Post by sprucegoose on Sept 7, 2024 17:06:54 GMT -5
We cut to a shot of a brick wall, located somewhere outside the main television studio. A man walks up, exquisitely dressed. A man that everyone should recognize by now.
Connor Mallory dusts off the edges of his suit, making sure everything is perfectly aligned. He then places a smile on his face, ready for what's to come.
Connor Mallory - It's showtime.
Connor then walks forward, heading into the building. We cut from that shot to a live interview, showing Connor sitting across from a local news broadcaster, the main sports anchor for Good Day Chicago, Lou Canellis.
Lou Canellis - I'm here today with Connor Mallory, who many of you know as The Spruce Goose. Mr. Mallory, it's a pleasure to have you here today.
Connor Mallory - Call me Connor, please. I'm always happy to make time for the press, Lou. Especially with everything that's been happening lately.
Lou Canellis - Well, let's discuss some of that now. You recently became known as something of a hero here, thanks to your daring rescue of a young teenager from a fire here in Chicago. We've all seen the video of it, recorded on someone's phone, showing you bringing in the moving truck that helped save the kid, and then catching him when he fell off the truck. You were like a superhero out there!
Connor keeps the smile on his face, hiding what's truly running through his head. He knows that the fire was set by idiots who were supposed to help clear out the block, not burn it down. Connor's actions that day had more to do with self-preservation, preventing a death from taking place in the fire, although no one knows this but Connor... and a few others, who already are being dealt with because of their stupidity. Connor doesn't let any of this show to the camera, though. He's a professional.
Connor Mallory - Well, you know, Lou, they said you can't know what you're going to do in that kind of situation until you're put into it. For me, it turned out to be completely natural that I do all I can to help save that poor boy. I feel badly for him and his family, who have now been displaced, without a home, due to that horrible fire. We currently have a GoFundMe raising some great funds for them to find a new place to live and work, so that their legacy as bakers can live on.
Lou Canellis - That's truly noble, Connor. I would be remiss, however, if I didn't bring up the fact that there are suspicions about how the fire was started. There have been rumors that evidence of arson has been found.
Connor Mallory - I've heard those rumors, Lou, as well as the blame that's being directed at Shelby and her husband. I personally think it's ridiculous. You really think they'd leave their son, Ben, in there to almost die, just for an insurance scam?? Now, I don't know what happened... but I have full faith in the Neuvant Bakery. and you should, too.
Lou Canellis nods, agreeing with Connor's logic. I mean, it makes sense... especially since they had nothing to do with the fire.
Lou Canellis - Let's talk about what else you're doing for the neighborhood. You've recently partnered up with your former coach to restore a great gym in the neighborhood, now known as Fighter's Edge Fitness. I hear you already have plenty of training partners at this point.
Connor Mallory - Things are going great on that front, Lou. Fedor Emelianenko is proving to be an excellent MMA coach, as everyone knew he would, and I have full faith in Coach Turner bringing the boxing and wrestling affiliates around as well. Fighter's Edge Fitness is going to be a golden star for Chicago, as I know many great superstars are going to come out of there in the coming months. I, myself, will be training there regularly, to continue to work on my ascent in the wrestling world.
Lou Canellis - In fact, you're set up for quite a big match this next week, aren't you? After your showing at Summer Madness, you've been signed to face Heather Harland for the WGWF World Television Title, a prestigious opportunity for you!
Connor laughs, trying his best to look excited about the upcoming match. He's still got a few dark circles under his eyes, though, after losing some sleep from his loss to Nick Danger at the PPV.
Connor Mallory - Well, it's clear that the WGWF knew a wrong needed to be righted. Nick Danger never should have been able to cheat his way to victory over me the way he did. So to rectify that, they gave me this opportunity against the biggest fluke champion in the WGWF right now. I mean, I get it, Heather Harland snuck away a title shot in her match earlier in the night, and I have no problems with how she won it. But that wasn't supposed to be a cash-in, was it? She got to use a very wild loophole to get herself a championship, and only because of the good graces of our owner. I think, though, that the world needs to see how weak of a decision that was, as it's time to have a much more powerful champion placed in charge of the gold.
Lou Canellis - But isn't Heather Harland currently undefeated in the WGWF?
Connor Mallory - She's only had a few matches, Lou, and I don't count that championship match as one of them. I won't deny that she's got some skills, but she doesn't have the training and background of someone like me. She doesn't have the power and technical skills that I have built up over my years of being in the business. She certainly doesn't have my smile.
Connor flashes the smile to the camera, eliciting some laughs from the people inside the studio, including Lou.
Connor Mallory - In the end, Lou, when I next appear on this program, you'll be looking at the new WGWF World Television Champion. I guarantee it.
Lou Canellis - Well, nobody could say you're not full of confidence, Connor. I know there's at least one young man who's going to be rooting heavily for you on Monday. Let's bring him in, now. Benjamin, come on in!
Surprised, Connor looks to the side, where we see Benjamin, the kid that Connor 'saved' from the fire, running towards him, his arms still bandaged from the burns he sustained in the flames. He jumps into Connor, giving him a hug, with Connor hesitating before finally returning the hug, rubbing the teenager's head. He looks back towards Lou, putting the smile back on his face.
Connor Mallory - What a surprise!
Lou Canellis - The hero and the saved, here together! What a moment! With that, we're going to take a commercial break, and we'll be back with another check of the weather coming up!
The cameras cut out, with Connor reaching out and pulling Ben off of him. He looks down at the star-struck teenager, who just smiles up at him with some tears in his eyes.
Benjamin - Thank you again for saving me! I thought I was going to die that day!
Connor Mallory - Yeah, well... I'm glad you didn't, kid. So, uh, I've got to go head off to another meeting in about 30 minutes, so I've got to run. But it's great to see you up and on your feet again, really!
Connor pats the young man on the shoulder, careful not to get too close to the bandages, before nodding to Lou and stepping to the side. He hands off his mic to the lady there, then walks off, thanking a few people on the way out, as Ben watches him go with a bit of confusion.
We're back outside of the TV studio, now, as Connor Mallory has loosened his tie and begun pulling off his suit. He stares towards the camera as he does so.
Connor Mallory - I can paint a pretty picture on the airwaves, Harland, but the truth is, I'm not the suit-wearing kind of guy. I'm the kind of guy that would rather be bare-chested and beating the hell out of my wrestling opponent, and on Monday, that's going to be you! I don't care about your ties to The Fortunate Ones, because as much as I respect Joe Montuori and Amber Mansley, I'm not letting this chance slip away from me. I've got the opportunity to get my first singles championship in the WGWF, and it's not going to be wasted. I'm going to do everything I can to crush you down, Harland, because that's just who I am.
The suit top is off, and Connor continues with it by yanking the tie off of his head. He unbuttons his collar, beginning to stretch the shirt, as he starts pulling the rest of it off, right there outside the TV studio.
Connor Mallory - I am going to show you what it means to be ruthless, Harland. I will get your legs locked down, breaking your ankles one by one, until there's no hope of you being able to stand against me. I'll level you with shot after shot until you're begging the referee to end this one, giving me the title. I'm going to make the best example of you I can that the Spruce Goose is not somebody you want to mess with. The World Television Title is going to be mine... and it's going to be GLORIOUS!!!
The shirt is off now, showing off Connor's tremendous physique. He points towards the camera, still fired up.
Connor Mallory - I'll see you on Monday, Harland. Keep that title shiny for me. I'll want to see my face in it after I defeat you!
With that, Connor turns and walks away, full of confidence. It's unknown if he returns later to retrieve his expensive suit, tie, and shirt, or if they were just left for some homeless person to claim.