TEAM LEADER
Episode #5: "Top Talkeroo"
INT. APARTMENT HALL DAY 1
Brooke hops into his pants outside Alice's door. He knocks
loudly.
BROOKE
Come on! I'm leaving.
ALICE (O.S.)
For what?
BROOKE
Work, woman, work. Remember half day?
Memorial? Are you coming? Almost ready?
ALICE (O.S.)
Are you 'ordering me' to go to work?
BROOKE
You're taking our deal very seriously.
He waits outside her door. Nothing.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
Alice?
ALICE (O.S.)
I'll meet you there.
BROOKE
Pinky swear? Alice?
INT. CONNECTRIXX OFFICE BOARDROOM LATER 2
The office staff has assembled for the memorial. At the head of
the table is Cake's cake tray the first time they've seen it
empty surrounded by flowers.
Lots of empty chairs. Not everyone showed up, including a chair
beside Brooke. Reggie is seated.
REGGIE
If I may say a few words. It's only
fitting, I think, seeing as my speaking
credentials include being on my high
school Speech Squad first in province,
top talkeroo, 94,95,96,97 inclusive. I
know... impressive. And I'm often asked
to MC at weddings. So there's that.
Anyhoo...
Reggie gets up and walks to the front of the room.
REGGIE (CONT'D)
If I may...?
Waits. People are confused what's he waiting for.
REGGIE (CONT'D)
Only if it's unanimous... perhaps a show
of hands...?
Most raise their hands. Just to get it over with.
As Reggie speaks, Brooke sends Alice a text message: "where r u"
REGGIE (CONT'D)
I think the people have chosen. Ahem!
Kate MacIntosh. Or, as we have
affectionately come to know her... Cake.
A good nickname a nickname that sticks
doesn't come easy. You can't just pin a
word to a person and hope it catches.
When first heard, a nickname must be
sweet and inviting, but only when the
fork of friendship delves deep, do you
find substance and satisfaction that
comes from eating cake... I mean, meeting
Cake.
His audience is less than captivated.
BROOKE
Would anyone else care to
As Reggie continues, Brooke gets a message from Alice: "O U
know". Brooke snaps his phone closed.
REGGIE
Three years ago, when the nickname first
came to me, in a moment of brilliance
while my bootlegged Betamax collection of
Parker Lewis Can't Lose, I knew I had it.
I looked Kate up in the company
directory, and called her at home. While
our conversation was short she sounded
sleepy I know she appreciated the
sentiment. And that was the beginning.
Now this...is the end. Cake... A good
person, a great nickname. You're copying
for Jesus now, and making presentations
to the Lord. Amen.
Scattered amens. Roxanne pushes Reggie away from the front of
room. Reggie looks spent, but satisfied.
ROXANNE
Thanks, Reggie. Cake would have
appreciated that wonderful story of her
office antics.
REGGIE
Office antics? No, I
Brooke waves him to silence.
ROXANNE
But, as one career ends, another begins.
We wipe our tears and look to the future:
So to officially close this memorial
service, I'd like to introduce you to
your new Cake, your new team leader,
Brooke Havelock.
Surprise ripples through the crowd. Huh? Him?
ROXANNE (CONT'D)
He will complete Cake's legacy by getting
us a win in Monday's presentation. Would
you like to say a few words, Brooke?
Brooke stands, reluctantly.
BROOKE
Uh... this doesn't really change
anything. I'm still one of you guys.
So... keep up the good work everyone.
As he sits...
CAPTAIN ANNOY O
What about the cakes?
BROOKE
Sorry?
CAPTAIN ANNOY O
I think there's only the one question on
everybody's mind, and that is: will you
be bringing in the cakes?
ROXANNE
He sure will. We are proud of our
traditions here. Right, Brooke?
And please, feel free to come to Brooke
day or night with any problems you might
have, or if you just want to shoot the
poop about Cake or any concerns her death
may raise about mortality in general.
BROOKE
How does everyone feel about muffins?
INT. OFFICE LATER 3
Brooke and Reggie cheers with their plastic cups of ginger ale.
Brooke sends another text message during...
REGGIE
Well played. I've already got a few
nicknames mulling around. The gears are
turning. Don't expect magic the first
time out... Babbles.
BROOKE
I don't think so.
REGGIE
You know. Babbling brook?
BROOKE
That's awful.
REGGIE
It's no Cake, but
BROOKE
Cake was pretty bad too. Her name was
Kate, and she brought in cakes all the
time. Pretty obvious.
REGGIE
Every journey starts with a single step
there...
(struggling for a nickname)
It's coming to me... it's coming to me...
it's gone. I got nothing. For now.
Alice walks in, holding her oversized coffee.
ALICE
Sorry, I'm late but I have this really
great excuse.
(excitedly)
Wanna hear it?
Off Brooke's reaction...
INT. OFFICE CAKE'S DESK LATER 4
Reggie works at Cake's computer. Brooke looks over his shoulder.
REGGIE
Okay! Here we are. Martin Wells
presentation. I'll just open them all.
CLOSE ON: Monitor as Reggie clicks on multiple files. Windows
pop open.
BROOKE
Hold on... these are last year's numbers.
Where's the spreadsheet for this year?
REGGIE
This is the spreadsheet for this year.
Cake hasn't even started yet.
ALICE
Figures. She lets a little thing like
death get in the way of her commitments
BROOKE
Wait. What about this one? It has
yesterday's date on it.
CLOSE ON: A word file that reads, "I can't bake another cake..."
REGGIE
'I can't bake another cake?'
BROOKE
What does that have to do with Martin
Wells?
ALICE
Those are Cake's last words. Her suicide
note.
Reggie hits print. They all huddle around the print out.
REGGIE
So... let's just go over what we know.
It's Saturday. The presentation is Monday
morning.
BROOKE
And we have nothing.
REGGIE
I'd like to amend that statement. You
have nothing.
BROOKE
Cake really fucked us. Even if I don't
sleep it's impossible to have this done
for Monday. I'd have to gather the
numbers from accounting
ALICE
No you don't.
BROOKE
Of course I do.
ALICE
I could help you. I could even take care
of it.
BROOKE
Really? That would be
ALICE
Are you asking me?
Brooke's confused.
BROOKE
Uh, sure.
Alice leans forward, grabs the keyboard.
ALICE
Search and replace. 05. With 06.
All the dates change. Alice leans back and puts one TICK on a
white board.
REGGIE
We still need a presentation.
They both look at Reggie.
BROOKE
Top talkeroo, huh?
Reggie considers... and commits.
REGGIE
I accept.
END
