The identity of one changes with how one perceives reality - Vithu Jeyaloganathan
The scene begins with a camera shot of
Sam Masters standing in line at McDonalds inside an airport terminal. He has a cell phone pressed to his right ear as he waits for his food to be placed on the counter.
Yes, I understand that Mr. Novak.
*mumbled sounds on the telephone*
Of course, I will be more careful with where I lay my cigarettes.
*mumbled sounds on the telephone*
Well, Im very glad that the insurance will cover the cost of the fire damage.
A
McDonalds worker steps up behind the counter and places a tray of food on it.
Order #192!
Sam perks up to his number being called and begins to approach the food.
Again, Im very sorry about that fire, Im glad no one was hurt, but I have to go now. Ill send you my final rent next week. Okay, bye.
Sam quickly hangs up the phone and tosses it in his pocket. He sighs with relief after clearing things over with his
ex-landlord, Mr. Novak, on the phone. He picks ups his tray off the counter and he makes his way to a deserted table, with a quick stop at the napkin and condiment bar. Sam finally occupies the lonely table and begins to enjoy his food.
He begins to survey the terminal as he destroys each fry, one by one. His eye catches the flat screen placed inside the McDonalds area.
The Dark Knight is playing on the screen. Sam begins to have a strange feeling that the movie is oddly relevant to this moment. He smirks and then diverts his attention away from the movie. While taking a bite of his burger, his cell phone begins to ring. He pulls the burger away and swallows.
Damn it. (sighs)
Sam pulls his phone out of his pocket and looks at the Caller ID. Its a
number he doesnt recognize, but he answers it anyway.
Hello?
Hello Sam, this is a representative from the WZCW. We need to talk about cutting a promo for your upcoming match on Meltdown.
Oh, sure. What do you guys have in mind?
A black smoke begins to fume out from behind the McDonalds register counter. Sam sees it, but thinks nothing of it.
Well as a face we need to get you over with the fans. How about cutting a promo about your dead mother, and the fact that you are doing all of this for her.
No. Besides, thats what everyone is expecting me to do.
Alright. How about we capitalize on your damaged relationship with your father some more?
Thats a story that has been told too many times.
Alright. Well, we could just book you an interview with one of our interviewers.
Too easy, seems like a poor mans promo.
Okay, well then we can turn creative control over to you for your promo. If you have any ideas, please call us back.
Alright, sounds good. Talk to you later.
Bye
Sam hangs up the phone and begins to put his phone in his pocket. As he is placing his phone in his pocket, he examines the floor, which is now coated with a layer of black smoke.
What the hell?
Sam looks around and a musty blanket of black smoke has filled the floor of the terminal. Sam notices that all of the people in the terminal continue to go about their business, paying no attention to the ankle-high smoke. Sam rises from his chair and begins to examine the terminal. He notices that the smoke is flowing like a current from the north side of the terminal. He begins to follow the current upstream, hoping to find the source.
As Sam walks, the smoke kicks up behind his feet. He notices it slowly beginning to rise to knee level on all of those around him and himself. He turns to a man walking pass him.
Do you know where this smoke is coming from?
The man looks at him confused and continues walking. Sam notices a woman walking with her child pass him.
Mam, please? Have you heard anything about the smoke?
The woman shields her child from Sam and scurries away from him. Sam begins to panic a little as he continues to follow the smoke upstream. He passes a security guard who has his eyes glued on Sam. Sam looks away, worried about drawing attention to himself. The smoke is now thigh deep as Sam finally locates, from a distance, where the smoke is gushing from, the terminal bookstore.
Sam begins to walk faster towards the bookstore. The smoke is slowly rising up to waist level. The people in the terminal begin to watch Sam as he frantically makes his way to the bookstore. By the time Sam gets to the entrance, the smoke has risen to stomach level. Sam looks inside and sees a small table with an open book placed on it. Black smoke is flowing out of it like a fountain. Sams face is overcome with a puzzled look.
What is this?
Sam begins to walk towards the book as the smoke rises to chest level, everyone else in the bookstore is completely oblivious to the smoke as they read books and make small talk with each other. The closer Sam gets, the more smoke begins to omit from the book. Only a few steps away, the book shoots out a rushing flow of black smoke. It begins to push Sam back.
How is this happening?
Sam pushes forward as the smoke gushes harder and pushes Sam back further. The sound of gusting winds fill the bookstore, and smoke has completely filled the bookstore like a cavity.
Damn it! Im not going to be engulfed!
All of the sudden, a sound that resembles a firework popping occurs. A face outlined in the smoke pops out of the book and slowly drifts toward Sam. Sams eyes widen and he hesitates, allowing the smoke to push him back some more. Sam bows his head for a moment and a close up shows his face. He then lifts up his head with a smirk showering his lips.
The hell Im going to lose to something like this!
Charging full throttle, shoulder first; Sam charges toward the face outlined in the smoke. Sam bust through it and plows through the gushing smoke. He finally makes it to the book and grabs the ends with both hands. He slams the book shut on the table, and the smoke in the terminal begins to evaporate. Sam looks around and notices that the smoke is quickly disappearing.
Hell yeah!
Shhhhhhhhhh!
Sam looks over at the check-out desk and a
librarian has an index finger placed to her lips, signaling him to be quiet. Sam mouths the word, sorry. He turns his attention back to the book on the table, and then he feels a hand on his shoulder. A
teenager, wearing a backwards ball cap and grungy clothes, is looking at him with a grin.
Dude, its just a book. (chuckles)
The teenager walks away and Sam looks back at the book and grins.
Ya, I guess it is.
Sam looks up from the book. The camera angle transitions to a close-up shot of Sams face. Sam begins to turn and a 180 pan is done with Sams face as the focus of the shot. When Sams turn gets 90 degrees complete a faint crowd sound begins to be heard. The crowd sound gets louder until it is fully audible at 180 degrees. The camera pans back from Sams face and Sam is now dressed in his ring attire.
A camera shot from behind Sams shoulder shows a crowd through a set of curtains. It is revealed that Sam is backstage, waiting to debut in his inaugural match at Meltdown. Sam looks out through the curtains and sees black smoke fuming from the ring. Sam bites his lip.
Dude, its just a match.
Sam looks over to a
backstage worker who is waiting to give Sam the signal go down the ramp. Sam grins and looks back through the curtain.
Ya, I guess it is.
The crowds roar gets louder and Sam pops his knuckles.
Alright, 1,2,3. Go!
The camera black outs.
