Post by Devlin Knight on Nov 4, 2023 7:40:41 GMT -5
Every day I have to look to the sun
To see where it was that I have come from
I have a feelin that there must be a time…
[[The sun is slowly setting high above the Hollywood Hills and sat perched, swinging his legs off the cross section of the “H”, is none other than Devlin Knight. He’s dressed in a pair of black Nike Huarache, black jeans and a white hooded top… Sat next to him sits a cellphone which is on a call, to Aurora, it’s on loudspeaker…]]
To see where it was that I have come from
I have a feelin that there must be a time…
[[The sun is slowly setting high above the Hollywood Hills and sat perched, swinging his legs off the cross section of the “H”, is none other than Devlin Knight. He’s dressed in a pair of black Nike Huarache, black jeans and a white hooded top… Sat next to him sits a cellphone which is on a call, to Aurora, it’s on loudspeaker…]]
Aurora: ”So, you went straight to Cali, after leaving Florida? When will you be home?”
Devlin: ”I had to, babe. I did try calling before my flight but it kept dropping… I’ve been packing up the stuff we left here, but I’ve also got to meet an estate agent about the apartment tomorrow morning. How’s Ava?”
Aurora: ”It’s okay I get it, just try to be back home soon. She’s been fine but fussing a little, she misses her dad and so do I.”
Devlin: ”I miss you too babe, I won’t be much longer, I promise…”
[[The two say their goodbyes and Devlin hangs up the phone. He looks down at the screensaver, he, Aurora and their six week old baby girl, Ava and he sniffs back a sigh… He pockets his cell phone and proceeds to climb down the “H”, but before his foot can make the last step he hears something behind him, he jumps and spins…]]
Voice: ”He said I’d find you here, mate…. It’s been a bloody long time, how are ya?”
Devlin: ”Holy shit, is that really you??”
[[One of Devlin Knight’s oldest friends and head of the Greenberg crime family out of New York, Abe Greenberg, steps forward into the floodlights shining the Hollywood sign down onto the boulevard and grins, the spliff hanging from his teeth. The two men shake hands and share a hug before beginning to make their way down, towards the parking lot below…]]
Devlin: ”So who’s he?”
Abe: ”That brother of yours, Danté is it? He said you’d come here to pick up stuff but you’re selling up and moving to fucking Arizona? Arizona Dev…? Oh and that’s another thing! Why’d you change your name?!”
Devlin: ”Okay first off, I didn’t “change” my name, I reverted back to my given name and what’s wrong with Arizona?!”
Abe: ”What’s wrong with it? You’re coming from New bloody York and the City of Angels! What’s bloody right with it?? And I know it’s your given name but you were given it over four fucking decades ago you plank and never used it!”
Devlin: ”I never knew about it!”
Abe: ”And now… I’ve got to rejig my mind whenever I send you a Christmas card!”
Devlin: ”When was the last time you wrote a Christmas card out?!”
Abe: ”……”
Devlin: ”Exactly… Which car’s yours?”
[[The two men share a laugh as Abe points to a humble, black, ‘79 Dodge Charger. The two get in and he guns the engine as Devlin grabs for the seat belt and they pull away from the hills…]]
Abe: ”So, you’ve been pretty impressive since returning to the ring…”
Devlin: ”Eh, I joint won a Battle Royale, then…-”
Abe: ”Then wrestled three matches in twenty four hours mate! Two of them on the same night with your only loss being extremely unlucky!”
Devlin: ”Yeah, I guess so…”
Abe: ”And your final match was for the WGWF World Title!”
Devlin: ”You're right man, you’re right…”
Abe: ”See? Impressive. So what’s the plan? Off to your place?”
Devlin: ”Yeah I’ll be staying there tonight, I’ve got to meet the agent tomorrow about the property, you gonna stay? Have a beer and watch the Knicks?”
Abe: ”Nah… I’m gonna catch a redeye back home.”
Devlin: ”For real?”
Abe: ”Fuck no! Course I’m watching the game…”
[[Devlin slaps Abe around the back of the head as he laughs again, at his own humour, as the scene slowly begins to fizzle out into a static…]]
When I'll get a chance to go home
'Cause I'm so tired of being here alone
But I'm just a traveller in time
Trying so hard to pay for my crime, Oooh…
[[We pan back slowly from the static as we get the visual of a television set, but not your sixty-four inch invisible edge Samsung, bracketed to the wall… But rather a Bush CTV167, traditional for the 1960’s, thick box shaped set with a small window, knobs on the side for channels and volume levels and as the television set comes to life, we see “My Favorite Martians” showing.
We pan around and see Devlin half sitting, half laying on a very old fashioned armchair. He stirs and rubs his eyes and looks at the room, as he focuses he jumps up and looks around him frantically, getting out of the chair he turns to leave the room when suddenly he spots a young, blonde woman dressed in bright coloured flared trousers, a flowery printed blouse and brown waistcoat just looking at him, a cup of coffee in her hand…]]
When I'll get a chance to go home
'Cause I'm so tired of being here alone
But I'm just a traveller in time
Trying so hard to pay for my crime, Oooh…
[[We pan back slowly from the static as we get the visual of a television set, but not your sixty-four inch invisible edge Samsung, bracketed to the wall… But rather a Bush CTV167, traditional for the 1960’s, thick box shaped set with a small window, knobs on the side for channels and volume levels and as the television set comes to life, we see “My Favorite Martians” showing.
We pan around and see Devlin half sitting, half laying on a very old fashioned armchair. He stirs and rubs his eyes and looks at the room, as he focuses he jumps up and looks around him frantically, getting out of the chair he turns to leave the room when suddenly he spots a young, blonde woman dressed in bright coloured flared trousers, a flowery printed blouse and brown waistcoat just looking at him, a cup of coffee in her hand…]]
Woman: ”Hi. Are you feeling any better this morning?”
Devlin: ”Erm just a little confused, who are you? Where am I?”
Woman: ”Oh, I’m sorry, my name is Mary Reed and you’re Devlin, right?”
Devlin: ”That’s right”
Mary: ”You’re in my home, in Los Feliz…”
Devlin: ”Street?”
Mary: ”North Alexandria… Why?”
Devlin: ”Number??”
Mary: ”Eighteen Thirty-two…”
[[Devlin let’s out a low whistle and sighs as he whispers…]]
Devlin: ”My house…”
Mary: ”Sorry, what?”
Devlin: ”This is my…-”
[[Devlin catches himself in a mirror above a fireplace and sees what he’s wearing. His eyes instantly look down and fixate on the rest of him…]]
Mary: ”You sure you’re okay? You didn’t seem all there last night when I found you out by the trash cans…”
Devlin: ”The trash cans?!?”
Mary: ”That’s right…”
[[Mary hands Devlin the cup of coffee and begins to head back into her kitchen picking up another and then joining him in the living room, as he sits back on the armchair. She flicks the television set off and sits in a chair beside him, placing her cup down. Devlin does the same, but as he moves the magazine by his cup, the face of Manfred Mann looks up at him stunning him into silence… Then he sees the date in the magazine, October 31, 1964…]]
Devlin: ”Oh shit, it’s Halloween…”
Mary: ”Yeah, it is.”
Devlin: ”…In nineteen sixty-four…”
Mary: ”Are you sure you’re okay? You may have a concussion…”
Devlin: ”What did you say happened? I’m still a little foggy…”
Mary: ”I was coming home from the movies with my friend Sharon, she’s gonna pop by and see if you’re okay soon actually. And we saw you collapse into the trash cans outside.”
Devlin: ”I see and you didn’t stop to think I could have been luring you into some kind of trap?”
Mary: ”Trust me, wouldn’t happen.”
Devlin: ”I’m dead serious…”
Mary: ”So am I.”
Devlin: ”You know they still haven’t caught The Skid Row Slasher… How do you know I’m not him?”
Mary: ”I’d have been dead by now, if you were…”
Devlin: ”Fair enough, how’d you know my name anyway?”
Mary: ”There was identification in your pocket and a flyer for some wrestling academy, apparently you’re supposed to be there at ten this morning.”
Devlin: ”And what’s the time now?”
Mary: ”Nine… Oh and here’s Sharon.”
[[The door opens up and a female voice yells out. As Devlin and Mary both stand, she walks into the room and Devlin almost drops his coffee… Standing in front of him is Sharon Tate… Beautiful in the flesh. His heart hurts and he stammers as she smiles at Mary then back at Devlin…]]
Sharon: ”Hey… Are you okay??”
Devlin: ”I’m sorry, I’m just a huge fan… I love The Beverly Hillbillies… But I must be professional.”
Sharon: ”That’s okay, it’s a lot more professional than I’m used to…”
[[She chuckles and talks quietly with Mary who heads into the kitchen to make more coffee. Devlin looks around to make sure nothing there is his and starts to head out of the house…]]
Mary: ”Hey are you leaving?”
Devlin: ”Yeah I have to get to the school before they lock me out or whatever… And hey, Miss Tate?”
Sharon: ”Yes?”
Devlin: ”In a few years time you and Roman will get a house together… In 69, just please, any time you have some friends over be very vigilant… Especially if Jay is with you…”
Sharon: ”My beau, Jay? And Roman who?!”
[[Devlin realises he’s probably just committed a huge cardinal sin. He had forgotten that Sharon Tate and Jay Sebring had only just met and formed a relationship. She wouldn’t meet Roman Polanski for another two years… He rushes out of the door calling behind him…]]
Devlin: ”Pola… You know, it doesn’t matter. Just maybe turn down The Fearless Vampire Killers!!”
[[And with that he’s gone, headed towards Lincoln Heights and the LAWF…]]
If I could go back the same way I got here
And see the people that I once held so near
I'd do my best to find an answer for you…
[[As Devlin walks up the drive through the industrial estate towards the LAWF building he spots a poster announcing the school, with its trainers Ron Spalding and Mick Macon… He chuckled at that name, he knew a guy called Drake Macon once in RWF, he was about twenty five years older than Devlin then.
Devlin pulls open the door and looks around the setup. In the middle of the building sits a Wrestling ring, with three sets of pairs locking up inside and going over moves and holds. Devlin looks over and sees a young boy of about seven sitting on a pile of mats, watching everyone. He spots Devlin and smiles politely…]]
If I could go back the same way I got here
And see the people that I once held so near
I'd do my best to find an answer for you…
[[As Devlin walks up the drive through the industrial estate towards the LAWF building he spots a poster announcing the school, with its trainers Ron Spalding and Mick Macon… He chuckled at that name, he knew a guy called Drake Macon once in RWF, he was about twenty five years older than Devlin then.
Devlin pulls open the door and looks around the setup. In the middle of the building sits a Wrestling ring, with three sets of pairs locking up inside and going over moves and holds. Devlin looks over and sees a young boy of about seven sitting on a pile of mats, watching everyone. He spots Devlin and smiles politely…]]
Devlin: ”Hey, I’m looking for the trainer in charge??”
Kid: ”DAD!”
[[Devlin looks over to see a big, burly man with a Mohawk and huge beard bound across the room in a few strides, the giant he is and holds out a paw. Devlin shakes his hand as the man grins…]]
Man: ”Hey, Mick Macon… I’m guessing you’re Devlin Knight?”
Devlin: ”Yes sir, I am. Good to meet you, sorry I’m late.”
Mick Macon: ”That’s okay, but you were late… So, you’ll be up first on our next training.”
[[Mick leads Devlin over to the ring and tells the other guys and girls to sit around as he ushers him inside the ring…]]
Mick Macon: ”Alright guys and girls, this is Devlin Knight and he is a newcomer to LAWF. Unfortunately he was late so Devlin will be starting the next part, which is Mic work…”
[[Devlin stands there slightly taken aback but is resolute and steadfast as he clears his throat…]]
Devlin: ”Is there a microphone I can use? And who do you want me to cut it on??”
[[There is laughter all around and one of the valets asks if Devlin wants to borrow her hairbrush which elicits even more laughter, Mick telling them all to calm down with a slight smirk…]]
Mick Macon: ”Your voice will carry, don’t worry. And if you’ve got anyone in mind… The floor is yours.”
But first I must wait till I'm set free
And I don't know how long that's gonna be
'Cause I'm a man with a whole lot on his mind
Just out there somewhere travelling in time
Travelling in time…]]
[[Devlin takes a deep breath as he looks around, chuckles and shakes his head… Still in disbelief at where he is…]]
And I don't know how long that's gonna be
'Cause I'm a man with a whole lot on his mind
Just out there somewhere travelling in time
Travelling in time…]]
[[Devlin takes a deep breath as he looks around, chuckles and shakes his head… Still in disbelief at where he is…]]
Devlin: ”Well, here we go again… Devlin Knight face to face with Tristan Slater and it just feels like Deja Vu! The first time I locked up with you Tristan, I had made the point that like myself you had waltzed back into the industry and like myself it was as though you wanted to reinvent yourself… And here we are again. Yours truly embracing who he truly is, you? Well… You say your back for pretty much the exact same thing I am, to sort out the problems and toxicity infesting the place…
You and me, Tristan? I know we’ve had our difficulties ever since we met, but I would like to think that on any other given day we could work together here in the WGWF, but of course we really do need to get through Monday night, first… You know it’s quite amusing when you think about it too, because our first meeting was about a year ago this week Slater, around the time of Thanksgiving… But what wasn’t amusing were some of the things I said to you..
I mocked some personal things you were going through, Slater, and I did it for no other reason than because quite frankly I was little more than an asshole to be blunt and some people may say to an extent I still am and whilst I don’t blame them I’m trying to turn that around… Not just for my partner Aurora or my newborn baby girl, Ava… Not just for the fans, but for myself…”
[[Everyone’s eyes are locked on Devlin as he paces the ring. He throws his arms up and shakes his head…]]
Devlin: ”But I need to make one thing clear, Tristan and I’m sure you would wholeheartedly agree… We’re not going into that ring on Monday to dance a jig, we aren’t locking horns to twirl a baton! There’s business to be conducted in that ring and business that’ll be concluded on the night.
You told me I was a prick previously and whilst you probably still hold that opinion and belief I’d like to think that I definitely proved I wasn’t something else you called me, a coward. The prick thing can be proven another time but one thing I’m not is scared. Of you, Mac, J Mont, it doesn’t matter who stands before me, fear isn’t in the equation. You didn’t know who I was one year ago, Slater but that has evidently changed and yet, since you’ve got to know me, to understand me, I’ve changed all over again and that education is having to be taught all over again.
There would have been a time Tristan, where I’d have taken your past experiences with magic dust and used that to talk about how you’re a has been with zero credibility these days; a time where I’d have loved to have laughed at your misfortunes, the passing of loved ones, blaming you for that loss… The failings going on in your career, your life, so on and so forth and I’d have taken pleasure and delight in every - single - part of it…
I’m not the same man you remember Tristan, I’m better now, I’m not much more mature granted but I’m no longer beating people's heads in for shits and giggles anymore. I don’t believe there’s any grudge here, we’re just going with the motions whilst we welcome each other back into the WGWF… I’ve already done four matches since returning and I endeavour to continue to be successful so just be prepared to have to work super hard, if you want to get the job done on Monday… I’ll see you then, hoss.”
[[Devlin looks out at the academy students, Mick Macon and his son and understands he has gripped them, without even trying; he had them in the palm of his hand, the minute he stepped into the ring…
As these guys and girls grow up, they are going to evolve into this, into what Devlin Knight is and he realises that him being here today is actually going to play a huge part in that… It’s silent for about another ten seconds before the applause starts up and some of the guys and girls “woop” at Devlin as Mick Macon climbs into the ring and shakes his hand…]]
As these guys and girls grow up, they are going to evolve into this, into what Devlin Knight is and he realises that him being here today is actually going to play a huge part in that… It’s silent for about another ten seconds before the applause starts up and some of the guys and girls “woop” at Devlin as Mick Macon climbs into the ring and shakes his hand…]]
Mick Macon: ”Well, that was definitely random and seemed ahead of its time kid, well done!”
[[Macon turns toward the kid and points to a table with snacks and drinks by the wall…]]
Mick Macon: ”HEY DRAKE! Grab him a bottle of water, would ya??”
[[Devlin just stands there, mouth open for a second before shaking the cobwebs… Whispering under his breath…]]
Devlin: ”No fucking way… Drake Macon?!?”
[[Devlin just laughs in disbelief, as the scene begins to fade out slowly into darkness…
I've tried for so long to find
Some way of helping mankind…
I've tried for so long to find
Some way of helping mankind…