The scene opens up to reveal a rundown neighborhood. The sun is barely creeping up behind the buildings as its early in the morning. Trash litters the street and the buildings look as sad as their inhabitants must be to live there. The scene moves through the neighborhood until it reaches a dilapidated-looking gym. It looks as if the owners havent kept up with it in decades. There are many chips in the paint and cracks in the windows in the front. The sign across the top crookedly reads All Star Wrestling.
Inside, Jason Armstrong is already hard at work training, despite the fact that most of the city is still sleeping. He is wearing a gray All Star Wrestling shirt and black gym shorts as he spars against another member of the gym. His training partner is given dominant position to begin the spar. Armstrong swiftly works his way off his back and flips his partner over. Armstrong moves into side control before quickly pinning his partners shoulders to the mat. Armstrong gets up and offers his partner a hand.
Good sparring there, man. You still have a lot to work on, but youve come a long way since youve started. Keep it up. Lets take five and well start again.
Armstrong walks over to his gym bag and pulls out a towel and a bottle of water. He takes a swig of water and wipes his sweaty face off with the towel. He puts them back in his bag and grabs his cell phone. He notices that he has an email notification. Armstrong opens it and his face lights up as he realizes he has received the email he has been waiting for. His first match for WZCW has been announced, and its at Aftershock against Daniel Dela Cruz.
Armstrong is noticeably excited and calls out to his training partner.
Hey! Lets actually take 10! My debut match for WZCW was announced! Ive got a phone call to make. Ill be back in a minute.
Armstrong steps outside the gym and onto the dirty sidewalk. He paces around while going to the contacts on his phone. He finally finds the name he was looking for: Chelsea. Hes sure his ex-wife will love the news and that this will be the first step to getting his family back. He takes a few deep breaths and gathers his nerves before clicking on her name and hitting call. This is the first time theyve spoke since the divorce. He paces nervously and is biting on his fingernails as the phone rings. Finally, he hears a voice on the other line. He voice trembles with nerves as he begins to speak.
Hey. Chelsea? Its me Jason. Dont hang up! Dont hang up!
He waits for just a moment to make sure shes still on the line.
I know youve told me not to ever call you. And I know you never want to see me again, but its been so hard to live without you. Im sick of being a failure and Ive decided to make a change. I know Ive told you that before, but this time I mean it. Im really getting my act together.
Armstrong waits as his ex-wife tells him she isnt going to fall for his lies again. She berates him for calling her so early and waking her up. Over half a decades worth of pain etches itself across Armstrongs face as his ex-wife speaks.
I know I was a terrible husband. I know I was a terrible father to Jeremy. But I want to be back in your life. I want to be back in his life. I want to be the father that Jeremy deserves to have. Thats why I made the change. Im sober now. I havent touched alcohol in months. Im training now, too. Its all turning around for me.
He listens as his ex-wife tells him all the times hes screwed up and asks why she should believe him this time. He leans his head against the wall outside the gym.
Its the truth. I used to not be able to go a day without drinking. Now I havent even looked at alcohol in months. Im back in the gym training. Im actually standing outside the gym now. I also have my debut match for WZCW at the next Aftershock.
His wife asks him what he is thinking.
Wrestling is all I know. Wrestling is all I have. You saw what happened to me when I couldnt wrestle. It ruined my life. Everything I loved was taken away from me when I couldnt wrestle. Now, Im fighting to get my life back. Im fighting for you. Im fighting for Jeremy. Im fighting for us. Im going to WZCW to try to prove to you that Im not a failure and that I do have some good left in me. I regret everything thats happened between us, and I am competing in WZCW to try to right all those wrongs. Everyone deserves a second chance and Im cashing mine in.
He is on the verge of tears as he thinks about everything he has put Chelsea and Jeremy through, and how the only things hes ever loved were taken away from him. She asks him who he is competing against. He stands up straight and runs his fingers through his short hair and his stubbly beard before he answers.
Daniel Dela Cruz.
Chelsea doesnt sound impressed and says shes never heard of him.
Hes also making his debut at Aftershock. Hes a very talented wrestler whos worked his way up the independent scene. Hes a very impressive high-flyer and will be a good challenge for my first match here. Daniel has a fantastic set of amazing moves that Im going to have to be on the lookout for. Im going to have to make sure to use my amateur skills to keep him on the mat. If I keep him grounded, there is now way he can use his death-defying moves. Ive been working on my cardio and speed to try to be able to keep up with him. Ive also been working on my mat skills to make sure I can keep him grounded.
Debuting in the same match isnt the only thing me and him have in common. Daniel and I are both out to prove something. Im out to show you that I want to have you back. Daniel is out to prove that he can hang with the big boys. He is a tough kid. Hes got a lot of fight in him. He has a bright future in wrestling if he keeps his head on straight.
Chelsea makes a remark about Armstrong not knowing about keeping his head on straight. Armstrong chooses to ignore it and continues talking about Dela Cruz.
The kid has all the heart in the world. But it doesnt matter how big your heart is when youre in the ring with me. Im one of the best amateur wrestlers of all time. Ive been through too much Hell, Ive put us through too much to start my career off with a loss. Dela Cruz does have talent and a bright future, but unfortunately for him, he is going to have to put that bright future on hold for at least one week. There is no way Im letting him beat me. There is no way Im going to allow myself to lose. I must win this match. I have too much to lose to not win this match. If Daniel loses, its just a bad start to his career. If I lose, it could be the end of my life. It would ruin this chance before it ever begins. I must win this match to prove to you and Jeremy that I am serious about changing. This is just the first stop on getting my life straightened back out.
Armstrong runs his fingers through his beard once again.
Can I talk to Jeremy?
Armstrong looks down to the ground as his wife says no to his request.
I understand. Please let him watch Aftershock this week so he can see his daddy doing the on this hes good at. He never got the chance to before. How about we make a deal? If I win my match against Daniel, then I can talk to Jeremy.
A big grin creeps across his face as Chelsea says shell think about it.
Alright. Ill take that. Its a whole lot better than I usually get. Im going back to training. I want to make sure Im at the top of my game for Aftershock. I dont want to let you and Jeremy down. I dont want to let myself down. I cant ruin my second chance before it ever gets started.
Armstrong hesitates for a moment as if hes trying to figure out if he should say what hes thinking. He decides to go for it.
I love you.
There is silence on the other line. He decides to repeat it.
I said I love
Chelsea hung the phone up before he had a chance to say it again. It hurts, but he is going to use it as motivation during his match against Dela Cruz, as if he needed anymore. He goes back into the gym and starts sparring with his training partner again. He knows he needs all the training possible if he wants to make a successful debut. He knows his second chance may be his last.
