An Unsilent Partner: An Original Screenplay

By Nathaniel H. Echols Jr.

Businesses are comprised of people. Owners and employees are engaged to strive in concert to obtain goals and objectives. During this process each individual emerges through thoughts and ideas which leads to defining moments on their path. There is a Latin phrase that depicts this enlightenment, Temet Nosce. In translation, Know Thy Self. This revelation begins a journey of enigmatic consequences or great achievements together as a team with strong sagacity of synergy or clearly a diverse trend. So the question is, When did this occur and why?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504910408

Nathaniel H. Echols Jr.

Mr. Nathaniel H. Echols Jr., MSM, is a post-Vietnam War Era veteran and a seasoned business executive. He was honorably discharged from the US Air Force in 1977 and has subsequently spent over thirty-five years in the corporate sector, specializing in efficient accounting practices, operational development, strategic organizational planning, accounting system design and financial management. He has served in senior management and executive positions in the private sector, and is currently a senior consultant to a small to mid-sized firms in the federal government contracting industry, as well as the corporate private sector. Mr. Echols holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Business Management from National Louis University. He is a lifetime member of the Worldwide Who’s Who Registry of Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs. He resides with his family in Potomac Falls, VA. He enjoys traveling, fishing, chess, bowling and is an avid fan of the local sports teams.

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© 2015 Nathaniel H. Echols Jr. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 11/09/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-1039-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-1040-8 (e)

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CONTENTS

ACT ONE UNSILENT PARTNER

ACT TWO

MIDPOINT.

ACT THREE

ACT ONE

UNSILENT PARTNER

FADE IN.

CORPORATE JET – NIGHT.

ROYCE DONOVAN (60s) is confident as he opens a humidor and reaches for two cigars. He approaches MICHAEL RIDGEWAY (60s) who twiddles a pen as he contemplates a standing offer regarding a partnership deal for his accounting business.

ROYCE.

I only smoke a cigar when I

close a deal.

Michael declines Royce’s offer to light his cigar.

MICHAEL.

I’m still undecided.

ROYCE.

Take as much time as you need.

Michael stares at a stack of papers. On the top page is a contract with a sticker pointing to a signature line.

MICHAEL.

I’ve built my accounting business from scratch and never needed a partner.

ROYCE.

Michael, it’s a million dollars: half for the business; half for yourself.

MICHAEL.

The contract says you’ll be a silent partner.

ROYCE.

I’m only interested in money.

MICHAEL.

Pardon my asking, Royce, but will you be involved in any of the actual operations?

ROYCE.

I only visit my companies when there’s an emergency. But if it means turning a profit on an investment, I’d even become a secretary.

Michael chuckles and stops twiddling his pen, for Royce, unknowingly, just helped him make a major decision.

MICHAEL.

Secretary? Trust me. I’ve had a hundred of ‘em. You wouldn’t last. … It’s a deal.

They shake hands.

ROYCE.

That’a boy.

MICHAEL.

But with one condition.

ROYCE.

No, no, no. No conditions.

Michael makes a handwritten mark on the contract, crossing out the fifty percent by both names, and changing it to fifty-one and forty-nine. Perturbed, Royce cuts his cigar with a guillotine.

MICHAEL.

I need to own fifty-one percent, not fifty. Then it’s a deal.

Michael signs the contract and initials the changes. Then Royce signs the deal and lights his cigar.

ROYCE.

Sure. Give me a day or so to fax you the changes, which is only a formality now. I don’t like handwritten marks on contracts, but ethically I’ll make the transfer by Monday because we both signed it, And, Michael –

MICHAEL.

Yes.

ROYCE.

Enjoy your vacation next week.

MICHAEL.

Thanks, Royce.

KITCHEN STATION – DAY

On Friday, in darkness aside from back-up lights, KAELIN (20s and nerdy) and FORBES (30s, Black and dressed in 80’s Retro) slide a water cooler into a kitchen, which doubles as a work station. Both wear baseball caps with lit visors.

KAELIN.

We really need to move into a new office.

FORBES.

I think that’s what Michael’s working on right now.

When they reach the kitchen station, Forbes removes a flashlight from his pocket, illuminating a fern.

Forbes moves the fern from a well-worn place on the rug and jimmies the water cooler behind it. After a short wait, Kaelin plugs the cooler into the outlet.

KAELIN.

Look at all we have to do just for this stupid job.

FORBES.

For you, this is a job. But for me, this is a career.

SECRETARY CUBE – MOMENTS LATER.

Michaels opens the door and sees an emergency light shining.

MICHAEL.

Agh!

Holding a lit flashlight, GIDEON (40S and preppy) approaches him.

GIDEON.

Good to see you’re back, Michael. Don’t mind the lights. Kaelin said they’ll be back on in a few minutes. I have other bad news, though.

MICHAEL.

What now, Gideon?

GIDEON.

Hannah quit.

MICHAEL.

(Sarcastically) What a surprise.

GIDEON.

(lying) She told me she wasn’t making enough money.

Michael speaks as if he has said this often before.

MICHAEL.

(dryly)

Change the passwords. Change the locks. Modify the security processes. Then order coffee, heavy cream and sugar. Pure cane sugar.

GIDEON.

Okay. I’ll tell Kaelin to get on it right away.

Michael rolls his eyes. Gideon then reaches