Post by Devlin Knight on Dec 17, 2022 20:54:26 GMT -5
[NB: Continues on from lwalliance.com/infusions/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33 (Pt1)
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lwalliance.com/infusions/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=43 (Pt2)]
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lwalliance.com/infusions/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=43 (Pt2)]
The red, or the blue pill?
Morgan Freeman (VO): ”Somewhere in the darkness of outer space, floating in the seemingly fluid cosmos, sits a ball of molten rock and water. On that ball, are roughly 7.8 billion souls, each of them going through their daily lives, their unconscious routines, always fleeting and often without bias. Just doing what they do, every day from the moment they wake up and slap the alarm, to the point of no return when their eyes begin closing on them and they set that same alarm to be slapped the next sunrise…
And to think that out of those 7.8 billion souls on that rock, one of them just happens to be you… That’s right, you there hearing this right now are one of those miracles, one of those beings growing and hopefully thriving on this ball known as Planet Earth and whether or not you realise it, you’re right where you’re supposed to be, in the grand context of how the cogs turn. You’ve only got one life and there’s only one side of the coin. Or is there? Are we sure we only live once? Are we sure the choices we make in our lifetime are the only ones we’ve made at that juncture in what we deem “time”?”
The Alarm goes off on the white plastic digital alarm clock that sits on top of a basic white three-drawer dresser. The hand slaps the snooze button and the red and white striped duvet comes flying off of the single divan bed. The pair of legs swing over the side of the bed and the owner plants his feet down on the cold, hardwood floor.
Man: ”Owww shit! I’ve really got to report that board!”
We watch as the man walks towards another room, goes inside and locks the door, then we hear the shower running and the man begins to sing…
Man: ”You are beautiful on the inside… You are innocence personified… And I will drag you down and sell you out… Run away…”
There are a few very quick cuts… Shower off, towel dragging, ironing being done, hair dryer rumbling along. We then see a close-up of the man pulling on some fashionably ripped jeans and a rather fetching cardigan shirt before he turns in front of the mirror and snaps a photo.
Man: ”That’s one for the ‘gram!”
He grabs a hair tie from the side of the sink, takes his hair and pulls it back in a ponytail, tying it up before winking at himself in the mirror, grabbing a black puffer jacket and heading out of the door. He reaches the elevator just as someone else has left it, so it’s empty… He prefers this as it gives him the 3.5 seconds it takes to reach the ground floor to put that mask on, the one with the smile…
The elevator pops open with a small ding, on the ground floor of the Chelsea Apartment building, in New York and the man struts out with a huge grin on his face. He spots the Concierge, Kevin, and walks toward him in a kind of strut.
Man: ”Cold as ice, Kevin! What’s up brother?!”
Kevin: ”Fabulous Freddy! What it is superstar?!”
Fred: ”Things are good man, how about yourself?”
Kevin: ”Ahh yeah can’t complain, you know how things go… How’s the apartment treating you?”
Fred slides around to the side of the Concierge desk as Kevin waves good morning to an older lady and her dog leaving the building. He leans back on his heels slightly and takes a breath.
Fred: ”Yeah about that man, I wanted to say thank you. I’d have been homeless until my apartment was cleaned out bro.”
Kevin: ”Don’t sweat it man,there ain’t nobody buying that place or even renting it yet, not since we had to inform them about the death that took place there…”
Fred: ”A death? In that Apartment??”
Kevin: ”Oh, don’t worry it wasn’t anything suspicious or whatever. Some old guy had a heart attack, watching his laptop late one night…”
Fred: ”Did they find what he…-“
Kevin: ”Don’t finish that question man… Anyway, how’s your dad? He still running that New York Fight Club?”
Fred: ”You mean New York Wrestling Alliance? Yeah, no it’s going well. In fact he’s got a Christmas show happening tonight, I’ll be going to watch. I’ll leave a ticket at the door if you wanna come down?”
Kevin: ”Yeah dude, definitely. I mean I’m supposed to be meeting Chrissy for drinks but I’ll come after for sure.”
Fred: ”Alright man, listen I’ve gotta get to work, so I’ll catch you tonight.”
The two men high five and Fred exits the Apartment building, putting a pair of earphones into his ears and zipping up his puffer walking into the cold, wintery, New York air. He makes his way into Penn Station, jumping on the arriving Port Jefferson AirTrain whilst ironically listening to Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” taking the twenty minute ride to Jamaica. Just as he’s headed for his connecting train, his cell phone goes off with the sound of Beyoncé’s “Cuff it”. Fred takes the phone from his pocket and looks at the weird number before answering.
Fred: ”Hello?”
Voice: ”Oh man, thank God you picked up Fred… Where are you? Gerald said you disappeared last night!”
Fred: ”Sorry, who’s this??”
Voice: ”Huh? It’s Abe brother, can you hear me okay?”
Fred: ”Gabe? I think you’ve got the wrong number, my man. I don’t know anyone called Gabe.”
Abe: ”Aaaabe! Greenberg! Is there something wrong with your phone bro?!”
Fred jumps and holds the phone away from his face, looking at it as the voice continues in his earphone. Why is the head of the Greenberg crime family over in Clinton, calling him?!?
Fred: ”Oh, Mr. Greenberg… I’m sorry, I think you may be looking for another Fred?”
Abe: ”C’mon man stop playing, Gerald is actually really worried since you didn’t come out of that Podcast studio last night… Where are you? We’ll come meet you.”
Fred: ”Come meet m… No man, this isn’t necessary, what studio? I’m about to go into work, sir.”
Abe: ”Work? You’re at the CCPE arena already??”
Fred hops on his connecting train, for the last five minutes of his journey into Terminal B.
Fred: ”CC, what? No, I work security at JFK Airport… Hello? Okay the signal is shocking at this point, are you still there? Hello? Well… That was weird.”
Fred raises an eyebrow as he places the phone back into his pocket, closing his eyes as “Paint It, Black” by The Rolling Stones invades his hearing and he finishes his train journey, as we fade slowly out…
I’m late… I’m late…
…The street lights in Brooklyn are already on, as Fred Debonair double hops the steps of the Atlantic Avenue Subway exit, making his way towards The Barclay’s Center. He stops to check a message on his phone, then as he looks up he spots him… A big, bald man with an eye patch just staring (he thinks?) at him.
Fred: ”What in the Pirates of the Caribbean is this?!” Times Square is over that way pal…”
Gerald: ”Fred? It’s me, Gerald brother. Are you okay?”
Fred: ”Gerald?! Then that means…”
Fred looks to his left as Abe Greenberg comes walking up, very cautiously towards him…
Abe: ”Hey, Fred…”
Fred: ”Please Mr. Greenberg I’m not sure what I’ve done wrong… Do I owe someone money I didn’t realise??”
Abe: ”Fred, man what are you talking about?? It’s me, Abe! We’ve been fr…-“
Gerald: ”Hold on man, look…”
Gerald moves toward Fred slowly, touching his ponytail and looking at Abe.
Abe: ”You thinking what I’m thinking??
Gerald: ”I think so…”
Fred: ”Wait what? Look guys, honestly I’ve got no idea what’s going on here… None at all, but I’ll be brutally honest you’re both freaking me out. I’m just some forty year old Airport security worker from Clinton who’s dad runs a Wrestling promotion who's got a show tonight that I’m gonna be late for.”
Fred turns to walk towards The Barclays Center, but is stopped again, by Gerald. He looks him dead in the eye and sees the sincerity…
Gerald: ”Do you ever feel like you don’t belong? Do you ever feel like something is missing from your life?”
Fred: ”Usually no, but now that you mention it the last day or so… Well today actually. How did you know that?”
Abe: ”And yesterday?”
Fred: ”You know, now that you say that… I don’t quite remember how I felt yesterday or much of any time before today… Alright, what's wrong with me?!”
Gerald: ”Well, I’m not certain Fred, but I have an idea. What does the name Aurora Frost mean to you??
Fred furrows his brow as if in thought and looks between both men.
Fred: ”I mean I know it’s supposed to mean something, but can’t quite place it…”
Gerald: ”And what about if I said The Kingdom??”
Fred: ”The same if I’m honest with you…”
Abe: ”Look at the window of Target…”
Fred: ”What?”
Abe: ”Just look, brother…”
Fred looks at Abe curiously, then at Gerald who nods slowly. He turns and looks into the window of Target and at first, he doesn’t see a thing and then he sees it, so lifelike he has to spin around to see if the six foot Bunny is behind him, but it’s not.
Gerald: ”He confided in us about it and that’s why I think we know what’s happened…”
Fred: ”Who did? I’ll be honest guys, I’m still really confused and a little scared.”
Abe: ”Give us another five minutes of your time… We’ll explain it all.”
Fred: ”Okay… But inside the arena please? I’m going to miss the opening bell.”
Abe: ”Also we need you to do one more thing for us…”
Fred looks suspiciously at the duo and then they head for the stadium as a thunderstorm is rolling in over the City of New York and the scene begins to fade out into static…
Cellardoor…
…When the scene reassembles we find the trio in a dressing room. Fred is sat in front of a mirror, blocked out by Abe stood behind him and Gerald is sat on the dressing room desk, watching what Abe is doing… In the reflection,Fred watches the Bunny sitting in a soft chair at the back of the room…
Fred: ”…So, to basically put all the pieces together. You’re telling me I’m not from this what? Plane, Dimension or whatever…? I’m actually a big time Wrestling legend here and don’t work at JFK? I’ve been married, had two kids and am currently with a new woman and me and my dad actually hate one another as do my kids dislike me?”
Gerald: …”That about sums it up, yep. Oh also you no longer live here in New York, you split your time between Los Angeles and Vegas…”
Fred: ”Well, alright then… And the Bunny?”
Gerald: ”Honestly him? We aren’t sure… Fred, our Fred, told us it started around three days ago or so, he blacked out a couple of times too… But, you seem to be taking this rather well man?”
Fred: ”Brother my favourite authors are Arthur C. Clarke and H.G. Wells and I’m currently re-watching Primer for the third time so… Yeah, I believe you guys… It also explains why I was asked if I was the new guy at work four times today and my best friend, Alex, acted like I should never have been there…”
Abe: ”Oh! And you have your hair like this. Voila!”
Abe steps to the side as Fred stands up looking at himself in the mirror. Abe and Gerald back away as Fred grabs his cellphone and snaps a shot in the mirror…
Fred: ”That’s one for the ‘gram!”
He turns around to Gerald and Abe.
Fred: ”So you’re wanting me to do what here tonight?”
Abe: ”Well Fred has a big match in WGWF on Monday and he needs to send out a promo. What better place to do it? But remember you and your dad…-“
Fred: ”Don’t get along here, got it.”
Gerald hands Fred an earphone and then calls his phone. Fred answers, but Gerald hangs up.
Gerald: ”Okay, so this is what’ll happen… You’ll go out there and say what we tell you to. And you’ll have the audience fired up. If you lose communication with us or something and just say the phrase “But everybody however, isn’t me…” and we’ll sort that out…”
Fred nods, takes a deep breath and opens the dressing room door, only to be confronted by his dad, Steve Psychosis…
Steve: ”Fred? What are you doing here?!”
Fred: ”Save it dad, I’m about to hijack your show…”
Fred walks down the hall and straight to Gorilla as a match has come to an end. He takes a deep breath before storming through the curtain and heading down the ramp. He looks up smiling and waving as the crowd erupt into boos.
Gerald: ”Dude! The crowd hate Fred and he hates them!”
Fred: ”Got it!”
Fred begins to laugh and the waving becomes double middle fingers to the crowd. He slides under the ropes and as instructed by Abe and Gerald, calls for a microphone. He is handed one and begins to pace the ring.
Fred: ”So what’s up New York! Eh, not like I care!! Look I’m here for one reason and one reason only tonight, well make that two. Firstly to show my dad I can do whatever I want which includes walking through the doors at a NYWA show and getting inside the ring and there being not a damned thing he can do about it, all the while letting you all know how I’m feeling about Monday night and my big match in… In… In Vegas!”
The arena feels like an ice wall is running through it as Fred stands there in the ring, trying to make an impression as electricity surges through the seats in front of him and he sees him standing there, three rows behind… The Bunny, it puts its hand up, pointing at Fred and then looking up at the sky…
Fred: ”You see, Monday I go head to head with four others at the… The CCPE Arena in what is going to be another hard fought match for Fr… Me.”
Suddenly the Bunny is right in front of Fred in the ring but nobody seems to notice but himself… It tilts its head and looks up again.
Bunny: ”So you know… This was never about you. This was about him, learning something new. I can’t promise you won’t remember this but, you can go back now…”
The Bunny holds its hand up pointing at Fred, then suddenly he springs back towards the turnbuckle and all the lights go out completely in the arena… When they come back on Fred pushes himself off the turnbuckle and looks around, he pulls the earphone from his ear and launches it into the crowd.
Fred: ”…I’m back! I’m back baby and now, every single one of you selfish, ingrates is going to listen to what I’ve got to say because for the last few hours I’ve seen my life flash before my eyes and I’ve spent almost all day starving and wondering why JFK Airport were calling me to get my ass into work and it’s like no hoss THIS is my work! THIS is what I do and without the adulation and respect from you sons of bitches, but that’s for another time and place, right now it’s about speaking factually on those I’m about to face on Brawl this coming Monday… You see I’ve faced three of the four I’m about to meet in the ring and I’ve beaten all three of them, the only one I’ve yet to even be inside the ring with at this stage is Mark Cross and I can’t wait!
Cross you and I have never met but I have seen you in action whether it be back on an NFL field or in the ring and I’ve got to say I almost respect you, Mark… That is almost, because quite frankly the choices you’ve made… Now I’ve seen you become a World Champion in SCW, I’ve seen you become a blast from the past winner twice too. I’ve watched you become tag Champ and Underground Champ in SCU too as well as an AWA Cruiserweight Champion, GIW Legacy Champion and PWJ Exalted Grand Champion! You see Cross I’ve watched your legacy rise and your stocks plummet, I’ve seen you go head on with an Uber driver because you figured Swifty wasn’t a very safe bet for you to be recorded dancing and singing too and I’ve heard some of the confusing things you’ve come out with too… Something an old guy with no self awareness around technology and your kids. Although I’m quite confused though hoss, I mean for someone who knows nothing about Twitch and live feeds, you sure as shit knew what to do with your Instagram account recently right? I’m trying to work out whether or not you’re just getting on a bit or you just didn’t like being caught out having a little song and dance to Swifty?! I mean I’m pretty sure you’re not old either, only a little way behind me… So maybe you just have anger issues? Who knows?! But I’ll be more than happy to find out Monday evening, hoss.
And then we move on, to those that Fred Debonair has already met once before… Firstly the woman who isn’t sure if she’s a witch or some kind of fae but definitely found intent against me when we locked horns on what was a gruelling match. Sam Voxx, the Fae of the ring however when it came to actually standing up against me, I think Voxx realised she’d bitten off a little more than she could chew! Medically she shouldn’t even be cleared to compete with a three week resting period from her sprained MCL, but I’ve been assured she’ll be making us. You know, when I was interviewed by Derrick Diamond before my WGWF debut against Voxx I said I apologised in advance because when I was finished, she’d have regretted ever signing a contract with the company! I’m wondering if that is indeed true now or whether she’ll be here, knee brace and all…? I said it before and I’ll say it again, I’ve been dealing with Witches in my family since as far back as I can recall… You’re nothing new to me, Samantha, in fact I’d go as far as to say you’re not a real Witch, at all… Sure you may be practising Wicca but anyone with Internet access, Quora and Pinterest can dress and act like a Witch, Sam…”
Fred wiggles his nose in a mocking of the retro TV show “Bewitched” as he begins to pace the ring again, the chorus of boos from the crowd getting louder.
Fred: ”And then we have the man, the myth, the legend… The glorious Mandingo Manbeast, Jonathan Cable! How are we Jonathan, good I hope? It has been a little minute since we’ve had a chance to connect and interact right? You know, I once called John everybody’s favourite drunk Uncle, dancing at a wedding and I’ve got to admit, this couldn’t be further from the truth. You see Jonathan Cable can’t just use his feet, he can also use his hands and his mind too and whilst he still may be that figure you try to avoid and social gatherings because he’s as inept as any dull animal in those situations, I’ve got to hold my hands up and say that man can outfight most on the roster. It still doesn’t change John that I’m better than you and it doesn’t change that this Monday night on Brawl I will show you all exactly what The Kingdom is about and why I’m still standing and doing exactly what is asked of me. I said that you would find out just who Fred Debonair was, didn’t I Jonathan and you sure did that huh?? There was no cowardice after the first accusations you made, not from us anyway I just remember Holden Ross coming out expecting everybody to be friendly, which we were and then BAM! He chairshots us all… But like I said Cable you’ve seen exactly what Fred Debonair is capable of on two separate occasions too and you most certainly will again… I told you from day one Jonathan what you see with Fred Debonair is what you get and if you don’t like what you see? Well you’d better get, I suppose.
And finally we have my friend, my non-bloodline family! A man who has taught me way more than he’s probably forgotten himself but yes someone else who and I’m sorry Mike but facts are facts, I’ve already beaten not once but twice in our lifetime… Mike Angelo, someone who I would put my life on, I would risk my soul on and who I am proud to know daily walking with me. I’m very glad Mike is in this match because I will say it right now that whether or not you believe it, Angelo and Debonair will be having each other’s backs during the match… I have known and worked with Mike for the best part of well over a decade and we know each other inside and out, on Brawl, despite it only being one fall I will carry Mike through and he will do the same for me, but I don’t expect handouts! IF by the end we’re both still standing and that pinfall has yet to be got I fully expect Mike to take advantage of the situation and go for it!
I am not in the mood for taking prisoners, all in order to pick the entrance number for the West Coast Rumble… I mean does it really matter? Hell Miss faux Witch will probably still be too injured to enter anyway! Mark Cross will likely be in front of a jury defending his actions against Uber and Lyft Unions and Jonathan Cable will be trying to pry Mac Bane from his ass! And either myself or Mike are going to walk out of this match with our numbers on lock… Look, I woke up this morning nowhere near where I expected to be, nowhere near WHO I expected to be, but that’s okay because it has made me see things in a new way, with a new, fresh outlook on things… But believe me when I say that Fred Debonair is still here! I walked into WGWF already standing tall, carrying two belts with me and a shit load of a reputation. I came here and I made meals of both Samantha Voxx and Jonathan Cable as well as Mac Bane and my pal J Mont. I’ve since continued to plough through opposition like young Chester Hemmingway on DARK and this week I will show no mercy to the weak! For I AM The Kingdom, the power and the glory…”
Fred drops the microphone and just looks around as the crowd continues to boo and jeer… He slides out of the ring and begins to walk up the aisle, flipping off some fans and getting verbal with others. He exits behind the curtain as the scene begins to fade…
Morgan Freeman (VO): ”7.8 billion souls on this one tiny rock, in one corner of THIS specific Universe, THIS specific dimension… And YOU live here, but somewhere else out there you didn’t make the same choice you did here, somewhere along the line and you did things differently… But how do you know if you’re making the right one? I’ll tell you…
You don’t.”
/fin.