*Backstage, Akira Wyld is trudging down the hallway toward the Union locker room with a furious look on his face. Brawler Beckett is jogging hurriedly after him.*

AKIRA: “I’m going to kill him. Spoils knew damn well what he was doing out there. That’s the LAST straw.”

BECKETT: “Don’t say that, Wyld. You’re not going to kill anyone. Don’t let your frustration do your thinking over what must be a simple misunderstanding-”

AKIRA: “The hell it was! You saw exactly what happened out there. Gehenna cost me… cost US… our chance at getting back the NWC Title this season! I had that bastard Watts! I could have beat him on my own!”

BECKETT: “No one is doubting that. Nick must have just been trying to help. I mean… you saw what happened last week. We were stuck backstage. That was Black’s doing! As a result, you were assaulted by Fury. Not Nick, myself, nor anyone could-”

*Akira whips around and puts up a finger in Beckett’s face.*

AKIRA: “That was… that was completely different! This was my shot! This was my chance to prove to… to…”

BECKETT: “Akira! You don’t NEED to prove anything! Every time Black works against us, he wins another moral victory for us by proving our point! But your getting frustrated because we don’t measure up to HIS standards hands him those victories back, and now it is … it is beginning to show in the way you react and in the way Nick thinks you are treating him and his. Remember, he is a manager. He doesn’t think like we do. He is used to seeing things happen and being in charge of them. He is used to putting his clients first, not a cause. He doesn’t see things from in the arena. He isn’t a fighter like we are. How COULD he understand?

“Listen. Let’s go talk to Nick. This will work out. Trust me.

“And look … if he and his ARE out to get you … remember where I stand on the matter. You and me. We started this and we’ll finish it. I’ve always got your back, mate.”

*Akira nods and starts walking down the hall again.*

AKIRA: “I… yeah I know. I appreciate that. Loyalty is in short supply these days you know. We might have to get touch with Nick and his crew. They don’t see the big picture like we do. But as long as you have my back on this we’ll set them straight.”

*Akira and Beckett turn a corner… and come face to face with Derrick Arzon who is passing by in the opposite direction. As they pass, Beckett sneers and leans into Arzon, shoulder checking him into the wall. Derrick puts out his hand to stop himself. He turns and gives Beckett a dirty look.*

BECKETT: “Clumsy twat, aren’t you?”

ARZON: “Back off, Beckett. All I want is to get to the locker room.”

BECKETT: “Custodial staff aren’t allowed back there until us real athletes are finished, mush. You’ll have to wait outside.”

ARZON: “You know, it’s just like you to talk tough when you have numbers. I’m not done with you yet, not by a long shot. Akira is the only thing saving you right now.”

BECKETT: * without looking away from Arzon * “Mr. Wyld, my esteemed colleague, please go on ahead. You needn’t stay and witness any more senseless violence.” * as Akira leaves, he continues*** “Your mouth shouldn’t be writing checks that your broke-arse cannot cash, mat-scrubber.”

Arzon puts his chest up against Beckett’s and goes nose-to-nose with the Englishman. Beckett doesn’t back down.

ARZON: “I don’t care what happened at King of Deathmatch, you don’t get to push me around. This is your last warning: get out of my way.”

BECKETT: **nose and forehead pressing against each others’ like a pair of bulls** “Ooh, I believe I’ve got under your skin, boy. You seem downright furious. Pity that, if there were a damn, I wouldn’t give it.” **smiling cruelly, he shoves Arzon back with his forehead**

*Arzon comes right back and pushes Beckett, backing him up a step. Beckett smiles, surprised, and puts his hands up to back off, when Arzon begins to relax his guard, Beckett sucker punches Arzon in the nose! Arzon stumbles, and Beckett presses the attack. The two begin trading punches at a furious pace until Arzon lands a sold blow to Beckett’s nose, causing Beckett to lose his timing. Arzon capitalizes on the opening and slams Beckett into the wall and starts raining blows to his head and shoulders. Beckett shrieks and covers up, both men bloodied. Just then, Akira Wyld pops up from around the corner and sees Arzon brutalizing Beckett.*

AKIRA: “Hey! Get the hell off him you twerp!”

*Akira runs up to Arzon, spins him around, and shoves him hard into the wall. Beckett stumbles to his feet, checks his jaw, and sneers at Arzon. With Arzon’s attention devoted to Akira, he doesn’t see Beckett, who approaches him from his blindside, landing a vicious forearm into Arzon’s ear, crumpling him to the ground. Beckett follows up with a couple of hard kicks to Arzon’s exposed ribs.*

BECKETT: “Bastard! That’s for Agatha!”

AKIRA: “Come on… we’ve got Union business to deal with.”

*Beckett nods and smiles. He throws one more hard kick into Arzon’s side and heads down the hall after Akira.*