[Backstage after Guerilla Grindhouse World Tour 02 in Saitama. Dan Ryan is tending to the gash on the back of his head, refusing medical assistance as the blood flows freely. Python is sitting on the floor up against a row of locker, exhausted.]

 

Bronson Box: [from offscreen]  

Nice to see you two ladies survived.

 

[The camera catches the smirking Bronson Box filling the door frame to the dressing room, arms folded over his chest. Python makes a move but stops cold in his tracks when he notices Boxer’s four “students” lurking behind him in the hallway. Ryan’s eyes glance up, but his head hardly moves, leaving Dan Ryan to look up with his head down, through blood.]

 

Bronson Box:

Ye’ know, I’ve been tellin’ the world that you were a villain all along, Danny boy, but maybe I was wrong. Maybe you don’t have the bollocks anymore to be the villain I thought you were. Maybe family life sliced ‘em clean off. Maybe you should listen to yer snake charmin’ friend over there and prance off into the sunset in a field of poseys to your wife and wee ones, and leave the real villainy to the real villains. And maybe snake boy should slither back to the pet store so some little girl can take him home and hand feed him some little white mice for the rest of his life…

 

Python: [leaping to his feet]

ENOUGH! I’ve heard enough from you, Box. All I hear from you is talk, talk, talk, and I’ve had it. I’m a pet, am I?? How about you stop talking long enough to try and tame me yourself?

 

Bronson Box:  [eyes widening, excited]

Are you actually challenging me to a match ye’ overrated little flippy doo, eh? Because it wasn’t bloomin’ talk that opened up that gash on yer’ friend Dan’s head earlier, lad.

 

[Dan silently scowls to himself.]

 

Python:

I said enough. Next week, Bronson. Shut up and fight. 

 

Bronson Box:

Oh…  oh boy’o you just made the biggest mistake of yer’ life. And Danny boy. Ye’ can play the silent game all ye’ want, lad. I’ll have more words fer’ you after I take your little friend apart on the next show. Like I said earlier… [his demeanor changes to deadly serious.] this thing between you and I ‘aint near over. Debts are gunna’ be settled. More bloods te’ be spilled.

 

You take from me? I bloody take from you, boy'o.

 

[Box steps back out of the doorframe, smiling, then disappears around the corner. Dan Ryan’s gaze, never changing from his initial glance, now looks over at Python, who looks back with a reassuring nod.]

 

Python:  

I’ve got some work to do.

 

[Dan gets up and places a clean white towel on the back of his head. Blood still trailing down his back in a steady stream.]

 

Dan Ryan:

More than you know brother.