|
Post by Liam Cain on Sept 11, 2021 5:26:38 GMT
He's stood there looking awkward as anyone can. One hand brushes the curly blonde hair back behind his ear while the other pulls at his ill fitting grey vest.
“Man they just really hang me out to dry on these things.”
His suit is nice as you could get for an off the rack job. Light grey vest and pants over a white dress shirt and red tie that stands out like a slap in the face of color. You can't take the country out of the boy though, his pants are hastily tucked into his won brown western boots.
“Fist right, they got me against everyone from Mike Arches to Devin Stone, now Fred Debonaire. Like it's a theme. They gotta be runnin' out of these guys who were big when I was watchin' as a kid.”
He looks around but he's alone. There are horses in a field behind him, but he's the only person there.
“Fred Debonaire. His name is really a fancy word for fancy. Seems a pretty big way to show people how full of yourself ya are. Comin' in with all this pomp with your own big video and stuff playing like yer the biggest deal ever. I get that bit, ya gotta sell the people on who ya are, but honestly upstaging yer own kid when he's in the biggest match of his life? Kinda a douche move don't ya think?”
He shrugs looking around at the open North Carolina landscape around him.
“So Freddy, what brings on an ego trip like that anyway? Seeing your son follow in your footsteps do it? Or is it more, like yer a bit of the jealous type. You see him being successful and pulling his life together and you wanna jump on that train and take it for a ride or you just get nostalgic for glory days.”
“But, life ain't a Bruce Springsteen song, Freddy. Lotta nostalgia ridin' around in IIW lately, at least looks that way to me steppin' in the ring time and again with guys over 40. Not that I'm complainin'. It's not bad by me, lotta accolades to be earned by goin' up against the likes of you. A feather in my cap, but I gotta wonder what's in it for you? You get in there with a guy who's had less than a handful of matches and for what? To show a bunch of people you don't know that you still got it?”
He shakes his head.
“Do ya still got it though, do ya ken? Or maybe that's what this is all about. Ya go ahead an' put on the big show to make it look like yer still this big deal star like you were back at the turn of the millennium but really deep down ya just want people to still remember who ya are. Like so ya can say that see, ya really were a big deal and all the people still go wild. Thing is Freddy, people went wild for yer son and you couldn't let that lie. That big spotlight hogging ego came steppin' in to soak up some of those cheers for yaself and I do hope ya feel at least the smallest bit guilty for that.”
“But ya probably don't. See, folks like you go ahead and talk yerself into thinkin' what yer doin' is ok cause yer just here to save the boy. Save him from that big bad other guy from yer past. Thing about that got me scratchin' my head in fact, see Fred, you went and retired. You hung up them boots and walked off down that dusty trail, but this guy kept on goin'. From what I can tell he kept goin' round and round takin' heads everywhere he went, meanwhile you went and ran off with tail tucked between yer legs.”
“Shame on ya, Fred.”
He tries to adjust his ill fitting suit again, to little avail.
“Maybe that's why ya did it. Was it about you at all, or am I peggin' ya wrong. Was this all to save yer kid? This big bad plagued yer career and probably is the guy who ended it, now he turns up in the same place yer son is goin' on this big run and ya get scared it'll happen all over again. Well it did. Things sure didn't change much, huh? Yer son is gone, who knows where and you? You done all but nothing since ya got here all the while this big bad took ya baby boy's belt and ran for the World Championship and yer here just slummin' it against me.”
“Well I guess I wont be too hard on ya then when I go and beat ya on Sunday. Dusty off the oldie with his mind on everythin' but me and then light one up with Stoner. Sounds like a good first night on pay per view ta me.”
“Now, now, I know... Yer gonna come out and say that ya got yer sights set square on me and yer gonna get ta that Irish Johnny in time and ta show him that yer comin' fer him serious like yer gonna make an example out of me. Cept we all know that aint the truth.”
“We gotta sayin' where I come from Freddy. A day late and a dollar short. That's all yer excuses. See looks ta me like we had about 3 weeks to go ahead and fire up this little scrap you and I are gonna have, but did that happen? Naw, cause you got Irish on the brain. Say all you want I'm not worth yer time, but everythin' ya say now is hot air. Yer blowin' it hard and yer blowin' it late. Everythin' ya say now in the eleventh hour isn't much but tryin' ta come back cause I actually put up a fight and you weren't even plannin' on botherin'. Well go ahead and don't bother Freddy cause we all know ya ain't got much fight left in ya.”
“Ya thought ya did, but here ya are, supposed to be the grizzled vet come ta show me how it's done, but ya care so little about me ya don't even care enough to come say yer gonna make me an example cause yer goin' after that other feller. What yer doin' Fred is goin' nowhere fast. Feel free to come blow all yer hot air now cause everyone and their drunk uncle already knows it's nothin' but hot air. Ya had 3 weeks to come show yer claws so to speak, but by now we all know poor kitty got neutered by Johnny Irish some time ago.”
“Normally takin' on people like you is a bit of a feather in the cap win lose or draw. Hell, few weeks back I faced that Mike Arches and turns out he's still got that fire in him. What you got Freddy is that cable channel that shows the yule log every Christmas time. Ya ain't got real fire, ya just got a digital proxy.”
“It's not gonna be fun puttin' that fire out, but I guess that's why they call it Up In Smoke. It's a moratorium on the career of Freddy Debonaire. He was somethin' once but that was a long time ago, a long way from here. Now he just up in smoke.”
“Smoke 'em if ya got 'em.”
See Ya, Cowboy.
|
|
|
Post by Devlin Knight. on Sept 11, 2021 8:54:52 GMT
Several months ago, just after the drug deal gone wrong. Rome, Italy… ***Fred has just got off his cellphone to the previously deceased Agent Clarke when Johnny Accardo knocked on the door to the Penthouse suite and told him that the boss, that being “Lucky” Luciano Speroni, wanted to see him and then walked off…
We reopen now to see both Freddy and Johnny inside the latters blacked out Escalade, driving alongside a river, somewhere in Rome. The entire drive is quiet, completely and utterly void of sound. Freddy keeps looking around at Johnny who glares straight ahead toward their destination, never once looking across at his passenger*** Freddy: ”So where we going, Bucky?”
Johnny: ”Bucky?!”
Freddy: ”You know? Winter Soldier, sidekick to Captain America?!”
Johnny: ”Hey, I’m nobody‘s sidekick! And you’ll see, soon enough.”
Freddy: ”Ahh you’re no fun! Hey, what’s this?”
***The car pulls up into the parking lot for the Sant'Eugenio Hospital, Fred looks around him increasingly confused as Johnny climbs out of the car and grunts for Fred to follow, which he does… He follows Johnny through the foyer and to an elevator, where he presses the button for the first floor and the doors close.
Fred doesn’t even have to make a guess who’s in the room “Lucky” Luciano Speroni is staring into through a glass window, a look of sadness and vulnerability on his face… It’s his son, Carmine. He’s laying in a hospital bed, wires and tubes coming out of him and all kinds of technical equipment beeping around him. Speroni doesn’t look at Fred or Johnny as they approach*** Lucky: ”They say that there was an ambush during Carmine’s pick up today, at the same time ours was going south, Freddy. FBI agents crashed the warehouse… He was shot three times, two of them almost fatal, but thankfully they both missed vital organs.”
***Lucky turns to face both Fred and Johnny, leaning in a little as Doctors pass him silently*** Lucky: ”Somebody knew everything that was going on today, Freddy. Somebody knew where we’d be and where Carmine would be… Somebody ratted us out.”
Freddy: ”Any idea who, boss?”
***Fred knew that Lucky liked it when anybody called him boss, especially the new guys as it showed a sense of loyalty. But right now both Lucky and Johnny just stood there, staring at him, then Lucky placed a hand on his shoulder*** Lucky: ”A small idea…”
Johnny: ”But that’s why we need you.”
Freddy: ”Me? Why do you need me? I mean you give me any job and you know it’ll be done… But why me specifically?”
Lucky: ”You see the rat, we believe, has slipped out of the country and back to where his office is.”
***Fred knew all of this to be true, because “the rat” was one Agent Mark Forrester, of the FBI’s New York division. Agent Forrester had been on a flight stateside the minute the Bureau realised it had all gone wrong, this is what Clarke had told Fred on the phone just prior to Johnny picking him up*** Johnny: ”You and I are gonna head to NYC and find our little friend.”
Freddy: ”When do we fly?”
Lucky: ”The plane leaves in three hours.”
Freddy: ”You’d better swing me back by the hotel then, Johnny, so I can get my passport and things.”
***Johnny nods at Lucky and begins to head out of the hospital, giving Fred a look as he does so. Fred turns to look back into Carmine’s room, letting his mind wander as we fade slowly into darkness***
++++++++
Two days after Mayhem, BMI The Alexandra Hospital, Manchester. ***Fred Debonair stands looking through the window into the room where Darius Enlil lay prone in a medically induced coma. He shakes his head and walks to the family waiting room where Tyler sits, crutches by his side and leg resting on another chair. Fred slouches into the couch that resides on the back wall and closes his eyes*** Fred: ”This is all my fault…”
Tyler: ”What are you talking about, dad? This is nobody’s fault, but Scotty Adams…”
Fred: ”Have you just ignored everything I’ve said to you since I’ve been here, Tyler? I’m the reason all this is happening! I’m the reason Darius came to find you, I’m the reason your sister has gone off the deep end again and your girlfriend is along for the ride…”
Tyler: ”Dad seriously stop man… Darius has been wanting to wrestle since he and I began talking back at Resnick. Mercedes has always been a little… Unorthodox I guess? And Steph’s a big girl and she’s not stupid… None of this is on you and Darius will pull through don’t you worry about that.”
***Fred nods at Tyler, as though to indicate he understands but he doesn’t respond. He pulls his wallet from his back pocket and begins to flitter through the sections until he comes across a photo he has folded. He hands it to Tyler and chuckles*** Fred: ”Do you remember this night?”
Tyler: ”How could I forget? This was the first time you brought me on board in a promotion. Long before I could actually wrestle”
Fred: ”And long before you grew your hair out and started listening to the likes of Incubus and System of a Down!”
Tyler: ”And the Chilli’s, don’t forget about the Chilli’s!”
Fred: ”How could I forget that? Mike and I once drove you, Mercedes and Moira almost three hundred miles, across two states to go to a concert…”
Tyler: ”Those were the days but my point here is, how long did that take for me to convince you to take us?? A long while that’s how long! But did I give up? No, you know why? Because you instilled that in me and during the last five or so years, I’ve passed that attitude on, to Darius… He’s a fighter dad, a survivor.”
Fred: ”I know, I know… Look, Tyler I’m sorry but I’ve got to go. Did you want a ride?”
Tyler: ”No thanks, you’re good. I’m gonna stick around as I need to speak with the Doctors… You go on, I’ll catch you up.”
***Tyler stands and the two share a hug before Fred turns to leave. Tyler watches him go, then slouches on the couch himself as the scene begins to dissipate***
++++++++
Several months ago, JFK Airport, New York. ***We open in the middle of what appears to be some kind of montage. An aeroplane landing, Johnny Accardo and Freddy “The Fox” Debonair walking through to the conveyer to collect their baggage, both men stepping outside onto the concrete opposite the taxi rank… And the two rows of Police cars along with the several officers and FBI agents, guns drawn, just staring at them both.
Cuffs are slapped on both men as Freddy looks at Johnny as if to ask how the hell they knew they were coming, Johnny just shrugs and shakes his head*** Freddy: ”You know the drill, I assume…?”
Johnny: ”Ain’t gotta tell me twice… Meeting point, Six O’clock?”
Freddy: ”Let’s make it seven.”
***The two men nod to each other as they’re led away in different directions. Both to waiting FBI vehicles and both being taken away to the local Police station. Cut to black.
We reopen with Fred sat at a table in an interview room, now un-cuffed but not even considering getting out of the chair. Before long the door opens and an FBI agent, plain as day, comes walking into the room without looking up as he reads a file in his hand*** Agent: ”Mr. Debonair my name is Agent Jack Coulson…”
Fred: ”Any relation?”
Coulson: ”I’m sorry, what? Any relation to??”
Fred: ”To Phil, Coulson? He runs the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D? You know?”
Coulson:”No, I’m not and no I don’t, that is probably because The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D are fictitious whilst we right here. Are real”
Fred: ”You’re no fun, just tell me. Did we get him?”
Coulson: ”Nope… We get all of em.”
Fred: ”Sorry, wait… All of em? As in like… All of em, all of em? Lucky too?!”
Coulson: ”Not long after you took off, Speroni got wind there was still an FBI agent inside his organisation, taking part in a warehouse deal. We’ve got him on tape, organising the hit. Incrimination of the highest order… As for Accardo, he stupidly came to NYC with you, knowing full well he had a handful of warrants in the states and we’ve got him on every one…”
Fred: ”Wow… So, we’re done here right? I’m free to go? Only I’ve got a plane to catch to London, to see my son.”
Coulson: ”Oh no, Mr. Debonair… We’re far from done. You’re going to now be placed under arrest.”
Fred: ”For what?! Are you kidding me?!”
Coulson: ”Heh… Yeah I’m kidding. You’re free to go. You’ll be contacted for a full debrief soon.”
Fred: ”Asshole.”
***Fred stands up, shooting Agent Coulson a look and walks out of the interview room. He walks outside the station and checks his watch as he places a pair of sunglasses on his face and mumbles something under his breath, running down the steps and hailing a taxi as the scene begins to fade again…***
++++++++
The week leading up, to Up in Smoke. Somewhere in Manchester, England. ***We reopen the scene on a Manchester city street. The sun is shining, people milling around, going about their daily lives. We come across one quaint little cafe with tables and chairs outside and sat at one of those tables, dressed in a pair of black sneakers, denim jeans and a black button up shirt, is Fred Debonair. He has one leg crossed over the other and is sipping coffee from a China teacup, whilst reading a newspaper; a croissant sits on a plate beside him. He doesn’t look up as he speaks*** Fred: ”So much going on in the world, you just don’t know what to focus on, do you? Wars here, famine there… Natural disasters all over the place, but you see for me it’s pretty simple where you focus. In the mirror… I mean it’s all well and good crying like Prince Harry or something when there’s a terrible event in the world, but what good is that going to do? What’s it going to achieve? Ten points to Gryffindor if you said absolutely nothing at all… So rather than think about one country attempting to occupy another under the false pretence of liberating them, rather than attempt to figure out what’s going on with the, currently six, dismembered bodies of call girls around London and the theory that some descendent of Jack the Ripper is at large; I’m simply focusing on me and what’s ahead and this time around it’s Liam Cain and Up in Smoke!
But firstly I want to open up and address my first ever opponent here in IIW, that being Rogue. Dude where are you? Where were you mentally in your head when I absolutely ridiculed you and took you to task and where are you physically now?? I know I made a few comments about Tyler carrying you, in your tag-match but I genuinely didn’t believe my debut here in IIW was going to be such a disappointment! And I guess I’ve got you to thank for that, eh Rogue? Well maybe one day you’ll rear your ugly head and shout about it eh?
But moving on, as I say at the upcoming PPV, yours truly takes on the man who calls himself Liam Cain. Now this is a man I’ll admit, before coming to IIW I’d never heard of, even upon asking around I’ve heard no reflective perspectives of Cain before his debut match against funnily enough and old friend of mine, Mike Arches. Now when you faced Mike, Liam, you weren’t very happy that he appeared to be looking right through you to begin with and and that he wasn’t paying attention to you… Well don’t worry buddy because you’ve not gotta be fussed about any of that with me, believe me you’re the categorical focus of the aggression I’m channeling right now. You are the sole nucleus of Fred Debonair’s thoughts and believe me when I tell you Cain, that’s not necessarily a good thing.”
***Fred rolls the paper up and tosses it into a trash can that’s on the side of the road. He takes the last of his coffee and pushes the cup to one side before he leans against the table, taking in the sights and sounds… Looking around him and up in the sky he goes on*** Fred: ”Something else I’m going to explain to you, Cain, just so you don’t get it twisted brother… You spoke to Mike as though he was what? A shell of his former self or something of that nature? Well what you see with Fred Debonair is what you get with Fred Debonair. I am that proud father, but I’m also that man you’ve got to fear… I am The Fly One, I am The Cerebral Hitman, I am The Illuminatus and I am The Original. But of course you knew all this right, Liam? You do your homework when you step in the ring, that’s a commendable trait in an opponent, truly it is.
And as you do your homework you’ll also know just what kind of reputation Fred Debonair leaves in his wake, right? You’ll be aware of all the titles and accolades he’s held leading up to this moment. But don’t get me wrong Liam, I’m not saying this to brag or to intimidate you because you’re definitely not somebody who’s intimidated easily, that much I can tell. This was simply a heads up not to take me lightly like you did Mike, or at least like you seemed to. You didn’t quite make that name for yourself you were trying to against Mike, did you Cain? And despite winning against Devin Stone, making short work of him in fact, you still haven’t had the recognition you feel you deserve, right? Well fear no more because you’re billed against another of the greats… The only difference is, this match has some real call about it!
You’ll probably feel like you know as much as you could possibly fit inside that cranium of yours, about Fred Debonair, don’t you Liam? Well here’s something you won’t know about me. I’ve hailed from Hell’s Kitchen, New York and I’ve been billed from Los Angeles, California… But growing up I actually resided in Branson, Missouri. That’s right, spent most of my time in the Ozarks, went fishing, bull riding, hunting you name it I probably did it! I mean it’s probably nothing like Hickory but I bet I can relate to a lot of your life growing up…”
***Fred drops a couple of notes onto the table, thanks a waiter and walks away from the cafe, headed in the direction of the IIW arena. He stops, stretches, places a pair of shades over his eyes and continues to walk down the street*** Fred: ”You know we had a saying up in the Ozarks, Cain… A fight is a fight, is a fight. Now each person had their own interpretation of that saying, but me? I never quite got to grips with it because it just seemed too obvious you know? Of course a fight is a fight, the real saying was something about Bigfoot, but that’s another story for another time… The real humdinger here brother is that just like you, I’m a real fighting man, I’m not just here for the glitz and the glamour of the game, I’m not just in it for the money or the fame, I mean I got those things regardless because I pretty much made the game what it is today. I like to have a drink or twelve and scrap better than the Dukes at a Winter ball… Did you get all that?
Now I notice you seem to have a thing about facing off against “the older guys” but with age comes experience and you’ll soon come to realise that taking on someone like yours truly will do absolutely nothing but enhance your career in this industry, especially if you happen to beat me… Do you think you can do that though, Cain? Do you think you’ve got what it takes to beat Fred Debonair, to take him on and walk away the victor? This is something you really need to ask yourself brother because this isn’t just some off the cuff match up you’ve had bestowed upon you.
Look deep inside, Liam Cain and ask yourself if you’ve genuinely got the power, the fortitude, the courage, the stamina and the outright cunning to take somebody on who in their over twenty years of competing, has held close to thirty titles and has his name attached to over five different record breaking accolades?! Again this isn’t a brag, Cain, this is just me reminding you who you’re about to step inside the ring against at Up in Smoke! Reminding you that a PPV victory is worth more than a Mayhem victory, but a PPV loss is far more costly… So don’t mess it up, eh? I’m sure you couldn’t be any more of a disappointing opponent than Rogue, Cain… And given that, despite losing you gave Mike a good run and you also ran Stone out of the promotion, I’m certainly not looking past you.
When you go to sleep, Cain, in these nights leading up to Up in Smoke, I hope you go with positive and pleasant thoughts because the negative ones, the pessimistic ones, will eat away at you… And you don’t want that when you’re about to meet me, believe me on that! Sleep well, Liam, rest up… Because the Lord knows you’re going to need it! I’ll see you, at Up in Smoke!”
***Fred smirks as he takes a deep breath in, looking up at the cloudless sky and begins to walk up some steps. We go in for a wide shot and see we’re now at the IIW arena, before the scene begins to fade - to - black!***
|
|