Post by "The Peoples GOAT" James Raven on Jan 15, 2023 21:57:22 GMT -5
He sits in his daughters bedroom, settled in a plush Morris chair that’s tucked into the corner and nestled underneath the warm glow of a standing lamp. He holds her in the crook of his elbow and stares deep into her eyes as she coos up at him.
Ismini giggles and wriggles herself closer to her fathers chest, and James Raven smiles dotingly upon her. He holds his index finger up in front of her, and her tiny hands lunge forward and grab hold of him tightly. He smiles even wider.
TYLER RAVEN
Dad! Atty says you need to put Ismini to sleep. She says it’s already been half an hour since you brought her up here.
James looks up to see his son leaning against the doorframe, illuminated by the light in the hallway. He nods his head slowly, looking back down at Ismini as he stands up from the chair and begins to make his way across the room towards the crib. He stops suddenly as a fox skids into the doorway, nearly crashing into Tylers feet before darting into the bedroom and zig zagging across the floor before rushing underneath the crib. After a second, the fox peeks out from underneath the wooden frame. He pants, his tongue lolling out of his mouth comically as Tyler sighs and shakes his head.
TYLER RAVEN
That thing is dumb.
JAMES RAVEN
You’re dum- I’m sorry. That was reflexive. You’re a boy genius, but don’t you talk about Maid Marian like that. He’s part of our family now.
James continues to the edge of the crib, setting Ismini down inside the rails and pulling her blanket up around her as she continues to smile up at him. Maid Marian darts out from underneath the crib and races a circle around his feet before laying down across his toes, squealing and clicketing happily.
TYLER RAVEN
He’s a boy. Why’d you name it a girl's name?
JAMES RAVEN
… well… that part is on Atty… I can’t fully explain it.
TYLER RAVEN
Whatever. C’mon, she’s waiting downstairs for us.
Tyler spins around in the doorway and prepares to head off down the hallway when he realises his father hasn’t budged to follow. He turns back into the room, shrugging his shoulders with all of the angst one could expect from a thirteen year old boy.
TYLER RAVEN
DAD!
JAMES RAVEN
Relax! I haven’t told her a story yet.
TYLER RAVEN
She’s five months old, dad. She doesn’t know if you tell her a story or not. Let’s just go downstairs.
James looks at his son sternly.
JAMES RAVEN
Of course she knows, Tyler. Nobody's twisting your arm and forcing you to stay here with us, you can go back downstairs with Atty if we’re boring you. I’ll be there in a few minutes, but first Maid Marian and I are going to tell Ismini her bedtime story… isn’t that right, buddy?
James bends over and lifts the fox up from the floor, Maid Marian continuing to chatter happily as he climbs up to perch his front paws on Raven's shoulders. Tyler throws his head back in a silent groan, but trudges slowly into the room and joins his father at the edge of the crib. James rustles his hair playfully, then scratches the fox underneath its chin as they all look down on Ismini. James thinks to himself, searching for an appropriate tale.
JAMES RAVEN
Once upon a time, there was a fox wandering across the grass. It was a path he had walked many times over the years, but today he stopped and decided to look around. He studied a tree, the same tree he had passed more times than he could count… and his gaze drifted to the trees branches, and then to a long vine that was trained across them.
TYLER RAVEN
Is the fox supposed to be Maid Marian?
JAMES RAVEN
No. Anyways, on that vine the fox noticed a bunch of ripe grapes, so juicy they were set to burst. The fox gazed longingly at them, his mouth watering as he craved them and set about plotting how he could obtain them. The grapes were high, and so he leapt for them. He missed by a great deal, and so he decided to get a running start for his second attempt. Still, he wasn’t even close.
Tyler cuts James off again, to James’ frustration.
TYLER RAVEN
Why couldn’t he go get a ladder?
JAMES RAVEN
… Because he doesn’t have thumbs. Anyways, the fox tries again and again, running and jumping for over an hour before finally collapsing into the grass to catch his breath and rest. After a few minutes he stands up and brushes himself off, turning away from the grapes and continuing on his way down the path. “What a fool I am,” the fox mumbled to himself, “Exhausting myself for a bunch of sour grapes that aren’t even worth it anyways”... and he walked off very, very scornfully.
James finishes his fable, grinning as Ismini claps her hands slowly in appreciation and Maid Marion continues to cackle quietly in his ear. He looks to Tyler, proud of the wisdom he’s just passed on to his family and the lesson he’s just taught them all… but Tyler just stares at him blankly.
TYLER RAVEN
Hang on, that’s it?! That’s the end of the story?!
JAMES RAVEN
Well… yeah.
TYLER RAVEN
What the HECK was that?! Nothing even happened! One day there was a fox that wanted some grapes but didn’t get them and walked away?
JAMES RAVEN
Scornfully. Very, very scornfully. You can’t forget that part, it’s key.
Tyler throws his hands up in the air in disbelief, turning on his heel and stomping dramatically out of the bedroom. James shrugs to himself and turns back to Ismini, looking down at her with another warm smile.
JAMES RAVEN
You got it, didn’t you?
Ismini smiles back at him and gurgles loudly.
JAMES RAVEN
Yeah, you did. Goodnight, cutie.
He sets Maid Marian down on the floor before leaning over the railing and into the crib to kiss Ismini on the forehead. He makes his way over to the standing lamp and clicks it off, plunging the room into darkness aside from the small Nite-Lite in the outlet. Slowly and quietly, he makes his way out of the bedroom and closes the door behind him.
Atara is waiting for him in the hallway, arms folded over her chest as she leans casually against the wall. He chuckles when he sees her standing there, gaze falling to the floor with the embarrassment of a teenager getting caught after staying out too late.
JAMES RAVEN
I know. I’m sorry. I said it was going to be quick. We just got distracted, and I-
ATARA RAVEN
It’s fine. It was cute.
He looks back up at her, and sees a small twinkle in her eye as she looks back at him. He reaches out a hand and uncrosses her arms, intertwining their fingers as he steps in front of her slowly and holds her pinned to the wall. She grins, turning her head away and allowing her hair to fall across her face. He brushes it away, and leans in for a kiss.
ATARA RAVEN
You should have told her about the fox and the porcupine, instead. It’s better.
JAMES RAVEN
”The porcupine knows something the fox does not”? You think that would have been a better lesson?
Her voice drops to a whisper.
ATARA RAVEN
No. I mean it’s Greek. So… it’s… better…
His voice drops to match.
JAMES RAVEN
Fight me.
He leans in for another kiss, when a voice down the hallway interrupts them.
TYLER RAVEN
You guys are disgusting.
JAMES RAVEN
in
"THE FOX AND THE GRAPES"
JEREMY SILVER
I just- I don’t understand why you’re doing this.
JAMES RAVEN
This feels very self-explanatory to me. It’s a wrestling match, and I’m a wrestler.
Jeremy stands up from his desk, pacing slowly to the window and nodding his head thoughtfully. After a moment the agent turns and paces back towards James, clapping a hand down on his shoulder.
JEREMY SILVER
Don’t take this the wrong way, buddy… but are you really?
JAMES RAVEN
Fuck you.
JEREMY SILVER
I said not to take it the wrong way!
James wags his finger in the air, standing up from his chair and preparing to leave the office as Jeremy places a calming hand on his chest to try and keep him in place.
JAMES RAVEN
Nah, I didn’t come here for that sort of bull shit. Of course I’m a wrestler.
Jeremy tries to hush James, holding a palm up deferentially and apologetically.
JEREMY SILVER
Of course you are. Poorly worded on my part, but again, in all fairness… you took it the wrong way, WHICH, I warned you not to do.
James slowly lowers himself back into his seat.
JAMES RAVEN
Fine. Word it so that I take it the right way.
Jeremy chooses his next words carefully, turning back to the window.
JEREMY SILVER
Of course you’re a wrestler. Always have been, and always will be. You’re a multiple time world champion, of course I’m not saying that you’re not a wrestler… but you’re more. You’re not a wrestler the way the rest of them are wrestlers. You’re not on the road week in and week out, trying to claw your way up some sort of rankings page or backstab for title shots… how long has it been since you were even on a roster? Like, a year? Where would you even go? It’s not like XWF is chomping at the bit for you these days. You wanna join CULT? Head over to AW?
James says nothing.
JEREMY SILVER
EXACTLY! So, yes, you’ll always be a wrestler… but the things you’ve done have put you in a position to build an empire. The WGWF, the LFL, managing more people and helping them like you have with the Themis sisters, movies… fuck, man… you can literally do anything you want to in this business.
JAMES RAVEN
So you’re trying to say I’m too good to wrestle now? That’s the point?
Jeremy shakes his head, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger in frustration.
JEREMY SILVER
No. Of course not. Well… kind of… but not really.
JAMES RAVEN
Love it.
The sarcasm drips from his words so thickly that it makes the floor slick. It doesn’t go unnoticed. Jeremy throws his hands in the air, knowing that the uphill battle is getting the better of him.
JEREMY SILVER
I’m not saying NEVER! I’m saying… just… I don’t know, pick your fuckin’ battles! You’re an icon, James! You haven’t been on a roster in close to a year, and you could still headline any super show or pull any name you wanted… so why come back and do something like this?! It’s lose-lose for you, how do you not see that?! What’s the ideal outcome? You smash Peter Vaughn and devalue the top draw in your own company?
JAMES RAVEN
That feels very unfair to someone like Mark Flynn.
JEREMY SILVER
Stop with the smart assed bull shit for five minutes and listen to me! What happens if you beat him? Seriously. What happens? You pretend it didn’t happen and go on telling the world that Peter Vaughn is a legitimate World Champion, as if they didn’t just see him lose to the guy in the suit signing pay checks? Fuck outta here! So then what? You drop your GM spot and challenge for the belt yourself? You parlay a win over Vaughn into some sort of big title opportunity somewhere else and jump back into full time competition? If that’s what you’re trying to do here, fine, more power to you… but I don’t think it is. I think a win over Vaughn just cucks him, and your entire WGWF roster. I think you’ll close your eyes to soak in the win… and then open them to weeks of aftermath and bull shit that you’ll have to navigate to pick up all the pieces.
James seems unimpressed with the interpretation, but he says nothing in any sort of attempt to argue against it. Jeremy Silver, ever the opportunist as every agent should be, sees this as an opening to press forward.
JEREMY SILVER
And what if you lose…
JAMES RAVEN
You think I’d lose?
JEREMY SILVER
I didn’t say that, buddy, but what if?! What does that mean? That you’re just strutting yourself out as some sacrificial GOAT for people on your roster, or whoever happens to ask you to? People will say you came in unprepared, out of shape, that you were too spread thin and distracted with other ventures to be able to handle someone like Vaughn. What do you gain from that? Is that better or worse than torpedoing your own company and then doing nothing with the momentum, and settling back behind a desk?
JAMES RAVEN
Can you stop, already? You’re embarrassing yourself.
Jeremy looks defeated and circles back to his own seat behind the desk and collapses into it. He throws his hands up dismissively.
JEREMY SILVER
Then explain to me why we’re doing this. Explain what you get.
JAMES RAVEN
Closure. Crossing it off the list. Making sure that people get to see it, and stop asking “what if”. Nothing more and nothing less.
Jeremy looks stunned, his jaw slack and eyes wide as he stares at his client.
JEREMY SILVER
Excuse me? From doing it, you get… to say that you’ve done it? That’s it? That’s the whole point?
JAMES RAVEN
Pretty much. As soon as it’s finished, I get what I want, and Peter gets what he wants… we’ll figure out what it means for each of us after the fact.
Jeremy’s face twists into a mask of rage as he balls up his fist and punches at the air angrily.
JEREMY SILVER
That’s the STUPIDEST fucking thing I’ve ever heard! Honest to God, the dumbest fucking thing, and I’ve represented Scientologists! Who gives a FUCK if you ever fight Peter Vaughn?! The Janitor?! MR HAIL RAVEN?! He’s not some XWF Legend or some bitter rival you’ve waited a decade to get a rubber match with!
JAMES RAVEN
People care. He cares.
Jeremy pounds his fist down on the desk so powerfully that it sends a pen flying off and clattering to the ground. Coffee splashes up and over the brim of a mug, staining several papers.
JEREMY SILVER
I know he cares! Everybody knows that he cares! He never shuts the fuck up about it! The match is cursed, he’s dreamed about facing you since 2021, you’re his white whale… yadda yadda yadda. He can get down on his hands and knees, and suck my fucking coc-
JAMES RAVEN
Stop it.
JEREMY SILVER
FUCK him.
His words are laced with venom, so poisonous that they take James aback. After a split second to regather himself he simply shrugs his shoulders.
JAMES RAVEN
Are there times where this match would have been bigger to me professionally? Maybe. Me being on a roster or chasing a title are irrelevant details. Beating Peter Vaughn still means something, and whether you believe in it or not I feel like I owe it to him to finally see it through. It’s time for the fox to stop leaping for the grapes, and to start telling everyone he never really cared about them anyway.
Jeremy looks confused.
JEREMY SILVER
Huh?
JAMES RAVEN
It’s a fable that I tell my kids. The fox and the grapes. You never heard it?
JEREMY SILVER
No, and please spare me. This conversation is already giving me serious heartburn.
JAMES RAVEN
Alright. Well, it’s been a lot of fun catching up, and yes I am lying. I’m gonna go ahead and head out; big match to get ready for, you know? Good to have you in my corner, the support is sturdy and the love is warm, and yes I am once again lying. Don’t buy tickets, don’t buy it on pay per view, and don’t call me… I’ll call you… maybe…
James grins from ear to ear as he stands up from his seat and holds his fist up over the desk for his long time friend and agent to bump. Hesitantly and regretfully, Jeremy Silver scoffs and bumps the fist back.
JEREMY SILVER
Hang on, before you leave… are you the fox, or the grapes? Does the fox eat the grapes?
James says nothing, continuing to grin as he backs towards the door.
JEREMY SILVER
Vaughn is the grapes, right? No, YOU’RE the grapes… RIGHT?!
James leaves the office, his smile never fading, and closes the door behind him.
JEREMY SILVER
Fuck… I guess I can probably google it…
He spins to his computer, and begins to search madly for his answer.
JAMES RAVEN
There’s nothing original in this world anymore. That includes the realm of professional wrestling. It’s clearly displayed by the fact that Peter and I are here… again… once more trying to settle this score, and put the matter to bed. I’d make the “here we go for the hundredth time” joke, but guess what, I’ve used it already.
See? Nothing original.
Maybe that’s why I needed a bit of a break from the grind. I got sick of hearing the same generic insults, of listing off my resume and trying to find new ways to explain to people the very simple concept that there are levels to this game and my level is usually exceedingly high.
Or maybe I’m just happy.
That’s an option too, but nobody ever likes to hear it. Maybe after you successfully climb the highest mountain, and then do it again and a third time… the excitement of reaching the summit again loses some of its fervour. Maybe after travelling the world and finding different mountains to climb, you start to take for granted that it’s something others dedicate their lives to doing once… a business opportunity comes your way, and maybe a few young climbers need your guidance to reach the summit themselves. Maybe you can find a mountain to call your own, and make it worthwhile for others to scale.
Maybe you find a woman that you want to be around more than you want to trip over boulders, and you start a family… and maybe you learn from the mistakes you made earlier in life, when you missed so much of your child's early life because you wanted to keep seeing how high you can go…
Wow. James Raven beating a metaphor like a dead horse? Nothing original.
I still feel the itch. I still have to stifle the hunger. Every tournament, every open challenge… I think to myself “I could do that”. You think I didn’t want to jump in the West Coast Rumble, just for old times sake? You think I don’t want to captain a War Games or grab a tag partner and carry someone's division just to remind people that I fucking can? You think that when Chris Page offered me a chance to work on the WGWF, I didn’t contemplate declining just to jump on the roster and win back a World title I never should have had to give up?
Of course I did.
Don’t worry kids, I’m not here to pull any sort of swerve and tell you all I’m flipping the script on the WGWF, and I’m not here to talk about what-if’s or would’ve, could’ve, should’ve. I’m just trying to be honest about my headspace. This match isn’t about climbing a mountain or proving to anyone that I’m still capable… It's about righting a wrong, and ending a chapter, and giving someone a shot at the white whale they’ve been chasing.
I don’t want to bore everyone with the prelude. You were all there for it, and if you weren’t Peter has a thirty minute diatribe detailing each and every miscue that you can all fast forward through before patting him on the back and telling him that all his points are sound and well constructed, and that he is indeed very hard done by. The cancellations and postponements, all of it was very tough for him, I assure you. Hell, he probably even talks about OCW which aside from this moment I can assure you, I will not.
I get it, Peter. I’ve been plenty of people's white whale before. I’ve been plenty of people's dream match, and special attraction. Seb, Corey, Tara, Bam… you can just start rattling them off. Point to a random wrestler and they’ve probably angled hard to fight me at some point.
It’s all fun and games when it’s still hypothetical. It’s all just shits and giggles until the fox finally gets the grapes, and realises it’s not as sweet as he had imagined, and the bitter juice leaves him gagging and retching and regretting his decision.
It’s about taking responsibility for your own choices, and acknowledging what led us to that very moment… or turning away scornfully, and trying to pretend they weren’t worth chasing to begin with.
I hope you gain everything you want from this, Peter. I hope the Legend lives up to everything that you wanted it to be, and this match lives on forever in your head.
My agent had the scent, but followed the wrong trail. I DON’T gain anything by beating you, Peter. I don’t help my bigger interests by putting down the man that just won the rumble and could be my company's top champion for at least the next couple of months… I don’t get a title, or some enormous pay day or boost of credibility… I get another name on my resume.
But maybe he was right about something else… things HAVE changed since I was part of the weekly grind. Things ARE bigger than one match. Maybe CCPE vs The World is the start of something bigger… maybe I get something more out of this than just turning the page and closing an old chapter.
I’ve already complimented you enough in the past, Peter, and told you how excited I was for the contest. I’ve turned things around and cursed your very existence enough times too.
I’m not going to repeat myself here tonight. Pour one out in remembrance of originality.
I’ll see you in the ring, Peter.
Once and for all.
It would be a shame…
… if something…
… ruined it…
Just kidding, buddy.
Fear the Raven… Forevermore…
I know you’ve been waiting years to hear that.
James and Atara sit in their kitchen, sat on opposite sides of a marble island and snacking on a bowl of olives. A dim ceiling lamp hangs above them, illuminating their faces.
ATARA RAVEN
He’s coming here? Now?
JAMES RAVEN
I can tell him not to.
ATARA RAVEN
No, it’s fine… it’s just close to midnight, and he doesn’t live in Toronto… so it all strikes me as being a little off, dove.
She pops an olive into her mouth and winks at him.
JAMES RAVEN
His plane just landed, I had some things I wanted to talk to him about and I didn’t want to wait until Brawl, so he flew out here.
ATARA RAVEN
Is he staying over?
JAMES RAVEN
No, no. He’s getting a hotel room. He said he didn’t want to disturb the kids or anything.
She shakes her head.
ATARA RAVEN
Ugh. Yiayia would kill me. I’ll make up the guest room. You can’t drag him all the way here and then make him stay in a hotel. Tell him not to touch my food in the fridge, though. It’s all very clearly marked.
JAMES RAVEN
... oh, I’m very aware.
There’s a sharp tapping on the glass of the back door, and Atara snatches the bowl of olives off of the countertop and swirls out of the room with a natural grace. She blows him a kiss.
ATARA RAVEN
Your boyfriend is waiting, Dove. Don’t keep me waiting too long. If I fall asleep… your loss…
He nods his head, gulping silently as he watches her disappear before crossing over to the door and opening it for his partner, Chris Page. Page winks at him, dropping a joint to the pavement and squishing it out with his toe before entering the home.
CHRIS PAGE
What’s up, Raven? Toronto is fuckin’ cold.
JAMES RAVEN
Welcome to Canada. We only have two seasons, and it snows during both of them.
CHRIS PAGE
Everything good? You were pretty cryptic on the phone…
JAMES RAVEN
Yeah, yeah… just… a lot of gears turning. You know how it is.
Chris nods his head, making his way over to the kitchen island and taking a seat, never taking his eyes off James.
CHRIS PAGE
About CCPE vs The World? Look man, it’s just a gimmick… you being part of “the world” isn’t personal, you know that ri-
JAMES RAVEN
Yeah man, I know that. I’ve got an agent, and he actually got me thinking about this whole Vaughn match.
CHRIS PAGE
Christ. He fired you up, didn’t he? You’re gonna try and kill Vaughn. Look man, I’m here for it, but remember that we need him back in the ring and able to-
JAMES RAVEN
Nah, Chris, stop. Just let me talk. It’s not about this show, this match, or Peter Vaughn… well, I think it all starts there… but it’s not ABOUT that. You follow what I’m saying?
Chris says nothing.
JAMES RAVEN
Well, damn. A little feedback would be nice, Chris.
CHRIS PAGE
You said to let you talk!
JAMES RAVEN
My bad. Look, I want to do something big. Beyond what I can do individually, beyond what I can do with the WGWF. I wanted to do it before, but I think now I can do it bigger… I can do it better… I can make it more than a one off, and into a mountain worth climbing… and there’s all of this stuff I can spin off from it, and-
Chris holds up his hands, stopping James before he gets too far ahead of himself.
CHRIS PAGE
Dude. You gotta spell this out for me.
JAMES RAVEN
Fine. One word, but then you gotta tell me if you’re in or out.
Chris nods his head in agreement.
JAMES RAVEN
Ravenstock.
Chris smiles.
CHRIS PAGE
Who’s car we taking?
James grins back.
JAMES RAVEN
I’ll lay it all out for you. You want something to eat? This might take a bit.
Chris nods, standing up from the island and crossing over to the fridge. He’d spent plenty of time here a few months ago while planning the WGWF relaunch. He was perfectly at home. He opens the fridge door and tucks his head inside.
JAMES RAVEN
The WGWF ties into this heavily, and it may make my role in everything a lot more clearly defined… I don’t want to start talking crazy, but this could change everything… hey, just don’t touch anything with Atara’s name on it.
Chris pulls away from the fridge, a piece of pizza jammed between his lips. He looks at the box, and sees the greek lettering scrawled across the side in permanent marker.
CHRIS PAGE
Oh fuck.
JAMES RAVEN
You should probably get to your hotel…
FADE
OUT
Ismini giggles and wriggles herself closer to her fathers chest, and James Raven smiles dotingly upon her. He holds his index finger up in front of her, and her tiny hands lunge forward and grab hold of him tightly. He smiles even wider.
TYLER RAVEN
Dad! Atty says you need to put Ismini to sleep. She says it’s already been half an hour since you brought her up here.
James looks up to see his son leaning against the doorframe, illuminated by the light in the hallway. He nods his head slowly, looking back down at Ismini as he stands up from the chair and begins to make his way across the room towards the crib. He stops suddenly as a fox skids into the doorway, nearly crashing into Tylers feet before darting into the bedroom and zig zagging across the floor before rushing underneath the crib. After a second, the fox peeks out from underneath the wooden frame. He pants, his tongue lolling out of his mouth comically as Tyler sighs and shakes his head.
TYLER RAVEN
That thing is dumb.
JAMES RAVEN
You’re dum- I’m sorry. That was reflexive. You’re a boy genius, but don’t you talk about Maid Marian like that. He’s part of our family now.
James continues to the edge of the crib, setting Ismini down inside the rails and pulling her blanket up around her as she continues to smile up at him. Maid Marian darts out from underneath the crib and races a circle around his feet before laying down across his toes, squealing and clicketing happily.
TYLER RAVEN
He’s a boy. Why’d you name it a girl's name?
JAMES RAVEN
… well… that part is on Atty… I can’t fully explain it.
TYLER RAVEN
Whatever. C’mon, she’s waiting downstairs for us.
Tyler spins around in the doorway and prepares to head off down the hallway when he realises his father hasn’t budged to follow. He turns back into the room, shrugging his shoulders with all of the angst one could expect from a thirteen year old boy.
TYLER RAVEN
DAD!
JAMES RAVEN
Relax! I haven’t told her a story yet.
TYLER RAVEN
She’s five months old, dad. She doesn’t know if you tell her a story or not. Let’s just go downstairs.
James looks at his son sternly.
JAMES RAVEN
Of course she knows, Tyler. Nobody's twisting your arm and forcing you to stay here with us, you can go back downstairs with Atty if we’re boring you. I’ll be there in a few minutes, but first Maid Marian and I are going to tell Ismini her bedtime story… isn’t that right, buddy?
James bends over and lifts the fox up from the floor, Maid Marian continuing to chatter happily as he climbs up to perch his front paws on Raven's shoulders. Tyler throws his head back in a silent groan, but trudges slowly into the room and joins his father at the edge of the crib. James rustles his hair playfully, then scratches the fox underneath its chin as they all look down on Ismini. James thinks to himself, searching for an appropriate tale.
JAMES RAVEN
Once upon a time, there was a fox wandering across the grass. It was a path he had walked many times over the years, but today he stopped and decided to look around. He studied a tree, the same tree he had passed more times than he could count… and his gaze drifted to the trees branches, and then to a long vine that was trained across them.
TYLER RAVEN
Is the fox supposed to be Maid Marian?
JAMES RAVEN
No. Anyways, on that vine the fox noticed a bunch of ripe grapes, so juicy they were set to burst. The fox gazed longingly at them, his mouth watering as he craved them and set about plotting how he could obtain them. The grapes were high, and so he leapt for them. He missed by a great deal, and so he decided to get a running start for his second attempt. Still, he wasn’t even close.
Tyler cuts James off again, to James’ frustration.
TYLER RAVEN
Why couldn’t he go get a ladder?
JAMES RAVEN
… Because he doesn’t have thumbs. Anyways, the fox tries again and again, running and jumping for over an hour before finally collapsing into the grass to catch his breath and rest. After a few minutes he stands up and brushes himself off, turning away from the grapes and continuing on his way down the path. “What a fool I am,” the fox mumbled to himself, “Exhausting myself for a bunch of sour grapes that aren’t even worth it anyways”... and he walked off very, very scornfully.
James finishes his fable, grinning as Ismini claps her hands slowly in appreciation and Maid Marion continues to cackle quietly in his ear. He looks to Tyler, proud of the wisdom he’s just passed on to his family and the lesson he’s just taught them all… but Tyler just stares at him blankly.
TYLER RAVEN
Hang on, that’s it?! That’s the end of the story?!
JAMES RAVEN
Well… yeah.
TYLER RAVEN
What the HECK was that?! Nothing even happened! One day there was a fox that wanted some grapes but didn’t get them and walked away?
JAMES RAVEN
Scornfully. Very, very scornfully. You can’t forget that part, it’s key.
Tyler throws his hands up in the air in disbelief, turning on his heel and stomping dramatically out of the bedroom. James shrugs to himself and turns back to Ismini, looking down at her with another warm smile.
JAMES RAVEN
You got it, didn’t you?
Ismini smiles back at him and gurgles loudly.
JAMES RAVEN
Yeah, you did. Goodnight, cutie.
He sets Maid Marian down on the floor before leaning over the railing and into the crib to kiss Ismini on the forehead. He makes his way over to the standing lamp and clicks it off, plunging the room into darkness aside from the small Nite-Lite in the outlet. Slowly and quietly, he makes his way out of the bedroom and closes the door behind him.
Atara is waiting for him in the hallway, arms folded over her chest as she leans casually against the wall. He chuckles when he sees her standing there, gaze falling to the floor with the embarrassment of a teenager getting caught after staying out too late.
JAMES RAVEN
I know. I’m sorry. I said it was going to be quick. We just got distracted, and I-
ATARA RAVEN
It’s fine. It was cute.
He looks back up at her, and sees a small twinkle in her eye as she looks back at him. He reaches out a hand and uncrosses her arms, intertwining their fingers as he steps in front of her slowly and holds her pinned to the wall. She grins, turning her head away and allowing her hair to fall across her face. He brushes it away, and leans in for a kiss.
ATARA RAVEN
You should have told her about the fox and the porcupine, instead. It’s better.
JAMES RAVEN
”The porcupine knows something the fox does not”? You think that would have been a better lesson?
Her voice drops to a whisper.
ATARA RAVEN
No. I mean it’s Greek. So… it’s… better…
His voice drops to match.
JAMES RAVEN
Fight me.
He leans in for another kiss, when a voice down the hallway interrupts them.
TYLER RAVEN
You guys are disgusting.
JAMES RAVEN
in
"THE FOX AND THE GRAPES"
JEREMY SILVER
I just- I don’t understand why you’re doing this.
JAMES RAVEN
This feels very self-explanatory to me. It’s a wrestling match, and I’m a wrestler.
Jeremy stands up from his desk, pacing slowly to the window and nodding his head thoughtfully. After a moment the agent turns and paces back towards James, clapping a hand down on his shoulder.
JEREMY SILVER
Don’t take this the wrong way, buddy… but are you really?
JAMES RAVEN
Fuck you.
JEREMY SILVER
I said not to take it the wrong way!
James wags his finger in the air, standing up from his chair and preparing to leave the office as Jeremy places a calming hand on his chest to try and keep him in place.
JAMES RAVEN
Nah, I didn’t come here for that sort of bull shit. Of course I’m a wrestler.
Jeremy tries to hush James, holding a palm up deferentially and apologetically.
JEREMY SILVER
Of course you are. Poorly worded on my part, but again, in all fairness… you took it the wrong way, WHICH, I warned you not to do.
James slowly lowers himself back into his seat.
JAMES RAVEN
Fine. Word it so that I take it the right way.
Jeremy chooses his next words carefully, turning back to the window.
JEREMY SILVER
Of course you’re a wrestler. Always have been, and always will be. You’re a multiple time world champion, of course I’m not saying that you’re not a wrestler… but you’re more. You’re not a wrestler the way the rest of them are wrestlers. You’re not on the road week in and week out, trying to claw your way up some sort of rankings page or backstab for title shots… how long has it been since you were even on a roster? Like, a year? Where would you even go? It’s not like XWF is chomping at the bit for you these days. You wanna join CULT? Head over to AW?
James says nothing.
JEREMY SILVER
EXACTLY! So, yes, you’ll always be a wrestler… but the things you’ve done have put you in a position to build an empire. The WGWF, the LFL, managing more people and helping them like you have with the Themis sisters, movies… fuck, man… you can literally do anything you want to in this business.
JAMES RAVEN
So you’re trying to say I’m too good to wrestle now? That’s the point?
Jeremy shakes his head, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger in frustration.
JEREMY SILVER
No. Of course not. Well… kind of… but not really.
JAMES RAVEN
Love it.
The sarcasm drips from his words so thickly that it makes the floor slick. It doesn’t go unnoticed. Jeremy throws his hands in the air, knowing that the uphill battle is getting the better of him.
JEREMY SILVER
I’m not saying NEVER! I’m saying… just… I don’t know, pick your fuckin’ battles! You’re an icon, James! You haven’t been on a roster in close to a year, and you could still headline any super show or pull any name you wanted… so why come back and do something like this?! It’s lose-lose for you, how do you not see that?! What’s the ideal outcome? You smash Peter Vaughn and devalue the top draw in your own company?
JAMES RAVEN
That feels very unfair to someone like Mark Flynn.
JEREMY SILVER
Stop with the smart assed bull shit for five minutes and listen to me! What happens if you beat him? Seriously. What happens? You pretend it didn’t happen and go on telling the world that Peter Vaughn is a legitimate World Champion, as if they didn’t just see him lose to the guy in the suit signing pay checks? Fuck outta here! So then what? You drop your GM spot and challenge for the belt yourself? You parlay a win over Vaughn into some sort of big title opportunity somewhere else and jump back into full time competition? If that’s what you’re trying to do here, fine, more power to you… but I don’t think it is. I think a win over Vaughn just cucks him, and your entire WGWF roster. I think you’ll close your eyes to soak in the win… and then open them to weeks of aftermath and bull shit that you’ll have to navigate to pick up all the pieces.
James seems unimpressed with the interpretation, but he says nothing in any sort of attempt to argue against it. Jeremy Silver, ever the opportunist as every agent should be, sees this as an opening to press forward.
JEREMY SILVER
And what if you lose…
JAMES RAVEN
You think I’d lose?
JEREMY SILVER
I didn’t say that, buddy, but what if?! What does that mean? That you’re just strutting yourself out as some sacrificial GOAT for people on your roster, or whoever happens to ask you to? People will say you came in unprepared, out of shape, that you were too spread thin and distracted with other ventures to be able to handle someone like Vaughn. What do you gain from that? Is that better or worse than torpedoing your own company and then doing nothing with the momentum, and settling back behind a desk?
JAMES RAVEN
Can you stop, already? You’re embarrassing yourself.
Jeremy looks defeated and circles back to his own seat behind the desk and collapses into it. He throws his hands up dismissively.
JEREMY SILVER
Then explain to me why we’re doing this. Explain what you get.
JAMES RAVEN
Closure. Crossing it off the list. Making sure that people get to see it, and stop asking “what if”. Nothing more and nothing less.
Jeremy looks stunned, his jaw slack and eyes wide as he stares at his client.
JEREMY SILVER
Excuse me? From doing it, you get… to say that you’ve done it? That’s it? That’s the whole point?
JAMES RAVEN
Pretty much. As soon as it’s finished, I get what I want, and Peter gets what he wants… we’ll figure out what it means for each of us after the fact.
Jeremy’s face twists into a mask of rage as he balls up his fist and punches at the air angrily.
JEREMY SILVER
That’s the STUPIDEST fucking thing I’ve ever heard! Honest to God, the dumbest fucking thing, and I’ve represented Scientologists! Who gives a FUCK if you ever fight Peter Vaughn?! The Janitor?! MR HAIL RAVEN?! He’s not some XWF Legend or some bitter rival you’ve waited a decade to get a rubber match with!
JAMES RAVEN
People care. He cares.
Jeremy pounds his fist down on the desk so powerfully that it sends a pen flying off and clattering to the ground. Coffee splashes up and over the brim of a mug, staining several papers.
JEREMY SILVER
I know he cares! Everybody knows that he cares! He never shuts the fuck up about it! The match is cursed, he’s dreamed about facing you since 2021, you’re his white whale… yadda yadda yadda. He can get down on his hands and knees, and suck my fucking coc-
JAMES RAVEN
Stop it.
JEREMY SILVER
FUCK him.
His words are laced with venom, so poisonous that they take James aback. After a split second to regather himself he simply shrugs his shoulders.
JAMES RAVEN
Are there times where this match would have been bigger to me professionally? Maybe. Me being on a roster or chasing a title are irrelevant details. Beating Peter Vaughn still means something, and whether you believe in it or not I feel like I owe it to him to finally see it through. It’s time for the fox to stop leaping for the grapes, and to start telling everyone he never really cared about them anyway.
Jeremy looks confused.
JEREMY SILVER
Huh?
JAMES RAVEN
It’s a fable that I tell my kids. The fox and the grapes. You never heard it?
JEREMY SILVER
No, and please spare me. This conversation is already giving me serious heartburn.
JAMES RAVEN
Alright. Well, it’s been a lot of fun catching up, and yes I am lying. I’m gonna go ahead and head out; big match to get ready for, you know? Good to have you in my corner, the support is sturdy and the love is warm, and yes I am once again lying. Don’t buy tickets, don’t buy it on pay per view, and don’t call me… I’ll call you… maybe…
James grins from ear to ear as he stands up from his seat and holds his fist up over the desk for his long time friend and agent to bump. Hesitantly and regretfully, Jeremy Silver scoffs and bumps the fist back.
JEREMY SILVER
Hang on, before you leave… are you the fox, or the grapes? Does the fox eat the grapes?
James says nothing, continuing to grin as he backs towards the door.
JEREMY SILVER
Vaughn is the grapes, right? No, YOU’RE the grapes… RIGHT?!
James leaves the office, his smile never fading, and closes the door behind him.
JEREMY SILVER
Fuck… I guess I can probably google it…
He spins to his computer, and begins to search madly for his answer.
JAMES RAVEN
There’s nothing original in this world anymore. That includes the realm of professional wrestling. It’s clearly displayed by the fact that Peter and I are here… again… once more trying to settle this score, and put the matter to bed. I’d make the “here we go for the hundredth time” joke, but guess what, I’ve used it already.
See? Nothing original.
Maybe that’s why I needed a bit of a break from the grind. I got sick of hearing the same generic insults, of listing off my resume and trying to find new ways to explain to people the very simple concept that there are levels to this game and my level is usually exceedingly high.
Or maybe I’m just happy.
That’s an option too, but nobody ever likes to hear it. Maybe after you successfully climb the highest mountain, and then do it again and a third time… the excitement of reaching the summit again loses some of its fervour. Maybe after travelling the world and finding different mountains to climb, you start to take for granted that it’s something others dedicate their lives to doing once… a business opportunity comes your way, and maybe a few young climbers need your guidance to reach the summit themselves. Maybe you can find a mountain to call your own, and make it worthwhile for others to scale.
Maybe you find a woman that you want to be around more than you want to trip over boulders, and you start a family… and maybe you learn from the mistakes you made earlier in life, when you missed so much of your child's early life because you wanted to keep seeing how high you can go…
Wow. James Raven beating a metaphor like a dead horse? Nothing original.
I still feel the itch. I still have to stifle the hunger. Every tournament, every open challenge… I think to myself “I could do that”. You think I didn’t want to jump in the West Coast Rumble, just for old times sake? You think I don’t want to captain a War Games or grab a tag partner and carry someone's division just to remind people that I fucking can? You think that when Chris Page offered me a chance to work on the WGWF, I didn’t contemplate declining just to jump on the roster and win back a World title I never should have had to give up?
Of course I did.
Don’t worry kids, I’m not here to pull any sort of swerve and tell you all I’m flipping the script on the WGWF, and I’m not here to talk about what-if’s or would’ve, could’ve, should’ve. I’m just trying to be honest about my headspace. This match isn’t about climbing a mountain or proving to anyone that I’m still capable… It's about righting a wrong, and ending a chapter, and giving someone a shot at the white whale they’ve been chasing.
I don’t want to bore everyone with the prelude. You were all there for it, and if you weren’t Peter has a thirty minute diatribe detailing each and every miscue that you can all fast forward through before patting him on the back and telling him that all his points are sound and well constructed, and that he is indeed very hard done by. The cancellations and postponements, all of it was very tough for him, I assure you. Hell, he probably even talks about OCW which aside from this moment I can assure you, I will not.
I get it, Peter. I’ve been plenty of people's white whale before. I’ve been plenty of people's dream match, and special attraction. Seb, Corey, Tara, Bam… you can just start rattling them off. Point to a random wrestler and they’ve probably angled hard to fight me at some point.
It’s all fun and games when it’s still hypothetical. It’s all just shits and giggles until the fox finally gets the grapes, and realises it’s not as sweet as he had imagined, and the bitter juice leaves him gagging and retching and regretting his decision.
It’s about taking responsibility for your own choices, and acknowledging what led us to that very moment… or turning away scornfully, and trying to pretend they weren’t worth chasing to begin with.
I hope you gain everything you want from this, Peter. I hope the Legend lives up to everything that you wanted it to be, and this match lives on forever in your head.
My agent had the scent, but followed the wrong trail. I DON’T gain anything by beating you, Peter. I don’t help my bigger interests by putting down the man that just won the rumble and could be my company's top champion for at least the next couple of months… I don’t get a title, or some enormous pay day or boost of credibility… I get another name on my resume.
But maybe he was right about something else… things HAVE changed since I was part of the weekly grind. Things ARE bigger than one match. Maybe CCPE vs The World is the start of something bigger… maybe I get something more out of this than just turning the page and closing an old chapter.
I’ve already complimented you enough in the past, Peter, and told you how excited I was for the contest. I’ve turned things around and cursed your very existence enough times too.
I’m not going to repeat myself here tonight. Pour one out in remembrance of originality.
I’ll see you in the ring, Peter.
Once and for all.
It would be a shame…
… if something…
… ruined it…
Just kidding, buddy.
Fear the Raven… Forevermore…
I know you’ve been waiting years to hear that.
James and Atara sit in their kitchen, sat on opposite sides of a marble island and snacking on a bowl of olives. A dim ceiling lamp hangs above them, illuminating their faces.
ATARA RAVEN
He’s coming here? Now?
JAMES RAVEN
I can tell him not to.
ATARA RAVEN
No, it’s fine… it’s just close to midnight, and he doesn’t live in Toronto… so it all strikes me as being a little off, dove.
She pops an olive into her mouth and winks at him.
JAMES RAVEN
His plane just landed, I had some things I wanted to talk to him about and I didn’t want to wait until Brawl, so he flew out here.
ATARA RAVEN
Is he staying over?
JAMES RAVEN
No, no. He’s getting a hotel room. He said he didn’t want to disturb the kids or anything.
She shakes her head.
ATARA RAVEN
Ugh. Yiayia would kill me. I’ll make up the guest room. You can’t drag him all the way here and then make him stay in a hotel. Tell him not to touch my food in the fridge, though. It’s all very clearly marked.
JAMES RAVEN
... oh, I’m very aware.
There’s a sharp tapping on the glass of the back door, and Atara snatches the bowl of olives off of the countertop and swirls out of the room with a natural grace. She blows him a kiss.
ATARA RAVEN
Your boyfriend is waiting, Dove. Don’t keep me waiting too long. If I fall asleep… your loss…
He nods his head, gulping silently as he watches her disappear before crossing over to the door and opening it for his partner, Chris Page. Page winks at him, dropping a joint to the pavement and squishing it out with his toe before entering the home.
CHRIS PAGE
What’s up, Raven? Toronto is fuckin’ cold.
JAMES RAVEN
Welcome to Canada. We only have two seasons, and it snows during both of them.
CHRIS PAGE
Everything good? You were pretty cryptic on the phone…
JAMES RAVEN
Yeah, yeah… just… a lot of gears turning. You know how it is.
Chris nods his head, making his way over to the kitchen island and taking a seat, never taking his eyes off James.
CHRIS PAGE
About CCPE vs The World? Look man, it’s just a gimmick… you being part of “the world” isn’t personal, you know that ri-
JAMES RAVEN
Yeah man, I know that. I’ve got an agent, and he actually got me thinking about this whole Vaughn match.
CHRIS PAGE
Christ. He fired you up, didn’t he? You’re gonna try and kill Vaughn. Look man, I’m here for it, but remember that we need him back in the ring and able to-
JAMES RAVEN
Nah, Chris, stop. Just let me talk. It’s not about this show, this match, or Peter Vaughn… well, I think it all starts there… but it’s not ABOUT that. You follow what I’m saying?
Chris says nothing.
JAMES RAVEN
Well, damn. A little feedback would be nice, Chris.
CHRIS PAGE
You said to let you talk!
JAMES RAVEN
My bad. Look, I want to do something big. Beyond what I can do individually, beyond what I can do with the WGWF. I wanted to do it before, but I think now I can do it bigger… I can do it better… I can make it more than a one off, and into a mountain worth climbing… and there’s all of this stuff I can spin off from it, and-
Chris holds up his hands, stopping James before he gets too far ahead of himself.
CHRIS PAGE
Dude. You gotta spell this out for me.
JAMES RAVEN
Fine. One word, but then you gotta tell me if you’re in or out.
Chris nods his head in agreement.
JAMES RAVEN
Ravenstock.
Chris smiles.
CHRIS PAGE
Who’s car we taking?
James grins back.
JAMES RAVEN
I’ll lay it all out for you. You want something to eat? This might take a bit.
Chris nods, standing up from the island and crossing over to the fridge. He’d spent plenty of time here a few months ago while planning the WGWF relaunch. He was perfectly at home. He opens the fridge door and tucks his head inside.
JAMES RAVEN
The WGWF ties into this heavily, and it may make my role in everything a lot more clearly defined… I don’t want to start talking crazy, but this could change everything… hey, just don’t touch anything with Atara’s name on it.
Chris pulls away from the fridge, a piece of pizza jammed between his lips. He looks at the box, and sees the greek lettering scrawled across the side in permanent marker.
CHRIS PAGE
Oh fuck.
JAMES RAVEN
You should probably get to your hotel…
FADE
OUT