You Have My Back?
The scene opens on a warm mid-summers day in the streets of London, England. The busy streets are filled with the hustle and bustle of cars moving up and down the highways and the sidewalks are like a Friday evening on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada back in the states. Through the crowd of people on the sidewalks, we can spot SCI wrestler, Jamal Xavier standing head and shoulders over most of the people. Jamal has his gym bag strapped over his shoulder and a small piece of paper clutched in his hands. He stops in front of a small shabby apartment and takes another look at the piece of paper in his hands. He sees that the address written on the paper matches the one embedded on the apartment and makes his way down the driveway to the door. Jamal takes a long, unimpressed look at the building before ringing the door bell. He waits a few seconds before he gets an answer and the door creeks open. Fellow SCI superstar, El Ali Shabazz pokes his head out and gazes up at Jamal, grins at him, and invites him into the apartment.
El Ali Shabazz: As salaam alaikum my brotha and welcome to my nyumba.
Jamal Xavier: Nyumba?
Shabazz: Swahili, the true language of our people for house.
Xavier: Oh.
As Jamal steps inside and takes a look at the inside of the house, he sees that Shabazz's walls are littered with Islamic figureheads such as Malcolm X and others such as the current Caliph (leader) of Islam. As Ali closes the door, Jamal can see that he is dressed down from head to toe in traditional African clothing and his Zulu spear is clutched in his right hand.
Xavier (Taking a look at the spear): Expecting anybody special?
Shabazz: Nah not at all, but you can't be too careful when you're in a country full of white devils. Thanks for coming over anyway, please make yourself at home and have a seat at the kitchen table.
Jamal heads over and sets his gym bag down beside the chair next to him before taking a seat. Ali soon follows and sits himself in the chair opposite of him so that they are sitting face to face across from the table to each other.
Shabazz: So, my brother, how has your first month been here in SCI?
Xavier: It's been fine.
Ali chuckles to himself before standing up out of his chair and heading to look at one of his many pictures on the wall.
Shabazz: Yo, you ain't gotta lie to me brotha. I know this past month had to have been hell for you, with that racist devil Eric Paisano running things around here, making sure that all of his people hold all of the gold while the hard workers of this company like ourselves slave over matches against each other. It's bad enough that he had to get that other assistant in here to manage his money for him but, the fact that he continues to ignore the true gems of this place like you and I is just flat out wrong.
Xavier: That may be true for your situation Shabazz, but my first month wasn't too bad-
Shabazz (Pounding his fists on the wall): Don't lie! Don't feed into the so-called "fair deal" these racists, mutha[censored]ing devils are giving us! There hasn't been a colored Heavyweight Champion yet this year. It's not because we're not good enough to compete for it but, because SCI Management has been [censored]ing on us ever since I've been here and been a threat to their hero. Look at Darnell McDaniel. Great wrestler and not too bad on the mic. But since his skin was a few shades darker than the people at management's, he's forced to look like an idiot and is out of the wrestling business in a matter of a month. Jamal, I see the same type of potential in you but I don't want to see another brotha go down the same road he did, especially you.
Shabazz turns around and the two lock eyes with each other. Both guys stare daggers into each others eyes before Jamal takes a deep breath, breaks eye contact and continues on with the conversation.
Xavier: I assume that you have a business request for me since that was the reason you called?
Sensing that Jamal is coming to terms with what he has said, Ali's tone lightens up a bit and a soft smile comes across his face, his gangsta grill shining off of the reflection of the sun peering through the window. He again takes his seat before he continues on.
Shabazz: Yes, that was the reason for you coming out here. As I'm sure you know, I have a contenders match against Kellen Archer. This will be a big step in the right direction for all of us if I were to win this match and finally break through the glass ceiling placed upon us nearly a year ago when J Diamond was champion here in London. Since you and Eaglefeather are easily the muscle of the group, I need to know right now, do you have my back when I go out there next Sunday?
Xavier: Yes, you will have my support out there on that Sunday. Like you said this is an important match in getting you closer to a title. The closer you get to one, the closer I get to one.
Shabazz: The closer WE all get to a title.
Xavier: Right.
Shabazz: Again Jamal, thanks for coming over for this talk. Really appreciate it.
Xavier: Sure.
Shabazz: Wa laikum salaam, brotha.
Xavier: You too.
Both men get up from their chairs and share a tight and firm handshake before Jamal picks up his gym bag and heads out of the door. The camera pans around to Ali, who has one hand with a fist high up in the air while the other is grabbing the Zulu spear as the scene fades to black. |
