Swimming with Sharks Page #4

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well, isn't this turning into

an intelligent conversation?

Loud and nasty.

That's the only way it sticks, Dawn.

You did say "hold

all my calls," Buddy.

And I certainly hope

you wouldn't want anyone

to intrude

on our time together.

Mm-hmm.

Find Cyrus, find Stella.

Get them on the phone.

If they aren't on the line

by the time I get back,

you'd better not be here either.

I'll get back to you

about this.

Let me think about it,

and, um...

let's get together soon.

Buddy Ackerman's office calling.

As I was saying--

about that little

misunderstanding,

why don't you let

me make it up to you?

How about lunch?

Thank you, but

I--I really ca--I can't.

Look, I'm gonna be

real blunt here.

As much as I hate it,

I need buddy.

I need my calls

to find their way

onto his phone sheet.

I need my scripts

to go home with him

on the weekends.

In short,

I need you on my side.

See what I'm saying?

I don't want

to be put on hold

over a parking spot,

so why don't we

just try this again?

Hey, how about lunch?

Well...

I'm not allowed

to take lunch.

Um...Buddy...doesn't

believe in it.

Fine. Drinks it is.

Here's my card.

Call me when you're done tonight.

All right?

Tonight?

That's all right with you,

isn't it?

Oh, yeah.

It just seems that a woman

as powerful and as attractive

and as pleasant-natured

as yourself

would be booked up

for tonight.

Well, guess what.

I am now.

You know what?

Piece of advice.

You should talk to him

about the yelling.

'Cause it really

kind of makes you look

like a schmuck.

Yeah, some tip.

You ought to be shot

for scaring me

that early in the morning.

The change Stella wants--

it's not me,

although I'm sure

she would like it to be.

Yeah, well,

your sources suck.

Anyway, it turns out

that Cyrus' teenage

grandson was whining

about how all of today's films

are made for adults,

how there's nothing

for him and his friends.

So the old man bitched

and moaned to Stella,

and now we gotta go out

and find the next

hippest, hottest thing,

you know, something for the kids.

Isn't that great?

You got anything?

Great. Send it to me.

All right. Bye-bye.

Yeah, what?

Well, I wanted to talk to you

about the phone calls.

No apology necessary.

Everyone's allowed

at least one mistake.

You've used up yours.

Let's not dwell on it.

Well, that's just it.

See, I...

I don't feel

that I made a mistake,

and...

Well, I would appreciate it

if you didn't yell at me

in front

of the entire office.

Excuse me. What?

Uh...the--the yelling.

Uh...

Oh.

You...disapprove.

I'm sorry.

Did I...

did I hurt your feelings?

No. No, no.

Uh...I...

I just don't feel

that it's necessary.

It certainly doesn't help me,

and I think that--

well, I'm glad

you brought this up.

Great. Great.

'Cause I've found that

an office can't run...

properly if the lines

of communication aren't open.

Right, right, yes.

So, in that case...

let's make

a few things clear.

Ok, great, great.

No, this--this is helpful.

I mean...

let's review.

What did I tell you

the first day?

Your thoughts are nothing.

You are nothing.

And yet you have the nerve

to walk into my office

and tell me--

I--

Please shut up.

At least allow me

the courtesy

of finishing

what I have to say.

That's the very least

that you can do

after I've had to endure

your insults.

This is a bad time.

Who do you think you are,

you snot-faced little punk?

Let me make this clear

for you, ok?!

And now try to follow me,

because I'm gonna be moving

in a kind of circular motion,

so if you pay attention,

there will be a point!

You are nothing!

If you were

in my toilet bowl,

I wouldn't bother

flushing it.

My bath mat means

more to me than you.

You see this?

This means more

to the office than you.

And yet do you hear

any complaints

when I do this?

These pencils,

more important!

These pens,

more important!

These paper clips,

more important!

You miserable

little crybaby!

You don't like it here, leave!

There are thousands of people

who would kill for your spot!

Who would kill for

the opportunity to be here!

I could spit

and hit somebody

who could do this job

better than you!

This is the fast track

to the top, boy.

I don't see you breaking

any speed records!

Why can't you show

a little backbone, huh? Huh?

"I don't think the yelling

is necessary."

You gotta be a little more

thick-skinned, you turd.

You gotta be a man

to do this job!

"Talk to him about the yelling."

Thanks.

That was a good tip.

You gotta give

action to get action.

So, Guy,

what's your story?

Is your uncle Bob

in the business?

Or are you just another

boy out for quick cash,

quick cars,

and an easy lay?

You hate me.

Is that it?

Y-you really hate me.

No, I'm just feeling

extra charitable.

So, talk. Amuse me.

What's your story?

I'm a recent

film school graduate

with fairly disappointed

middle-class parents,

uh...who had hoped

their--their son

would have been

anything but a writer.

Oh, you're a writer?

Really?

Yeah.

Why, then, pray tell,

are you fetching coffee

for Buddy Ackerman?

Fetching? I'm...

I'm not fetching.

He--he's one of the top studio

executives in the business.

I'm his--his assistant.

So, basically, you're

substituting talent

with liberal amounts

of ass kissing, right?

Ok.

Well...

I've taken

just about enough

character assassination

for one day. Yhank you for--

Would you please sit down?

Sit.

Look, if this time can be spent

convincing you

to do anything else

with your life,

to getting out while you

are still whole,

it is time well spent.

Let me ask you

a question.

Why do you want this?

I don't know.

It's just something

that I have always

wanted to do.

Oh, bullshit.

Is it the money?

There are easier ways

to get rich. girls?

Hey, I'll float you a bill

and give you a number

to call right now.

Why the movies?

Do you really want to know?

I really want to know.

Are you gonna form

some conclusion?

No, I really want to know.

Do you really want to know?

I want to know.

Well, fine. Memories.

Memories?

Yes. All my favorite memories

have been of movies.

For instance,

my first...job.

Summer of '88, Indiana Jones

and the Last Crusade.

My first car, the summer

that rancho del rio opened.

A fine Buddy Ackerman film,

I might add.

What about your first kiss?

Uh...

Summer of 1979.

The fish

that Saved Pittsburgh.

What was her name?

I don't remember.

But Gabe Kaplan's hair

in that movie was amazing.

The only white man

I've ever seen with an Afro.

Wow. A smile.

Maybe you don't hate me.

Wow.

Get over yourself.

Let me give you

a piece of advice here.

If you want to make it

in this business,

you don't have room

for a personal life,

much less

a relationship.

Absolutely

no relationships, no.

Absolutely

no relationships.

Hi. This is Guy.

Leave me a message.

Michelle, stop it.

I'm on the phone.

All right?

I'll be right there.

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