This Is the Time

29. It's a Terrible Life

INT. BEDROOM

An alarm flipped from 5:59 to 6:00 and started beeping. A hand shut it off.

KITCHEN

A coffee cup was filled at an espresso machine.

The cup was held by Dean, who was in a business suit, with his hair slicked down.

STREET

Dean crossed the street to a silver Toyota Prius.

PRIUS

Dean started the car.

Rock music blared and he looked at it, confused, and changed the station.

"NPR Morning Edition. It's for this waste and-"

Dean drove off and eventually came to a skyscraper.

LOBBY

Dean exited the elevator and crossed the lobby. There was a Sandover Bridge and Iron history display along one wall.

Dean entered an office labeled Dean Smith - Director, Sales & Marketing.

A young woman, Kimi, smiled and handed him a stack of papers.

DEAN'S OFFICE

Dean typed at a computer while Kimi at another desk and did her own work.

Dean laughed into a phone headset. "All I wanna know is when are they gonna have another show like Project Runway?"

At lunch, he flipped his tie and ate a salad.

Kimi was eating a chicken salad. After lunch, Dean stood and spoke into his headset. "Net profitability aside, it's the client-retention rate that concerns me vis-à-vis maximizing return on sales. Buzz me back in once you've seen the spreadsheets." He looked to his secretary. "Have you calculated the numbers?"

Kimi nodded and before she could speak, someone else entered the office.

"Mr. Adler," Dean and Kimi greeted.

"Dean. Kimi," Mr. Adler said. slapping Dean on the shoulder. "Good stuff."

"Good stuff?" Dean asked.

"Big things. Good stuff. Your secretary any trouble?"

"Good stuff. No sir. Best one ever."

NIGHT

Dean was sitting at his desk playing with something and speaking into the headset. "Oh I hear you. No, I haven't been to the gym in ages. Carrying a little bloat around myself. It's a sedentary lifestyle, my man, no two ways. All right, tell me one more time. You said lemon and - what was it? Cayenne and maple syrup, are you serious? How much did you lose?"

Dean put some files in a case and left the office, followed by Kimi.

OFFICE LOBBY

Dean was checking his phone. Kimi was looking through some papers. The elevator dinged. They entered, Dean focused on the phone and Kimi focused on the papers. The looked at the other occupant of the elevator who was staring at them. It was Sam, who was wearing a short-sleeved yellow shirt that said 'Sandover Bridge & Iron Inc. Tech Support'.

"Do I know you two?" Sam asked.

"I don't think so," Dean replied.

Kimi shook her head. "I don't believe so."

Sam looked between them. "I'm sorry, man, miss, you two just look really familiar."

"Save it for the health club, pal," Dean told him.