>>19506874"Please, don't let me be misunderstood."
"What you see in Carmody is exactly what I do. She's gifted. One in a million and - for what it's worth - I do believe you care. I do believe you want what's best for Carmody, that you're her 'friend', I do."
"It's about how you got there."
Ash's gaze narrows and sharpens.
"Oh, Carmody isn't like those 'other dojo girls'. No, no, no. Carmody is 'special'. She's a hot item. A commodity."
"See, Divine, I got to see Carmody grow, in record time sure, but I saw how she got 'here'. I don't have the luxury of picking the best from a list - I'm the paper that list written on."
"I saw a future in Carmody just because I knew I'd do what I could to get her there. And it's not always easy. My coaching endeavors are new and so is this genuine desire to see these young women be the best they can be."
"But, Priscilla..."
"Since you care to be a 'friend' to these girls, tell me this:"
"Would you be her friend if we didn't know all that? Would you hang up her picture on your wall, blindly?"
"Stupid question, isn't it? It's not a question most of her friends would need to think about."
"I'd be by her side. Sola would be by her side. Paule would be by her side."
"But you? I don't think so."
"Again, NOW? I really do think you care about her. I really do. I can tell, by your actions, by your face, that your appreciation is genuine."
"But let's not kid ourselves, it's circumstantial and it's a damn shame that girl has to exist as an example of who we BOTH are."
"She exists as a display of your avarice. Of your ability to poach and pluck your favorites and, as we've seen, throw them away when you're bored or found 'better'."
>Ash stands up and stares down the camera."And she existed as my student. Whether she's one in a million. Or one of four."
"So spare me your friendship bullshit."
"I'm not her friend, you're right."
"I'm just someone whose believed in her from the start."
"And still does."
>The feed cuts to black. 