((Sunday, Six p.m., September 7, 2014. West Hollywood, California. At 1200 Alta Loma road sits the historical Sunset Marquis hotel, known as a local haven for musicians and other celebrities since its opening in the early 60s. The valets and doormen eschew paparazzo who circle the sidewalk waiting for a glimpse of the Hollywood elite who frequently come and go.))




((Inside, in what is referred to simply as Whisky Bar, “Loverboy” Vinnie Lane sits. The small room doesn’t hold much more than fifty, and is typically home to any number of well-known rock stars, from Bob Dylan to Bono. Tonight, Loverboy sits there quietly, spinning the dark brown liquor in his glass and contemplating. With a sudden burst of movement, Loverboy brings the tumbler to his lips and swallows the whisky in a single motion, dropping the thick glass back onto the bar with a hollowed thud. Loverboy gestures to the bartender, a younger man with a well-trimmed goatee and an expensive watch on his wrist.))

Bartender: Another double, sir?

Loverboy: Yeah, man. Absolutely.

Bartender: Will you be requiring a taxi tonight, sir?

((Loverboy smirks and shoots the bartender a look, then shakes his head.))

Loverboy: No, dude, I can afford to drink here AND get a room here as well, man. I belong here, okay?

((The bartender turns a shade or two of red deeper than he had been previously, and breaks eye contact to fumble around for the whisky bottle.))

Bartender: I… I didn’t mean to offend you. We get a lot of… well…

Loverboy: Posers, right? Yeah, I hear you, dude. I wrestle in the XWF with guys like Aidan Collins and Luca Arzegotti, you know? I know all about dealing with posers. You ever watch XWF shows? Madness? Warfare?

Bartender: Well, I have. I like the girls, mostly.

Loverboy: Right, sure you do. I can tell by the spray tan rubbing off on your collar that you totally watch for the girls. Whatever man, but if you do watch, if you ever wanna see a good match, watch this week’s Madness. I’m in the main event, man, working with a couple of pretty good competitors.

Bartender: Anyone I’ve heard of?

Loverboy: No, probably not. I mean, you’ve heard of me, I’m sure. Vinnie Lane? The Loverboy?

Bartender: OH! That’s you? Man, I’m so sorry to have ever doubted you being here…

Loverboy: Forget it, man, it’s ancient history. Further in the past than Luca’s last win. He’s a guy you might have heard of if you were ever into pretty boys who liked to think of themselves as part time detectives or some shit. Kinda like Law and Order, I guess, but with way lower ratings.

((Loverboy gets his drink poured and slid over to him across the bar, and he takes a sip before going on.))

Loverboy: At any rate, man, this week’s gonna be a good one. I’ve been in the ring with LH Harrison before, and he’s got potential. Dude’s been off his meds or some shit lately, dude, but if he can hold it together he’s got a pretty good mind for the business. And Gator? You don’t need me to tell you he’s one of the best in the XWF right now, he’s the Television Champion, pinned Steve Davids at Relentless, the same show where I pinned Sebastian Duke. He’s never had to wrestle someone on my level of abilities in the XWF yet, but he’ll find out Monday. I mean, he lost to Griffin MacAlister, and that guy’s no better than Luca Arzegotti as far as being a part time, half-assed talent trying to coast on reputation.

((Loverboy takes another swallow of whisky, draining the glass again and sliding it to the bartender again. As he does so, he catches sight of a woman sitting a few places down from him at the bar, clearly watching him and smiling as she does so.))

Loverboy: Dude, gimme another double – and find out what hot lips over here is drinking and make sure she knows the next one is on me.

Bartender: I don’t know if you should waste your time, Loverboy. That woman has been coming in here for months, teasing and seducing all the rock stars that come in here and then leaving them hanging after they pay off a big chunk of bar tab for her. She’s here to take advantage, she doesn’t give anything up.

Loverboy: Oh yeah? Well we’ll see. Tell you what, bring me a bottle of something good, and two fresh glasses. Make a show of it. I’ll make it worth it for you, man.

Bartender: Ah, well, the entertainment is its own reward really… well, that and the fat tip.

((The bartender turns and fishes up a bottle of Dom Perignon, placing it in an icy bucket and pulling out two crystal glasses. With a flourish, the bartender pops the cork on the champagne and pours both glasses full of the bubbling, gold liquid. Loverboy takes one of the glasses and raises it toward the gorgeous woman, setting it down in front of the seat next to him. Acknowledging him, the woman rises from her seat, showing off a pair of long, sexy legs as she stands. Wearing a tight pencil skirt and long, stiletto heels, the ravishing brunette struts over to Loverboy slowly and purposefully, smoothing the open lapels of her designer shirt and pulling them apart slightly to reveal the round globes of her ample chest. As she sits down next to Loverboy she smiles coquettishly and bats the lashes of her emerald green eyes.))

Loverboy: Thanks for joining me, sugar. Anyone here ever tell you there should be songs about your eyes?

Woman: All the time. And there are songs about my eyes. I’m Rose, by the way.

Loverboy: Rose, good to meet you. I’m the guy you’ve been coming here to find. My name is Vinnie, and I’m the man of your dreams.

((Rose smiles at Loverboy’s bravado, it seems to pique her interest.))

Rose: You know, Vinnie, most men are too timid to come on to a woman who looks like me that way. It’s a little refreshing to be honest. And good taste with the Dom.

Loverboy: Most men probably aren’t as confident as I am, sweetheart. I’m a champion, you know.

((Loverboy scoots his stool back slightly, revealing the two huge gold belts around his waist. Rose’s eyes widen at the sight of the expensive and impressive jewelry as she runs a perfectly manicured hand over the belts, then down to Loverboy’s upper thigh.))

Rose: You’re a very impressive man, Vinnie. Is it more than just surface beauty though? What have you got… underneath?

((Loverboy’s eyes go wider as Rose’s hand disappears under one of the belts and squeezes. Her mouth opens a little as she obviously is happy with what she finds.))

Rose: Definitely more than a pretty face, aren’t you Vinnie? I tell you what. I’d love to try on those belts of yours, if you’d like to let me. I think they’d clash with my outfit though, so wearing just the belts will have to do... do you mind?

Loverboy: If you don’t mind me recording the modeling session for posterity, I certainly don’t mind. I’m always trying my best to fulfill the wishes of my fans, babe.

Rose: Good. But I think after we’re done, you’ll be my fan too.

((Rose leans forward and whispers something into Loverboy’s ear, then slides a card key onto the bar. Hopping up from her stool, she drinks down the glass of champagne, letting the bubbly slide down her throat smoothly and wetting her plump, red lips. She walks away from the bar without a second glance, and as both Loverboy and the bartender watch her round, apple shaped ass sway back and forth, they turn to each other and share knowing smiles.))

Bartender: I have… NEVER seen her do that before. She told Jack White he was a pussy, and sent the whole band Rise Against out of here with blue balls. She gave you her room key!

Loverboy: Of course she did, man. You just gotta have faith. Now, I’m gonna go rock this girl’s world, man. Put all of this on my tab and send the rest of the bottle up to… room 335. Got it?

((Loverboy stands up and high fives the bartender, then struts away towards the direction that Rose walked off in. He turns back as he exits the bar are and shakes the room key in his hand at the bartender.))

Loverboy: And hey, man, don’t forget – XWF Madness, Monday night. Tune in and see what keeps the ladies coming all night long, dude.

((And then he’s gone.))