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ewa: MACULATE PERCEPTION


This roleplay and the one that follows it, "(Museum) Winging It," are not all that good. It didn't help that I had no one to play off, as Leone never roleplayed for the match. The idea for this roleplay is decent, but a little odd and it never reaches its potential. The idea that The Boy might be seen as an underdog is interesting and it would have been better to flesh that out a bit more, with him second-guessing himself for once. Instead, The Boy calmly states that it isn't the case at all. I don't know, it all works well enough I guess, but it could have been much better.

(The scene opens up inside with Scott "The Boy" Hellings staring straight at the camera. As the camera pans out a bit, it reveals dozens of distorted reflections of The Boy. It is obvious that he is standing inside a House of Mirrors in some unknown amusement park.)

HELLINGS-
"Sometimes one's perception can be a little off. We might see someone or something one way, only to learn it looks entirely different. Yes, it is true that our eyes can deceive us, or that our mind plays tricks on us and, as a result, our perceptions can be a little off. See I'm sure right now Nic Leone thinks he can beat me at Inception, but that's quite obviously a faulty perception. Yes, I did lose at last week's Implosion...or did I? Granted, I didn't walk out the winner, but I hardly walked out the loser either. Jessie Devlin pinned Lamb of God, NOT me! I wasn't even involved in the decision! Loggy was an inconvenient distraction, his behaviour so erratic that it threw me off my game. And Jessie Devlin capitalized. Good for her...I guess. Mark my words Loggy: one of these days I'll make you pay for costing me that match. I know I should have won, but I didn't. As such, I'm sure Nic Leone feels much more confident that he can walk out of our match a winner. But poor Nic's perception is a little bit off."

(The Boy pauses and checks his hair in one of the many mirrors before continuing.)

HELLINGS-
"Because, like I said, I didn't lose the match at all. I wasn't involved in the decision! Although my record officially stands at 0-1, I have not yet been pinned or made to submit in EWA. It's a technicality, I know, but technicalities are a necessary evil, aren't they? They can win championships and have the power to convict. Ignoring technicalities could be a grave error and if I were Nic Leone, I would not plan my victory celebration just yet. You and everyone else around here perceive me as a loser, but I clearly am not. The only reason Nic Leone feels confident in his ability to beat me is because he wasn't even in a match last week. He was supposed to be, but something just came up I guess. So he's got an extra week of rest, and I'm the one coming off the loss. And I'm sure there are those of you out there that believe that a loss is devastating to my (making quotation marks with his fingers) 'fragile ego.' I understand how you people think: you think I'm cocky and that losing last week at Implosion will only shatter my confidence and destroy my cocky attitude.

The problem with that little theory is that it simply doesn't work that way. My ego knows that I didn't even lose the match. And, even if I were the one that was pinned, I would be able to realize that it was just one tiny, insignificant match. And I know that I'll win the next one. And the one after that. And the one after that. And the one after that and so on and so on. That's how things work when you're as good as I am. You want to portray me as a loser? Need I remind you that I am THE Canadian Legend and The One and Only UBERstar!? Granted, I haven't proven that yet, but isn't that what scares you the most, Nic? Aren't you worried that no one here has seen me at my best yet? You don't know what to expect! There's a certain fear in the unknown, isn't there? Make no mistake about it, you can look at me however you want..."

(Hellings motions to the many distorted images of himself.)

HELLINGS-
"...but there is only ONE that is accurate. And believe you me, there is only Scott Hellings and he is, above all else, a winner! I know it, you know it, the whole damn world knows it! The fact remains that Jessie Devlin got a lucky break-having Loggy in there to get in the way, to get himself pinned-but that sort of thing won't happen again. If I were taking her on one-on-one I'd beat her no problem. After all, I am The Boy and that does mean I am The Best! She won the first encounter, but I'll probably win the next 67! So I have a 0-1 record? Big deal! I LIKE the idea of having a losing record.

Heck, I'm an open-minded guy, why not try something you've never experienced before? Besides, do you know what time of year this is? The NBA and NHL playoffs are in full swing and the FIFA World Cup is about to start in Germany and that means one thing...this is the season of the underdog. For whatever awful reason, I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who consider me an underdog heading into this match, when I really should be seen as a contender. And I'm sure Nicky does too. Does it offend me? Not at all. I know the truth; I know how good I am. All my fans, all The Boy Scouts? They know how good I am. But if you want to bet against me that just really plays into my advantage. You won't be expecting me to dominate you the way that I most assuredly will Leone, but I will. I'm considered a loser and an underdog now, but you know what?"

(The Boy walks over to one of the mirrors and walks back and forth, the distortion of the reflection changing slightly with each move he makes.)

HELLINGS-
"Perceptions change. Did you know that Adolf Hitler was Time Magazine's Man of the Year in 1938? And yet just a few years later he would be branded as a madman and the epitome of evil. So think of me as an underdog if you must, but don't count me out either. I WILL win this match and I will go on to face whoever wins the International Title. If Jessie Devlin wins then I look forward to my revenge. But, truthfully, it doesn't really matter who wins. I'll beat anyone they put me up against. It is only a matter of time before I am the International Champion and it won't be long after that before I am the World Champion too! Then I'll be able to entrench my status as The Marquee Player, The Franchise Saviour and The Number One Money Maker!

Nic Leone is just the beginning of my path to glory. Yes, I've heard all the whispers and all the speculation that perhaps I'm washed-up or that I'm just simply not as good as I once was. Perhaps some think I'm in over my head, I don't know. But all those rumours will be put to rest at Inception when I decimate you Nic. People can think of me as the underdog, but I have a better solution."

(The Boy picks up one of the mirrors and holds it up in from of him for a moment.)

HELLINGS-
"Perhaps you need to look yourself in the mirror Nic. What is your perception of yourself? Are you really at that much more of an advantage? Hardly. I may have the 0-1 record Nic, but at least I showed up for my match. What's the matter, Nicky? Scared? Afraid that once you get in that ring, we'll all realize just how inept you truly are? No worries Nic, I've got a plan. You see it is guys like you that made me start up my Red and White Ribbon Campaign. And Nic? I've got a ribbon set aside for you buddy. Don't be afraid of your inadequacy-celebrate it! It's all you've got! I promise I won't even drag it out and humiliate your or anything-I'll make it quick. Just come out to that right-for once-and I'll be sure to put you out of your misery right away. There is a problem though. You see, once I beat you and reveal just how inferior you truly are, well...you'll end up in the unemployment line I'm sure. But at least you won't have to be afraid of coming back down to that ring anymore."

(The Boy turns around as though to leave, but turns back.)

HELLINGS-
"It's funny, isn't it? A few minutes ago, I'm sure you were sitting at home, on top of the world. You were no doubt sitting there, believing you had me beat. And now? Now I've gone and pointed out that really isn't the case. That 0-1 record of mine? It needs a little asterisk that notes 'was never actually beaten.' And you? Heck, you're afraid to even show up! How can you beat me Nic? Quite simply, you can't. Am I the underdog in this? I certainly don't think so. But if you really want to, if the fans out there want to, then that's fine by me. Overlooking will be your downfall. And the perception people will have you will go from contender to wannabe. That number one contendership is mine! I will pick up my first win here in EWA and there is nothing you can do about it. Why? Because I want to, because I can!"

(The Boy walks off as the scene fades to black.)

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