A RANDOM DOOR
The scene opens to a random door in the bowels of the MGM Grand. Melvin Beauregard barrels through it and directly into the office of Lindsay Troy. She looks up from the papers on her desk, completely confused by the intrusion.
Melvin Beauregard: Glad we could do our staffing meeting today, thanks for making time for me.
Lindsay Troy: I…
Melvin Beauregard: So far we’re really happy with how things are going with the product and the promotion for the MGM. We’ve seen increased attendance and future ticket sales to every show we host, while that could be Usher doing his show, I like to think it’s because of the hard work we do.
Lindsay Troy looks like she’s been ran over by a motor mouthed salesman at her front door, and Melvin is continuing his magnificent tirade as he pulls up a chair and sits down.
Lindsay Troy: That’s…
Melvin Beauregard: GREAT! I KNOW! And while El Hijo Del Super Cool Guy was clearly a bad pick for duty bartending at the pool… (whispering) You know… because he’s a thief…
Lindsay Troy blinks, clearly amazed at the stupidity of the MGM Liaison.
Melvin Beauregard: Anyway, we’ve looked through the roster and everyone seems to have their own issues. We talked about having Balaam host a night, and that won’t work with Hoyt talking about being the son of God all the time, and we thought about Bathory but nobody wants a spooky cult leader to give them Kool-Aid… And Bobby Dean… We all know what issues THAT would bring…
The stare that emanates from Lindsay Troy would kill a normal person, but we all know that sales people aren’t really people.
Melvin Beauregard: So, per our agreement the MGM is allowed to make talent recommendations. And for our first recommendation, we really scoured the wrestling world. We wanted to make sure the wrestler in question had a huge, known, name. And had worked at one of the major promotions in the past.
Melvin pulls out a print out with a headshot paper clipped to the corner.
Melvin Beauregard: As you can see, he’s a great competitor, and has a fantastic resume. He’s worked in a ton of major promotions, like many of your other hires he worked for High Octane Wrestling…
Lindsay Troy, the stone cold killer herself removes the glare from Melvin and looks at the headshot. She immediately begins laughing.
Lindsay Troy: Yeah sure, we can bring him on…
Melvin fist pumps while Lindsay keeps shaking her head.
Lindsay Troy: One condition though, we’re not paying the bear.
Melvin Beauregard: Already under control, the MGM will pay the bear.
Lindsay tosses the print out back across the table to Melvin, and the camera focuses in on the heading.
A knock at the clearly not so random door interrupts the talent meeting.
Lindsay Troy: (still laughing) Come in, door’s unlocked.
Poking his head from behind the door is the mustachioed face of “Event Horizon” Hayes Hanlon, easing his way into the room and closing the door ever so gently behind him.
Lindsay Troy: Ah, the new Mister Five Star. Come and sit. Melvin was just leaving.
Melvin Beauregard: I was?
Lindsay Troy: Don’t you have a new hire announcement to help the web team write? Go.
Melvin Beauregard: Oh….right. Right.
Melvin gets up from his seat, scurries past Hayes, and takes his leave.
Hayes Hanlon: Um…I uh…
Lindsay Troy: Better tell the cat to let go of your tongue, Hanlon.
Taking a deep breath, Hayes takes his seat across from The Queen of the Ring, carefully adjusting his Five Star Title on his shoulder and fixing the cuffs on his black dress shirt.
Hayes Hanlon: …hi.
Lindsay Troy: Well that’s a start.
Hayes Hanlon: I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say. Because, you know, you’re Lindsay Troy and you’re sitting right there and I’M sitting right here and…
Lindsay Troy: (smiling) …and you need to breathe.
Hayes Hanlon: Okay, got it. Can do. I’m just a HUGE fan. I mean, you’re such a badass…sorry! That’s unprofessional, I meant that you’re a total babe WHAT THE HELL AM I SAYING I’M SO SORR…
Lindsay Troy: I take it back, you should find that cat again.
Hayes starts to turn white in terror, but Lindsay simply laughs.
Lindsay Troy: I’m kidding. Seriously, though, you need to chill out.
Hayes Hanlon: (taking a comically big breath) Okay, I’m good. My bad.
Hanlon laps his fingers on his knees, nervously looking around the room, sweat already showing on his brow.
Hayes Hanlon: So…you wanted to see me?
Lindsay Troy: I did. I know you’re still adjusting to being on a bigger stage, and I’m sure your Culture Shock win has finally sunk in by now, but I wanted to tell you that you’ve got a bright future here, Hayes. It’s not just because you’re the Five Star champion. You’re incredibly talented, and in a company full of talented people, to start making your mark this quickly is an accomplishment.
Hayes Hanlon: Thank you. Thank you for giving me a shot. This is so effing unreal. I’m still waiting for someone to come and tell me I’m on some weird reality show and all of this is staged and this belt is made of plastic and…
Lindsay Troy: Can you keep that momentum going, though?
Hayes Hanlon: Yeah! Of course I can!
Hayes takes a beat, cocking an eyebrow.
Hayes Hanlon: …like…tonight?
Lindsay Troy: Like, in two weeks.
Hayes Hanlon: Thank GOD…I mean…yeah. That’s cool.
Another awkward pause. Hayes pats his thighs uncomfortably.
Hayes Hanlon: And…who’s my opponent?
Lindsay Troy: I’ll announce it later. Until then, you’re free to go.
The Event Horizon stands from the chair, adjusting his belt and smiling at The Lady of the Hour. He turns, walks across the room, and opens the door halfway before turning back.
Hayes Hanlon: Hey, Ms. Troy?
Lindsay Troy: Yes, Hayes?
Hayes Hanlon: Did Sonny Silver really put in a good word for me?
Lindsay Troy: He did. And a good word from him is hard to come by, so you should be proud of that.
Hayes smiles wide behind his dark mustache.
Hayes Hanlon: That’s pretty damn cool.
Hanlon waves sheepishly, then closes the door behind him.