Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

(Our scene begins at the lovely home of Teddy Mac, as all of his household has converged in the dining room area. The usual plain and mess hall-esque appearance of the space is quickly being fixed up thanks to Teddy’s wife, Nicole. The table has been covered in a beautiful floral cloth, the previous drab window curtains are now brand new, the most spotless plates possible have been laid out and the food has been plated to a level that would make any restaurateur proud. Teddy is in his seat, sporting a nice dress shirt and cargo pants while doing funny faces to his daughters, Leslie and Lana. Nicole is running around the room, doing every last minute adjustment possible, including making sure the two girls don’t mess up their new dresses.)

Nicole: No fingers in mouths, girls! Be sanitary! And Teddy, your hair!

Teddy Mac: What’s wrong with it? Jeez, you’re acting like The Pope is about to visit!

Nicole: We don’t get very few guests coming to this place and the reason is because you and the girls always have our house looking like a warzone! Crayon markings on the wall, food being thrown, you walking around in the same stained shirts --

Teddy Mac: They’re lazy clothes!

Nicole: You wear them almost 24/7!

Teddy Mac: When I’m away from the ring I like to be relaxed!

Nicole: Can you try looking like a human being at the same time? GAH, LESLIE! DON’T TOUCH THE POTATOES YET!

(Nicole rushes over to Leslie, knocking the spoon out of her hand and wiping her mouth due as she spilled some of the food onto herself.)

Teddy Mac: The girl’s hungry, let her eat!

Nicole: She needs to wait until Daddy’s friend arrives! What will he think when he shows up and we’re already eating? That’s RUDE!

Teddy Mac: I doubt he’ll care!

(Everyone freezes up and quiets down as a knock is heard at the door.)

Teddy Mac: Matter of fact, there he is now!

Nicole: OH!

(Nicole sits down in between Leslie and Lana, straightening up her dress before holding both their hands to keep them in place.)

Nicole: Leslie! Lana! Be on your best behavior! Get the door, Teddy!

Teddy Mac: Don’t you want to be the one to welcome him? I thought you were being a lovely hostess after all? Maybe you want to take his jacket and show him where to put his shoes too.

Nicole: TED!

Teddy Mac: Alright, alright, I’m up!

(Teddy Mac chuckles at his own sarcastic remarks as he shuffles over to the door. He opens it up and smiles! Standing in front of him is Jungle Jaguar, in a jet black wrestling tee, simple jeans and black cowboy boots; very casual wear in contrast to the extravagant Jaguar mask which is staring Ted in the face. Teddy Mac welcomes him into the home and pats him on the back.)

Jungle Jaguar: I am late...apologies.

Teddy Mac: You’re just in time. Come on in man, welcome to my humble abode! And in case you’re wondering, we just totally wear Church clothes to eat every day! Cus you know….we like to be extra fancy and uncomfortable while eating sloppy joes!

Nicole: (murmurs) shut it, ted…...Hiya! Ted baby, show us your new friend!

Teddy Mac: Gotchya! Nicole, girls…..this is my latest tag partner, Jungle Jaguar!

Leslie: He’s a tiger?

(Jaguar turns his head slightly to regard Leslie. And puts his hands on his hips.)

Nicole: Jaguar, sweetie.

Jungle Jaguar: They’re both in the big cat family.

Nicole: Jaguar’s are a little smaller.

Leslie: Why isn’t he a tiger then?

Lana: Where’s Nobi?

Teddy Mac: He is JUNGLE JAGUAR because Jaguars are really awesome just like he is, and him and I are going to be just as good as the team with Nobi. Ok?

Nicole: Absolutely! Be respectful, girls! Mr. Jaguar, please have a seat! Join us!

Jungle Jaguar: Sure thing.

(Jungle Jaguar sits down, standing out from the rest due to his large muscular frame. He looks around at the table, nodding.)

Jungle Jaguar: This all looks lovely!

Nicole: When Teddy told us you agreed to come I put on the apron and went to work! I wanted to serve up the best!

Teddy Mac: Win a world title and we order pizza….I bring a tag partner and she rolls out the prime rib….

Jungle Jaguar: It really is great! I’m honored!

Lana: How is he going to eat with the mask?

Leslie: That’s not a mask, he really is a tiger, Lana!

Teddy Mac: He’s a Jaguar!

Nicole: That’s enough! Let’s stop talking about his mask or what type of animal he is and instead let’s talk about what he’s up to. How are YOU, Mr. Jaguar?

(Just then, Jaguar slowly undoes the strings holding that ostentatious jaguar’s head up, and pulls it off to reveal a smaller, more form-fitting mask. Still jaguar themed, but with an open mouth which will probably help with the eating of prime rib. His eyes hidden behind black mesh netting, he gives a slight smile as he regards Nicole.)

Jungle Jaguar: In a home this beautiful, in front of a meal like this? How could I not be having a wonderful day? You’ve really made me feel welcome here, and I truly appreciate it.

(With that said, he starts eating. And shows impeccable table manners as he does so.)

Nicole: How polite. You know, you guys could learn a thing or two from him!

Teddy Mac: I am learning from him! I might not know things like which hand to pick up a fork with, or which things to say at the dinner table, but since the two of us have become a team I’ve been picking his brain and learning a heck of a lot about what to do in that ring!

Lana: Like what?

Teddy Mac: Tenacity. Endurance. I’m not a gym rat like Jag over here, but he’s been whipping me into shape! Wrestleworld got tons of strong competitors, absolute TITANS in that squared circle, and your ol’ dad has heart but he still feels a bit lost at times. Standing shoulder to shoulder, side by side with Jaguar, I feel like I can take on anything. You saw us in the ring with the Red Zone District the other week! The tag team champions of Wrestleworld, the best team there is -- and we gave those boys a run for their money! I’m sure your friends probably thought they’d manhandle us in that ring due to being a new team and all but everything came natural. We were ready for everything. Move for move, blow for blow, we battled it out with the champs and gave the fans a CLASSIC match!

Nicole: You two did phenomenal. Isn’t that right, girls?

Lana: You guys looked cool!

Leslie: I liked the match. It would’ve been better if you won.

Nicole: LESLIE! They tried their best.

(Jaguar continues to eat, though absent mindedly begins to flex and unflex his right hand into a fist when not using it to eat. It doesn’t seem to be noticed by anyone else at the table.)

Teddy Mac: She’s right. It would have been great to bring home a win. Not everything goes as planned. But everything does happen for a reason. We got a taste of what it’s like to go toe to toe with the elite; we know what it’s like. Now it’s time to prepare for the big dance. We’re going to work our way up to facing them again, and this time we’re going to beat them for the gold. Neither one of us are the type to give up, and we darn sure don’t like leaving a job undone. The Red Zone District are probably at some interview right now bragging about beating us….probably throwing in a few pudgy jokes while they’re at it too. Jerks. But while they are throwing their barbs and allow themselves to get lazy thinking they’re this invincible tandem, we’re taking no breaks. We’re staying humble. Staying hungry. We’re doing everything we can to improve. We’re going to reach the standard they set against us at Chapter 16. Then we’re going to surpass it and leave them in the dust. Your old man promised to be a winner to make you kids proud, and he’s still going to be one. Don’t be disappointed because they pulled a fast one over us that night. Be happy knowing that every time you wake up in the morning, you’re one day closer to seeing Dad and Jag getting an epic victory as payback. Remember movie night, when we were watching those Superman cartoons you love so much? Remember when Doom hurt Superman and thought he made him go away for good?

Leslie: Yeah! He thought he was gonna take over the whole city!

Teddy Mac: ….Then Superman came back and was even more killer than before. He beat the unbeatable and sent him packing. That’s what we’re preparing for, little ladies. RDZ isn’t going to be ruling the tag division with an iron fist. There’s enough tyranny in Wrestleworld as is with the Underworld. Now you got RDZ and Drake and Jones fighting over who is the most arrogant team in wrestling. All the drama, all the circus show antics, it’s no good. We’re going to bring peace and honor to tag wrestling. That setback isn’t a sign to lose hope. This isn’t Nerdy Ted working at the computer desk. This is the man you can look at and know who will always come through. Even here, eating dinner, work is being done to get better. We’re building team synergy. Jag is becoming a part of the family, and he’ll be celebrating with us again when we get those straps.

Nicole: Hopefully that celebration is real soon.

Teddy Mac: It will. Us getting up the ranks of the tag division, our superhero comeback, starts next week on DOMINION. We’re ready to crush buildings, aren’t we Jag?

(This whole time, Jaguar has been eating in silence, presumably looking off into the distance or perhaps keeping his eye on everyone at the table, with his eyes covered it’s hard to tell. Eventually the big man leans back in his seat, enough for the chair to creak in noisy complaint while Teddy reassures his family.)

Jungle Jaguar: …

Teddy Mac: …

Jungle Jaguar: …

Teddy Mac: … ...Well, I do-

Jungle Jaguar: That’s the first time I’ve ever lost a match.

(Jaguar pauses for a moment, chewing his foot, before wiping his mouth with a napkin and placing it down to focus on the conversation at hand.)

Jungle Jaguar: Our first appearance on the main show, and what happens? A couple of idiots show up making a lot of meaningless noise, and I focus on them instead of the champions in the ring. Now we’re back on DOMINION, in a seemingly random match. What we’re going to do, is we’re going to tear our opponents apart, limb from blood-

(Jaguar stops speaking when noticing the concerned face of Nicole, and the very interested faces of Leslie and Lana. Jaguar looks down a moment, looks back up at his tag team partner, and rephrases his statement.)

Jungle Jaguar: We are going to bring unto them the full fury of men who have been wronged. We are going to show DOMINION, Wrestle World, the champions and anyone else stepping into this division that we not to be taken lightly, and that we are the rightful heirs to Campeonatos de Parejas. With luck, dedication and an intelligent application of just the right amount of violence, we’ll be placed in the ring with Drake and Tiberius, but that is later.

(Jaguar looks away a bit to contemplate, then returns his focus to Teddy.)

Jungle Jaguar: Today, right now, we have an eclectic group of competitors to worry about. What do you know about them, Teddy Mac?

Teddy Mac: Not much in all honesty. I know Rihannon Hartwell has been here a little bit before us and hasn’t found much in the way of success. She’s a wildcard though and she’s fighting for a purpose. She’s been very tight lipped about the details, but she did say she’s fighting for her mother.

Jungle Jaguar: A noble cause.

Teddy Mac: Any type of motivation like that is going to make someone a dangerous competitor. I’m in this business because of what I want to do for my family so I can relate to feeling like you have to do whatever it takes to get a victory. Win/loss record aside I know she has the potential to give us a hard time, so I’m going in expecting her to be a tough egg to crack. You don’t earn a nickname like “Crazy Redhead” for nothing.

Jungle Jaguar: Indeed.

Teddy Mac: ...But you can buy the reputation of being “Savior of Wrestling” if you’re our buddy Mark Frenzy. Her partner is another one of those “I’m rich so I’m better than you” types. A kid born with a silver spoon in his mouth who was handpicked to be at the top and believes he can look down on others, not knowing those who started at the bottom are the ones working their way up to replace him. I’ve dealt with so many dudes like him before back in the office, and you know what happened to them after they spent all their time disrespecting me and hanging in their echo chambers thinking they were hot stuff?

(Teddy Mac stabs his fork into his steak. Jaguar has been adjusting his expensive looking wristwatch during this time and doesn’t seem to be meeting Teddy’s gaze. Though again, who can tell.)

Teddy Mac: Me, the lowly worker bee, got out of there and put all of their accomplishments to shame. I definitely have a bone to pick with that guy just based on his attitude. Rihannon can give us an issue or two, sure, but Mark is just gonna be giving me an opportunity to live out my lifelong fantasy of beating up one of those snobby suits. I don’t fear guys like him anymore, and I’ll never let myself fall to ‘em.

Jungle Jaguar: I’m not sure if anyone ‘lets’ themselves fall to anyone else, but I agree with the sentiment.

(After a few more minutes of eating, the masked man starts excusing himself while putting his mask back on his already masked face. It’s a wonder he doesn’t pass out from heat stroke.)

Jungle Jaguar: This has been a beautiful time, thank you for inviting me.

(With that, the Luchador gets up and prepares to leave.)

Nicole: Already? No dessert?

Teddy Mac: How much food does he get!?

Jungle Jaguar: No, really, I should go. I don’t want to wear out my welcome.

Nicole: I doubt that’s possible. You’re welcome here anytime. Teddy picked a fantastic partner.

Teddy Mac: I sure did. This partnership is going to take us to places I never thought possible. I feel it in my bones. I’ve been in many situations that I knew were going to change things for me. Quitting my job. Getting wrestling training. My OWT deal. My mainstream TV debut. Shaking Jag’s hand and forming our team is up there with all of that, and I know it’s gonna be an even bigger upswing in good fortune. It’s been a great night and it’s a shame it’s coming to an end. Jag, I’ll walk you to the door.

(Teddy and Jag walk to the front of the home. Teddy opens the door as the two face one last time for a handshake.)

Jungle Jaguar: Again, I appreciate the hospitality.

Teddy Mac: Not a problem at all, friend. Get some rest, I know you plan on working like crazy to prepare for the match and I plan on doing the same.

Jungle Jaguar: You bet, I know it’s pretty...busy in your home so hopefully you can keep focus.

Teddy Mac: I will. See you at DOMINION, partner.

Leslie: Cya, Tiger!

Jungle Jaguar: (snaps his fingers and points dangerously) I am NOT --

(Teddy Mac closes the door, and with that the scene fades out.)