And I don't wanna find
The big dumb rocket on your mind
And I don't wanna find
That it's mostly you or mostly me
A tired gun that's not empty."
Our Lady Peace- "Big Dumb Rocket"
Michael Draven: [sleepily] Hello?
Jonathan Storm: Michael, it's Jon.
Michael Draven: Storm? [looks at the clock] Jesus, Jon, it's 3 in the f*cking morning...
Jonathan Storm: I know, Michael, but I need your help. I tried talking to Matt...and all I had was more questions.
Michael Draven - Shit, kid...can't this wait til morning? Allyssa's sleeping on the couch...ah well, she's a sound sleeper. But damn, man...3 AM...[chuckles] This better be good.
Jonathan Storm: Believe me, Michael....this is something.
Michael Draven - Alright, kid...I'm on my way.
Jonathan Storm: Thanks...you won't regret this.
Michael Draven - Now Jon, if you're drunk and you called me all the way over here, I am NOT gonna be happy...
Jonathan Storm: No...I'm sober. I've been nursing this all night. *He turns to face Michael, and is visibly marked with a black eye and a bandaged nose.* I need to know something.
Michael Draven - Shit, Jon...what the hell happened to you?
Jonathan Storm: The face? I got into it with Hoffman. I need to know how you deal with all of it, Michael.
Michael Draven - Deal with what? Hoffman?
Jonathan Storm: No...I need to know how you deal with everything inside your head. Ever since I fought Pru, I've been having thoughts...like I actually wanted to kill my own cousin, just because of everything we went through.
Michael Draven - One for you, in case you need it. [Draven looks down at the bar for a long moment, before turning to face Storm.] I've went through hell and back in my twenty-six years on this earth. I think you know that. If you're asking me how I deal with things...well, I haven't always dealt with things in the best manner. Remember Willmott? Sanders? That's how I dealt with the problems me and my brother had. That's in the past, though.
Jonathan Storm: Michael, the point is...I'm not used to this. I told Hoff that I don't go out to cripple or kill...I just want to win. Now, I want to beat them bloody.
Michael Draven - You know, Jon, I used to be a lot like you when I first came here. I thrived on that crowd's reaction, whether it was a chorus of boos, or one of cheers. I always wanted to impress the crowd, and I wanted to win. But when my problems started happening...I turned into a sadistic maniac, hell-bent on ending the career of every man I faced. And I never learned how to deal with it completely...I let it consume me. Allyssa's the only reason I'm still like that...she brought back some of the person in me. And if you're telling me that you're headed down the same path...that worries me, Jon. [Draven takes a shot of Jack.]
Jonathan Storm: Michael...I think I'm losing my mind, and everything around me.
Michael Draven - Because of Pru? He has that effect on people...[Draven chuckles] Not making light of your situation...I'm serious, actually.
Jonathan Storm: Believe me, I know. You try knowing him for 23 years. It's just that...that...well, do you remember your fight with Erik?
Michael Draven - There isn't a day that goes by in my mind that I don't remember it, Jon...our mother is dead because of it, for god's sake.
Jonathan Storm: It's just like that...I want to make him hurt. Not just Pru though...everyone. If he would've lost Serena or Christian because of our war, I wouldn't have batted an eyelash.
Michael Draven - That's deep. Let me ask you something, Jon....do you want to hurt every single person you see? I ask, because you've got some bad shit going on inside you, and I wanna see just how bad it is. Do you want to hurt every single person you see? As I stand here before you...the rage that's inside you...do you want to hurt me?
Jonathan Storm: Michael, I'd LOVE to hurt you. I remember you walking away from me right after you, me, Hal, Matt, and Robert split up. It's taking a lot of self control not to.
Michael Draven - How do you think I felt, Jon? Zero left me in the cold. Orr? Stabbed me in the back. Hoffman? Didn't even stick around in the federation. I know your pain, Jon...but do NOT blame me for it. That's what I didn't realize at the time, Jon. The rage is strong, and it can overwhelm you as fast as a bullet. Your anger isn't just toward Prudence...it's toward anyone around you. What you need to realize, Jon, is that the world isn't against you. Not to be critical, but the vast majority of the people in this planet couldn't give two shits whether you live or die. Same for me, same for NOTHING, same for everyone. That's part of life, my friend.
Jonathan Storm: Why didn't you come to me? Why didn't you talk to me? I trusted you, Hal..all of you! I believed everything all of you said to me...and now? I don't know what I believe anymore.
Michael Draven - Answer me this, Jon...why didn't you come to us?
Jonathan Storm: I...I...don't...
Michael Draven - Exactly. You bring me out here and question me about why I wasn't there to talk to you when it all went down, and yet you can't answer me when I ask the same of you. You see what I'm getting at?
Jonathan Storm: Michael...I'm so lost right now.
Michael Draven - Let me ask you something that may seem a bit off-subject, but really isn't. [Storm looks up] Jon, what do you want right now, more than anything else in the entire world? Take a second to really think about it...don't blurt out that you want to kill Pru. THINK about it.
Jonathan Storm: I want...to get my career back on track....I want...Haven.
Michael Draven - And how are you planning on getting him, in the shape you're in? Jon, look how long it's taken me. Ever since the Ring of Fire...I've burned with hate for Haven...and what he did to Allyssa just adds to it. I'm finally getting Haven, but how long did it take me? Seven months, Jon. You know why? Because I let myself get out of control. I let myself get too dangerous. I let myself go down the road I see you heading down now.
Jonathan Storm: Michael...everyone thinks I'm not ready. Hoffman said it to me, Ashlee's said it to me, even Pru said it to me the other day. That's what gives me the advantage. He'll never see me coming. I want my credibility back. You were with me only a couple of months ago. You know I can win the big match. You were in the CWF with me...you saw it.
Michael Draven - I know you could win the big match, if your head was on straight. But if you're like this, Jon, Haven will crush you. I know that from experience...I know it better than anyone. And...Jon? Nothing against you...but the CWF and the NYSWF are two completely different ballgames. You know that just as well as I do.
Jonathan Storm: What do I do then? Where do I go from here? Michael, I called you because I KNOW you can help me. What do I do now?
Michael Draven - Your anger stems toward Prudence, right? You've got to decide what's more important...making a run at Haven, or getting rid of Prudence. You can't have both.
Jonathan Storm: I can handle Pru on my own time. Besides, would beating him now get me anywhere? He's gone on leave. I want my run at Haven. I want to prove to him I'm not a joke.
Michael Draven - Then you've got to rid yourself of the rage, Jon. Having intensity is one thing...that's me, right now. Having rage is me, a few months ago. Sure, it'll get you somewhere...but it won't get you to the top. Something finally came into my life that made it worthwhile...I lost my rage, and look where I am now. You've got to get rid of your anger.
Jonathan Storm: But you found what makes your life worthwhile...I'm having the hardest time rediscovering Ashlee. Sometimes I know I love her, other times, it's so hard to forgive her for what she's done.
Michael Draven - Maybe she's not the one for you, then. Or maybe it's not a woman at all that you need.
Jonathan Storm: Michael, what I need is to prove that I'm for real. They want to tell me I missed my opportunities? They're wrong, Michael..I've got a better chance now than ever before.
Michael Draven - So you can beat Haven, right now, in the shape you're in? Yet you can't even beat Hoffman, or Douglas? Or DREAMWALKER? Think about that, Jon...you've got to change something about your approach. Otherwise, you're stuck where you are. I learned it the hard way, Jon...don't follow my footsteps. I have to go, Jon. Just think about everything I've said.