Narrator:: It’s late afternoon in the middle of nowhere Tennessee I think…..Lewis:SHUT THE FUCK UP!
Narrator: Excuse me? Are you talking to me?Lewis:YES!
Narrator: Are you sure you don’t want me…..Lewis:I hear you talking still.
Narrator: Oh fuck you man.Lewis stirring in a blank white room. He is handcuffed to a table. His forehead placed firmly on the cold steel tabletop. He hits his head against it several times.
Lewis:Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
With each hit his head ricochets to the left.
Lewis:How many times do I have to go over this. Ad nauseam? How many times do I have to make myself the fool for all of you out there? I try and I try, only to come up short every time. I put myself out there for everyone, and what do I get in return? I get laughed at. I get told I’ll never be able to do this or maybe I should’ve stayed in school.
Narrator: Do you want me to continue?Lewis:No, what I want to know is why is all the pressure being thrust onto me? I’ve got four official matches to my name, I’ve got a show I’m writing, producing and directing, I’ve got a wife who loves me no matter what…
Narrator: And?Lewis takes a deep breath. The feeling of failure creeping into his mind. Usually ever confident the cracks in his bravado are starting to show.
Lewis:I feel like I’m letting her down. Every chance I’ve had, I failed. Let’s be honest without Bam, I don’t make it as far as I did in the Margarita Mix. In the Search the second there was competition and not selling yourself , I failed. My first two matches here in PWE, kaput. Yet for some reason I’m sitting here pulling at my brain trying to figure out why it’s all happening to me.
Narrator: You know why.A look of pure confusion and loss showers Lewis’ face, as his shoulder slump.
Lewis:I truly don’t. Look at who I’m going into this match with. All of them have more experience than I do. All of them have won something in this business at some point. All of them are….
Narrator: Boring.Lewis:The fuck you just say?
A quick head cock.
Narrator:: Look Lewis, I know I’m not following your script right now, but look at you compared to them. All of them are blander than toast. Lewis:I mean I guess you’re right. Hell Holly’s all like “Yoga Life hashtag Blessed”… Bitch it’s fancy stretching. I watched a geriatric donor for god sake. That doesn’t make you interesting. It makes you like the rest of the stay at home moms who hang their Live Laugh Love signs up in their kitchen while they eat raw cookie dough while crying and drinking a Pinot Grigio because Derek was the one you just knew deep down in your soul.
Narrator: That’s one way of putting it. Slowly the confidence of Lewis begins to shine through.
Lewis:Right? Then there’s the Chris Angel knockoff, who mind you ate the pin last week against Betsy and Myself. She’s sure due for a come up right? Sorry Zoey but magic has been cool since middle school. And I’m talking about the shitty sleight of hand tricks and the dumbass card game. I’m done buying into all the theatrics of her. She’s a piss poor example of a failed gimmick hanging onto the threads of a bygone era. When you look at me, you know what you are getting. No fuss, no muss.
Narrator: Well that isn’t entirely true is it?Lewis:Of course not everyone in this industry is themselves turned up to eleven. Then there’s WBM. The man looks like what it feels like to watch grass grow. Sure eventually it does something, but eventually it gets cut and you’re right back to square one. He’s another one of these clowns that is all pomp and circumstance. Take it all away and he’s generic wrestler template number forty-two, this time with a rap sheet and a need to start somewhere with a clean slate. I’ve been to rehab there buddy, you can’t wipe the stench of being a fuck up off as easily as you think. Eventually you’ll fall right back down the rabbit hole and you’ll see that it was all for not.
Narrator: You’ve been to rehab?Lewis pauses for a second before shaking his head.
Lewis:That’s for another time, and trust me it isn’t as cool or funny as Entourage makes it seem. As a matter of fact that whole fucking show is Bullshit. Like who would walk away from a promising career just because of one failure. Look at Allen. All that guy does is fail and he’s still out there trying his damndest. Sure he thinks he’s funny, but everyone stopped laughing years ago. Now he just wants to maim and try to steal my spotlight. He wants to make his name off of me so badly. I can see the headlines now… “Failed Comedian and Actor fails at wrestling as well…Details on page four.” Huge shock, whomp whomp.
Narrator: Hey your show just started, I wouldn’t go calling people out on their failures just yet Kimosabe.Lewis nods in slight agreement. Lewis sat up in the chair as best as he could. His shoulders back and puffs out his chest. The Bravado of Lewis has returned and it’s evidently clear by the wide smile on his face.
Lewis:Let’s make one thing clear. Everything I’ve done has been thought out and calculated. Every step I’ve taken was done for one purpose or another. Signing up to Supernova. Going on The Search, The Mix, fucking with people on Twitter. All done for a reason.
Narrator: And that is?Lewis:Nothing I do is impulsive. I’m always right where I need to be. Sure sometimes I come up short, but unlike everyone else in this match, this was always a step in the right direction. Everyone else is going to frame their losses as something to learn from, and take something from them. This whole process for me is survival. I’m showing everyone that no matter what they do, or how many times they say that I can’t do this or that. Lewis Chad Pinkston will always be the bigger star. The Bigger Name. The Bigger Draw. Four, five, six matches in and I’ve main evented the majority of the shows I’ve been on. Why do you think that is?
Narrator: I don’t know but I’m sure you’re going to tell me. Lewis:Right you are. It’s because I’m marketable. Everyone wants to knock my nose clean off my face. Everyone wants to show the world that I can’t do this. I said I can’t take the pressure? Check again. I put the pressure on myself. I thrive when my back is against the wall. So whether I climb the ladder and take the title or not at the end of the day, I’m still going to be a diamond and all of you are going to be a pile of fugazi.
Lewis slams his palm on the table to add emphasis to his point.
Narrator: You’ve been hanging with Joe too much lately. Lewis:Yeah probably.
Narrator: Are you going to tell them where you are?Lewis:Isn’t that your job?
Narrator: You’re right it is. Where shall I start?Lewis:At the store with Bhourbon. That’s how I ended up here.
Narrator:: That seems like a good spot to start. Have you ever seen Wayne’s World when the screen goes all wavy and shit?The screen begins to wave back and forth.
6 HOURS EARLIER.The store was as nondescript as you could get. The only reason that Lewis was there was because he needed to get out of the house. Ever since Ophelia started to give Murder some control he felt, watched. Thankfully for him Bhourbon Rose had caught the eye of his doting wife.
Lewis wasn’t a blind man. The woman was stunning. She was heavily tattooed, from California and she made both Ophelia and himself happy. She was exactly like Lewis. What you see is what you get. The reason for their impromptu shopping trip was Ophelia had hidden her suitcase and she needed clothes for the fall weather that rolled into Tennessee.
As the two walk up and down the racks and racks of clothing Lewis has his face in his phone. A quick tweet here, a sultry photo from Ophelia that he quickly shows Bhourbon and randomly looking up and getting a few sweatshirts tossed over his shoulder.
Resigned to his fate as a walking cart Lewis sees a bench and immediately sits down. Bhourbon didn’t even notice that he was gone. They had covered all the small talk and gotten to know one another pretty well at this point. Every so often Lewis looks up and finds Bhourbon. She walks over to him and drops off more clothes. A quick shrug from Lewis.
After a dope session of Clash of Clans, Lewis looks up and sees Bhourbon talking to a man in a suit. Now normally that wouldn’t be a big deal, but to Lewis something stood out about him. His hair slicked back and a greasy smile on his face. He was flanked by two other men, and could easily be confused as Mr. Smith from the Matrix movies. Lewis grabs the pile of clothes and power walks to the register.
Plopping them all down as the old woman behind the counter slowly makes her way through the enormous pile. Lewis never takes his eyes off the men in suits, when he is taken away from them by the cashier.
Cashier: Your total is…
Lewis doesn’t let her finish and just hands her a credit card. When he looks back to Bhourbon, she is pointing towards him.
Lewis:Fuck.
He looks at the men who give him a nod, and wave him over. Lewis leaves the register and runs up to Bhourbon grabbing her by the hand and pulling her towards the front entrance of the store.
Lewis:Come on. We gotta go.
The men in the suits stare at Lewis but don’t say anything. They allow Lewis and Bhourbon to grab their bags and head out into the parking lot. In a rush Lewis throws all the bags in the back of the car and slams the trunk. As he gets into the driver’s seat Lewis looks back and sees the men walking out behind them. Slamming the door and sitting in the seat, Lewis punches the steering wheel.
Lewis:Fuck, Fuck, Fuck.
Bhourbon rolls her eyes, as Lewis turns the car on and drives out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell. Weaving in and out of both lanes. Narrowly missing other cars, street signs and hopping up on the curb several times. Constantly checking the rear view mirror. Every time he checks there’s a black SUV tailing them and keeping up, without all the hazardous driving.
Lewis:How. The. Fuck.
The car pulls into the long driveway, Lewis’ eyes darting between the driveway and the mirror. Bhourbon gets out and opens the back up, blocking Lewis’ view. In a huff he jumps out of the car, and sees the Black SUV pull to a stop. Lewis snatches all the bags from Bhourbon and almost drags her to the front door.
Lewis:PHEEEEEEELLLLLYYYYY!!!!!
Lewis screams as he kicks the door open and tosses the bags to the ground. He runs up the stairs and runs into Ophelia. Lewis is breathing heavy as he lifts her up onto his shoulder and carries her to the bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
Ophelia: What’s wrong hubby?
Lewis (panting heavily): Promise me you’ll stay right here.
Ophelia: Lewis what’s going on?
Lewis (grabbing her by the shoulders): Just stay right here. Promise me.
Ophelia: Oh shut up… you’re messing with me.
Lewis: I’m serious. No matter what happens, stay here. Stay out of sight. I’ll be back….
Ophelia: Where are you going?
Leiws takes a deep breath. The question gave him pause. He could tell her, but then that would put her at risk. He shakes his head and runs out of the room. He hops down the flight of stairs where the suited men have made their way into the home. Lewis stops and chuckles.
Lewis:I’ll go willingly.
One man steps up as the other two flank Lewis on the left and right.
Suit: Now where’s the fun in that?
Lewis felt a damp rag slide across his face. Try as he might to not inhale, he slowly succumbed to the effects of the rag. Not completely out of it as the man dragged him to the SUV, his feet scraping on the ground, he caught one last glimpse of Ophelia in the bedroom peeking out of the corner of the window before everything went black.
Narrator: And that gets us to where we are right now. Plain white room. Cuffs around the wrists. A hopeless situation if ever there was one.Lewis rolls his eyes, as the door opens up. The man in the suit walks in and sits down across from Lewis.
Suit: Lewis do you know where you are?
Lewis:At this point I really don’t care. I just want to get home.
Suit: Well work with me and I’ll get you home before you know it. My name is Special Agent Davidson. I work for the Department of Homeland Security.
Lewis:I figured it was one of them. CIA, DEA, FBI, all of you are the same. Suits and ties that have others do their dirty work.
Davidson: That’s one way of looking at it I guess. The other way would be protecting this fine nation from threats before they happen.
Lewis (Smirking): You ever hear the phrase trimming the grass before it’s cut?
Agent Davidson shakes his head.
Lewis:It’s simple. What you guys are trying to do right now is take threats out before they happen. You’re trimming before it gets to be a problem. It’s flawed ideals like that are why the people are fed up with the government’s bullshit.
Davidson: So I take it, you know why you’re here?
Lewis looks around the room, calm as a spring breeze. He drums his fingers over the table.
Lewis:No cameras. No two way mirrors. Seemingly no recording devices. So either you’re working off the books, which is quite possible, or you fucked up. So tell me Agent, which one is it.
Davidson: I’m not at liberty to tell you that.
LCP hangs his head and laughs.
Lewis: So you fucked up. Got it. Still doesn’t explain what you want from me.
The Agent pulls out and places a few folders on the table and begins flipping through them.
Davidson: What can you tell me about the Dominguez Cartel?
Lewis (with a raised eyebrow): The Who cartel?
Davidson: Dominguez. As in Ernesto Dominguez.
Lewis: I knew that fuck showing up at my we….. house party was going to cause issues.
Davidson: So how do you know this man?
Lewis: I worked for his dad down in Mexico. Just trying to live the Mexican Dream.
Agent Davidson closes the folder and slides it off to the side.
Davidson: Lewis, we know you were running drugs for them, so cut the shit.
Lewis (Shaking his head): If you knew anything, I wasn’t a mule, I was a coyote. I was bringing families together. And I was good at it. I was the Uber of the Rio Grande. I knew the border patrol movements better than they did. I could get across in broad daylight, and still be home in time for dinner. Allegedly.
Davidson: That’s why they called you the White Shadow.
Lewis:Sombra Blanca, have some respect.
Davidson leans back in on his chair.
Davidson: Well let’s make a deal.
Lewis: Pass.
Davidson: You haven’t heard my offer.
Lewis: I don’t need to. You’ve got nothing but hearsay and rumor. You wouldn’t be offering a deal if you had any leverage. So. Pass.
Davidson: All you have to do is tell us where Ernesto is and you’ll walk out of here. No harm. No foul.
Lewis: I’m not going to snitch. Besides, I don’t know where he is. He showed up to my party, uninvited, and left after telling me news of his family.
Davidson: Come on Lewis, I know you don’t do anything like this on a whim. It’s not like you to be that impulsive. You and him were clos….
The banging on the door caught both Lewis and Agent Davidson off guard. Davidson stands up and checks the door. As he’s walking Lewis couldn’t help himself.
Lewis: Uh-oh. Looks like my wife is here and she sounds pissed. You better hope to god you’re above board on this, or else her lawyers are going to take everything from you including that Men’s Warehouse suit…. I guarantee it.
The Agent shoots Lewis a look and Lewis just smiles jiggling the handcuffs. Begrudgingly the Agent shuffles over and unlocks the cuffs. Lewis rolls his wrists.
Lewis: Knew this wasn’t by the book.
Lewis kisses the palm of his own hand and pats the Agents forehead.
Lewis: Keep in touch, we should never do this again.
Lewis wanders out into the hallway and sees Ophelia banging on doors, screaming at the top of her lungs. Lewis slowly walks up to her, but in her rage she doesn’t notice him.
Ophelia: WHERE IS HE!?! I’LL GUT YOU LIKE A FISH!!!
Lewis:Hey babe.
As soon as she heard Lewis’ voice she turned and leapt into his arms.
Ophelia: Don’t you ever leave me like that again! You hear me! Never again Lewis!
Lewis: Okay, Okay, Okay.
Ophelia: Let’s get you home and fed and fucked. Plus we leave for San Diego in a few hours.
Lewis: Bet.
Ophelia and Lewis walk out of the nondescript building hand in hand. When Lewis notices an older El Camino pull out of the parking lot in a hurry.
Lewis:Hey babe… how exactly did you find me?
Ophelia: Uhhhhhh.
He already knew.
Ophelia: Your friend Ernesto showed up like two minutes after you were dragged away and said he knew where they were taking you.
Lewis:What did he ask for?
Ophelia: Nothing. He just wanted to make sure you were safe.
Lewis: Fuck.
Narrator:: Well that’s kind of messed up. Lewis is now mixed up between the Dominguez Cartel and the DHS. Both now know where to find him and both know his weakness. What’s next for Lewis and Ophelia? Well it seems like a trip to San Diego and a chance at the PWE Impulse Championship, then after that? Who knows.Fade To Black.
