The Fox and Firkin English Pub
Davie Street, Vancouver
Wednesday 5th November 2008
It’s early evening and the pub is quiet, bar for a few regulars. One of those regulars is David Spikey, Spike to his friends. An English ex-pat who came to Canada to continue his wrestling training nearly ten years ago. Dave never had the determination and drive required to make a career out of wrestling, and he dropped out of wrestling school. These days he teaches the basics to kids at a wrestling school in North Vancouver.
Dave sits at the bar, beer in hand. He yawns, stretching his mouth about as far as it can physically go. He looks down into his beer and sighs as two figures walk up behind him.
“Well if it isn’t the Betamax Kid!”
Dave smiles and spins round on his stool to see August Joyce and Benjamin Doi smiling back at him.
“Ah eh, d’you ‘ave to keep callin’ me dat like?” Dave says in his droll Liverpudlian accent, sounding a little like Ringo Starr.
“Better than Spike.” Ben says with a big smile.
It was August that coined the nickname of The Betamax Kid, based on the old video tape format of the late seventies and early eighties. August always felt that Dave was the superior wrestler, technically, but that people didn’t take to him as much as they did to August. Without this popularity, he got fewer bookings. Dave didn’t have the funds or enthusiasm to continue that lifestyle.
“You want that I should call you The VHS Man?” Dave chuckles.
“Well if VHS stands for Very High Salary…” Ben begins with a broad smile.
Dave looks at the two of them, a look of confusion on his face. “Got a good booking?”
“Got a chance to earn a contract.” August puts it simply.
“Well, I suppose congratulations are in order, eh kid?” Dave feigns happiness for his old training buddy. “Somewhere ‘alf decent I ‘ope?”
August nods. “MWA.”
“MWA?” Dave squeaks in surprise. “Serious?” Ben and August nod, Dave turns back to his beer. “They’re lettin’ their standards drop a bit int they?”
“Yo scouse ass jealous, Spike?” Ben laughs.
“Jealous?” Dave almost chokes on the last dregs of his beer. “Of the arse beating yous are gonna get?” He waves his empty glass in the direction of the barman, hinting at wanting another drink. “So this why you came ‘ere? To rub your big contract opportunity in me face?”
“Thought you might like to join us for a celebratory drink.” August says, patting his friend on the back as the two men take a seat either side of him at the bar.
“And maybe you can say somethin’ that ain’t a question.” Ben quips, pointing out the fact that, thus far, Dave has managed the whole conversation based purely on questions.
“Ey?” Dave says, not getting it.
Benjamin laughs.
“’Scuse me for askin’ another question…” Dave says as he raises an eyebrow to Benjamin. “…but how did you twos manage to get onto the MWA radar? I normally hear about any talent scouts in town, or tryouts like. And I’ve ‘eard nuttin’.”
August motions to the barman to get a round of beers in before turning back to Dave with a smile on his face.
“Well it turns out our agent isn’t as useless as we had previously feared. She’s been taping our matches and making DVD’s to send out to promotions all over the place.”
“Like some kinda DVD CV!” Benjamin says, smile still beaming on his face.
“Not bad.” Dave says, nodding. “But ‘as she not ‘eard of You Tube?”
“Eh?” August looks confused.
“Put ya matches on You Tube, build up an online fan base before yous even make it to the big leagues. Imagine the possibility of already having heat before yous even step into the ring for dem!”
Benjamin takes a sip of the beer that’s just arrived in front of him. He taps his fingers on the glass.
”Ok. I like the DVD idea… but now I wish she did the You Tube thing.”
“I think we should just be grateful for the opportunity we’ve been given.” August says as he finishes up paying the barman for their drinks.
“Well I’ll drink to dat!” Dave says, raising his glass.
“You’d drink to anythin’ Spike.” Benjamin raises his also.
August smiles as he raises his glass. “To a new beginning and a great opportunity!”
The three men chink their glasses and drink to good times ahead.
“MWA is based in Wisconsin, right?” Dave asks. “Madison if I recall…”
“Yeah, but that’s not where we’re going.” August says, knowing that the next part of the conversation is going to be the bit that hurts Dave the most. “The show’s at the 02 Arena.”
Dave stops drinking, looking down into his drink. He sighs a little and shakes his head.
“Yous are going to London?”
“Sorry man, aint a thing we could do about gettin’ yo ass on the plane with us.” Benjamin says, placing a hand on Dave’s shoulder. “It’s just us and Zhen. We can’t even take our wives, man.”
“I know how desperate you are to get back to England, Spike.” August chips in. “And, hopefully, if everything works out and we get some kind of deal out of Brand then we can pay for you to go home. But this happened so quickly we had no time to make a deal, our flight leaves at five tomorrow morning!”
Dave nods. “Thanks. I appreciate that yous thought about me, kiddo.” He raises a slight smile. “Just go out der and do ya best… for me, like.”
“You got it.” August says, holding out a hand.
Dave takes it and the two men shake hands.
Kefalonia, Greece
Monday 6th July 1987
“Πρέπει να μιλήσω σε σας.”
A man in a long white coat comes bursting through the door, his identification hanging from his pocket identifies him as a doctor. There is another man sat in a row of chairs, head in his hands and his foot tapping on the floor. He looks up as the doctor comes in, concerned by the urgency in his voice.
“Κάνει λάθος κάτι?” The man says, a worried look in his eye. “Η σύζυγός μου πρόκειται να είναι λεπτή? Το παιδί?”
The doctor takes a seat next to the man, which is never a good sign.
“Υπήρξαν μερικές περιπλοκές. Αλλά το παιδί είναι λεπτό, έχετε μια πολύ υγιή κόρη. “ He tries to force a smile. “Η σύζυγός σας έχασε ένα αίμα μεγάλου ποσού. Έπρεπε να αναπτύξουμε δραστηριότητες σε την επειγόντως.“
The man waiting suddenly goes very white, fearing the worst. He begins to well up, sensing what is about to come.
The doctor continues. “Κάναμε όλα που θα μπορούσαμε. I’ μ φοβισμένο αυτή didn’ το τ το κάνει. I’ μ πολύ θλιβερό Στυλιανός”
The man, Stelios Giannakopolous, begins to cry. Today is the happiest and sadest day of his life. He has just become a father to a very healthy baby girl. But he has just lost his wife in childbirth.
Main Street, Vancouver
Wednesday 5th November 2008
“Well I have to say I’m surprised. I mean, it’s so short notice.”
Xanthe Giannakopoulos-Joyce stands with a look of both confusion and excitement etched on her face. Her husband, August, to whom she has been married for the past two years, has just told her about his upcoming chance to join the MWA. Xanthe is originally from Kefalonia, Greece, having moved to Vancouver in the Summer of 2005. Her English is impeccable, hardly any hint of her original Greek accent. She puts this down to watching too much English speaking television as a child.
The two are stood on the sidewalk in front of the fashion boutique owned by Verity Doi, Ben’s wife. Xanthe has a plethora of bags on the ground beside her, results of a hard days shopping, while August still bears an impressively wide smile. August had only agreed to stop here to let Benjamin pass on the news to Verity, he hadn’t expected to bump into his own wife, and he couldn’t wait to blurt out the news as soon as he saw her.
“You’re really flying to London tomorrow?”
August nods. “Yea, first thing too. I gotta get home and pack right away.” He stops suddenly, the smile morphing to a look of confusion and concern. “Honey, where would my passport be?”
“I think it’s in the bottom drawer of your desk.” Xanthe answers without needing to think. “Wait… how long are you going to be away for? If you win the match you go to Paris for a title shot… but even if you lose you could be offered more work, right?”
“Yeah, I guess so. I’d not really thought much beyond that initial match.”
In fact since hearing about the opportunity August had been on cloud nine, as had Benjamin. It was only now, talking to his wife, that he realised what this actually entailed. Leaving his wife in Vancouver whilst he travelled half way around the world for a once in a lifetime opportunity. An opportunity which, if he managed to make the most of it, could see him away from home on a very regular basis.
“When I get to London I’m going to arrange for you to come and join us, Verity too if she can get someone to look after this place.” August says.“Wouldn’t you like that? You and me… in Paris.”
Xanthe smiles, liking the idea. “They going anywhere else good on their little European tour?”
August smiles back at his wife. “That’s the spirit!”
Benjamin steps out of the door behind August, broad smile still on his face. He puts a hand on the shoulder of his long time friend.
“Aight, let’s go get packed and ready to fly!” He turns to Xanthe. “We’ll see you girls at home later.”
Xanthe nods as the two men walk away. Verity is now stood in the doorway, also watching the boys leave. Xanthe notices her and moves to stand next to her, leaning on the doorframe.
“What do you think of this?” She says, the uncertainty obvious in her tone.
Verity takes a deep breath. “I think they’ll be back in a few days, tails between their legs. Which is a shame, as I’d love to go to Paris!” She laughs as she heads back inside.
Xanthe quickly picks up her bags and follows her. “You really think they won’t get offered something?”
“I live life as a pessimist.” Verity says. “At least as far as Ben’s wrestling career goes. He’s had so many ups and downs, the injury, so many false starts and setbacks since. August, sure, he has a shot at great things. But I’m not so sure about Ben.”
Xanthe nods. “I see where you’re coming from. I know it’s not been easy for Ben this past few years, he’s essentially become a valet, a form of backup or just a mouth piece for August. That must hurt considering all those years of hard work that he went through to get where he is.”
“He’s a strong man. Mentally as well as physically. He’s adjusting, slowly, to the idea he may never compete again. But he’ll always have that desire down deep in his heart. And I worry about what this experience with the MWA could do to him.”
Verity stands behind the cash register of the shop, leaning over and resting her elbows on the counter and putting her chin in her hands. She looks up, praying in her head that everything will be ok for her husband.
“Hey…” Xanthe says with a smile. “Isn’t it time to close up?”
Verity glances at the clock. “Yes.” A smile soon forms on her face also. “Yes it is.”
“Ok, let’s get out of here. Let’s grab Yana and do something. Leave the boys to pack for themselves!”
“900!” Pure childlike joy fills Verity’s eyes.
Xanthe laughs. “Great idea. Bring a dress for Yana though, you know she won’t be dressed for that place.”
Leningrad, Russia
Tuesday 1st March 1988
It’s a cold and dark evening in Leningrad. To be fair most evenings around here are cold and dark, in March the average high is still zero degrees Celsius, and now as the night sets in the temperature is peaking at minus ten. A policeman is on patrol in the square, taking shelter for a moment by the base of the Alexander Column. For a moment he looks out around the deserted square, site of Bloody Sunday in 1905 and the October Revolution of 1917. There is a lot of history in this square, and a lot of great architecture, and both had always interested the man who now patrolled there.
The wind carried the cry of a baby from the other side of the square, and for a while the policeman ignored it. He had things on his mind, like the meeting he was due to have with a member of the new Tambov Gang, which had been trying to get his assistance with their protection racket. But the cry continued to catch the mans attention, coming from a far corner of the Winter Palace. The man peered into the darkness, trying to see where the cries came from. But he saw no-one. He looked around him, there was no sign of anyone at all in the square tonight. Slowly he began to walk towards the Palace.
As he approached the building the cries became louder and easier to follow. They were coming from some steps leading down into a basement. There, on the step, was a basket. The man opened the basket, peeling back several layers of blankets, knowing full well what had happened here. Finally the face of a beautiful baby girl was uncovered in front of him, and her eyes suddenly caught his own. The cries stopped instantly.
West Georgia Street, Vancouver
Wednesday 5th November 2008
Yana Gradlienko tugs at the smart little black dress that she had been given to wear by her friend, Verity Doi. This is not the kind of attire she would usually wear, being much more at home in skinny jeans and t-shirts. She catches a glimpse of her reflection in a window, her hair done up and makeup freshly applied. She sighs as she turns away from the window back to her friends.
“I love it here.” Verity says, still beaming and joyful.
It is a very lush setting, and had won awards for being the best wine bar in Vancouver. While Verity and Xanthe love it here, Yana has never enjoyed it as much.
“I know, it’s so great.” Xanthe says. “We should make it a regular thing, every Wednesday?”
Yana rolls her eyes, hating the idea of having to do this every week. She doesn’t mind having to do this for special occasions, because these girls are her friends. Her only friends. But the thought of coming here every week filled the young Russian girl with dread.
Verity spots the look in Yana’s eyes. “Maybe we should keep it for times when we have something to celebrate.” She says. “It’ll be less special if we come every week.”
“Ok.” Xanthe too notices Yana’s vacant expression. “Good idea.”
Inside Yana smiled, glad that her friends weren’t going to make her come here every week. But on the outside there was no smile. In fact there is hardly ever a smile seen on the face of Yana Gradlienko. She has no reason to smile, life had never been great. Orphaned as a baby, she grew up in a St. Petersburg orphanage. As soon as she could she left, out to find her mother. But she arrived in Vancouver a few years too late, finding only her mothers gravestone.
“So, Yana…” Xanthe attempts to involve her friend in the conversation. “Any luck with your little investigation?”
Yana shakes her head. “Nothing.”
The search Xanthe mentions is the one Yana is currently carrying out to find what exactly brought her mother to Vancouver. Did she have any other family? Friends? Basically, she wanted to know who her mother really was. The search has been ongoing for almost two years, but has yet to yield any results.
“Too bad.” Verity says. “Don’t give up though. You’ll get there.”
Yana nods. “I hope so.” She glances over at the clock, noticing it’s getting quite late. “I go soon, need to pack.”
“Pack?” Xanthe says, not knowing that Yana was planning to go anywhere.
“Flight to London early tomorrow.”
Verity does not look best pleased. “Hold up, you’re going to London with the boys?” Yana nods. “Why?”
“Zhen say it be good experience for me. I go instead of her, act as manager for August. Plus I am trained in ring, so can help him if he needs it.”
“That’s what my Ben is for!”
“I only do what Zhen tells me. She want us to all work together, as a unit.” Yana turns to Xanthe. “You too, someday. So she say.”
All three fall silent for a moment, exchanging glances.
Xanthe scrunches up her face a little. “Me?”
”She know August teach you, she want us to be a kind of team.” Yana begins. “Zhen bring us together, us four orphans, introduce us all to each other. There some kind of reason behind it, but she not say what. She want us to represent something, she want us to be….” She pauses and raises an eyebrow, as if what she is about to say doesn’t sit to well with her. “… the Children of Xu.”
“Children of what now?” Verity says, trying her best not to giggle.
“Serious?” Xanthe asks. She gets a nod back from Yana. “I want to see her, talk this trough.”
“But not tonight.” Verity adds. “Let’s go home, get the boys ready for tomorrow.”
The three girls finish off their drinks and start heading for the exit. They close their coats tightly around themselves as they step out into a cold Vancouver night. Soon Verity and Yana are in their own taxis and heading back to their apartments. The Joyce residence was not that far from the hotel, and Xanthe decided she would walk home, give herself time to think about what Yana had just said.
She walks past an electronics store, a wall of television screens in the window. All showing HBO promo videos. She stops in her tracks as she sees a commercial for MWA BattleZone, live from London, England. Suddenly she felt positive about the future.
August never really had to worry about money, inheriting his fathers company at a very early age. August didn’t wrestle for the money, he didn’t want to make it to the big leagues for a big pay day. He wanted success. And that had, until now, always eluded him. Now Any Given Night has the potential to change Augusts life totally. This one show could catapult August to stardom. And if Zhen Xu had a plan to include Xanthe in that, how could she possibly turn it down?