FINDING THE WORDS
The camera leads Nova as he walks down one of the building’s corridors, clad in his starry sky / lightning storm tights and full wrestling gear. He stops an arena worker as they pass him.
Nova: Excuse me, do you know where they set up Lindsay Troy’s office tonight?
The worker speaks softly and points their arm out straight before bending their wrist into a curved shape.
Nova: (nodding) Thanks.
The camera continues to lead the Risen Star as he continues down the hallway. A few of PRIME’s own staffers call to him as he passes by, and he acknowledges them with a warm smile before turning left and starting down another corridor as the camera shifts to follow him.
He stops next to a door where a paper name card that reads “PRIME CEO – LINDSAY TROY” has been slid behind a plastic placard on the wall to the left of the door jamb.
He takes a deep breath.
Nova: (to himself) Lindz…I think it’s time for me…
He pauses, rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
Nova: No…*ahem*…Lindz, I really appreciate everything you’ve…aw, fuck…
He closes his eyes, takes another breath, and reaches for the door.
Nova: Fuck it, this is stupid, I’m just gon-
Nova’s head is driven forward into the concrete wall and the wet THUNK! of his nose breaking on impact is amplified in the otherwise quiet hallway.
His head slides down the wall, leaving a wide bloody smear like a comet’s tail as he collapses to the floor. A hand grips his left shoulder and flips him around.
Nova opens his eyes to see Paxton Ray raise a chain-wrapped fist.
The Lafayette Bruiser brings his fist down onto the Risen Star’s face, blood spattering the wall behind his head.
Ray lands another blow.
Then another.
Ray swings a fourth time and one of Nova’s gloved hands catches his chain-wrapped fist. Nova’s eyes open, blood seeping through his clenched teeth, his hand trembling as he tries to push Ray’s arm back…
…then Ray drives his left knee into Nova’s jaw, smashing his head back against the wall.
Clink-clink-clink
A tooth skips down the corridor.
Paxton Ray: Woooo! Man, that was fun.
Nova slumps over to the floor. Ray lowers to rest on his haunches and grabs a handful of Nova’s beard, pulling his head up and leaning in.
Paxton Ray: I hate this place. I fuckin’ hate this place. If I could I’d burn it to the ground.
Ray grabs a handful of Nova’s hair and presses his forehead against Nova’s own, the Risen Star’s blood smearing across the Bayou Butcher’s face.
Paxton Ray: But what good is burnin’ down the temple, if ya don’t destroy the idols first?
Ray releases his grip and Nova slides lifelessly back to the floor. Ray climbs to his feet and stares down the hallway at two young staffers, their mouths hanging open, frozen in horror at the scene that’s unfolded.
Paxton Ray: You can go for help now.
They turn and sprint in the opposite direction. Ray steps over Nova’s legs and faces the door to Troy’s office. He pounds his blood-soaked chain-fist against the door three times.
Paxton Ray: SPECIAL DELIVERY!!!
With that, the Bayou Butcher turns and stomps off down the corridor towards the Argyle Position. Foster Nackedy walks into the scene, sees the carnage, and walks over to Nova.
Foster Nackedy: I’m sure this will go over well.
He begins to check on him, then sees Lindsay Troy’s door open and stands up quickly.
Foster Nackedy: And I’m not going to be around for it.
He quickly walks off camera as we fade to a commercial.