Does Anyone Know What Time It Is? RP2 For EOD Round 3

[Bobby Barratt]

We open scene and Bobby sits alone in the VIP area of the Diamond Lounge. The main lights are out, leaving only a very subtle ambient light in the room. Not even the TV is on as Bobby perches on the edge of the sofa. He is sitting flicking a lighter open for a few seconds at a time. 

Bobby: Fire... For hundreds of thousands of years, possibly even more depending who you believe, it's been a main stay in the life of humans. From cavemen throwing their latest catches on it to feed their families for the night, to being a way to execute the Heretics of old and even in more modern times, the development of the internal combustion engine. Fire has had many uses. There's a certain....poetic beauty in the way that a flame flickers in the dark, dancing back and forth, yet possessing so much danger. It's a less threatening danger though, when compared to the likes of a weapon such as a gun. Something... hidden... subtle about it. Which is what makes it so strange that an overgrown Russian neanderthal much like the cavemen I just mentioned should choose to use it purely to cause a scene. I'd always imagine someone with the intelligence of a matchstick might choose something more brutal. Duke, you disappoint me. Ever think that using something like a bat, like Debra here might make you look a little more intimidating? 

Bobby continues to flick at the lighter, the flame responds to his touch as he closes and opens the lighter, re-igniting the flame. His face is illuminated in orange for a few seconds at a time.

Bobby: This Sunday Duke, we step into the ring again. The last time we did so, I'm sure you left with a broken ankle when me and Jack closed down ICW. We sent you and your keeper Lucas running for the hills so fast, he chose to stop operating the company, rather than get his come-uppance from us. So may I ask.... what is it that makes you think that come this Sunday, you have even half a chance to advance to the finals of the End of Days tournament? What makes you think that you can beat an Icon? The man formerly known as the Prodigy.... The LIVING LEGEND of the XHF Network? 

Bobby tosses the lighter aside, clapping so the room lights all come up.

Bobby: Duke, in one single year, I have won three Championships within AWF. Two of those are different incarnations of the World Championship and I am the ONLY man to do that! I am the ONLY man who ever won the original AWF World Championship that's still active in AWF. What accolades do you have to share? You set up your little mafia club with one of your countless cousins so you can all play Don Corleone and pretend that you all mean something. You recruited a band of miscreants that slowly but surely left you as a fucking afterthought. Danny Ray went on to win the Prestige Class Championship. The little train that no one said could...left you behind. How do I know that? Because I beat his arse to win that title from him to become the FINAL Prestige Class Champion! 

Bobby gets up from the sofa, heading over to the bar. No one is around as he asked for the area to be clear. Bobby walks behind and pours himself a Bourbon. As he does so, he sees his reflection in the glass mirrored wall behind it. 

Bobby: You told me to look in the mirror every day... You told me to know my days are numbered? Of course they are! This business... It takes its toll on your body. You think I haven't noticed that? Do you REALLY think that I jump out of bed the way I used to in my 20s? The grey hairs that have started to sprout, the wrinkles that appear after years of the stress this business can put on a person. Of course my days are numbered! I know that one day I'll have to put all this behind me and ride off into the sunset. I know one day all that will be left in the XHF is my legacy... That's why I intend to win the End of Days tournament and continue on to leave the best damn legacy I can leave! Something to be proud of... Is that something you can say Duke? Or are you going to continue to prat about with a few photos and a lighter? I knew from watching your promo that you stood in that room for so long to prove a point. You were lucky you didn't kill yourself from smoke inhalation, but as always, it's about Duke Kosloff pretending he's one better than anyone else. From smashing car windows to watch his hand bleed, to bragging about how he bet a million dollars on himself to win a fucking chess match. Over the course of the time I've known you Duke, you've presented yourself as a monster, a studious intellectual type, a Soviet weapon...Which I believe is exactly the same as the monster and A FUCKING POWER RANGER!

Bobby rolls his eyes before picking up the glass of bourbon. He swills it around, watching the liquid roll around the tumbler rhythmically. He takes a sip, savouring the flavour.

Bobby: So Sunday night, we step into the ring with another threat, another silent killer which has the power to help and harm. Electricity. I don't know the specifics, but we an assume that it's a shit load of volts in there.... Just waiting. Waiting for me to beat you so badly I can incapacitate the giant and strap him to that chair and throw that switch. So many volts will course through your body Duke. I'm going to watch as my senses become overloaded. The smell of burnt flesh, the taste in the air as it becomes dense and saturated with that taste of burnt meat, the sound of your screams crossed with the crackling of the current passing through you and the sight....Oh what a sight it's going to be. The sight of you convulsing in that seat as I see your body coursing with so much electricity I'm hoping your eyes light up! 

Bobby finishes up his drink, putting the glass down on the table. He contemplates pouring another as his phone rings.

RING!! RING!!

Bobby: Yeah?

Al: Hey there! 

Bobby: Oh Al, how's it going?

Al: I'm good! So... The chair you had me size up.

Bobby: Yeah. I'm not sure I can get the cash together at short notice, unfortunately. 

Al: That's no problem! Me and my friend have a great idea to do it for you!

Bobby: What? Why does this sound shady?

Al: No, no! It's all above board! Let me give you the details!

---

We come back to scene and Bobby is in a TV studio. He's flanked by Jack and Mav, who really aren't quite sure what the deal is yet.

Jack: So let's get this straight. You appear on this show and Al is going to make the chair for nothing?

Maverick: Yeah something about this doesn't add up. 

Bobby: Yeah I have no idea what's going on but that's the long and short of it!

Al: Hey, friend! 

Bobby: Al! 

Bobby shakes hands with Al again. 

Al: It's great to see you here! We weren't sure you'd show!

Bobby: Hey, Icons are men of their word. 

Al: I'm sure you are! Now we're going to get set up and I'll see you out there! 

Bobby: Al, wai-

With that, Al hustles off the side of shot and greets his friend, another middle aged looking man in a shirt and jacket. A director ushers Bobby to the side of the stage. We hear the traditional countdown to going live. A tall brunette comes onto the stage.

Heidi: Does anyone know what time it is?

TOOL TIME!!

Heidi: Then allow me to introduce, Tim "The Toolman" Taylor! 

The crowd cheer as Al and Tim walk out onto the stage. Tim gives his jacket to Heidi as Bobby looks on, utterly confused. 

Tim: Thank you, Heidi. You all know me and my assistant Al Borland, but today we have a special guest. Allow us to introduce one of the Icons and a member of the XHF Network... Bobby Barratt!

Bobby walks on stage to a generic rock track and mild applause. 

Tim: So Bobby, you're here for a special project today. Why don't you tell us a little about it?

Bobby: Well Tim, I'm part of a special match up this Sunday. It's known as a Shock Therapy match. 

Al: So why don't you tell the viewers at home a little bit about this match?

Bobby: Of course. So the idea is that it's not a conventional Wrestling match. It's a match where we the idea is to strap the other guy to a chair and run a little power through him.

Tim: POWER?! 

Tim makes a noise somewhere between a grunt and a bark. The crowd bark along with him. Bobby still isn't sure what's going on.

Tim: So unknown to Bobby, we already got the frame put together. He needed a chair large enough to accommodate a man of his opponent's size, right?

Bobby: Yeah, he's over 7 feet tall and weighs around 320.

Tim: Now THAT'S going to need a lot of power! Guys!

The crew pull out a large chair frame on wheels. It looks nicely crafted and well put together. Bobby looks excited about this, he managed to blag this for a quick TV spot!

Bobby: Tim, Al...I'm really happy with this. Thanks guys!

Tim: Well we just gotta road test this bad boy! It's powered by a Binford 6100 motor, which is capable of throwing out enough oomph to really get your motor running. Well I decided to tweak that just a little bit and now we got something that's really gonna fry that guy's noggin!

The crowd bark along with Tim again.

Tim: So Al, hop in and we can get this thing hooked up!

Al: .....I don't think so, Tim.

The crowd laugh. It's a long running joke. 

Tim: Yeah I thought that might happen. So we got this knocked together. Guys!

The crew bring out a large doll, approximately the size of Duke Kosloff in terms of height. It has a mask of Duke on there and a Soviet logo painted on the chest. Bobby laughs, slapping Tim on the back to show his approval. The crew get the doll strapped in. 

Al: So, Bobby.... How this is going to work is you'll make sure he's strapped in nice and tight, like our friend is here. Then all you'll need to do is throw that switch right there. 

Bobby reaches out to throw the switch and Tim stops him.

Tim: See this is where it gets fun! You know I told you about the extra power?

Al: Uhhh.... Tim?

Tim: Right in front of the switch, there's a little button here. That's the supercharger to this bad boy! 

Al: We really shouldn't do this in the studio....

Tim pushes the button. We hear a click and a motor whirring into life.

Tim: That's going to charge the main motor and REALLY cook our buddy!

Bobby steps back, seemingly agreeing with Al's judgement about the confines of the space they are working in.

Tim: FIRE IN THE HOLE!

Tim throws the switch. The effigy of Duke starts to burn up, but a few seconds later, the motor in the back of the chair explodes into flames. People flee everywhere. Almost as if they are used to this kind of thing happening. Fire staff run onto the scene with extinguishers as the show cuts to black.

---

We see Bobby, Jack and Maverick in the car on the way home from the show. They're on a long drive back and Bobby doesn't look happy. Jack and Maverick, however think this whole thing is hilarious.

Jack: I can't believe you've never heard of the show Tool Time. If you'd told us that's the show you were going on, we'd have warned you against it!

Maverick: Honestly. Some of the things you've done these last few weeks man.

Maverick collapses to the back of the car, clutching his ribs from laughing so much. 

Bobby: Don't worry guys. I didn't get the chair I came for, but now I know.... Duke will be going down on Sunday. By hook or by crook, I'll be getting him into that chair and we'll all be serving up Soviet Steaks come Monday! We've got this! Icons always prosper in the end and that's what counts! 

Jack: YES! Then we can go get rid of that piece of shit you call a car!

Bobby: I...Err...What?

Jack: Yeah I saw it. If you're going to drive something like that, you need to hide it better. Icons have a reputation to uphold.

Bobby: Well a few more weeks and we get get old Purple Glory back on the road anyway! No point shelling out big bucks, right?

Jack reluctantly agrees with Bobby, but he isn't too keen on a car like that sullying his Casino.

Bobby: Anyways. End of Days. We are down to four guys now and any one of them could be in with a shot to win this thing. The prize? A title shot at ANY Championship within your home fed. 

Jack: Oh yeah! Seth isn't going to know what hit him and he's barely even recovered from the last beating we gave him!

Bobby: Totally... We just have to see where the pieces land after the tournament. See who holds what title. Maybe I'll even go for the Phoenix Championship!

All three men burst into fits of laughter as the shot switches to seeing Jack's car speeding off along the highway. 

Bobby: One thing's for certain. Of all the people you might see in the semi-final stage of this thing... Duke it the one I'd least[/] like to be! Time's ticking, Duke!

Rock You Like a Hurricane by the Scorpions blares out from the car. All three Icons sing along as the scene fades.