Broken Wings

*Derek Levy is seen in his locker room to boos from the still-incensed Crowd. He is sitting on his leather couch with a very solemn look on his face and he has the Louisville Slugger in his hands, which are still stained by the blood of Jimmy DeMarco*

AARON WILLIAMS

….And there’s that contemptible madman, Derek Levy…

TED

I’m surprised that he hasn’t been thrown out by security yet!

AARON WILLIAMS

In case you’ve just joined us, folks, several minutes ago, Derek Levy mauled the Fusion GM, Jimmy DeMarco, after he threw down the gauntlet against CGS Fusion! He is being rushed to the nearest medical facility at this time! Here’s a quick recap of what happened, and a warning that what you’re about to see is quite disturbing…

*The camera switches to a clip of the mentioned beat down*

*The Crowd’s boos go to astronomical heights now. Derek is staring at the bat in his hands for a moment before closing his eyes and putting the bat down on the glass table. He exhales deeply before reaching for his gym bag and zipping open a side pocket. He slowly reaches into it and pulls out a very small box covered by black, velvety material*

TED

I wonder what that is?

*Derek cradles the item carefully in his hands as if it were an ancient artifact. He looks at it, his eyes first still burning with an ungodly rage….But then….The fire dims out. His eyes become more sorrowful. His face is a blank slate as he then gently strokes it like a pet. Derek then begins talking to himself*

DEREK LEVY

…Tell me…..Am I doing the right thing?….Am I?

*Derek then clasps the item in his hands and kneels his head*

DEREK LEVY

…..This is just so hard without you……Without your voice or smile to comfort me in these dark times…

*The Crowd and both the commentators are visibly confused*

AARON WILLIAMS

What the--? Just what the Hell is Derek babbling about?

*As Derek remains silent, there is a loud knock at the door. He instinctively puts the item back into his bag and tensely whips up the bat, his anger resurfacing*

DEREK LEVY

Who’s there?!

*Moments later, the voice of “The Triple-Crown Prodigy”, Ryan Evans, rings behind the door to boos*

RYAN EVANS

It’s ME, bro! Open up!

*Derek puts the bat down again and calmly walks towards the door. He unlocks it and backs up to the table*

DEREK LEVY

Come in….

*Ryan Evans quickly steps into the room and slams the door shut. He has on his usual black blazer, a red t-shirt, his ratty jeans and black Vans. While his attire was commonplace, his usually smug and confident expression was missing. What was in it’s place was one of shock and panic*

RYAN EVANS

Derek, just what in the bluest, BLUEST, of blue Hells did you just do?!

*Derek’s face remains blank as he causally crosses his arms. Seeing the dried blood on Derek’s hands, Ryan puts his hand over his mouth momentarily before placing both his hands on his hips*

RYAN EVANS

DAMMIT, DEREK!!

*Ryan punts the small trash canister near the door across the room. Ryan’s knuckles tighten and go white, but Derek doesn’t even flinch*

DEREK LEVY

What’s wrong, Ryan?

RYAN EVANS

What’s wrong, Derek? I’ll tell you what’s wrong! You completely screwed up our plan! Remember what we decided on? We’d go out there together and address the audience, recruit Straight-Edge wrestlers, and leave! That was the plan! Instead, I arrive to find out that not only did you go without me, but that you left Jimmy DeMarco a bloody heap!

*Derek looks down and remains silent for a few moments. He looks back up at Ryan*

DEREK LEVY

……………..And? I simply got tired of waiting for you and decided to act.

RYAN EVANS

And said “act” probably just cost us potential members, Derek! How are we supposed to get people to join our cause now?

DEREK LEVY

People will still join us, bro…People who didn’t like the direction CGS is going will still be impressed by the fact that a wrestler stood up to the boss and showed him that his buffoonery wouldn’t be tolerated any longer. Those faithful to the Straight-Edge lifestyle will now know that we mean business. ..

*Derek turns and heads to the mini-fridge on the bar table. He opens it and pulls it an ice-cold can of Pepsi and tosses it to Ryan, who catches it without even blinking. He opens the tab and starts drinking whilst Derek takes out a can of Mountain Dew and drinks*

DEREK LEVY

…There’s no need to become paranoid over this, Ryan. I have made the first move and I have drawn first blood in the name of the Straight-Edge Army….The board is set, the pieces have moved, and it is the addicts’ turn..

*The Crowd boos Derek as he insults them yet again*

AARON WILLIAMS

Again with the “Straight-Edge” talk!

TED

I don’t think Derek’s made it a secret that he’s proud of his lifestyle, Aaron…

AARON WILLIAMS

But that still doesn’t give him the right to treat anyone who isn’t “edge” so narrow-mindedly!

RYAN EVANS

Maybe, but you need to stop being so reckless. Remember, you can’t go back to TakeDown now..

DEREK LEVY

I know…

RYAN EVANS

I know you know, Derek…Just reminding you, that’s all..


*Ryan quickly finishes his beverage and puts the empty can onto the table and proceeds to sit down on the leather sofa. He casually notices something sticking out of the still-opened side pocket of Derek’s bag. Seeing Derek’s back is turned, Ryan reaches for it and pulls out the small, black box. He looks at it with curiosity*

AARON WILLIAMS

It’s that box Derek was holding a couple minutes ago! I wonder what it could be?

*Ryan flips it open and sees what it contains. It was an engagement ring. It was gold with beautiful diamonds affixed on top of it. It was certainly very expensive judging by the quality of it. Ryan blinks once in confusion, then smirks. He holds it up a bit and looks over to Derek*

RYAN EVANS

So, Derek…..Who’s the lucky girl?

*Derek turns*

DEREK LEVY

Hmm? What do you mea--

*Derek’s eyes widen as he sees Ryan holding the now-opened box. He quickly snatches it right out of the shocked Ryan’s hands and closes the box. Derek’s eyes flash in a fury*

DEREK LEVY

What were you doing with this?!

RYAN EVANS

Nothing, man! I just saw it and--

DEREK LEVY

Don’t you ever touch this again, Ryan! This is too damn important to me!!

*Ryan immediately jumps up and holds his hands up*

RYAN EVANS

OKAY!! God, calm the Hell down, Gollum!!

DEREK LEVY

Don’t joke about this!! This ring means a lot to me!

RYAN EVANS

Alright, bro, I hear you! Just cool down a bit…..But, if it doesn’t piss you off, would you care explaining why you have that, man?

*Derek looks at the box containing the ring ans sits on a bar stool. He frowns as he looks at Ryan*

DEREK LEVY

…..Do you believe in true love, Ryan?

*Ryan seems to be taken off-guard by the question at first, but complies*

RYAN EVANS

…Sorta. Why?

DEREK LEVY

I do….Or used to…

*Derek calmly puts the box on the counter and continues*

DEREK LEVY

….It was four years ago today….As in before you and I meet….There was this girl, bro. She was a gorgeous Native American girl who had transferred to my high school from somewhere in South Carolina a year prior to that. She was amazing, man, she truly was..We both had a lot in common…We listened to the same music, played video games…..And she had such a heart…She and I later became an item by the time we graduated. She was at the top of our class with Valedictorian honors…

*Ryan listens on, interested in what Derek has to say*

DEREK LEVY

A year later, and we were still very much in love with each other by then, Ryan…One day, I told her I’d meet her later that night at a restaurant. Just a private birthday dinner between the two of us…..

*All of a sudden, Derek begins to choke up. He hangs his head low like an old, beaten dog. Ryan goes to raise, but Derek motions with his hand for Ryan to stay put*

RYAN EVANS

Look, Derek, you don’t have to finish it you don’t want--

DEREK LEVY

--I’m okay, Ryan…I’m fine…

*Derek takes several seconds before regaining his composure. He takes a deep breath and goes on with his story*

DEREK LEVY

….Like I was saying…We were going to meet each other for dinner…..And that was going to be the time where I intended to ask her to become my wife…

RYAN EVANS

Well…What happened? Did you ask her?

DEREK LEVY

….I…I never got too. Three hours, I waited there for her. Three long hours…..I swear, it felt more like three lifetimes then three hours…..But, as soon as I was prepared to leave, I got a call….From her mother….

*Derek slightly hangs his head again*

RYAN EVANS

What happened?

*Derek then looks up at Ryan with hurt, vengeful eyes*

DEREK LEVY

….According to her mother…..She was on her way to the restaurant and was blindsided and killed by a driver who was beyond drunk with traces of Marijuana in his bloodstream….

*Ryan’s eyes widen in horror and his jaw drops. He couldn’t believe what he just heard*

RYAN EVANS

My God……Derek, I’m so sorry…

DEREK LEVY

….Don’t be…You had nothing to do with it….

*Derek gets off the stool and stands, facing Ryan with his cold, expressionless face back on*

DEREK LEVY

So, now you know WHY I’ve said and done all I have….. It’s because I know the true extent of our enemies’ evil firsthand …*grits teeth and tightens his knuckles*…..I lost the love of my life….my future wife and mother to my children…To those disgusting monsters who bathe in drugs and beer! They are a plague that MUST be exterminated!! The thing who killed her was cold-blooded…. He wasn’t even human…….

*Ryan calmly gets up and has a serious gleam in his eyes*

RYAN EVANS

…I agree….If they made you suffer, then by God, we shall return that pain tenfold..

DEREK LEVY

Let’s go, bro…I’ve been here enough, already, and we do need to rethink our plans..

*Derek then gets the black box and puts it in his bag again, and zips it shut. He gets a hold of it’s strap and goes to walk away. Ryan brushes off his blazer and follows suit, but stops*

RYAN EVANS

…Derek?

*Derek slightly turns around*

DEREK LEVY

Yes?

RYAN EVANS

What was her name? You never said it..

*Derek visibly hesitates for a moment, but goes on*

DEREK LEVY

Phoenix….Her name was Silver Phoenix…

*Before Ryan can say anything , Derek turns around and opens the door*

DEREK LEVY

*Not looking back*…Turn the light off…

*Derek then quickly walks out. Ryan isn’t far behind as he flicks the light-switch off and shuts the door behind him. Almost immediately, the camera cuts to show various people with tears in their eyes, and to the commentators. Aaron has his face in his hand while Ted looks on with concern*

TED

Aaron, you alright?

AARON WILLIAMS

I-I didn’t know….I didn’t know…

TED

*sighs* No one did, man…

AARON WILLIAMS

….It now looks like Derek had a genuine reason to be angry with all of us after all…Who knows what’s going to happen in the coming months with him in CGS…