The Merchant of Fear & the Feather Merchant

Bernie's head is focused on his desk top as Blythe breezes in.

Blythe

'Your great idea to keep a little fear...keep them on the toes. We are moving 90% of the Account Executives to different offices as we speak.'

Bernie

'Right. But why are we speaking?'

Blythe cheerily

'O.Kies then' 

Blythe goes on to supervise the move of fear. (which was first done by Bernie's competition...the other Bernie.)

David, standing in front of John's desk

'No, no, no. Aren't you getting anything out of knowing me...becoming a little more street?'

John

'I just said I feel sorry for anyone losing their jobs...'

David waves his hands at key points

'John. These m-o-v-e-s are all about fear. Actually that's what advertising is...'

John

'...merchants of fear. Like that...are you getting all moral on my ass?'

David

'Getting? The point is...when someone is really getting fired...they make sure someone else is in with their accounts. They never see it coming....'

Michael a tall, dark-haired guy breaks in.

'Hi. I'm Mike and you must be my new creative team. Im creative myself. I write and do art. I'll be giving you a lot of ideas.'

John

'Great.'

David

'No. You will give us the brief on the client, including research. And we will give you award-wining creative that gets and keeps accounts.'

Michael

'Should be news to your Creative Director. If you two do it all, what does he do?'

Michael pats John on the back and walks out.

David

'Another creep.'

John

'My dad used to call people like him 'feather merchants'. Basically, they try to sell you anything. You laugh at them...

David

'I'm not laughing. And I'm allergic to feathers.'

David leaves John's office.

John looks down at the nicely dressed people, happily walking and talking on sunny Lexington Avenue.

John to himself.

'People look soooo good from far away. Sometimes...people are better as a concept.'