Strategy

[Stu]

*** RONNIE LASSITER is in the gym, sweating buckets as he whales away at a heavy bag. He is breathing heavily, trying to wear himself out. Finally, his grunts of effort give way to a roar as he strikes rapid, repetitive punches, ending with an elbow strike that threatens to knock the bag from its chain! As he catches his breath, the camera refocuses on his masked mentor, watching from further back. ***

MASKED SHOOTER: "What's up, iron paws?"

RONNIE LASSITER: "I ain't happy with the way we started this competition, boss."

MS: "Oh? What was wrong with it?"

RL: "Well, we frickin' lost."

MS: "So?"

RL: ***pauses*** "Huh. This is where I say something obvious or impatient, and then you blow it all out of the water with some observation that contrasts your experience with my inexperience."

MS: "Sounds about right. So, why don't you talk it through for me."

RL: "Okay … we had plenty of trade-off, good team work, but you were in there more often than me. Why's that?"

MS: "To control the match. I didn't want you hurt, and it's plain you need some more experience. Word to the wise: don't headbutt a Samoan."

RL: ***RL nods his head and grins*** "You can take plenty of punishment, but I can take more. Why not let me carry the load?"

MS: "No need to."

RL: "But we lost."

MS: "Not yet."

RL: "Not yet?"

MS: "Because only one victory in the whole thing counts …"

RL: " … the shortest one!"

MS: ***taps the side of his head with his finger and smiles*** "I was watching the clock. I don't think this contest will be decided by any match less than fifteen minutes, twenty at the most. So I stretched it beyond that. Would've gone longer, but I didn't want to risk getting hurt, me or you."

RL: "So you were runnin' the clock?"

MS: "Bingo."

RL: ***shakes his head*** "So we wouldn't have to go through any more than necessary and still be in the running. Damnit, you're a smart bastard."

MS: "Smart enough. C'mon. I'm hungry. Steak night."

RL: ***untaping his wrists*** "I'm buying. Worth the lesson, boss."

MS: "Ah, there's less and less inexperience on your part to contrast. Pretty soon, I'll have to trade you in for a new student."