[CUT TO: Backstage at the United Center – EPW Owner Dan Ryan comes into view rounding the corner, in a harried state.]
Ryan: The pyro supplies are running late, the ring girls are on strike, I've got more injured referees than usual, what else can go wrong today?
[Ryan enters his office, and finds James Irish and Erin sitting at his desk. The former in his usual clothes, the latter wearing a fine, lovely dark green dress for a change. James is smoking a cigar, with the cigar box on the desk. Erin is mixing herself a drink.]
JIrish: Dan Ryan, you should be ashamed of yourself. These are the worst cigars I've ever smoked.
Erin: Yeah, and yer ice isn't cold enough, lad.
[Ryan just sighs.]
Ryan: Ripped right from "A Night At the Opera." Typical of you. Alright, James, my patience is already being tried right now. Get to the point.
JIrish: Very well. Your buddy Paul Freeman offered me a contract recently. Good guy you have there. And a good offer. But I told him there was something I had to do.
Ryan: And that was?
[James stands up, with a serious look in his eyes.]
JIrish: I've seen you play with people before. Mind games that would make political spinmeisters blush. Beast comes immediately to mind, but others too, here in EPW and elsewhere. These past few shows were a warning, Dan. Try that with me, and I will not only fight back, I'll make your head spin.
[Now Dan lets out an amused chuckle.]
Ryan: Is that all? The so-called "Mad Genius" thinks himself my better in this regard, and wanted to warn me? Amusing. I'd endorse the contract, but now I'm certain you'd void the sanity clause.
JIrish: Dan, aren't you a little old to believe in that?
Erin: Yeah, there ain't no Santa-y Clause.
[Another sigh from Dan, who is starting to get frustrated.]
Ryan: ... I walked right into that one. Alright, I'll endorse the contract. You start at our next taping. But don't you dare underestimate me, or like with IrishRed - there will be consequences.
JIrish: Dan, if I underestimated you, would I have gone to all this trouble?
Ryan: ... probably not.
JIrish: Then now we understand where we're both coming from. You won't regret this, boss.
[James and Erin walk out as a somewhat vexed Dan Ryan gets to work on other, more immediate business.]