Signing Bonus

[Biron]

(FADEIN: To an ESEN/NFW Joint Presentation Logo.)

OFF-SCREEN FEMALE:"You've got to be kidding me. Did he really buy you this?"

(CUTTO: FIONA LOVE, wearing a snug-fitting, gray hoodie, dark blue jeans, and black Chuck Taylors, shutting the passenger door of a black 2011 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Turbo Diesel. On the driver's side, JACK BRYANT, dressed in a black Monsta "Muscle Diesel Body Shop" tee, Wrangler jeans, and Bronc Stompers, walks around the front end of the truck, stops next to FIONA, and joins her in checking out what's parked in his driveway.

(QUICK CUTTO: A mint-condition 1969 Dodge SuperBee with Laker purple paint, gold pinstriping, and all the trimmings sparkling in the mid-day sun. License plate reads "B MINE". QUICK CUTTO: JACK and FIONA standing in front of the car.)

LOVE: (pointing at license plate) "That's so creepy."

BRYANT: "It is, but, ta' be honest, Ah'm more worried 'bout tha' paint job. Ah'm thinkin' crimson, gray, maybe a lil' black."

LOVE: (hands on hips) "Tell me you're not actually entertaining the thought of keeping this car. He's trying to buy his way into your good graces. Not to help you, Jack, but to fatten his pocketbook and ride your coattails."

BRYANT: "Ah don't see how that means Ah can't keep tha' car. Ah mean, this is a sixty-nine SuperBee, Fiona. So-what if Ah keep it? It doesn't mean Ah'm gonna' be his client 'er his ticket ta' tha' World Title."

LOVE: "I wonder if DC Stratton said the exact same thing."

BRYANT: (snorts) "You're comparin' me ta' DC Stratton. Ta' an emo-kid who never could think fer himself. He needed Calvin Carlton. Me, on tha' other hand, Ah can walk on mah own two feet. Ah've earned two Championships. Ah've got sponsors linin' up 'round tha' corner."

(FIONA clears her throat.)

LOVE: "Actually, uh, we lost a sponsor this past week."

BRYANT: "That so?"

LOVE: "Turns out that ordeal between JJ and Dan rubbed a few people the wrong way. It didn't really have to do with you, Jack, but it's still going to affect you."

BRYANT: "Ah shoulda' stabbed that table leg through his tiny, lil' heart, after all. He's been nothin', but a pain n' tha' rear. Then ya' got Dan Ryan, writin' letters ta' folks an' he's costin' me, too."

LOVE: "JJ was trying to dig up his daughter's remains. That's so twisted."

BRYANT: "That's what Ah'm sayin'. Tha' weasel digs up yer daughter's remains an' ya' send out letters ta' NFW sponsors ... hire a couple a' lawyers. Nowadays, that ol' dog Ryan's got a lot more bark than bite. He ain't been relevant in a LOONG time an' now he's dickin' 'round with mah business. Intentional 'er not."

LOVE: "Jack, (turns serious) I'll worry about the sponsors. Right now, your only business is Dorchester Stratton in Lowell."

BRYANT: "Don't worry 'bout that. Me an' Dorchester are gonna have it out at Reloaded an' he's gonna realize quickly that he's headed down a long, painful road. (sends a gob of spit flying)."

(FTB)