THE BUSINESS MEETING

A short script

By Garrett Gilchrist

INT - LIVING ROOM - LATE DAY

LEON WEBBER, a tall and skinny young man of 18 years of age, walks through the door. He wears a backpack, baggy pants, two layers of ugly striped shirts, and a black stocking cap on his head, partly covering the long blonde hair hanging over his face. He looks tired and worn, and lets his backpack nearly slide off his back. Taking two unsteady steps into the front door, he takes the backpack off, tossing it to the ground like an unwanted toy.

He looks back at the door. A car is waiting outside on the street, a red car. He waves to it, and then turns back to look toward the kitchen.

He rubs the back of his neck with his fingers, and cranes his head sideways to stretch. We hear something in his back pop. He loosens up, gives a sigh and walks into the kitchen.

INT - KITCHEN - DAY

Walking around the kitchen table is MAXINE RYLE, formerly MAXINE WEBER, Leon's mother, 41 years of age. She is dressed in a businesslike manner. At the table sits EDGAR YOUNG, 39, who is also dressed for business and has a nervous air about him, as well as a whiff of the West Coast. He is looking through some papers. Leon looks at them and stops in his tracks. Only Edgar seems to notice Leon.

MAXINE

Would you like some more coffee, Mr. Young?

EDGAR

That's quite all right, Maxine.

LEON

Mom? I'm home, mom.

Maxine looks at Leon a moment, and holds her finger over his lips to say "shhh." She then looks over her shoulder at Edgar. She walks over to Edgar and sits down.

MAXINE

Those are the latest status sheets from our company, Mr. Young.

EDGAR

They're accurate?

MAXINE

They were approved as accurate just last week.

EDGAR

Then they're accurate up til last week.

MAXINE

Is that a problem?

EDGAR

Of course not, it's fine. Most companies in this field only do a proper status report once a year. I just meant that in this information age, a week can be an eternity. The world moves fast. To survive, we must keep up with it. To succeed, we must keep ahead of it.

Maxine has taken out a small yellow pad and paper and is taking notes on what Edgar says. He looks at her and smiles.

MAXINE

Ahead of it ... this is fascinating, Mr. Young.

EDGAR

Please, call me Edgar. Everyone else does. Even my employees call me Edgar.

MAXINE

And even to be an employee of yours would be an honor.

Leon rolls his eyes. Edgar looks up at him.

EDGAR

And who might this energetic young lad be?

MAXINE

Oh, look at my manners. I haven't even introduced you. (She stands up. Edgar stands with her. To Leon:) Leon, this is Mr. Edgar Young, author of the book "Self-Realizing Your Fulfillment Potential" ... (in a stage whisper) ten weeks on the New York Times best-seller list. (normal voice, to Edgar:) Edgar, this is my son, Leon.

EDGAR

(feigning astonishment)

Your son? No, he can't be ... Surely you're too young, Maxine. I swear when I first saw him I thought you were brother and sister.

Maxine blushes and smiles.

MAXINE

Oh, Mr. Young, really ...

Leon is stone-faced and unimpressed. Edgar shakes hands forcefully with him.

EDGAR

Pleased to meet you, young man. Hey, tighten up that grip - a nice powerful handshake can be your key to financial success. That's a tip - you get that one for free.

Edgar gives a wink at Leon. Leon looks at Edgar like one might look at a very boring being from another planet.

MAXINE

(to Leon)

It's good you're here. Could you be a dear and set the table for three? Edgar is having dinner with us.

LEON

Great. Mom, I actually need to talk to you.

MAXINE

About what, dear?

LEON

Well, I sort of ... (looks at Edgar) Could I talk to you in private, actually?

MAXINE

Can it wait until after dinner?

LEON

I'm ... not sure. Don't think so.

MAXINE

Set the table first, dear. We mustn't be rude. We have company.

Pause. Leon looks at her, then sighs and grabs three identical glasses out of the cupboards. He tosses them down on the table,

MAXINE (cont.)

Now Edgar, what were you saying about matricizing your fulfillment potentiality?

EDGAR

Actually, the proper term is potentializing your fulfillment matrix. But you've got the right idea. Most people don't realize the capacity for fulfillment they have. They need to potentialize, or strengthen the potentiality they already have, within the construct of a matrix, as outlined in my ...

Leon tosses three napkins and sets of utensils on the table with an overly loud clatter. Pause. Leon goes back to his work.

EDGAR (cont.)

Well, it isn't really important, most of it is there in section five of my latest book. The important points you need to take away from it are the concepts of potential, and potentiality, the concept of potential capacity, as opposed to capacity potential, and of course the structure of the fulfillment matrix itself --

Maxine tries to take notes, but is distracted. She looks at Leon, who is carrying three plates in one hand and looking at the floor.

MAXINE

(to Leon)

Don't sulk, dear.

Leon looks up, and drops the plates. They clatter to the floor. Maxine jumps out of her chair.

MAXINE (cont.)

My GOD! ARE THEY BROKEN? ARE THEY BROKEN?

Leon is freaked, and drops to his knees to pick them up, moving erratically.

LEON

No, no they're not broken.

Maxine is already on her knees next to him, picking up the plates he has already picked up, sort of half-taking them out of his hands.

LEON (cont.)

They're not broken, mom. Mom, they're not broken.

She is carrying the plates herself now, and sets them on the table. Leon follows her, out of habit.

LEON (cont.)

Mom, I can do this myself.

Edgar is now standing too.

EDGAR

Look, if I'm interrupting something I can go ...

MAXINE

No, of course not, you aren't interrupting anything! It's just typical family stuff. You know how families can be.

Maxine pushes Edgar's shoulder, and he moves gently back down into his seat.

LEON

Mom, can I talk to you? I need to talk to you now.

MAXINE

You're not getting off the hook that easily. You nearly broke all our dishes. Go get the pasta salad for everyone. No, never mind, I'll get it myself.

She pushes past Leon and grabs a yellow bowl of pasta salad out of the sink, with a large yellow serving spoon already inside.

EDGAR

(to Leon)

So, you're Maxine's son, huh?

LEON

Yeah.

EDGAR

What's that like?

Maxine sets the bowl of pasta salad down on the table and starts serving it.

MAXINE

I'm sorry about the pasta salad. It's not very good. We had a better one last week, when I used the green olives instead of the black ones, and put some tomatoes into the mix. This recipe's fine, it's the recipe I usually use, but we'd gotten sick of it after so many years and I suppose that won't bother you too much but I'm sorry anyway. And the rotini is a little overdone.

LEON

It looks great.

MAXINE

Thank you. (to Leon) Now see? Some people appreciate your mother's cooking.

Leon gives a "what'd I do" expression.

MAXINE (cont.)

You may sit down now.

Leon pulls out his chair with an overly loud "creak," and sits, pushing the chair closer to the table with his body as he's sitting in it. Edgar, already eating, looks up at Leon annoyed. Maxine sits down neatly. Leon grabs his fork, ducks his face down close to his plate and starts eating, shovelling food into his mouth slowly but with obvious poor table manners. Maxine grabs his fork and stops him eating further.

MAXINE (cont.)

In this house Leon, we say grace before eating. Or have you forgotten?

Leon looks at Edgar, who has already stopped eating. Maxine grabs Leon and Edgar's hands, and after a moment, Leon and Edgar reluctantly take each others' hands. We see that Edgar is holding Leon's hand too tight.

MAXINE (cont.)

Oh Lord, we thank you for this food, and for the grace you have given us.

She turns to Leon. He looks at her quizzically.

MAXINE (cont.)

Would you like to say a word of grace, Leon?

Edgar smiles. Leon's face is blank.

LEON

I don't really ...

MAXINE

Please, dear.

LEON

Well, I mean I don't really believe in it.

MAXINE

Believe in what?

Pause. Leon takes a breath, turns and bows his head.

LEON

Oh God, we, uh, thank you for this food that you have ... personally ... given ... unto us. Um, Amen.

MAXINE/EDGAR

Amen.

Maxine starts eating daintily, then Edgar, and then the bewildered Leon.

MAXINE

How what was that you wanted to tell me, dear?

EDGAR

About the fulfillment matrix?

Maxine laughs.

MAXINE

No Edgar, I was talking to my son.

She laughs. Edgar laughs along with her. Leon sits and looks at them, losing his appetite.

MAXINE (cont.)

Though seriously, I wouldn't mind hearing more about the fulfillment matrix later, if you have time.

LEON

Oh, of course. I'm always available to special customers like yourself.

She smiles and is blushing again.

MAXINE

Oh, there's nothing special about me. But go on. (she laughs, and then turns to Leon) No really dear, what was it you wanted to say to me?

LEON

I don't really, I mean now is not the best ...

MAXINE

Don't mumble. You're mumbling again. I can't understand a word you're saying when you mumble.

LEON

I don't want to talk about it in front of him.

Maxine looks at Edgar, then back at Leon.

MAXINE

Edgar? He's harmless, he doesn't care, do you Edgar?

EDGAR

No, I don't, I don't know anything.

MAXINE

(to Leon)

You see? I mean, surely anything you can say to me you can say to Mr. Young.

Pause.

LEON

Okay. You know my girlfriend Elizabeth?

MAXINE

Elizabeth, the little blonde one you took the French class with? Oh, how is she doing these days?

LEON

No, that wasn't Elizabeth, that was Margaret.

MAXINE

Well, how is Margaret these days?

LEON

I don't know. We don't talk much anymore.

MAXINE

Oh, I'm sorry, I liked her.

LEON

Well, she didn't like me. Anyway, Elizabeth ...

MAXINE

Was she the one on the cheerleading squad?

LEON

I never dated anyone on the cheerleading squad.

MAXINE

Well you should. They're nice people, not the stereotype people have of them. I was a cheerleader in high school.

LEON

I know.

MAXINE

So which one is Elizabeth?

LEON

Mom, you've met her. She's been to this house at least five times. Black hair, stunningly beautiful, has a nose ring ...

MAXINE

Someone with a nose ring came to this house?

LEON

.... Yes.

MAXINE

(to EDGAR) He never really went out with girls in high school. (to Leon) I can't see why a nice young man like yourself should have so much trouble finding a nice young woman to be around. All you have to do is be nice to a girl, Leon. Take her places, give her unexpected gifts.

LEON

Yeah, I had some troubles, but it's like I'm saying, Elizabeth and I ...

EDGAR

Elizabeth, she's your girlfriend.

LEON

(ignoring him)

... Yes.

EDGAR

So you aren't gay.

LEON

No.

EDGAR

I'm sorry, from what your mother said about you earlier I thought ...

LEON

Okay, whatever. Anyway, you know I've been having trouble getting up on time lately, and I've been missing a lot of class ...

EDGAR

You lack drive. You need motivation. You have a potentiality within yourself to succeed that you have yet to unlock, and will not unlock until you can free your inner project manager and get rid of your inner naysayer ...

LEON

Don't interrupt me.

MAXINE

Leon!

EDGAR

You should start him on my program too.

MAXINE

Leon, how can you say such things?

EDGAR

He could benefit from my audiobook series on resolving inner conflict.

LEON

(pointing at Edgar)

You haven't been giving him any money, have you?

Pause.

MAXINE

(sarcastically)

Nothing out of your college fund. Don't worry.

EDGAR

(getting up)

Look, maybe I should go ...

Maxine pushes him back down.

MAXINE

No, please, stay. Have some pasta salad. Tell me about the fulfillment matrix.

EDGAR

The what? Oh, the, uh, the fulfillment matrix. It's not an actual thing you see, so much as a feeling. Or a range of feelings. It's a like a grid, but it doesn't actually exist, not literally, and it's sort of a map to your places of fulfillment. Like, say you were fulfilled by playing golf, or buying a new car ...

LEON

(overlapping EDGAR)

I dropped out of school.

Pause.

MAXINE

What?

LEON

(simultaneously with EDGAR)

I dropped out of ...

EDGAR

(simultaneously with LEON)

If you were fulfilled by playing golf ...

Pause. Edgar and Leon look at each other.

LEON

I dropped out of school.

Pause.

MAXINE

Well, you still shouldn't interrupt Mr. Young when he's talking. (to EDGAR) Please go on, Mr. Young.

Leon's eyes are wide in disbelief. He looks at his mother, and at Edgar. After a moment, Edgar begins to talk.

EDGAR

The important thing is that most people don't self-realize to their fullest, most fulfilling line of causality, or potential line of cause. To put it in other terms, they aren't working at their highest potentiality.

Leon stands up out of his chair and walks out of the room, leaving Edgar and Maxine alone, the talker and the fascinated listener.

INT - LIVING ROOM - LATE DAY

Leon walks dazed through the living room, and grabs his backpack as he walks out the door. We hear Edgar in the background.

EDGAR (cont.)

People have a capacity to achieve success, but only utilize one percent of that potential capacitation. My program works on a holistic level, seeing the whole person, the whole problem, the whole potentiality. It is guaranteed to help you achieve a greater measure of success in business, social situations, and yes, even love ...

Leon shuts the door as he leaves.

EXT - STREET - LATE DAY

Leon walks down the hill from the old house, and we hear the red car's motor running, waiting for him. Leon speeds up into a run, and hops in the passenger seat of the car.

In the driver's seat is ELIZABETH, 19, an attractive young woman with a black hair, black eyeshadow, black lipstick, black clothing and a nose ring.

LEON

Sorry it took me so long.

ELIZABETH

You told her though, right? About us?

LEON

Well, I tried to, but I mean I don't think she was really listening.

ELIZABETH

You want me to come in there with you?

LEON

No, it's all right. I mean, she'll figure out I've moved out when she realizes I don't happen to be living there anymore.

ELIZABETH

You're not having second thoughts about Rhode Island, are you?

LEON

No, not for a second. We'll be great there together. Screw it, you know, if the old folks don't get it, they don't get it. Anyway, I I always said I wanted to see the ocean.

Elizabeth smiles, and puts the car into gear.

LEON (cont.)

Hit it.

Elizabeth hits the gas and the car speeds away.

ELIZABETH

(screaming as the car drives away)

GOD'S MERCY ON YOU SWINE!

LEON

EEEEEEEEE-HAAAAAAAA!!

In a moment, the car disappears over the horizon and is gone.