Interference

[Al & Miles Office]
AG: I just don't trust John anymore.
MM: We never could.
AG: Yeah, yeah, but there's something different about him now. Ever since Erica's show...
MM: His show...
AG: Right. Learned that the hard way a few times, didn't I? Ever since his show...
[Knocking. MM indicates for AG to be quiet. He pulls out a tranquilizer gun and checks that it's loaded]
MM: Who is it?
AM: It's Allison. You guys have a....?
AG: Are you alone?
AM: ... what? Yeah, I'm alone.
[AG & MM heave a sigh of relief.]
AM: I just wondered if...
[MM throws open the door, grabs AM by the arm, pulls her into the office and quickly shuts the door again.]
AM: ... I could have a word. What's going on?
MM: [Putting away the tranquilizer gun] Nothing. Nothing.
AG: Allison! We're so glad you're here!
MM: [Suddenly remembering] Oh, yeah! We wanted to run something by you.
AM: Look, can we talk about Kristen's script first?
AG: Why? Have you seen it?
AM: [suspicious] No. Have you?
MM: Not yet.
AM: I'm worried about what Kristen might do to Chloe. Actually I'm worried what she'll do to everyone.
MM: Don't worry about that. We have it covered.
AM: [Not convinced] You do?
AG: Oh, sure. You don't have to worry about Chloe. We'll keep Kristen on a short leash.
AM: [Relieved]That's... [Pause. Repulsed] That's really not an image I ever wanted in my head!
MM: [Gives AM a blank look for a second. Then stares of into the distance with a dreamy smile]
AM: [Disgusted] Oh, stop it!
MM: [Snapping out of it] What?
AM: [Turns to AG and notices he's starring into space with a dreamy smile too] Ew! Stop it! Both of you!
AG: [Snapping out of it] Huh?
MM: Don't worry, Allison. We won't let Kristen do anything rash.
AM: Regardless, I was thinking maybe for my own sanity I'd just skip the reading and let you clean it up first.
AG: Actually that won't be necessary either.
MM: We know she's been a bit of a problem on set...
AG: A bit!??!
MM: ...so she has to turn her script in for approval before the reading.
AG: She's bringing the final draft today.
AM: [Relieved] That's... great. Thank you.
MM: Yeah. We told her it was your idea.
AM: What!?!?!?!?!
AG: That was pretty much her reaction too.
AM: Now she'll be even more...
MM: But enough about that...
AG: We wanted to run our idea for a spin off by you.
AM: You two never give up, do you?
MM: Actually we had.
AG: But then we read your latest script...
MM: Excellent by the way.
AM: Thanks.
AG: ... and there it was. The perfect spin off staring us in the face.
AM: Really? From Bizarro?
MM: Bizarro? No! Embedded.
AM: But I didn't...
AG: Now that was a script! Wow!
AM: Erica wrote Embedded!
AG: She did?
MM: She knows how to write?
AM: Don't you remember giving her control of the episode!
AG: We assumed she'd just give you her ideas and you'd write it.
MM: Erica can write?
[AM rolls her eyes and shakes head in disbelief]
AG: Huh. You want to hear the premise anyway?
AM: Not really.
MM: If Dawn approves you're going to have to pull some double duty as we film the pilot.
AM: Me?
AG: Picture it! A show centered around a blonde bombshell...
MM: ... one of Lois Lane's closest friends and confidants...
AG: ... a scrappy fighter with a troubled past...
MM: ... a woman with an uncanny way with computers who acts as the eyes and ears for a modern day set of superheroes!
AM: [Over joyed] You're kidding, right?
AG: It's great, isn't it?
AM: It's... it's... like a dream come true!
MM: I know! Finally, a spin off that will actually float!
AM: And it's going to be centered around Chloe!
AG & MM: [Look at AM with surprise] Chloe?
AM: What? It's about Chloe, right? Blonde bombshell? Scrappy fighter? Computer wiz? Lois' best friend?
MM: [Concentrates for a moment] Oh, yeah. Chloe is all that isn't she? [Chuckles]
AG: But Chloe isn't in this show.
AM: Excuse me? You just described her perfectly!
MM: Except that we just described four different people.
AM: [Pause] Come again?
AG: The Birds of Prey! And Kristen Bell is going to star as Zinda!
MM: That girl is seriously hot!
AM: You're giving Kristen her own show?
AG: She deserves one!
AM: She had one. It tanked. And Birds of Prey!?!? It tanked even worse!
AG: True and true.
MM: But those shows didn't have the one thing this show will have going for it.
AM: Which would be what exactly?
AG: Us as executive producers.
MM: Guaranteed success! Just look at what we've done with Smallville!
AM: I'd rather not.
AG: The Pussycat Dolls can eat their hearts out!
AM: What?
MM: Yeah. The premier episode is going to be Birds of Prey try outs.
AG: A bunch of sexy women in skimpy outfits beating the crap out of each other! Pure ratings gold.
AM: Was this Michael's idea? Are any of them going to explode?
MM: [Grabs a pen and paper] Wow! Allison you're a genius! [Writes furiously]
AG: We might even let viewers call in to vote.
MM: The results would be fixed, of course.
AM: [Head in hands] I can't believe this!
AG: But it's good for you!
AM: How?
MM: If Dawn gives us the green light Erica is going to be tied up for the pilot.
AG: [Grins] Literally.
AM: Sometimes you two creep the hell out of me.
AG: Chloe will end up with a lot of extra screen time.
AM: Great.
[Phone rings. AG answers]
AG: Hello? [To MM] It's Dawn! This is it!
MM: Sweet! Later, Allison. Put her on speaker!
DO: Morning, fellas.
[AM exits. As she closes the door she looks up to find KK standing in front of her.]
AM: [Startled] Kristen.
KK: Hello, Allison.
AM: Hello.
KK: What are you doing here?
AM: [AM notices KK is holding some papers. KK puts them behind her back.] Just... chatting with Al and Miles.
KK: About my script?
AM: Um... [pause] Yes. Among other things.
KK: [Attempting to be casual] And what did they say?
AM: I.. uh.. I...
KK: [In AM's face] You may have think you've won, Mack. But don't think you're off the hook just because they've put Chloe under their protection. [Moves to knock on the door]
AM: They're on a conference call... with Dawn.
KK: Really? [Smiles faintly before turning to look evilly at AM] Good. I didn't want to talk to them anyway. [KK crouches and slides the papers under the door] I'll see you tomorrow for the reading, Allison. If you have the guts. [KK walks off, a smug smile on her face.]
AM: [AM watches KK leave. The the papers stick out from under the door about half an inch. AM looks around to see if anyone is watching before bending down and pulling them back out and standing. The cover sheet reads, "Episode 7.06, 'Consequences' by KK & JG. Final Draft". AM bites her lip and looks around one last time before stuffing the script into her purse.]

....

[Later AM is on the phone in her trailer. A copy of the script in front of her]
AM: I've got to had it to you guys. I had my doubts, but... it really seems like you do have things under control.
AM: No the script is fine like it is. I don't have any objections.
AM: Well the plot is a little dumb, but hey, we're used to that, right? No offense.
AM: Yeah, of course I'll go to the reading. Things are really looking up!

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