Post by T-Robosaurus Rex on Jul 22, 2009 19:33:08 GMT -5
[The scene opens and we are in the locker room of GIW Unified Global Champion, Travis Roberts. The room is still littered with porcelain sinks protruding from any available space, one has been dragged to the Sofa and is filled with ash and roaches from ‘The Blessed Ones’ finished delicacies. The room though is empty, there is no sign of ‘The Highest Standard in GIW’, nor of his rotund agent, or his agents grandmother, the room is uncharacteristically quiet. On the coffee table in front of the sofa sits a solitary DVD, a copy if GIW’s ‘In Your Hands’, the PPV at which ‘The Revolution’ revealed it’s plans.
The silence though is interrupted by a conversation from the other side of the door. The voices are instantly recognisable to regular GIW viewers]
Tate – ‘Please go easy on him Gran, Travis hasn’t been himself this last week or so...it wouldn’t be fair if you nagged him about fighting a woman again...’
Old Lady Levene – ‘I do not nag. I just speak my mind.’
Tate – ‘You so do Nag! Granddad used to say you could get a gold medal for nagging...’
Old Lady Levene – ‘Don’t speak like that about your Grandfather, he was a fine man who never had a bad word to say about anyone...’
Tate – ‘Used to say I could get a gold medal for eating...’
Old Lady Levene – ‘I’ll tell you one thing, your Grandfather would have never struck a woman...but if he had she would have stayed down. I won’t protest Travis facing a woman, at first I thought it was unfair, but seeing Gabby beat him last week has changed my mind...it’s perfectly acceptable for Travis Roberts to fight women...a real man, like your Grandfather, on the other hand...’
Tate – ‘Travis is so a real man...’
Old Lady Levene – ‘A real man faces his responsibilities head on, he doesn’t shirk them...’
Tate – ‘Travis never shirks anything...’
Old Lady Levene –‘Oh yes he does! He’s been running away from the responsibilities of his marriage for years now. I know all about it, and if he isn’t going to step up and make a respectable woman out of that trollop of a wife of his, he should just hurry up and divorce her...’
Tate – ‘That’s not fair, it’s not Travis’ fault, MJ has been really nasty to him...’
Old Lady Levene – ‘As far as I am aware, no-one forced him to marry her. If he couldn’t see that she was a wrong ‘un he deserves everything he gets. He should step up and own his decisions.’
Tate – ‘This is what I’m talking about Nan, don’t say that sort of thing to him today, whatever happened last week has left him...fragile...’
Old Lady Levene – ‘What kind of man needs to be protected from the truth?’
Tate – ‘Pleeeeease Gran! This is my job...I have to protect him from negative thoughts. On the outside he seems normal, but he’s out of his usual routine, barely training, doing less interviews and spending most of the time go knows where. If you’re going to insist on following me around you have to let me do my job..
Old Lady Levene – ‘Because your my blood, I’ll hold my tongue...for now...’
Tate – ‘Ok...let’s go...’
[The door to the locker room swings open, and we finally get sight of GIW’s most peculiar family, both walk inside, and realise their conversation in the hallway has been pointless, because as we know, ‘The Headliner’ is not in his locker room]
The Office of Stanley Ziegler, PhD.
[Stanley sits on his leather armchair, left hand on the brim of his spectacles and fiddling with a pencil in the other. He then rubs his brow with the left hand, and lets out a sigh.]
Stanley – ‘This is the second time this week that you have interrupted one of my regular sessions and demanded to be seen, Travis. ‘
[We then see Travis, sitting on the psychiatrists sofa, staring into the middle distance, he barely responds to Stanley’s words, merely shrugging his shoulders lethargically.]
Stanley – ‘I have made another exception for you, but I’m afraid I’m not going to continue with this charade if you refuse to speak. I’m afraid I will have to summon security to remove you from the premises...’
[Travis looks over the rim of his aviators at Stanley, who glares back to show he is serious with his threat. ‘The Headliner’ raises his eyebrows and sighs before responding.]
Travis – ‘Security? Are they ex marine corps? Because you’ve got a current Unified Global Champion camped out in your office, it’s gonna take something pretty special to remove him if he doesn’t want to leave. But of course you know that don’t you Stanley? You’ve got a PhD after all...’
Stanley – ‘Well I suppose snide remarks are progress. Why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind Travis? Something is obviously bothering you, or you wouldn’t be here.’
Travis – ‘Maybe ‘The Blessed One’ has a particular liking for your garish decorating style? Or it could be for your astute observations on ‘The Headliners’ state of mind, before you’ve even discovered anything?’
Stanley – ‘Their not astute observations, it would be clear to an eleven year old child there was something wrong with you. A man as self centred as yourself rarely spends ten minutes silent, let alone a whole hour, as you did on Tuesday. As much pleasure as I get out of charging you for giving me time to complete my crossword, ethically I cannot continue to do that.’
Travis – ‘Travis Roberts is perfectly fine, ‘The Headliner’ just needed some peace and quiet, all ‘The Blessed One’ ever hears at work are the constant munching of his agent, or the constant complaining of his agents grandmother. ‘The TWiSTeD Icon’ just needed a break from them this week...’
Stanley – ‘Why this week?’
Travis – ‘No particular reason, they failed to amuse ‘The Headliner’ as much, just annoy...’
Stanley – ‘But they didn’t annoy you before this week?’
Travis – ‘There are few people in this world that do not annoy ‘The Blessed One’ on some level, but sometimes ‘The Headliner’ can find amusement from their actions. Take your habit of clutching at straws, usually Travis Roberts would find it comical, but today it just grows tiresome.’
Stanley – ‘So this week things are annoying you more, you’re more ill-tempered.’
Travis – ‘Travis Roberts wouldn’t say that...’
Stanley – ‘It wasn’t a question Mr Roberts, it was a statement. The question is why is this the case, I couldn’t help but notice the fact that Gabrielle Montgomery pinned you last week, could that be the reason?’
Travis – ‘You really think ‘The Headliner’ is going to lose his sunny disposition because he was beaten in a handicap match? ‘The TWiSTeD High Commander’ has never been one to doubt the abilities of women in the ring, Travis Roberts has always known that fairer sex can compete on a level playing field with men. ‘The Blessed One’ has never questioned those facts, as he has never needed to, because everyone, male or female, is at a disadvantage when they step into battle with ‘The Golden Boy of GIW’. ‘
Stanley – ‘Then what could have caused this uncharacteristic annoyance?’
Travis – ‘Travis Roberts never agreed that he had a problem, as for annoyance being uncharacteristic, you obviously never saw ‘The Blessed One’ with his former agent...’
Stanley – ‘Humour me? Has anything happened in the last week? Have you lost a family member?...A pet?...Did a relationship end?...A friend in trouble?...’
[On the last suggestion Travis visibly straightens up in his seat, begins to shuffle his body, and adjusts his Aviator’s]
Travis – ‘Man this seat is uncomfortable...’
Stanley – ‘Who is it Travis?’
Travis – ‘Who’s what?’
Stanley – ‘Who’s in trouble?’
Travis – ‘Anyone who regularly sits on this sofa ‘The Blessed One’ imagines...’
Stanley – ‘You are trying to avoid the issue Travis, remember I’m a very clever man, and you are using methods that would struggle to fool a toddler. Who’s in trouble...’
Travis – ‘No-one’s in trouble, everyone is perfectly safe...’
Stanley – ‘Somebody needs your help then?’
Travis – ‘A lot of people need ‘The Headliners’ help Stanley, yourself included, but there are only so many hours in the day...’
Stanley – ‘I’m rapidly losing patience, who needs help Travis, what happened last week that’s put you in such a bad mood?’
Travis – ‘It’s nothing major, ‘The Blessed One’ has some friends, a married couple, and it looks like they’ve separated. The husband was close friends with ‘The Headliner’ and he seems to have disappeared, and the wife doesn’t seem to be taking things too well..’
Stanley – ‘Were you close to the couple, is this bringing feelings to the surface regarding your divorce from Mary-Joanna?
Travis – ‘Why on earth would it make ‘The Headliner’ think of that leach of a woman? No this couple were actually in love, they cared for one another, not like that blood sucking harpy...’
Stanley – ‘Sometimes relationships outwardly are strong, but often behind closed doors this is not actually the case...’
Travis – ‘Travis Roberts isn’t a child, he knows how the world works, and he knows two people who are meant for one another when he sees them...’
Stanley – ‘Maybe there were signs, maybe it wasn’t as straightforward as it looked...’
Travis - ‘’The Blessed One’ isn’t saying everything was smooth running for them, he lost control of his company, she was practically stalked by a crazed detective, but they came through it all, together. And we were so close to getting the company back, ‘The Headliner’ was at the top, it was only a matter of weeks before things would have been back to normal...’
Stanley – ‘So you couldn’t have been with them all the time, pursuing your own career, you had to look out for yourself as well.’
Travis – ‘No...no...’The TWiSTeD Icons’ success was integral to the everything, Travis Roberts had to be focused on it, there was no room for complacency, ‘The Headliner’ had fell short once before, he couldn’t let it happen again. Maybe ‘The Blessed One’ missed something, it’s true. Maybe ‘The Blessed One’ could have foreseen this, it’s possible ‘The Headliner’ could have done more...’
Stanley – ‘But their relationship was not your responsibility Travis, if they had problems, it was only the two of them who could have worked through them. You can’t blame yourself...’
Travis – ‘There were probably plenty of things a man equipped with the vast talents that are at ‘The Blessed Ones’ disposal could have done. But Travis Roberts was too entwined in his own personal quest for glory, to see that the lives of those he cared about most were crumbling. You say ‘The Blessed One’ can’t blame himself...who else is there? Sure we could suggest that penguin was too blame, or Maguire...but at the centre of it alls tood ‘The Headliner’ oblivious to the obvious problems his so called friends faced...’
Stanley – ‘It really is not your fault Travis. What could you have done? Healed their relationship with a witty diatribe? Cobbled together a plan to fix the cracks in their relationship? You can’t let the problems your friends are facing consume you...’
Travis – ‘’The Headliner’ sees her face, every time he closes his eyes. He can see those dark, empty holes that were once the gateway to innocence so pure. And Travis Roberts knows there must have been something he could have done, if he’d have just paid more attention to something other than himself...’
Stanley – ‘I don’t agree with your assessment of the current predicament you find yourself in, but I cannot say I’m not encouraged by the route it is taking you down. It may well be healthy for you not to be so inward looking, to concentrate only on your own successes and failures is a direct route to mental health problems. By shifting your focus somewhat to those around you, maybe, just maybe you could start to resemble a decent member of polite, civilised society...’
Travis – ‘Shame it’s a pile of horse crap then...’
Stanley – ‘I’m sorry, I don’t follow...’
Travis – ‘’The Blessed One’ fed you a line, you asked Travis Roberts to humour you, so he did just that. There are no friends, no feelings of guilt or responsibility...’The Headliner’ just needed a quiet place to sit, and it became apparent to remain in this place, he’d have to tell you a story...’
[Travis quickly stands to his feet, and readjusts the Aviators on his face, and without looking at Stanley directly in the eyes, begins to briskly walk towards the door...]
Travis – ‘As entertaining as it was to lead you a merry dance, ‘The Blessed One’ must make an appearance at the Arena today...don’t get up, ‘The Headliner’ can see himself out...’
[Travis grasps the door handle, as Stanley shakes his head in frustration. GIW’s Unified Global Champion steps out of the office, through the waiting room, ignores the elevator and goes through the door to the stairwell. When their he leans up against the wall, looks upwards and closes his eyes.]
Later at the GIW Arena
[‘The Blessed One’ begins making his way towards the arena from the parking lot, and as he approaches the building he sees ‘The Monster’ Dredd walking in the opposite direction. Neither men slows their step, but both give one another a nod, out of respect, neither smiling though as the encounter quickly passes.
As ‘The Headliner’ makes his way through the security fence a shrill female voice cuts through the air...]
Female – ‘TRAVIS! TRAVIS! TRAVIS!’
[‘The Headliner’ stops in his tracks, and looks over his shoulder, and see’s a group of fans outside the arena, and a skinny girl in denim jeans and a Ted Hardy T-Shirt waves her arms and screams once again...]
Female – ‘TRAVIS! CAN WE HAVE YOU’RE AUTOGRAPH...’
[‘The Blessed One’ sniggers to himself, turns away and begins heading towards the doors, he pauses as he hears one of the youths mutter...]
Male – ‘Damn wrestlers, think their bigger than the fans, they don’t care about anyone except themselves!’
[Travis Roberts stands frozen to the spot after hearing these words, the spiteful smile that had crossed his face has faded into a look of grim realisation. It only takes a few seconds for ‘The Headliner’ to decide to turn around and go back...]
Female – ‘No Jeff, look...he’s coming here! Oh My god! Travis Roberts....is walking towards me...OhmygodOhmygodOhmygod!’
Jeff – ‘Calm down will you, besides I thought you fancied that homosexual Alex Kiseragi...’
Travis – ‘C’mon guys, ‘The Dragon’ isn’t gay, it’s just the way he walks. So who wants the first autograph, how about our sceptic here, Jeff isn’t it?’
[The Skinny blonde presses herself in between the fence and Jeff, thrusting her chest in the direction of ‘The Blessed One’, who looks at Jeff and shrugs, then begins to sign the girls top...]
Belinda – ‘My names Belinda, if you want I could write you my number...’
Travis – ‘Now you’re getting me mixed up with ‘The Dragon’, A-Kis is the only guy who picks up chicks from the car park....’
Jeff – ‘You’re talking to us? I thought you’d just scribble your name and walk off, Dredd wouldn’t even come over here, grumpy asshole...’
Travis – ‘Don’t be too harsh on Dredd, ‘The Blessed One’ will remind you the guys what? 59, been in the business as long as Terry Funk, and what’s he got to show for it? Some of the guys in the back can get bitter when it comes to life in the sport...’
Tim – ‘He could have just signed an autograph, I mean my names Tim, three letters...how much time does that take out of his life?’
Travis – ‘Well the other half of ‘Blessed Immortality’ may have shone some light on that in his recent interview, maybe he is right and Dredd can’t spell his own name, that’d give anyone a fear of signing autographs...’
Jeff – ‘Can I ask if you’re worried about taking on both Dredd and Gabrielle on Sunday? It’s obviously the highlight of the night...’
Travis – ‘As you well know, any Travis Roberts match is the highlight of the night, and why should ‘The Headliner’ be worried? It took two people to beat ‘The Blessed One’ on his own last week, with GIW’s Lord Chief Nigga in ‘The TWiSTeD Guerrilla’s corner this week, the result is...to steal a phrase...innevitable...’
Dumpy Girl – ‘I don’t think you respect women Mr Roberts, and I hope Gabby teaches you a lesson you never forget at No Holds Barred...’
Travis – ‘Discovered feminism have we? Make-up and dieting would possibly be a more successful strategy for getting attention, but you’ll find that out with time. Travis Roberts has nothing but respect for any individual who steps in the ring with ‘The Blessed One’ one on one, because when you’re blessed, everyone, male or female, takes a big risk competing against you.
Travis Roberts will give Gabrielle credit for the manner of her victory last week, it usually takes at least three individuals to keep ‘The Headliner’ down, but she managed with just one. It was a tight run thing, but the effort she put into it was worth it, as she will be able to claim, as she grows old and insignificant that she actually managed to pin the shoulders of ‘The Most Influential Icon in Sports Entertainment this Millennia’ to the mat for the count of three, on april night on Sentinel, with the help of her boyfriend. That is something few people can claim...’
Tim – ‘Were you surprised when Gabby took ‘Diamond’ Jacks shot at your title...’
Travis – ‘At first ‘The Blessed One’ was a little taken aback, but then he got to thinking and it all made perfect sense. Gabby is quite obviously a sensual woman, with certain...needs. Of recent the only men she has been in close contact with have been the Crimson Ghost, Daniel Hanson, and ‘Diamond’ Jack. If you’re a woman in her prime, and that frightening cross section of society are the only men courting you...you too would make any excuse to wrestle with a real man...’
Dumpy Girl – ‘You’re a male chauvinist pig and I hope Gabby cut’s your nuts off in Japan!’
Travis – ‘Thankfully, for every red blooded male in GIW, you are not our target demographic, so it’s unlikely that your fantasy will be fulfilled. When Gabby arrives in Japan, her mind may well be focused on ‘The Blessed Ones’ genitalia, but regardless Travis Roberts has no doubt she will bring her all in whatever match we find ourselves in. She will struggle, she will bleed, she will cause me to bleed, but as GIW leave the land of the rising sun, Gabrielle Montgomery will have fallen just short. Not because she is a woman, but just like everyone else, simply, she’s not...Blessed’
[With that Tarvis signs the final DVD, and turns and makes his way back towards the arena]
Tim – ‘He’s much more down to earth than I ever expected, I can’t actually believe he addressed us like we existed...’
Jeff – ‘Yeah all that arrogance is just for show...’
[Travis reaches the door, and looks over his shoulder at the group of fans, whose night he has just made. Before pushing open the door and walking inside, as the scene ends we hear Travis speak one last time]
Travis – ‘Now...I feel sick...’
The silence though is interrupted by a conversation from the other side of the door. The voices are instantly recognisable to regular GIW viewers]
Tate – ‘Please go easy on him Gran, Travis hasn’t been himself this last week or so...it wouldn’t be fair if you nagged him about fighting a woman again...’
Old Lady Levene – ‘I do not nag. I just speak my mind.’
Tate – ‘You so do Nag! Granddad used to say you could get a gold medal for nagging...’
Old Lady Levene – ‘Don’t speak like that about your Grandfather, he was a fine man who never had a bad word to say about anyone...’
Tate – ‘Used to say I could get a gold medal for eating...’
Old Lady Levene – ‘I’ll tell you one thing, your Grandfather would have never struck a woman...but if he had she would have stayed down. I won’t protest Travis facing a woman, at first I thought it was unfair, but seeing Gabby beat him last week has changed my mind...it’s perfectly acceptable for Travis Roberts to fight women...a real man, like your Grandfather, on the other hand...’
Tate – ‘Travis is so a real man...’
Old Lady Levene – ‘A real man faces his responsibilities head on, he doesn’t shirk them...’
Tate – ‘Travis never shirks anything...’
Old Lady Levene –‘Oh yes he does! He’s been running away from the responsibilities of his marriage for years now. I know all about it, and if he isn’t going to step up and make a respectable woman out of that trollop of a wife of his, he should just hurry up and divorce her...’
Tate – ‘That’s not fair, it’s not Travis’ fault, MJ has been really nasty to him...’
Old Lady Levene – ‘As far as I am aware, no-one forced him to marry her. If he couldn’t see that she was a wrong ‘un he deserves everything he gets. He should step up and own his decisions.’
Tate – ‘This is what I’m talking about Nan, don’t say that sort of thing to him today, whatever happened last week has left him...fragile...’
Old Lady Levene – ‘What kind of man needs to be protected from the truth?’
Tate – ‘Pleeeeease Gran! This is my job...I have to protect him from negative thoughts. On the outside he seems normal, but he’s out of his usual routine, barely training, doing less interviews and spending most of the time go knows where. If you’re going to insist on following me around you have to let me do my job..
Old Lady Levene – ‘Because your my blood, I’ll hold my tongue...for now...’
Tate – ‘Ok...let’s go...’
[The door to the locker room swings open, and we finally get sight of GIW’s most peculiar family, both walk inside, and realise their conversation in the hallway has been pointless, because as we know, ‘The Headliner’ is not in his locker room]
The Office of Stanley Ziegler, PhD.
[Stanley sits on his leather armchair, left hand on the brim of his spectacles and fiddling with a pencil in the other. He then rubs his brow with the left hand, and lets out a sigh.]
Stanley – ‘This is the second time this week that you have interrupted one of my regular sessions and demanded to be seen, Travis. ‘
[We then see Travis, sitting on the psychiatrists sofa, staring into the middle distance, he barely responds to Stanley’s words, merely shrugging his shoulders lethargically.]
Stanley – ‘I have made another exception for you, but I’m afraid I’m not going to continue with this charade if you refuse to speak. I’m afraid I will have to summon security to remove you from the premises...’
[Travis looks over the rim of his aviators at Stanley, who glares back to show he is serious with his threat. ‘The Headliner’ raises his eyebrows and sighs before responding.]
Travis – ‘Security? Are they ex marine corps? Because you’ve got a current Unified Global Champion camped out in your office, it’s gonna take something pretty special to remove him if he doesn’t want to leave. But of course you know that don’t you Stanley? You’ve got a PhD after all...’
Stanley – ‘Well I suppose snide remarks are progress. Why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind Travis? Something is obviously bothering you, or you wouldn’t be here.’
Travis – ‘Maybe ‘The Blessed One’ has a particular liking for your garish decorating style? Or it could be for your astute observations on ‘The Headliners’ state of mind, before you’ve even discovered anything?’
Stanley – ‘Their not astute observations, it would be clear to an eleven year old child there was something wrong with you. A man as self centred as yourself rarely spends ten minutes silent, let alone a whole hour, as you did on Tuesday. As much pleasure as I get out of charging you for giving me time to complete my crossword, ethically I cannot continue to do that.’
Travis – ‘Travis Roberts is perfectly fine, ‘The Headliner’ just needed some peace and quiet, all ‘The Blessed One’ ever hears at work are the constant munching of his agent, or the constant complaining of his agents grandmother. ‘The TWiSTeD Icon’ just needed a break from them this week...’
Stanley – ‘Why this week?’
Travis – ‘No particular reason, they failed to amuse ‘The Headliner’ as much, just annoy...’
Stanley – ‘But they didn’t annoy you before this week?’
Travis – ‘There are few people in this world that do not annoy ‘The Blessed One’ on some level, but sometimes ‘The Headliner’ can find amusement from their actions. Take your habit of clutching at straws, usually Travis Roberts would find it comical, but today it just grows tiresome.’
Stanley – ‘So this week things are annoying you more, you’re more ill-tempered.’
Travis – ‘Travis Roberts wouldn’t say that...’
Stanley – ‘It wasn’t a question Mr Roberts, it was a statement. The question is why is this the case, I couldn’t help but notice the fact that Gabrielle Montgomery pinned you last week, could that be the reason?’
Travis – ‘You really think ‘The Headliner’ is going to lose his sunny disposition because he was beaten in a handicap match? ‘The TWiSTeD High Commander’ has never been one to doubt the abilities of women in the ring, Travis Roberts has always known that fairer sex can compete on a level playing field with men. ‘The Blessed One’ has never questioned those facts, as he has never needed to, because everyone, male or female, is at a disadvantage when they step into battle with ‘The Golden Boy of GIW’. ‘
Stanley – ‘Then what could have caused this uncharacteristic annoyance?’
Travis – ‘Travis Roberts never agreed that he had a problem, as for annoyance being uncharacteristic, you obviously never saw ‘The Blessed One’ with his former agent...’
Stanley – ‘Humour me? Has anything happened in the last week? Have you lost a family member?...A pet?...Did a relationship end?...A friend in trouble?...’
[On the last suggestion Travis visibly straightens up in his seat, begins to shuffle his body, and adjusts his Aviator’s]
Travis – ‘Man this seat is uncomfortable...’
Stanley – ‘Who is it Travis?’
Travis – ‘Who’s what?’
Stanley – ‘Who’s in trouble?’
Travis – ‘Anyone who regularly sits on this sofa ‘The Blessed One’ imagines...’
Stanley – ‘You are trying to avoid the issue Travis, remember I’m a very clever man, and you are using methods that would struggle to fool a toddler. Who’s in trouble...’
Travis – ‘No-one’s in trouble, everyone is perfectly safe...’
Stanley – ‘Somebody needs your help then?’
Travis – ‘A lot of people need ‘The Headliners’ help Stanley, yourself included, but there are only so many hours in the day...’
Stanley – ‘I’m rapidly losing patience, who needs help Travis, what happened last week that’s put you in such a bad mood?’
Travis – ‘It’s nothing major, ‘The Blessed One’ has some friends, a married couple, and it looks like they’ve separated. The husband was close friends with ‘The Headliner’ and he seems to have disappeared, and the wife doesn’t seem to be taking things too well..’
Stanley – ‘Were you close to the couple, is this bringing feelings to the surface regarding your divorce from Mary-Joanna?
Travis – ‘Why on earth would it make ‘The Headliner’ think of that leach of a woman? No this couple were actually in love, they cared for one another, not like that blood sucking harpy...’
Stanley – ‘Sometimes relationships outwardly are strong, but often behind closed doors this is not actually the case...’
Travis – ‘Travis Roberts isn’t a child, he knows how the world works, and he knows two people who are meant for one another when he sees them...’
Stanley – ‘Maybe there were signs, maybe it wasn’t as straightforward as it looked...’
Travis - ‘’The Blessed One’ isn’t saying everything was smooth running for them, he lost control of his company, she was practically stalked by a crazed detective, but they came through it all, together. And we were so close to getting the company back, ‘The Headliner’ was at the top, it was only a matter of weeks before things would have been back to normal...’
Stanley – ‘So you couldn’t have been with them all the time, pursuing your own career, you had to look out for yourself as well.’
Travis – ‘No...no...’The TWiSTeD Icons’ success was integral to the everything, Travis Roberts had to be focused on it, there was no room for complacency, ‘The Headliner’ had fell short once before, he couldn’t let it happen again. Maybe ‘The Blessed One’ missed something, it’s true. Maybe ‘The Blessed One’ could have foreseen this, it’s possible ‘The Headliner’ could have done more...’
Stanley – ‘But their relationship was not your responsibility Travis, if they had problems, it was only the two of them who could have worked through them. You can’t blame yourself...’
Travis – ‘There were probably plenty of things a man equipped with the vast talents that are at ‘The Blessed Ones’ disposal could have done. But Travis Roberts was too entwined in his own personal quest for glory, to see that the lives of those he cared about most were crumbling. You say ‘The Blessed One’ can’t blame himself...who else is there? Sure we could suggest that penguin was too blame, or Maguire...but at the centre of it alls tood ‘The Headliner’ oblivious to the obvious problems his so called friends faced...’
Stanley – ‘It really is not your fault Travis. What could you have done? Healed their relationship with a witty diatribe? Cobbled together a plan to fix the cracks in their relationship? You can’t let the problems your friends are facing consume you...’
Travis – ‘’The Headliner’ sees her face, every time he closes his eyes. He can see those dark, empty holes that were once the gateway to innocence so pure. And Travis Roberts knows there must have been something he could have done, if he’d have just paid more attention to something other than himself...’
Stanley – ‘I don’t agree with your assessment of the current predicament you find yourself in, but I cannot say I’m not encouraged by the route it is taking you down. It may well be healthy for you not to be so inward looking, to concentrate only on your own successes and failures is a direct route to mental health problems. By shifting your focus somewhat to those around you, maybe, just maybe you could start to resemble a decent member of polite, civilised society...’
Travis – ‘Shame it’s a pile of horse crap then...’
Stanley – ‘I’m sorry, I don’t follow...’
Travis – ‘’The Blessed One’ fed you a line, you asked Travis Roberts to humour you, so he did just that. There are no friends, no feelings of guilt or responsibility...’The Headliner’ just needed a quiet place to sit, and it became apparent to remain in this place, he’d have to tell you a story...’
[Travis quickly stands to his feet, and readjusts the Aviators on his face, and without looking at Stanley directly in the eyes, begins to briskly walk towards the door...]
Travis – ‘As entertaining as it was to lead you a merry dance, ‘The Blessed One’ must make an appearance at the Arena today...don’t get up, ‘The Headliner’ can see himself out...’
[Travis grasps the door handle, as Stanley shakes his head in frustration. GIW’s Unified Global Champion steps out of the office, through the waiting room, ignores the elevator and goes through the door to the stairwell. When their he leans up against the wall, looks upwards and closes his eyes.]
Later at the GIW Arena
[‘The Blessed One’ begins making his way towards the arena from the parking lot, and as he approaches the building he sees ‘The Monster’ Dredd walking in the opposite direction. Neither men slows their step, but both give one another a nod, out of respect, neither smiling though as the encounter quickly passes.
As ‘The Headliner’ makes his way through the security fence a shrill female voice cuts through the air...]
Female – ‘TRAVIS! TRAVIS! TRAVIS!’
[‘The Headliner’ stops in his tracks, and looks over his shoulder, and see’s a group of fans outside the arena, and a skinny girl in denim jeans and a Ted Hardy T-Shirt waves her arms and screams once again...]
Female – ‘TRAVIS! CAN WE HAVE YOU’RE AUTOGRAPH...’
[‘The Blessed One’ sniggers to himself, turns away and begins heading towards the doors, he pauses as he hears one of the youths mutter...]
Male – ‘Damn wrestlers, think their bigger than the fans, they don’t care about anyone except themselves!’
[Travis Roberts stands frozen to the spot after hearing these words, the spiteful smile that had crossed his face has faded into a look of grim realisation. It only takes a few seconds for ‘The Headliner’ to decide to turn around and go back...]
Female – ‘No Jeff, look...he’s coming here! Oh My god! Travis Roberts....is walking towards me...OhmygodOhmygodOhmygod!’
Jeff – ‘Calm down will you, besides I thought you fancied that homosexual Alex Kiseragi...’
Travis – ‘C’mon guys, ‘The Dragon’ isn’t gay, it’s just the way he walks. So who wants the first autograph, how about our sceptic here, Jeff isn’t it?’
[The Skinny blonde presses herself in between the fence and Jeff, thrusting her chest in the direction of ‘The Blessed One’, who looks at Jeff and shrugs, then begins to sign the girls top...]
Belinda – ‘My names Belinda, if you want I could write you my number...’
Travis – ‘Now you’re getting me mixed up with ‘The Dragon’, A-Kis is the only guy who picks up chicks from the car park....’
Jeff – ‘You’re talking to us? I thought you’d just scribble your name and walk off, Dredd wouldn’t even come over here, grumpy asshole...’
Travis – ‘Don’t be too harsh on Dredd, ‘The Blessed One’ will remind you the guys what? 59, been in the business as long as Terry Funk, and what’s he got to show for it? Some of the guys in the back can get bitter when it comes to life in the sport...’
Tim – ‘He could have just signed an autograph, I mean my names Tim, three letters...how much time does that take out of his life?’
Travis – ‘Well the other half of ‘Blessed Immortality’ may have shone some light on that in his recent interview, maybe he is right and Dredd can’t spell his own name, that’d give anyone a fear of signing autographs...’
Jeff – ‘Can I ask if you’re worried about taking on both Dredd and Gabrielle on Sunday? It’s obviously the highlight of the night...’
Travis – ‘As you well know, any Travis Roberts match is the highlight of the night, and why should ‘The Headliner’ be worried? It took two people to beat ‘The Blessed One’ on his own last week, with GIW’s Lord Chief Nigga in ‘The TWiSTeD Guerrilla’s corner this week, the result is...to steal a phrase...innevitable...’
Dumpy Girl – ‘I don’t think you respect women Mr Roberts, and I hope Gabby teaches you a lesson you never forget at No Holds Barred...’
Travis – ‘Discovered feminism have we? Make-up and dieting would possibly be a more successful strategy for getting attention, but you’ll find that out with time. Travis Roberts has nothing but respect for any individual who steps in the ring with ‘The Blessed One’ one on one, because when you’re blessed, everyone, male or female, takes a big risk competing against you.
Travis Roberts will give Gabrielle credit for the manner of her victory last week, it usually takes at least three individuals to keep ‘The Headliner’ down, but she managed with just one. It was a tight run thing, but the effort she put into it was worth it, as she will be able to claim, as she grows old and insignificant that she actually managed to pin the shoulders of ‘The Most Influential Icon in Sports Entertainment this Millennia’ to the mat for the count of three, on april night on Sentinel, with the help of her boyfriend. That is something few people can claim...’
Tim – ‘Were you surprised when Gabby took ‘Diamond’ Jacks shot at your title...’
Travis – ‘At first ‘The Blessed One’ was a little taken aback, but then he got to thinking and it all made perfect sense. Gabby is quite obviously a sensual woman, with certain...needs. Of recent the only men she has been in close contact with have been the Crimson Ghost, Daniel Hanson, and ‘Diamond’ Jack. If you’re a woman in her prime, and that frightening cross section of society are the only men courting you...you too would make any excuse to wrestle with a real man...’
Dumpy Girl – ‘You’re a male chauvinist pig and I hope Gabby cut’s your nuts off in Japan!’
Travis – ‘Thankfully, for every red blooded male in GIW, you are not our target demographic, so it’s unlikely that your fantasy will be fulfilled. When Gabby arrives in Japan, her mind may well be focused on ‘The Blessed Ones’ genitalia, but regardless Travis Roberts has no doubt she will bring her all in whatever match we find ourselves in. She will struggle, she will bleed, she will cause me to bleed, but as GIW leave the land of the rising sun, Gabrielle Montgomery will have fallen just short. Not because she is a woman, but just like everyone else, simply, she’s not...Blessed’
[With that Tarvis signs the final DVD, and turns and makes his way back towards the arena]
Tim – ‘He’s much more down to earth than I ever expected, I can’t actually believe he addressed us like we existed...’
Jeff – ‘Yeah all that arrogance is just for show...’
[Travis reaches the door, and looks over his shoulder at the group of fans, whose night he has just made. Before pushing open the door and walking inside, as the scene ends we hear Travis speak one last time]
Travis – ‘Now...I feel sick...’
