Into the Black

[Stu]

*** Damion Black’s office, posh and polished. At one end of a coffee table sits interviewer TERRY SCHNEIDER, dressed in a brown slacks-and-sports jacket, a few cards of questions in his hands. Across the table from him sits DAMION BLACK, dressed in a three-piece Armani that suits his name. Between them, across from the camera's point of view, is BARTHOLOMEW “BRAWLER” BECKETT, in a fine, dark gray three-piece suit, accented by a boldly tartaned ascot and the PWA Lt. Hvywt. Title belt over his right shoulder. Schneider looks reasonably wary, while the other two appear calm … like a deep overcast sky. ***

TERRY SCHNEIDER: “Ladies and gentlemen, we are in the office of the man behind PWA, Mr. Damion Black. I am here with none other than Mr. Black and our Light Heavyweight Champion, Mr. Bartholomew Beckett. Thank you, gentlemen, for your time.”

DAMION BLACK: “You are welcome.”

TS: “Let’s get to the meat of the matter. The two of you were involved in what was supposed to be a three-versus-two handicap match against La Nieve and PWA Heavyweight Champion, Brian Fury-”

BARTHOLOMEW BECKETT: “To which they agreed beforehand, Terrance. That was completely above board. Strictly speaking, the participation of one Mr. Watts would have been considered interference, had it occurred after the bell rang.”

DB: “As it was, Watts’ meddling should have been considered a breach of contract.”

BB: “Even assault, as he was neither sanctioned nor contracted to compete at that moment.”

DB: “But I was feeling lenient.”

BB: “Mr. Black is a generous man.”

TS: “Can Spencer Watts expect repercussions now, in that case, or not, since you allowed it, Mr. Black?”

BB: “I said Mr. Black is generous, and he has proven it. Are you suggesting that he would go back on his word on account of the misguided gallantry of one who has fallen short in his own title goals?”

TS: “The title you now hold, Mr. Beckett?”

BB: “None other, and have thus far retained successfully, unlike Watts.”

TS: “There are some who would say that you have yet to truly defend that title yourself, Mr. Beckett.”

BB: “Never to my face, you notice.”

TS: “Quite a lot of things happened in that match, and after. To begin with, congratulations on your victory. Your protege’, Ronnie Lassiter, scored a promising pin over the champion, Brian Fury, Mr. Black.”

DB: “Naturally. I am increasingly pleased with his performance, and look for great things from him in the future.”

TS: “He does have a solid background-”

BB: “And now, with a new mentor, a brighter future.”

TS: “However, the events that followed the pinfall were, well, questionable to say the least, even despicable.”

BB: “I could not agree with you more, Terrance.”

TS: “You … you agree …?”

BB: “Naturally. Not only were we immediately set upon by our vanquished adversaries, but two more attackers joined in: the long hiding Aldo Wyld, and Rebel Wyld. Clearly, the Wyld family look to make their influence known again, at the expense of our success and their own family integrity.”

TS: “Mr. Beckett, you tried to attack La Nieve from behind-”

BB: “She was going for a chair, Terrance, not that the camera angle shows it, I understand, and as soon as I backed away, like a sportsman, she decided to pursue. I was simply trying to maintain some professionalism and decorum, as where La Nieve was clearly trying to cause me some harm before our match this coming week. I do wonder that even you could spin her malicious attack so, but that is your business, isn’t it? Do try to remain neutral, here, Terrance.”

TS: "If you will excuse me, I do not believe that La Nieve would stoop to such tactics, although some might speculate that the fatigue and frustration she is enduring with constant matches being thrown her way on the road to PWA: Black may be affecting her mentally as well as physically. Mr. Black, in regards to the unprecedented booking for La Nieve, is wearing her down your goal?"

DB: "I resent the accusation, Terry. La Nieve is preparing to face the most prolific Light Heavyweight Champion in PWA's history. I am affording her every opportunity to get more ring experience and to build momentum for her upcoming title match. In fact, this has cost Mr. Beckett valuable ring time. Are you aware that our Light Heavyweight Champion has not been booked on a single PWA Battery to accommodate the assistance I am selflessly giving to La Nieve? If anything, I am being unfair to Mr. Beckett and to him I humbly apologize."

BB: “Not at all, Mr. Black. I understand that you are in the unenviable position of having to play politic for the vocal minority in this case. I know that you are doing all that you can to remain impartial in this matter.

“As for La Nieve herself, I do hope for her sake, and the sake of the fans, that she is pacing herself. I would hate for our match to be too brief. Let it be clear, though, that, as a fair-minded man as well as a gentleman, I will treat her with every bit of competitive consideration that I would any other opponent, male or female. And the interlopers, the Wylds … Rebel has been doing what he can, it seems, to make things harder on his family, and he has succeeded, and Aldo … should have stayed safely under his mask. As it is, now, he is closer than he likely wants to be to retirement.”

TS: “The Wylds … and Spencer Watts?”

DB: "I'm going to interject here. Spencer Watts is a young man with great ability and promise, but his ego and his pride have turned him into the worst kind of primadonna. I personally took him under my wing. I advised him, I helped to train him. I inspired him to greatness. And he has failed in spectacular fashion time and again. In spite of his humbling performance, he walks around with a chip on his shoulder and seems to hold me responsible for his lack of success. The last time this happened, disgruntled employees laid siege to my company. I will be damned if I allow that to happen again. I am going to deal with this matter personally, and on such a grand stage that there will be no question of outcome or superiority. I am officially challenging Spencer Watts to a no-disqualification match in the main event of PWA: Black. His pride won't allow him to back down, even though he knows he does not stand a prayer of a chance against me in the ring. I will crush this ungrateful upstart under my heel before the entire world."

BB: “I doubt that there will be enough of Watts after that encounter for me to have to worry about a rematch.”

TS: "Mr. Black, what about the allegations that you grievously injured Akira Wyld and put him on the shelf months ago?"

**Damion's face hardens until his staring daggers at Schneider. **

DB: "Let me make this perfectly clear: I am not, nor shall I ever be, prepared to listen to base accusations from one who is BARELY on my payroll. Mr. Beckett, if you would be so kind as to show Terry the door?"

TS: " Mr. Black, I am simply-”

*** Beckett cracks his knuckles, drawing a nervous look from Schneider. Beckett stands suddenly, sending Schneider almost backward out of his chair and scrambling. Beckett flips the coffee table out of his way, causing the camera man to dodge.

Black out. ***