I Wish I Was Special

[tylercross]

I wish I was Special
Tyler's Tale
August 27th, 2006


Wednesday Afternoon

{Fade In}

{We open to show Tyler Cross and King James sitting in the basement of James' parents house. King James is watching television. Meanwhile Tyler, dressed in a gray shirt and jean-shorts, is writing in a small notebook}

V/O: How could I tell her how I feel?

{After a few seconds, James turns to Tyler and gives him an odd look}

KING: What are you doing?

V/O: Oh shit.

{Tyler quickly closes the notebook}

TYLER: Nothing...nothing.

{James smirks}

KING: It's involving a girl, isn't it?

V/O: Did he see what I was writing? Can he tell how I feel?

TYLER: Um...

KING: It's that Sherri Cucumber chick from the HWA, isn't it?

{Tyler is a little stunned by King James' quick assumption}

TYLER: Sure.

V/O: Lies save my ass.

{King James smirks}

KING: I knew it. Dude, you so have a thing for redheads.

TYLER: It happens, bro. No one can resist the fire-bush.

V/O: LOVE the fire-bush. But there is just something about Katie, that just blows my mind.

{Tyler laughs a little and goes back to writing in his notebook, trying to shield it away from James}

KING: Hey, don't you have a match in that Ringmaster Tournament soon?

TYLER: Yeah. It's a semi-final match against a guy called Big D.

KING: Sounds impressive. He any good?

TYLER: According to his bio-sheet, he's held a lot of titles. So he just might be.

V/O: And I'm ready to tag Big D as the world's luckiest retarded kid.

{Whispering can be heard}

V/O: No...screw being politically correct. He is re-tar-ded...you know, de-dee-de!!!

KING: Well I have faith in you, Tyler. This is your time and Big D won't make it past you. You've got talent...raw talent. Every time you step into that ring, the women scream...the men yell...and the kids reach out to you. They can all see that one day, you will rise up as a Champion.

TYLER: But is now, really my time?

{Tyler closes his book and tosses it on the coffee table}

TYLER: Look at me, James. I'm going to be twenty this year. I have a career as a professional wrestler. But where do I live? I live in a small apartment in Parma, Ohio. I spend most of my days in the basement of your parent's house, doing things that only half-stupid fifteen year old boys should be doing.

{Tyler shakes his head}

TYLER: If I am ever going to be a champion...I have to act like a champion.

KING: No, Tyler. You don't have to act like an ass, to be champion.

TYLER: Look at everyone else! To be champion...I have to party, I have to buy expensive things, I have to date hot women. When was the last time I had a date, James? When?

KING: Um...

TYLER: Exactly. I'm not a professional wrestler...I'm a pretend wrestler.

{Um...}

TYLER: I step into that ring and everyone things I am some rookie sensation. Everyone expects me to bring down the house and just blow everything before me, out of the water.

KING: Dude...calm down.

TYLER: No. I'm tired of having the pressure put squarely on my shoulders, when everyone out there...is enjoying the riches of living a real life as a professional wrestler. I'm tired of being pointed at. I'm tired of being told what I HAVE to do when I get into the ring. I HAVE to beat Big Dc. I HAVE to win the Ringmaster Tournament. I've barely made it to the semi-finals and some people have already chosen me as the favorite to win it all.

{Tyler stands to his feet}

TYLER: But I just want to step into that ring and be Tyler Lee Cross. No nicknames, no flashbulbs, no chanting. I want to accomplish something before I get any glory. 'Cause right now, when I look in the mirror...I see a failure. I see a man who has yet to accomplish something great. And until that day comes...I'm just Tyler Lee Cross, some kid from Parma, Ohio.

{Tyler looks around at the basement and shakes his head}

TYLER: I'm tired of it.

KING: Tyler. One minute you are complaining because you don't want to be put on a pedestal...the next you are complaining because you are stuck in Parma. What the hell do you want?

{Tyler lowers his head and sits back down on the couch}

TYLER: I don't know, James.

KING: Well how about I go grab us some soda's and meanwhile, you calm down. You have a big match ahead of you...and whether you don't want to be put in a pedestal...or you do...this match could mark your career.

{King hops off the couch and heads upstairs for a couple drinks}

{As soon as the upstairs door slams shut, the basement door opens and in walks Katie Coleman}

V/O: Not now, Katie.

KATIE: TYLER!!!

{Tyler looks up, with a smile on his face. Dressed in a blue t-shirt and a pair of jeans, Katie stands there in all her beauty}

TYLER: Katie, how have you been?

KATIE: Guess what...I took your advice. I kicked Vince to the curb.

V/O: Hell yeah.

TYLER: Good job.

KATIE: AAAAAANNNNNDDDD...

{Katie walks over and sits down next to Tyler}

KATIE: ...since today is my eighteenth birthday...

V/O: Did I just hear right?

{Pause}

V/O: Katie is legal?

{Tyler's gut begins to fill with butterflies}

KATIE: ...I'm going on a date tonight, with a guy I knew from High School.

{The butterflies disappear as they are replaced with Tyler's sinking heart}

TYLER: Wow.

V/O: Ouch.

TYLER: Good for you, Katie.

V/O: I hate life.

TYLER: It's nice to see you moving on.

V/O: I hate myself.

KATIE: He's taking me out to eat and then we are going to go see Pulse, in the theatres.

V/O: I don't want to be here.

KATIE: I even used to have a small crush on him, when I was dating Vince. But I couldn't tell him or anyone else, Vince would of killed me.

V/O: I don't belong here.

TYLER: Yeah, I know. I know what it's like to hide crushes from people. I know how much you want to tell that person that you want to spend every waking moment with them. I know how much you want to hold them tight and never let go. I know how much you just want to look them in the eye and tell them that they are special.

V/O: ...so f*cking special.

{Katie smiles}

KATIE: That is so sweet. I didn't know you were crushing on someone, Tyler. You should tell me all about her. Is she pretty?

TYLER: She's gorgeous. She has long blonde hair and eyes that just cut right to my soul.

V/O: Keep it together, man.

TYLER: It's gotten to the point where every time I see here...I melt. Every time I hear her voice...I want to cry. Every time I talk to her...I can't find the words.

KATIE: Well who is this dreamy girl you like?

{Tyler goes quiet for a second}

V/O: To hell with it. Go for it. This is the best chance you will ever get.

TYLER: ...

{As Tyler opens his mouth, the upstairs door opens and King James begins to walk down, with the drinks}

KING: Katie, why are you bothering him? The man is in need of rest. If he expects to beat Big D on Monday...

V/O: ...and make King very rich...

KING: ...then he needs to rest. He doesn't need some little teenager pestering the hell out of him.

{Katie stands to her feet and smiles}

KATIE: I'm an adult now. Remember, James?

KING: Shit, that's right. I remember Mom and Dad wrapping your birthday present last night.

{Tyler stands to his feet}

TYLER: Well if you two excuse me, I do need to get going. I have some stuff to pack, before I leave for my match. Might as well get it over and done with.

{Katie and King watch as Tyler walks past them}

TYLER: And Katie...if you need anything for your date tonight, call me.

KATIE: Okay.

{Tyler slowly walks to the basement door and exits}

KING: Date? What date?

{Fade Out}

---------------

Wednesday Mid-Afternoon

{Fade In}

{Tyler sits on his bed. For the first time, we actually get to see the house of Tyler Cross. Posters of various wrestlers, litter his room. Joey Brannon, Trent Shanahan, Jack Devargas, Max Stone...the list goes on. But Tyler is not in the mood to honor these men...instead he looks like a man left in shambles. His bed is a mess and he is just staring at the floor. 'Creep' by Radiohead starts in the background}

#When you were here before,
couldn't look you in the eye.

{Tyler's phone suddenly begins to ring. He jumps a little and grabs it off the end table, pressing the talk button and raising it to his ear}

TYLER: Hello?

{It is a sobbing Katie}

KATIE: He canceled. He called me and cancelled our date. I can't believe David did this too me.

TYLER: Calm down, Katie. It's okay.

KATIE: I can't believe this happened to me.

#You're just like an angel,
your skin makes me cry.

TYLER: Why'd he cancel?

KATIE: He said that he had other things to do.

TYLER: That bastard.

{A smile slides across Tyler's face}

TYLER: Well what are you going to do now, for your eighteenth birthday?

KATIE: I guess I will just stay at home and mope.

#You float like a feather,
in a beautiful world.

TYLER: Well don't worry, Katie. I promise you, your night is only going to get better.

KATIE: I hope, Tyler. I hope.

TYLER: Hey, I have to let you go. I have to get ready for something. But I'll talk to you later, okay?

KATIE: Sure thing, Ty.

TYLER: It'll be all better Katie, I promise.

KATIE: See ya.

TYLER: Bye.

#I wish I was special,
you're so fucking special.

{Tyler hangs up the phone and smiles to himself}

TYLER: All I need to do is get ready and then surprise her. I'll take her out to eat and to the movies for her birthday. Genius, Tyler. Genius.

{He jumps up and runs into the bathroom}

{A few sounds can be heard and then there is water}

#But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo.
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here.

{The water turns off}

{After a couple minutes, Tyler runs out of the bathroom in a towel. He runs to his dresser and grabs a pair of jeans and a nice shirt. He quickly runs back to the bathroom}

#I don't care if it hurts,
I want to have control.
I want a perfect body,
I want a perfect soul.
I want you to notice,
when I'm not around.
You're so fucking special,
I wish I was special.

{Fade Out}

---------------

Wednesday Night

{Fade In}

{We are outside the Coleman house. There is no movement until we see a small Nineteen-Ninety-Two Dodge Spirit pull up across the street. Inside, is Tyler Cross. Dressed in a button-up blue shirt and pair of black jeans, Tyler is taking deep breaths}

{We cut to inside the car}

TYLER: Okay Tyler, you can do this.

{He takes a deep breath}

TYLER: You took a shower...put on cologne...dressed up nice...and even bought her flowers. And tonight, when you bring her home from the movies, you tell her how you feel.

#But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo.
What the hell am I doing here?.
I don't belong here

TYLER: Now let's go.

{Tyler opens his car door and steps out}

TYLER: Just don't be scared. If you can take on people like Punisher and Onyx, in the middle of the ring...then you can take Katie Coleman out for her birthday.

{He runs over to the other side of car and opens the door. He reaches in, grabbing the dozen roses off the passenger side seat}}

#She's running out the door,
she's running,
she run, run, run, run, run.

{Tyler shuts the door and walks around to the front of car, to see a kid in a red mustand, pull up in front of the Coleman house}

TYLER: ...

{The kid in the car honks his horn and Katie opens the door}

KATIE: DAVE!!! You made it.

#Whatever makes you happy,
whatever you want.
You're so fucking special,
I wish I was special.

{Katie runs down the walkway and around the mustang. She smiles as she opens the door and jumps into the car}

#but I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo.

{As the car pulls away, Katie look back to see Tyler drop the dozen roses on the ground}

#What the hell am I doing here?

{But the mustang does not stop. It just keeps going}

{It keeps going with Katie...}

{...and with his dreams}

{A lone tear slides down Tyler's cheek}

#I don't belong here,

{But who was he kidding, anyway. He's nothing more than a half-stupid kid from Parma who never gets the girl}

#I don't belong here.

{And to himself, that's all he'll ever be}

{Fade Out}