Post by Jackson Grace on Nov 9, 2017 6:26:20 GMT -5
We open on a plane. The same plane that we saw bringing FWA talent into Russia for the inaugural showing of Coldwars. It's moving at a steady pace and we hear something over the speakers that we plan to be arriving back in London nicely on time. Presumably this is the pilot speaking. Panning out, we see the FWA Coldwars Championship sitting on the table in front of the Champion, Jackson Grace. He's simply sitting there staring at it. Marvelling at the fact a guy going out for his first fights has managed to overcome the odds and bring back what everyone else is fighting for! Vanessa and the kids will be so proud! Jackson powers up Skype on his phone and uses it to call home.
RING RING
Hey baby!
Hi, my love! Sorry to call you so late, what time is it there?
It's ummm...4am. What's up?
I'm so sorry! I never do get my head around these time differences. Want me to let you sleep?
Nah, it's ok. I've been half expecting the call anyway, since I've been tracking your flight. The kids are in bed, obviously.
Of course, they have school tomorrow.
Yeah, I told them they can come out early once you're home though. They were going to take the day off, but how often does a kid get chance to say their Dad is the new Coldwars Champion? You can pick them up and be their hero!
That sounds amazing!
How are you feeling anyway?
Jackson looks at the picture in picture display of himself. There's no way he can hide the state he is in from his wife. His face is battered, bruised. His arms are red from the heat of the flames he was forced to scale across to retrieve his title. His cuts are still freshly stitched by the Russian Doctor that FWA had on call for the event.
I'm about as good as can be, I think!
So how long do you get to keep the title for? Do you have to take it back next year or something?
In this moment, Jackson realises that Vanessa has no idea that now he is the Champion, it's not a one shot deal anymore.
Well erm....Baby are you there? I---connection-----
Jackson hits the hang up button. Surely his Wife will know that was a poor attempt at dodging the question and a terrible attempt at faking a loss of signal. He never was a good liar, but now he has to worry about telling her face to face. He starts to think out loud about the situation.
Well now I have to go home and explain that not only am I the reigning and defending Coldwars Champion, having to defend this every two weeks, I've also been signed to a Champions contract, increasing my wages by 10% every show. Another $25,000 per night. Insane money and I'd be a fool to turn it down, right?
He accepts a drink from a young almost Bond-girl looking air hostess. She smiles at him briefly as he takes a sip of his drink.
Can I ask you something?
Of course, Mr Grace. What is troubling you?
How would you react to the predicament I find myself in? If it were you...Coming out here to fight for a night and earn enough to settle financially, to then become the Champion and have enough to ensure your kids are safe, you never worry about money again and your wife doesn't have to work if she doesn't want to anymore?
That hardly sounds like a problem, Mr Grace.
Well now she's going to have to look after the kids any time I disappear from town. It's going to turn our lives upside down and above all....I'm not sure about the legitimacy of this business. Know what I mean?
How so?
Well we already have our owner offering deals, paying off henchmen and organizing the brutal attacks of young women who seem nothing if not honest.
Mr. Kosloff is an honourable man...I'm not sure what you imply, here.
Jackson grasps the fact that he's talking to one of Duke's employees here and shuts the conversation down quickly before he incriminates himself. The hostess excuses herself and goes back to the cabin as he continues to muse to himself.
Just how legit is FWA? Am I imagining it? I mean sure, Duke restarting the match could have been taken as just trying to up the ante, so to speak. Though what if he was trying to screw me out of the title? What if he wanted Dackle to take it? If he paid off too? Nah! I think I just need to sleep!
Jackson rest his head against the pillow and closes his eyes, the world fades into a trance like state as he drifts off to sleep.
We come back and see Jackson walking through Heathrow airport. It's now noon UK time and he has his wheely bag being dragged in one hand, while his other hand proudly holds his Coldwars Championship belt over his shoulder. People are stopping, staring. Do they recognise him after just one show? Or are they just wondering why a grown man is carrying a Wrestling belt through customs? After a few seconds, he spots Vanessa looking anxiously out over the runway through a window. He moves over quickly and sneaks up behind her, putting his arms around her.
How about a photo with the Champ?
Baby!!
Didn't track my flight that well, did you?
No, was it a private jet?
Yeah, I don't know the specifics, nor do I want to, but it flies pretty close to the commercial jet that's due in around 15 minutes or so.
Well let's get home, you can swing in with that belt and pick your kids up from School.
They link hands and proceed to walk out towards the exit.
Oh and don't think I forgot about your bad reception stunt you pulled back there. I'll get whatever it is you're not telling me out of you.
Vanessa puts on a faux-Russian accent.
Mr Grace....We have ways of making you talk!
Jackson winces uncomfortably as they walk hand in hand out of the doors of the airport and the scene fades.
We appear outside the Grace household and see Jackson's car pull up outside. It comes to a stop and we still see the bouncing of the car from two overly-excited kids bouncing around and screaming. Jackson climbs out slowly and lets the kids out. Anthony is gripping the Coldwars Championship belt with a vice-like grip as he runs into the house, his sister chasing after him. Jackson walks gingerly into the house and drops onto the sofa with a groan. Vanesssa brings him a cup of tea and kisses him on the forehead, right above the set of stitches he had put in. She sits down next to him and they snuggle up on the sofa while the kids play.
So what was it you're keeping from me?
Well erm....Now I'm Champion...I kind of have to defend it.
When?
Every other week. The shows are fortnightly and they've offered me a Champions contract, which means that title has to be defended every show.
What?!
I know, I didn't think about it, because I expected to get beat down and sent home mortgage free. But here I am. The upside is I also make more money than before.
How much more?
Enough to cover your yearly salary...
Well that's not much more is it?
...Every other week. I'll be making an additional $25,000 each show I work, meaning you literally could phone work right now and quit if you wanted to.
Oh my God!
Yeah it's a ton of money.
How can a start up company have so much money to throw around?
I-errr--Don't know. They held a show in a prison, so I'm assuming there's much more than meets the eye, but provided I-we get paid...I don't see it as my business, know what I mean?
Yeah, I guess. I'm not going to act like I'm happy about this though! You going off around the world every other week!
I know you're not. I'm going to have Gemma take a more managerial role in the company, pay her a little more and have her handle the day to day running of it while I'm away.
Well at least that's taken care of! But I don't want to see any more of this!
Vanessa pokes Jackson's wound as he flinches in pain. She snuggles up to him tighter as they relax, taking another drink.
So what's the story with that girl?
Girl? Oh Lethe! She seems a nice girl. A little confused about who she really is, but she seems a good egg.
Is she OK? I can't wait to see that Wyatt guy get his comeuppance for what he did to her!
Well we best hope that's soon. As part of payment for those services, Mr Kosloff awarded him a shot at me next time around on Coldwars. I guess I'll have to be the guy to stop him.
Baby, be careful! Guys like him have been doing this years! I know you're happy with the money you'll be pulling in now, but think of the fact that if something happens to you, we'll be making 10% extra on nothing!
I know and it certainly wasn't my choice. The announcement literally gatecrashed my celebration. For now though can we just enjoy this?
The kids come running in, crashing on the sofa. Anthony passes Jackson's title belt back to him and they all huddle up tightly on the sofa as a TV show starts. This is family time now.
RING RING
Hey baby!
Hi, my love! Sorry to call you so late, what time is it there?
It's ummm...4am. What's up?
I'm so sorry! I never do get my head around these time differences. Want me to let you sleep?
Nah, it's ok. I've been half expecting the call anyway, since I've been tracking your flight. The kids are in bed, obviously.
Of course, they have school tomorrow.
Yeah, I told them they can come out early once you're home though. They were going to take the day off, but how often does a kid get chance to say their Dad is the new Coldwars Champion? You can pick them up and be their hero!
That sounds amazing!
How are you feeling anyway?
Jackson looks at the picture in picture display of himself. There's no way he can hide the state he is in from his wife. His face is battered, bruised. His arms are red from the heat of the flames he was forced to scale across to retrieve his title. His cuts are still freshly stitched by the Russian Doctor that FWA had on call for the event.
I'm about as good as can be, I think!
So how long do you get to keep the title for? Do you have to take it back next year or something?
In this moment, Jackson realises that Vanessa has no idea that now he is the Champion, it's not a one shot deal anymore.
Well erm....Baby are you there? I---connection-----
Jackson hits the hang up button. Surely his Wife will know that was a poor attempt at dodging the question and a terrible attempt at faking a loss of signal. He never was a good liar, but now he has to worry about telling her face to face. He starts to think out loud about the situation.
Well now I have to go home and explain that not only am I the reigning and defending Coldwars Champion, having to defend this every two weeks, I've also been signed to a Champions contract, increasing my wages by 10% every show. Another $25,000 per night. Insane money and I'd be a fool to turn it down, right?
He accepts a drink from a young almost Bond-girl looking air hostess. She smiles at him briefly as he takes a sip of his drink.
Can I ask you something?
Of course, Mr Grace. What is troubling you?
How would you react to the predicament I find myself in? If it were you...Coming out here to fight for a night and earn enough to settle financially, to then become the Champion and have enough to ensure your kids are safe, you never worry about money again and your wife doesn't have to work if she doesn't want to anymore?
That hardly sounds like a problem, Mr Grace.
Well now she's going to have to look after the kids any time I disappear from town. It's going to turn our lives upside down and above all....I'm not sure about the legitimacy of this business. Know what I mean?
How so?
Well we already have our owner offering deals, paying off henchmen and organizing the brutal attacks of young women who seem nothing if not honest.
Mr. Kosloff is an honourable man...I'm not sure what you imply, here.
Jackson grasps the fact that he's talking to one of Duke's employees here and shuts the conversation down quickly before he incriminates himself. The hostess excuses herself and goes back to the cabin as he continues to muse to himself.
Just how legit is FWA? Am I imagining it? I mean sure, Duke restarting the match could have been taken as just trying to up the ante, so to speak. Though what if he was trying to screw me out of the title? What if he wanted Dackle to take it? If he paid off too? Nah! I think I just need to sleep!
Jackson rest his head against the pillow and closes his eyes, the world fades into a trance like state as he drifts off to sleep.
We come back and see Jackson walking through Heathrow airport. It's now noon UK time and he has his wheely bag being dragged in one hand, while his other hand proudly holds his Coldwars Championship belt over his shoulder. People are stopping, staring. Do they recognise him after just one show? Or are they just wondering why a grown man is carrying a Wrestling belt through customs? After a few seconds, he spots Vanessa looking anxiously out over the runway through a window. He moves over quickly and sneaks up behind her, putting his arms around her.
How about a photo with the Champ?
Baby!!
Didn't track my flight that well, did you?
No, was it a private jet?
Yeah, I don't know the specifics, nor do I want to, but it flies pretty close to the commercial jet that's due in around 15 minutes or so.
Well let's get home, you can swing in with that belt and pick your kids up from School.
They link hands and proceed to walk out towards the exit.
Oh and don't think I forgot about your bad reception stunt you pulled back there. I'll get whatever it is you're not telling me out of you.
Vanessa puts on a faux-Russian accent.
Mr Grace....We have ways of making you talk!
Jackson winces uncomfortably as they walk hand in hand out of the doors of the airport and the scene fades.
We appear outside the Grace household and see Jackson's car pull up outside. It comes to a stop and we still see the bouncing of the car from two overly-excited kids bouncing around and screaming. Jackson climbs out slowly and lets the kids out. Anthony is gripping the Coldwars Championship belt with a vice-like grip as he runs into the house, his sister chasing after him. Jackson walks gingerly into the house and drops onto the sofa with a groan. Vanesssa brings him a cup of tea and kisses him on the forehead, right above the set of stitches he had put in. She sits down next to him and they snuggle up on the sofa while the kids play.
So what was it you're keeping from me?
Well erm....Now I'm Champion...I kind of have to defend it.
When?
Every other week. The shows are fortnightly and they've offered me a Champions contract, which means that title has to be defended every show.
What?!
I know, I didn't think about it, because I expected to get beat down and sent home mortgage free. But here I am. The upside is I also make more money than before.
How much more?
Enough to cover your yearly salary...
Well that's not much more is it?
...Every other week. I'll be making an additional $25,000 each show I work, meaning you literally could phone work right now and quit if you wanted to.
Oh my God!
Yeah it's a ton of money.
How can a start up company have so much money to throw around?
I-errr--Don't know. They held a show in a prison, so I'm assuming there's much more than meets the eye, but provided I-we get paid...I don't see it as my business, know what I mean?
Yeah, I guess. I'm not going to act like I'm happy about this though! You going off around the world every other week!
I know you're not. I'm going to have Gemma take a more managerial role in the company, pay her a little more and have her handle the day to day running of it while I'm away.
Well at least that's taken care of! But I don't want to see any more of this!
Vanessa pokes Jackson's wound as he flinches in pain. She snuggles up to him tighter as they relax, taking another drink.
So what's the story with that girl?
Girl? Oh Lethe! She seems a nice girl. A little confused about who she really is, but she seems a good egg.
Is she OK? I can't wait to see that Wyatt guy get his comeuppance for what he did to her!
Well we best hope that's soon. As part of payment for those services, Mr Kosloff awarded him a shot at me next time around on Coldwars. I guess I'll have to be the guy to stop him.
Baby, be careful! Guys like him have been doing this years! I know you're happy with the money you'll be pulling in now, but think of the fact that if something happens to you, we'll be making 10% extra on nothing!
I know and it certainly wasn't my choice. The announcement literally gatecrashed my celebration. For now though can we just enjoy this?
The kids come running in, crashing on the sofa. Anthony passes Jackson's title belt back to him and they all huddle up tightly on the sofa as a TV show starts. This is family time now.