THE REINVENTION OF ALYSSAThe Reinvention of Alyssa tells the story of Alyssa, a former Women's Champion, who is down on her luck. Age is beginning to catch up with her and she is starting doubt herself. She's desperate, and decides to back to her roots in hopes of finding herself again. In a musty old gym, she finds her ex-trainer, but can he help her find what's she missing?
_____ (The scene cuts into a rundown gym somewhere in Manitoba, Canada.) It appears to be a dreary place, where dreams can be made or broken. The walls are a depressing brown color, and there is a palpable heat in the building along with a strong smell, making a hot and miserable place, all the worse. A banner hangs from the ceiling, announcing some wrestling league from a bygone era. Much like this once proud gym, it seems old and damaged. Some pictures are hung on the walls of various wrestling and boxing superstars who have come through the area. Around the gym, you can see various people working out. In the ring, there are two young wrestlers staging a wrestling match for no one in particular. Around the ring, there are people hitting bags, working on stationary cycles, and lifting weights. Noticeable among them is an Asian woman about 30 years of age with taped fists, furiously hitting a punching bag, Near her is a guy of some sort, who is holding the bag for her and barking orders. Occasionally, he’ll yell out a name which only adds to her fury of hitting the bag. Guy: So, why exactly are you here, Alyssa? Alyssa: Here? Well, why not here? This is where I got my start. With your help, Ajax, I was turned from a sideshow valet into a wrestler, a champion. Ajax: Well, I know that, but why did you want me to return with you to here, exactly? I could be crazy, but I’d imagine that you could do better than this musty old place. Alyssa: Because I want to start from the beginning. Somewhere along the way, I have lost myself… Ajax: Oksana. (Alyssa starts furiously smashing on the bag some more, kicking and punching it with a renewed fury.) Alyssa: And now, I need to find myself. I won’t be a statistic. I won’t be a forgotten name on the list of former champions of a dead league. (She starts punching the bag some more, and only stopping once she hits it particularly hard. She checks her hand and notices it has been beaten raw and has drawn some light blood.) Ajax: The world’s changed now, Alyssa. You aren’t as young as you used to be. Do you really think that training out in some rundown gym in the middle of nowhere, and working out with some guy will lead you to another title? To another, better legacy? Alyssa: Yes. AHHHHHH! (smashes the bag with all her might.) It must. I won’t be left in the dust. I won’t be forgotten. Ajax: But those women now, they must be younger, prettier, more athletic, and more popular. Like that one lady, Hero something or other? She was a cutie. (With that remark, Alyssa continues raging at the bag. Beads of sweat can be seen running down on her face, her breathing is becoming labored, but still she presses on.) Ajax: And, really, you never really were the biggest wrestler out there. You got by on smarts, but they can only get you so far against the likes of Cho and Lethal Lisa, for instance. And Lisa is back in the PRL, from what I hear. She must be a beast by now! Are you sure your old bones can take it? Alyssa: Yes! YES! Old bones? I’m in my prime, you klutz! I’m not old! (Slams her hand into the bag, making audible thuds as her hands met the leather.) And I can beat Lethal Lisa in my sleep! Ajax: Of course! Even if you did get through the young and the large, well, there’s always that one woman always standing in the shadows over you. Always, mocking you, saying that she’s smarter than you, prettier than you, and just plain better than you, than going out there and embarrassing you. (Alyssa’s punching starts getting harder and hard, the bag taking a beating.) Making you feel like a nobody. (Alyssa keeps hitting the bag harder and harder.) Making you feel like a loser. (The punching gets even worse.) Making you wish you were never born. (And worse.) Oh, what was her name again? Panda something? Alyssa: PANDORA, YOU CLOD! (She takes a massive swing at the bag, with the full force of her fist going into it.) BANG! SMASH! (The bag falls to the ground in a heap. Many around the gym stop to see what just happened as Alyssa seems a little embarrassed and a little enraged.) Ajax: Good job, my dear. You’ve successfully completed your first lesson. (The scene fades out.) |