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[Eleven Years, a legacy has been scattered around the world of wrestling. Eleven Long, brutal, blood dripping years. The man who raised the hardcore standards of wrestling to a new level, has now thrown it away, thrown away his style, thrown away his whole sense of belonging. Now he starts anew...an era of perfection....and you will never forget the name of Josh Sutton...]
[The scene opens up outside a moving double decker bus. The scene moves inside and to the back of the bus. An attendant is pushing a dinner cart down the packed rows of people. She moves down the rows and comes to a passenger with a paper in front of his face. She taps him and he throws the paper into the air and jumps at her touch.] Attendant: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you sir. Hey...wait a minute are you... Man: Yes, I am Josh Sutton, the greatest professional wrestler that ever lived. Attendant: Who? I thought you were that guy who got stuck in the sewage grate for 3 weeks and finally got rescued. [Sutton scowls at the attendant as she lays a covered plate on his seat tray. Sutton looks at it plainly and annoyingly picks through the potatoes and carrots. Sutton: Hey...Miss..Hey...HEY MISSY GET BACK HERE! Attendant: I beg your pardon? Sutton: Not only are the carrots undercooked, and the potatoes still with skin, but it says beef stew. And I just have one question for you. Where's the beef? I mean, come on I'm dying to know lady, where's the fu&%ing beef? Attendant: Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to keep that tone of language down or.. Sutton: Or what? Or what? You'll kick me off the bus, ban me from riding Greyhound ever again? Do you know who I am? I am Josh Sutton, I'm a star baby. I'm a star. The most famous person you'll ever meet you small town schmuck. Lady, infact, I'm the closest thing to a god you'll ever see. Now leave my presence, you're ruining this already awful meal. [The attendant walks off, her face as red as a tomato. Sutton scrunches his face up as he takes another bite of his "meal." Sutton falls into a deep train of thought...] "It's going to feel so good to finally be back home for a few days. It's just a shame it's on business. *sigh* Ah, better to be here in Chicago than that hell hole Los Angeles. I can't believe how nervous I am, it's been a long time. I promised him, but sometimes promises are broken by greed. Greed is a very strong vehicle of expression. He'll understand. He broke me into the business, he will understand. I know he will understand. If he doesn't, then I'll go elsewhere. Yeah, that's what I'll d..." [Sutton's voice trails off as he begins to fall asleep. Into a deep relaxing sleep and then deeper into a dream...not so much of a dream as a flashback like nightmare.] | |||||
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Sutton's Dream - The Past
[Everything is blurry, but two distorted figures are seen. As time passes they become more visible. They are in what appears to be a gym. A middle aged man is standing in front of a young, unscarred vertial looking Josh Sutton. He has his arm on Sutton's shoulder and seems to be talking to him. The words are unclear but Sutton seems to be nodding in agreement. The words become clear as time passes.] Middle-Aged man: I see a burning fire inside of you, boy. You remind me of myself when I started many years ago. You have that icey glare, the true mark of a champion. [There is a close-up of Sutton's face, a evil grimace, a saddistic look, almost sure he would be successful. He nodded, keeping his eyes locked on the man's.] Middle-Aged man: So many damn ungrateful wrestlers now. It's take, take, take and take some more, then give me, give me, give me. They take and give nothing in return. It's a disgrace to wrestling, boy, don't you understand that? It's not about the sport of it anymore, not about the fun. And us veterens are damn tired of it. [Sutton again nods, looking as if he was giving the man what he wanted.] Middle-Aged man: You want my help don't you? You want me to train you? That's why you're here, right? Sutton again nods, the man scowls at Josh. Middle-Aged man: Can'tcha you speak boy? Don'tcha have a name? Young Sutton: Yes, and the name is Josh Sutton. I want you to teach me, everything you know, and I will pay anything to learn. [Sutton goes for his wallet but the man swats his hand away.] Middle-Aged man: First lesson, here, I don't get payed with money, you can't just buy my help. You will pay me with hard work and dedication. With hard work, you will not only learn, but earn the moral values of true professional wrestling. I will teach you the ways of old. But first, you must promise young one, you must promise me that you won't buy into this bullsh%^ of how money is wrestling and wrestling is money like so many of the top rookies have. This school is for dedicated wrestlers who are in for the sport not for the glitz, glamour, fame, and money. If you make a little money a long the way, good for you. But if you want my help, promise me. And never break that promise as long as you wrestle. Now do I have your word? Young Sutton: I promise... [The words "I promise" echo through Sutton's head repeatedly as he is woken from his sleep by a hard nudge.] | |||||
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Attendant: Sir, it's time for you to get off. This is your stop.
Sutton: We're in Chicago already? Attendant: Yes sir, and we are parting again in 5 minutes, so please gather your stuff and follow me. [Sutton follows the attendant out and steps out into the cold Chicago air for the first time in over three years. He huffs in the air and lets out a sigh of relief. He buttons his overcoat and walks down the sidewalk. When we return, Josh Sutton is right outside his starting point, "Chicago's Old School" wrestling facility. He sighs and breathes in deep, opening the door. He walks in and everyone in the room looks to the door.] Middle-Aged Man: Well, Well, Well if it isn't the return of the warrior. Sutton: Jack? Jack Riley: Up here you crazy son of a bitch. [Sutton walks up the long stair corridor and steps up to the man who taught him everything he knows to this day, "The Legend" Jack Riley. Sutton extends his hand and Riley takes it, pulling Sutton in for a hug.] Jack Riley: Yep, kid, you were everything I ever hoped you would be. You did it Josh, you did everything, mutiple world champion without the help of merchandising, advertising, and turning wrestling into show business. I told you Sutton, 8 years ago when you walked in here, you would be big, you would be a superstar. Sutton: That's what I'm here for. Jack, let's cut to the chase. Yeah, Yeah, Sutton's won some titles, Sutton's brought you all this glory, Sutton's done this, Sutton's done that. But you know what, the only person it has benefitted, is you. Jack Riley: Wait a secon... Sutton: NO, you wait a god damn second, old man. I came all the way down here from Los Angeles to tell you this to your face. From now on it's not about you, it's about me! Me god damnit, ME! That's what it should have been from the beginning. You used me Riley, you old fool, you used to get your little gym to the top. You ran off my name, well I'm here to tell you, we're through. Jack Riley: LISTEN HERE PUNK, you wouldn't be anything without me. I made you and I can break you. You've become exactly what you hated. Sutton: What I hated? No, No, No, Riley it was what you hated. Riley: You promised! Sutton: I only said it because I couldn't bare the thought of stomaching it. You foolish old man. Riley: YOU bastard! [Riley swings at Sutton, Josh sideways and grabs him, holding him over the edge of the rail. Sutton has eyes filled with rage as he looks down at his mentor with a sadistic smile.] Sutton: I have the notion just to drop you right now and rid myself of my wretched past, and you are one lucky old man that I have a match on Monday and can't afford to miss it. You and I are through, finished, done. Got it? You and me, we're no more. [Sutton grabs Riley by the collar of his shirt and tosses him on top of a table. He flips the bird and gives a sharp look to each one of his trainees before walking out.] [~FADE TO BLACK
| "To women, I am like a drug....They can't get enough of me. Men envy what I have while their children look up to me as their hero." - Josh Sutton |