Searching for Guidance

[Ameronth]

***The scene opens at the Portland OR Greco Wyld School of Wrestling. It is late morning, a day before the highly anticipated supercard PWA Black is set to air. The spartan gymnasium smells of sweat and canvas. A few students practice falls and running the ropes in the facilities three triangularly-arranged wrestling rings. Greco Wyld stands stoically by the offices near the main entrance, monitoring his most recent recruits’ progress. Just then, the double-doors at the front of the gym open, and Derrik Arzon, dressed in jeans, tennis shoes, and a Tiger Gold t-shirt enters the building. Arzon cautiously walks in, trying not to disturb the workmanlike atmosphere of the sparsely-populated gym. Eventually he turns toward the offices and notices Greco standing by, watching him.

ARZON: “Oh, hi Mr. Wyld.”

GRECO: “Good morning Derrick. I’m sorry, but you’ve missed Nikki. She’s on her way to the airport already. In fact, shouldn’t you already be in the air? Not a lot of time till the big show.”

ARZON: “No, actually, I’m not looking for Nikki, sir. And... well, I booked a later flight. The fact is, I came here today to see you. I need some advice.”

**Greco nods and gestures toward his office. Derrick glances that way and shakes his head.**

ARZON: “Actually, I was hoping we could talk over there.”

**Derrick points to the nearest empty ring.**

GRECO: “I see. This is about your match I take it? You’re... nervous about your showdown with that snake Rhett Holiday?”

**Derrick takes a moment to compose his thoughts.**

ARZON: “Well, it’s like this: Rhett Holiday has been after me for weeks. He’s dragged Nikki into this and played mind games and gotten me all worked up. A week or so back I finally had a chance to corner him and challenge him face-to-face. I don’t know if you saw Assault, but I figured that since I confronted him man-to-man that might earn me a bit of respect and respite until our match. I even let him name the match he wanted. I found out he chose a Barbed-Wire Deathmatch.”

GRECO: “I saw. That was brave of you. Sometimes the only way to settle an issue is to meet a man on his own terms. Beat him there and he has nowhere else to go.”

ARZON: “Yeah, I know, but I’m trying to finish this thing he has against me once and for all. I thought maybe if I let him name the stipulations that might satisfy him for a while and we can bring an end to things. I haven’t been in a barbed-wire match before, but have been in some unusual, dangerous matches. I admit I’m nervous, but the match isn’t what has me really worried.”

GRECO: “I think I see where you are going with this.”

ARZON: “You see, at Assault, Nemesis Rex appeared and trapped me with Holiday, and…. Holiday used the Unkindest Cut.”

**Greco folds his arms and gives Derrick a level look.**

ARZON: “Sir, I know my wrestling history. I know you faced Nemesis Rex and felt the Unkindest Cut before. I’ve only felt it once and I never want to feel it again. So, I think if anyone can tell me how to counter the Unkindest Cut, it’s gotta be you! How do I avoid that hold?”

**Greco thinks for a moment and nods.**

GRECO: “I’ve studied this business and the men who devote their life to it for the better part of 40 years. Nemesis Rex is the most dangerous man I’ve ever met in or out of the ring. Without question. A man is more than a signature move... but if I had to mark one thing that placed him at a level above and beyond everybody else... it’s the Unkindest Cut. There’s something about that move. Anyone who has ever felt it knows the truth. If Nemesis Rex hits you with the Unkindest Cut... it’s over. As a pro wrestler, we’ve seen that there’s ALWAYS a chance to beat those odds... except with the Cut. I’m not sure there’s any hard logic behind why. Maybe it’s intimidation. Maybe it’s something more. But that move is deadly.”

ARZON: “You saw... did you see Battery this week?”

GRECO: “I did.”

ARZON: “I had him, dead to rights. From the second that bell rang, I didn’t let up on Rex. Every move he did, I had a counter for. I was confident, in control... ready.”

GRECO: “mmm-hmm”

ARZON: “And then, he caught me. Unkindest Cut in the center of the ring.”

**Greco raises his eyebrows.**

GRECO: “And... you kicked out.”

ARZON: “He was hurt... and couldn’t cover me right away. I had a few seconds to recover before he could try to pin me.”

GRECO: “And you kicked out.”

ARZON: “But it didn’t matter. I was spent. That one move dropped me and I was seeing stars. He just dragged me to my feet and hit me with it again. I... didn’t fully come to my senses until I was in the trainer’s room a half hour later.”

**Greco nods and looks thoughtfully at the floor.**

ARZON: “So what’s the secret? What am I doing wrong here?”

GRECO: “Derrick... you’re not going to like what I tell you here... but there is no counter for that maneuver. It’s simple, it’s efficient, it’s effective. Nemesis Rex is 6’8” and 270lbs. His weight and his leverage play a huge role in that move’s success. Holiday isn’t that tall... but against you he still has that same ratio. If he hits you with that move in the center of the ring, that might be it.”

**Derrick looks down and away and takes a breath.**

GRECO: “So don’t get hit. Keep your distance. What you did against Rex will work here. You just need to steer clear of that maneuver. You’re strong Derrick. You’ve got guts. You’ll find a way to...”

**Just then, Derrick’s cell phone rings. He pulls it out of his pocket and sees that Nikki is calling him.**

ARZON: “Oh hey... it’s Nikki. I wonder if she’s at the airport yet.”

**He answers the phone and puts it on speaker.**

ARZON: “Hey Nikki. I’m here with your grandad at the school. Did you get your bags all checked in for the flight?”

**A familiar male voice answers back from the phone’s speaker.**

VOICE: “I’m afraid your little girlfriend won’t be making it to PWA Black.”

**Arzon and Greco exchange a surprised look.**

ARZON: “Holiday! What the hell is going on? Why do you have Nikki’s phone?”

HOLIDAY: “I decided to meet your precious Nikki at the airport... wish her a good flight. But that little girl was extremely... rude. I’m afraid she had a little ‘accident’.”

ARZON: “What? You bastard! If you’ve hurt her...”

HOLIDAY: “Do you feel that Arzon? That anger? That boiling rage? Bring that fury to PWA Black. Bring that madness to MY barbwire playground. Because anger fuels the spirit. Madness elevates the soul. And I want the absolute most dangerous incarnation of Derrick Arzon that exists to meet me in the ring at the supercard. I want to fight the most vicious, deadly, sadistic version of yourself that you can muster. Because when I defeat you... I want you to know that I beat you at your most motivated. That I crushed you when you had everything to gain and nothing to lose. See you soon Derrick.”

**The phone goes dead and Derrick stares at it dumbstruck. Greco Wyld’s eyes narrow. Just then, Damon Knight bursts into the gym from the office area, a cell phone in his hand.**

KNIGHT: “Did you hear? Nikki just got jumped by that bastard Rhett Holiday at the airport!”

GRECO: “Is she alright?”

KNIGHT: “I don’t know. She was roughed up pretty bad. She’s being taken to a local hospital. I’m on my way there right now.”

ARZON: “I’ll ride with you!”

GRECO: “No.”

**Arzon looks at Greco with confusion.**

GRECO: “You need to get to PWA Black.”

ARZON: “But, but I...”

GRECO: “Damon and I will go to the hospital. You get to the PWA Arena and make that sadist pay for what he’s done.”

**Derrick looks from Greco to Damon uneasily... and then nods and turns toward the entry doors.**

GRECO: “Wait.”

**Greco grabs Arzon’s arm and looks him straight in the eye.**

GRECO: “Work the arm. Be like a rabid dog. Damage the tendons. If Holiday can’t get you into a tight headlock, he can’t deliver the Unkindest Cut. If his grip is weak and he locks you in, your best bet is a northern lights suplex. Use the barbwire to your advantage. Blood loss leads to light headedness and weakness in the extremities. If he hits you with to the cut... as you are going down, remember everything that bastard put you thorough. Remember what he did to Nikki. And kick out. Make him pay Derrick.”

**Derrick looks at Greco for a moment... and nods. He turns and runs toward the door.**