True Colors

[Stu]

GARY BLOOMFIELD: “Ladies and Gentlemen, we are set for our next contest featuring Yacob du Lautrec in a one-on-one contest against Mitch Garrison!”

***Instead, “Subtle Hustle” by Clutch blares through the arena and BARTHOLOMEW "THE BRAWLER" BECKETT walks out instead, to a mass of first confusion, then outrage. He is dressed in a three-piece suit, granite gray with a maroon cravat and a black bowler cocked low over his right eye.***

BLOOMFIELD: “What is this?! Brawler Beckett is not scheduled to appear on tonight’s show! What is he doing out here?!”

***Thrown rubbish carpets his way to the ring. The villain takes his time getting into the ring, mic in hand. His contempt for the fans is clear. ***

BECKETT: "My adoring fans-"

*** The crowd dissents loudly, turning into a "F*** YOU!" chant. ***

BECKETT: "Please, please … this is a family show, you lot of inbred mental deficients."

*** More roaring. Beckett waits calmly for the crowd to get tired of its own antics. Beckett continues in a softer voice, smirking like a Cheshire cat.***

BECKETT: "It is ever a pleasure to bask in your adoration, but I have important business to attend here. Those of you with rudimentary cognizance will recall that, in the past year, I have been pointing out a few simple, obvious facts, chief among them that my rightful championship title has been kept from me by business-based favoritism, but that is not my topic this evening. Oh, and you need not worry about the so-called contest that was scheduled for this time; the two fellows are hardly worth watching, especially with what I have in store for you.

"No, my topic can only be addressed with the aid of a guest, a very special guest indeed. I now call to the ring the man who holds the envy of every professional athlete in professional wrestling, and, therefore, the world …

*** The pause here triggers an impatient roar from the fans. ***

BECKETT: "... Mr. Damion Black."

***After a minute’s pause, “Charisma” sounds through the sound system to a mix of boos and cheers. Damion Black steps through the curtain at the top of the ramp, hair pulled back in an immaculate tail, his new black Armani suit displaying both Black’s wealth and taste. Black stands at the stage above the ramp and regards Beckett coolly for a moment before making his way to the ring. Black steps through the ropes and enters the ring, keeping his eyes on Beckett and staying at a respectful distance.***

BLACK: "Brawler Beckett. I must say I am a bit... surprised. After everything your former compatriots in the Union have down to bring down myself and my organization, after you left your allies, leaving yourself presently with no assistance or backup, and after the tragedy that befell Akira Wyld, you must have something of the utmost importance to convey. I am intrigued."

BECKETT: "Mr. Black, so good of you to join us all. My congratulations on your continued success in this wonderful business venture of ours here in PWA.

"But as you say, I have asked you here in what many would see as a disadvantage. I'm sure that many of these fine ticket-scalpers here would like to see me go the way of a certain Knight errant. What I want to say to you in front of God and all is … I was right about you."

BLACK: "You were right about me? Now, this should be good..."

BECKETT: "I was right about you, a competitor and a champion, not being able to stay away from your own championship. I knew all along that you could not resist becoming involved in the squared circle. Oh, you returned to action under the pretense of fighting for your company, certainly. The American dream, yes? But tell us all the truth, now: you missed it, didn't you?"

BLACK: "Let's clear up a couple of things. First, I did fight for my company. There was no pretense about my motives whatsoever. Akira Wyld and those under his banner posed a threat to what I worked so hard to create and I was not about to let him, or ANYONE for that matter, destroy PWA. Second...... second, yes. I admit I missed being in the ring. I missed the competition. I missed facing an opponent head to head and testing my skill and strategy against him. I missed…" ***Damion's face darkens*** "... bending a man to my will, breaking him, displaying my supremacy on a world-wide stage. Everyone knows that when it comes to this sport, there is none better than Damion Black. Still, I do have my honor and I kept it until I was pushed to my limit. To insert myself back into competition would call into question everything I have done for PWA and tarnish my legacy."

BECKETT: "Yes, your legacy. Your reputation. What others will remember of you. Mr. Black, we are not so different, the two of us. I, too, have something of a … reputation to uphold. I can't imagine what you think of me, having stood so fervently against you, and so recently, too, but understand that … you were standing in my way. What would you have done?"

BLACK: "Well, depending on who you ask, I would have... removed the obstacle in my path.... through any means necessary. I have resorted to such means before, in my more competitive past. That was a decade ago. These are different times, now."

BECKETT: "Correct. I did what I had to, at that time. As soon as the interests of the Union did not line up with my own, I shed myself of that burden. Wyld started thinking with his ego. As far as I am concerned, what happened is entirely his fault. I don't care for Mr. Spoils' handling of things, but I can hardly blame him.

"But now, of course, all of that is in the past. I was right about you. Your ambition for your legacy brought you back where you belong, in the ring. In some ways, it could not be helped. We are who we are, are we not?"

BLACK: "And exactly who are you, Beckett? What is it you hope to gain from all this?"

BECKETT: "I am as ever I was, Damien old boy. These others are mercurial, eager to pander to the crowds, and to you, but me … I am always on the same side. Mine.

"I want to know one thing: are you sending me the way of Knight, or am I finally going to get the chance to claim my title?"

***Black starts to speak into the mic, then pauses and stares at Beckett for an extended pause before a slow smile creeps across his face.***

BLACK: "We'll just have to see, won't we?"

***Damion backs away from Beckett and exits the ring, walls up the ramp and to the back.***