Post by gvb on Oct 23, 2020 16:54:42 GMT -6
1x02 ...PER ASPERA
The Gym
October 19th
2:13 PM
We see Dez Ali (sporting a black MWE The Academy t-shirt and red wrestling trunks) sitting on a bench inside The Academy gym, lacing his left black boot, when someone walks in. As Dez looks up, he notices his father and leader of Team Ali Michael Ali (wearing a white and grey Team Ali "We Are The Future" t-shirt, black Levi's jeans and black & white Nike sneakers) standing in front of him, looking down at him. Dez carries his focus back on lacing his boots.
Dez Ali:
What you want dad?
There is a not so welcoming tone in the voice of the twenty year old son of the wrestling legend.
Michael Ali:
We need to talk.
Dez Ali:
Talk?!
Michael Ali:
Yeah about your match.
Dez mumbles to himself.
Dez Ali:
Bout my match.
Dez smiles as he finishes the lacing of his boots and stands up face to face with Michael Ali.
Dez Ali:
I don't have time for this... Excuse me.
He moves past his father and picks up his bag from the floor. He opens it and takes out a roll of white sport tape.
Michael Ali:
Well you're going to make to time to listen to not just your father, but your coach.
Dez drops the bag onto the floor, making a loud echo in the empty gym.
Dez Ali:
Why?! To listen to one of your lectures and speeches? Look, I admit. I got way over my head last week. I got excited, and screwed up.
Michael Ali:
I selected you, my son, the first on my team and you were the second to be eliminated. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was, not just for me, but for the entire Ali Legacy? Millions tuned in to watch the premiere, the future, the crown prince to the Ali Empire, you, .......lose.
Dez Ali:
Yeah dad!!!! I'm a failure, an embarrassment and guess what? .....I actually learned my lesson.
Michael looks at his son, as Dez begins to wrap tape over his right hand and wrist.
Michael Ali:
And what lesson is that son?
Dez Ali:
Really dad?! You going to stand there and ask me, what lesson?
Michael Ali:
What are you talking about? And why all the hostility?
Dez Ali:
You know what I am talking about dad.
Michael Ali:
No I don't.
Dez Ali:
Look, I don't have time for this, or you and your damn lectures and lies.
As Ali tries to walk pass his father looking to go to the exit, Michael grabs his much smaller son by the arm.
Michael Ali:
Watch your mouth with me boy.
Dez looks at him.
Dez Ali:
Or what?! You going to send your thugs after me, to teach me another lesson.
A concernrd look appears on the face of Dez' father.
Michael Ali:
I don't know what you are talking about, talk to me. What thugs?
Dez Ali simply shrugs and walks off heading to the lockerroom and closing the door behind him, leaving his father confused and worried.
Dez Ali:
What you want dad?
There is a not so welcoming tone in the voice of the twenty year old son of the wrestling legend.
Michael Ali:
We need to talk.
Dez Ali:
Talk?!
Michael Ali:
Yeah about your match.
Dez mumbles to himself.
Dez Ali:
Bout my match.
Dez smiles as he finishes the lacing of his boots and stands up face to face with Michael Ali.
Dez Ali:
I don't have time for this... Excuse me.
He moves past his father and picks up his bag from the floor. He opens it and takes out a roll of white sport tape.
Michael Ali:
Well you're going to make to time to listen to not just your father, but your coach.
Dez drops the bag onto the floor, making a loud echo in the empty gym.
Dez Ali:
Why?! To listen to one of your lectures and speeches? Look, I admit. I got way over my head last week. I got excited, and screwed up.
Michael Ali:
I selected you, my son, the first on my team and you were the second to be eliminated. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was, not just for me, but for the entire Ali Legacy? Millions tuned in to watch the premiere, the future, the crown prince to the Ali Empire, you, .......lose.
Dez Ali:
Yeah dad!!!! I'm a failure, an embarrassment and guess what? .....I actually learned my lesson.
Michael looks at his son, as Dez begins to wrap tape over his right hand and wrist.
Michael Ali:
And what lesson is that son?
Dez Ali:
Really dad?! You going to stand there and ask me, what lesson?
Michael Ali:
What are you talking about? And why all the hostility?
Dez Ali:
You know what I am talking about dad.
Michael Ali:
No I don't.
Dez Ali:
Look, I don't have time for this, or you and your damn lectures and lies.
As Ali tries to walk pass his father looking to go to the exit, Michael grabs his much smaller son by the arm.
Michael Ali:
Watch your mouth with me boy.
Dez looks at him.
Dez Ali:
Or what?! You going to send your thugs after me, to teach me another lesson.
A concernrd look appears on the face of Dez' father.
Michael Ali:
I don't know what you are talking about, talk to me. What thugs?
Dez Ali simply shrugs and walks off heading to the lockerroom and closing the door behind him, leaving his father confused and worried.
The Stairs
October 21st, 2020
4:38 PM
Trinity Thompson:
Hey pops...
The younger student of the Academy was sitting on the stairs leading the upper, floor where the bedrooms are situated. No one else was around, the rest of the students were attending Marissa Kanesson's "Striking 101" seminar but the girl from Naptown decided that this call was more important.
Trinity Thompson:
Oh no, not a bother.. I was just attending some class, said I needed to go to the bathroom.
A pause as the person on the other side spoke. Trin quickly shook her head.
Trinity Thompson:
No no no... Don't hang up, like I said it's no biggie.
She smiled, but her eyes glanced downstairs. She could hear Marissa's authoritative voice coming from the Gym. The Bejing Silver Medalist was sharing her knowledge and experience with the class, a unique chance to learn from "one of the best to ever do it" as her best friend Tiana described the swedish sensation. You could tell that she was regretting missing part of the lesson.
Trinity Thompson:
Yeah, I'm loving it here. Place is awesome, my fellow students are pretty cool... Especially T, she's the toughest girl I met, and also the nicest. Always ready to help, we get along really well..
Another pause, allowing her dad to speak.
Trinity Thompson:
Yeah, sucks that I have to fight her this friday.. I mean, it's kind of a big deal, she's the champ and all... I just don't feel too comfortable on fighting her.
She nodded in silence, agreeing with whatever was being said on the other side of the line.
Trinity Thompson:
I know, I know. I'll do my best, as always.
She smiled, but it soon faded as she listened to what the man had to say.
Trinity Thompson:
No, not yet. It's... Harder than I thought it'd be.
She let out a sigh, clearly unhappy with how that situation, whatever it be, was evolving.
Trinity Thompson:
I'll see what I can do. I'm going to my first PPV this weekend...
She was cut short by her father.
Trinity Thompson:
No, not wrestling. Just as a spectator.
Again she nodded, the smile resurfacing on her lips.
Trinity Thompson:
That's the plan pops!
The enthusiasm didn't last long.
Trinity Thompson:
I hate it... Promise you'll call again soon? Good. Bye dad.... Wait, hold up a second!
She squeezed her eyes, hoping her father didn't hang up already. When she heard his voice, she simply said.
Trinity Thompson:
Love you!
And with that, the conversation ended.
The Lunchroom
October 22nd, 2020
12:34 PM
The students of Millennium Academy were enjoying their food in the Academy’s lunchroom, which was clearly quite fancy, it was obvious Millennium had spared no expenses. The Kid, who hasn’t revealed his true name, was sitting down at a table with Faith Hilliker, which was no surprise to anyone inside the room. The Kid looked down at his plate and realized he had finished his cake but he also realized Faith had finished hers too!
The Kid:
Hey! You want to share another piece of cake with me?
The Kid was loud, as usual, as he was always trying to impress everyone around him, especially Faith.
Faith Hilliker:
Of course! You’re such a gentleman!
Faith smiled and fluttered those bright eyes of hers, which always made The Kid lose track of where he was. He soon shook it off and nodded.
The Kid:
You got it! One slice of cake to be shared between me and the prettiest and most talented girl in the room!
The Kid quickly stood up and made his way towards where the food was being served. His eyes were focused on where the cake was and his eyes widened as he realized there was one last piece left! He began to walk faster as his gaze stayed on the cake.
Laura:
You’re late, Oliver.
Olly smiled at the lunch lady, shrugging his shoulders.
Olly:
Yeah, I was busy doing something and didn’t realize it was lunch time already. Those locusts back there already licked everything clean?
He didn’t particularly like his fellow students, and he was doing absolutely nothing to hide the low opinion he had of them.
Laura:
Pretty much. But I saved you something, don’t worry.
The stout woman kindly said, turning around to grab the portion she saved for the straggler student.
Olly:
You’re a true angel, woman.
Hearing the footsteps behind him, he turned around to see The Kid waiting for his turn.
Olly:
And… I think I’ll take the cake too, thank you.
The Kid’s eyes widened in shock as he stomped up to Olly.
The Kid:
You will not! I already laid claim to it! Even Laura heard me from across the room! And now you want it because I want it for me and Faith. You want everything I want! I bet you’d try to get close to Faith if you didn’t already know that she thinks you’re disgusting!
The Kid tries to push past Olly to cut him off for the cake but he won’t let him.
The Kid:
Move or else I’m going to tell Grandma Lupe on you and then she’ll tell me to kick your ass for senorita Faith! And I will! Don’t test me, you idiot! Give me my cake!!!
The Kid shouted, like he always did. Olly let out a chuckle and gave another glance at the cake.
Olly:
You all already got yours, I didn’t. That’s the last slice, and it’s mine.
Cockily dismissing The Kid, he turned around, smiling again at the lunch lady.
Olly:
Don’t forget the cake, Laura.
From her table across the room, Trinity Thompson stood up from her seat, timidly saying.
Trinity Thompson:
Guys, you can have mine I only just tasted a tiny bit… There’s no need to fight.
But her words fell on deaf ears. Laura put the last slice of cake on Olly’s plate and sighed, apologizing to The Kid. The Kid’s jaw dropped before his eyes fixated on Olly now and he was clearly upset.
The Kid:
Tu Sangano!
The Kid shoves Olly in the arm, causing him to drop his plate.
The Kid:
Hand the cake over or else we’re going to have a major problem!!!
Olly watched his lunch on the floor, balling up his fist.
Olly:
That was my lunch, you idiot.
The tension between them was clearly rising, and Laura trying to take the edge off offering to cook something quick for Oliver was of no use. The son of the late Reese Kennedy didn’t even acknowledge the lunch lady, staring a hole through The Kid. In his other hand, he still had the object of their dispute, the coveted last slice of cake.
Olly:
Fuck this, you want the cake you fucking child? You can have it.
And he shoved the cake on The Kid’s face. There was a collective gasp from the rest of the students as they watched the events unfolding, Olly now walking past The Kid bumping him with his shoulder.
Olly:
I’m out of here.
The Kid wiped some of the cake from his face and tasted it before letting out a laugh as he shook his head.
The Kid:
…The cake? It tastes like revenge! You’re not going anywhere!!!
The Kid turns around and before Olly can turn, The Kid tackles him down to the ground and begins to throw punches down on Olly, not holding anything back either as the feud between these two has now reached its boiling point. Faith screamed when Oliver caught The Kid with an elbow to the face, turning the tides of the fight. Now finding himself on top of his rival, Olly dropped lefts and rights to The Kid’s face as he tried to protect himself with his arm. The rest of the students gathered around them, Trinity took a step forward to try and stop them but the Gold Star recipient Tiana Petrova-Hammond stopped her, saying that she would get in trouble if she got involved in the quarrel and to go call for help instead.
They all were begging Olly to stop, but OK just kept raining down his strikes. The Kid reached back with his hand and grabbed a plate from the nearby, smashing it across Olly’s head. He staggered back, dazed and bleeding from a superficial cut on his skull. The Kid was right back on him swinging punches and kicks, forcing him to stumble back. This kind of lawless fights were what Olly thrived into, and he didn’t hesitate to go low driving his knee in The Kid’s crotch. As he doubled over in pain, Olly struck again with a right hand to the jaw, sending the fellow student a couple of steps back. He then hoisted him up and put him through the table, ready to hit him again while he was down.
Michael Ali blocked his arm before he could strike, asking him what the hell was going on. Lady Magdalena was there as well, a few steps away from all that mess. The look on her face was one of disappointment, her silence speaking louder than words as she stared at the member of his team who was only now getting up, wobbly on his legs. Olly looked back at his team leader, finally calming down. Cautiously, Michael let him go, ready to block him again if he tried anything fancy. But he didn’t, he simply walked away.
The Kid:
Hey! You want to share another piece of cake with me?
The Kid was loud, as usual, as he was always trying to impress everyone around him, especially Faith.
Faith Hilliker:
Of course! You’re such a gentleman!
Faith smiled and fluttered those bright eyes of hers, which always made The Kid lose track of where he was. He soon shook it off and nodded.
The Kid:
You got it! One slice of cake to be shared between me and the prettiest and most talented girl in the room!
The Kid quickly stood up and made his way towards where the food was being served. His eyes were focused on where the cake was and his eyes widened as he realized there was one last piece left! He began to walk faster as his gaze stayed on the cake.
Laura:
You’re late, Oliver.
Olly smiled at the lunch lady, shrugging his shoulders.
Olly:
Yeah, I was busy doing something and didn’t realize it was lunch time already. Those locusts back there already licked everything clean?
He didn’t particularly like his fellow students, and he was doing absolutely nothing to hide the low opinion he had of them.
Laura:
Pretty much. But I saved you something, don’t worry.
The stout woman kindly said, turning around to grab the portion she saved for the straggler student.
Olly:
You’re a true angel, woman.
Hearing the footsteps behind him, he turned around to see The Kid waiting for his turn.
Olly:
And… I think I’ll take the cake too, thank you.
The Kid’s eyes widened in shock as he stomped up to Olly.
The Kid:
You will not! I already laid claim to it! Even Laura heard me from across the room! And now you want it because I want it for me and Faith. You want everything I want! I bet you’d try to get close to Faith if you didn’t already know that she thinks you’re disgusting!
The Kid tries to push past Olly to cut him off for the cake but he won’t let him.
The Kid:
Move or else I’m going to tell Grandma Lupe on you and then she’ll tell me to kick your ass for senorita Faith! And I will! Don’t test me, you idiot! Give me my cake!!!
The Kid shouted, like he always did. Olly let out a chuckle and gave another glance at the cake.
Olly:
You all already got yours, I didn’t. That’s the last slice, and it’s mine.
Cockily dismissing The Kid, he turned around, smiling again at the lunch lady.
Olly:
Don’t forget the cake, Laura.
From her table across the room, Trinity Thompson stood up from her seat, timidly saying.
Trinity Thompson:
Guys, you can have mine I only just tasted a tiny bit… There’s no need to fight.
But her words fell on deaf ears. Laura put the last slice of cake on Olly’s plate and sighed, apologizing to The Kid. The Kid’s jaw dropped before his eyes fixated on Olly now and he was clearly upset.
The Kid:
Tu Sangano!
The Kid shoves Olly in the arm, causing him to drop his plate.
The Kid:
Hand the cake over or else we’re going to have a major problem!!!
Olly watched his lunch on the floor, balling up his fist.
Olly:
That was my lunch, you idiot.
The tension between them was clearly rising, and Laura trying to take the edge off offering to cook something quick for Oliver was of no use. The son of the late Reese Kennedy didn’t even acknowledge the lunch lady, staring a hole through The Kid. In his other hand, he still had the object of their dispute, the coveted last slice of cake.
Olly:
Fuck this, you want the cake you fucking child? You can have it.
And he shoved the cake on The Kid’s face. There was a collective gasp from the rest of the students as they watched the events unfolding, Olly now walking past The Kid bumping him with his shoulder.
Olly:
I’m out of here.
The Kid wiped some of the cake from his face and tasted it before letting out a laugh as he shook his head.
The Kid:
…The cake? It tastes like revenge! You’re not going anywhere!!!
The Kid turns around and before Olly can turn, The Kid tackles him down to the ground and begins to throw punches down on Olly, not holding anything back either as the feud between these two has now reached its boiling point. Faith screamed when Oliver caught The Kid with an elbow to the face, turning the tides of the fight. Now finding himself on top of his rival, Olly dropped lefts and rights to The Kid’s face as he tried to protect himself with his arm. The rest of the students gathered around them, Trinity took a step forward to try and stop them but the Gold Star recipient Tiana Petrova-Hammond stopped her, saying that she would get in trouble if she got involved in the quarrel and to go call for help instead.
They all were begging Olly to stop, but OK just kept raining down his strikes. The Kid reached back with his hand and grabbed a plate from the nearby, smashing it across Olly’s head. He staggered back, dazed and bleeding from a superficial cut on his skull. The Kid was right back on him swinging punches and kicks, forcing him to stumble back. This kind of lawless fights were what Olly thrived into, and he didn’t hesitate to go low driving his knee in The Kid’s crotch. As he doubled over in pain, Olly struck again with a right hand to the jaw, sending the fellow student a couple of steps back. He then hoisted him up and put him through the table, ready to hit him again while he was down.
Michael Ali blocked his arm before he could strike, asking him what the hell was going on. Lady Magdalena was there as well, a few steps away from all that mess. The look on her face was one of disappointment, her silence speaking louder than words as she stared at the member of his team who was only now getting up, wobbly on his legs. Olly looked back at his team leader, finally calming down. Cautiously, Michael let him go, ready to block him again if he tried anything fancy. But he didn’t, he simply walked away.
The Courtyard
October 22nd
6:00 PM
Tiana Petrova-Hammond:
So uh...hi, my name is Tiana.
We fade in from black, watching Tiana strut around the courtyard in an Academy hoodie and her training shorts. She still had her hands wrapped, her ankles taped, even had a knee pad on as she moved to a seat on the cool ground.
Tiana Petrova-Hammond:
As in...last one standing, gold star receiving Tiana. I just...wanted to take some time to properly introduce myself, if anyone cares for that sort of thing. I uh, I wasn’t always a big wrestling fan. My first love was MMA. Marissa Kane, Cass Madrigal, I still have their posters hanging in my room, and even more back at the gym I started at. My little sister, she’s the wrestling fan, and she pushed me toward this.
And I was hesitant, until I got here. We all work hard, even if some need some personality adjustments, but that’s life. Even when it’s going bad, I still respect the people I’m learning with, and I hope to learn from them, and maybe they’ll learn something from me.
She leaned back to cross her legs, sighing.
Tiana Petrova-Hammond:
And if not...at least I tried to leave my mark. I’m gonna make you proud, mom, dad, Kylie and Linc. So...yeah, I don’t want to sit here all night talking, I’ll do that in the classroom and the ring.
Tiana rocked herself forward and pushed herself off the ground, quickly setting off to get back inside to finish her last reps of the day.
So uh...hi, my name is Tiana.
We fade in from black, watching Tiana strut around the courtyard in an Academy hoodie and her training shorts. She still had her hands wrapped, her ankles taped, even had a knee pad on as she moved to a seat on the cool ground.
Tiana Petrova-Hammond:
As in...last one standing, gold star receiving Tiana. I just...wanted to take some time to properly introduce myself, if anyone cares for that sort of thing. I uh, I wasn’t always a big wrestling fan. My first love was MMA. Marissa Kane, Cass Madrigal, I still have their posters hanging in my room, and even more back at the gym I started at. My little sister, she’s the wrestling fan, and she pushed me toward this.
And I was hesitant, until I got here. We all work hard, even if some need some personality adjustments, but that’s life. Even when it’s going bad, I still respect the people I’m learning with, and I hope to learn from them, and maybe they’ll learn something from me.
She leaned back to cross her legs, sighing.
Tiana Petrova-Hammond:
And if not...at least I tried to leave my mark. I’m gonna make you proud, mom, dad, Kylie and Linc. So...yeah, I don’t want to sit here all night talking, I’ll do that in the classroom and the ring.
Tiana rocked herself forward and pushed herself off the ground, quickly setting off to get back inside to finish her last reps of the day.
The Gym
October 23rd, 2020
12:05 pm
The scene opens with Faizah Marshall sitting on the ring apron of the wrestling ring she will be competing in tonight. She looks over her shoulder and looks inside the ring. She sighs.
Faizah Marshall:
You would think I would be excited about today. 24 hours ago I didn’t think I would step back in this ring. Finding out I am replacing The Kid because he was being a dumbass--
Faziah grits her teeth.
Faizah Marshall:
I have to grin and bare it with Faith. Do you have any idea how unbearable that c**t is? I followed all the academy students on Twitter. Created the Twitter list to keep track of everyone. That cunt had the nerve to tell me to not talk to her. Over the top much? I unfollowed the c--
Faziah takes a deep breath.
Faizah Marshall:
Unfollowed her on Twitter. Bad enough we are in the same space. I could at least be free of her on social media. You saw it. Full blown hissy fit. I could probably understand if I ran over her dog, or broke her nails or break her face---
An evil smirk forms on Faziah’s face.
Faizah Marshall:
-- I am convinced she was born evil. Who is that ratchet? Of course her boyfriend The Kid had to jump in. Two on one. And NO ONE FROM MY TEAM EVEN BOTHERED TO DEFEND ME.
Faziah rolls her eyes.
Faizah Marshall:
The Kid and Faith are unbearable. Fine. Already knew this. Where were YOU Tiana? You are the Gold Star Recipient for Chrissakes. How about you Braxton. How come you were MIA? Look, I can fight my own battles. I will happily punch Faith in the face. BUT we are supposed to be a team, last I checked, a team is supposed to have each others back.
Tiana, Braxton, hope you see this. What kinda team are we if you allow the two biggest bullies on this squad to gang up on one of your own. In my book, you two are just as complicit in all this.
Faziah scoffs. Then, suddenly, a smile comes over The Original BAE
Faizah Marshall:
Wow, it all makes sense now, Magdalena is testing me. She said it herself, if I use my inner spark as a weapon I have the potential to be the most dangerous member of the team. She could have replaced The Kid with Braxton or Tiana. My team leader chose me. She knew I would use this opportunity to prove why she selected me in the first place. So yeah, I am ready for today after all. I am the BEST. AT. EVERYTHING. Which means I am the best at overcoming circumstances that aren’t ideal. I’ll make you proud.
Faziah breathes a sigh of relief as the scene fades.
Faizah Marshall:
You would think I would be excited about today. 24 hours ago I didn’t think I would step back in this ring. Finding out I am replacing The Kid because he was being a dumbass--
Faziah grits her teeth.
Faizah Marshall:
I have to grin and bare it with Faith. Do you have any idea how unbearable that c**t is? I followed all the academy students on Twitter. Created the Twitter list to keep track of everyone. That cunt had the nerve to tell me to not talk to her. Over the top much? I unfollowed the c--
Faziah takes a deep breath.
Faizah Marshall:
Unfollowed her on Twitter. Bad enough we are in the same space. I could at least be free of her on social media. You saw it. Full blown hissy fit. I could probably understand if I ran over her dog, or broke her nails or break her face---
An evil smirk forms on Faziah’s face.
Faizah Marshall:
-- I am convinced she was born evil. Who is that ratchet? Of course her boyfriend The Kid had to jump in. Two on one. And NO ONE FROM MY TEAM EVEN BOTHERED TO DEFEND ME.
Faziah rolls her eyes.
Faizah Marshall:
The Kid and Faith are unbearable. Fine. Already knew this. Where were YOU Tiana? You are the Gold Star Recipient for Chrissakes. How about you Braxton. How come you were MIA? Look, I can fight my own battles. I will happily punch Faith in the face. BUT we are supposed to be a team, last I checked, a team is supposed to have each others back.
Tiana, Braxton, hope you see this. What kinda team are we if you allow the two biggest bullies on this squad to gang up on one of your own. In my book, you two are just as complicit in all this.
Faziah scoffs. Then, suddenly, a smile comes over The Original BAE
Faizah Marshall:
Wow, it all makes sense now, Magdalena is testing me. She said it herself, if I use my inner spark as a weapon I have the potential to be the most dangerous member of the team. She could have replaced The Kid with Braxton or Tiana. My team leader chose me. She knew I would use this opportunity to prove why she selected me in the first place. So yeah, I am ready for today after all. I am the BEST. AT. EVERYTHING. Which means I am the best at overcoming circumstances that aren’t ideal. I’ll make you proud.
Faziah breathes a sigh of relief as the scene fades.
Team Title Match
Team Strike © (Faith Savell & Faizah Marshall) VS Team Ali (Amelia Marx & Dez Ali)
WINNER: Team Ali (NEW TEAM CHAMPION) BY: Pinfall (Legdrop), 11:06 |
Gold Star Title Match
Tiana Petrova-Hammond VS Trinity Thompson
WINNER: Tiana Petrova-Hammond (STILL GOLD STAR RECIPIENT) BY: Pinfall (Hook Kick), 10:28 |