When your characters try and call the shots.

Okay, so I have no news to share today. I thought I’d let Marks and Lip take the conn.

 

Lip: The conn? What is this, Star Trek?

Marks: I wouldn’t antagonize him.

Lip: Why not?

Marks: Germany. France.

Lip: So?

Marks: We’re not being published there.

Lip: So what does that have to do with anything?

Johnny Two-cakes: I think you fail to see how this works.

Lip: Who let you in here?

Marks: He was already here.

Lip: He was? I didn’t see him.

Marks: We need a good PR campaign. Two-cakes?

Johnny Two-cakes: Thank you, Marks. Here it is. (Johnny Two-Cakes sets a sheaf of papers on the table)

Lip: What is this?

Marks: It’s an outline for our next project. Johnny Two-Cakes wrote it.

Lip: You’re going to spoon-feed the big dummy something?

Marks: You did not do that.

Lip: What?! F**k him.

(Johnny Two-cakes double blinks)

Marks: We’re done here.

Lip: What is he going to do—erase us? Get real. He needs us.

James: Hey guys, what’s happening?

Lip: Oh, look who it is—Mr. Fancy Pants.

Marks: What do you say, Kolinsky?

James: Look, I appreciate you guys asking me to come here—

Lip: I did not ask you.

Marks: Ignore him.

James: Ah… sure. (James leans over) Is he okay?

Marks: He’s fine. He’s just constipated.

James: Really? He doesn’t look constipated.

Lip: Do you speak German?

James: Me?

Lip: Who do you think I’m talking to?!

James: (whisper) He’s angry.

Marks: He’s just constipated.

James: I think I’m going to leave.

(Marks glares at Lip)

Johnny Two-cakes: That didn’t go so well.

(Lip flips through the papers on the table)

Lip: James… James… why is he in this book? Wait a second?! This is the title? ‘James and His Friends’!

 

**

 

Sorry guys, inside humor. For those that have read my three books it might make sense. A couple footnotes: THE BACK DOOR MAN (where James Kolinsky was the hero) is being translated into French, and was just released in German. Lip isn’t happy, as he’s getting no love. PROPORTIONATE REPONSE and INSIDER X (both books with Marks and Lip as the heroes) are only available in English. Yes, I know, a travesty.