Post by mrstansell on Feb 27, 2011 21:05:52 GMT -5
2 Months ago
Starshine Motel
Yucca Valley, CA
The sun sets against the mountains in the West as the the Starshine Motel begins to show signs of life. The sign out front buzzes of neon and flickers a few times before finally staying on. The parking lot is mostly empty except for an old pick-up sitting in front of a posted sign that reads "Owner's Spot. All other's will be towed to Roth's Junkyard" and a 2011 Audi A4 with the windshield smashed in.
Through the darkness a piercing light finds its way to just outside the front office. A black sedan comes to a stop and a man steps out heading toward the front desk where the night attendant is flipping through a two month old issue of People's Magazine.
The two men exchange words for a moment before the attendant motions towards a row of rooms to the left. The man heads out of the office and begins down the row of rooms. He stops just outside the thirteenth room which also happens to be the room that the Audi sits in front of. The man looks over the car and its damage. Not only has the front windshield been smashed but deep scratches run along the sides, all signaling lights have been broken, and three out of the four tires appear to have been crudely slashed. The man shakes his head at such a beautiful vehicle being slaughtered like this and turns for the door. Three hard knocks interrupt the night's silence before it once again takes hold.
Inside sounds of life are present. The man waits patiently before the door swings open revealing what could only be described as a shade of the great man that once was.
The Man
Mr. Stephens?
The Shade
No Stephens here.
The door begins to close but the man quickly puts a hand up trying to stop its progress.
The pressure against the door fades away. The shade looks up at the man standing outside his door and for a moment beneath the months of self torture, doubt, and lack of shaving the person from before stirred inside...Christian Stephens began to wake.
Christian walks away from the door allowing the man to enter. Inside is nothing short of a disaster area. Bottles of Jack lace the floor as beer cans lay in a pile that apparently was made by throwing them against the wall once they had served their purpose. A tacky picture of a cactus and a setting sun had been smashed across a chair and its remnants and broken glass had never been picked up.
Christian took a seat and returned to drinking that the man assumed had been previously opened before he had arrived.
Rivera waited for a moment to get Christian's reaction to this statement but found that there was none.
Christian watches Rivera intensely as he begins to look over the trashed motel room.
Christian
Just looking for a change of scenery.
Rivera motions toward the door.
A smile creeps upon Christian face.
Christian
All work and no play makes Chris a du...
Christian perks up at this.
Christian stands up and walks toward Rivera.
Christian turns and throws the beer can at the wall.
Christian walks to the other side of the room and pulls another beer out of the mini-fridge. He opens it and takes a long, steady drink from it.
Christian thinks long and hard before turning to Rivera.
Rivera
You can't? How can you even say that? This man has destroyed you and left you to die in the desert...literally.
Christian
It's not him. I hate Kennedy with every fiber of my being...but I can't hurt him without hurting EUW. As much as I despise him he's brought along the golden age of professional wrestling...and I was just collateral damage. If my sacrifice means that EUW will strive...so be it.
Rivera
What is this devotion to a company that has chewed you up and spit you out? You're one of the last remaining veterans and yet you still allow to be treated like dirt. The real Christian Stephens would never say that.
Christian
The real Christian Stephens? The real Christian Stephens owes everything he is to that company. That company gave me a home when I had none. It took me in and it made me feel accepted.
Rivera
Really? Accepted?
Christian
Yes!
Rivera
When I took over EUW last year I got a very good look at EUW's history...and your history. You know what I saw?
Christian says nothing.
Rivera
I saw an amazing talent that has never been capitalized on. I saw a man that should be a household name have to steal his first title. I saw a champion that has only ever received one single official championship match.
Christian
But...that's my own fault. I stumbled and I had to face the consequences.
Rivera
You're fault? It's never been you're fault. Since the day you've showed up in EUW five years ago you've had nothing but these great mentors of your's abandon you.
Christian
No, that's not true.
Rivera
Oh really? Where was Ash Matthews when you needed him? He brought you in and began grooming you to be the premiere champion of EUW and then he just...left. Seamus Corcoran? One of the greatest ever chose you as his protege' and told you that you we're going to be the greatest tag team in the history of EUW...and then just disappeared. Kirk Kennedy? Told you that if you truly wanted to be champion and worked hard enough that you could...and yet at the first sign of trouble gives you walking papers.
Christian sits down. All these memories swimming in his head. Rivera walks over to him and takes a seat.
Christian lowers his head. He's been hit by an emotional Mac-truck.
Slowly Christian raises his eyes to meet Rivera's and that's when Mark sees it. Something that had been long lost. The shade has completely burned away and what once was...is once again.
FADE TO BLACK
Starshine Motel
Yucca Valley, CA
The sun sets against the mountains in the West as the the Starshine Motel begins to show signs of life. The sign out front buzzes of neon and flickers a few times before finally staying on. The parking lot is mostly empty except for an old pick-up sitting in front of a posted sign that reads "Owner's Spot. All other's will be towed to Roth's Junkyard" and a 2011 Audi A4 with the windshield smashed in.
Through the darkness a piercing light finds its way to just outside the front office. A black sedan comes to a stop and a man steps out heading toward the front desk where the night attendant is flipping through a two month old issue of People's Magazine.
The two men exchange words for a moment before the attendant motions towards a row of rooms to the left. The man heads out of the office and begins down the row of rooms. He stops just outside the thirteenth room which also happens to be the room that the Audi sits in front of. The man looks over the car and its damage. Not only has the front windshield been smashed but deep scratches run along the sides, all signaling lights have been broken, and three out of the four tires appear to have been crudely slashed. The man shakes his head at such a beautiful vehicle being slaughtered like this and turns for the door. Three hard knocks interrupt the night's silence before it once again takes hold.
Inside sounds of life are present. The man waits patiently before the door swings open revealing what could only be described as a shade of the great man that once was.
The Man
Mr. Stephens?
The Shade
No Stephens here.
The door begins to close but the man quickly puts a hand up trying to stop its progress.
The Man
Chris?
Chris?
The pressure against the door fades away. The shade looks up at the man standing outside his door and for a moment beneath the months of self torture, doubt, and lack of shaving the person from before stirred inside...Christian Stephens began to wake.
Christian
The hell do you want?
The hell do you want?
The Man
Just to talk. Nothing else.
Just to talk. Nothing else.
Christian walks away from the door allowing the man to enter. Inside is nothing short of a disaster area. Bottles of Jack lace the floor as beer cans lay in a pile that apparently was made by throwing them against the wall once they had served their purpose. A tacky picture of a cactus and a setting sun had been smashed across a chair and its remnants and broken glass had never been picked up.
Christian took a seat and returned to drinking that the man assumed had been previously opened before he had arrived.
The Man
Mr. Stephens, my name is Mark Rivera.
Mr. Stephens, my name is Mark Rivera.
Rivera waited for a moment to get Christian's reaction to this statement but found that there was none.
Christian
And?
And?
Rivera
Just "and?"
Just "and?"
Christian
No offense buddy but last I remember you were making your exit while I was heading in. Never got a chance to know just who the hell you were and honestly, that doesn't necessarily bother me either. Now if you just came here to be ooh'd and awe'd at then I think your time is up.
No offense buddy but last I remember you were making your exit while I was heading in. Never got a chance to know just who the hell you were and honestly, that doesn't necessarily bother me either. Now if you just came here to be ooh'd and awe'd at then I think your time is up.
Rivera
Oh no, see I don't need to have my importance justified...it just seems to me that you and I are one in the same, just months apart.
Oh no, see I don't need to have my importance justified...it just seems to me that you and I are one in the same, just months apart.
Christian watches Rivera intensely as he begins to look over the trashed motel room.
Rivera
I had heard that you left your room at The Standard...never expected to find you in the middle of the desert held up in a seedy motel.
I had heard that you left your room at The Standard...never expected to find you in the middle of the desert held up in a seedy motel.
Christian
Just looking for a change of scenery.
Rivera motions toward the door.
Rivera
And the Audi?
And the Audi?
A smile creeps upon Christian face.
Christian
All work and no play makes Chris a du...
Rivera
I got you.
I got you.
Christian
Why are you here?
Why are you here?
Rivera
Yes, I agree. Enough chit-chat. Mr. Stephens, I'm here to offer you a chance.
Yes, I agree. Enough chit-chat. Mr. Stephens, I'm here to offer you a chance.
Christian
At what? Redemption? Between you and me I have absolutely no interest in redeeming myself in the eyes of anyone.
At what? Redemption? Between you and me I have absolutely no interest in redeeming myself in the eyes of anyone.
Rivera
Oh no. I'm here to offer you a chance...at revenge.
Oh no. I'm here to offer you a chance...at revenge.
Christian perks up at this.
Rivera
Kennedy kicked you to the curb and I'm...
Kennedy kicked you to the curb and I'm...
Christian stands up and walks toward Rivera.
Christian
If it'd just been kicking me to the curb I wouldn't be in the middle of the desert drinking myself into an early grave. He told me that if I worked hard that he'd give me opportunities. I damn near had that "Do you want to be champion"mantra of his tattooed to my damn chest. He asked me if I wanted to be champion and for the first time in a long time I wanted something with every ounce of my being.
If it'd just been kicking me to the curb I wouldn't be in the middle of the desert drinking myself into an early grave. He told me that if I worked hard that he'd give me opportunities. I damn near had that "Do you want to be champion"mantra of his tattooed to my damn chest. He asked me if I wanted to be champion and for the first time in a long time I wanted something with every ounce of my being.
Christian turns and throws the beer can at the wall.
Christian
I took every obstacle that son of a bitch threw at me. I jumped through hoops, played his games, and even took down an unstoppable force...long before that "machine" did mind you.
I took every obstacle that son of a bitch threw at me. I jumped through hoops, played his games, and even took down an unstoppable force...long before that "machine" did mind you.
Rivera
From what I remember you also had some help though didn't yo...
From what I remember you also had some help though didn't yo...
Christian
You remember wrong. I met every challenge that man set for me and I actually believed he was looking out for me. As much as I hate to admit it I admired him, looked up to him...he was like a...
You remember wrong. I met every challenge that man set for me and I actually believed he was looking out for me. As much as I hate to admit it I admired him, looked up to him...he was like a...
Christian walks to the other side of the room and pulls another beer out of the mini-fridge. He opens it and takes a long, steady drink from it.
Rivera
Then you understand. You want this as much as I do...maybe even more.
Then you understand. You want this as much as I do...maybe even more.
Christian
With every ounce of my being.
With every ounce of my being.
Rivera
Then join me. Get you're revenge on Kennedy...the man who turned his back on you....get you're revenge on EUW.
Then join me. Get you're revenge on Kennedy...the man who turned his back on you....get you're revenge on EUW.
Christian thinks long and hard before turning to Rivera.
Christian
I...I can't.
I...I can't.
Rivera
You can't? How can you even say that? This man has destroyed you and left you to die in the desert...literally.
Christian
It's not him. I hate Kennedy with every fiber of my being...but I can't hurt him without hurting EUW. As much as I despise him he's brought along the golden age of professional wrestling...and I was just collateral damage. If my sacrifice means that EUW will strive...so be it.
Rivera
What is this devotion to a company that has chewed you up and spit you out? You're one of the last remaining veterans and yet you still allow to be treated like dirt. The real Christian Stephens would never say that.
Christian
The real Christian Stephens? The real Christian Stephens owes everything he is to that company. That company gave me a home when I had none. It took me in and it made me feel accepted.
Rivera
Really? Accepted?
Christian
Yes!
Rivera
When I took over EUW last year I got a very good look at EUW's history...and your history. You know what I saw?
Christian says nothing.
Rivera
I saw an amazing talent that has never been capitalized on. I saw a man that should be a household name have to steal his first title. I saw a champion that has only ever received one single official championship match.
Christian
But...that's my own fault. I stumbled and I had to face the consequences.
Rivera
You're fault? It's never been you're fault. Since the day you've showed up in EUW five years ago you've had nothing but these great mentors of your's abandon you.
Christian
No, that's not true.
Rivera
Oh really? Where was Ash Matthews when you needed him? He brought you in and began grooming you to be the premiere champion of EUW and then he just...left. Seamus Corcoran? One of the greatest ever chose you as his protege' and told you that you we're going to be the greatest tag team in the history of EUW...and then just disappeared. Kirk Kennedy? Told you that if you truly wanted to be champion and worked hard enough that you could...and yet at the first sign of trouble gives you walking papers.
Christian sits down. All these memories swimming in his head. Rivera walks over to him and takes a seat.
Rivera
When you needed them most, when you needed their guidance they left you to die. They promised you the world and abandoned you. Christian, you are the forgotten son of EUW. Every thing you've ever learned, every achievement you've ever gotten, every match you've ever won is only because you refused to accept your role as the bastard child of EUW...and yet you come back time after time after time just to be let down again by a father that doesn't care about you.
When you needed them most, when you needed their guidance they left you to die. They promised you the world and abandoned you. Christian, you are the forgotten son of EUW. Every thing you've ever learned, every achievement you've ever gotten, every match you've ever won is only because you refused to accept your role as the bastard child of EUW...and yet you come back time after time after time just to be let down again by a father that doesn't care about you.
Christian lowers his head. He's been hit by an emotional Mac-truck.
Rivera
But you are not alone, Mr. Stephens. I am here for you...Empire is here for you...and we would be proud to have a son like you.
But you are not alone, Mr. Stephens. I am here for you...Empire is here for you...and we would be proud to have a son like you.
Slowly Christian raises his eyes to meet Rivera's and that's when Mark sees it. Something that had been long lost. The shade has completely burned away and what once was...is once again.
Christian
That's Mr. L.A. to you.
That's Mr. L.A. to you.
FADE TO BLACK