Off-Camera
Friday, September 24, 2021
Alta Classe
Los Angeles, California
3:12 PM PST
Alta Classe was a restaurant that had opened relatively recently in Los Angeles by a former wrestler family friend of Seleana’s named Dean Matthews. It was a very nice place and Seleana had taken to coming here regularly whenever she was at the office at the Zoological Gardens for a late lunch. Today was to be no different except that when she’d walked in, the usual smile was not there. As she sits down at her usual table, Dean walks over and sits down with her.
Dean Matthews: Hi.
Seleana Zdunich: Hej.
Considering her usual “hello” is usually much more enthusiastic, Dean can’t miss that something is obviously amiss here.
Dean Matthews: How are things?
Seleana shrugs, her native accent coming through slightly heavier than normal as well.
Seleana Zdunich: One of cats is sick but Chavy say he will be alright.
Dean nods almost absently, more for show than anything else.
Dean Matthews: And the little one, what’s her name again?
A small smile manages to creep onto Seleana’s face.
Seleana Zdunich: Aurora. She is good…
She trails off, the man who had visited her at the Zoological Gardens’ words sticking in her memory and choking off her momentary joy at the mention of her little girl. Seeing this, Dean glances away and nods absently again.
Dean Matthews: That’s good.
Seleana nods.
Seleana Zdunich: Ja… but for…
She pauses and Dean remains silent, waiting for what is really worrying his friend. Seleana swallows hard.
Seleana Zdunich: Some man come to zoo. He say he knows my wife’s spending. He say I owe him tax for business operation. He say I no pay, something happen to Crystal, the he say something happen to Aurora…
Suddenly, Dean’s head turns on a swivel.
Dean Matthews: I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening and it’s rude of me to not give you my full attention.
He stands up and motions at his number two, Stephen Rossi to come over. Rossi does as bidden.
Dean Matthews: Stephen, I need you to take over the reports I was working on here.
Stephen nods and sits down where Dean had previously been sitting. Dean nods to Seleana.
Dean Matthews: I apologize again, could you repeat what you said please?
Seleana nods.
Seleana Zdunich: At zoo today, a man come in. Call himself Geo Rondón. He say he know I go to Orlando this weekend for title match. He say he watch all customers than say Christina know him. He never say her name. He says I have been playing game too long without paying tax. That I owe him new tax starting next week. He say I owe five hundred next week then a thousand ever two week after. He say if I no pay, I lose another like one I lose in hurricane in Florida. Then he say…
She trails off again, looking down as her emotions start to take over her again.
Seleana Zdunich: He say be shame if little girl beat cancer have accident and lose. Then he leave like nothing…
Dean Matthews: Had you ever seen this man before?
Seleana shakes her head.
Seleana Zdunich: Never seen him or heard him before. Chavy did not know name either.
Dean and Stephen share a look as Seleana stares at the floor. Stephen stands up and he and Dean step away for a second, just out of earshot of Seleana.
Dean Matthews: Handle it. She’s a friend.
Stephen nods and vanishes. Dean turns around and sits abc down at the table.
Dean Matthews: I think I’ve heard the name before. He’s probably just some whackjob who thinks he’s a bigger deal than he is and snuck in to play badass.
Seleana looks up.
Seleana Zdunich: You think so?
Dean shrugs.
Dean Matthews: How many fake BMFs have you seen in wrestling?
Seleana nods, a laugh trying to force its way out.
Seleana Zdunich: Many, ja…
Dean nods to her.
Dean Matthews: He’s probably one of those. I’d feel sorry for him if I didn’t know how doing this will probably end for him?
Seleana nods knowingly.
Seleana Zdunich: Poorly, ja?
Dean nods, looking like he can’t decide if the guy is pitiable or not.
Dean Matthews: If he keeps this up, sooner or later he’s going to inadvertently cross a real BMF and when he does, that BMF will react as real BMFs do and young master Geo will end up on the news as just another who got caught in a drug deal gone wrong or something. He’ll be a pathetic statistic and nothing will ever have come from his visits to anybody.
Seleana considers this and then nods hopefully.
Seleana Zdunich: I hope you are correct, Dean. I do not know what I would do without Christina or Aurora. I am puzzled by one thing though…
Dean Matthews: What’s that?
Seleana looks at the table.
Seleana Zdunich: He say he follow, he know, but he never mention Alex at all. If he know about my match in Orlando, he know about Christina and her spending habits…
She pauses and then nods acknowledgement.
Seleana Zdunich: Which have been legendary and I am not keen to label them as awesome…
Sighing heavily, she shakes her head.
Seleana Zdunich: He know about Aurora but he not know Alex?
Dean almost snickers.
Dean Matthews: See!
Seleana looks up at him in confusion.
Seleana Zdunich: See?
Dean nods, the smile on his face looking almost amused.
Dean Matthews: The guy didn’t know near as much as he wanted you to think he did. He probably got all that watching your company’s television show. I mean, your wife isn’t exactly shy about doing things big, is she?
Agan, she pauses to take stock of the situation.
Seleana Zdunich: No, never.
Dean nods emphatically.
Dean Matthews: And Aurora has been on the show before, yes?
Seleana nods, looking slightly annoyed at the memory.
Seleana Zdunich: Ja, and it was dangerous because of her immune system.
Dean raises a hand in Seleana’s direction, palm up.
Dean Matthews: There you go, the guy’s a whacknut and probably going to get himself in deep shit with people he wishes he was. You probably have nothing to worry about with him.
For the first time, Seleana’s usual smile returns to her face.
Seleana Zdunich: Ja! I hope this is the truth of things!
Dean sits back in his chair.
Dean Matthews: I’m sure it is.
He smiles at her as her mood lifts and they talk like normal, just another visit to Alta Classe.
Off-Camera
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Alta Classe
Los Angeles, California
12:01 PM PST
Seleana Zdunich walks into Alta Classe, only this time, something else was different besides the lack of a smile on her face. This time she had little ten-year-old Aurora Zdunich with her as well. The two walk hand in hand and walk to the table that is already waiting for them. The two sit down and a man walks over.
Man: Welcome to Alta Classe…
Aurora looks up at him.
Aurora Zdunich: You look like a badass.
The man just looks at her, momentarily caught off-guard by the child’s candor. Seleana smiles knowingly.
Seleana Zdunich: This is the Mister Espositio I told you about. He always has things ready before I even walk through the door.
The man nods.
Man: Please, call me Giovanni.
Aurora’s eyes light up.
Aurora Zdunich: Oh, I like that name!
Giovanni smiles right back.
Giovanni Esposito: Me too.
He leans down and nods to the menu.
Giovanni Esposito: Did you find anything you like yet?
Aurora shakes her head.
Aurora Zdunich: No, but I haven’t really looked yet.
Giovanni smiles.
Giovanni Esposito: I hear you like carnitas.
Aurora nods enthusiastically.
Aurora Zdunich: I love, love, love, love, LOVE carnitas!
Giovanni smiles as if he knew that answer was coming all along.
Giovanni Esposito: A little birdy also told me you are interested in seeing how are prepared.
Again, Aurora starts to nod enthusiastically.
Aurora Zdunich: It’s so cool!
He nods towards Seleana.
Giovanni Esposito: Well, with your mother’s permission…
Giovanni stands up straight, bows and dramatically extends a hand to Aurora.
Giovanni Esposito: I would escort you to whee the magic happens.
Aurora looks to her mother.
Aurora Zdunich: Can I, Mommy Sel?
Seleana nods to her.
Seleana Zdunich: Ja, if you are keen.
Aurora squeals excitedly and takes Giovanni’s hand. He leads her towards the back of the place. As they disappear toward the kitchen, Dean Matthews walks over to the table.
Dean Matthews: Gianni working his magic then?
Seleana nods sadly.
Seleana Zdunich: He is, ja… tack…
Taking in the sight before him, Dean considers a gambit.
Dean Matthews: Did that whacjaloo actually come back?
Seleana looks up at him in shock.
Seleana Zdunich: What?
Dean nods to her.
Dean Matthews: You look…
Seleana nods knowingly before he even finishes the thought.
Seleana Zdunich: No, it is not that. I have not heard another word from him. It looks like you have called it on him, Dean.
Dean nods, his stone exterior belying his pleased internal thoughts.
Dean Matthews: Then what is…?
Seleana sighs.
Seleana Zdunich: Personal, not business.
Dean nods slowly. Taking in another deep breath, Seleana braces for the words that are about to come out of her mouth.
Seleana Zdunich: Christina…
Her bottom lip begins to tremble.
Seleana Zdunich: She… free… me…
Dean just looks down at her in confusion.
Dean Matthews: What?
Seleana nods, looking down at the table to try and stifle the torrent she knows is coming.
Seleana Zdunich: She free me and Alex both. Took off her rings and leave them on table at house. She say she go to stay at Zoey’s apartment in Las Vegas
Dean sits down next to her, never taking his eyes off of her.
Dean Matthews: What happened?
Still not looking up, Seleana nods to the table.
Seleana Zdunich: Brittany…
The torrent tries to break through but Seleana is able to hold it back, at least momentarily.
Seleana Zdunich: She decide that she want inheritance now. She want spotlight now. She want her mother’s place in world now. So get her Aunt Jenny to help her attack Christina on MIle High show on Sunday night. Jenny kick me as they do it so I could not stop them. Stephanie Sullivan, Christina’s best friend, woman who has been to our home and is dating my cousin Nadja who works at zoo for me, joined in saying the same thing. She was tired of being tied to Christian and Christina stealing her spotlight.
Her hand balls into a fist.
Seleana Zdunich: Kate Steele and Jenni Taylor come to help but it already done…
Her fist opens and hovers above the table like it’s searching for something to do but is unable to release what it’s holding inside.
Seleana Zdunich: Christina thinks she is a failure at life now so she take off ring and leave. She free me and free Alex to save us from being painted in her stink anymore.
Dean shakes his head.
Dean Matthews: I’m sorry to hear that happened.
Seleana nods.
Seleana Zdunich: So am I. It has not hit Aurora yet, she thinks Christina is just going to Las Vegas like normal. Alex and I are waiting for when the wall come down and she find out she’s not intending to come back.
Dean nods slowly.
Dean Matthews: Well, Gianni seems to be doing a good job of entertaining her right now.
Seleana nods, looking past Dean in the direction Giovanni and Aurora had gone.
Seleana Zdunich: Ja, thank you for that.
Dean raises his hands up in defense.
Dean Matthews: Hey, he just works here, I don’t have to tell him how to do hospitality. He brought that here with him.
Seleana manages a small yet still sad smile.
Seleana Zdunich: Even so, thank you for being friend, Dean.
Dean smiles back at her.
Dean Matthews: It’s what I do.
On-Camera
Friday, October 8, 2021
Driveway
Zdunich Residence
Hollywood Hills
Los Angeles, California
7:00 PM PDT
The camera opens upon Seleana Zdunich standing in a strangely empty driveway in front of the Hollywood Hills home she shares with the rest of her immediate family. Seleana too looks strangely subdued today, dressed in a pair of distressed jeans and a Zdunich Zoological Gardens t-shirt but not her customary smile.
Seleana Zdunich: Hej…
She nods ever so slightly, barely moving her head at all.
Seleana Zdunich: Washington, D.C. and I will meet Bea Barnhart again as I did not so long ago.
Looking into the camera, Seleana barely registers any emotion at all.
Seleana Zdunich: Do you remember what I said to you then, Bea? About doing things on your own apart from Bill?
She nods grimly.
Seleana Zdunich: You will need to think that doubly now, Bea.
Looking down to the ground again, Seleana nods to herself.
Seleana Zdunich: Bill has proven that he can win championship gold… without you. Something that so far, you have not been able to do for yourself.
She looks back up and nods slightly.
Seleana Zdunich: I speak from experience when I say to you, Bea, it is something that will be hammered on you as if it is a nail being driven into a piece of wood to build a roof over your head. A roof that also holds a sign that says you are not worth anything because you needed help…
Her lips press together momentarily as she’s about to lose it but she somehow pulls herself together.
Seleana Zdunich: This is what everyone save a select few have said to me because of how I achieved being the Bombshells World Champion.
She points to herself.
Seleana Zdunich: I pinned Alicia Lukas to win that championship but my wife made sure that would never be what people remember about that night. Then my reign was just dismissed, especially when it ended on my first defense in a fourway where my wife made sure I was not involved in the decision.
Her hand falls away out of the shot even as her expression never changes.
Seleana Zdunich: Do you want that to be you because that is what will happen if you do not find a way to do things without Bill. You will be the person who has a championship to your name but no one acts like, no one remember. They will all dismiss it as a bad night for your opponents and Bill doing all the work.
Both of her hands rise up and come together looking almost as if she is about to pray.
Seleana Zdunich: You need to walk into Washington, D.C. and act like your entire career depends on this match, Bea. You need to need to win this match. You need to need to climb that mountain with no safety gear just because it is there and just because you can!
A nod and her eyes start to fiercen.
Seleana Zdunich: You need to do what I did and go through every obstacle that is thrown at you and keep begging for more to be thrown at you. You need to jump every hurdle, go over, under or through everything they can think of and then come back and do it all over again and dare everyone to stop you.
Her hands start to wave slightly even as they remain pressed against each other.
Seleana Zdunich: You need to have that need, Bea. You need to have that need to walk out there to prove that you did not need Bill, Bill needed you!
Her fingers curl inside so that only the index fingers remain extended.
Seleana Zdunich: You need to look at everyone in this company from Jessie Salco to Alicia to Merecedes Vargas to Christian Underwood and everyone in between and practically beg them all to line-up against you. You need to go through them like you are coldest steel ever and then walk into thee any champion you can get into the ring and put them down.
Her hands fall back down out of the shot again, separating from each other on the way down.
Seleana Zdunich: Only then will you get the respect you deserve, Bea. You are talented and you are skilled but you will never be seen as such until you have completed your Herculean Labors list and stand aloft with your prize being shown to the heaven!
She nods grimly again.
Seleana Zdunich: But you must be careful, Bea. Do not allow this championship to go to Bill’s head or you will forever be looking over your shoulder, waiting for the knife you never see coming from him.
She inhales sharply, her gaze momentarily falling to the ground..
Seleana Zdunich: And then people will wish you to be free of him whether you want it or not.
She nods again and then looks back into the camera.
Seleana Zdunich: Stay the course, Bea, walk into Washington, D.C. and show me and everyone else that they were wrong about you!
She starts walking towards the camera.
Seleana Zdunich: Do that or be consigned again, it is your choice.
As she reaches the camera, Seleana bends down so that she’s in an extreme close-up.
Seleana Zdunich: It has always been your choice.
