CYBER POWER, INC.

Written by

Jeremy Wechter

Jeremy Wechter
212-677-3223
JeremyWechter@yahoo.com

Drama Scene
Submitted May 2019
INT. CEO OFFICE - NETFEED, INC. - DAY

LILY PETEMONT bursts through the double oak doors.

LILY
I’m not running away and hiding, so
you can just forget it.

TUCKER BIXBY places his phone face down. Folds his hands.

TUCKER
(grinning)
Afternoon to you too, Ms. Petemont.
What are we talking about again?

LILY
You’re not as charming as you think
you are, Tucker.

Lily shoves her phone’s screen in Tucker’s face. A New York

Time’s headline reads: “Silicon Valley Wunderkind Worked
Through College as a High-Class Escort”

TUCKER
Oh, that. Is it already Thursday?

LILY
You leaked this about me just to
shame the competition?

TUCKER
Your tiny operation, I wanna say
Wigly...

LILY
Webly.

TUCKER
...is hardly competition for
NetFeed, but I’m glad you feel good
about yourself.

LILY
Answer me.

TUCKER
Allow me to bestow upon you a
helpful lesson on media control.

LILY
Dial down the snooty. And just...
why?
 2.

TUCKER
First, the press vultures feasting
on your story, bought me a window
for some under-the-radar business.

LILY
About your Brain Tech experiments?

TUCKER
Yes. I arranged Dr. Jarvis an early
release from prison today.

LILY
What? You’re really having Jarvis
start up the experiments again?

TUCKER
Actually, we never stopped.

LILY
But you signed the Cyber Accords.

TUCKER
All designed to placate the whiney
public and pathetic politicians.

LILY
How many more test subjects’ lives
will be ruined because of your
narcissistic compulsion to be on
every device in the world?

TUCKER
Dr. Jarvis assured us collateral
damage will be kept to a minimum.

LILY
Why tell me this? You know I’m
gonna go public.

TUCKER
No. You won’t be telling anyone.

LILY
What? You’re gonna kill me?

TUCKER
That hurts my feelings. Why don’t
people realize I’m so kindhearted?

LILY
Oh, please. You’re delusional. I’m
out of here.
 3.

Lily strides away.

TUCKER
The primary reason for the
unpleasant news story is I’m
offering you head of NetFeed’s
Brain Tech Division.

Lily stops, turns back.

LILY
What?

TUCKER
Surprise.

LILY
You’re offering me an executive
position?

TUCKER
Correct.

LILY
To work with you?

TUCKER
Yes.

LILY
At NetFeed?

TUCKER
All our resources at your disposal.

LILY
But you hate me.

TUCKER
I’m extending an olive branch to
someone with a brilliant mind who I
want on my team.

LILY
You ask me to come on board the
same day you drag me through the
mud?

TUCKER
I needed to get all your dirt out
into the world.

LILY
Why?
 4.

TUCKER
To neutralize it from blackmailers.
Personally, I don’t judge.

LILY
But I’m left with a nasty PR
disaster that you created for me.

TUCKER
Our PR crew is already working on a
response. Let me help you. I pull
the trigger the moment you sign.

Tucker produces a contract and a gold pen.

LILY
Ahhh. The Tucker Bixby way, a job
offer with a twist of coercion.

TUCKER
With our crew on it, this’ll all
blow over soon. And you’ll be left
with all the power and prestige of
your amazing new NetFeed position.

LILY
Who says I’m willing to abandon
Wigly, I mean Webly?

TUCKER
Uh? My unlimited resources, world-
renowned staff, and humongous
budget at your finger tips says.

LILY
I just think...

TUCKER
And don’t forget your little
company is three million dollars in
the red.

LILY
How the hell do you know that?

TUCKER
Here at NetFeed, knowing your
information is our business.

LILY
You’re an ass.
 5.

TUCKER
You’re just jealous, so join me.
Sign and all your debt disappears.

Lily reads over the contract.

TUCKER
Imagine what we’d get done together
instead of always clashing. So
exhausting. Am I right?

LILY
This is true.

TUCKER
Everyone else will be in awe of us.

Lily takes a moment to think.

LILY
I’d want a suite, a staff of nine,
and a budget of five million.

TUCKER
(points to contract)
Here you’ll see you get an entire
floor with a staff of twelve, Dr.
Jarvis, plus an eight million
dollar yearly operating budget.

Lily spots the clause in the contract. Her jaw drops.

LILY
You’re serious.

Tucker nods, extends the pen. Lily grabs the pen. Signs.

TUCKER
(into his phone)
Yes, hello. Let’s put the Lily
Petemont PR defense in action.

LILY
Just because I work here now,
doesn’t mean I have to like you.

TUCKER
I’m alright with that.

As Lily struts out of the office, she suppresses a smile.

TUCKER
You’ll learn to like me.