We’re backstage at Classic Wrestling: Episode 6, just moments after Lunchbox Larry was defeated by the evil Leon Van Zant. The sound of a grown man groaning and whimpering, clearly in physical and emotional pain, fills the back halls. The locker room door swings open as three backstage employees without names assist the woeful Bobby Dean into the room and over to the nearby massage table. The large man plops his massive body onto the table, which gives off it’s own groaning sound in response.
As the no name employees go to leave, they roughly push past the entering Lunchbox Larry, who grimaces from the contact. Larry limps into the room, holding one hand to his ribs, while the other hand holds a bag of ice to his head.
BBD: Ohhhhhhhhh!
Bobby wails, while draping his arm dramatically over his face, as if it was all too much for him.
Larry: Uhm, I have a question, sir, if I may?
BBD: Ooooohhhhhhhhhh! I said!
Larry: Right… Uhm… Are you okay, Mr. Dean?
BBD: I just can’t… Every time I close my eyes, they’re there! Kicking. And punching. And yelling. I mean, so much violence! So much pain!
Larry: I know. I was there. Ya know, receiving those kicks and punches.
His deadpan voice is lost on Bobby Dean as the big man wails in dismay once more.
BBD: How ever am I to continue? It was so traumatizing! I don’t know if I have another match in me!
Out of nowhere, a bag of ice flies inches above Dean’s face, crashing into the nearby wall and shattering. Ice chunks fly around the room, breaking into smaller pieces, causing Bobby to gasp. Suddenly un-traumatized, Dean stares at Larry with a look of bewilderment on his face.
BBD: What the heck’s gotten into you?
Larry is standing in the center of the room, seething, his fists clenched at his side.
Larry: ME!? Where were YOU!?
BBD: Huh?
Larry: Why didn’t you help!? You just stood there and watched them attack me! You didn’t even try to save me! If that was you in the ring, I wouldn’t have thought twice about jumping in!
Bobby sheepishly tucks his first chin into his second, and third. He raises both hands to his side, palms up.
BBD: Well… I mean… There was this lady in the front row with the biggest…
Bobby holds his hand loosely before his chest, wobbling them up and down as if he were holding large cantaloupes.
BBD: She had this kid next to her that had the biggest cotton candy ball I’d ever seen! So my stomach started to rumble and well, I got distracted. Then someone said something about pudding. Honestly, I kind of felt bad for those Foreigner guys. I mean, I beat them so badly a couple of weeks ago, they refused to face me again. They go so far as to demand a match with you! They clearly don’t want anything to do with me. If I had jumped in there and helped you, they probably would have hightailed it outta there and gone back to whatever country they came from! Like Florida, probably! Poor fellas…
Larry shakes his head, still seething, still in tremendous amounts of pain. But suddenly, he just deflated. His head drops in defeat as he stares at his feet.
Larry: I needed your help out there. And instead of having my back, you left me high and dry.
A single tear begins its slow trek down the youngsters cheek, as he refuses to look up at his mentor, because if he did, Bobby would see nothing but disappointment reflected back at him.
Larry: Mr. Dean, I don’t know if I can continue being your student any longer…
Speechless, Bobby simply sits on the massage table with his mouth agape as Larry grabs his stuff and slowly limps his way out the room, leaving Bobby alone with himself. It’s only after the door closes that Bobby reacts.
BBD: No, Barry! Come back! I mean, Jerry! Shoot, that’s not it!
Bobby jumps off the table and rushes towards the door, ripping it open expecting to see his protege in the hall. Instead it’s completely empty.
BBD: LAAAARRRRYYYY!!!!!