Post by Cashman on Feb 16, 2012 16:03:05 GMT -5
The calm before the storm
She will see you now, Mr. Cashman.
Said a woman behind a wooden desk, she pointed to a door on her left.
Thank you!
He stands up from a near-by sofa and walks over to the door, opening it and proceeds to walk inside. In this dimly lit room was another woman behind a desk. Behind her are two large bookcases, covering most of that wall, with frames of achievements and degrees filling in the gaps between. To the left of this room, was a chaise chair; parallel to the chair, was a rounded table with brochures on top. A large clock in the upper right hand corner of the wall seemed to tick ever so loudly.
Tick … tock …
Hello, Ms. Williams. Nice to meet you, I’m Shawn Cashman. I have an appointment with you to discuss the dreams I’ve been having.
Ms. Williams: Yes, Mr. Cashman. Just give me one second; I’ll be with you shortly. You can go ahead and seat yourself on the chaise chair, please, make yourself comfortable.
He walks over to the chaise, and has a seat as first as if he sat in a normal chair. He took a breath and proceeds to fully lie onto the chair and stare at the ceiling. The second seemed to feel like an eternity.
Tick … tock …
Ms. Williams: Now Mr. Cashman, you said you’ve been having dreams? Tell me about it, what type of dreams?
They’ve been dreams of my past.. More importantly, dreams of me entering the service.
Ms. Williams: I see… And would there be something that’s troubling you that has caused you to have these dreams? Like a recollection of the past?
No, nothing I can tell. I mean, they seem to have all started since I have started my new job.
Ms. Williams: I see… And what is your job exactly, Mr. Cashman?
I am a professional wrestler.
Ms. Williams: I see. Maybe the combat you face in the ring is similar to what you’ve faced in the service?
Maybe, but why would it have started now instead of two years ago, when I first started wrestling?
Ms. Williams: Our dreams can be dormant in our thoughts. You can hide away your past, but when you are asleep, your mind is a ticking clock that can cause you to dream… Whether it’s a dream of something non-existent that you would like to have happen, or a dream of something you’ve come across before… Something perhaps than you ran away from, or don’t want to turn back to. Tell me, what happens in these dreams? Are they repetitive?
No… they are like in a timeline, a timeline that is about to become very ugly…
Ms. Williams: In what way, Mr. Cashman?
Well, Ms. Williams, I want you to know first that I served my country to the best of my ability. However, when you are over there fighting, a lot of things that you wished never would’ve happened, happened … and you just have to live with it.
Ms. Williams: I see. Well, it seems to me Mr. Cashman, that your brain wants you to relive these events. It sounds a bit like posttraumatic stress disorder… To go into more detail, you have a bit of the symptoms. Flashbacks or nightmares, being one… Tell me, have these dreams affected you in a way of everyday living? Has your behavior changed at all?
No, I don’t believe so… I mean, my life is very routine. Travelling, training in the ring, promotions.. That’s about it really. I just try to stay focused.
Ms. Williams: How much sleep do you average per night? When you have these dreams, do you wake up in the middle of them? Do you have difficulty getting back to sleep, if so?
Well, these dreams have affected me at night and in the middle of the day as well. Sometimes, I just doze off and then it just happens. At nighttime when I do wake up, to get back to sleep, I usually just grab a cold one, and that usually seems to keep me calm.
Ms. Williams is busy writing away on her clipboard.
Ms. Williams: A cold one? As in an alcoholic beverage?
You got it. I prefer light beer to be exact you know, just to watch the calories.
Ms. Williams: I see… And how long has this been going on for?
Well… about a month now.
Ms. Williams: I see… Well, Mr. Cashman, I suggest you find something else to calm you down. Read a book, exercise, talk to somebody, other than myself. Does anybody else know of this problem that you’ve been having?
No – you’re the first one I’ve told.
Ms. Williams: Is there anyone you could think of that you’re close enough to talk to?
Well, there is one person – maybe…
Ms. Williams: Well I suggest you go ahead and talk with this person. Tell them about these dreams you’ve been having, because maybe talking about it will allow you to rest more at night with ease. Consider it in a way that you’ve trying to have a bit of closure with your past. Try this, and come and see me again next month. I’ll write you down for an appointment and call you closer to the date. We’ll see how this has helps you.
She tosses him a notebook.
Ms. Williams: Every time you have one of these dreams, I want you to log it and write it down. What it was about, how long you were asleep for so we can determine approximately how long the dream went for, your reaction when you woke up, and anything abnormal.
She stands up and walks with Shawn out to the door. She shakes his hand. Shawn just seems to nod as he looks at the black notebook, and places it to his side. As he turns to leave the building, a pink Cadillac pulls up to the building. Shawn opens the car door and goes in to have a seat. The blonde in the driver seat, turns to look at him with a little concern.
Thanks for picking me up.
Emma: No problem – so why the Hell am I picking you up from here anyway? Are you ok?
Oh, yeah! Just a routine checkup. The doc gave me a clean bill of health.
Emma: Oh… Well, that’s good. I didn’t want anything to happen, especially since you’ve got a match coming up with Manabu.
Hey Emma … there’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about..
Emma: Can it wait? I’ve got to get you to the studio, to get dressed and changed. We’re running late.
Well… I guess, I mean –
Emma: If it doesn’t have to do with your match this week, then it can wait. I promise, after all this shit is over with, we’ll go out for a bite and then we’ll talk.
He nods and his eyes wander a bit to the envelopes in-between the seat. A pink letter sits out like a sore thumb, which is already ripped open that is between all of the other letters. He goes forward to grab it.
What’s this?
He looks at the letter, where he sees her address, but the return address is only written from “a secret admirer”.
Somebody have a secret valentine that they aren’t telling me about?
He grins as he pulls out the letter and begins to read it. Emma looks at him for a moment, but can’t take her eyes off the road as she makes a turn.
Emma: Yeah, I got that this morning… It’s kind of disturbing if I do say so myself.
”To Emma: I am hoping you aren’t freaked out by the formality of this letter, but I would like to let you know I’ve seen you quite often. It’s very hard to miss somebody going outside at 8:30 each morning to go to the end of their driveway in a pink robe to grab your newspaper. You always seem to take two looks as if you don’t want anybody to see you… little do you know, but I think bed head is rather sexy. You’ve got the look of a Victoria Secret model, but piece of advice: I would clean up your act, because the whole world does not need to see what I hold in my deepest regard. I look forward to meeting with you this week. Sincerely Yours, Anonymous” …
Shawn just stays silent for one moment as Emma drives on, seemingly embarrassed. Finally, Shawn bursts into laughter.
Woooww! This guy is nuts!
Emma: Tell me about it. I won’t be grabbing my newspaper EVER again.
Yeah, if he ever writes you again, I’d probably contact the police or SOMETHING… but really now? What did he see that the whole world hasn’t-HEY!
Shawn flew forward, slamming into the dashboard. Emma lowered her glasses as she glared at him, turning the key as the car grew silent.
Emma: Oh. I’m sorry. Brake check. We’re here.
The two walked into the studio.
Emma: Do you have any idea what your promo will be focused on?
I am just going to stare into the camera and send a personal message to Manabu.
Emma: I like it nothing overdone, just clear, and quick to the point.
The two of them walked into the sound room. Emma walked over to the camera crew, as Shawn walked over to a green screen that covered the wall behind him.
Emma: Whenever you are ready Shawn.
The time has come Manabu! This Thursday you and I will step into the ring to face each other for the first time one on one. Truth be told I am shaking with excitement the UWA champion vs. the undefeated renegade! That’s right! undefeated, you can say that I have gained some confidence since entering the UWA. I am also confident that I can beat you Manabu! It might not be this Thursday; it might not be at the next PPV. But the time will come when my hand is raised in the air as the victor, and you are at the ring corner looking out in to the crowd wondering what just happened. You are a smart man Manabu, and you know what I’m saying is the truth! The only thing you don’t have to worry about me is that I’m not trying to strip that UWA title from you. Your title is safe…. for now, I am trying to gain something else from you and that is your respect. The time for talking is at its end! It is time to meet in the ring, and tear the house down, make the best man win!
[End Scene]
Characters Mentioned: Manabu
Characters Used: Emma Sinclair (with permission)
