DERRICK: “Wow... you weren’t kidding. Everyone is here. What’s the occasion?”
KNIGHT: “Damion Black kicked a hornet’s nest last season, Derrick. It’s time the Wyld Family got organized and set about to put that scumbag in his place.”
ALYSSA: “It hurt to be overseas when all this was going down. When I left last season, I had no idea that Damion Black was going to go off the deep end like that. As soon as I could, I finished with my overseas commitments and headed back here. PWA needs the full strength of the Wyld Family now more than ever.”
*Aldo stands from the table and walks over to them. He greets Derrick’s bandaged face with a warm smile.*
ALDO: “Don’t be so down on yourself, son. You gave ‘im Hell, right enough.”
*Derrick doesn’t meet the elder Wyld’s gaze.*
DERRIK: “Th-thanks, Mr. Wyld. I gave Holiday everything I had. I had him beat, but… I dropped the ball. He got me in the Unkindest Cut and there was nothing I could do. I fought as hard as I could and it wasn’t enough.”
ALDO: "Well of course you came up short. You did a damn fool thing, and you got your butt handed to you for it."
DERRIK: "I- what?"
* Greco smirks into his hand *
ALDO: "You played a fool's game, did your thinking with an impatient heart instead of a cool head. You're young and in love, and you got played for it. Instead of trying to find an alternate path, you went in on the terms Holiday set. He had you from the get-go, ain't no two ways about it.
"Now, you gave a good account of yourself, no question there. Lasted a good sight longer than I expected you to, and nearly had 'I'm more than once. But you should never have fought him on his own terms. Sucker play."
**Derrik opens his mouth to speak, but when no words come out, Aldo smirks and shakes his head.**
ALDO: "You're not the first youngster I've trained. Now, all that being said, you also aren't the only one here who got played. Each of us have, in one way or another, and I'm the worst of the lot. I should have seen Ronnie's frame of mind from a mile off, and I should have let him go sooner, instead of letting him get impatient and enticed by Damion. And sometimes, when the powers that be have it in for you, you've got no choice but to ride it out.
* Aldo puts a reassuring hand on Derrik's shoulder. *
ALDO: "So, past is passed. Let's figure out what we're going to do about it now."
GRECO: “It’s time we made a game plan. I’ve been fighting promoters like Black my entire life. The only way to hit him is to take away the thing that matters most to him. Take his ‘leverage’. Thanks to the hard work of Spencer Watts, Black’s been shown that he’s not invulnerable. He’s been given a black eye that can be twisted into a tactical advantage. Before he can get his confidence back, he needs to be shown that the cabal of mercenaries he’s surrounded himself with are beatable. He needs to fear for the safety of his championship gold. That will put him on the defensive.”
NIKKI: “Okay, how do we do that then? Target each of his champions? We’d need to be number one contenders to do that. No way Black will give any of us a shot at any of his belts.”
REBEL: “Black’s not an island. He has to contend with the egos of each of his champions. If we want to take his gold from him... we need to go through them. Play to their egos.”
KNIGHT: “And don’t forget PWA’s other major championship. The King of Deathmatch tournament. Anyone who can take that will have massive influence on future title shots and opportunities.”
GRECO: “So we target each of his soldiers individually.”
ALDO: “So... starting at the top. I might have an in regarding Lassiter and the Heavyweight Title. That boy may have chosen the dark side... but he’s got a bruised ego that I might be able to take advantage of.”
REBEL: “I’d like to take advantage of that myself. I took him to the limit last season and I’d like to parlay that into a rematch. I may not get a title shot, but a non-title win over him will hurt his pride and might be able to be rolled into a shot at the gold.”
ALYSSA: “Meanwhile, I’d like to work with Nikki to make a run at Alpha Omega’s tag titles. That’s the one belt that Black doesn’t control.”
NIKKI: “Sounds good mom, but I’m more interested in putting the boots to Beckett and ripping away his Light Heavyweight Title. That jerk has been kicking Derrick in the balls for three seasons. I’ve been looking for an opportunity to take him down a peg.”
ALYSSA: “I don’t know about that honey. Your leg is still pretty severely injured. You can anchor a tag match... but I don’t like the idea of you putting your career on the line against a dirty fighter like Beckett when you are less than full speed. I think Derrick is the best one to go for that title.”
NIKKI: “Dammit... you’re probably right. I can wrestle... but I’m not 100%. And Derrick... you have the experience and ability to get the job done.”
**Derrick looks down, deep in thought.**
GRECO: “And as for that Johnny Ecks and the NWC World Title...”
**Greco looks off toward the office area. Akira Wyld comes walking out, a dark and serious look on his face.**
NIKKI: “Uncle Akira! I didn’t know you were here!
**Derrick looks up in shock.**
DERRICK: “Wow... I didn’t realize you guys had... mended fences just yet.”
AKIRA: “It’s amazing what nearly dying will do to put things into perspective.”
ALYSSA: “Akira has had plenty of time to think about his past... uh...”
**Damon puts a hand on his wife’s shoulder and smiles.**
KNIGHT: “... lets just say ‘his past’.”
**Akira walks up to Arzon and extends his hand. Derrick looks at his hand with suspicion, and shakes it.**
AKIRA: “Your match with Holiday at PWA Black was one of the best I’ve ever seen.”
DERRICK: “Uh... thanks. Coming from you that means a lot. So... you’re going to go after Johnny Ecks and the NWC Title?”
GRECO: “I made a few calls. Damion Black may not have any intention of ever letting Akira back in the title hunt... but the NWC Title represents the NWCW and iNCW as well. KB Kronic and I have a bit of a history and he thought it would be an amazing idea to have Akira challenge for the title at iNCW’s Noobmania.”
ALDO: “Totally out of Black’s jurisdiction.”
NIKKI: “Oh that’s going to piss him off.”
AKIRA: “I’m counting on it. I’ve got a lot to make up for. Taking that title off of Ecks’ waist is step one to bringing some order back to this company.”
GRECO: “Then we have a plan. Take it to Damion Black. Rally the locker room. Show Black that he’s not in control.”
KNIGHT: “Sounds good to me.”
**Derrik shakes his head.**
DERRIK: “No... there’s something you are forgetting.”
ALDO: “What’s that, kid?”
DERRIK: “The King of Deathmatch. That’s our most straightforward opportunity at taking something that matters to Black. And... I want in.”
**The Wylds look uneasily at each other. Nikki looks down at the floor with a look of concern, then lifts her face sternly to Derrik.**
NIKKI: “Are you stupid?! You’re not even fully healed and you want to dive back into the barbed wire headfirst?”
DERRIK: “No, I’ve been giving this a lot of thought. I appreciate everybody’s concern and support, but the fact is that I know Rhett Holiday was a beaten man. The King of Deathmatch tournament is my chance to show everybody that I can win under those conditions, that I’m tougher than I showed at PWA: Black. I can win that tournament and prove to everyone that good guys do finish first! Besides, the light heavyweight division is stacked. You have La Nieve, Spencer Watts, Pantaro, and whole bunch of others not under Damion Black’s sway. Somebody is going to step up to Beckett and rip that title away from him. And if no one does, well…. winning the King of Deathmatch tournament will be an undeniable argument for a title shot.”
NIKKI: “Okay… just tell me this isn’t about Holiday…”
DERRIK: “If Holiday and I meet in the tournament, then fine. I’ll have another chance to beat him. If not, I’m good with that, too. All I want is to win the King of Deathmatch… for me, and for PWA.”
ALDO: “Kid, you got nothin’ else to prove. You’re gonna take years off your career-“
AKIRA: “Wait a minute, Uncle Aldo. Derrik’s got a shot at this. He’s been in those environs before, so he knows what to expect, and he can still take his opponents by surprise. I think he’s got a good chance at taking the tournament.”
REBEL: “Yeah, Derrik knows what he’s doing. Besides, it’s a good idea to hedge our bets on winning that tournament. I’m gonna join, too, increase our chances.”
ALYSSA: “At your age?” **smirk** “You really think that’s wise?”
REBEL: “Watch it, little sister, or I’ll tell everyone how old you are.”
GRECO: “Alright, alright, if we have this much energy than let’s get to it. Next season is coming up fast, so let’s start drilling. Alyssa, Rebel, you two can start suicide sprints.”
ALYSSA: “Wha-“
REBEL: “Hey-“
GRECO: “Ah ah, get to it!”
**Rebel and Alyssa glare are each other and sigh. They take off running as Derrick and Nikki look at each other and smile. Akira walks up to Derrick.**
AKIRA: “I’m serious about you having a real shot in the King of Deathmatch Arzon. You’re strong, quick on your feet, and you never back down from a fight. If you’re interested... I’d like to help you.”
**Derrick raises his eyebrow suspiciously.**
DERRICK: “Help me? Are you serious?”
**Akira watches his siblings dash the length of the gym and nods.**
AKIRA: “PWA is a mess... and I’m at least partially to blame. You’ve always been the heart and soul of this company. The best bet PWA has for regaining its identity lies with you. So... yeah. Let me work with you on this. Hell, maybe you can teach ‘me’ a thing or two. I’ve got a season of ring rust to shake off.”
**Akira puts a hand on his scared shoulder and works his rotator cuff. He winces at the top of the revolution.**
DERRICK: “You okay? You look like you’re dealing with a little more than just rust.”
AKIRA: “I’m fine. Now... I see an empty ring over there. You come here to drink coffee and eat donuts or you come here to prove you can hang with the Wyld clan?”
**Derrick looks at Nikki who just rolls her eyes. Akira sighs and he and Derrick head toward the ring.**
END SCENEStatistics: Posted by Gary Bloomfield — Thu Feb 13, 2020 6:19 am
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