Thanks for the review!
Oh yeah, it's Thanksgiving for you guys soon, right?
Perhaps one of those infamous family meals will be in order afterall.
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APL Financial, 100th floor
Gary: *rubs eyes* I-I want everyone to sit on the floor. Sit on the floor!
People crawl under desks
Roger: *runs*
Gary: NOT YOU!
Roger: *stops*
Gary: You're coming with me. We're going to have a chat in your office. *grabs Roger, walks over to door*
Matthew: *pulls put cellphone*
Gary: *yanks on door* Why can't I open this door?
Roger: I don't know, it's supposed to be unlocked.
Gary: *looks around* WHY ARE THESE DOORS LOCKED!
Woman: Alarm was pulled. Cops are on the way, the whole place locks down until they get here.
Gary: *points gun at Woman, pulls trigger*
BAM
Woman: *falls over*
People scream
Matthew: *looks at Woman*
Gary: *points gun at doors, pulls trigger*
BAM BAM BAM BAM
Door shakes
Gary: Someone figure out how to open these doors or everyone dies!
Roger: *starts to cry* I don't want to die.
Gary: *points gun at Roger, pulls trigger*
Roger: N-
BAM
Roger: *falls over desk*
Gary: OPEN THE DOORS!
Matthew: They don't open, sir.
Gary: Why do you keep calling me that?
Matthew: ...My mother taught me to respect my elders.
Gary: *tilts head* There might be hope for you yet. You know how to work these doors?
Matthew: No sir. I'm new here. But I think the idea of the security around here is to keep the situation contained to this room. I don't think you're getting out.
Gary: Who's brilliant idea was that?
Matthew: The...owner of the building?
Gary: He around here? I'd like to blow his head off too.
Matthew: Obviously this company has caused you a lot of pain.
Gary: You have no idea, kid. The last 6 months have been slow torture.
Matthew: Just the last 6 months?
Gary: Change of management. Worst thing to ever happen to this company.
Matthew: Seems like the management isn't the only thing that's changed, am I right? Something else in your life must be a part of this anger.
Gary: ...My wife died 3 weeks ago. Breast cancer.
Matthew: I'm very sorry to hear that.
Gary: This job was all I had left, my pension was all I had left.
Matthew: With all due respect, you just killed 2 people. I don't think your wife would be very proud of that.
Gary: You don't understand. You don't know what it's like to watch someone you love die a slow death and then come back to the one thing you know and lose that too. I'm finished.
Matthew: *stares at Gary*
Gary: *places gun up to head*
Matthew: NO! *runs forward*
Gary: *pulls trigger*
BAM
Matthew: *looks down at floor*
JFK Airport, noon
Scott: *walking* Tell me what happened.
Bob: Employee Gary Becker killed 2 people before turning the gun on himself.
Scott: What do we know about him?
Bob: 3 decades of service, wife just died and Roger cut the pension plan.
Scott: *shakes head, grabs briefcase from belt* How did he get a gun up there?
Bob: We're still trying to figure that out. CSIs are on scene and camera crews are already setup outside.
Scott: Okay, let's keep a tight leash on them, I don't want things to get out of hand. No one gets in unless they're wearing a badge or are with someone who's part of the investigation.
Bob: Right.
Scott: Does Becker have any family?
Bob: None left.
Scott: Who was the second victim?
Bob: Melinda Shoemaker, supervisor of customer relations.
Scott: I want to speak with her family personally once the police are finished.
Bob: Sure thing, boss.
Scott: Who else was there?
Bob: Matthew Whitfield, he started working for us last week. The kid's got a lot of potential.
Scott: Whitfield...I know that name.
Bob: You do?
Scott: Yeah, I...*snaps* we had a maid when I was a kid, I think that was her last name.
Bob: Wow you are full of so much useless information, Scotty.
Scott: She left when I was around 5, no one ever said why.
Bob: Fascinating. What are we going to do about the rest of the staff?
Scott: Those who would like to take a few days, can.
Bob: Great. I'll take you to Matt.
APL Financial, Lobby
Scott: *walks in*
Cop: *writing* And that's everything?
Matthew: Yes sir.
Cop: *closes book* Thanks. *walks away*
Matthew: *scratches head*
Scott: *walks over, extends hand* Matthew Whitfield?
Matthew: *looks at Scott*
Scott: Scott Finch.
Matthew: *grabs Scott's hand* ...It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I'm sorry it has to be under these circumstances.
Scott: How are you doing? *pulls hand away*
Matthew: I just watched 3 people die.
Scott: *nods*
Matthew: Some people are starting to say this area's cursed.
Scott: People will believe what they want to believe and I don't want you to worry about that right now. I'd like for you to go home and be with family. You've done all you can here today.
Matthew: *looks down at floor*
Scott: None of this is your fault, Matt. Understand? There is nothing you were expected to do.
Matthew: *nods*
Scott: Why don't I give you a ride.
Matthew: I'm sure you have better things to do.
Scott: My priority is my employees.
Matthew: *lifts eyes*
Scott: *places hand on Matthew's back* C'mon. *looks at Bob*
Bob: I'll take care of things upstairs.
Scott: Thank you.
Inside SUV, road
Matthew: *stares out window*
Scott: Where are we going?
Matthew: Staten Island.
Scott: *turns wheel*
Matthew: ...I appreciate you doing this for me, sir.
Scott: It's no problem.
Matthew: You uh...you used to be the CEO.
Scott: That's right.
Matthew: People speak very highly of you.
Scott: I guess that means I did my job well.
Matthew: *looks at Scott*
Scott: What made you want to work for us?
Matthew: Needed a challenge. You guys are competitive, you strive for the highest rate of success.
Scott: That's a good reason.
Matthew: I have to say, it's definitely been a challenge so far.
Scott: ...I'm sorry you had to go through that.
Matthew: I'm just glad no one else got hurt.
Scott: *shakes head*
Matthew: I live on Evergreen Street.
Scott: Is it a nice area?
Matthew: It's okay. I grew up there with my mom.
Scott: And your dad?
Matthew: Never met him. Just as well, my mother says he was a real asshole. He knocked her up and shoved her into a nice neighborhood for life to shut her up, lest his wife find out.
Scott: Yeah, sounds like a stand-up guy.
Matthew: You ever...you ever been in a situation like the one back there?
Scott: *staring at road* No.
Matthew: *nods slowly*
TBC..............................