EXT. BERGEN COUNTY FAMILY SERVICES CENTER - HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY - AFTERNOON
Our scene opens up with a shot on the front entrance to the county-sponsored facility that provides supervised parenting time services for mothers and fathers who, for a myriad of reasons, have been restricted to seeing their children in a supervised setting.
On hand is New Jersey Network reporter COURTNEY REYNOLDS, along with a cameraman. Although by no means garnering anything close to national attention, the story of Damian Cole has generated local interest: a native of the state rises to the top of the regional circuit in his sport and is on his way to national attention, only to fall from grace through poor choices, now getting a chance at redemption. It was a story that NJN, and Courtney Reynolds in particular, paid attention to, at least peripherally.
The front doors to Bergen Family Center swing open and out comes the COLE FAMILY.
DAMIAN COLE leads the way, carrying his 8 year old son MAX on his back, giving him a piggy back ride. Behind them is Damian's ex-wife JULIA holding hands with their 10 year old daughter FAITH; who has her earphones in. The dynamic between them is such as you cannot tell whether this is an intact family, or a separated family trying make the best out a bad situation for the children.
MAX: But I don't understand why I can't go watch dad wrestle this weekend, mom-- it's Kyle Cross!
JULIA: I know sweetie, but not this time.
MAX: But it's Kyle Cross mom!
Julia looks to her ex-husband.
JULIA: I could use some help here.
Damian kneels down beside his son.
DAMIAN: Not this time, champ. Another time, I promise. But I'll tell you what. After the match, I'll ask Kyle to sign a t-shirt for you. What do you say?
MAX: You promise?
Damian, still kneeling beside his son, nods at Max.
MAX: Mom, dad's gonna get me an autographed t-shirt from Kyle Cross.
DAMIAN (to Faith): How about you, honey-- would you like a Kyle Cross shirt?
FAITH (off screen): No. Dad, I don't know why we have to come here, and why we can't spend time with you like a normal family. I feel a lab rat every time I'm in there.
DAMIAN: We'll see what we can do about that, baby, but don't you worry about it.
Damian He gives his son a hug and kisses him on the head. It is at this moment that Damian realizes that his family encounter is being recorded. He looks up at reporter Courtney Reynolds.
DAMIAN: Would you mind giving me and my family a moment?
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EXT. BERGEN COUNTY FAMILY SERVICES CENTER - HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY - MOMENTS LATER
It's the same scene, only now Damian is the only one left of the Cole Family. He stands beside Courtney Reynolds. Damian is clearly emotional.
COURTNEY: Damian, let me start by saying that I didn't mean to intrude upon your time with your family.
DAMIAN: It's okay. It's just tough, you know.
COURTNEY: How do you feel about your matching coming up this weekend against Kyle Cross and Jared Schorg?
DAMIAN: I have mixed feelings.
COURTNEY: Mixed feelings? How so?
Damian reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a photo, unfolds it, holds it up to the camera. It is a photo of Damian sitting on a couch. His son Max, a couple years younger, sitting on his lap. They are watching television. On the television set is a wrestling match. In the wrestling match is Kyle Cross.
DAMIAN: This picture right here, it was taken on the night before I went away, the last night I got to spend with Max.
Damian is getting choked up. He fights it.
DAMIAN: I can't tell you what that final week was like. The verdict was already out and we were just waiting on sentencing. Sentencing was the next day. Just knowing that was it. Three years is a long...
His words trail off. The look on Courtney's face tells the story: she doesn't know whether to continue the interview or not.
Damian takes his moment, and then looks back to Courtney.
DAMIAN: It was a great match, a classic, Kyle Cross versus Jack Darling from back in his EWO days. Max loved watching him wrestle. When we would pretend wrestle, he would always be Kyle Cross.
Damian turns toward the Bergen Family Center building for a moment, and the turns back.
DAMIAN: I'm sorry, but as you can see, I am a little emotional right now. Kyle, I will be the first to say that this weekend, I am stepping in there against a legend, man. And you may have heard that in the past, but I say it with sincerity. I've watched you win, I've watched you lose, but every time, I've watched you perform, and leave it all out there. This weekend, I make history. I step in there against my son's hero. You know, I come to a place like this--
Damian holds his arm out in the direction of the building he just came from.
DAMIAN: -- and I say to myself, win or lose, this weekend I'm leaving it all out there, Kyle Cross style, because I know that some day soon I'll be on that couch, with Max in my arms, watching his father and Kyle Cross go at it-- and I get to define that moment, in advance, this Saturday night. So while all of the people watching this weekend, and all of the wrestlers competing this weekend, and all of the men and women promoting this card this weekend may be overlooking this match as just another fight on the undercard-- to me, this is the only match that matters.
Damian carefully folds the picture, puts it back in his pocket. He looks into the camera.
DAMIAN: Now before I go, and so that there is no misconception that I am overlooking someone, there is another competitor in our match. Jared Schorg, you can call me Damian. I don't know you. I don't say that out of disrespect, and that's not a reflection on your lack of accomplishments, because I've done a little homework and I know that you come highly credentialed. You've wrestled around the world, and so even though you're a year younger than me, you've got the experience on me. I say this because the unfortunate truth is that I've been away the last few years, and well, we don't get many television choices where I've been. Jared, we don't need to be friends or enemies, but you are right-- we share a common interest, you, me and Kyle. We have the opportunity to show the viewing world that the chronology of the matches in the night do not reflect on the quality of the matches in the night. You push me, because I am going to push you. I'm not in this for the glory-- I feel that time has passed for me and fighting for glory is a luxury this man can no longer afford. I am in this because I need this, because I have bills to pay and a family to win back. I know I have a lot of homework to do between now and this weekend to become fully acquainted with you, Jared, but come Cardinal Sin, I will be sure to do my part to make this the match that is being Tweeted about come June 29th.
Damian turns from the camera, and then turns back.
DAMIAN: Oh yeah, before I forget-- Kyle, Jared, I'm gonna need a few signatures on a t-shirt for my son when the night is over-- so when his friends come over, he can show then that he got the autographs of the three participants in the greatest and most overlooked match in the history of Second City.
FADE TO BLACK