Post by SalTal on Oct 26, 2013 10:35:40 GMT -4
Internet Explorer-*click*-Favorites-*click*-APW.com-*click*-Meltdown Finale-*click*-Sally Talfourd-*click*-Loading...
"Sally Talfourd presents ...".
is written across the screen, fades out, then
"In association with Action Packed Wrestling...".
is next to appear, holds, then fades out for
"Happy Endings T.V.".
Which finally fades to a shot of a children’s play room. There’s all the normal things you’d find: Big baskets of toys and pink walls with flowers and cartoon animals posing as decorations. Moving past the bed - made to perfection, as only a parent can do - we find a little play area. Set up in the middle of it all is a little table with 6 chairs surrounding it, each with a mini tea set in front of it. There’s some movement off-screen, but it’s all hidden. The first sign of anyone being around is a Princess Barbie doll - complete with the crown on - being lowered into the seat at the head of the table.
Then, being lowered into the seat next to her, is a Hello Kitty doll. It looks at bit worn, a few stitches and patches holding it together.
There’s some ruffling and some movement outside the shot. Then, from behind Princess Aubrey, a Superman figure swoops in. There’s some animated noises, the person outside of all this making a ‘whooshing’ sound as he does a big loop of the table, then he gets put down, standing in the middle of the table.
SuperTerry gets moved off the table and into the seat beside Hello Sally. A hand reaches in and makes all the toys take a sip from their plastic cups. Then, after a moment, the same hand drops in a Teddy Bear and a Justin Bieber figure into two of the remaining seats.
The hand moves everyone’s head to look at Princess Aubrey. Even with all the blank expressions on these toys, there’s still an awkward moment with everyone seemingly wanting to know what the answer is.
Almost of cue, the hand lowers in a blob of red Play-Doh. Just a blob, rolled around with a flat enough base to stay on the seat. There’s an awkward moment when it almost looks like all the other toys are trying to avoid looking at Mannie-Doh.
There’s some awkward silence as none of the toys move. Then, Hello Sally gets a tea cup lifted to her mouth. It rattles when it’s put back onto the table. Then ...
[Shane] Sally! Where’d you go!?
The camera wobbles and shakes a bit before it gets picked up and we find - to no one’s surprise - that Sally was the one playing with these toys. Talfourd, taking the camera, meets Shane in the doorway to the room we recently all were walked in to.
[Shane] What are you up to?
[Sally] Cleaning up Hei Hei’s room. Messy rooms must be a genetic thing in the family.
[Shane] Hei Hei’s your niece, yeah?
[Sally] Very good - you remembered.
Sally hands the camera back over to Shane. They’ve made a stop into Korea (South, of course) on the way to Japan. It’s a chance to visit home, visit family, and seemingly escape from the hubbub of professional wrestling. Though, as we’ve just seen, it’s not too far from the front of Sally’s mind at any given day.
[Shane] We’re still flying out tomorrow?
[Sally] Yeah. Do you think we’ll be able to come back before heading onto the next show?
[Shane] I guess that depends on what happens at One Night. Champions have a lot of press and PR duties, remember. And given that it’s an extreme chamber, I wouldn’t be half surprised if you all need some rest time near to a hospital.
Sally seems to mull it over, walking Shane back out to the living room to take a seat around the table in the middle of the room.
[Sally] You’re right. You know, it’s easy to forget how much your life changes when you’re champion. I mean, it’s happened enough times in APW to become second nature. But, it was all so long ago ... I don’t know, I just forgot about all that, I guess.
[Shane] Something you’re looking forward to? If you win, of course.
[Sally] If I win ... yeah, you take it all as a package, don’t you? You take the duties with the pride. I think back to those times I was the face of APW, and it was a great time. I remember it feeling like a great reward - reward for hard work. Reward for duty. Reward for loyalty.
[Shane] What about ... forget it.
[Sally] What about what? Go on ...
[Shane] Well, what about this time? I mean, those things you just said, do they apply now?
[Sally] You’re not wrong to ask that. It’s true, those things are probably a little less applicable now. APW and I have spent some time apart up until recently. It’s not much worth going through history, let’s be honest here. The ancient past is left for that. What this match is about is the future. The future of the Undisputed Title, of Asylum, and of the reputation of both of those.
[Shane] Aubrey’s not doing a good job of it now?
Sally sits back in her seat, stroking her chin as she pulls her knees up to her chest.
[Sally] Well, I don’t know. I mean, she’s doing a job. And she’s getting some interest and people are talking and ... yeah, she’s doing a decent job. But she’s only early in her reign. This is the point where it’s time she got tested. It’s time she earns that title and is forced to either step up and become the kind of champion that APW deserves, or hands it over to someone who can do that. And, let’s be really honest here: There’s two people who have proven that they can do that in the match already.
I’m not going to go on a rip-tear on Aubrey. To be honest, she’s a better champion than most of the Asylum roster could ever be. Look at Mannie in the past couple of weeks: A few mind games, and he’s breaking. All I did was say a few things, hide a few people, and he’s lost it. The pressures of an Undisputed Title match just get to some people. Shadow as well - who would have ever thought he’d be involved in stealing a belt and taking part in attacks? Here’s a guy who prides himself on being a good guy and ... what’s he doing? Aubrey, credit to her, is doing exactly what she’s always said she would do as a champion. She’s speaking her mind and doing what she says is right. What we’re getting no one should be surprised with.
[Shane] So what should people expect if you’re returned as champion?
Sally can’t help but laugh. She shakes her head, then pulls her hair back from her face. When she’s done, she looks up at Shane and wags her finger at him.
[Sally] Nu-ah, Shane. I’m not getting into this again. I’ve done it before and it’s never worked out. You say you’ll do this and that, and then it all goes wrong. Or you don’t even win! No, I’ll leave my track record to speak for itself and people can figure out what sort of champion I’ll be from that. But I would suggest that we look at the others in here and, well, try and figure out what it will be like to live under a reign of Mannie or Shadow or Blade. I mean, the day Mannie becomes champion, it will quickly become the APW Cristal Championship. There will be more sponsorship breaks than an NFL and major league baseball match combined!
“Making his way down to the BMW ring, weight in at 145 pounds ... that weight bought to you by Jack Links ... “Grand Jeep Cherokee” Sally Talfourd!”
Can you imagine that? And if you can, can you tell me how to forget about it? I don’t think I could handle being on a show where Mannie is recognised at the best there is. Then you’ve got Shadow. Can I just say this is the guy I know nothing about. And as much as I try I ... zzzzzzz.
Sally’s head rocks backwards and she feigns falling asleep. Then starts the loud snoring. Shane lets out a laugh, allows it all to continue for a moment, then when it’s done ...
[Shane] Sally!
[Sally] Oh! Sorry. Just talking about Shadow puts me to sleep. He’s just so ... so ... uninspiring. And he’s a chance at becoming the Undisputed Champion? Look at the lineage of that prestigious title, and now we’re seriously looking at situation where he could become champion? Someone wake me up, because this has to be a nightmare.
[Shane] That’s a it harsh. He’s worked hard to get here.
[Sally] Everyone in wrestling works hard, Shane! Each and every wrestler who has made it to APW has had to work hard. But that’s not enough. It’s not enough to simply work your ass off to get a match like this. You need something that no one else can offer, something that makes you unique and memorable and ... everything that Shadow is not. And then you’ve got Blade, who really should take out Shadow and steal his name.
[Shane] Why’s that?
[Sally] You tell me that he hasn’t been hiding in the Shadows, waiting for the best time to return to APW. He just so happens to get in the elimination match? He just happens to get a title match return? Please, Blade has simply proven himself to be a master negotiator and nothing more. He hasn’t proven himself a potential Undisputed Champion. Sure, he and I might be making a return to APW, but at least I’ve done it before, and everyone knows I can do it again. But Blade, the midnight rider - waltzing on in at a time where he hasn’t had to worry about the headaches or the matches leading up to the chamber? Yeah, I bet he really regrets that.
Sally sits forward in the seat, reaching to the teapot on the table and pouring, first, Shane a cup and then herself. She takes it up, blowing on it so that she can take a sip. She goes back to the way she was sitting before, attempting to balance the cup on her knee.
[Sally] We’re in a rut, Shane.
[Shane] Excuse me?
[Sally] I say, we’re in a rut. I don’t feel like we’re doing anything like we used to. Don’t you remember when we first came to APW, how exciting it was? How great we were? Everything we did, it turned heads. And now?
[Shane] Yeah, I sort of get what you’re saying. It’s been crossing my mind now and then for a while.
[Sally] Same here. It’s just ... what are we doing here? What are we doing in APW now? Other than wrestling.
[Shane] Well, maybe a title win will give you what you need?
[Sally] I imagine it would, Shane. But there’s just one problem standing in the way.
[Shane] And what’s that?
[Sally] First I’ve got to win it. And I’m not too sure that will happen, friend.
Sally looks away from the camera, looking out the window in the adjacent wall. Whether it’s that she’s looking at something specific, or simply projecting her mind out there, it’s enough to hold onto her attention. There’s a slight hold, and then a slow fade out and then into...
Sally Talfourd
written across the screen, which in turn fades away as the episode comes to a close.
"Sally Talfourd presents ...".
is written across the screen, fades out, then
"In association with Action Packed Wrestling...".
is next to appear, holds, then fades out for
"Happy Endings T.V.".
Which finally fades to a shot of a children’s play room. There’s all the normal things you’d find: Big baskets of toys and pink walls with flowers and cartoon animals posing as decorations. Moving past the bed - made to perfection, as only a parent can do - we find a little play area. Set up in the middle of it all is a little table with 6 chairs surrounding it, each with a mini tea set in front of it. There’s some movement off-screen, but it’s all hidden. The first sign of anyone being around is a Princess Barbie doll - complete with the crown on - being lowered into the seat at the head of the table.
(Narrator) “Princess Aubrey, what a great party you’re throwing here! I wonder who you have invited ...”
Then, being lowered into the seat next to her, is a Hello Kitty doll. It looks at bit worn, a few stitches and patches holding it together.
(Princess Aubrey) “Oh, Hello Sally! How grand of you to attend! Please, take a seat. Would you like some tea?”
(Hello Sally) “Please, thank-you! I’ve been waiting a long time to come to one of your parties. I hear this is going to be the best party all year. Though, to be fair, I didn’t think I would be invited to this one, Princess Aubrey. I’ve not been part of the toy basket for a while, being away at the repair store.”
(Princess Aubrey) “Don’t be silly: I only invite the best toys to my tea parties, and Hello Sally will always be one of the best and the favourites of Big Miss! How could you not come to this tea party?”
There’s some ruffling and some movement outside the shot. Then, from behind Princess Aubrey, a Superman figure swoops in. There’s some animated noises, the person outside of all this making a ‘whooshing’ sound as he does a big loop of the table, then he gets put down, standing in the middle of the table.
(SuperTerry) “Princess Aubrey, your guest of honour has arrived!”
(Princess Aubrey) “Well hello SuperTerry, you’re usually the first to arrive.”
(Hello Sally) “That’s quite an entrance, SuperTerry. I don’t know if you remember me, I’m Hello Sally. We’ve met a few times before.”
(SuperTerry) “Hmmm, I vaguely remember you, Hello Sally. But, I’ve been so busy saving the world and defeating all those bad guys out there, you know. But it would be grand to catch up at this tea party.”
(Princess Aubrey) “Why don’t you sit down in a seat, instead of stand in the middle of the table where you’re the centre of attention. That is, if you can handle sitting with all us regular people.”
SuperTerry gets moved off the table and into the seat beside Hello Sally. A hand reaches in and makes all the toys take a sip from their plastic cups. Then, after a moment, the same hand drops in a Teddy Bear and a Justin Bieber figure into two of the remaining seats.
(Hello Sally) “ShadowBear and Justin Blader - what a pleasant surprise! I didn’t know Princess Aubrey invited you. I didn’t even know you were still part of the basket, Justin Blader!”
(Justin Blader) “It’s nice to see you too, Hello Sally. I could say the same about you - you were out for repairs for a long time, it seems. But that’s the great thing about these tea parties: All the best toys can come.”
(Hello Sally) “I guess Big Miss has changed while I was gone - especially now that you’re here too, ShadowBear. Last I remember, you were being thrown around with the pet dog.”
(ShadowBear) “Well, every toy has its day. I’m just hoping I’m not here to make up numbers.”
The hand moves everyone’s head to look at Princess Aubrey. Even with all the blank expressions on these toys, there’s still an awkward moment with everyone seemingly wanting to know what the answer is.
(Princess Aubrey) “Well, actually ...”
(SuperTerry) “I knew it! SuperTerry knows everything. And how to do everything. I don’t know if everyone here knows, but I didn’t lose a fight with any bad guys for over a year.”
(Hello Sally) “Yes, I heard. Even in the repair store, that’s all I heard about. I remember when I used to be the toy that beat all of the others. But that’s exactly why I ended up needing repairs.”
(Princess Aubrey) “I wonder where Mannie-Doh is going to get here?”
Almost of cue, the hand lowers in a blob of red Play-Doh. Just a blob, rolled around with a flat enough base to stay on the seat. There’s an awkward moment when it almost looks like all the other toys are trying to avoid looking at Mannie-Doh.
(Princess Aubrey) “So, uhhh ... Mannie-Doh, happy you could make it. Have you met everyone here? There’s Hello Sally ...”
(Hello Sally) “I remember you, Mannie-Doh. Though I’m surprised to see you here out of everyone here. I mean, at least ShadowBear is a toy. You’re more of, what? A food?”
(Mannie-Doh) “Technically, I guess. I do have ingredients, not parts.”
(Hello Sally) “You’re looking a little dried out there, too. How long have you actually been at the bottom of the toy basket? I don’t remember ever seeing you get played with, like, ever.”
(ShadowBear) “Don’t be mean to Mannie-Doh - he can’t help what he is.”
(Hello Sally) “Oh I know that - none of us can help who we are. But still ... there’s still something to be said that we’re all, you know, real toys that actually get played with while Mannie-Doh there ... he’s not anything that even deserves playing with! As for you, ShadowBear, you’re not even a human’s toy! You’re the dog’s toy. And who knows what that dog has done to you ...”
(Princess Aubrey) “Excuse me, Hello Sally, but I’m the princess here, what you say about who should and shouldn’t be here doesn’t matter as much as what I say ....”
(Hello Sally) “Oh, the princess - as if I could forget. As if anyone could forget! You’re only beat in the bragging department by SuperTerry over there. I’ve seen my fair share of self-obsessed wackos, but you two take the cake. And, normally, I wouldn't care all that much ... but someone needs to put an end to it all.”
(SuperTerry) “Oh yeah? How are you going to do that? You don’t have superpowers like me, or a crown like Aubrey. All you are is a ... broken ... doll.”
(Hello Sally) “I don’t deny most of that. I’ve been here a long time - longer than all of you, that much is true. And, yeah, that takes its toll on me. But look at me: I’m still together. I’m still here at the table with you all. I must have something going for me. Something more than Justin Blader here.”
(Justin Blader) “Don’t bring me into this; I’m only here because there’s a free meal.”
(Hello Sally) “Surprise, surprise. There’s a tea party and you’re here, Blader. Isn’t it convenient that you were available to come to this, but haven’t been around the basket all that much lately? But when there’s a tea party happening, you suddenly show up?”
There’s some awkward silence as none of the toys move. Then, Hello Sally gets a tea cup lifted to her mouth. It rattles when it’s put back onto the table. Then ...
[Shane] Sally! Where’d you go!?
The camera wobbles and shakes a bit before it gets picked up and we find - to no one’s surprise - that Sally was the one playing with these toys. Talfourd, taking the camera, meets Shane in the doorway to the room we recently all were walked in to.
[Shane] What are you up to?
[Sally] Cleaning up Hei Hei’s room. Messy rooms must be a genetic thing in the family.
[Shane] Hei Hei’s your niece, yeah?
[Sally] Very good - you remembered.
Sally hands the camera back over to Shane. They’ve made a stop into Korea (South, of course) on the way to Japan. It’s a chance to visit home, visit family, and seemingly escape from the hubbub of professional wrestling. Though, as we’ve just seen, it’s not too far from the front of Sally’s mind at any given day.
[Shane] We’re still flying out tomorrow?
[Sally] Yeah. Do you think we’ll be able to come back before heading onto the next show?
[Shane] I guess that depends on what happens at One Night. Champions have a lot of press and PR duties, remember. And given that it’s an extreme chamber, I wouldn’t be half surprised if you all need some rest time near to a hospital.
Sally seems to mull it over, walking Shane back out to the living room to take a seat around the table in the middle of the room.
[Sally] You’re right. You know, it’s easy to forget how much your life changes when you’re champion. I mean, it’s happened enough times in APW to become second nature. But, it was all so long ago ... I don’t know, I just forgot about all that, I guess.
[Shane] Something you’re looking forward to? If you win, of course.
[Sally] If I win ... yeah, you take it all as a package, don’t you? You take the duties with the pride. I think back to those times I was the face of APW, and it was a great time. I remember it feeling like a great reward - reward for hard work. Reward for duty. Reward for loyalty.
[Shane] What about ... forget it.
[Sally] What about what? Go on ...
[Shane] Well, what about this time? I mean, those things you just said, do they apply now?
[Sally] You’re not wrong to ask that. It’s true, those things are probably a little less applicable now. APW and I have spent some time apart up until recently. It’s not much worth going through history, let’s be honest here. The ancient past is left for that. What this match is about is the future. The future of the Undisputed Title, of Asylum, and of the reputation of both of those.
[Shane] Aubrey’s not doing a good job of it now?
Sally sits back in her seat, stroking her chin as she pulls her knees up to her chest.
[Sally] Well, I don’t know. I mean, she’s doing a job. And she’s getting some interest and people are talking and ... yeah, she’s doing a decent job. But she’s only early in her reign. This is the point where it’s time she got tested. It’s time she earns that title and is forced to either step up and become the kind of champion that APW deserves, or hands it over to someone who can do that. And, let’s be really honest here: There’s two people who have proven that they can do that in the match already.
I’m not going to go on a rip-tear on Aubrey. To be honest, she’s a better champion than most of the Asylum roster could ever be. Look at Mannie in the past couple of weeks: A few mind games, and he’s breaking. All I did was say a few things, hide a few people, and he’s lost it. The pressures of an Undisputed Title match just get to some people. Shadow as well - who would have ever thought he’d be involved in stealing a belt and taking part in attacks? Here’s a guy who prides himself on being a good guy and ... what’s he doing? Aubrey, credit to her, is doing exactly what she’s always said she would do as a champion. She’s speaking her mind and doing what she says is right. What we’re getting no one should be surprised with.
[Shane] So what should people expect if you’re returned as champion?
Sally can’t help but laugh. She shakes her head, then pulls her hair back from her face. When she’s done, she looks up at Shane and wags her finger at him.
[Sally] Nu-ah, Shane. I’m not getting into this again. I’ve done it before and it’s never worked out. You say you’ll do this and that, and then it all goes wrong. Or you don’t even win! No, I’ll leave my track record to speak for itself and people can figure out what sort of champion I’ll be from that. But I would suggest that we look at the others in here and, well, try and figure out what it will be like to live under a reign of Mannie or Shadow or Blade. I mean, the day Mannie becomes champion, it will quickly become the APW Cristal Championship. There will be more sponsorship breaks than an NFL and major league baseball match combined!
“Making his way down to the BMW ring, weight in at 145 pounds ... that weight bought to you by Jack Links ... “Grand Jeep Cherokee” Sally Talfourd!”
Can you imagine that? And if you can, can you tell me how to forget about it? I don’t think I could handle being on a show where Mannie is recognised at the best there is. Then you’ve got Shadow. Can I just say this is the guy I know nothing about. And as much as I try I ... zzzzzzz.
Sally’s head rocks backwards and she feigns falling asleep. Then starts the loud snoring. Shane lets out a laugh, allows it all to continue for a moment, then when it’s done ...
[Shane] Sally!
[Sally] Oh! Sorry. Just talking about Shadow puts me to sleep. He’s just so ... so ... uninspiring. And he’s a chance at becoming the Undisputed Champion? Look at the lineage of that prestigious title, and now we’re seriously looking at situation where he could become champion? Someone wake me up, because this has to be a nightmare.
[Shane] That’s a it harsh. He’s worked hard to get here.
[Sally] Everyone in wrestling works hard, Shane! Each and every wrestler who has made it to APW has had to work hard. But that’s not enough. It’s not enough to simply work your ass off to get a match like this. You need something that no one else can offer, something that makes you unique and memorable and ... everything that Shadow is not. And then you’ve got Blade, who really should take out Shadow and steal his name.
[Shane] Why’s that?
[Sally] You tell me that he hasn’t been hiding in the Shadows, waiting for the best time to return to APW. He just so happens to get in the elimination match? He just happens to get a title match return? Please, Blade has simply proven himself to be a master negotiator and nothing more. He hasn’t proven himself a potential Undisputed Champion. Sure, he and I might be making a return to APW, but at least I’ve done it before, and everyone knows I can do it again. But Blade, the midnight rider - waltzing on in at a time where he hasn’t had to worry about the headaches or the matches leading up to the chamber? Yeah, I bet he really regrets that.
Sally sits forward in the seat, reaching to the teapot on the table and pouring, first, Shane a cup and then herself. She takes it up, blowing on it so that she can take a sip. She goes back to the way she was sitting before, attempting to balance the cup on her knee.
[Sally] We’re in a rut, Shane.
[Shane] Excuse me?
[Sally] I say, we’re in a rut. I don’t feel like we’re doing anything like we used to. Don’t you remember when we first came to APW, how exciting it was? How great we were? Everything we did, it turned heads. And now?
[Shane] Yeah, I sort of get what you’re saying. It’s been crossing my mind now and then for a while.
[Sally] Same here. It’s just ... what are we doing here? What are we doing in APW now? Other than wrestling.
[Shane] Well, maybe a title win will give you what you need?
[Sally] I imagine it would, Shane. But there’s just one problem standing in the way.
[Shane] And what’s that?
[Sally] First I’ve got to win it. And I’m not too sure that will happen, friend.
Sally looks away from the camera, looking out the window in the adjacent wall. Whether it’s that she’s looking at something specific, or simply projecting her mind out there, it’s enough to hold onto her attention. There’s a slight hold, and then a slow fade out and then into...
Sally Talfourd
written across the screen, which in turn fades away as the episode comes to a close.
