[Nic Totopoulous' friend is sitting in the TNT Wrestling locker room wrapping tape around his wrists.  He is wearing a hat on his head and is in his wrestling gear.  He looks like he's getting ready to go out to the ring for a match.  He cuts the tape with his teeth and places the roll down.  Just then Nic Totopoulous walks through the door.  His blonde hair is tied back, he is wearing a black Nic Totopoulous T-shirt and a pair of black jeans.  He walks over to his friend who now stands up to say hello.]

Hey Joe, what's going on?

[Nic walks over and the two shake hands.]

Not too much man.  I mean that literally.  So far during these try-out matches I've been undefeated, and I still haven't gotten a contract offer from Marcel man.

Listen, he'll give you that contract off all right?  Just keep winning, and he can't deny true talent.

Ya I know that.  It just makes me wonder though, you know?  I haven't had a difficult match yet, and for some reason I'm still wrestling in these stupid try-out matches.

Just relax man.  Like I said, you'll get your shot at the big time bud, it's only a matter of time.

I certainly expect so.  So what's up with you right now?  You're going around challenging the World Champion right now?

Well sure, why not?

Telling him he should have the match because of the pay-off?  You know he has lots of money, he doesn't care about the pay-off.

And I don't have lots of money?

Well...

Besides, he wants to give the money to charity.  That's cool with me.  I've got lots of money, I don't really need any more above my regular pay check.

Ya that's a good point man.

What I really want to get out of the match is the great amount of publicity.  Just think about the great publicity for TNT Wrestling.  Just think about what it will mean for everyone on the roster.  It will be the greatest for everyone.  Everyone will want to watch the match, so everyone will watch the entire show.

Ya it does sound great.  But what about me?  I need a job man.  I have no money, and Marcel is paying me nothing for all these tryout matches.

Well listen, about your problem.  What I can do is talk to Marcel for you.  I mean I'm the man around here, I'm the franchise player around this place.  I've got some stroke, I'll get you in.
 

 

Hey thanks man.  I knew you would be able to come through for me.  I mean I've been beating these chumps for the past few weeks, entertaining fans, and I've got nothing.

Listen, try to scrounge up a few tapes from EWF and WWW and I'll give them to Marcel.  We'll watch them, and I'll convince him to sign you on.

Awesome.  You are the greatest.

Well ya, I know.  Of course I am.

No seriously man.  I think you are.  I mean you've really seemed to catch your stride these past few weeks.

Of course I have.  Other than that little mix up with Mirror last week, I have been at my best man.  But this Sunday night man, it's going to be the best night of my life.  It'll give me the chance to put that stupid Michael Edwards in his place.

I know what you mean.  That guy is so arrogant.  I tried to talk to him the other day, and he blew me off.  I wanted to ask him for some advice, I was going to ask him...

What?  Advice?  Man you can just come to me.  Why would you ask him when you know I'm the best around here?

Well, uh...  You weren't around man.  I looked everywhere for you.  Do you know how hard it can be to find you sometimes?  You're just so important, and just so needed all of the time, I just assumed you were doing something important.

Of course I was.  When am I not doing something important?

See, that's what I'm talking about.  Always busy, always busy.

[Then there is an awkward pause, but Totoloulous' friend Joe chimes in.]

Hey, how did your autograph signing go?

Oh ya, that.  Well, it went...  Great!  It couldn't have gone any better.  The people there loved me.  My hand is still sore from all of the autographs I signed.  It was great to meet so many of my fans.

How many do you think were there?

Too many to count man.

That's great!

What?  You don't believe me?

Of course I do.  Why wouldn't I?  The people love you.

Right, of course.  Duh, how silly of me.

Are you okay?

Ya man.  Well, not really.

What's the matter?

I just don't understand fans man.  I do everything I can to make them like me.  Isn't winning the way to make fans like you?  It's always worked in the past.  I do whatever I can to win, and they still boo me.  I mean the autograph signing didn't go as great as I said.

No?

No.  It was brutal.  It was going well, then some girl came and ruined everything.  They all left chanting for Edwards.

Well they do love him.

Ya I know.  How do I make them love me again?

Well you idiot, you did kidnap his girlfriend.  That was pretty stupid as far as I'm concerned.  The fans love him right?

Right.

Well then stealing his girlfriend is just going to make them crap all of you.  I thought you were smart enough to know that.

Of course I am.

Listen, you need to forget about the fans, and concentrate on winning.  Who cares if they like you or not?  Isn't winning important?  Isn't getting the big pay cheque important?

Well of course they are.

Then dump them.

Maybe.

Maybe?  Do it!
 

 

Ha, maybe.  That might just work.  I mean I do need to win, and I do need money.

Exactly.  See what I'm saying?

I think I just might.  It's going to be hard, and it has been hard getting booed recently.

Well I've been booed all my life.

Look where it's got you.

Hey, but you are World Champion material, I'm still working my way up.

I am better than you.  You make a good point.

Hey man, don't go too far with that.

Ha!  Ha!  I am so much better than you.  But you should have a spot on the roster though.  You are better than half of the people here.

Well I'm better than more than half.  I understand that I need to work my way up the roster, but I just want a chance.  So you'll talk to Marcel for me?

Only if you get those tapes.

Sounds like a good deal.

All right, I'll talk to you later man.

[Joe leaves the dressing room and Totopoulous sits down as the scene fades to black.]