The ZX Agency
Begbie Street, Vancouver
Wednesday 11th March 2009
August Joyce opens the door with some force as he enters the offices of the ZX Agency. He storms through reception, where Yana Gradlienko is sat with her feet up on the desk. Yana is talking on the phone, in Russian, and August walks right past her. He walks straight into Zhen’s office, disappearing off screen for a brief moment as he does so. A second or so later and he comes right back out again with a look of disappointment etched on his face.
”Where is she?” He says to Yana, interrupting her.
Yana quickly wraps up her call. “Я должен пойти, говорю более поздно.” She hangs up the phone and sits up properly in her chair. “She out on business. Something about another new client, wanted to brush up on custody law or something.”
“Another new client?” August raises an eyebrow. “She’s on a roll, huh?”
Yana just shrugs; Zhen’s never been great at giving her employees much information. Or any information for that matter. Yana just comes in every day, answers the phones and does what she’s told. She’s generally kept in the dark about what Zhen is up to. Not that Zhen’s a secretive person, but because work has been so scarce until recently that Zhen was doing everything herself, just to keep busy.
“How it feel to be a champion?” Yana asks, changing the subject.
August is caught a little off guard by the question, thinking for a second before answering.
“It’s good. Hard work, but good.” He smiles a little. “I see I’ve got Ryann Hardy next week, my third title defence. Will be tricky. She’s already pissed off with Zhen, she’ll be wanting to get one over on me to annoy Zhen if nothing else.”
“Zhen been pissing off a lot of people recently, especially with this new client at the pay per view.” Yana refers to the announcement of the new ZX Agency Client, whose name is still to be confirmed.
“Yeah, the MWA officials are all trying to work out who gave that contract to Zhen.” August shakes his head. “I wonder what she did to get hold of that?”
“I don’t want to know.” Yana says with a smile.
August laughs. “Me either.” He suddenly stops laughing and begins to look a little more serious, concerned even. “Why did she go and offer the contract to this guy though? And announcing him as a member of the Children of Xu? The Children are me, Ben and you. I’ve been pushing to get Xanthe included but Zhen was reluctant to have more than three. But now she’s adding in new people without consulting us?”
“I know, I think she try to replace me. She think you, Ben and new boy will be a better group. With people like Anarchy Associated in the MWA she want a strong group to stand out as best.” Yana looks sad at the thought. “I only have two matches, she decide I not good enough to represent in MWA.”
August walks over to the desk, taking a perch on the end.
“You are good enough, Yana. You’re still very young, inexperienced. But you have talent, and a desire to learn. Give it time, more lessons with Spike and you’ll be a champion yourself someday!”
Yana smiles. “You just try to make me feel better?”
“I mean what I say, Yana. You have the ability, don’t give up on yourself.”
“Thanks.” Yana says. “And you don’t give up on the Children. Don’t lose focus. Ryann Hardy is the important thing to think about.”
August nods. “Yea, you’re right.” He gets up off the desk and starts walking to the exit. “If you see Zhen tell her to call me. I’m gonna go do some training, I need to be at my best for BattleZone.”
“V” Fashion Boutique
Main Street, Vancouver
Wednesday 11th March 2009
Verity Doi and Xanthe Giannakopoulos-Joyce are stood in the workroom above Verity’s shop. All around the room are mannequins with half-finished dresses pinned to them. Rolls of material are spread out over tables and boxes of shoes are piled up on one corner. In another corner there is a sofa and a small television. This is Verity’s quiet corner, where she sits to relax with a spot of lunch every day.
The two women make their way over to this area, Xanthe laden with shopping bags from another busy day. She places the bags by the sofa before taking a seat, Verity sitting next to her.
“So, how’s business?” Xanthe asks, hoping that the economy has not affected her dear friend too badly.
“So-so.” Verity answers, still smiling. “It’s been quiet, but no more so than the same period last year. Things aren’t too bad, all things considered.”
“Well that’s very good to hear.” Xanthe smiles at her friend.
“How are things with you and August?”
Xanthe reaches down to take her shoes off, the delight at her relief evident on her face as she does so.
“Things are good. He’s been in a great mood recently, this Millennium Title reign is doing him the world of good I have to say.”
“Reckon he’ll be champion for a long time?”
Xanthe sighs. “I hope so, but I’m a little bit concerned about his match this coming week.”
“I heard about that from Ben, Ryann Hardy?” Verity asks.
“Yeah.” Xanthe nods. “I know that the MWA is great at treating women as equals. And the women in the MWA are as good as the men, it’s great to see. But I’m concerned about how August will deal with it, in a one-on-one basis. I know he’s fought in tag team matches against women and in the Millennium X match too. But I don’t think he’s ever fought one-on-one with a woman before.”
“So, what’s the problem with that?”
“August has a real issue with man on woman violence; he’s campaigned for domestic abuse support groups for a long time and generally finds the whole idea very difficult to deal with. It all stems to what happened to his own mother…”
“Ah.” Verity says, remembering what happened to Augusts’ parents. “I guess I can understand that. You think that will affect him inside the ring? Surely it’s not the same thing.”
“I don’t know, I hope it doesn’t really, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it did. August’s never really wanted to talk about what happened to his mother; he’ll never open up to show just how much it affects him.”
Verity smiles as she looks at her friend. “Xanthe, I think you’re worrying too much about nothing. August is smart enough to leave certain feelings out when it comes to his job. He’ll know that Ryann Hardy is a tough opponent, he’ll be up for this fight as much as her. Don’t you worry!”
Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, NC
Sunday 15th March 2009
The scene opens outside the Coliseum as Mitch Weinberg is stood next to August Joyce. Joyce has a long black leather coat on and the MWA Millennium Title draped over his shoulder. Mitch is looking into the camera and suddenly notices the big red light.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m here with your MWA Millennium Champion, August Joyce.” He turns to face his interview subject. “August, first I have to say congratulations on retaining your title at Revelations.”
“Thanks.” August replies with a smile.
“It was one heck of a match, you seemed to go into the match fearful of it, but you soon got into the groove and that leg drop was sick!”
“Well, yes, I guess I did get into it. I’m a quick learner, and I suppose you have to be in these situations. I’m the Millennium Champion and that means a lot to me, I’ll do what it takes to hold onto this belt. If that means adapting to a different style of competition, so be it. If that means taking on three opponents instead of one, so be it. If that means taking on Ryann Hardy… so be it.”
“Rumours abound that you’re not keen on a one-on-one match with a woman, that true?”
August looks at him with a raised eyebrow. “You been talking to my wife?” Before Mitch can answer August smiles, pats him on the shoulder and carries on. “It’s true that I do have issues with man on woman violence. I had been confronted with it from an early age, and as soon as I was old enough I began to help where I could. I’ve given money to shelters who do such good work, I’ve done a lot for these organisations.”
“But… I’d be a fool to compare what those women go through to the women in the MWA. The women of the MWA are on an even keel. They fight with the power and passion of which I have never seen in any female athlete anywhere else in the world. You only have to look at the history books to see that the MWA has never been male dominated, it’s a split right down the middle.”
“So, the rumours are false. I’m not afraid of taking on a woman. And neither will Ryann be afraid of taking on me.”
“And how do you rate your opponent for this week?”
“Very highly, Mitch, very highly. She may not be everyone’s favourite person, or maybe even anyone’s favourite person, but she’s a damn good wrestler. And as part of Anarchy Associated she has friends who are dangerous too. They’re the MWA Tag-Team Champions for a reason. Together they are a unit to be feared, separately they’re wrestlers who should not be underestimated. I’ve put a lot of work into being the Millennium Champion and I don’t intend on letting go of this belt just yet.”
August pauses for a moment, thinking about something.
“I’ve heard about some kind of situation that Ryann found herself in this week, the kind of situation you hope you never wind up in. I’m glad she’s come through it ok, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Sorry to hear that one of her friends was not so fortunate. But I hope this won’t affect her in any way. I want to fight a Ryann Hardy who’s on her A game, a Ryann Hardy who’s determined to add more gold to the Anarchy Associated cause. Because if I can face that Ryan Hardy and still walk out with the title, then I know it’s been a damn good day.”
Mitch stirs with another question. “Do you think that the Children of Xu are in a position to be taking on Anarchy Associated?”
“Well I’m always up for a battle.” August smiles. “But Benjamin is still in rehab. And Yana’s still training. We’re not a group who’s at their peak, I’ll be honest and admit to that.”
“But what about the new member?” Mitch is confused by the fact August hasn’t mentioned him.
August sighs. “You probably know more about that than me. Apparently there’s going to be some big announcement at BattleZone.”
“Apparently? You don’t sound confident about that?”
“Well, Zhen wanted to announce everything at Revelations and what did she come up with? Some old footage of a once great MMA star who we’re not aloud to mention by name for legal reasons. Who knows what she’ll have in store for BattleZone, if anything.”
“Ok, so, moving on…” Mitch decides to avoid the subject of new Children of Xu members. “Your match with Ryann Hardy will be your third title defence in as many weeks. How are you finding life as champion?”
“Busy!” August laughs. “But it’s rewarding too. I’ve never felt better. I intend to build on this feeling at BattleZone by walking out of the Coliseum still the Millennium Champion. Then I get to enjoy a week off before taking on another challenger in Lexington, Kentucky.”
“You seem confident. This is quite a change to the August Joyce that first walked into the MWA.” Mitch smiles.
“A lot has happened since I lucked out and got offered a contract here. I don’t know how I got that chance and, right now, I’m not at all bothered. The main thing is I’m here, I’m the champion and I intend to stay that way. I’m not afraid of Ryann Hardy.”
A local Gym
Vancouver, BC
Sunday 15th March 2009
“ARGH!”
A cry booms out from just off screen. We’re at a local gym, currently all the equipment is un-used, there’s not a soul in sight. To the left there is a television hanging on the wall, Mitch Weinberg is on screen presenting part of an MWA re-cap show.
“I told yous’ not to do so much.” A familiar scouse voice says as Dave Spikey walks into shot, picking up a towel and tossing it off screen. He then turns to the television and flicks it off.
“No pain, no gain, Spike!”
The camera pans round to reveal Benjamin Doi stood next to one of the pieces of gym equipment. His leg is freshly out of plaster and he’s keen to get going with his rehab.
“Too much pain, no walk again.” Spike says with a laugh as he picks up a towel for himself. “It’s great that you want to be back in training, like. But don’t yous’ overdo it, kid.”
“Don’t you worry ‘bout a damn thing, Spike.” Benjamin says with a big smile. “I’m feelin’ great, my recovery is ahead of schedule. I just wanna get my ass back in the damn ring. Things are starting to happen for the Children of Xu an’ I don’t wanna get left behind.”
“Yous’ wanna be a part of that madhouse?” Dave says, motioning over his shoulder to the television set.
“The MWA is the land of opportunity for us, man.” Ben begins. “August and I been fighting up and down this continent for longer than I care to remember. We never amounted to anythin’ more than lower mid-card show fillers. We never got to the big time, but we kept on pluggin’ away. We kept on plyin’ our trade, learnin’ as much as we damn well could. And now? Now look.” Ben points up at the TV. “August’s the Millennium Champion for cryin’ out loud. That shit means somethin’!”
Ben wipes the sweat from his face and pauses a moment to catch his breath. He moves his leg back and forth a few times as part of his warm down.
“He’s livin’ the life he always wanted. He got a hot wife, two amazin’ best friends and a belt around his waist. He’s gonna roll into BattleZone this week as a damn proud champion, and he’s gonna be rollin’ out the same way.”
“Well I hope yous’ right about that one, like.” Dave adds. “I gotta admit to a touch of jealousy right now. He certainly seems to be doing alright for‘imself.”
“An’ that aint all. We got ourselves a new member of the Children of Xu. A man who is one of the toughest sons of bitches I ever saw. This guy tore through the competition in MMA and if he comes to the MWA with the same attitude, then he’s gonna turn a lotta heads and bust a lot as well.”
Ben begins to walk, still a little gingerly, towards Dave. He puts a hand on his shoulder as the two men walk away together.
“Times are good, Spike. An’ I just wanna piece of the action.”