Post by mickeyfandango on May 1, 2011 21:51:28 GMT -5
Scene 1 – Poker
The scene opens on a rolling landscape. Lights flash as buildings whizz past. The camera is looking out of a window and the scene it observes is unmistakable. Las Vegas. The car stops at a set of lights and the view becomes more focused. Hundreds of neon signs burn brightly, each attempting to lure loose walleted punters into their casino to spend their cash, or encourage a visit to various entertainment shows where the drinks cost more than the cars.
On the sidewalk there are fire eaters spewing flames like an ugly naked dragon while others spin large circles of fire around their body. A few meters further on a street magician attempts to wow passers by with a deck of cards. The camera zooms in on a table where the old street hustler game of “chase the Ace” is taking place. The idea it to keep an eye on the Ace when three cards are moved about on the table, however the hustler always wins. The camera watches as the man chooses the wrong card and is dumbfounded when it turns out to be the Jack of Clubs.
The lights and people blur into a haze once more as the car moves on and the man in the back is left thinking that it isn’t the first time that the “Ace” couldn’t be found.
The man in the back of the car, which is actually a limo, is the Texas Television champion Mickey Fandango. Just a week and a half ago Mickey was hindered by a missing Ace as he was due to be partnered by Ace Andrews in a tag match with The Renegades. Ace never showed and despite his best efforts Mickey was never likely to succeed in a handicap match against the slick Tag Team. Never-the-less he put up one hell of a fight.
He was not alone in the back of the Limo. To his left was Tina, a gorgeous Red Head with a large bust and what could be described as a dark red bikini, but only just. On his right was Christy, an equally busty Blonde with an equally sparse bikini, this one, however, was a pale yellow. Mickey himself did manage to contain his figure within clothing. He wore a stylish white Armani suit, and for reasons unknown even to himself, wore a pair of sunglasses. It was 22:00.
The car stopped outside the Grande Casino. An attendant opened the door of the limo and Tina exited first, followed by Mickey who then offered his hand to Christy as she appeared at the door. They had left their half finished glasses of Champagne in the back, there was plenty more of that to come. Mickey held out his arms so each lady could take a hold and they headed towards the door.
The casino building was typical of the Las Vegas strip, bright lights and a water feature, but was a slightly lower key venue. Mickey knew the owner so tended to make it his first stop to help his friend along with business. Since Mickey had returned to wrestling his manager Doug Williams had carefully constructed his profile outside of the ring and he had a decent sized following, mainly from his success in WWH. Mickey was a little disappointed with the crowd reaction in RoP. He wasn’t used to getting boo’d. But he was in a promotion in Texas and he was British. Still, after a cracking match with Douche, becoming a champ and putting on a great show in a handicap match Mickey felt the tide was beginning to turn. There were more and more cheers each time he hit the ring, with the fans starting to appreciate his technical and high risk style.
Another attendant held the door open for Mickey and the ladies and Mickey tipped him with a smile as he entered the building. Inside was lavish as would be expected. There were sweeping curves throughout the architecture and the floor area was a large open plan mix of gaming tables with rows of slots in each corner and various counters and bars around the perimeter.
After buying $1000 worth of chips Mickey heads for the poker table and takes a seat while the ladies stand behind him each with a hand on his shoulder. He looks around at his opponents as the croupier deals him in on the next hand. He posts his blind and peels up the corner of the two cards in front of him covering the top with his other hand. His face remains plain but underneath his excitement grows as he sees A A at the top of his cards. Pocket Aces on his first hand. The corners flip down and Mickey flips two chips over eachother in his hands between his fingers. Everyone calls and the Flop is dealt. 8H 9S and AH turn up. Now Mickey is sitting on trip aces with nothing else of note on the board. Money flies into the pot but Mickey is not going to be scared off and immediately calls causing the remaining 4 players to fold. Heads up it is as QC appears. Again money goes in and Mickey calls. He considered raising just for a second but wanted to make sure of his return. He didn’t want a fold here. The river produces a 2S and Mickey this time raises. The bet is immediately called and Mickey raises his eyebrows. His opponent turns his cards over to reveal a 10D and a JD. Mickey shakes his head as he realises he has been beaten on the river by a lucky straight. He folds without revealing his cards.
“How about that, losing with Trip Aces.” He thinks to himself.
The next hand is dealt and Mickey again checks his cards. He manages to hide his surprise that he is again sitting on pocket Aces. This time he raises before the flop and scares all but 1 opponent into folding.
The flop appears 2D, 2S and AC. Mickey forces his face to remain straight. Full House off the flop. Mickey wants to gain as much from this as possible so calls the bet to keep the opponent in again. 7H is the next card out and Mickey’s opponent throws down a bigger bet. Mickey guesses that they may have 2 pair and are banking on it so he raises to test them. Sure enough they call. The river produces a 7S and Immediately the money goes in. Mickey senses blood. If he is correct then the opponent would be thinking their full house would be the winning hand. Mickey’s full house would beat it though and so he raises. His opponent re-raises and Mickey decides to stop messing about, declaring himself all in. His opponent does the same and turns over the 7D that Mickey was expecting. Mickey quickly turns over his cards and moves to claim the chips, just as his opponent reaches for his second card. As it turns over it feels like slow motion. Mickey sees the number on the card but just can’t believe it. The two lines joined at the end and making an angle of slightly less than 90 degrees. A 7 staring back at him as his heartbeat quickens and his face drops. His Aces full of 2’s have been beaten by four of a kind. He simply couldn’t believe it.
“Man Aces really can’t win at the moment can they?”
He sighed and stood up to face the ladies, his consolation prize would see him through the night.
“Ladies shall we?”
He grinned as they linked arms again and headed towards the entrance to the casinos hotel. He turns and places his hand over the camera.
“Sorry, this is for my eyes only”
The scene turns black.
Scene 2 – Backstage
Mickey Fandango is stood backstage in his wrestling gear all set to head out and face Ace Andrews. He stands with his TV Title over his left shoulder.
“Ace. We go back a long way in this business. For most of it we have been friends and a lot of it we have been on the same team. Hell you were the one that brought me here to Ring of Pride! When I look back on those times you have always been on a pretty good streak. Some may call it luck but whatever. Then you lost this.....”
Mickey taps the title belt on his shoulder.
“I don’t know what happened to you that day but for whatever reason you took your eye off the ball. You lost to Stu. It shocked Texas man, you were invincible to these people. A legend, an icon! You had it all man and you threw it away. Now that ball that you dropped has been smashed into left field. The ball is a dot to you man!”
Mickey shakes his head.
“You have not been the same man since. You have let the Renegades screw you at every turn and fought out a weak draw in your rematch with Stu. Last week, you had the perfect opportunity to even the score with the Renegades with me standing beside you. What happens? They make you their bitch and I end up 2 on 1. But hey at least I had the balls for the fight. You let me down big time last week Ace. “
Mickey paces slightly.
“One more thing struck me looking back on the time that we have known eachother. The plain and simple fact that I have ALWAYS been better than you. Three promotions we have been in together. The first it was me that won the International title. It was me that won the Shogun tournament. It was me that was about to become World champion before it closed its doors a mere 3 days before its Pay Per View. Ace Andrews had no push, no momentum, no nothing.”
Mickey shifts his position so his right shoulder is now forward.
“Immediately after the WWH closed down you were the one that took me to RRW. You knew that to make the promotion a success you NEEDED Mickey Fandango. Hell you even set the tournament brackets to encourage a rematch with Kameron Copeland for the World title. A match guaranteed to give you ratings through the roof. Again, the promotion closed days before my World title match. So there I am, twice the number one contender for the World title screwed out of his shot by shoddy ownership, an International champion and Shogun tournament winner. And there you are, failed promotion co-owner.”
Mickey stares down the camera.
“Fast forward a couple months and I am enjoying a break from wrestling and who should be calling my phone? Ace Andrews. You telling me about how you got it made in Ring of Pride. How you made the TV title more prestigious than the World title. I listen to your words and realise there may be something for me in RoP and sign my contract the next day. Before I know it you go on your downward spiral, surrendering your title and becoming a bitch in the process. While in contrast I make an impact and win the very title belt that you were bragging about weeks before. Face it Ace, I always have been and always will be that bit of class, that bit of quality ahead of you. Tonight I will finally get the chance to prove it one on one. You have a lot to make up for after last week and I will enjoy my time in that ring tonight. Tonight you face the King of Hearts. Thats right, Mickey Fandango is the new poster boy for the RoP. The face that is selling the tickets and capturing the imagination of the fans. You don’t hold the Aces this time. There will be no turnaround in fortunes tonight. My star will continue to shine while yours weakly and limply fades into the darkness along with any hope you had of challenging for that World title belt. Your road back is a long one Ace. You could do it if you take baby steps. Maybe actually making it to the ring could be a start? I’m sorry it has to be this way Ace after everything we have been through, but this is business now. Something you know all too well. See you out there Acer, looks like its a Full House tonight”
Mickey grins as he makes his way to the top of the runway.
