HD: Leon/Anglesault segment

[King Cucaracha 0]

We are back in AngleSault's office, Sault racking up the Fantasy Points on OAOAST.com this week! Or, not. Anyway he's back to his miscellanous paperwork as the door to his office opens, with a courteous knock of course, by LEON RODEZ (who still warrants his name in capitals every time he appears)!

LEON
You wanted to see me Mr... uhm... Mister... Sault?

ANGLESAULT
'Anglesault' will be fine.

LEON
Sure thing.

ANGLESAULT
Sit down, please. (waits for Leon to sit) Unfortunately, I've got some bad news for you. Over the past couple of days we got in contact with your registered doctor and he's told us, in no uncertain terms, you're not fit to compete. And it's very unlikely you'll be fit to compete by the time AngleMania rolls around. So, although you made the challenge and Cortez accepted... the OAOAST can't sanction the match in good conscience.

Leon rolls his eyes. He knows better than AngleSault what his doctor's prognosis was and deep down he expected this kind of a hiccup.

ANGLESAULT
I hate to do this to you Leon. Not least because of the interest your return would have brought about for the show. But, you're a valuable asset to the company. One of the most popular talents on the roster. And you've already been out four months, we can't risk you suffering another injury and missing more ring-time, if not worse. After all, secondary injuries often have worse consquences than the primary injuries.

LEON
I appreciate the concern.

ANGLESAULT
(stands to see Leon out)
Well, I'm glad you understand. In the meantime, we'll continue to bring you in whenever we can for commentary and whatever...

LEON
No, no. I appreciate the concern... but, I don't [i]need[/i] it. What I need is to get back in a ring, competing.

ANGLESAULT
I understand that, but we can't put you in a ring until you recieve doctor's clearance. The laywers would go nuts if we did and usually that sort of thing wouldn't concern me, but in a way I'd be on their side.

LEON
Then I'll get doctor's clearance.

ANGLESAULT
You [i]might[/i].

Agreeing, Leon hangs his head a little.

ANGLESAULT
Leon, this match with Cortez is going to be a big deal. But if you don't have doctor's clearance, you can't compete. I can't knowingly announce a match like this for AngleMania, knowing in the back of mind there's a good chance it'll have to be cancelled at a later date. So unless I've got a 100% guarantee that you're going to be able to compete, I'm not going to book the match. The moment you get doctor's clearance then I'll get right onto the contracts, but until then, I'm afraid there's no way I can.

Standing up, Leon realises he's fighting a losing battle. But not one to give up, he stops short of leaving and turns back to 'Sault, who's just about to return to that paperwork again.

LEON
Look, you should know better than anyone how I feel. You broke your neck... or, was that [i]Kurt[/i] Angle... look, anyway, you should know how I feel. You used to be a competitor. You know what it's like to have that competitive drive in your blood and I'm sure you also know what it's like to have that blood flow stemmed with an injury.

ANGLESAULT
Yeah. I do.

LEON
Then you know how BADLY I need to get back into a ring. I'm slowly going nuts, sitting at home, watching the show every Thursday and wishing I was here. Neck injuries are serious business. But if I didn't feel like I was ready, I wouldn't have called your front office asking to be at Syndicated. AngleMania is still a month away. That's a month's more rest and rehab and by then, chances are I'll be good to go, so long as I've got something to work to. Rehabbing with no end date in sight is a long and frustrating process and to be honest, most of the time it's felt like a huge waste of my time. It's like an endless cycle and it's driving me crazy. I need a light at the end of the tunnel. And Todd Cortez at AngleMania is that light.

ANGLESAULT
Leon, I don't know what to tell you...

LEON
What if I can guarantee you I'll have doctor's clearance by AngleMania?

ANGLESAULT
Then no problem. But, you can't guarantee that.

LEON
What if I give you my word?

AngleSault seems to be waning a little, but the head of the company tries to stay responsible and just shakes his head sadly.

LEON
Okay... then what if I can give you something that's as good as a guarantee. Something to show you how serious I am about getting cleared in time.

ANGLESAULT
Like what?

Leon mulls it over in his head for a second, before his eyes light up a little.

LEON
Like my devotion to the company. You get on the phone to whoever you have to, clear it with the lawyers, clear it with the front office. Get me whatever papers I need to sign, any waivers you want to keep the company out of responsibility. Book the match for AngleMania. And if, IF I don't get doctor's clearance by April 1st then I'll personally go out into that ring and explain it to the people... and, to make up for the embarrassment to the company... I'll work the next twelve months for free.

ANGLESAULT
What do you mean...

LEON
You can give my paycheck to charity, put it into the catering budget, use it to give yourself a payrise. I don't care. If I can't deliver Leon Rodez versus Todd Cortez at AngleMania VI, I'll work completely free of pay for the next year.

ANGLESAULT
You can't possibly be serious.

LEON
I'm not serious often, but believe me I've never been more serious in my life. You can have it in writing if need be, so long as you make the match.

Torn, the boss looks at a loss for what to do for a moment. Leon has leant on the desk in the middle of his rant and isn't budging, in the vain hope this vaguely threatening position might influence AngleSault's decision.

ANGLESAULT
I'll see what I can do.

And whether it did or not, Leon gets an answer he can live with and breathes a sigh of relief, enthusiastically shaking Sault's hand.

LEON
Thank you. You won't regret it, I promise.

ANGLESAULT
I hope not.


[b]*Cut to Sofa Central*[/b]

COLE
Well, I'm not sure if that's a confirmation yet or not. But, it seems Leon Rodez versus Todd Cortez is still potential on the cards for AngleMania VI!

COACH
Leon must really want to compete bad if he's willing to work for free.

COLE
For an entire year no less. Just think Coach, if we don't see Leon in action at AngleMania, there'll finally be someone in the company who's earning less than you!

COACH
True dat.