Selfish! He cannot believe this! After everything that he has taught her!
The scene opens to El Califa slamming a cab door closed before tossing numerous large bills up to the driver as Califa crumbles down into his seat. Califa can be heard muttering in Spanish under his breath when the driver looks back.
Driver: Dónde señor? (Where to sir?)
El Califa looks up at the driver and shakes his head, anger still wracking his body as he breathes heavily, his thoughts swirling through his mind too fast to really comprehend even the simplest question.
El Califa: Sólo ..... conducir durante el tiempo que el dinero dure. (Just.....drive for however long the money lasts.)
The driver nods and takes off, Califa slipping his hand over his mask as he grumbles to himself. The cab drives all around the city, taking the most scenic route though El Califa is too busy staring into his own mind to even pay attention to where they are at.
Driver: Algo que te moleste, señor? (Something bothering you sir?)
El Califa sheds off his sports coat and gets down to his white wife beater, his arm wresting on top of his knee as he looks up at the old weathered face looking back at him through the mirror. A weariness seems to spread over the driver's face, his eyes squinting in the setting sun.
El Califa: Hacer .... ¿no tienes alguna gafas de sol? (Do....do you not have any sunglasses?)
The driver simply shakes his head no as Califa tilts his head slightly to the side, his own problems seemingly melting away at the mention of this. El Califa finally sits up and pays attention to where he's at, a small market is nearby.
El Califa: Usted no puede pagar ellos? (Can you not afford them?)
Driver: Cada centavo debe ir al alquiler y la comida. Mi familia depende de ello, señor. (Every penny must go to rent and food. My family depends on it sir.)
Califa stares out at the market once more, the locals shopping for food and homemade knick knacks. He peers towards the stores, finally spotting what he's looking for. Here El Califa was throwing his anger at Amber Warren over a tradition that she was not born into, about a mask that those that were gifted with the ability to wrestle for a living would have even the remote chance to wear, when a simple man cannot even afford a pair of sunglasses to make it easier to do his job. Califa shakes his head as these realizations finally come to him. He looks up and quickly yells.
El Califa: ¡Alto! ¡Aquí mismo! (Stop! Right here!)
The driver quickly pulls to the side of the road near the market. Califa jumps out of the back and yells to the driver.
El Califa: Don't leave! El Califa will be right back!
Califa runs through the market to the small sunglasses stand next to a homemade toy store. He spins through the selections, finally choosing a slightly larger pair. A group of children have begun to gather around the stand, many recognizing El Califa's mask. They excitedly yell up to him as Califa looks down to them. He nods his head to them before the cashier gives him the total. He looks to the children then to the driver waiting for him. Reaching into his pocket he once again drops a good amount of money on the counter.
El Califa: Ensure these children all get a toy!
With that Califa swoops up the sunglasses and bounds over to the cab. Jumping in the backseat he reaches and tries to hand the sunglasses to the driver.
El Califa: Aquí señor! Por favor, tome estos si van a hacer más fácil para ti. (Here sir! Please take these if they will make it easier on you.)
The man looks back at Califa and merely shakes his head. Califa tilts his head to the side as the man simply pushes El Califa's hand back to him.
Driver: No puedo aceptar esto. Yo no los he ganado bastante. Usted ve, mucha gente va por la vida teniendo cada hoja que pueden. Si la gente es aprender lo que realmente significa estar vivo, entonces deben ver ganar a su manera en esta vida. Las gafas de sol me ayudaría, sí, pero no son esenciales para mí. Gracias por su generosidad, pero por favor, respete el honor de este anciano. (I cannot accept these. I have not earned them fairly. You see, many people go through life taking every handout they can. If people are to learn what it truly means to be alive, then they must see earn their own way in this lifetime. The sunglasses would help me yes, but they are not essential to me. Thank you for your generosity, but please, respect this old man's honor.)
Califa goes silent, his head still tilted slightly as the driver slowly pulls away from the curb and back into traffic. Califa still holds the sunglasses in his hand, still slightly extended for several moments before finally withdrawing them to seat next to him. Crossing his legs Califa looks out at the people towards the end of the market, people less fortunate then him, but no less buying their own food and items.
El Califa: El Califa has made a mistake. He should not have treated Amber Warren like that. She was only doing what would honor her and her accomplishments. El Califa has ruined that honor for her. He carries no pride, only shame now this.
Califa lowers his head to the glass of the windows as the sun sets off in the distance, and the stars and moon begin to take their center stage in the sky. Califa looks up as the driver clears his throat.
Driver: You shouldn't be so hard on yourself young man. This Amber you're talking about, she means a lot to you doesn't she?
Califa looks down at the dragon pendant hanging from his necklace, running his thumb along it before answering quietly.
El Califa: Si.
Driver: You didn't grow up with money did you? Your generosity speaks of a man who has seen the lowest parts of this world.
El Califa: El....I was born and raised in the barrios of Houston. My family had little to no money. I did what was necessary to make sure my family survived, even if I went without food.
Driver: Not every person wants to be handed something by someone else, even though personally they have earned it. They do not feel as if it is their own, it becomes an accomplishment handed down from another. You speak of tradition, but sometimes you must set aside tradition for the honor of others.
El Califa takes in the words of the old man, his head nodding quietly as he listens. Several moments pass when Califa looks up and recognizes the neighborhood just near his gym.
El Califa: You can stop now sir.
Driver: Are you sure? Your money isn't all used up yet.
El Califa: He is sure. Home is just around the corner and El Califa would like to walk.
The driver nods and pulls over to the side of the road. Califa grabs his sports coat and the sunglasses as he exits the vehicle. He walks over to the driver's window and hands him a healthy tip, and slides the sunglasses into his hand as well.
Driver: I told you I won't accept this. This is a gift I can't take young man.
El Califa: Who said it was a gift sir? El Califa considers it part of your tip for having just the right words for him.
The old man's mouth drops slightly before breaking into a smile and a laugh, Califa sharing it with him. He nods his head to Califa who returns the favor as the cab takes off. Califa watches on before he begins walking towards his gym as the scene fades to black briefly. It comes back to El Califa standing in the center of the ring in his gym, his full robe on and the hood pulled over his head. A single light is on, almost like a spotlight over the ring as he crosses his arms and stares forward.
El Califa: Wrestlers come and go, never appreciating what this business exactly is. They claim to love it, saying it is in their blood to perform. And yet the moment they have even the bit of glory and fame, they believe themselves to be the greatest ever. Such foolish thoughts lead to a weakened state, an aloofness that has seen the downfall of many men before them. What honor is there in creating a false idol in a belt such as yours Ricky Runn? What honor is there in El Califa Dragon standing here and doing nothing about the sorry state of WZCW?!?!
Califa's arms drop down to the side as he walks over to the corner, his half of the WZCW World Tag Team Championship resting on the belt buckle. He runs his hand down the gold engravings before turning quickly to the camera.
El Califa: Showtime Cougar says he no longer needs wrestling, that he no longer needs the spotlight to shine. And yet here he is still, hypocritical in his words and his actions. The moment you claim you are bigger than the business is the moment you see the business pass you by. El Califa Dragon will never be that egotistical! He is but a cell in the blood stream of wrestling, and every day he works harder to remain a viable breathing part of it. There is no luck involved with him, only hard work and dedication to his craft. This why he had built this damn gym in the first place! To take the likes of Ricky Runn and Amber Warren and make them see what it truly takes to be successful. No shortcuts, no backing into anything. Every line in the sand is one that is earned. So answer me Ricky, can you truly draw that line? Do you have the creed to say what mountaintop you reign over?
Califa picks up his title belt and drapes it over his shoulder, both arms wrapped around it securely as he climbs up to the second turnbuckle, staring outside the ring before pointing to the camera.
El Califa: Ricky Runn! El Califa Dragon carries his title with pride! Can you say the same? When you dress what was once a prestigious title dressed as a mere child's toy? Do you enjoy scarring the very vestige that every wrestler in the world wishes to achieve? El Califa congratulates you Ricky for surviving the two brutal matches you have, but now that you have survived, you now step into this Dragon's Lair! No weapons, no Cell to use to your advantage, you walk into my domain, where skill and determination is the ultimate decider! So Ricky, do you believe yourself to have more skill than El Califa Dragon? Prepare yourself, for this dragon will be prepared to bite your head off the moment you lose focus.
Laughter seems to reach the masked man as he lowers his arm before lifting his title up high into the air, the gold gleaming slightly in the dim light.
El Califa: A thought just occurred to El Califa. It is not the title belt that represents the champion, it is the will and the spirit of the competitor that represents the champion! You Ricky Runn are no champion! You are only one in name only, not like how El Califa and Amber Warren represent true warriors in this ring. Because you carry a toy that represents the real World Champion, you are proclaimed the greatest singles wrestlers in WZCW correct? El Califa is ready to show you how wrong you are Ricky Runn. There will be no running or hiding as this dragon is ready to seek out the blasphemer and silence him once and for all.
Califa lowers his title belt down and sets it on the ropes as he suddenly steps up and springs off the turnbuckle, corkscrewing through the air before landing on his feet, his arms crossed and his back to the camera.
El Calfia: For this is El Califa Dragon.
The camera spins around and centers in on Califa's front as he slowly lifts his head up, the camera zooming in on his mask.
El Califa: And at Meltdown 101, he shall slay the World Heavyweight Champion!
The scene cuts out.
