02-26-2026, 03:31 AM
PREVIOUSLY – OFF CAMERA
(As far as Shaun was concerned, that was it. It was all over. The moment he had picked up the envelope from the mailbox in the hotel that had become his home, he knew what it contained. As he opened it, there was no surprise as he read the words that confirmed that his marriage was over. He could have felt guilty. He should have felt guilty, but somehow, he had put any remorse to the back of his mind, and all he felt was relief. Not relief that he was out of marriage. No, relief that he couldn’t hold back Angyalka or Dorothea any longer and they were free of him. With financial stability that would make sure they could only grow. That was it, Shaun had now severed ties with all that had ever loved him. He was on his own, exactly the way he had wanted it. On his own, where he couldn’t hurt anyone else any longer. Now, stood on the edge of a cliff face, he could have been staring into his own oblivion. He could just take one more step, and it would all be over. But for him, that would be too easy. He didn’t deserve to go out like that. He had to feel the pain he had caused, that he had earned, ten times over. And he’s made sure that for the rest of his life, that pain stabbed at his heart like the sharpest knife. It was the very least he could do.)
THREE MONTHS LATER – OFF CAMERA
(It would have been wrong to suggest that Shaun had been at his lowest ebb since the divorce. The truth was he felt like a burden had been lifted. If he did anything, the only impact it had was on him. He could be the only one that would suffer. Of course, he was only kidding himself, because as he travelled the world, taking in the sights without care in the world, back home in Los Angeles, a daughter had been left without a father, and nobody that knew Shaun could comprehend why. Angyalka had only had single word replies to her texts. Owen didn’t want to speak to Shaun again until in his opinion he got his act together. No one, not a single person, understood why he had changed in this way, no one at least but Shaun, who was now acting with crystal clearness. He’d seen Dubai, he’d seen Thailand, he’d even spent a long time in both Australia and New Zealand, the world had truly been his oyster. And he hardly had any thought about what he had left behind. To others, he was the asshole who has left behind his daughter for no reason. To him, Shaun was a hero who had literally saved their life, and nothing, no one was going to change that. In one of his ‘unsure’ times, he had made his way back to Miami, looking to make amends with his nephew, but he had never made it to the front door. Now, that uncertainty had gone, and he lived his life as carefree as he possibly could. Whether he would have been as carefree if he had known someone was looking for him, that was doubtful. If he’d also known that it was Chris Clay, his own private investigator that was looking for him, then perhaps he would have had even more anxiety about being able to keep this up. Most definitely, if he had known exactly WHO had employed Chris, he would have felt that guilt bubbling to the surface, seeing as he had done his very best to avoid her, whether it be by call, email or text. Sat in a bar in Melbourne, looking out over the ocean, he could be forgiven for believing he was living his best life. He most certainly wouldn’t be… especially after the next ten seconds had passed.)
“Shaun…”
(He recognizes the voice immediately, her soft tones recognizable in an instant. He turns, unsurprisingly, to face Kelcey Wallace.)
Shaun: Kels…
Kelcey: Guessing by the look on your face, I’m the last person you expected to see, especially has you haven’t had the good grace to answer my calls.
Shaun: It’s been a rough…
Kelcey: Spare the monologue, I know exactly what has been going on.
(She takes a seat, raising her hand and pointing at Shaun’s beer and requesting one of the same from the barman. She then places her bag at her feet, fully aware that Shaun hadn’t taken his eyes of her. By her tone, he was already aware that this wasn’t a social visit, and no doubt the last throw of the dice by those who thought he could be ‘saved’. Everyone in the industry was fully aware that Shaun and Kelcey were close. In fact, there were those that would argue that the two of them had been involved in a romantic capacity although that certainly wasn’t the case. The two of them had been inseparable during their careers in SCW, even wining the Tag Team titles as ‘Perfect Impact’. Through the good times and the bad, they had always been there for each other, and that was why it was surprising to Kelcey that Shaun hadn’t been in touch. But by the same token it had been understandable, because if anyone could have spoken sense to Shaun it would have been her. They don’t say a word until Kelcey has taken a sip of her drink.)
Shaun: You look well.
(Kelcey laughs.)
Kelcey: Wish I could say the same thing about you. You look like shit.
Shaun: Thanks
Kelcey: Well, come on, the beard… makes you look about fifty.
Shaun: I feel it
Kelcey: Ah, so that’s the stage you are at huh? Pity? Must admit, I thought you’d be on depression about now.
(Shaun doesn’t respond, instead he just looks at her. He hadn’t seen her in over a year now, a shame considering she was once his best friend.)
Shaun: So, how did you find me?
Kelcey: Chris Clay… he’s every bit as good as you said he was.
Shaun: Yeah, regular fucking bloodhound that one. And I’m guessing you’ve been speaking with Owen?
Kelcey: Owen? No, not spoke to him since the Perfect Pack disbanded. No, this is all me Shaun. I’m Kelcey Wallace Shaun, I hear things, especially about those who are supposed to be my best friend. Cheating Shaun… really? Was Angyalka not enough for you?
Shaun: It wasn’t that…
Kelcey: Then what was it Shaun? As far as I can see, your life was, pardon the pun, perfect. You had everything. So how did it go so badly wrong?
(Shaun sighs and takes a sip of his beer. He had been through this multitude of times, and yet this time it was different. This time he was talking to his one true confidante, and he didn’t have to use the usual smoke and mirrors.)
Shaun: I was weak Kels and I fucked up. I thought I had it all, and yet I was nothing without the bright lights and pyrotechnics. I saw how easily Owen walked away, and I got jealous, but more than that I got bored. So no, to answer your question, Angyalka and Dorothea, they weren’t enough. Sarah gave me excitement, she made me feel alive again. For the shortest time, I felt like the Impact Player. I didn’t deserve them, I never deserved them… and so I walked away, before I could hurt them any more.
(Kelcey listened intently. She had heard that more than ever, it was easy to antagonize Shaun, and had heard directly from Owen, though she had lied that she hadn’t, that he had sent him overboard with a punch after Shaun had taken things way to personally when Owen was trying to help. She didn’t want to give him an excuse to walk away, while at the same time wanting to pick him up and shake him for being such an idiot. She chooses her next words very carefully.)
Kelcey: And did Angyalka get a choice in the matter?
(Shaun thinks about that question for a moment, before shaking his head.)
Shaun: I did what was best for them Kels.
Kelcey: Stop and think about that for a moment. Do you believe that? Really?
(Shaun looks away from Kelcey and towards the harbor, now guzzling the contents of the bottle until it is finished. He then looks at her dead in the eyes, his voice emotionless as he replies.)
Shaun: I did what was right for me.
(Kelcey leans back in her chair. There it was the one thing that Shaun had failed to admit to anyone who had questioned him. Whether it had been Angyalka, or Owen, his mindset was what he had done, he had done for Angyalka and Dorothea so that they could have the best life possible and not be dragged down by him. When the overwhelming truth was that all of this was because he wanted to be alone. He didn’t want to carry the burdens of being a husband and a father. What he wanted, was to be a selfish son of a bitch who cared about nothing but himself. Free. Although sickened, to her credit Kelcey shows very little in the way of emotion. She had already got from him what others could not… the truth. She didn’t want to alienate him like others had before.)
Kelcey: Shaun, I love you… you know that right?
Shaun: Of course.
Kelcey: You and I have been to hell and back… the stuff with Silas Mason, you were the one who never turned away from me, and I’ve always appreciated that. But this, right here, this person I am talking to. This isn’t the Shaun Cruze who I saw get married to the love of his life. I can be honest with you, right?
(Shaun gives a shrug of the shoulders which Kelcey takes as a yes.)
Kelcey: You’ve always thought of others to the detriment of yourself. You’ve always looked to help whenever you can and never mind the consequences. I loved that about you, but now all I see, and I’m sorry I have to say this. But all I see is a selfish bastard who cannot understand just how lucky he was. Because I’m telling you now Shaun, if the boot had been on the other foot, Angyalka would never have just walked away, she would have fought. Shaun Cruze ALWAYS fought for what was right. But this person you have become… it’s so very wrong.
(Shaun motions towards the waiter who comes over, Shaun ordering a Jack and Coke, the need for something stronger growing due to the home truth he was receiving hitting home. With Angy, with Owen… it had been easy to shrug their feelings off, even though that wasn’t right either. With Kelcey… someone who he considered a sister, her aim was perfect. Her words targeted, bending his emotions. For the first time in forever, he was seeing a different side. An opinion that wasn’t his. And that whole inner turmoil was in danger of spilling out. Kelcey places her hand on top of his that is rested on the table, and she looks deep into his eyes, a look that would give that same familiar opinion that they were lovers, something that both found hilarious.)
Kelcey: I’ve got you Shaun… what’s going on?
(Shaun gives the deepest of sighs, the façade of everything being ok abruptly broken and shattered into a million piece. A carefully constructed shield no better than one made of feathers.)
Shaun: I’m not enough…
(The words almost trickle out of his mouth. Words that were never supposed to be spoken out loud.)
Shaun: I’m nobody…
(His eyes do glisten, but a tear never falls though it threatens.)
Shaun: Worthless.
(For years, the Cruze family had been known for their confidence, a confidence that many saw as arrogance. Orlando had it, Shaun had it, and even Owen had it to some extent. What people didn’t see however that most of that confidence was nothing to do with ability or strength and instead a means to cover up a whole raft of insecurities.)
Kelcey: Go on Shaun…
(Kelcey pulls the chair around so that she is closer, still holding his hand.)
Shaun: When I first started in MMA, I was the same. I didn’t believe that I could ever amount to something that people remembered. Moving into SCW, people started to adore me, I was loved and cheered around the World. When I became the Impact Player, I couldn’t walk down the street without someone stopping me and wanting to chat. I never minded; in fact, I loved it. Then, I went into movies, and surely, I wasn’t the biggest star in the world, but the films were a success, everyone knew who I was. Impact Media was born, and even that went well… allowing me to sell it for millions of dollars and set myself up for life. Whenever I went back to SCW, the fans hadn’t forgotten me, I was still the Impact Player, and that carried on… until it didn’t. Suddenly, all I had was my family. And I know how that sounds Kelcey. I know it should have been enough for me, but it wasn’t. I missed the lights; I missed the competition but more than anything I missed the excitement. I knew I couldn’t be a wrestler anymore; I knew that Rise to Greatness was going to be the last hurrah and so suddenly from being the Impact Player and the man on everyone’s lips, I became quite simply Shaun Cruze. Nothing more than any man you could pick off the street… and I got so fucking bored. So fed up in my own skin. And so, I started hating myself. I hated what I had become and so went looking for that which could excite me again. A stupid fucking affair that cost me everything. I saw the look on Angyalka’s face, how much I had hurt her… I couldn’t bear it. I couldn’t bear the way she looked at me… and so I had to walk away. She looked at me like I was nothing… and so it was. I became nothing. Not a businessman, not a wrestler, not a husband and certainly not deserving of being a father to a beautiful little girl. I became the person I deserved to be. NOTHING.
(The waiter arrives with the Jack and Coke, Shaun not even allowing him to put it on the table before he takes it from him and downs it in one.)
Shaun: Another please
(The waiter rolls his eyes and walks away to do as asked. During this action, Kelcey had composed her thoughts, inwardly rehearsing what she was going to say. They sit in silence for a short while, Kelcey allowing the waiter to return with another drink which thankfully Shaun doesn’t down before it touches the table.)
Kelcey: Can I be honest with you Shaun? I ask that, because I don’t want this to turn into a shouting match, or me end up in the ocean like Shaun did.
Shaun: You have been speaking with Owen then?
Kelcey: Only because I was looking for you.
Shaun: Kelcey, you know you can say anything to me.
Kelcey: Good, because you’re not going to like what I have to say.
(Shaun takes his hand from underneath hers, but only to place his on top.
Shaun: Just be honest with me.
Kelcey: OK here goes. You’ve been an idiot Shaun, letting Angyalka go the way you have. She was your one, she adored you and would have done anything for you and letting her go will probably turn out to be the biggest mistakes of your life. That’s done though, there is no getting away from that and that’s just going to have to be something you’re going to have to live with. Angyalka will probably move on, she’s beautiful and will have little trouble finding someone else if she hasn’t already. But Dorothea… I’m sorry Shaun, but I won’t let you walk away from that little girl. She needs her Daddy in her life, and whether you think it or not right now, Shaun Cruze will never be a NOBODY. Whether you are inside a ring or not, Shuan Cruze will always be known as the Impact Player, media mogul and former SCW World Champion. Shaun Cruze will always be recognized whenever you walk down the street. Because whether you believe it or not, Shaun Cruze HAS made a difference to the lives of so many. That’s not a nobody… that’s a SOMEBODY, some one who has the reach to make lives better. And yes, I’ll agree, you need to sort yourself out. You’re a mess, I agree. But if you do that… if you get to rehab, cut the drinking and get rid of that awful beard…
(Even though she is being serious, the comment brings at least a smirk from them both.)
Kelcey: I PROMISE you that your daughter needs you, regardless of whether you are with Angyalka or not. A daughter needs a father… especially someone who is as good at it as you are.
(Those final words resonate with him. Had he forgotten that in amongst all his failings as a cheating husband. That he was a good father to Angyalka despite everything.)
Kelcey: Like I say, you may have burnt your bridges with most people… but the one you must rebuild is with Dorothea. There may be severe consequences when she gets older if you don’t.
(Shaun picks up the glass, rattling the ice around it, watching the whiskey swirl around, his mind doing the same.)
Shaun: I’m not even sure Angyalka will let me near Dorothea… never mind be a father.
Kelcey: She will… she told me so herself.
(In that instant it becomes clear. Although Kelcey cared for Shaun, she wasn’t there for herself. This was the very last throw of the dice, the final attempt to stop Shaun before he was lost forever. Kelcey had done what others could not, gotten past Shaun’s pride, and the barriers he had placed to protect himself, and had gotten to the most important subject of all. Dorothea. And try as he might, Shaun couldn’t produce a single reason to dispute why she wasn’t bang on the money with what needed to happen next.)
Kelcey: All you must do Shaun, is stop running away, pick up the phone and give Angyalka a call. Do that, and you can at least start making amends of one of your idiotic decisions. But there is one more thing I want you to do for me.
Shaun: You’re pushing it now Kels.
Kelcey: Come on, we both know you are going to do as I say. Talk to someone, someone professional. I’m not a doctor love, but even I can tell when someone is suffering from depression.
Shaun: I’ll think about it
Kelcey: Thank you… oh, and one more thing?
(Shaun eyes her with mock anger, but chuckles as she says the words.)
Kelcey: Shave that beard. PLEASE. You weren’t particularly handsome before, but now you look like a Hells Angel, and it doesn’t suit. Now, if we are going to drink, how’s about you and I do it properly huh?
(She motions for the waiter again, Shaun looking at her in a similar way to how he always did. There was a bond between the two of them that could never be broken, and as Angyalka had thought, she had been the only person that could have every gotten through to him. Yes, Shaun may have messed up by selling Impact Media. Yes, maybe he should have carried on wrestling. And certainly, he should never have cheated on Angyalka, no matter what the situation. But in contradiction to his belief, the one thing he was good at was being a dad. And now after this conversation, he had the opportunity to be a dad again, something he thought he’d never get the chance again. He wasn’t a anybody, Kelcey was right. He had a purpose. And that was to make sure that Dorothea NEVER turned out like him. Tomorrow was a new day. Tomorrow he will be better. But tonight… he would get mortally drunk with his best friend.)
(As far as Shaun was concerned, that was it. It was all over. The moment he had picked up the envelope from the mailbox in the hotel that had become his home, he knew what it contained. As he opened it, there was no surprise as he read the words that confirmed that his marriage was over. He could have felt guilty. He should have felt guilty, but somehow, he had put any remorse to the back of his mind, and all he felt was relief. Not relief that he was out of marriage. No, relief that he couldn’t hold back Angyalka or Dorothea any longer and they were free of him. With financial stability that would make sure they could only grow. That was it, Shaun had now severed ties with all that had ever loved him. He was on his own, exactly the way he had wanted it. On his own, where he couldn’t hurt anyone else any longer. Now, stood on the edge of a cliff face, he could have been staring into his own oblivion. He could just take one more step, and it would all be over. But for him, that would be too easy. He didn’t deserve to go out like that. He had to feel the pain he had caused, that he had earned, ten times over. And he’s made sure that for the rest of his life, that pain stabbed at his heart like the sharpest knife. It was the very least he could do.)
THREE MONTHS LATER – OFF CAMERA
(It would have been wrong to suggest that Shaun had been at his lowest ebb since the divorce. The truth was he felt like a burden had been lifted. If he did anything, the only impact it had was on him. He could be the only one that would suffer. Of course, he was only kidding himself, because as he travelled the world, taking in the sights without care in the world, back home in Los Angeles, a daughter had been left without a father, and nobody that knew Shaun could comprehend why. Angyalka had only had single word replies to her texts. Owen didn’t want to speak to Shaun again until in his opinion he got his act together. No one, not a single person, understood why he had changed in this way, no one at least but Shaun, who was now acting with crystal clearness. He’d seen Dubai, he’d seen Thailand, he’d even spent a long time in both Australia and New Zealand, the world had truly been his oyster. And he hardly had any thought about what he had left behind. To others, he was the asshole who has left behind his daughter for no reason. To him, Shaun was a hero who had literally saved their life, and nothing, no one was going to change that. In one of his ‘unsure’ times, he had made his way back to Miami, looking to make amends with his nephew, but he had never made it to the front door. Now, that uncertainty had gone, and he lived his life as carefree as he possibly could. Whether he would have been as carefree if he had known someone was looking for him, that was doubtful. If he’d also known that it was Chris Clay, his own private investigator that was looking for him, then perhaps he would have had even more anxiety about being able to keep this up. Most definitely, if he had known exactly WHO had employed Chris, he would have felt that guilt bubbling to the surface, seeing as he had done his very best to avoid her, whether it be by call, email or text. Sat in a bar in Melbourne, looking out over the ocean, he could be forgiven for believing he was living his best life. He most certainly wouldn’t be… especially after the next ten seconds had passed.)
“Shaun…”
(He recognizes the voice immediately, her soft tones recognizable in an instant. He turns, unsurprisingly, to face Kelcey Wallace.)
Shaun: Kels…
Kelcey: Guessing by the look on your face, I’m the last person you expected to see, especially has you haven’t had the good grace to answer my calls.
Shaun: It’s been a rough…
Kelcey: Spare the monologue, I know exactly what has been going on.
(She takes a seat, raising her hand and pointing at Shaun’s beer and requesting one of the same from the barman. She then places her bag at her feet, fully aware that Shaun hadn’t taken his eyes of her. By her tone, he was already aware that this wasn’t a social visit, and no doubt the last throw of the dice by those who thought he could be ‘saved’. Everyone in the industry was fully aware that Shaun and Kelcey were close. In fact, there were those that would argue that the two of them had been involved in a romantic capacity although that certainly wasn’t the case. The two of them had been inseparable during their careers in SCW, even wining the Tag Team titles as ‘Perfect Impact’. Through the good times and the bad, they had always been there for each other, and that was why it was surprising to Kelcey that Shaun hadn’t been in touch. But by the same token it had been understandable, because if anyone could have spoken sense to Shaun it would have been her. They don’t say a word until Kelcey has taken a sip of her drink.)
Shaun: You look well.
(Kelcey laughs.)
Kelcey: Wish I could say the same thing about you. You look like shit.
Shaun: Thanks
Kelcey: Well, come on, the beard… makes you look about fifty.
Shaun: I feel it
Kelcey: Ah, so that’s the stage you are at huh? Pity? Must admit, I thought you’d be on depression about now.
(Shaun doesn’t respond, instead he just looks at her. He hadn’t seen her in over a year now, a shame considering she was once his best friend.)
Shaun: So, how did you find me?
Kelcey: Chris Clay… he’s every bit as good as you said he was.
Shaun: Yeah, regular fucking bloodhound that one. And I’m guessing you’ve been speaking with Owen?
Kelcey: Owen? No, not spoke to him since the Perfect Pack disbanded. No, this is all me Shaun. I’m Kelcey Wallace Shaun, I hear things, especially about those who are supposed to be my best friend. Cheating Shaun… really? Was Angyalka not enough for you?
Shaun: It wasn’t that…
Kelcey: Then what was it Shaun? As far as I can see, your life was, pardon the pun, perfect. You had everything. So how did it go so badly wrong?
(Shaun sighs and takes a sip of his beer. He had been through this multitude of times, and yet this time it was different. This time he was talking to his one true confidante, and he didn’t have to use the usual smoke and mirrors.)
Shaun: I was weak Kels and I fucked up. I thought I had it all, and yet I was nothing without the bright lights and pyrotechnics. I saw how easily Owen walked away, and I got jealous, but more than that I got bored. So no, to answer your question, Angyalka and Dorothea, they weren’t enough. Sarah gave me excitement, she made me feel alive again. For the shortest time, I felt like the Impact Player. I didn’t deserve them, I never deserved them… and so I walked away, before I could hurt them any more.
(Kelcey listened intently. She had heard that more than ever, it was easy to antagonize Shaun, and had heard directly from Owen, though she had lied that she hadn’t, that he had sent him overboard with a punch after Shaun had taken things way to personally when Owen was trying to help. She didn’t want to give him an excuse to walk away, while at the same time wanting to pick him up and shake him for being such an idiot. She chooses her next words very carefully.)
Kelcey: And did Angyalka get a choice in the matter?
(Shaun thinks about that question for a moment, before shaking his head.)
Shaun: I did what was best for them Kels.
Kelcey: Stop and think about that for a moment. Do you believe that? Really?
(Shaun looks away from Kelcey and towards the harbor, now guzzling the contents of the bottle until it is finished. He then looks at her dead in the eyes, his voice emotionless as he replies.)
Shaun: I did what was right for me.
(Kelcey leans back in her chair. There it was the one thing that Shaun had failed to admit to anyone who had questioned him. Whether it had been Angyalka, or Owen, his mindset was what he had done, he had done for Angyalka and Dorothea so that they could have the best life possible and not be dragged down by him. When the overwhelming truth was that all of this was because he wanted to be alone. He didn’t want to carry the burdens of being a husband and a father. What he wanted, was to be a selfish son of a bitch who cared about nothing but himself. Free. Although sickened, to her credit Kelcey shows very little in the way of emotion. She had already got from him what others could not… the truth. She didn’t want to alienate him like others had before.)
Kelcey: Shaun, I love you… you know that right?
Shaun: Of course.
Kelcey: You and I have been to hell and back… the stuff with Silas Mason, you were the one who never turned away from me, and I’ve always appreciated that. But this, right here, this person I am talking to. This isn’t the Shaun Cruze who I saw get married to the love of his life. I can be honest with you, right?
(Shaun gives a shrug of the shoulders which Kelcey takes as a yes.)
Kelcey: You’ve always thought of others to the detriment of yourself. You’ve always looked to help whenever you can and never mind the consequences. I loved that about you, but now all I see, and I’m sorry I have to say this. But all I see is a selfish bastard who cannot understand just how lucky he was. Because I’m telling you now Shaun, if the boot had been on the other foot, Angyalka would never have just walked away, she would have fought. Shaun Cruze ALWAYS fought for what was right. But this person you have become… it’s so very wrong.
(Shaun motions towards the waiter who comes over, Shaun ordering a Jack and Coke, the need for something stronger growing due to the home truth he was receiving hitting home. With Angy, with Owen… it had been easy to shrug their feelings off, even though that wasn’t right either. With Kelcey… someone who he considered a sister, her aim was perfect. Her words targeted, bending his emotions. For the first time in forever, he was seeing a different side. An opinion that wasn’t his. And that whole inner turmoil was in danger of spilling out. Kelcey places her hand on top of his that is rested on the table, and she looks deep into his eyes, a look that would give that same familiar opinion that they were lovers, something that both found hilarious.)
Kelcey: I’ve got you Shaun… what’s going on?
(Shaun gives the deepest of sighs, the façade of everything being ok abruptly broken and shattered into a million piece. A carefully constructed shield no better than one made of feathers.)
Shaun: I’m not enough…
(The words almost trickle out of his mouth. Words that were never supposed to be spoken out loud.)
Shaun: I’m nobody…
(His eyes do glisten, but a tear never falls though it threatens.)
Shaun: Worthless.
(For years, the Cruze family had been known for their confidence, a confidence that many saw as arrogance. Orlando had it, Shaun had it, and even Owen had it to some extent. What people didn’t see however that most of that confidence was nothing to do with ability or strength and instead a means to cover up a whole raft of insecurities.)
Kelcey: Go on Shaun…
(Kelcey pulls the chair around so that she is closer, still holding his hand.)
Shaun: When I first started in MMA, I was the same. I didn’t believe that I could ever amount to something that people remembered. Moving into SCW, people started to adore me, I was loved and cheered around the World. When I became the Impact Player, I couldn’t walk down the street without someone stopping me and wanting to chat. I never minded; in fact, I loved it. Then, I went into movies, and surely, I wasn’t the biggest star in the world, but the films were a success, everyone knew who I was. Impact Media was born, and even that went well… allowing me to sell it for millions of dollars and set myself up for life. Whenever I went back to SCW, the fans hadn’t forgotten me, I was still the Impact Player, and that carried on… until it didn’t. Suddenly, all I had was my family. And I know how that sounds Kelcey. I know it should have been enough for me, but it wasn’t. I missed the lights; I missed the competition but more than anything I missed the excitement. I knew I couldn’t be a wrestler anymore; I knew that Rise to Greatness was going to be the last hurrah and so suddenly from being the Impact Player and the man on everyone’s lips, I became quite simply Shaun Cruze. Nothing more than any man you could pick off the street… and I got so fucking bored. So fed up in my own skin. And so, I started hating myself. I hated what I had become and so went looking for that which could excite me again. A stupid fucking affair that cost me everything. I saw the look on Angyalka’s face, how much I had hurt her… I couldn’t bear it. I couldn’t bear the way she looked at me… and so I had to walk away. She looked at me like I was nothing… and so it was. I became nothing. Not a businessman, not a wrestler, not a husband and certainly not deserving of being a father to a beautiful little girl. I became the person I deserved to be. NOTHING.
(The waiter arrives with the Jack and Coke, Shaun not even allowing him to put it on the table before he takes it from him and downs it in one.)
Shaun: Another please
(The waiter rolls his eyes and walks away to do as asked. During this action, Kelcey had composed her thoughts, inwardly rehearsing what she was going to say. They sit in silence for a short while, Kelcey allowing the waiter to return with another drink which thankfully Shaun doesn’t down before it touches the table.)
Kelcey: Can I be honest with you Shaun? I ask that, because I don’t want this to turn into a shouting match, or me end up in the ocean like Shaun did.
Shaun: You have been speaking with Owen then?
Kelcey: Only because I was looking for you.
Shaun: Kelcey, you know you can say anything to me.
Kelcey: Good, because you’re not going to like what I have to say.
(Shaun takes his hand from underneath hers, but only to place his on top.
Shaun: Just be honest with me.
Kelcey: OK here goes. You’ve been an idiot Shaun, letting Angyalka go the way you have. She was your one, she adored you and would have done anything for you and letting her go will probably turn out to be the biggest mistakes of your life. That’s done though, there is no getting away from that and that’s just going to have to be something you’re going to have to live with. Angyalka will probably move on, she’s beautiful and will have little trouble finding someone else if she hasn’t already. But Dorothea… I’m sorry Shaun, but I won’t let you walk away from that little girl. She needs her Daddy in her life, and whether you think it or not right now, Shaun Cruze will never be a NOBODY. Whether you are inside a ring or not, Shuan Cruze will always be known as the Impact Player, media mogul and former SCW World Champion. Shaun Cruze will always be recognized whenever you walk down the street. Because whether you believe it or not, Shaun Cruze HAS made a difference to the lives of so many. That’s not a nobody… that’s a SOMEBODY, some one who has the reach to make lives better. And yes, I’ll agree, you need to sort yourself out. You’re a mess, I agree. But if you do that… if you get to rehab, cut the drinking and get rid of that awful beard…
(Even though she is being serious, the comment brings at least a smirk from them both.)
Kelcey: I PROMISE you that your daughter needs you, regardless of whether you are with Angyalka or not. A daughter needs a father… especially someone who is as good at it as you are.
(Those final words resonate with him. Had he forgotten that in amongst all his failings as a cheating husband. That he was a good father to Angyalka despite everything.)
Kelcey: Like I say, you may have burnt your bridges with most people… but the one you must rebuild is with Dorothea. There may be severe consequences when she gets older if you don’t.
(Shaun picks up the glass, rattling the ice around it, watching the whiskey swirl around, his mind doing the same.)
Shaun: I’m not even sure Angyalka will let me near Dorothea… never mind be a father.
Kelcey: She will… she told me so herself.
(In that instant it becomes clear. Although Kelcey cared for Shaun, she wasn’t there for herself. This was the very last throw of the dice, the final attempt to stop Shaun before he was lost forever. Kelcey had done what others could not, gotten past Shaun’s pride, and the barriers he had placed to protect himself, and had gotten to the most important subject of all. Dorothea. And try as he might, Shaun couldn’t produce a single reason to dispute why she wasn’t bang on the money with what needed to happen next.)
Kelcey: All you must do Shaun, is stop running away, pick up the phone and give Angyalka a call. Do that, and you can at least start making amends of one of your idiotic decisions. But there is one more thing I want you to do for me.
Shaun: You’re pushing it now Kels.
Kelcey: Come on, we both know you are going to do as I say. Talk to someone, someone professional. I’m not a doctor love, but even I can tell when someone is suffering from depression.
Shaun: I’ll think about it
Kelcey: Thank you… oh, and one more thing?
(Shaun eyes her with mock anger, but chuckles as she says the words.)
Kelcey: Shave that beard. PLEASE. You weren’t particularly handsome before, but now you look like a Hells Angel, and it doesn’t suit. Now, if we are going to drink, how’s about you and I do it properly huh?
(She motions for the waiter again, Shaun looking at her in a similar way to how he always did. There was a bond between the two of them that could never be broken, and as Angyalka had thought, she had been the only person that could have every gotten through to him. Yes, Shaun may have messed up by selling Impact Media. Yes, maybe he should have carried on wrestling. And certainly, he should never have cheated on Angyalka, no matter what the situation. But in contradiction to his belief, the one thing he was good at was being a dad. And now after this conversation, he had the opportunity to be a dad again, something he thought he’d never get the chance again. He wasn’t a anybody, Kelcey was right. He had a purpose. And that was to make sure that Dorothea NEVER turned out like him. Tomorrow was a new day. Tomorrow he will be better. But tonight… he would get mortally drunk with his best friend.)
![[Image: Shaun-Cruze.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/SX5Ng4rx/Shaun-Cruze.jpg)