Backstage, a large number of balloons and streamers occupy the hallways, throwing much of the staff out of whack, busting balloons either out of spite of just to get to their location.
Various talent try to make their way through the chaos, one in particular, Ace, being the most suspicious, as it has “Bray” written all over it.
Random Worker: Who the f*** did this!?
Mori: I have an idea… the f***ing idiot…
She pops and stomps her way through the hall, coming to a locker room door lazily labelled “For Kelsie”.
Mori: What the sh**…?
She slowly opens the door, revealing a room filled with framed pictures. All of the pictures had one thing in common: every single one of them had Ace in it. Baby pictures, toddler pictures, adolescent pictures, you name it.
Ace: Uh... Ali? You in here?
No answer. She takes a moment to observe some of the pictures, some of which she was positive she had never let Bray seen. But, somehow, they were there.
Ace: When did he get all this…?
At the end of the room, a picture of Ace in her cap and gown, about to graduate, hung proudly above the rest. Almost as if it’s the one with the most significance.
Bray: What do you think?
She spins around, startled, and sees her brother holding a cloaked rectangular object behind his back. Though he’s smiling, she’s still on edge, debating her next words.
Ace: Ali… what is this?
Bray: You don’t like it?
Ace: It’s fine… great… that good stuff. But, what’s this all about?
Bray: What do you mean "what’s it all about?"
He puts the object down and points around.
Bray: It’s about you! All about you! And… something else...
Ace: What is it?
Mori: Who’s neck I gotta f***ing break!?
Bray: Calm down. This has nothing to do with anyone.
Mori: So what the f*** is with the decorations then? It’s not her f***ing birthday, dude.
Bray: I know. But, this is even better.
He takes the object he was holding and brings it forward.
Bray: “Check” a look...
She tears the paper covering it apart, slowly revealing a sort of painting within. She continues opening it. Upon ripping the last bit off, we see ELEGANCE, PERFECTION, AND BEAUTY in a seamless combination to provide us with a nearly perfectly painted portrait of-
Ace: Me?...
Bray: That’s right. I wanted to paint for someone more professional to paint it, but I decided to do it myself. What do you think?
Ace: It’s…
She starts to tear up. Bray grabs a napkin out of his pocket and swiftly wipes her tear, her look of sadness suddenly turning “what the f*** is he doing?”
Bray: It’s nothing to cry about. It’s perfection, isn’t it?
As she cleans herself up, he lifts her up in a “brotherly” embrace, almost making it appear as if he’s slowly suffocating her.
Ace: Ali, hey! Calm it down…
Bray: But you’re the best sister in the world! LOVE YOU!
Ace: I, uh, love you too. Now, can you put me down?
He obliges, but doesn’t let go of the hold.
Ace: …Ali? Hello?
The camera holds on the two: Bray, eyes closed enjoying the moment, and Ace, confused but not growing worrisome over her brother’s behavior. The hug lasts a bit longer, growing from emotional to unusual to eventually...
Uncomfortable.
The camera pans to the announce team.
Such anger!
He needs help!
STEEL CAGE
CODE TERROR
vs
THE CELTIC DRAGONS*
The camera pans to the announce team.
Well..
I suppose!
We see Cort Marshall and Christian Shepherd, the recently-suffering tag team of AWOL, backstage. They make their way through the halls of the Barclays Center, talking about the show.
Shep: Damn, that main event was crazy.
Cort: Yep. Can’t shake that feeling of jealousy, though. Holding the titles high…
Shep: It’ll happen… when you stop getting pinned.
Cort: He got lucky, man. I was THIS close!
Shep: Yeah, well, people can’t keep getting lucky forever.
Cort: They won’t! Forget about it, let’s just grab some takeout and…
Cort stops dead as he enters the parking garage. The camera catches up and pans over the destruction wrought by Jackson Montgomery, and settles in on what at one point must have been a pickup truck. Now, it’s just four wheels and a rusty, u-shaped metal shell.
Cort: Who… why… when… how… WHAT HAPPENED HERE!?
Cort looks around and finds a parking attendant. He rushes up to them and grabs them by the shirt collar, veins bulging out of his neck.
Cort: My truck? What. Happened. To. My TRUCK!
The employee is clearly nervous and manages to spit out his words
Attendant: Jackson. Jim t-told me it was Jackson! M-montgomery.
Cort: Oooooooooohhh noooo. Nobody does me dirty like that. Not by baby, no. NO WAY JOSE! Where is he!?
Attendant: He left hours ago… in his monster truck. It’s got a big American flag on it and everything.
Cort: Thank you.
Cort lets the employee go and spins on his heel.
Cort: He’s gonna pay for this.
Shep: How much was it even worth anymore, anyway?
Cort: $500, give or take. That is NOT the point! It’s a family heirloom!
