Post by Tyler Malcolm on Aug 16, 2011 17:06:03 GMT -5
The white fog blankets the city, the city lights barely detectable through the fog. The city of Atlanta, Georgia, home of sports teams such as the Braves and the Falcons, but also one athlete that has yet to leave his footprint in history. The man strives to have his name, Tyler Malcolm, be known by all. On this cool summer's night, he stands in his Atlanta penthouse. He stands in rather expensive swagger, a stylized black pinstripe suit and a black pair of Nikes. A matching pinstriped hat rests on his head. A woman's hand reaches out onto his shoulder. He turns to see Tiffany standing. Her blonde hair done up, makeup on, diamond earrings in her ears and a black dress gracing her body. In her other hand is a six pack of Budweiser, which she hands to Tyler. Tyler sets it on the table beside him and takes two out, which he opens with a bottle opener from his pocket. He hands one to Tiffany while taking a sip of his own.
TIFFANY
So that was fun tonight.
TYLER
Yeah.
TIFFANY
What's wrong?
TYLER
Just thinkin'.
TIFFANY
About what?
TYLER
'Bout life. My life. I was born here in this town, Tiffany. Born and raised. My father worked his tail off, here, in ATLANTA. For me. For my siblings. So we could have the shot at the life that he never had, at greatness. At being more than just a man. So we could become legends. See my father was an ordinary man, and he always warned me there's nothing worse than being ordinary. "Son, don't settle for anything less than what your worth." He'd start. "And you're worth the world."
Tyler takes another swig of his beer as Tiffany gazes on, fascinated by his remembrance of his father.
TYLER
My father put me through school up until the age of 13. I was in 8th grade, sitting in English. Switching glances between the three little birds playing on the fence outside and my teacher's ass.
"Tyler..." She spoke. "You need to report to the office. Bring your things. There's an family emergency."
My father had suffered a stress induced heart attack. The doctor said he overworked himself for so long, and his heart just couldn't keep up. At age 13, my mind warped the situation and led me to believe I was somehow responsible for my father's death. It sounds cliché, but at the age of 13 I was robbed of my innocence. Everything my father had built for me had to go to waste. I had to focus more on my family, protecting them, raising my younger siblings and helping my mother out.
Tyler turns his head towards Tiffany.
TYLER
It was in this town that I was made.
Tiffany puts her hands on Tyler's cheeks.
TIFFANY
That sounds so awful, baby.
Tyler pulls away.
TYLER
"Why dwell on the past when you can look forward to the future?" My father always told me that.
Tyler walks over to the old record player in the corner. He pulls an old record off the shelf. He places it in the record player and Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" begin to play. He slowly walks up to Tiffany and extends his hand. She grabs it and he pulls her close. The two begin to slow dance, lightly gliding across the floor. It is obvious they both have an act for dancing, as they perform magnificently for us. As the song wraps up the two stay close together with their hands locked. They gaze into eachother's eyes, before Tiffany leans in and kisses Tyler on the cheek and whispers something into his ear. She walks off. The lyrics of the next song are heard.
TIFFANY
So that was fun tonight.
TYLER
Yeah.
TIFFANY
What's wrong?
TYLER
Just thinkin'.
TIFFANY
About what?
TYLER
'Bout life. My life. I was born here in this town, Tiffany. Born and raised. My father worked his tail off, here, in ATLANTA. For me. For my siblings. So we could have the shot at the life that he never had, at greatness. At being more than just a man. So we could become legends. See my father was an ordinary man, and he always warned me there's nothing worse than being ordinary. "Son, don't settle for anything less than what your worth." He'd start. "And you're worth the world."
Tyler takes another swig of his beer as Tiffany gazes on, fascinated by his remembrance of his father.
TYLER
My father put me through school up until the age of 13. I was in 8th grade, sitting in English. Switching glances between the three little birds playing on the fence outside and my teacher's ass.
"Tyler..." She spoke. "You need to report to the office. Bring your things. There's an family emergency."
My father had suffered a stress induced heart attack. The doctor said he overworked himself for so long, and his heart just couldn't keep up. At age 13, my mind warped the situation and led me to believe I was somehow responsible for my father's death. It sounds cliché, but at the age of 13 I was robbed of my innocence. Everything my father had built for me had to go to waste. I had to focus more on my family, protecting them, raising my younger siblings and helping my mother out.
Tyler turns his head towards Tiffany.
TYLER
It was in this town that I was made.
Tiffany puts her hands on Tyler's cheeks.
TIFFANY
That sounds so awful, baby.
Tyler pulls away.
TYLER
"Why dwell on the past when you can look forward to the future?" My father always told me that.
Tyler walks over to the old record player in the corner. He pulls an old record off the shelf. He places it in the record player and Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" begin to play. He slowly walks up to Tiffany and extends his hand. She grabs it and he pulls her close. The two begin to slow dance, lightly gliding across the floor. It is obvious they both have an act for dancing, as they perform magnificently for us. As the song wraps up the two stay close together with their hands locked. They gaze into eachother's eyes, before Tiffany leans in and kisses Tyler on the cheek and whispers something into his ear. She walks off. The lyrics of the next song are heard.
"Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows but Jesus
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Glory, Hallelujah"
Nobody knows but Jesus
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Glory, Hallelujah"
Tyler's head drops and turns to the record player. His eyes grow somber. He walks over to the window again and looks out into the city.
[/i]Sometimes I'm up, sometimes
I'm down, oh, yes Lord
Sometimes I'm almost
To the ground, oh yes, Lord
I'm down, oh, yes Lord
Sometimes I'm almost
To the ground, oh yes, Lord
TYLER
I'm only a man. Nothing more, nothing less. These "legends" my dad was always talking about. They don't exist. Only in society's warped sense of what life is, do legends exist. The sad reality of my father's life is that he never realized that. I wish I could tell him now what I know. I wish I could tell him we would all be all right, that we didn't want our father gone all day and night, even if it meant we could have cool toys. We just wanted our father. For as much as he taught me about the world, I surely didn't grow up to meet his expectations. If he's really up there and looking down on me, I think his pride would be mixed with a feeling of being letdown, by me. That I couldn't become Superman. I could just do me.
And that's what I've been doing. Just doing me. Being myself, in and out of that ring. I've never been happier. I've never been better.
[/i][/right]I'm only a man. Nothing more, nothing less. These "legends" my dad was always talking about. They don't exist. Only in society's warped sense of what life is, do legends exist. The sad reality of my father's life is that he never realized that. I wish I could tell him now what I know. I wish I could tell him we would all be all right, that we didn't want our father gone all day and night, even if it meant we could have cool toys. We just wanted our father. For as much as he taught me about the world, I surely didn't grow up to meet his expectations. If he's really up there and looking down on me, I think his pride would be mixed with a feeling of being letdown, by me. That I couldn't become Superman. I could just do me.
And that's what I've been doing. Just doing me. Being myself, in and out of that ring. I've never been happier. I've never been better.
Although you see me
Goin' on so, oh yes
I have my trials, here below
Oh yes, Lord
Goin' on so, oh yes
I have my trials, here below
Oh yes, Lord
TYLER
I'm not perfect. Never have been. No one ever will be. Sometimes we're up. Sometimes we're down. Some of us were meant for something more. Some of us were meant for something less. I know I was meant for something more. I'm not even 30 years old and I've seen how cruel this world can be... I've also seen how beautiful this world can be.
I've talked in the past about being the man to save SNME. I don't say that because I see myself as a superhero. I do it because I see myself as the only man smart enough to see the faults of SNME. I've said exactly what SNME needs. Someone real. They need me. I've already proven I can bring it in the ring, but the taste of victory has faded. However, the scent of victory is around the corner.
KOMODO. Well, let's be honest. I don't know who the fuck you are. You walk around in some fury... Spartan suit. And I just... I just don't know what to think, honestly. What I do know is that this Saturday... we're not going to be in your town. We ain't gonna be in my town. We're gonna be in the wrestling ring. The town that turns men into "legends." The town that'll recreate me.
Tyler begins walking towards the record player, singing the final lyrics of the song out loud.
TYLER MALCOLM
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen. Nobody knows my sorrow.
Tyler pulls the record out and shuts the light off. He heads in the direction Tiffany left earlier. As his footsteps fade quieter, the scene faders darker.
[/i][/right]I'm not perfect. Never have been. No one ever will be. Sometimes we're up. Sometimes we're down. Some of us were meant for something more. Some of us were meant for something less. I know I was meant for something more. I'm not even 30 years old and I've seen how cruel this world can be... I've also seen how beautiful this world can be.
I've talked in the past about being the man to save SNME. I don't say that because I see myself as a superhero. I do it because I see myself as the only man smart enough to see the faults of SNME. I've said exactly what SNME needs. Someone real. They need me. I've already proven I can bring it in the ring, but the taste of victory has faded. However, the scent of victory is around the corner.
KOMODO. Well, let's be honest. I don't know who the fuck you are. You walk around in some fury... Spartan suit. And I just... I just don't know what to think, honestly. What I do know is that this Saturday... we're not going to be in your town. We ain't gonna be in my town. We're gonna be in the wrestling ring. The town that turns men into "legends." The town that'll recreate me.
Tyler begins walking towards the record player, singing the final lyrics of the song out loud.
TYLER MALCOLM
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen. Nobody knows my sorrow.
Tyler pulls the record out and shuts the light off. He heads in the direction Tiffany left earlier. As his footsteps fade quieter, the scene faders darker.