The ambulance outside is flanked by two police cars, and officers have set up a barrier to push back a sea of reporters that has gathered, drawn by the ruckus. Rupert Mannion is in one of those patrol cars, having been caught in a veritable flood of flashes and yelled questions.

The reporters surge anew as the stretcher is brought out bearing Joan, who in the last hour has become known as "the gaffer's girlfriend." The police are yelling at them to back up, trying to subdue them as Joan is loaded into the ambulance. Then Ted emerges and all hell breaks lose.

"Mr. Lasso!" come the cries. "Coach Lasso! Any comment? What happened tonight? Will you be at the match on Saturday? Coach Lasso! Coach Lasso!"