The scene begins with a drawing in a childrenâ??s book. A laughing squirrel is holding an armful of acorns while a sad bunny looks down next to the squirrel. The narration is being read by a familiar voice.
???: Sammy the Squirrel laughed about all the acorns he had, but Richy the Rabbit had none...
The page turns to a shot of Richy the Rabbit asking Sammy the Squirrel for some acorns.
???: Oh, Sammy the Squirrel, can I please have ONE acorn? But Sammy the Squirrel just kept laughing. So, Richy the Rabbit kicked Sammy the Squirrel in the gut and positioned him for a tombstone piledriver for being so selfis-
???: Thatâ??s not how it goes, Daddy!
The shot comes into full perspective. Chris K.O. is sitting on small bed reading a bedtime story to his young daughter, Riley. Chris smiles as Riley is upset about the incorrect storytelling.
CHRIS: Oh, and how does it go?
Riley grabs the book as Chris positions himself next to her. Riley reads through the story as Chris admires her.
RILEY: Sammy began to real - realize that Richy was sad. Sammy was be - being selfish.
Chris kisses the top of Rileyâ??s head and smiles as the scene fades out.
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Chris enters his living room where his wife Astrid is sitting on their sectional couch with a glass of wine. Chris plops down next to her.
CHRIS: She can almost read better than I can.
Astrid smirks.
ASTRID: Pre-K has really helped her with that.
CHRIS: Oh, and do I get any credit for my nightly bedtime stories?
ASTRID: Maybe for teaching her annunciation, but not for story continuation.
Astrid playfully grabs Chris by his shirt collar.
ASTRID: Recently, I feel like every woodland creature is getting hit with a steel chair!
The two kiss and playfully smile at each other. Chris gets up to pour himself a glass of wine in the kitchen. Astrid watches him as she contemplates asking him a question.
ASTRID: These increasingly violent bedtime tales wouldnâ??t have anything to do with the recent calls you have been getting, would they?
Chris doesnâ??t respond. Astrid prods some more.
ASTRID: For what itâ??s worth, I just want you to be happy.
Chris stops pouring his glass midway through. He turns to Astrid.
CHRIS: The reason Iâ??m not answering those calls or responding to their emails is exactly that. I am happy.
Chris finishes pouring his glass and returns next to Astrid.
CHRIS: Youâ??ve given me everything I need.
Chris takes a sip of his glass as Astrid rests her head on her hand. She softly retorts.
ASTRID: But what about everything you want?
Chris pauses for a moment, but then puts his glass down. He leans in and embraces his wife with a loving kiss as the scene fades out.
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We see a bell ring as a cafe door opens. Chris enters a morning cafe filled with several elderly patrons reading newspapers and drinking coffee. Steam hovers above each freshly-brewed cup. Chris approaches a round table of older gentlemen as they begin heckling him.
OLD MAN #1: Hey Chris, what is this article in this weekâ??s paper? â??Best Shoes to Avoid Blisters?â?
OLD MAN #2: Whaddya my doctor?
OLD MAN #3: Sounds more like my wife.
CHRIS: Come on now, Sal. You know your wife wouldnâ??t get anywhere close to your stinky feet.
All the men at the table chuckle, except for Sal of course. A waitress comes by and Chris orders a coffee while taking an open seat.
CHRIS: I mean, what do you expect? Iâ??m a sports journalist. If there are no sports, there is no journal. Itâ??s just a buffer piece.
OLD MAN #1: You could write about the Thunder.
The rest of the old men groan at the idea.
CHRIS: Oh, you just wait Jerry. Weâ??re gonna have a lot of stories to tell if Toronto pulls this series off. Letâ??s talk about how before Westbrook, Jeremy Lin and Ibaka will-
The scene switches its focus as long-standing WZCW announcer, Jack Cohen enters the cafe. This catches Chrisâ?? eye as his table carries on in conversation. Chris excuses himself for a second.
Cohen positions himself in a booth as Chris approaches him.
COHEN: Ah, Chris! I was hoping you would see me when I came in. Take a seat.
Cohen gestures across the booth as Chris tries to unravel whether or not he is upset or bewildered at the presence of Cohen. As Chris takes a seat, a waitress comes by and Cohen orders a coffee. Cohen observes the cafe as Chris hesitates to speak.
COHEN: Oh, god. This is just a tier above a Waffle House. You really come here everyday?
CHRIS: Why are you here, Jack?
Cohen puts on a more serious face.
COHEN: I told them you wouldnâ??t want to talk bullshit. I told them you wouldnâ??t even-
CHRIS: Why are you HERE, Jack?
Cohen seems perturbed at being cut off.
COHEN: Iâ??m here because your not answering your damn phone or responding to damn emails. Iâ??m HERE because of WZCW.
CHRIS: Donâ??t you think there is a reason Iâ??m not answering those calls.
COHEN: Yeah, but Iâ??m coming onâ?¦ letâ??s call it more of a â??personal visit.â? Thereâ??s been a development. A big event is coming up. Itâ??s going to be called the Greatest Grandest Lethal Lott-. No wait, itâ??s not called Lottery. Itâ??s because- You know, itâ??s just not called that.
Cohen can tell that Chris is waiting for him to get to the point. Cohen pulls a folded paper out of his pocket and slides to Chris. Chris looks at it with a little bit of disbelief.
COHEN: Thatâ??s the kind of money we are talking about per wrestler. Itâ??s a big pay-
CHRIS: I donâ??t need money, Jack, if thatâ??s your pitch.
COHEN: Oh, so you do just fine writing sports columns for the local Sunday paper?
CHRIS: I also do a local sports talk show every Thursday and do sports radio for high school football during the seasons. Thank you very much.
Cohen rolls his eyes and takes back the paper. His coffee arrives as well. He takes a drink and seems surprised at the good quality.
COHEN: Listen, you have pride. I get it. You like what you do here. I get it. But let me tell you why I volunteered for this trip. Thatâ??s right, I volunteered. You can say you donâ??t need the money. You can say your done with WZCW. But what you canâ??t deny is that YOU had something.
Cohen puts his coffee down.
COHEN: I remember those crowds, whether they loved you or hated you. Which, they mostly hated you by the way. BUT! You had something.
CHRIS: Maybe, Jack. But I have something now too. I have a daughter, wife, and a life here that quite frankly I enjoy. Despite your condensing nature about the class of this town.
Cohen smirks and shakes his head in disappointment. He then looks up at Chris and unpacks his thoughts.
COHEN: Iâ??m happy for you Chris. I really am. And you may really have everything you need right now, but here is the reality. One day that daughter of yours is going to grow up and go on the internet. She is going to find YouTube videos and online searches about how her daddy was nailed to a chaos symbol or parading around like a selfish white knight prick. So, maybe you have what you need right now, but is that what you want in the future? Think about it.
Cohen pulls out some money and leaves it on the table. He gets up to leave.
COHEN: Tell her the coffee was delicious. Take care, Chris.
Chris stares at the empty porcelain cup on the table as the scene fades out.
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Chris walks into his living room again. Astrid is reading a book on the sectional as she enjoys another glass of wine. She looks up at Chris.
ASTRID: So, did Timmy the Turtle get clotheslined this time?
Chris grins as he sits next to Astrid.
CHRIS: Noâ?¦ I think itâ??s time that I take that stuff out of our bedtime stories and back into the ring.
Astrid is caught off-guard. She puts her book and wine down and holds Chrisâ?? hands.
ASTRID: Oh?
CHRIS: I thought about what you said the other night. About what I want. I want Riley to be proud of me. I want you to be proud of me. I donâ??t want my tenure in WZCW from the past to be this glaring smudge on who I was.
ASTRID: Honey, we are already proud of you. Riley thinks the world of you. I think the world of you. None of that stuff matters. You donâ??t have to go back to make us proud of you.
CHRIS: I know... which is why itâ??s this last thing that made my decision. Iâ?¦ want to be proud of myself. I may go back and tear my achilles in my first match, but I want to be proud that I tried. I donâ??t know where this leads, but you asked me what I wanted... This is what I want to do, and I want to return to WZCW.
Astrid, misty-eyed, smiles at Chris.
ASTRID: I love youâ?¦ but if you show up on WZCW television with armor you are not allowed back in this house.
Chris and Astrid playfully embrace as the scene fades out on a light-hearted note.
