4. Searching for the Phoenix

Cybil, knocks on door, enters, sees Dee Zaster sitting on the corner of Walter’s desk

CYBIL: Hey, get a room you two.

WALTER: Huh… we’re just talking about the future…

Dee interrupts Walter as she stands turning to face Cybil.

DEE: …of the agency. We – Walter and I – think we need to do our homework on ben admin technology once and for all.

CYBIL: You mean you want me to do “our” homework?

DEE: No, no, no… we can do this together.

WALTER: Yes, that’s right and we need to think about it differently because…

As she interrupts Walter, Cybil practically elbows Dee out of the way as she steps up towards his desk

CYBIL:…because we never get it right thinking only about technology


Dee glares at the back of Cybil’s
head. Is about to speak, thinks better of it and sits down.

CYBIL: How do you propose we do this together?

WALTER: I’m not sure, but maybe we should start by speaking with some other agencies – ones like ours but who we don’t compete with.

CYBIL: Ones like yours you mean…

Dee raises eyebrows as Walter, beginning to anger, stands up. Before he can speak Dee motions for him to stop.

DEE:Look, I know it’s been tough lately but we are really all in this together. I think Walter is on to something. Juan knows those folks in Colorado and I think he has a friend who is a producer in Missouri.

WALTER: Yeah and I can talk to a couple of the owners I met last year when I was checking out joining that national collaboration group.

Cybil, forgetting her anger, turns to Dee

CYBIL: Hey, yeah… come to think of it, my sister-in-law works in an agency that’s doing great in Dallas.

DEE: And I can call that group we met at EB Futurama last month.

FADE TO:

Juan Manband, at his desk, speaks on phone.

JUAN: Wow! Sounds like your admin platform has it all. Thanks for all the info. I’ll get back to you.

Cybil, from her cubicle, speaks loudly…

CYBIL: That call sounded a lot like the last one…

JUAN: You’re right… and it’s too bad but that was the tech company I was referred to by the Colorado folks… and it sounded just like the one my buddy in Missouri uses.

Walter sits at his desk. Dee paces.

WALTER: D’you think Cybil will be back?

DEE: I just don’t know what’s gotten into her lately. She’s usually so calm under pressure.

WALTER: It’s like she is mad at me…

DEE: If she’s mad at you, then she’s totally had it with me. I can’t believe it… just when we need to pull together.

WALTER: Aargh! Where’s that number for Confident Colleagues? I’m going to call them and see how much they will offer for this pile of…

DEE: Hey… stop that. We can work this out. Let me call Cybil and see if I can find out what’s really going on.

WALTER: And then what? We’re still stuck in this technology trap.

DEE: One thing at a time… I’ll reason with Cybil and then we’ll keep looking.
                                
                                                                                        DISSOLVE TO:

Cybil lies on couch, ice pack under her neck. Cell phone on coffee table rings. She picks it up, looks at caller ID, sends call to voice mail.

CUT TO:

Dee, alone in her office, speaks on phone.

DEE: Cybil, it’s me, Dee. We need to talk. I need to talk. Please call my cell. OK?

CUT TO:

Walter speaks on phone.

WALTER: Sure, I can meet you for lunch tomorrow. I’ll bring my financials and my client list… do you need anything else?

FADE TO SUPER:

NEXT ON MELLON’S PLACE
“DASHBOARD DREAMS”

ROLL CREDITS