Post by Melody Marshall on Feb 13, 2018 9:09:55 GMT -8
GODS DEAD, I SAID
music; "Hideaway" - Dusty Boots
The bustle of the city scape full of moving bodies is a bit of a jolt as we fade in. Faint sounds of car horns, joyful noise of upbeat, pop music and the melody of millions of strangers enjoying their day makes up the soundtrack of our story. In almost Kubrick cinematic fashion, the camera moves elegantly through the streets until we stop on a women walking. Cigarette in hand, clad in a basic t-shirt, jeans, and boots; she continues her journey paying no attention to the camera. She drags on her cigarette as the woman turns the corner almost bumping into a corporate suit type. Finally, we see her face. Melody Marshall smirks.
She takes another puff. For the first time her eyes shift towards the camera. Los Angeles is the city of a thousand lights but in the daytime, the glitz and glamour is nowhere to be found. It’s replaced by the ghastly image of men, women, and children begging for food on the streets. Run-down buildings and bars full of broken dreams passed Melody by as she continued down the boulevard of her own dream. She looks into the camera.
“I think it’s safe to say that people who like to knock LA have never actually been here. I grew up on the East Coast. I heard stories about people from California. Even my own parents told me about how lazy California’s were. ‘Melody, they are self-entitled. They are snobs. They’ve never had a hard day’s work before.’
I haven’t been in LA long but since I’ve been here, all I have seen is those willing to sacrifice to survive. They are survivors. These people risk it all for a chance at living their own American dream. I respect that. I understand that because I’m doing the same thing. All I have been thinking about since I lost the Immortal Crown is how I must not have sacrificed enough, how I failed to do what I do more to pick up the win.
I fucked up. I left an opportunity like that slip through my fingers. Not anymore. Not again. I’m going to sacrifice like these people.”
She stops. She drops the cig on the ground and uses her boot to put it out. She moves closer to a nearby wall of a pub and leans against it. Taking out another cigarette, she lights it and places it in her mouth. As the cig dangles from her mouth she continues.
“This Heritage Festival is exactly what someone in my place needs. Three days, three matches, and at the end? I could be standing there the new Heritage Champion.”
She moves the cigarette from her mouth and exhales. She peers off into the distance and chuckles.
“But, let’s be real. Nobody thinks I can do it. Nobody thinks I can win this thing. I could name a million reasons there is doubt. I lost last week. I’m a woman. Nameless is probably going to kill me in the first round. This is stuff I’ve heard my entire career and it doesn’t really bother me. It’s like these people who say these things don’t realize I know I’m an underdog. I’ve been there and done that.
Kendrick Kross, Sammy Duke, Savage, Nameless, and Tapioca Joe – I know how good they are. I’m not stupid. Maybe my head is in the clouds. Maybe this whole thing is just a dream and I should be more realistic. ‘Hey be happy you are even getting booked. You put up a good fight and you showed them you belonged’.
Nah. No way. This isn’t how It’s going to be.
Use this message as my declaration of war. Melody Marshall is going to win the Heritage Championship and it doesn’t make a damn difference what combination of people I have to beat to do it. Bring me all on. Lock us in cage and throw away the key. Bloody, battered, and bruised I promise you my ass will be the last one standing. “
She takes another drag and again, throws the cigarette down and puts it out. She runs a hand through her hair and looks back into the camera. Her eyes were red and swelling. It was apparent she was holding back tears. She continued.
“I’ve waited my entire life for chances like this and last time I threw it away. The fact is I want this more than anybody else in this tournament and I’ll do anything and everything to show all of you that. So buy your tickets, bring a friend, and Tweet it to the world – Melody Marshall is a dreamer, a survivor, and she sacrificed all in the name of chasing her dream – the Heritage Championship.
Mom and Dad were wrong. I love LA.”
Melody smiles and the camera pans to the ground.
