Post by SalTal on Jul 13, 2012 8:08:08 GMT -4
Internet Explorer-*click*-Favorites-*click*-APW.com-*click*-Survive and Conquer-*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 fades away to a shot of a disheveled Sally. She looks pretty roughed up, though very familiar...wait a minute...we’re back at Test for the Best! Backstage at the United Center, and here is Sally: a mess from her match with Terry. A strong showing, but unsuccessful nonetheless. Sally stares at her boots, her hair covering her face. A sorry sight, though, as Shane comes around, we find her with a beaming smile.
[Sally] I did it Shane. I did it.
‘Did what?’ you might be asking. It should be clear: fans screaming her name, making it to the final, in a main event is going to go down in history as an all time great. Win or lose, it didn’t matter. Sally just had to prove that she could do all that.
Prove it to her fans.
Prove it to her competition.
Prove it to herself.
The scene fades out on the oh-so tired but exceptionally happy Sally, and comes back to a shot of a much-rejuvenated and revitalised Sally Talfourd - looking spick and span and new! Dressed in her newest purple training gear (the latest range available fro APW.com now!), she’s arrived early in Salt Lake City to get ready for the monumental match that she finds herself in this week. Two champions, a just-freshly-removed world champion and...herself. Daunting much? Anyway, we find her in lobby of her hotel. Why? Well, all will be reveled soon!
[Sally] Guys and girls, welcome back to Happy Endings and, firstly, can I start by saying a little, itty-bitty something about Test for the Best? *Sally waits for the yes that, no doubt, the audience has yelled at their screen for her*[/b] Ok, now I really hope that the tournament gave all you fans as happy an ending as it gave me. I might not have walked out the winner, and I got pinned by Terry Marvin when I was this close to winning...*Sally measures out fractions of an inch between her fingers, holds it close to the camera for all to see*[/b]...but that doesn’t mean that we lost. No no no! A wise man once told me that losing can be winning too, and that’s definitely what the finals was. Yes, I lost. But I also won. [/color]
[Shane] What did you win?
A cheeky grin flashes across her face.
[Sally] Confidence Shane. And memories. And recognition and cheers and...and everything I’d been missing, Shane! Everything I’d been missing for the past months, I found! I’m so excited! I could almost scream.
Could almost scream? Everyone says that when they’re having a good day. Sally, though, looks around and then lets out an almighty scream-cum-yell. It gets the attention of the few staff around, but luckily there’s no one else to be deafened by it.
[Shane] Shhh, Sally! Calm yourself down!
[Sally] I can’t Shane. I really can’t. I’ve not had this much excitement...this much energy...this much everything for so long now! And all because I showed that I still have it. That I can still do it. Two years ago? I won in. Last year? I was out the first round. And now this year...this year I made the finals. I’m coming back, Shane. I know it. I can feel it in here.
Sally pats her chest (something I’m sure many a fan wish they could do themselves) to just remind everyone that it’s not just brains that gets you ahead in this business but heart as well.
[Shane] Are you sure it’s not indigestion? You did have a big lunch just before...
[Sally] A big lunch? *Sally looks slightly embarrassed*[/b] I wouldn’t know what you’re talking about! *Before Shane can counters, Sally rolls on*[/b] But enough about me. I think my performance stands for itself. I think that the fact I managed to beat two of the best, two of the toughest that Asylum has in the one night and nearly edge out a victory against a legitimate champion in my third match speaks more about me than I could say. And, I guess, the same could be said of nearly all my opponents this Asylum. I mean, Jason Kash went toe-to-toe with the man I think is the best talent on Asylum right now and nearly retained that title we’re all so keen for. Michael Callahan did the same thing for his Pro-Life Title. [/color]
[Shane] And Julius?
[Sally] Well, Julius got the night off. But that might make him all dangerous. You know, fresh and rested up and all - that’s something the three of us left in this match haven’t had the chance to really do. But make no mistake about it, Shane: This is the biggest match I’ve been in since coming to Asylum. The chance to get a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship on one hand and the hardest competition to get through on the other. It’s going to be one great match, but definitely not an easy one. But I’m more prepared for this match than I’ve ever been. Think about it. The past three pay-per-views have been against the toughest competition in APW: Level-One, Michael Callahan, and Terry Marvin. And each week between those, I’ve had to square off against some of the biggest names too: Johnny Sykes, Chaz Dillinger, Julius. I mean, there’s been pretty long warm-up for me.
If this is the point that Sally’s truly been working towards, then her work-up to it couldn’t be any better.
[Sally] But you know the thing that’s most important? Experience. Like in the tournament just gone, experience is key. I beat Kash earlier this year. I beat Farquhar earlier this year. And while I didn’t exactly beat Callahan at Mayhem, I did get a wake-up call that pushed me to be better than the person he is now. I’ve got experience against all of these guys and enough of it to map out, like, a game plan of sorts. How to take myself into this match, who to target and how to target them. Like Kash. He is going to be out for revenge. He will be a good target to try and get under the skin of. Not go toe-to-toe with him, but keep wearing him down. Eventually he’ll explode or something out of frustration. And who could blame him? He did just lose the world title. I know what that feels like, and I know that you’re never thinking straight when you’re faced with the opportunity to get it back. I know how you can get driven to desteration. You’re in the match, doubting yourself, wondering what you did wrong last time, now wondering what not to do wrong this time. I get it, you get nervous. And when nerves set in...oh boy...
Sally trails off, thinking back to her own days after she lost her own world title. The doubting, the questioning, the wondering if you’re any good. All things that Kash will be going through in the match himself. Though, quickly, she brings herself back to the moment, rather than dwelling on her own past.
[Sally] And on the other hand, you’re going to have someone so inflated, so egotistic, someone who thinks that they’re so invincible that this match is just another walk in the park. Callahan is on cloud nine right now I guess. He’s gone for however many months with that title, never having even looked like losing it, and walks into a number one contender match. Nothing has gone wrong for him, has it?
[Shane] Not much at all.
[Sally] So I’m wondering if he even remembers what it’s like to fight back, or defend himself, or be in a tricky situation. I mean, he’s a real powerhouse. I can’t think of a match that he’s looked like losing - including my own! I will happily admit that he walked over me at Mayhem. Of course, it wasn’t for his precious title so who knows what might have happened if there were real stakes involved. But at the end of the day, Callahan has gone months and months looking like he’s unbeatable.
[Shane] Except for that Chaz Dillinger match.
[Sally] Well, yes, except for that. And I’m worried that that might have given him a little bit of fuel to run all the way to Mr. Bailey at Shockwave, you know? That the fact he didn’t make Test for the Best, and isn’t even being spoken about in the aftermath of it all...I wonder if it’s not going to give him that extra bit of something to push himself to win this match? I can’t help but think when it comes to being in the shadows of what was a truly great match that his ego won’t get the better of him?
And how can’t it? Surely Callahan thinks he deserved to be in that match more than the three who ended up in it? Surely Callahan is seething at the fact that the woman he beat at Mayhem was in the finals at Test for the Best? It should have been him. The champion of OverDrive against the champion of Asylum going toe-to-toe to determine which of the two meteoric risers is truly the best. If Callahan’s not thinking something like that, then he’s not thinking at all. All this crosses Sally’s mind, of course, and it’s not the first time.
[Shane] So what? Callahan’s going to win?
[Sally] Well, most people would say he’s the favourite, yes. But he’s going to have to earn it. He’s going to have to fight hard to get past me. While he has that luxury of having a win against me...don’t think that I don’t want it back. And yes, a win here isn’t exactly the same as his win over me. But it’s a start. It’s a chance to remind him that I’m not the person he thinks I am. He likes to think that I’m an easy-beat, that I’m not really competition. The fact is, I’m someone who has in it herself to push him far. Very far. I’m the woman on Asylum who knows wrestling better than anyone else. And I’m the woman who has held a title a lot bigger, a lot heavier, and a lot more important than his Pro-Life thing. The fact is that he has beat me, yes. But now he’s moved on and I’ve moved on. We’ve both learned and we’ve both changed. I just know that I’ve changed for the better. Him? He’s changed for the worse.
Over Sally’s shoulder, one of the hotel clerks has started to meander over to her all the while she is speaking. At the opportune moment he strikes!...with words.
[Clerk] Ms. Talfourd? If y[Shane]ou could please come to the desk, I need you to sign some forms for the...*Awkward pause, a glance to the camera, a clearing of the throat*[/b]...incident? [/color]
Sally goes wide-eyed and red-faced.
[Sally] Incident? What...ah...come over here and tell me what you’re talking about!
Sally takes the man by the wrist as starts to walk to the desk double-time. As much as you, Shane is confused, but he knows that time will unveil all. He waits as Sally makes her way to the desk. After a moment more, there’s 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 fades away to a shot of a disheveled Sally. She looks pretty roughed up, though very familiar...wait a minute...we’re back at Test for the Best! Backstage at the United Center, and here is Sally: a mess from her match with Terry. A strong showing, but unsuccessful nonetheless. Sally stares at her boots, her hair covering her face. A sorry sight, though, as Shane comes around, we find her with a beaming smile.
[Sally] I did it Shane. I did it.
‘Did what?’ you might be asking. It should be clear: fans screaming her name, making it to the final, in a main event is going to go down in history as an all time great. Win or lose, it didn’t matter. Sally just had to prove that she could do all that.
Prove it to her fans.
Prove it to her competition.
Prove it to herself.
The scene fades out on the oh-so tired but exceptionally happy Sally, and comes back to a shot of a much-rejuvenated and revitalised Sally Talfourd - looking spick and span and new! Dressed in her newest purple training gear (the latest range available fro APW.com now!), she’s arrived early in Salt Lake City to get ready for the monumental match that she finds herself in this week. Two champions, a just-freshly-removed world champion and...herself. Daunting much? Anyway, we find her in lobby of her hotel. Why? Well, all will be reveled soon!
[Sally] Guys and girls, welcome back to Happy Endings and, firstly, can I start by saying a little, itty-bitty something about Test for the Best? *Sally waits for the yes that, no doubt, the audience has yelled at their screen for her*[/b] Ok, now I really hope that the tournament gave all you fans as happy an ending as it gave me. I might not have walked out the winner, and I got pinned by Terry Marvin when I was this close to winning...*Sally measures out fractions of an inch between her fingers, holds it close to the camera for all to see*[/b]...but that doesn’t mean that we lost. No no no! A wise man once told me that losing can be winning too, and that’s definitely what the finals was. Yes, I lost. But I also won. [/color]
[Shane] What did you win?
A cheeky grin flashes across her face.
[Sally] Confidence Shane. And memories. And recognition and cheers and...and everything I’d been missing, Shane! Everything I’d been missing for the past months, I found! I’m so excited! I could almost scream.
Could almost scream? Everyone says that when they’re having a good day. Sally, though, looks around and then lets out an almighty scream-cum-yell. It gets the attention of the few staff around, but luckily there’s no one else to be deafened by it.
[Shane] Shhh, Sally! Calm yourself down!
[Sally] I can’t Shane. I really can’t. I’ve not had this much excitement...this much energy...this much everything for so long now! And all because I showed that I still have it. That I can still do it. Two years ago? I won in. Last year? I was out the first round. And now this year...this year I made the finals. I’m coming back, Shane. I know it. I can feel it in here.
Sally pats her chest (something I’m sure many a fan wish they could do themselves) to just remind everyone that it’s not just brains that gets you ahead in this business but heart as well.
[Shane] Are you sure it’s not indigestion? You did have a big lunch just before...
[Sally] A big lunch? *Sally looks slightly embarrassed*[/b] I wouldn’t know what you’re talking about! *Before Shane can counters, Sally rolls on*[/b] But enough about me. I think my performance stands for itself. I think that the fact I managed to beat two of the best, two of the toughest that Asylum has in the one night and nearly edge out a victory against a legitimate champion in my third match speaks more about me than I could say. And, I guess, the same could be said of nearly all my opponents this Asylum. I mean, Jason Kash went toe-to-toe with the man I think is the best talent on Asylum right now and nearly retained that title we’re all so keen for. Michael Callahan did the same thing for his Pro-Life Title. [/color]
[Shane] And Julius?
[Sally] Well, Julius got the night off. But that might make him all dangerous. You know, fresh and rested up and all - that’s something the three of us left in this match haven’t had the chance to really do. But make no mistake about it, Shane: This is the biggest match I’ve been in since coming to Asylum. The chance to get a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship on one hand and the hardest competition to get through on the other. It’s going to be one great match, but definitely not an easy one. But I’m more prepared for this match than I’ve ever been. Think about it. The past three pay-per-views have been against the toughest competition in APW: Level-One, Michael Callahan, and Terry Marvin. And each week between those, I’ve had to square off against some of the biggest names too: Johnny Sykes, Chaz Dillinger, Julius. I mean, there’s been pretty long warm-up for me.
If this is the point that Sally’s truly been working towards, then her work-up to it couldn’t be any better.
[Sally] But you know the thing that’s most important? Experience. Like in the tournament just gone, experience is key. I beat Kash earlier this year. I beat Farquhar earlier this year. And while I didn’t exactly beat Callahan at Mayhem, I did get a wake-up call that pushed me to be better than the person he is now. I’ve got experience against all of these guys and enough of it to map out, like, a game plan of sorts. How to take myself into this match, who to target and how to target them. Like Kash. He is going to be out for revenge. He will be a good target to try and get under the skin of. Not go toe-to-toe with him, but keep wearing him down. Eventually he’ll explode or something out of frustration. And who could blame him? He did just lose the world title. I know what that feels like, and I know that you’re never thinking straight when you’re faced with the opportunity to get it back. I know how you can get driven to desteration. You’re in the match, doubting yourself, wondering what you did wrong last time, now wondering what not to do wrong this time. I get it, you get nervous. And when nerves set in...oh boy...
Sally trails off, thinking back to her own days after she lost her own world title. The doubting, the questioning, the wondering if you’re any good. All things that Kash will be going through in the match himself. Though, quickly, she brings herself back to the moment, rather than dwelling on her own past.
[Sally] And on the other hand, you’re going to have someone so inflated, so egotistic, someone who thinks that they’re so invincible that this match is just another walk in the park. Callahan is on cloud nine right now I guess. He’s gone for however many months with that title, never having even looked like losing it, and walks into a number one contender match. Nothing has gone wrong for him, has it?
[Shane] Not much at all.
[Sally] So I’m wondering if he even remembers what it’s like to fight back, or defend himself, or be in a tricky situation. I mean, he’s a real powerhouse. I can’t think of a match that he’s looked like losing - including my own! I will happily admit that he walked over me at Mayhem. Of course, it wasn’t for his precious title so who knows what might have happened if there were real stakes involved. But at the end of the day, Callahan has gone months and months looking like he’s unbeatable.
[Shane] Except for that Chaz Dillinger match.
[Sally] Well, yes, except for that. And I’m worried that that might have given him a little bit of fuel to run all the way to Mr. Bailey at Shockwave, you know? That the fact he didn’t make Test for the Best, and isn’t even being spoken about in the aftermath of it all...I wonder if it’s not going to give him that extra bit of something to push himself to win this match? I can’t help but think when it comes to being in the shadows of what was a truly great match that his ego won’t get the better of him?
And how can’t it? Surely Callahan thinks he deserved to be in that match more than the three who ended up in it? Surely Callahan is seething at the fact that the woman he beat at Mayhem was in the finals at Test for the Best? It should have been him. The champion of OverDrive against the champion of Asylum going toe-to-toe to determine which of the two meteoric risers is truly the best. If Callahan’s not thinking something like that, then he’s not thinking at all. All this crosses Sally’s mind, of course, and it’s not the first time.
[Shane] So what? Callahan’s going to win?
[Sally] Well, most people would say he’s the favourite, yes. But he’s going to have to earn it. He’s going to have to fight hard to get past me. While he has that luxury of having a win against me...don’t think that I don’t want it back. And yes, a win here isn’t exactly the same as his win over me. But it’s a start. It’s a chance to remind him that I’m not the person he thinks I am. He likes to think that I’m an easy-beat, that I’m not really competition. The fact is, I’m someone who has in it herself to push him far. Very far. I’m the woman on Asylum who knows wrestling better than anyone else. And I’m the woman who has held a title a lot bigger, a lot heavier, and a lot more important than his Pro-Life thing. The fact is that he has beat me, yes. But now he’s moved on and I’ve moved on. We’ve both learned and we’ve both changed. I just know that I’ve changed for the better. Him? He’s changed for the worse.
Over Sally’s shoulder, one of the hotel clerks has started to meander over to her all the while she is speaking. At the opportune moment he strikes!...with words.
[Clerk] Ms. Talfourd? If y[Shane]ou could please come to the desk, I need you to sign some forms for the...*Awkward pause, a glance to the camera, a clearing of the throat*[/b]...incident? [/color]
Sally goes wide-eyed and red-faced.
[Sally] Incident? What...ah...come over here and tell me what you’re talking about!
Sally takes the man by the wrist as starts to walk to the desk double-time. As much as you, Shane is confused, but he knows that time will unveil all. He waits as Sally makes her way to the desk. After a moment more, there’s 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.
