By a water cooler, refilling his hydration bottle, is HWA superstar, Sean Parker. Although in his late twenties, Sean hasn’t lost his boyish looks that old school HWA fans would remember from his debut with the company. Despite being very green when he discovered he was the nephew of HWA legend and co-owner, Butch Parker, he took to professional wrestling like a duck to the water; the Parker genes clearly bubbling under the surface. And fast-forward so many years later, he was considered one of the veterans of the current HWA roster. He’d recovered from a horrific, paralysing injury no thanks to the sadistic actions of former HWA World Champion, AC James. One of his uncle’s fiercest rivals, AC had manipulated Sean into signing a HWA talent contract in his bid to unsettle Butch during their feud over the HWA World Championship.
Sean thought he had put all that behind him until a few days ago, when these old demons he thought he’d laid to rest resurfaced. He hadn’t considered the notion that AC James might make an appearance at the reunion show and wouldn’t expect Butch to ban him from appearing either. Like it or not, AC James was a high-profile figure in HWA. Not only was he a former World Champion, he had classic matches and feuds with other HWA legends like Ronnie McNeil, Buff Bridges to name but a few.
Sean takes a long drink from his hydration bottle but is interrupted by a member of the backstage crew with a headset on, carrying a clipboard.
(Crew Member): Excuse me, Mr Parker.
(Sean): Dude, Sean. We know who Mr Parker is!
(Crew Member): Sorry Mr- I mean Sean. I was instructed to give this to you.
The crew member hands Sean an envelope. A look of confusion crossed his face as he accepts the envelope from the HWA employee. As the man takes his leave, Sean, a look of confusion still etched on his face, opens the envelope. He unfurls the piece paper inside begins to read. As his eyes scan and absorb the words, his face grows even more incredulous until it turns almost irritated, digesting Maniac’s words.
(Sean): what the f**k?
He skims over the letter’s contents one more time before he scrunches the letter up angrily and tosses it into a nearby trashcan. He turns to look at the camera.
(Sean): Maniac, are you honestly for f**king real? I see where you get your name now.
Sean extends his index finger of his right hand, tapping it repeatedly against his temple.
(Sean): You’re off your f**king head. You are one of the old school guys in HWA and have been around the business a long time and I respect the hell out of your achievements. But that doesn’t mean I have to respect you
.
First you off, you lose the rag with Butch because he didn’t respond to a phone call for a few days, then you try and act like some kind of twisted teacher to Matt Miller, one of my closest friends, only to make disparaging and off-target homophobic remarks about both him and Butch. Then you suddenly want to bury the hatchet and ten minutes later you’re writing a letter to me trying to worm your way into my pocket?
a snort of derision escapes Sean’s nose and mouth.
(Sean): Let’s get one thing straight, Maniac. No one on this roster wants or needs your f**king help. And that’s not us being ungrateful. We’ve all been trained, hell practically raised by Butch, by Wisdom, by Sensei Matthew. The only lesson you could give us is stay the f**k away from you!
Sean places the palm of one of his hands on his chest, motioning towards himself.
(Sean): Now, me personally, how f**king stupid do you think I am? Years ago, AC James emotionally manipulated me as a teenager to join HWA as an active competitor because he wanted to use me against my uncle. He twisted my thoughts, used my emotions against me and I ended up being paralysed and a social pariah. So forgive me for being just somewhat hesitant when another veteran wrestler with bat-shit crazy ideals suddenly tries to indoctrinate me with his twisted ideals.
Sean cuts his hand across his neck in a dismissive manner.
(Sean): EH-EH! Ain’t gonna happen! I know you’re gonna be here tonight so allow me to give you some advice for a change seeing as you’ve been away from the business for a while. Stay the f**k away from me, from my friends and, if you know what’s good for you, stay the f**k away from Butch.
Sean turns and walks away from the camera. As he walks away though, he sees the same crew member that handed him the envelope. As the man walks down the hall, Sean jogs to catch up with him.
(Sean): Hey, hold up! Do you happen to have a list of who has arrived yet? You know, from the original roster members who were invited back?
(Crew Member): Yeah, right here.
The man taps his pen on his clipboard in a signalling fashion.
(Sean): Can you check if AC James is here? And Maniac?
The crew member checks the names on the list.
(Crew Member): AC James… AC James… AC James… oh, here it is. Yes, AC James already checked in, I have no idea where he is though. Doesn’t look like Maniac has arrived yet either. Is there anything else I can do for you, Mr Park-I mean Sean?
(Sean): No, thanks.
As the man gives Sean a nod and a smile before walking away, he stands there, tapping his foot on the floor rapidly.
(Sean): Don’t panic, Sean, you’re good. Don’t overthink it… just go talk to him, say what you have to say and move on.
Sean then walks off-camera and out of sight as the scene fades to black.
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