors won't take away a title that I've earned and the rumors won't be the reason that I win or lose this match.
And for the record, Doc: Am I the only woman to have won a world title? Of course not. Am I the only one on this circuit? Yes.
"Doctor" Troy: I think that's all the time we have here today. You have my number the next time you need an appointment.
"Patient" Troy: Thanks Doctor. Talking to you has really helped.
Fade...
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