Short screenplay from Done Deal 2006 Valentine's Day contest.
"Executive Decision"
FADE IN:
EXT. SIDEWALK - OFFICE TOWER ENTRANCE - DAY
The DOORMAN opens the door to allow a MAN and WOMAN to exit
to a waiting limo. The CHAUFFEUR opens the limo rear door,
they climb in without speaking.
INT. LIMO - DAY
RICHARD and DORIS MONTGOMERY. Seven-year-itchers whose small
talk ran out long ago. They sit apart.
DORIS
My father created this company.
RICHARD
And it's my job to keep it profitable.
They look out their windows. More apart than ever.
The Chauffeur looks in his rearview, awaiting orders.
RICHARD
I'm hungry. Let's eat out.
DORIS
We have a perfectly good cook at
home.
RICHARD
I don't mind the food. It's the cold
silences that give me indigestion.
DORIS
It takes two sticks to start a fire.
RICHARD
Give me a moment to figure that one
out.
DORIS
Bernard, take us to Gino's.
CHAFFEUR
Yes Mrs. Montgomery.
The Chaffeur hits a button, the privacy window slides up.
RICHARD
Don't you wish we had one of those?
Doris draws him a look.
INT. ITALIAN RESTAURANT - DAY
GINO greets the Montgomeries, kissing Doris on her cheeks.
GINO
Ah, Signor and Signora Montgomery.
We never see you any more.
DORIS
Signor Montgomery has been very busy
making lots of money.
GINO
Such a husband is to be appreciated.
DORIS
Oh yes indeed.
Gino seats them at a table and snaps his fingers, WAITERS
hurry forward with menus and a bottle of wine and glasses.
Gino looks at the bottle, sends the Waiter running to fetch
another one. Gino opens this bottle and fills the glasses.
GINO
The wine is my gift to you. My very
best.
DORIS
Thank you Gino.
Gino and the Waiters retreat. Doris looks at her menu and
shows surprise.
RICHARD
What?
DORIS
Nothing.
A VIOLINIST wanders the tables. Doris loves it. Richard
glances at COUPLES at other tables. Gino returns, all smiles.
GINO
Are you ready to order?
RICHARD
Give me your Ragu sauce special, you
excuse for an Italian chef.
GINO
If you were any other man, I would
kill you with my bare hands.
They both chuckle, sharing an old joke.
DORIS
How is your mother, Gino?
GINO
Still surprising me with new recipes.
Every time we speak she recalls your
father with great fondness.
DORIS
Thank you. I'll have the same.
GINO
Coming right up!
INT. ITALIAN RESTAURANT - DAY
Waiters bring steaming dishes from the kitchen.
Richard smiles in anticipation -- Doris watches him.
Two plates of spaghetti bolognese, the thick sauce poured to
form hearts on top of the spaghetti.
RICHARD
What is this, heart awareness week?
DORIS
You didn't read the menu?
RICHARD
I already knew what I was having.
DORIS
Happy Valentine's Day. To tell the
truth, I'd forgotten too.
RICHARD
Huh. What does that say about us?
DORIS
We've drifted apart.
RICHARD
Like continents.
DORIS
That far, huh?
Richard tries the food and nods his approval. They eat.
RICHARD
You still seeing that guy? What's-
his-name. The surgeon.
Doris stares at him blankly.
RICHARD
Come on. Everybody knew. His bitch-
from-Hell wife made sure of that.
DORIS
What about you and Miss Efficiency?
Does she still take shorthand sitting
on your lap?
RICHARD
When did you find out?
DORIS
Come on. When we met at the Christmas
party she was positively purring.
They eat, each stealing glances at the other.
DORIS
Why'd you have to bring this up now?
Can't we just enjoy a meal together?
RICHARD
You surprised me today. That outburst
at the meeting. The board members
were impressed. I think they saw
your father standing there.
DORIS
Don't make a fool of me.
RICHARD
"If he knew what was going on in his
board room, he'd turn in his grave."
Clichéd, but effective.
DORIS
Damn you--
RICHARD
No, no, I'm not, whoa, pax. You've
got those old geezers thinking that
splitting the company isn't such a
good idea after all.
DORIS
It's not. You're planning to sell
off key divisions, the foundation
stones that made the company what it
is. Just to make a few bucks.
RICHARD
There are alternatives. Which I
might have mentioned if you hadn't
shot me down.
DORIS
Such as?
RICHARD
We can tighten belts. Juggle numbers.
It won't be easy, but it can be done.
We'll have to let some people go.
DORIS
With handshakes and early pensions.
RICHARD
We'll be down to the bone for a while.
DORIS
We've been there before. We bounced
back.
RICHARD
Miss Efficiency got a promotion last
month. And a transfer out of town.
DORIS
My surgeon moved to Seattle. I guess
maybe his wife had a say in that.
It wasn't exactly working out anyway--
RICHARD
I can't go it alone any more.
Doris looks away, eyes brimming with tears.
Hands reach tentatively across the table -- touch.
They've nibbled around the hearts, leaving them both intact.
FADE OUT
06/02
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