PROMO - Living In The Past

[Guest Evolution]

The scene fades in on one of the many bars in New York City. We don't figure out the name of the bar, but we do know that we are already inside of it. It's late, and only a couple of handfuls of people are milling about inside the bar. Lonely singles, one-night stands, new couples ready to go home for the goodnight kiss--or perhaps something more in their intoxicated state. Among this variety of people is a man with his head hung low, staring into his drink. His jet black hair hangs over his face, casting a shadow over his facial features. As the man lifts his head up, the shadow withdraws and reveals John Duran. The look on his face--the closed eyes, the calm, unwavering half-grimace--suggests that he is deep in thought. But it's hard to say.

 

"I've been doing a lot of thinking since Tuesday morning," John starts. He pauses for a moment and takes a drink from the shot glass, not a swig but a sip, bitterly swallowing it down before continuing. "Thinking about my opponent. About our history together."

 

John goes to take another drink, but finds that the glass is empty. He signals to the bartender for another one as he moves the empty shot glass to the side, next to only one other empty glass.

 

"Some SWF fans might not appreciate the fact that before I came here, I was the leader of a group in the SJL known as the Urban Decay."

 

A skinny man wearing an NYU shirt, who looks barely old enough to be in the bar, steps up next to John and asks for an autograph, but the former SJL Champion calmly signals to the student to give "The Sinner" some space.

 

"Dominic Korgath, Scott Solomon, English Dragon, and myself. We were in control. Behind Commissioner Raynor, no one had a chance in hell of stopping us," says Duran, with confidence.

 

An arm reaches into Duran's view and places another shot glass on the table, filled with whatever alcohol Duran is consuming. John nods to the bartender in appreciation and then continues.

 

"Fast forward, and now English Dragon has just been given a shot at the big time." The unwavering grimace wavers, and turns into a smile. "And who better to face him in his first match than the man that chose him for the Urban Decay, the one person that gave him the opportunity to reach the top?"

 

John silently takes another sip.

 

"Dragon, I know what you're probably thinking. After this match, you don’t want any hard feelings. You want to tag up with me, maybe rise to greatness as tag champions."

 

Another drink, this time a swig. The glass is empty. John puts it down on the bar and it clanks from John's added force. The smile has faded again.

 

"But that's not how it's going to happen, Dragon," Duran speaks with a matter-of-fact tone, "I'm not going to--as the old cliché goes--get the band back together."

 

The 20-something fan comes up next to John again, and seems to interrupt the Champaign man's train of thought as he asks for an autograph again.

 

"Go away," growls Duran, putting emphasis on each word.

 

"Oh, come on, man," complains the fan, and "The Sinner" turns to him with a nasty stare and an angry frown. "Ok, chill out, dude," the fan says, changing his tone as Duran turns away.

 

"Dragon, know this. There's a good reason why I don't want to bring Urban Decay back. You see, I've seen what kind of gold I can get in the SWF. There's more gold out there for me to have than there ever was in the SJL. I'll take all the belts I can get."

 

"The problem is, Dragon, when it comes to the Tag Team titles—hell, when it comes to any title in the SWF, I want them all. When I get those titles, though, I do not want to see you, Dominic, or Scott by my side."

 

Duran pauses for a moment, begins to raise his hand as if to signal to the bartender for another drink, but then decides against it and carries on.

 

"I helped you to the top, Dragon, you know I did. But the Urban Decay was there for one reason and one reason alone. To take down Charlie Matthews. When he was gone from the SJL, we might as well have just ended it right there." Duran seems bitter as he finishes the last sentence, looking as if he had taken another swig of booze.

 

"I don't need you to help me anymore, Dragon. I can do it on my own." Duran swallows, clearing his throat before moving on.

 

"And that's why in front of that sellout crowd in New York City, I'm going to kill Urban Decay. It’s unfinished business, and I’ll be finishing it. Whether or not you put up a fight is up to you. I'd prefer you not, Dragon."

 

John pauses.

 

"Dragon, it’s time for me to move on. I’m moving past Urban Decay, and I won’t be looking back. By September 29th, the Urban Decay will just be a distant memory."

 

The fan comes up next to Duran again, and "The Sinner" has had enough. John turns to the NYU fan and grabs him by the collar, lifting the now-scared fan off his feet and moving off-camera as the scene fades to black.

[Crowe 0]

Very nice. I was wondering what was going to happen with the whole Urban Decay business going into the show, and this told me straight. Nice work.

[Hank Kingsley 0]

I love it.

 

Excellent work, Duran.