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((The camera opens up to Bret Hart walking downstairs to the Hart Family Dungeon. He's heading down there to get a workout before his big match against The Rock on RAW. Wearing a gray shirt and black athletic pants, as well as having his wrists taped up so they don't get injured lifting, he's ready for an exhilirating workout session. On his way down there he passes his father, Stu Hart, whom he pats on the back and smiles at him. Slowly he walks up to the number of weights that are there and looks at them, deciding which one to use first. Before he does choose, a voice calls from behind him.))
Voice:Need a hand?
((Turning around, it's someone he hasn't seen in a few months. Both of their busy schedules have prevented them from even speaking on the phone for a few minutes. Bret looks shocked to see him and his jaw hangs open for a second. Quickly he gathers himself from the sudden surprise pressed on him.))
Bret Hart:Not from you.
((Bret smirks and a twinkle that has left from his eyes suddenly reappears, as the holder of the voice walks into view. Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart stands there smiling as well with his arms crossed, jokingly unimpressed with the sight of Bret Hart in front of him. He holds out his hand for a handshake and Bret goes to accept it but just in time Jim pulls his hand away and runs it through his hair, letting out a good hearty laugh. Bret can't help but laugh himself, as Jim puts his hand out again and they shake hands for the first time in a long time.))
Jim Neidhart:How you doing buddy?
Bret Hart:Pretty good. Got a match on RAW.
Jim Neidhart:Yeah, I saw. Been watching you since you stepped foot in the EWF. Can't believe ya went there with those two. Especially Vince.
Bret Hart:I'm not dealing with Vince pushing me around anymore, even if he is my "boss", so that mistake is dealt with. Plus it wasn't Vince's fault or Vince's idea Owen died and you know that. He just owns the company that didn't make sure the wires were good enough. It was Owen's stupidity for going out there like that..it was his damn idea.
Jim Neidhart:Haha, Owen was a stupid sunuva bitch. Haha. He thought he was some acrobat for the circus the god damn fool. Haha.
Bret Hart:That's what happens when you come from the--
Jim Neidhart:Hart Foundation.
Bret Hart:Haha, right.
((Both smile and laugh, but then an awkward silence falls over them. Sensing it, Hart sits down on the bench that already has his desired weight on it, and starts benching. Neidhart takes his cue and stands at the head of Hart, shadowing the bar just to make sure Bret doesn't let if fall.))
Bret Hart:What do you think?
Jim Neidhart:I think that me and you are turning into old men, and I'm not too sure what will happen. For all I know you could fall and break your hip.
Bret Hart:We're not that old. Look at Hogan. Look at Flair. Then look at me Jimmy. Come on, it's not that bad. Dwayne's a prick, but I can still hold my own no matter what.
Jim Neidhart:Bret, stop kidding yourself. I know your the "best there is", but do you think you can honestly wrestle a full fledged match at this age? With such high stakes?
Bret Hart:Yes, I do.
((Bret stops benching and places the bar back on the rest. He stands up, and looks at Jim differently. It's no longer a look of admiration for a man he hasn't seen in months, but a confused, betrayed frown.))
Bret Hart:I'm busting my ass everyday, keeping myself in shape. Lifting, running, more lifting, sparring with Bruce and Keith. I've been in the business for as long as I can remember Jim, you don't think I know if I could handle it out there?
((Jim looks at the floor, knowing full well hat Bret WOULD know better then to wrestle if he wasn't physically capable.))
Jim Neidhart:Good point.
Bret Hart:Damn right it is, and I think it's messed up that you don't have enough faith in me.
Jim Neidhart:NOT ENOUGH FAITH?! What do you mean not enough faith?! I'm not saying I don't believe in YOU Bret, I'm saying I don't believe that after all the years you've been taking bumps, that you don't walk bent over in pain half the time! I've been wrestling almost as long as you have, and I complain to Ellie all the time of the pain! I believe in you man, I just don't want you in the hospital sucking food through straws!
Bret Hart:Nothing is going to happen Jim.
Jim Neidhart:How do you know? You're saying you can honestly look me in the eye, and tell me that you think nothing is going to happen? Owen said nothing was going to happen, and look wh-
Bret Hart:Don't bring him into this! I'm not Owen! I'm not going out there in a mask and trying to fly across the whole god damn arena! I'm wrestling a match that I've done MILLIONS of times! And not just that, it's for a shot at the World Title Jim. THE WORLD TITLE. I've waited longer than anyone can imagine to hold something besides what Vince represented. Now Stephen Heller is giving me an opportunity to go for the gold, and you expect me to just give up on it? This is my dream to hold a World Title that actually means something to me. And you want me to shove it down the toilet?
((Bret's face starts to slowly turn red as he tries to hold back his anger, upset that his friend is doubting him. Jim lowers his head, still not wanting to see Bret wrestle.))
Bret Hart:I think you better go.
Jim Neidhart:Yeah...right, I should.
((Jim walks towards the steps of the Dungeon and is about to walk up when he stops and turns to Bret who is just staring at the wall not wanting to say a word.))
Jim Neidhart:I didn't come here to pick a fight, I'm just concerned Bret. You're like a brother. But if it means that much to you...good luck.
((After saying this, Jim waits to see if Bret will say anything to him, or move towards him or something, but he doesn't. He just stands there looking at the wall still. Bret is tempted to say something to him, but when he tries words don't come out. So Jim just gives a half crooked smile and turns and leaves. After the door at the top of the stairs closes, Bret picks up the nearest weight that is 20 pounds, and he throws it at the wall. It bangs into it with a loud crash and paint and plaster crumble out leaving a dent in the wall. Bret just stands there with his arms on his waist, as he fights back tears. Not tears of sadness, but tears of frustration. Bret looks up, and realizes that he needs to get a few things off his chest. He quickly walks out of the room going to buy a plane ticket, as the camera fades away.))
two days later ((Slowly the camera opens up to inside a packed arena. Backstage the guys are getting ready for the show. As the camera turns a little more we catch glimpse of Bret "The Hitman" Hart walking down the hallway wearing a leather jacket, a black "HITMAN" t-shirt, and blue jeans. The trademark sunglasses rest on the bridge of his nose, and he pushes back his black hair out of his face. The look on his face tells a whole story...a story about how it seems everything has been getting to him as of late. It probably won't help that coming up from behind him is Johnathan Coachman. He taps Bret on the shoulder and smiles.))
Johnathan Coachman:Hey Bret, I just wanna say good job on beating Jericho.
Bret Hart:Thanks Coach.
Johnathan Coachman:And I also want to say good luck on beating The Rock. You deserve that number one contender's spot.
Bret Hart:Thanks again Coach.
Johnathan Coachman:But I just want to ask you Bret, would you mind if I got an interview with you? Vince has been on my butt about getting an interview.
Bret Hart:First off, don't EVER mention that piece of crap in front of me ever again. Second, be my guest Coach.
((Coach just nods, realizing that he better not mention Vince if he wants to stay out of harms way. He pulls out a microphone and asks if the camera in front of them is on in which he gets a yes answer from the cameraman behind the camera. Coach fixes up his shirt a little bit while Bret just pushes his hair back again. Turning to Bret, Coach lifts the mic up to his own lips.))
Johnathan Coachman:Ladies and gentleman, I'm standing here next to Bret "The Hitman" Hart, almost a week after his impressive debut where he singlehandedly beat Chris Jericho with much ease. Bret, after the match you must be very happy with your performance.
Bret Hart:Happy doesn't describe it enough Coach. Thrilled. You see, everybody seems to want to think that I'm getting too old to be in the EWF. People say I'm past my prime, that I don't deserve to be here. They spew out all this crap that I can't wrestle anymore, I'll never compare to the young guys, that I should just move over and out because I can't take wrestling anymore. But after Raw last week Coach, I proved to EVERYONE, that I am still able to do all what was thought I couldn't. Correct me if I'm wrong, but on Raw I wrestled Jericho toe to toe and I made him tap. Bret "The Old" Fart put "The Living Legend" in the sharpshooter, and tears ran down his face. I made him tap Coach. I DID! Do you have any idea what that means? That means that I'm not as bad as everybody thought I was! It means that I can still go out there and kick the crap out of those young guys, and that I still deserve every title shot..every number one contender's spot..I deserve everything all those young stallions do and more.
Johnathan Coachman:What do you think you deserve?
Bret Hart:I deserve whatever Heller and that sunuva bitch McMahon thinks I deserve. I'm not coming in here saying I deserve to be World Champ..or that I deserve to be in the EWF Hall of Fame. I'm saying that if Heller wants to put me in a match for the World Title, then so be it. What I'm saying is, that I shouldn't be pushed away just because of new faces. If anybody deserves that World Title Coach, it's me. That's the main reason that new faces shouldn't just get ahead of me, because of what I've accomplished. I've been everywhere, done everything. I've won World Titles, I've beaten more people then I could ever remember, I've went to that ring with injuries and WON. What else could anyone ask for Coach? Because last time I checked, there wasn't anyone that had anything over me. There isn't any person that can stand here in front of my face and tell me that I wasn't great. And in the not so distant future, they won't be able to tell me that I'm still not. It's like the saying goes...I'm the best there was, the best there is, and the best there ever will be.
((After Bret says this, the fans in the arena blow up in cheers. Bret smiles, as Coach continues.))
Johnathan Coachman:Well since you touched base on it, I might as well continue with it. Your match on RAW against The Rock..do you feel THIS is the match to prove yourself?
Bret Hart:Let's get one thing straight right now, I don't NEED to prove myself. If there's anyone in this world that needs to prove themself, it's The Rock! Every night I'm going to go out there and I'm going to entertain those fans...those are the way I prove myself. When you hear them all get to their feet and scream and yell my name, I've proved myself. And the last I checked, they respect me just as much as I respect them((The fans all cheer their approval)). So what that means is I've proven myself already with the 20 years I've been in this business. But let's be realistic here though Coach, many people probably don't see it the same way. To most people it probably is a match where I either sink or swim. Not everybody is thinking that I'm telling the truth about my physical condition...they don't think I can still hack it. Well you know what? Those nay-sayers can go take their oppinions and shove it up their ass! They want me to go out there and show them what I've got? So be it. I'll be more then happy to go out there, step into the ring with The Rock, and kick his ass from one side of the ring to the other. There isn't a chance in hell that some Hollywood-wannabe-prick is gonna step into my second home..that ring out there..and walk away with a win etched into the win column, and the number one contender spot. After RAW...you can bet your ass I'm going to be the number one contender. That's all I have to say.
((Bret shows that he obviously doesn't want to talk anymore, and walks out of the camera view. Coachman stands there smiling still, happy that he just interviewed one of his favorite wrestlers of all time. He turns around and walks away as the camera switches.))
Bret Hart:As usual, it's great to be out here. But in case you people didn't know, I'm not exactly Mr. Happy today. You see, while I've been thinking all this time that everybody is on my side...that everybody has my back because everyone knows I'm a good guy, everybody knows what I'm capable of...it's actually been quite different. Since coming here to EWF, I've told myself that I can beat anybody here with my hands behind my back. To tell you the truth, I still do think that. But where my mistake lied, was where I thought that everybody else thought this too. I thought that all my friends, my family, my fans, and even the guys in the back thought the same things. I thought they expected me to come here better then ever. But recently I found out that this isn't true.
Well let me just tell everybody that thinks I'm too old..too stupid..too much of a whiner..to all of you...SCREW YOU! You don't think I can handle it? Everybody has their oppinion I guess, but not everybody has the facts. You want facts? Here's a fact! I've went 20 years in the wrestling business, missing only a handful of shows. It didn't matter if I was injured, or if I could barely walk, I went to the show anyway. I was either backstage, or I was in the middle of that ring. I didn't pull shades over the eyes of the owners and let them think I couldn't handle it because I could..and I still damn well can. During 20 years, I've only become a better wrestler. If practice makes perfect, I'm the best wrestler this world has ever seen because everyday of my life I'm throwing suplexes, applying sharpshooters..everyday of my life I'm in that wrestling ring! For awhile I haven't had a real match on television, so I was a little weary. Honestly, a week ago I had doubts too. But on RAW, when I beat Chris Jericho...the man that everybody seems to think highly of, an athlete that people said could take Bret Hart out..I took those doubts and shoved them down the damn toilet! Me versus him, no outside forces, and I beat him! What more can anyone want from me? Huh? People expect me to just take a bump and my hip to pop out of it's socket and for you to never see my face again, but that's not gonna happen! If Terry Funk can moonsault onto barbed wire into his fifties, I can be here in the EWF and win whatever match I have to!
((The fans are in a frenzy, as Bret lets the mic down. He paces back and forth a few times as the fans all cheer him on. Lifting the mic back up he continues on.))
Bret Hart:Rock, I by no means underestimate you. Sure, you're an egomaniac..a pre-madonna of sorts. But that doesn't mean I don't recogonize your skill. However, THAT doesn't mean that I won't go into RAW and beat the living crap out of you! Take a look at yourself Rock..you got your bald head, your fancy tatoo on your right arm..you refer to yourself in third person, you SUCK at acting..and at the end of the day, you're just not good enough to beat the Excellence of Execution! Heller knows it, the fans know it, I sure as hell know it, and soon enough you'll know it when I take your spot as number one contender. Try all you want, put up your biggest fight of your life, but the fact of the matter is I was better then you, I am better then you, and I always will be! And that's because I'm the best there was, best there is, and the best there ever will be!((Fans burst into cheers))
So the next time anyone decides to think that I can't take it, you can all just watch me on RAW beat The Rock in a match that decides who goes on, and who goes home with nothing but a beaten ego. Well, we all know that my ego is limited, so looks like Rock has much more to lose then I do. But really, this isn't about Rock..this isn't about him, this is about ME not being thought of what I should rightfully be thought of. I should be thought of as one of the best in the business, and frankly that's not happening. After RAW though...when everybody finally sees I've still got what most don't have..everybody will only have one choice and that's to say, "Good job Bret..awesome match..you DESERVE to be number one contender!" After RAW, I'll be number one contender, and I'll go to No Mercy..and HBK..I'm going to kick your ass inside out! That's because I said so.
((Bret drops the mic to the mat with a thud, as the fans all go insane again. Bret's music hits the speakers again as he rolls out of the ring. He walks around it though to slap the hands of the many fans before walking up the ramp. He turns his head slightly, but he doesn't do anything on the stage besides just walk through the curtains and the music stops.))
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Jim Neidhart:So you think you can take The Rock?
((The fans in attendance just witnessed an interview with Bret Hart, and now await further action. None of them expected it when music blares on the speakers. Not a single person in the crowd is silent,as Bret steps out from behind the curtain. Bret can't help but show at least a little happiness, despite the things that are bothering him. Walking down the entrance ramp he slaps the hands of almost every fan, then rolls into the ring. He holds out his arms in a "who wants some of this?" manner, to only receive more cheers from the Bret Hart fans. Bret reaches over the ring and points to the time keepers who hand him a microphone. Taking it into his hand, he stands in the middle of the ring looking off into the fans who once again show their respect for the man.))