The scene opens inside Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, in Bullhead City, on the morning of Monday 18th January. Feeling a bit worse for wear, after a night of drinking tequila with the SCW World Bombshell Champion, Simon Jones has made the short trip from Laughlin, across the state border into Arizona, in search of a hearty breakfast with which to combat his hangover.
Simon - who is wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a sky blue long sleeve t-shirt - is sat alone at a table. Having ordered a sizeable breakfast for himself, he has devoured most of it, with only a smoked sausage, a fried egg, and a buttered slice of toast now remaining on his plate; he also has half a cup of tea left.
Just as Simon begins to consume his surviving egg, a feminine hand places a bottle of water on the table, beside his plate. Looking up from his meal, Simon sees the person whose hand it is: Natalie McKinley; she is wearing a pair of dark grey leggings, and a cyan sleeveless t-shirt.
Natalie: 'I think that will probably do a better job of relieving your hangover than a cup of tea will.'
Simon: 'Maybe so - but I can't have breakfast without having a cup of tea, can I?'
Natalie: 'I suppose not.'
Natalie takes a seat at the table, opposite Simon.
Natalie: 'And how is your breakfast?'
Simon swallows a piece of egg white, before replying.
Simon: 'It's good. I mean, it could do with some black pudding, and some baked beans - but it's good, nonetheless.'
Natalie reaches over to pick up the sausage that is on Simon's plate, which draws a glare from Simon.
Natalie: 'What? I brought you water - can't I have something in return?'
Relenting, Simon lets out a sigh.
Simon: 'Fine. You can have it.'
Natalie smiles at Simon, before taking a bite of the sausage.
Natalie: 'So, did you really attend Climax Control last night just to look for me?'
Natalie bites off another piece of the sausage, as she awaits Simon's answer.
Simon: 'Yes, I did. So thanks for coming to meet me here, before I have to head home.'
Natalie: 'No problem. I wouldn't want you to have had a wasted journey.'
Simon: 'I'm not sure that it would have been a complete waste of a journey - although I didn't find you yesterday, I did have a good night.'
Simon smiles at Natalie; he then eats some more of his egg white.
Natalie: 'That much is clear, given the state that you're in now.'
Simon: 'I'm alright. I just need to finish off this meal, drink the water that you brought, and I'll be fine.'
While Natalie takes another bite of the sausage, Simon picks up his slice of toast, which he then dips in the egg yolk, before eating part of it.
Natalie: 'Anyway, so why were you looking for me last night?'
Simon: 'Because, I haven't seen you for a week and a half, not since you flew out to participate at last Sunday's show in that battle royal - well, game of musical chairs as it turned out to be. Where have you been since last weekend?'
Natalie: 'Las Vegas, mostly.'
Natalie ingests what remains of her sausage; she then picks up a paper napkin, and wipes her mouth and fingers.
Simon: 'Vegas? So that's it then, is it - now that you're free again to set foot in SCW, you're relocating to Las Vegas?'
Natalie: 'Well, either Vegas, or somewhere nearby - certainly somewhere nearer to SCW's home turf than Cardiff; I can't afford to travel from Cardiff each week to Vegas, California, or wherever else SCW chooses to stage their shows.'
Natalie scrunches up her napkin, and then drops it onto the table.
Natalie: 'Besides, there's not really any reason for me to stay in Cardiff - it's been a few months now since Jack and I broke up, so it's not like I've got a boyfriend there to go back to, just a Mam who it's impossible for me to please, no matter what I do.'
Simon: 'What about your Dad?'
Now it is Natalie's turn to sigh.
Natalie: 'I admit, I'll miss my Dad. But it's not as if I'm never going to go back to Cardiff - I'll see him again, eventually.'
Simon dips his toast in the egg yolk again, and then takes another bite of it.
Simon: 'I'll miss having you around to assist me in the gym.'
Natalie: 'You started working out long before you ever met me - I'm sure you'll manage just fine.'
Simon nods; he then drinks some of his tea.
Simon: 'Are you sure you'll be alright, though?'
Natalie: 'As I told you on Twitter, Simon, you don't need to worry about me.'
Simon has another sip of tea.
Simon: 'I suppose one of the things that I'm most concerned about, is your newfound choice of company.'
Natalie: 'As I told you the other week, Simon, I have other friends in wrestling besides you. What's the matter - don't you like Celeste?'
Simon: 'I don't know - I haven't formed an opinion on her yet. The thing I'm most curious about, is why you're now consorting with Crystal Millar. I mean, the two of you have spent most of the past year at each other's throats.'
Natalie scoffs at Simon's remark.
Natalie: 'You're in no position to be passing comment on who I associate myself with.'
Simon frowns.
Simon: 'What do you mean?'
Natalie: 'You've been getting pally with Mikah, of all people. She's the biggest single problem with the bombshell division - and Celeste, Crystal and myself are going to be the ones to remedy that.'
Simon: 'I don't think Mikah's
that bad, Natalie - she...'
Before Simon can say any more, Natalie interrupts him.
Natalie: 'You see, that's your problem, Simon: you like everyone, and you want everyone to like you - you want to be friends with everyone; it's no wonder that you get on so well with Roxi Johnson.'
Simon: 'I wouldn't go so far as to say that I like
everyone - I'm not exactly fond of Casey Williams and Sean Jackson.'
Natalie responds in a dismissive tone.
Natalie: 'They're just the exceptions to the rule.'
Simon: 'Well, what's wrong with me wanting to be affable to people?'
Natalie: 'Some people aren't deserving of your friendship, Simon, that's what's wrong; Mikah is one such person.'
Simon stares at Natalie for a few seconds, before he speaks again.
Simon: 'What has gotten into you?'
Natalie: 'Nothing - I've just had my eyes opened, is all.'
Simon: 'By who - Celeste?'
Something then dawns on Simon.
Simon: 'She's the friend you told me you had been speaking to about entering yourself into the battle royal, isn't she?'
Natalie nods.
Simon: 'I had thought that you and Celeste working together to target Mikah when you were playing musical chairs was just a spur of the moment thing, but the two of you had that planned all along, didn't you?'
Natalie: 'What can I say? Guilty as charged.'
Natalie shrugs her shoulders, uncaringly.
Natalie: 'With how unfriendly
she is, why are you making an effort to be friendly to Mikah, anyway? She's so cold, I bet she has her periods in cubes.'
Simon is clearly shocked by that comment from Natalie.
Simon: 'Natalie! That's so unkind.'
Simon leans forward, towards Natalie.
Simon: 'What's going on, Natalie? This isn't like you.'
Natalie: 'How do you know it isn't like me - how well do you really know me, Simon?'
Simon: 'I don't know - perhaps not as well as I thought I did.'
Natalie nods her head again. She then glances around the restaurant, before looking back to Simon.
Natalie: 'Well, I don't want to outstay my welcome.'
Natalie stands up.
Simon: 'No, Natalie - wait.'
Natalie ignores Simon's appeal for her to stay.
Natalie: 'Good luck against the Surf Boys, Simon.'
She then turns and heads for the exit. Simon shakes his head forlornly, before returning his attention to the remnants of his breakfast. We leave Simon to finish his breakfast alone, in peace, and switch to a scene from later in the week, with Simon now seen standing on Penarth beach, around five miles away from his adopted hometown of Cardiff, looking out at the Severn Estuary; he is now wearing a wetsuit, and is clutching a surfboard under his right arm.
Simon turns to face the camera, and begins to speak.
Simon: 'I apologise in advance if this video ends up being shorter than usual. Despite the thermal insulation that this wetsuit provides, it is still quite cold out here, and so I would like to get back indoors, into the warmth, as quickly as I can.'
Simon glances down at his bare feet, before looking back up at the camera.
Simon: 'I've only got myself to blame for me being cold, having been the one to pick this location, and decide upon this choice of attire; it seemed like a smart choice at the time, given that this Sunday I will be in a match against the Surf Boys, but now...not so much.'
Simon sighs.
Simon: 'Oh well.'
He then drops the surfboard, letting it fall to the sand below.
Simon: 'It has been three weeks since I was last inside the six-sided ring, on a night when I defeated J2H, to make up for a loss that I had suffered to him two months previously. Does the result of that match mean that J2H isn't quite as good as he thinks he is? Does it mean that I'm not yet past my sell-by date?'
Simon shrugs his shoulders.
Simon: 'Who's to say? It could be the former, but I very much hope that it's the latter that is true - it's now up to me to demonstrate that is indeed the case, starting this Sunday, by gaining another win, this time against the Surf Boys.'
Simon rubs his chin.
Simon: 'Since my last outing, and after a wait of what has felt like forever - although in reality, it was closer to four months - it appears that I finally have someone who wants to help me achieve my aspiration of winning the SCW tag team titles.'
Simon smiles.
Simon: 'To say that I'm pleased to have Ben Jordan as my tag team partner might be an understatement. I could give any number of reasons as to why I'm glad to have him as my partner, but for now, I'll just give two: one, he's a mate; two, he's a damn good wrestler.'
Simon nods his head.
Simon: 'Speaking from experience, I would much rather have Ben as a partner, than an opponent. I never explicitly stated that I hoped I would wind up having Ben as my partner, but I have hinted at it: go back to last August, when I was preparing for my first match following my return to SCW - at the time, my sights were still set on the World Heavyweight Championship, but find the
video of me discussing my return match, and you can hear me speculate about where I might be able to find myself a regular tag team partner, if I was to need one.'
Simon smiles again.
Simon: 'Alright, so he might be spending most of his time in Cuba these days, but he's still an East London boy at heart.'
His smile broadens ever so slightly.
Simon: 'Ben has already taken the step of challenging the current Tag Team Champions to a match for the titles at the next supercard - although they might not be the champions for much longer, depending on the outcome of Sunday's main event. I will certainly be keeping a keen eye on that match, but regardless of who leaves Stockton with the gold - whether it's The Nobodies, or The Monstimals - Ben and I need to show people why we should be given a shot a the titles; a win against The Surf Boys - who themselves are former champions - ought to do it.'
Simon nods, confidently.
Simon: 'The last time that Ben and I were partners in a tag team match, we defeated the team of R.O.A.R. - the team that would go on to end the brief reign of The Surf Boys as Tag Team Champions. However, eighteen months have passed since that match against the uncle and nephew duo. Ben and I now need to remind everyone of why were successful on each of the two occasions that we teamed together in the past, and why we can be successful again in the future - I believe that there's a lot more to come from the pair of us, and a win against The Surf Boys is part of that.'
Simon casts a quick glance at the discarded surfboard, before looking back to the camera.
Simon: 'I don't want anyone to think that I'm mocking The Surf Boys by being where I am, and dressed the way that I am - if anything, this should be considered an homage to them. As I've already alluded to, The Surf Boys have shown in the past that they can be more than a match for any opponents, and they have the ability to put a dent in our aim of winning the tag team titles, but I don't plan on letting that happen - I respect the capabilities of The Surf Boys, but I still expect Ben and I to beat them.'
Simon turns to look out at the Severn Estuary again.
Simon: 'I'm sure The Surf Boys are used to better weather than we get here in the UK.'
He then quickly turns back to the camera.
Simon: 'How typically British of me, to talk about the weather. But on that note, and with my feet freezing, I'm going to bring this to an end.'
Simon bends down to pick up the surfboard.
Simon: 'Narly, Radical...and I guess Melody, too - I'm sure we'll have some fun at Climax Control, and entertain the fans; I just hope you won't be too downbeat after the match.'
Simon takes a step towards the camera.
Simon: 'See you on Sunday, lads and lasses...errrr, lass.'
He then gives a quick wave to the camera with his free hand, before striding away, and as Simon leaves the beach, heading for somewhere warmer, the scene fades to black.
