FADE IN:

INT. COURT ROYALE HOTEL MAIN LOBBY – DAY

Today is the 30th anniversary of the COURT ROYALE HOTEL. VIP’S, GUESTS, THE STAFF and REPORTERS are invited to the celebration at the main lobby… (SIR LARRY JACKSON: late 50s, wearing a mustache)…

LARRY
(after a round of APPLAUSE)
Thank you for coming! … Wow! It’s already been thirty years.

Larry looks at his EMPLOYEES…

LARRY (continuing)
(smiling)
My personnel… well at least a few of them… have been here with me for 30 years. You know who you are…

The crowd CHUCKLES…

LARRY (continuing)
(SIGHING)
I am already 59… and… I’d like to announce that… I am retiring.

The crowd’s emotions are turning from chuckling to shock…

STAFF MEMBER
Sir Jackson, don’t retire! We still have a lot of things to learn from you… Please don’t!

This plea incites the crowd not to have Larry retired…

THE CROWD
(CHANTING)
Don’t retire! … Don’t retire!

Larry is touched. Meanwhile, Larry’s SON, ALAN JACKSON (mid-20s with a hippie outfit), comes by…
Alan, dressed like a HIPPIE and carrying a MESSENGER BAG, joins the crowd. Larry, as well as the staff, does not want to see him.

LARRY
(angrily)
What are you doing here? You are not welcome here!

Some of the invitees do not understand. The reporters jump in…

REPORTER
So… Sir Jackson, you are retiring, does that mean the hotel will be given to your son, Alan? Or will you sell the hotel?

Larry looks mad… A SPOKESPERSON for the hotel answers…

SPOKESPERSON
It is too early to speculate what Sir Jackson would do… so stay tuned…

Larry looks better…

SPOKESPERSON (continuing)
By the way, this is only a celebration of the hotel; it’s not a press conference.

Larry looks much better, until…

ALAN
Dad, I am here to celebrate your life…

The crowd ROARS as Larry COUGHS…

ALAN (continuing)
Oops… My bad… I meant you as a retiree…

Alan brings out the retirement banner…

ALAN
(continuing)
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to announce that Sir Larry Jackson is retiring… starting next Monday!

Alan looks at his upset dad…

ALAN (continuing)
You’ve always said you are retiring, right? I am just helping you to let go… Anyways, I am out!

The reporters are busy taking PHOTOS as the crowd goes silent. MICHELLE FONG (early 30s, long hair and looks matured), the spokesperson, tries to salvage the celebration…

MICHELLE
You guys must be tired standing. Why don’t we have a seat and have something to eat?

The crowd relaxes as plates and plates of FOOD are being CATERED…

INT. PIZZA PARLOR – DAY

While eating PIZZA, Alan GIGGLES over how he embarrassed his Dad in front of the upper class. UNCLE PETER (mid-50s, humorous) sits across him…

UNCLE PETER
You shouldn’t have done that, Alan. You embarrassed your dad as well as yourself.

ALAN
(mad)
You are his friend, Uncle Peter. You would of course be on his side… Want a slice?

UNCLE PETER shakes it off…
UNCLE PETER
Don’t get me wrong! I am neutral… Can you forgive your dad? He was just dealing with his hotel business…

Alan puts down his slice of pizza…

ALAN
I will always remember…

MATCH CUT:

INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT SUPER:

With a handgun next to her, CATHY JACKSON (early 50s, depressed) is on the PHONE with her husband, Larry…

CATHY
Larry, we need to talk… I can’t stand this loneliness anymore.

LARRY
(V.O.; noisy at the background)
I am busy dealing with my client… I really gotta go; I’ll talk to you later…

The phone hangs as the desperate Cathy knows it is time to end her life.

The firearm SHOT is loud, waking everyone up (MAID: mid-40s)…

MAID
(shocked)
Mrs. Jackson!… Oh my Lord!… Vincent, call 911!

The MAID tries to cover Alan’s EYES, but his textbook has already dropped on the FLOOR. Alan just stands there, not moving his muscles an inch…

INT. PIZZA PARLOR – DAY

ALAN
(angrily)
How can I forgive him? He killed Mom.

Alan takes a sip of his soda…

ALAN (continuing)
Anyway, tell him I am going to Omaha.

PETER
OK… why can’t you give energy back to the hotel business? He needs you.

ALAN
Being myself is my BUSINESSES!… Don’t forget to tell him… Gotta run…

Alan takes the soda with him, but he leaves with a slice of pizza. Peter can feel that Alan really cares about his Dad…

PETER
(talking to himself)
Silly!

Peter finishes the pizza…

INT. LARRY’S OFFICE – DAY

Even though today is hotel’s 30th anniversary, Larry has not smiled since Alan stopped by. He and his spokesperson Michelle are discussing the earlier incidents…

MICHELLE
Don’t worry, Sir Jackson. I have already stopped the press from posting the news other than the celebration.

LARRY
Thanks, Michelle!

Larry looks outside through the window…

LARRY (continuing)
Bastard!… He wants me dead!

MICHELLE
He is just a kid… he will learn.

LARRY
A kid? He’s already twenty six!… He should have already taken over the hotel… We always get into heated debate every time we meet.

The phone RINGS…

LARRY
Hello,… Hey Peter, how’s he?… He’s going where?… Tell him it’s hot there… get him some fever pills… You got his number, right?… I am hanging up…

Larry hangs up…

LARRY
Michelle, you may go back to work now, thanks!

Michelle goes back to work; she also feels there is actually a father and son care between Larry and Alan.

INT. OPEN OFFICE – DAY

Michelle can smell the fragrance of bunches of flowers while walking back to her desk. A CROWD of colleagues are gathering around her desk… She is curious… (ANNA: early 30s, curious about everything)

ANNA
Wow! So many flowers! I am jealous.

EARL (late 30s, jealous of Michelle), Michelle’s main competitor, joins the conversation…

EARL
Did the flowers get to the wrong place? They were supposed to be at the celebration. Haha…

ANNA
Don’t be this rude… The name tags read “To Michelle Fong”… Michelle, don’t get upset.

The crowd separates…

EARL
Fine!

Anna watches Earl leaving the OFFICE…

ANNA (continuing)
Everybody knows he is jealous of you… You got promoted and he didn’t. Don’t even care of what he says.

Michelle has already got used to Earl verbal attacks…

MICHELLE
I know what he has said – had sex with my boss and such… I am fine; I am not a recent college grad.

Michelle looks at the clock…

MICHELLE (continuing)
What the? People, it’s already lunch time… It’s my treat… What do you guys want to eat?

Everyone has his or her own opinion, so…

MICHELLE (continuing)
OK… I am not going… Go get me something.

So Michelle gives Anna a 100 dollar bill; everyone goes for lunch…

INT. PANTRY – DAY

All of her colleagues have gone for lunch. She is refilling coffee at the pantry.

While refilling, her cell phone RINGS. CALLER ID is shown as UNKNOWN; she thinks she knows who the caller is…

MICHELLE
(angrily)
Is that you again, psycho? I keep refusing and yet you keep calling… I am not going on a date with you! Do you read me?

Michelle can only hear the psycho making an EXHAUSTING SOUND, like he has asthma.

MICHELLE
OK, psycho! Don’t call me again… I am hanging up.

PSYCHO
(V.O.)
Don’t!

While the psycho says “don’t”, simultaneous AIRPLANE PASSING-BY SOUND goes through Michelle’s both ears.

MICHELLE
You are nearby? … You ARE nearby!

Michelle rushes out of the hotel; she has forgotten her cup of coffee – it is spilling all over…

EXT. OUTSIDE OF HOTEL – DAY

So Michelle rushes outside and looks for the psycho. She keeps looking left and right and she cannot find anyone suspicious, until…

MYSTERIOUS MAN
(back facing screen / tapping her shoulder)
Hey!

That scares the heck out of Michelle. She turns around and tries to hit him with her cell phone…

MICHELLE
(cell phone raised up)
What do you want?… Oh… Damn Mr. Jackson, you scared me!

ALAN
What are you doing? Window shopping?

Michelle finally calms down; she somehow has an idea…

MICHELLE
Can you do me a favor?

ALAN
What’s that? Tagging on the wall… I got spray cans.

Alan shows her the spray cans…

MICHELLE
No, I am being stalked… by a psycho… 

Alan finishes her sentence…

ALAN
And you want me to catch that psycho?… Leave this to me!

While Alan and Michelle are looking for that psycho, the psycho calls…

PSYCHO
(V.O.)
Who’s that guy next to you? Your boyfriend?

MICHELLE
Yes, he is. Come and get him.

Alan looks at her wondering what she said on the phone…

ALAN
Who did you talk to? … Don’t tell me the psycho.

Michelle nods; she uses Alan as bait, trying to reel the psycho in…

ALAN
(continuing)
What the fuck? I look like bait to you?… Wait, is he nearby?

Michelle nods again…

All of the sudden, an eye signal has Alan confused even more. However, he can sense that something bad is coming, so he turns around…

Alan blocks the baseball bat with his bag. The suspected psycho goes down to the ground after some of Alan’s KARATE MOVES. The BYSTANDERS APPLAUD…

ALAN
(locking psycho’s arm)
Can you call the police? I am tired.

Michelle calls the police; the police come shortly after…

MICHELLE
Thanks, Alan! You are not as bad as I thought.

ALAN
So how bad did I look to you before all these?
Michelle makes a SO-SO SIGN…

POLICE OFFICER
You guys gotta go to the station with me.

Alan faces Michelle…

ALAN (continuing)
Guess we must go then.

EXT. OUTSIDE OF POLICE STATION – DAY

Stuff happens; it was sunny before they got in and now it is RAINING.

Michelle obviously does not have anything with her, let alone an umbrella. Alan, on the other hand, digs down from his bag for an umbrella…

ALAN
(handing her an umbrella)
Here, take mine!

MICHELLE
You sure have almost everything inside your bag.

Michelle takes the umbrella…

MICHELLE (continuing)
Thanks for everything!

ALAN
Don’t mention it… By the way, you owe me a dinner!… I’ll retrieve it once I get back from Omaha.

Alan looks at his watch…

ALAN (continuing)
Damn! Gotta go!… Taxi!

Michelle does not have time to ask why he is going…

MICHELLE
Anyways… bye!

INT. MICHELLE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

It has been a long day for Michelle. After a stop at the police station, she takes the entire day off.

Michelle finally comes to her apartment – with two umbrellas on her hands. Her roommate, HELENA (late 20s, scriptwriter), wonders why…

HELENA
Wow! Look at our Ms. Fong! two umbrellas… With one all wet and yours not… Hmm, tell me where you’ve been.

Michelle goes straight to the kitchen to put down Alan’s wet umbrella…

MICHELLE
(V.O. in kitchen)
Don’t ask… I don’t want to say.

Helena cannot see her but Michelle is actually smiling…

HELENA
By the way, I am leaving the bills for you to pay…

Michelle now goes to the bathroom to get a towel…

MICHELLE
(V.O. in bathroom)
Don’t you scriptwriters get paid well?

Michelle blows AIR through her nostrils; Helena thinks she has caught cold…

MICHELLE (continuing)
Fine… I’ll pay… Like you always say, this is what friends are for, huh?

Michelle goes from the bathroom to her room. Helena feels a little dizzy…

HELENA
(dazed)
Would you just stop pacing around? I am trying to concentrate on “Prison Break.” (NOTE: DVD)

MICHELLE
(V.O. from her room)
Trying to steal an idea or two for your next script?

Helena does not appreciate her sarcasm…

HELENA
(little mad)
Hey, I am a pro… Stealing is a cardinal sin.

MICHELLE
(V.O. from her room)
I was just joking… Wait… Right! Stealing!

Michelle goes back to the bathroom with a smile…

MICHELLE
I am taking a shower… you are not using, right?

Helena is busy watching T.V.…

HELENA
(YELLING)
What?… No!

With Helena currently watching T.V., Michelle probably has an idea of getting rid of Earl…

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. ON A FLIGHT – DAY

A few days later, Alan gets on the FLIGHT to Omaha…
Even though this is not a full flight, Alan is assigned to a seat where there are two BULKY MEN next to him…

Before the take-off, Alan uses his UMPC and his WEB-ENABLED CELL PHONE to check if there are other breakable records that he can do alone…

Alan goes on to keep surfing; he somehow senses someone curious is peeking over his shoulder…

The flight is almost ready for take off, so Alan must turn off his electronic devices…

FLIGHT ATTENDANT
Ladies and Gentlemen…

INT. ARRIVAL HALL – DAY

The flight only takes about three and a half hours; Alan is in Omaha, Nebraska…

At the INFORMATION DESK, Alan takes a couple of brochures and a map. He then finds a seat to surf the whereabouts of the cornfield…

Meanwhile, there is another PERSON, who is not far from him, also searching for that cornfield…

Alan zooms in and zooms out; he finally finds that field and starts heading there, so does that person…

EXT. A HUGE CORNFIELD – DAY

With his graph of what he will draw on his hands, Alan starts looking if anyone sees him trespassing.

No one sees him so he continues to move to the middle of this huge field – roughly seven acres…

But before Alan can start mowing, he needs a tractor. It seems like fate is helping him; he stumbles into one…

Alan hops on and tries to start the ENGINE…

ALAN
Haha… It works!

So Alan starts moving this two-ton BEAST with the graph on his hands. A HAIRY PERSON appears through the weeds…

ALAN
(nervous)
I am sorry… I shouldn’t have trespassed. I… I… I just wanna…

That person looks around with something like a graph rolled up in his messenger bag…

PERSON
Who? You talking to me?

Alan nods nervously…

PERSON (continuing)
Don’t you worry! I think I am doing what you’re doing.

Alan is confused…

PERSON (continuing)
First off, let me introduce myself. My name is Ivan Hernandez… I am here to break a world record… the largest-sign-on-a-field record.

Alan is relieved… He then realizes he is doing the very same feat… Alan gets off from the tractor…

ALAN
I am doing the same thing, but why are you interested?

IVAN HERNANDEZ (late 20s, opportunistic) sits on the field and takes a sip of the soda – like going on a picnic…

IVAN
(waving him off)
My life is too dry anyway – a 9 to 5 job and such.

ALAN
Seriously, I got nothing to do; that’s why I come.

Then Alan covers his eyes…

ALAN
(shaking his head)
I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Alan Jackson from S.F. Nice meeting you!

Ivan takes another sip…

IVAN
All the way from San Fran., huh? I am from Houston – the Rocket City, baby!

ALAN
Hey, you look optimistic.

IVAN
What? You know Feng-shui, too… I know a few things about it… just kidding again.

Alan and Ivan both LAUGH – LOUD enough to get notified by the FIELD OWNER, if the owner is around…

ALAN
Shall we start now? It’s getting late.

Ivan puts down his soda and takes out the graph…

IVAN
Let’s see which one is better…

Ivan actually looks through both graphs…

IVAN (continuing)
Yours looks better than mine… Oh by the way, do you want to do the honors? I’ll be happy if I am a part of the record.
Ivan than takes out his DIGITAL CAMERA…

IVAN (continuing)
Camera’s ready… Let’s start!

Ivan puts up his hands in joy – like a kid at the candy store. Alan hops back on the tractor and starts mowing…

The tractor ROARS.

EXT. A HUGE CORNFIELD – NIGHT

A few hours have passed and the sun has already set, Alan and Ivan are both next to the out of gas tractor. With only a couple hundred feet of field mowed, they are both exhausted…

ALAN
(exhausted)
Dang! Totally forgot about the fuel count! What can we do now? … Buy some diesel tomorrow?

Ivan is finishing up his dull soda…

IVAN
(spitting soda out)
Yuk! Shoulda bought Gatorade! … Anyway, what you say?

ALAN
What can we do now?
Ivan looks at the manufacturer’s name and throws the bottle away…

IVAN
Oh… First off, get rested…

Ivan then points at the tractor…

IVAN (continuing)
Then get some fuel for him… Tomorrow will be another day and I believe we can finish this!
ALAN
Told you are optimistic.

Ivan waves him off while staring at a SQUIRREL…

IVAN
(face turning the wrong way)
Nah, I am just opportunistic.

ALAN
(curious)
What are you looking at?

Ivan all of the sudden throws his KNIFE… That scares Alan off.

IVAN
(satisfied)
There! A world record – the biggest squirrel in the world.

Ivan holds up his prize…

IVAN (continuing)
You feeling hungry, dude?

ALAN
(face turning sour)
You can’t be serious?… I am only OK with field frogs, but squirrels…

But Alan rubs his empty stomach…

IVAN
Squirrels are tasty… You’ll love it once you try one.

A DIGESTION SOUND emerges from Alan’s stomach…

IVAN (continuing)
Hey, your stomach wants it… don’t EVER disappoint your organs!

Alan is still skeptical, but he has to feed his stomach…
ALAN
O…K… But we are eating it raw?

Ivan brings out the IGNITER…

IVAN
Don’t worry! Fire means cooked food.

Then Ivan ignites the FIRE on to a brick of wood. Alan is amazed…

ALAN
What else don’t you have in your bag?

IVAN
(smiles on his face)
Probably my girl and my teddy bear…

Alan actually remembers Michelle asked the very same thing. And this is how they finish their FIRST NIGHT, or so it seems…

INT. LOCAL SHERIFF STATION – DAY

Alan and Ivan end up with a total of $4000 fine for TRESPASSING and VANDELISM. $4000 is huge for Ivan so Alan helps him out by paying his share…

ALAN
Here you go, officer… $500 here and $3500 fresh from the ATM… Total is 4000 bucks. So may we leave now?

The OFFICER receives the money…

OFFICER
Don’t ever trespass again… and don’t come back again!

Ivan breaks in…

IVAN
Hell no! I am not coming back! I’d go to a much cleaner station if I got caught again.

Alan stares at him…

ALAN
(sarcastic)
This must be a joke again… Want to leave now?

Ivan knows he has got on Alan’s nerves so he leaves the building without saying a word…

EXT. A STREET – DAY

While Alan is thinking of what he should do next, Ivan stuffs a NOTE into Alan’s leather jacket.

Out of nowhere, Alan remembers Michelle owes him a dinner.

ALAN
Ivan, I am going back to S.F. You should go back home.

IVAN
Back home?

ALAN
I’ve got an important thing to do… If we ever meet again, try eating something nice.

Ivan CHUCKLES as they depart in different directions. Ivan then turns around and makes a search pocket gesture…

IVAN
(yelling)
Read that shit! I’ll Paypal you money… I owe you!

Alan searches his pockets; there is a note inside one of his pockets. The note reads: “email address: iammonkey@yahoo.com. Send me email!”

ALAN
(smiling)
Opportunist!

While Ivan is going back to the hotel, his cell phone RINGS…

IVAN
Hello… Hey what’s up, bro? Alan Jackson? Nah, he has no interest of taking over the hotel… OK, talk to you later, bye!

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. LARRY’S OFFICE – NIGHT

Larry and Earl’s boss STEVE (mid-50s, loyal to Sir Jackson), head of the Sales and Marketing Department, are discussing the PACKAGE PROPOSAL to the travel agencies for next year…

After reading the proposal draft and the financial report, Larry holds his forehead.

LARRY
(concerned / SIGHING)
The price is still a little high… try this number instead…

Larry looks at Steve…

LARRY (continuing)
This is a must-win for Court Royale.

Larry hands back the draft back to Steve. Steve, who has served for the hotel for almost 20 years, is concerned for his boss’ health…

STEVE
(concerned)
I’ll revise the proposal… But Sir, please take care!

Larry nods while still holding his forehead. He looks at his watch…

LARRY
Oh… It’s seven forty five already. Let’s call the day off… We must finish the proposal by tomorrow.

Larry drinks some water…

LARRY (continuing)
Steve, remember how we weathered all the storms all these years… and yet, I can’t finish the night without medication.

Larry takes out some PILLS from his drawer and swallows them, as Steve starts being honest…

STEVE
Sir, it is time to hand the business to Alan.

Larry almost chokes after hearing that. His severe headache, meanwhile, has him KNOCKING on his forehead…

LARRY
I don’t even know where he is!

Steve lets Larry off the hook; he does not want his boss to get mad. Anyway, Steve stays honest…

STEVE
Sir, I know it’s not appropriate to say it here, but… we should upgrade the facilities around the hotel…

Steve looks at Larry’s reaction…

LARRY
(holding his forehead)
Go on!

STEVE
The cuisines, the rooms, the machinery… are all outdated… Sorry if I am too honest.

Larry CHUCKLES…

LARRY
This is not the first day I met you… I know what kind of person you are.

Larry now SIGHS…

LARRY (continuing)
But the priority is to get the contract renewed with the agencies…

It seems like there is not enough oxygen as Steve YAWNS right after Larry has yawned…

LARRY (continuing)
Let’s call the day off… We’re both tired anyway.

So Steve puts the proposal inside his BRIEFCASE…

LARRY
You are not going to work all night, are you? … You aren’t in your thirties anymore.

Since Larry tells him not to bring the draft home, Steve puts his proposal on his desk in his own office…

LARRY (continuing)
Finish putting the proposal in your office… I am lifting you home.

Steve cannot refuse; he must follow orders…

MATCH CUT:

INT. SALES AND MARKETING DEPARTMENT – NIGHT

Now no one is up at the offices, FOOTSTEPS are heard coming into the Sales and Marketing Department…

Since all of the CAMERAS are just located near the hallway and there is none in the Steve’s office, “SHE” can start setting her trap…

After retrieving the proposal from Steve’s office, she goes right to Earl’s computer. She boots up the computer and starts hacking…

For the Information Technology Major graduate, it is not the matter of difficulties; it is the matter of willingness…

And so she uses Earl’s computer to send an email of the proposal to The Silver Club Incorporated.

All of the sudden, her cell phone VIBRATES. She lets the phone keep VIBRATING. She then gets back outside to return the call…

EXT. A STREET NOT FAR FROM HOTEL – NIGHT

It is so late, she is wondering who that caller was. Therefore, she checks the caller id and her voicemail…

THE MYSTERIOUS “SHE”
(V.O. without much streetlight)
It’s him…

INT. ALAN’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Alan has just returned from his brief Omaha visit. He has been expecting a return phone call… Then there it is; his phone RINGS…

ALAN
Hey Michelle, I’ve been expecting you… Why didn’t you pick up the phone?

MICHELLE
I had put my phone on vibrate and I didn’t notice it.

MATCH CUT:

EXT. A STREET NOT FAR FROM HOTEL – NIGHT

Michelle takes off her GLOVES and throws them to the nearby TRASH CAN…

INT. ALAN’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Alan YAWNS…

ALAN
Anyways… I… I just got off the plane and I… I think you still owe me a dinner.

Michelle knows Alan wants to have a date with her as she is now next to her parked MERCEDES C230…

MICHELLE
OK… Let’s have one on Wednesday night then… I’ll be available that night.

ALAN
Wow… I must be the luckiest guy on earth… You have so many guys dating you.

In fact, Alan does not know her schedule is actually filled up with meetings and dates…

Alan pumps his FIST into the air as a celebration…

ALAN
(happily)
Anyways… I am picking you up… So… I’ll see you on Wednesday!

Alan quickly hangs up – probably with his lack of experience…

Michelle turns off her phone while shaking her head…

MICHELLE
Kids!

Michelle gets into her Mercedes and drives home…

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. LARRY’S OFFICE – DAY

So the day of the future for the hotel has finally arrived. However, it is not good news, as expected by Michelle. They lost the bid to Silver Club Inc.…

Larry throws down a copy of the proposal to the table. The force has him almost fainted. Everybody in the office tries to hold him…

After the close fall, Larry writes down two numbers on the copy – the final offer prices of the two hotels…

Larry now stands up like a teacher…

LARRY
(angrily)
Can someone tell me how we could lose this close? … Two-fifty a room? Are you kidding me?

Larry BANGS on the table…

LARRY (continuing)
Answer me!

As Michelle digs out the EVIDENCE of who sold the hotel out, the phone RINGS…

LARRY
(yelling)
HELLO!…

The call is from Peter; Larry tones down his volume…

LARRY (continuing)
Hey Peter… You did? … OK, I’ll check… Peter, I am not in the mood of discussing Alan for the moment… Bye.

Larry hangs up; he then literally scans through the people in the office – Michelle, Steve and Earl…

Larry is apparently checking the email sent from Peter. There are PHOTOS and IP ADDRESS of a hotel staff.

This email answers everything; it upsets Larry…

Larry sits back down and is now staring at Earl…

LARRY
(staring without blinking)
Earl, you’re fired!

That catches Earl, as well as Michelle, by surprise since Michelle has not even shown the photos yet…

EARL
(shocked)
Sir, why?

Larry turns the FLAT PANEL LCD for the staff to see…

LARRY
(angrily)
Look at what you’ve done! … You’re with Jose Hernandez of Silver Club! … And the proposal was sent from your computer.

Earl is SCRATCHING his head…

EARL
But Sir… Yes, he contacted me about any possible confidential stuff. But… I wouldn’t be this dumb sending the proposal here.

LARRY
You don’t need to say any more things…

Larry turns on the INTERCOM…

LARRY
Janice, call in security to watch Earl leave the hotel.

JANICE
(V.O.)
OK…

Larry’s headache is getting worse. He is pointing at Earl. Michelle, meanwhile, just cannot be any happier…

LARRY
(biting his teeth)
GET OUT!

Two SECURITY GUARDS KNOCK on the door…

LARRY
(sighing)
Come in!

SECURITY
Sir?

LARRY
(pointing at Earl)
Get this guy out… watch him pack stuff… Don’t let him steal any hotel’s stuff.

SECURITY
Yes, Sir!

The security turns and looks at Earl…

SECURITY
Excuse us, you must leave!

Earl tries to get Larry’s forgiveness…

EARL
Sir… We just only talked… I swear I never gave him a shit.

Earl is desperate but to no avail…

LARRY
Security, what’re you guys waiting for?… Get him out!

The security guards follow Larry’s order… But Earl just will not leave. As a result, they lift Earl up. While being lifted…

EARL
I’ll come back!… I’ll come back!

Michelle is wearing a smile on her FACE…

MICHELLE
(V.O. / amused)
This is what I call “a lift”.

Larry is physical and emotionally fatigued…

LARRY
(SIGHING)
Go back to work… I don’t want to lose another war.

The remaining two start leaving. While leaving, Michelle intentionally drops a photo of Earl and JOSE meeting on the floor…

It is far enough for Larry to see. Hence, he picks it up. He certainly knows who left it there.

LARRY
(V.O.)
What is this girl thinking? Trying to show off?

While Larry is wondering what Michelle’s purpose was, Steve KNOCKS on the door…

Steve hands Larry the RESIGNATION LETTER…

STEVE
(ashamed)
Sir, here’s my resignation letter… I have no clue of how and why our price got out, but I should take the responsibility for it.

Larry reads the letter and starts thinking…

LARRY
Let me tell you what… You have grandchildren, right?

Steve nods…

LARRY
(continuing)
You are not resigning; you are just retiring.

Larry takes out a CHECKBOOK from the drawer and writes a CHECK…

LARRY
(continuing)
Here’s your check… It’s nothing… just a little bonus for what you’ve done for all these years.

Steve takes the check and counts the zeros. He gives it back…

STEVE
I just can’t accept that much… One hundred thousand dollars?… Seriously I don’t need money.

LARRY
Come on, I’m treating you like a friend to me and you totally deserve this check.

Larry hands the check to Steve again…

LARRY
Don’t worry about the bidding; it’s not your fault… If you treat me like a friend, then take the check.

Steve is forced to take the check…

STEVE
You’ll be always my great boss, Sir.

Steve accepts the check and leaves the office. Looking outside of the window, Larry can see the end of his control of the hotel…

INT. MICHELLE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Probably Michelle’s happiest day ever, not only because Earl is fired, but also she has a date upcoming with Alan…

Helena, while writing her next script, is still amazed at how Michelle calculates her moves…

HELENA
(YELLING)
Damn, your moves are even better than what I’ve ever written… Photo on the floor… framing Earl…

Michelle is getting changed; she is satisfied…

MICHELLE
(V.O.)
Don’t say that too loud; someone could overhear that.

Michelle has finished changing; she comes out. Helena is even more amazed…

HELENA
(amazed)
Look at you! A deep-V evening gown… You are not going to kill him tonight, are you?

MICHELLE
(smiling)
I am just letting Alan see how a mature, 30-year-old, woman is different than anyone he has ever seen before.

Michelle pours out a CUP of WATER. Then she goes over next to Helena…

MICHELLE (continuing)
(jokingly)
Wanna check if I am wearing any bra?

Helena LAUGHS…

HELENA
Nah,… But seriously, you are turning all your male friends down tonight just for this rich kid… You are ambitious, don’t ya think?

Michelle finishes up her cup of water…

MICHELLE
We’ve known each other since high school… You know me… If no one could help you, you gotta help yourself.

Helena puts aside her stuff…

HELENA
Still thinking about your parents?

Michelle wants to look mad but she pretends not to…

MICHELLE
Nope, I’ve got no feelings towards them.

HELENA
But they put you to the foster home though…

MICHELLE
Hey… if you were not a scriptwriter, you could be a newspaper reporter… They can make up stories.

Helena LAUGHS again as a HONK of a horn comes from outside. Helena looks over the window…

HELENA
Hey… It’s your kid… You won’t be coming back tonight, right? … Have fun and have SEX!

Michelle throws her EMPTIED PERFUME BOTTLE at Helena as a protest…

MICHELLE
Later, Helen!

HELENA
Helen?… Bitch!

Helena throws the bottle at the door just as she leaves…

EXT. OUTSIDE OF THE APARTMENT – NIGHT

Michelle slowly walks down from the apartment. Alan, with his non-common clothing – an ARMANI SUIT, is anxiously waiting outside…

Michelle is wearing a BLACK DEEP-V EVENING GOWN, waves at Alan…

MICHELLE
Sorry, I am late.

Alan is literally not moving his EYEBALLS. Michelle looks at herself…

MICHELLE (continuing)
(surprised)
Do I look bad in this dress?

Alan pauses for a long moment. Michelle waves at his EYES…

MICHELLE (continuing)
(waving)
Alan?

Alan finally wakes up…

ALAN
(heart pumping fast)
Huh?

MICHELLE
I am asking you if I look bad.

ALAN
No, you don’t… You look… look perfect.

MICHELLE
Are we still going?

Alan forgets he has not even invited Michelle into his VOLKWAGEN EOS CONVERTIBLE…

ALAN
Oh… My bad… You must be feeling cold.

Alan opens the door…

ALAN (continuing)
Here you go…

INT. AT A STEAKHOUSE – NIGHT

Since Alan has already reserved a table, they don’t have to wait for one like the rest of the people…

Alan intentionally reserves a table near the middle, so everyone can see how good Michelle looks…

MICHELLE
(with every man looking at her)
I must look bad in this dress… Everyone’s looking at me.

ALAN
No, your dress perfectly matches my dark suit… and my car, I might add.

The 1986 LaFAVOUR CHATEAU is brought to the table by the MANAGER…

The manager unscrews the CORK but Alan stops him after that…

ALAN
Leave the bottle on the rack, I am doing the honors.

MANAGER
OK, Mr. Jackson… Have fun…

After the manager leaves, Alan pours out the RED WINE. Michelle knows this fish is really biting hard on the bait…

MICHELLE
(jokingly)
Hey… Are you even over 21 yet?… Kids aren’t supposed to drink wine.

Alan smiles…

ALAN
OK… I know I am younger than you, but I am mature enough to travel places by myself… Oh, I’ll hit the road again in two weeks… this time to Africa.

Michelle seems interested as Alan pours in the wine into the GLASSES…

MICHELLE
Africa? For volunteering? … You are weird… You have a hotel business in front of you and yet you volunteer.

Alan is not pleased…

ALAN
I know where this discussion is going to end up… I just don’t wanna talk about this; tonight it’s about us, OK?

Michelle apologizes…

MICHELLE
I apologize… Oh… Almost forgot, I haven’t even thanked you for catching the psycho.

Alan is shy…

ALAN
Don’t mention it… Everyone would do that anyway.

Alan holds his glass of wine…

ALAN (continuing)
Cheers!

MICHELLE
Cheers!

As Alan and Michelle are celebrating, Michelle intentionally uses her glass to SHOVE his glass. The force causes the wine to spill out…

Michelle then timely hands him a piece of napkin…

MICHELLE
Let me help you.

Alan refuses…

ALAN
(nervous)
But you are in your deep-V.

Michelle smiles…

MICHELLE
Why would you mind if I don’t mind?… come on, don’t be such a kid.

So Michelle keeps wiping and the BODY CONTACT between the two triggers some HEAT…

Alan tries to back off…

ALAN
(face turning red)
Sorry…

Michelle pretends to get touched; she stops wiping…

MICHELLE
(face turning red as well)
Guess… guess the suit needs dry clean…

Alan is speechless; he can only nod. The manager brings the APPETIZERS…

MANAGER
Here you go… Oh… do you need a towel, Mr. Jackson and you, Miss?

ALAN AND MICHELLE
(IN UNISON)
No, thanks!

Alan is shy…

ALAN
No, I am fine, thanks!

The night passes quickly, at least for Alan…

EXT. OUTSIDE OF STEAKHOUSE – NIGHT

While Alan and Michelle are waiting for the car coming back from the parking lot, Michelle suggests some places that they can hang out…

MICHELLE
So… the night goes fast, huh?… Where do you want to go next, Alan?… Alan?

Alan pauses for a second…

ALAN
I am driving you home… I am tired.

It is like controlling a kite; you let it go once in a while. Michelle is doing just that…

MICHELLE
OK… Thanks for this wonderful dinner… I… I had a great time.

Alan’s car comes and off they go…

EXT. OUTSIDE OF APARTMENT – NIGHT

Even though it is only 9:05 P.M., the date between Alan and Michelle is over…

Alan stops the car right outside of the apartment entrance. He, like most gentlemen, then gets off the car to open the CAR DOOR for Michelle. Michelle gets out…

ALAN
Thanks for coming, Michelle… I have a little present for you.

Alan takes out a PAIR OF EARRINGS…

ALAN
This is for you… Michelle,… Err… will you be my girlfriend?

Michelle has officially got Alan. She prefers not to answer; she only kisses him on both cheeks and goes inside…

INT. MICHELLE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

The NOISE made from the KEY has Helena surprised while she is watching “Lost”. The door opens…

HELENA
(surprised)
Surprise! Surprise!… Our Ms. Michelle Fong has…

Helena points at the T.V. SCREEN as the SHOW NAME pops up.

HELENA
(continuing)
Lost!

Michelle CHUCKLES. She then shows Helena the earrings…

MICHELLE
Hell no… I didn’t lose; I won by a knockout. He is just too shy hanging out after my best move.

Helena is curious…

HELENA
(curious)
What best move?

Michelle walks to her room to get changed…

MICHELLE
(V.O. from her room)
I am not telling you!

Helena THROWS the remote at her room door…

HELENA
Bitch!

Michelle then talks to herself…

MICHELLE
(V.O.)
This big fish will be mine soon!

INT. LARRY’S MANSION – NIGHT

After the meal with Peter, Larry and Peter discuss all the things they are interested in: Alan and the lost bid…

Larry and Peter are at the living room eating cakes…

LARRY
(SIGHING)
I am too tired… maybe I should sell the hotel.

Peter looks at him in surprise…

PETER
(surprised)
But Court Royale is your life… Hernandez will be first in line…

LARRY
What?

PETER
I’ve heard…

Peter cannot finish what he wants to say as the phone RINGS…

LARRY
Hello…

JOSE
(V.O.)
This is Jose Hernandez of the Silver Club…

LARRY
You are interested in my hotel, aren’t you?

JOSE
(V.O.)
You sure know why I am calling… OK, I sincerely wish to acquire Court Royale for $150 mil… This price should be the highest people will ever give you… So what do you think?

Larry thinks for a while; Peter knows this phone call is an important one. Meanwhile, Larry concentrates on the call.

PETER
Larry, what’s going on?

Larry is shaking his head while thinking. Jose hurries him…

JOSE
(V.O.)
You’ve got no choice; no one’s going to bail the hotel out except me.

Larry is seriously thinking…

LARRY
Give me a month; I have to think it over… But… if I do accept, can you promise not to fire any staff members?

JOSE
(V.O.)
Sure I can promise this for now… Anyway, I’ll see you next month then, thanks!

Jose hangs up; Larry is shocked at how straightforward Jose is. Larry is back on the conversation with Peter…

LARRY
What did you try to say, Peter?

PETER
I have heard from a friend that Jose Hernandez says to the magazine that he’s going to do “whatever it takes” to acquire Court Royale.

Larry looks more relaxed than Peter thought, especially after hearing both the news and the call…

LARRY
This isn’t bad news at all… They have the experience running this business.

Peter wants to talk Larry out of selling as Larry is eating the cake…

PETER
Let put it this way, Larry… Their ways of running the hotel will upset the staff… Moreover, they have their own personnel… They would lay people off.

Larry puts down his PLATE…

LARRY
Peter, they have promised not to fire anyone… The phone call was from Jose himself…

PETER
Have you agreed?

Larry shakes his head; Peter literally almost breaks a sweat…

PETER (continuing)
Why don’t you give Alan a chance?… He’s a Hotel Management graduate.

Larry’s face turns bitter…

LARRY
He doesn’t give ME a chance…

Larry goes to his ROOM to get a credit card and bank statements for Peter to see…

LARRY
Look at the amount… 3000 dollars?… Is he addicted to buying? Or does he want to ruin my fortune?

Larry throws the statements aside…

LARRY (continuing)
I should cut ties with him.

Peter looks at Larry…

PETER
(GIGGLES)
But would you?… Remember Larry, this is your only child.

The atmosphere is rather cold, so Larry switches the subject…

LARRY (continuing)
OK… done with that topic… Anyway, what do you think of Michelle?

Peter finally starts eating. He is not that surprised that Larry would throw him a curveball…

PETER
(while holding his plate)
Nice pitch, Larry… Anyway, Michelle looks ordinary, but she has an ambitious side that not everyone could see… Wait… you want to promote her to an S&M department head?

LARRY
You truly are my best friend, Peter; you know what I am thinking.

Larry takes another piece. Desserts really do delight people…

LARRY (continuing)
Yeah… she is ambitious… Framing Earl is good proof.

PETER
And yet you still fired Earl.

LARRY
‘Ambitious’ is good in this business… Earl will find his real boss anyway.

Larry lets Peter see the photo Michelle left on his office FLOOR…

LARRY (continuing)
She left this photo on the floor… She had also hired a Private Eye to follow Earl…

Peter takes a look of the photo…

PETER
Damn… Is she trying to show off?

LARRY
Yeah and she seems to know which moves I will make…

PETER
Including dating Alan… She just had a date with him tonight.

The point of the conversation goes back to Alan once again. Larry stops eating and puts down his plate…

LARRY
Looks like Michelle is going all-in (NOTE: POKER REFERENCE) by courting Alan… She is no less a partial winner.

Larry grins…

LARRY (continuing)
She at least will get promoted… But she’s not going to take any advantages of Alan.

Peter all of a sudden has a crazy idea in regards to Alan and Michelle…

PETER
Hey Larry, why don’t we use Michelle to have Alan working for the hotel… 

Peter keeps eating the soon-to-be-melted cakes…

PETER (continuing)
I am sure Michelle is thinking the very same thing since she wants to get rich.

Larry crosses his arms…

LARRY
Mmm… That would scarify Alan by courting a girl who doesn’t even love him… But I must say this plan is the only available plan.

Larry picks up the plate and tries to eat the remaining pieces…

LARRY
Chocolate is melting… We have talked too much.

Even though Larry and Peter both LAUGH, Larry has concerns…
INT. MICHELLE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

The magazine that interviewed Jose Hernandez has been out; Michelle is reading what Jose has to say in the interview…

Michelle is drinking a can of soda; she almost chokes when she sees the ASKING PRICE…

MICHELLE
(COUGHING)
…What the fuck? 150 million?… Is this guy on dope? The hotel isn’t worth 150 mil… 110 maybe.

Michelle looks at his photo in the ARTICLE…

MICHELLE
I should’ve courted this guy instead… But damn… he is ugly!

Helena comes out from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body…

HELENA
If he looked good, you still got no chance… This dude’s been down south for his whole life… Dream on girl.

Michelle can scent the fragrance coming out from her body…

MICHELLE
Hey, your pitch won’t be here for another few days… You don’t have to put that on already… It stinks!

Helena’s body is unwrapped and she throws the towel towards Michelle…

HELENA
There should be more than one pitch though.
Helena feels cold; she goes to her room to put her clothes on. Michelle, meanwhile, puts away the magazine and heads for the bathroom…

MICHELLE
(V.O. in the bathroom)
You know what’s great, Helena? Your smell is all gone in the shower. Haha…

Helena knows she was just joking, so she LAUGHS as well…

While Michelle is taking the shower, she comes up with a great idea, similar, if not exact, to Peter’s plan…

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. MICHELLE’S NEW OFFICE – DAY

With a half-dozen bunches of flowers from her male friends, Michelle is in her own office, which used to be Steve’s. She has been officially promoted to the Sales and Marketing MANAGER.

Her old COLLEAGUES congratulate her and her new COLLEAGUES greet her. Anna is one of these old colleagues…

ANNA
(envious)
Look at your new office, Michelle! It’s bigger than my bedroom… You will take care of your old co-workers… won’t you?

Michelle seems annoyed. She pretends to smile from her heart, even though she looks up to her new BOSS now…

MICHELLE
(sarcastic)
‘course I will… You guys are the hotel’s greatest assets…

Michelle looks at all the work that she has to finish; she orders Anna to leave…

MICHELLE (continuing)
You know what, Anna… I must finish all these by the end of the day… Don’t you have work to do?… Why are you still here?

Anna feels the relationship between Michelle and the staff has been changed…

ANNA
(chip on her shoulder)
Whatever you say, boss.

While Michelle is facing her work,…

MICHELLE
Oh, Anna… can you close the door on your way out? Thanks!

Anna really has a bad taste in her mouth about her former colleague. She VIOLENTLY closes the door…

ANNA
Fucking Chinese whore!

INT. OPEN OFFICE – DAY

Anna is upset that her friend, Michelle, has chased her away. As a result, she blasts Michelle in front of her current colleagues…

ANNA
(angrily)
Hey, people! Our former co-worker Michelle has transformed into another person… So be careful, fellas!

SOME believe her but SOME don’t…

JOSHUA
She might have had too much work… She didn’t mean it.

Some agree…

ANNA
I just can’t believe you guys are still on her side… She has changed!… Wait a minute, you guys like her… She is a fucking slut… She can get every man in her bed, let me tell you what I mean.

The PEOPLE in the office want to stop her, but she keeps talking…

ANNA (continuing)
I wish she will get fired soon…

SOMEONE is patting Anna’s SHOULDER; it is Michelle…

MICHELLE
(sarcastic / holding a cup)
Am I an interesting topic for you people?… I think I should form a focus group… (GET BACK TO WORK!)

Anna and the rest of the gang spread out; Michelle keeps heading to the pantry…

Michelle is now at the pantry. There is a man hiding and peeking from an ALLEY…

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. ALAN’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Almost a month has passed; Alan has returned from Kenya as a volunteer. He has missed San Francisco’s beautiful weather, the technology and of course, Michelle…

Speaking of technology, he has not checked his email for almost a month. Therefore, the first thing he does is to check his full mailbox…

Obviously there are many JUNK EMAILS in his mailbox, but there are also ones that come from his friends or from some websites.

While clicking,…

ALAN
(surprised)
Hey, this dude has not given a shit since coming back from Omaha… Let’s see…

Ivan says in his email that he is currently in San Francisco and will not be leaving anytime soon. Ivan wants Alan to go see him at Court Royale…

ALAN
(wondering)
Court Royale? What the fuck?

Court Royale is the place that Alan least wants to go to. He stands up from the chair and starts pacing back and forth for a colution…

ALAN (continuing)
I am just visiting him up in the room… That wouldn’t alert anyone.

And so Alan replies to Ivan is telling him that he is going…

Alan knows it is going to be a long night deleting emails. Therefore, he goes to the fridge to pick up a can of soda.

While Alan is enjoying his soda, an email from Michelle makes him smile…

ALAN
(happily)
Michelle!… Yes, she wants to see me.

Alan wants to reply to the email. However on second thought, he would rather call her. He wants to hear her lovely voice. His watch makes a “BEEP” sound, notifying him that it has struck midnight.

Alan picks up the PHONE…

ALAN
(holding the phone)
Wow,… it’s already midnight… She might be asleep…

Alan puts down the phone for a second. But on second thought, again…

ALAN
Ah… What the heck!

Alan picks up the phone to make a call…

INT. MICHELLE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

The phone RINGS waking up the seldom sleep-early Helena.

HELENA
(scratching her head)
Who the fuck is that?… I gotta pitch to the producers tomorrow morning.

Helena picks up the phone…

HELENA
(sounding like a zombie)
Hell-looo! Who is this bastard?… Don’t you know it’s really late to call anyone?

Alan sounds ashamed…

ALAN
(V.O.)
Sorry… But this is Alan Jackson. Is Michelle there?

Helena is upset…

HELENA
(angrily)
Fuck!… Could you call her cell phone next time? I am living here too… Hold on a sec.

ALAN
(V.O.)
My apologies…

Helena goes to Michelle’s room to wake her up. Michelle keeps TOSSING around…

HELENA
The call’s from your boy, Alan.

It seems like Michelle’s MIND is still asleep.

MICHELLE
Which Alan?

Helena reminds her…

HELENA
(YELLING)
Alan Jackson! Son of your boss!

Her YELLING wakes her mind up, as well as her soul…

MICHELLE
Oh… the phone, Helena?

Michelle yawns as Helena hands her the phone…

HELENA
(yawning)
Tell your boy not to call the home number!… Son of A Bitch!

Helena leaves the room; Michelle starts the conversation…

MICHELLE
How’s it going, Alan?

ALAN
(V.O.)
Did I wake you girls up? I… I am sorry.

Michelle looks mad, but Alan obviously cannot see…

MICHELLE
No,… I’d just gone to bed… Anyway, why are you calling?

ALAN
(V.O.)
Oh… I’ve just read the email you sent so I am… I am wondering where we’ll meet.

Michelle almost forgets that she has sent him such email…

MICHELLE
Oh, right… Mm…

Michelle is checking her schedule on her SMARTPHONE…

MICHELLE (continuing)
Let’s meet at Court Royale Café this Friday during the lunch hour… My schedule only has this opening.

Alan is concerned that some of the staff there could see him…

ALAN
(V.O.)
Michelle, can we meet some place else, like the nearby McDonald’s or something?

MICHELLE
Sorry but I can’t… I have to stay inside the hotel… Are you scared of seeing someone that you don’t want to see?… Don’t be such a kid, Alan.

With her experience, Michelle is right on the money. But Alan wants to see her sooner rather than later.

ALAN
Fine… I’ll see you there… Michelle, I’ll show you I am not a kid anymore… You’ll know.

MICHELLE
It’s good to hear… So I’ll see you in 2 days.

Michelle hangs up the phone and goes back to sleep…

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY

It is Friday. Larry has an important decision to make regarding the future of the hotel.

The department HEADS, including Michelle, and Peter appear in this meeting. Larry is looking outside at a CONSTRUCTION SITE across the street…

LARRY
It’s confirmed; someone is building a hotel at that site… We must upgrade our facilities so that we can compete with others.

Larry looks concerned…

LARRY (continuing)
So… do you people have any ideas?

These people are called MANAGERS or department heads, but do not know how to share ideas.

It has always been Larry who gives all the ideas and decisions. Only this time Michelle, her first such meeting as a manager, has something to say.

MICHELLE
Upgrading is no less one of the must…

Michelle opens up her ARMS…

MICHELLE
But what about these quote-unquote managers?… They are too conservative… they only take orders but don’t give out ideas…

That statement stings the managers, who have had at least over 10 years of experience. They cannot rebut because the truth hurts. That statement, however, impresses Larry…

LARRY
O… K… Keep going, Michelle.

Larry turns on the green light, so Michelle continues…

MICHELLE
First of all,…

INT. LARRY’S OFFICE – DAY

After the impressive showing by Michelle, Larry, Peter and Michelle are in Larry’s office for further DETAILS…

LARRY
Nice ideas, Michelle… Most hotels would not open a karaoke bar and… and a disco? You go to these places often, huh?

Just as Michelle wants to give details, Peter breaks in…

PETER
Larry, this is not Asia… The European visitors are not going to use these facilities…

Michelle fights back…

MICHELLE
Mr. Paige, San Francisco is a unique place that Asian travelers will come to, as well as the local Asians… If we offer a good package deal, like discounts to those who can get a friend to book a room, not just tourists, the locals would also come.

Larry is satisfied…

MICHELLE (continuing)
As a Chinese myself, I often go to these places… If they are professional enough… what I mean is they think they are like monopolies that no one would ever get into this business… So if we get in, we will have to be professional and treat our customers like humans.

Peter has nothing to say since Larry gives an OK SIGN to Michelle. Meanwhile, Michelle is constantly looking at her watch…

LARRY
Oh… I’ve been holding you guys… It’s almost lunch time… So Michelle, want to go out eating together with us?

Michelle knows what is more important to her…

MICHELLE
I… Sorry, Sir. I am having lunch with Alan today.

Larry is shocked but he pretends not to care. Peter makes an EYE SIGNAL to Larry, meaning “told you”.

LARRY
Mm… He isn’t afraid of coming now?
MICHELLE
Sir, I forced him to come.

LARRY
Oh… You must be important to him then.

Michelle can only smile. Peter covers his mouth – CHUCKLING…

MICHELLE
So Sir, I would like to finish up the proposal if you don’t have any more orders.

LARRY
That’s all for the morning… I’d like to see the proposal in about 3 days… Will that hurry you?

MICHELLE
Absolutely not, Sir.

LARRY
OK… You may go now.

Michelle leaves. Peter uncovers his mouth…

PETER
Larry, I told you Michelle can help us to get Alan back.

Larry opens his drawer to take an ASPRIN…

LARRY
(while swallowing)
Mm… Promoting her might be not as bad as I once thought… But as Alan goes deeper into this love trap, I am more concerned…

Larry drinks some water…

LARRY (continuing)
I should warn him.

Peter warns him…

PETER
But that would contradict what you have been doing – letting Michelle use your son.

Peter SIGHS…

PETER (continuing)
Only time will tell… Michelle might fall in love with Alan… You just never know.

Peter then looks at his MEDICINE…

PETER (continuing)
Don’t worry about them for now… You better worry about the hotel and your health.

LARRY
Fine… I am going to treat my health now by eating… Are you going?

Peter LAUGHS…

INT. HOTEL ROOM – DAY

As promised, Alan visits his PAL, Ivan. Alan KNOCKS on the door.

The door opens…

IVAN
How’s everything, my friend? Come in!

Alan walks inside…

ALAN
Everything is fine… So what are you doing here in San Fran.?

Ivan gives him a glass of white wine…

IVAN
For my dry work… You’ll know.

Alan does not understand. He takes a sip of wine…

ALAN
What?

IVAN
You will know…

Ivan’s cell phone RINGS…

IVAN
Hello, bro… Why not now?… OK, I’ll be there, bye.

Ivan asks Alan after hanging up.

IVAN
Want to join us for lunch? My brother’s treat.

ALAN
Nah, I’ll have lunch with a friend of mine.

IVAN
Come join us then!

Alan refuses…

ALAN
Sorry, Ivan… I must go.

IVAN
Fine… I am leaving as well. Let’s go.

INT. THE MAIN LOBBY – DAY

Jose, Ivan’s brother, has been waiting for Ivan in the LOBBY.

IVAN
My brother is there waiting… I gotta go. See you later.
ALAN
See you!… Email me if you have an interesting place to go to.

Ivan gives an OK SIGN as they depart…

Meanwhile, while walking to the RESTAURANT, Michelle sees Jose sitting. There is also the same guy who peeked up to the office peeking her again…

MICHELLE
(V.O. / surprised)
Isn’t that Jose Hernandez?… What is he doing here?

Michelle goes on thinking…

MICHELLE (continuing)
(V.O.)
Does he have a meeting with Sir Jackson?… Right here, right now?

Alan gently taps her from behind…

ALAN
What are you thinking about? Me?

Michelle gets scared a bit, but she recovers…

MICHELLE
(GIGGLING)
Yeah… I was wondering… wondering what we’ll eat.

ALAN
Let’s go inside first… I don’t want anyone noticing me here.

Michelle is not happy; she keeps thinking about what she would do if Jose Hernandez acquires the hotel…

Michelle finally turns her attention back to Alan…

MICHELLE
Don’t be a kid, Alan… You are not the most wanted, are you?

Alan apologizes as they walk inside…

INT. IN A RESTAURANT – DAY

It must be the food; there are not many people dining in the restaurant. As a result, Alan and Michelle find a table with ease…

Alan, acting like a gentleman, pulls out a CHAIR for Michelle…

ALAN
(while standing)
Don’t ever call me a kid again, OK?

Michelle grins as she sits…

MICHELLE
Hey, this is just a part of etiquette that guys must learn, kid.

Alan covers his eyes with his hands…

ALAN
OK… I’ll always be a kid to you.

Alan gets nervous, so he drinks a cup of water that is already on the table…

ALAN (continuing)
Anyway, I love you dressed more casually than that night.

Michelle grins again…

MICHELLE
(jokingly)
You like my teacher-like outfit, don’t you, naughty boy?

Michelle looks at Alan, who sits across from her; Alan’s face turns red.

MICHELLE (continuing)
Alan, table wine hasn’t been here yet… You look drunk.

Alan’s face is ever redder after Michelle flirts with him. The TABLE WINE, meanwhile, is carried out by a WAITER. Alan looks at the waiter…

ALAN
But we haven’t ordered anything yet.

WAITER
Ms. Fong has ordered everything for you, Mr. Jackson.

Alan’s head goes down because he has been recognized by a member of the hotel staff. While his head is down, he WHISPERS…

ALAN
I… I don’t even recognize him but he knows me… Did you tell everybody?

MICHELLE
Remember, Alan. This IS your hotel after all… All the staff here is yours.

ALAN
I don’t want to have any relations with Larry Jackson.

Michelle starts speaking louder…

MICHELLE
No relations? And you could buy as many as you want and could travel as far as you want without a job?… Look at me! Your father is aging and he really hopes you can help him… He needs you!

With everyone looking at them, Alan faces Michelle. He then gets up…

ALAN
You will never understand how he hurt my Mom and me!

MICHELLE
So what? He is your only parent left… I guess you will never grow up…

Michelle drinks the whole cup of water. Alan is considering a job, working for his dad…

MICHELLE (continuing)
Our relationship is over!

Michelle cools down a bit as Alan is strongly considering this, even though he hates being forced to make a decision.

MICHELLE
Alan, do this for your aging father and for yourself. Help this hotel.

Alan pours a glass of table wine and drinks. The dishes of appetizers are served…

ALAN
OK… All I can say is that I will consider it… Enough of this, let’s eat.

Before eating,…

MICHELLE
Excuse me!

Michelle goes to the RESTROOM, carrying something in her HANDS…

A while later, Michelle comes back from the restroom; Alan notices something is different about her…

ALAN
You look different, but I can’t tell the difference.

Michelle uses her palm to BRUSH her hair back so that her EARS are exposed…

Alan looks at her earrings…

ALAN 
Are those the earrings I gave you? …

Thinking more…

ALAN (continuing)
…You accept to be my girlfriend?

Michelle, like most girls, only smiles while nodding. Alan then gets up to hug her…

Alan turns around to address a few people after the hug…

ALAN
(happily)
I’ve got her!… I’ve got this girl!

Everyone APPLAUDS as Alan apparently forgets that he does not want to be noticed…

MATCH CUT:

INT. THE MAIN LOBBY – DAY

It is about two o’clock; the staff members are coming back from their lunch break. Larry, Peter, Alan and Michelle are among them.

It must be a coincidence that Larry and Alan are meeting for the first time since the hotel’s 30th anniversary…

Alan, who is holding Michelle’s hand, still does not really want to see his Dad whereas Larry is eager to see his “bastard son”…

LARRY
(wearing a smile)
Come here for lunch with Michelle?

Alan pauses for a moment; Michelle, who is right next to him, shoves him. Peter helps Alan a bit…

PETER
(looking mad)
Are you deaf?… Answer your Dad!

Alan looks sideways and then he nods. Peter tries to turn his face back to them, but Larry stops him…

LARRY
That’s Ok, Peter… That’s OK.

Larry faces back to Alan; he sounds more like a staff member talking to a customer…

LARRY
Come visiting again…

Michelle closes the deal…

MICHELLE
Alan sure will, Sir…

Alan all of a sudden breaks in as well…

ALAN
I gotta go, Michelle, Uncle Peter… and…

Larry is hoping…

ALAN (continuing)
And you, Sir.

Even though Alan did not say “Dad”, Larry is satisfied…

MICHELLE
I am walking with you.

ALAN
OK.

They separate. While Alan and Michelle are going outside, Jose and Ivan Hernandez are coming back in. Jose can see the back of Larry’s head.

Alan greets Ivan; Michelle is surprised that they are friends…

ALAN
Got back from lunch? …

Jose pads on Ivan’s shoulder…

IVAN
Yeah… but sorry, I gotta run.

Jose and Ivan walk fast in Larry’s DIRECTION. Michelle looks back, probably sensing something is going to happen…

Michelle sees this as an opportunity to have Alan work for the hotel…

MICHELLE
(pointing at Jose and Ivan)
Those two men are the possible buyers… I don’t know what they would do to your Dad.

Alan is confused…

ALAN
Ivan? That dude?

Michelle starts walking towards them, holding Alan’s hand while doing so…

MICHELLE
He was trying to get information from you… I just don’t have any time to explain.

Alan starts walking as well, as Michelle’s STRIDES are increasing. However, the Hernandez brothers are talking to Larry and Peter…

JOSE
So Sir Jackson… Shocked I am here?

Larry looks calm…

LARRY
No, everyone’s welcome… You are not blacklisted or anything.

Peter, on the other hand, is mad…

PETER
Jose, what do you want?

Jose orders Ivan to open the BRIEFCASE; the CONTRACT is inside.

JOSE
Larry, a month has passed… Any final decisions yet?

Like father like son, Larry hates being forced. Therefore, Larry is not saying a word…

JOSE (continuing)
Look at this place… more staff than visitors… Selling this to me is a win-win.

Ivan adds fuel as Alan and Michelle are marching in…

IVAN
Come on, sign this shit… That construction site across is ours as well… and we would like to connect the hotels using a suspended bridge.

Ivan violently hands him the contract.

IVAN (continuing)
Sign it now!… Now!

Peter calls for the security, but Larry has already fainted. Alan and Michelle finally get there, with PEOPLE surrounding the area…

Alan punches Ivan; Michelle calls for the PARAMEDICS.

ALAN
Ivan Hernandez! You fucking bastard!

Ivan wipes off some of the BLOOD around his mouth as the security arrives. Peter points at the brothers…

PETER
These two men are not welcome, get them out!

Ivan is still yapping while being held…

IVAN
We are your future bosses… We’ve recognized your faces… You are fired!

The brothers are being taken away. The paramedics have arrived.

While Larry is being CARTED away, Alan comforts his Dad…

ALAN
Dad, you are going to be fine.

Even though Larry is unconscious, TEARS are in Larry’s EYES after hearing Alan say that…

Larry is rushed to the HOSPITAL. The MYSTERIOUS MAN, who has been stalking Michelle, leaves…

INT. HALLWAY IN A HOSPITAL – EVENING

A few hours have passed; the DOCTOR (MIKE: early 30s, good-looking) comes out talking to Alan after a thorough CHECK UP.

ALAN
How’s my Dad, Mike?

Mike looks concerned; he sighs…

MIKE
Physically speaking, Uncle Larry is fine… But by looking at the X-RAY… there’s a shadow in Sir Jackson’s brain. The shadow could possibly be a tumor.

Alan’s heart has hit rock bottom. His MIND is flashing back to all the GOOD TIMES that he and Larry have enjoyed – a TRIP to DISNEYLAND, hotel’s 15th ANNIVERSARY, hotel 20th ANNIVERSARY, his HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION and COLLEGE GRADUATION.

But these are and can only be his memories. After his mother passed away, Alan never spent much time together.

Michelle knows this is the best time to get him take over the hotel, but she has some mercy inside of her. Alan BANGS his head to the wall.

ALAN
(TEARS in his eyes)
I’ve never had much time with Dad… I just couldn’t think of any ever since college graduation… I shouldn’t… I shouldn’t have got Dad mad… I can’t disappoint him anymore.

Michelle and Peter are touched. Peter uses both hands to RUB his shoulders…

PETER
(SIGHING)
Son, your Dad needs you… It’s time for you to take over the hotel.

Alan starts CRYING…

ALAN
The hotel has you, Uncle Peter… and… Michelle.

Peter SLAPS Alan for no reasons at all. That ticks Michelle off…

MICHELLE
(angrily)
What are you doing?

PETER
I just want him to wake up… This will always be Jackson’s hotel… Not Hernandez’s or anyone else’s.

Peter gives Alan a hand…

PETER (continuing)
Wipe your tears and go see your Dad!

They go inside…

INT. FIRST CLASS WARD – NIGHT

While Larry is resting on the bed, Alan, Peter and Michelle come in to see him…

Alan looks slow-witted; he just stands outside of the room. Peter turns around…

PETER
Come on, Alan… Your Dad is waiting for your answer.
Alan finally steps inside. He is now next to the bed.

ALAN
Dad,…

Alan grins…

ALAN (continuing)
This should be the first time I’ve heard calling you “Dad” since Mom passed away.

Larry moves his EYEBROWS in response…

LARRY
(soft-voiced)
No, son… I heard you call when the paramedics arrived…

Larry COUGHS; Alan gives him some water…

MICHELLE
(looking concerned)
Take care, Sir.

Larry continues after drinking some water…

LARRY
I am feeling fine… Thanks, Michelle… Thanks, Peter.

Alan holds Larry’s hand, with TEARS in his eyes again…

ALAN
Dad, Mike says you need a long rest… so I… can help you handling the business.

Larry wants to sit up, but is told not to…

LARRY
(sounding ironic)
This is the happiest day ever in my life… even if I am in the hospital.

Everyone LAUGHS…

PETER
Hey, it’s good to see you are optimistic…

Speaking of optimism, Alan confesses…

ALAN
Dad, I know that Ivan guy… in Omaha… But I swear I didn’t tell him anything about the hotel.

Larry understands…

LARRY
I know you didn’t… People these days are cruel… especially the ones who use friendship and love.

That statement obviously points at Michelle; Michelle looks ashamed.

LARRY (continuing)
I need to rest… Michelle, why don’t you take Alan back to the office… Peter is staying here with me; I have something for him.

Alan wants to stay…

ALAN
I want to be here for the rest of the night.

LARRY
You need to start picking up my work right away… It’s going to be a long battle against the Hernandez brothers… Michelle, drive him back to the hotel.

Michelle, while feeling ashamed, follows Larry’s order…

MICHELLE
(ashamed)
Let’s go…

ALAN
So Dad, I’ll see you tomorrow.

Larry and Peter wave goodbye.

After Alan and Michelle have left, Peter praises Larry.

PETER
That “cruel” warning was scripted perfectly right at Michelle. I was afraid at the moment they would bust your lies…

Mike, meanwhile, KNOCKS on the door…

MIKE
Hello Uncle Larry, I could only lie for you but not for anybody else… But one thing is certain though… You have high blood pressure.

Larry feels sorry, but thankful…

LARRY
I am sorry, Mike… You shouldn’t have helped me.

MIKE
Don’t mention it… I wouldn’t have brought into this world if you didn’t help my Dad financially.

Peter LAUGHS…

PETER
(sarcastic)
That’s why it’s good to be rich.

They both LAUGH…

EXT. OUTSIDE OF HOTEL – NIGHT

Michelle’s Mercedes stops; Alan is perceptive…

ALAN
(SIGHING)
I cannot believe I am back in this hotel… I always wanted to work for my dad when I was young. That’s why I chose Hotel Management… After all these years, I am back.

Michelle is happy…

MICHELLE
You’ve never been this perceptive before… You’ve grown up.

Alan smiles as Michelle looks at her watch…

MICHELLE
Oh… it’s this late already… I’ll show you around tomorrow.

ALAN
Sorry… We held you up… So where do you want to eat? It’s my treat.

Michelle apparently remembers Larry’s “cruel” warning…

MICHELLE
Sorry, but I am tired… Guess I have to take a hot bath in a tub…

Alan jokes…

ALAN
When will I see you taking a bath in person?

Michelle looks mad…

MICHELLE
Don’t be such a kid again…

Michelle spots Alan’s Volkswagen.

MICHELLE
(pointing at Alan’s car)
Your car is right there… You can walk there, can’t you?

Alan opens the door…

ALAN
I was kidding… Anyways, good night… I’ll call you later.

Alan kisses Michelle goodbye…

MICHELLE
Good night… your Dad will be fine. Don’t worry.

So Alan goes to get his car. Michelle is going in the different direction…

While Michelle is driving, a GUY tries to stop her car with his bare hands…

Michelle brakes hard. After the car stops,…

MICHELLE
(shocked)
It’s you…

INT. MICHELLE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

It is an hour and a half since Alan and Michelle departed; Michelle comes home. Helena is on the phone…

HELENA
Alan, she isn’t here yet… Come on kid, she always turns off her cell… She is going to be home soon.

The door opens…

HELENA (continuing)
Ah… Michelle is home… Hang on.

Helena looks annoyed. She complains to the emotionally drained Michelle as she hands her the phone…

HELENA
Where’ve you been? I’ve been on the phone with him for the last half-hour.

Michelle takes the phone; Helena yawns…

HELENA (continuing)
Damn… gotta sleep… By the way, you don’t look good.

Michelle barely grins as Helena goes to her room and closes the door. Michelle goes to her room as well…

MICHELLE
Hello, Alan…

ALAN
(V.O.)
I was worried about you… Where’ve you been? The distant between hotel and your home shouldn’t be this long.

Michelle is drained, so she breaks off the conversation…

MICHELLE
Alan, I am really tired, so are you… We will see each other tomorrow, right?

Alan understands…

ALAN
(V.O.)
OK Michelle,… Good night.

Michelle hangs up as she looks at a desk drawer. She opens the drawer…

There is a PHOTO – HER FAMILY PHOTO – inside…

MATCH CUT:

INT. A LOCAL PLAYGROUND – NIGHT

That guy who stopped Michelle’s car is his Dad, PHIL FONG (rugged Chinese male in his mid 50s). He needs Michelle’s help…

PHIL
Michelle, I know I never cared about you… but… do you have thirty grand?… The creditors are breathing on my neck.

Michelle shakes her head – showing her disbelief…

MICHELLE
(angrily)
I am not going to help you… I have never seen you since I was sixteen and… now you show up for money?

Michelle remembers there has been a guy peeking at her since she has been promoted…

MICHELLE (continuing)
That guy peeking from the alley was you!

Phil nods ‘yes’; Michelle is mad…

MICHELLE
(angrily)
I am not giving you a cent even if I have that much… Get lost.

Phil is desperate…

PHIL
Michelle, if you don’t help me… I am jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge.
Michelle cold stares at Phil…

MICHELLE
Go ahead… I’ll drive you there.

Phil is “disappointed” by Michelle’s cold-heartedness…

PHIL
I fully realize you are this kind of person…

MICHELLE
Thank you for putting me into the foster home… If you and Mom never got convicted, I wouldn’t have been the kind of person I am now.

Phil suddenly points at Michelle’s wrist…

PHIL
(smiling)
Look at your wrist… Nice cosmetic job… All the scars are gone.

Michelle is scared…

MICHELLE
(scared)
What… What are you implying?

PHIL
I am implying how much of a troubled teen you once were – smoking crack, going to juvenile jail, scars on the wrist… I don’t know how much this is going to be worth for me if I reveal everything to the press… You are with Sir Jackson’s son, right?

Phil LAUGHS; Michelle just cannot let anyone know about her past…

MICHELLE
So you want thirty thousand… Give me your account number…

Phil raises the amount…

PHIL
Wait a minute… Your past is now worth forty grand.

Michelle is really mad. But she cools down…

MICHELLE
OK… thirty-five thousand… Take it or leave it.

Phil smiles…

PHIL
You’ve got no right to bargain… forty thousand… or your records will be in the magazines hands… They want your news, you know, future Mrs. Jackson.

Michelle cannot gamble; she agrees…

MICHELLE
Fine… forty thousand… Give me your number… and promise me… leave the U.S. after you get the money.

Phil writes down his ACCOUNT NUMBER on a piece of paper. Phil hands Michelle the paper…

PHIL
I want to see the money before ten or you’ll know what’s going to happen…

Michelle does not feel secure.

MICHELLE
Promise me!

PHIL
OK… I promise you… You’re annoying like your Mom.

MICHELLE
Where is Mom?

Phil is surprised…

PHIL
What? Thinking about that bitch? Never saw her ever since we got convicted.

Phil starts leaving the old, RUSTED PLAYGROUND…

PHIL
Thanks for your help… But next time, please don’t meet at this place… It stinks like your Mom’s cunt.

MICHELLE
Listen! We are not seeing each other anymore.

PHIL
Whatever you say, Mrs. Jackson.

Phil leaves the playground first. He scans left and right, scared of his enemies.

Michelle is emotionally drained as she leaves for home…

INT. MICHELLE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Michelle keeps looking at the photo until it is burned into ASHES…

Michelle then calls her PRIVATE EYE…

MICHELLE
It’s me, Michelle Fong… I know it’s late but can you…

INT. LARRY’S OFFICE – DAY

After Michelle sends Phil the forty-thousand dollar payment, she shows Alan the offices. Alan’s Dad’s office is their final destination.

Alan somehow senses something is wrong with Michelle…

ALAN
Are you all right?

Michelle’s SOUL has not arrived yet; she is waiting for her private eye’s phone call…

Alan is waving…

ALAN (continuing)
Michelle?… Michelle?

Michelle wakes up…

MICHELLE
Huh?

ALAN
What’s going on? You seem possessed.

Michelle grins a little…

MICHELLE
Nothing… I am fine… I am just waiting for a call.

Michelle’s cell phone RINGS; her wait is about to be over…

MICHELLE
Hey… Excuse me for a second.

Michelle asks Alan…

MICHELLE
Mind if I walk outside? This is an important call.

ALAN
Sure!

Michelle walks outside…

INT. OUTSIDE OF LARRY’S OFFICE – DAY

Janice, Larry’s SECRETARY, is not at her DESK; therefore, she can finish the call…

MICHELLE
Hello Samuel, is he gone?

SAMUEL
Ms. Fong, that guy got on a flight going to China.

Michelle is relieved…

MICHELLE
Thank God… Anyway, money’s already in your account, Thank you!

Michelle hangs up and walks back inside to finish the presentation…

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. FIRST CLASS WARD – DAY

Alan has taken over the hotel for over half a month. The KARAOKE LOUNGE and the DISCO have been opened during that time span. As a result, the OCCUPANCY RATE has gone up.

ALAN
Dad… Compared to last year, the rate has gone up by about 5%, to 70%... For these slow moving months, the percentage is very high.

Larry is very happy for his son’s performance.

LARRY
(satisfied)
You’ve picked the hotel up rather nicely… Keep it up.

ALAN
You too, Dad… Keep it up. You’ll win the battle.

Larry is wondering where Michelle is…

LARRY
Where’s Michelle? Is she busy?

ALAN
(SIGHING)
I don’t know, but she seems unhappy… She might not be feeling well.

LARRY
She is your girlfriend… You must know what she thinks, alright?

Alan promises as Larry has something more to say…

LARRY
Alan… I am giving you half of my hotel share.

Alan wonders why…

ALAN
Dad, are you retiring?

LARRY
Yes, I’ve been running the hotel for over half of my life… I once thought I would sell it, but why would I? I have you right now.

Larry COUGHS; Alan soothes Larry by patting his back…

ALAN
(while patting him)
Dad, I understand, but… you can keep all the shares.

LARRY
With my remaining 50%, I want to start a new era, just like we are starting it hand-in-hand.

Alan is touched…

ALAN
Dad, have faith in me… I am going to start a new era and get the Hernandez brothers out of San Francisco.

Larry and Alan hug as Alan’s cell phone RINGS…

ALAN
Dad, I have a meeting in an hour. I must go now… I’ll see you later.

While Alan is leaving, Larry reminds him…

LARRY
Alan, this hotel only belongs to us, the Jacksons…

Alan gives Larry a THUMB UP SIGN while on the way out…

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY

Another half a month has come and gone; Alan holds a PRESS CONFERENCE announcing that he now has 50 PERCENT SHARE of the hotel…

ALAN
I have two announcements to make. First, I’d like to announce that I am officially the President of Court Royale Hotel.

The REPORTERS want to ask questions, but Michelle holds them all up…

MICHELLE
Mr. Jackson will answer all your questions after he makes the second announcement… Bear with us.

Michelle turns to Alan…

MICHELLE (continuing)
Alan, you may continue.

ALAN
Thanks!… The second announcement is that since I am the President, I am not going to sell the hotel… So, the whoevers… the Hernadezs out there, we will always be Court Royale, not some sort of “Club”.

Even though Michelle keeps holding the reporters at lay, ONE reporter asks…

REPORTER
Does that mean you are declaring war against the Hernandez brothers, who are going to open a new hotel across the street?

ALAN
I am not saying I am declaring any war… But the truth is that western expansion only succeeded once – The Lewis and Clark Expedition.

People grin as Alan continues…

ALAN (continuing)
Let me finish the not selling part… Even my dad, Sir Larry Jackson, has approved this point…

Alan tells Janice, now his secretary, to play the MP3 STICK…

LARRY
(V.O.)
Alan, this hotel only belongs to us… The Jacksons…

Janice quickly turns off the stick…

ALAN
I know this hotel is valuable to us and for “some”… But we are not a stock; we don’t have to answer to shareholders for why we couldn’t acquire the hotel.

Alan looks at one CAMERA…

ALAN (continuing)
I am talking to you… You know who you are.

Everyone knows whom Alan is implying. Meanwhile, Michelle finishes the press conference…

MICHELLE
This press conference is over… If you have any questions related to the hotel, please ask now…

INT. HERNANDEZS’ SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE – DAY

ALAN
… But we are not a stock; we don’t have to answer to shareholders for why we couldn’t acquire the hotel… I am talking to you… You know who you are.

Ivan throws the REMOTE right at the T.V.…

IVAN
Fucking Shit! He wants to start a war…

Jose calmly picks up the remote and puts it back on the TABLE…

JOSE
He only wants our stock to plummet.

Ivan is still mad…

IVAN
(angrily)
But bro.,…

SOMEONE KNOCKING on the door stops Ivan. It is Earl, a former Court Royale employee…

JOSE
Come in!

Earl steps in; he then looks at Ivan…

EARL
Chill, Mr. Hernandez… Your Silver West Hotel will be open in 3 months… Hang in there… This is not a sprint; it’s a marathon.

Jose agrees…

JOSE
This is only the beginning.

Earl has a plan…

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. STARBUCKS – DAY

For the next two months, Earl meets his former COLLEAGUES at the Court Royale Hotel for the possibility of jumping ship…

Some jump ship while some, who had worked for Larry for over 20 years, don’t. Steve, who is now retired, is one of these people…

Earl lies to him that this is just a meeting between friends, so Steve comes…

EARL
Hey, Steve…

Steve notices that Earl looks and dresses different…

STEVE
Hello, Earl… How’s everything?… By the looks of it, you must be doing fine.

The elegantly dressed Earl sees an opportunity to talk Steve into working for the Hernandez brothers.

EARL
Thanks!… You also…

Steve forgets something…

STEVE
Crap! Haven’t even ordered coffee yet… Excuse me.

Earl feels desperate; Jose thinks Steve is a must-get.

After a while, Steve comes back with a cup of to-go coffee in his hands…

STEVE
Pardon me, but where were we?

Earl thinks he can continue, but…

EARL
I said you…

Steve knows his real purpose for this meeting…

STEVE
That’s enough… I know what you want to say…

Steve gestures with a stop motion…

STEVE (continuing)
I am not helping you guys with the new hotel… I must go.

Earl is more desperate, so he throws in all the benefits. He holds Steve’s arm when Steve stands up…

EARL
Listen, Steve. We have all kinds of benefits – housing, medical, even tax exemption… The hotel is going to pay your income tax.

Steve feels Earl’s pain…

STEVE
Tax exemptions… You must be very desperate.

Earl admits this…

EARL
To be honest, Steve… You are high on Mr. Hernandez’s staff list… Tell me what else you want, maybe I can help you.

Steve LAUGHS…

STEVE
OK… I want… I want you to disappear.

Earl knows he has been fooled…

EARL
(angrily)
Fine, Steve… I am giving you a night to think it over… I’ll call you…

Steve stops Earl again…

STEVE
The bottom line is… I am not helping you people… 

Steve warns Earl…

STEVE (continuing)
You too, bastard; leave the brothers while you can… I really gotta go; my grandson is waiting.

Steve is taking the cup with him; Earl can only shrug his SHOULDERS…

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. SILVER WEST HOTEL – DAY

The Hernandezs’ first hotel of the West, SILVER WEST HOTEL, has finally opened for business.

The brothers have invited some important guests – THE BUSINESS PARTNERS, the CITY OFFICIALS and the MAYOR.

EARL
(happily)
And now we are proud to have the President of Silver West, Jose Hernandez, the CEO of Silver West, Ivan Hernandez, and the Mayor, Eddie Sierra, to cut the red ribbon…

As the guests are cutting the RIBBON, Alan steps outside, so does Michelle, to watch the RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY.

ALAN
It’s going to be a long battle… I wish Dad was here.

Michelle lays her arm over Alan’s shoulder…

MICHELLE
Your Dad should recover after the surgery.

Alan TAPS her hands while grinning…

ALAN
(thankful)
Thanks, Michelle… Thanks for being with me for all these hard times… But after next week’s surgery, everything will go back to normal.

The ceremony has already ended. The Hernandez brothers and Earl come over to “chat” with Alan and Michelle…

JOSE
You looked great on T.V., Alan…

Jose turns to Michelle…

JOSE (continuing)
And you too, Michelle.

Basic manners compel both Alan and Michelle to say “Thank you”, but Alan warns them…

ALAN
Don’t think you are winning by getting some of my personnel.

Jose cannot agree more…

JOSE
Like I have always said; this is only the beginning…

Ivan and Earl CHUCKLE…

JOSE (continuing)
Here’s my business card… Call me if you have anything.

Jose adds…

JOSE (continuing)
Oh by the way,… I’d like to ask after your Dad.

Ivan joins in…

IVAN
Me too… I’ve already missed him… He’ll be missed.

Michelle is afraid that Alan will do something silly to Ivan. To her surprise however, he is rather calm.

ALAN
Ivan, I am not that silly guy you met in Omaha anymore.

This round is tied on the scorecard, as the brothers and Earl go back to their side.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. FIRST CLASS WARD – DAY

The so-called “removing brain tumor surgery” is about to start. Alan, Michelle and Uncle Peter are next to Larry.
Larry thinks his LIE will be busted…

LARRY
Son,… I…

Alan asks…

ALAN
What, Dad?… Don’t tell me you are not going in.

LARRY
No, son… I just want to tell you… I…

Alan reads his mind…

ALAN
Want to tell me that you actually don’t have any tumor in your brain…

Larry and Peter are surprised…

PETER
How do you know?

Alan points at the LAMP…

ALAN
Remember I played the recording of your words during the press conference… Yep, I used that thing.

LARRY
But why weren’t you mad?

Alan GIGGLES…

ALAN
I am tired of being mad… You are my Dad, after all… Forgiving is the hardest part, but I have overcome it.

Larry is relieved; he can now hand over the rest of his shares to Alan…

LARRY
(happily)
Alan, I think it’s time to give you the rest of my shares to you… Don’t refuse; you are my successor.

Peter starts CRYING, as well as Michelle…

LARRY (continuing)
You have truly grown up.

Larry and Alan hug as the doctor, Mike, walks in…

MIKE
Hey Uncle Larry, so you guys are fine now… Your job here is done as your blood pressure has gone down four days in a row… You may go home now…

Mike then turns to Alan and jokes…

MIKE (continuing)
Having high blood pressure is true though, Alan.

Everyone LAUGHS…

ALAN
You could be a comedian if you weren’t a doctor.

Everyone LAUGHS again. Larry finally sees the harmony between Alan and him.

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY

The Silver West Hotel has been open for a few WEEKS. Alan, with Larry now retired, holds a meeting of how they can compete against the latest COMPETITOR.

ALAN
Our occupancy rate has gone down by 5% after they have opened… Any ideas?

As usual, the “YES-MANAGERS” do not have any ideas; Michelle and Alan might be the only ones who can come up with something…

ALAN (continuing)
Come on, guys… I have no clue why this hotel is still standing… I guess I gotta contradict my dad’s wish of not firing you people.

Those “yes-managers” start saying “no”.

ALAN (continuing)
You “yes-men” finally say something other than “yes”…

Alan SIGHS; he orders Janice to distribute the PROPOSAL…

ALAN (continuing)
Read this… You will know what to do next… That’s it for this meeting.

The “yes-managers”, as well as Michelle, start going back to their respective departments.

While leaving the CONFERENCE ROOM, Michelle’s cell phone RINGS. Alan, meanwhile, apparently knows who is calling her…

MATCH CUT:

INT. HALLWAY – DAY

The call is from Phil…

MICHELLE
Hello…

PHIL
(V.O.)
Guess who?… It’s your Dad. I am baaa-cck!

MICHELLE
What the fu-… hell? I told you to leave… OK… what do you want?

Alan TAPS Michelle from behind…

ALAN
What’s going on?

MICHELLE
Nothing… It’s Helena.

ALAN
I’ll meet you at lunch time.

MICHELLE
OK…

Alan wears a smile on the way back to his office. Michelle is back on the phone.

PHIL
Who was that? Your boyfriend Alan?

MICHELLE
It’s none of your business.

PHIL
I need money… it’s your BUSINESS.

Michelle wants to get mad, but she cannot since she is in the HALLWAY.

MICHELLE
Hold on a minute…

Phil warns Michelle…

PHIL
Don’t even try to hang up… I don’t want to go upstairs to meet you and your colleagues.

Michelle quickly rushes to her own office…
INT. MICHELLE’S OFFICE – DAY

Michelle is exhausted after a 20-yard DASH. Her staff is curious…

Michelle closes the door and the DRAPES so her staff cannot see her…

MICHELLE
How much do you want? Sixty thousand?

Phil LAUGHS…

PHIL
You think sixty thousand would make me go away?

MICHELLE
HOW MUCH?! Tell me a figure!

PHIL
Fuck! You scared me… Now give me three hundred thousand and I will keep my mouth shut.

Michelle cannot believe she has this kind of Dad…

MICHELLE
(angrily)
I am not giving you this much! Sixty thousand – either you take it or leave it!

PHIL
Haven’t you learned a shit since we met? You’ve got no choice.

Not only does Michelle have this much, but also she does not want Alan to know her troubled past…

MICHELLE
OK… three hundred thousand… You gotta give me a week though…

PHIL
A week?

MICHELLE
The money is not coming down from the sky!

PHIL
Fine… You promise one week… Again, if I don’t receive it in one week, you know what’s going to happen.

Phil hangs up. Michelle is in deep trouble knowing that either Phil, or she, must die in order to end this mess…

INT. OUTSIDE ALAN’S OFFICE – DAY

Michelle does not know what to do. She can only tell Alan her past, even though she does not want to…

Michelle is about to knock on the door; she somehow OVERHEARS Alan, who is on the phone…

ALAN
(V.O. / angrily)
Yes, you saved me in Kenya, but you’re not going to take any advantage over my hotel… It’s illegal!

Michelle is thinking…

MICHELLE
(V.O.)
Illegal?

So Michelle keeps standing outside.

ALAN
Don’t touch MICHELLE! I am going to kill you if you do!… Don’t!… OK… I give you a room, but you gotta finish it fast!

Janice has been looking at Michelle for a while…

JANICE
Ms. Fong, do you want to go inside? I can call in.

Michelle has an idea of how to get three hundred thousand dollars fast…

MICHELLE
No, thanks!

MATCH CUT:

INT. MICHELLE’S OFFICE – DAY

With the drapes staying down, Michelle takes out the business card that Jose gave to her.

Jose’s cell phone is RINGING, but no one is answering…

Michelle is desperate; she keeps calling.

MICHELLE
Come on, pick up the damn phone!

After NUMEROUS TRIES, the call finally goes through after her last ATTEMPT…

JOSE
(V.O.)
Hello, this is Jose Hernandez speaking… Hello?

Michelle feels she is selling Court Royale out; however, she just has no other way to solve her trouble…

MICHELLE
Hi… Mr. Hernandez… This is Michelle Fong of Court Royale…

JOSE
(V.O. / surprised)
What a surprise! You are actually calling me?… Anyway, what do you need me to do?

Jose’s straightforward approach scares Michelle…

MICHELLE
I have internal news regarding Court Royale that could shut down the hotel… But I am asking for three hundred thousand dollars… You want to buy the news?

Michelle can hear Jose is LAUGHING…

JOSE
(V.O.)
Ha… I don’t even care about your news; I got other plans.

Michelle’s bargaining power is weak.

MICHELLE
Fine, Mr. Hernandez… I am telling you…

So Michelle tells Jose there will be an illegal activity taking place. Jose thinks for a while…

JOSE
(V.O.)
Mm… I am going to check what kind of illegal stuff he will be doing and when they will be doing… Will call you, bye!

Jose hangs up the phone quickly.

Michelle is relieved that he has money for Phil on one hand. But on the other hand, she is selling Court Royale and Alan out…

Michelle has to take the rest of the day off just to calm herself down. Therefore, her date with Alan has to be called off…

While Michelle is leaving the department, Alan watches her go. He is in some sort of “already anticipated” mood…

INT. JOSE’S SILVER WEST OFFICE – DAY

A few days later, Jose knows everything…

JOSE
Wow… Alan got threatened by an African gang that they will be using the hotel to sell their weapons.

Jose looks around, wondering where Ivan is…

JOSE
(wondering)
Earl, where’s Ivan?… I haven’t seen him for the last couple of days.

EARL
Mr. Hernandez, he told me he is going on for a trip and won’t be back for another three or four days.

Jose is mad…

JOSE
(angrily)
Bastard! We have the upper hand in the war and he goes on a vacation?… Earl, call his cell phone.

EARL
Mr. Hernandez, I have kept calling his cell but no one’s answered…

Jose cools down a bit; he knows nothing can stop his plan…

JOSE
Earl, you know the time and the room number, right?

EARL
The deal is two days away and the number is four thirty eight.

Jose smiles…

JOSE
You know what to do now?

EARL
Call the FBI; am I right, sir?

Jose LAUGHS; Earl LAUGHS too. Jose talks to himself…

JOSE
Sir Jackson, you couldn’t beat me, Alan won’t either.

INT. ROOM 438 – DAY

The day has finally come. The FBI AGENTS quickly rush up to ROOM 438; however,…

The agents kick the DOOR in; that “surprises” Alan and one other GUY inside…

FBI AGENT
Stop whatever you’re doing… We are from the FBI.

ALAN
Hey, hold the fire already… We are just playing chess.

It turns out that other guy is Steve…

STEVE
Playing chess is illegal?… Ah, it must be…

Steve points at Alan…

STEVE (continuing)
This guy always cheats…

Alan and Steve LAUGH; FBI starts searching the room.
But after a thorough SEARCH, the agents find nothing wrong…

FBI AGENT
Nothing?… The info. must have been wrong then.

Alan talks to the agents.

ALAN
You guys may have got the wrong hotel… It’s 438 of Silver West, not Court Royale… You can call your head guy if you don’t trust me.

Steve adds…

STEVE
Your FBI colleagues might be arresting someone there now.

After the confirmation from their division heads, the agents know they have been fooled…

FBI AGENT
Damn, thanks for the tip…

Alan and Steve LAUGH…

ALAN
No problem… but be sure to check which hotel next time… if there’s a next time.

After the agents leave, Steve realizes it is time to make a phone call…

STEVE
You can call Jose now.

Alan thinks otherwise…

ALAN
But the chess match isn’t done yet.

STEVE 
You’ve won… It’s already checkmate on Jose.

Alan was just fooling Steve. He takes out the cell phone and calls Jose…

MATCH CUT:

INT. JOSE’S SILVER WEST OFFICE - DAY

Earl rushes inside without even knocking; he has NEWS in-hand…

EARL
(exhausted)
Mr. Hernandez…

Jose has already known…

JOSE
I know… An FBI agent just visited me.

Jose looks rather calm…

JOSE (continuing)
Ivan has been arrested…

Jose smiles…

JOSE (continuing)
How did it turn out to be Ivan?… I thought Alan was the one all along.

Jose KNOCKS everything on his desk away in anger. That shocks Earl…

EARL
Mr. Hernandez… It could have been a setup from Alan and Michelle.

JOSE
(angrily)
Setup?… Fuck! I shouldn’t have trusted nobody.

Jose’s cell phone RINGS; it is from Alan…

ALAN
(V.O.)
I’ve just heard the news… How’s Ivan?

JOSE
(angrily)
If you didn’t set up the trap, he would have been fine.

Alan is pretending…

ALAN
What trap?

Alan CHUCKLES…

ALAN (continuing)
You better go to headquarters to make bail… Talk to you later.

Before Alan hangs up,…

ALAN (continuing)
Ah… Forgot one thing… One of your executives is trafficking in the hotel… Ha, your hotel is in heck of lot of trouble… 

Alan adds one more thing…

ALAN (continuing)
One more thing, Jose… What I did to you is what you wanted to do to me.

Alan then hangs up. Jose knows no one would come to his hotel; he POUNDS the wall with his knuckles…

EARL
Let’s bail Ivan now.

INT. AN INTERROGATION ROOM IN SAN FRANCISCO FBI HEADQUARTERS – DAY

So Jose, Earl and Ivan’s ATTORNEY come to the HEADQUARTERS of SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION. In the INTERROGATION ROOM, Ivan is there with a couple of FBI agents. Ivan looks scared…

IVAN
Help me, brother… I was forced to be a part of this.

Jose signals the attorney…

ATTORNEY
Excuse us officers,… but we have something to talk to our client about… So would you mind leaving the room for a moment?

FBI AGENT
Only ten minutes, OK?… But the camcorders must remain on.

ATTORNEY
That’s fine, thanks!

The agents leave the room. Jose loses his cool; he PUNCHES Ivan. That absolutely shocks everyone…

JOSE
Tell me… How and why?!

Ivan has never seen his brother this mad; he knows he is in trouble…

IVAN
Brother… Trust me… I was forced to.

JOSE
What? You were at gun point?

Ivan tells them everything…

IVAN
I got on the African gang leader’s nerve… so… I… was forced to use our hotel to finish the deal…

Ivan goes on…

IVAN (continuing)
They were a bunch of motherfuckers… They used a gal to reel me in… That gal was the leader’s girl.

Jose finishes for Ivan…

JOSE
They shoulda killed you but they didn’t because you got a hotel… Did I miss anything?

Ivan nods as Jose PUNCHES him again…

ATTORNEY
They are recording us…

Jose does not care; he stares at Ivan…

JOSE
I’d rather kill you.

IVAN
Don’t… It’s my fault… Please get me out of here!

Jose looks away. The agents, meanwhile, have come back…

FBI AGENT
Ten minutes have passed… We’re afraid that he can’t leave… since this is a serious crime… He will be charged of trafficking soon.

Even though Jose has expected that Ivan would be charged, he CRIES…

INT. ALAN’S OFFICE – DAY

Alan is on a phone with a FRIEND he met in Africa…

ALAN
Your help is really appreciated, but the stuff is taken away…

FRIEND
(V.O. / in African accent)
No, never mind the shit! Those were the minor ones and they were only a few.

This friend is the MAIN LEADER whom Ivan got the nerves on. He adds…

MAIN LEADER (continuing)
(V.O.)
Don’t mention the help… You helped me in Africa; I am just returning the favor… Oh, gotta hang up. FBI is searching for me.

The leader quickly hangs up. Alan keeps on working with a smile on his face…

While Alan is working, Michelle VIOLENTLY opens the door. Janice checks…

JANICE
Everything OK?

ALAN
Yes, close the door on your way out.

Janice closes the door as she leaves. Michelle is asking Alan…

MICHELLE
(angrily)
Why did you use me?

Alan puts down his work; he looks up at Michelle…

ALAN
What?

MICHELLE
The so-called illegal shit you said on the phone.

ALAN
I expected you would sell this info. to Jose… So I set up this trap… You got your money and I got them – a win-win situation.

Michelle notices this is not the same Alan that she first met…

MICHELLE
You used me to get rid of your enemies…

Alan keeps looking at Michelle; she is putting it all together now.

MICHELLE (continuing)
…You brought Phil back… You did bring him back!

ALAN
He was a part of my plan when I knew who he was… And no, I didn’t bring him here… He’s not coming back anyway.

Michelle is devastated…

MICHELLE
What have you done to him?

ALAN
You still care about him?… Don’t worry, my friend sent him to a place that he can’t come back from.

Michelle is mad…

MICHELLE
You’ve killed him?

ALAN
Hey… He is fine but I don’t know where he is.

MICHELLE
You’ve changed… You’ve changed to a cruel businessman… We are over.

Unlike the first time, this Alan seems not to care.

ALAN
Fine… I’ve got no time for you anyway.

Michelle is even more devastated…

MICHELLE
The resignation letter will be on your desk tomorrow morning.

Again, Alan has nothing to say as Michelle slowly walks away…

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. LARRY’S MANSION – DAY

Larry is reading a NEWSPAPER; he somehow realizes who this CONVICT is…

The newspaper reads: “Hotel CEO Convicted of Cocaine Trafficking”. Larry calls Peter…

LARRY
Hey Peter,… What’s up with Ivan Hernandez?… Got charged with trafficking?

Peter SIGHS…

PETER
(V.O.)
It was Alan who set up everything…

Peter tells Larry what Alan did…

PETER (continuing)
(V.O.)
…This is what he did… He is even better than you when it comes to setups.

Larry is a little disappointed…

LARRY
Maybe I shouldn’t have had him coming back… Let him be himself; this is not him!

The phone is making a BEEP SOUND…

LARRY
Peter, there’s a call waiting, excuse me.

Larry presses the TALK BUTTON…

LARRY
Hello,…

ALAN
Dad, are you busy? I want to report on our monthly income… The Hernandezs’ loss is our gain…

Larry is ticked off…

LARRY
Wait, son… Tell me… Did you set Ivan up? I’ve known everything.

ALAN
What, Dad? No one forced him to do that… If he didn’t even try to chase the girl, he wouldn’t have been in this spot.

Larry is more disappointed after hearing that…

LARRY
(blaming himself)
It’s my own fault… I really shouldn’t have made you come back. You used to be an ordinary guy.

Alan sounds upset…

ALAN
Dad, I just don’t want to argue with you now; I got things to do… I must go and will get back to you later.

Alan quickly hangs up. Larry is blaming himself since he faked the ILLNESS in the first place…

EXT. OUTSIDE OF COURT ROYALE – NIGHT

It’s 2:30 A.M. at night; the VALET PARKING SERVICE is not available at this HOUR. Alan has to get his own car…

Once Alan is outside, there is a BLACK LEXUS SC430 speeding towards Alan. Alan cannot react at all; he can only stand there with his mouth wide open…

ALAN
Ah!…

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. AT A CEMETERY – DAY

It is a MISTY AFTERNOON; Michelle, wearing a BLACK DRESS, is carrying a BUNCH of FLOWERS to a TOMBSTONE, where only Michelle can see the NAME…

MICHELLE
What you did to me is forgiven…

A FLOCK of PIGEONS is flying towards the SKY…

FADE OUT: