Brian Fury... Company Man?

[Gary Bloomfield]

***The scene opens at a special PWA press event, emanating from the Vallejo War Memorial Auditorium. Local and national media are on-hand for this special cross-promotional synergistic branding event.  A long table and podium has been set up in front of a large projection screen.  Images of PWA branded merchandise flash across the canvas screen.  A man in a cobalt suit stands in front of the screen and cheerfully announces the new line of PWA-themed products to the eager crowd.  Seated at the table is PWA owner Damion Black.  On his left is Light Heavyweight Champion Brawler Beckett, dressed in a smart charcoal-gray suit.  Beckett mugs for the flashing cameras, pointing to the gold championship belt draped over his shoulder.  On Black’s right sits the PWA Heavyweight Champion Brian Fury.  Brian Fury is smiling awkwardly as he sits in the too-small folding chair.  He is wearing an uncomfortable-looking black suit jacket over a constricting tie and shirt.  Fury drags a finger between his throat and the collar of the shirt, trying in vain to increase his constricted air flow.  The cameras flash and Fury winces.  Black looks over at him and raises an eyebrow. He leans over and whispers to the champion.***

 

BLACK:  “Everything okay Brian?”

 

***Fury shoots Black an irritated look. He whispers back to Black.***

 

FURY: “No.  This ain’t my scene Black. These cameras? This suit?  All this bull.  What the hell am I even doing here man?”

 

BLACK:  “You’re ‘doing’ the hardest part of this job Brian.  A job that you fought hard to get.  You’re the face of PWA now.  With that comes media appearances, handshakes, and megawatt smiles.  So stop looking like you’re on trial and try to enjoy yourself.”

 

FURY: “Easy for you to say.  You LIKE this horse crap.  I’m a FIGHTER man.  You put me in front of a crowd and point me at target, no problem.  I’ll take on any man, any day.  But THIS?  Playing nice in a monkey suit while people snap pictures?  Makes me feel like a damn clown.  Worse, I feel like a FRAUD.  This ain’t what I’m about.”

 

BLACK: "No, Brian, as the PWA Heavyweight Champion, this IS what you're about! You are a role model for millions of fans, millions of kids. You are a testament to hard work and perseverance, and you are a champion. That means you have influence, and influence is what I need for you to use right now to help promote the PWA brand. Help us grow, help us attain success, and do it now!"

 

***Fury looks down at his shoes and frowns.  He turns back to Black and is about to say something when the man in the cobalt suit puts a hand on his shoulder.  Fury flinches and raises a defensive fist.***


MAN:  “And now, PWA Multimedia Ventures is proud to present to you the PWA Heavyweight Champion himself, BRIAN FURY!”

 

***The crowd explodes with cheers as Brian forces an awkward smile.  He glances over at Black who nods at him and gestures toward the podium.  Fury sighs deeply and lumbers over to the microphone.  He stands behind the podium, the harsh overhead lights causing a bead of sweat to trickle down his smooth forehead.  Fury looks over the crowd, his eyes finally settling on a teleprompter screen off to his left.  He squints and looks at the prepared statement.***

 

FURY:  “Alright… uh… thank you Steven.  And… thank you PWA Armada for having me here today.  It’s an… honor… to represent the PWA Superst… uh… WRESTLERS… at this amazing… uh… media announcement.  There’s nothing I love more than getting out there and meeting all of our amazing fans.  That’s why I… volunteered for this exciting… sixteen-city media tour.”

 

***Fury squints at the teleprompter and seethes.***

 

FURY:  “Waitaminute… SIXTEEN-CITY media tour?  Now wait a minute here… I…”

 

***Just then, Damion Black rises to his feet and casually pushes past Brian Fury to the microphone.***

 

BLACK:  “Thank you so much Brian!  Isn’t our PWA Heavyweight Champion something?”

 

***Black nods at a stagehand, who takes Fury by the shoulder and guides him offstage.  Before he goes, Fury and Black lock eyes for one tense moment.  Finally, Fury breaks eye contact and shakes his head.  He mutters something under his breath and trudges offstage.  Black eyes him coolly for a moment as he goes, then snaps back into form, flashes a smile at the cameras, and continues his speech.***