Post by MW on Jan 1, 2024 21:45:44 GMT -5
~A hand reaches out, sliding a dollar into a jukebox. The selection rolls over and over and over…we reach the ‘Bs’. Right past Bob Dylan. Right past The Beatles. Right past Billy Joel. Finally landing on Backstreet Boys. The hand hits play. “I Want it That Way” fires up as our shot pans out to get a view of the music expert. He turns around revealing his identity - Marcus Welsh. He walks what looks to be his tired existence to a nearby table in this local, hole-in-the-wall, smokey bar. Taking a seat, he finds himself across from Adi Gold~
Adi: …they just don’t make them like they used to.
~Welsh leans back. His arms atop the table, resting lazily around his drink. The liquid is clear with a lime accoutrement. Probably a Gin & Tonic. His eyes gaze down…at the drink…through it, beyond it. Adi sips on her drink, a Lavender Haze Cocktail.~
Adi: This is so good. It’s the same drink Taylor Swift drinks when she gets hammered. And I am not-NOT going to drink what the Swift drinks, right? How is yours?
~Welsh sighs and raises an eyebrow. It doesn’t correspond with anything Adi’s said. Adi stirs her drink a little louder. Welsh slowly looks up and catches her gaze…he sits up~
Welsh: I’m sorry, did you say something?
~Adi freezes for a second. Not remembering what she said.~
Adi: Ha… yes? You ok? You’re not, right? I knew a weird foreign country with those hoodlums would be too intense. That’s why I didn’t go… only reason. No other reason. That’s why. But whatever happened to you over there.. You can speak to me. Tell me whatever. Spill the beans.. Get it off your chest…spill the… wait…
~Welsh nods. His right hand finds his drink and spins it around, thoughtfully before picking it up and slamming most of it back. He sits up and leans forward~
Welsh: Have you ever had a dream that felt…I don’t know. Real? Like not a premonition or anything but like it actually happened?
~Adi shakes her head ‘no’.~
Adi: Of course I have. I think it happens to all of us, ya know? Of course my landlord and I could ride one of those lawnmowers together… in our bathing suits… but you know it would never happen. Why? What did you dream of? If it’s lotto numbers we should write them down…
~Welsh finishes his drink and leans back. His expression takes a turn for the worst. Adi leans in, feeling like she said something to offend him. He reaches into his pocket and throws a crumpled piece of paper onto the table. He nods his head at it. She picks the paper up and straightens it out~
Welsh: They didn’t work. Cost me like a hundred bucks.
~Adi looks down at the lucky lotto numbers Welsh had in a dream. “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.”~
Adi: That’s madness. Those numbers are the same ones I use for my PornHub password. Weird. Is.. that all you dreamed? Something happened. I’ve worked on films. And I know when the best actors are hiding something. Once.. Billy Zane told me he didn’t have Burger King for lunch… while he was showering… What did I find? Burger King wrappers hidden between his trailer's sofa. So.. what’s on your mind?
~Welsh grips the bottom of his face with his right hand and squeezes, running it down to his chin before scratching at his facial scruff…he finally says ‘fuck it’ and leans in~
Welsh: Okay so have you seen A Christmas Carol or read the book…you know, the movie with the three ghosts visiting the rich old man. Michael Caine
~Adi looks at him~
Welsh: My Cocaine
~It clicks. Adi nods her head ‘yes’.~
Adi: No… never heard of it. Did that happen to you?
Welsh: Yea. Well, kinda…I don’t know. I had this weird dream with Alice Knight…ya heard of her? She was my guide…I met Curt Canon…then Meyhu…and then this sexy ghost woman…I…I’d rather not go into her…again.
~Welsh smirks at his own joke. Adi doesn’t get it. He quickly moves along~
Welsh: Anyway…the message was clear. Retire. Get out of pro wrestling before it’s too late.
~Adi stops drinking. Shocked. She gently puts down her drink. She leans in towards Marcus.~
Adi: … retire? But you’re the king! Or as our young folks say.. The SHIZ-NIZZ! God I’d make such a cool young chick. I’d own it. But seriously.. You’re the best. Everything you touch turns into a masterpiece. You have so much to offer to this business. Are you like.. Considering it? Because of the Ghostbusters dream?
Welsh: Normally, no. My teams have won both Trials. TRIAD’s the biggest thing in pro wrestling and it’s not even close. I’m so close to getting what I want. But…
~He leans in and lowers his voice. Adi leans in, too~
Adi: There were Ghostbusters, weren’t there?
Welsh: No…but when I woke up I had…dirt behind my ear. And there was an hour glass in the shape of two elephants. All this stuff from my dream was in my room…it was…
Adi: … How many heavy-doobies did you do before bed?
Welsh: What? No. I had a glass of water. Watched some light comedy after a hot shower and…
~He sees Adi’s expression change when she hears about his shower~
Welsh: Okay, let’s just relax. Back on topic, the point is…the ghost woman made it very clear that if I don’t get out now…as in before The Wit Trials then I’m going to ruin my career and, potentially…my life.
~Adi smirks.~
Adi: Imagine being a bar of soap. Damn.
~She shakes her head back to reality.~
Adi: Sorry. Your life? But.. getting the TRIAD pieces will stop that, right? You get the TRIAD.. You get it all? You’re so close. Why stop now?
Welsh: There’s this overwhelming sense of dread…I…
~He leans back, defeated~
Welsh: It just feels…I don’t know, I can’t explain it.
~Silence. Neither really knows what to say. “Mmmbop” by Hanson begins to play as a big hairy man in all leather leaves the jukebox~
Welsh: I’m just so close. One more trial. I can get away with it, can’t I? Get out when it’s over?
~Adi gently grabs Welsh’s hands. He is put off a bit but she doesn’t let go.~
Adi: Plant a seed. Plant a flower. Plant a rose. But you can’t plant any of those.. But guess what? You gotta keep planting to see if it grows. A secret no one knows. No. One. Knows…
~Welsh looks at Adi with a ‘wtf’ impression. She squeezes Marcus’ hands tighter.~
Adi: MmBop. You have so much to offer. So many seeds to plant. And in order for your flower to bloom. You need to keep watering it. This wrestling industry? Needs you to keep feeding it the water. And with that TRIAD. Imagine the good you will be able to give this business. Mmbop..
~Adi lets go of his hands. Grabs her drink. Takes a sip as she leans back in her chair.~
Adi: Fuuckin’ Mmbop…
~Welsh smiles and knocks on the table with the knuckle to his middle finger. Adi leans in. Welsh takes his hand, runs it down the side of her head before placing his thumb on her chin~
Welsh: Thanks. That helped.
~Mmmbop is really picking up. Welsh starts to move to it. Adi does the same~
Welsh: Shall we?
Adi: Yes!
~He takes her hand and leads her to the dance floor. They hop around to the beat. Our view pulls out as a bunch of fat, hairy, leather clad bikers dance their way onto the floor. Before too long Welsh is surrounded by them as Adi is off dancing by herself. We pull out of the bar and out to Welsh’s car where the moonlight hits off something…we zoom in and see the dual elephant hour glass…the sand keeps pouring~
Adi: …they just don’t make them like they used to.
~Welsh leans back. His arms atop the table, resting lazily around his drink. The liquid is clear with a lime accoutrement. Probably a Gin & Tonic. His eyes gaze down…at the drink…through it, beyond it. Adi sips on her drink, a Lavender Haze Cocktail.~
Adi: This is so good. It’s the same drink Taylor Swift drinks when she gets hammered. And I am not-NOT going to drink what the Swift drinks, right? How is yours?
~Welsh sighs and raises an eyebrow. It doesn’t correspond with anything Adi’s said. Adi stirs her drink a little louder. Welsh slowly looks up and catches her gaze…he sits up~
Welsh: I’m sorry, did you say something?
~Adi freezes for a second. Not remembering what she said.~
Adi: Ha… yes? You ok? You’re not, right? I knew a weird foreign country with those hoodlums would be too intense. That’s why I didn’t go… only reason. No other reason. That’s why. But whatever happened to you over there.. You can speak to me. Tell me whatever. Spill the beans.. Get it off your chest…spill the… wait…
~Welsh nods. His right hand finds his drink and spins it around, thoughtfully before picking it up and slamming most of it back. He sits up and leans forward~
Welsh: Have you ever had a dream that felt…I don’t know. Real? Like not a premonition or anything but like it actually happened?
~Adi shakes her head ‘no’.~
Adi: Of course I have. I think it happens to all of us, ya know? Of course my landlord and I could ride one of those lawnmowers together… in our bathing suits… but you know it would never happen. Why? What did you dream of? If it’s lotto numbers we should write them down…
~Welsh finishes his drink and leans back. His expression takes a turn for the worst. Adi leans in, feeling like she said something to offend him. He reaches into his pocket and throws a crumpled piece of paper onto the table. He nods his head at it. She picks the paper up and straightens it out~
Welsh: They didn’t work. Cost me like a hundred bucks.
~Adi looks down at the lucky lotto numbers Welsh had in a dream. “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.”~
Adi: That’s madness. Those numbers are the same ones I use for my PornHub password. Weird. Is.. that all you dreamed? Something happened. I’ve worked on films. And I know when the best actors are hiding something. Once.. Billy Zane told me he didn’t have Burger King for lunch… while he was showering… What did I find? Burger King wrappers hidden between his trailer's sofa. So.. what’s on your mind?
~Welsh grips the bottom of his face with his right hand and squeezes, running it down to his chin before scratching at his facial scruff…he finally says ‘fuck it’ and leans in~
Welsh: Okay so have you seen A Christmas Carol or read the book…you know, the movie with the three ghosts visiting the rich old man. Michael Caine
~Adi looks at him~
Welsh: My Cocaine
~It clicks. Adi nods her head ‘yes’.~
Adi: No… never heard of it. Did that happen to you?
Welsh: Yea. Well, kinda…I don’t know. I had this weird dream with Alice Knight…ya heard of her? She was my guide…I met Curt Canon…then Meyhu…and then this sexy ghost woman…I…I’d rather not go into her…again.
~Welsh smirks at his own joke. Adi doesn’t get it. He quickly moves along~
Welsh: Anyway…the message was clear. Retire. Get out of pro wrestling before it’s too late.
~Adi stops drinking. Shocked. She gently puts down her drink. She leans in towards Marcus.~
Adi: … retire? But you’re the king! Or as our young folks say.. The SHIZ-NIZZ! God I’d make such a cool young chick. I’d own it. But seriously.. You’re the best. Everything you touch turns into a masterpiece. You have so much to offer to this business. Are you like.. Considering it? Because of the Ghostbusters dream?
Welsh: Normally, no. My teams have won both Trials. TRIAD’s the biggest thing in pro wrestling and it’s not even close. I’m so close to getting what I want. But…
~He leans in and lowers his voice. Adi leans in, too~
Adi: There were Ghostbusters, weren’t there?
Welsh: No…but when I woke up I had…dirt behind my ear. And there was an hour glass in the shape of two elephants. All this stuff from my dream was in my room…it was…
Adi: … How many heavy-doobies did you do before bed?
Welsh: What? No. I had a glass of water. Watched some light comedy after a hot shower and…
~He sees Adi’s expression change when she hears about his shower~
Welsh: Okay, let’s just relax. Back on topic, the point is…the ghost woman made it very clear that if I don’t get out now…as in before The Wit Trials then I’m going to ruin my career and, potentially…my life.
~Adi smirks.~
Adi: Imagine being a bar of soap. Damn.
~She shakes her head back to reality.~
Adi: Sorry. Your life? But.. getting the TRIAD pieces will stop that, right? You get the TRIAD.. You get it all? You’re so close. Why stop now?
Welsh: There’s this overwhelming sense of dread…I…
~He leans back, defeated~
Welsh: It just feels…I don’t know, I can’t explain it.
~Silence. Neither really knows what to say. “Mmmbop” by Hanson begins to play as a big hairy man in all leather leaves the jukebox~
Welsh: I’m just so close. One more trial. I can get away with it, can’t I? Get out when it’s over?
~Adi gently grabs Welsh’s hands. He is put off a bit but she doesn’t let go.~
Adi: Plant a seed. Plant a flower. Plant a rose. But you can’t plant any of those.. But guess what? You gotta keep planting to see if it grows. A secret no one knows. No. One. Knows…
~Welsh looks at Adi with a ‘wtf’ impression. She squeezes Marcus’ hands tighter.~
Adi: MmBop. You have so much to offer. So many seeds to plant. And in order for your flower to bloom. You need to keep watering it. This wrestling industry? Needs you to keep feeding it the water. And with that TRIAD. Imagine the good you will be able to give this business. Mmbop..
~Adi lets go of his hands. Grabs her drink. Takes a sip as she leans back in her chair.~
Adi: Fuuckin’ Mmbop…
~Welsh smiles and knocks on the table with the knuckle to his middle finger. Adi leans in. Welsh takes his hand, runs it down the side of her head before placing his thumb on her chin~
Welsh: Thanks. That helped.
~Mmmbop is really picking up. Welsh starts to move to it. Adi does the same~
Welsh: Shall we?
Adi: Yes!
~He takes her hand and leads her to the dance floor. They hop around to the beat. Our view pulls out as a bunch of fat, hairy, leather clad bikers dance their way onto the floor. Before too long Welsh is surrounded by them as Adi is off dancing by herself. We pull out of the bar and out to Welsh’s car where the moonlight hits off something…we zoom in and see the dual elephant hour glass…the sand keeps pouring~