The Beresford Appartments
Vancouver, BC
2009
August Joyce and Benjamin Doi are sat in Augusts’ apartment. In front of them is a 50 inch plasma, High Definition television. And August has, hooked up to this beast of a television, a PlayStation 2. The boys are playing Fire Pro Wrestling Returns. And Benjamin is losing, badly.
“Seriously, man, you got this amazin’ TV in here and a cruddy old PS2?” Ben jokes. “When you gonna get with the times and upgrade this heap of shit?”
“Hey!” August says, defending his gaming choices. “Fire Pro is the pinnacle of wrestling games, why would I want anything else?”
On screen a small pixelated version of Jackie Sweets is pummelling Tim Worthington. He nails the Sweet Spot, covers Worthington and the ref counts 1-2-3! Benjamin throws down his pad in anger.
“This game blows. It’s so frickin’ outdated!”
August laughs. “Hey, you’re just bitter because I beat you.”
Just then there’s a knock at the door. In the background Xanthe is heard opening the door, and a few moments later the figure of Zhen Xu is stood in the doorway.
“Hey boys.” She says as she joins them on the sofa. She looks at the screen. “Jackie Sweets? How… perfect.”
“What?” August says, setting up another game.
“He’s one of your opponents for Monday.” Zhen says, matter-of-factly.
“One?” Says Ben, concerned for a moment. “Oh… another tag match?”
Zhen shakes her head. “No, triple threat.”
“Trips?” Ben sounds excited. “Nice.”
“Who’s the other?” August asks.
“Rick Young.” Zhen replies.
August lets it sink in for a moment. “So, a triple threat match against Young and Sweets….” He rubs his chin as he thinks. “This could be good. A win over Sweets is enough to propel anyone up the ladder in the MWA.”
He turns back to the PlayStation and sets up another match, a triple threat match. August Joyce vs. Rick Young vs. Jackie Sweets. Ben notices what he’s doing.
“You put yourself in the game?” Ben jokes. “That’s it, man, I’m out.”
Benjamin pulls himself out of the chair, grabs his crutches and starts hobbling out of the room.
“See ya later, Ben.”
“Later, man.”
August waits for Ben to leave before he turns his attentions to Zhen.
“Ok, I need to have a word with you.” He says, placing the control pad on the table in front of him.
Zhen looks concerned. “What about, babe?”
“That damned press release.” August says, straight faced.
“What about it?” Zhen doesn’t quite get what her client is talking about. “I spell your name wrong?”
August doesn’t find the joke funny. “Why was there no mention of Yana in that press release?”
For this Zhen doesn’t have an answer, and she knows it. She stays oddly quiet while August continues with what he is saying.
“That press release totally ignored the brilliant effort she’s put into things recently. She was so downhearted after reading it, she phoned the MWA and asked not to be booked this week. It was all I could do to convince her not to quit and go back to Russia!”
Zhen stays silent, looking down at the floor.
“That was totally unprofessional. She’s my tag-team partner, which makes her your client too. Plus she actually works for you. You should be more proud of her than me, in all honesty.”
“I didn’t mean to upset the girl.
“Well, you did.” August says, disappointment in his voice. “I think you should apologise to her, like right now.”
Zhen nods. “Ok.”
There’s a moment of silence as neither of them move or say a word.
“Well, get to it… I have a match to prepare for!” August says, pointing at the game he’s about to play.
The Beresford Appartments
Vancouver, BC
2003
“So why did you quit?”
August Joyce is sat on his sofa, leaning back with his hands behind his head. Sat on a chair opposite is a small Chinese woman with short dark hair. She sighs and rolls her eyes, not really wanting to answer the question.
“I mean, you worked for one of the biggest law firms in BC. Why leave the safety, security? Surely you had a good reason?”
“I wanted to do my own thing. I discovered a new love during my time in Japan. Wrestling. My firm didn’t want me involved with pro-wrestlers and promoters. So I went out on a limb and set up my own company.”
August takes in her answer for a few moments.
“And what can you offer me? I mean, as a client.”
“I currently have no clients, so for now I can offer exclusivity!” She jokes. “In all seriousness though, I intend on only keeping a small client base. Which means I can be there for you whenever you need me, and it gives me the chance to go the extra mile for you.”
“Ok.”
She waits for August to say something else, but he remains silent.
“Ok?” She prompts, eventually.
“Yea… I’m your first client.”
“Serious? We’ve not talked business yet, not gone over figures…”
August laughs. “I don’t care for figures, I go by people, personality. And I like yours.”
The woman is suddenly all smiles.
“So, Ms Xu, where do I sign?” August says, beaming.
Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World
Auckland, New Zealand
2009
August Joyce and his wife, Xanthe, have just spent the day at a local aquarium. Whilst they were they they bumped into Jackie Sweets and his wife, Starlett. Now, as they are about to get into their rental car and head back to the hotel, they are approached by Sweets once more.
“Hey, August.” Sweets says, approaching the pair. “You got a sec?”
August nods. “Sure thing Mr Sweets.”
Jackie laughs. “Please, call me Jackie. I wanted to ask you something about what you said earlier.”
“Ok.” August says, prompting Jackie to continue.
“How serious were you about… having my back?” Jackie asks, nervously.
“I never jest about stuff like that. I was serious. I don’t like what happened to your partner, I sure as heck wouldn’t want that to happen to Ben or Yana.”
“Glad to hear it, August.” Jackie says with a smile. “Starlett said something to me earlier that’s been playing on my mind. I fear for her safety at times, as well as my own. Like you said, you can never have too many friends. So, I can trust you, right?”
“I’m an honest man, Jackie. I’d like to consider you a friend. And I always do what I can to help my friends.” August smiles and holds out his hand.
Jackie smiles back and shakes Augusts’ hand. As he goes to pull away, August holds firm.
“Just remember though, as much as I’ll have your back and as much as I’ll be your friend, friendship gets suspended from the moment that bell goes on Monday night. I’ll shake your hand before, I’ll shake it after. But during… I’m out to prove a point and to make a name for myself. And beating you and Rick Young is my main aim.”
Jackie smiles back at August. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, August. I like a good contest, and I have a feeling I’m going to get one in you.”
The two men finally finish their handshake and head off in separate directions.