APPLE OF MY EYE

As the camera catches up backstage the familiar voice of PRIME’s senior referee, Timo Bolamba, can be heard jovially conversing with the rest of the officiants. He walks toward a door clearly marked with his name and pushes it open absentmindedly while complimenting his team. 

Timo Bolamba: Ashley, your counts are crisp and precise. I also think we should take a moment to acknowledge that Elvis has worked a lot on his timing and technique for the slide on the cover. Great job all around. If you can come with me to my office we can review last week’s main…

The Samoan Silencer stops dead in his tracks as he opens the door and sees Eddie Cross slumped against a filing cabinet. His GG shirt is torn and barely hanging by the collar. Blood streaks down the front, clearly from gouges to his forehead. His neck is already showing signs of bruising where he has been constricted to the point of unconsciousness. 

Timo rushes forward and kneels next to his son. He tears a piece of the olive drab shirt and wipes some of the blood from his face. The Samoan turns around to his team and without saying a word, Jimmy Turnbull rushes off down the hall to look for help. 

Timo Bolamba: Atali’i… What have I done?

Ashley Barlow steps into the room and places a hand on Timo’s shoulder. He looks up and streaks run down his painted face.

Ashley Barlow: We’ll get the medics to take care of him. You have to get out there for the next match.   

Timo holds his son’s hand and says something in Samoan to him. He stands up and his broad frame towers over Ashley. The Samoan nods to her, then to Elvis Nixon, and he walks out of the room without a word to head to the ring for the next match. 

As he leaves, Jimmy Turnbull rushes in with several medics and they set to work while the officiating team looks on in concern for Eddie. 

We then return to the ringside area for our next match.