SAFE
The camera cuts from the ring to backstage, where Angelica Brooks is standing by with The Anglo Luchador, uncharacteristically dressed in a three piece suit with a tie that has silhouettes of lucha masks on it.
Angelica Brooks: So I’m here with The Anglo Luchador, and you’ve been at the center of a lot of questions.
TAL: And I’m going to answer all of them, Angie. No more secrecy.
Angelica Brooks: Okay, so, what was Tropical Turmoil all about? Running out like that? Why is Paxton Ray out for blood?
The Luchador sighs and collects himself.
TAL: It’s because ever since November of last year, I’ve been helping to protect Melissa and Nora, Paxton’s estranged wife and his daughter, from him.
The Capital One Arena collectively gasps.
Nick Stuart: Holy…
Richard Parker: …Hoyt.
TAL: A few nights before we took them in, my wife and I met with Shweta Kallemullah. She asked us, and I answered right away. Yes. Yes. Nora means a lot to me, and if it meant putting my own body on the line to protect her, to protect her mother, I absolutely had no choice. I had to say yes.
Angelica Brooks: Wow, well, why did you run then? Were you scared?
The Luchador deeply exhales.
TAL: Not for me. If it were up to me, I would have fought Paxton, in barbed wire again, with exploding landmines, to the death. But it wasn’t about me. It was never about me, Ange. The fact that Paxton knew, that Foster knew, it meant they were in danger. They’d found out. And I don’t know what kind of resources they had working for them, fuck. Just, I heard rumors, right? We all did. Whispers. And you know with Desade in the wind, there’s only one evil bullshit thing with tentacles everywhere. Even if it was only a sliver of a chance that they were involved or someone was or whatever, I couldn’t risk it.
Angelica Brooks: Are they safe now? Are you still involved in hiding them?
TAL: That I can’t answer, Ange. You know why. Just…
He unbuttons the top of his shirt and loosens his tie.
TAL: They’re safe now. That’s always been priority number one. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some business to attend to.
Angelica Brooks: Alright, Tom, thanks again.
TAL: Anytime.
As the luchador walks off, he walks into a man wearing a tan and green uniform with a patch that says UPS on it.
Delivery Driver: Apologies, Mr. Battaglia, I have a delivery for you.
The Anglo Luchador looks confused as he’s handed a long rectangular box, completely black. The driver then holds his electronic signing device and TAL reluctantly signs it.
Delivery Driver: Thanks, have a good one.
As the driver walks away, TAL looks at the box, and slowly pulls the lid off of it. As he does, a long-stemmed yellow rose, the petals as lush as anything he’s ever seen before, is revealed. He holds it for a moment and looks at it, rather confusedly.
TAL: Who sent me this?
As he looks at the box though, there is no mailing information on it. All it says is “FOR TOM BATTAGLIA”. He looks up, but no longer sees the delivery driver.
TAL: Weird.
He then holds onto the flower and the box as he walks off screen as we cut to a pre-taped vignette.