Today was a different day, and there was no reason for him not to. She called and rang several times before going to voicemail, which started to piss her off. It was still early enough so she decided to pay him a visit and force the issue, Butch wasn’t home yet and if she timed it right she might have time to see him at the office before they both came back home. They had talked last night about that little school incident, and he was going to pick the kids up from school later today. Maybe he’d run into some of the other dads and glean what the situation was going on. She grabbed her keys and headed out. It was a bit of a drive, so she had time still to make a few business calls along the way. Once she reached Sean’s apartment, she parked and made her way up to his floor. She rang the door bell and there was no answer, she knocked, and there was no answer. She could clearly hear him inside so her blood began to boil. She knocked again raising her voice in frustration.
(Wisdom): I know you're in there Sean, I can hear you on the PlayStation, open the door or I'll open it myself, or did you forget we have a set of emergency keys?
After a brief moment, the latch on the inside of the door can be heard being taken off and the door opens revealing Sean standing in the doorway. He sighs when he sees Wisdom standing in front of him.
(Sean): I knew I should’ve changed the locks…what do you want?
She brushes past him entering the apartment, regardless of his invite in.
(Wisdom): Don’t give me that, you know damn well what I want, and I just drove an hour and a half in LA traffic from home to get it, so you can imagine I’m not leaving until I do, so talk.
(Sean): If this is about what happened at the gym, it was something over nothing! Jeremy completely overreacted! Why is everyone suddenly on my back about everything?!
(Wisdom): Sean, it’s not just about the gym and you know it. This whole thing at the Reunion with AC…it doesn’t look good. Everyone has their finger pointed at you and I know how that can feel. People are digging for answers, and do you know what happens when they don’t get them?…they start making shit up, and rumor or not that perception becomes reality. You can’t just walk around tight-lipped like this. Whatever happened or didn’t happen you need to say something. A week ago in the locker room when I overheard your group’s conversation, you had a lot to say about it then. We talked after and I thought it was settled, maybe it is, I don’t know or maybe it isn’t. I’m not here to get in your face or your business, I’m here to help you sort this out before things get out of control.
Sean paces around his living room, his hands on his head.
(Sean): Alright look, something did happen with AC and I, but I didn’t plan on it happening.
Sean mops his face with his hands before sitting down on one of the couches.
(Sean): I bumped into him in the back, we got to talking and it was quite refreshing until he taunted me about my back injury. He laughed and walked off and I snapped. And now it’s been eating at me since the show. If Butch finds out, he’s going to go off his head. I hurt one of my friends, I attacked Sensei Matthew. Everything is going to shit and I don’t know what to do.
Wisdom takes Sean by the shoulders and guides him to the sofa to sit down, taking his hand in hers. She can see how distressed he is about this, and how it’s eating away at him.
(Wisdom): Listen Sean, to be honest…there aren’t many people who would blame you for what happened. You were just a kid with your entire future ahead of you and AC James pushed the pause button on you. He stole years of your life, and nobody knows what you went through, but we can imagine. Thank God, this treatment work and you were able to make a full recovery in time, but nothing can give you back those important years as a young man from going to the movies, taking a walk or getting laid. So, what do you do now? You face the music. You made a decision, you took an action, and you have to own it. It’s that simple. This right here, this little talk. You know more than most that this is what the HWA is all about now. There’s a list of trainees in the school and young superstars like Matt and Jeremy who are going to face challenges similar to this in their own career. Butch and I have navigated these waters for over 20 years, this is all part of nurturing the next generations. Don’t beat yourself up over it, but you do need to face it, and I think you know the first person you need to face.
(Wisdom): Believe me, if this was the only thing in life you ever had to worry about, you’d jump at the chance to tell the world. You have a migrane for the wrong reasons. Butch isn’t going to be upset with you for what you did. He’s going to be upset with you for not having taken responsibility for it until now, for not saying anything, and for dodging us because you knew this conversation needed to happen, but you didn’t want to have it. You know what this company once was more than most, there are few better people to help us continue to rebuild our reputation and step further and further away from those times. Matt’s been around this whole time…Jeremy, Michelle and the others are all newer and they all look to you Sean. Matt is a leader in his own right, but who do you think he looks to? It’s not just about telling Butch, its about setting an example for your peers as well. Your uncle is just the start.
Sean stands back up from his seated position. He sighs deeply before replying.
(Sean): I guess you’re right. It’s hard though. I want to be more than just Butch’s nephew, I want to be known for more than just that or the cripple that can suddenly take a piss without using a catheter. Can you at least butter him up for me? Distract him with sex or something then casually drop into the conversation that I told you something and to try not to blow up like a volcano?
(Wisdom): Sex in the Parker home is never a distraction, but that’s none of your business. Butch is an intelligent man, as soon as I open my mouth and say your name he’ll know. I can soften the blow a little, but you’re gonna have to take it regardless. Look, no generational superstar wants to be constantly compared to their family member or even have their name made off of them but that’s just par for the course. You can’t control what people say. What you do, what you say, how you perform, these are the things you can control to set yourself apart. Focus on being you, learn to see and use your name as an extension of who you are not what defines you. Like Ric Flair told Buff, legend to legend, veteran to veteran…to be himself, and not worry about what anyone else wants you to be. Something along those lines.
(Sean): Yeah, come to think of it, I just gave myself an image in my head I didn’t want…anyways… I appreciate the pep talk… I have a feeling I need to speak to Jeremy and Sensei Matthew as well. And Sarah, I spoke to her terribly and Michelle too… God I’ve made such a mess of things, haven’t I?
(Wisdom): A bit, but its nothing you can’t clean up. I’m proud of you, we’re proud of you, you know that. Weather this little storm, breathe the sigh of relief and get back to doing what you do. For now, I’m gonna get out of your hair, I may swing by the office before I head home really quick if traffic isn’t horrible.
Wisdom stands and makes her way to the door. Sean is up and follows after.
(Wisdom): And next time I call you, you better answer the phone like Batman responding to the Bat Signal, or else Mr!
Sean laughs despite himself at Wisdom’s joke.
(Sean): I will, sorry and thanks for driving all the way out, I appreciate it. Give David and Evina a cuddle from me when you get in. And tell Butch I’ll catch up with him the next time he’s at training.
(Wisdom): I will, and you give your Aunt Diana a call sometime too. Jake and Sarah, they're all eager to see you on tv again.
(Sean): I will but it’s awkward when your fourteen-year-old cousin asks you to set her up with one of your best friends…
(Wisdom): Humor her, send her a signed t-shirt. Trust me, it’s enough to satiate a 14-year-old girl and keep her giddy for a good while.
Sean manages another weak smile and she knows the weight of things is still on his shoulders.
(Wisdom): Sean, there are things in our careers that we’ve said, things we’ve seen and things we’ve done that haunt us, they always will. No one is ever going to ask you to forget the past, but over time you’ll learn to compartmentalize those things and not allow them to control you. Butch is the most remarkable man in the world, and believe me when I tell you, you don’t know half of what he’s been through, but his head is held high, he makes few excuses for his actions, and he’s become one of the most respected men in this business. I am a better person because of him. I have learned from him, and I’m still learning to control myself. Just yesterday, I had to stop myself from slamming one of the moms at the kids’ school to the pavement in the parking lot.
Sean chuckles a bit, eyes going wide kinda interested in the story.
(Wisdom): The point is, he’ll understand and so will your friends. I gotta run, bye sweets.
She gives him a peck on the cheek and Sean retreats back into his apartment. He squashes back down on the couch taking a deep sigh. Wisdom gets back to the car, looks at the clock and figures Butch may have already headed for home by then to go get the kids. She forgoes the trip to the office and does the same herself. Two hours later and she’s pulling in. Butch’s car is in the garage and she head into the house. From the entryway she can smell the start of dinner, and hear the kids. She makes her way in and Butch is in the kitchen chopping some broccolini. She comes up behind him and wraps her arm around his waist nestling her head into the crevice of his massive back. He smelled so good, she loved his smell. His natural smell, the fading aroma of his cologne and the faint trace of the day’s sweat on him. It always turned her on. Sean’s comment about distracting him popped in her head and she laughed. Butch turns around now, putting his arm around her in return and kissing her.
(Butch): What’s this?
(Wisdom): Oh nothing, just some silly thought in my head.
She looks over at the sitting area across from the kitchen, the kids are watching SpongeBob Squarepants and giggling away, they didn’t even notice her come in.
(Wisdom): How about after dinner, we grab a drink and debrief. I want to go over some things about the new location with you, and some other things.
(Butch): Other things?
(Wisdom): Yeah, other things…we’ll talk later. I’m going to go change real quick and I’ll be right back to help.
Somewhat dodging his further inquiry she rushes off to change clothes. The evening progresses normally: dinner, kids homework, nanny and housekeeper departure, kids bedtime. Butch has already retreated to the office and she comes in from the bar downstairs with two cocktails. Butch doesn’t recognize it and sniffs it.
(Butch): What is it?
(Wisdom): I know its not your usual, but I just want you to try it. It’s scotch and some lemon juice and a few syrups. It’s called a Penicillin! Been around forever, but I had it for the first time at lunch last week with the realtor.
(Butch): Penicillin? I’m not sick you know!
(Wisdom): Don’t be silly, just try it.
Butch takes a sip, nodding his head as he picks up the distinct two scotch’s, and the other flavors.
(Butch): Not bad, not great, but not bad.
(Wisdom): Well, at least you tried it. Shall we?
She goes to her desk and grabs the commercial property inspection report that she printed from earlier. They go over it and a few other business items.
(Wisdom): Any word from Talon, or anyone regarding Eddie and that boy?
(Butch): Not yet.
(Wisdom): Nothing on my end either, something or someone will pop us soon enough though. I did however talk to Sean today.
(Butch): Yeah? And where the hell’s he been?
(Wisdom): You remember at the Reunion when I said there was something I may need to tell you?
(Butch): Vaguely, we were a bit all over the place at the time.
(Wisdom): Yeah, well…
Wisdom recounts for him the events last week of walking in on the crew discussing the show and their worries about veteran superstars coming back and what it meant for them. Then her conversation with Sean, following his comments about AC James. He just sat there listening, in his usual pokerfaced manner. As she went on, he had finished his drink and was not drinking hers which did not go unnoticed. She wasn’t sure if he liked it, or he needed it to help numb what she was saying. She continues on, with the incident yesterday in the gym reminding him how he caught her on the phone with Matthew as he was rushing out to meet Maniac. She tells him how she’d been trying to reach Sean but he wouldn’t answer and she decided to visit him today, she doesn’t go into detail wanting to leave that to their own conversation. Butch leans back in his chair, lifting his arms up and locking his fingers on the back of his head, taking a deep exhale through his nose.
(Butch): So you’re telling me he…
(Wisdom): I’m telling you that he wants to talk to you. It’s not my story to tell.
Butch slams his fist down on the desk, he lifts the glass to his lips but realizes he drank his, and apparently hers now realizing the two glasses in front of him.
(Butch): Sorry!
(Wisdom): Just hear him out babe. This is all what we signed up for. These guys are going to need our guidance and Matthews and hell maybe even Maniac’s and the others. We didn’t have anyone at that age, but they all have us and whatever comes at them, at the very least we can help guide them through it if they need us.
She can tell he’s still a bit upset, having no doubt connected the dots as she imagined he would. He gets up and takes her by the hand.
(Butch): Come on, it’s getting late. Let’s get ready for bed.
They head to the master bedroom, and he takes her into the bathroom turning the shower on and he begins to strip down. She raises an eyebrow at him and follows suit as the scene fades to black.
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