HOSTILE GROUNDS
(As the scene fades in, the camera is following an ACCW
employee through the backstage area of Hostile Grounds. Decorated
in official ACCW garb, the burly man sports a red moustache, a
fading hair line, and ACCW’s most prized possession: The
Global Heavyweight Championship belt. As the man weaves through
groups of people idly standing by, he shows great delicacy not to
allow anyone to bump or even come close to the shiny medallion.
Rounding a corner, however, he has no choice but to allow one
individual a closer look as Hardcore Hansel takes a firm grip
upon the man’s shoulder and halts him in his tracks.)
Hardcore Hansel:
Well, isn’t this quite coincidental? The ACCW Global
Heavyweight title, on its way to be hand-delivered to Mr. Ed.
(A poisonous sneer slides across Hansel’s face as he glares
at the reflective metal.)
Hardcore Hansel:
Power is a funny thing; once you taste it, you never forget it.
In this sport, the only true representation of power is whether
or not you don this title around your waist. For the moment, my
waist is bare, but only temporarily.
(Raising his stare from the belt to the official who is openly
intimidated, Hansel tightens his grip upon the man’s
trapezius muscle.)
Hardcore Hansel:
When you drop this title off to Mr. Ed, I want you to deliver a
message to him…a message from Hardcore Hansel. You tell him,
boldly, that his reign as preordained champion will run aground
shortly. You tell him that Hansel has this sadistic look in his
eye and a menacing touch to his hand. You tell him that if you
were him, you’d avoid me at all costs. Tell him, otherwise
I’ll have to make an example out of you.
(The man nods his head in obedience as Hansel lightens his grasp
from the man’s shoulder. The man attempts to side-step
Hansel and continue with his task but the blonde-haired madman
grabs his collar and slings him against a beige painted wall.)
(Grunting in both shock and pain, the man relinquishes his hold
on the championship belt and it falls to the ground. Rearing
back, Hansel delivers a swift kick to the man’s abdomen. As
the air exit’s the poor sap’s diaphragm, Hansel bends
down and gets intensely close to the suffering official.)
Hardcore Hansel: I
think a message delivered from a wounded dog would be more
affective.
(In a flash, Hansel unleashes several punches to the side of the
man’s head. In one final blow, Hardcore Hansel stomps on the
back of the official’s head, causing it to ricochet off the
cool cement floor. Scooping up the title belt, Hansel runs his
fingers across the reflective surface. In a taunting swoop,
Hansel rubs the title under the official’s nose, smearing
the once flawless metal with the blood of an innocent man.)
Hardcore Hansel:
Mr. Ed, you don’t deserve an unblemished crown. Your time is
limited, your steps are counted, and your impersonation as
champion will soon be over! Hardcore Hansel is fervid for power
and I will have it, one way or another. Step gingerly Ed for you
know not when I will strike…
(Dropping the title upon the bloodied man’s back, Hardcore
Hansel turns and strolls down the hallway. Once he is around the
corner, the camera lowers its lens to the battered official,
blood pooling around his face, and centers on the tainted title
and slowly fades to black.)