Dial M for Malaise

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

TRAVIS and AARON sit in a conference room. A computer sits on
the table between them.

TRAVIS
And that’s why I think it’s a good
idea for the newspaper to have a
podcast. Which could be fun.

AARON
Yes.

TRAVIS
And profitable!

AARON
Oh, absolutely.

TRAVIS
And I really appreciate you coming
in on a Saturday to meet with me
about this.

AARON
Yeah, absolutely. I’d love to be---
(yawns)
sorry --- involved. Sorry, not
trying to be rude.

TRAVIS
No, don’t worry about it.

A cell phone rings.

TRAVIS
Oops! Speaking of...
(answers the phone)
Hello? Julie! How’s my best friend’s
wife?
(to Aaron)
This won’t take long.

AARON
It’s okay.

Aaron pulls out his own phone and places a call.

TRAVIS
(on the phone)
Julie, what’s going on?
(pause)
Julie. What’s wrong?

Travis stands up.

TRAVIS
(on the phone)
Julie, Julie, calm down.

AARON
(on the phone)
Hey, Dom! What’s happening?

TRAVIS
(on the phone)
Oh my God.

AARON
(on the phone)
Oh, dude, that’s cool. Yeah, no, I’m
just meeting with this guy about a
podcast. I dunno.

TRAVIS
(on the phone)
Oh my God. His whole torso?

AARON
(on the phone)
No, it’s cool. He’s on another call.
Something about his best friend and
his wife.

TRAVIS
(on the phone)
Oh no, Julie. How long do they think
he has?

AARON
(on the phone)
What are you doing later?

TRAVIS
(on the phone)
Oh, God, Julie.

AARON
(on the phone)
Oh, that sounds cool. I’ll have to
call you back.

Aaron hangs up. Travis hangs up.

TRAVIS
I’m... I’m sorry. My best friend has
been pinned against a wall by a bus.
He’s going to die in the next half
hour. I’m going to have to cancel
this meeting.

Aaron touches his arm.

AARON
Hey, it’s okay, Travis.
(pause)
I actually had someplace else to be
this afternoon, so this really works
out better for me. You’ll call me
later? Yeah? Okay, great.

Aaron stands up.

AARON
Talk to you soon!

Aaron leaves.