Conversation
Notices
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INT. CONFERENCE ROOM, FEDIVERSE UNITED - DAY
Lain enters, carrying the NewsStream times under his arm. He is handsome, supremely confident and self-satisfied; he sees himself as a leader among men.
LAIN (to DELORES): Hello, noyou. Nice tie. How the hell are you?
DELORES: I've been great. And you?
(Their conversation fades down as we hear Delores' thoughts.)
DELORES (V.O.): Lain has mistaken me for this cherry noyoushutthemangoupdad. It seems logical because Noyou also works at SPC and in fact does the same exact thing I do and he also has a penchant for B&W avatars and attending movie night. Noyou and I even go to the same barber, although I have a slightly better haircut.
During this voiceover the CAMERA WANDERS over to NOYOUSHUTTHEmangoUPDAD, who is conferring with a colleague in the opposite corner of the room. He bears a superficial resemblance to DELORES.
LAIN: How's the Niu account going, Noyou?
DELORES (nervous): It's...it's...all right.
LAIN: Really? That's interesting.
He stares at DELORES, smiling
LAIN: Not great?
DELORES: Oh well, you know.
LAIN: And how's Hakui? She's a great girl.
DELORES: Oh yes. I'm very lucky.
HJ and SHP enter.
HJ: Hey. Lain! Congratulations on the Pawoo account.
LAIN: Thank you, eal.
SHP: Listen, Lain. Cofe?
LAIN: Call me. (Hands him a profile card)
SHP: How about Fridey?
LAIN: No can do. Got a res at eight-thirty at SunshineGardens. Great qts.
There is a stunned silence as he walks away and sits in a corner of the room, ostentatiously studying papers.
CLOSE-UP on DELORES's face, cold with hatred.
SHP (whispering): Jesus. SunshineGardens? On a Fridey nite? How'd he swing that?
HJ (whispering): I think he's lying.
DELORES takes out his wallet and pulls out a card.
SHP (suddenly enthused): Is that a 1cc?
DELORES: New profile card. What do you think?
HJ lifts it up and examines the lettering carefully.
HJ: Whoa. Very nice. Look at that.
He hands it to AUGUSTUS.
DELORES: Designed them yesterday.
AUGUSTUS: Good coloring.
DELORES: That's #333333. And the lettering is something called Helvetica Neue.
AUGUSTUS: It is very cool, Delores. But that's nothing.
He pulls a card out of his wallet and slaps it on the table.
AUGUSTUS: Look at this.
They all lean forward to inspect it.
SHP: That is really nice.
DELORES clenches his fists beneath the table, trying to control his anxiety.
AUGUSTUS: #000000 with Sans Serif type.
(Turning to DELORES)
AUGUSTUS: What do you think?
DELORES (barely able to breathe, his voice a croak): Nice.
SHP (holding the card up to the light): Jesus. This is really super. How'd a nitwit like you get so tasteful?
DELORES stares at his own card and then enviously at AUGUSTUS'.
DELORES (V.O.): I can't believe that Shp prefers Augustus' card to mine.
SHP: But wait. You ain't seen nothin' yet.
He holds up his own card.
SHP: Raised lettering, #0084B4...
DELORES (choking with anxiety): Impressive. Very nice. Let's see Lain's card.
SHP pulls a card from an inside coat pocket and holds it up for their inspection: "LAIN IWAKURA, FEDIVERSE UNITED, MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS." DELORES swallows, speechless. The sound in the room dies down and all we hear is a faint heartbeat as DELORES stares at the magnificent card.
DELORES (V.O.): Look at that subtle off-black coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God, it even has a watermark...
His hand shaking, DELORES lifts up the card and stares at it
until it fills the screen. He lets it fall. The sound returns to normal.
Bricky: Is something wrong? Delores... you're sweating.
