In the Wake of Retribution ...

[Stu]

*** the locker room, after Reckoning. ROBERT MACELROY sits sullenly on a bench, a thousand-yard stare in his eyes. KEVIN STARR, wearing a t-shirt and trunks, walks to a locker and opens it, while RONNIE LASSITER, in street clothes, finishes packing his duffle. ***

KEVIN STARR: “Shower is free, Mac.”

RONNIE LASSITER: “Any word on when that water line is going to get fixed? This one-shower head business is old, already, and it’s only been one day!”

KS: “Nah, but it aughtta be fixed by tomorrow. Say what you will about Mr. Black, he gets things done.”

RL: “Yeah …”

KS: “Somethin’ on your mind, Ron?”

RL: “Nah, don’t worry about it.”

KS: “I mean, for a guy who just won King of Deathmatch, you don’t seem exactly in a dancin’ mood.”

RL: “Nah, I just … things got real heavy around here in a real short amount of time, y’ know?”

KS: “Dude, we just finished a season, and a kick-ass PPV. Of course it got heavy. Now we get a break and-”

RL: “No, no, that ain’t what I mean. I mean … all the stuff that’s going down between the Union and Black … I feel like we’re caught in the cross-fire, here. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a PWA man … at least, I think I am.”

KS: “What do you mean, you think you are?”

RL: “Well, I sure as Hell ain’t for the Union, but I came here to wrestle, not to play politics, and it seems like everyone is being forced to pick sides with who ever is closest to what they think, instead of just … bein’, y’know?”

KS: “Ron, the politics are part of this business, like any other. The Union is forcing the divide, not PWA itself.”

RL: “Black didn’t do much to stop it.”

KS: “Aw, that ain’t his fault. Some people just want to start trouble, or take what ain’t theirs.”

RL: “Well, Shooter says that we aughtta keep our heads on wrestling, not this other stuff. He says that all this other junk tears the business down. Look at that North West promotion. They’ve got a solid house. What’s different?”

KS: “What’s different here is the ambition is greater, the athletes more competitive. Remember, I started up there at NWCW, and I can tell you they’ve got their own problems. Ours are bigger in scope because WE are bigger in scope. Top of that, dude, you keep talkin’ about what the Shooter says. What do you say?”

RL: “I don’t know … I don’t know …”

KS: “Well, I know one thing: after tonight, Union is on the run, babe! Bein’ a Southern myself, that feels pretty good to say!” *** laughs ***

RL: “What about you, Mac? What do you think about all thi-”

*** As RONNIE slaps MACELROY’s shoulder, the Scotsman slumps forward and lands limply on the floor. ***

RL: “Call an ambulance! Get the medics in here! Hurry!”

*** STARR runs out, swearing, as LASSITER starts first aid/ CPR.***

RL: “Come on, Mac, what the Hell …”