ADAM BANZ RP
[ THE FIRST DAY BACK ]
As soon as the bedside alarm clock shows 7am, it goes off. A hand slams hard on the snooze button almost immediately and then all is quiet again except the sound of snoring that continues right after. Five minutes later, the alarm goes off again and the same hand silences it. This goes on for another twenty minutes when the hand can’t find the clock on the table and as it fumbles around, another hand painfully smacks it. The man in bed finally wakes up.
ADAM BANZ
ARRRGGGHHH!!!!
Scowling, he looks up at a woman towering over him. She has a wide grin on her face. If he hadn’t been smacked, he would’ve appreciated that beautiful smile more but he had so he wouldn’t. Okay, just a bit. Tiny bit.
ASTOR LANE
Good morning, hun!
ADAM BANZ
What the fuck, Astor?
ASTOR LANE
You’ve been doing this for the past few months. I don’t even know why you still have the alarm at 7 when you only get out of bed in the afternoon.
Rubbing sleep from his eyes, he sits up.
ADAM BANZ
That was ONE time, Astor. I was late to pick you up at the airport once. Let it go.
ASTOR LANE
(amused) Uh huh. Anyways, we gotta go soon so get up now.
ADAM BANZ
(raises an eyebrow) Hey, hey, I’ve already made us plans. Plus You just got here last night. (goes back to sleep) Chill...
But his girlfriend wouldn’t let him. Instead, she pulls the blanket off him and walks over to the window, opening up the curtains to let the sunlight in. He grumbles.
ASTOR LANE
C’mon, babe. Let’s go! It’s a beautiful day out there!
Just then his cell phone rings. It’s a new text message. He rolls over to read it.
ADAM BANZ
YES! I GOT IN!
Then he frowns, scratching his head.
ADAM BANZ
Eddie Lopez?
ASTOR LANE
Who’s that?
ADAM BANZ
My opponent at--
Immediately, he shuts up and looks at her with a sheepish smile on his face. Her eyes widen in surprise.
ASTOR LANE
You found a job?
ADAM BANZ
...Yes.
ASTOR LANE
Oh why didn’t you tell me this yesterday?
ADAM BANZ
(mutters to self) Busted...
ASTOR LANE
What?
ADAM BANZ
What?
Her eyebrows furrow together, making her look slightly disappointed.
ADAM BANZ
Surprise?
ASTOR LANE
Seriously?
He sighs and then smiles.
ADAM BANZ
Okay, okay. Thing is, I wasn’t exactly sure if my application would go through. PWP seems like a cool place and all but their roster looks quite impressive. There are people who have achieved so much in this business and what about me? I’m just that fortunate son of a well-respected former independent wrestler turned trainer. When they hear my father’s name, people nod their heads and say good things about him. But when they hear my name, they frown and look down on me.
She takes his hand and smiles softly back at him.
ASTOR LANE
I think you’re a talented wrestler, Adam. And you were a world champ, weren’t you? You’ve even beaten some of the top people there.
ADAM BANZ
Aww c’mon, even you can’t deny that how I got the title was pure luck! Ever since I left WEW, all I can think about was how pathetic my time there had been. I was so confident that being a second-generation wrestler would be easy enough to get me up there. It seemed like I was right at first before the end... And you know how much my dad and my brother HATE what I did and like they always put it, ‘dragged the family name through the mud’.
ASTOR LANE
(nods) So you wanna make a fresh start in PWP. I get it.
He turns to her, looking in disbelief.
ADAM BANZ
What? No, babe. That’s exactly what I need!
She frowns, trying to figure it out.
ADAM BANZ
I don’t need fancy ass companies to compete in. I’m Adam Banz. I’m a wrestler who plays by his own rules and wrestle when he wants to! I’ll make my own schedule and I’ll carry my own damn self! I don’t give a fuck what my family or the ‘fans’ think of me.
ASTOR LANE
(smiles) Well, if that’s what makes you happy then I’m happy for you. You have my support, hun.
ADAM BANZ
(grins) Thanks, babe. And I would love for you to be there at the PWP show.
ASTOR LANE
I guess I can make move things around on my calendar.
ADAM BANZ
Awesome.
He kisses her.
ASTOR LANE
And that means we reeeeally gotta get moving.
ADAM BANZ
Uh why?
ASTOR LANE
We need to whip you back into shape, mister! Let’s go!
She gives him another quick peck on the lips and then literally pulls him out of bed.
ASTOR LANE
Don’t make me kick your ass to the bathroom...
ADAM BANZ
Alright, alright! Sheesh, woman!
He makes his way to the bathroom, rubbing his shoulder.
ADAM BANZ
Should’ve told you I’m still injured instead. You were so much nicer then...
She playfully smacks him with a pillow, laughing.
[ THE SHOOT ]
The scene opens to a wide shot of Adam sitting on one of those steel chairs any federation have lying around everywhere in the building. He’s dressed in his ring attire, all ready for his first match back in that squared circle since his unceremonious exit from WEW a few months ago. He sees the camera crew and smiles but doesn’t speak a word yet, taking his time. He leans forward and rests his chin on his hands. The camera zooms closer to his face as he chuckles to himself. He looks back up at the camera and laughs. Loudly.
ADAM BANZ
Fuck yeah Eduardo! I had a feeling they’re gonna pit me against you. Well, not in particularly you but someone like you. You know, the “I won so many titles I lost count” and “I’ve been in this business when you’re still in middle school!” Because it would be oh so hilarious for a veteran like yourself to face a rookie like me. (forces another big laugh) I mean, clearly the fans who are gonna be there at the (in loud ring announcer voice) FIRST EVER PWP SHOW: LLLLLLLET’S GET IT STARTED!!! (switches to normal voice in mock bitter tone) would get behind a much more familiar face, someone whose name they’ve probably heard hundreds of times before because Eddie Lopez is such an accomplished wrestler. Oh yeah, Eddie Lopez just looooooves the attention from all his acérrimos. And since I know jack shit about this guy, I thought, hey why not Google his name and see what else they say about him. Simple, right? Then I started puking rainbows after fifteen minutes of reading nothing but high praises and watching the same highlight reel uploaded a few times with different background music. I was all, Goddammit! This guy’s like a living legend. He’s a Mexican icon and making it HUGE around the world. Everywhere he goes, the fans follow. And according to wrestlingnerdsunite.com or some shit like that, apparently Eddie is happily married to this business and is always doing something related to it, even on his off-days. Commitment, ladies and gentlemen. Eddie, congratulations. This is one marriage you have that actually brings you good luck and it looks like your career is still far from dead. (smiles) How’s Gracie? (frowns) What? I was just saying what a great career you have. It’s true, isn’t it? When it’s time to step in that ring, you’re gonna be the hot favorite to win. You’re gonna be the one they’ll cheer their asses off and you’ll walk through the curtains like the celebrity that you are, smiling and posing for their cameras. Making their day and what not. It’s all nice and good. (extends a hand towards camera) For you.
He sits up straight and grins.
ADAM BANZ
See, as the best former WEW champion, I get a different kind of attention from these people and I’m okay with this. I LOVE to be hated. In fact, the more they chant your name tonight, Eddie, the better. Because while you feed off the love from your fans to put on a five-star match and win, I do everything you can but all on my own. I don’t need their approval nor do I seek for it. I became world champion, thanks to ME. Not them. What have they done to get me to where I am today? (smirks and points to camera) Maybe you should ask yourself that question, Eddie. Instead of going for yet another autograph signing, why don’t you make better use of your off-day and just sit down in your chair at home and reeeally think about that. No use to keep running from your past, Eddie. Because you might just end up running out of ‘future’. And I will be there to point and laugh.
He shrugs, making a face. Then he grins and chuckles as he points a finger at the camera before the scene fades to black.
