LORD MCCONNEHEAD III - GARY'S BIG BREAK

Lord McConnehead III is an aspiring screenwriting student at Full Sail University in the BFA Creative Writing Program. He’s currently a Telecommunications Specialist, Manager Alternate. He’s worked in the Aerospace Industry for 24 years and was formerly an Int’l Space Station and Space Shuttle Engineer. He received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering with a Minor in Math from Florida A & M University, the FAMU / FSU College of Engineering, and his M.S. in Project Management Operations Research from the Florida Institute of Technology. He chose to pursuit his passion for movie storytelling and filmmaking instead of pursuing a Doctorate in Business Healthcare Administration. He hopes to one day help create hugely entertaining and moving projects for other film geeks like himself. 

Gary’s Big Break
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     Susan cringed as she walked, her eyes taking in the details of the motel room.  The mustard color walls were bare and a solitary, matching mustard leather chair sat too close to the bed to frequently be used. The striped, quilted blankets were neatly made on the beds, looking abandoned. The mounted yellow lights were bulky, oversized, and meant more for street lamps than for room lighting.  The Pea Green, shag rug was freshly vacuumed but was nostalgic of a time long past. The room led to large, windowed back wall and door that led to a small patio.  
     “Please, make yourself comfortable,” said Gary walking into the room after Susan. “Would you like anything to drink?”
     “Do you have orange juice…. How about wine?” asked Susan as she slowly slid off her red bottom shoes.  The carpet was not the best-looking rug that she’d seen, but the fresh vacuum tracks and relaxing, clean carpet smell of lavender put her at ease.  Her feet sunk into the carpet and the soft, tufts of shag carpet stuck up between her toes. She stood there in the moment, just staring down at her feet, grabbing the carpet with them. 
     “White or Red?” answered Gary.
     “I prefer white wine during the day,” said Susan. “Chardonnay, is my favorite.”
     “Ummm, I don’t have Chardonnay, but I do have Pinot Grigio,” answered Gary.
     “Pinot Grigio is good,” said Susan.
     Susan sauntered across the room, out through the patio door and sat at the dining set. She turned her face upward to the sun, eyes closed with a pleasant smile on her face.
     After a minute or so, Gary sat down at the table, holding two glasses of Pinot Grigio.
     “Here you go,” said Gary, interrupting Susan’s basking as he handed her the glass. “Now, let’s get down to business.  Freddy Hands was the point man for this face to face meeting between us and it’s only because of my enduring trust and faith in him that I decided to do this here, with you.  So, what are your terms?”
     Moments passed as Susan took a long sip of the Pinot Grigio.  “My partners and I have taken notice of the great work that you’ve done in the Pacific West. We’d like for you to sell our product for 10% of the profits.” 
     “Ten percent?” said Gary, eyes stretched, “Do I look like a charity case?  You know how much weight we’re pushing and the profits that come along with that.”
     “We do,” Susan stated firmly. “You move about 25 kilos per month, distributing to 50 generals that further distribute to 1,000 lieutenants, from Wyoming to New York, generating about $650K, just under $8 Million per year.  Sounds about right?”
     “Yeah.  So, you’ve done your homework,” stated Gary confidently.
     “Do you know who the generals work for?” asked Susan.
     There was a long pause of silence as Gary slowly sat back in his chair, his hand coming to his chin.
     “The generals pay my partners and I, twenty percent of their gross income,” Susan stated matter of factly.  “We set them up in each state and city. We allow them to stay in business.”
     Gary was now sitting up straight with his hands folded on the table. His wine was untouched.
     “We are prepared to increase your pure product to 50 kilos per month,” said Susan.   “Can you handle that?”
     “Sure. Sure. We can handle 50 a month,” said Gary, a little nervous at first. He became more confident as he continued to talk. “We have the manpower, vehicles, and triple redundant layers of checks and balances that ensure that the job gets done right.  My people and I have been doing this for years, perfecting the system. That’s why we’ve grown so much in the last 5 years.”
     “If you handle 50 to our liking for six-months, we will put you in direct contact with our inside DEA agents,” stated Susan. “They’re at the Port of Los Angeles and Miami.  Then, we’ll increase your product to 100 kilos per month. That’s over $31 Million per year. What do you think?”
     “That’s a lot of weight and a lot of money,” said Gary sitting transfixed at the table.
     “Do we have a deal?” asked Susan.
     “Yes,” stated Gary, without hesitation.
     At that moment, Susan’s cell phone rang.  “It’s the lead partner, give me a second,” she said as she answered the phone. “Susan here… Yes… Ok, I’ll do that. Bye. Sorry about that.”
     “What did your lead partner want?” asked Gary.  
     “He said to lower your percentage from ten to five,” said Susan.  
     “Five percent!” yelled Gary, his face scowled and his neck turning red.
     “Five percent is $15.5 Million per year,” Susan immediately countered.
     “Ok, I accept,” Gary blurted out after tense seconds.  “$15.5 Million per year is the most that I’ve ever made,” he said to himself.  “I’m all about making money and would be a fool to turn it down. Bastards.”
    “Ok, we have a deal,” said Susan, reaching her right hand out to shake Gary’s, smiling.
     Susan got up, walking back into the motel room, leaving Gary transfixed at the patio dining set.  She stopped again for a moment, as her feet sunk into the soft, thick tufts of shag carpet, grabbing them with her toes. She slid her feet into her shoes.  Opening the door, she turned her head back to the patio one last time.
     “I’ll be seeing you soon, Gary,” she said with a slight smile on her face and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
***
     In the next room, two DEA agents whisper to each other. “Did you get it?”
     “Yes, I got the whole conversation.  I’ll leave the tape running in case Gary decides to talk to anyone else.  Susan did a great job.”
END

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