HD: Blonde/Melody/Cortez segment

[King Cucaracha 0]

Glued to the TV monitors backstage, we find everybody's favourite geek sweetheart Melody Nerdly. Engrossed in the events of HeldDOWN? Hardly. She's managed to fit up her old Sega Mega Drive to the TV monitor, possibly because it's the only one primative enough to be compatible with the primative console. Whatever the reason, her game of Streets Of Rage draws the attention of the passing James Blonde. At least, something does. Judging from the grin on his face, maybe it's not the 16-bit fight side scroller after all.

BLONDE
Hey there lil' lady.

MELODY
If you're looking for a turn, I warn you I only packed one controller with me.

BLONDE
No, you're okay. I'm a Trendsetter. Retro is... not my thing.

MELODY
O r l y. Explain the super 70s jacket you're wearing.

Blonde looks at his red Adidas track jacket and shrugs.

BLONDE
I'm re-setting the trend. Anyway, that's not important. I actually wanted to ask you a question. You're into all these movies and stuff, tell me, are you a James Bond fan?

MELODY
Of course.

Blonde smirks to himself and rubs his hands in excitement at the set-up line working. Unfortunately, as he's about to cut to the chase, he's about to be cut off, as Todd Cortez walks up behind him.

BLONDE
Me too. You know, incase you hadn't noticed my name is quite similar. So here's what I was thinking. I can be James Blonde and you can be my Puss...

CORTEZ
Can I have a word?

BLONDE
(through gritted teeth)
Not right now.

CORTEZ
Landon wants to see you.

BLONDE
...damnit. We'll continue this talk later.

MELODY
What talk?

Unhappy at he is to be dragged away, Blonde is eager to go with Landon waiting. Cortez walks behind him, Blonde a few quicker steps ahead.

BLONDE
So, did he say what it's about?

CORTEZ
Who?

BLONDE
What do you mean who, Landon!

CORTEZ
Oh. Yeah, I lied.

Slamming on the brakes, Blonde turns around and glares at the US Champion.

BLONDE
So Landon doesn't need me? What the hell man!? I was about to use the Pussy Galore line on that hot piece of Canadian bacon.

CORTEZ
I figured as much. That's why I stepped in. No lady needs to hear that.

BLONDE
You know what, you've got a real nasty habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The wrong place is anywhere near me by the way. And the wrong time is...

CORTEZ
Any time, I get it.

BLONDE
You wanna watch your mouth pal...

Cortez suddenly takes a step closer to Blonde, much closer. Taken aback, Blonde rocks back on his heels and glances around, trying not to show and signs of backing off when every sense in his body is telling him to do just that.

CORTEZ
Or what? You'll tell Landon? Don't make me laugh. The days of you and him and Black pushing me around are long gone, go if anyone needs to watch their mouth, it's you. Otherwise a slap from a hundred pound Canadian nerd'll be the least of your troubles.

BLONDE
Point taken.

As Cortez backs up a little, Blonde straightens out the collar on his jacket.

BLONDE
I guess you got what you wanted then.

CORTEZ
Excuse me?

BLONDE
You're top dog now. Landon's favourite. After months on the sidelines, suddenly you're the go to guy. Don't go kidding me any different, you've been walking around like the cat that got the cream ever since you won the US Title. You get all the attention and we're all forced back on the sidelines to make way for you.

In a rarity, the usually super-serious Cortez actually chuckles to himself, again unnerving Blonde a little bit.

CORTEZ
You think I got what I wanted, huh?

BLONDE
Well, didn't you?

CORTEZ
No. I never wanted in on this Cucaracha Internacional thing in the first place. Landon wants me involved, because he wants me with him instead of against him. Because he knows what I can do to him. Months of you guys tormenting me, it hasn't changed a thing. [i]Landon[/i] got what he wanted. I haven't even come close to getting what I want yet. But now I'm in the good books again, I am getting closer.

Looking worried, Blonde leans closer.

BLONDE
Meaning?

CORTEZ
Meaning... I'm gonna bring this whole thing down from the inside.

Blonde's eyes widen as Cortez walks off, leaving him with that worrying prospect.