Post by kidcage on Feb 25, 2022 19:36:05 GMT -5
(The camera opens up to the backstage area of the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The fans are gone, UP Wrestling’s roster has filed out back to their hotels or home. In the dark of the arena, as a ring begins to get torn down, a single figure stand in the darkness. A bandage on his head covers fresh stitches, where his t-shirt and shorts don’t cover, bruises are beginning to form. A black knee brace is locked on his left knee. With an old, beat-up 1984 Olympic gym bag over his shoulder, Cage looks toward the ring. As he stands there, Mia Garcia steps into the frame.)
MIA: Cage?
(Cage turns around, his right eye blackened, his lip swollen, but he smiles.)
CAGE: Hi Mia.
MIA: Cage… you won your third Dare of Dare but you were left in the back as Ron Masterson and his friends shocked everyone by turning on you. You were nearly killed in your match, and yet you are still standing here, the last wrestler to leave.
(Cage continues staring at the ring, then back to Mia.)
CAGE: Yeah, funny how that works, huh?
MIA: So, with recent events – will we be seeing you at Friday Night Free for All in a few weeks.
CAGE: No.
MIA: No? But Ron Masterson was your student, your friend, and…
CAGE: And nothing. (Cage turns to Mia) Ron Masterson has made his choice. He has decided that going forward, his career is about himself, no limits, no restraints. That’s his choice. Mine hasn’t changed.
MIA: So you’re done?
CAGE: Tonight, everyone in this building, from fans to wrestlers, you, Anderson, Lobo, Oliver, V, even Wu – allowed me to go out the way I wanted to. In that ring. One last time. One more challenge. I said that I’d be done when the clock struck twenty years. I said it as soon as I got here, I’m not going back on that. UP Wrestling gave me a home for nine months, they came to Phoenix, my backyard, to give me one last match in front of people in this arena. There’s nothing I can even think of to live up to that for my career.
MIA: And you are going to let Ron…
CAGE: Ron made his choice. I have no regrets for his choices. I have no regrets looking back, and even less going forward.
(Cage lets out a deep breath, turning from the ring.)
CAGE: That ring has been a source of pride for me for twenty years. It’s in great hands going forward. The only way it goes is UP from here.
(The sound of footsteps are heard, and Mia turns to see a young woman and two young children standing with her.)
YOUNG GIRL’S VOICE: Daddy, are you ready?
CAGE: Yeah kiddo, I’m ready.
(Cage turns and hugs his wife and oldest daughter, lifting the youngest in a hug as well.)
MIA: Cage?
(Cage turns back.)
CAGE: Yeah?
MIA: Thanks.
(Cage smiles and nods.)
CAGE: It was my honor. And call me Matt.
(Cage smiles once more time, turning and walking out of the arena with his wife and girls. Fade to black… The End. Thank you.)
MIA: Cage?
(Cage turns around, his right eye blackened, his lip swollen, but he smiles.)
CAGE: Hi Mia.
MIA: Cage… you won your third Dare of Dare but you were left in the back as Ron Masterson and his friends shocked everyone by turning on you. You were nearly killed in your match, and yet you are still standing here, the last wrestler to leave.
(Cage continues staring at the ring, then back to Mia.)
CAGE: Yeah, funny how that works, huh?
MIA: So, with recent events – will we be seeing you at Friday Night Free for All in a few weeks.
CAGE: No.
MIA: No? But Ron Masterson was your student, your friend, and…
CAGE: And nothing. (Cage turns to Mia) Ron Masterson has made his choice. He has decided that going forward, his career is about himself, no limits, no restraints. That’s his choice. Mine hasn’t changed.
MIA: So you’re done?
CAGE: Tonight, everyone in this building, from fans to wrestlers, you, Anderson, Lobo, Oliver, V, even Wu – allowed me to go out the way I wanted to. In that ring. One last time. One more challenge. I said that I’d be done when the clock struck twenty years. I said it as soon as I got here, I’m not going back on that. UP Wrestling gave me a home for nine months, they came to Phoenix, my backyard, to give me one last match in front of people in this arena. There’s nothing I can even think of to live up to that for my career.
MIA: And you are going to let Ron…
CAGE: Ron made his choice. I have no regrets for his choices. I have no regrets looking back, and even less going forward.
(Cage lets out a deep breath, turning from the ring.)
CAGE: That ring has been a source of pride for me for twenty years. It’s in great hands going forward. The only way it goes is UP from here.
(The sound of footsteps are heard, and Mia turns to see a young woman and two young children standing with her.)
YOUNG GIRL’S VOICE: Daddy, are you ready?
CAGE: Yeah kiddo, I’m ready.
(Cage turns and hugs his wife and oldest daughter, lifting the youngest in a hug as well.)
MIA: Cage?
(Cage turns back.)
CAGE: Yeah?
MIA: Thanks.
(Cage smiles and nods.)
CAGE: It was my honor. And call me Matt.
(Cage smiles once more time, turning and walking out of the arena with his wife and girls. Fade to black… The End. Thank you.)