Dim the Fluorescents Page #5

- It's blackmail, essentially.

We're happy to have you, but

you can't expect much input.

Okay, here goes.

Amelia Watkins.

She's the personnel manager

of our concern.

She and her husband continue to talk

about starting a consulting business.

But she's not sure she wants

to risk that relationship.

They met at a debate

tournament in their teens.

She won.

The last of her two kids

moved out in August.

Her mother had arthritis.

Her father, an un-diagnosed

heart condition.

Thinking about this

makes her terrified.

She walks everywhere she can.

[church bell dings]

She was raised Catholic.

- Good morning.

- Morning.

Morning.

[Lillian] Always has a

kind word for everyone.

- Good morning, Ms. Watkins.

- Good morning, Amelia.

Penny!

You look nice today.

Thanks, so much.

[Lillian] She's worked there

long enough to mean it.

Good morning.

Charlotte Angelica Gillis.

Age 33.

Been at the box company for eight years.

An executive for four.

[groans]

She feels a debt of gratitude

to her grandmother.

Who left her

a nice inheritance,

a passion for business,

and a middle name.

Unfortunately, none of these

were quite enough.

[groans]

She likes birding.

I see you.

[thud]

F***!

[Audrey]

Started drinking at 14.

[sobbing]

She used to have

a boyfriend, Sam.

When he left, he took the car.

So, with this new material,

we'll be able to save 15%

over the next quarter.

We'll also be able to expand our boxing

enterprise into a number of different items.

Uh, such as, wine boxes.

Cereal boxes.

Uh...

Little late, Charlotte.

[Audrey] She's had one instance of

erratic behavior reported this quarter.

[screaming]

[gasps]

I can't restrain this chair

for long, Penny.

[Audrey] Twelve unreported.

[exhales]

Penelope Chillington,

- Deputy Office Manager.

- Great.

- Fabulous.

- Good job.

- Are you Lillian?

- Yes, I am.

Oh, Max, hi.

I'll give you guys the tour.

This is the

Barry Burnberg Theater.

Now, it seats between 300

and 400 people.

Depending upon whether you have

tables or whatnot.

Which will not be the case

in your particular event.

Now, I understand that

- you folks have reserved some seats.

- Yes.

Ah, well,

those are all right down here

in front.

So, um...

Lucky them. [laughing]

Now, I'm sure I don't

have to say this, but

this is the stage where

you'll all be performing.

Now, if you'll just follow me.

And come back here. Thank you.

Right this way, please.

Hi, guys.

So, as you can see, we have a

little backstage waiting room.

Almost like a greenroom.

Almost, yes.

Now, um, we have,

just as you can see,

some chairs,

and...

Some magazines which I can't attest

to the quality of relevance of.

And we do have a mini fridge.

Now, that doesn't have any booze

or anything in it, but...

It does have

some sparkling water.

And some fresh fruit.

Um, so, uh, anyone have

any questions, so far?

Oh, go ahead, sir. Yes?

Will we have access to

power outlets?

I think we can

work something out.

Overall, MGO likes the concept.

We just have two

major concerns.

Don't we have script approval?

No, we do. MGO does.

Please, continue.

Uh...

Firstly, uh, we feel that

the ending is too bleak.

Uh, that it's not actually

demonstrating

the proper approach

to the situation which is,

after all its purpose.

Alcoholism is bleak, Gary.

Well, we understand that.

Uh, but it is ultimately

supposed to be instructional.

Uh, is it not?

Um, besides can't,

art be, [clears throat]

excuse me,

idealistic?

What's the other thing?

Uh, secondly,

you are not to under

any circumstances,

uh, have broken glass

on the stage.

That's not so much

a creative concern,

as it is a safety

and insurance one.

Can you agree

to both these things?

We have to, don't we?

I'm afraid so.

I can't believe this sh*t.

- You surprised?

- You know what? F*** Gary.

How does Sam feel?

Sam's gone.

Do you want me to look

over anything?

Soon.

Okay.

Hey, uh, I have an idea

for a walk.

Charlotte's walk.

Do you wanna see?

Of course.

[exhales]

[groans]

[exhales]

What do you think?

I like it.

[exhales] Okay.

- Well, good night.

- Good night.

[dialing]

[ringing]

[continues ringing]

[cell phone ringing]

[speaking Polish]

- [responds in Polish]

- I understand.

He understands

or you understand?

[cell phone continues ringing]

[clears throat] Um...

Excuse me.

- Hello?

- Hi.

Hey, um, it's...

It's Audrey.

I know.

Hi, uh, how are you?

Busy tonight?

Sorry, what is this regarding?

What?

Uh, we really enjoyed, uh, your...

What you brought to the event,

uh, the other day.

Uh, last week.

Oh, well, um, that's great.

I will certainly keep you

in the loop

if anything like that, uh,

comes up again. Okay?

Okay.

- Thanks.

- Great.

Well, have a nice day, okay?

Thanks for calling.

Okay, you too.

Bye.

- Sorry about that.

- [speaking Polish]

[speaking softly in Polish]

[indistinct chatter]

Just tell me the truth.

[stuttering] You know.

- We weren't gonna work out.

- That just isn't true though.

No, it is.

Okay, what do you mean?

You never really cared

for me, not really.

You knew I did for you and

you just let me be with you.

Out of what?

Kindness?

Okay, that is not fair.

I think, I knew

all along, actually.

But I let it happen.

Because I wanted to be

with you.

I wanted to believe

what you were saying.

Guess it's just a matter

of time before reality...

[Audrey] These are

their feelings.

This is real.

Drinking problem.

Drinking problem.

Drinking problem.

Problem drinking.

Problem drinking.

Drinking problem.

I have a drinking problem.

I have a problem drinking.

Drinking problem.

Drinking problem.

Problem drinking.

[exhales]

[exhales]

[exhales]

[sniffles]

[door opens]

So?

Uh, yeah, it's, um...

It's... It's good.

Yeah?

We should, uh...

[clears throat]

We should lose, uh,

the she will be, I think.

Okay, sure.

She asks if you're okay,

then black out.

Trust the audience.

But...

Overall?

Uh, yeah.

Yeah.

[sighs]

[speaking indistinctly]

[Peter over voicemail] Hi, you've

reached the office of Peter Fielding.

I'm afraid I can't come

to the phone right now.

So please leave a message

after the tone

and I'll get back to you soon.

Bye for now.

Peter?

Do you ever wonder why I...

Why we do this to ourselves?

I... I mean, what... You must

know what I'm talking about.

You know lots of...

Or you don't.

Or you don't.

We're gonna have to flip it all the

way so it goes like, up, like an out,

like a "V" shape, right? And then

it would have to go in sideways.

[exhales] Okay.

[Audrey] Not only do I not...

And then...

[Audrey] I don't even know

what I'm looking for.

- Yeah... Okay.

- [Fiona] Okay.

[Audrey chuckles]

To feel...

[sighs]

[wheels squeaking]

[Lillian] Now, do

you wanna start?

[Audrey] This is f***ed.

[laughs] Whatever.

Right?

Whatever.

Peter... [sighs]

I guess the subway's

closed by now, isn't it?

You guys maybe think

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