Working Girl

CENE 1

Cyndy

Happy Birthday dear , Happy Birthday to you! Did you make a

wish?

Tess

Yeah.

SCENE 2

Tess

No lunch. I got speech class.

Cyndy

What'dya need speech class for? You talk fine. All right. I'll

pick you up at 5:00 and we'll ride back together.

Tess

I can't. I've got an Emerging Market Seminar at 5:30.

Cyndy

Geez, it's your birthday! Can't they merge without you just this

once?

Tess

What time is my surprise party?

Cyndy

What?

Tess

C'mon.

Cyndy

Ah, I'm supposed to take you to drinks, have you home at 7:00.

Tess

Okay. I'll cut out early and be home at 7:15, okay?

Cyndy

All right.

Tess

Thank you very much.

SCENE 3

Woman

Hi Tess!

Tess

Good morning...Good morning....Mr. Turkel's line. Um, who's

calling, please? Hold on a moment. Mr. Lutz?

Mr. Lutz

No.

Tess

Um, hold on a second, all right?

SCENE 4

Tess

Mr. Turkel? Mr. Turkel?

Mr. Turkel

Huh?

Tess

Um, Mr. Alagash...Hi....Uh, Mr. Alagash is on the phone and he's

real, real anxious to talk to you.

Mr. Turkel

You couldn't maybe get him to hold for a minute?!

Tess

Well, you got him in Dentitech, remember? The one I told you to

go short on? And it's fine, but he don't want to hear it from a

secretary.

Mr. Turkel

There's no paper!

Tess

What?

Mr. Turkel

There's no goddamned paper in this stall! Get me some?...Thanks.

You're very kind.

Tess

You're short on Dentitech at 18 and he'll be right here.

SCENE 5

Tess

See Dentitech closing at 17 and an 1/8? Come Monday I'll bet

it's 16 and still sittin' there.

Mr. Lutz

How do you figure?

Tess

Well, they went public at 23 with one product, plaque removing

mouthwash. You know, you rinse, you get this glob of plaque you

gotta spit out. I mean, maybe it'll be big, but I say that no

one ever got rich overestimating what the American public wants

to taste.

Mr. Lutz

Maybe.

Mr. Turkel

Uh, before I run Tess, I have some good news and some bad news.

The straight shot, Tessy, is...they turned you down for the Entre

Program again.

Tess

Why?

Mr. Lutz

We did all we could, Tessy.

Man

I mean, you have to remember, you're up against Harvard and

Wharton graduates. What do you got, some night school, some

secretarial time on your sheet?

Mr. Lutz

Christians and lions, Tess.

Man

That's right.

Tess

And the good news?

Man

Uh, Dave has a friend.

Mr. Lutz

Bob in Arbitrage. You're so hungry, they're looking for hungry

down there!

Tess

Really?

Mr. Lutz

Well, hungry is the name of the game down there! Bob's looking

for a new assistant and wants to meet you for a drink.

Tess

This isn't another set up?

Mr. Lutz

Do I look like a pimp? Bob says he's looking for hungry, I think

to myself, "Tess." The rest is up to you!

Tess

Bob in Arbitrage.

Mr. Lutz

Bob Speck. Extension 256. He's expecting your call. Go get 'em

Tessy!

Women

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!

Man

Oh no! You should have told us! Congratulations, Tessy!

Women

Happy Birthday dear Tess, Happy Birthday to you!

Tess

Thanks.

SCENE 6

Tess

Mick?

People

Surprise! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!

SCENE 7

Mick

You look great!...Come here.

Tess

You know Mick, just once I could go for like a sweater or some

earrings, you know? A present that I can actually wear outside

of this apartment.

SCENE 8

Tess

So, is this where you usually meet for drinks?

Bob

Hmm, this is a big week! It's a super week! We are celebrating!

Tess

So, Arbitrage. Talk about adrenaline, huh? What do you think is

the most important quality for a great Arbitrager?

Bob

Well, we'll go through all that at the hotel.

Tess

The hotel?

Bob

Yeah, the company keeps a suite at the Ritz Carlton, and you

know, when it's empty, they give to us boys on a bonus basis--

Woah! We are gonna party!

Tess

Hey!

Bob

Oh, sorry! Allow me, I'm so sorry!

Tess

Hey Bob! Please!

Bob

Oh, sorry, sorry! I just get a little carried away. You know

what, Arbitrage has put out this sort of "Introduction To" tape

for the business schools. Why don't we put it in and if you have

any questions...

Tess

That would be great. Thanks.

Bob

Ha! Ha! Ha! It's the wrong tape! Uh, unless of course you

want to....

Tess

Bob, you're not seriously looking for a new assistant, are you?

Bob

Well, not exactly at this moment, but I'm always on the lookout

for new blood.

Tess

I'm hungry Bob, but I am not that hungry!

Bob

Now, you see, I wouldn't put it that way.

Tess

I would! Um, would you just pull over right here please!

Bob

What are you doing?

Tess

Ha! Ha! Ha! Party Bob!

SCENE 9

Mr. Lutz

You're late Tess!

Tess

Types message:
"David Lutz is a sleazoid pimp with a tiny little

dick."

Mr. Lutz

B*tch!

Mr. Turkel

Take it easy!

SCENE 10

Ruth

Tess. Tess. Tess.

Tess

I know.

Ruth

You don't get ahead in this world by calling your boss a pimp.

Tess

Well, he is.

Ruth

Been lookin' at your file here. This is the third time in six

months I've had to place you.

Tess

Well, it wasn't my fault.

Ruth

Where have I heard that before?

Tess

Ruth, look it. I'm 30-years old. It took me five years of night

school but I got my degree and I got it with honors. I know I

could do a job. I mean, you ask any of my bosses--even, even

Lutz--if Tess McGill hasn't called a few.

Ruth

You ask them. I don't think they're gonna sing your praises,

Tess. Here's somethin' for you. Transferring down from Boston.

Mergers and Acquisitions. Name is Parker. Starts Monday. You

go home and cool off.

Tess

Okay.

Ruth

Tess. This is the last time I can help you. Four strikes,

you're out.

SCENE 11

Tess

Tess McGill for Katherine Parker's office.

Woman

It's the last desk...at the end of the aisle.

Katherine

Hi. I'm Katherine Parker. You must be Tess.

Tess

Right.

Katherine

Oh, great bunny!

Tess

Um, I don't usually have a bunny on my desk. It was my birthday

a few days ago.

Katherine

No kidding? Mine's next Tuesday. How old?

Tess

30.

Katherine

Really? Well I'll be 30 next Tuesday. We're practically twins.

Tess

Except that I'm older.

Katherine

Just barely.

Tess

I've never worked for someone who is younger than me before. Or

for a woman.

Katherine

Well, there's a first time for everything. That's not going to

be a problem, is it Tess?

Tess

No.

Katherine

Good. Why don't you pour us a couple coffees and come on inside.

I'm light, no sugar.

SCENE 12

Katherine

The stock is at 38, the tender is at 56....Come in....Yeah, what

do we do about that? Well, I just checked my three. What are

yours? Uh huh, yeah, I have that one. Well, I think he's in an

underwater position. All right, so that's our first and second

call and then we'll see where we are....Right. I'll count the

minutes. Bye....Thanks. So, Tess...a few ground rules. The way

I look at it, you are my link with the outside world. People's

impression of me starts with you. You're tough when it's

warranted, accommodating when you can be, you're accurate, you're

punctual, and you never make a promise you can't keep. I'm never

on another line, I'm in a meeting. I consider us a team Tess,

and as such we have a uniform: simple, elegant, impeccable.

"Dress shabbily, they notice the dress. Dress impeccably, they

notice the woman." Coco Chanel.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes