Post by SalTal on Mar 20, 2011 5:10:27 GMT -4
"I am the greatest wrestler in Action Packed wrestling."
This is a lie because
I am part of the greatest group of wrestlers in this business:
I watch these men and women perform every week and
I ask myself “How do I compare to them?” as I lace my boots.
I am preparing myself for what will be another memorable match where
The crowds will love and adore me again when I win again.
I don't care that
Level-One is after me, Pence is mad at me, and CJ Gates is crying over me.
This is exactly what I want:
A world title match, headlining the biggest pay per view that this great company put on.
I deserve so much more than
The treatment that I have received since taking on my title.
I won't bear it because this is
What an honest, great, and true champion does.
I am not about to go through
What Level-One will put me through simply to become champion.
I tell you this, I look forward to
A clean, well-fought, by-the-book match.
This isn't going to be like my title win;
Unlike my match at Christmas Chaos;
Unlike Survive and Conquer;
Be prepared for something completely unexpected, because tonight is going to be
Completely upside down.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Explorer - *click* - Favorites - *click* - APW.com ...
Welcome to Action Packed Wrestling![/color]
Videos - *click* - Megastars - *click* - Sally Talfourd - *click* - Videos - *click*[/i]
Welcome to Happy Ending T.V.!
Recent - *click* - Episode #38: Superhero or Supervillain? - *click*
Recorded the 20th of March, 2011. Rasslemania is here! Check in with the APW World Heavyweight Champion Sally Talfourd as she gets ready for the big night. Watch Sally's appearance at the house show, her off-time, and tour of the publicity circuit. Not one to be missed – especially with a whole bunch of guest appearances!
Starring: Sally Talfourd, Shane the cameraman, CJ Gates, Branden Harvey, Level-One
*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."
fades away to a blank black screen … then … BAM! A flash of white. A spinning headline, and a voice over ...
Cue an image of Sally Talfourd, buxom and ravishing (as always). A superheros costume akin to the Wonder Woman-type, the one that consumed the wandering minds of teenage boys for decades. A black-and-white, sepia toned photo, like you would expect to see on a newspaper back in 'the day'. It's her, fists on her hips, shoulders back, standing tall, looking into the air. You know, the classic superhero pose. Then, we move in on the photo and the color bleeds in, and it comes to life. Sally looks to the camera with her all-serious look … then breaks a smile, winks, and then … takes off!
She's flying, arms outstretches, cape flapping in the wind along with her hair. The sky streams by her, the occasional cloud breaking that pristine blue background. She looks over her ward, the world. Then, her brow furrows. She looks down at the world. We turn to take her perspective …but what can she see? The skyscrapers that we look up at as being modern giants are nothing but ant hills now. Then, quickly, we zoom in, faster and further until we see the street like it were at the end of our nose. And that's when we see the deplorable act: A mugger (with skullcap, black-and-white clothes, and all) trying to snatch the purse of a poor, defenseless, little old lady. Quick cut back to Sally flying high above the world. She gives a stern nod to the camera, then arcs on below the camera, headed to the unseemly sight we just saw.
A thud, and that mugger hits the pavement hard. A pair of boots steps next to his head, and then a pan up a pair of oh-so sexy legs to reveal Sally Talfourd without a hair out of place nor a scratch on her. She lets out a heavy breath, then turns her gaze back towards the sky, standing tall and all superhero-ish ...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That action-packed scene cuts to a shot of APW World Heavyweight Champion Sally Talfourd. No superhero, no capes, no busting bust. Just Sally Talfourd as we expect her: Look all delicate, lovely, and beautiful. She's donning some of her better clothes today: A nice white shirt with the long sleeves rolled up to her elbows with a pail blue miniskirt. The hair, the make-up, all the usual stuff, looking like she's ready for a show. But … how could she be? We are days away from Rasslemania, not hours. Why would she be dressed for a show? I guess publicity shot or something. Anyway, she has the APW strap thrown over her shoulder, which she adjusts (purely for effect) as she gets the go-ahead from Shane that this episode of Happy Endings TV is underway!
[Sally] You know, if someone had come to me last year and said “Hey Sally, this time in 12 months time, you'll be the main event of APW's Rasslemania!” I'd have probably just laughed. Not for any other reason than the fact that, well, that was even something I was planning on. My success? My achievements? *Sally looks at her belt, dwells on it* My wins? *Sally looks back to the camera* None of them were anything I had planned a year ago. At the time, I was trying to throw off an irate tag team partner who was more interested in injuring and retiring me than proving herself. And then … well … we don't need to go through history. Suffice to say, the chain reaction theory is alive and well in APW. Because here I am, standing right here and right now as the APW World Heavyweight Champion. I'm not a nobody, I'm not a challenger, I'm not anything less than a champion. Like it or hate it, that's where we stand.
A seemingly frank and straightforward way to start of the Rasslemania countdown, I guess. It's true enough though, that Sally had the phenomenally fast rise to the top. Oh sure, there were some stumbles on the way – but that was hardly her fault. People have always been jealous of her, so why should it be any different in APW? People have always tried to prevent her from taking the position that is rightly hers, from getting her rightful hands on her rightful championships. People are just easily jealous, but you can't blame them, right? Sally certainly doesn't. I mean, how can you? This is Sally Talfourd we're talking about here. Anyway, why hear if from me when you can hear about how great she is from her very own mouth! She runs a hand through her hair, pulling her fringe back, away from her face. She draws in a deep breath … steady those nerves … then lets out out, along with all the tension and the jitters.
[Sally] And that's how I want to welcome all you ladies and gentlemen to Happy Endings TV now. As a champion. Because God knows that you've all been crying out for one for a long, long time! *Sally breaks a familiar smile, but that look of self-obsession and oozing confidence in her eye tells us it might not be all that sincere* I mean, you had Level-One since forever. And before him? Well, who can remember that far back. I'm sure we had a bunch of nobodies who have failed miserably and achieved nothing since their blink of a reign … oh that's right! Pence Weatherlight was a champion … no Sally! Do not get distracted by things that are completely unimportant to the real world. *Sally looks down, sort of at where a much smaller version of her would be standing to her right* This is just you and Lester, Sally. Don't worry about anyone else for now. Just focus on this joke first.
[Shane] Sally, are you talking to yourself … again?
Sally stops, here eyes look up to the camera. Remember, girl, that there are a thousand million people watching you right now. She quickly looks up with a nervous smile, and a giddy look.
[Sally] No … well, no! I was simply thinking out loud. You know, sometimes it's hard to even hear my own voice, there's so much going on up here *Sally taps her temple* and all that.
[Shane] Like whether you should buy that new dress?
[Sally] Oh my gosh, Shane! *Sally lights up!* Did you see it too!? It was amazing. If I was someone else, you know, one of the fans, I wouldn't be able to afford it but I really think that … *Sally stops, pulls herself up* Ha-ha Shane, very funny. Yes, I do think about clothes. I also think about a lot of other things as well. Like how great a champion I am. How I'm going to win my match. How I'm the best wrestling in APW. You know, actual, real truths? And anyway … *Sally goes to keep speaking, but stops, her mouth wide open as she completely forgets what she was going to say* What was I talking about again?
[Shane] About how you should be champion or something? That the fans want you as a champion. But how do you even know that they want you as champion? I mean, they haven't exactly been receptive …
Sally quickly starts to speak over Shane. We'll have none of those lies here today – that the fans have been booing her and whatnot! Outrageous lies! They have been booing other things – like her opponent, or … other things. Definitely not her. Nope.
[Sally] How do I know that people have wanted a true champion all this time? How do I know that APW has yearned for it? How do I know that the fans have begged for it? Easy. You watch any show since I stepped foot in APW and look at the crowds. There are hundred of 'Sally Talfourd' signs. There are dozens of 'Sally! Sally! Sally!' chants throughout the night. My matches are the most watched, most loved, most anticipated matches on the card. *Sally stands a little bit taller, a little bit smugger* I hate to say it … well, who am I kidding? I love to say it: for nearly the past year Sally Talfourd has been APW. OverDrive has been my show. The pay per views have been my pay per views. And this championship *Sally pats the faceplate of the belt, with a bit of a heavy hand* has been my championship. I might not have held it for the whole time I've been here, but I know that the fans wanted me to have it bad enough, APW wanted me to have it bad enough, and I wanted it bad enough to pretty much make me the champion. You, Lester, for those short little months you held this, were nothing but a place-holder. A temp filling in for a real champion. An understudy waiting for the real star to take their place on the stage. Let's face it Lester, you time in the spotlight was over when I walked through the door. It was only a matter of time until you became irrelevant – at worst. At best, you could only ever be my number two. My number one contender. The second best in APW. And, since I picked up this baby *Sally with a point at the belt* That's all you've ever been …
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crash! A person is thrown into a hard and rough looking brick wall. You know the kind, from one of those grungy movies with the posters half-torn off, the bricks black from wear, and rubbish newspapers gathered at the base. We're back in superhero world. The dastardly criminal slumps to the floor in a wrecked heap. Again, a pair of boots step next to his head, and as the camera pans up those beautiful set of legs again, we see the intimidating Sally Talfourd looking down at her latest criminal victim.
Sally Talfourd in all sorts of action. Bashing up criminals, slamming jail cell doors, and handshakes with official-looking people. You know, the routine for a superhero. The fans flock to her in another shot, snapping photos with her, getting her autograph, and just generally amazed at the opportunity to see her.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Back to reality, and we're back on Sally Talfourd. Oh! So that's why she was all dressed to impressed! We come back to a shot of Sally Talfourd standing in the middle of an APW ring – but that's about where the familiarity ends when it comes to this image. The arena is small – much smaller. Maybe a couple thousand? The place is no where near the standard that the top wrestler in the company is used to. And the tidiness of the place? Well, that leaves much to be desired. Sally is used to be the most attractive, best looking, and most stunning thing in a building – but there is just no competition here, tonight. It's a house show that APW is running to drum up even more excitement and even more anticipation for Rasslemania. Of course, if you want to do that, you send in the best of the best. And, well, here Sally is. Cent re of the ring, all eyes of the crowd fixed on her. If there were any signs that were a little critical of Sally Talfourd – like “What happened Sally?” and “Where's Sally?” - you definitely can't see them because of the shoddy lighting. No! Don't look hard, just take my word for it. Sally waits in the ring for silence. But, well, it's already quiet. It's almost like she's used to the applause going on for this long. Anyway, when she's happy to speak, she brings up the microphone to her dainty little mouth.
[Sally] Hello ladies and gentlemen, fans and well-wishers, lovers and … lovers. Welcome to APW's last show before the big one: Rasslemania! *Excitement for the show is up there, judging by the roar of approval; who'd have known such a tiny crowd could make so much noise?* I know, I am as excited as you all. I mean, this is Rasslemania; the pay per view that every wrestler out there aspires to at least appear on. And here I am, with the opportunity to main event it! To have my defining moment, retaining the APW World Heavyweight Championship. I mean … *Sally has to pause for a moment. Is she getting choked up? Whatever it is, it doesn't last long* … here's a chance to have that career-defining moment. The type of moment that you could work a whole career towards and never achieve. And here I am, poised to actually get a moment like that all to myself. All I have to is beat the guy I've made a habit of beating for the past, I don't know, six months? Whatever. But more about Mr. Only in a minute. Before I get into, you know, the ranting and raving bit, I need to take a moment.
I need to do something on the eve of this very important and special night. You see, it's hard work getting to this point. And sure, there are all sorts of people that might try and help you get here. But at the end of the road, we all know that there's one person that we depended on the most. There's that one person that helped us more than anyone. Who showed the tenacity and the determination and the focus to get us here. And, I think it's well overdue that that person who helped me is thanked. It's someone that you've loved and adored; someone you've watched for months and months; someone you just can't get enough of. Please, give it up for …
Sally trails off. All eyes are on the entrance to the back. There's a thick silence, filled with tension and anticipation. Who is it? Who has been secretly helping Sally? Was it someone who wanted to see Lester down and out? Is it someone trying to work Sally over? Someone looking to cash in on a favor down the line? Who could it be? Suddenly the PA bursts to life as … 'Starstrukk (feat. Katy Perry)' by 3OH!3 blasts out to the arena. What? Then Sally's entrance kicks in, well, her video and the lights and that. Sally opens up her arms, walks back to the center of the ring to take in all the applause, the cheers, the love. Well, she'd take it in if there was any. There's a smattering of boos, but a whole lot of confusion. Sally looks around with a great smile, taken in with the moment.
[Sally] That's right everyone, I think it's well overdue that I am thanked for everything I've done. Everything I've done for APW, everything I've done for my career, everything I've done for you fans, I think I deserve – at the very least – a great big thank-you! And, you know what? *The music dies down, and the boos are still there. But it's almost like Sally doesn't even notice them* I think that I'll do that on behalf of you all. Because I know you're not as courageous or brave or outgoing as me. You're all shy, a little scared, maybe even a little weak. But don't worry about that! Because I still adore you, because you adore me! So, from the bottom of your hearts you say … *Sally holds up the microphone, expecting a chorus of “thank-you's” to come at her. But none come, just a chorus of boos. Sally looks a little put off. She must have heard that, surely? Not from the looks of things as she breaks into a bit of a giggle before composing herself* And from the bottom of my heart, I I accept your thanks!
Sally walks around the ring, getting a bit more perspective of, well, the hall she's in. The lights above the ring block out, you know, whatever might be beyond that threshold. I don't know, maybe if she could see it she wouldn't even notice it.
[Sally] I am so glad to have achieved everything I have. I would have never got here if I wasn't just sooooo good. So good, in fact, that no one here in APW even rivals me. I mean, I don't think there's one person that I haven't beat in a singles match in some capacity. I mean, I've only lost two singles matches here – both of them against my opponent this week. And yes, I know that someone with some biased and pathetic memory of it all will say *Sally puts on her best fake-Level-One voice … however that goes*”Well I beat you twice already, so now I have to just do it again.” Well, you know what's wrong about that? The fact that I have gone out and beat Lester Only not once but twice now. Twice. I've beat the supposed greatest legend that APW has twice on my own now. If you want to bring in, you know, tag team matches and that, then the number gets massive. Like, four or something. Some huuuuuge number. *The sarcasm is thick there* But, when I'm pitted against myself, I've got as many wins against Lester as he has against me. That, plus the fact that no one here can beat me one-one-one just makes it obvious: I am the best in APW.
Here we have an embodiment of history being written by the winners. But, then again, I guess the record will speak for itself … so long as Level-One changes his name to 'record'. Anyway, Sally fixes the belt (oh yeah, it's around her waist), pulls it a little around to her front and gives it a loving pat. She looks around with a smile, then holds up her hand as if there is a need to correct herself.
[Sally] Actually, you know what? That's not exactly right. Oh I am the best in APW – better than the likes of Pence Weatherlight *A bit of a pop from the veteran fans* and the Branden Harveys *More of a pop for APW's resident sympathy-case* and especially the *Sally has to choke something down as she says this ...*CJ Gates – I'm better than them all. I don't have to prove myself against them. I don't have to prove myself against anyone anymore. Do you know why? Because I'm bigger than them. I am so much more than them. We're here on the eve of Rasslemania. The biggest night that APW will have this year. The moment isn't lost on me, because I know exactly what APW is about. But do you know what I do see? I see a bunch of people that the whole moment is lost on. When people look at Rasslemania these days, they are looking at a potential line on their resume. Maybe even a chance to impress the right people.
Anyone who thinks this is missing the big picture. They are missing the point of Rasslemania XII. They can't see what it's all about. They are missing what the night will all be about. It's not about APW. It's not about the fans. It's not about second-rate talent, number one contenders, or pieces of tinfoil. Rasslemania is about me! *Definite resounding boos here, but Sally just speaks right on over them* That's why you're all going! You, the fans? You bought tickets to see me wrestle. The show? It's building up to my match. APW? I am the face of APW! I am the greatest wrestler that APW has. I am APW. When I breath, this company breaths. When I work, the company works. And when I'm great, the company is great. Each and every self-obsessed, self-inflated, egotistical hack backstage *Maybe they're not all backstage?* fails to see that Rasslemania is about me! All we have are a group of people that have missed this. And the person who has missed this the most, the person who has lost sight about what tonight is about, the person who is most ignorant of the fact that tonight is my night is Level-One.
You, Lester, have never been able to accept that the world has moved on from you, that APW doesn't need you, that the wrestling community has found a hero that they love. They have always hated you, and then I come along and they fall in love with me. You fought against hope that they would turn on me, that they would come to you, and you realized too late that I was what the wrestling world needs. I won that belt from you and no one cried. I successfully defended that belt against you, and no one regretted it. I walk out to Rasslemania as the APW World Heavyweight Champion and everyone wants me to win. I know that. You go out and ask any APW fan and they'll tell you that plain and clear.
Judging from the reactions of the crowd now, it's not that clear-cut. Oh sure, there's still some dedicated Talfourd fans; fans who have been waiting for an edgier Sally for a while now. Then there's the ones who reject her for … I guess, rejecting them? Scorned lovers maybe? Whatever it is, Sally's delusion seems to have kicked into full swing now. She goes to keep on … before she's cut off and drowned out by some familiar entrance music. "Shooting Star" by Black Stone Cherry. The crowd is on their feet, and definitely excited to see … CJ Gates! He saunters out from the back, a microphone in hand. He's looking like a spunk too, with his jeans on, his Exchange Rate shirt on, and, of course, that ridiculous hat on. But whatever. He makes his way down to the ring, slapping hands with a few of the fans, but not taking his eyes off of Sally. Eventually is is at the ring … then in it. He comes up near to Sally, waits for the crowd to settle …
CJ: Sally Talfourd is OverDrive? Is Rasslemania? Is APW? HA! I've heard some whoppers in my time, girl, but that has got to be the best collection. What's next? Sally Talfourd is wrestling? Sally Talfourd is God? Where does it end? *Sally tries to say something, but she gets cut off ...* Actually, better question is: Where did it start? When did you turn into *CJ gestures up and down Sally* this? Why did you change, Sally?
[Sally] Why have I changed? Why? *Sally backs away with a wry smile* I can tell you exactly why, CJ Gates *She really drags those words out*: It's because that's what the fans want to see. They want to see me. They want to see me with this belt. *Sally pats the belt* They want to see me winning. Nothing more, nothing less. They just want to see me. They want to see the best. They want to see me and not you. They don't care who I'm wrestling, who else is on the show, what else is going on. They just care … about … me. That's why they'll cheer me, against Lester … even against you. That's why they'll cheer for me in the … main … event at Rasslemania. And that's why they'll cheer me at the end, when I hold my belt high above my head. It's what they want. *Sally gestures out to the crowd* It's what they need. APW needs me to be the champion, because otherwise … otherwise they have Lester.
Sally looks a little smug. She see the logic in that argument. CJ has to think about it for a minute, then goes to speak again after looking around at the crowd … but he doesn't get far.
[Sally] Now I have a question for you, pard'na. *Sally looks down at the mat, at the APW logo* Why the hell are you in my ring? Where do you get the nerve trying to come in here and … and telling me off? You had better take a walk to the back before something happens to you that I'm not about to regret …
The crowd is all excited now. CJ is taken aback, looking very surprised. He thinks a minute, then opens up his arms in a “come and get me” kind of way. Sally looks like she might just do it, so CJ drops the mic, flings his hat to a corner and pulls off his shirt all in one motion. Suddenly Sally isn't so keen. She drops her own mic … and then hits the mat and rolls under the ropes. The crowd is definitely a chorus of boos now. There's not one Sally fan, it seems. CJ walks to the ropes, hanging over them and trading words with Sally who is about ready to explode. She is a verbal tornado, all sorts of words being thrown around. Eventually she's gone, and it's CJ left in the ring to revel in the applause and the cheers and the love now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fade away, back to Ayepedubeuville …
We see Sally Talfourd, superhero style, flying in to knock over a mob of … mobsters? They are all crowded around one in particular – a guy in a long, classic trench-coat with one of those fedora hats pulled low, but not low enough to reveal the unmistakable face of Lester Only. Of course he's the boss! Who else could be cast as the villain? He gets up, tries to flee, but doesn't get far from our controversial hero. She runs after him at a sprint, then tackles him to the ground. A bit of a scuffle ensues, but finally Sally gets on to of the problem (and Lester) and has him cuffed.
A shot of inside a home. A respectable gentleman in a sweater-vest is walking to the door. There's a ringing of a bell. He reaches over to the door handle, turns, and pulls the door open. There's Sally Talfourd, dressed in her very tempting outfit. And here comes her fist! Bang! She gets the man right in the face. He spins on his heels, revealing himself to look at lot like Branden Harvey. Blood starts to run down his nose as he stops, then falls out of shot with some comedic value. As he leaves the shot, we find Sally Talfourd, superhero pose at the ready, looking off into the distance with all the bravery and the achievement that you would expect to see had she captured the biggest mob boss in town … except the fact is this Branden Harvey-type person had done nothing ...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Shane] Do you want to talk about it.
[Sally] No.
[Shane] Well, if you do, you know where to find me …
And with that, Shane walks out; out from the hotel room that we have returned to. Of course, he leaves the camera, much to Sally's interest. She watches Shane leave, laying across the end of the bed dressed down from the night's earlier proceedings at the house show. As the door comes to a gentle close, Sally takes up the camera, holding it at an arm's length from her.
[Sally] That was ridiculous! The way CJ came out and made a mockery of my appearance? That was the only chance those people were going to get of seeing me! And it was ruined. Ugh *Sally sits up on the bed, setting the camera across from her so that she doesn't have to hold it any more* some people just can hold in their jealousy. They just can't handle the fact that I am just that popular. They have to go and try and dampen it all, try to steal my spotlight. Don't worry though – by the end of Rasslemania, everyone will know who is the biggest and brightest star in APW. It won't matter what anyone else does, everyone will love me when I stand there at the end of another winning match with my belt held high. There's just one last thing in my way: Lester. *Sally lets out a rather sarcastic laugh* I know, not exactly the biggest of problems, but a problem nonetheless.
I think I speak for everyone when I say that it really had to be you and me, Lester, in this match. It's going to be a year, soon, since the first time we got involved with one another. APW has never been the same since. Nothing else has mattered, just what you and I were doing. Why? Because it's been about me! I bet you thought that people were watching out feud because of how a great a champion you were … or how close our matches always are … or the great chemistry that we have. But, the truth is that they were only pay attention to you because you were involved with me. You and I both know that. They only watched our matches because the fans wanted to see me. They only watched your little interviews because you were talking about me. And they only ever paid attention to you because, well, they were hoping that if they watched you for long enough you'd go away and I'd take your place. Which is exactly what happened! One Night in Hell, I took your place. Finally, the world wasn't going to be subjected to you and your tried and true formulas of success. You know, how you come out and rant incessantly about someone you hate for the week, tell the world why they suck and just don't deserve to fight you, and then how you're going to beat them. Talk and talk and talk for hours and hours and hours.
Then, something funny happens when it involves me. More often than not, you do all this talking, all this grandstanding, all this bragging and yet … I go out and beat you. You try and convince everyone that you're so much better than me, and then I go out there and prove to the world over that you're nothing but full of lies. This whole song and dance of yours? When you say you're the best in the business and then fail to follow through with it? That's what's getting old. Not me and all the ratings and buys and love I bring in. You and your hate and your lies and your … boringness. That's why the fans love me; because I respect them not to treat them like idiots. *Ummm, have we forgotten the house show?* I give them the best match on the card, no matter who it is that I have to carry, no matter who it is that tries to ruin my moment, no matter who it is that is trying to push me out of the spotlight. I am the only thing that is original around here. I am the only thing that is unique around here. I am the only thing worth a damn around here! I'm Sally Talfourd! And that's all it takes to be better than you, Lester. All I have to do is wake up in a few days, take a few breaths and know that I'm me. Because that means knowing that I'm better than you in every way that counts.
Taking out all the hyperbole, all the bluster, all of her own bragging, do we not have something … rather, someone who is original? Rather unique? Rather special? Who else, here, has the audacity to ignore everything that's going on around them? Who else here has a winning record against everyone in the company? Who else has a successful history against Level-One? You know, Lester Only used to be the measuring stick; you would compare and contrast a talent against Level-One. If they could beat him, if they were even at least a little bit successful against him, if they could match him for even five minutes then that person was a success in and of themselves. But what happens when the measuring stick doesn't measure far enough? What happens when the gold standard of wrestling isn't enough to weight against? What happens when the best is no longer the best? I guess you get what we have now: One man claiming to be the best and one woman left holding the proof that she is, in fact, better. I mean, how much claim to being the best can you have when you lost the belt … couldn't regain it in a fair fight … and had to fight off a bunch of other people who had just as much claim to being the second best? Like it or not, that's where we're at. Sally shifts on the bed, moving to get a little more comfortable. She rests back, pulling some pillows under her so that she's still sitting up to the camera.
[Sally] You know, it's a funny thing. You chip me about being predictable. I just can't seem to get over that. I think the only thing predictable about me these days is that I beat you, Lester. That little bubble of invincibility has burst. People see you for the wrestler you are, not the legend. Your reputation doesn't give you that protective wall any more. You're nothing but the very same person that you deride every week! You're just … average. You're not special any more. You might have been good once, but APW has moved on. It moved on from being a backwater hole to being the number one company in wrestling. And I'm sure you'll remind us all about how you carried the company single-handedly, with your own blood, sweat and tears fueling the furnace of this great engine of wrestling. But that was when APW was just another company. Now? Now it's outgrown you. APW has left you behind, and it needs a stronger, wiser, superior person to carry it. That's me, Lester. I'm the one that APW needs, whether you, the talent, or the fans realize it.
APW has moved on, Lester. It's moved on to a new era with a new vision and a new leader ...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cut back to the real world. But we're removed from the hotel room now. Very far removed. We're out the front of a local bar. Not just any bar, but the Meridian International Sports Cafe in downtown Berkeley! If there's a more appropriate setting I'm yet to think of it … except maybe an arena … oh, and a gym … maybe even … enough! Ok, we're at the bar and that's final! Of course the place is decked out in APW slogans and merch and whatnot because there's one of those official meet-and-greet sessions for the local fans who couldn't get their hands on tickets. The banner says:
MEET THE APW MEGASTARS TONIGHT!
Then, down the sides of the door, is a session sheet. Let's take a look at it … hmmm … there she is! 12pm-1pm, APW World Heavyweight Champion Sally Talfourd. What's the time now? 12:55pm? Oh damn! We just missed it. Shane rushes to the door with his camera, getting through (he has the credentials this time … unlike that unfortunate incident in Mexico City a couple years back) and inside he finds the hoards of people trying to get to Sally. There's a long cue, and people filtering out who have got their photo, autographs, whatever. And there she is! She's striking her poses, faking that smile, and pretending to care like the best of them. Suddenly a handler (who Sally has been checking out since 11:59am) comes and whispers something in her ear as he hands her a microphone. She pats him on the shoulder as she stands up from her desk.
[Sally] Ladies and gentlemen! Ladies and gentlemen, a bit of quiet for a minute, please! *The people all simmer down to a murmur* Thanks. Now, I've been told that my hour is up. *A collective groan from the people who have yet to get anything* but can I just say this: You watch Rasslemania and I promise that you will see one thing: The greatest match of the year! *A resounding cheer for that; real fans don't care who is in a match, so long as it's damn good!* You will get to see Lester Only try and revive his fledgling and sorry career at the same time I remind everyone why I am, in fact, the greatest wrestler in APW. *There's a few jeers from the crowd; a couple of “What about ...” followed by their favorite wrestler. Sally pays them no attention* At Rasslemania you get to see me go out there and put on the match of the career. My technical ability, my natural talent, my willingness to sacrifice everything I have for my title *It used to be for the fans … and to make sure that APW keeps on being my[/b] company – that's what will get me this great win. Level-One is, I'm sure, going to try and convince you all that I'm not fit to be a champion. Maybe he'll talk about how I'm just a woman. How I'm weak. How I've got here by lucky. Let me tell you one thing: If being a woman is a problem with him, he had better go and look in the mirror and ask himself what kind of a wrestler he is that has lost to me more times than he would care to count. And if he thinks that I'm weak, he should also ask himself how weak I really am if I've been able to hand him loss after loss … time and time again. And is he thinks that the only reason I can stand here with this belt *Sally pats the belt that's resting across the front of the desk* then he had better bring all his paws, his four leaf clovers, and his lucky charms to try and get even more of it than me.[/color]
There's still a bit of support for Sally. Maybe some of those die-hard fans who can't let go of her. Maybe some of the smarks who want to buck the trend. Maybe some of those 'classic fans' who know that she's the best technical wrestler of the roster and they'll be damned if they're going to boo her just because she's paying out on them.
[Sally] The unfortunate truth is that, for the past couple of weeks, Lester Only has been out there on a smear campaign, trying to win the fans over and tarnish me. He got me blamed for President Jeff's little accident – when the only person to blame is President Jeff for even being in my ring! Then he has gone out and started his fan's campaign or whatever, somehow convincing a very, very small amount of people to not exactly cheer for me … *Oh! So she does hear it ...*. And I bet you that for these days leading up to the greatest show that wrestling sees every year, he will try and turn you all against me, saying all sorts of things. Things like I said before – that it's bad to be a woman in this business, that I don't have the skills, that I'm all luck. Well, it's sad that I have to then waste my time in dispelling all these rumors for the idiots out there that actually listen to him and believe him.
The fact is that if I relied on luck to be here, I simply wouldn't have made it. If I had any weaknesses, then I wouldn't have made it. And if being a woman was a bad thing, I wouldn't have made it. Yet *Sally looks surprised, then looks down at herself, then points right at her name on the front plate of her belt* here I am, APW World Heavyweight Champion. Not OverDrive Champion. Not Tag Team Champion. Not number one contender. The world … heavyweight … champion. Nothing less than the best that this company has. Everyone else – Lester included – is a pretender. They have nothing on me. You don't get here with luck. Luck doesn't make a man tap. And you don't get here without more skill than the people after you, because you can pin someone without having more than them. And it doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman or some kind of halfsie, if you're the best it shows without a shadow of a doubt. So come on out, when you're ready Level-One. Come out and grace us all with your garbage and your lies and your BS. It's what we've heard before, it's what we'll hear again, and it's the same old stuff you'll churn out when you're number one contender to me in about two weeks after Rasslemania.
And only a bunch of fools would believe a word you say right now. You've tried and failed to win my belt once already, and you've shown nothing that tells us you've learned any new tricks that you could use against me. Even when we met up at Survive and Conquer, you couldn't beat me. And how many of your sad and sorry little stable was there to help you? You couldn't beat me in an elimination chamber, you couldn't beat me in a singles match, and you couldn't beat me in a rumble. You couldn't beat me when there were no rules and your couldn't beat me when there were rules. What's changed this time, Lester? What works in your favor this time that doesn't work in mine? No DQs? That just means my chances went through the roof of retaining! I can do whatever I want to stop you. To lay you out cold. I could even retire you if I wanted to; work you over so bad that you couldn't come after my belt ever again, even if you wanted to. The fact is, our little stipulation? No DQs? It doesn't help you at all. It just gives me a whole lot of ways of beating you … again. Where you couldn't beat me without rules, I could beat you beat you. Where you couldn't beat me with rules, I could beat you. Where you couldn't beat me when you had 38 people to distract me, I could beat you. Where you couldn't beat me when we were both knocking on the gates of Hell! ... I managed to beat you without a single second of help, of cheating, of anything. Me, and every bit of skill and talent and expertise that I have … when compared to you? I walk out better for it every time now!
All you need to do is worry about finding your way to the ring and then finding you way out of it when I've beat you all over again. I will work you over, I will beat you down, and eventually I will have you begging for help. You'll be wishing you had stood back or retired or something, You'll be wishing you were inducted into the Hall of Fame. The only thing waiting for you at the end of night is an induction into the Hall of Shame! *Collective groan; call the pun police!* Because that's all you'll get, shamed. You'll be shamed for having promised so much and having delivered so little. You'll be shamed for not being able to get the job done against someone you oh-so confidently say is so much less than you. And you'll be shamed for not actually knowing when to hang those boots up. I mean, retirement has to be on your mind. It should be, because Rasslemania is only going to show that you can't cut it with the bright eyes and burning fire of someone faster … more talented … just better than you. Gone are the days when you could adapt, when you could change, when you could get the measure of anyone against you. You've not learned a single thing about me, not after each and every victory I've got over you. It took one pay per view loss for me to figure you out, Lester. *Sally stops for a pause, then looks around with a smile* I guess the best thing to do is make sure he actually learns something at the end of Rasslemania. Well, I promise this: I promise that Lester will finally learn that he's no longer that number one around here. He will learn, just like everybody else has, that Sally Talfourd is the best that APW has.
All of a sudden, there's a massive cheer and roar from the crowd that's gathered. Wow, I guess they really do love their Sally Talfourd still. Sally looks up at them, smile with a wave, then turns to leave with her belt … and is eye-to-eye with Level-One! That's what everyone is excited about. Level-One stands there with a grin; seems there's the remnants of a black eye or something on the top of his cheek. He looks down at Sally's belt, her knuckles turning a whiter shade of white as she holds onto it tight.
[Level-One]Hi Sally.
[Sally] Lester! How are you *Sally with the overboard care and love in her question there* Ready for our match? I bet you are …
[Level-One]How you feeling? Not too sore after last week?
[Sally] I feel as good as the day I walked into APW.
Want to know a secret? She's not feeling all that great. It might have been the flagrant and unwarranted assault by Lester at the end of last week's match … maybe the two minutes of offense that CJ and Blade managed to dig out … or maybe it was going through a table that did it. But Sally isn't feeling all that she's making out. Oh she'll be fine by the time the bell rings, but right now? There's some sore muscles, some bruised ribs, and a couple of cuts that aren't doing her any favors. Just looking at Lester right now brings back some of the pain that she's been able to mask with all sorts of drugs … legal drugs, of course! She moves her belt to the other arm, trying to somehow hide whatever some particular opponent might be guessing at.[/i]
[Level-One]Yeah you look it …
[Sally] Well, if you want to turn this into a contest about looks …
[Level-One]If I wanted to do that, I'd turn up to our match with a pig.
Ooooo snap! The crowd recognizes a good dis. Sally has to smile, even cracks a little laugh, looking around the room, then locks eyes with him again.
[Sally] I was going to leave my mother backstage, but if you want to bring yours down for a closer view … *The crowd respects a good mother dis too. Level-One wears his smug smile, like he has since the day he knew he was 'just that good' and crosses his arms across his chest* I guess it's true that men also try to marry their mothers, because when you first brought up pigs, I instantly thought of Patricia … *That hits a nerve, as Lester unfolds his arms, takes a step closer to Sally* … or was that Kayla?
And that's it! Lester rushes up to Sally. She drops her belt, tenses up. Lester throws a wild punch, almost catches Sally, but the security (who somehow thought something like this would happen) gets in between, so Sally isn't completely laid out. She grabs her jaw as she takes a few stumbling steps back. Then she's trying to get into the fray. It's complete and utter hatred, loathing, and repulsion at this point. Both wrestlers trying to get at each other. Sally manages to get a kick in – though it might not have even been Lester – before the two are pulled far enough back. The handler grabs Sally's belt and shoves it in her hands. She realizes that now's probably not the time, throws up her arms in surrender, and takes a walk off the stage. Lester is slowly let go, the table (which had been upturned) is reset, microphones and camera-people put back in place, and order restored. Shane, who managed to get all this on camera, turns to leave the fans and Lester to do their thing, following the trail of security to find Sally, in some curtained-off area that I suppose could be a waiting room.
[Shane] Sally …
[Sally] Screw him, Shane! Screw Level-One! He is a worthless pile of …
[Shane] Calm down, Sally.
[Sally] Calm down? Calm down!? Did you see what he did out there! I hate him. I hate everything about him. He's a useless, worthless, pathetic man. He's the worst of the worst. No respectable wrestler comes out and interrupts the champion. I don't care who has been here longer, who's been champion the most, who's the veteran in this situation. He owes me more respect than that. He owes he a hell of a lot more! I keep him relevant. I keep him in the spotlight. I keep him known. Without me, Lester Only would be jerking curtains for the rest of his sorry days. His time is over. He needs to move on. He is nothing any more! This is my time! This is my match. This is my company. Lester Only forfeited any claim when he lost the APW belt to me. When he talked about how great he was and that I couldn't beat him? And then I did? That's when he lost any right to be called an APW megastar. *Sally, who has been holding her chin as she inspects herself in the mirror that's thankfully there, gives it one last rub before whipping around to the camera* You listen up Lester, and you listen good. Play time is over. You fun and games are going to end soon. This isn't about the fans any more. This isn't about a record that we have against each other. This isn't just about the title any more. No, it's about one thing and one thing only: Pinning your sorry shoulders on the one night that you can't bear to be beaten on.
Rasslemania is not about anything else than breaking your already fragile mind. Because here's something I've sorted out: You're about to snap. I know your mind is playing games on you already. I know that you have a whole lot of questions about a few things. Christmas Chaos? I bet you remember that. I bet you remember how pathetic you were in our match, where I completely and utterly took ownership of the match, of my title, and of you! *Sally nearly spits the worlds out, the rage and the anger in her voice. The mark on her jaw starts to get a bit of color to it; it will be a nice reminder for Sally tomorrow* That's where it all started. After that, you got closer and closer to the edge of insanity. And now … now you're on that tipping point. When I beat you at Rasslemania – a match that is so important and so prestigious and so much of the performer you claim to be - then I will be pushing you off that edge. I will be sending you into that deep, dark abyss that no one returns from. Where you have to relive your sins and your atrocities and your disgraces over and over again. And you will never recover from that because each and every time you have to look at me … *Sally lets out a little laugh, straightens herself up* you'll just be reminded about when, on the most important night in 2011, I beat you. When you weren't good enough to beat me. When the world over – love me or hate me! - realized that I am the best that APW has, that wrestling has, that the whole world has! I am this belt! *Sally pulls up her belt, holds it alongside her face* I am better than every single person who's had it, and I'm so much better than each and every person who wants it!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We cut to a shot of superhero Sally standing on the edge of a very, very tall building. A skyscraper or something. She looks out over the city, over Ayepedubeuville, as the city carefully, tentatively, fearfully go about their business. She scans the city, and then takes off – fading to a tiny speck on the skyline. The color and the life and the 'feel' of the city has gone. It is nothing now. Quiet. Dark. Afraid. There's sounds of yelling, of fighting, of breaking glass and thudding that comes out of the city. It's the sound of a city now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And we're back (for the last time, I promise) to Sally Talfourd. Trust me when I say it's the morning of the next day. However, Sally doesn't exactly seem to know she's on camera. I'll fill you in: Shane, wanting to see Sally's the day after her little Level-One altercation, waiting for her to wake up. When she was up and about, in he came to capture her with his trusty camera. And here she is – still in her pajamas (Happy Ending brand, of course) – in the bathroom. She lingers in front of the mirror. Her hand rubs over the bruise that is coming on her jaw. She stares at it. Just stares at it. Never have you seen a more intent and focused stare.
And that's what we're going to finish the episode on. Sally Talfourd. Fitting, though, as she is the APW World Heavyweight Champion. This woman, who came here as a nobody, and in less than a year has risen to be the somebody on APW. She beat off her competition. She beat off the legends. She beat off the veterans of the company and now? Now she's it. She's the show. She's the whole reason people are turning up to OverDrive or Rasslemania. She's the reason people buy tickets. She's the reason people buy merch. She's the reason people tune in. Sally. And anyone who is foolish enough to try and say otherwise is kidding themselves. I mean, really! Who else has had a more meteoric rise to the top? Who else has a better record against the established talent here? Who else has come in and claimed a belt with as much force and focus and determination like this? No one.
Sally Talfourd might have been the 'happy-go-lucky', fan favorite once. It wasn't all that long ago even. But things change. Times change. People change. APW has changed. Level-One has changed. Sally Talfourd has changed. You either embrace change or you get out of the way, because trying to prevent it only brings about a world of problems. APW needs Sally, now. It doesn't need Lester, and his ways of the past. They need Sally and the revolution she brought in. Rasslemania will be her crowning moment. The moment that the fans, the wrestlers, APW realizes that they need Sally. Then, when they realize this, they will love her again. They will realize that she is the best, that she deserves it all, that she is APW. They will love her because they need her. Rasslemania will prove that. Three short seconds ... one quick "yes" ... that's all that separates people from loving Sally Talfourd all over again.
There's a pause, and then
"Sally Talfourd"
is handwritten across the screen, in purple. Before it fades out and the episode comes to a close.
This is a lie because
I am part of the greatest group of wrestlers in this business:
I watch these men and women perform every week and
I ask myself “How do I compare to them?” as I lace my boots.
I am preparing myself for what will be another memorable match where
The crowds will love and adore me again when I win again.
I don't care that
Level-One is after me, Pence is mad at me, and CJ Gates is crying over me.
This is exactly what I want:
A world title match, headlining the biggest pay per view that this great company put on.
I deserve so much more than
The treatment that I have received since taking on my title.
I won't bear it because this is
What an honest, great, and true champion does.
I am not about to go through
What Level-One will put me through simply to become champion.
I tell you this, I look forward to
A clean, well-fought, by-the-book match.
This isn't going to be like my title win;
Unlike my match at Christmas Chaos;
Unlike Survive and Conquer;
Be prepared for something completely unexpected, because tonight is going to be
Completely upside down.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Explorer - *click* - Favorites - *click* - APW.com ...
Welcome to Action Packed Wrestling![/color]
Videos - *click* - Megastars - *click* - Sally Talfourd - *click* - Videos - *click*[/i]
Welcome to Happy Ending T.V.!
Recent - *click* - Episode #38: Superhero or Supervillain? - *click*
Recorded the 20th of March, 2011. Rasslemania is here! Check in with the APW World Heavyweight Champion Sally Talfourd as she gets ready for the big night. Watch Sally's appearance at the house show, her off-time, and tour of the publicity circuit. Not one to be missed – especially with a whole bunch of guest appearances!
Starring: Sally Talfourd, Shane the cameraman, CJ Gates, Branden Harvey, Level-One
*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."
fades away to a blank black screen … then … BAM! A flash of white. A spinning headline, and a voice over ...
When a city was ruled by crime and rife with corruption!
When a city was in crisis!
When a city was in dire need!
Who is there that can save a people plagued by fear? Who is there that can stand up to the monstrosities of society? Who is there that can make this world a better place?
Well once, there was one who innocent and down-trodden people could turn to. Alas, that is no more. Here is a story about a heroic fall from grace, and a time when hope filled the heart of a group of people, only for that hope to turn to fear!
When the people of Ayepedubeuville were in a time of need, of loss, of danger they turned to the only person that could save the. The one and only Sally Talfourd: savior of the oppressed and curse of the oppressors! The only one – man or woman – with the strength and the tenacity and the courage to stand up to the no-goods of the world and put them back in their place. She was the woman that a population can look to in times of despair. She was the woman that can save a people from the hopeless. She was the blinding light that breaks through the darkness.
When a city was in crisis!
When a city was in dire need!
Who is there that can save a people plagued by fear? Who is there that can stand up to the monstrosities of society? Who is there that can make this world a better place?
Well once, there was one who innocent and down-trodden people could turn to. Alas, that is no more. Here is a story about a heroic fall from grace, and a time when hope filled the heart of a group of people, only for that hope to turn to fear!
When the people of Ayepedubeuville were in a time of need, of loss, of danger they turned to the only person that could save the. The one and only Sally Talfourd: savior of the oppressed and curse of the oppressors! The only one – man or woman – with the strength and the tenacity and the courage to stand up to the no-goods of the world and put them back in their place. She was the woman that a population can look to in times of despair. She was the woman that can save a people from the hopeless. She was the blinding light that breaks through the darkness.
Cue an image of Sally Talfourd, buxom and ravishing (as always). A superheros costume akin to the Wonder Woman-type, the one that consumed the wandering minds of teenage boys for decades. A black-and-white, sepia toned photo, like you would expect to see on a newspaper back in 'the day'. It's her, fists on her hips, shoulders back, standing tall, looking into the air. You know, the classic superhero pose. Then, we move in on the photo and the color bleeds in, and it comes to life. Sally looks to the camera with her all-serious look … then breaks a smile, winks, and then … takes off!
She's flying, arms outstretches, cape flapping in the wind along with her hair. The sky streams by her, the occasional cloud breaking that pristine blue background. She looks over her ward, the world. Then, her brow furrows. She looks down at the world. We turn to take her perspective …but what can she see? The skyscrapers that we look up at as being modern giants are nothing but ant hills now. Then, quickly, we zoom in, faster and further until we see the street like it were at the end of our nose. And that's when we see the deplorable act: A mugger (with skullcap, black-and-white clothes, and all) trying to snatch the purse of a poor, defenseless, little old lady. Quick cut back to Sally flying high above the world. She gives a stern nod to the camera, then arcs on below the camera, headed to the unseemly sight we just saw.
When crime struck at this city, Sally Talfourd was there to save the day. No crime was too small, no atrocity too big for this woman of the people to save the day. No matter where, no matter when, Sally Talfourd would be there to ensure that justice, peace, and prosperity prevailed!
A thud, and that mugger hits the pavement hard. A pair of boots steps next to his head, and then a pan up a pair of oh-so sexy legs to reveal Sally Talfourd without a hair out of place nor a scratch on her. She lets out a heavy breath, then turns her gaze back towards the sky, standing tall and all superhero-ish ...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That action-packed scene cuts to a shot of APW World Heavyweight Champion Sally Talfourd. No superhero, no capes, no busting bust. Just Sally Talfourd as we expect her: Look all delicate, lovely, and beautiful. She's donning some of her better clothes today: A nice white shirt with the long sleeves rolled up to her elbows with a pail blue miniskirt. The hair, the make-up, all the usual stuff, looking like she's ready for a show. But … how could she be? We are days away from Rasslemania, not hours. Why would she be dressed for a show? I guess publicity shot or something. Anyway, she has the APW strap thrown over her shoulder, which she adjusts (purely for effect) as she gets the go-ahead from Shane that this episode of Happy Endings TV is underway!
[Sally] You know, if someone had come to me last year and said “Hey Sally, this time in 12 months time, you'll be the main event of APW's Rasslemania!” I'd have probably just laughed. Not for any other reason than the fact that, well, that was even something I was planning on. My success? My achievements? *Sally looks at her belt, dwells on it* My wins? *Sally looks back to the camera* None of them were anything I had planned a year ago. At the time, I was trying to throw off an irate tag team partner who was more interested in injuring and retiring me than proving herself. And then … well … we don't need to go through history. Suffice to say, the chain reaction theory is alive and well in APW. Because here I am, standing right here and right now as the APW World Heavyweight Champion. I'm not a nobody, I'm not a challenger, I'm not anything less than a champion. Like it or hate it, that's where we stand.
A seemingly frank and straightforward way to start of the Rasslemania countdown, I guess. It's true enough though, that Sally had the phenomenally fast rise to the top. Oh sure, there were some stumbles on the way – but that was hardly her fault. People have always been jealous of her, so why should it be any different in APW? People have always tried to prevent her from taking the position that is rightly hers, from getting her rightful hands on her rightful championships. People are just easily jealous, but you can't blame them, right? Sally certainly doesn't. I mean, how can you? This is Sally Talfourd we're talking about here. Anyway, why hear if from me when you can hear about how great she is from her very own mouth! She runs a hand through her hair, pulling her fringe back, away from her face. She draws in a deep breath … steady those nerves … then lets out out, along with all the tension and the jitters.
[Sally] And that's how I want to welcome all you ladies and gentlemen to Happy Endings TV now. As a champion. Because God knows that you've all been crying out for one for a long, long time! *Sally breaks a familiar smile, but that look of self-obsession and oozing confidence in her eye tells us it might not be all that sincere* I mean, you had Level-One since forever. And before him? Well, who can remember that far back. I'm sure we had a bunch of nobodies who have failed miserably and achieved nothing since their blink of a reign … oh that's right! Pence Weatherlight was a champion … no Sally! Do not get distracted by things that are completely unimportant to the real world. *Sally looks down, sort of at where a much smaller version of her would be standing to her right* This is just you and Lester, Sally. Don't worry about anyone else for now. Just focus on this joke first.
[Shane] Sally, are you talking to yourself … again?
Sally stops, here eyes look up to the camera. Remember, girl, that there are a thousand million people watching you right now. She quickly looks up with a nervous smile, and a giddy look.
[Sally] No … well, no! I was simply thinking out loud. You know, sometimes it's hard to even hear my own voice, there's so much going on up here *Sally taps her temple* and all that.
[Shane] Like whether you should buy that new dress?
[Sally] Oh my gosh, Shane! *Sally lights up!* Did you see it too!? It was amazing. If I was someone else, you know, one of the fans, I wouldn't be able to afford it but I really think that … *Sally stops, pulls herself up* Ha-ha Shane, very funny. Yes, I do think about clothes. I also think about a lot of other things as well. Like how great a champion I am. How I'm going to win my match. How I'm the best wrestling in APW. You know, actual, real truths? And anyway … *Sally goes to keep speaking, but stops, her mouth wide open as she completely forgets what she was going to say* What was I talking about again?
[Shane] About how you should be champion or something? That the fans want you as a champion. But how do you even know that they want you as champion? I mean, they haven't exactly been receptive …
Sally quickly starts to speak over Shane. We'll have none of those lies here today – that the fans have been booing her and whatnot! Outrageous lies! They have been booing other things – like her opponent, or … other things. Definitely not her. Nope.
[Sally] How do I know that people have wanted a true champion all this time? How do I know that APW has yearned for it? How do I know that the fans have begged for it? Easy. You watch any show since I stepped foot in APW and look at the crowds. There are hundred of 'Sally Talfourd' signs. There are dozens of 'Sally! Sally! Sally!' chants throughout the night. My matches are the most watched, most loved, most anticipated matches on the card. *Sally stands a little bit taller, a little bit smugger* I hate to say it … well, who am I kidding? I love to say it: for nearly the past year Sally Talfourd has been APW. OverDrive has been my show. The pay per views have been my pay per views. And this championship *Sally pats the faceplate of the belt, with a bit of a heavy hand* has been my championship. I might not have held it for the whole time I've been here, but I know that the fans wanted me to have it bad enough, APW wanted me to have it bad enough, and I wanted it bad enough to pretty much make me the champion. You, Lester, for those short little months you held this, were nothing but a place-holder. A temp filling in for a real champion. An understudy waiting for the real star to take their place on the stage. Let's face it Lester, you time in the spotlight was over when I walked through the door. It was only a matter of time until you became irrelevant – at worst. At best, you could only ever be my number two. My number one contender. The second best in APW. And, since I picked up this baby *Sally with a point at the belt* That's all you've ever been …
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crash! A person is thrown into a hard and rough looking brick wall. You know the kind, from one of those grungy movies with the posters half-torn off, the bricks black from wear, and rubbish newspapers gathered at the base. We're back in superhero world. The dastardly criminal slumps to the floor in a wrecked heap. Again, a pair of boots step next to his head, and as the camera pans up those beautiful set of legs again, we see the intimidating Sally Talfourd looking down at her latest criminal victim.
For a long time, the citizens of Ayepedubeuville were safe. They knew that they were protected from the evils of the underbelly of the world because of the one courageous woman. She never slept. She never waited. She never stopped while crime was still breathing in the city. The citizens came to love her. As every day passed, and more criminals were put out of action, they loved her more. Some would come to say that they loved her too much, and that's what led to … well, you'll see.
Sally Talfourd in all sorts of action. Bashing up criminals, slamming jail cell doors, and handshakes with official-looking people. You know, the routine for a superhero. The fans flock to her in another shot, snapping photos with her, getting her autograph, and just generally amazed at the opportunity to see her.
Sally Talfourd was proud to have revolutionized Ayepedubeuville. She was proud to have come here and cleaned it up. This was her home now, and it meant a lot that the people who she called her 'own' were proud of her. She was a proud woman, but could never sleep easy knowing that somewhere, out there, criminals were plotting their plots. They were scheming their schemes. They were planning their plans, and that didn't sit well with Sally. Not one bit. Day and night, she used all her powers, all her intuition, all her mind to find a way to stop the crime before it happened.
And then, one day, she came upon an idea …
And then, one day, she came upon an idea …
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Back to reality, and we're back on Sally Talfourd. Oh! So that's why she was all dressed to impressed! We come back to a shot of Sally Talfourd standing in the middle of an APW ring – but that's about where the familiarity ends when it comes to this image. The arena is small – much smaller. Maybe a couple thousand? The place is no where near the standard that the top wrestler in the company is used to. And the tidiness of the place? Well, that leaves much to be desired. Sally is used to be the most attractive, best looking, and most stunning thing in a building – but there is just no competition here, tonight. It's a house show that APW is running to drum up even more excitement and even more anticipation for Rasslemania. Of course, if you want to do that, you send in the best of the best. And, well, here Sally is. Cent re of the ring, all eyes of the crowd fixed on her. If there were any signs that were a little critical of Sally Talfourd – like “What happened Sally?” and “Where's Sally?” - you definitely can't see them because of the shoddy lighting. No! Don't look hard, just take my word for it. Sally waits in the ring for silence. But, well, it's already quiet. It's almost like she's used to the applause going on for this long. Anyway, when she's happy to speak, she brings up the microphone to her dainty little mouth.
[Sally] Hello ladies and gentlemen, fans and well-wishers, lovers and … lovers. Welcome to APW's last show before the big one: Rasslemania! *Excitement for the show is up there, judging by the roar of approval; who'd have known such a tiny crowd could make so much noise?* I know, I am as excited as you all. I mean, this is Rasslemania; the pay per view that every wrestler out there aspires to at least appear on. And here I am, with the opportunity to main event it! To have my defining moment, retaining the APW World Heavyweight Championship. I mean … *Sally has to pause for a moment. Is she getting choked up? Whatever it is, it doesn't last long* … here's a chance to have that career-defining moment. The type of moment that you could work a whole career towards and never achieve. And here I am, poised to actually get a moment like that all to myself. All I have to is beat the guy I've made a habit of beating for the past, I don't know, six months? Whatever. But more about Mr. Only in a minute. Before I get into, you know, the ranting and raving bit, I need to take a moment.
I need to do something on the eve of this very important and special night. You see, it's hard work getting to this point. And sure, there are all sorts of people that might try and help you get here. But at the end of the road, we all know that there's one person that we depended on the most. There's that one person that helped us more than anyone. Who showed the tenacity and the determination and the focus to get us here. And, I think it's well overdue that that person who helped me is thanked. It's someone that you've loved and adored; someone you've watched for months and months; someone you just can't get enough of. Please, give it up for …
Sally trails off. All eyes are on the entrance to the back. There's a thick silence, filled with tension and anticipation. Who is it? Who has been secretly helping Sally? Was it someone who wanted to see Lester down and out? Is it someone trying to work Sally over? Someone looking to cash in on a favor down the line? Who could it be? Suddenly the PA bursts to life as … 'Starstrukk (feat. Katy Perry)' by 3OH!3 blasts out to the arena. What? Then Sally's entrance kicks in, well, her video and the lights and that. Sally opens up her arms, walks back to the center of the ring to take in all the applause, the cheers, the love. Well, she'd take it in if there was any. There's a smattering of boos, but a whole lot of confusion. Sally looks around with a great smile, taken in with the moment.
[Sally] That's right everyone, I think it's well overdue that I am thanked for everything I've done. Everything I've done for APW, everything I've done for my career, everything I've done for you fans, I think I deserve – at the very least – a great big thank-you! And, you know what? *The music dies down, and the boos are still there. But it's almost like Sally doesn't even notice them* I think that I'll do that on behalf of you all. Because I know you're not as courageous or brave or outgoing as me. You're all shy, a little scared, maybe even a little weak. But don't worry about that! Because I still adore you, because you adore me! So, from the bottom of your hearts you say … *Sally holds up the microphone, expecting a chorus of “thank-you's” to come at her. But none come, just a chorus of boos. Sally looks a little put off. She must have heard that, surely? Not from the looks of things as she breaks into a bit of a giggle before composing herself* And from the bottom of my heart, I I accept your thanks!
Sally walks around the ring, getting a bit more perspective of, well, the hall she's in. The lights above the ring block out, you know, whatever might be beyond that threshold. I don't know, maybe if she could see it she wouldn't even notice it.
[Sally] I am so glad to have achieved everything I have. I would have never got here if I wasn't just sooooo good. So good, in fact, that no one here in APW even rivals me. I mean, I don't think there's one person that I haven't beat in a singles match in some capacity. I mean, I've only lost two singles matches here – both of them against my opponent this week. And yes, I know that someone with some biased and pathetic memory of it all will say *Sally puts on her best fake-Level-One voice … however that goes*”Well I beat you twice already, so now I have to just do it again.” Well, you know what's wrong about that? The fact that I have gone out and beat Lester Only not once but twice now. Twice. I've beat the supposed greatest legend that APW has twice on my own now. If you want to bring in, you know, tag team matches and that, then the number gets massive. Like, four or something. Some huuuuuge number. *The sarcasm is thick there* But, when I'm pitted against myself, I've got as many wins against Lester as he has against me. That, plus the fact that no one here can beat me one-one-one just makes it obvious: I am the best in APW.
Here we have an embodiment of history being written by the winners. But, then again, I guess the record will speak for itself … so long as Level-One changes his name to 'record'. Anyway, Sally fixes the belt (oh yeah, it's around her waist), pulls it a little around to her front and gives it a loving pat. She looks around with a smile, then holds up her hand as if there is a need to correct herself.
[Sally] Actually, you know what? That's not exactly right. Oh I am the best in APW – better than the likes of Pence Weatherlight *A bit of a pop from the veteran fans* and the Branden Harveys *More of a pop for APW's resident sympathy-case* and especially the *Sally has to choke something down as she says this ...*CJ Gates – I'm better than them all. I don't have to prove myself against them. I don't have to prove myself against anyone anymore. Do you know why? Because I'm bigger than them. I am so much more than them. We're here on the eve of Rasslemania. The biggest night that APW will have this year. The moment isn't lost on me, because I know exactly what APW is about. But do you know what I do see? I see a bunch of people that the whole moment is lost on. When people look at Rasslemania these days, they are looking at a potential line on their resume. Maybe even a chance to impress the right people.
Anyone who thinks this is missing the big picture. They are missing the point of Rasslemania XII. They can't see what it's all about. They are missing what the night will all be about. It's not about APW. It's not about the fans. It's not about second-rate talent, number one contenders, or pieces of tinfoil. Rasslemania is about me! *Definite resounding boos here, but Sally just speaks right on over them* That's why you're all going! You, the fans? You bought tickets to see me wrestle. The show? It's building up to my match. APW? I am the face of APW! I am the greatest wrestler that APW has. I am APW. When I breath, this company breaths. When I work, the company works. And when I'm great, the company is great. Each and every self-obsessed, self-inflated, egotistical hack backstage *Maybe they're not all backstage?* fails to see that Rasslemania is about me! All we have are a group of people that have missed this. And the person who has missed this the most, the person who has lost sight about what tonight is about, the person who is most ignorant of the fact that tonight is my night is Level-One.
You, Lester, have never been able to accept that the world has moved on from you, that APW doesn't need you, that the wrestling community has found a hero that they love. They have always hated you, and then I come along and they fall in love with me. You fought against hope that they would turn on me, that they would come to you, and you realized too late that I was what the wrestling world needs. I won that belt from you and no one cried. I successfully defended that belt against you, and no one regretted it. I walk out to Rasslemania as the APW World Heavyweight Champion and everyone wants me to win. I know that. You go out and ask any APW fan and they'll tell you that plain and clear.
Judging from the reactions of the crowd now, it's not that clear-cut. Oh sure, there's still some dedicated Talfourd fans; fans who have been waiting for an edgier Sally for a while now. Then there's the ones who reject her for … I guess, rejecting them? Scorned lovers maybe? Whatever it is, Sally's delusion seems to have kicked into full swing now. She goes to keep on … before she's cut off and drowned out by some familiar entrance music. "Shooting Star" by Black Stone Cherry. The crowd is on their feet, and definitely excited to see … CJ Gates! He saunters out from the back, a microphone in hand. He's looking like a spunk too, with his jeans on, his Exchange Rate shirt on, and, of course, that ridiculous hat on. But whatever. He makes his way down to the ring, slapping hands with a few of the fans, but not taking his eyes off of Sally. Eventually is is at the ring … then in it. He comes up near to Sally, waits for the crowd to settle …
CJ: Sally Talfourd is OverDrive? Is Rasslemania? Is APW? HA! I've heard some whoppers in my time, girl, but that has got to be the best collection. What's next? Sally Talfourd is wrestling? Sally Talfourd is God? Where does it end? *Sally tries to say something, but she gets cut off ...* Actually, better question is: Where did it start? When did you turn into *CJ gestures up and down Sally* this? Why did you change, Sally?
[Sally] Why have I changed? Why? *Sally backs away with a wry smile* I can tell you exactly why, CJ Gates *She really drags those words out*: It's because that's what the fans want to see. They want to see me. They want to see me with this belt. *Sally pats the belt* They want to see me winning. Nothing more, nothing less. They just want to see me. They want to see the best. They want to see me and not you. They don't care who I'm wrestling, who else is on the show, what else is going on. They just care … about … me. That's why they'll cheer me, against Lester … even against you. That's why they'll cheer for me in the … main … event at Rasslemania. And that's why they'll cheer me at the end, when I hold my belt high above my head. It's what they want. *Sally gestures out to the crowd* It's what they need. APW needs me to be the champion, because otherwise … otherwise they have Lester.
Sally looks a little smug. She see the logic in that argument. CJ has to think about it for a minute, then goes to speak again after looking around at the crowd … but he doesn't get far.
[Sally] Now I have a question for you, pard'na. *Sally looks down at the mat, at the APW logo* Why the hell are you in my ring? Where do you get the nerve trying to come in here and … and telling me off? You had better take a walk to the back before something happens to you that I'm not about to regret …
The crowd is all excited now. CJ is taken aback, looking very surprised. He thinks a minute, then opens up his arms in a “come and get me” kind of way. Sally looks like she might just do it, so CJ drops the mic, flings his hat to a corner and pulls off his shirt all in one motion. Suddenly Sally isn't so keen. She drops her own mic … and then hits the mat and rolls under the ropes. The crowd is definitely a chorus of boos now. There's not one Sally fan, it seems. CJ walks to the ropes, hanging over them and trading words with Sally who is about ready to explode. She is a verbal tornado, all sorts of words being thrown around. Eventually she's gone, and it's CJ left in the ring to revel in the applause and the cheers and the love now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fade away, back to Ayepedubeuville …
Sally Talfourd, superhero extraordinaire, came up with a plan. Some say it was too far. Others, who were not touched by it, say it was about right. But whatever the judgment was, the outcome was clear: Sally Talfourd lost the love she had once held. Her focus on saving a city, on stopping criminals, on creating a safe world … they were all muddled up. Her plan started simple: Stop the crime before it happened. And it worked. She lead the charge against the criminal hives that plagued the world, tearing apart the dark corners of the city they had carved out.
We see Sally Talfourd, superhero style, flying in to knock over a mob of … mobsters? They are all crowded around one in particular – a guy in a long, classic trench-coat with one of those fedora hats pulled low, but not low enough to reveal the unmistakable face of Lester Only. Of course he's the boss! Who else could be cast as the villain? He gets up, tries to flee, but doesn't get far from our controversial hero. She runs after him at a sprint, then tackles him to the ground. A bit of a scuffle ensues, but finally Sally gets on to of the problem (and Lester) and has him cuffed.
The last pockets of crime in Ayepedubeuville were purged, gone from the maps of the city. The dark streets were lit. The underbelly was cleansed of grime. The world was a safer place. But Sally's obsession didn't stop. She continued to pursue the criminals, even those that had renounced their ways. She followed them to their homes, into their lives, bringing her swift punishment into a world that had never needed it …
A shot of inside a home. A respectable gentleman in a sweater-vest is walking to the door. There's a ringing of a bell. He reaches over to the door handle, turns, and pulls the door open. There's Sally Talfourd, dressed in her very tempting outfit. And here comes her fist! Bang! She gets the man right in the face. He spins on his heels, revealing himself to look at lot like Branden Harvey. Blood starts to run down his nose as he stops, then falls out of shot with some comedic value. As he leaves the shot, we find Sally Talfourd, superhero pose at the ready, looking off into the distance with all the bravery and the achievement that you would expect to see had she captured the biggest mob boss in town … except the fact is this Branden Harvey-type person had done nothing ...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Shane] Do you want to talk about it.
[Sally] No.
[Shane] Well, if you do, you know where to find me …
And with that, Shane walks out; out from the hotel room that we have returned to. Of course, he leaves the camera, much to Sally's interest. She watches Shane leave, laying across the end of the bed dressed down from the night's earlier proceedings at the house show. As the door comes to a gentle close, Sally takes up the camera, holding it at an arm's length from her.
[Sally] That was ridiculous! The way CJ came out and made a mockery of my appearance? That was the only chance those people were going to get of seeing me! And it was ruined. Ugh *Sally sits up on the bed, setting the camera across from her so that she doesn't have to hold it any more* some people just can hold in their jealousy. They just can't handle the fact that I am just that popular. They have to go and try and dampen it all, try to steal my spotlight. Don't worry though – by the end of Rasslemania, everyone will know who is the biggest and brightest star in APW. It won't matter what anyone else does, everyone will love me when I stand there at the end of another winning match with my belt held high. There's just one last thing in my way: Lester. *Sally lets out a rather sarcastic laugh* I know, not exactly the biggest of problems, but a problem nonetheless.
I think I speak for everyone when I say that it really had to be you and me, Lester, in this match. It's going to be a year, soon, since the first time we got involved with one another. APW has never been the same since. Nothing else has mattered, just what you and I were doing. Why? Because it's been about me! I bet you thought that people were watching out feud because of how a great a champion you were … or how close our matches always are … or the great chemistry that we have. But, the truth is that they were only pay attention to you because you were involved with me. You and I both know that. They only watched our matches because the fans wanted to see me. They only watched your little interviews because you were talking about me. And they only ever paid attention to you because, well, they were hoping that if they watched you for long enough you'd go away and I'd take your place. Which is exactly what happened! One Night in Hell, I took your place. Finally, the world wasn't going to be subjected to you and your tried and true formulas of success. You know, how you come out and rant incessantly about someone you hate for the week, tell the world why they suck and just don't deserve to fight you, and then how you're going to beat them. Talk and talk and talk for hours and hours and hours.
Then, something funny happens when it involves me. More often than not, you do all this talking, all this grandstanding, all this bragging and yet … I go out and beat you. You try and convince everyone that you're so much better than me, and then I go out there and prove to the world over that you're nothing but full of lies. This whole song and dance of yours? When you say you're the best in the business and then fail to follow through with it? That's what's getting old. Not me and all the ratings and buys and love I bring in. You and your hate and your lies and your … boringness. That's why the fans love me; because I respect them not to treat them like idiots. *Ummm, have we forgotten the house show?* I give them the best match on the card, no matter who it is that I have to carry, no matter who it is that tries to ruin my moment, no matter who it is that is trying to push me out of the spotlight. I am the only thing that is original around here. I am the only thing that is unique around here. I am the only thing worth a damn around here! I'm Sally Talfourd! And that's all it takes to be better than you, Lester. All I have to do is wake up in a few days, take a few breaths and know that I'm me. Because that means knowing that I'm better than you in every way that counts.
Taking out all the hyperbole, all the bluster, all of her own bragging, do we not have something … rather, someone who is original? Rather unique? Rather special? Who else, here, has the audacity to ignore everything that's going on around them? Who else here has a winning record against everyone in the company? Who else has a successful history against Level-One? You know, Lester Only used to be the measuring stick; you would compare and contrast a talent against Level-One. If they could beat him, if they were even at least a little bit successful against him, if they could match him for even five minutes then that person was a success in and of themselves. But what happens when the measuring stick doesn't measure far enough? What happens when the gold standard of wrestling isn't enough to weight against? What happens when the best is no longer the best? I guess you get what we have now: One man claiming to be the best and one woman left holding the proof that she is, in fact, better. I mean, how much claim to being the best can you have when you lost the belt … couldn't regain it in a fair fight … and had to fight off a bunch of other people who had just as much claim to being the second best? Like it or not, that's where we're at. Sally shifts on the bed, moving to get a little more comfortable. She rests back, pulling some pillows under her so that she's still sitting up to the camera.
[Sally] You know, it's a funny thing. You chip me about being predictable. I just can't seem to get over that. I think the only thing predictable about me these days is that I beat you, Lester. That little bubble of invincibility has burst. People see you for the wrestler you are, not the legend. Your reputation doesn't give you that protective wall any more. You're nothing but the very same person that you deride every week! You're just … average. You're not special any more. You might have been good once, but APW has moved on. It moved on from being a backwater hole to being the number one company in wrestling. And I'm sure you'll remind us all about how you carried the company single-handedly, with your own blood, sweat and tears fueling the furnace of this great engine of wrestling. But that was when APW was just another company. Now? Now it's outgrown you. APW has left you behind, and it needs a stronger, wiser, superior person to carry it. That's me, Lester. I'm the one that APW needs, whether you, the talent, or the fans realize it.
APW has moved on, Lester. It's moved on to a new era with a new vision and a new leader ...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sally Talfourd had entered down a dangerous path. She had saved the city, but it wasn't enough. To end crime and dishonor and the ills of the world, she tried to stop crime before it even happened. But this angered the poor citizens of Ayepedubeuville. They wanted to be rid of Sally, as she patrolled the streets and watched the people going about their ordinary business. You see, Sally had come to think that she was above those people she had sworn to protect. She was the authority, they the ones that owed her for all her talents and her skills in keeping them safe. She knew that they could do nothing, because without her, the city would fall apart again.
The people of Ayepedubeuville were faced with a difficult choice: Turn their backs from Sally Talfourd, leaving the city at risk of returning to the thuggery, the theft, and the murder that had plagued it for years before, or live under the tyrannical rule of Sally Talfourd? Did they prefer the world where they were subject to crime or subject to dictations from above? The people made their decision, and one by one, people started to register their dislike for Sally and what she was doing. Some of those people hoped it would change her ways, others hoped it would get rid of her. But slowly, surely, the people's voice became loud and clear: The rule of Sally Talfourd must end ...
The people of Ayepedubeuville were faced with a difficult choice: Turn their backs from Sally Talfourd, leaving the city at risk of returning to the thuggery, the theft, and the murder that had plagued it for years before, or live under the tyrannical rule of Sally Talfourd? Did they prefer the world where they were subject to crime or subject to dictations from above? The people made their decision, and one by one, people started to register their dislike for Sally and what she was doing. Some of those people hoped it would change her ways, others hoped it would get rid of her. But slowly, surely, the people's voice became loud and clear: The rule of Sally Talfourd must end ...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cut back to the real world. But we're removed from the hotel room now. Very far removed. We're out the front of a local bar. Not just any bar, but the Meridian International Sports Cafe in downtown Berkeley! If there's a more appropriate setting I'm yet to think of it … except maybe an arena … oh, and a gym … maybe even … enough! Ok, we're at the bar and that's final! Of course the place is decked out in APW slogans and merch and whatnot because there's one of those official meet-and-greet sessions for the local fans who couldn't get their hands on tickets. The banner says:
MEET THE APW MEGASTARS TONIGHT!
Then, down the sides of the door, is a session sheet. Let's take a look at it … hmmm … there she is! 12pm-1pm, APW World Heavyweight Champion Sally Talfourd. What's the time now? 12:55pm? Oh damn! We just missed it. Shane rushes to the door with his camera, getting through (he has the credentials this time … unlike that unfortunate incident in Mexico City a couple years back) and inside he finds the hoards of people trying to get to Sally. There's a long cue, and people filtering out who have got their photo, autographs, whatever. And there she is! She's striking her poses, faking that smile, and pretending to care like the best of them. Suddenly a handler (who Sally has been checking out since 11:59am) comes and whispers something in her ear as he hands her a microphone. She pats him on the shoulder as she stands up from her desk.
[Sally] Ladies and gentlemen! Ladies and gentlemen, a bit of quiet for a minute, please! *The people all simmer down to a murmur* Thanks. Now, I've been told that my hour is up. *A collective groan from the people who have yet to get anything* but can I just say this: You watch Rasslemania and I promise that you will see one thing: The greatest match of the year! *A resounding cheer for that; real fans don't care who is in a match, so long as it's damn good!* You will get to see Lester Only try and revive his fledgling and sorry career at the same time I remind everyone why I am, in fact, the greatest wrestler in APW. *There's a few jeers from the crowd; a couple of “What about ...” followed by their favorite wrestler. Sally pays them no attention* At Rasslemania you get to see me go out there and put on the match of the career. My technical ability, my natural talent, my willingness to sacrifice everything I have for my title *It used to be for the fans … and to make sure that APW keeps on being my[/b] company – that's what will get me this great win. Level-One is, I'm sure, going to try and convince you all that I'm not fit to be a champion. Maybe he'll talk about how I'm just a woman. How I'm weak. How I've got here by lucky. Let me tell you one thing: If being a woman is a problem with him, he had better go and look in the mirror and ask himself what kind of a wrestler he is that has lost to me more times than he would care to count. And if he thinks that I'm weak, he should also ask himself how weak I really am if I've been able to hand him loss after loss … time and time again. And is he thinks that the only reason I can stand here with this belt *Sally pats the belt that's resting across the front of the desk* then he had better bring all his paws, his four leaf clovers, and his lucky charms to try and get even more of it than me.[/color]
There's still a bit of support for Sally. Maybe some of those die-hard fans who can't let go of her. Maybe some of the smarks who want to buck the trend. Maybe some of those 'classic fans' who know that she's the best technical wrestler of the roster and they'll be damned if they're going to boo her just because she's paying out on them.
[Sally] The unfortunate truth is that, for the past couple of weeks, Lester Only has been out there on a smear campaign, trying to win the fans over and tarnish me. He got me blamed for President Jeff's little accident – when the only person to blame is President Jeff for even being in my ring! Then he has gone out and started his fan's campaign or whatever, somehow convincing a very, very small amount of people to not exactly cheer for me … *Oh! So she does hear it ...*. And I bet you that for these days leading up to the greatest show that wrestling sees every year, he will try and turn you all against me, saying all sorts of things. Things like I said before – that it's bad to be a woman in this business, that I don't have the skills, that I'm all luck. Well, it's sad that I have to then waste my time in dispelling all these rumors for the idiots out there that actually listen to him and believe him.
The fact is that if I relied on luck to be here, I simply wouldn't have made it. If I had any weaknesses, then I wouldn't have made it. And if being a woman was a bad thing, I wouldn't have made it. Yet *Sally looks surprised, then looks down at herself, then points right at her name on the front plate of her belt* here I am, APW World Heavyweight Champion. Not OverDrive Champion. Not Tag Team Champion. Not number one contender. The world … heavyweight … champion. Nothing less than the best that this company has. Everyone else – Lester included – is a pretender. They have nothing on me. You don't get here with luck. Luck doesn't make a man tap. And you don't get here without more skill than the people after you, because you can pin someone without having more than them. And it doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman or some kind of halfsie, if you're the best it shows without a shadow of a doubt. So come on out, when you're ready Level-One. Come out and grace us all with your garbage and your lies and your BS. It's what we've heard before, it's what we'll hear again, and it's the same old stuff you'll churn out when you're number one contender to me in about two weeks after Rasslemania.
And only a bunch of fools would believe a word you say right now. You've tried and failed to win my belt once already, and you've shown nothing that tells us you've learned any new tricks that you could use against me. Even when we met up at Survive and Conquer, you couldn't beat me. And how many of your sad and sorry little stable was there to help you? You couldn't beat me in an elimination chamber, you couldn't beat me in a singles match, and you couldn't beat me in a rumble. You couldn't beat me when there were no rules and your couldn't beat me when there were rules. What's changed this time, Lester? What works in your favor this time that doesn't work in mine? No DQs? That just means my chances went through the roof of retaining! I can do whatever I want to stop you. To lay you out cold. I could even retire you if I wanted to; work you over so bad that you couldn't come after my belt ever again, even if you wanted to. The fact is, our little stipulation? No DQs? It doesn't help you at all. It just gives me a whole lot of ways of beating you … again. Where you couldn't beat me without rules, I could beat you beat you. Where you couldn't beat me with rules, I could beat you. Where you couldn't beat me when you had 38 people to distract me, I could beat you. Where you couldn't beat me when we were both knocking on the gates of Hell! ... I managed to beat you without a single second of help, of cheating, of anything. Me, and every bit of skill and talent and expertise that I have … when compared to you? I walk out better for it every time now!
All you need to do is worry about finding your way to the ring and then finding you way out of it when I've beat you all over again. I will work you over, I will beat you down, and eventually I will have you begging for help. You'll be wishing you had stood back or retired or something, You'll be wishing you were inducted into the Hall of Fame. The only thing waiting for you at the end of night is an induction into the Hall of Shame! *Collective groan; call the pun police!* Because that's all you'll get, shamed. You'll be shamed for having promised so much and having delivered so little. You'll be shamed for not being able to get the job done against someone you oh-so confidently say is so much less than you. And you'll be shamed for not actually knowing when to hang those boots up. I mean, retirement has to be on your mind. It should be, because Rasslemania is only going to show that you can't cut it with the bright eyes and burning fire of someone faster … more talented … just better than you. Gone are the days when you could adapt, when you could change, when you could get the measure of anyone against you. You've not learned a single thing about me, not after each and every victory I've got over you. It took one pay per view loss for me to figure you out, Lester. *Sally stops for a pause, then looks around with a smile* I guess the best thing to do is make sure he actually learns something at the end of Rasslemania. Well, I promise this: I promise that Lester will finally learn that he's no longer that number one around here. He will learn, just like everybody else has, that Sally Talfourd is the best that APW has.
All of a sudden, there's a massive cheer and roar from the crowd that's gathered. Wow, I guess they really do love their Sally Talfourd still. Sally looks up at them, smile with a wave, then turns to leave with her belt … and is eye-to-eye with Level-One! That's what everyone is excited about. Level-One stands there with a grin; seems there's the remnants of a black eye or something on the top of his cheek. He looks down at Sally's belt, her knuckles turning a whiter shade of white as she holds onto it tight.
[Level-One]Hi Sally.
[Sally] Lester! How are you *Sally with the overboard care and love in her question there* Ready for our match? I bet you are …
[Level-One]How you feeling? Not too sore after last week?
[Sally] I feel as good as the day I walked into APW.
Want to know a secret? She's not feeling all that great. It might have been the flagrant and unwarranted assault by Lester at the end of last week's match … maybe the two minutes of offense that CJ and Blade managed to dig out … or maybe it was going through a table that did it. But Sally isn't feeling all that she's making out. Oh she'll be fine by the time the bell rings, but right now? There's some sore muscles, some bruised ribs, and a couple of cuts that aren't doing her any favors. Just looking at Lester right now brings back some of the pain that she's been able to mask with all sorts of drugs … legal drugs, of course! She moves her belt to the other arm, trying to somehow hide whatever some particular opponent might be guessing at.[/i]
[Level-One]Yeah you look it …
[Sally] Well, if you want to turn this into a contest about looks …
[Level-One]If I wanted to do that, I'd turn up to our match with a pig.
Ooooo snap! The crowd recognizes a good dis. Sally has to smile, even cracks a little laugh, looking around the room, then locks eyes with him again.
[Sally] I was going to leave my mother backstage, but if you want to bring yours down for a closer view … *The crowd respects a good mother dis too. Level-One wears his smug smile, like he has since the day he knew he was 'just that good' and crosses his arms across his chest* I guess it's true that men also try to marry their mothers, because when you first brought up pigs, I instantly thought of Patricia … *That hits a nerve, as Lester unfolds his arms, takes a step closer to Sally* … or was that Kayla?
And that's it! Lester rushes up to Sally. She drops her belt, tenses up. Lester throws a wild punch, almost catches Sally, but the security (who somehow thought something like this would happen) gets in between, so Sally isn't completely laid out. She grabs her jaw as she takes a few stumbling steps back. Then she's trying to get into the fray. It's complete and utter hatred, loathing, and repulsion at this point. Both wrestlers trying to get at each other. Sally manages to get a kick in – though it might not have even been Lester – before the two are pulled far enough back. The handler grabs Sally's belt and shoves it in her hands. She realizes that now's probably not the time, throws up her arms in surrender, and takes a walk off the stage. Lester is slowly let go, the table (which had been upturned) is reset, microphones and camera-people put back in place, and order restored. Shane, who managed to get all this on camera, turns to leave the fans and Lester to do their thing, following the trail of security to find Sally, in some curtained-off area that I suppose could be a waiting room.
[Shane] Sally …
[Sally] Screw him, Shane! Screw Level-One! He is a worthless pile of …
[Shane] Calm down, Sally.
[Sally] Calm down? Calm down!? Did you see what he did out there! I hate him. I hate everything about him. He's a useless, worthless, pathetic man. He's the worst of the worst. No respectable wrestler comes out and interrupts the champion. I don't care who has been here longer, who's been champion the most, who's the veteran in this situation. He owes me more respect than that. He owes he a hell of a lot more! I keep him relevant. I keep him in the spotlight. I keep him known. Without me, Lester Only would be jerking curtains for the rest of his sorry days. His time is over. He needs to move on. He is nothing any more! This is my time! This is my match. This is my company. Lester Only forfeited any claim when he lost the APW belt to me. When he talked about how great he was and that I couldn't beat him? And then I did? That's when he lost any right to be called an APW megastar. *Sally, who has been holding her chin as she inspects herself in the mirror that's thankfully there, gives it one last rub before whipping around to the camera* You listen up Lester, and you listen good. Play time is over. You fun and games are going to end soon. This isn't about the fans any more. This isn't about a record that we have against each other. This isn't just about the title any more. No, it's about one thing and one thing only: Pinning your sorry shoulders on the one night that you can't bear to be beaten on.
Rasslemania is not about anything else than breaking your already fragile mind. Because here's something I've sorted out: You're about to snap. I know your mind is playing games on you already. I know that you have a whole lot of questions about a few things. Christmas Chaos? I bet you remember that. I bet you remember how pathetic you were in our match, where I completely and utterly took ownership of the match, of my title, and of you! *Sally nearly spits the worlds out, the rage and the anger in her voice. The mark on her jaw starts to get a bit of color to it; it will be a nice reminder for Sally tomorrow* That's where it all started. After that, you got closer and closer to the edge of insanity. And now … now you're on that tipping point. When I beat you at Rasslemania – a match that is so important and so prestigious and so much of the performer you claim to be - then I will be pushing you off that edge. I will be sending you into that deep, dark abyss that no one returns from. Where you have to relive your sins and your atrocities and your disgraces over and over again. And you will never recover from that because each and every time you have to look at me … *Sally lets out a little laugh, straightens herself up* you'll just be reminded about when, on the most important night in 2011, I beat you. When you weren't good enough to beat me. When the world over – love me or hate me! - realized that I am the best that APW has, that wrestling has, that the whole world has! I am this belt! *Sally pulls up her belt, holds it alongside her face* I am better than every single person who's had it, and I'm so much better than each and every person who wants it!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alas, as much as the people tried, Sally's determination simply grew stronger. The more the people pushed her, the harder she pushed back. The tried to have her leave their city, confident that they could handle the cruelties of the world on their own. But Sally was not want to take leave. Finally, the thriving city that had once been a place of hope was now, once again, one of despair. The people who had lived in fear of crime, who had tasted freedom for a moment in time, now again lived in fear. Fear of the very thing they once wanted. Sally, who had come in to protect, was now the criminal. She had become that which she had never wanted to see.
We cut to a shot of superhero Sally standing on the edge of a very, very tall building. A skyscraper or something. She looks out over the city, over Ayepedubeuville, as the city carefully, tentatively, fearfully go about their business. She scans the city, and then takes off – fading to a tiny speck on the skyline. The color and the life and the 'feel' of the city has gone. It is nothing now. Quiet. Dark. Afraid. There's sounds of yelling, of fighting, of breaking glass and thudding that comes out of the city. It's the sound of a city now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And we're back (for the last time, I promise) to Sally Talfourd. Trust me when I say it's the morning of the next day. However, Sally doesn't exactly seem to know she's on camera. I'll fill you in: Shane, wanting to see Sally's the day after her little Level-One altercation, waiting for her to wake up. When she was up and about, in he came to capture her with his trusty camera. And here she is – still in her pajamas (Happy Ending brand, of course) – in the bathroom. She lingers in front of the mirror. Her hand rubs over the bruise that is coming on her jaw. She stares at it. Just stares at it. Never have you seen a more intent and focused stare.
And that's what we're going to finish the episode on. Sally Talfourd. Fitting, though, as she is the APW World Heavyweight Champion. This woman, who came here as a nobody, and in less than a year has risen to be the somebody on APW. She beat off her competition. She beat off the legends. She beat off the veterans of the company and now? Now she's it. She's the show. She's the whole reason people are turning up to OverDrive or Rasslemania. She's the reason people buy tickets. She's the reason people buy merch. She's the reason people tune in. Sally. And anyone who is foolish enough to try and say otherwise is kidding themselves. I mean, really! Who else has had a more meteoric rise to the top? Who else has a better record against the established talent here? Who else has come in and claimed a belt with as much force and focus and determination like this? No one.
Sally Talfourd might have been the 'happy-go-lucky', fan favorite once. It wasn't all that long ago even. But things change. Times change. People change. APW has changed. Level-One has changed. Sally Talfourd has changed. You either embrace change or you get out of the way, because trying to prevent it only brings about a world of problems. APW needs Sally, now. It doesn't need Lester, and his ways of the past. They need Sally and the revolution she brought in. Rasslemania will be her crowning moment. The moment that the fans, the wrestlers, APW realizes that they need Sally. Then, when they realize this, they will love her again. They will realize that she is the best, that she deserves it all, that she is APW. They will love her because they need her. Rasslemania will prove that. Three short seconds ... one quick "yes" ... that's all that separates people from loving Sally Talfourd all over again.
There's a pause, and then
"Sally Talfourd"
is handwritten across the screen, in purple. Before it fades out and the episode comes to a close.
