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Theo Pryce · (10-03-2013)

:: The name plate next to the double doors reads “Thomas Pryce Memorial Conference Room”. A few seconds later the doors open to reveal the interior of the room which features a long oval shaped conference room table situated in the center of the room and 20 black leather chairs spaced evenly around the table with one at the head of the table where we see Theo Pryce, CEO of Pryce Industries seated, his VP of Operations Erica Rayner is seated immediately to his right. The conference room’s outer wall is made up of a bank of windows that gives a view of downtown Phoenix, equipped with mountains in the background. Jimmy Durance, Theo’s personal lackey is slowly but methodically walking around the table handing a packet of information to each person seated at the table. As Jimmy hands out his last packet Theo stands up to address the attendants of the meeting. ::

“Ladies and gentlemen the packet Jimmy just handed out to you all outlines what I envision as my 5 year plan for this company. I’m calling it “Theo’s 5 Year Plan”, catchy isn’t it?”

:: The joke earns laughs from everyone in the room except for Erica who instead just rolls her eyes and looks down at her packet. Theo knows full well that in a room full of people under his employ he could get a laugh out of all of them even if he had just told them they were fired. ::

“Geez, at least pretend like you don’t feel obligated to laugh at everything I say. Never the less, the plan in front of you is what I see for this company’s immediate future. I want you to take the next week to talk to your various departments and come up with some strategies on how your areas can implement what is outlined in the packet. It’s going to take more work in some departments than others but if done right I think Pryce Industries will have a bright future both in the short and long term. And if it doesn’t…well, unemployment is at a 5 year low so you all should be able to find jobs relatively easily. Though don’t expect a recommendation from me.”

:: With that Theo picks up his packet, looks down at Erica and then heads out of the conference room and down the hall towards his office, Jimmy, as always is only a few steps behind. Theo rounds the corner that compromises the main hallway and makes a left passing various staffers as he goes. As he gets close to the double doors that indicate his office an attractive young blonde with ample breasts and legs that could make even the most homosexual of men swoon put’s down the phone and walks out from behind her desk to hand Theo a piece of paper. ::

“Here you go Mr. Pryce. “

“Thank you Leslie.”

“It’s Brooke actually.”

“It is?”

:: Theo looks over at Jimmy who at this point has buried his head in a stack of papers so as to avoid having to explain to Theo why the person sitting at the desk reserved for Theo’s secretary is not in fact Leslie. Theo sees this but pushes forward with the question anyway. ::

“Jimmy, what happened to Brooke?”

:: Jimmy pauses for a moment, takes a gulp and looks up; fortunately for Jimmy’s sake he is saved the embarrassment of having to answer the question as Erica steps up behind him to answer for him. ::

“You fired Leslie last week.”

“I did?”

“Yes you did. You even had security escort her out.”

“I did?”

“Yes you did.”

“Wow, what did she do?”

“You.”

“Oh that’s right. Now I remember. Well I suppose I got my money’s worth. Anyway, thank you “Not Leslie”.

:: Theo takes the piece of paper out of Brooke’s hands and proceeds to enter his office with Jimmy and Erica in tow. ::

“Boy that was almost awkward.”

“You’re a real asshole sometimes you know that?”

“You tell me that a lot Erica, if I didn’t know it already you do seem hell bent on making sure that I don’t forget. Did you take care of that thing I asked you to do?”

“The meeting with James Madison?”

“Yes, but it’s not just a meeting. James Madison is the current King of the XWF. He also runs their Wednesday night show.”

“King of the XWF? What the hell does that even mean?”

“I have no idea, nor do I really care. All I care about is making sure that he knows I will be there on the 9th. Did you speak to him?”

“I did and we are all set. Flight arrangements have been made and…”

“Well that shouldn’t be too difficult seeing as that I have my own jet and airfield.”

“Asshole.”

“Twice in 30 seconds, not even close to a record for you. You’re going to have to do better than that if you want your Christmas bonus this year.”

“Right. Do you even know how much my Christmas bonus is?”

“Not really, benefits of being independently wealthy, I don’t need to worry about anyone else’s money. That said I am sure I can ask Jim from Finance if I ever get curious. I can also tell Jim to make sure that your bonus this year is held back. An accounting error seems legit.”

“You are aware that I can fire Jim from Finance right?”

“I am, and are you aware that I can fire you whenever I want right?”

“Actually you can’t?”

“Come again?”

“Your father, in one of his last moments of genius gave me a life time contract which stipulates that I can not under any circumstances be fired, laid off or otherwise dismissed from my duties as VP of Operations without a unanimous vote from the Board of Directors.”

“Right…and you don’t think a nice 7 digit bonus to each one of them wouldn’t do the trick?”

“It might but that’s why God invented lawyers.”

“God invented problems. The Romans invented lawyers.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“No but it sounded good.”

“If you say so.”

“I do. And now that we have all that figured out…”

:: Theo pauses mid sentence to shot a glance over to Jimmy Decker amazed that the poor spineless gopher is still standing there. ::

“Jimmy what are you still doing here? Do pick up my suits or take the car to get washed. Something, anything, but stop standing there it’s bothering me.”

:: With that Jimmy turns around and scampers away to parts unknown. ::

“Erica, what are you doing for dinner?”

“I have a date.”

“No you don’t.”

“And how would you know that?”

“I don’t, I just figured “I have a date.” was a stock answer to the question I posed to you.”

“Well it’s not, and I do.”

:: Theo walks over to his desk and presses the button marked “Sec” a second later the voice of Brooke comes out of the intercom. ::

“Yes Mr. Pryce?”

“Leslie I need you to get Jimmy back here. And tell him to bring the big red binder marked “For Jimmy’s eyes only.”

“It’s Brooke; Mr. Pryce.”

“I knew that, I was just uh, testing you.”

“I’ll get Jimmy there immediately.”

:: Theo hit’s the “sec” button again and looks over towards Erica. ::

“What is the Big Red Binder? And why can only Jimmy look at it?”

“It’s a book of menus from various restaurants in the area. I figured if I put “For Jimmy’s Eyes Only” on it, it might cheer the guy up, make him feel important, you know?”

“Well you could stop treating him like a second class citizen that might do the trick.”

“Yeah, but if I do that who will man the Big Red Binder?”

“You’re unbelievable.”

“Funny, Leslie said that to me the last time I saw her.”

:: With that Erica turns around and walks out of Theo’s office. Theo walks over to his couch, grabs the remote, and hits the blue” DVR” button. He scrolls through the options of shows on his DVR and clicks the greenish white button marked “Ok” signifying that he has made his selection. He puts the remote down and takes his suit coat off and places it neatly over the right arm of the couch and then proceeds to lay down to watch the program he just selected. ::

“Riding through this world, all alone…”

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