Back In The Saddle

EXT. TEAM SCREAM APT. - DAY

The lovely DEMONICA JAMES stands in the doorway, holding the door back, whilst smoking a cigarette. She’s looks down at her watch.

DEMONICA
Ey, man! We’re gunna be late!

ANGEL walks out from behind a door, with all the grace and exaggeration of a stubborn, morose teenager. When she approaches the door, she gives Demonica a pleading look. Demonica crosses her arms and points out.

DEMONICA
March.

Angel plods out with an exasperated groan.

CUT TO:

Their car, a silver ’77 Chevy Nova, parked in line to the curb. Angel climbs into the passenger’s seat, as Demonica, proceeds to hop in to the driver’s seat. She starts the car and drives off.

CUT TO:

The interior of the car as they drive. Angel slouches in her seat and rest her head on her fist. After an elaborate sigh, she questions her sister, and chauffeur at the present time.

ANGEL
Do I have to?

DEMONICA
You want to win the match right?

ANGEL
Um, right…

DEMONICA
Of course.

She turns a corner.

DEMONICA
You’re a newbie in a newbie fed. A lot of new people to meet and impress.

ANGEL
Yeah…

DEMONICA
Why, you wouldn’t want to let them down, would you?

Turns the wheel left ways.

DEMONICA
And, I just know you want to be some kind of champion, right?

ANGEL
…I guess.

DEMONICA
Do you really have to guess?

She looks off on the road.

DEMONICA
What is this asshole doin’?
ANGEL
(high-pitch whine)
But I don’t want to!

DEMONICA
(firmly)
Hey!

She stops the car, puts it in park.

DEMONICA
Cutting a promo is apart of our business. If you didn’t want to cut promos, well, then, you’re just screwed. So, quit yer bitchin’ and get out of the car. We’re there.

INT. DANTE STUDIOS – DAY

It’s everything a film studio should be. Busy. There are cameras everywhere and sets galore. Hundreds men and women a like, some dressed in costumes and others barely dressed. Extras. Poor director assistants getting barked orders. Our attention is drawn to the sound of a blow horn and to the person who had blown it. A wiry man, wearing black wire rim glasses, with cropped blonde hair framing his face, and a black goatee, dressed in an all black outfit, including a beret. He also wears a whistle and has a bullhorn in his hands. Surrounding him are throngs of people, with various equipment. This is MR. ALEXANDER DeLARGE; you are his bitch.

MR. ALEXANDER
Who is this?

He speaks with a Mr. Garrison-like effeminate tone, while waving his pen around in an elaborate mannerism. A woman dressed in a business suit, with thick glasses and her hair in a bun, leans over to whisper something in his ear.

MR. ALEXANDER
Ah, yes. That young lady from...some "promotion", as it were. The wrestling chick.

He gives Angel a look over. He steps closer to inspect her even more. After eating her up in two swallows, he comes to a conclusion.

MR. ALEXANDER
She certainly doesn’t look like one of those types…

This draws out several giggles from his “posse” and causes Angel to look down and about herself self-consciously.

MR. ALEXANDER
Oh well, I’ve made mountains out of less. Walk this way. Come along, now.

He wraps his arm around Angel’s shoulders, she winces. They walk along.

MR. ALEXANDER
I understand you’re trying to cut a promo.

ANGEL
(picking his hand off her shoulder.)
You understand correctly.

He leads her to a set that resembles a cemetery on a foggy night. Angel looks puzzled.

MR.ALEXANDER
Well, then, this set is perfect for that. You like?

ANGEL
I don’t understand.

MR.ALEXANDER
Well, isn’t your ‘gimmick’?

He even does air quotes.

MR. ALEXANDER
A sadistic, vampire like, Goth-freak?

ANGEL
Um, no. There are many prejudices against my appearance, which eludes me to those types, but no, that’s not me, man. Oh, and for further reference, (matter-of-factly) there’s a huge misconception towards Goths. There’s a difference between the pop-culture and those people that hang out in cemeteries.

MR. ALEXANDER
(rolls eyes)
O…k…, change of plans.

He leads her to another set, this one looking to be that of a beach. He looks at the set, then her, the set, then her, the set… then her.

MR. ALEXANDER
No.

He leads to another.

MR. ALEXANDER
No.

He leads to another.

MR. ALEXANDER
No.

Another.“No.” This goes on for what seems forever. Until finally…

MR. ALEXANDER
Yes.

CUT TO:
“The set”: a blank platform, harsh white floor and background.

MR. ALEXANDER
All right, you stand here.

He grabs a hold of her shoulders once more, and practically pushes them over to a big “X” on the floor. His crew has set up and he’s seated in a director’s chair, bullhorn in hand.

MR. ALEXANDER
Action!

ANGEL
What?

MR. ALEXANDER
Cut!

He gets out of his chair and walks over to her.

MR. ALEXANDER
MAKE-UP!

A small crowd of people rush over to Angel and proceed to apply blush, concealer, rouge, eye-liner, mascara, eye-shadow, lip stick and gloss on her face… all at once. It’s an instant ambush of brushes and foam pads.

ANGEL
No, thank you.

She says this to the woman about to apply the eye shadow, she nods and steps away.

MR. ALEXANDER
Listen, I need you to focus. I need to feel realNESS. Just let loose, let all the rage out.

ANGEL
What rage?

MR. ALEXANDER
Your rage against whatever chicks like you get hung up on. Or any chick for that matter.

ANGEL
I have no rage against anyone…at least not today.

MR. ALEXANDER
I knew this would happen.

He sighs and cups his chin.

MR. ALEXANDER
CUE CARDS!

In an instant, a small mob of people rush over to the director’s chair where he had just sat. While lipstick and rouge are forced onto her face, Angel just stares.

ANGEL
Cue Cards?

MR. ALEXANDER
(jogging off to his chair)
Yes. Just read these and you’ll be fine. Aaaaaand, Action!

ANGEL
Um, ‘Holla…’ I’m sorry, I can’t read that.

She reaches into her pocket to pull out her glasses and proceeds to put them on.

ANGEL
Alright, that’s better. Ahem, ‘Holla, bitches! Come Revenge, hell will hath no mercy! I’m gonna whoop yo’ ass, hardcore style, SON! What! What!’ I’m sorry, but can we cut, please?

Mr. Alexander sighs elaborately.

MR. ALEXANDER
CUT!What now!?

ANGEL
Um, listen, I dunno who wrote this, but it’s very, uh, stupid. I’m not trying to put anyone down, or make anyone feel bad, but it’s very choppy. It’s very repetitive and dumb. I don’t think anyone wants to hear me blab on and on about threatening someone with meaningless dribble.

MR. ALEXANDER
Hmm, I don’t think it’s the cue cards, I think it’s this boring background. Bring in the cut outs!

Almost like clockwork, people scurry in carry cut outs of various people and things

ANGEL
Ok, what is the point in this?

MR. ALEXANDER
Well, our focus group likes cardboard cutouts.

ANGEL
Why?

MR. ALEXANDER
Hey, don’t give me your sass, missy!

The excessive use of “s” sends small droplets of spit flying, but he’s already back in his chair.

MR. ALEXANDER
ACTION!

ANGEL
Um, I’m sorry, but I’m just not feeling it.

MR. ALEXANDER
CUT!

He jumps out of his chair and storms over to Angel.

MR. ALEXANDER
(trying to remain calm)
What now?

ANGEL
This dialogue, is just, so…pathetic.

MR. ALEXANDER
Look lady, our focus group loves this dialogue and the cardboard cutouts.

ANGEL
What focus group is this?

MR. ALEXANDER
The average wrestling mark.

ANGEL
Listen, I don’t have time for this.

MR. ALEXANDER
Well, plan two. Bring in the spring breakers!

If almost instantly, a huge group of half naked men and women run out of no where, grinding against each other and the cardboard cutouts.

ANGEL
What the hell!?

MR. ALEXANDER
Listen, our focus group would also like to see you wrestle in mud against Mimi.

A women walks up, basically Stacy Keibler with bigger boobs in a skimpy barely-there pink lace bikini. This is MIMI.

MIMI
Bring it, bitch!

She runs towards Angel. She steps aside and Mimi trips and lands face first in the mud.

ANGEL
Alright, I’m getting out of here.

MR. ALEXANDER
Yes, NOW BRING IN THE RAVERS!

The lights dim and more people run out, there clothes painfully colorful, glowing in the dark with fishnets, body glitter and glow sticks everywhere. More glitter and confetti falls from the sky.

ANGEL
I’m getting the hell out of here.

MR. ALEXANDER
Wait, we haven’t gotten to the wet t-shirts, yet!

INT. TEAM SCREAM’S APARTMENT – DAY

Angel sits on the couch, flipping channels on the television. One channel catches her attention. The DnDW promo station. She places her glass of orange juice down and scoots closer to the box. This promo is supposed to be one of hers . The woman isn’t her though. It’s some scantily clad bimbo made to look like her, with the spring breakers, ravers, cardboard cutouts in the background and cheesy dialogue spewing from her. Demonica walks in.

DEMONICA
Oh, look at her. That one’s born to suck.

ANGEL
Hey, have a little respect for Bizarro Angel.

DEMONICA
That’s supposed to be you? They can’t do that! You could sue them, ya know.

ANGEL
Nah. That Alexander is one slick willy. He’d probably get off with “artistic license”.

DEMONICA
Eh, we’ve had worse marketing ploys.

Soundtrack:
“Space Monkeys” – The Dust Brothers
“Secret” – Adam Sandler