[Grunts.]

 

CLANG!

 

[The sound of well over five hundred pounds of metal cracking against metal rings through the old warehouse for what seems like an eternity. The whole enormous football sized room is cloaked in shadows. Even the tall windows that line the tall vaulted warehouse ceiling show nothing but darkness outside. It’s late, it’s dark, it’s creepy and somebody is bench pressing a small car.]

 

Bronson Box:

Done. Deadlift, seven.

 

[Dressed in black and red DEFIANCE sweatpants and an old Gold’s Gym shirt the former DEFIANCE World Heavyweight Champion sits up and goes about stretching out his shoulders and arms, not once acknowledging the camera. Behind him a similarly dressed Nicky Corozzo starts loading up the aforementioned deadlift with about seven hundred pounds for the Wargod.]

 

[Getting to his feet Bronson reaches for a towel from a stack on a nearby folding table. We realize we’re standing in the one well lit area of the warehouse. A few very specific bits of exercise equipment are lit by shop lamps on the warehouse floor attached to extension cords trailing back into the darkness.]

 

Bronson Box: [wiping his face]

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. A verse from second Timothy. The Bible, if’n you’re not already aware. You bein’ the outsider you are you might not know anymore about me than what you’ve gathered from our time sharing roster space together but ye’ see Dan. I’m a rather devout man. I know the hip trend how is in this day and age to forsake our Lord but I still thumb through the Bible near every day, I must admit.

 

[We hear the clank of the massive amount of weights Nicky is still putting on the deadlift bar behind Bronson.]

 

Bronson Box:

You’ve heard me speak of moments in this business. The moments great remembered careers are built on. So many men wear world titles and so few are truly great. So great so as to stand the test of time. Like the iconic men of the Bible for instance. So... MANY kings. Only one true king, lad. And he watches over me. He SEES the greatness in me. He sent me great trials in my life to test me and forge me into the GREAT man I am today. I know that I BELIEVE THAT!

 

I have FAITH, Dan Ryan.

 

[Box’s eyes dart up towards the camera suddenly.]

 

Bronson Box:

You come at me and my friend Edward White with such contempt. All that blustering all that bravado and you’ve done nothing more than EVERY OTHER PATHETIC OUTSIDER THAT’S SET FOOT IN MY BLOODY COMPANY! Our manner of dress, the way we carry ourselves, our lifestyles, anythin’ else you bloody bastards can pick at like wee schoolyard CHILDREN! A SEA of sickening sameness. Yes, I’ve sought out a like minded friend. Someone who shares my disgust with this broken system that raises up men such as yourself. Men like Tom Sawyer, Cancer Jiles, Jeff Andrews, Python, Eric Dane the list is endless.

 

Awful, flawed men the whole lot. In a million distinct ways both large and agregious and also so very very tiny. Harmless even.

 

Nicky Corozzo:

Done, Hollis.

 

[Bronson Box steps behind the loaded bar.]

 

Nicky Corozzo:

That’s seven seventy five.

 

[Boxer doesn't bat an eye. Nicky powders Bronson’s hands and steps away.]

 

Bronson Box: [eyes back on the camera]

Dan Ryan, my one singular goal in the world is glorify my Lord by being a beacon of unshakable faith. The tools he gave me were few so I trained my body. It was the only thing I had. I don’t talk about my religion anymore because of exactly what you said. I didn’t want it to become a gimmick. Something to be thrown back in my face by some cocksure bully, like yer’ self. But something about that contemptuous tone of yours made me feel like bein’ a wee bit pious this evenin’.

 

[Looking down now at the bar at his feet.]

 

Bronson Box: [breathing deep]

I’m not a gimmick, Dan Ryan. I’m the realest character you’ll find in this circus of a profession. I’m the most honest villain you ever did see. I’ll cheat. I’m have my mates run interference. I’ll abuse women and I’ll kidnap children on my road to fame and glory, Dan. I’ve smiled through it all, Dan. All of it. I went to sleep to the cries of that Bancroft brat in the next room, I knew EXACTLY what I was doing smashing that pretty little producers head into floor. My entry into the history books will be written in the blood of EVERYONE.

 

I decided very early on to be the greatest attraction, the greatest MONSTER the world of professional wrestling has ever seen. From my place in history I’d be a beacon of hope. A living breathing eternal example of the power of faith and dedication to our Lord. I’m going to rip and tear and burn and crush and cheat and maim and you can bluster about it all you like, dosen’t change the fact that if you keep pressin’ me I’m just going to keep coming.

 

Go find Boston Bancroft and ask him what it’s like to have my full and undivided attention.

 

Ask his son.

 

[Boxer lets that sink in before he reaches down and grasps the bar and gets into position.]

 

Bronson Box:

War is no place for old broken men with narrow minds and foolish little boys wanting to play acrobat. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

 

And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.

 

[With veins popping and teeth clenched the near eight hundred pounds is lifted off the warehouse floor.]

 

CLANG!

 

[He drops the weights with a loud echoing clang of metal on concrete.]

 

Bronson Box:

Read THAT in a book. And my copy ‘aint never dusty, lad. Ever.

 

[He crosses himself then pops his forearm into the crook of his elbow, spitting a contemptuous wad of phlegm down and towards the camera.]

 

Bronson Box:

Amen. Tosser.

 

 

[Fade.]