'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.'