Post by aphilfan on Mar 4, 2010 23:13:01 GMT -7
(I'll give background here, because you guys are cool like that.
Spikes has been off SPW TV for a while, but I'm ramping up for a return. The first two parts explain away his absence. This part shows the way forward. I'm posting this here because a) there is a part that relates to the DCWL and b) the re-appearance of an old character that was central to Spikes's old DCWL flashes. Nostalgia, and all that.)
3/3/10
[Fade into an empty office. Light filters in from a window on the side. The area is expansive - at one time it held five or six desks. There's a walled off area in the back with an ornate glass door, the last remnants of the previous tenant. The cobwebs in the corners suggest the room has been vacant for quite some time.]
HS: It never ceases to amaze me.
[Henry realizes he's standing on cobwebs, so he dusts off his loafer. He finds a scrap of paper on the ground - apparently a piece from an old flier. In customary red, white and blue lettering.]
[H F A]
[He turns it over, frowns, and sticks it in his pocket.]
HS: I can't get used to this place without the hubub of activity. It feels...dead, you know?
[The other man turns to Spikes.]
OG: Yes, well, it's been almost two years since we packed everything and moved it to Toronto. Still, we kept it empty as promised. We have plausible explanations ready, but the economy's been bad enough that no one's really come calling.
HS: It'll be nice to have this place running again.
OG: It would be...but I would advise against it.
[Spikes rounds on his companion.]
HS: Against it? Joe, you dragged me all the way over here...
JOE: It was your idea!
HS: You let me drag you all the way over here just to tell me we shouldn't get the campaign back together again? Whatever happened to, "I can always count on Joseph Igman to get my back?"
JI: I have your back, which is why I went over your contract first.
[He produces a folded paper from an inside pocket on his coat, then hands it to Spikes.]
JI: You were right that they wouldn't want to fire you, since we made sure to add in the clause that would make you a millionaire overnight if they tried. But these aren't small time people, Henry. They know the tricks just like we do.
[He points at a highlighted section.]
JI: If you participate in any non-SPW related activities, not only can they fire you without paying the buyout, but they're within their right to sue you for any money earned.
[Spikes lets out a sigh as he closes his eyes.]
HS: Great.
JI: Vindictive bastards. Of course, I don't think going back on the campaign trail would set them off. It's probably just so you don't go to a competitor to spout off. I wouldn't bet that kind of cash on it, though.
[The two stare at the empty room.]
HS: So I have to do some wrestling related stuff to stay in the public eye. DeWatts warned me not to do the freelance thing again, though I can't imagine why.
HS: Oh, what?
JI: Henry, you know I don't know the first thing about wrestling. I follow it to see how you're doing. Someone has to, since your mother swore off of it after Andrew Davis superkicked you.
[The former Chief of Staff turns to Spikes.]
JI: Even I, knowing absolutely nothing about wrestling but more than my fair share about power structures knew how awful of an idea that was. You upset the GM by trying to undermine his authority which, apart from being dangerous in this case, resulted in exactly zero matches made.
HS: Now that's not true...Eddie Christian...
JI: Never fought Victor Frost.
HS: Was I supposed to stop him from dropping his belt?
JI: No, you were supposed to not put yourself in a situation where you promised things you couldn't guarantee you'd deliver. I know that's the stereotype, Henry, but I would have thought after the endless Ace Stevens battles you'd have learned to keep expectations reasonable.
[Henry grimaces.]
HS: Damnit.
JI: What?
HS: That stupid garden party.
JI: What garden party?
HS: Ace is throwing a garden party for everyone in the DCWL. His crew will be there, Kyle Hayden, Alloy...
JI: And you were invited? Tell me you burned the invitation on the spot.
HS: It's "mandatory" that I be there, apparently.
JI: You're willingly going to somewhere with the man who usurped your power in the DCWL, hosted by someone who spent much of that same time playing Roadrunner to your Wile. E. Coyote? Are you being forced at gunpoint?
HS: Look, that's not for a while yet. Can we focus on something a little more current, like "Why are we standing in this increasingly creepy room if I can't get Henry for America started again?"?
JI: It's as good a place as any. I haven't been back in years. Besides, most of our best ideas came here.
HS: Well I'm out of ideas, personally. I've thought of every management-related activity there is that would get me back on camera.
JI: Then do what you're best at.
HS: They already have a Gen...
JI: CAMPAIGN! What was this place if not a permanent campaign?
HS: Joe, I hate to tell you this, but there's no elections in SPW.
JI: Fine, then don't campaign for a position. When your father was voted out in 78 he went to work for that lobbying firm, remember? His job was still the same - making deals, creating leverage - just selling a different product from a different point of view. If you can't sell yourself in a campaign, sell a wrestler. Someone who really needs a good marketing kick, someone you can attach your star to. It keeps you on television while playing to your strengths.
[Spikes ponders for a moment. A wide grin slowly creeps across the former GM's face.]
HS: You know something, you're right. And I've got just the candidate.
[Fade out.]
Spikes has been off SPW TV for a while, but I'm ramping up for a return. The first two parts explain away his absence. This part shows the way forward. I'm posting this here because a) there is a part that relates to the DCWL and b) the re-appearance of an old character that was central to Spikes's old DCWL flashes. Nostalgia, and all that.)
3/3/10
[Fade into an empty office. Light filters in from a window on the side. The area is expansive - at one time it held five or six desks. There's a walled off area in the back with an ornate glass door, the last remnants of the previous tenant. The cobwebs in the corners suggest the room has been vacant for quite some time.]
HS: It never ceases to amaze me.
[Henry realizes he's standing on cobwebs, so he dusts off his loafer. He finds a scrap of paper on the ground - apparently a piece from an old flier. In customary red, white and blue lettering.]
[H F A]
[He turns it over, frowns, and sticks it in his pocket.]
HS: I can't get used to this place without the hubub of activity. It feels...dead, you know?
[The other man turns to Spikes.]
OG: Yes, well, it's been almost two years since we packed everything and moved it to Toronto. Still, we kept it empty as promised. We have plausible explanations ready, but the economy's been bad enough that no one's really come calling.
HS: It'll be nice to have this place running again.
OG: It would be...but I would advise against it.
[Spikes rounds on his companion.]
HS: Against it? Joe, you dragged me all the way over here...
JOE: It was your idea!
HS: You let me drag you all the way over here just to tell me we shouldn't get the campaign back together again? Whatever happened to, "I can always count on Joseph Igman to get my back?"
JI: I have your back, which is why I went over your contract first.
[He produces a folded paper from an inside pocket on his coat, then hands it to Spikes.]
JI: You were right that they wouldn't want to fire you, since we made sure to add in the clause that would make you a millionaire overnight if they tried. But these aren't small time people, Henry. They know the tricks just like we do.
[He points at a highlighted section.]
JI: If you participate in any non-SPW related activities, not only can they fire you without paying the buyout, but they're within their right to sue you for any money earned.
[Spikes lets out a sigh as he closes his eyes.]
HS: Great.
JI: Vindictive bastards. Of course, I don't think going back on the campaign trail would set them off. It's probably just so you don't go to a competitor to spout off. I wouldn't bet that kind of cash on it, though.
[The two stare at the empty room.]
HS: So I have to do some wrestling related stuff to stay in the public eye. DeWatts warned me not to do the freelance thing again, though I can't imagine why.
HS: Oh, what?
JI: Henry, you know I don't know the first thing about wrestling. I follow it to see how you're doing. Someone has to, since your mother swore off of it after Andrew Davis superkicked you.
[The former Chief of Staff turns to Spikes.]
JI: Even I, knowing absolutely nothing about wrestling but more than my fair share about power structures knew how awful of an idea that was. You upset the GM by trying to undermine his authority which, apart from being dangerous in this case, resulted in exactly zero matches made.
HS: Now that's not true...Eddie Christian...
JI: Never fought Victor Frost.
HS: Was I supposed to stop him from dropping his belt?
JI: No, you were supposed to not put yourself in a situation where you promised things you couldn't guarantee you'd deliver. I know that's the stereotype, Henry, but I would have thought after the endless Ace Stevens battles you'd have learned to keep expectations reasonable.
[Henry grimaces.]
HS: Damnit.
JI: What?
HS: That stupid garden party.
JI: What garden party?
HS: Ace is throwing a garden party for everyone in the DCWL. His crew will be there, Kyle Hayden, Alloy...
JI: And you were invited? Tell me you burned the invitation on the spot.
HS: It's "mandatory" that I be there, apparently.
JI: You're willingly going to somewhere with the man who usurped your power in the DCWL, hosted by someone who spent much of that same time playing Roadrunner to your Wile. E. Coyote? Are you being forced at gunpoint?
HS: Look, that's not for a while yet. Can we focus on something a little more current, like "Why are we standing in this increasingly creepy room if I can't get Henry for America started again?"?
JI: It's as good a place as any. I haven't been back in years. Besides, most of our best ideas came here.
HS: Well I'm out of ideas, personally. I've thought of every management-related activity there is that would get me back on camera.
JI: Then do what you're best at.
HS: They already have a Gen...
JI: CAMPAIGN! What was this place if not a permanent campaign?
HS: Joe, I hate to tell you this, but there's no elections in SPW.
JI: Fine, then don't campaign for a position. When your father was voted out in 78 he went to work for that lobbying firm, remember? His job was still the same - making deals, creating leverage - just selling a different product from a different point of view. If you can't sell yourself in a campaign, sell a wrestler. Someone who really needs a good marketing kick, someone you can attach your star to. It keeps you on television while playing to your strengths.
[Spikes ponders for a moment. A wide grin slowly creeps across the former GM's face.]
HS: You know something, you're right. And I've got just the candidate.
[Fade out.]
