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12INT. BRAD'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

Brad is seated behind his desk in his big corner office.

BRAD

I'm sure you can understand our

need to cut corners around here.

Lester sits across from him, looking small and isolated.

LESTER

Oh, sure. Times are tight, and you

gotta free up cash. Gotta spend

money to make money. Right?

BRAD

Exactly. So...

Brad stands, ready to usher Lester out.

LESTER

(blurts)

Like the time when Mr. Flournoy

used the company MasterCard to pay

for that hooker, and then she used

the card numbers and stayed at the

St. Regis for, what was it, like,

three months?

BRAD

(startled)

That's unsubstantiated gossip.

LESTER

That's fifty thousand dollars.

That's somebody's salary. That's

somebody who's gonna get fired

because Craig has to pay women to

fuck him!

BRAD

Jesus. Calm down. Nobody's getting

fired yet. That's why we're having

everyone write out a job

description, mapping out in detail

how they contribute. That way,

management can assess who's

valuable and--

LESTER

Who's expendable.

BRAD

It's just business.

LESTER

(angry)

I've been writing for this magazine

for fourteen years, Brad. You've

been here how long, a whole month?

BRAD

(frank)

I'm one of the good guys, Les. I'm

trying to level with you. This is