[The camera pans in on a beach front property. The sun is shining down on the entire beach without a single shadow of a cloud. In the near distance there is a yellow 2-story home. There are two cars in the small gravel driveway. A 2005 White Nissan Pathfinder and a 2003 Navy Blue Dodge Intrepid. The scene cuts and resumes back inside the beach-front home. The television is on to the weather channel and a 40-something man is sitting on the couch eating the last of his jar of peanuts. After a moment, a 20-something man walks into the room dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. He drops the duffel bag that he had been carrying into the room. The man sits down in the chair adjacent to the couch.]
Younger man: Dad. This is ridiculus. You need to turn that stupid weather channel off and listen.
[The older man lets out a sigh and turns the TV off. He still refuses to look at the younger man however.]
Father: What do you want to talk about?
Younger man: Don't play stupid with me. You know exactly what. What is your big problem with me beginning professional wrestling?
Father: You know where I stand on the subject. I did not waste money on books and tuition for you at F.K.C.C. to see you waste it away on a professional wrestling career, Greg.
Greg: You still think that I'm going to get hurt. Don't even deny it. I can see it in your eyes. You can't even look at me straight. You're afraid that you'll lose me as fast as we lost mom.
Father: [looks up at Greg] If you are so sure and determined, then why would you still push and push to get my approval? What is it you want?! Do you want me there with you?! You're not my little guy anymore and the days of holding your hand are over. You need to take this on with or without consequences. I just wish you would understand that.
Greg: Dad. I know I'm not a little kid anymore. I've figured it out from years of your strict parenting. I want your approval because... because I know that once you can support me during this endeavor, that you will finally be over what happened to mom. I miss her, too. That has nothing to do with it. I don't expect you to forget her or stop loving mom. I just expect you to stop trying to keep me out of danger's way.
Father: You just don't know what I've gone through to raise you right without your mother. To make sure that what happened to her doesn't happen to you. I tried to raise you to be tough. I just wish I would've taught you how not to be so defiant.
Greg: I never expected raising me alone to be easy. I'm making a decision. Not being defiant. There is a difference. This is what I want to do. I went to college to find a career, and I found one. Just because it's not the kind of career you expected, doesn't mean I wasted your money with college or wasted your time raising me. I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for what you've done for me all my life.
Father: So... you want my approval. Fine. I approve. Is that what you want?
Greg: You've always said, "Don't say something that your heart doesn't agree with." Don't be sarcastic. I don't want the words. I want to you to support my decision.
Father: Greg... I've supported every decision you've made up until now because we made it together. You're right. This is your decision. I guess the only reason I couldn't agree with it is because it's really the first major decision you've made with or without me. You've really grown out of me. Greg, you know that I'll support you. I just want to make sure that you can support yourself on this decision. Now that I know that you don't need me to hold your hand anymore, I don't need to worry on whether I raised you right or wrong. I just expect that if you do make decisions for yourself that you are willing to jump into the deep end of the pool with it. Whether or not you know how to swim in it.
Greg: Thank you, dad. That's all I ever wanted from you. I'm glad we were able to talk before I left. I have to get to Key West International by 4 o'clock.
Father: I guess you really should get going then. It takes about 30 minutes to get there with the traffic around the airport.
[Both men stand up and walk towards the door. Greg grabs his duffel bag and follows his dad to the entry door.]
Greg: I'll call to let you know how things are going.
Father: That's fine. I'll do what I can to watch you on TV. Until then, keep yourself out of trouble.
Greg: I will. No worries. I'll see you on our next break.
[Greg gives his dad a hug and opens the door and walks down the steps.]
Father: Bye Greg.
Greg: Bye Dad.
[Greg walks over and climbs into the Dodge Intrepid. He starts the engine and begins to turn around. In the entryway of the house, his dad waves goodbye and Greg waves back. His father walks into the house and closes the door. The Dodge Intrepid then makes its way down the driveway with a small trail of dust in its wake. The car goes off camera and the scene fades to black.]
:: This roleplay occurs where the story of Greg "TheStorm" Regan leaves off. If you haven't read the story, please click here. ::