Post by James Nightingale on Nov 22, 2019 7:15:16 GMT -5
Shattered Dreams
The Palace – January 20th 2002
One!
Two!
Three!
DING DING DING
Ring Announcer “Here is your winner of The British Top Prospect Tournament….. JAMES HARRISON!!!”
James is overcome with emotion as he gingerly returns to his feet, the referee raising his arm in victory. Frank Clark, considered to be the top promoter on the British Wrestling scene slowly walks up the steps, carrying the trophy in his hands; the referee lowers the rope to help the overweight promoter to the ring. He signals for a microphone.
Frank “There we have it folks, what a tournament we have had this year. Frank always delivers a big show and boy haven’t we got ourselves a talent here in James Harrison. Put your hands together for James, show him some appreciation”
The Palace crowd breaks into rapture as they show James the appreciation he deserved. James puts his hands together and bows his head, showing his appreciation for the crowd. He then faces Frank ready to receive his trophy.
Frank “On behalf of the Wrestling Commission of Great Britain I am honoured to present you with this prestigious trophy”
James takes the trophy and lifts it in the air, overcome with emotion. He walks to the corner and climbs to the second rope of the turnbuckle and lifts the trophy in the air.
James, with overcome with emotion “ALICE!!! I DID THIS FOR YOU BABY”
The broadcast ends focusing on James with his trophy.
A short time later…
James hobbles through the curtain, visibly in pain. He had wrestled three nights in a row. His leg still injured from his recent excursion from Japan, his chest bright red from repeated chops that night. He makes his way past Frank who is busy counting money, finally raising his eyesight to James.
Frank “Good showing tonight kid, I’m sure the scouts will have loved your work tonight, go get yourself cleaned up and we will talk”
James “Thanks Frank I appreciate it”.
James hobbles down the corridor and into the changing room. He slumps down on a chair and puts the trophy next to him. He pulls his bag over to his feet and grabs his phone, an old beaten up Nokia 3210. He starts looking at messages.
From Alice:
Baby I am so proud of you. You’ve made your girls proud. Come back to us, Love A XOXOX
James has a smile from ear to ear, realising that his dreams are coming to fruition. He puts his phone back in his bag and pulls out a brochure titled:
University of South England - School of Nursing 2002
James, deep in thought “I’m not going to need this now. With the money I make tonight it’s going to set us up for a while. I can live my dream and provide for my family. I wonder if these scouts will be coming to the back to talk over my matches. Would be great to get some feedback and you never know something better might come out of it. Right need to get in that shower and get my shit together”.
A short time later James exits the changing room fully dressed, with his bag over his shoulder and the trophy under his arm. He is trying to find Frank, but he can’t spot him. He stops one of the production crew.
James “Hey have you seen Frank? He said he was going to catch up with me once I was sorted.”
Production crew guy, peering over his paperwork “He just left kid”
James “WHAT THE FUCK!?! Which way did he go?”
The production crew guy points to the exit. Desperate, James hobbles as quickly as he can out the door. He makes it to the car park and spots Frank getting ready to make his exit in his luxury, freshly waxed Mercedes Benz.
James “HEY FRANK!... FRANK!!”
Frank stops dead, his face looking worried knowing he has been caught on the run. He quickly turns with a fake smile on his face and talks to James as if nothing is wrong.
Frank “Hey kid how can I help?”
James, looking a mixture of confused and angry “What’s going on Frank? You were supposed to see me after I got sorted. My money, the scouts? I’m starting to feel like you’re trying to pull a fast one here.”
Frank “Oh yeah… the scouts…. urm. They had to go but I’m sure they were impressed. I promise I will get some feedback for you.”
James, still visibly upset “Well what about my money?”
Frank pulls out his wallet and pulls out a small wad of money, handing it over to James.
Frank “Oh yeah I forgot about your money, here you go kid”
James looks at the money and counts it, an anger setting into his gaze.
James “Frank you told me 5 figures guaranteed…. 5 FIGURES! THERE IS 300 QUID HERE… 300 FUCKING QUID!!!”
Frank, now looking very uncomfortable “Sorry kid the gate was down.”
James, now steaming angry “BULLSHIT!! The gate wasn’t down, we’ve sold out The Palace three nights in a row, we have a fucking TV deal, and we have sold all our merch. You take me for a god damn fool Frank. You are fucking weak. You think you can short change me? I have broken my body for you Frank, I gave you my word that I would deliver a show and I have. And you cannot keep your word you greedy bastard! Just look at your fucking car! You are taking the money that I have earned.”
Frank shuffles through his pocket pulls out a cigar. He then pulls out a gold plated cigar cutter, and cuts the end of his cigar. He places the cigar in his mouth and lights it, finally looking up at James “Don’t do something you will regret kid, I own this island, I can make or break your career. Remember who you are talking to.”
James, now face to face with Frank “Fuck you Frank, I am desperate. I have a baby on the way. I gave Alice my word that I would bring that money home. I want what’s owed to me.”
Frank “This conversation is over, I’m leave….”
Before Frank can even finish his sentence, James loses his temper, shoving Frank into his Mercedes and crumpling to the ground, the cigar falling out of his mouth and money pouring out of his pockets and all over the floor like an ATM machine malfunctioning.
James, now talking in a calm voice “Frank, you are weakness, you are a piece of shit. Just look at you, pathetic. If I wanted I could take all this money and there would be nothing you could do to stop me. But I have honour Frank, I have pride, and I have a family to feed. And I can’t do that from a prison cell. What would my daughter think if I were to beat and rob a big fat waste of space in this car park like yourself huh Frank?” James kneels down next to Frank “And trust me there is nothing more I would like to do right now then beat your fat ass. Remember this face Frank, remember what happened here tonight. I know our paths with cross again in the future.”
James gets up off the ground and turns away walking towards his bag and trophy, picking them up, and walking away into the night. Frank slowly gets to his feet and begins to pick up his money.
Frank yells “YOUR FINISHED KID…. FINISHED!! I OWN THIS ISLAND AND I WILL SEE IT THAT YOU NEVER GET ANOTHER BOOKING AGAIN!!!”
James keeps walking, never turning his head to Frank. However his face was filling with emotion, realising that his dreams died that night….
Monday Night Clash – November 18th 2019
In a dark room inside the Slickie T Casino & Sports Bar, sits James Nightingale following an eventful debut night in Action Wrestling. He is sat in his chair deep in thought. He had overcome two opponents in his debut match, defeating both Tennessee Sinclair and Razzles Mars, the latter proving a formidable foe, a bright, colourful young talent polar opposite to his older, dark exterior. Although considered a newbie in Action Wrestling, Nightingale is older, wiser, his eyes beholding years of experience in the world, ravaged with scars, both physically and emotionally. He later blindsided and attacked Malachi White, an unprovoked attack, leaving him broken on the floor. Was this a random attack or the first shot fired in a long battle? What were Nightingales intentions? He remained sat there deep in thought.
“People will wonder why I do the things I do? Why do I attack the weak? Why is he a bully? He’s a creep, he’s a madman. Am I? Who knows, do I know? I don’t know any more what I am. 17 years ago I had the world at my feet. I was the top prospect. I could have gone and wrestled anywhere and earned a fortune in the process. But no… weakness overcame me.”
James stands up and picks up the Top Prospect Trophy from his bag
“I should have been stronger that night and taken what was mine, what was owed to me. Instead I thought of others and walked away. Ending my dreams, I didn’t wrestle again for years, blacklisted from the UK scene. But you see now my eyes are wide open, my goal is clear to see. I am no longer weak, I am The Angel of Death, I determine who is weak, and I eradicate the weak. I am no longer the victim, I turn people into victims. Malachi White, in that one moment, nursing your injuries following your defeat, your weakness was clear for me to see. I am watching you Malachi; I stand in the shadows, studying, cross examining, working out my opponent’s traits and weaknesses. If you get medically cleared for Turmoil then we will meet in the ring, no blind side attacks, no not this time. You will look into my eyes and will see the fury, the rage, the pain behind them before I unleash my wrath on you. These are not the words of a mad man no, these are the words of The Angel of Death, and he is coming to Turmoil to eradicate you, pray for mercy”
James drops the trophy and walks to the window, his open bag now in focus. Inside, Frank’s cigar cutter, with blood stains around the hole. What was Frank’s fate, did he fall victim to The Angel of Death?......