How to fire everyone in Boston

Keith, Cindy and Thom, the Boston branch manager, walk out of the elevator of Boston's biggest finance account laughing from relief in keeping the account.

Cindy

'Well, that was the last major account. Let's all breathe a sign and look forward to a new year with a new staff in Boston.'

Thom

'I still don't understand letting everyone go because advertising slows down near the holidays.'

Keith

'Bernie wants it. That's it.'

Cindy

'Liten to Keith...he's being a friend. You're among friends. And Thom, you should feel good. Bernie has faith in you to build an office from the ground up.'

Thom

'But I was doing that when I was hired last year.'

Cindy's cell rings. She motions to shhh.

'It's Bernie.'  'Hi it's a beautiful day in Boston.'

Bernie

I didn't call you for a weather report. Did they sign the media contracts for next year.'

Cindy

'Yes, we just finished a lovely meeting...'

Bernie

'Put Thom on.'

Thom

'Hi Bernie.'

Bernie

'So all of the big accounts are signed up?'

Thom

'Done'

Bernie

'Great. Now remember. Tomorrow, you don't get involved. Let the building guards tell the AE's they no longer work for us. Did you print out copies of the agreements they signed that say 'you can be fired for any reason or no reason at all..?

Thom

'Done Bernie.'

Bernie

'Then, youi let the guards handle it. The guards will give them copies of the agreement. If they call you, you say you have nothing to say. I won't fight them on unemployment. It's Christmas time after all.'

Thom

'Yes. O.K.'

Bernie

'So we look forward. Start interviewing. Call what's-his-name-that blond writer in New York if you need any writing, And go Irish!'

Thom

'Thanks Bernie..for your confidence...hello. He's off.'

Keith

'Yes he is...'

Cindy

'What?'

Keith

'What?'

Life as an angel

The vision of heaven hit John like a thump on the back of his head. He could see he was under the covers of his brass bed and felt his mind move beyond the foot of his bed, out the French Doors and beyond his balcony. Below, he could see Ocean Boulevard and then white sand dunes. Over the Atlantic, the stars shone in round specks against a black sky.

Soon the ocean faded from view as he saw the white specks elongate to white rods. In the center. there were many rods huddled around a bright light. On the edges, were rods near the cold void. These were souls. And he was drawn to the warmth of the bright light. Although all the rods were white light and looked at a distance to be the same, he sensed the one approaching him was an Indian woman speaking Hindi.

Hindi soul

'You aren't due here yet.'

John's soul

'Did I go to the wrong Heaven?'

Hindi

'There's only one. Everyone gets in.'

John's soul

'Any creep...or good person.'

Hindi soul

'Yes The light we are drawn to is God or whatever people call God. Do you think you can be close to God when you live and die with unGod thoughts of hatred or anger towards other souls. So just because all souls get into Heaven...doesn't mean they get to be near God The souls near God are God-like...good. loving.

John soul

'Who are the one's nearest God?'

Hindi soul

'You call them angels. They no longer are born to perfect their souls. They are born with so much love of people...they devote their lives to helping people. And one is trying to revive you now. So as you boarders say: 'Later Dude. You're not due here for a while.'

John realizes he is on his back and sees the sunlight around the head of a 20 something-year-old man leaning over him.

John

'Halo'

Lifeguard

'What? Are you all right.  I'm taking you  to medi-merge in Thoms River.'

John tries to get up

'No I'm o.k.'

Lifeguard grabs John's arm and skateboard.

"Didn't I save you when you were walking under the pier when there was a hurricane off shore and another time when you fell on the beach during a storm in the summer?'

John

'That was you?'

Lifeguard and John get into his red, wrangler jeep.'

'You know. I swore to save lives...plural. Not a life.'

John

"thanks. I must of hit my head. Maybe you're a guardian angle.'

Lifeguard turns out of parking lot and heads towards the bridge over Barnegat Bay.

'Yeah? Ask the waitresses at the Beachcomber Bar if I'm an angel.'

John

'Well you wouldn't remember you were sent down here to be a guardian angle...you would just live your life as one.'

Lifeguard

It's John right?'

John watches as they rise up the bridge over the bay. Sail boats are gliding across the blue-green water.

"Yeah it's John'

Lifeguard

'John, Look at me. When the doctor is examinating your head, try to sound competent. Or they'll keep you over night for observation.'

An eclipse: Seeing the heavens by leaving earth behind.

John flops into a seat on the North Jersey Coast line, shows his ticket and prepares to go into what he thinks of as turtle mode. His big, quiilted winter coat includes an over-sized hood designed to go over an army helmet. So putting it on covers his head and face. Could he be more anti-social?

At around 2am, John gets out of the warmth of his bed, dresses warmly and heads down to Barnegat Bay to watch the eclipse of the moon. He sits on a park bench at the water's edge. The full moon makes the crests of tiny waves- far out on the bay- bright white. Far away from the moon, stars are out. But in a vast area of the sky, it's all about a black sky made bright by the white-gray moon.

Soon, the earth begins to cast a shadow across the moon. Wisdom along with stars come into view as the lunar eclipse progresses.  The earth and the moon fades from sight without the moon glow. The outline of the trees on the opposite shore and the waves on the bay can no longer be seen. But once the moon and earth disappear, the heavens sparkle in an infinate array of patterns. The stars convey a hopefulness against a black void of the disbelieving sky.

A full moon over the bay is a beautiful sight. A star lit sky over the bay is beautiful. As the eclipse ends it occurs to John how you can't have both...you can't have it all...at the same time. And maybe you have to leave earth behind to find heavenly peace. Maybe we all need to escape earthly matters sometimes.

He walks back to the house, goes upstairs and climbs under the covers of  his brass-bowed bed with the thick white down quilt.



               Peace on earth by leaving earthly things behind

       ...good will to everyone by getting away from people. ;p

Extreme Chicken Games

John pokes his head into Keith's office. He is on the phone but puts his finger up to wait. Then makes a motion to write.

John

John writes. You told me the media buy for El Pollo Loco would include MTV. So when they open a new restaurant-hold a X-Game type event. But with a sense of sarcastic humor...like teenagers make fun of things.

Keith makes an annoyed gesture as if to say...what are you writing a book?'

John continues to write.

So I'd call it EXTREME CHICKEN GAMES. Poster of boarders catching air...with the headline What... are you chicken?  Free samples of their chicken sandwiches. Idea that their chicken sandwiches are more out there. Anyone can make a chicken sandwich...but to get an extreme one you go to El Pollo Loco.

Keith reads it and smiles. Sketches out a guy boarder with the headline What are you chicken? and adds a El Pollo Loco in bottom corner.  John smiles  Keith continues to talk on the phone.

At the Bernard Stein Agency. Mary is on the phone.

''This is not a charity. We pay people to keep accounts, not lose them. Well. we had El Pollo Loco for quite a few years. And I hate to see you go too. However, we like to hire people with accounts back. And Merry Cristmas to you as well.'

Mary walks into Bernard Stein;s office.

Mary

'...as we suspected, it was Keith pitching El Pollo Loco and his team in New York.'

Bernard Stein

'Buy them. They're annoying me.'


At the Bernie Swartz Agency, John goes back to his desk to write some ads for the Dallas Texas office that only require the apporval of the Account Executive. They don't have to go by Keith He shoots the ads off.

Bernie Swartz runs into Ken's office.

Bernie

'...and then you hire a West Coast team to manage this count. You and your team get off El Pollo Loco.'

Keith from inside his office.

'You are worried about controling business and it's not really in yet.'

Bernie walks fast out of the office.

'Then you get off it Keith. This business is killing me.'

John opens an extreme chicken file on his PC. He writes:

E X T R E M E   C H I C K E N  G A M E S

Are you chicken?

Enter the skate park like a warrier
to battle yourself
Push your board over the edge
Tipping point. Lean down into it
Race down the side
Hit bottom-race up the steep side
Falling back//lean forward
Shoot up/catch air
Grab the board's bottom
spin. land on your feet.
Push your board over the edge


El Pollo Loco logo

David walks up while John is deep in thought and says loudly in his ear.

David

'What are you chicken?'

John jumps...startled.

'No. I think I'm going nuts.'

Some girl is texting me

David shows his phone to John

'Check it out. I don't know who this is.'

Phone reads

'What's up?'

John

'What are you going to do...be honest and say ...I don't....something like sorry but I don't remember you.'

David

'Screw honesty.'

David textes:

Wut up with you'

John looks on

Phone reads:

Nothing. Where r u?

David textes:

Where r u?

John

'You're sick...just be honest...'

Phone reads

Home

John laughs. See...it's getting complicated'

David

'Dude I went on three dates in the last two days with three different women. Two in one night.'

David textes

'Your house is nice.'

Phone reads

'You've never been here.'

David textes

You described it to me. Don't you remember our talks?

Phone reads

Sor-ries ;o

David textes

O kies

Phone reads

U R sooo cute

David textes

I know

John

'You two deserve each other.'

Phone reads

Haaa. Meet me?

David

Where?

Phone reads

Rio on 3rd

David textes

5ish?

Phone reads

Date

David textes

C U

John

'And then you'll know who you're dating.'

David

'Isn't Manhattan romantic?'

What are you chicken?

Keith's office. Keith is behind his desk. Out of his window, the lights of the Chrysler Buildimg have come on. David is holding story boards for a commercial in his lap.

David to John

'Should we show the boards first.'

John

'Well, this is a quick thought on the creative rationale for positioning El Pollo Loco. We were thinking how none of the icons of Fast Food are cool. The Bruger King, Ronald McDonald...Col Sanders. And no one would want to look like them. What if eating El Pollo could make you the kind of guy or girl people find attractive? What if you had...show the boards David....

David show Keith a board showing scenes from the commercial. John points to first frame. You'd hear a crazy guitar rift as a boarder goes down a ramp, close up of him catching air, back down and up the other side where he jumps off the board. Close up of his arm muscle and hand holding board. Fade to his face where he says: 'What are you chicken?' Product shot of an El Pollo Loco sandwhich. Internet three- frame, banner ads could show the boarder and sandwich, next frame how much protein/calories are in the sandwhich. Third frame: what are you chicken El Pollo Loco. I mean, their core group is teenagers/ 20-somethings.

David

'It's a challenge to try El Pollo Loco too. What are you chicken?' Hinting it's bolder.

Keith

'Is it bolder?'

John and David look at each other.

David

'What are you going to sell...a boring chicken sandwich. And Subway sold more stuff by selling their healthy sandwiches.'

Keith

"I like this...we have to flesh this out with surfers...'

John

'Motor bikes...'

Keith

'O.K. O.K. I have to think. I have to think out the creative rationale and how it would work across multi-media platforms.'

John

"So you like it?'

Keith

"Yes. It's a lot to work with...I have to flesh it out.'

John

"After San Diego's stuff?'

Keith

'No. They did a cartoon approach like some of our ads. Ads you and I did....but they hated the commercial.'

David

'Ah ha. The brilliant San Diego El Pollo team laid an egg.

Keith

'And got fired by Bernie.'

John

Better them than us.'

David

'Ruthless. I love it. Maybe you weren't a Hindi in another life...maybe you were a Bernie. Why is everyone nice in a past life.'

Keith

"Do you have any idea how much pressure I'm under...'

David

'What are you...chciken?'

John burst out laughing.

Keith

"Leave. Thank you my demented staff. I'll call you when I figure out what we need''

John and David leave. Keith is alone with a new account that was happy and now might leave.

El Pollo Loco is a chick magnet.

David at John's desk

"Way to be Johnny.  You made your point to Keith that you helped bring El Pollo Loco in.'

John

'But I was so aggressive-nasty. I keep thinking about my dad's friend, Mr Patel. He would disagree by saying: just because I'm nodding when you speak it doesn't mean I agree with you, it simply means I understand English.  I think I used to think like that in a past life.'

David

'Bull. A red meat that I love by the way. You have to fight to write. I've seen it. They diminish your success and diminish it and then you are out on your ass because Bernie would be like..what am I paying him for or can't I get someone better. Remember, nothing is too good for him.'

John

'Well, I'm gonna write some stuff in case they want it. I was thinking of making El Pollo Loco a cool guy who boards and surfs. Notice that new AE Sean..perfect body...'

David

'Perfect face...way too many women hanging around his desk while there's work to be done, No I didn't notice him.'

John

"Any way, he eats skinless chicken. Maybe create a funny, athletic guy who guys want to be like and woman want.'

David

'Sounds good. But don't write it and wait in case they want it. Push it. Sell it. Sell your ideas.'

John

'We'll see.'

David

'No 'we'll see' crap.  We'll talk at lunch. Where do you want to go?''

John

"The Italian place on Third.'

David

'Agreed, the Irish Bar on Third Joshua Tree.'

John

"Fine'

David

'It's not fine. You wanted to go to the Italian place on Third Avenue.'

John

'Later'

David

'Much'

Keith walks by

'They're gonna have San Diego submit some broadcast stuff and then you if they need you. And whose ever ideas they like...they'll use. So don't knock yourself out on tv or radio ideas yet. But be ready to jump on this.'

John looks to the window

'I'm ready to jump alright... out the window.'

'Don't squwak give El Pollo Loco a Voice

Inside Keith's corner office

Keith

'I'm trying to help you. You're upset because they're hiring a writer in San Diego to write for El Pollo Loco...'

John

'Yeah because I helped land it...'

Keith

'No one is saying you didn't...'

John

'They're just saying anyone could write for them.'

Keith

'What do you want to write everything for every account? I've never seen this side of you.'

John

'I know I'm the Bay...gently lapping at the shore. Bull. I'm like the ocean, crashing into the shore-taking the beach...'

David pops in

'I knew you would lose it. Welcome creative person.'

John

'Screw you David.'

Keith

'If you want to write the radio for El Pollo Loco...go ahead. If it's good...and I have every expectation it will be..you can even record it at that recording studio you did for Disney. They wanted to buy that spot. You can even work with that Mellisa Goz person if you want. Give El Pollo Loco his voice. Remember their core is teens to 20 somethings.'

David

'Give the chicken his voice...and thanks for making me look like the sane professional for once.'

Keith and John

'Says who?'

Water seeks its own level.

They say water seeks its own level. Even when the beach is peaceful with few people on it, it's apparent you are on the front lines of a battle between the ocean and the land. The ocean isn't subtle like the bay's tides. Barnegat Bay is safe with shallow waters, sand dunes and wild flower fields with butterflies. The waves never get big. People dock their boats at bulkjeads are tie them to stakes in the bay-a few feet from shore. Boaters wade in. The sunset over the bay always goes down to snuggle with the land rimmed with homey pier lights and the white lights of the bridge.

The sunrises over the Atlantic as do different stars for different seasons and a changing moon. Things are less settled here on the ocean side of the island. Even if the sky looks peaceful...the ocean might not be peaceful.The beach at Seaside Heights NJ is taken at high tide. Whether the ocean gently rolls in or crashes in full force-creating 4-foot cliffs between the white, dry sand and wet, tan sand below. John thinks, the battle is what makes life interesting.  He walks much more often by the ocean than by the bay. It's a choice. The ocean reminds him of exciting days to come, things you can't control or predict and the big life choice of feeling safe or choosing to be stimulated.

Maybe before you can find your place in the world...you need to find a place that helps you understand yourself.
http://www.seasideheightstourism.com/seacam/cam1.html

The Polar Express heads down to the Jersey shore..

The North Jersey Coast train dances down to the Jersey Shore. To John, it is holiday time where he feels at one with different religions. He sees how many religions celebrate the common need for hope and light. A season of hope, the train zips past  old downtowns with their Christmas and Hanukkah and Diwali lights. the train skips like a stone across the dark Raritan River and past the piers with Christmas lights in Lawrence Harbor. Even the Long Branch Train Station is decked out in holiday lights and red ribbons..

Barnegat Bay is rimmed with docks that have multi-colored lights lit. Seaside Park seems to have settled on a nautical/Christmas theme with lifesavers, nautical rope, crab traps and wreaths mingled in vinets. His Aunt;s old Victorian comes into view. He bounds up the stairs. Inside, Aunt Margaret is just setting the table.

Aunt Margaret

'Perfect timing.'

John walks to the closet to hang up his coat.

'Oh good.'

Aunt Margaret

'I made scented candles. Can't wait to try them out.'

John

"great'

John thinks...what did she just say.

"Not made...right?'

Just then John turns to see a 100+ year old oak table with flames on it.'

Aunt Margaret

.Ooo Johnny.'

John grabs his coat and smothers the flames. To his amazement, the table looks just fine.

Aunt Margaret

"I guess the wax on the table caught fire. No more making scented candles...with perfume.'

John

"No. No more.'

John opens a window and a frosty sea breeze pushes the Irish lace cutains out.'

Uncle Patty from upstairs.

'What the hells going on down there?'

John and Aunt Margaret

'Nothing.'

The Empire State Building is lit red & green for Christmas.

As John reaches 5th Avenue, he looks up and sees the Empire State Building lit red and green for Christmas. Every tree along 5th is lit with white lights. And even from across the street, Lord & Taylor's mechanical windows telll a bigger story of a city that constantly tops itself as a center of creativity.

John almost bursts out laughing when he remembers Keith's explanation of how the competing agency blew the El Pollo Loco pitch. They did a parody of  Sam Peckinpah't Bring me the head of Alfredo Garcia. Bring me the head of El Pollo Loco...bring me the wings of El Pollo Loco...the legs, the breast meat....the chicken nuggets blahaaaaaaaaa. And this at a time of so much violence in Mexico. Talk about being in bad taste. Anyway, it got Cindy and Keith a fast flight to San Diego to sign up the account.

John thinks, 'I'd rather be here in New York'' as he gazes up at Macy's with its white lights and red awnings. The entire side of the building is a lasor light show, synchronized to Christmas music. He's so glad he's alive and a working writer in New York City.

Herb kills himself...or not.

Herb walks past all the windowed offices at the Bernard Stein Agency. Each getting progressively bigger as befitting the increased wotth and prestige of the accounts run from them. But no matter how powerful the Account Executive in those  offices, in reality he or she is only a worker bee in service to the hive. And honey is there for Bernie and Mary-founders.

All four wall-mounted t.v sets are on and reflected in Mary's glasses as she beckons Herb in. They are tuned to various stock markets around the world. Mary trades stocks several times a day, She doesn't offer Herb a seat. Instead she hands him a $150,000 bill for the Creative pitch for the account he didn''t bring over from the Bernie Schwartt Agency.

Mary

'That's the Creative bill for the account you promised to bring over.  And your billings have to come up or your draw is coming down.'

Herb

'So much for being part of the family.'

Mary

'Well Cindy is hard to beat and they liked the Creative that that Keith person pulled together.'

Herb

'Keith. I brought him out to that account to help me..'

Mary

'Herb. Land something.'

Herb shakes his heaad yes and walks head down towards the elevador.

A young woman says 'hello' but Herb is deep in thought and depression. The elevador opens and without really thinking he pushes the 'L' button for Lobby.  He keeps reading over and over the $150,000 bill.

 The door opens and he walks across the Lobby and onto busy Madison Avenue. He runs his fingers through his hair and realizes how thin its become, and how old he is and how will he ever get that much money together at his age and he's ruined.

Herb feels pain as he's hit off his feet and sharp pain on the back of his head as it hits the curb.

Standing in front of Keith's office, Bernie Schwartz is talking to Cindy and Keith.

'They signed the media contracts?'

Cindy

'Yes. And I called them to express our sorrow over the news. I think we're o.k. I mean they left Herb.'

John looks up from his desk-half hearing the discussion. He walks out to the Lobby to go to the Men's room. Blythe looks upset as he walks past and through the big doors. David, Stacey, D. Patel and Tanya are all talking.

David to John

'So Herb killed himself.'

John

'Really?'

Stacey

'Maybe. He walked out in traffic.'

David

'They were getting rid of him.'

Tanya

'We think. And you know David. Where the heck do you think accounts come from when we land them. We take accounts...that's the business.'

David

'We took everything...from one of our own'

John

'I don't know about that David.'

David

'That's your problem. You don't know.'

No man's land. Tanya's hang out.

David, Stacey and Tanya are gathered around John's desk.

Tanya

'So you know Cindy is the Account Supervisor on Herbs old account. And I'm the Account Executive on it...a lot is going to be done out of the Atlanta Office. Creative is going to be out of New York.'

John

'I like Cindy. She's nice...like a buddy.'

David groans.

Tanya

'I like her too...and not because she's a sisterr,'

David

'No freak'n way. What is everyone gay?'

John

'I don't care.'

Tanya

'Thank you John.'

David

'I care You're hot and you are probably with a girl who is also hot. That's two girls out of the pool.'

Stacey

'He's complimenting you.'

Tanya

'Wanna meet her?'

David

'Sure...sometime.'

Tanya

'We can meet where I hang out: No man's land.'

Tanya looks at David

'Get it?'

David

'I love watching hot Lesbian action. Will anyone be making out?'

Stacey to David

'You won't.'

The gang gets out of their cab in front of the Lesbian Bar. Tanya leads them inside. The bar is cozy, almost like an Hunt Club feel with evergreen lampshads on gold table lamps. The patrons are dressed in corporate clothes.

David whispers in John's ear.

'They look normal...like they just came from an office.'

Tanya

'They did. What did you expect...a porn lesbian lovers scene.'

David

'Would that be asking so much.'

Tanya grabs a beautiful blonde.

Tanya

'This is my Melissa.'

John and Stacey shake her hand

David flips his hand up.

'Hey'

Melissa

'So are you all going to be working on Tanya's new account.'

David

'Or Herb's old account.'

Melissa

'We finally are going to have the money to move into a bigger place.'

Stacey

'Here's to moving up.'

The gang 'clinks' glasses.

David

'While someone else moves down.'

Tanya takes Melissa's hand

'Well David. We're here to have fun. Anyone else wanna dance?'

Stacey

'Sure.'

John follows. He feels pretty comfortable that he's going to dance because he realizes almost no woman in the bar will be watching him.

David sits at the table watching the scene and is joined by a beautiful red head.

Sherry

'Hi there. You mind?'

David

'No sit.'

Sherry

'Sooo, come here often.'

Sherry laughs

David

'Yeah, it's on my way from Tiffany's where I go to look at all the pretty little things I'll never have.'

Sherry teasingly.

'Pretty little THINGS?'

David

'Oh first we're objects...than as a couple we take turns being subjects.'

Sheery

'O.K. I'll go with that. So what do you do?'

David

'I'm an artist.'

Sherry

'So you're a pain in the ass.'

David

'It's a gift.'

A cute Indian-American woman walks up to the gang dancing. Waving at Tanya she says:

D. Patel

'Hey, I made it.'

Tanya hugs her.

Tanya

'This is Melissa, John and Stacey.

'Guys. this is D. Patel. She's my new coordinator on Herb's old account.'

Back at the table.

Sherry

'So here's my number. But just to tell you. Almost all the women here are here to meet another woman. Lot's want the whole marriage thing...but with a woman.'

David

'I know what a Lesbian is...'

Sherry kisses on the cheek.

'Nice meeting you. Call me. Don't be a guy.'

David

'I'll call you like a little girl.'

A messenger and a march on the UN

John is at his desk, busy writing on his computer. He senses someone is in front of him. It is David, and he has a glow around him. Probably from looking up from the computer-although John often thinks he sees people as angels. Always, they have been strangers coming to the rescue in some small way. But David looks angelic...and he is a messanger right now.

David

'So you gonna come? It should be a hoot.'

John looks bewildered

David

I asked you if you want to march on the UN at lunchtime. To get the peace talks going again. You know. The Arabs recognize Israel and we create a Palestinian State. You know..peace.'

John

'k'

Bernie comes out of Keith's office.

Bernie

'David. I see talking. I want to see arting. Go art.'

John and David look at Bernie.

Bernie to David

'...and what's with wearing black all the time. He's in yellow or orange t's. You look like life and death. You look like you are going to a funeral.'

David

'I'm going to go art.'

David leaps like a male ballet dancer leaving the stage dramatically.

At noon, John and David join a small group of people preparing to march. More than a few people are holding blue and white flags of Israel. They begin to walk down the street towards the UN. At about a block away, there's anti American and anti-Israel screaming.

David to John

'Don't worry about them. That group is always out there...they don't think there should be an Israel..we hate America...thinks like that.'

John

'So we're going to march to the UN and then what.'

David

'They will show their signs about passing the resolution and we go back to work.'

John

'Do you like the El Pollo stuff?'

David

'I do.'

John

'Is it good?'

David

'Yes. But you should know that. Have some confidence. Thanks for marching...'

John

"I was thinking the other day on the beach... it's not enough to feel connected ...I should stand up for things and people. And I do believe a Palestinian state solution and the right of Israel to exist..'


A fist hits John in the face...knocking him to the ground.


Angry Man

"typical Jew.'

David squats down, shield John.

David

'Wrong'

Muslim woman squats down next to John. She puts the cross he wears in her hands.

Muslim woman

'He's Christian. He doesn't speak for us.'

Angry Man

'That's worst.'

Angry Man runs into the crowd. A cop runs after him.

David

'That's a bias crime.'

John gets up with David and the Muslim woman's help

John

'Bias? He hit a Catholic he thought was a Jew marching for Palestine and Israel?'

David

'Well say it like that and it sounds like you have a head injury.'

El Pollo Loco: The Crazy Chicken-Keith shines

The sun shines silver off the Chrysler Building  almost as much as Keith shines with the thrill of creating very fast. He clearly loves his job. The ideas between he and John flow so freely...it's like chemistry between actors...it just happens and you thank God for it.

El Pollo Loco is a fast-food chain out West. Keith was asked by Bernie to head the pitch and he brought in John. The visuals would be cartoon-like. The headlines could be as crazy as John could make them.

Keith

'Let's get a signature ad down. This will set the main theme for the chain and we need a tone.'

John

'Well, since they're called the crazy chicken in Spanish, the tone could be in your face....like a teenager.'

Keith is an axcellent illustrator and begins sketching.

John

'What made the competition turn chicken. ...could talk about how their chicken is so good the other fast food restaurants are trying to keep up.

Keith

'o.k.'

Keith shows a illustration of a chicken in running shoes.


John

'Ooo. What made the chicken cross the road? El Pollo Loco!  The idea that they only take the best chicken.'

Keith shows another illustration of a chicken on a throne.

John

'Let's talk Pecking Order.'   Again, the idea that they make chicken better.


John

"would you want to do a visual with chicken feed. Headline could talk about how cheap it is to eat there.'

Keith

"Flesh that out.'

Keith finishes another illustration and shows John.

Keith

'Here's the illustration for your 'what made the competition turn chicken. idea'

Keith's visual has a muscular chicken with an El Pollo Loco flag.

John

'Compared to El Pollo Loco, their chicken is for the birds.'

John keeps writing.

John

'Listen you dumb cluck.
There is no other white meat.'

John writing.

John

'Get fried...then come for our chicken.
El Pollo Loco is open 'til 2am'

Like a club visual or something to attract the gang that is out late partying.

'Which came first...the El Pollo Loco or the egg?'

Keith

'That's a cab ride.'

John

"what'

Keith

'The idea is so far out...it takes a cab to get there.'

John

'k'

John writes more.

John

A visual of a bunch of people in a car 'If El  Pollo Loco's name doesn't come up...squawk.'

Keith

"this is good. I'm gonna get the art department going on these.  Do you know how good we are together?'

John

'No I'm an insecure mess. But it works for me.'

Then ghosts come out of the ocean mist.

The bells of Saint Catherine echo past the turn-of-the-century, Sears catalog houses down to the beach. John walks at the ocean's edge. The fog and ocean-mist create a black and white world like some old photo of a happy time. And there's been happy times for a long time in Seaside Heights, NJ. The carousel alone  is almost 100 years old. On the beach, the Funtown Pier looks hauntingly empty. Rides must be spinning and soaring to be fun and alive. But this is a happy town. A place where people took time to be together-while they could. He imagines people walking in 1940s and 50's and 60' and 70's and 80 and 90'sstyle bathing suits and shorts. All walking towards him and smiling. It reminds him how fleeting our time is on this earth. The ghosts move by like the mist on invisible feet. The ghosts remind him it's important to realize that. Maybe it's not enough to feel connected with different people's through a realization of some form of reincarnation as John does. Maybe you need to do something for people...in some small way...or stand up for them...for what's right. Otherwise, all you are doing is thinking good thoughts.

John heads under the pier into a darker world of black pillars and wood-framed views of a foamy, angry sea. There are braces against pillings to further support the pier and boardwalk above from the relentless waves. And with the higher tide, John finds he has to walk up from where he usually does and climb over these supports. Without warning he is in a foamy world of churning water with no where to go. 'This is how people drown.' John thinks. Swimmers who've drowned appear in the ocean's mist-calling to him. John thinks, '...this was really stupid to walk under here.'

Some survival energy kicks in and he's jumping over supports and soon is out from under the pier and onto the beach. Now he sees a figure walking right towads him-out of the mist. It's wearing red shorts and a whistle.

Lifeguard

'What the hell is the matter with you.? Do you see anyone else on the beach?'

John

'No'

Lifeguard

'Do you know what  a red flag means?'

John

"Stormy....'

Lifeguard

'You could die. Surfers could die too. Yes I've seen you surfing. Now get off my beach.'

John

'Sorry I got you so...'

Lifeguard

'Why are you still on my beach?'

John walks up the beach towards the boardwalk. He thinks a red flag means you could run into a lifeguard with a red face. Geeze. Dead people were warmer to me.'

Meantime-at the un-Focused Group

A Focus Group comprised of 30 people files into an 'available' conference room at the Holiday Inn.

Stacey

'Sit where-ever you'd like. coffee and goodies are over there. Don't be shy.'

The group of 30-something men and women find seats.

'We are going to view ads with just the headlines and visuals. Lines will indicate where copy will go. We're looking for your honest thoughts'

Pointing at the 'Corporate Ladder' ad with the ladder-like DNA molecule on a background of stars.

Blonde women

'Home Depo. You can do anything. Reach for the stars.'

Black man

'That's the DNA molecule.  Hoffman-La Roche is about research.'

Latino man

'Sears has better tools than Home Depo.'

Stacey points to an ad with Corporate Culture headline and petrie dish

'Any  thoughts on the Corporate Culture ad?

Blonde

"advancing science by growing something in that dish. Ooo I hope that doesn't get out and infect us all Ever see that movie where people's blood turned to sand because of an alien virus?'

College guy

'Adromeda Strain or something. Came in on a metor...so cool.'
Different black man

'Advancing medicine. But I like the DNA one better...looks like the future.'

Young Latino man

'The Human Element ad with the periodic table is a cool idea. I like that and the Corporate Ladder, DNA molecule.'

College woman

'So Hoffmann-La Roche owns Home Depo and Sears?

Heaven on a wave.

It's easy to make that mental leap to ponder eternity when you see the ocean at dawn John thinks. The ocean is eternal with it's never-ending line of blue-green waves. Endless white and silver crests to the horizon. Laying on a surfboard with the gentle up and down rhythm of the waves is so soothing, John lives to daydream, involuntarily, free-associating or by relaxing,  When the wave rises, he can see beyond the dunes to the tops of the Victorians on Ocean Boulevard-the real world- when he's lowered on the surfboard by the wave, he sees only the beach and dunes.Transcending reality on waves he's envisioning the after-life as a harmonious place. An idea of heaven where all kinds of people connect without regard to religion, wealth and social status, ethnicity, gender, age, sexuality and anything else that gets in the way of relating on a spiritual level. And to John, the more you can connect with people-all kinds of people-the closer you are to God-who created and understands everyone and everything. Maybe people keep coming back and experiencing lives until they gain this God-like empathy to everyone he wonders as he sits up on the board and comes back to a tranquil real world..

So at peace...at one with the ocean and himself, John doesn't realize he's decided to surf a wave by standing up and leaning down into it. Peacefulness goes into survival mode as his knees adjust to a liquid salty, foaming wave running against the bottom of the board as a curved wall rises on his right. A water shelter, it is a light refracted world of blues and green that is moving and collasping around him. John races across this tunnel by squatting further. He balances the water force to pull the board up the wave into its crest by shifting his weight down. Leaning left, he slices into the wave at just the right angle to stay away from the top of the wave and being flipped upside down. He steers up and down the wave by dragging his right hand in the wave. His heart jumps as he makes these moves just in time not to be tipped over or fall off the surboard. Looking into the curved wave, the water cave won't be here in another minute he thinks. There's the bright entrance. He leans into the board and slides down the rest of the wave and shoots out the 'entrance' Restriction gives way to total freedom. Joyously, turning rght and left and anyway John wants on his board....cause he's free of the wave and out on the open ocean.

Laying down and heading into shore on the surboard, white salty foam is now mixed with sand as he whisks into shallow water and feels sunshine on his skin. The surfboard rams into the sand. He let's the board just lie at the water's edge without getting up. Waves lapping at his body-like a faithful dog greeting him home. The smell of the salt air is like a fresh breath of life. After all the getting back at people he saw in New York, John has gotten back to himself.

A big account & a little arson fire.'

David

'That's Keith's office the smoke is coming out from.'

The police quickly close off 40th Street as two fire engines pull up in front of their building. Tanya, John, Stacey and David cross the street to watch.

David

'If fire hits all that oil in Keith's hair... I'm gonna start singing dreidle, dreidle, dreidle 'cause there's gonna be a miraculous flame.'

They watch as the building empties onto Lexington Ave. Blythe sees the gang and runs over.

Blythe

'Isn't this awful?  Oh, John, I saved what you were working on under 'fire'.

David

"Classic.'

Bernie Swartz and his wife cross the street and get into a limo.

John

"I forget. What does Mrs Swartz do?'

David

'She's the Vice President of Shopping.'

Blythe

'Bernie wants me to tell everyone he knows no one was hurt in this fire.'

John to David

'See. He cares.'

Blythe

'...and that he has lawyers on retention and he can out-last any lawsuit.'

David to John

'We have an old Hebrew saying son: Well duh!'

Fernando, Bernie's right hand man, crosses the street to Blythe.  

It was contained to that back area by the bathrooms and lobby area.

David

'Not that awesome blue and orange lobby...go METS.'

Fernando

'Watch yourself. Cindy's girlfriend...wife decorated the office.'

John

'She's Gay. It's o.k. I'm just surprised. I like her.'

David

'Cowboy boots. Big laugh backslapping...'

John

'I don't label. I'm not into it.'

Fernando

'It's just a little arson fire. Anyway. No work tomorrow and Monday. '

Blythe

"I'll start calling people and have them call people.'

Stacey to Blythe

''Tanya and I will be doing the focus group at Hoffmann tomorrow. We Fed Ex'd the material yesterday....thank God.''
David

'What are you looking at..'

John is looking at his phone.

'Tide is high tomorrow at noon and there will be a west wind...around 80 degrees.'

David

"God. Surfers are deep.'

Is that smoke coming from our office windows?

David sits next to John on the steps to the building at Park and 40th.

David

'Lunch time. My second favorite time of the day. Nothing spoils it.'

Stacey

'Hello. The gang's here.'

David

'Almost nothing.'

Stacey to David.

'What?''

David

'What?'

Stacey

'Gawd.'

David to John

'Did you know on Long Island God spelled backwards is dwag'

John laughs

'I am one of those people who are not surprised that God spelled backwards is dog. Dogs love you unconditionally..'

David

'..and they view the outdoors as one big toilet...I can relate.'

Stacey

'Classy. Very classy David.'

Tanya comes up with her lunch.

'Hey guys.  David is being classy?'

David

'Excuse me. I have class up the ass. Besides, a lot of high class people got there by destroying and exploiting people.'

Stacey

'Oh David. There's jerks on the left too.'

David

'Well Herb just got robbed of his livlihood. And he's middle-aged. You know no one is going to hire him.'

Stacey

'I feel bad for him too. But all accounts come from somewhere...and someone.''

Tanya

'He looked so depressed when he was walking out.'

David

'Being escorted out with a guard after 15 years

John

'That's whhy I'm so insecure.'

David

'You are a hug hog. You set things up so you get all the hugs in life.'

Stacey

'Oh does somebody need a hug.'

David opens his mouth filled with food towards Stacey.

Tanya laughing

"You guys are sick.'

John

'Things are going well. I'm going to try not to worry so much.' He glances behind him at David.

John Points down 40th Street

' David. Is that smoke coming from our office windows?'

They call me Johnny Viagra.

John

'So I guess I'm doing o.k. here...'

David

'Did you catch the name on your pay check?'

John

'Yes but...'

Bernie walks by with Cindy

'They screw us. We screw them.'

David

'Word has it Bernie skipped the whole hippy peace free love thing and went straight to screw'em outta money. And he needs you to screw'em. You're like Viagra. Johnny Viagra..' David laughs crazily.

John

'You are your biggest fan.'

David

'I am. I really am.' David laughs, trying to control himself.

John

'Well the stuff is going through.'

David

'...and Keith is almost giving you credit for your writing.'

John

'...and he takes credit?'

David

'...he wrote this and I had to change that, blah, blah, blah..'

John

"oh. Well...you know. Whatever.'

David

'You are good with words. Later J.V.'

John mumbles....

'Johnny Viagra. Sounds like I'm a pusher at a nursing home.'

Herb walks by with a box of his personal affects and a building guard.