*Gator sits in his car with Todd in the passenger's seat focusing the camera at Gator. The car slowly passes through the busy LA traffic, the stereo quietly playing*

"Today is a good day."

T: "How so?"

"I'm just in a good mood is all."

T: "Why Gator. Are you smitten?"

"No. Just, happy. A girl like Scarlett won't have any interest in some masked freak like me."

T: "Don't put yourself down like that man. If she's crazy enough to sleep with you, anything's possible."

"Anything is possible."

*Gator adjusts himself in his seat*

“Paul Heyman joked about only giving me a dollar if I win compared to everyone else who will get a bonus 1000 dollars if they win. Paul probably knows that I’m going to win so he’s offered me a dollar so he won’t waste anymore of his valuable money. Even if I do get paid a dollar for tonight, I’m still going to fucking work my ass off for that dollar, not because I want it, but because I care more about kicking some fucking ass tonight. I care more about proving myself, I care more about proving that losing streaks continue and winning streaks end. I care more about proving that some people are not as good as they used to be, that Luca will know what it’s like to be in a real match for the first time since he fell off the wagon; then, after proving all that I’m going to take that dollar and stuff it down Heyman’s fat gullet.”

T: "Ah, getting into this. Okay, I'll shut up. Lights, camera action!"

“Now, let’s start with LH Harrison who thinks just because Marvel and Luca stole my mask design means he can copy of me too, except he painted his mask yellow. That my friend is still plagiarism, thinly disguised. Deadpool has a similar colour palette as me yes, but I can easily tell you are not a comic book fan who doesn’t do his research seeing as Deadpool wore yellow during his famous time with the X-Men in the Days of Future Past story arc. Shame on you LH, not only are you desperately trying to act like people better than you but you’re failing at it. Your funny, but you’re failing. Maybe I should grow a fuck ugly beard and walk around talking about inspiring people when the only inspiration I'm projecting is the hope that new blood in the XWF can't be as bad as me. Like a poor man's Bo Dallas. Huh, I guess you came in here with plagiarism under your cap already"

"Luca, I had an iota of respect for you. For what you did before becoming an irrelevant husk like you are now. Holding onto your past like it's something of actual worth. Saying it was you who started everything, saying it was you who the new guys look up to. Fuck you. I'm smart enough to know that everything I did in J-Pro doesn't mean shit now that I’m here, wish you do us all the same courtesy and stop with this ‘back in my day’ talk. To think I wanted to hear that famous Luca trash talk and I get a 4 year old crying about spilt milk instead. Disappointing.”

“And finally Vinnie. A good friend of mine, but not for this match. We’re both professionals and we’re going to act like professionals. No more blaming politics and pushing the blame onto someone else because you lacked the drive to go far. But, as I said before, J-Pro doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is what you’ve done now, which is a lot Loverboy. I’m proud to see what you’ve become since J-Pro, a damn good competitor. But you’re in a singles environment now man, with one of the best newcomers this place has to offer. Sure, you’ve gone up with enhancement talent and a guy greener than goose shit by yourself. But now, this is your first real fight on your own. Don’t go looking for a hand to tag when you’re tired because you’re not going to find one. So when I say good luck tonight Vinnie, I mean it. All the trash talk and backhanded compliments aside, you’re the second person I want to see win in this match.”

*Gator sighs*

“I’m tired of talking. I’m going to run into this match guns blazing and I’m not taking any prisoners. You can trust me on that.”

[The night before Madness]
[Late night/Early morning]

*Gator walks alone down a street in the middle of the night. Wearing ‘civilian’ clothes and no TV belt*

It’s been a week since I last had some time with my own thoughts. Who knew you actually had to prepare something in your head to think about. I talked to the tumbleweed that was circling the inside of this mask for what felt like hours, turns out it was; unconscious for two hours because the blood pumping through my arteries hit a speed bump. That was the first time I’ve been scared since... I don’t know. The air that stuck in my lungs, every time I breathed in it felt like I was just adding more poison to the stale wind the floated around my tar filled lungs. The coughing, felt like I was spewing razorblades and the blood followed soon after. I couldn’t move my arms to lift up my mask, so that thick blood just hit the inside of the material and splattered. Blinding me, it reeked too. I can still smell the blood despite washing my mask about 25 times.

My whole body felt heavy, my TV title in my hand felt like pulling a piano up a flight of stairs. Todd threw my other arm over his shoulder and tried to take some of my weight, but the clumsy bastard couldn’t hold me up right. We were tripping over each other all the way to the parking lot and my legs gave way, like all my muscles slid out of me. I hit the tarmac of the parking lot real fucking hard; I remember my head bouncing off the floor and my vision going dark. Then, I thought about stuff. And I blinked and I was looking up at lights. I still have a migraine but these pills help my heart at least.

When Crimson Face appeared at my home, he talked to me in a hushed voice that I think only I could here. When he popped up out of nowhere I thought I accidently dropped some acid in my tea again. But Todd saw him too, and with a fucked up place like this where aliens and demons are playing grab ass with leaders of cults and dark societies, I believed he came from a different plane of existence. With what those whispers said, I wanted him from a different world. He made sense. Maybe I am losing it; a slowly falling apart wrestler with a heart as broken as X-Pac’s asshole. Makes sense. Makes sense to me anyway.

*Gator slows his pace and slowly raises his head. A petite girl faces her back to Gator, the shapes of her pleasing frame in those skinny black jeans and grey thin sweater. She kicks out her heel, her slender shoulder up against a wall, her small hands in front of her face struggling with lighting a cigarette as the flint sparks but no flame appears. Gator slowly walks closer, pulling his zippo from his jeans pocket whilst admiring her red hair*

“Need a light?”

She jumps when she hears my voice. Maybe I should have been more careful. A dude in a mask standing over 6 foot tall, wide as this beauty is tall sneaking up behind her this late at night, surprised she didn’t run when those beautiful blue eyes got a locked with my chest and slowly glanced up behind that wavy red hair. But she didn’t run, she smiled. Placing that cigarette into those lush rosy lips.

GIRL: “Yeah I could use a light. You gonna mug me after being such a gentleman?”

“Ha, wouldn’t dream of it.”

I light her cigarette and the flame twinkles in those big blue eyes. She has one of those typical LA girl accents, not the annoying kind with the dog in her purse and more plastic in her body than GI Joe. One of those, I know how the world works kind of voices. A hushed tone, pleasant to listen too.

*She moves away from the flame exhaling smoke as Gator places his zippo back in his pocket. She smiles again*

GIRL: “Thanks Mister-?”

“People call me Gator, but my real name’s Jacob.”

GIRL: “Gator? You some kind of secret agent or some shit?”

I chuckle again. I must sound like a damn kid.

“Some other shit. I’m a professional wrestler.”

GIRL: “No fucking way. Well, it explains a lot.”

*The girl turns and walks down the path, Gator walks with her at her side*

“You don’t mind me walking with you, do you? It’s just I’m walking the same way and it’s pretty late.”

GIRL: “Sure! What girl doesn’t like having a huge masked man following her late at night.”

“I get it. I’ll leave you to it then.”

She grabs my forearm as I begin to walk away and pulls me back to her side. Her fingers delicately slide off my arm and back to her side as she giggles.

GIRL: “I’m fucking with you dude. Come on lighten up.”

“I’ve got a lot on my mind recently; usually I’m more laid back.”

*Gator lights a cigarette too, continuing to walk with the girl*

GIRL: “I get cha. I’m Scarlett by the way.”

“Scarlett?”

SCARLETT: “Yes! Why?”

“Nothing. Seems pretty obvious, red hair and all.”

*She scoffs*

SCARLETT: “So you’re saying just because I’ve got red hair, my name has to be something red too?”

“I’m saying it’s a coincidence is all.”

SCARLETT: “Dick.”

I lock eyes with her again. This time she’s playfully squinting at me with that mischievous grin. I hope she can tell I’m smiling back at her under this mask. She laughs again, God. That laugh. I could listen to it for hours.

SCARLETT: “So, Gaytar. What’s up with the mask?”

“It’s just a mask. I’ve got a heritage and a motto to up hold.”

SCARLETT: “Interesting. Can I see your face?”

“Buy a girl dinner first sheesh.”

Scarlett seems to like that joke, she throws her head back a little and sings to me with that laugh. I’m happy she liked it, that’s the first joke I’ve cracked in a while. Not counting that X-Pac asshole thing before, this was the first joke I made in front of another human being for what feels like a long time.

SCARLETT: “Is it really that easy to take a peak under that thing? Just buy you a burger and you give it up on the first date? Come on dude.”

“Hey. What I do with my mask is none of your concern, some people call me slut but I’m just trying to express myself.”

*The pair giggle again*

SCARLETT: “You’re funny Jacob.”

“I try.”

*She looks up and smiles again*

“No, I really try. Some of the guys I fight are super fucking uptight, it kinda rubs off on me.”

SCARLETT: “You rub up on other guys? I know wrestling can be pretty gay but leave the backstage stuff backstage.”

“Fuck you hahaha. If beating a guy into submission is gay then- I just heard what I said never mind.”

SCARLETT: “Nahh. Wrestling’s pretty cool... I did actually recognize you, but I didn’t want to seem like some dumb fan.”

“Really? Who’s your favourite wrestler?”

SCARLETT: “I like the way you say favorite; it’s cute.”

“My accent’s cute? Don’t change the subject, who’s your favourite?”

SCARLETT: “... Azrael Erebus. And Enigma.”

“Both good wrestlers... Anyone else?”

*She bites her lip, pondering that thought*

SCARLETT: “Nope.”

*She drives an elbow into Gator*

SCARLETT: “I’m kidding, you’re pretty good too.”

“Thanks.”

*The couple turn to a set of stairs leading to a large grey building. They wait at the steps as Scarlett finishes her cigarette and plays with the keys in her hand*

SCARLETT: “Thanks for walking me home Jacob.”

“It’s no problem... So...”

SCARLETT: “So...”

“I’ll see you around maybe.”

SCARLETT: “Yeah, maybe.”

“Nice to meet you Scarlett.”

SCARLETT: “Yeah! You too.”

*Gator turns away and walks a few steps but Scarlett runs in front of him and stand on her tip toes, giving Gator a soft kiss on his masked cheek*

SCARLETT: “Good luck at Madness.”

*Gator is speechless as Scarlett jogs up the stairs. Gator watches her walk up and moves on*

Well. This night turned out a little better than expected although for a brief time. I’ll never see her again. I know that and I accept that. She’s cute but whatever; a wrestler can fuck any amount of girls he wants on tour. She’s probably frigid anyway.

Stop sounding like such a dickhead Jacob, come on! Get your head off Scarlett and get to where you need to be.

I listen to the voice in my head that tells me to forget and go to the motel where I’m meeting this douche. I listen and tell my feet to speed up. They listen. I tell my heart to slow down for fucks sake. But it doesn’t listen, of course it doesn’t listen. It’s going a mile a minute, where are my pills?

*Gator pats his pockets on his jeans and takes out the bottle. Ripping it open and chucking two pills in his mouth. He gulps them down and continues moving at his quick pace*

I look behind again hoping that Scarlett followed me, but no luck. I keep moving, puffing on that cigarette. Before I know it I’m already at the motel. I scan the small grey building looking for a light through the foggy windows. I move to a door on the ground floor and beat my clenched fist against the cheap wooden door. And I wait. It opens and the halogen light bulb insults my eyeballs, then I’m in shadow again.

“Jacob.”

“Hey dad.”

He shows me into this depressing slice of Americana. I have a million questions in my mind that I want to ask at the same time, but my mind is elsewhere. I keep thinking of Scarlett’s smile, and it makes me feel happy even though I’m in a small room with a person I should hate.

“Why did you text me?”

“To talk.”

“Couldn’t have done this over the phone?

“That would be impolite. You show know me better lad.”

*Eddie sits at the end of the bed, squashing the mattress with his gigantic body. Gator leans up against the wall and takes his final breath of the cigarette before stamping it out into an ashtray beside him*

“So, talk.”

“.... I’m taking you back to Japan.”

“No you’re fucking not.”

“I am your father and you should do as you’re told!”

“You haven’t been my father in almost a year! And now all of a sudden, when I’m actually doing well again, you want to take me back to glorious Nippon!”

“It was a mistake letting you leave. I want to rectify that.”

”Fuck you!”

“I can understand that you’re angry but, come on Jacob! We were unstoppable in J-Pro! We can be unstoppable again under the power of the kWo.”

“Hahaha. No. I’m not going back to that piece of shit fed with you no matter what.”

*Eddie scowls with the exposed parts of his face under his mask. He gets to his feet and stand up straight, his head almost brushing the ceiling*

“Piece of shit fed? That piece of shit fed made you who you are today!”

“Did they!? They made me a man who goes into his first match with some jokes? They made me lose twice in a row? Well thank you J-Pro! Did they make me overcome the odds and win the Television title!? No dad! I made that happen! You know as well as I do that the only help I needed was for you to get me into that fed as soon as I turned 18! You know that I refused your help every step of the way and earned those title shots in J-Pro! You know that I left because of the kWo and all the other bullshit to join a place where I could do all those achievements again! And look at me now; I’m way on my fucking way!”

“You left because you were jealous of me!”

“Jealous of some fucking asshole who cheats on his wife with every disease ridden slut he find in the gutter!? No, I was tired of being associated with you.”

“So be it. You want to stay anonymous in the middle of America, fine. I tried to help you and you throw a tantrum just like always. You’re pathetic. You always will be. Leave now and don’t come crawling back to me.”

“Always fun when you visit.”

I barge past him, resisting the urge to punch the fat bastard in the face. The cool air outside calms me down a little, but not much. We never used to be like this, we always had problems and stuff we don’t agree with but we were still father and son, friends. Something snapped in him a few years ago and left him a cold heartless bastard who does nothing but fight. I can’t help but worry if I’ll turn into the same man.

I walk down the path back to wherever my hotel is and try to get my mind back on to this match. Madness is tonight, it’s just rolled 2 in the morning now so, it’s tonight and I don’t feel like sleep. I just want to go punch someone in the face and get high on the sheet of LSD I have back in Boston.

I sound like Luca. Except, not as depressing. Poor guy has those drugs rotting his brain, can’t solve a fairly straight forward murder case and can’t make a lick of sense in his promos. Acting like a damn kid talking about how all the bigger boys stole his toys and everything should be handed to him on a platter. Like the world owes him after he fell out head first and slid down his mother’s shit stained crack into the start of his miserable life.

This match is important to me. And I am not going down without a fucking fight.

I get to where I dropped of Scarlett and look for her. As if she’s waiting up for me or something. I start to move on.

SCARLETT: “Hey!”

*She leans out of her apartment window*

“Hey.”

*They pause, smiling at each other*

SCARLETT: “You want to come in for a cup of coffee? You look pretty cold.”

If I said no, it would have been the dumbest mistake I’ve ever made. So of course, I said yes. Maybe I will get a good night’s sleep, or maybe not.