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The camera fades in on Jimmy Hollywood in the Director's Chair sitting across from The Machine, who is dressed in a Crusade work-out shirt and gray sweat shorts.
JIMMY: "Hello fans, we are back and I am sitting with the Machine of the Crusade. Thanks for taking the time to sit with us."
MACHINE: "It is nothing. I must admit to being a bit embarrassed, I don't think I'm worthy of this kind of attention."
JIMMY: "Don't be so modest, you're one of the hottest young talents to come to EFW in a while. Just look at what you accomplished in your first year in the EFW: an impressive win-loss record, getting a victory over then-World Champion Bane at one point, and even capturing the United States Championship."
MACHINE: "I suppose if you look at it like that I accomplished much. But I have also lost many matches that I should have won because of simple mistakes. And I also have the shame of being responsible for Jack Dod tarnishing the reputation of the U.S. Title, a sin I have yet to atone for. I feel there is so much left for me to learn."
JIMMY: "Well that does lead into why I wanted to talk to you. Whether you win or you lose, you are a shining example of what can be learned and accomplished from Mike Swanson. Have you given any advice to the new crop of students that have joined this week?"
MACHINE: "Oh, I would never be so arrogant as to think I have anything to teach them. I'm still a student myself! I am always learning something new. But, I think that is really the most important thing that Mike has taught me: you never stop learning. A lot of wrestlers forget that - they think they already know everything, and their in-ring efforts suffer because of it. And that's where you get men like Jack Dod: the ones who take the shortcuts to try and succeed. It's sad, really."
JIMMY: "You've brought up Jack Dod a couple of times now. You seem to have him on your mind."
MACHINE: "Well as I said earlier losing the U.S. title to him is my greatest shame."
JIMMY: "I can understand being upset for losing the title, but 'greatest shame'? Aren't you being too hard on yourself? I mean, Jack may not be a saint, but he's an experienced competitor and has several years experience on you. There's no shame in losing a match to a more experienced wrestler."
MACHINE: "I understand that. My shame is in letting such an important piece of history fall into the hands of that slime. Dod is a monster - he has no morals, follows no rules, and cares about nothing but himself. And when I had my opportunity to take it away from him, I failed. That he continues to tarnish and taint that belt that meant so much to me eats me alive inside. Every day I train with the one goal in my mind of getting one last match with Dod and getting the U.S. Title away from him once and for all."
JIMMY: "Is that an official challenge?"
MACHINE: "I've been making official challenges this whole time. But I have been denied every time. The Lassiter people say it's because 'I got my re-match already and lost and haven't proven myself to be a contender'."
JIMMY: "So what are you going to do?"
MACHINE: "I will continue to train, I will keep rising in the ranks. And if that isn't enough to earn me another shot at Dod, then I will have to do something drastic."
JIMMY: "What do you mean 'drastic'?"
MACHINE: "... I will not stand idly by and do nothing while the United States Championship is dragged through the mud by that scumbag. If he won't defend the title against me as a competitor, then maybe he will if I put something on the line. Something that is more important to me than even the U.S. title."
JIMMY: "You can't mean... your career?"
MACHINE: "I don't know if I'm ready yet, but I can feel the frustration growing. Someday soon I am going to go out to that ring and issue one last challenge to Dod and the EFW higher ups. I will put what means most to me on the line, and if I lose... "
He stops talking, looking down at his hands. He shakes his head and gets up from his chair, turns around and leaves. Jimmy is stunned.
JIMMY: "Fans we'll be right back."
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