The Prophet

A scene from my first script, The Prophet--a meditation on mass marketing and the media...

EXT L.A. OUTDOOR CAFÉ - DAY

Alex, dressed to the nines as usual, is being escorted to a table where a scruffy RICK MUNROE is seated.

A single diner reads "Variety" - landing on a full-page ad which simply reads "Who is Joe Blank?" The diner's lips move mouthing "who is joe blank?" The diner looks up from the ad, puzzled.

Alex can't resist a self-satisfied smile as he passes the diner's table.

He arrives at Rick's table as Rick finishes up a conversation on his cell phone.

Although they are the same age, Rick, veteran of several rehab stints, looks a bit worse for wear. He is dressed "Incognito" - baseball cap and sunglasses.

RICK

What do you mean Sony won't see me?

They were begging me to sign with
them six months ago...Yeah well, he
can fuck me. Right, right—-you're a
funny guy, Stuart. You're going to
be a fired guy if you don't get me
some work.

Rick hangs up and switches gears. He rises and gives Alex
an enthusiastic hug. They both take their seats as a WAITER
hands them menus and pours water.

RICK (CONT'D)
(to the Waiter)
Can I get some iced coffee? Great.
(to Alex)
Caffeine. It's the only drug they'll
let me have. They even made me quit
smoking at Mayfair. Bastards. But
I still have caffeine.

The Waiter returns and pours Rick his iced coffee and leaves.

RICK (CONT'D)
Ah—-caffeine! I drink sixteen cups
a day. I gotta say, I haven't been
this wired since I quit coke...Hey
man! Good to see you! You look
great—-have you been working out?
What brings you to La-La Land?

ALEX
Actually, I'm out here on business.
Thought I'd check in and see how my
old roommate is doing.

RICK
Well, if you read the rags, you pretty
much know the story.

ALEX
At least they dropped the charges.

RICK
It only cost me her future college
tuition. Swear to God, she told me
she was eighteen.

ALEX
Your PR people certainly could have
done a better spin job there.

RICK
Assholes. They dropped me. Can you
believe? They dropped ME! Fuckers.

ALEX
So, you're in need of a publicist?

The Waiter returns to take their order.

RICK
You want the job? It's a pretty
tough case. No-one in this town
will touch me with a ten-foot pole
these days. And, I'm a bit tapped
out currently—-you are buying here?

ALEX
My treat.

RICK
I'll have the Nicoise salad and a
bottle of Pellegrino.

ALEX
Same for me. Thanks.

The Waiter collects their menus and leaves.

ALEX (CONT'D)
I think we can work out a mutually
beneficial arrangement.

RICK
What do you want? A back-end
percentage of the net?

ALEX
There is no such thing as net. And
besides, I'm not interested in
speculative ventures—-only sure
things. No, I have something a little
different in mind.

RICK
Such as?

ALEX
Cross-promotion. I have a new client.
Inspirational/motivational speaker.
I need to build some buzz on the
guy. And you're just the man I
need.

RICK
Uh—-I don't think any association
with me is going to be positive.

ALEX
You're forgetting the old
adage—"There's no such thing as bad
publicity."

RICK
I seriously doubt whoever said that
had been caught in a Motel Six with
a half-dozen hits of Ecstasy and a
16-year-old girl.

ALEX
Could have been worse. Could have
been a 16-year-old boy.

Rick snickers and swigs some iced coffee.

ALEX (CONT'D)
Anyway, the whole "bad boy" thing
works to both our advantage. My
client gets a soul to save and you
get a clean slate.