[07.April.07]

Scene Two

[Not too many people realize the time and effort it goes into running a federation. The time it takes to make these promotions that only a few will read, and the rest will skim through. It isn�t even worth my time, so why do I still do it? Why do I still wake up in the morning and check to see what else is happening in this pathetic excuse of a federation. When ICW died, so did all the disgust and hatred.]

[John walks into a darken arena, where ICW still marks the mat beneath his feet. John looks around and lifts up the microphone, as he brings the microphone to mouth to speak you can almost hear the boos in the empty arena. One time this place shocked the world, with some of the most intension action that�s you�ll ever see. Now it slowly dies a miserable death. The blood stained mat makes John reminisces of the several times being laid out on the mat with hordes of crowds either screaming his name or chanting his opponents phrases. His blood just like everyone else�s were spilled night in and night out. A single spotlight covers John and for the first time in his life, he�s speechless. Where has the time gone? 2 years of hard work down the drain. 2 years of his life gone. Nothing but memories surround this place. A place in his heart is now forever lost, washed away with the tides of time, buried under new dreams and aspirations.]

John: [John holds up the mic] I will never forget. It was the best of times it was the worst of times. I know that you hated me, many of you loathed me. Many of you couldn�t stand the bare sight of me. Where as it all gone? I will never forget ICW, you made me into what I am today. You made me strong, better, and for that I thank you. I will NOT sit down and watch you just fade away into the night. I�ve grown up here, and i wish things could have been different. Without ICW, there really isn�t no JCP, just an empty shell based on reputation alone. I would like to admit that I miss Luscious Larry, Firestorm, Celeste, Rik Kendell, Blanco Pollo, Allen Richards, Shawn Temps, Bison, Tommy Masters, and all the other countless faces that dropped a promotion even for a split second. As the memory fades away like a passing ship, I will hold this place deep in my heart. There will be no other ICW. My legend will fade away as the walls of ICW finally and forever come tumbling down. [JCP flashes across the huge screen and slowly fizzles out. A slight breeze pushes the scraps of paper across the empty announcers table where once Jamie K. and Matt Hayes sat. John hears some faint clapping and out from the shadows walks Jae Chang, he steps into the ring and hugs JCP]

[Jae nods his head and points to Matt Hayes who walks out from the shadows accompanied by Samantha McDaniels, Roxanne Clash, Watters, and a few other ICW staff members. Jae pulls out a Mic of his own.]

Jae: And we�ll never forget you John.

[Everyone hugs at center ring and says a pray. As John open his eyes slowly everyone starts fading away as if they were only a dream. Every moment John had in ICW start resurfacing. Every tap out, every pin, every count out. There is a place that everyone holds dear. Here is where John excelled; here is where John called home. There will never be another place like this. So it ends as it started, with all the lights out and eager anticipation of a brand new day.]

John: Larry, if you�re out there and can hear me. Thank you, it was you that made me enjoy his place. Along with Clash and dastardly tricks, I found somewhat amusing. It was you that really made me strive to better myself. I was a no one until you made me step up my game to bring it to your level. In essence, everyone wanted to be like you. Not in person but in popularity. To bad this mat never saw what you and I could have accomplished. It would have been 1 for the ages. The day you left, you took a huge part of ICW with you, and you took a piece of JCP with you. I was never the same. I tried to be the opposite of what you had become. For all the popularity I gained, I knew I wouldn�t be as great as you. This place has humbled me. The empty stage only reminds me of yester years. The Tommy Master and Charisma�s fighting for the silly little cheerleader on the pole. Who would have known? I do miss all you guys, the Rik Kendells and the Just Charles. Where as it all gone? I remember the good times. I remember them all, as if they were yesterday. These walls will never see the likes of ICW again for me, just empty dreams that will fade away like everything else. No one will cheer my name again as they did walking down this ramp. Oh how I miss the good old days.

[John holds his head low and day dreams of a better time in his life. Many of his dreams will die along with ICW. Many of his friends will be lost along with the closing of the doors. Where has it all gone? John pulls out a cigarette and starts to light it when Jessica Lang walks out from the shadow with a lighter.]

Jessica: [She stares around] I wasn�t here during the golden age of ICW. I wasn�t here during the KoTC 1 tournament nor was I here during US �vs- UK. I wasn�t here when you won the title over Charisma at I-Slam 2002, but I remember you John. I remember sitting at home and saying to myself, he�s finally where he deserves to be, on top. I told myself someday I�ll only dream to be as good as him. Do not take anything away from yourself John, you are a huge part of ICW. You held the torch after Larry left and you held it well. Never has the likes of you ever graced such walls. You were horrible and charming at the same time. Many people worked hard to make ICW great, and you were one of them, if not the greatest among them. These walls will come tumbling down John, but they wont erase what you have done. The strides you made to become the best, if not the greatest. No one was ever as versatile as you. Your promotions captured what this sport is all about. You brought out emotions like no other John. I knew that day you held the belt over your shoulders, you would surpass many that came before you. I�m sure that Larry would agree that you elevated his game as well. I�m sure that Rik would say that you were an interesting individual to say the least. And you were good if not great. That within itself is an honor. It doesn�t end here John, it began here but it won�t die here. You are to interesting to fade away. ICW was your home once, but it�s time to make OW your home. You made several people respect you John. What I liked most about you is that you went straight for what was meant for you, the world title. And there you stood high on your throne during one of the most intense times in ICW. You were great, and people hated you, not because what you said, but what they could never be. This place isn�t the end of the JCP legend, just the birthplace. And just like every other thing, we must move on. They�ll shut off the spot lights, but it�ll never dim your soul John. There is a presence about you that people want to be near you. I hope someday you�ll understand that you are the foundation to most of the history in this place. Everyone molded their names into ICW, but at the core, there is only a few of you, and you are one of them. I understand why it pains you to see the curtains come down on ICW, but this isn�t the last stop for JCP. There is work to be done. People forget that you came into ICW with NO experience. You didn�t have years of training under your belt. You didn�t have a resume with hundreds of other federations you�ve been in. I understand why you�re upset. JCP was born here, but don�t make his place where JCP died also. [Jessica extends her hand] Take my hand John, it�s time to move on, they are closing, and I don�t want to be stuck in here after hours.]

[John whispers into Jessica�s ear that he�ll be right out, she walks away and he kneels on one leg. He touches the dust covered mat which leaves his hand print, he lightly writes: Thank you for the good times� And he walks out. As the camera fades, scenes from ICW I-Slam ficker on the screen.]

Scene one:

[John is seen walking out the arena which once held ICW events. He throws a book bag over his shoulder and turns around one final time. John looks down on the floor and sees an old ticket stub, headlining the card was John Calvin Payne. Jessica walks behind him and slides her arm beneath his.]

Jessica: Can you believe it? People actually paid money to see you, $75 bucks? Someone really wanted to see you up close, just a normal Primetime event.

John: Either they wanted to see me, or wanted to see my ass get beat [John states in a low voice, Jessica smiles.].

Jessica: Then they would have been disappointed, cause all I remember was John doing the ass kicking. The Alpha and the Omega, the most electrifying man in sports entertainment.

John: Now, I heard that before.

Jessica: Can you believe this place is finally closed?

John: Nope. It�s like a dream. 2 years of my life I gave to that place. 2 years of blood, sweat, and tears. There was no other place I would rather have been then here. I really tired J. I really put some effort into being here. I actually trained and conditioned myself to make it. And I think I made it, what do you think?

Jessica: According to someone once upon a time, I�m pretty sure they thought you made it. [Jessica reaches down and picks up the ticket stub and slides it into John�s pocket] Maybe someday that ticket stub will read OW, and some eager young talent will stand in front of OW and think the same way you�re thinking right now. OW might never be as great as ICW, but you have to give it a chance John. The owner is young, it�s still developing.

John: I sometimes wonder what if there was no JCP? What if James never accepted my application, would it still be around?

Jessica: I�m not a fortune teller nor do I care to be one John, but I�m sure that ICW would have closed a lot sooner. Things would have been different, but it would have been for the worse.

[John remembers a time when his name lit the billboard for hundreds to see. The eager crowd lining blocks outside to get a sneak peek at John drive up to the arena. Those times linger in John�s mind. He starts to walk through the parking lot once filled with cars and screaming children eager to run into the arena and see their heroes take the stage and entertain them. John remembers the traffic and finding parking during a sold out event. He remembers the people wearing Alpha Omega jerseys and holding up signs saying the craziest things. Every step for John is like a trip through memory lane. Every breath recaptures scenes of past events. John heads back toward the arena.]

John: I need to see inside again. I need to say my good byes. I need to see the stage where I once was king. Where my dreams came true, where I held up the world title and thought to myself, that I was invincible. Maybe it was in different arenas in different locations, but it all lead back here, to ICW headquarters, where I once held office for a brief time. I need to see the poster walls and empty seats where once thousands came to see us perform. I need 1 last look inside J.

Jessica: [She holds up the key to the door] To my king, I give back the key to his palace and everything that�s inside it. Just be a little careful, cause the kings palace isn�t insured any longer.

[John smiles and starts back toward the arena. He opens the rust covered door to the back entrance and walks inside. The cover slow slams shuts�]