An eye lid opens up and blinks a couple of times as it takes in light after being asleep for so long. The head bounces and moves a little as if it is riding along in a vehicle. The camera zooms out and we see Showtime sitting comfortably on a cushioned bench. A table is set in front of him and he stretches out on top of it and turns to look out the window. We see tall green trees and a picturesque mountain in the background. Also off in the distances is small lake that slowly comes move into view. Its surface is like crystal and we see a near perfect reflection of the mountain off it. Showtime turns back away from the window and we see that he is riding in a large passenger train. A waiter pushes a serving cart down the hallway and asks Showtime if he would like anything. Showtime turns down food, but accepts a glass of water. The waiter reaches into a lower compartment and offers Showtime some games to play. Showtime declines at first.....
Showtime: Do you have any Snakes and Ladders?
The waiter nods his head and pulls out a big game board and lays it on the table for him. Showtime thanks the waiter who continues on about his business. Showtime reaches down into his pocket and pulls out a large, black, 20 sided D&D dice. Showtime studies the die briefly and then rolls it, landing on 18. Showtime moves a small piece across the board and then rolls the die again, this time getting 14.
Showtime: Man, I'm making record time with this die!
Showtime continues to move his piece when he is approached by somebody.
?????: Showtime!
Showtime looks up from his seat and sees Becky Sierra standing beside him.
Sierra: What a surprise to see you on this train. Do you mind if I sit down?
Before Showtime can answer, Becky sits herself down across from him. She is carrying a binder and some books and lays them on the table. Showtime looks up at her as the edges of her books rests over his board. He grabs the die and rolls it again.
Sierra: What game are you playing?
Showtime: I'm not playing a game.
Sierra: Snakes and Ladders. I can see them on the board.
Showtime: Again, I'm not playing a game. I'm doing some research.
Sierra: I see that you are using a Dungeons & Dragons die.
Showtime: Correct. You sure know a lot about playing games.
Sierra: I sure do. I was the champion of family game night growing up. Something else I know a lot about, conducting wrestling interviews. Why don't we start one up since you're not busy.
Showtime groans as Becky opens up her binder and pulls out a pen. She scribbles down a couple quick notes then looks up at Showtime.
Sierra: I take it that this "research" has something to do with your opponent this week, Theron Daggershield..
Showtime: Can't get much past you Becky. Care to play as well?
Sierra: I thought we weren't playing a game.
Showtime: I'm not, but I know you'll view it as that. Roll a few times to catch up.
Becky picks up the die and rolls a very low number, 2, but lands on a ladder and jumps up the board. A couple more rolls and she has already passed Showtime.
Sierra: Woo hoo! This game is so easy with a big die.
Showtime: It sure seems that way, but when playing a game where your next outcome is determined by a roll of the die, you don't have a whole lot on control over what happens.
Showtime rolls a 6 and lands in between two snakes. Becky picks up the die and rolls a 19. She raises her hands up and cheers, but after counting her moves one at a time she finds that she has landed on a big long snake that sends her all the way near the bottom.
Showtime: You think you did well and rolled a great number, but in the end it can blow up right in your face.
Sierra: Are you saying that Theron relies too much on chance?
Showtime continues up the board and Becky rolls a 14 and lands on another ladder, putting herself right behind Showtime.
Showtime: Daggershield doesnt rely on chance, he lives in a world full of it. Daggershields life has been consumed by one game, to the point where he actually believes at times to be inside it. When you live in fantasy you feel like that you can control the outcome of what lies ahead, until reality comes crashing down to wake you up. Daggershield believes that his future is dependent on whatever number this little die shows.
Showtime rolls the die one last time and gets 9, hoping over Becky and landing on 100.
Showtime: This is a game right here, this is the only thing that this die can determine the outcome of. Inside the ring is a much different story. Inside the ring is reality. Bone crashing, head pounding, boot stomping reality. No die is going to predict how our match will end. When two people meet inside the ring, it is a test of will, strength, and cunning. I am among the elite in all three. Daggershield can roll as many high numbers as hed like, it still wont guarantee him victory just like it didnt for you Becky. Daggershield is a dreamer, who thinks hes a believer. He has no place inside a WZCW ring. Back when I won the Lethal Lottery, Daggershield wouldnt have lasted three months. Hes a walking joke who picked the right time to join WZCW when their talent is so low.
Sierra: Sounds like you hold quite the grudge against Theron, over what though? A silly interest? A make believe fantasy he lives in? Showtime you're an actor, you play make believe.
Showtime: You're right. I am actor, but I only play make believe from time to time, I don't actually live in make believe. Wrestlers like Daggershield, S.H.I.T., or Saboteur, who play dress up all the time, have no place inside a WZCW ring. People like them have no place in WZCW taking opportunities from guys who are way better inside the ring. This is wrestling, not a damn circus. The opportunities S.H.I.T. and Saboteur received should've gone to someone like Constantine. The opportunities Theron Daggershield has received should have gone to Winters.
Sierra: Speaking of your band of merry men, I'm surprised to not see you being flanked by either of them.
Showtime: They dont work for me Becky. This isnt some group of wrestlers that Im going to use to push myself back to the top. Im not Ty Burna, and we arent any apostles. For starters, were are equals in our partnership. We three share a similar goal for our careers and for WZCW, and we intend to make those goals a reality. Right now though I need to focus on myself for a minute. Since my return I have not been at my best. That must change as long as I continue to align myself with Winters and Constantine. Those two are the future of this company, and Im here to make sure they get there, and the best way to do that is to lead by example, this week against Daggershield.
Sierra: And then against Titus.
Showtime: Titus got the better of me at Unscripted, I admit it. No one has thought about that night more than me. I wont make that mistake again. When I step into the ring with Titus again his career will hang in my hands and I will end it.
Sierra: Was what happened on Ascension a warning?
Showtime: Our goals do not involve my petty feud with Titus. He is, however, part the problem, along side Ricky Runn, that we wish to end. As we speak, we are already talking about the plan ahead. Were tired of the oddities and the pretty slackers getting all the pushes. Its time that the more skilled and superior wrestlers get their breaks. What you saw on Ascension was just a taste of whats to come. When we three meet again inside the ring this week on Meltdown rest assured our words will be heard and our message understood, but our actions will speak much louder.
Showtime looks out the window. The trains bends round and round near huge cliffs. The mountains and valleys and lush green and be seen right through the window.
Sierra: It all looks so nice. I cant wait till we get to our destination.
Showtime: You mean you dont know where were going?
Sierra: No, I know where, its.....
Becky pauses. Unsure what the answer is.
Showtime: You dont recall where you were going when you got on the train?
Becky thinks long and hard about it.
Sierra: I.... dont remember getting on.
Showtime: Sounds like inception.
Sierra: Am I dreaming?
A pair of eyes open up. Becky blinks a few times and looks around. She is sitting by herself inside a train. She looks out the window and sees bare fields instead of lush mountains. She looks down at her lap and sees travel magazine with pictures of waterfalls and valleys and an ad for the movie Inception on HBO this month. She closes the magazine on her lap and chuckles to herself. The door at the back of the train car opens and a tall man steps through. Becky turns to look at him and sees that he is John Constantine. Becky is speechless as Constantine walks up to her. He sees her as he passes by and nods his head and then walks on. Near the end of the car, Constantine taps on the door of a private room. The door opens and over Constantines should she is can see Winters standing as another voice talks as Constantine closes the door.
