Post by The Soul Of Philly on Jun 18, 2012 19:25:48 GMT -4
Prologue
I’ve never seen TJ like this, never in the 24 years that we’ve been friends, best friends, never seen him like this. Never see TJ without a clue as to what to do next. Sure I’ve seen him look lost at times in life, seen him question the next move, but never without a clue as to what to do in his life. He loves what he does but I don’t think it loves him as much as it once did.
I’ve never seen TJ like this, never in the 24 years that we’ve been friends, best friends, never seen him like this. Never see TJ without a clue as to what to do next. Sure I’ve seen him look lost at times in life, seen him question the next move, but never without a clue as to what to do in his life. He loves what he does but I don’t think it loves him as much as it once did.
We open the scene inside of Philly’s Gym, the gym owned by TJ. It is late in the afternoon as the low sun shines into the gym, giving the gym an orange lighting. We find Ernie Walter behind the desk of the gym, looking at paperwork through his reading glasses as Roger Gings leans his side against the desk, watching some people as they leave the gym. Raj then looks out into the gym, turning his back to Ernie, as he looks at the few people still working out. He eventually looks up at the glass walls that belong to TJ’s office. He see TJ’s shadow pacing around the office.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Ernie, I’m worried about TJ.
Ernie looks up at the office then back to his paperwork before answer Roger.
Ernest.”Ernie”.Walters Why Raj? You act like this is the first time he’s lost three matches in wrong. You think this is bad, you should have seen him when he first broke in, man try explaining how to cope with losses to a 24 year old giant.
Raj turns around to face Ernie as Ernie chuckles at the memory.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Yea, but TJ was young and had plenty of time to adjust. I mean, you’ve seen him, he’s taking things worse because he feels as if he doesn’t have any time to waste. He feels he needs to get to the top while he can.
Ernie takes his reading glasses off and looks up at Roger.
Ernest.”Ernie”.Walters Roger-
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Seriously Ernie, I’ve only seen TJ like this once, and that was right before he got sentenced. He really doesn’t know what to do. Between Jacob’s death, this gym, and pressure from himself, I don’t think that’s good for him.
Ernest.”Ernie”.Walters Roger, I think you’re reaching on this.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Damn it Ernie! I’ve known the man for almost twenty-five years. I’ve known him long enough to know when something is wrong.
Ernest.”Ernie”.Walters Fine, so what are you gonna do about it? You gonna ask him what’s wrong? You know TJ, he holds it all in until he bursts. It took him almost two years to accept Jacob was gone. And remember how long it took him to move on after him and Rena broke up?
Roger .“Raj”.Gings That was different.
Ernest.”Ernie”.Walters How so Raj? How is this any different from then? He sulked around both those times.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Yes, but this is the first time that wrestling isn’t a place for him to get away from it, if anything, wrestling is keeping him there. Honestly, TJ spends more time here, in that office than at home. And I’m gonna find out.
Ernest.”Ernie”.Walters What?
Roger .“Raj”.Gings I’m gonna find out.
Raj gets off the desk and walks towards a door that says “Authorized Personal only” and enters a code on the doorknob and opens the door and goes behind the door, leaving Ernie by himself. Ernie puts his glasses back on and goes back to the paperwork.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Ernie, I’m worried about TJ.
Ernie looks up at the office then back to his paperwork before answer Roger.
Ernest.”Ernie”.Walters Why Raj? You act like this is the first time he’s lost three matches in wrong. You think this is bad, you should have seen him when he first broke in, man try explaining how to cope with losses to a 24 year old giant.
Raj turns around to face Ernie as Ernie chuckles at the memory.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Yea, but TJ was young and had plenty of time to adjust. I mean, you’ve seen him, he’s taking things worse because he feels as if he doesn’t have any time to waste. He feels he needs to get to the top while he can.
Ernie takes his reading glasses off and looks up at Roger.
Ernest.”Ernie”.Walters Roger-
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Seriously Ernie, I’ve only seen TJ like this once, and that was right before he got sentenced. He really doesn’t know what to do. Between Jacob’s death, this gym, and pressure from himself, I don’t think that’s good for him.
Ernest.”Ernie”.Walters Roger, I think you’re reaching on this.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Damn it Ernie! I’ve known the man for almost twenty-five years. I’ve known him long enough to know when something is wrong.
Ernest.”Ernie”.Walters Fine, so what are you gonna do about it? You gonna ask him what’s wrong? You know TJ, he holds it all in until he bursts. It took him almost two years to accept Jacob was gone. And remember how long it took him to move on after him and Rena broke up?
Roger .“Raj”.Gings That was different.
Ernest.”Ernie”.Walters How so Raj? How is this any different from then? He sulked around both those times.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Yes, but this is the first time that wrestling isn’t a place for him to get away from it, if anything, wrestling is keeping him there. Honestly, TJ spends more time here, in that office than at home. And I’m gonna find out.
Ernest.”Ernie”.Walters What?
Roger .“Raj”.Gings I’m gonna find out.
Raj gets off the desk and walks towards a door that says “Authorized Personal only” and enters a code on the doorknob and opens the door and goes behind the door, leaving Ernie by himself. Ernie puts his glasses back on and goes back to the paperwork.
Prologue
Another chance, another screw-up, this time, it’s my fault. I took the pin, I lost the match, I lost the chance to be in this week’s battle royal. I really don’t know what’s gone wrong, I just know that things haven’t been going my way. And when things don’t go your way, you have to look at yourself in the mirror and figure out why they are going the “wrong” way. Guess I gotta find one big enough to show me everything, right?
Another chance, another screw-up, this time, it’s my fault. I took the pin, I lost the match, I lost the chance to be in this week’s battle royal. I really don’t know what’s gone wrong, I just know that things haven’t been going my way. And when things don’t go your way, you have to look at yourself in the mirror and figure out why they are going the “wrong” way. Guess I gotta find one big enough to show me everything, right?
We open the scene in office of “The Soul of Philly” TJ inside of Philly’s Gym. TJ is leaning against the glass walls that look on the gym. We see a few patrons of the gym working out as the low sun shines an orange light through the windows of the warehouse-turned-gym. TJ turns back and looks at his office, filled with emptiness minus a desk close to the glass walls. The door opens, surprising TJ, who turns around and sees his best friend, Roger Gings, at the door.
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ ‘Sup?
Roger .“Raj”.Gings What’s wrong?
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ What?
Roger .“Raj”.Gings You ain’t right T. You just ain’t. TJ, I’ve never seen ya like this, moping around like this. What’s wrong?
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ Nothin’ man. Why you do you think that?
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Dude, you spend more time here than at home. You literally wake up early, come here shortly after we open, stay here until well past closing, go home, sleep and either repeat the next day or travel. That’s not healthy dude. I mean, last week was Liz’s birthday and where were you?
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ Dude come on.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings No, answer the question.
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ I was here.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Exactly, you, the guy who introduced her to me four years ago, the soon to be godfather of my first born, weren’t there. Instead he was here, staying away from life, staying away from reality.
TJ slams his fists into his desk.
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ What reality? The reality that my brother is dead? The reality that my family is nonexistent because my mom hasn’t called back any time I try to call her and my dad is a fuckin’ deadbeat who couldn’t be damned to talk to me unless he needs a place to stay or money? Or the reality that all I know is wrestling and nothing else? The same reality that reminds me that I’m alone, that, I don’t have a Liz to go home to like you, and that I don’t have the lack of a moral system like Trey to go to a bar and take a girl home because she’s drunk, 25, and single. Is that the reality you think I’m trying to stay away from?
Tears run down TJ’s face as Raj’s face goes from a stern, determined face to one full of sorrow and pity for his friend. Raj steps toward his best friend.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings TJ, look, I know-
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ The hell you do! You don’t understand a single thing about my life. Your parents never split up, your brother is alive, you have a great life.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Look, you think it’s great because you think your’s is shit. Do you have to figure out where you’re gonna live in a couple months when your complex gets torn down in favor of some business building? Do you have to figure out how to put the food on the table for a kid, the mother of your kid, and yourself?
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ Look, Raj-
Roger .“Raj”.Gings No, no, no, no! See, you have a great life TJ. You get a chance every week to go somewhere and make someone forget life. Forget that they’re close to being without a place to call their own. Forget that their husband, son, brother, is overseas fighting a war and that they may never see them again. You have a chance to get someone away from their reality.
Tears now running down Roger’s cheeks, leaving both men’s eyes red.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings You really don’t get it do you? The moping around, the “Oh pity me” attitude, its undeserving of the life you lead. You should be smiling, happy that you get to do what you do, be who you are, and sure when the camera comes on or when you’re on the streets, you are, but why is it when I look up from out there you’re up here doing the opposite TJ? Why?
TJ opens his mouth, but Raj holds his hand up to stop him.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Here’s why, because you let the negatives get to you. And why is that, I don’t know why, because you never let them before. I dunno if it was the time off that you lost your thick skin or what it is, but you need to go back to being that thick skinned, ass kicking, “Soul of Philly” TJ that we all love. The one that goes about his life the way everyone should. The guy who lends a hand to someone he barely knows. The guy that makes his friends feel like everything is ok when it’s not. That’s the TJ I’ve been friends with for so long, the TJ that I call my best friend. Not this one.
TJ stands there as more tears fall from his cheeks. He wipes the tears from his face before talking.
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ Raj…thank you.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings For what?
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ For telling me that I’m fucking up.
TJ and Raj share a laugh. They walk to each other and hug each other. TJ smacks him on the back.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Ow.
TJ and Raj laugh as they back off and give each other a fist bump.
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ Sorry, we good right?
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Yea, so, Monday? You got Kiz. What’s gonna happen.
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ Whatever does happen, it won’t be good for Kiz.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Haha, there’s a bit of the old TJ.
They share another laugh as the scene fades to black on TJ and Raj leaving the office, TJ turning the light off on his way out.
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ ‘Sup?
Roger .“Raj”.Gings What’s wrong?
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ What?
Roger .“Raj”.Gings You ain’t right T. You just ain’t. TJ, I’ve never seen ya like this, moping around like this. What’s wrong?
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ Nothin’ man. Why you do you think that?
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Dude, you spend more time here than at home. You literally wake up early, come here shortly after we open, stay here until well past closing, go home, sleep and either repeat the next day or travel. That’s not healthy dude. I mean, last week was Liz’s birthday and where were you?
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ Dude come on.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings No, answer the question.
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ I was here.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Exactly, you, the guy who introduced her to me four years ago, the soon to be godfather of my first born, weren’t there. Instead he was here, staying away from life, staying away from reality.
TJ slams his fists into his desk.
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ What reality? The reality that my brother is dead? The reality that my family is nonexistent because my mom hasn’t called back any time I try to call her and my dad is a fuckin’ deadbeat who couldn’t be damned to talk to me unless he needs a place to stay or money? Or the reality that all I know is wrestling and nothing else? The same reality that reminds me that I’m alone, that, I don’t have a Liz to go home to like you, and that I don’t have the lack of a moral system like Trey to go to a bar and take a girl home because she’s drunk, 25, and single. Is that the reality you think I’m trying to stay away from?
Tears run down TJ’s face as Raj’s face goes from a stern, determined face to one full of sorrow and pity for his friend. Raj steps toward his best friend.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings TJ, look, I know-
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ The hell you do! You don’t understand a single thing about my life. Your parents never split up, your brother is alive, you have a great life.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Look, you think it’s great because you think your’s is shit. Do you have to figure out where you’re gonna live in a couple months when your complex gets torn down in favor of some business building? Do you have to figure out how to put the food on the table for a kid, the mother of your kid, and yourself?
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ Look, Raj-
Roger .“Raj”.Gings No, no, no, no! See, you have a great life TJ. You get a chance every week to go somewhere and make someone forget life. Forget that they’re close to being without a place to call their own. Forget that their husband, son, brother, is overseas fighting a war and that they may never see them again. You have a chance to get someone away from their reality.
Tears now running down Roger’s cheeks, leaving both men’s eyes red.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings You really don’t get it do you? The moping around, the “Oh pity me” attitude, its undeserving of the life you lead. You should be smiling, happy that you get to do what you do, be who you are, and sure when the camera comes on or when you’re on the streets, you are, but why is it when I look up from out there you’re up here doing the opposite TJ? Why?
TJ opens his mouth, but Raj holds his hand up to stop him.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Here’s why, because you let the negatives get to you. And why is that, I don’t know why, because you never let them before. I dunno if it was the time off that you lost your thick skin or what it is, but you need to go back to being that thick skinned, ass kicking, “Soul of Philly” TJ that we all love. The one that goes about his life the way everyone should. The guy who lends a hand to someone he barely knows. The guy that makes his friends feel like everything is ok when it’s not. That’s the TJ I’ve been friends with for so long, the TJ that I call my best friend. Not this one.
TJ stands there as more tears fall from his cheeks. He wipes the tears from his face before talking.
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ Raj…thank you.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings For what?
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ For telling me that I’m fucking up.
TJ and Raj share a laugh. They walk to each other and hug each other. TJ smacks him on the back.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Ow.
TJ and Raj laugh as they back off and give each other a fist bump.
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ Sorry, we good right?
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Yea, so, Monday? You got Kiz. What’s gonna happen.
The.Soul.of.Philly TJ Whatever does happen, it won’t be good for Kiz.
Roger .“Raj”.Gings Haha, there’s a bit of the old TJ.
They share another laugh as the scene fades to black on TJ and Raj leaving the office, TJ turning the light off on his way out.
