Post by Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley on Jun 7, 2008 2:27:43 GMT -5
~Open Scene
The scene opens in a dimly lit pentagon-shaped room with an amphitheater focusing on twenty LCD TVs on the north side of the room; All of them are turned off but one. The site is the media control room of Ford Arena in Beaumont, Texas. Seated in one of the controller seats is Tommy O'Malley, a cigarette threaded atop his right ear and his feet propped up on the controller's station and his hands resting behind his head. To his left is award winning Brent Kersh Invitational Tournament camera-man and reporter, Timothy Hellar sitting in the chair next to Tommy. The cold air makes the new control facility for Ford Arena feel like a stale-air tomb.
Over the duration of the tournament from the very beginning when Hellar was barely a full-time camera-man until his promotion to full-tilt BKI reporter due to his tough questions and video journalism and oh, yeah--his coverage of Tommy O'Malley, rising from entry-level amateur to professional wrestling phenom and the first champ of the BKI. Though Tim feels that his fate was intertwined with Tommy's fortune from the beginning, his dream as a professional wrestling reporter and columnist is now realized and he had a job to do: Ask the tough questions. Was he partial? How couldn't he be? He was a journalist, through and through and of course a fan of professional wrestling and now, of one rising star named O'Malley.
After the tournament, "Southpaw" would later ink a lucrative contract to compete on the grand stage with the best wrestlers in the world for The Wrestling Dominion, and wouldn't sign without a few requirements. One of which was that Tim Hellar be hired as a full-time reporter and journalist for the BKI franchise, and be considered for employment with TWD.
Aiming at Tommy from behind Hellar's head is Tim's video camera, mounted on a tripod but not currently recording. Tim throttles the controls for the digital media library, scrolling through different archived videos from this past inaugural tournament.
Tim Hellar: Ok, here we go. Looks like it is still all here. I'll burn it to disk for you. First thing's first. If you want this file, its yours. No sweat. Now your end of the deal, Tommy. Remember, my job is to interview--Not to try and track you down between the USA and the UK. I'm lucky to have you in Texas, so I can get you on tape before you head back across the Atlantic. I have questions, hopefully you have answers.
Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley: Tim, many thanks for pulling the video. I don't want to get you fired or anything. Just throw it on a DVD and I'll be on my way.
Tim Hellar: Is it for legal litigation against those ass-holes?
Tim hands Tommy a DVD.
Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley: Litigation? No, my dear friend Timothy. Its for the fecking reminder how close I came to the razor's edge--And its a poker chip. Alright, on with the questions.
Tim Hellar uses his wireless remote to start recording the session. Tommy doesn't adjust from his position, but gets a lop-sided grin and stares into the camera.
Tim Hellar: Southpaw, its been months since the final round of the BKI and since your victory over the entire field of competitors. What propelled you to win one of the hottest new tournaments in professional wrestling?
Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley: Well, Tim, I'd have to say a little luck of the Irish doesn't hurt now does it? All in all I faced some good competition. The tournament had talent like Katu Tui, Aaron Christopher, and Kingpin. Their reputations precede 'em. I remember the night before my match against Dustin Iler, I had been told by a few contacts in wrestling that he was the real deal--He was a competitor that didn't roll over for anyone. I was told that maybe in the mid-rounds, this was perhaps my toughest match. Those boys o' mine were half-right. Iler had the potential to be my toughest match, but he had lost a step. There was something about him, a look in his eye maybe. He wasn't the same champion of TWF that I'd known so much about. When He got into the ring, there was just an empty shell. I learned a lot from that match--what it takes inside, night in and night out to be a contender. To be a champion. When Iler went down, the way he lost, I knew that more than your reputation, more than you're perceived strength, you have to give it all constantly. Just like boxin', the ring doesn't change for wrestling.
Tim Hellar: Southpaw, there's been a buzz about the TWD and the superstars who are joining its ranks. Who do you see being your biggest competition?
Tommy looks up at the ceiling and starts to count on one hand.
Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley: Well, Timmy, I think there could be some good matches in the TWD...
Tim Hellar: Like, say, Kingpin vs. Southpaw on June 14th on TWD Showdown?
Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley: I can't deny that this is going to be a big fight. Hell me boy, this will be the biggest fight o' me life. Kingpin gets a shot at me again. Its not like he forgot what I did to him in the ring the last time we met. He''ll be looking to take a crack at me' balls. I hope I see that much fight in him, because I seriously wonder if there's anything left in the tank. If you don't take every fight like its your last, well--You end up like Dustin Iler.
Tim Hellar: So, how good of a competitor is Kingpin in your opinion?
Tommy smiles at Tim and then takes down the cigarette from atop his ear and rests it on his lips. He continues with the cigarette barely dangling as he speaks.
Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley: A great one. I know he's been around the block. I can't underestimate him. He's done so much damage to too many challengers. What I know is, he'll scratch, claw, and low-blow me to win. He doesn't care. That's fine: it doesn't make me pause because I've fought him before-- I know his style. But that's ok, I'll be ready for it. We have differing styles, and it should make for a good match to be remembered. Although I respect Kingpin, I fear he may be heading down the path of Dustin Iler. Is that "something" still there? We'll find out on June 14th. Does he still have that killer instinct? I don't know if he does, but I feckin' do!
Tim Hellar: For Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley, I'm Tim Hellar signing off.
Tommy jumps up out of his seat, shakes Tim's hand and leaves the control room. Tim watches the door shut behind him as Tommy starts to light up his cigarette. Tim lets the camera roll on. He uses the remote to focus the camera and its angle on the lone video screen that is currently solid blue. Tim pushes play on the control station and softly speaks to the camera.
Tim Hellar: What you're about to see is exclusive never before seen footage of what took place shortly after the BKI last year in Beaumont, Texas right here in Ford Arena. You saw it here first.
The video screen comes to life.
The scene opens with a shaking video screen with the lens lazily flopping around. The angle reveals the camera man's own feet shuffling across a recently-buffed tile floor with the partially polished haze of the wax still lingering, betraying the distance between each light fixture above. The sound of pocket change and keys jingle in an unplanned cadence that evokes a determination; Perhaps it may just be the shock of the unknown.
The brisk jog comes to a halt. The camera is hosted and the screen reveals a double door entrance. After a brief pause, a voice breaks the silence on the tunnel walls. The click of a folding cellphone opening steals the silence.
Tim Hellar: This is Hellar. Where the hell is the lower-level locker room? Its supposed to be right here! You said there were how man guys? No. I don't... No, you can't call the police. Not yet. I'll let you know. never mind that, its a long story. I know I'm just the camera man. Bye.
Tim takes a few steps forward toward the double-doors, but stops cold when one of the doors swings open. A man in a black suit and tie emerges and walks past Hellar. Following is a man in his mid fifties, leaning on a cane as he walks, and puffing on a long cigar. The man stops long enough to stare into the camera, then looks away and motions toward Tim. The man in the suit grabs the camera from Tim forcefully and ejects the digital memory card and puts it in his coat pocket before handing the camera back. Unfortunately for the nicely dressed thug, he ejected the wrong card.
As the pair moves down the hall, two more men dressed neatly in khakis, button-ups and wool-knit caps emerge from the locker doors. Both are rubbing their blood-soaked hands and removing brass knuckles. Both have equal red-flushed faces as if they'd taken a half-pint of what they had just dealt.
After taking in the situation, Tim rushes in to the locker benches to find the newly crowned first ever BKI Champion Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley who had just earned the honor an hour, maybe minutes before. Instead of a Champ, Tommy looked like a victim at a crime scene. His head and hair had blood mixed in with sweat, which had run down to his shirt which read in green and white, "O'Malley's Gym". He was propped up by his head against a cold locker door but his body was laying horizontal as if he'd been hit and then landed in his current position. The camera slumps to an angle looking straight down at the locker floor and then goes dark.
End Scene~
The scene opens in a dimly lit pentagon-shaped room with an amphitheater focusing on twenty LCD TVs on the north side of the room; All of them are turned off but one. The site is the media control room of Ford Arena in Beaumont, Texas. Seated in one of the controller seats is Tommy O'Malley, a cigarette threaded atop his right ear and his feet propped up on the controller's station and his hands resting behind his head. To his left is award winning Brent Kersh Invitational Tournament camera-man and reporter, Timothy Hellar sitting in the chair next to Tommy. The cold air makes the new control facility for Ford Arena feel like a stale-air tomb.
Over the duration of the tournament from the very beginning when Hellar was barely a full-time camera-man until his promotion to full-tilt BKI reporter due to his tough questions and video journalism and oh, yeah--his coverage of Tommy O'Malley, rising from entry-level amateur to professional wrestling phenom and the first champ of the BKI. Though Tim feels that his fate was intertwined with Tommy's fortune from the beginning, his dream as a professional wrestling reporter and columnist is now realized and he had a job to do: Ask the tough questions. Was he partial? How couldn't he be? He was a journalist, through and through and of course a fan of professional wrestling and now, of one rising star named O'Malley.
After the tournament, "Southpaw" would later ink a lucrative contract to compete on the grand stage with the best wrestlers in the world for The Wrestling Dominion, and wouldn't sign without a few requirements. One of which was that Tim Hellar be hired as a full-time reporter and journalist for the BKI franchise, and be considered for employment with TWD.
Aiming at Tommy from behind Hellar's head is Tim's video camera, mounted on a tripod but not currently recording. Tim throttles the controls for the digital media library, scrolling through different archived videos from this past inaugural tournament.
Tim Hellar: Ok, here we go. Looks like it is still all here. I'll burn it to disk for you. First thing's first. If you want this file, its yours. No sweat. Now your end of the deal, Tommy. Remember, my job is to interview--Not to try and track you down between the USA and the UK. I'm lucky to have you in Texas, so I can get you on tape before you head back across the Atlantic. I have questions, hopefully you have answers.
Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley: Tim, many thanks for pulling the video. I don't want to get you fired or anything. Just throw it on a DVD and I'll be on my way.
Tim Hellar: Is it for legal litigation against those ass-holes?
Tim hands Tommy a DVD.
Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley: Litigation? No, my dear friend Timothy. Its for the fecking reminder how close I came to the razor's edge--And its a poker chip. Alright, on with the questions.
Tim Hellar uses his wireless remote to start recording the session. Tommy doesn't adjust from his position, but gets a lop-sided grin and stares into the camera.
Tim Hellar: Southpaw, its been months since the final round of the BKI and since your victory over the entire field of competitors. What propelled you to win one of the hottest new tournaments in professional wrestling?
Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley: Well, Tim, I'd have to say a little luck of the Irish doesn't hurt now does it? All in all I faced some good competition. The tournament had talent like Katu Tui, Aaron Christopher, and Kingpin. Their reputations precede 'em. I remember the night before my match against Dustin Iler, I had been told by a few contacts in wrestling that he was the real deal--He was a competitor that didn't roll over for anyone. I was told that maybe in the mid-rounds, this was perhaps my toughest match. Those boys o' mine were half-right. Iler had the potential to be my toughest match, but he had lost a step. There was something about him, a look in his eye maybe. He wasn't the same champion of TWF that I'd known so much about. When He got into the ring, there was just an empty shell. I learned a lot from that match--what it takes inside, night in and night out to be a contender. To be a champion. When Iler went down, the way he lost, I knew that more than your reputation, more than you're perceived strength, you have to give it all constantly. Just like boxin', the ring doesn't change for wrestling.
Tim Hellar: Southpaw, there's been a buzz about the TWD and the superstars who are joining its ranks. Who do you see being your biggest competition?
Tommy looks up at the ceiling and starts to count on one hand.
Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley: Well, Timmy, I think there could be some good matches in the TWD...
Tim Hellar: Like, say, Kingpin vs. Southpaw on June 14th on TWD Showdown?
Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley: I can't deny that this is going to be a big fight. Hell me boy, this will be the biggest fight o' me life. Kingpin gets a shot at me again. Its not like he forgot what I did to him in the ring the last time we met. He''ll be looking to take a crack at me' balls. I hope I see that much fight in him, because I seriously wonder if there's anything left in the tank. If you don't take every fight like its your last, well--You end up like Dustin Iler.
Tim Hellar: So, how good of a competitor is Kingpin in your opinion?
Tommy smiles at Tim and then takes down the cigarette from atop his ear and rests it on his lips. He continues with the cigarette barely dangling as he speaks.
Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley: A great one. I know he's been around the block. I can't underestimate him. He's done so much damage to too many challengers. What I know is, he'll scratch, claw, and low-blow me to win. He doesn't care. That's fine: it doesn't make me pause because I've fought him before-- I know his style. But that's ok, I'll be ready for it. We have differing styles, and it should make for a good match to be remembered. Although I respect Kingpin, I fear he may be heading down the path of Dustin Iler. Is that "something" still there? We'll find out on June 14th. Does he still have that killer instinct? I don't know if he does, but I feckin' do!
Tim Hellar: For Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley, I'm Tim Hellar signing off.
Tommy jumps up out of his seat, shakes Tim's hand and leaves the control room. Tim watches the door shut behind him as Tommy starts to light up his cigarette. Tim lets the camera roll on. He uses the remote to focus the camera and its angle on the lone video screen that is currently solid blue. Tim pushes play on the control station and softly speaks to the camera.
Tim Hellar: What you're about to see is exclusive never before seen footage of what took place shortly after the BKI last year in Beaumont, Texas right here in Ford Arena. You saw it here first.
The video screen comes to life.
The scene opens with a shaking video screen with the lens lazily flopping around. The angle reveals the camera man's own feet shuffling across a recently-buffed tile floor with the partially polished haze of the wax still lingering, betraying the distance between each light fixture above. The sound of pocket change and keys jingle in an unplanned cadence that evokes a determination; Perhaps it may just be the shock of the unknown.
The brisk jog comes to a halt. The camera is hosted and the screen reveals a double door entrance. After a brief pause, a voice breaks the silence on the tunnel walls. The click of a folding cellphone opening steals the silence.
Tim Hellar: This is Hellar. Where the hell is the lower-level locker room? Its supposed to be right here! You said there were how man guys? No. I don't... No, you can't call the police. Not yet. I'll let you know. never mind that, its a long story. I know I'm just the camera man. Bye.
Tim takes a few steps forward toward the double-doors, but stops cold when one of the doors swings open. A man in a black suit and tie emerges and walks past Hellar. Following is a man in his mid fifties, leaning on a cane as he walks, and puffing on a long cigar. The man stops long enough to stare into the camera, then looks away and motions toward Tim. The man in the suit grabs the camera from Tim forcefully and ejects the digital memory card and puts it in his coat pocket before handing the camera back. Unfortunately for the nicely dressed thug, he ejected the wrong card.
As the pair moves down the hall, two more men dressed neatly in khakis, button-ups and wool-knit caps emerge from the locker doors. Both are rubbing their blood-soaked hands and removing brass knuckles. Both have equal red-flushed faces as if they'd taken a half-pint of what they had just dealt.
After taking in the situation, Tim rushes in to the locker benches to find the newly crowned first ever BKI Champion Tommy "Southpaw" O'Malley who had just earned the honor an hour, maybe minutes before. Instead of a Champ, Tommy looked like a victim at a crime scene. His head and hair had blood mixed in with sweat, which had run down to his shirt which read in green and white, "O'Malley's Gym". He was propped up by his head against a cold locker door but his body was laying horizontal as if he'd been hit and then landed in his current position. The camera slumps to an angle looking straight down at the locker floor and then goes dark.
End Scene~