They watched as he simply walked away. Nobody wanted to get involved. Nobody wanted to take a stand... We must fear evil men and deal with them accordingly but what we must truly guard against, what we must fear most… Is the indifference of good men.”
As the Macmanus brothers head towards the doors of the church in the intro to the Boondock Saints movie, the view slowly zooms out to be looking over the shoulders of Stu-E, his daughter Laney tugging on his arm about to ask a question. Knowing full well one question leads to another question, and then leads on to completely different strings of conversations, he takes off his headphones and switches off his laptop. Their flight still has a fair few hours to go, and he knows his daughter will be asleep soon, so he can watch the movie later.
“Daddy, did I do good at Havoc?” she innocently asks, Price smiles and puts his hand on her face. “Of course you did, it was exactly what was needed. I told you, didn’t I?”
Laney thinks back to what her Dad had taught her, not just for the wrestling business but for life in general. “If somebody hits me, then I can hit them back.” Her Dad chuckles before replying, “Yes, sometimes a quick hit does the trick but sometimes if they’re a lot bigger, sometimes one quick hit won’t work so you need to be a bit smarter. But everything has to be reasonable, defending yourself is good, attacking is not.”
While listening to Laney you can see her little face starting to look a little confused. “But Daddy, I hit that big man in his privates, but he didn’t hit me?” Price looks around the plane, fully aware if someone dropped in mid conversation it would sound a bit random hearing that last sentence.
“That was what we call a pre-emptive strike, do you remember what that means?”
“Um… no, Daddy?”
“Well, if you’re in a situation like in Havoc and something bad is happening to a good person and the only way you can get away is by hitting someone first, then that is ok. Also, if you’re in a situation where you know you are outnumbered or they’re just too big for you, strike hard and strike fast. The same rules apply as before though. Just do what you need to do and come to me; ok?”
She processes it for a brief moment, and smiles, “Ok Daddy, I’ll make sure I only hit people when I have to.” He smiles at her as she leans in for a cuddle. “Daddy?” She enquires, her mind now full of questions, “What happens if there’s lot’s of people, who do I hit then?”
Price brushes her face before answering, “Laney, you go for the biggest one, as quick and as hard as you can so while his little followers are a bit shocked at what just happened, you run like the wind like you did on Havoc. The true art of war is knowing how to break your enemies resistance without fighting; always remember that, and you’ll be ok.”
Laney yawns, it’s been a long couple of days, and snuggles in to her Dad’s stomach ready to fall asleep. “Ok, Daddy. I’m going to have a nap now.” Stu-E looks down at her, “good idea, get some sleep.” He says as she makes herself comfortable.
They remained like that for at least twenty minutes, as we rejoin them Laney is fast asleep and her Dad feels a bit more comfortable to begin watching the Boondock Saints, but before then he takes out his mobile phone and makes a couple of calls.
The first one is to a florist, to organise something for Michelle. Although the sound of the florists’ questions and talking is muffled, Price’s words are loud and clear. “I need these to go to a Michelle Learner, whatever the biggest bunch of flowers you do, take 5 of them and put them together to make one giant bouquet for her. On the card, just write ‘To Michelle, I’m grateful for you caring for Laney and I’m sorry such a sweet girl like yourself is having to go through these emotions. If you need anything, I’ve got you. From Stu-E and Laney’”
The second call however, is to organise something very different. “Just go to the office and send this telegram to Michelle’s Dad, I had planned to visit but I’ve had to fly back out to England.” He’s talking to someone unknown, most likely a friend still in the States.
“All it needs to say is unfortunately I’ve had to travel back to England for media commitments which prevents me from visiting. It would have been an honour to meet such a fine gentleman who has raised such a perfect Daughter, and I hope I can do just half the job with Laney, that you have with Michelle. Considering the current situation surrounding Michelle, I wanted you to know that there are people like me in this Business who do have morals, who do the right thing and are nothing like the people you worry about. As a token of my goodwill to your family, I have made a small donation of $5,000 to your local church, may it go towards something positive for your community, as I am striving to do for mine.”
The scene fades in to a different view, they’ve landed at their destination and are walking through the airport. Durham Tees Valley Airport stands as a modest gateway to the world, nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of North East England. The airport, with its unassuming charm, offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere to travellers seeking to embark on their journeys or return to the embrace of their home region.
Inside the terminal, the familiar hum of busy travellers mingles with the occasional announcement, guiding passengers to their gates. The airy and bright departure lounge boasts large windows that frame sweeping views of the neighbouring countryside, showcasing the beauty of County Durham's rolling hills and verdant landscapes.
Passengers weave through the concourse, their footsteps echoing softly against polished floors, it would have been an every day arrival and straight in to a taxi but for one thing; the media.
Exhausted and worn out from the tumultuous from the long plane ride, Stu-E and Laney found themselves facing another challenge as they arrived at the airport. News of their match and the subsequent attack had spread like wildfire, drawing a swarm of media eager to capture their every move and extract the latest information.
As Stu-E and Laney entered the airport terminal, they were immediately engulfed by a sea of flashing cameras and a chorus of shouted questions. Reporters, holding out microphones and notebooks, surged forward, their relentless pursuit of a story causing an atmosphere of chaos and intrusion.
Pushing through the throng, Stu-E and Laney attempted to navigate their way towards the exit of the airport, seeking respite from the glaring spotlight that had now turned towards them. However, the media, relentless in their pursuit, followed closely, impeding their progress and bombarding them with an onslaught of questions.
"Stu-E, can you give us an update on Michelle after the attack? How is she doing?"
"Laney, what emotions are running through your mind right now? How do you plan to cope with the aftermath of this incident?"
"Can you share any details on the status of Fallen? Do you have any leads on his motives?"
The questions continued unabated, their intensity and persistence testing the limits of Stu-E and Laney's patience. The weariness etched upon their faces was evident, the toll of both Havoc and the travelling now magnified by the overwhelming media presence.
Stu-E, his voice strained but resolute, attempted to address the inquiries amidst the relentless barrage. "I understand your interest, but right now, we need some space and time to process everything that has happened. We appreciate the support, but we are not in a position to provide further details at this moment."
Laney, her voice carrying a mix of exhaustion and frustration, echoed her father's sentiments. “We’re just trying to get home, let us through, please!”
Despite their pleas for privacy, the media circus persisted, their cameras continuing to click and flash, their questions lingering in the air. The overwhelming presence of the press followed Stu-E and Laney as they made their way towards the doors, their steps burdened by the weight of the media's intrusion.
As they finally found some solace within the confines of the taxi, Stu-E and Laney sought solace in each other's presence, sharing a silent understanding of the challenges they faced. The relentless media attention had taken its toll, leaving them yearning for a moment of respite amidst the chaos.
The media presence, however, persisted at a distance, their lenses trained on Stu-E and Laney as they sought a moment of reprieve. The weary duo found solace in the knowledge that soon they would be able to escape the media's glare. As the taxi drove off from Tees Valley airport, the father and daughter carried with them a sense of weariness and a yearning for peace, knowing that the media circus would show up again at some point.
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