CUT TO - EXT. SERVCOMM INC. OFFICE PARKING LOT - JAMES' CAR INT.
ALEX takes a long puff on a joint. He passes it to JAMES, who also inhales deeply. The car is quickly filling with smoke. They are tucked in a back corner of the parking lot, not visible to the main doors.
ALEX
What's your deal today anyways?
JAMES looks at ALEX, exasperated.
JAMES
You don't listen to a fucking thing I tell you.
ALEX
(Throws his hands up) What?
JAMES
Me and Cindy broke up.
ALEX
Cindy and I.
JAMES
What?
ALEX
You said 'Me and Cindy'. It's Cindy and I.
JAMES
Dude, who cares about my fucking grammar?
ALEX
Man, calm down. Maybe this is why Cindy broke up with you.
JAMES
(looks at ALEX incredulously) You're a piece of work.
ALEX
A piece of art. (winks at JAMES)
JAMES
(scoffs) Yeah, a fucking soup can. What's this meeting all about anyways?
ALEX
Some big merger.
JAMES
Wait... a merger? With who?
ALEX
INTERSUITES.
JAMES
Ah man, those guys are huge fucking narcs. This place already sucks just wait 'til they get here.
ALEX
They can't be any worse than WAYNE. Plus, it would be nice to have some... fresh blood around.
JAMES
You're gross.
ALEX
Hey man, it's not my fault you locked yourself down for five years. I'm trying to hook up with some of those INTERSUITES babes and you should be too. You should come out with me tonight.
JAMES
Fuck off. I'm almost 30, dad bods don't play in LA when you don't have any fucking kids, plus I've got a mountain of work back at the office.
ALEX
Man, stop whining. We haven't been out in ages, just fucking come out with me tonight, ok? There's this new place I've been going to, you'll love it. It's less club, more pub, pool tables, rock music. Very much your scene.
JAMES
Fuck it. Fine. That actually doesn't sound bad. I'm in.
ALEX
Alright let's go get this shit over with.
They each take another toke before putting out the joint. They put in some visine, spray some cologne and exit the car.
INT. SERVCOMM INC. OFFICE BUILDING - MEETING ROOM
ANGELA, a heavy-set woman in her 40's and the manager of SERVICECOMM LA BRANCH is preparing her slideshow for the morning meeting. WAYNE and several other employees are already seated. ALEX and JAMES walk in about ten minutes late.
ANGELA
Nice of you to join us.
ALEX
Are your slides ready?
ANGELA
(stutters) N-no.
ALEX
Then I guess we didn't miss anything.
ANGELA shoots daggers at ALEX with her eyes but chooses to dismiss him wordlessly.
ANGELA
(Addressing the group) I have some tremendous news that has been made official!
The collective of the office groans, except for WAYNE who begins applauding enthusiastically.
ANGELA
Thank you, WAYNE. That's right, as some of you may have heard, we will be having an inter office merger with INTERSUITES INCORPORATED. SERVICECOMM has recently acquired INTERSUITES and our two largest branches in Los Angeles will be merging together, right here in these offices. Now, I know this might be a big change for every-
ANGELA is cut off by the door opening. CHAD WALKER enters the room, a middle aged executive type with a sharp suit and sunglasses during the day.
ANGELA
Hello, CHAD. Everyone, this is CHAD WALKER, he was the regional manager at INTERSUITES and-
CHAD
(cutting off ANGELA and stepping in front of her to draw attention away from her) -and I will be taking over from here on out.
ANGELA
(wedging her way back to CHAD's side) Actually, we've been deemed co-managers, with CHAD focusing on the sales divisions while I focus on human resources.
CHAD
That means from here on out, your asses, they belong to me. I've been looking at your numbers, and they're dogshit. Whatever you've been doing until now, it's not working, and it's all about to change. Now, get the hell out of here and go give me a reason not to fire you.
ANGELA
I actually have a lot more left be-
CHAD
I said out! (yells, pointing at the door)
The group quickly gathers their things and leaves. WAYNE whimpers audibly as he passes CHAD, looking longingly into ANGELA's eyes. CHAD spots ALEX and JAMES slinking out at the back of the group.
CHAD
You two bozos hang back.
JAMES and ALEX look at each other nervously. CHAD approaches them.
CHAD
I can already tell you two nimrods are smarter than the rest of these clowns, so I'm going to be like a hawk, on that ass. *IMITATES SCREECHING HAWK NOISE* Now, fuck off. (turning to ANGELA) Let's talk, babe.
ALEX and JAMES exit the meeting room.
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