Cut the Cord.

[Falcon]

Freedom, la la la la la la
Freedom, follow me

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Time is an nondescript concept, made by those who just needed to put a label on things that were otherwise intangible. It no more defines the events that occured, any more than those events really define it.

[The big man, seemingly spent on his anger, points angrily at the ring and the two men get back inside. We watch them go through another rough workout, until they are called off again. They resume sitting on the apron, only to receive another angry vein popping lecture.]

You hear so often.. I did this, therefore this is true. Not just sports, but politics, music, media.. anything with a history clings to it like it's a life raft and not holding means it will slip away and you'll drown. What you don't know, is it's simply a weight, and you're drowning already.

[The big man speaks, and then there's a pause as if he were expecting an answer. He barked another question, and then a third. Each time, the two men spoke something, their lips moved, but nothing else. They didn't look, they didn't move, they simply answered. This upset the big man, who threw his hands up and turned away, motioning to another man. He was bearded, with a determined look and a posture that stated he was not one to trifle with. He waved the big man off, and he stormed away.]

Nolan Ryan didn't strike a man out because he struck out the man before, he did it because he was good. Saying that history has any causal effect on the present is like predicting a gas station on every street corner you come across, eventually the law of averages will make you a prophet.

[The bearded man approached the two, looking at them for a long moment. Then much more calmly than the man previously, pointed to the ring. The two men nodded, moved back into the ring, and worked out for a third time, without stopping. Once finished, they sat back down, expecting another lecture. They were surprised.]

People would rather question why a man like Falcon would keep coming back, when history hasn't been kind. People would rather point to a loss and say 'he doesn't have it any more' rather than even entertain the notion that a loss isn't really a big deal. They create expectations based on history, just so they have something to say. It's almost as useless as clinging to an anchor to keep from drowning.

[The bearded man spoke, in an even tone for a few minutes. The two men nodded along as he did, listening, understanding. They knew that those with the biggest bluster often had so little to actually say.]

You can keep your history, your win-loss records, your tether to yesterday that fuels your assumptions about tomorrow. Keep your anchors, drown your sorrows.. I'll stay with the man who is not bugged by history..

[The bearded man walked away, clapping each of his students on the shoulder as he did. The two hopped off the apron onto the floor. We pan closer, and it's a young Falcon, and the man currently calling himself God.]

The man who makes it every time he steps into the ring.

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Let me tell ya, I'm vicious
Not pass aggressive
I've got my finger on the pulse, staring straight into the hole and I get it
And I'm a savage
It's automatic
I've got a way of making noise, the power to destroy, no static

Victory is all you need, so cultivate and plant the seed
Hold your breath and count to ten

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[The man called Falcon was in a gym somewhere, dancing about a floor mat, kicking the crap out of a heavy bag. Age hadn't slowed him by very much, but he wasn't twenty any more, and he felt it. That only made him work harder. Jane was sitting on a bench, watching tiredly, bored with her phone.]

Jane: You'd think I would be used to this by now, you know? Sitting around while he does his thing. Sure, there's other things I could be doing with my time. I have other clients, but they're just your standard athletes. Something about this guy is special, and well.. this part..

[She motioned to the camera.]

Jane: This part is quite fun, sitting around and thinking up snarky things to let out my inner bitchitude, as he called it.

[She held up a napkin, with that word printed neatly on it, in his handwriting.]

Jane: Honestly it really is just for my own personal amusement. Falcon over there used to do this to try and make people think, or so he said. People who were stuck in ruts, people who didn't see clearly, people intentionally blinded by their own ego or stupidity, he felt that if he spoke out, talked to them in a way where they'd have no choice but to sit down and look at things in a different way, he could change things. They would fight harder, if for no reason other than to prove him wrong. Because the fight was the one thing that mattered. Me?

[She shrugged cutely, condescending grin plastered all over her face.]

Jane: I clearly don't give a fuck what you think. I'm sure Mike Laszlo had all sorts of words directed at me, maybe some good, maybe some bad, who knows? I didn't even bother listening to it, because I said my piece.

[She pointed at him.]

Jane: He would debate you, I have better things to do with my time, like watching him go through his hum drum workouts. See, one thing I learned since I started this, is that everyone seems to be clinging to the past like some sort of anchor. Whether they were nice about it, a dick about it, or completely indifferent, it was always 'this happened and therefore, this will too'. Maybe I just have a low tolerance for bullshit, but it's already become a bit much.

[She leaned back, watching him for a second. He paused, and started working more with fists, and footwork, moving about and throwing right hooks and left crosses. He changed styles as easily as most people change clothes.]

Jane: Which I suppose brings me to Johnny Gillmen.. and I wish I cared enough to do more than rudimentary research. I asked for some tapes, both matches and promos, to find something to mock him for.. but really, what is there? He's just a normal boring guy, his mouth runs about the same drivel nearly every other wrestler spits out, whether they be here or in some local promotion. Just another man tethered by an anchor to the past, of his incessant fear of being in the shadows.. Left behind and forgotten.

[She exhaled, motioning to the man working out.]

Jane: See, Johnny.. in another time and place, this man would extend his hand to you. He would try to remove that fear, that fear of being overshadowed that you still drag around like a rucksack. And don't even try to pretend that you don't. While you don't say it, your every action screams of you trying far too hard to be your own man. Think he hasn't seen it?

He lead a group of those just like you once.. those who lived in the shadows of others.

So go ahead, try and deny it, it'll just be laughable, really. What you should do, is instead of trying too hard to do differently, try to do the same things that come naturally to you, only so good nobody can follow.

That is the right way.

[She nodded like she just dispensed some sage like wisdom.]

Jane: See, the reason I didn't do too much research on you, was because I popped in one promo, and realized that I'd seen that very same promo done by that man right there, probably two or three dozen times. Now before you get your panties in a twist about some veiled accusation of copying him, I'm merely stating that every word that came out of.. well not your mouth, since it was a blog, rang true. Zashu's not invincible, he can be beaten.. yadda yadda. Though I think accusing his handler of being something he hides behind is a little stupid, it was all relatively what this man has been preaching his entire career.

Hell you should have worried about being in his shadow, rather than the guy who trained you. But don't feel bad..

[She pointed a finger, almost excitedly at him.]

Jane: He's very good at leading people out into the light. I mean, there's a few on the roster that were all broody and woe is me, and he helped them. So don't be afraid to let him do the same for you.

[She paused for a moment to let that all sink in. Then shrugged.]

Jane: Or don't. Whatever. The great thing about personal freedom is you can accept or deny whatever you want. But just remember.. being a Falcon shadow didn't help you beat Zashu, so maybe try something different this time? Eh? Maybe? Consider it. I know these are things people don't want to hear.

But those who ignore, falter.

Those who listen, fly.

Just remember that.

[Fin]
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I'm gonna make it rain, so ring the bell
I know it all too well
Switchblade on the edge of your ass
Can I get a witness? Relax!

Cuz sanity brings no reward
So one more hit and one last score
Don't be a casualty
Cut the Cord!

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