Chat With A Champ

[Vigilante]

.: We open up to Dawsons Creek, a scene from the first season with Joey Potter and her father in prison. We slowly tart to pull out.

Joey: Hi. I don’t really know what I’m doing here. That’s not ture. Um, look, I came here tonight to say, I came here to tell you that you messed up. You really messed up. And not because you broke the law or you got caught or that you left me without a father. You messed up because you don’t know me. I’m your daughter and you don’t know me at all. So I guess I just Came to say that I’m alright. I turned out pretty good. And I’m going to be okay, no help from you. And um I just have one questions. Do you love me?

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Mr. Potter More than you’d ever know. And I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.[/color]

Do you think about me?

Sweetheart, all day long, everyday, every hour, every minute.

Do you really love me, thought? Because I’m 15 years old and I go through every day of my life thinking that nobody loves me.

Well nothing could be further from the truth. And I’m not the only one. Dawson Leery, he loves you Joey. He’s never told you?

Never

Well, he does. I know it.

How?

Because he looks at you the same way your mother used to look at me. And you love him... Have you told him? You have to tell him Joey. Don’t make my mistake. Don’t wait til someone you love is eaten with cancer and wasting away while you hold back the one thing they are waiting to hear.

We have finished pulling out, we see Vigilante relaxing on his couch with a bottle of Wild Turkey in one hand and a cigarette in another. By the time we get to the end of the scene is playing we are interrupted by the sound of a doorbell. Vigilante hits pause as he gets up and puts the cigarette out in the ash tray as he makes his way down the hall. Vigilante opens the door to find Nike standing there, for a moment he looks taken aback to find her standing on his doorstep. He stands to the side to let her in.

You did know that I was coming right?

Yeah, I think that I just lost track of time. Come on in.

Nike enters the house and Vigilante closes the door. He leads her down the hall and into the living room. Vigilante grabs the remote and turns off the TV. He takes a seat on one end of the couch and gestures for Nike to sit on the other end. Nike takes a seat and reaches into her purse and pulls out a pad of paper and a pencil.

Alright Vigilante where shall we start. Why don’t you tells me a little bit about yourself.

Well Nike what would you like to know.

Well I would like to know who the real Vigilante is?

What do you mean?

Well we have seen many different faces of Vigilante. I mean we have seen your silly side, we have seen you holding press conferences and meetings with action figures. We have seen you singing parody songs. And then we have seen the cold, violent Vigilante inside the ring. I mean you haven’t been in the OW long, but we have seen you systematically take apart your opponents. And those who have followed your career know that you have a dark and violent side. You have ended careers, kidnapped children, beaten up fans. So who is the real Vigilante?

Vigilante lets out a little grunt as he gives his goatee a tug. He can’t help but smile as he thinks of some of the events Nike is referencing.

I have done a lot of things in my past some I am not proud of, but most I am. There are a lot of different sides to me outside of the ring. It all depends what mood you catch me in. Most of the time I am a easy going guy, I have got that whole California attitude going. I don’t really care what people think about me, I just like to have fun. But when it comes time to get in the ring, when I get down to business. You won’t find that care free guy around. I do get very cold, very methodical. Inside the ring is where I make my livelihood, I take a lot of pride in what I do inside the ring. So once I get between those ropes I am all business. But outside the ring, I like to think that I am just and easy going guy. As long as you don’t piss me off of course.

So how does it feel to be the first OW Gladiator Champion. What does the title mean to you?

The title means a lot to me, every title I get does. It is kind of a validation for all the hard work that I put in. It means that I am one of the best at what I do. It means that I know have something that everybody else wants, I now have a bulls eye on my back and everybody is gunning for me. I love that feeling, I love know that no matter who I am stepping into the ring with that they are going to be giving it everything that they have. Because they see the gold, they want the gold, they know that if they can just find a way to beat me then the gold is theirs. I have what they want, and I am going to do everything that I can to keep it. I am the champion until somebody can beat me, and as far as I am concerned that isn’t going to happen anytime soon.

What about Damage?

What about him?

Well after his last victory, he has earned a shot at any title, anytime, anywhere. Do you think that he is going to use that shot against you? Are you worried about that? The two of you do have a history.

That isn’t really something that I worry about. Damage and I do have a history, he is somebody that I like to get into the ring with. He knows how to push me to my limits, he knows how to get the best out of me. But as you know, I am the OW Gladiator Champion, now Damage. I can’t stop him from coming after me, he should want what I have. So if he wants it let him come and get it, I will be ready for him.

What happened last week, why did you step in and stop Brooklyn from taking Damage out? How do you feel about being in the situation that you are now, being forced to be tag team partners with Damage?

You know I have a lot of respect for Damage. Like I said there is something about the guy that just brings out the best in me. I happened to be walking the hallways at Oracle last week and saw what Brooklyn did, and I was close enough to stop it. Like I told her then, I always feel that if you are going to kick the shit out of somebody, you make sure they know that you are coming. Something tells me though that score is far from settled though.

As far as being tag team partners, I don’t have a problem. I mean I obviously don’t have anything personal against the guy. Inside the ring there are few that can match him as far as I am concerned. I mean he is on a very short list of guys who have a victory over me. So that right there gains you a measure of respect in my eyes. Do I think that we can work together, do I think that we are going to be able to be a successful tag team. A slight smile comes across Vigilante’s face.[/i] I guess people are just going to have to tune in and watch for themselves won’t they?

Nike smiles as she continues to write.And what about your opponents this week?

Well at least they are in the same boat as us at least. This is going to be the first time that they are working as a tag team as well. I was able to catch Draco’s match at the last Oracle. I think the guy shows some promise. He gave Cross a good showing for his first match here in the OW. And as for J, I was able to watch him over with the company that shall not be named. He is more than capable of putting up a good fight.

But do I think that these two stand a chance at Oracle... Hell no. The fact of the matter is that these two are stepping into the ring with what could be an unstoppable force. I know exactly what I am capable of, and I have stood toe to toe with Damage and I know what he is capable of. The question remains can we find a way to work together. I have said it before and I will say it again I respect Damage, and I don’t think that we are all that different. We may view events through different eyes, but we have some things in common. I think most importantly is our will to win. I think that we both hate losing more than we like winning, and there is a difference.

So it sounds like you do think that you and Damage will be able to put your differences behind you. Sounds like you are expecting a victory.

Oh that is most definite. Hell I’ll even start planning a barbeque for next weekend to celebrate. You are more than welcome to stop by. As far as I am concerned the one certainty in this world is that when I put everything that I have into a match that there isn’t a person on God’s green Earth that can beat me. So can I work with Damage? I can work with anybody when forced to. I am going to show up ready for this, and that right there should be just about all that Draco and J. As long as Damage shows up and brings something to the table then we have this thing in the bag. When I have my mind set on something, there ain’t nobody that can stop me. So I am welcoming Draco and J to bring everything that they have. It will just make their defeat all the more sweeter when I see the look their faces when they realize that no matter what they do, they just can’t win. Damage and I are coming and I would hate to be whoever gets into our way.

Well Vigilante it has been a pleasure sitting down with you, I look forward to seeing how you and Damage do at the next Oracle. I’ll let you get back to... I believe it was Dawsons Creek.

You are more than welcome to stay and catch up, I am on a little marathon.

Nike smiles. I’ll pass this time, maybe next time. I have to get back to the office. But you enjoy yourself.

Nike sands up and Vigilante starts walking her towards the door. He opens the door and lets her out. He starts walking back down the hall to his couch and reaches into his jacket pocket and lights up a cigarette as he sits down. As he turns the TV on and press play we start to fade out. :.[/center]