Moving Forward

[Jay Phillips is in an interview area.]

Jay Phillips: My guest at this time is Jax Rivers.

[Jax steps into view next to Jay.]

Jay Phillips: Jax, you recently have had a series of run ins with Paul Priest and Jade. At the last event, you and Mandy were in a mixed tag team match with Paul and Jade. During that match, you and Jade had an altercation where you struck her, causing a disqualification. We know you tried to apologize to Jade but in the process, well, something happened.

[Jax looks up at the lights and takes a deep breath.]

Jax Rivers: I made a horrible mistake in that match. You can make a mistake and lose a match any day of the week. Afterward, you learn from it and go out the next night stronger for it. This is different. I did something I.. Jay, I don't know why I did what I did. It happened. I tried to correct it the only way I knew how. Somehow, in trying to correct my mistake, I made things even worse. Jade made it look like we were somehow involved with each other, Mandy saw it, got upset, and left. In a matter of days, I cost myself and my girlfriend a match, I lost the respect of those around me because of my actions, and now I have even lost my girlfriend. I came to the NRWL to better myself. Somehow, I have to move forward. I have to prove to myself, and everyone else, that I am the future of this company.

Jay Phillips: Well, I certainly believe that --- hey! What are you doing here?

[Storm Harrison walks into the interview with his bodyguard, Caleb, at his side. Storm has on a pair of sunglasses and takes them off to look over Jax Rivers.]

Storm Harrison: Jay, don't you have better things to do than interview this clown? You should be spending your time interviewing real stars like me, not these new guys. What has [makes quotes with his hands] Jax Rivers ever done noteworthy in this business?

Jay Phillips: You didn't need to quote his name. It's his actual name.  And he was a world champion before coming to NR ---

Storm Harrison: What wrestling company other than NRWL even matters? Please. World Champion.

[Storm takes a step toward Jax and pokes a finger in his chest.]

Storm Harrison: You may have come here thinking you could be a star but now you are standing next to a true superstar. Take a good look because this is the closest you will ever get to greatness.

Jax Rivers: I know you love to hear yourself talk but if you keep going I'm going to break your jaw.

[Caleb steps forward and puts a hand on Jax's shoulder. Jax throws it off.]

Jax Rivers: I'm not afraid of your monster! I've slayed giants before. If I have to do it again, I will, but it's you I want in the ring. I'll show you why I deserve to be here.

[Storm nods his head and then looks to Caleb. They trade some kind of silent communication. Storm looks back at Jax.]

Storm Harrison: Then I'll see you in the ring.

[Storm and Caleb walk off. Jax stares at them as they leave.]

Kiss and Make Up

[Jax Rivers walks up to a door backstage, takes a deep breath, and knocks on the door. After a moment, the door opens and Jade steps out. She eyes Jax angrily while placing a hand on her stomach instinctively.]

Jade: What do you want?

Jax Rivers: Listen, that match. Things got out of hand. You said some things to me about Mandy that I won't repeat. You were wrong to say that to me but I'm not here for an apology. I want to apologize to you.

Jade: You know what? You should be begging me for forgiveness! You kicked me in the stomach. I could have been seriously hurt.

Jax Rivers: I know. I know. Like I said, things got out of hand. I'm not that kind of guy. I don't hit women. The match was intense and I just lost my mind. I made a decision I shouldn't have and as soon as it happened, I regretted it. I just wanted to come here and tell you that I'm very sorry. You didn't deserve what I did.

[Jade measures Jax's remorseful look. She glances down the hallway and then visibly loosens up.]

Jade: That's all I needed to hear. It's ok.

[She takes Jax's hand. Jax looks at her and then to his hand, surprised.]

Jade: You're a good man, Jax Rivers.

[Jade presses up against Jax and gives him a passionate kiss on the lips. Jax, stunned, takes a few seconds to react. He gently pushes her away.]

Jax Rivers: Whoa.. Wait a minute.

[Jax hears a noise and looks down the hallway. Mandy is standing just a few feet away from them. She has tears in her eyes.]

Mandy: Jax?

Jax Rivers: Oh, geez. This isn't what it looks like!

Mandy: How could you?!

[Mandy turns and runs away. Jax pulls away from Jade and runs after her.]

Jax Rivers: Wait!

[Jade watches as Jax takes off after Mandy. She smiles and casually walks back into her dressing room.]

Foursome

[Mandy, Jax Rivers' girlfriend, is backstage with Jax while he is speaking with a trainer. She stands off to the side, minding her own business, when Paul Priest steps up behind her and taps her on the shoulder. Mandy turns around to see Paul staring at her with a straight face. No smarmy smile like he usually does.]

Mandy: Jax!

[Jax turns around, and immediately walks over, breaking his conversation.]

Jax Rivers: Hey! Get away from her. What's your deal, man? She's not interested in you. She's with me. Don't you have anything better to do than bother us?

Paul Priest: I'm not here to flirt with your girlfriend, Jax. Honestly, I made a mistake even bothering with her. She's not my type. No, I'm here to propose a challenge.

[Jax gets right into Paul's face.]

Jax Rivers: I beat you once. You're looking for a rematch? You got it. I'll leave you even bloodier than last time.

Paul Priest: No no no. That's not quite the match I'm looking for. I'm glad the two of you are together because my challenge involves both of you.

[Jax and Mandy look at each other with puzzled looks.]

Paul Priest: Your girl here. She's a big wrestling fan. How about she step into the ring? 

Jax Rivers: What? No way!

[Paul looks at Mandy.]

Paul Priest: How about it? I'm sure you'd love the opportunity to get into the ring.

[Mandy keeps quiet.]

Paul Priest: My challenge. The two of you against me and my favorite, uh, "exercise partner". Jade! Come here!

[A tall, dark haired woman wearing a dress that leaves little to the imagination and what could only be described as "stripper heels" walks up alongside Paul Priest.]

Paul Priest: What do you say?

Jax Rivers: This is insane. No way are we agreeing to this.

[Mandy pulls on Jax's shoulder.]

Mandy: Jax, wait a second. Maybe...

Jax Rivers: No. I'm not going to put you in danger.

Jade: He's probably right, little girl. You'll just get yourself hurt.

[Mandy frowns and then, without warning, tackles Jade and begins throwing fists. Jax pulls Mandy off of Jade while Paul gets between the girls.]

Mandy: You're on!!! We'll see you in the ring!

Jax Rivers: What?!?

Mandy: We're doing this!

[Jax pulls Mandy down the hallway, arguing with her. Paul helps Jade to her feet. They look at each other and smile as their plan appears to be coming together.]

About A Girl

[Paul Priest is walking through the backstage area heading toward his dressing room. He spots someone up ahead of him and smiles.]

Paul Priest: Well, well. Look who we've got here.

[Paul walks up to Mandy, the young college student Jax Rivers walked away with during their first meeting. She looks to see who is approaching her and backs away.]

Mandy: No way. Get away from me, you jerk.

Paul Priest: Little harsh, don't you think? Look, I get it. You were all excited about meeting that Jax Rivers guy. But he's some big name from some little wrestling company. Me? I'm the big time. I'm one of the hottest stars in the biggest wrestling company around. You really need to think this through.

Mandy: Jax is ten times the man you could ever hope to be. He treats me with respect! Something you know nothing about.

[Paul laughs.]

Paul Priest: Well, I don't know if you saw this but I left your "man" lying face down on the mat at the last event. He didn't look so great then.

Mandy: You hit him from behind with a baseball bat!

[Paul smirks and is about to respond when Jax Rivers dives into view and tackles him. Jax assaults Paul with a series of punches. Paul tosses Jax off of him and scrambles to get away. Mandy trips Paul, who crashes into a large plastic garbage can. He tries to recover and run off but Jax grabs him by the hair and smacks his head into a wall. Paul starts to stumble backward. Jax grabs Paul and shoves him head first into the garbage can. Paul's legs comically kick from the top of the garbage can as Jax takes Mandy's hand and they walk off. Paul eventually gets the garbage can to tip over. He climbs out with trash covering his face, hair, and chest. He looks humiliated.]

Paul Priest: [muttering to himself] If that's the way you want to play it, you got it!

[Behind Paul, a few crew members see him and snicker to each other. He stands up, brushes himself off, and glaces over at them. He puffs out his chest, points his nose in the air, puts on the bravest face he can muster, and walks away.]

Girl Fight

[Paul Priest is walking into the NRWL Arena where some fans have gathered outside to get some autographs. Paul is not looking to sign autographs but he is looking through the crowd for women. He spots a young, college aged girl in the front of the crowd. He grins and beelines right for her. Some male fans start yelling to him for an autograph. He completely ignores them.]

Paul Priest: Well hello. And who might you be, Miss?

Mandy: My name is Mandy! This is so cool seeing all the wrestlers coming in. Can I get my picture with you?

PP: Absolutely!

Mandy: Excuse me, can you take our picture!

[Another girl in the crowd takes Mandy's camera and waits while Mandy climbs over the metal barricade to join Paul. Mandy and Paul to get in position for a photo. The girl takes the photo and Mandy starts to pull away from Paul but he gently holds her in place. He looks down at her.]

PP: You know, it's early. I can get a headstart on my workout. You can join me if you'd like.

Mandy: Umm... OK? What... what do you do for a workout?

PP: My dear, I don't waste my time with all the lifting machines, heavy bags, and whatever else the other wrestlers use. I maintain a workout regimen of pure, primal cardio. You'd make for a great exercise partner.

[Mandy looks at Paul with a worried look. Suddenly, her eyes catch a glimpse of someone else walking toward the arena entrance. She quickly pushes herself away from Paul and screams with excitement.]

Mandy: Oh! My! GODDD! The news sites were right. He really is here in NRWL!!!

[Mandy gets excited and waves frantically at the man approaching. Other fans in the crowd are also cheering and calling for him.]

Mandy: Jax!!!!

[Jax Rivers smiles and walks over to Mandy. He ignores Paul Priest.]

Jax Rivers: Hey! Somebody knows me around here. I feel special.

[Paul Priest rolls his eyes.]

PP: Excuse me, the fans are supposed to stay on the other side of the barricade.

Mandy: He is a wrestler! He's Jax Rivers, the Ring Warriors World Champion!

[Paul looks Jax Rivers up and down. He laughs.]

PP: Please! This guy is a world champion? Listen, pal. You've got some nerve barging in here. Mandy and I were just about to go inside and make some passionate, raw, animal love.

Mandy: What? Absolutely not.

[Jax looks at Paul with a disgusted look. He looks at Mandy and holds a hand out to her. Mandy takes his hand.]

JR: Listen, Mandy, is it? Stay away from this creep. I'll tell you what. How about I show you around backstage? Meet some of the other wrestlers?

Mandy: I'd love that!

[Mandy frown at Paul and then looks into Jax's eyes and smiles. Together, they go into the arena. Paul stands there, boiling with anger. The girl who took Mandy and Paul's picture is still standing close by. She reaches over the barricade and taps Paul on the shoulder. He glaces back at her.]

Girl: I'll exercise with you, Paul!

[Paul turns his head away from her.]

PP: I don't do consolation prizes.

[Paul walks into the arena alone.]