Garth Black is in a training gym, talking to Annabel. There is ring ropes set up in a square on the floor behind them, with a ladder in the middle of the ring. Jonny Klamor appears in the room.
Could I have a few minutes to talk about your match at the upcoming PPV?
I don't see why not, go ahead.
Right, well you find yourself pitted against the Daves in a ladder match, a match you've never fought in before, does that worry you?
No, because I am a wrestling chamaleon and I can change and adapt. That being said, the ladder has been around for 10,000 years, and I have climbed a few in my lifetime, and I have been in many, many wrestling matches as it is my job, so it won't be that foreign an environment to me, to be perfectly honest.
We haven't seen you much with Phoenix over the past few weeks, why do you think that might be?
I have no idea, but I think its because the powers that be are afraid. They are afraid that the Second Coming will get too powerful and will overthrow them. They're right, the better we get, the more powerful we become, the less room there will be for the liars that plague this company.
I am sick to death of being pushed around by these people, and neither I nor Phoenix will stand for it any longer. The Daves will find themselves being made an example of, we're not going to beat them, we're going to embarrass them, humiliate them, we're going to knock them down till they can't get back up. Big Dave will be made to feel as small as your genitalia on a bitter November day, Mr Klamor, and Ace David, well lets just say that his luck has ran out. The ace of spades won't mean anything when I hit you with a club, and Phoenix hits you with a spade, and I'm not talking metaphorically. While we remain as hard as diamonds and the new Tag Team Champions while you nurse your broken heart.
Calm down, Garth
I AM CALM!
You see, Klamor, this ladder match is more than just a simple matter of who is better at climbing. We already know that me and Phoenix are, after all I don't think Big Dave is about as quick as you are to the salad bar, and I don't think he has the cognative ability to put one foot after another and climb. As for Ace, well he's much like Becky Serra's underwear. Very good at falling down, not so good at staying up. Or smelling fresh, but I digress. What I mean is that I expect Ace to climb the ladder at least once during the match. I also expect him to be thrown off it, quite spectacularly.Then your colleagues will talk of the sacrifices that will be made in this match.
You know that for a fact, do you?
Yes, I do, because you are predictible. If you were genuinely good journalists and broadcasters, you wouldn't be working here now would you? But you know what, for once the WZCW announcers will have it right, there will be sacrifices made for the cause, and the Daves are lambs to the slaughter.
We are the resurrection and we are the light of this business, but for a resurrection, there has to be a death, and unfortunately for the Dave's, its not going to be me or Phoenix. I have nothing else to say on the matter, so if you don't mind Jonny, I'd like to prepare.
Ok, and thanks for your clarity, as always.
Klamour leaves
Why are you so errm aggressive?
You have to be with these people, they are too stupid to understand rational thought. There are only two people that aren't beneath me in this compant, yourself and Phoenix, and I don't waste my time on niceties to anyone else.
But the other week you seemed so nice to whashisname, that pirate fella.
A matter of necessity, if I wasn't nice around him, we'd never have worked as a team.
Right. Are you really so chonfident about the match?
Of course I am! You need a little intelligence to win a ladder match, a little strategy, you can't rely on brute force or dumb luck like the Daves have for so long and that is why Phoenix and I will win.
I've been practicing the Black Death on a ladder, and my speed, there's no way that we'll lose. That's why that ring is here, so I can practice. Don't worry about us losing, because we won't
I'm worried about you, not you losin'.
I'll be fine! Look I'll show you.
Garth gives Annabel a stopwatch
Look, after a high impact move, which the Second Coming have in abundance, wrestlers take 13 seconds to get back up. Start the watch.
Black springboards off the ropes onto the ladder, he scuttles up to the top and raises his arms in the air.
How long was that?
Err, 12.9 sechonds.
See, I'll win before they are up. Easy.
Ok, I'll errr leave you to do more prachtice.
Annabel leaves as we see Black continue to train in the background.