Leverage Transcripts derived from the closed captions available online and formated by slaysvamps. Feel free to download and share, but please give credit and a link back to me here.
Leverage Main | When Darkness Falls

5x11 The Low Low Price Job
[Grocery Store]

Tabitha: Thanks, Jim.

Jim: See you soon.

Tabitha: Tell your mom I hope she feels better soon.

Jim: Will do. Thanks, Tabitha.

(Tabitha sees a man making notes on a clipboard and approaches him)

Tabitha: What are you doing here again?

Oscar: I’m gonna have to write you up, Ms. Delavega.

Tabitha: What for this time, Oscar? Last week, it was what, a leaky water heater and exposed wires? Neither were true.

Oscar: Loose tiles. Somebody might get hurt.

Tabitha: You’ve got to be kidding me.

Oscar: You don’t fix these safety violations... city’s gonna shut you down.

Tabitha: Didn’t our class vote you “most likely to succeed”? Wonder what they’d say if they could see you now.


[Brew Pub]

Eliot: Hardison, you’ve gone too far this time.

Hardison: Hey, man, we’re in Portland. Got to do as the hippies do.

Eliot: I have no problem going green, all right? I put in your tank-less water heater and your low-flow faucet and all your solar-powered crap. But composting, dude? Seriously, it stinks in here.

Hardison: That, my friend, is the sweet smell of sustainability. Now let’s see what’s next. Oh, we got some recycling bins. You got to put those in. There’s a cardboard crusher—

(Eliot sees Tabitha sitting near a window)

Hardison: —very effecti—

(Eliot nods at Tabitha. Hardison turns to look as Eliot goes over to sit with her)

Tabitha: Since we lost dad, I’ve been running things on my own. I know it’s a small store, but he built it. You know, it reminds me of him. I just don’t know how much longer I can keep it going. Value!More opens tomorrow. There’s three already in spitting distance. All those neighborhoods became a ghost town within a year. Mom-and-pop stores closed up, and the folks just left.

Eliot: Why do you think the city’s in on it?

Tabitha: Because Value!More got the property re-zoned without even a public hearing. We found out too late they had already bought the building.

Eliot: Well, that makes it tougher to stop them. I mean, that ship has sailed.

Tabitha: Well, now stores like mine are getting hit with trumped-up city fines. Somebody’s definitely getting their palm greased.

Eliot: What they’re doing is, they’re pushing people around. They want you to take notice.

Tabitha: Some people are excited about it. They have no idea what it’s gonna do to our town. Little towns like ours, there’s something special about them. Once that’s gone, I just don’t think we can get it back.


[Exterior, Street]

Anna: It’s so cute here. Ms. Cowan, did you know Apple Springs is home to the nation’s largest garden gnome?

Caroline: First, yawn. Second, we are not here to sight-see, Abigail. We are here to work.

Anna: Yeah, it’s Anna. And, Ms. Cowan, I just wanted to say what an honor it is to work with you. You’re the best regional team leader Value!More has ever had. What are you thinking about?

Caroline (studying stores): Pharmacy. I give it two months. Bakery, three weeks, tops. Candy shoppe with an “e.” Oh, grocery. This is a toughie. Hanging on for dear life. Sweet, huh? Bye-bye.


[Value!More]

Anna: Man, she’s a beauty, don’t you think?

Caroline: No, I’m not gonna miss this. Look, you’ve got the right to know. I’ve decided this is going to be my final business trip.

Anna: Oh, my God. You’re quitting.

Caroline: Please. I have been on the road for Value!More for 15 years, 15. I’m tired of the airplane food, the hotel bedbugs, and the jet lag. There’s a corner office and a parking space at corporate with my name on it, or there soon will be. And you’re gonna help me get it.

Anna: I am?

Caroline: In two weeks, we’re gonna have this place up and running like a well-oiled machine. Apple Springs won’t know what hit it.

Anna: Okay.


[Leverage Headquarters]

Sophie: So, yeah, I’m casting the new season. “Devereaux.” I’m gonna be the new Stanislavsky.

Nate: Well, it’s amazing, except that Devereaux’s not even your real name.

Sophie: Pff! Details.

Eliot: You’re not listening to what I’m saying. I’m talking about saving a small town.

Hardison: From what?

Nate: What’s—what’s going on?

Parker: Eliot found us a client, but Hardison doesn’t think it’s a client.

Hardison: It’s not a client.

Eliot: Look. (changes display) A big-box store is gonna destroy a small town, and I want to save it—is that not what we do?

Hardison: Value!More? It’s—it’s a huge brand. They started with one store, and they grew like a weed. It’s an American dream.

Parker: Each store is ginormous. I mean, they probably supply hundreds of jobs.

Hardison: And thanks to their low prices, my Nana was able to feed all us kids when money was tight, and money was always tight. So what are you saying about the people who shop there?

Eliot: I’m saying they were lied to, all right? This family-friendly act is all bull—

Nate: No, he’s -- he’s right. I’ve had Value!More on my radar for a while. What they do is, they bribe local governments for tax and real-estate subsidies.

Eliot: Look, and you’re right. A new store will make new jobs, okay? But it also kills all the mom-and-pop shops, and that hurts the town double. Not to mention all the factory jobs that are outsourced t-to foreign sweatshops.

Nate: Now, full-time workers should get health insurance, right? Well, to get around that, Value!More, they don’t even offer full-time jobs.

Parker: Wait. If they’re so bad, why haven’t we hit them yet?

Nate: ‘Cause they’re too big.

Eliot: “Too big.” We overthrew a government in a foreign country.

Nate: A small foreign country. Look, Value!More, what they earn in a year -- it trumps the GDP of most first-world nations.

Sophie: And they’re gonna have an army of executives.

Nate: Exactly. So there’s no single weak spot to target. I mean, you can’t just take down the entire company.

Eliot (studies display): All right, then one store. This store.

Nate: Y-you’d have to... You’d have to nip it in the bud, though. I mean, you know, you’d have to close the store before it even opened. And when is it opening?

Eliot (hesitates): Tomorrow.

Nate: Tomorrow? Okay. Better move fast.


[Value!More]

Caroline: Is anybody thinking here?! We are selling hot dogs! So what do we need?! We need ketchup, mustard, relish! Go!

Martin: Oh, sure, Ms. Cowan. Uh, uh --

Caroline: Go!


[Leverage Headquarters]

Eliot: Hardison, there’s a woman running the show here. She’s not on the roster.

Hardison (pulls up information on display): That’s because she doesn’t work in apple Springs. She was sent by corporate.

Sophie: Caroline Cowan, regional team leader. Company veteran. She moves from store to store and gets them up and running. Well, she’s the one to look out for.

Hardison: We’ll set up surveillance on her.


[Hotel Room]

Parker (whistles): Fancy digs.

Nate: Oh. Well, that’s one thing Value!More’s good at is pinching pennies. Okay, guys, there’s only three Value!More stores that have ever closed in the past. The first one was over a land dispute. So that will be our way in.

Parker (lays on bed, examines blanket): Oh, they don’t wash these, do they? (gets up quickly)

Nate: No, no.

Parker: Okay.


[Hallway]

(Parker and Nate exit Caroline’s hotel room. A moment later, Anna comes around the corner with a suitcase)

Anna: Yes, Ms. Cowan. Taking your luggage to your room right now, room 32.


[Leverage Headquarters]

Hardison: Okay. You’re gonna be playing Dr. Ellie Sattler, ex-pat, environmental activist.

Sophie: Hmm? What? I have to, what? Are you serious? Mm-hmm. No. People study for like years to learn this stuff, and you want me to do it in like 20 minutes? “Eryth-ocroc-ra-tes...”

Hardison: Erythrocytes.

Sophie:...Glomerul-- aliq...wot.

Hardison: Aliquot.

Sophie: It’s probably not even a real—it’s, like, names of dinosaurs or something.

Hardison: Dinosaurs were real.

(Sophie sighs)


[Exterior, Value!More]

(sign falls down above doors announcing grand opening)

Caroline: There. Now you finally got it. Gudong.

Anna: G-gudong?

Caroline: It means “shareholder.” I’m practicing my mandarin. Someday, Value!More’s gonna reach across the globe, and when they do, I’m their gal. No more of this podunk, U.S.A. I’ll be running China.

(Caroline checks her phone as Anna looks across the parking lot)

Anna: That’s really exciting. But who is that?

(Sophie sits at the edge of the parking lot examining soil as Caroline and Anna approach)

Sophie: Hi, there.

Caroline: Excuse me, miss, what do you reckon you’re doing here? I’m gonna have to ask you to leave.

Sophie: Well, you see, I was just coming to see you. (screws top on a jar)

Caroline: About what?

Sophie: Uh, because you and I and everybody in that store... are slowly being poisoned to death. (shakes soil sample, tests it) Not good. (holds up sample) Just as I suspected. Yep. Right. You’re gonna need one of these, (hands out face mask) and you’re gonna need one of—

(Caroline gives Sophie a look that makes her stop)

Sophie: Do you know what cadmium is? No, I didn’t think so. It’s a chemical byproduct of silver mining. It’s devastatingly toxic. This building sits on the remains of an old mine. The site’s contaminated.

Caroline: Really? We had a full environmental survey done.

Sophie: Why, yes, you did, but then you fixed up the parking lot and you disturbed all that lovely soil. No, no, no, no, no. You’re gonna have to shut down the store.

Caroline (laughs): No. We’re scheduled to open tomorrow.

Sophie: Do you have a fever, Ms. Cowan? A stuffy nose? A rash? The loss of taste? We call it the cadmium blues. Pretty soon, mm-hmm, everyone around here is gonna be having those symptoms. You know what this reminds me of? The love canal disaster. The E.P.A.’s gonna be all over this.

Caroline: Doc, I’d like you off my property.

(Anna puts on the mask)

Sophie: Well, you may not care about public safety, (hands Caroline her card) but the city council will.

Caroline: Ugh! Come on.

Anna: Cadmium? The whole store is poisoned. What are we gonna do?

Caroline: First, take off that stupid mask. If the E.P.A. hears about this, they’re gonna shut us down for weeks of testing—weeks.

Anna: But the results could come back clean.

Caroline: Even if they do, do you think a single soccer mom is gonna step foot in here when she hears the gossip from her bridge club about men in biohazard suits? No, this is about public perception. Get me corporate on the phone.

Anna: Yes, ma’am.


[City Council Meeting]

Mayor: Next on the agenda is a presentation by Dr. Eleanor Sattler. But first, a special guest, Ms. Caroline Cowan from our newest neighbor, Value!More.

Sophie: Um...

Caroline:: Excuse me. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, council members, fine citizens. I am here tonight to thank you for welcoming our little store into your town and into your hearts.

Sophie (into comm.): Nate, what’s she doing?

Nate: Stand by, Sophie.

Caroline: Your town cherishes strong community values, just like Value!More does. And we consider ourselves a family for a reason. Because when it’s time to circle the wagons, families protect each other. That is why I feel it is my responsibility to tell you something very disturbing that I discovered about your town.


[Leverage Headquarters]

Hardison: Uh, Nate, something’s wrong.

(alerts begin to pop up on the display showing that Sophie’s alias has been compromised)

Parker: There’s one. And there’s another one.

Hardison: That’s -- thank -- thank you. That’s very, very super-helpful, babe. Thank you. Yeah. Guys, Sophie’s aliases have been flagged online.


[City Council Meeting]

Nate: By who?

[Leverage Headquarters]

Parker: Everyone. Look -- there’s three more.

Hardison: That’s -- uh, thank you, babe. We -- we see. We...


[City Council Meeting]

Caroline: Mr. Mayor, did you know you have a wanted eco-terrorist living in your midst?

Woman: That’s terrible. Impossible.

Caroline: Among Dr. Sattler’s long litany of radical protests are the arson fire of a Nigerian oil field and the bombing of a Japanese S.U.V. factory, in which three innocent men were killed.

(crowd reacts)

Caroline: Yes, I know. Shocking, isn’t it?

Sophie: Nate, I think I’ve overstayed my welcome. Hardison, a little help, please.

Nate: I’m working on it.


[Leverage Headquarters]

(alerts continue to pop up and Hardison pulls up a plan of the building)

Hardison: Go.


[City Council Meeting]

Caroline: Acts of violence, sabotage, all in the name of saving the earth. My friends, can we really trust anything she has to say here tonight?

(Alarm begins to sound)


[Leverage Headquarters]

Hardison: How’s that?


[City Council Meeting]

Nate: Subtle.


[Interior Car]

Sophie: Ugh! Great. You know, I spent all day memorizing metall-othi-o-nein, metall-othi-o-nein. (throws note cards)

Hardison: Guys, Sophie’s alias was airtight—


[Leverage Headquarters]

Hardison: —until Value!More forged a dozen online articles to destroy it.

Parker: Hey, that’s our trick.


[Interior Car]

Eliot: How far is she gonna go to protect her store?

Nate: Well, we’ll find out. You remember I said Value!More closed three of its stores? The second one was because of a union scare.

Sophie: Oh. It’d set a legal precedent. They’d have to unionize all the stores.

Nate: Caroline would, uh, shut down her store rather than the risk the entire company.


[Interior Van]

(Hardison listens to audio from store)

Caroline: Can I get a “good morning, Value!More”?

Workers: Good morning, Value!More!

Caroline: And who’s Value!More?


[Value!More]

Workers: We’re Value!More!

Caroline: And what’s Value!More?

Workers: The best!

Eliot: This reminds me of North Korea.


[Interior Van]

Hardison: Come on, Eliot, shake it. Give me some soul!


[Value!More]

Eliot: Are you dancing? I hate you.


[Exterior, Value!More]

Caroline: Welcome to Value!More.

(Caroline cuts the ribbon at the door as the crowd cheers. She steps aside and they begin to enter)


[Value!More]

Eliot (looking at his pay slip): You got to be kidding me.

Martin: First paycheck, huh?

Eliot: They think we can live off of this?

Martin: It seems most folks are working here just till they can find something better.

Eliot: Tell you what, there’s a meeting tonight. This guy says he can change things. (hands him a card) You in?

Martin: I’d sure like to hear what he has to say.

Eliot: All right, good deal. Okay.

(Martin struggles with some paint cans)

Eliot: You all right?

Martin: Yeah. These didn’t used to be so heavy. You wouldn’t think it, but I actually used to own a hardware store.

Eliot: You’re kidding me.

Martin: Yeah.

Eliot: You and my old man.


[Interior Van]

Martin: Really?

Eliot: Yeah. I’ll tell you, he could tell you where everything—

[Value!More]
Eliot: —was before you even walked in the store, he’d tell you exactly what you needed, and he knew where every bolt, nut, and washer was in that place. Why’d you lose your store?

Martin: Oh, I shut her down. No use trying to compete with Value!More. It’s—it’s a young man’s game. With the diabetes, I’m not as quick on my feet as I used to be. You new in town? I could have sworn I knew everyone around here.

Eliot: I’m just passing through, actually.

Martin (looking at Eliot’s nametag): Oh. Archer.

Eliot: Right.

Martin: Martin.

(they shake)

Eliot: Martin. Nice to meet you.

Martin: Good to meet you, man.

Eliot: Let me help you with these.


[Break Room]

(Eliot pins a notice to the wall as Martin sits eating)

Eliot: What do you got?

Martin: Oh, got to keep my blood sugar up. My wife’s secret recipe. You want some?

Eliot: No, thanks, but you enjoy. (puts money in a machine)

Bryan: Hey, Martin, those 12-packs of fabric softener are just flying off the shelves. Look, can you grab some more from the stock room A.S.A.P.?

Martin: I-I would, but I’m on my break.

Bryan: It’s a busy day, big guy. Could really use you to take one for the team.

(Martin moves to get up)

Eliot: Sorry. Keep your seat, Martin. I got it. I’ll take care of this one. (moves to clock in)

Bryan: Hey, uh, let’s keep this off the clock, okay? And tuck your shirt in.

(Eliot sneers and halfheartedly lifts his shirt, but lets it fall as Caroline passes him. Caroline sees the notice Eliot posted and looks around)

(later, Caroline pulls the notice from the refrigerator)

Anna: I don’t understand.

Caroline (crumples flier): Pickup game, that’s code for union meeting. We got a traitor inside. We got to nip this in the bud, “toot sweet.”

(later, Anna installs a camera in a corner)


[Interior Van]

Hardison: Okay, Eliot, I caught some new wireless feeds from the store. Looks like they’re putting up surveillance cameras.


[Caroline’s Office]

Caroline: I will not have corporate thinking I let some union fester under my nose. So we are gonna have to find whoever did this ourselves. (watches security display) Look.

(display shows Eliot posting another flier, then answer his phone)

Anna: You want me to bring him up here?

Caroline: Never kill a rat if you can follow him instead. He’s gonna lead us right to his nest.


[Exterior, Value!More]

(Eliot walks across the parking lot to an RV. He knocks on the door)

Nate: Yeah.

(Eliot goes inside. Caroline walks quickly across the parking lot, getting close enough to listen)


[Interior, RV]

(Eliot sits down. Nate gestures for him to be quiet. Behind Eliot, Nate sees Caroline approaching the RV, waiting until she gets close enough to hear before speaking)

Nate: How’s it going, uh, the recruitment and everything? Any new takers?


[Exterior, Value!More]

(Caroline walks closer so she can hear better)

Eliot: We got more than a few.

Nate: That’s good. Good, good, good. Yeah. Is anyone onto you?

Eliot: I don’t think so.


[Interior, RV]

Eliot: But I have a feeling if I get caught, I’m gonna get fired, won’t I?

Nate: Legally, they can’t do that. They’ll find some other way…


[Exterior, Value!More]

Nate: …you know, to do that sort of thing. But, uh…


[Interior, RV]

Nate: …hang in there, because we are about to make history.


[Exterior, Value!More]

(Caroline hurries away from the RV. Later Nate returns to the parking lot from the store)


[Interior, RV]

(Nate finds Caroline sitting on the couch)

Nate: Ah.

Caroline: You got a lot of nerve.

Nate: Yeah, well, my, uh, mother, she used to say the same thing.

Caroline: Well, I’m only gonna say this to you once. Stay away from my employees.

Nate: Oh, fat chance.

Caroline: It’s not going to work.

Nate: Yes, it will work, yeah. (pulls out his lunch) And the beauty of it is, is there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. Like some salad?


[Interior Van]

Hardison: Hey, man, that, uh, stuff about your pop owning the hardware shop, man, is that real or is that just an alias riff?

(Eliot doesn’t answer)

Hardison: Okay.

Eliot (hesitantly): It was more like a hole-in-the-wall... tools stacked up to the ceiling. There was method in his madness, though. He knew that place like the back of his hand.

Hardison: Did you two work it together?

Eliot: Yeah, he wanted me to run the damn joint. But I wanted to get out, change the world, needed to get out of there. I joined the service when I was 18, and, well, that was it.

Hardison: When was the last time you were back?

Eliot: We had a fight the night before I left. So... (turns up volume on the bug in the RV) this town this town’s a lot like that. It’s small. It’s— (gestures toward the display)

Caroline: You think you’re such a hot shot. Don’t you have anything better to do than rabble-rouse, or did you get rejected from all the real jobs?


[Interior RV]

Nate: You know, an NLRB rep is just waiting for my call. As soon as I get 30% of your workers to sign the union cards, and that rep is gonna get on a plane and come down here and supervise a vote.

Caroline: When pigs fly.

Nate (laughs): Sure you don’t want some of this? It’s delicious. How about a cherry tomato?

Caroline: Get off my damn property.

Nate: If I remember right, don’t you allow, oh, no. Don’t you encourage Value!More customers to park their R.V.s on your property?

Caroline: Yeah, but you got to be a customer, and to be a customer, you got to buy something.

Nate (pulls out a receipt): Guy’s got to eat.

(Caroline leaves in a huff)


[Brew Pub]

Nate: You see, that’s-that’s why collective bargaining gives you the power. It’s right there, see? Turn the tables on Value!More so they’ll know that you mean business, ‘cause only then will they start to listen, okay? (hands out fliers) Just read about it right there. (to Eliot, quietly) Eliot, so, where’d you find these people?

Eliot: Two words: free beer.

Caroline (entering with Anna): Why wasn’t I invited to this party? I’m sorry. Is this a private event?

Nate: Hey, listen, everybody, there’s no reason to be afraid. It’s okay. It’s all right, everybody, all right? Ms. Cowan here, she can’t legally punish you for being here.

Caroline: Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it. Please, go on.

Nate: Thank you. Here’s the thing, I’ve been where you are. And, and I know what you’re thinking. I know what you’re asking, the whole thing about jobs. In this economy, just to have a job, any job is better than no job at all. And you’ll pretty much do anything to hold on to that job, right? Including working through your lunches, working through your shifts, go off the books. Why? Because you know if the squeaky wheel doesn’t get oiled, it gets fired, you’ve seen it. Well, I’m here to remind you that you deserve better. You don’t have to live in fear anymore. You don’t have to be the little David going up against the corporate Goliath, all alone. The union is your slingshot... to bring down the corporate giant.

(crowd cheers)

Nate: And the other thing about all...

Caroline: May I say something?

Nate: I’m sorry? Excuse me? What?

Caroline: May I.. may I say something?

Nate: Oh, absolutely, yes. Anybody can say anything.

Caroline: My friends... I am wounded that you would take any of your job concerns to a stranger instead of coming directly to me.

Nate: Oh, really? You’re “wounded”? That surprises you? I mean, after you fostered a corporate environment in which your, your workers are afraid.

Caroline: Afraid of what? We wouldn’t hurt a fly.

Nate (laughs): Well...

Caroline: But he is right about one thing. These are tough, tough times. And the only way we are gonna get through this is if we stick together. And a union only wants to tear us apart, but I will not let anyone or anything come between us. Because all the union wants to do is take money out of your pockets. But what am I gonna do? Put money back into your pockets. 30% off everything in the store for the next month.

Nate: Shameless.

Caroline: And... I’m throwing a barbecue for everyone in town. Because, because, you guys, we are a family. Who is Value!More?

Workers: We’re Value!More!

Caroline: And what is Value!More?

Workers: The best!

(workers cheer and thank Caroline as they leave)

Caroline: So, how was that for your 30%?

Nate: Bar is closed.

(Caroline and Anna leave)

Eliot: Our track record’s not looking so hot now, thanks to Caroline, huh?

Nate: Yeah. She’s, uh... unbelievable.

Sophie: Unbelievable? She just used a basic brainwashing technique, no panache.

Nate: Eh, she’s...

Sophie: Oh, look, he likes her.

Nate: No, I like the player, not the person.

Eliot: Listen, you said three stores have closed down, one for toxic land, the other for the union. What was the third?

Nate: Just a string of bad luck, a bunch of little things that added up to taking down their profits. But, I mean, it’s not like we can make bad luck.

Eliot: Can’t we?


[Leverage Headquarters]

Nate: Let the games begin. (watches display) Let’s do it.


[Value!More]

Caroline: Well, welcome, early birds.

(customers flock into the store, pushing Caroline and Anna out of the way)

Caroline: Oh. Hello. Ooh! All right.

(customers are eagerly taking away large screen televisions from a stack)

Caroline: What in the hell is going on?

Anna: I have no idea.


[Leverage Headquarters]

(Nate continues to watch)


[Value!More]

(customers begin to stream toward the checkout)

Parker: Oh. (to customer) Hello. Did you find everything you were...

Customer: Yes.

Parker (rings up television): That’ll be $999.99.

Customer: Wait, wait. I have a coupon. (hands over coupon)

Parker: Oh. Coupon.

(more customers along with Caroline and Anna head toward the checkouts)

Parker: Whoo-hoo! Hot deal! $99.99!

(customer hands over the money)

Caroline: Excuse me. Where did you get that?

Customer: It was in my e-mail.

(Hardison smirks)


[Flashback]

(Hardison hacks an email sent out by Value!More, changing the price from $999.99 to $99.99)

Hardison: Fly, my pretties, fly.


[Value!More]

Caroline: Okay, everybody...

Customer: Oh, keep the change.

Caroline: Everybody, just stop. Stop for a second. Just stop.

(everyone stops, Caroline looks at Anna)

Anna: I swear, this is not the coupon that I sent. But the bar code matches the software, so it’s valid, and that means that we have to honor it.

Caroline: Okay. Go ahead. Come on.


[Leverage Headquarters]

Nate: Nice job, Hardison. Sophie, do your worst.


[Exterior, Value!More]

(Sophie rounds a corner with a bunch of her theater students)

Sophie: My pleasure. Zachary, what’s the first basic rule of improv?

Zachary: Uh, always say “yes, and” to keep the scene moving forward.

Sophie: Good. And the second?

Zachary: Um, don’t block.

Sophie: Exactly. Now, everybody, forget all that and synchronize your watches. We’re saying no and we’re blocking.

(Sophie opens the door and students begin to enter)

Zachary: You’re the best director ever.

Sophie: Thank you, Zachary.

(Zachary follows the crowd in)

Sophie: Nate, flash mob is a go.


[Leverage Headquarters]

(Nate continues to watch the screen)


[Value!More]

(all of Sophie’s students take off their jackets to reveal polo shirts similar to those worn by employees)

Customer: Excuse me. Are any of these detergents hypoallergenic? (holds up several products)

Zachary: Oh, I-I’m sorry. I don’t work here.

Customer: Oh, sorry about that. Excuse me, miss. Can anyone help me?

(another student walks by without responding)

Customer (to Caroline, handing her the products): Great customer service you got here, lady.

Caroline: Uh... (sees students) Who are all these people? (gives products to Anna and grabs Zachary) Hey, you! Do you work here?

Zachary: Uh...no.

Caroline: Then get out. Get out!

(Zachary moves away)

Customer 2: Great service! I’m done.

Anna: Who are all these people?

(customers continue to complain, dropping shopping carts on their way out the door)


[Leverage Headquarters]

Nate: All right, good. See what else you guys can do.


[Value!More]

(an unattended cart rolls down an aisle toward a customer, who glances at it, then away. The cart speeds up down the aisle as if moving on its own. The customer freaks out, drops his basket and runs. Hardison stands up from behind a skid holding a remote controller)

Bryan (to Eliot) Hey, tuck in that shirt for me. Hey, Martin, I need you to pick it up, unless you want to work during lunch, okay?

Martin: Yeah.

(Martin continues to work, but then drops a container and collapses)

Eliot: Hey, Martin! Call 911! Martin!

(a bit later, EMTs wheel Martin toward the door)

Eliot: You’re gonna be okay.

Martin: All right, all right.

Eliot (to EMT: Make sure and call his wife, okay?

EMT: Yeah.

Eliot: Feel better, Martin.

Nate: All right, Eliot, stay on plan. We’re not done yet.

(angry, Eliot turns toward the back of the store)

Nate: Eliot?


[Break Room]

(Eliot enters as Bryan is getting something from the refrigerator)

Bryan: Seriously? Not gonna tuck in your shirt?

Eliot: You made him work through his break again, didn’t you?

Bryan: What? The old-timer? He’ll be fine. We got a problem here, buddy?

Eliot: Bryan, you’re a bully. You know how much I’d love to tear your arm off and feed it to you right now? But, you see, that would make me a bully, too. You see my dilemma?

(Eliot grabs Bryan’s arm and twists it, shoving his face into the soda machine)

Eliot: Bryan, I want you to listen to me, and I want you to try to understand.

Bryan: I can’t feel my arm.

Eliot: I know. The only reason why I’m not throwing you into this soda machine is because Martin wouldn’t want me to do it. You see, Martin is a good neighbor. You? You’re not. (lets Bryan go)

Bryan: You crazy bastard. You’re fired.

(Eliot looks at Bryan’s pointing hand, then at Bryan, and slowly walks away)


[Caroline’s Office]

(Caroline is lying on the couch as Anna paces)

Anna: Maybe the numbers won’t be as bad as you think.

Bryan (enters) Here’s the day’s sales, Ms. Cowan.

Caroline: Just burn it.

Anna: Thank you.

Caroline (answering phone): Caroline Cowan. Um... (sits up) Mr. Halliward. Uh, uh, what a surprise.

Anna: Ms. Cowan.

Caroline: Um, today’s receipts, sir, I can explain. Record sales? Really?

(Anna nods, smiling, and hands papers to Caroline)

Caroline: Well, of course. Sir, the, uh, TVs were my idea. Uh, I mean, I realize it’s a little unconventional, but I’m glad you approve. Wonderful. Well, we’ll see you tomorrow, then. All right. (hangs up) We broke all records for opening week.

Anna: Yes!

Caroline: And the C.E.O. is flying in here tomorrow—


[Leverage Headquarters]

Caroline: —to come to our barbecue.

Sophie: Did she—did she just say that?

Nate: Value!More took a hit on the TVs, but every other department made a killing. Hey, we just, we didn’t plan on the customers buying other products while they were in there.

Caroline: So, right now, I’m gonna prepare. Just need a little time. And no phone calls, nothing. Go, go.

Anna: Okay.

Sophie: We haven’t even made a dent. I’m beginning to think we can’t destroy this store.

Nate: You’re right. We can’t... But Caroline can.


[Hotel]

(Eliot waits while Hardison picks the lock on Caroline’s room. Inside, Eliot changes the light bulbs and adjusts the thermostat while Hardison fiddles with Caroline’s makeup and sleep mask. Hardison also puts gum in the shower head and takes her brushes before planting a device on the phone)

Eliot: Let’s go, man.

Hardison: This little guy emits a beep at random intervals. It’s very effective. It’s driven many a college roommate to insanity.

(they exit the room. Later, Caroline gets ready for bed. As she sits down, the light bulb flashes)

Caroline: Hmm. Probably one of ours.

(She lays down and puts on the sleep mask, but tosses and turns. The intermittent beeping makes her sit up and she tosses and turns some more. She searches for the source of the beeping but can’t find it. She spends a restless night until finally the alarm goes off. She stumbles to the bathroom to find some sort of rash around her eyes. She tries to turn on the shower but the water doesn’t run)

Caroline: Uh...what?

(she searches for a brush but can’t find one, and is forced to use a makeup brush. She cleans her eyes with a q-tip and puts on her makeup as best she can)


[Caroline’s Office]

Anna: You left without me this morning. I had to take a taxi.

Caroline: Well, I needed a head start.

(Anna looks at Caroline’s face and gasps)

Caroline: What?

(Anna pulls out a compact and shows Caroline her face, which is covered with a rash)

Caroline: Oh, God.

Anna: Are you feeling all right?

Caroline: I must have...caught a little bug or something.

Parker: Excuse me, Ms. Cowan, I, um— (sneezes violently into shirt and places it on desk) I’m quitting.

Caroline: W-what? Wait. Who are you?

Parker (has a rash similar to Caroline’s on her face): I’m Alice White, um... And I think I’m allergic to something here, ‘cause when I’m at home, it’s totally fine, but when I get here, it’s... (gags) See? And everything tastes bad. And this fever’s, like, burning me up.


[Flashback]

Sophie: Do you have a fever, Ms. Cowan? A stuffy nose? A rash? The loss of taste? We call it the cadmium blues. Pretty soon, everyone around here is gonna be having those symptoms.


[Caroline’s Office]

Parker: You know, you don’t look so well yourself, lady. (sneezes as she leaves)

Anna: Ms. Cowan, you don’t think that—

Caroline: Don’t you dare say it. No. No, I do not.

(takes drink from a bottle and shudders


[Flashback]

(Eliot resealing bottles while Hardison fills more)

Hardison: This is Caroline’s favorite. When she drinks it, it’ll taste like dust.

Eliot: Why? What’s in it?

Hardison: Food coloring and dust.


[Caroline’s Office]

Caroline: Take this shirt. Take it.

(Anna takes the shirt gingerly)

Caroline: Mr. Halliward is arriving from the airport right now. Go.

(Anna leaves and Caroline pulls out a makeup bag)

Caroline: All right, just a little -- little powder. It’s fine. Just a little powder. It’s okay. It’s okay.


[Value!More, Barbecue]

Worker: Hey, Martin. Good to see you. Feel better, okay?

Martin: Thanks.

Eliot: Martin. You look a hell of a lot better than the last time I saw you.

Martin: The doc thinks I’ll make it. I just wanted to thank you. I heard what you said to Bryan, and as much as I’d like to see that boy get what’s coming to him, I am awful sorry you lost your job.

Eliot: Oh, don’t worry about that. Like I said, I’m just passing through.

Martin: No way to run a business, if you ask me.

Eliot: No, it’s not.

Martin: You know, I-I wish I still had that old hardware store kicking around. You’d be a good man to have handy.

(as Martin walks away, Eliot looks down, thoughtful. Elsewhere, Caroline’s rash has gotten much worse)

Caroline (to customer): Hey, enjoying the barbecue? And you found yourself something? That’s -- that’s good. (dials phone)

Voicemail: You’ve reached the mayor’s office. Please leave a message after the beep.

Caroline: Mr. Mayor, this is my third voicemail, so I’m beginning to think that you’re avoiding me. You remember that rather large donation we made to your re-election campaign? Well, you know something about this piece of property that you’re not telling me, don’t y...

Halliward: Caroline.

Caroline (hangs up phone): Hello, Mr. Halliward. Welcome to apple Springs. We are so happy to have you.

Halliward: It’s good to see you again, Caroline. Wonderful turnout.

Caroline: Thank you.

Halliward: Are you okay? You look a little flushed.

Caroline: Just, you know, too much sun.

Halliward: How about a tour? I’d love to see what you’ve done with the place.

Caroline: Mm-hmm. Okay. Follow me.


[Break Room]

Caroline: So, this is our break room, which we made a little smaller in this one, but just save a little money, and I think it really works.

Halliward: Are you sure you’re feeling all right, Caroline? You seem a little off.

Caroline: No. I-I’m fine.

Halliward: Life on the road, that can’t be easy.


[Value!More]

Parker: All right, people, place your bets.

Halliward: Don’t think we haven’t noticed.

Parker: 100 bucks gets you in.

Halliward: The success of this store is just the cherry on top.

Nate (tosses money in): I’m in. Five minutes.

Sophie (tosses money in): She’ll go seven.

Hardison (tosses money in): I say three minutes.

Parker: I’m under two.

Nate: All right, under two.

(Eliot joins them)

Nate: You got three, five five, seven.


[Break Room]

Halliward: I’m very impressed with this store, and I’d like you to join us at corporate headquarters.

Caroline: Oh. Oh, thank you, sir. You won’t regret this. I’ll be on a plane first thing tomorrow morning. And, and I’m ready to go.

Halliward: Not so fast. You’ve made an enormous impact with this store in just a week. I’d like to see how this new business strategy of yours works out in the long run.

Caroline: What do you mean?

Halliward: Oh, stick around town a little longer, maybe six months.

Caroline: No. Please don’t make me, sir. I can’t. This store is not safe. It’s poisoned.


[Value!More]

Sophie: Ooh. That was quick.

Parker (drags the money toward her): Oh, yeah! Come to mama!

Nate: All right, so, what do you say, uh, we broadcast?

Hardison: I say let’s do it.

(Hardison uses iPad to transmit camera in break room to all televisions in the store. All of the customers gather to watch)

Halliward: Poison? What poison?

Caroline: The ground underneath us is toxic. She tried to warn me, but I wouldn’t listen.

Halliward: Who is “she”?

Caroline: Oh, gone because of me. I buried evidence because I knew you’d want me to.

Halliward: My God!


[Break Room]

Halliward: What kind of company liability are we talking about here?

Caroline: Well, what does it matter now? We both know this company is—


[Value!More]

Caroline: —rotten from the inside out, and we know how this works. We tried to bribe this city just to get this building in the first place, but this time, we really got what we paid for, didn’t we? And these poor slobs selling our sweatshop crap aren’t—

(customers begin heading toward the exit)


[Break Room]
Caroline: —even gonna have health insurance when they get sick. And they’re gonna get sick.

Halliward: Caroline, get a hold of yourself.

Caroline: Don’t look at me like that, sir. If you think I’m gonna die for this company, you can think again.

Anna (enters): Stop!


[Value!More]

(Anna and Caroline follow Halliward through the store)

Halliward: Get me corporate on the phone!

(Caroline stops, then turns to see the Leverage team watching her. She eyes each of them. Nate nods to her and they walk away)

(later, a Hazmat team has the building roped off and Halliward walks away from them, Anna trailing)

Anna: Sir, we have a damage-control press conference in 20 minutes.

Halliward: Cancel it. This store is a lost cause.

(the lights go out in the store)


[Exterior Street]

(Eliot stands outside of a coffee shop and falls into step with the others as they walk by)

Eliot: The local shops have reopened. Everybody that got laid off has a job.

Parker: What about the building?

Hardison: I heard an anonymous donor put in a bid for it. He said he’s gonna turn it into a theater for the local high school.

Nate: The arts are vastly underfunded in this country, don’t you think?

Sophie: You sly old dog.

Hardison: Oh, babe, the candy shop’s open. You in?

Parker: Sounds good.

Hardison: All right.

(the group separates in front of the grocery store)

Martin (to Tabitha): Second one.

Eliot: Hey.

Tabitha: Hey.

Eliot: How you doing?

Tabitha: I’m good.

Eliot (motioning toward Martin): How’s he working out?

Tabitha: Oh, you know, he’s fitting right in. So, thank you for everything that you did. It’s starting to feel like home again around here.

Eliot: Would you, uh... Would you like to have dinner… with me?

Tabitha: Tonight?

Eliot: How’s Saturday? I got to go out of town for a couple of days.

Tabitha: I would love that.

Eliot: Good.


[Outside Oklahoma City]

(Eliot pulls into a driveway and gets out. He takes a six pack from the passenger’s seat and walks to the front door where he hesitates before knocking)

Eliot: Dad?

(Eliot’s knocks go unanswered. He puts down the six pack and turns to go, tearing up)

The End

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