Post by Adrien Cochrane on Jun 5, 2012 4:27:00 GMT -5
So right before I have to go into this battle royal with eleven other people over in PCW, I have a preliminary match in the Trans-Atlantic Cup Tournament that Terrell Ryder encouraged me to sign up for. My first opponent is a kid named Justin Freebourne, who didn’t take long to open his mouth. Thankfully, I feel like I’m getting back into the swing of things. I have a new tag team partner who should be winning a championship soon. I might be one my way to a big shiny belt myself. And I have commentators saying I looked like my former self in last Saturday’s triple threat match. Hey, if I can somehow manage to get through this tournament, I may even exceed my former self.
[Deep inhale. Slow exhale.]
I finally finished it. And what a masterpiece!
“Based on that goofy look on your face, I take it you finally finished your new song. Killer guitar solo in it, I hope?”
[Adrien Cochrane chuckles at the response of his best friend and retired wrestler, Matthew “Python” Pithen. The two are sitting in the living room of Adrien’s home just outside New Orleans, Louisiana. Adrien was sitting in the center seat of the sofa as he was scribbling lyrics, chords, and notes on the paper using the glass coffee table ahead of him. The much smaller Python was comfortably curled up into the recliner to Adrien’s left that two years ago, was practically his. Python decided to come down from New Jersey to visit Adrien for the first time in a year and a half and the two pretty much picked their friendship where they left off. Python’s head and eyes were perfectly positioned to watch some show Adrien had never heard of in his life. Python sits up in curiosity of the finished product of Adrien’s entire afternoon.]
Adrien: “Indeed, it definitely has one. Not too flashy but it fits the mood of it.”
[Adrien’s former tag team partner nods his head in agreement.]
Python: “Sounds like an Adrien Cochrane song. Not too complex but it has that intangible factor in it.”
[Adrien chuckles.]
Adrien: “I certainly hope so. We’ll have to see what happens when I get the band to play it and see how it sounds.”
[The PCW wrestler places his paper back on the table.]
Adrien: “You want to go grab something to eat?”
Why the hell am I asking?! Look who I’m talking to!
Python: “Did you even need to ask? Mind if I call the fiancé on the way there.”
Adrien: “Only if you don’t mind if I make a quick pit stop first.”
Python: “It’s your car.”
About ten minutes later.
Adrien: “I promise I won’t be long.”
[Adrien exits the driver seat of his silver 2009 Chevy Cobalt. He briskly starts walking for a few yards before he gets to his destination. Out of respect, he removes his hat and sunglasses as he gets on one knee and drops a rose.]
Adrien: “Today would have been your 25th birthday. I know I’ve been moving forward in my life but I still haven’t forgotten you. I miss you and love you.”
[After a brief moment of silence and prayer, Adrien returns to his feet and puts his hat and sunglasses. He walks away from the tombstone, out of the cemetery, into his car, and drives off.]
[The petals of the rose gently oscillates in the wind atop the grave Adrien visited. The headstone’s words are written in big gray letters.]
Stephanie Armstrong
June 5th, 1986 – Dec. 16th, 2008
[And still lodged into ground directly in front of the headstone is the engagement ring Adrien had gotten for her.]
--------------------------
[Lights flicker on in the previously darkened room. Sitting in the center of the room on a black stool is a smiling Adrien Cochrane. The camera pans out to show that the room that Adrien is sitting in is an empty movie theater. The white backdrop behind Adrien contrasts the black polo shirt on his body. Completing the look of the twenty-six year old is a pair of blue jeans and a pair of sunglasses sitting atop his neat and fairly short dirty blonde hair.]
Adrien: “Justin Freebourne. I gotta say, of my eight years wrestling, I have never seen an individual quite like you. You remind me of some school boy from the 60s. I keep getting this image of you as Opie from the Andy Griffith show. Your use of ‘gosh durn it’ and ‘tushies’ made me wonder if you had to have a parent sign a permission slip to even compete in this tournament. But then you went from innocent school boy to cocky demon boy. You seriously need to let a mental health specialist to see if you have bi-polar disorder.
“You see, you are telling me that you will be the one victorious in this opening round. You say you feel like you are on the cusp of greatness and going to be a shining star. Pay attention to this because I just gave this same speech to Jay Thunder. Justin, for all I know, you could end up being one of the biggest names in wrestling. You’re a raw talent that is still developing into what will one day be your prime. You’re extremely young and one day you could end up being that shining star.”
[The Dropkick King stands up and starts walking up the aisle of the room.]
Adrien: “Justin, I am just entering my prime. I’m not young rookie who is just learning the game. I’ve been there. I’ve won very big matches. I lost very close matches that taught me a lesson. And that being said, I’m not some grizzled veteran who doesn’t have the athleticism or skill set I used to. I’m twenty-six years old. These are my golden days. Justin, you are the future, but I am the present. So when we enter that ring, I will come out on top. I’m excited to see how far you go afterwards, but for now, this is my time.”
[An old time film countdown starts behind Adrien from the number fifteen.]
Adrien: “I will win this tournament. I’ve never been so motivated to leave my mark. Justin, you are going to be my first obstacle to my final goal. I really hope you give me a match to make me proud. I really do. And I sincerely wish you the best in your future endeavors after this match. You will get yourself some fifteen minutes of fame to get your name out there and get some real competition to help hone your skills.”
[Six.]
Adrien: “So let’s give everyone a match that everyone who watches this tournament will remember. Let’s get BOTH of our names out there in the headlines. But your prediction is not going to happen. And when the match is over, your fifteen minutes of fame…”
[Two.]
Adrien: “…will be…”
[One.]
Adrien: “…over.”
[The last thing visible before the entire theater returns to darkness is the big PR smile from Adrien.]
[Deep inhale. Slow exhale.]
I finally finished it. And what a masterpiece!
“Based on that goofy look on your face, I take it you finally finished your new song. Killer guitar solo in it, I hope?”
[Adrien Cochrane chuckles at the response of his best friend and retired wrestler, Matthew “Python” Pithen. The two are sitting in the living room of Adrien’s home just outside New Orleans, Louisiana. Adrien was sitting in the center seat of the sofa as he was scribbling lyrics, chords, and notes on the paper using the glass coffee table ahead of him. The much smaller Python was comfortably curled up into the recliner to Adrien’s left that two years ago, was practically his. Python decided to come down from New Jersey to visit Adrien for the first time in a year and a half and the two pretty much picked their friendship where they left off. Python’s head and eyes were perfectly positioned to watch some show Adrien had never heard of in his life. Python sits up in curiosity of the finished product of Adrien’s entire afternoon.]
Adrien: “Indeed, it definitely has one. Not too flashy but it fits the mood of it.”
[Adrien’s former tag team partner nods his head in agreement.]
Python: “Sounds like an Adrien Cochrane song. Not too complex but it has that intangible factor in it.”
[Adrien chuckles.]
Adrien: “I certainly hope so. We’ll have to see what happens when I get the band to play it and see how it sounds.”
[The PCW wrestler places his paper back on the table.]
Adrien: “You want to go grab something to eat?”
Why the hell am I asking?! Look who I’m talking to!
Python: “Did you even need to ask? Mind if I call the fiancé on the way there.”
Adrien: “Only if you don’t mind if I make a quick pit stop first.”
Python: “It’s your car.”
About ten minutes later.
Adrien: “I promise I won’t be long.”
[Adrien exits the driver seat of his silver 2009 Chevy Cobalt. He briskly starts walking for a few yards before he gets to his destination. Out of respect, he removes his hat and sunglasses as he gets on one knee and drops a rose.]
Adrien: “Today would have been your 25th birthday. I know I’ve been moving forward in my life but I still haven’t forgotten you. I miss you and love you.”
[After a brief moment of silence and prayer, Adrien returns to his feet and puts his hat and sunglasses. He walks away from the tombstone, out of the cemetery, into his car, and drives off.]
[The petals of the rose gently oscillates in the wind atop the grave Adrien visited. The headstone’s words are written in big gray letters.]
Stephanie Armstrong
June 5th, 1986 – Dec. 16th, 2008
[And still lodged into ground directly in front of the headstone is the engagement ring Adrien had gotten for her.]
--------------------------
[Lights flicker on in the previously darkened room. Sitting in the center of the room on a black stool is a smiling Adrien Cochrane. The camera pans out to show that the room that Adrien is sitting in is an empty movie theater. The white backdrop behind Adrien contrasts the black polo shirt on his body. Completing the look of the twenty-six year old is a pair of blue jeans and a pair of sunglasses sitting atop his neat and fairly short dirty blonde hair.]
Adrien: “Justin Freebourne. I gotta say, of my eight years wrestling, I have never seen an individual quite like you. You remind me of some school boy from the 60s. I keep getting this image of you as Opie from the Andy Griffith show. Your use of ‘gosh durn it’ and ‘tushies’ made me wonder if you had to have a parent sign a permission slip to even compete in this tournament. But then you went from innocent school boy to cocky demon boy. You seriously need to let a mental health specialist to see if you have bi-polar disorder.
“You see, you are telling me that you will be the one victorious in this opening round. You say you feel like you are on the cusp of greatness and going to be a shining star. Pay attention to this because I just gave this same speech to Jay Thunder. Justin, for all I know, you could end up being one of the biggest names in wrestling. You’re a raw talent that is still developing into what will one day be your prime. You’re extremely young and one day you could end up being that shining star.”
[The Dropkick King stands up and starts walking up the aisle of the room.]
Adrien: “Justin, I am just entering my prime. I’m not young rookie who is just learning the game. I’ve been there. I’ve won very big matches. I lost very close matches that taught me a lesson. And that being said, I’m not some grizzled veteran who doesn’t have the athleticism or skill set I used to. I’m twenty-six years old. These are my golden days. Justin, you are the future, but I am the present. So when we enter that ring, I will come out on top. I’m excited to see how far you go afterwards, but for now, this is my time.”
[An old time film countdown starts behind Adrien from the number fifteen.]
Adrien: “I will win this tournament. I’ve never been so motivated to leave my mark. Justin, you are going to be my first obstacle to my final goal. I really hope you give me a match to make me proud. I really do. And I sincerely wish you the best in your future endeavors after this match. You will get yourself some fifteen minutes of fame to get your name out there and get some real competition to help hone your skills.”
[Six.]
Adrien: “So let’s give everyone a match that everyone who watches this tournament will remember. Let’s get BOTH of our names out there in the headlines. But your prediction is not going to happen. And when the match is over, your fifteen minutes of fame…”
[Two.]
Adrien: “…will be…”
[One.]
Adrien: “…over.”
[The last thing visible before the entire theater returns to darkness is the big PR smile from Adrien.]