Post by DJS on Jan 30, 2017 16:59:31 GMT -5
Its early evening in Las Vegas.
Glitz! Glamour! There is a different color dancing around no matter which direction you look in. But we're not looking to the neon monstrosity that is the main area of the Nevada-based city, rather a smaller street on the outskirts. Not a particularly busy street, but there are beggars and buskers abound, and it's a more appropriate world for the girl we're following tonight. One of the buskers sits with his guitar, while another behind him sings-
"All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray.
I've been for a walk on a winter's day."
Emery Layton walks along, her hands in the pockets of her leather jackets and her beanie firmly placed on her head. She looks to us.
EMERY LAYTON:
“What's the craic, people? Well, here we are, back again. But this time, we're in Vegas! Ooh, I love Vegas. All the lights, the inherent sleaziness of everything, the fact people show up with wads of money and lose it all in a single night. Oh, actually, that's a thing...”
Em turns to the buskers we mentioned before and pulls out a wad of cash.
"I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A.;
California dreamin' on such a winter's day..."
She throws the cash to the man singing. It's a rather large wad of cash, too. It's so big, the singer stops, completely gobsmacked. Em stops too. There is a bit of a glare between them.
BUSKER:
"My God. Did you win big at one of the Casinos?"
EMERY LAYTON:
"Nah, some fella gave it to me, been wondering what to do with it for about a week now. Keep playing, you're good! Mamas and Papas, yeah?”
And so he continues. As he would! He's beaming! Slowly she walks forward, as we back up.
EMERY LAYTON:
“Always loved that song. I like songs that make you think. Cos years ago, the mere idea of even going to Los Angeles was a dream. Nothing more than that, just a dream. For a long while, I was just like all of these guys here. Sleeping rough on the streets having no real skills. Really puts life into perspective when you suddenly start being successful, y'know? I actually tried busking but turns out playing the cowbell alone in the middle of the street doesn't really get you very far. Everyone just complains about the noise. You live and you learn.
The whole part of 'being successful' is sort of a new thing for me. I mean I've been told by promoters I'm good, yeah, whatever, but never good enough. Sometimes they just saw me as a scrappy little “women's wrestler”, and I ended up being part of some side-act division, and then getting told I wasn't what they were looking for because I had “no ass” or something like that. Yeah. Okay, fella. Maybe that's because I was too busy working it off to get some cred around here! Other times, okay yeah, maybe I caused it myself. Maybe I should'a pulled my head out my arse and put the bottle away every once and a while. Y'know- get my game head on and all that jazz. I was young, I didn't know better back then. I do now, and that ain't gonna happen anymore. Nah, not while I'm here. Trust, this head's got nothing but game these days. That's how you gotta be in this world.”
She stops, leaning against a lamp post, as she removes her hat and spins it around in her hand, nonchalantly.
“In these last few months, with my whole move to wrestling in North America, it's all become very, very real to me. I spent a long time not really being cared about. I think I had a few fans in Japan, but I was never the Top Star anywhere. But y'see, that's why I gotta win this tournament. That's why I gotta be the first Union Champion, cos this is something I never got anywhere else. This is something I've wanted since the minute I was forcefully spat out me Ma's womb to wander aimlessly through life. Finally, I have a chance. Just one, small chance to plant my flag firmly in the ground and say 'I Am Here'.”
She mimes the flag being planted, complete with a little bottle cap-esque 'pop' with her mouth as the flag “hits” the ground.
“So when I looked at the bracket and saw my next opponent was Anton Chase, I knew he'd wanna do the same. I mean, obviously. That's Anton's thing, right? I won't pretend to know everything about the fella or presume to know what his plan's gonna be, but that grapevine is big and full of very informative little grapes. I know he's held titles everywhere he's gone, I know he calls himself a Wrestling God and I know he think's he's unstoppable. And that makes him dangerous, because that means he'll be one tough cookie. Am I sketchy about this one? Mmm...I'm at least thinking about it. But does it put me off? If you need me to answer that, you've sure as shit learned nothing about Emery Layton. I mean, he sure likes to talk about how he earned everything he has and y'know what? I like that. Honestly, I respect the guy for that. I really, completely respect all of that.
...But that's it.”
She shrugs, looking down at her hat again as she begins to scrunch it up into a ball.
“You're the opposite of Gobshite Grand, Anton. See, he thought he could get by with just money and fortune. You earned your opportunities? Good. But that's not a big deal. That's what everyone should be doing anyway. You only did what I expect out of my opponents. And y'know what? I fought for everything I got too, the difference here is I intend to keep fighting because I won't be satisfied till I'm on carrying this and every single company I'm part of. I don't have any intention to rest on my laurels and assume that my opponent's not got what it takes because of what I've already done, because what I've done should always pale in comparison to what I do going forward.
For you, this is just another title to win because you seem to have this insatiable need to be better than everyone. For me, this is the rawest opportunity I've ever had to tell all of those guys who said I wasn't good enough to be anything more than a side-act that I am capable of so much more. To show people that when an opportunity like this comes along, you don't just let it go. You hold it tight, and you never let go for anyone or anything. You can live in your fantasy world where you're a golden god, but here in the real world where I live, the only time you're ever gonna get anywhere near the Union Championship is the day you challenge me for it.”
She snorts. After the large amount of words she's just said, the saliva has built up at the back of her throat, and she spits it out onto the ground, before wiping her mouth with her sleeve. After a little cough, she continues.
“Ew. Sorry. Bad habit.
Now listen, don't get me wrong, this ain't gonna be no fairy tale ending and I certainly ain't no Disney princess so don't think I'm trying to say this is my "Cinderella story". That story's bollocks- no one comes along to grant your wish, you gotta go out and get it yourself, and that's what I'm gonna do and there ain't no monster, no God, or no force of nature that's gonna stop me. The only Chase worth paying attention to in this match and on this show is my chase for the Union Championship.
Now listen, don't get me wrong, this ain't gonna be no fairy tale ending and I certainly ain't no Disney princess so don't think I'm trying to say this is my "Cinderella story". That story's bollocks- no one comes along to grant your wish, you gotta go out and get it yourself, and that's what I'm gonna do and there ain't no monster, no God, or no force of nature that's gonna stop me. The only Chase worth paying attention to in this match and on this show is my chase for the Union Championship.
And then after I've beat you- cos I will, I'll find a way like I always do- you might hate me. You might call me a bitch. But you can be the biggest bitch in the yard and still be it's top dog, I tell ya now. And after this match, you're gonna leave this town the same way a lot of guys do- telling people the story of that one night in Vegas where you lost everything because a woman ruined your life.
She winks and places her hat back firmly on her head, now no longer leaning on the lamp post as she stands back up and dusts herself down.
“Catch you at the Bay, fella. Till then, I'll be right here.”
She turns and walks out of our vision, but before we fade out completely, we hear her last words as she heads back in the direction of the buskers.
“You guys are really good. Hey, you guys know any Kate Bush...?”
