Post by soulshadow on Nov 17, 2013 18:42:50 GMT -5
{The camera opens on one-half of the MPW World Tag Team Champions, Soul Shadow, sitting at a table in a Boston bar known as the Lir. On the walls behind him are several banners showing support for the London-based Arsenal Football Club. As there was no Premier League action this week, the bar is relatively empty, a rarity for a weekend day. Despite this, Soul is proudly displaying his red Gunners kit. Resting in front of him on the bar is a full pint of Guinness. With relish, Soul picks it up and takes a healthy draught. He then replaces the glass on the bar while wiping the foam from his lips.}
Soul: Ah…. Nothing like the enjoyment of a good, healthy drink after a hard day of work. Helps you unwind, soothing the nerves. Some of my favorite memories are meeting my friends and companions for a few beverages and good company to close out the night.
{He wraps his hand around the glass once more, but does not raise it immediately.}
Soul: Christian Carter, I am sure you can definitely get behind that sentiment. After all, your ability to tie one on is legendary within our business. Though I unfortunately missed much of those good times during my “retirement”, I’ve heard all the stories. The late night parties, the wild hotel happenings, the lovely ladies following you like religious pilgrims… In a way I’m sad I missed it. It sounded like it would easily outdo any of the many things I was witness to during my days with the National Wrestling Council member feds.
{Soul raises the glass to his lips once more, taking a small little sip this time.}
Soul: Problem is, Christian, once you found yourself drawn into the circle, you couldn’t leave it, could you? The late night parties soon turned into early morning chasers. The hotel bills began to become astronomical as the damages piled up. The long line of ladies became one long blur of redheads, blondes, and brunettes whose names you couldn’t even remember when you woke up alongside them. Once the life of the party, your very presence signaled the death of good times to many of your friends.
{He rolls the beer gently between his hands.}
Soul: And it wasn’t just that. Your in-ring excellence, once the brightest potential star of the entire MPW, began to suffer miserably. Granted, you had a few setbacks which weren’t your fault, but rather than dust yourself off and move forward, you decided to use this…
{Soul fingers the lip of the glass.}
Soul: …to try and dull the pain. Inevitably, you found yourself drowning in a never-ending spiral. You would lose a match with a miserable performance, drink to forget your disappointment, then once again come up short as your addiction slowly killed your skill. I didn’t get to experience it firsthand, but while preparing to face you last week, I did review it. Believe me when I say it was extremely painful to watch.
{Soul eyes drop to the drink, staring at it as he continues.}
Soul: Funny thing is, Christian, I can understand why you would do such a thing. After my wife passed away, it was quite a temptation to bury myself in the bottle. Booze is the cheapest, easiest anesthetic one can acquire. It dulls the senses, numbs the pan, and in general chases away the hurt. Sadly, it is only a temporary remedy. Once it wears off, the ache and sorrow returns, often times several times more intense than before. And it feels like the only way… THE ONLY WAY… to relieve those feeling is to drown it once more.
{The eyes are raised to the camera once more.}
Soul: That’s why I never could bring myself to do it, Christian. Maybe it is because I was the only left for my infant son. Maybe it was because I was lucky enough to have very close family and friends who were able to be there for me when my spirits were at their lowest. Maybe it was because my self-respect was just enough to keep from taking that path. Whatever it was, I realized that road, while obviously the easy one, was never going to be the best. That road would do nothing but keep me going in circles and circles as my life slowly went down the drain. Unfortunately, Christian, nothing was able to stop yours from doing exactly that.
{Carefully, he slides the beer off to the side.}
Soul: You know, I don’t know if it is due to my alleged kind nature Aeryn keeps telling me about or due to being able to recognize how easily I could have become you, but I honestly feel sorry for you. Your actions during the tag team match spoke to me. Your attempts to prove you could actually handle Aeryn and me on your own. Your near-assault of your tag team partner when she inadvertently got in your way. All of those screamed to me of a man crying out desperately for help. I believe on some level you know it is beyond your ability to handle on your own. Fortunately for you, I am willing to help.
{The MPW tag champion places his hands squarely on the wood.}
Soul: This week, you and I have a match, Christian. Now, don’t expect me to go easy on you because I sympathize with your plight. In fact, I intend to do exactly the opposite. I intend to use it as a reminder of what you have lost. For the entirety of the match, I will showcase my talents which I have spent years honing to the top of my game. I will apply every bit of skill and knowledge I have learned over my long career, giving a taste of what you could have been had you not been buried under a tsunami of adult beverages. I will show you just how lost your soul has become, beating you with ease because you’ve let your addiction become your crutch. And after I am done, Christian, I will offer you something I don’t think anyone over this past year has done…
Soul: I will offer you my help.
{Once more, Soul spreads his hands, almost as if he is volunteering to draw the viewer into a hug.}
Soul: Christian, I returned to wrestling in search of a challenge. Believe me, from everything I have seen and experienced firsthand last week, you have none to offer me at this time. One year ago, you probably would have been the toughest opponent for me to face. Now, you are barely better than the rookies they sent against me for my tryout matches. You’ve fallen too far, Christian. So far you aren’t able to pull yourself out of the hole. I’m willing to help, my friend. If you are willing to help yourself.
{Soul lifts himself up from his seat, places a few tens on the bar, then turns to leave.}
Soul: After our match, Christian, I will offer you my hand. I will offer you way out of the darkness and onto setting your career finally on the right path. Please, Christian, use this chance to help find recover your soul.
Soul: Before you become lost forever.
{With that, Soul walks to the exit and leaves the bar, heading into the cool Boston evening. Behind him, the camera focuses on the beer, staring at the slowly dissolving foam before fading into dark.}
Soul: Ah…. Nothing like the enjoyment of a good, healthy drink after a hard day of work. Helps you unwind, soothing the nerves. Some of my favorite memories are meeting my friends and companions for a few beverages and good company to close out the night.
{He wraps his hand around the glass once more, but does not raise it immediately.}
Soul: Christian Carter, I am sure you can definitely get behind that sentiment. After all, your ability to tie one on is legendary within our business. Though I unfortunately missed much of those good times during my “retirement”, I’ve heard all the stories. The late night parties, the wild hotel happenings, the lovely ladies following you like religious pilgrims… In a way I’m sad I missed it. It sounded like it would easily outdo any of the many things I was witness to during my days with the National Wrestling Council member feds.
{Soul raises the glass to his lips once more, taking a small little sip this time.}
Soul: Problem is, Christian, once you found yourself drawn into the circle, you couldn’t leave it, could you? The late night parties soon turned into early morning chasers. The hotel bills began to become astronomical as the damages piled up. The long line of ladies became one long blur of redheads, blondes, and brunettes whose names you couldn’t even remember when you woke up alongside them. Once the life of the party, your very presence signaled the death of good times to many of your friends.
{He rolls the beer gently between his hands.}
Soul: And it wasn’t just that. Your in-ring excellence, once the brightest potential star of the entire MPW, began to suffer miserably. Granted, you had a few setbacks which weren’t your fault, but rather than dust yourself off and move forward, you decided to use this…
{Soul fingers the lip of the glass.}
Soul: …to try and dull the pain. Inevitably, you found yourself drowning in a never-ending spiral. You would lose a match with a miserable performance, drink to forget your disappointment, then once again come up short as your addiction slowly killed your skill. I didn’t get to experience it firsthand, but while preparing to face you last week, I did review it. Believe me when I say it was extremely painful to watch.
{Soul eyes drop to the drink, staring at it as he continues.}
Soul: Funny thing is, Christian, I can understand why you would do such a thing. After my wife passed away, it was quite a temptation to bury myself in the bottle. Booze is the cheapest, easiest anesthetic one can acquire. It dulls the senses, numbs the pan, and in general chases away the hurt. Sadly, it is only a temporary remedy. Once it wears off, the ache and sorrow returns, often times several times more intense than before. And it feels like the only way… THE ONLY WAY… to relieve those feeling is to drown it once more.
{The eyes are raised to the camera once more.}
Soul: That’s why I never could bring myself to do it, Christian. Maybe it is because I was the only left for my infant son. Maybe it was because I was lucky enough to have very close family and friends who were able to be there for me when my spirits were at their lowest. Maybe it was because my self-respect was just enough to keep from taking that path. Whatever it was, I realized that road, while obviously the easy one, was never going to be the best. That road would do nothing but keep me going in circles and circles as my life slowly went down the drain. Unfortunately, Christian, nothing was able to stop yours from doing exactly that.
{Carefully, he slides the beer off to the side.}
Soul: You know, I don’t know if it is due to my alleged kind nature Aeryn keeps telling me about or due to being able to recognize how easily I could have become you, but I honestly feel sorry for you. Your actions during the tag team match spoke to me. Your attempts to prove you could actually handle Aeryn and me on your own. Your near-assault of your tag team partner when she inadvertently got in your way. All of those screamed to me of a man crying out desperately for help. I believe on some level you know it is beyond your ability to handle on your own. Fortunately for you, I am willing to help.
{The MPW tag champion places his hands squarely on the wood.}
Soul: This week, you and I have a match, Christian. Now, don’t expect me to go easy on you because I sympathize with your plight. In fact, I intend to do exactly the opposite. I intend to use it as a reminder of what you have lost. For the entirety of the match, I will showcase my talents which I have spent years honing to the top of my game. I will apply every bit of skill and knowledge I have learned over my long career, giving a taste of what you could have been had you not been buried under a tsunami of adult beverages. I will show you just how lost your soul has become, beating you with ease because you’ve let your addiction become your crutch. And after I am done, Christian, I will offer you something I don’t think anyone over this past year has done…
Soul: I will offer you my help.
{Once more, Soul spreads his hands, almost as if he is volunteering to draw the viewer into a hug.}
Soul: Christian, I returned to wrestling in search of a challenge. Believe me, from everything I have seen and experienced firsthand last week, you have none to offer me at this time. One year ago, you probably would have been the toughest opponent for me to face. Now, you are barely better than the rookies they sent against me for my tryout matches. You’ve fallen too far, Christian. So far you aren’t able to pull yourself out of the hole. I’m willing to help, my friend. If you are willing to help yourself.
{Soul lifts himself up from his seat, places a few tens on the bar, then turns to leave.}
Soul: After our match, Christian, I will offer you my hand. I will offer you way out of the darkness and onto setting your career finally on the right path. Please, Christian, use this chance to help find recover your soul.
Soul: Before you become lost forever.
{With that, Soul walks to the exit and leaves the bar, heading into the cool Boston evening. Behind him, the camera focuses on the beer, staring at the slowly dissolving foam before fading into dark.}
