Backstage, Post-Assault
Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 1:23 am
***The scene opens backstage after Assault. Rebel Wyld bursts into the Wyld Family locker room with an angry expression on his face.***
REBEL: “Where is he? Where’s Akira?”
***Alyssa stands and shakes her head.***
ALYSSA: “We haven’t seen him since Assault ended. Rebel what the hell is going on?”
REBEL: “You’re asking me? I saw what you all saw out there, and I want answers. First Akira disappears for nearly two days. No phone calls, no text messages, nothing. Then suddenly he’s booked in a match against Shooter. Then whatever the hell that was in the main event.”
NIKKI: “What do you think is going on?”
REBEL: “Well I can tell you what had better NOT be going on.”
ALYSSA: “Now look... Akira has been through a lot in the last few seasons. Things have happened to him that have changed him for the better. We owe it to him to hear what’s going on from his own mouth.”
REBEL: “Frankly, we don’t OWE him anything. It’s by our good graces that he has a seat at the table at all after all he’s...”
NIKKI: “Now wait a minute. I know you’re pissed but that’s low! He’s family!”
ALYSSA: “Nikki’s right Rebel. We’re the Wyld Family and we’re not going down that road again. I have faith in Akira to...”
***Just then, the door to the locker room opens and a downcast Akira Wyld enters the room. The family all stands in awkward silence for several seconds. Finally, Rebel throws up his hands and speaks.***
REBEL: “Well?! What the hell do you have to say for yourself?”
***Akira looks over at Rebel and gives him a sidelong glance.***
AKIRA: “Listen... I know that what happened out there looked bad... but...”
REBEL: “Looked bad?? You stole a title from an honorable ring veteran and friend of the Wyld Family. You’re not a Light Heavyweight, what the hell did you have to gain out there by doing what you did? I don’t believe for a second that you are suddenly in league with aMx, so what is the deal?”
AKIRA: “It’s... complicated. I can’t go into it right now.”
***Rebel puts his hands on his hips.***
REBEL: “Complicated huh? And how about that match against Shooter tonight? You disappeared for two days... and then without word one to any of us, you suddenly are booked into a vicious submission match with Aldo? And what was that afterward with Damion Black? Are you in league with HIM now? I need answers Akira and I need them now!”
***Akira stammers and looks off to Alyssa and Nikki.***
AKIRA: “No it’s not like that... it’s just... it’s...”
***Akira looks up and sees the accusing eyes of his brother, and something shifts in him. He narrows his eyes and frowns at Rebel.***
AKIRA: “You know what? I don’t have to answer to you ‘big brother’... or to anyone else. You always think the worst of me... well my ledger is clear now. If what we’ve gone through over the past three seasons hasn’t earned me the benefit of the doubt, then you can just...”
***Just then the door swings wide on its hinge... and Pantaro steps in. The masked wrestler is staring daggers at Akira. Akira and Rebel exchange a tense glance, and Akira turns to Pantaro with his hands up.***
AKIRA: “Okay... okay I understand that you’re mad. But you need to hear something from me before you...”
***Pantaro's hard eyes suddenly flare with anger as he rears back and slaps Akira across the face! Nikki gasps audibly, and Akira's eyes widen at the stinging blow.***
PANTARO: "No matter what you have done in the past, I have always treated you with deference and respect because of your family's legacy and your own accomplishments. I considered you a respected peer. We rarely crossed paths, and when we did I always acted with honor. I never spoke down to you or dragged your name through the mud. I helped your niece when her back was to the wall and you were nowhere to be found. And this is what my respect deserves?!"
AKIRA: "................ Okay, I...... might have deserved that. Now, I just need you to listen-"
***Akira is silenced by another hard slap from Pantaro. Akira's face begins to turn red with anger and his eyes narrow.***
PANTARO: "BASTARDO! You need to face me in the ring! Answer for your actions against me, one-on-one! Prove to me you are still a man, that you deserve my respect, or did you lose your spine as well as your soul?! Face me, or I will know you as a coward with no honor!"
***Without waiting for an answer, Pantaro turns and walks out of the locker room.***
***Akira watches him go with gritted teeth. He looks back at this family one last time before making a beeline for the door. Rebel reaches out and grabs him by the shoulder.***
REBEL: “Where do you think you’re going?”
***Akira shrugs his brother off with a sneer and exits the locker room. Rebel calls after him.***
REBEL: “Akira! Akira we aren’t done here! Have you even talked to Aldo yet?”
***Akira doesn’t turn around. Moments later he’s rounded the corner and is out of view. Rebel sighs and looks back at Alyssa, who just shakes her head in disbelief.***
NIKKI: “Damned if that wasn’t the loudest slap I’ve ever heard.”
ALYSSA: “Not now Nikki.”
***Scene fades to black.***
REBEL: “Where is he? Where’s Akira?”
***Alyssa stands and shakes her head.***
ALYSSA: “We haven’t seen him since Assault ended. Rebel what the hell is going on?”
REBEL: “You’re asking me? I saw what you all saw out there, and I want answers. First Akira disappears for nearly two days. No phone calls, no text messages, nothing. Then suddenly he’s booked in a match against Shooter. Then whatever the hell that was in the main event.”
NIKKI: “What do you think is going on?”
REBEL: “Well I can tell you what had better NOT be going on.”
ALYSSA: “Now look... Akira has been through a lot in the last few seasons. Things have happened to him that have changed him for the better. We owe it to him to hear what’s going on from his own mouth.”
REBEL: “Frankly, we don’t OWE him anything. It’s by our good graces that he has a seat at the table at all after all he’s...”
NIKKI: “Now wait a minute. I know you’re pissed but that’s low! He’s family!”
ALYSSA: “Nikki’s right Rebel. We’re the Wyld Family and we’re not going down that road again. I have faith in Akira to...”
***Just then, the door to the locker room opens and a downcast Akira Wyld enters the room. The family all stands in awkward silence for several seconds. Finally, Rebel throws up his hands and speaks.***
REBEL: “Well?! What the hell do you have to say for yourself?”
***Akira looks over at Rebel and gives him a sidelong glance.***
AKIRA: “Listen... I know that what happened out there looked bad... but...”
REBEL: “Looked bad?? You stole a title from an honorable ring veteran and friend of the Wyld Family. You’re not a Light Heavyweight, what the hell did you have to gain out there by doing what you did? I don’t believe for a second that you are suddenly in league with aMx, so what is the deal?”
AKIRA: “It’s... complicated. I can’t go into it right now.”
***Rebel puts his hands on his hips.***
REBEL: “Complicated huh? And how about that match against Shooter tonight? You disappeared for two days... and then without word one to any of us, you suddenly are booked into a vicious submission match with Aldo? And what was that afterward with Damion Black? Are you in league with HIM now? I need answers Akira and I need them now!”
***Akira stammers and looks off to Alyssa and Nikki.***
AKIRA: “No it’s not like that... it’s just... it’s...”
***Akira looks up and sees the accusing eyes of his brother, and something shifts in him. He narrows his eyes and frowns at Rebel.***
AKIRA: “You know what? I don’t have to answer to you ‘big brother’... or to anyone else. You always think the worst of me... well my ledger is clear now. If what we’ve gone through over the past three seasons hasn’t earned me the benefit of the doubt, then you can just...”
***Just then the door swings wide on its hinge... and Pantaro steps in. The masked wrestler is staring daggers at Akira. Akira and Rebel exchange a tense glance, and Akira turns to Pantaro with his hands up.***
AKIRA: “Okay... okay I understand that you’re mad. But you need to hear something from me before you...”
***Pantaro's hard eyes suddenly flare with anger as he rears back and slaps Akira across the face! Nikki gasps audibly, and Akira's eyes widen at the stinging blow.***
PANTARO: "No matter what you have done in the past, I have always treated you with deference and respect because of your family's legacy and your own accomplishments. I considered you a respected peer. We rarely crossed paths, and when we did I always acted with honor. I never spoke down to you or dragged your name through the mud. I helped your niece when her back was to the wall and you were nowhere to be found. And this is what my respect deserves?!"
AKIRA: "................ Okay, I...... might have deserved that. Now, I just need you to listen-"
***Akira is silenced by another hard slap from Pantaro. Akira's face begins to turn red with anger and his eyes narrow.***
PANTARO: "BASTARDO! You need to face me in the ring! Answer for your actions against me, one-on-one! Prove to me you are still a man, that you deserve my respect, or did you lose your spine as well as your soul?! Face me, or I will know you as a coward with no honor!"
***Without waiting for an answer, Pantaro turns and walks out of the locker room.***
***Akira watches him go with gritted teeth. He looks back at this family one last time before making a beeline for the door. Rebel reaches out and grabs him by the shoulder.***
REBEL: “Where do you think you’re going?”
***Akira shrugs his brother off with a sneer and exits the locker room. Rebel calls after him.***
REBEL: “Akira! Akira we aren’t done here! Have you even talked to Aldo yet?”
***Akira doesn’t turn around. Moments later he’s rounded the corner and is out of view. Rebel sighs and looks back at Alyssa, who just shakes her head in disbelief.***
NIKKI: “Damned if that wasn’t the loudest slap I’ve ever heard.”
ALYSSA: “Not now Nikki.”
***Scene fades to black.***