Finn is sat in a darkened room, it’s reminiscent of a basement or attic room. Headphones on, listening to Five Finger Death Punch, he rocks back and forth on his chair, eyes closed. With no sound escaping, and none being allowed in, only his other senses will react to changes in his surroundings. With a sudden intake of breath he sits up still, something has changed. In the darkness there is movement and shuffling footsteps. Finn removes his headphones and stands up. He lives alone after all, has someone stumbled across his place of meditation during a daring daylight robbery? Surely not. Suddenly the light flicks on.
Finn: You son of a bitch.
Finn approaches the man stood in the doorway at blistering pace and powerfully embraces him. The two share a laugh and it’s clear they can hardly believe they’re looking at one another.
Finn: You don’t change, just walked straight in huh?
Man: Dude your door is wide open, I know you’re like a freaking bat, and I HAD to see you! What’s a guy to do?
Finn: Er, I don’ t know, knock?
Man: Screw formalities man, you got a beer lying round?
Finn stops and just smiles, shaking his head at the familiarity. He nods towards the corner of the room where a fridge stands. The man heads on over before taking a seat on top of it.
Finn: Cody, it’s been 5 years. Why are you here?
Cody: No way man, I’ve got questions for you. See, I tried calling, I text you, I even wrote to you man and I’m bordering on illiterate. You went awol, off the face of the earth, and now all this time later I find you here living in this shit hole. I need to know, what are you doing?
Finn looks at Cody before smirking and returning to his chair.
Finn: You first.
Cody: You’ll never change will you? Fine. I lost it all man. My home, my job, my car man.
Finn: No! The Impala?
Cody: Yeah man. The worst thing though, I lost…I lost Sarah.
Finn: No way...
Silence comes across the two men. Finn was Sarah’s godfather and guardian alongside Cody, her father, for years.
Cody: I miss her so much…every single day…but that’s why I’m here. I need somewhere to stay, to hang whilst I clear my name and get my life back on track –
Finn interjects.
Finn: Clear your name? What are you bringing to my door, bro?
Cody runs his hands through his hair and exhales. He shakes his head and composes himself before speaking.
Cody: Drugs.
Finn: Dude…
Cody: No not me, not me as such. Wrong place, wrong time carrying some stuff for a friend of mine. You know I’ve never touched the stuff. Worst decision I’ve ever made.
Silence fills the room, as if someone had flicked the switch on even ambient sounds. The men look at anything but each other before Finn breaks the silence.
Finn: Look, I’m still fighting…well, some fighting anyway, I’ve actually signed a professional wrestling contract…
Cody: A what? You’re going to be one of those oiled up dudes in tight pants throwing each other around? Not cool man.
Finn: A definition of cool from you given what you just told me? All I’m saying is, I’ve got the space, I’ve got a bit of money. You can crash here.
Cody stands up and the two men embrace again. Cody smirks as he steps away from Finn.
Cody: Thanks man. So, when can I see you “wrasslin’�
Finn: How does this weekend sound? I’ll be jerking the curtain with another newbie who’s just signed up. He calls himself…
Finn pulls out a piece of paper with the running order of matches on it.
Finn: Synyster Gates or something. He looks like Edward Scissorhands…
Cody: Haha I’ll look forward to it, bro. In the meantime, can I throw my stuff anywhere? Then we need to hit a bar.
Finn: Good call, you can fill me in on your master plan to sort your life out.
Cody: Hey, less of that, it’s all in hand. Anyway, don’t suppose you need a trainer for this wrestling nonsense you’re involved in now do ya?
The two men smile as they head out of the room.