Investing In The Future (Or Preparing To Sports Entertain Like Never Before This Sunday)

Trey: Taylor, can I borrow $500?

[The "lobby" area of Taylor Thompson's mansion.]

Taylor: What for? (she asks from upstairs, somewhere).

Trey: Uh. I can't tell you. But it's nothing illegal. I swear.

Taylor: Oh, that's convincing.

[Trey comes into view. A rolled up newspaper is under his right arm. He looks up the long, winding staircase. Taylor appears up top and looks down at Trey.]

Taylor: Didn't we just recently have a talk about saving money?

Trey: Right. I'd be saving MY money if I borrow yours. I swear I'll pay it back if all goes well Sunday.

Taylor: What's up?

Trey: Tons of good stuff. (He holds up the newspaper.) Did I show you my ad?

Taylor: No.

Trey: (He jogs upstairs.) Once you read this, you'll know.

Taylor: This better be good.

[As Trey reaches Taylor, he hands her the newspaper. She is told to turn to the classified ad section. Services. She finds some sort of ad and asks him if its the one. He says it is. She reads it for a few seconds and then looks at Trey, puzzled.]

Taylor: Why $500? You could get a decent (a loud beep suddenly drowns out her voice).

Trey: (He looks down at the camera.) Listen, I'm trying to keep this under wraps for now. So look, yes, I could get, one of those, for less money. But I want someone who will work for me and me alone. I should be getting my pay-per-view bonus next week and I swear I will never ask you for money again.

Taylor: Well, make me a couple of other promises.

Trey: Sure.

Taylor: No more of your childish flirting with women as long as we're together.

Trey: We're together? I mean, like, together?

Taylor: What do you think?

Trey: I mean. There's been a lot of tragedy in our lives in the last couple of weeks. The whole birthday party thing. The New York thing. I really didn't know how much of that was, like, ours. It was great and all, but.

Taylor: What? You just want to leave at the end of the month and we're done?

Trey: No. But, I mean, I'm still waiting for my reality series meeting.

[Taylor sighs.]

Trey: Look, I'm into you and all. You're beautiful. I have a lot of fun with you. But I'm Trey Vincent too. My career is just as important, if not more, than you. Could that change in the future? Yeah, probably, when I'm past my prime and am too old to be on TV anymore. You are absolutely my second favorite person in the world right now, don't get me wrong. But I've got a private investigation agency that could go belly up, I've got a sports entertainment gig and I still want my reality TV series. I've already given up a lot for you, can't you give up $500 for me?

Taylor: So it's my fault that your private investigation thing is a mess?

Trey: Hello, you're not paying me.

Taylor: Fine, if this is just about business, I'll give you that money. (She throws the newspaper over the railing and it falls to the floor. She storms down the hall.)

Trey: (He groans.) Taylor, it's not just about business.

Taylor (voice): I hope Shawn Striker kicks your ass Sunday and you lose your title!

Trey: There ain't no way that's gonna happen. He's just another bush-league hardcore scrub. He is no champion. He sure as hell hasn't earned my title. All he does is imitate me. Why take an imitation when you can have the original?

Taylor: (She comes back onscreen. She has a small wad of bills in her hand.) Hmm, maybe because the original, that being you, sucks?

Trey: You don't mean that.

Taylor: Don't I? (She tosses the money over the railing and the green rains to the floor below.) Feel like a whore now? Go pick up your money. Use it in good health.

Trey: Why are you getting so upset?

Taylor: Why do you think?

Trey: If you told me I'd know and we could skip all this dumb fighting. I don't want to fight with you. I need you behind me.

Taylor: (Sarcastically.) No you don't. You're Trey Vincent. You're the Franchise Player. You're a sports entertainment icon.

Trey: True (he says nodding, apparently missing the sarcasm in her voice).

Taylor: Grrrrrr.

Trey: Taylor. This is so silly.

Taylor: So I'm silly?

Trey: Did I say that?

Taylor: Yes.

Trey: I did not!

Taylor: I think I was silly for allowing you into my life. I forgot why men suck. You have just reminded me. You don't care about me. You just want my body and my money, you don't care about me at all, do you?

Trey: Taylor. Darling. We've known each other for less than a month. I absolutely like you. But don't rush things here. Did you ever wonder why you're still single at 29? Yes, you're beautiful. But if you're going to argue with me when all I want to do is borrow a little money which I will pay back....

Taylor: You said since I'm not paying you, you're private investigation thing has failed.

Trey: It's kind of hard to do that when I'm devoted to one case. (He moves in closer to her and wraps his arms around her waist.) No matter how beautiful that case is.

[She refuses to look at him.]

Trey: Promises were made when we started this thing. It was supposed to be about business until certain things happened. Anything else, as great as it has been, wasn't supposed to happen. Maybe we better just cool off until you go to Europe.

Taylor: I'm not going to Europe anymore. They cancelled the shoot. I'm officially retired. I'm not getting on an airplane anytime soon anyway.

Trey: My whole thing was to protect you until you left.

Taylor: Maybe things have changed. (She finally looks at him.) In a lot of ways.

Trey: You know, it would be nice in the future to talk about this stuff instead of starting a fight about it.

Taylor: (Shoving him away) I started the fight?

Trey: Of course not. Listen, I appreciate the money. When I come back from teaching Shawn Striker what being a sports entertainer is all about, we will talk about us. Yes, things have apparently changed between us. I do not want to screw this thing up. But I also have a job to do. You've got to understand that.

Taylor: I do, I guess.

Trey: Good. As far as I'm concerned, we're in a business relationship until we're not anymore. I entered this thing and told you I'd work for free unless you could get me hooked up with a network for my T.V.P.I. show. Otherwise, you would pay me. But if we're together and you like that whole couple idea, well, I still want my T.V.P.I. meeting.

Taylor: (She laughs.) You're such a bastard.

Trey: I know. (He pulls her back against him.) Look. Everything I want, I get. The sooner you realize it, the better off we'll be. I wanted the European Championship. I got it. I wanted $500. I got it. I wanted you. Apparently, I have you. The only thing left I want is my TV show.

Taylor: (Quietly) I'll call my friend, but only if you beat Shawn Striker Sunday.

Trey: Consider it done.

NEXT CHAPTER: The Omen >>

©2001 John Leary