HD: 2 Leon segments

[King Cucaracha 0]

From the arena we go backstage, to find the troubled figure of Leon Rodez roaming the hallways. Head down and avoiding the various OAOAST workers he passes on his way, Leon suddenly comes to a stop, as he finds who he's looking for apparantly. There stands Landon Maddix, busy talking over strategy with Megan Skye ahead of his match tonight in what was a secluded part of the arena. Megan quickly points Leon out and Landon turns around to face him.

MADDIX
Something you want?

LEON
Easy. I just came to speak to Megan.

MADDIX
Oh, really? Well, I hate to break it to you hot stuff, but although the name begins with the right letter, she's not a Nerdly, so your charms aren't gonna work on her.

Doing his best to ignore the wide grin on Landon's face, Leon lets the insult go.

LEON
Look, after last week there's some things I need to do to put my mind at rest. And I know a few weeks ago, Reject got to you and hit you with the Eulogy. I know we've never gotten along, but that's not important. None of this mess would have ever come to pass if it wasn't for me and Maggie falling out and... you got caught in the crossfire, so I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for what happened to you.

Megan takes a dubious look at Landon, who starts to chuckle under his breath.

MEGAN
The Eulogy? Who cares!? That was weeks ago. Give me some credit. I'm a lot tougher than the bimbos that you associate yourself with.

MADDIX
Yeah that's right, you bimbo associator! Go take your damaged little conscience elsewhere and find somebody who might give a damn for your pity. That is if any other female in this company will even give you the time of day anymore. And, a little word of advice, after watching your match last week. If you're within three feet, you might want to keep those knees close tight together. You know... just incase.

Chuckling to himself again Landon wraps an arm around Megan and takes her to find another place to discuss their match in private. Leon is left standing with hands on hips, looking sorrier for himself than he did before.


[i]#It's too late to 'pologize... it's too laaaatteeee... said it's to late to apolo...#[/i]

Leon slowly turns and glares, as a few feet away stands ALIX MARIA SPEZIA outside a dressing room door. Moving her hand up and down in the air trying to find her 'range', she suddenly notices she's being stared at and her eyebrows raise.

ALIX
Oh... uh, sorry, I'll go practise somewhere else.

Quickly she ducks back into the dressing room, leaving Leon to go back to his hands on hips state.

ALIX
(off-screen)
[i]#Oh, I like your mother so much better when she's naked, I like your mother so much better when she's naked, I like your mothe...#[/i]

JADE
(off-screen)
Will you stop singing that at me!?


COACH
Ha, Leon straight stays getting burned! Whack this guy in a straightjacket and lock him away before the depression gets any worse!

COLE
Have you got no compassion? All Leon was trying to do was apologise for what happened to Megan a few weeks back.

COACH
Yeah well, if he's thinking of apologising to everybody he needs to, he's in for a long ass night. He might wanna start with the girlfriend he's on a trial seperation with, maybe that'd be a good idea.

[King Cucaracha 0]

to rejoin Leon Rodez in his trail around the arena. Sat down on a equipment trunk Leon taps his finger against it impatiently, with a cellphone clamped against his ear. With every passing second the tapping gets quicker and he seems to get more frustrated, until he pulls the phone away to see that he's been disconnected.

LEON
Damnit Maggie, c'mon!

Leon goes to dial the number again... but stops halfway through and snaps it shut, angrily sticking it back in his pocket. Jumping to his feet Leon then goes back to what he was doing earlier, namely trudging around looking for somebody. He doesn't have far to go this time, finding himself outside the locker room of The Enterprise. Leon takes a couple of seconds to steel himself, a deep breath before going to open the door... 


...and he stops, finding who he wants [i]outside[/i], much to his relief. At the end of the hallway stands Molly Nerdly, discussing something with an OAOAST camera man who's been pulled away from filming random backstage conversations without anyone noticing. So another camera man doing the exact same thing follows Leon down the hallway as he approaches Molly.

MOLLY
(inspecting the camera)
Ah yes, I remember this model. Very sturdy and dependable. Maybe that's why OAOAST head office won't shell out for new top of the range models. Now, the only problem is, the video-out port tends to...

LEON
Excuse me. Can I BUTT in?

The OAOAST camera man quickly leaves while the opening is there. Frozen on the spot, Molly slowly turns around and once she sees the voice was from who she assumed it was, her eyes grow wider. Taken a little by surprised at the starstruck look he's getting, Leon shakes it off.

LEON
Look, after last week there's some things I need to do to put my mind at rest. And I know a few weeks ago, Reject got to you and he kicked you in the ribs... uhm, are you okay?

MOLLY
Why... yes, it's just... it's you!

LEON
Huh? Oh, yeah. I get it, I'm not the most popular person with your family right now.

MOLLY
No no no, far from it. My silly sisters and yourself are none of my concern. I meant... it's you. It's Leon Rodez, in the flesh, here, standing in front of me... forgive me for being so bold, but I... I'm a big fan of yours.

LEON
Oh, really.

MOLLY
Honestly, yes, I don't wish to sound sarcastic. For months I've seen you walk around these halls and I've been too nervous to say anything to you, but really I've harboured admiration for you from afar for some time. Awkward as that may be with my current situation. But I... I'm a big fan of your movies.

Not exactly what he was expecting to hear, Leon turns around half-expecting an ambush, or at the least someone to laugh at the ruse. But it seems Molly is being genuine, especially from the still starstruck look on her face.

LEON
Are you for real?

MOLLY
I'm never anything but when discussing great works of film! Christian had copies laying around still from his days of trying to discredit your career with them.

LEON
Oh yeah, I vaguely remember that.

MOLLY
And I happened upon them routing through the vaults of Stately Money Manor and... well, I've been a fan ever since. How could I not? Am I correct in thinking you directed most of your later pictures yourself?

LEON
Well... actually, yes, I did.

MOLLY
(to self) Then the rumours were true. Oh, I always believed them to be, but you always worry of lost artistic integrity in this world. I can't tell you how much of a relief it is to hear it from you! Let me start by saying, your adept use of lighting to accentuate character's moods and inner feelings is something to behold. And the way your movies transfer so seamlessly from shot to shot to further feelings of tension and excitement... well, it's not the work of a amateur, let me assure you of that! You have to have a talent for it. And you have that in abundance.

LEON
So, hang on... let me get this straight, you're saying that I'm a good director? On the basis of a couple of my old movies?

MOLLY
Of course! The material may not have been highbrow or poignant in any way if you don't mind me saying so, but your ability to create a vision and put it up on the screen shone through all the shoddy acting it accompanied. That is the true mark of a great director, to make the most of what he or she is given.

LEON
Well, this is a first. 

Still hardly be able to believe what he's hearing, Leon can't help but smile a little.

LEON
You know, if you're watching my movies and the first thing you notice is the lighting, I should probably be offended.

MOLLY
(sheepishly)
Oh, well, I did notice some other things as well.

LEON
Glad to hear it.

Suddenly, Leon's cellphone starts to go off in his pocket. Holding up a pausing finger he pulls the phone from his pocket... and casually turns it off and replaces it.

LEON
Sorry about that.

MOLLY
Oh no, please. I don't wish to hold you up. Perhaps we could continue this conversation a little later, because I do have some questions I'd like to probe you with. I'm a film studies student when not roaming these corridors you see and any advice from a professional such as yourself would be remarkably helpful.

LEON
.....sure, we can probably arrange something. Always a pleasure to meet a fan like yourself.

MOLLY
Oh, goodness! You flatter me. I do know a good coffee shop with a fantastic atmosphere, if that sounds okay. Shall we say 8?

LEON
Well, so long as the atmosphere isn't included in the bill.

MOLLY
:lol:

As Molly breaks out into laughter, Leon continues to wonder what the hell is going on. Molly's laughter continues to ring around the corridors until she disappears into the Enterprise dressing room, leaving Leon behind to wonder if that really just happened.


COACH
A meeting, at a coffee shop, with a Nerdly, huh? Boy, that sap just don't learn his lesson does he?