The Employer

Okay, okay...

Look, look, I did it. I pulled this out of the wall.

Come on! We can both do this,we can get out of here. Come on!

Come on! Come on, come help me.

Help me! Come on!

Look, what if I was to tell you...

that you were laid off from your last company because of us?

I don't understand.

Well, your company was taken over by Carcharias.

I mean, it was nothing personal, but we had to downsize.

Corputech was owned by Carcharias? I never heard that.

Well, of course not. Because that's what we do.

Buy and sell companies. Asset strip.

That's impressive. Yes, it is impressive.

So, when this position became available, for an analyst, we thought of you.

Amongst all the others.

Who-- It's okay! It's okay!

It's okay! It's okay.

Oh, my-- It's okay.

All right then. Before we wrap up here, any questions for me?

No, sir. I think I knoweverything I need to know at this point.

All right, last question:

Is there anything you wouldn't be willing to do for this company?

No, sir.

Are you sure?

So, how'd you How'd you get here?

Someone attacked me last night at my apartment. I don't know. What about you?

I was having drinks with my sister. And then, we hailed a cab.

And then, this limo driver pulled up and asked if I wanted a ride.

And I refused. And then, um

Did he put a cloth over your mouth?

Yeah. I think he did.

Me, too. Must have been like, chloroform or something. Why?

I don't know.

Um, I'm Sandra, by the way.James.

What's that?

Nothing. I, um I was looking to see if I had my phone.

Do you think this is like, a kidnapping, or something, like they're holding us for ransom?

I'm not worth anything.

You've got to be worth something to someone. I mean, do you have any rich family members?

No, I don't have any. Rich or poor.

So maybe it's not a ransom thing.

What do you make of these?

It looks like some kind of bank vault, or something.

Hey.

What the hell?

It's okay, it's okay-

Where am I?

It's a room. It's locked. It's... um--

I'm Sandra, this is James.

We just woke up, too. Well, I can tell you one thing...

If you get hired by this company, you will never ever want of another job.

Would you really be willingto hire somebody...

with no real world business experience for this position?

Probably not. But you never know.

I mean, as you know because of your report, all the candidates for jobs here...

they all have extensive experience in the business world.

However, because of your in-depth knowledge of our company...

we almost have to hire you, don't we?

I mean, just to keep our secrets safe.

Well, either way, your secrets are safe with me.

I'm sure they are.

So how do we get outof this shit hole?

That door is solid.

Stop it. Stop it, stop it! Get the fuck off me!

Are you okay?

Calm down.

Well we're running out of time here. So, anything you want to ask me?

Yeah. When can I start?

ext interview...through your

then you could be employed almost immediately.

What do you want from me?

Just for you to cool it.

No one here is gonna hurt you, we're all friends. Right, James?

I hope so. But we haven't gotten your name yet.

I'm Billie. That girl you hit over there, that's Sandra.

We're not yet acquainted with the big guy in the corner.

Now, what's your name?

It's Keith.

Is there anything specific that you'll be looking for in this next interview?

No, you just keep that boyish enthusiasm alive think you can do that?

Shit. This guy's bleeding. We gotta stop that.

Where are we?SANDRA: We don't know.

We're trapped in here. There's locks on the door. Four of them. Combination locks.

Is he dead?

Not yet.

Billie. Is that some kind of dyke name?

The fuck is your problem?

Whoa, you guys, cool it.

We need to stick together here, okay?

We're being watched.

What?

Look up there.

Son of a bitch.

Is that a camera?

Yes, it is. How do you know?

Because I don't live under a rock. I used to do security systems.

Can they hear us?

Possibly. I mean, there'd have to be a mic someplace. It could be anywhere.

Like through that vent.

What do they want with us?

Maybe they're sick fucks who get off on this.

Maybe they're gonna gas us. Maybe that's what the vent's for.

No, if they wanted us dead, we'd be dead by now.

So what do they want?

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

What?

They took my fucking cigarettes.

That is your biggest problem right now?

Yeah. It is. I'm a pack a day kinda guy.

It helps me deal with stress. And this happens to be a pretty fucking stressful situation.

Well, maybe now's your chance to quit.

I happen to like being a smoker. I like the taste.

I like the way it smells on my clothes.

And I especially like the fact that it pisses off non-smokers.

You got a problem with that?

I didn't say anything.

You know,I have a right to smoke.

And if it takes off ten years out of my life, at least it's the back ten.

Hey, can you hear me?

And the beefcake makes five. Now it's a party.

What's your name?

Mike.

What really aggravates you in this world?

You know, like really pisses you off?

I don't like it when people judge a book by it's cover.

How so?

When someone makes judgments about someone else...

like how much money they have, or how smart they are, based on appearances only.

That really sets me off.

How's your head?

Still hurts.

Yeah, it was bleeding before, but Billie, she bandaged it up.

Thank you.

How did you get all banged up?

Last night, I got jumped by like five guys who came to my house.

I fought back, hard.

Got a few good hits in, and then they pinned me down and they put a rag over my mouth.

Did you recognize any of them?

No, no, I just assumed it was some random thugs trying to rob my house.

Maybe that's it. Maybe we were all just chosen at random.

I had a job interview today, too. Maybe when I don't show, they'll know something's wrong.

Who's the job with?

A company I'm sure you'venever heard of.

Try me.

Carcharias Corporation.

Oh, my God. I'm up for a job there, too.

Yeah, so am I. I was supposed to have my third interview today.

Get the fuck out of here.

You, too?

I guess we found our connection.

You know, I can see an egghead like you being up for a job like that...

but you're not telling me the rest of you are Carcharias material?

Yes, that's exactly what we're telling you.

So what are your qualifications?

I'm co-owner of a company that doubled their profits every quarter...

for three years before they went public. What about you?

I've been a partner in a consulting firm for the past five years.

I've owned my own consultingfirm for seven.

Oh, you got time in between weight lifting events for that?

Whoa, hey.

Whoa.

Let's get this straight, okay? I work out to stay in shape.

That's it. So stop fucking with me!

No problem.

Or I will kick your ass.

Yeah, I got it. So how about you?

Yeah, I'll kick your ass, too.

I meant, why are you up for the job?

I don't know. Maybe because I wrote my thesis on Carcharias.

Are you serious?

Yeah.

At least now I know who I'm up against.

I'm the least qualified person here.

I mean, I've been unemployed for the last six months...

I sent them my resume and they called me in for an interview.

But, I don't know.

They told me that I was exactly what they were looking for.

Now I don't know what to think.

Okay, so we're all applyingfor the same job.

But what does that mean?

Did you hear that? Where's that coming from?

Does someone have a phone?

It's up there.

Why is there a phone in the vent?

Who cares? If we can get it, we can call for help.

Here, James, boost me up. How?

Just kneel down, and then I'm going to get up on your knees.

Let me guess, cheerleader in college?

High school.

I hate cheerleaders.

It's screwed shut.

Here. Use this to try to loosen the screws.

Why do you have that?

I always keep one hidden. Just in case.

Ding, ding, ding. Brains and brawn.

He's got the whole package.

It's working! Got it.

Is there a phone up there?

Yep.