EXT. PARKING LOT - AFTERNOON
The switchboard is in constant use as the receptionist answers one call after another.
SFX: BLARING SIREN
A speed chase is in progress.
Pete turns away from the window to address his client.
SFX: SHOTS FIRED
POLICEMAN 1
Get down!
POLICEMAN 2
Get back!
INT. OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Receptionist
Have you seen Egan. Do you know if he's here?
PETE
Nope. Nobody's called in. Maybe he's stuck in traffic?
RECEPTIONIST
Yeah. Maybe he's sick. Jay's looking for him.
(TO CALLER)
Could he be sick?
PETE
He would've called in by now. Maybe he hit traffic.
(SNORT)
He's probably taking advantage of the boss not being here.
Receptionist
Yeah, I guess your right.
(TO PETE)
Jay wants to know if he's said anything about transfering.
PETE
Oh man, tell him I'll talk to him later. I'm busy.
Receptionist
He seems like the kind of guy who'd rather be collecting social security at the unemployment line. Pete's busy.
(PAUSE)
Receptionist disconnect.
Receptionist (CONT'D)
He says he's calling management in ten minutes.
Pete focuses back on his work.
FADE TO
INT. OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER
In a secretive sort of manner, Emma begins to explain some of the documents that she conservatively extracted from her briefcase.
EMMA
Do you remember the account we helped you get with the doctor's office?
PETE
Hm, vaguely. That job didn't last long.
EMMA
You had a rash on your chest that started…
EMMA looks down at her thighs.
Emma (CONT'D)
It disappeared almost immediately after that job, right?
PETE
Uhm, what?
EMMA
You looked like… Jock itch. You had jock itch and it spread.
PETE
Shh. Yes, I remember.
Emma giggles
Emma
You looked so cute, like one of those pictures of… what's his name? Mm… Napoleon Bonaparte. An absolute warrior with your hand in your lapel.
PETE
(SMILES)
No kidding. I would literally open my shirt to get my nails in there.
EMMA
It was a riot. Look at these, please.
Emma hands Pete a few pages from the documents she is holding.
PETE
(READING DOCS)
Hm, it was 1992. I remember, okay. What are these?
EMMA
Read 'em.
PETE
What?! You think I'm going to be the poster child for adolescent punks who don't have anything better to do but to play pocket pool with their hands in their pockets? There's plenty more people who found puberty difficult to deal with. I was strapped for cash with the unreliable, bizarre ideals of a straggler in my youth. Of that clique. Excuse me for trying to cover my ass, but at that age I had some issues.