Wisdom is sitting on her balcony, wearing a thick black robe, it’s cold and rainy along the coast. She is laying on lounger gazing at the sea, a half-eaten sandwich on the stand next to her. There is a sudden wrap on the glass balcony door and Butch Parker peeks his head round, catching Wisdom's attention. Wisdom manages a gentle smile at him.
(Wisdom): Of course. I was just sitting out here.
Butch smirks subtly, walking out onto the patio, decked out in a pair of 3/4 length shorts and a white and black Venum fightwear t-shirt. He walks over to where Wisdom is sitting and .places his hands on her shoulders, running them down the nape of his her neck. Her eyes close, feeling the ridges of his masculine hand, her head leaning ever so slightly in its direction. She begins to get teary and turns her head trying for him not to notice.
(Wisdom): So you finish your workout?
(Butch): My heart wasn't really in it. Are you okay? What are you doing out here it’s freezing cold.
(Wisdom): I'm...I'm okay...just thinking about things. So much has happened this year I'm just torn inside...a little conflicted. Don't worry I'll deal with.
Butch breathes out heavily through his nose, playing with Wisdom's hair, his fingers massaging her scalp.
(Butch): My head's still in pieces as well sweetheart. It's going to take a lot to forget about what's happened. But we'll get through it together, baby.
(Wisdom): I should have listened to you. I should have trusted you. I was just so eager for you to tell me what was going on and you didn't...I couldn't stand it. Seeing you with Senester and "her" drove me insane. I had to fight you. I had to fight you to get my answers, and you did.
Wisdom turns to him, tears in her eyes and her hand on his cheek.
(Wisdom): When I left that ring a few weeks ago gagging and in agony I knew that you loved me. You wouldn't have hurt me if you hadn't, I wouldn't have even mattered. I came home and I felt some relief until the guilt kicked in.
(Butch): It doesn’t matter anymore sweetie. I couldn't say a thing but I wanted to, really I did. Senester kept saying there were no chains on me, but I knew deep down if I did say anything, the whole thing would of went up in smoke....it doesn't matter anymore anyway, Diana isn't going to talk to me again.
(Wisdom): It does matter Butch...all of it matters. This isn’t going to go away, this whole experience. It's like we've been branded for life. What you did was so amazing to save her. You sacrificed your career, your freedom, our relationship, everything to save Diana's life. It damn near destroyed me. You gave me nothing, not a clue, a hint, a sliver of hope that you were still with me. I know now that you couldn't but at the time it made no sense at all to me why you deliberately did things you knew would push me away, even separate us permanently. You gave no sign at all that you knew how I was feeling. Now we have to live with the consequences. Diana and her reaction, and you're going to be a father Butch, a dad. You fuked another woman and she's having your child....I can't even tell you how that makes me feel. I'm so torn.
Butch chokes back a cough, swamping his face with his hands.
(Butch): I...this is fuking killing me...I don't know what to say...and for the record...I didn't willingly sleep with "her", I didn't even enjoy it. Every moment I spent in those towers was a nightmare. They changed me...I became a different man; like I was taking on a bit of Senester's personality...
(Wisdom): Can I ask you something, and I want you to be completely honest with me?
Butch comes around, and stoops down in front of Wisdom so that they are eye-level.
(Butch): Of course.
(Wisdom): Did you enjoy it? The power, the influence. It seemed that you enjoyed it all. No one back-talked you, there was a new level of respect for you, people got of your way when you walked by. When someone said or did something you put them in their place. You made sure that they felt your superiority in and out of the ring. That's what he does to people, we've seen Senester work before. You say you were a different person, but really, truly...can you say you didn't enjoy it?
(Butch): In all honesty...there were times where I did, and times where I felt like leaning over the guardrail and puking up in the front row. Vanessa's leg was blind rage; I couldn't stand my name being slandered when I knew what was really going on...
(Wisdom): Those few incidents we saw on TV weren’t all there was to this story where they? You were with him nearly a year Butch. He made you do far worse things than the few things we saw didn't he? Do you want to talk about them?
Butch exhales heavily, staring out into the California horizon, his hands gripping the balcony and he hangs his head low.
(Butch): I still get nightmares. Flashbacks, all at once, like some hellish slideshow; it's like someone's poured a litre of acid into my brain.
He keeps his back facing Wisdom.
(Butch): I've done some horrible, horrible things, some things you wouldn't even want to imagine....And I don't know what to do with myself now...I will never forgive myself for the things I've done but as long as Diana's alive and Jake and Sarah have a mother to watch them grow up, I know it was worth it...for them anyway. My soul is now fractured and I'm not sure how to repair it...
Wisdom gets up behind him and wraps her arms around his waist, nestling her head into the groove of his back.
(Wisdom): You know what's funny about all this...we finally have something in common in our careers. I've been under scrutiny from day one. No one will ever understand Butch, not even me, you have to give up the idea of making us try.
Butch smiles ironically.
(Butch): So what now then?
(Wisdom): Now Mr. Parker you find yourself in the unique situation of seeing the chess board and not just being a piece on it. You can help Hans like you did at Havoc, you can beat the crap out of Logan, you can finally put Eddie in his place, you can slap a fan...it's all up to you, but one thing is for sure...whatever you choose. Whichever path you take...I will be with you.
(Butch): There is one more thing I'd like to do before I do or think about any of that.
Butch turns around to face Wisdom before descending to one knee and holds her hand. He looks up at her with his majestic kryptonite-like eyes.
(Butch): Will you marry me?
She becomes a stone medusa, captivated by his green gaze, the only motion in her entire body is from her chest beating like the engine of a Ferrari and the tears now rolling down her eyes. He chin trembles, he mouth quivers, her knees begin to buckle hearing the one question she has waited five years to hear. The only word she can muster in a shrill, petrified voice is ..."Yes" and with it she flings her arms around his neck and kisses him with unhinged passion. They remain there embraced and gazing at the ocean as the scene fades to black.
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