(Scene – We begin in a small cluttered apartment. Books and magazines are stacked haphazardly in piles on the floor. A couple of empty TV dinners sit on a small dining table as well as a bowl of fruit that looks to be a few weeks past being fresh. The room is quite dark, with the exception of a narrow column of light streaming in between partly opened curtains, indicating that it is still daylight outside.

We follow the stream of light across the darkened room until it stops that trajectory, reflecting off one of the WWA Tag Team Titles lying on a small corner table. Next to that is a harmonica and half a bottle of scotch whiskey. The camera shifts to the right to reveal one half of the Extreme Corporation, Mal Somers, sitting in his leather recliner. Instead of his normal casual attire, he is dressed in a pair of flannelette pyjamas, with scatterings of the WWA logo dotted all around it. He also has a foam neck brace on. He is staring whismically at a silver photo frame.)

Somers – Oh Rookie, I miss you so much. I wish you were here so I could tell you what a rotten week this has been. Instead, I will talk to the photo we had taken at the Yankees game.

(Somers sighs as he takes a swig from the bottle of scotch.)

Somers: If you were watching Meltdown you would have seen the guy who has been trying to get X-Corp to split. We thought it might have been one of those punks from one of the other tag teams, but all along, it was Chance.

(Somers swigs again.)

Somers: You know, in my first match in the WWA, a four way elimination match, Chance eliminated me. I’ve never cared for him much since then, but I didn’t think he’d stoop that low. However, it seems its not me he has the issue with, its Dave.

(Another swig.)

Somers: A week or so ago I figured it was the end for X-Corp. The damage he did to his former partner was just sickening. But I was growing confident that that was all in the past, he wouldn’t do the same to me. Now Chance is putting ideas in Dave’s head that he should leave X-Corp before he does the inevitable.

(Somers puts the bottle down and grabs the harmonica.)

Somers: He can’t. I won’t let him. We are X-Corp for life! All these Tag Teams after our belts. We must remain strong. We are strong. He can’t. He wouldn’t. Could he? Damn it, I’m pretty bummed about all this. Maybe some old Blues on the Harmonica will cheer me up.

(Somers grabs the harmonica and starts to play. Before long he stops and holds his neck. He picks up his photo frame again.)

Somers: Aaarggh! Damn neck! Damn Havoc! That War Machine I took on the chair at Meltdown was pretty brutal. It’s put me out for at least a week, and the doctor says I gotta sit and rest. That means two things. I can't spend any time this week trying to impress EVD to get ya back, Rookie. And secondly, the bookers have put Dave and Chance on the same team against Enigma and Joey K. Whats going on?

(Somers stares at the photo a little longer.)

Somers: I suppose you cant tell me, you’re just a photo. I want the real Rookie back. (sighs) Surely Dave can't accept this match. Or should he? If it does, maybe what Chance has been trying to get him to do is going to happen. But if he doesn’t, what does that say about X-Corp? We always overcome adversity. We rise to the challenge. We…

(Somers’ discussion with the photo frame is interrupted by a knock at the door.)

Somers: Go away!

(Instead the door opens and in bursts Dave “The Extreme Machine” Harley, wearing his sunglasses, leather jacket, and “Laying the CRAXXT Down” T-Shirt. His WWA Tag Team Title is draped over his shoulder. He looks annoyed.)

Harley: You aren’t playing pocket pool again are you?

Somers: (hiding the photo frame under a cushion) No!

Harley: Nice pajamas Chairboy! Very stylish.

Somers: Shut up! Whats with you barging in anyways? I was having a tender moment.

Harley: (Looking at the bottle of scotch and harmonica) Awwww. Did you get Rookie back? How romantic.

Somers: No I haven’t got Rookie back! (pauses) And if I did I wouldn’t be having a romantic moment with him…I’m not gay! Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Harley: (shaking his head) Weirdo. So, what’s with me barging in? I’ll tell you whats with me barging in…have you read the booking sheet for Meltdown?

Somers: Yeah I know! Shaman versus Zion. Whats up with that?

Harley: (sighs) I meant Enigma and Joey Spray against me and Chance.

Somers: Yeah I know.

Harley: I’m not going to do it! No way!

(Harley puts his belt on the table and begins pacing back and forth. Being a small messy apartment, its more like two steps one way then two steps back but you get the picture.)

Harley: I don’t know what the powers that be were smoking but ME and CHANCE? On the same team? He’s the punk who has been trying to break us up. Telling me to break up X-Corp before I break your….not that I would Chairboy, but you know what I mean? I don’t trust the guy so how can I tag with him?

Somers: Well, trust is important Dave, but I’ve been thinking. What would it say about X-Corp if you don’t show up for the match at Meltdown? We are the Extreme Corporation!

Harley: True, Mal, but knowing Enigma and Doughy K, they will use any weakness in our “team” to their advantage. And you’ll be resting your neck here, so its basically going to be me against three!

Somers: And you don’t think you can handle that?

Harley: (pulling on the collar of his jacket and grinning) Well, Chairboy, I’m sure I can handle it, heh heh, I’m the freaking Extreme Machine!!

Somers: So? Whats the problem? You go out there and do all the HARLettes and the MALcoholics proud! Don’t let the team down!

Harley: You’re right! I’m going to go phone Jack and get some training in before Meltdown. Represent X-Corp as only Dave Harley can! Hey check this out…

(Harley takes off his sunglasses and turns to Mal)

Harley: Make way…for Dave because nothing can stop me now, Chance! Hah Hah!

Somers: That’s the spirit!

Harley: (pointing at the bottle of Scotch) No, THAT’S the spirit. Nyuk Nyuk!
Like ham and salad, I’m on a roll! Don’t turn out like James Beam now will ya’?

Somers: Don’t worry about that Dave, our little chat has cheered me up. You have my full support for the match at Meltdown.

Harley: Great! Before I go? Can I use your toilet?

Somers: (grimacing) I don’t think so….Deadly!

Harley: What the~!

(Fade Out)