Part One

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[Background SFX]

(SFX created by the speaker)

{Stage Direction} Applies To The Next Italiced Section

*non-spoken context*

|Throughout the montage, (pick up rock) and (put down rock) are used. They are meant to convey a specific sound of exertion from the speaker. Specifically, the upward inflection often made when initially lifting something heavy, and the quick exhale often made when releasing a heavy object.|

|To best symbolize the passage of time during the montage, it may be advisable to have a background ambiance that you can fade in and out to show that the pauses are not just lulls in dialogue, but actual skips in time.|

Training The Champion

(speaker rouses themselves)

Hey, doc. Glad to see you’re still by my side.

*small pause*

Did you know that your sleeping pill was going to give me some really weird dreams?

*listener questions*

{flustered}

Nothing! I mean… what I dreamed about isn’t important. And I didn’t dream of anybody in particular!

(speaker clears throat)

Am I ready to get out of bed, doc?

*listener comments*

Yeah, you can do whatever check-ups you’d like.

*listener begins examination*

How long has it been? You said that you could keep me unconscious for the entire recovery time, but there’s no way that one pill lasted two months.

*listener states*

You were giving me injections? Is that what this weird sheep-skin on a stick is for?

*listener denies*

The bag sent fluids and nutrients into my body while I slept? I suppose that explains why I’m not hungry. But I’ve never seen someone use a sheep’s intestine to feed someone.

*listener comments*

You invented it? Well, I suppose that’s rather impressive. Especially if it works.

*small pause*

Is your check done? I can’t wait to get some armor on. I feel kind of naked without it.

*listener disagrees*

No armor? Why not doc? I’m itching to get back in the game!

*listener states*

I don’t know what muscular atrophy is, doc. I’m going to need you to dumb it down.

*listener simplifies*

Yeah, when a gladiator retires, after a while, they get pretty weak. So what?

*listener states*

That happened to me? But I wasn’t resting doc! I was unconscious! That shouldn’t count!

*listener laments*

Come on! That’s not fair! Can’t you give me a tea wrap or a pill to just, fix it?

*listener denies*

(groan)

Alright fine. I know you’re smart enough to have thought this through before I woke up. What do we have to do to get me in fighting condition again?

*listener states*

Yeah, I’ll do whatever it takes. I trust that whatever freaky concoctions you brew and whatever weird stuff you put on me will work. Let’s just get it started.

*pause for time skip*

(deep breath)

(happy exhale)

Being back in the colosseum is great, even if I’m not in the main ring. The smell of death always gets me going!

*small pause*

So, what are we doing here, doc? I’m ready. Do I need to lay in the sun with leeches on my back? Bathe in cow manure? What do we got?

*listener states*

Lift that? The boulder? Doc, I don’t know what’s going through your head, but that’s not possible. The entire point of that boulder is to be an obstacle. It was chosen specifically to be too heavy for one person to lift.

*listener encourages*

Yeah, I can just do my best, I guess. But I want you to remember that I’m not at my peak right now. So when I fail this, I don’t want it to count for my record!

*small pause*

(speaker strains)

Can’t do it doc. Can’t even get it to budge. I hope that wasn’t the secret to fixing me, because I can’t pull that off.

*listener consoles*

Benchmark? You mean that was just a test? Why would you give me a test you knew I’d fail?

*listener assures*

Alright. If you say it’ll help, you’re the boss.

*small pause*

So, is there a real task or..?

*listener confirms*

Oh, you’ve got a list. Alright, let me see.

*small pause*

{reading}

Holding Positions: Overhead. Between the Legs. Two at a Time. Fully Extended…

*small pause*

Doc, this is just a picture about how to lift rocks. Are you sure you didn’t get your lists mixed up?

*listener confirms*

You’re the boss, doc. If you promise this’ll fix me, I’ll do it. Just seems kind of odd.

*pause*

Okay… I’m going to start now. I’m just going to pick up a rock and move it across the arena. No lions to dodge, no swords to swing, just, moving rocks.

*listener agrees*

Here I go, then!

(pick up rock)

Do I hold it above my head first, or does the order not matter?

*listener responds*
Alright. Are you sure this will be enough? This arena isn’t very big.

*listener assures*

Okay.

*pause*

(put down rock)

So, do I just get another one?

*listener confirms*

Alright.

(pick up rock)

So, about how long will I have to do this for?

*listener comments*

You’ll tell me when to stop, huh?

(put down rock)

I guess that’s fine then.

(pick up rock)

*pause for time skip*

Doc, I’ve been lifting rocks all day now. We stopped for lunch and everything. Tell me we’re close to finishing.

*listener allows*

We can be done for the day? I’m sorry, does that mean that will be continuing this tomorrow?

*listener confirms*

(groan)

Alright. I’ll take the rest I can get. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, doc.

*pause time skip*

Back again, doc! I have to say, it was a little disappointing to wake up and see that you weren’t there. But I guessed you might be setting something up for me here. Are we done lifting rocks?

*listener disagrees*

No?! But I thought-!

*small pause*

No, you’re in charge. If you say we’re lifting rocks, we’re lifting rocks.

*listener agrees*

Okay. Here we go.

(pick up rock)

*rock slips*

[rock thunks]

Woah, what was that all about? I couldn’t keep a grip!

*listener states*

You greased the rocks? Why would you do that?

*listener assures*

It’ll help? I guess I still believe you, it just seems, tedious.

*small pause*

Alright, I’ll just grip harder?

(pick up rock)

So, what exactly is greasing the rocks going to do?

*listener rants*

Mmhmm.

*pause*

Uh-huh.

*pause*

Okay, I didn’t get any of that. But you’re sure this will improve my overall strength and stuff?

(put down rock)

If you say so.

(pick up rock)

*pause for time skip*

-and so then I threw the lion’s tooth and it hit the guy right in the eye!

(put down rock)

*listener states*

That’s enough for today? Thank the gods, I half-thought you were just waiting to see if I’d give up!

*small pause*

Is there going to be more rock lifting tomorrow?

*listener confirms*

Of course. I guess I should go get some rest. Anything special I need to eat or..?

*listener denies*

Just the usual meats? Okay.

*pause for time skip*

(put down rock)

Doc, it’s been a week! You’ve greased the rocks. You’ve put gravel all over my path. You’ve made me jump, you’ve made me walk with my armor on, and every day we don’t seem to get any closer to actual fights. Please tell me this is going somewhere!

*listener assures*

Yeah, you keep saying that, but I still don’t have a timeline here. Can you tell me when I’ll be done? Maybe a rough number of rocks I’ll have to lift?

*listener denies*

Soon. That’s all you got?

*listener begins*

No, I don’t want to hear whatever science spiel you’re thinking about. I guess I can tough it through this a while longer.

(pick up rock)

I don’t suppose you have a story to pass the time with?

*listener questions*

Well, I’ve been telling tales of my grand fights all week. Honestly, I’m worried you’re going to get bored of them.

*listener assures*

Alright.

(put down rock)

(exhale)

(pick up rock)

So this one time, I was fighting two swordmasters at once.

{speech fades to silence}

They were twins, and supposedly, they had some telepathy stuff going on. Really, I just think they were weird.

*pause for time skip*

(put down rock)

Doc, I’m done! It’s been three weeks, and all you’ve had me do is pick up rocks! I don’t care what kind of theories or evidence you have to back this. We’re going nowhere! If you can’t get me something better than rock-lifting, then maybe you shouldn’t be the person overseeing my recovery!

*listener speaks*

No! Nothing has changed! I like you a lot, and you’ve been right before, but it’s time to admit that this isn’t working! You were wrong!

*listener offers*

What? Doc, you’re talking crazy. I know that you don’t want to admit to failure, but I haven’t gotten any better. I definitely haven’t gotten better than I was before the atrophy. There’s no way I can lift the boulder.

*listener pressures*

I’m not going to throw out my back to prove a point. I can’t lift the boulder! Simple as that.

*listener continues*

What do you think is going to happen? Will lifting the small rocks have given me some affinity over bigger ones? That sounds like a fairy tale doc! That’s not real!

*listener insists*

Fine! I’ll do it on a condition. I’ll try my hardest, and when I can’t lift it, you find a normal coach to fix me. No more lifting rocks. Deal?

*listener agrees*

Alright then.

*small pause*

(sounds of exertion)

Yeah, yeah, lift with my legs.

(sounds of exertion)

(primal yell)

[boulder thunks]

(heavy breathing)

Wow, I… I actually rolled it over. That’s…

*small pause*

Did you drug me, doc? Because this shouldn’t have been possible.

*listener comments*

No, I’m sure. This rock is solid granite, and it’s as big as me!

*small pause*

Are you secretly a devil or something? I promise I won’t accuse you of heretical action if you tell me.

*listener assures*

Really? All this exercise was some regiment you invented? Well, I guess I can’t argue with the results.

*small pause*

Hey, I’m sorry for doubting you. You’d think if I trust you with my life, I could trust you with three weeks of my time. Can you forgive me?

*listener forgives*

Thanks.

*small pause*

I don’t suppose that between the heartfelt moment, and that huge display of strength, that we can just be done lifting rocks?

*listener teases*

Done for today? Alright, I guess I probably deserve that. See you bright and early tomorrow, doc.