[The Gallery.]
[Jasper Redgrave stands atop a balcony, overlooking this level of Arcadia.]
“I’ve been thinking a lot lately. Just what does it take to be King?”
[As he surveys the land below, Jasper takes a deep inhale of the air surrounding him.]
“In a place as vicious and vile as OSW, such a role isn’t for the feint of heart.”
“In such a role, there is no such thing as sunshine. There’s no such thing as a brighter day in Old School Wrestling.”
“There’s no room for smiling faces amongst all of the despair.”
[Jasper reaches a hand out, pointing to some commotion down below.]
“Problems are inevitable.”
“Arcadia is full of nothing but snakes with bad intentions. Each man looking to overcome the next at all cost.”
“Situations are bound to occur. Such predicaments that you can’t simply just bury.”
“Someone who simply follows the orders of their superiors could never find the courage to make the calls needed to keep this Kingdom in order.”
[Jasper turns towards us.]
“There’s no one next to you to rely on.”
“No one to help you call the shots.”
“No one there to have your back when the wolves come prowling.”
[Redgrave clasps his hands behind his back as he walks back inside The Gallery.]
“Mr. Sunshine’s heart is too pure. He always wants to see the sunny side of any situation. He paints the façade of greener pastures on the other side, but that’s never the case in OSW.”
“Gravedigger’s heart is destined to follow. He’s not capable of making his own decisions. Gravedigger has and always be nothing more than Tombstone’s right hand. He will always just do whatever he’s told.”
“Felix’s heart is reliant. He will always look towards the security blanket that he calls his best friend. Because when his back is against the wall, Foley is fragile and weak.”
[Jasper’s voice turns stone as he walks along a long red carpet.]
“But I am the heart of Arcadia.”
“I am everything that represents Arcadia.”
“I am the violence. I am the vile snake that will end another man’s life if it means the betterment of my own.”
“I’ve been racking my brain trying to answer the question of what it takes to be King, when I was the answer all along.”
“At Ring King, I will finish my masterpiece.”
“One final challenge stands in between me and my throne.”
“A challenge that I’m all too ready to face.”
“Felix, Gravedigger, Sunshine.. you’ve each put up a hell of a fight to get this far..”
“But your journey ends here.”
[Jasper stops at the end of the red carpet where he finds a high backed throne. With a smile on his face, Redgrave turns to us.]
“I will prevail.”
“The heart of Arcadia will belong to me.”
“And the three of you will be forced to kneel before a new King.”
[His laugh echoes throughout the open room as he confidently takes a seat atop his throne.]
“Because only I have a heart fit of being King.”
“Now, bring me my crown.”
[Fade.]