Post by Phate on Jun 2, 2008 3:57:20 GMT -4
The sight of a vibrant sun rising from the East opens our scene, our eyes adjusting to the brightness of the early morning sheen off of the dew-covered grass nearby. As our camera pans over we begin taking in the weathered granite exterior of what appears to be a school or miscellaneous building of mental enrichment, its stone pillars expertly etched with precision but beginning to show their age as the hold the sun shade in place above a pair of solid oak doors. Brass door handles shimmer in the morning glow, their finish somewhat scuffed but their impeccable appearance standing strong nonetheless. As our eyes drift upward we are met with a large natural stone arch perched precariously above the sun shade, the words “St. Mary’s Catholic Preparatory for Wayward Girls” chiseled into its face. The camera zooms skyward, past the stone precipices and beyond the academy’s shingle-enriched roof to a small playground area in the rear. A wooden and oak seesaw creaks with the morning breeze, its crimson-painted surface chipping and peeling from years of recess and youthful posteriors. A metal slide juts angrily from the wood chip compost covering the ground floor to the right of the teeter-totter, its ladder missing a few bottom rungs and its paint all but stripped away. A few paces to the left of the ancient slide lies a cast iron jungle gym, its bars battered from the pitter patter of children’s feet and hands and its colors faded from wear. All of the aforementioned playground items seemingly surround a metallic monstrosity of a swing set, making it the focal point of our composition. The steel support beams of the swing set seem like they have been thrust harshly into the ground, a single solitary swing chained up and dangling from the center of the main beam. The chains whine as the swing sways to and fro, mainly because the person sitting on it is making it do so. That person is none other than Action Packed Wrestling superstar “The Icon” Doctor Phate. Neatly attired in a midnight-toned pleated uniform skirt and an oversized white long-sleeved dress shirt un-tucked and overlapping the skirt’s waistband, Phate giddily swings forward and back in spurts. A red silken necktie dangles nicely from his collar, its Windsor Knot tied and tightened to perfection. A pair of black and white Converse Chuck Taylors sit laced up to the hilt on his feet, the toes of each shoe pulling and dragging through the compost padding below. Black horn-rimmed glasses sit provocatively on the bridge of his nose, his eyes manically peering downward at the ground through their clearly polished lenses. A small “Hello Kitty” backpack is affixed to “The Icon’s” back, its pink exterior a stark contrast to the rest of his clothing and color scheme. Our view careens around “The Icon”, our gaze resting on his visage as he looks up from whatever reverie he was engaged in and stares our way, smiling maniacally at us.
Phate (amused tone; addressing camera):
“We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes--
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile
And mouth with myriad subtleties.
Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us while
We wear the mask.
We smile, but oh great Christ, our cries
To Thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!”
Paul Lawrence Dunbar. A very wise man that was a bit ahead o’ his time, if ya ask me. He’s right, y’know – we DO wear th’ mask fer some reason. Some people wear it because they want t’impress and employer an’ get a better job. Some people wear it to impress. Hell, some people wear it wit’ their own flesh and blood around. Why? Simple.
Swinging forward, Phate hops off the swing, its chains groaning in agony as Phate sails off and lands crouched on the balls of his feet before suddenly standing upright like he just nailed an Olympic gymnastics landing! Pleased with his effort, Phate bows momentarily to a group of imaginary judges before once again turns his complete attention to the viewer.
Phate (grinning; addressing viewer; amused tone): They don’t wanna face what they really, truly are.
Doctor Phate skips merrily along, kicking up chips of redwood as he makes his way to the ladder cascading from the back of the busted slide across the miniature adventure called a playground. Noticing the missing rungs, Phate extend his left arm upward and grips the closest upper rung with his left hand before continuing the conversation.
Phate (grabbing the ladder; smiling; amused tone; addressing viewer): Y’see, fact of th’ matter is that damn near ev’rybody is scared t’really face th’ person they are because, well, people are fucked up. Colorful way t’put it, I know, but the best way t’put it in my humble opinion. Watch Forensic Files ev’ry now and again, sugah. People like th’ lady next door to you that feeds all th’ birds in th’ neighborhood and watches yer kids while yer at work have got bodies buried in th’ backyard. But you’d never suspect her because she’s gotta damn good mask.
“She’s so nice!”
“She speaks to me every morning!”
“She baked me a nice beef pot pie when I first moved here!”
You sure that was beef in that pie? Didn’t think you were. No matter how nice or unassuming, sugah, ev’rybody’s wearin’ a mask - -
Pulling himself skyward, Phate plops his rear end down at the peak of the slide and pushes off! Phate careens forward and down, coming to the bottom of the slide with all the giddiness of a preschooler who finally learned how the sliding works! Landing at the bottom, Phate hops to his feet once more, a large smile etched across his face. Phate’s head swiftly whips around to once again engage us in conversation and to finish his previous thought.
Phate (amused tone; addressing viewer; fixing knot on tie): Figuratively and literally.
Taking a second to politely curtsy to the diligently standing slide to his rear, Phate pivots on his heel and travels over to the see-saw. “The Icon” ensures his gaze never leaves the viewer, his pupils enlarging and focusing on his conversation partners with eagle-like intensity as he smiles warmly.
Phate (amused tone; addressing viewer; smiling): Example one? Sergeant Kenneth Lambardo. The current reigning and defending Action Packed Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion. Leader o’ the Church of Kaos. Fiancée of Diana Steel. Incredible in-ring performer….an’ someone perpetually wearing a mask figuratively. See, Lambardo’s good but he ain’t as good as he feels he is. His mask consists o’ deterring his opponents from analyzin’ the flaws in his game by utilizin’ the Church of Kaos as well as a favorable alliance wit’ President Jeff and th’ aura it has given him to psychologically throw people off their game. These things have helped Lambardo maintain his grip on the World Heavyweight Title, even wit’ his nuptials fast approaching and somebody else’s kid t’take care of – and I use “somebody else’s” in the loosest way possible WITHOUT considerin’ Trevor Blackwell’s grungily cute ass! No worries, though, Sarge – thanks to the Test For The Best Tournament come August at Shockwave I’ll be relievin’ you of yer post as APW World Champion an’ closin’ yer Church down for renovations so you’ll be havin’ a lot of time t’spend with your new family AND you’ll be able t’take off yer mask! Great news, right?!?!
Running up the lower part of the teeter-totter, Phate rides it down, posing like a barrel-chested superhero on the way down and faking a serious expression on his face! The seesaw finally taps the ground, bouncing slightly, before Phate turns back toward the viewer and begins speaking once more.
Phate (smiling; amused tone; addressing viewer): Example Two? Katrina "Arcadia" Olivetti. Great in th’ ring, extremely innovative, agile like a monkey, willin’ t’put her body on th’ line for victory, obsessed wit’ video games - - and th’ proud owner of a mask that literally NEVER COMES OFF. She prob’ly showers, shoots pool, plays ball, AND turns tricks in it! It’s black coloring makes it SO chic an’ th’ silver “X” means it won’t clash wit’ her see-through heels OR her hooker boots! All hooking aside what is her mask hiding?
Stopping to ponder, Doctor Phate’s ADD kicks in and he becomes giggly as spots the jungle gym from the corner of his left eye and instantly darts toward it! He begins scaling its far left side, hand over hand and foot over foot in an agility belying his size. Reaching the pinnacle of the dome, Phate takes a moment to sit and revel in his personal victory before continuing his conversation with the viewer.
Phate (smiling; amused tone; addressing viewer): Well, she could be a butterface…she could even be hidin’ a razor scar from her pimp ‘cause, you know, it’s hard out here fer a pimp…but I think it’s a whole lot simpler than that. (sudden serious tone; addressing viewer; stern expression) She’s jus’ like her mentor, Sergeant Lambardo – nowhere NEAR as great as she thinks she is. She’s good….but she ain’t great. She’s undefeated – ‘cause she’s had the chance to ride some coattails and ‘cause no one has actually sat down fer a second or two an’ actually scouted her or came up wit’ an effective plan of attack fer Christ Sakes! Jake Ruby made th’ stupid mistake of underestimatin’ her in her debut an’ got rolled up. Vin E. Lambardo carried her to a victory over Jason Royce an’ The Hardcore Kid at Sabotage. Do you think those idiots sat down fer a minute an’ watched th’ match tape to figure out where they went wrong? NOPE! They get a rematch, a Parking Lot Brawl, against Arcadia an’ Lombardo the Overdrive after Sabotage an’ STILL can’t get a win! Hell, Kalayla Mitchell got multiple shots at Arcadia just like Royce and THK an’ she learned nothing from alla those before her! Sheesh, people! She ain’t Wonder Woman – she’s a 5’4” video game addict in a mask!
Calming himself down, Phate inhales and exhales slowly before reapplying his somewhat psychotic smile and clearing his throat. Adjusting his tie briefly, Doctor Phate refocuses on the viewer and begins speaking once again.
Phate (smiling; amused tone; addressing viewer): Long story short Arcadia’s unbeatable facade is nothin’ but a mask. She CAN be defeated – an’ she WILL be defeated this Monday on Overdrive…..
Reaching over his right shoulder, Phate’s left hand disappears into the backpack resting on his spine and re-emerges with an Eight-Hour VHS tape with a makeshift label taped to its surface. The words “Arcadia Age 10 Mexico To APW Present” are scribbled across it in black permanent marker. Smiling, Phate takes a moment to pucker up and kiss the videocassette before returning his gaze to the viewer and continuing on.
Phate (smiling; amused tone; tape in hand; addressing viewer): …an’ become th’ next victim of what’s quickly becomin’ THE undefeated streak. This ain’t a video game, you butch – this is real life an’ in th’ game of life you make yer OWN Strategy Guide! And believe me when I say there ain’t no Gamefaqs or Action Replay MAX that can save you from getting’ picked apart in th’ center of the ring thanks to an opponent actually DOING their homework! I quit hidin’ behind my mask at Mayhem - - an’ yer gonna quit hidin’ behind BOTH of yer masks an’ start countin’ the lights at Overdrive! Arcadia – prepare t’trade in yer undefeated record fer a blemished one at your local Game Stop! Prepare to disappoint th’ Church of Kaos! Prepare to become a stepping stone on my way up th’ ladder to greater glory! And prepare to show th’ whole world that at th’ end of the day, mask or no mask, yer just another wrestler! And while Legends die and Wrestlers come and go ICONS LIVE FOREVER! (blowing a kiss at the viewer; cocky tone) Toodles!
Our scene slowly fades to black with our gaze traveling upward and to the left, affixing itself on the fully risen sun and the sounds of the school bells ringing in the distance.
========== fin ==========
Phate (amused tone; addressing camera):
“We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes--
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile
And mouth with myriad subtleties.
Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us while
We wear the mask.
We smile, but oh great Christ, our cries
To Thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!”
Paul Lawrence Dunbar. A very wise man that was a bit ahead o’ his time, if ya ask me. He’s right, y’know – we DO wear th’ mask fer some reason. Some people wear it because they want t’impress and employer an’ get a better job. Some people wear it to impress. Hell, some people wear it wit’ their own flesh and blood around. Why? Simple.
Swinging forward, Phate hops off the swing, its chains groaning in agony as Phate sails off and lands crouched on the balls of his feet before suddenly standing upright like he just nailed an Olympic gymnastics landing! Pleased with his effort, Phate bows momentarily to a group of imaginary judges before once again turns his complete attention to the viewer.
Phate (grinning; addressing viewer; amused tone): They don’t wanna face what they really, truly are.
Doctor Phate skips merrily along, kicking up chips of redwood as he makes his way to the ladder cascading from the back of the busted slide across the miniature adventure called a playground. Noticing the missing rungs, Phate extend his left arm upward and grips the closest upper rung with his left hand before continuing the conversation.
Phate (grabbing the ladder; smiling; amused tone; addressing viewer): Y’see, fact of th’ matter is that damn near ev’rybody is scared t’really face th’ person they are because, well, people are fucked up. Colorful way t’put it, I know, but the best way t’put it in my humble opinion. Watch Forensic Files ev’ry now and again, sugah. People like th’ lady next door to you that feeds all th’ birds in th’ neighborhood and watches yer kids while yer at work have got bodies buried in th’ backyard. But you’d never suspect her because she’s gotta damn good mask.
“She’s so nice!”
“She speaks to me every morning!”
“She baked me a nice beef pot pie when I first moved here!”
You sure that was beef in that pie? Didn’t think you were. No matter how nice or unassuming, sugah, ev’rybody’s wearin’ a mask - -
Pulling himself skyward, Phate plops his rear end down at the peak of the slide and pushes off! Phate careens forward and down, coming to the bottom of the slide with all the giddiness of a preschooler who finally learned how the sliding works! Landing at the bottom, Phate hops to his feet once more, a large smile etched across his face. Phate’s head swiftly whips around to once again engage us in conversation and to finish his previous thought.
Phate (amused tone; addressing viewer; fixing knot on tie): Figuratively and literally.
Taking a second to politely curtsy to the diligently standing slide to his rear, Phate pivots on his heel and travels over to the see-saw. “The Icon” ensures his gaze never leaves the viewer, his pupils enlarging and focusing on his conversation partners with eagle-like intensity as he smiles warmly.
Phate (amused tone; addressing viewer; smiling): Example one? Sergeant Kenneth Lambardo. The current reigning and defending Action Packed Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion. Leader o’ the Church of Kaos. Fiancée of Diana Steel. Incredible in-ring performer….an’ someone perpetually wearing a mask figuratively. See, Lambardo’s good but he ain’t as good as he feels he is. His mask consists o’ deterring his opponents from analyzin’ the flaws in his game by utilizin’ the Church of Kaos as well as a favorable alliance wit’ President Jeff and th’ aura it has given him to psychologically throw people off their game. These things have helped Lambardo maintain his grip on the World Heavyweight Title, even wit’ his nuptials fast approaching and somebody else’s kid t’take care of – and I use “somebody else’s” in the loosest way possible WITHOUT considerin’ Trevor Blackwell’s grungily cute ass! No worries, though, Sarge – thanks to the Test For The Best Tournament come August at Shockwave I’ll be relievin’ you of yer post as APW World Champion an’ closin’ yer Church down for renovations so you’ll be havin’ a lot of time t’spend with your new family AND you’ll be able t’take off yer mask! Great news, right?!?!
Running up the lower part of the teeter-totter, Phate rides it down, posing like a barrel-chested superhero on the way down and faking a serious expression on his face! The seesaw finally taps the ground, bouncing slightly, before Phate turns back toward the viewer and begins speaking once more.
Phate (smiling; amused tone; addressing viewer): Example Two? Katrina "Arcadia" Olivetti. Great in th’ ring, extremely innovative, agile like a monkey, willin’ t’put her body on th’ line for victory, obsessed wit’ video games - - and th’ proud owner of a mask that literally NEVER COMES OFF. She prob’ly showers, shoots pool, plays ball, AND turns tricks in it! It’s black coloring makes it SO chic an’ th’ silver “X” means it won’t clash wit’ her see-through heels OR her hooker boots! All hooking aside what is her mask hiding?
Stopping to ponder, Doctor Phate’s ADD kicks in and he becomes giggly as spots the jungle gym from the corner of his left eye and instantly darts toward it! He begins scaling its far left side, hand over hand and foot over foot in an agility belying his size. Reaching the pinnacle of the dome, Phate takes a moment to sit and revel in his personal victory before continuing his conversation with the viewer.
Phate (smiling; amused tone; addressing viewer): Well, she could be a butterface…she could even be hidin’ a razor scar from her pimp ‘cause, you know, it’s hard out here fer a pimp…but I think it’s a whole lot simpler than that. (sudden serious tone; addressing viewer; stern expression) She’s jus’ like her mentor, Sergeant Lambardo – nowhere NEAR as great as she thinks she is. She’s good….but she ain’t great. She’s undefeated – ‘cause she’s had the chance to ride some coattails and ‘cause no one has actually sat down fer a second or two an’ actually scouted her or came up wit’ an effective plan of attack fer Christ Sakes! Jake Ruby made th’ stupid mistake of underestimatin’ her in her debut an’ got rolled up. Vin E. Lambardo carried her to a victory over Jason Royce an’ The Hardcore Kid at Sabotage. Do you think those idiots sat down fer a minute an’ watched th’ match tape to figure out where they went wrong? NOPE! They get a rematch, a Parking Lot Brawl, against Arcadia an’ Lombardo the Overdrive after Sabotage an’ STILL can’t get a win! Hell, Kalayla Mitchell got multiple shots at Arcadia just like Royce and THK an’ she learned nothing from alla those before her! Sheesh, people! She ain’t Wonder Woman – she’s a 5’4” video game addict in a mask!
Calming himself down, Phate inhales and exhales slowly before reapplying his somewhat psychotic smile and clearing his throat. Adjusting his tie briefly, Doctor Phate refocuses on the viewer and begins speaking once again.
Phate (smiling; amused tone; addressing viewer): Long story short Arcadia’s unbeatable facade is nothin’ but a mask. She CAN be defeated – an’ she WILL be defeated this Monday on Overdrive…..
Reaching over his right shoulder, Phate’s left hand disappears into the backpack resting on his spine and re-emerges with an Eight-Hour VHS tape with a makeshift label taped to its surface. The words “Arcadia Age 10 Mexico To APW Present” are scribbled across it in black permanent marker. Smiling, Phate takes a moment to pucker up and kiss the videocassette before returning his gaze to the viewer and continuing on.
Phate (smiling; amused tone; tape in hand; addressing viewer): …an’ become th’ next victim of what’s quickly becomin’ THE undefeated streak. This ain’t a video game, you butch – this is real life an’ in th’ game of life you make yer OWN Strategy Guide! And believe me when I say there ain’t no Gamefaqs or Action Replay MAX that can save you from getting’ picked apart in th’ center of the ring thanks to an opponent actually DOING their homework! I quit hidin’ behind my mask at Mayhem - - an’ yer gonna quit hidin’ behind BOTH of yer masks an’ start countin’ the lights at Overdrive! Arcadia – prepare t’trade in yer undefeated record fer a blemished one at your local Game Stop! Prepare to disappoint th’ Church of Kaos! Prepare to become a stepping stone on my way up th’ ladder to greater glory! And prepare to show th’ whole world that at th’ end of the day, mask or no mask, yer just another wrestler! And while Legends die and Wrestlers come and go ICONS LIVE FOREVER! (blowing a kiss at the viewer; cocky tone) Toodles!
Our scene slowly fades to black with our gaze traveling upward and to the left, affixing itself on the fully risen sun and the sounds of the school bells ringing in the distance.
========== fin ==========
