Narrator: Months to pass without the sight of Tony Thorn on screen wasn't uncommon, in fact it was fairly standard for the man from Lima, Ohio. Wrestling wasn't his number one concern, yet it was a source of helping him understand life in a much clearer way. Wrestling is world unto it's own, where secrets and lies are celebrated and this is what make Tony tick, this is the side of wrestling he wanted to see, the psychological side to it all, the way people approached things. SCW had been good to him, allowing him to wrestle when they felt they needed someone new, someone different, someone with a unique set of skills that could baffle a certain opponent, they needed someone to test Ty West. Tony knew that Ty would be over confident, he had an air of arrogance at times back then and Tony was tasked to see if his focus was present. It wasn't. In the case of Casey Williams, it was a case of seeing if his experience could out think a thinker, it couldn't. With Joshua Acquin, it was to see if he still had anything in the tank, he didn't. With Lachlan Kane, it was to see if he could one day cut it as a singles wrestler, he can't. Although Tony does appear at some shows, not on camera, he is there to learn, to soak in the knowledge of his daily surroundings, but when he's needed in the ring, he's needed to test a certain opponent on a certain thing. Why Teddy Warren? Simply his record. Three out of the last four have been wins, it's time to test Teddy Warren on his consistency. Will Teddy Warren consistently pick up another win? Spoiler alert, he won't. Still, Climax Control two hundred and forty-six was not one Tony was present at. He was at home in Lima, Ohio. His head as usual soaking up new information.
Victoria: Well shit!
Tony's eyes dart away from the television screen as a World War II documentary plays on the television, the story of how one of the greatest ships in the German fleet, The Bismarck was sunk by the British on May 27th 1941.
Tony: Arrogance of a captain who should have retreated to France after being damaged in the first place.
Tony turns his head, looking through thick black rimmed glasses as he sits on the living room sofa, his eyes following his head movement and away from the average sized television set.
Narrator: Extravagances were never for Tony. It doesn't matter the cost, it was about the job the electrical equipment did. He had no need for eighty inch televisions that were as durable as smaller sets.
Tony: Did you say something mother?
Tony looked towards the door as his mother enters the room, looking at her son, the most precious thing in her world, as he turns his body, his feet touching the floor from his sofa.
Victoria: I just read that SCW card and finally, someone has come to their senses in that office and decided to put my baby boy on television again!
Narrator: For a man who didn't wrestle as often as most, Tony knew what it took to keep the ring rust at bay. Just two or three sessions a week with wrestlers at a local gym, training to be where Tony was. Tony had no formal training, all self taught thought videos, and studying, working out the mechanics of every move he studied, figuring out the safety levels of each of them. It also soothed his mind, the new wrestlers were a curious bunch, always asking questions, always asking questions of what it was like to defeat a man who is now number one contender to the World championship, asking what it was like to be in the ring with two SCW mainstays, and what was it like to beat a dominating Mixed Tag Team champion. They kept his mind ticking over as well as keeping the ring rust off.
A slight smile crosses over Tony's face as he looks towards his mother.
Narrator: He may not have been watching the latest SCW show, that would come later, but his knowledge of Sin City Wrestling was strong. If he wasn't at a show, he would watch everyone's actions within twenty four hours, he would listen to everyone's words, watch everyone's body language in case he ever had the fortune to cross them.
Tony: Well mother, that is interesting. Who would be said opponent for me?
Victoria: Teddy Steele, the Roulette champions but once again those silly sons of bitches book my boy against a champion while looking after him. Who is this guy?
Tony: He's a gentlemen who couldn't find his place, couldn't seem to find something that seemed to stick with the fans. I believe he tried to rap once, yet that never worked out, so he was just the man on screen watching his wife Kate win more and become more popular. Now, he seems to have found something that sticks.
Victoria: What's what?
Tony: He is in a band that if it wasn't for SCW connections, would never be signed by anyone with the sense of hearing, and wears make up.
Victoria frowns at her son as she looks at him.
Victoria: Fucking weirdo.
Tony: It's the way of the world mother. If you can't get noticed on things that make you a set gender, try the other and watch everyone jump on the bandwagon because they want to be noticed too. The world has gone soft because of these people. Although it does give me an excellent idea for something to speak about concerning Mr. Warren. Tomorrow, I think I need a trip out somewhere to get an accessory or maybe two to prove my point.
Narrator: And that's exactly what Tony did. The Lima Mall at 11.30am, on Elida Road was where Tony decided to go. He wandered around with a purpose for an hour, making a stop at two stores to get the two things that he needed. He wasn't a man that would happily shop for hours, browsing store after store for unnecessary things and he certainly wasn't in to window shopping. He shopped for a purpose and not like most would spend money they didn't have just to have a trinket that would add no value to their lives. He'd done what he had to and now it was time to do one of the things he enjoyed doing, watching people as they went about their daily lives.
Tony sits on a bench, a fountain behind him, just one bag next to him with the good he had purchased on his trip to The Lima Mall. Crowds of people swarmed past him, looking for bargains or just simply looking to waste money on things they do not need. His eyes dart to a young mother, a rebellious boy of five years old stomping his feet on the ground.
Narrator: Tony was never like that, he was gifted from a young age. Even at the age of five years old, he knew his mind was not like those of others, he knew intellectually, he was plains ahead of every child his age.
He watches with a disappointed shake of his head as the young mother pacifies the child with candy.
Tony: And now your child will believe to get what he wants, all he needs to do is cause a commotion. Quick fixes such as that will not now, nor ever work.
He turns his head to a group of teens, two boys, two girls dressed in typical skateboarder garb, the rebellious kind.
Tony: Wasted youth.
Tony's words quietly pass his lips as he talks to himself, adjusting his glasses to focus his eyes.
Tony: The kind of people who feels the world owe them something while they skate through it and hold their hands out like little beggars. People like that need a sharp lesson in life.
A commotion to Tony's right causes him to turn, just lowering his glasses as he looks at three people outside a bathroom door, a picture of a female on the door. Tony looks to the left of the three, observing a woman, to the right, a man and in the middle...
Narrator: Tony couldn't believe his eyes at what he saw before him, even rapid blinks couldn't take away the view he had before him.
A bald man stood in between the man and the woman, the man blocking the bathroom door, preventing the bald man entering. Tony looks up and down the bald man, seeing the man wearing a dress.
Narrator: Yes, you saw that right, a man in a dress, no make up, no wig, just a man in a dress.
Tony's jaw clinches as he looks across at the three, his ears straining to listen to the conversation.
Woman: She should be allowed to use the female bathroom.
Man: It's not a fucking she! Look at him, it's a man in a fucking dress!
Woman: But she identifies as a woman.
Narrator: Key words to trigger Tony off at that point.
Tony's eyes become narrow as he watches the woman protest with the random stranger.
Man: Fuck that lady, he could be a fucking pervert! He could be dressed like that just to look up ya fucking skirt. Sick freak!
Tony's voice hushes slightly as he nods once in agreement.
Tony: I wholeheartedly agree.
Woman: She identifies as a woman, she should be treated like one.
The man stands firm, his body against the bathroom door, stopping the man in a dress entering the woman's bathroom.
Woman: People can be who they want to be.
Man: I can say I'm the richest guy in the world but that doesn't make it so.
That comment brings a smile out on Tony's face as he watches across the courtyard, another nod of agreement comes from him.
Narrator: Tony agreed with exactly what the man was saying and later will expand on it all for you but watching mad him more and more angry about the world, angry about the way things were becoming in a place that used to be fine until snowflakes ruined it.
Tony's eye's peered on, watching the too and fro from each side before security arrived to defuse the situation, but he had seen enough.
Narrator: It was one of Tony's pet peeves when the natural order of things was disturbed and men as women, woman as men was the natural order disturbed. Tony decided to take his leave at that point, he'd seen enough and decided at the point it was time to go home, but going home might not have been his best idea.
Walking in to the home he shared with his mother, Victoria was waiting for Tony in the hallway, waiting for his arrival. Within seconds of getting in the door, Victoria had stopped him.
Victoria: They're here...
She stops herself in her tracks as she questions herself.
Victoria: He's here?
Tony nodded slowly, he knew what his mother meant by that.
Tony: Aiden or Alexander?
Victoria: The fuck should I know? They're the same person, it's all in his or their head.
Tony: I trust you kept him entertained?
Victoria: He hears voices in his head, he don't need me to keep him entertained, he can do that on his own.
Tony smiles at his mother as he walks past her and in to the living room where a young man is seen sitting on the sofa, small frame with blonde hair, and piercing eyes. He bounces to his feet as he sees Tony enter the room. Tony looks at the young man closely.
Tony: A pleasure to see you Aiden.
Aiden creeps towards Tony in a slow methodical manner, standing in front of Tony.
Aiden: It happened Tony! It happened, I can do it now. I passed, I can now beat people up. My trainer says I can do it.
Tony: Congratulations Aiden, but are you sure this is what Alexander wants?
Aiden: You told me to do it. You told me this would help me be better and feel better.
Tony: I did but I know Alexander isn't as keen as you are to do this, Aiden.
Aiden: I'm the boss, he listens to what I have to say, but Tony, I can do it now, so I need your help, I need you to help me.
Tony raises a hand to his friend.
Tony: Say no more. I know Alexander is a nervous flyer but I have a show to attend on Sunday on the Island of St. Barthelemy, I will bring you two along and introduce you to the right people to help you. Now you need to be quick because we leave in the morning. It is not cheap but do not worry, I will make the appropriate calls to the right people who will supplement the cost, should I set up an interview. I do not believe it will be much of a problem considering your coaches. I would recommend you also speak to them to help grease the wheels slightly. They have a lot of influence over Sin City Wrestling, many of their trainees have found their way to their rings. I'm sure they will help greatly, they may even help with travel. They have unique way with their stupid.
Aiden: Great! I'll go home and get things together now!
With that, Aiden runs out the house, breezing past Victoria as she enters the room. She looks at Tony with a slow shake of the head.
Victoria: I don't know why you put up with that little psycho.
Tony: Two reasons mother. One, loyalty. Aiden and even Alexander were there for me before the thing happens, and two, if I could take him and make him whole again, that would be a medical breakthrough a miracle to be quite frank. Just think of the millions around the world that can be saved, that can be reprogrammed to be normal again. It would be the end of another bandwagon, it would be the end of mental health problems.
Tony grips his bag in his hand, lifting it chest height and smiles towards his mother.
Tony: Now I must go the basement, I have matters to attend to.
Narrator: And that is where we go and this is where I bid adieu cause this is where focus on what young Tony has to say.
The room is dimly lit, just a small, wooden round table is seen lit up in the middle of the room. Footsteps are heard echoing, getting louder and the sound of wooden chair legs can be heard scraping along the floor. The shadow of Tony Thorn moves in to the dim light, and the outline of a chair being pulled along in his right hand and a bag in his left. Tony places the chair by the table and reaches his free hand in to the bag, pulling out an object and holding it up to his face.
Tony: Aren't you pretty?
Tony stares in to the dead eyes of a plastic moulding in the shape of a human face and neck and puts it down on the table. He reaches in to the bag again and pulls out another object, concealed in his hand and spins the chair around, placing the back of the chair to the table and placing his legs either side, his elbows resting on the top of the chair. He stares at the plastic face.
Tony: I saw something today, something that has lifted something in me. I always believed it but never had the platform to say it until something came along, something that would allow me to focus and then came Teddy Warren, and the universe fell in to place. I sat there knowing I had an opponent who upsets the natural balance of everything, who upsets the way human beings were crafted. A greater power created life, worked impeccably on the way we're set up. The human brain is a complex thing, it's made for us to function, it's not like machines where cogs turn, it fires off commands to allow us to be human, and yet people like Mr Warren try to go against the way we are made, the way we're meant to be.
Tony runs his thumb down the plastic figures face.
Tony: When someone put us on this earth to evolve in to the dominant force on it, there was two sent plan with unique attributes for the both. The male plan, the what you may call the hunter gather plan, the physical strength, the urge to provide and the female plan, the urge to nurture, to have a softer side, yet some uneducated fool decide for themselves, people who do not have the mental capacity to put together a Lego set, let alone build a complex human without conception have decided it's ok for men to be women and women to be men.
Tony's jaw clenches as he grits his teeth, he reaches for the head and pulls it to his face.
Tony: NO! YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT! YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE FROM SET GUIDELINES! YOU FUCKING DON'T! DON'T ANSWER BACK TO ME!
Tony takes a sharp inhale of breath and holds the head nose to nose with him.
Tony: You want the truth Transgender does not exist! Want me to say it louder? TRANSGENDER DOES NOT EXIST!
Tony puts the head roughly on the table the crash of the plastic meeting the table bounces around the room.
Tony: It doesn't exist. You can not tuck your tail between your legs and call yourself a woman. Your Deoxyribonucleic acid does not change because you wanna be the opposite sex. The make up of your body does not change, hormones do not switch balance and you become the opposite sex by putting plastic in your chest and tucking something between your legs, a voice does not change in your head or become a few octane's higher when you verbalize anything in a way to communicate with someone. Transgender is bullshit.
Tony puts his hands around the plastic head.
Tony: BULLSHIT! Do you wanna know what's worse than people who do that? It's those fucking people who encourage them. The be who you wanna be brigade that encourage them just so they can hide the fact they are judging those freaks of nature. They're as bad as straight people who go to Pride events just to look supportive so no one judges them. You're one of them Teddy, you're one of those people.
Tony removes his hands from the head, just staring at it for a few seconds, his voice turns to calm, yet dangerous.
Tony: People like you Teddy put on that make up, blurring the lines between the natural order of men and women, you do it like every other silly bastard that comes out and says they're Transgender, for the fucking attention. You're like every single person that supports that bullshit, you're doing it for the attention and it worked Teddy, you have my attention, you have me sitting here giving you my full attention but that is not the best thing you could have wanted. I'm sure your jaw has dropped to the floor listening to my views, and I'm sure others will put a label on me, but they will just be proving my point at how soft this world has become, how no one can speak their mind without someone being offended.
Tony moves his head closer to the plastic face and speaks quietly.
Tony: Let me tell you something, I don't care.
Tony jolts back in his seat, his eyes dead but a strange smile crossing his face.
Tony: I... Don't... Give... A.... Damn. You support these unnatural people every time you put make up on, you support these unnatural people every time your face appears on a screen. Is it a surprise that ninety percent of your audience that show up for your shows, all eighteen people who got those free tickets your silly little girls hand out outside venues, claim to be transgender? It's because of people like you encouraging them. It would be a damn shame when that day comes around when their not so evolved minds work out that you're cashing in on them.
Tony grips the head with his hand, holding it behind the back of it's head.
Tony: You are not natural Teddy. YOU FUCKING HEAR ME? YOU ARE NOT NATURAL!
Tony flips the object concealed in his hand and gives it a twist, revealing the top of a red lipstick. Tony starts to scribble over the plastic heads face.
Tony: THIS IS NOT FUCKING NATURAL, YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS TEDDY!
He throws the lipstick against the wall and picks the head up in his left hand, holding it out in front of him, his voice dropping to a quieter tone.
Tony: You're gonna pay for blurring the lines to encourage these people.
Tony reaches behind his back and slams a small blade directly between the eyes of the plastic head.
Tony: You have been enlightened!
Tony throws the plastic head in to the darkness, a crash coming from off camera, usually the cue for the camera to face, but Tony bends two fingers towards it, and the camera moves closer to Tony.
Tony: By the way Teddy, I know who Diamond is. I'm a genius after all, but your secret's safe with me.
Tony raises a finger to his lips.
Tony: Shusssssssssh.
With Tony's dead eyes looking down the camera, the scene finally fades.
