and bump into someone with a double low-fat chai soy latte I can’t see it but these days I’ve got a nose that knows My glasses clear and there’s Scratch sitting facing the door back to the wall He was sitting that way the last time we met He could just be protecting his clothes Scratch is a dapper guy and spills happen I shrug my messenger bag higher on the shoulder of my curling sweater and head over Spencer O’Toole Scratch stands and we do props then shake hands like business guys He’s now rocking a pair of black-framed hipster specs like mine with a white silk scarf and a spring overcoat black naturally worn cape style over one of those slim-fit suits like some French movie director from whenever I guess you could say directing things is Scratch’s line of work too How are you my man How’s Bunny It has been a day It’s been since Christmas in fact when Scratch helped me with something involving my younger brother Bunny I’ll explain later Bun’s good I say I’m good You want a coffee 2 TED STAUNTON
No thanks I work in one of these places I’m kind of off coffee Milk too Scratch looks alarmed Why There something something wrong with Oh no no The coffee’s great the milk’s fresh You just get coffee’d out is all Sometimes after a long shift you’re wired from just smelling it Scratch nods Occupational hazards We all have em Scratch’s are probably worse than mine He sits back down Tell me you’re not movied out too You’re doing film school Oh yeah I’ll never be movied out I’m busy right now though finals and everything First year I nod Remember it well I guess I look surprised because he says Business admin and marketing Good program Learned to read a balance sheet Scratch smiles Had to quit after second year too much real business to run you understand I nod There are interesting movies about Scratch’s business Boyz n the Hood for instance Or maybe Goodfellas Scratch sips his coffee keeping it well away from his scarf 3 POV
And business is why I got in touch he continues I’m diversifying Call it venture capital Got something needs your talents I saw your posts on YouTube Impressive bro All I’ve posted on YouTube lately is a four-minute school documentary on a local market with lots of squawking chickens and voices in different languages Oh and a parody rap video I made with school friends We greenscreened greenscreened a guy into a field so he was rapping to a herd of cows That one does get funnier as the night goes on but I don’t see it jump-starting a career You want me to make a movie I say cautiously A promo video Scratch says For my new project Got a band I’m managing I need something something to shop them around What are they called Scratch checks for eavesdroppers He leans in BlueGrap BlueGrap He nods I’m mystified Um what kind of music Scratch smiles Bluegrass rap Down home gets down You there They’re going to be huge 4 TED STAUNTON
I’ve never heard of bluegrass rap But then I’m not into music as much as movies I could tell Scratch that banjos and beatboxes are my two least favorite musical instruments If they’re instruments at all But I don’t say that I say Cool After all this is business So here’s the deal my man says Scratch I’ll pay you a thousand dollars to make a music video that catches their vibe helps me sell them How long will it take Well I C’mon Spencer I’ve seen you think quicker than this And I did give you a hand last Christmas I fumble I’ll have to hear the band I say You know come up with a concept Scratch is already standing adjusting his coat So we’ll say a week then What I’d need at least two There’s editing and Ten days tops They have a gig at the Emmett tomorrow night Eleven o’clock Meet and greet and the meter’s running Concept is all yours That’s why I’m coming to you Your vision Loved those cows But say goes where the money 5 POV
