Post by Ned the Intern on Apr 9, 2020 17:49:20 GMT -5
Controversial Circle Wrestling Academy and Ice Cream Emporium. Ozone Park, New York. Nathan and Sara are in their office, doing some early spring cleaning thanks to the fucking lockdown. Nathan takes a break from shredding old documents, and he puts his feet up on the desk.
"Ozone Park is a ghost town. The only thing keeping the lights on is Dan delivering ice cream. Postponing training is the worst thing for those kids."
"But just think… when it's all over… they'll want to get out and train even more."
"Nah. They'll all be fat, lazy piles of shit from all the time out of the gym."
"Only half the class has ever been to a gym. The other half are the ones I'm counting on the most to continue training. Those are the ones in front of their TVs watching the YouTube links I sent 'em."
"Did you ever hear back from Lexi about coming in to work with me this week?"
"I didn't ask her. I figured with the lockdown and all… that her being here would be considered gathering or something."
"She's family. It's not like she's hanging out with some of her sorority sisters. How is she still staying there? Everyone else went home."
"Her mom lives in Chicago… or near Chicago. Lexi is hiding out at the sorority house. She didn't want to go all the way back home."
"She should come stay with us."
"I don't think… that's such a great idea…"
"You're going to have to face the fact that she's in your life now and she's not going away."
"I know that. I just don't… want to pressure her into having a relationship. I know what… it's like… to not have a dad for most of my life… and then to suddenly be in his world."
"You are nothing like your dad… and Lexi is nothing like you. She wants to be in your world… otherwise she wouldn't have started training back in Chicago before coming out here."
"I still don't understand how that happened. Her mom knew… all along… and didn't tell her about me… or me… about her."
"Lexi told me that her mom would casually turn on [REDACTED] when you were working there, in hopes that Lexi would somehow recognize something in you… and then she would ask questions. I don't know why she wouldn't come out and tell her that you're her father."
"That still sounds so… weird… and I still can't believe how cool you are about it all."
"Knowing how messed up your family tree is… it doesn't surprise me that you have a long lost daughter."
"My family? Try OUR family, Sara. My deceased sister's husband married your mom when you were just a kid."
"I know, I know. I try not to bring that up. It makes us sound… like we're from Alabama or something. All that matters is that Lexi is your daughter… and Stephanie finally has a sister."
"And now you want me to ask Lexi to move in with us so we can… what? Have a hot reality TV show on the AW Network?"
He looks up at the security camera that is undoubtedly feeding this footage to the trolls in the AW Network production room, then looks back to Sara.
"Yes. That's exactly what I want. She's family… and she should be around people who care about her… and not hiding out in a sorority house by herself. This lockdown is scary… and she's just a child. She shouldn't have to face the world alone like… errr… nevermind."
"Like what, Sara? Like I did?! My mom never told me about my dad either… and I grew to hate the very idea that some scumbag left us high and dry to go off and to God knows what! Then I find out… a few years into the business… that I was right under his nose all along… and he knew about me! He… fucking… knew about me! That son of a notch was signing my paychecks in [REDACTED] and he KNEW he was my father all along! So, yeah, I faced the world without my father… and, thanks to you, I became tenfold the father that he could have ever been!"
Sara grew increasingly worried throughout that rant. Now at the end of it, they are both in tears. She walks over and shoves his legs off the desk, then pulls his head in tightly against her chest.
"It's okay. It's all over. He's gone and he can't hurt you."
Nathan pulls his head out and looks up at the camera again.
"Listen carefully. If you tech nerds air this, I will hunt you down and peel your skin from your--"
"Stop it out. You're not a flesh eating zombie. There's so much more to you than you're allowing them to see. Leave the paint off and show them what a truly wonderful human being you are."
"I might have to leave the paint off for a while. It turns out that the stuff I like is from Wuhan, China."
"What?!"
She nearly jumps out of her skin.
"Yeah. I couldn't read the label because… ya know… Mandarin. Guy down at the market translated it for me… and… yeeeeaaahhh. Don't worry though. I packed it all up and I haven't experienced any related symptoms."
"This shit is terrifying. If you even feel a tickle in your throat, stay away from us."
"Don't worry, Sara. I'm checking my temp often. Not rectally like Jaice is into."
"Who?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Oooohhhhkay."
She grabs her keys.
"I'm going to head home and start dinner. Call Lexi. Please. If she agrees to come stay with us, just go pick her up. She shouldn't be isolated in that big, spooky house by herself."
"Spooky? That house is practically made out of glitter!"
"Like I said. Spooky. Make the call."
"Don't worry. I will."
She heads toward the door.
"I love you."
"I know."