The scene opens to Sam Smith sitting in what appears to be a confessional room. The air is silent until, finally, Smith begins to talk.
Smith: Forgive me, my father. For I have sinned
.
Priest: What are your sins, my son?
Smith: I have deviated off my course of good, and have become nothing but a sinner. I no longer have a code of morality inside of me. I look in the mirror and I cannot recognize what I have become
I am too power hungry for my own good, father.
Priest: My son, dont fear what you have become, but rather attempt to better yourself. Look deep inside of yourself, you will always find that inherent good that was once there.
Smith: I have tried many, many times, my father. I cannot seem to find it. I am being tested, or so it seems. I believe that unless I right my wrongs soon, my life will get worse and just plain unbearable.
Priest: Have no fear, son. You are not the first lost soul I have encountered, nor will you be the last
But just remember this: I believe in you, and God is very forgiving. You can right your wrongs, as long as you truly wish to. Now, be gone, my son. You have greater things to attend to.
Smith: Thank you, father.
Smith walks down the wood paneled corridor, the scene fades out and comes back and now, Smith is standing at a podium. There is a casket next to him, it is obviously a funeral.
Smith: Thomas Whitaker was a great man. He was like a father to me. He taught me everything I know, and I owe more to him than I will ever be able to repay.
Smith begins to get choked up, but continues on.
Smith: When I received that fateful call not too long ago, it felt as if my entire inner core had been torn apart and thrown onto the pavement in front of me. I had long been dreading such a call. Thomas was very sick and frail, but whenever I looked at him
I couldnt believe that his time was almost up. He refused to go down without a fight. He refused to allow his sickness to tear him down. He enjoyed his life
until the bitter end.
Smith pauses for a second, looking off into the crowd.
Smith: Now, you see, I met Thomas when I was still just a kid. It was my first year of law school, and he was the guest speaker. I was truly awestruck when he walked into the room. He seemed to be such a caring person, but had an aura of greatness around him. I couldnt believe he was willing enough to take time out of his busy schedule, just so that he could talk to a random bunch of kids who he would never meet again, most of whom were not even listening.
Smith clears his throat. In the silence that follows the mass of people in attendance can clearly be heard shedding tears.
Smith: That day absolutely changed my life, because to me
It was not just another guest speaker, but to me it was somebody we could learn from. I intently listened to everything he had to say, and then after he was done I approached him and shook his hand. We talked for a little bit, and he gave me his phone number. Told me to call him whenever I needed something. Then, over the years we got very close. After I graduated from law school, he got me a job at his law firm. He watched over me and made sure I always had what I needed.
Smith: I remember all the times he would take me home with him after work so that I could get a home cooked meal from his wife Martha, may she rest in peace. I was a foolish young man, I spent my money on superficial things not caring enough to buy the simple things I needed, but Thomas knew that. He had once been in the same position as me. Young, brash, money to spend. It makes you feel invincible.
Smith pauses again, a look of pure sorrow on his face.
Smith: Martha and Thomas just
. Were two of the most caring people I had ever met. They cared about my needs. They were like parents to me, and they even told me I was like the son they had never had. Then, one day, tragedy struck. Martha had passed on. I was crushed. I didnt know what to do, but Thomas somehow persevered. He helped me through it. He told me that, she was in a better place, that she would watch down upon us, that her pain was finally gone
Somehow, that made me feel so much better.
Smith: Soon after that, I became fed up with our profession. I was surprised by how rotten people were. I would speak to Thomas about it every night, and he would always say, Just dont become one of those people, Sam. I always thought about that, it led to my decision to become a pro wrestler. I remember telling Thomas about it and he never flinched. He was proud of me for following my heart, and for being a good person. I then left home for years, to better myself as a wrestler, but in doing that
I lost what was most important: My sense of right and wrong. I had become the very thing I had tried to run away from when I left the profession, but I was too blind to see it.
Tears begin to roll down Smiths cheeks, but he presses on.
Smith: Even though all that had happened to me, Thomas was still proud. I called him the night I had received my WZCW contract, and he was as happy as could be. He kept on telling me how proud he was, and that made me feel good too. Its funny, because we were the last thing the both of us had. We had nobody else to go to. Yet, we hadnt seen each other since I had left to become a wrestler.
Smith lets out one huge sob.
Smith: Right before I got the news of Thomas death I was planning on visiting him for the first time in years, but that wasnt meant to be. I blame myself for his death, because, I feel that it was punishment for all my bad deeds. Even after I found out about his death, I was still up to the same thing. I attempted to keep Everest from his title shot, but
he humbled me. Never again will I do such a thing.
An intense look is upon Smiths face.
Smith: I will go out this week, versus Mark Hancock, and win the match fair and square. I will make you proud of me once again Thomas, I will win this match for you.
Smith: Rest in peace, Thomas Whitaker. You were one of the finest men Ive ever known, and I loved you for it... and so did every single one of these people here. Thomas Whitaker, is a hero, someone who should be looked up to... he proved that in his life.
Smith begins to walk away from the podium, he can be seen pointing to the sky, clearly mouthing the words "I'll miss you."
