(Butch): Sean, its me again, I just want to talk, that’s all. This has all gotten way out of hand. Please, just call me back.
He wasn’t lying. Whilst he was furious, Butch had no interest in chewing Sean out after Wisdom had already given him the bollocking of a lifetime. He was still angry at his nephew though. However justified Sean’s reasoning might’ve been surrounding AC James’ mere presence at the Reunion, Wisdom was very emotionally distressed by the severity of how she felt she had to deal with Sean. Butch was wracked with guilt. She had trusted him to sort this out. Butch was in charge of talent relations and Wisdom overseen the business side of things. He couldn’t even manage to quell a situation with a roster member assaulting an HWA official and attacking a fellow wrestler.
How did the situation manage to escalate to the point Sean was no longer competing on the first Havoc card? Butch recalled his conversation he’d had with Wisdom after she had reprimanded Sean in her office. Whilst Butch had seen her ferocity after what happened with Brandi and Cody at the Reunion Show, this was different. Butch couldn’t remember a time he’d seen Wisdom so upset. He replayed the conversation he’d had with her not half an hour ago:
(Butch): Hold on… what is it? What’s wrong?
Wisdom walks over to her husband and wraps her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest. She exhales deeply, just wanting to be held by him. He’s already wrapped his arms around her, and she sighs. She lifts her face looking into those beautiful eyes of his. She brushes the stubble in his beard with her hand, tracing the grooves of his face with her fingers, a resigned smile comes over her face.
(Wisdom): I pulled Sean from the Havoc card…
Butch is taken aback by Wisdom's revelation.
(Wisdom): Are you mad?
Butch's surprised expression changes and he looks at Wisdom as if to say "did you really just ask me that?" He cups Wisdom's face in his massive hands, cradling her chin and wiping away the tears with his thumbs, using the same appendages to gently stroke her cheeks. She turns her face slightly in his gentle clutches, and kisses his thumb.
(Butch): Of course I'm not mad! If anything, I should've made the decision without you having to get involved. Instead you've had to take time out of your day to tidy up my mess and now look at you! Did he say anything to you?
(Wisdom): I didn’t give him much of a chance. I was just so angry and frustrated with him. He’s not a teenager anymore, Butch. He can’t get away with speaking to you like that. He lashed out Jeremy and could have seriously injured him, for God’s sake, he put his hands on Matthew. That sort’ve thing shouldn’t be put to rest with just a few hundred push-ups. If that was anybody else, Butch, what would you do? If that was Matt or anyone else on the roster and not Sean?
Butch has a resigned look on his face, and nods in agreement.
(Wisdom): Family or not, he’s an employee too, babe.
(Butch): I know, but maybe Sean has a point? I mean, I could’ve avoided this whole situation from happening if I’ve just inducted Ronnie myself or had AC do it via Skype or something.
Butch already looks deflated and exhausted. He runs his hand through his hair and to the back of his head, looking up at the ceiling, closing his eyes and sighing loudly. This time it’s Wisdom’s turn.
(Wisdom): Hey, big guy, get this big shiny emeralds on me.
Wisdom cups Butch’s chin in her hand, gently turning his face so he’s looking at her.
(Wisdom): What happened to Sean was a tragedy and AC James is a terrible human being for doing so. But he was fined substantially by Elizabeth Shevington. And, as bad as it sounds, he didn’t do anything illegal. Did he manipulate and hurt Sean? Take years off his career? Of course and it’s unforgivable. But you can’t run this company, an organisation like this, if you’re afraid of someone’s feelings getting hurt, even if he is family.
At the end of the day, Sean didn’t have to go looking for AC James. He could’ve left it alone and stayed on the opposite of the arena from him. But he chose to take matters into his own hands, however noble his intentions may have been initially.
Butch responds with verbal nods as Wisdom continues to talk.
(Wisdom): Even if AC did taunt and laugh at him? Sean didn’t have to hit him, Butch. Would I have done the same thing in his position? Probably and so would you. But he lied, Butch, another choice! If he’d come to us and told us the truth, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation right now.
(Butch): You’re right.
Wisdom can tell Butch is conflicted. Whilst she had to put her foot down with Sean, she can’t help but love this aspect of Butch’s personality. She was conflicted herself, wondering if she’d maybe jumped the gun and stepped on Butch’s toes by pulling Sean from the Havoc card.
(Wisdom): Are you sure you’re okay with this decision. Benching Sean, I mean. If you want to reconsider or sleep on it, we can.
Butch rolls his tongue on the inside of his cheek in a contemplating manner. A moment later, he shakes his head, holding his hands out.
(Butch): No, it’s the right call and I stand by you. We’re a team, it’s your play and I’ll back it. You tried dealing with it as family and he didn’t listen. We can’t keep letting things like this slide just because he’s family, we have to set a precedent.
Wisdom smiles warmly, placing her arms back Butch’s neck, allowing one hand to cradle the back of his head and she pulls him for a passionate kiss.
(Wisdom): Thank you.
(Butch): For what?
(Wisdom): For trusting me. For being just… you.
Butch rolls his eyes as he smiles.
(Butch): You know I’ll always back you. You’re my girl!
(Wisdom): Don’t let Evina hear you say that, she thinks she’s daddy’s number one girl.
(Butch): Well I can keep a secret if you can…
He kisses Wisdom again before breaking the embrace and grabbing his car keys from his pocket.
(Butch): Right, I’m going to find Sean. Have a proper talk with him. Explain how things are going to be and that he’s still off the card for Havoc.
(Wisdom): Okay babe, drive safe and let me know when you find him.
(Butch): Will do.
Back in his car, Butch, earbuds in and his phone on hands-free is leaving Sean another voicemail.
(Butch): Come on, Sean, this is getting ridiculous. Stop being a stubborn wee shite and answer your damn phone.
As soon as he ends the call, it's like a lightbulb goes off in Butch's head.
(Butch): Venice Beach, of course, you idiot, Butch.
He checks for traffic coming in the other lane and does a textbook U-turn in the middle of the road and backtracks. About half an hour later, Butch has parked is car and he can already see the outline of his nephew, sitting on the sand. The beach is quiet bar a few surfers and dog walkers as Butch takes a seat next to him. Neither man talks for a good thirty seconds or so. Sean is absentmindedly picking up sand and letting the tiny speckles of stone cascade through his hands.
(Butch): We came here to train for the first time when you got the all clear from the physiotherapist after your surgery, do you remember?
Sean doesn't look up or in Butch's general direction.
(Sean): I remember.
Butch glances at Sean subtly from the side. He joins him in picking up a handful of sand and letting it drift through his fingers.
(Butch): Listen, I'm not gonna give you anymore shit for what's happened. I'm not here to give you the third degree or chew you out. Wisdom told me what she said to you and as much as I agree with her, the last thing you need is both of us coming down on you like a ton of bricks.
(Sean): So you're here to be good cop, is that it?
(Butch): Not exactly. Just to give you some perspective. By all accounts, I should rip you a new arsehole. It practically broke Wisdom's heart to pull you from Havoc. But I'm not going to.
Sean still doesn't maintain any sort of eye contact, almost like he's making a conscious point not to.
(Butch): I actually understand where you were coming from to a degree.
Sean looks round at Butch for the first time, a look of slight surprise on his
face.
(Sean): You do?
(Butch): Yeah, sort of. I mean you're not wrong. I did lose the head majorly after you got injured and I almost killed a fellow competitor and I paid the price for that. It cost me financially, it cost me my World Championship, it cost me my credibility and my dignity. I'll give you another example. 2004, Thane Givens desecrated your dad's grave, did you know that?
Sean's face drops at this revelation.
(Sean): He did?!
Butch nods.
(Butch): He did. I had it removed from the HWA Network back-catalogue, sort of a Chris Benoit-type situation. It's not something I ever want anyone to see again. But do you know how I reacted?
(Sean): You beat him for the World Title.
(Butch): Yeah but before that, I hunted him down and we brawled like a couple of drunks in Bloomingdales and I got arrested. I wanted to kill him and not metaphorically, I really wanted to kill that motherf***er for what he did to your dad's grave.
When I fought him at Fatality, it took every ounce of my being not to choke the life out of him. It also took years for me to get over it, to put it behind me.
(Sean): And yet you invited him to the Reunion Show?
Butch raises his eyebrows.
(Butch): Because like it or not, Thane Givens was an important, albeit very brief part of HWA's history. He was part of Senester's Horde, he had history with Vanessa, with me, with Blush. You don't have to like everyone you work with Sean, you have to learn to take the high road sometimes. I mean, yeah, I could have easily inducted Ronnie into the Hall of Fame myself or got him to do it over Skype. But again, like it or not, AC James is part of the fabric of HWA. He was one of my fiercest rivals, the Smokin' Aces were one of the most popular tag teams in HWA history and his feud with Ronnie was equally revolutionary. You don't think I thought about breaking his neck for a long time after what he did to you?
(Sean): I suppose.
(Butch): No suppose about it. Look at Michael Dredge. He sexually assaulted your Aunt Wisdom. Broke us up, played us against each other. We had one of the bloodiest and most personal rivals HWA has ever seen. Do you know the mental strength it took your Aunt to even tolerate being in the same room as him? To this day I don't know how she got over that, let-alone me. We went on to form the Lion's Edge tag team.
Sean looks shaken from the revelations Butch is dropping on him.
(Butch): I haven't even mentioned Hans.
(Sean): What about him?
(Butch): The night Sensei Matthew won the United States Championship, Hans attacked him. He felt let down that I'd allowed my rivalry with Thane Givens take over our friendship. He disguised himself in Sense Matthew's wrestling gear, his gi, his mask, and tore my knee to shreds. I needed skin grafts. The next night, he bludgeoned Sense Matthew's head so badly, he needed brain surgery and had to be placed in a medically-induced coma. I visited him every week for four years until he woke up. He and Hans are like things never happened, the three of us are.
(Sean): So what are you saying?
(Butch): I’m saying we all have a choice and there will always be consequences or by-products of our choices. It’s owning and facing up to those consequences that matters the most. You should’ve come to us after it happened, Sean. After you attacked AC, you should’ve told me! Have I ever given you a reason not to come to talk to me?
(Sean): No, but-
(Butch): -Then what the hell, Sean? Goddamnit, boy!
For the first time, Butch starts to show some emotion.
(Butch): Do you know how much I f***ing love you? I love you like a son, as if you were my own but right now I just want bang that noggin of yours head and shake some sense into you. But as much as I love you, like your Aunt says, I’m also your boss. I have to hold you to the same standards as everyone else. Which is why I have to back Wisdom’s decision to bench you.
Tears are forming in the corners of Sean’s eyes. The weight of what Butch is laying on him, the display of unconditional love, the disappointment in not confiding him, being punished his actions. He struggles desperately to hold it in. He knows if he even opens his mouth, the floodgates will open. Butch sees it too.
(Butch): I hope you can understand why I have to do it, Sean. You don’t have to say anything. I’m still and will always be proud of you Sean. You’re a natural leader of that locker room, and you’re so talented. God knows I wish I had the balls to pull off some of the shit you can do. But you could be so much better. Please, please, please be better. Be better than me, that’s all I ask. You can come to Havoc, be there for the rest of the guys and prove me wrong, prove your Aunt wrong, prove Sensei Matthew wrong, prove yourself wrong!
Butch feels himself getting emotional and stops talking. The two sit in silence for a moment before Butch just places a hand on Sean’s shoulder. He gives it squeeze before he stands up.
(Butch): Just think about what I said, lad, about what your aunt said. Please.
Butch just looks at Sean sitting impassive looking out onto the ocean. He sighs before heading back to his car. Sean remains silent and in his seated position. He wipes the tears that have started to trickle down his cheek as the scene fades to black.
Message Thread
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