*backstage, Grimm's private room. Grimm is sitting on a bench and wrapping his hands up in black tape. We hear a voice come from offscreen.
"It's time. I'm going down to the ring with you tonight."
Grimm looks up at the voice offscreen. He looks back down and continues taping before replying.
"Too dangerous. I'm outnumbered as it is. I can't watch out for you as well."
The voice responds.
"I can take care of myself. You know that. Besides, Joe Mama's not here this week. . ."
*Grimm bristles slightly at the sound of JM's name before resuming his composure.
". . .and who else is there? Ghost Hog's still wallowing in his own misery. Sammitch ran away from the company. Nowhereman's retired. You don't know what Evil's got planned."
Grimm finishes taping his hand and cuts the tape before starting on his other hand and replying.
"I know two things about what Evil's got planned: 1.) It will be ludicrous, and 2.) it will be painful. I don't want you involved in either."
Grimm finishes taping up and shadowboxes the wall a few times.
"You forget that I've seen my share of both ludicrous and painful. In fact, you could say I've built my reputation on it. You need me there. There's no one else willing or able to do this."
Grimm continues shadowboxing, his punches growing in speed and intensity until he finally punches into the wall, leaving a large hole in the cheap plaster before withdrawing his fist.
"All right. Fine. You can be at ringside. But if things go badly. . ."
"If things go badly, I know the procedure. But I'm confident they won't get to that point."
Grimm stares at the hole in the wall.
"I'm not."
*Fade out.*
