The scene opens up off-camera, immediately after the camera crew at Havoc last seen Sean Parker and Michelle Learner, with the latter leading Sean away from the throng of security guards as well as the prying eyes and ears of the journalistic staff.

As soon as they’re in the safety and confines of their locker room, Sean sits down on one of the chairs. His head is hung low, elbows jagging into the tops of his legs. As Michelle walks towards him, he takes her hands, pulling them to his face and kisses them, as if he were begging for forgiveness.

(Sean): I’m sorry about tonight. For… the conspicuousness… Everything that happened at Ring Master… and after it… I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.

Finally, he summons the strength to look up at Michelle, captivated by her incredible beauty. Regardless of his feelings for what was going on around him, the rage in his heart, the internal battle he was fighting daily within himself, Michelle was always his safe harbor to sail into.

She stroked his hair gently. She didn't like seeing him like this. He reminded her of a book she loved as a girl "The Lion's Paw." It was about a wounded little lion with a thorn in his paw, and all of the other animals didn't want to help him or were too busy...all except a little mouse. It was very much their story, him, her brave young lion and she...the meek little mouse.

(Michelle): Don't be sorry, I was just worried...we all were. Jeremy and Matt were pacing the floor. It's just not like you to shy away from everyone, that's all.

She pulled up another chair and sat beside him, then rested her head on his shoulder and he put his own next to hers.

(Michelle): I can't even explain what happened tonight. I hope Mr. Hans is alright, I should check on him, and that was a nasty gash on Jeremy's head. I'm just glad you're ok...at least.....at least on the outside.

She knew how much he was still hurting, struggling inside and just wished she could do more, she felt guilty for being what she was as...useless.

(Sean): I feel terrible but everything with Matt and Jeremy? It suddenly seems so… inconsequential … that his obsession with Maniac doesn’t seem worth it… does that make me a terrible person?

Once upon a time I always thought it was going to be Matt, Jeremy and me against the world. But now? All I care about is you… you and that championship…

He turned his head to look at Michelle again.

(Sean): About what happened in Zion… I didn’t mean to force you… pressure you… I know how much renewing your faith in God means to you and… I’d hate it if I betrayed that.

There's a moment of silence. She'd deliberately not brought that subject up. She understood he'd been in a vulnerable state. She hadn't felt violated or anything, but apprehensive might be a good word for what she felt. She gripped his hand, interlocking her fingers with his.

(Michelle): That's not important right now. What matters right now is what we do next. Poor Jeremy, I think he loves Matt as much as you love me...as much as I love you. You're both hurting in your own ways. I'm glad you were there for him tonight.... inconsequential or not.

She sighs, taking his face in her hand and turning it towards hers.

(Michelle): What do you want to do Sean? Jeremy needs a friend, Erica's still making a mess of things, the championship is in play now...you can't do everything, you can't be everywhere at once.

(Sean): I feel terrible but everything with Matt and Jeremy? It suddenly seems so… inconsequential … that his obsession with Maniac doesn’t seem worth it… does that make me a terrible person?

Once upon a time I always thought it was going to be Matt, Jeremy and me against the world. But now? All I care about is you… you and that championship…

He turned his head to look at Michelle again.

(Sean): About what happened in Zion… I didn’t mean to force you… pressure you… I know how much renewing your faith in God means to you and… I’d hate it if I betrayed that.

There's a moment of silence. She'd deliberately not brought that subject up. She understood he'd been in a vulnerable state. She hadn't felt violated or anything, but apprehensive might be a good word for what she felt. She gripped his hand, interlocking her fingers with his.

(Michelle): That's not important right now. What matters right now is what we do next. Poor Jeremy, I think he loves Matt as much as you love me...as much as I love you. You're both hurting in your own ways.
I'm glad you were there for him tonight.... inconsequential or not.

She sighs, taking his face in her hand and turning it towards hers.

(Michelle): What do you want to do Sean? Jeremy needs a friend, Erica's still making a mess of things, the championship is in play now...you can't do everything, you can't be everywhere at once.

The notion wasn’t lost on Sean. The ending of Havoc had been chaotic in terms of whatever deal Hans had made with Erica. Her own threat made towards Michelle during the Ring Master finale against Stu-E itself had been compartmentalized in a dark corner of Sean’s mind. Michelle was right. He couldn’t be in two places at once. He sighs deeply, lifting his and Michelle’s interlocked hands and kissing the top of her’s. For the first time since before Ring Master, a small smile.

(Sean): … This would be a good time to pray to the big man upstairs for guidance…

(Michelle): People pray all the time Sean, but it doesn't work that way, your heart...

She kneels down in front of him, putting her hand to his chest.

(Michelle): ...your heart has to be open to him.

She lets that sink in a little, her face not hesitant.

(Michelle): There's something else...I..I spoke with Mrs. Parker earlier.

She tries to hide her sadness, but Sean can probably see right through it.

(Michelle): well its not like its a surprise or anything but, I think I'll be away from the ring for the time being. The women's division, its just not there anymore.

She tries to fight back tears, but her eyes water a little. She felt ashamed of her fear of Erica, she was embarrassed that after years of training she was nowhere near as talented as her, or Sarah, or Alexis. All the time Matt and Sean and Mr. Hans had put in with her...she was just mediocre. She makes a weak attempt to lighten the mood.

(Michelle): But look on the bright side, I'm sure there's something around her I can do. Maybe they'll find work for me in the office. Or I could train to be a referee. How about that? I might referee one of your matches some day.

There was a pain on her face of broken dreams, not unlike his own.

(Michelle): But...we're talking about you now. I'm guessing you'll have a match next week at Havoc? Do you know where the show is yet?

Sean felt a stab of pain in his chest when Michelle had recounted her conversation with Wisdom about her in-ring future. When she first joined the academy, she was so excited, so eager to learn. She took to pro wrestling like a duck to water and had flourished under Sensei’s teachings. It broke his heart to see that being ripped away from her. He shook his head in defiance.

(Sean): No! I won’t have it! I’ll talk to Butch. They can’t just cast you aside for something that’s not your fault. There has to be something we can do to keep you involved in the ring. You’re no office admin girl, you’re Michelle Learner! You belong in the ring! Maybe Sensei can let you train the newbies with Alexis?

Her eyes were near to burst, but she smiled weakly at him shaking her head. She took his hands in hers.

(Michelle): It's okay… it's okay Sean, I understand. It's not forever, just...just maybe for a little while. I know how hard they're working.

She tries to brighten her face for his sake.

(Michelle): They just signed a few new guys tonight...this Ace Sky looks really entertaining. Maybe, maybe a few women will come along in time too… Really, I'll be fine, don't you worry.

She wishes she hadn't said anything, even though he'd have found out anyway. She wasn't good at faking her emotions, but she tried to steer the conversation back to him.

(Michelle): You're just trying to dodge my questions, mister. Road to Ruin is coming, Sensei has his match with Butch, so what about you...what does my amazing boyfriend who can't be everywhere want to do?

For the first time, Sean felt stumped. He wanted nothing more than to pulverize Erica’s face into smithereens for even daring to threaten Michelle. But, as she had pointed out, the HWA Championship was now the pinnacle of professional wrestling. And he didn’t have it in his possession; Stu-E Price did. And that was something that ate away at him. He sighed deeply.

(Sean): I don’t know… I honestly don’t know… maybe I’ll have a better idea when my next match gets announced. You know what? That's what I want… just to get back in the ring.

It was just a little white lie. Because it wasn’t just what he wanted. That internal battle still raged within him. He wanted to cry, he wanted to scream and shout, he wanted to pound his fists into the wall until his knuckles bled. But he couldn’t tell Michelle that.

Lucky for him, he was a better faker than she was when he wanted to be. She smiled at the thought of him looking forward to getting back to business.

(Michelle): There's my guy...yes...once you get back in the ring I just know things will fall into place. It's where you feel most at home and its where you'll find those answers...out there with the fans cheering you on.

Outside the door the sound of staff preparing to deconstruct the production is heard in its usual hustle and bustle. Its an indication of how late it had become.

(Michelle): Why don't you shower or change, maybe we can go get something to eat. One of those Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich things...I've never had one and its not like I have to be in ring shape.

The moment the words left her mouth she regretted it. She hadn't meant to say it like that, he already felt bad enough she didn't want him pitying her, or worse...going to his uncle and aunt making demands. She quickly tried to clean it up.

(Michelle): ...well, at least one cheat meal won't hurt at least. I'll go get my bag and I'll meet you back here. I want to try and find Jeremy and Mr. Hans first, so 30-minutes?

She leans in and kisses him on the cheek, then leaves the room before she opens her mouth and says something else she'll regret. For the moment Sean was left with his tempestuous thoughts. The devil on his shoulder wanted to go and find out what was going on with Erica. And Michelle’s angel was on the other one, trying to keep him on the right path.

He decided to take Michelle’s advice and had a shower. Twenty minutes or so later, he was showered, changed and ready to go. As he approached the door to his locker room, he could hear a lot of hustle and bustle outside and reflexively rolled his eyes. He knew he’d have to face it sooner or later, might as well get it out the road. Sean made his exit and immediately he was flanked by one of the resident interns, Roderick Sterling, a camera crew immediately rolling, which caught Sean off-guard somewhat.

(Roderick): Sean, Sean! I know it’s been a very trying and difficult time for you since Ring Master but if…

Sean turns his eyes to the young intern. He knew he was only doing his job, the job his own Aunt and Uncle had asked him to do - get the biggest scoops straight from the horses’ mouths. Still, it was a conversation he’d rather not have but he knew he had to.

(Roderick): … if I could just ask, what’s your mindset after tonight? You were in the crowd, then you were in the rafters, then you were ringside and then in the ring. You assisted your long-term friend Jeremy against Maniac and the returning Lunatik…

Sean exhaled deeply through his nose.

(Sean): I don’t know what my mindset is after tonight… I still don’t know what my mindset is after Ring Master. I still have a lot of mental unpacking to do. Jeremy has his own issues with Maniac which, I’ll be honest, aren’t mine. That’s his battle to fight but he’s still my friend and no matter what happens, I’ll never leave my friends high and dry. As for Maniac and Lunatik? I have nothing to say to them that I haven’t said already in the last year-and-a-half.

(Roderick): I hope you also don’t mind me asking about the elephant in the room. You lost in the final of Ring Master. You were the odds-on favorite to win, after all your hard work through your injury to just fall at the last hurdle-

(Sean): Rod, I know you’re just doing your job but if there’s a chase, can you just f***ing to it instead of just encapsulating my pain?

Roderick is a little bit flustered by Sean’s unusual curtness and tries to remain professional.

(Roderick): Right! Yes! I’m so sorry, Sean, I mean Mister Parker! I just meant it was an awful lot to go through and bounce back from. And in the chaos at the end of the show, you very briefly locked eyes with Stu-E Price, the new HWA World Champion. What are your thoughts on Stu-E and do you plan on challenging him for the HWA Championship?

Sean’s mind’s eye immediately flashed back to his very brief stare-off with Stu-E before he was tackled by the arena security. He hadn’t formally addressed anything to do with the new World Champion since Ring Master and he was conscious of that.

(Sean): First of all, it’s up to Butch and Wisdom who challenges for the HWA Championship, not me and certainly not Stu. As for Stu-E himself, I know he was complimentary of me and all the matches he had and about my chances of winning the title in the future.

Sean turned from Roderick and stared into the camera, the Parker emerald-green eyes almost turning ruby red.

(Sean): Do you know what I have for you, Stu? Nothing.

Holding the microphone just in-shot, Roderick looks even more taken aback. As Sean speaks, there is barely any emotion but there is a subtle venom contouring through his voice.

(Sean): I have nothing for you! No congratulations, no good-lucks, no well-wishes, no fist bumps, no all-the-bests. Nothing.

Sean brings his finger up, pointing toward the camera to accentuate the next words he speaks.

(Sean): Not. One. Single. Solitary. f***. So all those nice, uplifting things you had to say? Save them. Save them for the interviews, for the podcasts, the Ask-Me-Anythings. Because I neither want them nor need them.

Sean turns back to Roderick, his expression not changing.

(Sean): Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with my girlfriend.

Without another word, Sean walks off out of shot of the camera leaving Roderick speechless as the scene fades to black.