JEREMY SILVER I told you this was going to happen, James. I fucking told you! JAMES RAVEN I know. I know you did... JEREMY SILVER Don't roll your fucking eyes at me! Don't act like I don't know things! The second you told me you were going back to the XWF to fight Scully, I told you that they'd find a way to get their hooks into you and keep you there! FUCK, JAMES! I still don't understand why I fought with their lawyers for a month after you dropped the title to Robbie and bailed, if all you wanted was a few months off before going back! Jeremy pounds his fist on his desk angrily, his face turning bright red as the veins in his neck bulge underneath his collar. He reaches for a crystal glass filled with water and quickly drains it, loosening his tie and taking several deep breaths. After a moment to collect himself, he leans back in his chair and stairs across the mahogany desk at me. We've had this conversation before, many times... but the look in his eyes tells me we're about to have it again.
JAMES RAVEN JEREMY SILVER He's angry. This is much more direct than he usually is about the subject. He stands up from his desk and turns his back on me, rolling his neck and shoulders to relieve tension as I sit uncomfortably on a leather couch across the office. I look through the glass doors, and see his receptionist gawking at us as he reams me. She sees me notice her and clumsily looks away and types nonsense on her keyboard.
JAMES RAVEN JEREMY SILVER JAMES RAVEN JEREMY SILVER I shrug my shoulders indifferently.
JAMES RAVEN JEREMY SILVER JAMES RAVEN He sighs; a long exasperated sigh that turns into a quiet roar by the end. He claws angrily at the air, gritting his teeth as if fighting my invisible stubbornness in the room. He stumbles back to his chair and collapses, looking at me in despair.
JEREMY SILVER JAMES RAVEN JEREMY SILVER I wait for him to elaborate but he doesn't. He just stares at me. I feel my heart beat faster, and I skip a breath or two.
JAMES RAVEN JEREMY SILVER He takes a deep breath. He realizes that he may have gone too far, but he looks like an enormous weight has been lifted from his shoulders. He's wanted to say that for weeks. He might be right. Still...
JAMES RAVEN I stand up from the couch, making my way to the office exit and shooting a middle finger to the receptionist that's still watching through the door but doesn't even make the effort to hide it this time.
JEREMY SILVER I spin on my heels to face him, my own intensity matching his for the first time. He's taken aback.
JAMES RAVEN JEREMY SILVER JAMES RAVEN JEREMY SILVER I make my way out of the office, flipping off the receptionist one more time for good measure as the door shuts behind me and Jeremy's voice can be heard distantly.
JEREMY SILVER I'll keep that in mind. _____________________________________________________________________
A speed bump.
A road block.
Michael Graves.
Things put before you to kill your momentum, and deter you from reaching your final destination.
Michael Graves, one of the few men whose career in the XWF pre-dates mine, and yet when you try and look up any sort of information about him you'll find the archives surprisingly bare. It's no secret that the reason I returned to the XWF in the first place was to recieve access to the old XWF video archives; weekly shows and pay per views as far back as 2001, and as I dug through them... there's barely a single mention of the man that would have the current generation believe he was a cornerstone of the company.
Was he the one that beat Raziel for the Canad-
Oh, no, that was Sean Graves.
Was he the one that went toe to toe with Steve Jason as Xmas Xtr-
Shit, no, that was Sean Graves too.
Maybe he's the one that got involved with Hardcore Smitty and the Outsider Stone?
... 0 for three, Michael Graves didn't do any of this shit, unless he just can't be seen in his brothers shadows when I rewatch the clips.
Yet somehow he feels entitled. Somehow he got it into his head that a guy that wasn't the best of his era, or the best in his own fucking family, is owed a match by the greatest of all time. I'm sure you've played this whole thing up in your head for months, about the build up we'd have and all the attention I'd pay you... but it's not going down like that, Gravy. You're the afterthought in your own dream match, the lackey in your own elaborate scheme. Even while you beat me with a steel chair and all but begged the powers that be to put us in a ring together... I was looking past you to Vinnie Lane.
That's what this is about, Graves, and as much as I'd love to sit here and shred you about your bull shit pedophilia gimmick, and tell you how disappointed I am in some of the behavior I've seen from you as you plea desperately for the acceptance of the new crowds, and admonish you for the homophobic language and racial slurs...
... I can't be bothered right now.
Sorry, but I can't.
I lowered myself to Scullys level last time, and it was a waste for everyone involved. I have exactly enough patience for you to put you down and out in the ring, and no more. Then it's on to a TRUE Legend of the XWF, and the match people actually want to see... not just the massacre of a simple swamp donkey.
I'm tired, Graves. It's been a long day and I'm going to cut this short.
I'm sure you're disappointed, but don't worry, you're going to be disappointed a lot on Valentines day. This is just helping to prepare you for it. I'll be back tomorrow. I'll have more to say.
Until then take care, or don't I don't give a fuck.
But fear the Raven, forevermore.
_____________________________________________________________________
BIG SHANK JAMES RAVEN Big Shank and I stand on the street in a suburban neighborhood, leaning casually against a car that belongs to Jeremy Silver. We stare down the road at a playground filled with children and parents that have no idea the sort of ordeal they're about to be put through.
BIG SHANK JAMES RAVEN I bang on the cars window, startling Jeremy who's inside changing his outfit. Spoiler alert.
JAMES RAVEN JEREMY SILVER BIG SHANK I tug on the handle of the car door, opening it up and ushering out my "power agent". Shank doubles over laughing at the site of him, as instead of his usual suit and tie he's now wearing the black and green spandex Michael Graves was known for just a few months ago, a bone-like white mask covering his lower jaw and a stringy black wig on his head. He looks just like the XWF original whose ass I'll be kicking this week.
BIG SHANK JEREMY SILVER JAMES RAVEN Reluctantly he makes his way down the sidewalk towards the park, purple cape flapping in the wind as Big Shank and I snicker with each other. He turns back to us, pleading once more.
JEREMY SILVER BIG SHANK JAMES RAVEN Without another word he turns and makes his way towards the playground, making it out of earshot before Big Shank or I speak again.
JAMES RAVEN BIG SHANK JAMES RAVEN BIG SHANK The two of us scramble from our posts at the side of the car, into the vehicle. Laughing the entire time, we start the engine and peel out of the parking spot, leaving Jeremy Silver to suffer his unpleasant fate. I'm sure he'll be fine. ... Mostly fine. FADE TO BLACK |