Day 14 Assignments

[Nadine Weathersby]

Lesson 14 – Nadine Weathersby QE Cycle #3

Logline: Nancy and Squire hate and distrust each other but they work together and have a packing deadline to meet.

Essence: Nancy doesn’t like Squire’s happy go lucky spirit. She knows the rules but finds an opportunity to get him canned.

**SCENE: The Brentwood One West Bank is closing in a couple of days. Squire is transferred there to help Nancy pack up the branch. They are tasked with packing everything for the maintenance staff to come and pick up. A demanding entitled customer comes in and yelling at Squire. Nancy sets Squire up for an audit failure and potential loss of his job. Squire lets Nancy help the customer to avoid the conflict and resumes his packing. Nancy confronts Squire and admits what she’s done to compromise his position.

And Now…

SITUATION: These two people don’t trust each other and it’s revealed when a customer comes into the branch.

SCENE ARC: The customer has threatened to remove all of her and her family’s money which will result in a loss of over 200k, and the none documentation of the ID plus the waiver of CD penalty could cause possible disciplinary action for both of them.

Nancy Traits: Confrontational, stubborn, scheming, caring

Squire Traits: Evasive, Selfish, Happy-go-lucky, seductive.

End of scene description

Here’s the Scene:

**

INT. ONE WEST BANK CONFERENCE ROOM- DAY

SQUIRE TABIBIAN, an Armenian perky 23-year-old whistles to himself as he removes promotional items from the cabinets and puts them into boxes. There are many packed boxes all over the room.

NANCY (O.S.)

SQUIRE, you have a customer.

SQUIRE, ignores NANCY. And mumbles under his breath.

SQUIRE

(Mumbling)

Get your fat ass up and help her.

NANCY

(louder) SQUIRE!

SQUIRE pauses a beat, rolls his eyes upward, leaves the conference room and walks to his teller station.

INT. ONE WEST BANK- TELLER STATION

NANCY DIAZ, 28, Pilipino is packing a about 30 COVID pounds, frowns at Squire and points to his teller window. She was recently promoted to Assistant Manager and was there when SQUIRE was transferred in from another location. She hates him because of his upbeat attitude and because customers like him more than her.

The branch rarely has customers because signs indicate that the branch is closing in a couple of days. There are filled boxes behind each new account desk. All promotional posters have been removed leaving bare walls. A new accounts person sits in the lobby, NADIA SMALL, 35, blond and well-dressed watches the customer as she is checking her watch.

ANGELICA ANDERSON, mid-thirties, short, dressed in a brown jogging suit stands at the teller window.

SQUIRE walks up to his teller station with an admiring smile.

SQUIRE

Good morning Ms. Anderson. Wow your hair is so beautiful…What brings you in today?

ANGELICA

Thank you. I want to close my CD. I know it’s not in Grace but I need the money.

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2.

SQUIRE is looking closely at Angelica’s profile, then looks up.

SQUIRE

I can help you with this…may I see your ID.

Angelica looks resentful as she stares at SQUIRE. Then she looks over to Nancy with a summoning look. Squire is still smiling pleasantly.

ANGELICA

You know me! I’ve been a customer with this bank for over 5 years.

SQUIRE

Sorry, but it’s protocol. If I don’t, I could lose my job.

Nancy senses the tension and looks up, but doesn’t move.

ANGELICA

I’m not going to give you my ID. Give me my money!!!

Nancy has a smart desk. She could do the transaction at her desk but chooses not to. She gets up and walks to Squire’s teller station smiling. Squire stands there still looking peaceful.

NANCY

Hello Angelica, sure, sure, no problem.

Nancy takes over the transaction as Squire looks on. Nancy begins to chat up Angelica as she waits.

NANCY (CONT’D)

How’s your father?

ANGELICA

His Alzheimer is at a critical stage. He fell and broke his leg. But that’s not the worst part. In the hospital he hit a nurse and they had to restrain him to his bed. Somehow, he developed Sepsis and is organs are failing.

Angelica checks her Apple Watch. She has a text.

ANGELICA (CONT’D)

I’m on my way to visit him now.

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3.

NANCY

I’m so sorry. How would you like your cash?

ANGELICA

I don’t care, just hurry this up. The hospital just texted me about my dad. He has already coded twice.

Angelica looks tearful. Nancy looks at Squire.

NANCY

(to Squire)

This is where you override the id requirement.

She counts Angelica’s cash before she places it on the counter. Squire still holds a poised and pleasant demeanor.

NANCY (CONT’D)

1, 2, 3, 4 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, One

thousand dollars and seventy-eight cents. Will there be anything else I can help you with?

Angelica takes the money and shoots Squire a mean look.

ANGELICA

No… I Mean… Yea. Git rid of this lazy self-serving teller.

Squire’s eyes drop before he walks away from the teller station and into the conference room. Angelica turns to walk out but before she reaches the door, she turns back.

ANGELICA (CONT’D)

And I’ll be back to close my checking and money market. I’m gonna tell my family to close theirs’s too.

Nadia looks up.

NADIA

I’m sorry…I would like…to apolo…

Angelica dashes, out the door before Nadia can finish. Nancy goes to the conference room to scold Squire.

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4.

INT. ONE WEST BANK – CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY

Squire resumes packing boxes and whistling again. Nancy, irritated because he’s undaunted by the entitled customer’s behavior he has just experienced. Squire doesn’t look at Nancy as she speaks to him.

NANCY

I won’t tolerate you arguing with customers…

SQUIRE

It wasn’t an argument. I was doing my job the way I was told in training. They told us you must document the ID.

NANCY

I don’t care what they told you. I’m your boss. Now we are going to lose over 200K because of your stupid ass. I hope you get fired for not charging the penalty too.

Squire looks Nancy squarely in the eyes now.

SQUIRE

You overrode the penalty and the ID. When the hammer drops, I’ll make sure they know you did this transaction at my station under my number instead of yours. I know you did that just to get me fired. I need my job.

NANCY

Yep! I can’t stand you. Always whistling and happy without a frickin’ care in the world.

Squire ponders a lie for Nancy to swallow.

SQUIRE

I have problems Nancy; I just don’t take them out on others or bring them to work…. My Uncle has stage

4 cancer and the whole family is trying to pull enough money together to take him on a dream vacation. I don’t have money to give ‘cause I just bought a new car.

End of Scene

[Sydney Burtner]

Syd_CM 14 QE Cycle #3 Nancy and Squire

LOGLINE: A former burlesque performer and her former manager plan to sabotage the relationship of their respective daughter and son.

ESSENCE: Nancy wants to kill the relationship because she doesn’t want anyone — husband, daughter, friends — to know about her past as a performer. Squire wants to end it because he doesn’t think Nancy’s daughter is good enough for his Ivy League son.

SCENE:

INT. COUNTRY CLUB, DINING ROOM – DAY

SQUIRE, mid-40s, wearing a dark suit jacket and dark, silk shirt, leans back in a booth, one arm resting on the banquette. He holds a scotch in his hand.

Just as he checks his Rolex, NANCY, mid-40s, in a stylish, yet conservative dress enters. She checks her own watch and runs over to him. He stands to greet her.

Nancy

Thanks for coming early.

SQUIRE

Is it possible that you’re even more beautiful?

He kisses her on each cheek. She stiffens. They sit.

NANCY

If you act familiar, they’ll suspect we know each other.

SQUIRE

If you act uncivil, they’ll figure out your plan.

NANCY

I am civil. And this is our plan. No one is to find out about… my early career.

SQUIRE

Your wish is my command.

NANCY

And I’ll be discreet about your first job.

SqUIRE

He knows. I’m not ashamed of it.

NaNCY

What? Well, it’s easier for men.

She looks at his scotch and clothes. She SIGHS.

NANCY

It’s lunch. You look like you’re sitting in a night club at 2am.

Squire

(smiling)

I believe I meet the dress code.

NANCY

Look, this should be easy. Everette’s career will take him to New York, possibly London.

SQUIRE

Singapore is apparently where the actions is.

NANCY

Good. My Cherie wants to go on tour across the US. We just subtly underscore that they’re going in different directions. They’ll come to the conclusion themselves.

SQUIRE

Folk music. Jesus.

Squire swigs his scotch. Nancy glares.

NanCY

She’s extremely talented.

SQUIRE

Like her mother. They’re coming.

Everette, 23, and Cherie, 22, enter the dining room hand and hand. They smile as they greet the parent of their significant other. Everette shakes Nancy’s hand.

Everette

I see you guys found each other. It’s a pleasure to meet you.

Cherie

I’m so happy we finally worked this out.

SQUIRE

You’re as beautiful as Everette claimed. And I see from whom you get your looks.

The foursome sit.

NANCY

I was just telling Squire how you’ve excelled in your music. She’s been recognized on the state level. Top of her class.

SQUIRE

At music school?

ChERIE

Actually, it’s the conservatory at Hartford.

SQUIRE

So you got a four-year degree in addition to music?

CHERIE

My major was music.

EVERETTE

Dad?

SQUIRE

I’m just counseling her to have money-making options if she’s going to pursue folk music.

NaNCY

That’s a bit judgmental coming from the manager of burlesque shows.

CheRIE

Mom!

EVERETTE

(to Squire)

You told her about that!

SQUIRE

Back in the day. Today I manage at Caesar’s Palace – marquee names, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey.

NaNCY

Too bad you didn’t have that ambition when you were younger.

CHERIE

(to Nancy)

Please stop!

SQUIRE

I did. If you had been there – and stuck around – it’d be your name on the marquee.

NANCY

I have the career I want – wife and mother.

SquIRE

Marriage is your career. Good for you.

EVERETTE

OK… so let’s order.

NANCY

It’s sexist to condemn me for wanting a family.

ChERIE

I hear the veal is really good… even though I’m a vegetarian.

SQUIRE

(to Nancy)

You could’ve had a family.

NANCY

Excuse me?

CHERIE

But you do have a family…

SquIRE

You were in a hurry to get the big house in the suburbs.

NANCY

Is there something wrong with that?

SQUIRE

Of course not. That’s what I have.

Copyright 2021 Sydney Burtner, all rights reserved

[Tom Wilson]

Lesson 14 – Tom Wilson’s QE Cycle #3

LOGLINE: A car accident draws scammers like flies.

ESSENCE: A bullshit artist can bullshit another bullshit artist.

SCENE: A Lamborghini runs off a country road.

EXT. TWO LANE HIGHWAY WHERE TWO TOWNSHIPS MEET – NIGHT

NANCY smacks SQUIRE when he wants to help her exit a Lamborghini that’s in a ditch.

Their sports car just wiped out a giant high voltage steel tower.

Big boned Nancy’s outfit and hairdo are decades younger than her late-forties.

Squire’s smile charms. His eyes scheme. Jet black hair belies his sixty-plus years.

SQUIRE
But what the hell just happened? I could have
been killed. You could have handled this a lot better.

NANCY
Are you okay? Cuts, bruises? If you
hit your head, you can’t be injured.

SQUIRE
One minute I’m on top of the world.
Next I see law suits and jail time.

NANCY
You and you’re damn senior moments. You sweet-talked
me into doing this. Now we’re aimed straight downhill.

SQUIRE
One minute we have the usual heated
discussion. Next, we tramp around in the boonies.

NANCY
Our best days are behind us.
So much for a rosy future.

SQUIRE
You just totaled a quarter-million
dollar wet dream rental car.

NANCY
And you were too cheap to take the comprehensive
insurance. Our financial future is a freshly dug grave!

A police car arrives. Policewoman FRITZ exits and opens her notebook.

Nancy rushes up to her.

NANCY
Good to see a female on the job. I’m always
looking for ways to jack up – not off – guys
who follow their joints around looking to stick it in …

Squire steps up sporting his smoothest smile for Officer Fritz.

SQUIRE
Your hair looks good. You got here so quick.
Did someone call or …

Officer Fritz nods at the downed steel tower.

OFFICER FRITZ
First clue was our power went out …

SQUIRE
You’re so smart. You should be the police chief.

OFFICER FRITZ
Actually I am. Also, receptionist, janitor and maid.

NANCY
You the only one at the cop house.

SQUIRE
She meant “police station,” didn’t you, Honey?

NANCY
Don’t honey me, cocksucker. After what you did.

OFFICER FRITZ
Whoa! What happened here? Sir?

ANOTHER COP CAR – flashing lights, siren – speeds at them.

Nancy nods at Squire.

NANCY
He had way too many snorts at your
dumpy diner. Had to check his Schwab account
on his phone doing twenty over the speed limit.

Fritz writes.

Squire gapes at Nancy like she’s possessed.

SQUIRE
I’m sure you’re smarter than to believe that, Officer.
It was her who insisted on driving. I let her. My bad.

NANCY
If it was me driving, we wouldn’t be in this hellhole.

SQUIRE
Officer, she didn’t mean that. I bet your cozy
little community has a comfy motel a ways out
of town where town folk renew old acquaintances.

OFFICER FRITZ
Let’s see your drivers’ licenses.

Squire and Nancy hand them over.

OFFICER FRITZ
Same last name. You’re married.

NANCY
Were. He pimps me now instead of pumping. I wear
knee pads. Mouth wash a dozen times a day. He says
it’s how I earn my alimony.

The other police car screeches to a halt. Uniformed OFFICER MARLON fumbles from the car, tightens his belt that holds up heavy cop paraphernalia.

He tries to look older than his 20 years. Rushes back to grab his uniform hat. Joins them.

Nancy spreads her arms. Fields a grin like she will mount this lad where he stands.

NANCY
Do we get to vote which officer cuffs us face
down. Does what he must to get us to
come. Up. Again and again. With the truth.

OFFICER FRITZ
All taken care of, Officer Marlon.

Officer Marlon whips out a GPS. Waves it in a loop for the best signal.

OFFICER MARLON
Not according to this. Their vee-hickle’s
just inside our town border.

OFFICER FRITZ
Skid marks. They left the pavement
on our side of the border. It’s my collar.

OFFICER MARLON
But it’s my turn.

NANCY
Are you two screwing with us?

Officer Marlon composes himself. Tries to think of something cop-ish to say.

Squire uses his best sad face on Officer Fritz.

SQUIRE
I’m not used to all this drama. How serious is it?

Fritz glances at the wrecked Lambo and broken high voltage tower.

A utility truck pulls up. Workmen carry equipment to the downed tower.

OFFICER FRITZ
Car moving plenty fast. Driver lost control. Pure
and simple. Don’t know what you pay for electricity.
Next month’s bill’s gonna be a whopper.

MARLON
What about that deer?

Fritz stops writing.

Squire blinks, staggers in a circle. Did he say ‘a deer’? Am I losing my mind?

Marlon shows him several pictures of deer galloping across the highway.

Squire’s face lights up.

SQUIRE
Oh, I forgot. Swerved to avoid that critter.
Made us to run off the road.

He reaches for one of Marlon’s pictures. Marlon pulls it back.

MARLON
How much cash yah got on yah?

OFFICER FRITZ
Better yet.

She holds an attacking 7-foot grizzly bear photo, Photoshopped into the middle of the two lane.

MARLON
My deer are more believable.

Squire looks through his wallet.

SQUIRE
Two thousand.

Marlon examines Squire’s tiny wallet.

MARLON
I spotted more inside that there flap.

SQUIRE
Those are grocery store coupons.

OFFICER FRITZ
How about the fierce-some bear for $1800?

Marlon shuffles his deck and produces another photo.

MARLON
My best deer for $1775.

A car with a State Farm Insurance ad on its side parks.

OFFICER FRITZ
That’s Mel. Your time’s just about run out.

Squire wipes sweat off his neck and takes deep breathes.

Nancy takes his hand.

NANCY
What’ll it be? Defrauding the insurance
company, or do you have an extra quarter
million to buy the wrecked booty-magnet?

SQUIRE
What about the tower of power?
I bet it costs more than the Lambo.

MARLON
For $2000, which deer picture do you like?

SQUIRE
You just said $1775.

OFFICER FRITZ
A person’s better motivated to run off the
road by a bear than a deer. $3000. Final price.

MARLON
The man has only $2000.

Fritz whips out a wireless credit card reader. She waves it in a loop.

OFFICER FRITZ
Good signal.

Reluctantly Squire pulls out a credit card.

MARLON
If you want my best deer, I’ll let it go for $2500.

SQUIRE
Why’s the price keep spiking for Chrissakes?

MARLON
It’s a true mystery.

Fritz holds the card reader under Marlon’s nose.

OFFICER FRITZ
If you wanta use my
machine, we be splittin’ it.

In his eighties, insurance man Mel exits his car with a clipboard. Takes pictures of the sports car and electric tower. Joins the others.

MEL
What’s happened to these lovely children?

Fritz looks at Squire and Nancy.

OFFICER FRITZ
Give us a moment.

She takes Mel by the arm and walks him over to the Lamborghini.

They exchange whispered shouts and return.

Mel hands Squire the clipboard.

MEL
Sign at the bottom.

SQUIRE
Xeroxed handwriting. It ain’t mine.

MEL
It’s your account of how that horrible beast …

He turns to Fritz and Marlon.

MEL
So what’s it this time? The bear or the deer?

In horror, Squire stares at Nancy. She doesn’t even try to hide her grin. #

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by  Tom Wilson.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by  Tom Wilson.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by  Tom Wilson.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by  Tom Wilson.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by  Tom Wilson.

[Tom Wilson]

Let me know if anyone would like to trade critiques. – wilsontomj@gmail.com

[Sandra Hildreth]

MUTUAL TRUST

By Sandra Hildreth

INT. INSIDE IZZY’S OFFICE – DAY

Campaign posters with IZZY’s smiling face, hang in every available space on the walls. The office is crowded with furniture, literature boxes, and plain, wooden, dining chairs. Izzy’s desk is large, highly carved, shiny and topped with a thick piece of clear glass. A studio portrait of Izzy, his wife, their three children and six grandchildren is on the corner of the desk.

SQUIRE and NANCY enter the office. Izzy stands up, shakes both their hands, then motions toward the chairs. The two visitors sit down.

IZZY

Squire. Nancy. Thank you for coming in with such short notice. I have a huge favor to ask. Sylvia had a family emergency and is no longer able to be my campaign manager.

NANCY

Oh, Izzy, that is awful. You must be devastated.

IZZY

That doesn’t come close to how I’m feeling right now. Not only am I worried about her and her situation, she was in the middle of planning the next fundraiser.

SQUIRE

My sympathies to her and to you, Izzy. Is her leaving temporary or permanent?

IZZY

Unfortunately, permanent.

SQUIRE

Do you know who you’re going to name to take her place?

IZZY

No, I don’t, and unless I get the fundraiser going, I won’t have enough money to continue my campaign, which leads me to why I’ve invited you here. I would like you two to take over the planning and get this activity moving.

SQUIRE

Both of us?

NANCY

How far along is the project?

IZZY

Good question, Nancy. The date is set and the venue is booked, but that’s it.

SQUIRE

What the heck. That sounds like a challenge I’d like to take on.

IZZY

Along with Nancy, of course. Nancy, you in?

NANCY

Of course. Who’s the lead?

IZZY

I’ll leave that up for you two to work out. There are two laptops on the conference table in Sylvia’s office. I’ve given you access to the work station drive and with all her notes and information. Any questions?

NANCY

Not a question, really, but an offer. I’m in the middle of designing the poster for the rally. I know how important that is and I’d really like to finish that myself rather than hand it off to someone. I’m willing to work on that this weekend if that’s OK with you?

IZZY

Certainly, that’d be OK with me. More than OK, matter of fact. I truly appreciate your helping me out like this. That really makes me happy.

SQUIRE

How generous of you, Nancy. Any way I can help, just let me know, OK?

NANCY

Thank you. I will. Ready to get started?

SQUIRE

Absolutely!

The three stand up and shake hands. Nance and Squire leave Izzy’s office, turn the corner and enter Sylvia’s. The laptops are on opposite sides of the conference table. They each take a seat and wiggle the mouse to wake up the screen.

NANCY

Whew! That was a surprise. I’d like to take the lead, if you don’t mind. I’ve had a lot of experience setting up events.

SQUIRE

I’d like to take a look at what we’ve got here before we decide if you don’t mind.

NANCY

I’m not sure why you want to wait, but if that’s how you feel…

SQUIRE

Thank you. I appreciate that.

The two open files on the laptops and get immersed in reading the information. Nancy leans back and locks her hands together behind her back.

NANCY

Hm. The Banquet room at the Fairmont. Seating for 400.

Nancy leans back in her chair. A smile slowly broadens on her face.

SQUIRE

Agreed. You look like you have an idea brewing in that pretty little head of yours. Care to share?

NANCY

Hm. I’m picturing a Las Vegas theme with roulette, blackjack, Texas Hold ‘em. Slots. You know, the works!

SQUIRE

That sounds fantastic! I can see it now. Dealers in their little short skirts and sexy blouses.

NANCY

Don’t forget the hunks, too. We have to get the ladies gambling, too.

SQUIRE

What about the menu?

NANCY

Open bar, of course, just like Vegas. Then prime rib followed by Crème Brûlée

NANCY

I like that idea. Let’s run it by Izzy.

SQUIRE

Interesting! Let’s run it by Izzy. Oh, and since you thought of this, I think you should be the lead. I acquiesce to you.

NANCY

Thank you, Squire. I appreciate that. Ready?

Squire and Nancy walk arm-in-arm to Izzy’s office and knock on the door.

IZZY

Come in.

They enter the room. Izzy stands up, they shake hands, then all sit down.

SQUIRE

Nancy has taken the lead in this project and she’s come up with an idea she’d like to share. Nancy?

NANCY

What do you think about a Las Vegas theme, complete with gaming tables, very attractive dealers and a prime rib meal?

IZZY

And you agree with this idea, Squire?

SQUIRE

This was Nancy’s idea. That’s why she’s the lead.

Nancy and Squire lean back in their chairs. Their body language and faces show complete satisfaction with themselves.

Izzy leans forward, braces himself with his hands on his desk and rises very slowly, his face frozen, trying to hide any emotion. He stares straight at Squire.

IZZY

And I guess you thought if you let her present this idea I would appoint you my manager? Think again. I want a leader on my team, not someone that’s conniving and manipulative. You’ve written enough of my speeches to know my stance on gambling.

Nancy leans forward in her chair and faces Squire, her face turning bright red. Squire drops his eyes and squirms slightly.

IZZY

And Nancy, Did you not read my stance on “keeping casinos on Native American land where it belong”? I’m sorry. Neither of you passed this test. Squire, Get your things and go volunteer someplace else. This isn’t where you belong. Nancy, please, take the time to read what I believe in. And if you’ll both excuse me, I have some campaigning to do.