Strategy

[Gary Bloomfield]

***The scene opens mid-morning in the parking lot of the Portland OR Greco Wyld School of Wrestling. There is frost on the windows of the few cars that litter the parking lot. A small green economy car pulls slowly into the parking lot and pulls into a slot near the front entrance of the school. Inside the car, Derrick Arzon and Nikki Wyld sit in an awkward silence. Nikki looks dejectedly out the passenger window. She has a soft brace on her wrist and a sizable bandage on her forehead. Behind the steering wheel, Derrick Arzon exhales slowly. He has a split lip, a black eye, and several small bandages visible on his face and neck. Arzon drums his fingers on the steering wheel and glances over at Nikki.***

DERRICK: "Well, we're here. Its got to feel good to get out of that hospital, right?"

***Nikki nods and bits her lip in a distracted way.***

NIKKI: "Mmm-hmm"

***Derrick looks at her with concern. He looks as if he wants to say something... but hestitates. Noticing the silence, Nikki turns and raises an eyebrow at Derrick."

NIKKI: "What?"

DERRICK: "Listen... I just wanted to say... that I'm sorry."

***Nikki raises her eyebrows as the corner of her mouth goes up slightly."

NIKKI: "...what?"

***Derrick looks stoically off into the distance and sighs.*

DERRICK: "I just wanted to you know... I fought as hard as I could for you at PWA Black. I threw everything I could at Holiday. I kept thinking about everything he put us through and I took all that anger out on him. I wanted to make him pay."

***Derrick looks over at Nikki. Nikki smirks at him and folds her arms.***

DERRICK: "Then... he hit me with the Unkindest Cut. And when he did, I did what your granddad told me to do. On the way down... I thought about you. I knew I couldn't let you down, and it gave me the strength to kick out."

***Nikki rubs the bridge of her nose with her fingers and shakes her head.***

DERRICK: "It took everything I had. I was out on my feet, but I did everything I could to stay in the fight. When he hit me again... I blacked out. I don't even remember getting back to my feet the second time. I didn't have anything left."

***Nikki lowers her fingers and looks hard at Derrick. He slams his fist on the steering wheel and looks into her eyes.***

DERRICK: "He deserved to lose. You deserved that victory and I couldn't get it done. I... I let you down. I'm sorry."

***Nikki stares at him for a long moment... and then painstakingly, slowly rolls her eyes. Derrick blinks.***

NIKKI: "Listen... you didn't do ANYTHING wrong. You went into an awful, barbaraic weapons match with a frickin' crazy man. You fought your heart out against a lunatic that outweighed you by forty pounds in a ring surrounded by barbwire."

***Nikki's expression softens.***

NIKKI: "...and you did it for me. How the hell can I be mad at a guy who's willing to put so much on the line for a pain-in-the-ass like me eh?"

***Derrick looks down and his face flushes slightly.***

NIKKI: "You're a hell of a tough guy Derrick. You ALWAYS punch above your weight class and you've shown the world that you can put down any man, any time. So... don't get all sappy on me. You did good at PWA Black. And if Rhett Holiday wants to lord some victory over you,
so what. You gave that psychopath the match of his life and he should be sending half of every paycheck he makes to you for the rest of his career. I'm only pissed off that I let that douche get the drop on me and I couldn't be in your corner to cheer you on."

DERRICK: "Well... you were right 'here' the whole time."

***Derrick points to his heart. Nikki cocks an eyebrow at him and stifles a laugh.***

NiKKI: "Ok THAT was the lamest thing I've ever seen. I ought to dump your ass right now on principle for that steaming turd you just laid."

***Derrick blushes and frowns. He looks like he's going to say something... then he catches Nikki's eye and he stops. The two lean in close to eachother... Derrick closes his eyes... then suddenly from out the window, over his shoulder...***

VOICE: "Yeah, that WAS pretty lame Scooter."

***Derrick jumps and turns around, where Damon Knight and Alyssa Wyld are leaning in, staring at the two young wrestlers through the window. Damon has a smirk on his face and Alyssa is staring daggers at her daughter's boyfriend. Derrick opens the door and jumps out, smoothing his jacket and hair. He looks flustered. Nikki sighs and calmly opens the passenger side door, giving her parents a dirty look as she exits.***

DERRICK: "Uh, Mr. and Mrs. Knight... Wyld... uh... I didn't expect to see any of you here at this hour."

***Alyssa smiles slightly and puts a hand on her hip and points a thumb at the school.***

ALYSSA: "Oh it's a regular party inside there. In fact, you two are just in time. We're making a game plan for season 6 of PWA. Damion Black made his move, and if we don't get organized and do something about it, he's going to be unstoppable."

***Damon puts his massive hands on Derrick and Alyssa's shoulders.***

KNIGHT: "Come on lovebirds. The coffee pot is on. Lets get out of the cold and make ourselves a game plan."

DERRICK: "Uh yeah, you bet. Who all is here?"

***Damon smiles and nods toward the door.***

KNIGHT: "Oh... just family."

***Nikki, Derrick, Alyssa and Damon make their way toward the entrance of the school.***

[Gary Bloomfield]

**The scene opens inside the Greco Wyld School of Wrestling. There is a card table set up near the office area of the gymnasium. A pot of coffee is bubbling on the table next to an open box of donuts. Greco and Aldo Wyld are seated at the table, deep in smirking conversation. Rebel Wyld is standing nearby, sipping from a steaming cup of black coffee. The large double-doors of the school open up and Damon Knight and his wife Alyssa Wyld step through. They hold the doors open as Nikki Wyld enters behind them on crutches, flanked by Derrick Arzon. Arzon is covered with more than a dozen small bandages on his face and shoulders. He also has one tightly wrapped and splinted forearm. As they enter, Derrick glances at the assembled Wylds in surprise.**

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 SCENE