Part 1 - Resolution
We are taken to a small meeting room that doesn't look like a scene we've ever been in before in recent videos. Seated around a small round table are Mark "The Dragon" Cross, Faith "The Future" Simpson and their accountant, Andy.
The Dragon: Thanks for coming guys…
Without warning, Faith leaps into action, scrambling up and across the table in a flash of flowing blonde hair, sending Andy and his chair floorward in a kind-of Lou Thesz press, raining down a flurry of fists on the man.
The Dragon: Oh no...Faith please don't...leave him alone…
Mark's words have a grand total of zero conviction, almost bordering on sounding bored. Casually he walks around the table, pulling weakly at Faith's arm, who swats him away effortlessly.
Andy: I know whose side you're on!!
Andy tries and fails to cover himself up with his hands and arms against the onslaught as Mark watches on with a shrug.
The Dragon: You hit her with a chair Andy, I'm just letting the odds level themselves.
Andy: Aaaaaah get her off me! Not the face not the face!
The scene fades to black as the sound of shattering glass can be heard with the next flurry of fists.
Part 2 - Resolution...for real.
The scene opens in similar fashion to before, with Mark, Faith and Andy seated around a table, with three differences. Faith has a bag of frozen peas wrapped around her right hand, Andy has an ice pack pressed to his cheek, and sat in front of him on the table is a pair of spectacles, now broken.
The Dragon: I’ve had a couple of days to think, and I appreciate what you both tried to do here, I know it was for the right reasons, but this should have been on me from the very start. Whether Matilda and I get back into a relationship again or not, and no matter what impact it has on my career, I'm going to be a Dad. I want to play as big a part in that as possible, and it could have been jeopardised. To be honest I'm lucky she kept trying to contact me, I could have been written off and never found out.
Andy: Yeah, the whole thing got away from me…
The Dragon: You’re not kidding. You remember that thing you said to me Andy, about how you guys don’t need me anymore? I’m winning. A lot. I’m enjoying every second of this little renaissance, and I don’t think it’s a surprise that it happened either, you know what, it’s kind of mutual. I mean, you know who started this for me right?
Faith: Valentina.
The Dragon: Valentina, exactly. You know what the biggest thing I feel with you Andy? Guilt. Guilt because of what you choose to miss out on for the sake of me. And you Faith? What happens with my career doesn’t matter in the end, because in the next ten years you’re going to eclipse anything I’ve done, or Octane, or Devinee, probably all of us combined to be honest, and we’ll just be sitting here hoping you remember from the early days. Now Andy...you're still my accountant…
Faith: You've gotta be…
A raised finger and a sideways glance stops her in her tracks.
Faith: Sorry.
The Dragon: I've spoken to Octane and Devinee, they're both happy to continue working with you on their stuff too. Faith, I assume you want us to find you someone else.
Andy: I know a guy I can recommend here in Miami. He's good, he won't rip you off.
The Dragon: Thanks Andy.
Faith: Yeah...thanks…
The Dragon: I also ask that you stop following me around the world - Go back to England, be with your family. I appreciate that my career has taken a sudden upturn and you've tried to handle some things for me...and Faith, all the guys at the Lair have appreciated you stepping up and being on hand for them when I haven't been able to. I feel like they look up to you even more than me now, and you'll be sorely missed around the place when you head to Japan Next week. I've decided I'm going to bring someone in to help with the gym, and my "off-camera" duties, so you guys don't feel any obligation to do it for me.
Faith: You're getting a manager.
The Dragon: Yeah that's the plan. Objections?
Faith: Cool with me.
Andy: Yeah. Makes sense.
The Dragon: Awesome. Listen, sincerely to both of you, thanks for always being by my side. I really appreciate it...but I have to take it from here.
Andy: I’ll...I’ll get a flight in the morning...thanks…
Andy hurriedly scoops up his broken glasses and makes a swift exit out of the room
Faith: Do you ever feel like Andy wanted an excuse to be out here, rather than with his wife and kids?
The Dragon: I mean...twin babies must be hard work right? I bet he sleeps way better in hotels than he does back at home. Plus I heard Sally can be a right bitch when she's tired.
Faith: Wow, you’ve really ruined his life for the next few months, haven't you?
The Dragon: Yup. What a week. How’s the hand?
Faith gingerly lifts the bag of peas, staring down at knuckles that were turning varying shades of blue and crimson.
Faith: Bruised. You’re still driving me to the airport right?
The Dragon: Sure! Have you started liking ramen yet?
The scene begins to fade away as the pair begin to discuss Faith’s upcoming trip to Japan excitedly.
Part 3 - Task at Hand
We are taken to the now-familiar office area of The Dragon’s Lair gym on South Beach, Miami, Florida. It is recognisable by the afterthought of a desk in the corner, with the vast majority of the real estate being taken up by the equipment used for watching back and analysis of past wrestling matches. This time it is being used to watch the demo of a 2019 highlight reel for the social media accounts of Mark “The Dragon” Cross, who has seen an unprecedented hike in followers and interactions given the year he’s just had. As the video comes to an end, he picks up and turns his chair to address the camera.
The Dragon: From a nobody to a legitimate title contender in pretty short order. What a crazy few months it’s been for me huh? I’ve watched the comments rumble on, everything ranging from “who is this guy” from fans who don’t branch out beyond their favourite promotions, or fellow wrestlers who don’t bother to do their research…next to ”I didn’t think he still had it in him” from those that saw me at my best, remembered as I slipped out of the limelight to concentrate my efforts on coaching someone who deserved the spotlight far more than me, all the way up to “we knew that was going to happen, it was just a matter of when” from my team, from past opponents, and from my long-suffering fans that maybe caught some shaky phone footage of me wrestling short-notice in a tiny venue for a miniscule crowd. I’ve said it before, even I was maybe in that middle ground for a little while...but no longer. I just needed that chance to spread my wings and take flight again. I’m still not at the height of my powers, more work needed there, but I’m in a position to have more title belts to than I have shoulders to put them on. That’s pretty special for a guy still trying to find his best form.
Mark reaches across to turn off the monitors just to his right, that were buzzing quietly with white noise.
The Dragon: It felt good to pick up one more win before the run into December II Dismember. It’s been a good year to say the least, and taking on Sin City Wrestling duties on top has kept me busy, but I’m hardly spreading myself thin, and I’ll take any excuse to be in a ring and work on my craft a little bit more. I think for Teddy, the result was inevitable - he’s been found out. On the face of it, when you look at some of the names involved at Summer XXXtreme, and the victory that made him Roulette champion in the first place, it was a pretty impressive feat. Former and existing champions up and down that match-up for a start, but immediately afterwards I wondered, one-on-one, straight up against anyone in that match, how many would he come out on top in? Griffin and I both sent him packing as I suspected they would. I think it proves just how ‘right’ this match-up is. Not only will it raise the bar for the Roulette division going forward, but as the opening match it’ll set the tone for an incredible last show of 2019 too. I have to say credit to management for making this one happen, and I have a feeling this won’t disappoint.
Mark clears his throat.
The Dragon: So now we get to the match, and this is where things get difficult. I probably find this the most challenging thing about our sport if I’m honest, firing shots at someone you respect, and a more than worthy champion to boot. Challenging, sure, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try.
Mark reaches for something at the edge of the scene - A megaphone. He puts it to his lips and an amplified, low-fi version of his voice hits the microphone
The Dragon: Your NEW World Heavyweight champion...Griffinnnnnnnnnn Hawkins!
Mark drops the megaphone out of shot.
The Dragon: Try that on for size for a moment and tell me in the comments section below how you feel about it.. I'll wait. You, in the red shirt, let me know what you think. How about you, with the cool glasses? Get typing, let's go.
Mark pauses for a moment.
The Dragon: Now me? Personally, I actually quite like the sound of that. Griffin, like myself, is probably somewhere on that radar after all. I think he would do our company proud as the headline act, would behave with honour and integrity that a real champion should, and most importantly, I think he has the ability, and an undeniable level of talent that would put anyone with an opinion that matters around here on notice. My opponent this week is the real deal.
Mark glances down at his watch.
The Dragon: In that regard, I think we are very similar. My time here has seen me defeat two former Roulette champions, take down experienced heads, deliver the goods against some of the very best the company has to offer, even nearly breaking the winning streak of a guy that some of the roster are scared to share the same BUILDING with, let alone go toe-to-toe with them in the heat of battle. I have my methods, and from promotion to promotion, they tend to lead to resounding success, and here is where we differ the most - Ring work.
Mark reaches for a bottle of water from the floor, taking a long sip.
The Dragon: Let me set the scene for a minute. You have a hankerin’ for some whiskey tonight, so you go to your liquor cabinet and as you open it up you’re presented with two choices. A bottle of Mark “The Dragon” Cross, a British single malt. Complex, multi-faceted, expertly aged by a wealth of different experiences, and every time you take a sip it’s almost like you’ve discovered something completely new and exciting. Next to that you have that distinctive square bottle of Griffin Hawkins, that sour mash, unrefined, not even officially a bourbon kind of whiskey that meets the budgets of any dive bar patron, isn’t all that classy, but is guaranteed to kick like a mule and deliver proven results every time.
Mark scratches the back of his head as he let's it sink in for a moment.
The Dragon: Don't get me wrong, this isn't a total slam dunk, and it's not an "I'm a better wrestler so I'm gonna win" line. That’s so predictable right? I mean...I love Jack Daniel's. If I’m settling in for a long drinking session it’s my drink of choice. I don't want complex, I want to be smashed in the face with simple, straightforward, rough around the edges Tennessee whiskey. It has a place, and I see why the style works so well for Griffin. After all, it's tough to prepare for what an opponent is going to throw at you when the opponent themselves isn’t 100% on what’s to come. Especially when you know the guy is champion for a reason, and whatever they bring to the table, it’s probably going to hurt. The struggle is definitely real. Let’s go back to our whiskey example real quick.
Mark looks around him, hoping that there might be a bottle of the stuff sitting around as a prop. He's out of luck.
The Dragon: I’ve spent a lot of time wrestling out in Japan over the years. It’s where I first learnt Strong Style, and went from a brawler that would just take a lot of punishment until the other guy got exhausted to a proper, legitimate wrestler. Japanese wrestling fans generally aren’t a big fan of gimmicks. Aside from maybe Mexico, who I’ll exclude here on account of the significance of masks,making Japan the place in the world where the purest form of wrestling is most appreciated, and where your popularity will take a battering if you try and make it all about showmanship like here in the States. Griffin would probably get a pass on his rockstar image, the Japanese rock scene is pretty vibrant, but his style? Ehh....
Mark shrugs as he continues.
The Dragon: So how do I prepare for Hawkins? We’ve touched on Strong Style, blows and strikes to rock you to your very core, powerful grappling that knocks the wind out of your sails. Last week we saw a rare cameo appearance of Kyukyoku Ryujin, the high flying speed demon alter ego that can always come out of the woodwork when I need something a little different. A dangerous array of submissions, displayed just a few days ago on the Underground brand, that while I don’t like how they slow down the pace of a match, I love the way they can slow down an opponent when I need to get rid of any head of steam they might have been building up. MMA training, for the dangers that crossover athletes like Fenris and Jake Raab can present. Boxing training, to put some extra fire in my fists and some extra air in my lungs over a long battle. I prepare for every eventuality, so there’s no thing or no person that I fear when I step inside a wrestling ring. If someone wants to beat me, it isn’t because they exploit a weakness in my game. It’s as well rounded as you’re ever going to find at any tier of professional wrestling. It has to be because they’re better on the night. No easy task...but if you want to be a champion, or stay a champion, that’s what it takes.I know a lot of guys in my position that live on their former glories, and often it’s to keep the money rolling in to fund their lavish lifestyles. I’m cut from a different cloth. When you judge me, when you prepare to face me, whatever the situation, I want you to disregard my past resume. The promotions that have me listed in their “Legends” or “Alumni” sections. The Hall of Fame nomination that only didn’t come because the money ran out. The stacked win-loss record. The title wins. The title defences. The scalps against some of the biggest names in wrestling. I’ve done this a long time, so the list is extensive...but I want you to throw that in the trash.
Mark leans forward towards the camera.
The Dragon: Look at what I am now. Look at what I’ve already achieved in a short space of time. The men I’ve beaten. The quality of the performances. The level of destruction as two or three moves tilt the momentum in my direction and start a landslide that ends with my hand being raised by the referee at the end. I wasn’t a title winning wrestler then, I’m a title winning wrestler NOW. The evidence is undisputed. Griffin - You know I like you as a wrestler, and as a human. None of this is personal, and neither will what happens in the ring either. I’m looking forward to this one man. See you out there.
The scene fades to black.
Part 4 - Shiny Things
We are taken to the Miami home of Mark "The Dragon" Cross, the camera already inside as the front door opens. Mark is first to enter, followed closely by the brunette who we'd seen getting her ultrasound scan the week before. Matilda begins to explore immediately, looking around the kitchen/dining room with open-mouthed wonder. She spots the swimming pool as she reaches the large glass windows that look out onto it.
Matilda: You live here all by yourself?
The Dragon: I do now. I didn't for a long time, there were two of us for maybe 7-8 years?
Matilda: It must be so lonely.
Mark takes a seat at the breakfast bar, watching as the girl inspects the room.
The Dragon: Sometimes. I'm pretty comfortable in my own company though. You know I can't believe in three months you never came over to my house.
Matilda: I was scared it would be too...like this.
The Dragon: How do you mean?
Matilda: I heard about people that lived here, the houses, it was too…
The Dragon: Rich?
Matilda: Well Papa said everyone here lives in Playboy mansions. Now I've seen it I don't know why he was so worried...
The Dragon: HEY!
Matilda: But I bet this costs more than I'd ever make in my lifetime though...why do you still wrestle Mark? More of this, a bigger house, a faster car, what?
The Dragon: Purpose.
Matilda: Purpose?
The Dragon: You know, a reason to get up in the morning, to be productive and make something of my day. I could easily float around out in that pool, get a nice tan, find some model thet probably doesn't speak much Englidh to keep around as token arm candy, the end, right? Instead I have a Roulette title to challenge for. I have a Double Down championship to defend. I have a girl that I'm training who has the potential to do more in this sport than I ever have or ever will. This keeps me hungry.
Matilda silently walks around the kitchen, opening cupboards, running her hand over the coffee machine, probably her Italian roots drawing her to it like a magnet.
The Dragon: You're not saying much.
Matilda: What?
The Dragon: You normally would have said what was on your mind by now, that's all.
Matilda: Leave me to do all the talking like always huh? I'm thinking. I'm thinking about what if I did just go along with all this. Uproot my life to live here in this mansion with you, be judged by my parents, deal with the jealousy of my family who struggle every day just to pay their bills while I worry constantly about your loyalty while you're on the road.
The Dragon: It doesn't have to be like that.
Matilda turns on her heel to face him, hands on her hips.
Matilda: Why, because you'll give it all up for us? After that whole purpose speech you just gave me.
Mark shrugs.
The Dragon: If you want me to, yeah. I'll come off the road, concentrate on running the gym, maybe do some local shows around Miami to keep myself in shape and leave it there. We could buy that restaurant you've dreamt about...
Matilda: Just like that you'd buy me a pizza restaurant?
The Dragon: I know how much that dream means to you and your family.
Matilda lets that sink in for a few moments...then shakes her head...then heads for the door.
Matilda: I gotta go…
The Dragon: Or no restaurant...what have I done wrong here exactly?
Matilda: Why couldn't you have been an asshole about this…
The Dragon: Would that have made it easier, if I said I didn't want any part of this pregnancy? Really!?!
The front door slams as Matilda makes a swift exit.
The Dragon: Mattie...I drove you here…
Mark shakes his head as he turns to address the camera.
The Dragon: I know how the next hour of my life is going to go. Matilda’s going to try and walk back home to South Beach which will probably take her...oh...3 hours? I’ll jump in the car, find her walking on the path, I’ll try and talk her down from inside the car while she walks, holding up an angry line of traffic behind me, eventually she’ll get in, we’ll sit in silence for a while, then I’ll try and break the silence and get grunts and one word answers like I’m speaking to a teenager, until finally as I pull up outside of her parents house will we actually be able to have an adult conversation about things. Italians huh?
With a sigh, he grabs his keys from the breakfast bar, heads for the door, and leaves. As the door slams shut we hang on the silent kitchen/diner for a few moments as the scene fades to black.
