INT. CONFERENCE ROOM, FEDIVERSE UNITED - DAY

Lain enters, carrying the NewsStream times under his arm. He is handsome, supremely confident and self-satisfied; he sees himself as a leader among men.

LAIN (to DELORES): Hello, noyou. Nice tie. How the hell are you?

DELORES: I've been great. And you?

(Their conversation fades down as we hear Delores' thoughts.)

DELORES (V.O.): Lain has mistaken me for this dickhead noyoushutthefuckupdad. It seems logical because Noyou also works at SPC and in fact does the same exact thing I do and he also has a penchant for B&W avatars and attending movie night. Noyou and I even go to the same barber, although I have a slightly better haircut.

During this voiceover the CAMERA WANDERS over to NOYOUSHUTTHEFUCKUPDAD, who is conferring with a colleague in the opposite corner of the room. He bears a superficial resemblance to DELORES.

LAIN: How's the Niu account going, Noyou?

DELORES (nervous): It's...it's...all right.

LAIN: Really? That's interesting.

He stares at DELORES, smiling

LAIN: Not great?

DELORES: Oh well, you know.

LAIN: And how's Hakui? She's a great girl.

DELORES: Oh yes. I'm very lucky.

HJ and SHP enter.

HJ: Hey. Lain! Congratulations on the Pawoo account.

LAIN: Thank you, eal.

SHP: Listen, Lain. Cofe?

LAIN: Call me. (Hands him a profile card)

SHP: How about Fridey?

LAIN: No can do. Got a res at eight-thirty at SunshineGardens. Great qts.

There is a stunned silence as he walks away and sits in a corner of the room, ostentatiously studying papers.

CLOSE-UP on DELORES's face, cold with hatred.

SHP (whispering): Jesus. SunshineGardens? On a Fridey nite? How'd he swing that?

HJ (whispering): I think he's lying.

DELORES takes out his wallet and pulls out a card.

SHP (suddenly enthused): Is that a 1cc?

DELORES: New profile card. What do you think?

HJ lifts it up and examines the lettering carefully.

HJ: Whoa. Very nice. Look at that.

He hands it to AUGUSTUS.

DELORES: Designed them yesterday.

AUGUSTUS: Good coloring.

DELORES: That's #333333. And the lettering is something called Helvetica Neue.

AUGUSTUS: It is very cool, Delores. But that's nothing.

He pulls a card out of his wallet and slaps it on the table.

AUGUSTUS: Look at this.

They all lean forward to inspect it.

SHP: That is really nice.

DELORES clenches his fists beneath the table, trying to control his anxiety.

AUGUSTUS: #000000 with Sans Serif type.

(Turning to DELORES)

AUGUSTUS: What do you think?

DELORES (barely able to breathe, his voice a croak): Nice.

SHP (holding the card up to the light): Jesus. This is really super. How'd a nitwit like you get so tasteful?

DELORES stares at his own card and then enviously at AUGUSTUS'.

DELORES (V.O.): I can't believe that Shp prefers Augustus' card to mine.

SHP: But wait. You ain't seen nothin' yet.

He holds up his own card.

SHP: Raised lettering, #0084B4...

DELORES (choking with anxiety): Impressive. Very nice. Let's see Lain's card.

SHP pulls a card from an inside coat pocket and holds it up for their inspection: "LAIN IWAKURA, FEDIVERSE UNITED, MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS." DELORES swallows, speechless. The sound in the room dies down and all we hear is a faint heartbeat as DELORES stares at the magnificent card.

DELORES (V.O.): Look at that subtle off-black coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God, it even has a watermark...

His hand shaking, DELORES lifts up the card and stares at it
until it fills the screen. He lets it fall. The sound returns to normal.

Bricky: Is something wrong? Delores... you're sweating.