31 Plays in 31 Days, #2 - “Sit Up and Beg”
Aug. 2nd, 2021 08:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
breakinglight11Plunging ahead with drafting for the next episode of Dream Machine! I have a rough outline for it, but it’s not fully fleshed out. Still, there are a few moments I feel prepared to take a stab at. Such as the scene where Veronica shows up and establishes what she’s going to be doing while she’s there. I imagine this is an early scene, occurring before yesterday’s #1 - Nefarious Plan and last year’s #7 - White Bikini. Similar to episode 3, I think this will start with Ryan feeling pumped and ready to take on a new challenge, only to pull the rug out from under him when an unexpected wrench is thrown in his plans.
I’m thinking of calling Veronica’s company— modeled after Heidi Klum’s current business selling clothes, underwear, baby clothes, et cetera —“Dresden Doll.” Because I’ve always liked the phrase. It also explains why she felt the need to keep the last name post-divorce, and provides a snappy possibility for the title of the episode. Fun fact: the band the Dresden Dolls got the name from the mention in a VC Andrews book!
Standard caveat applies that all these scenes are ROUGH.
Day #2 - “Sit Up and Beg”
From Dream Machine:
“1.06 – Dresden’s Dolls”
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~
RYAN DRESDEN, head of programming for Dream Machine, early fifties
JEREMY ALLISON, his faithful assistant, late twenties
KEN RAFFERTY, head of the network, early sixties
VERONICA DRESDEN, lifestyle brand CEO and Ryan’s ex-wife, late forties
Los Angeles, CA, 2020
~~~
Revved and motivated, Ryan strides in with Jeremy at his heels. But Jeremy bumps into him as he stops short, upon seeing a sharp, stylish woman, VERONICA, awaiting him in his desk chair.
VERONICA: Wow. You look pretty good for a dead man.
RYAN: And you look great, for a eldritch sea-trench monster.
JEREMY: Ah… do you know each other? Or… does Mr. Dresden’s reputation precede him?
Veronica rises from the chair and approaches.
VERONICA: Oh, no reputation needed— I was there when he made it.
RYAN: Jeremy, may I introduce the other fifteen-year beast on my back, the one that was easier to kick? Veronica Waters Dresden— my ex-wife.
VERONICA: The pleasure’s all yours, I’m sure.
RYAN: Well, I’m sure you’ve planned a big day of flaying the flesh from my bones, but I don’t have time to play. Maybe you heard, I’m in the process of turning this place around, and today I’ve got a meeting with a very important sponsor I’ll be bringing onboard. Because I’ve got things together now, and there’s nothing you can do to ruin it.
VERONICA: You think so?
Ken Rafferty enters, hand extended. Ryan takes a step toward him to shake, but Ken makes a beeline for Veronica and exchanges air kisses with her.
KEN: Ronnie! Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.
VERONICA: You said it, Ken.
KEN: Ryan! I take it you’ve met Ronnie, then?
RYAN: Once or twice. The last name might have been a clue.
KEN: Ah, yeah, sure. Well, then, you probably already know, Ronnie’s here to discuss a sponsorship with Dresden Doll for Leah’s new little project. Or not so little, since you’ve got me paying for castles and livestock and things. So thank God for Ronnie, eh?
VERONICA: Best thing that ever happened to him.
KEN: I believe it! Well, Ryan, I’ll let you get to it. Make the lady happy!
He socks Ryan’s shoulder and exits.
VERONICA: You heard him. What kind of sea-monster am I now?
RYAN: (Gritting his teeth) Whatever kind you want to be. So what’s this going to take?
VERONICA: Hmm, excellent question. I’m going to need some time to think about that.
RYAN: So you’ll be hanging around?
VERONICA: Well, I’ve got to get a sense of what you’re doing here. And in the meantime, I’m going to need a little help. I think your little puppy dog there will suffice. Jeremy, is it? Tell me, how did Ryan come to hire you? Was it through a rigorous assessment of qualified candidates?
JEREMY: Uh… I held his hair back when he was detoxing in jail?
VERONICA: That sounds about right. Well, you’ll be holding things for me the next week. I’m sure you’re up for it.
RYAN: I’m sorry, the next week?
VERONICA: Yes, you’ll have seven whole days to figure out some way to impress me. Because the last two decades weren’t enough. Now, here, boy. Heel.
She snaps at Jeremy as she walks past Ryan out the office door. Jeremy glances nervously between them as goes to follow.
JEREMY: Uh… if it’ll help Ryan out…
VERONICA: Don’t look so frightened, young man. You won’t be the one who has to sit up and beg.
I’m thinking of calling Veronica’s company— modeled after Heidi Klum’s current business selling clothes, underwear, baby clothes, et cetera —“Dresden Doll.” Because I’ve always liked the phrase. It also explains why she felt the need to keep the last name post-divorce, and provides a snappy possibility for the title of the episode. Fun fact: the band the Dresden Dolls got the name from the mention in a VC Andrews book!
Standard caveat applies that all these scenes are ROUGH.
Day #2 - “Sit Up and Beg”
From Dream Machine:
“1.06 – Dresden’s Dolls”
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~
RYAN DRESDEN, head of programming for Dream Machine, early fifties
JEREMY ALLISON, his faithful assistant, late twenties
KEN RAFFERTY, head of the network, early sixties
VERONICA DRESDEN, lifestyle brand CEO and Ryan’s ex-wife, late forties
Los Angeles, CA, 2020
~~~
Revved and motivated, Ryan strides in with Jeremy at his heels. But Jeremy bumps into him as he stops short, upon seeing a sharp, stylish woman, VERONICA, awaiting him in his desk chair.
VERONICA: Wow. You look pretty good for a dead man.
RYAN: And you look great, for a eldritch sea-trench monster.
JEREMY: Ah… do you know each other? Or… does Mr. Dresden’s reputation precede him?
Veronica rises from the chair and approaches.
VERONICA: Oh, no reputation needed— I was there when he made it.
RYAN: Jeremy, may I introduce the other fifteen-year beast on my back, the one that was easier to kick? Veronica Waters Dresden— my ex-wife.
VERONICA: The pleasure’s all yours, I’m sure.
RYAN: Well, I’m sure you’ve planned a big day of flaying the flesh from my bones, but I don’t have time to play. Maybe you heard, I’m in the process of turning this place around, and today I’ve got a meeting with a very important sponsor I’ll be bringing onboard. Because I’ve got things together now, and there’s nothing you can do to ruin it.
VERONICA: You think so?
Ken Rafferty enters, hand extended. Ryan takes a step toward him to shake, but Ken makes a beeline for Veronica and exchanges air kisses with her.
KEN: Ronnie! Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.
VERONICA: You said it, Ken.
KEN: Ryan! I take it you’ve met Ronnie, then?
RYAN: Once or twice. The last name might have been a clue.
KEN: Ah, yeah, sure. Well, then, you probably already know, Ronnie’s here to discuss a sponsorship with Dresden Doll for Leah’s new little project. Or not so little, since you’ve got me paying for castles and livestock and things. So thank God for Ronnie, eh?
VERONICA: Best thing that ever happened to him.
KEN: I believe it! Well, Ryan, I’ll let you get to it. Make the lady happy!
He socks Ryan’s shoulder and exits.
VERONICA: You heard him. What kind of sea-monster am I now?
RYAN: (Gritting his teeth) Whatever kind you want to be. So what’s this going to take?
VERONICA: Hmm, excellent question. I’m going to need some time to think about that.
RYAN: So you’ll be hanging around?
VERONICA: Well, I’ve got to get a sense of what you’re doing here. And in the meantime, I’m going to need a little help. I think your little puppy dog there will suffice. Jeremy, is it? Tell me, how did Ryan come to hire you? Was it through a rigorous assessment of qualified candidates?
JEREMY: Uh… I held his hair back when he was detoxing in jail?
VERONICA: That sounds about right. Well, you’ll be holding things for me the next week. I’m sure you’re up for it.
RYAN: I’m sorry, the next week?
VERONICA: Yes, you’ll have seven whole days to figure out some way to impress me. Because the last two decades weren’t enough. Now, here, boy. Heel.
She snaps at Jeremy as she walks past Ryan out the office door. Jeremy glances nervously between them as goes to follow.
JEREMY: Uh… if it’ll help Ryan out…
VERONICA: Don’t look so frightened, young man. You won’t be the one who has to sit up and beg.
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