Wine Mama-(46)-If It Looks Like A Duck

Kirk Carter@ WGA Copyright 2013

WINE MAMA (46)

IF IT LOOKS LIKE A DUCK

INT: GATORTAIL RESTAURANT-BRIAN'S OFFICE-TUESDAY-9 A.M.

BRIAN WANTS TO GET TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF ALL THIS TENSION

DECIDES TO MAKE DIRECT PHONE CALL TO MARK THOMSON AT SHEFFIELD

(SENDING CALL)

BRIAN

"Morning Mark, it's Brian...Brian Cashman..."

MARK ANSWERING BACK LIKE HE HAS A LUMP IN HIS THROAT

MARK

"Oh hi Mister Brian...mean Cashman, ah...what can I do for you?"

BRIAN

"Well...I got to thinking...we got another offer on the grape processing, and since the contract doesn't take effect till Friday, I wanted to let you know I was looking at some counter offers..."

MARK

"Really, are you for real...you really think you can do better than sixty-forty...what the hell's wrong with you?"

BRIAN

"Nothing, but the idea of seeing what else we have to work with..."

MARK

"No...no, listen...you'll be working with me, that's the deal, stop your bullshit, you hear me?"

BRIAN

"What sir...they're my grapes, and our contract doesn't go into effect till Friday...don't be putting words or mandates into my mouth...do you hear me?"

MARK

"I don't understand what the problem is to start with, there is something going on that your not telling me?"

BRIAN

"Just like to make sure about these kind of things, I've always been like that...and anyway it is like a three day waiting period no matter what you or I have to say about it...nothing is bound until seventy-two hours have expired...you get me?"

MARK

"Oh yea...I get you...but I'm telling you, your just wasting your time...I'm the best deal in town!"

BRIAN

"Yea, yea...your probably right...but let me just have a look-see if you don't mind?"

MARK

"Yea, okay...have a good one...talk to you Friday...bye!"

(scene switch)

EXT: COLUMBUS WINERIES-OUTSKIRTS OF MODESTO-10 A.M.

JOHN-BRIAN'S GENERAL MANAGER DECIDES TO GO OUT ON HIS OWN AND CHECK OUT THIS OLD VINTAGE WINERY WHICH IS STILL FAMILY OWNED, GOING BACK TO 1910, AND IS ALSO ONE OF THE FEW THAT'S NON-UNION

WALKING UP, HE KNOCKS ON OLD DOOR

BILL WARD-PROPRIETOR- OPENS DOOR

WARD

""Yes, may I help you?'

JOHN

"Yes, I'm John with the Hudson Vineyards, I represent the two owners, uh...Sandy, Sandy Hudson...and Brian Cashman..he also owns the Gatortail and..."

WARD

"Oh yea, I Love that place...had some of them Gator ribs...man to die for...so ah John, what was it you said you needed?"

JOHN

"I haven't yet...look we have grapes that are ready to to harvest and process...this is our first crop since we started the vineyard back up, so we really haven't established license with anyone yet...anyway, we've gotten a few offers to facilitate the picking, the fermentation, along with distillation, bottling, and even distribution points...this is going to be a brand new spin..."

WARD

"Sounds interesting, what ya got?"

JOHN

"Port Vodka...one-hundred proof...it's a first...like Port on steroids!

WARD

"Sounds like a winner to me, so how can I help?"

JOHN

"Can you give me a bid on processing, do you have any extra room in your production?"

WARD

"Well, I wish you would have contacted me yesterday, cause now we're at full capacity...I wish I could help you John..."

JOHN

"Can I ask who the supplier was?"

WARD

"Well..I kind of have a standing policy of not talking sources, but between you and me, but apparently, this guy named Thomson called and said he had some overflow in their storage, never said where or who...just asked me if I'd like to take it off his hands for a good price?"

JOHN

"What was the offer?"

WARD

"Like I said, I don't discuss figures, but let's just say it was like fifty cents on the dollar at current market...whatcha gonna do, had to take the deal!"

JOHN

"No, I understand...but could you at least give me some ballpark on the volume he was offering?"

WARD

"Well, well I guess it couldn't hurt, but it was around twenty-thousand bushels, can you believe that...I mean that's some over run, ya know?"

JOHN

"Yea, that's some over run...almost too hard to believe that you would buy over at those kind of numbers, that's like a crop, a whole family crop, wow man, you really did good with that one, what were the odds...one has to wonder..."

WARD

"yea, we're suppose to receive it next Monday, man...this will really help our family business, oh...thank the Lord!"

JOHN

"Yes, he does work in mysterious ways, what a fucking coincidence..."

WARD

"Say again?"

JOHN

"Oh nothing Bill, just talking to myself...hey, nice talking to you, I'll be in touch!"

WARD

Likewise...take care!"

scene close