Recovered Audio Asset 05 - Bryant In-Line Tap APR 07 2045 - (CT)
05 - A - INTERSTITIAL SCENE 1.
SCENE 1
DIGITAL SOUND OF A PHONE RINGING.
FELICIA BRYANT ANSWERS--WE'RE 'TAPPING' INTO THE CALL.
FELICIA BRYANT: This is Felicia Bryant.
FRED CHIU: (COPPING AN ATTITUDE) Felicia!
FELICIA BRYANT: Mr. Chiu.
FRED CHIU: Fred is fine.
FELICIA BRYANT: I thought you were going to call me right after the briefing.
FRED CHIU: The world is on fire! I was busy.
FELICIA BRYANT: I know you're angry--
FRED CHIU: Just tell me Aarav is being fired.
FELICIA BRYANT: He was reprimanded.
FRED CHIU: That doesn't sound like 'fired.'
FELICIA BRYANT: We can't fire him. His face has been attached to The Aethon mission since--...even before Wren.
FRED CHIU: And?
FELICIA BRYANT: Right now--NASC has an upswell of support in the hopes that we can bring home the Aethon Crew.
FRED CHIU: If anyone actually survived.
FELICIA BRYANT: If--...If anyone survived. Yes. NASC's reputation was teetering before this mission. This crew and their objectives garnered more interest than any mission in the past decade. And then the Aethon warned us about the flare. They are heroes and the public wants to bring them home. If we fire the flight director right after we discovered the Aethon is still out there--
FRED CHIU: How long has it been?
FELICIA BRYANT: Since what?
FRED CHIU: Since you became Director of Public Relations?
FELICIA BRYANT: Four months.
FRED CHIU: So not that long.
FELICIA BRYANT: ...It isn't my job to fire Aarav.
FRED CHIU: No. It's your job to shut him up. Do you understand?
FELICIA BRYANT: He isn't wrong though. He's young, he's passionate, it just wasn't the place or the time--
FRED CHIU: There is no 'right time' for an outburst like that! Do you understand?
FELICIA BRYANT: ...Maybe if you told me what you've been discussing with CimmTech I would be able to--
FRED CHIU: That has nothing to do with anything.
FELICIA BRYANT: I beg your pardon but that isn't true. Dennis told me before he died that you were in contact with Allyson Logan and if his implications were--
FRED CHIU: Felicia! Listen to me! And believe every word coming from my mouth!...You are insignificant to me. The only reason I give a flying fuck who you are is that you can prevent me from ever seeing Aarav Patel on any form of media from here on out. If you can't fire him--then I want you to erase him from the public ledger.
A BEAT.
Do you understand?
FELICIA BRYANT: I understand.
FRED CHIU: ...Good.
A BEAT.
FELICIA BRYANT: While I still have you, can you give me some guidance on how to approach the questions if the press--
FRED HANGS UP.
Mr. Chiu?...Fred?...
FELICIA HANGS UP.
END SCENE.