JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I WAS OUT, THEY PULL ME BACK IN
In the office of PRIME’s President and CEO, Nova and Sonny Silver sit in high-backed chairs across the desk from the “Queen of the Ring” Lindsay Troy.
Troy runs a hand through her unmistakable mop of curls as she carefully examines a document, shaking her head.
Lindsay Troy: I mean…
Her brown eyes dart up to Silver.
Lindsay Troy: …do you have any idea how much it costs to destroy an entire elevator shaft at a five-star resort?
Sonny Silver: Trick question. You know I don’t think before I act.
Lindsay Troy: Good. Glad I didn’t waste my time by itemizing this invoice.
She slides paperwork across the table to Silver, who snatches it up and begins reviewing.
Sonny Silver: (eyes widening) Goddamn.
Lindsay Troy: Yeah. Yeah, bud.
The Former Chairman of PRIME shakes out of his momentary financial fog and looks over to the Risen Star with a wink, slapping Nova’s thigh.
Sonny Silver: What can I say, if it sharpened the knives at all for our boy here, I think we can all agree, money well-spent, amirite?
Troy’s face transitions from crimson to violet.
Lindsay Troy: Sonny, this isn’t DEFIANCE…Butch Vic can’t pick up the tab here.
Sonny Silver: Why the hell not?
Lindsay rolls her eyes.
Lindsay Troy: If you think for a minute our insurance carrier is covering a fuc-
Nova interrupts by raising his finger and staring cautiously between his friends.
Nova: Also, I could’ve been seriously injured or killed.
After a moment of awkward silence, Nova shrugs and lights a cigarette. Troy immediately takes it from him and snuffs it out against the side of her desk, laying the butt next to her trash can.
Lindsay Troy: Look, I brought you both here because we need to talk about the match at Colossus.
Sonny Silver: What’s there to talk about? Professor Emeritus of the Yester-Club here needs to start putting some shine on our name or he gets booted out of the club courtesy of yours truly.
Silver folds his arms over his chest.
Sonny Silver: ‘Nuff said.
Nova: It does feel like I should’ve bargained for something if I win…I dunno, like a really nice couch or something.
He lights another cigarette.
Nova: Just feels like a lost opportunity.
Troy immediately takes the cigarette from him, snuffs it out against the side of her desk, and lays the butt next to her trash can.
Lindsay Troy: Well…one of you gets a new lease on life and one of you needs a new game plan. Nova’s not getting kicked out of the Hall of Fame, no matter what.
Silver throws his arms up in frustration.
Sonny Silver: What?!
Lindsay Troy: It doesn’t work that way and you know it, Fuckhead. And you know we’d all take the same position if it were your spot on the line. You don’t do what it takes to be recognized as a pillar of this place and then litigate the value of that over a three-count. Get real.
Nova lights another cigarette and smirks at Silver.
Nova: (taking a drag) Yeah, get real, Sonny.
Troy immediately takes the cigarette from him, snuffs it out against the side of her desk, and lays the butt next to her trash can.
Lindsay Troy: That being said, you both ought’a have some skin in the game for this – it being the return of our own flagship event and all – so yes, there are going to be stakes.
The Queen turns to Nova.
Lindsay Troy: Caes…you know I love you, and I’m happy for your newfound freedom, but I also slept a little better at night knowing someone had eyes on you. Wade isn’t an option anymore, so if you win the match at Colossus, Sonny will be your personal assistant through the travel schedule leading up to Culture Shock.
Nova thrusts a fist in the air, pausing a-la-Judd Nelson from the Breakfast Club, and Silver throws his hands up in dismay.
Troy turns to Silver, motioning for Nova to temper his odd celebratory gesture.
Lindsay Troy: Sonny, your wrestling academy means everything to you. I know that, and I’m proud of you for it. I sent my son to train under you, after all. And this guy…
She cranes her neck towards Nova, who shrugs in confusion and lights another cigarette.
Lindsay Troy: …he may have been away from the mechanics of the game for a minute.
She takes the cigarette from Nova, snuffs it out against the side of her desk, and lays the butt next to her trash can.
Lindsay Troy: So if you win (pointing to Silver), Nova has to apply to your wrestling academy and successfully complete it before we get to Culture Shock.
The Former Chairman of PRIME leans back in his chair, nodding with satisfaction and stroking his beard. Nova gawks at Troy in a panic.
Nova: I hate school! Is it too late to go back to jail?!
Lindsay Troy: You’ll figure it out.
She turns away to grab her phone.
Lindsay Troy: You can both go now.
Nova and Sonny look at each other as the scene fades to black before transition.