ACT 8
FADE IN:
INT. MARVIN'S OFFICE -- DAY
ALICIA and MARCUS sit across from each other. Distant. Detached.
After a beat, the door opens.
MARVIN, an elderly Black man in a suit, steps in.
MARVIN
Alicia and Marcus, the grandkids I never asked for.
(laughs to himself)
Welcome back. Follow me.
They follow him into his office.
INT. MARVIN'S OFFICE -- CONTINUOUS
They sit.
ALICIA
They can't cancel me. I made them. I'm the reason anyone and I mean anyone gives a damn about them and their snake oil ass products.
MARVIN
Alicia, Fat Fighters is a $130M company who isn't just endorsed by you, but some of the biggest and most relevant in the game. They--
ALICIA
Oh you saying I'm not relevant now. I'm expendable. Damaged goods. This guilt trip shit isn't gonna get you paid Marvin. You think I'm not smart enough to read through your motherfucking games. I see the chess board, I'm not no pawn, I'm the king of this shit.
MARVIN
Alicia. This isn't about you or your standing in the mainstream. But if you want to make it about that we can. Whoever this Nate fellow is, he effectively just voided a possible $200K endorsement deal for you all because he couldn't keep his homophobia to himself. And I wouldn't have called you to my office if you guys didn't need the cash. Alicia, you're borderline jobless, I admire your ambition for trying to use your name to build up your own thing. But your venture is bleeding money and I don't see a path to profitability.
MARCUS
I told her ass she shoulda kept her day job. Network guidelines is the only reason her crazy ass hasn't gotten the family murked yet. It's cool though, ima get us right for real.
MARVIN
I appreciate your enthusiasm, could you elaborate how you plan to make things right.
Marcus pulls out his phone.
INSERT -- PHONE SCREEN (TIKTOK VIDEO)
813 likes. 5 comments. 8 shares.
MARCUS (V.O. -- VIDEO)
Stop being a bitch and get rich. Yall some grown ass men who ain't got it figured it out, still leaching still bumming, still broke. It's 2026 use your motherfucking resources, the same screen yall using to hear me say this shit is the same screen that you can use to get you a bag. The method I can put yall onto made me way more money I ever made in the league, but I'm only giving the sauce to those who won't let it go to waste. Hit my DMs, and let's work.
BACK TO SCENE
MARVIN
Well I'm glad to see you leveraging social media to keep your star alive. So how do you plan to turn this into a sustainable income flow?
MARCUS
Business is already booming. That video almost got a thousand likes and I had like 15 people reach out to me asking me to learn more about what I have to offer. And once they sign up, that's where the cash is about to be big flowing.
ALICIA
(laughing)
You can't be serious.
MARVIN
Wait before you get back at her, what exactly are you offering.
MARCUS
My homie put me on to this gambling shit, he tells me news about shit going down in the league some of its facts, some of it not so much. Either way I charge $500 a month for all that intel and if they bet on certain players I get a cut from my dog who's a bookie. He said I can clear $2M this year if I stay at it.
MARVIN
Marcus, I'm not a lawyer I have no legal background whatsoever. But this sounds like a slippery slope that could lead you down a very dark road with no turning back. And by dark road, I mean jail.
ALICIA
You know what, this could be really good for the family and the future of our relationship. I'm just picturing how sweet life would be with you in orange jumpsuits getting scared straight and staying out the way. I think you found your stride honey.
MARVIN
Sarcasm isn't going to cure our debt crisis, the $25K in the hole you guys are in for the show is just the tip of the iceberg, sure in total liquidity you guys have $3M combined between you guys across all your assets. But considering we have no money coming in, and a lot of money coming out, that $3M will turn into $3 if you guys don't find a non homophobic or SEC scrutinized income source. And frankly, you guys dynamic might be your only saving grace. I don't give a damn about your personal lives, but the people do, and if you can get them to tune in, we can get this show another season and with that another paycheck.
Alicia and Marcus lock eyes.
CUT TO BLACK.
INT. VET CLINIC -- DAY
JANICE stands with her MANAGER.
MANAGER
Come see this, Janice.
Janice approaches. The manager holds a letter.
INSERT -- LETTER (NATE V.O.)
NATE (V.O.)
Dear Orange County Pet Clinic, I'm a heartbroken former customer of yours that's sorry for what he did. I pretty much threw away my life all because I thought you guys harmed my cat. And I was on my way to return the favor. I thought I saw my cat Rhea's claws broken because of what you guys did. But I remember being told by the same clinic who I wrote off just because he was homosexual telling me that Rhea has a clawing problem and that the gloves he left me with should help. I didn't listen. I took my anger out on the wrong people, and I let my ignorance cost me everything. I hope you guys keep doing what you do and I'm truly sorry. -- Nate Johnson. P.S If I wasn't moving back to Iowa, I'd definitely be a client for life.
BACK TO SCENE
JANICE
Wow, uhm, thanks for sharing this. I didn't really help the guy all too much but it's good to see him learn from his mistakes.
MANAGER
Janice, I know your ties to Thomas family, and I know that this guy was with Alicia the day he walked in. He seems unstable and I encourage you to maybe let Alicia know that he's not only a homophobe but maybe a fucking serial killer too.
JANICE
He's moving back to Iowa, and I think Alicia and him aren't together anymore. But thanks again for the concern.
EXT. VET CLINIC -- DAY
Janice walks away, pulling out her phone.
TEXT ON SCREEN: "Hey, I'm sorry about you and Na--"
Tears fall onto her phone. She stops. Calls Marcus instead.
INTERCUT -- PHONE CALL
MARCUS (V.O.)
Janice, what's good you coming in for your shift tonight?
JANICE
Shift tonight? I thought we were going to binge The Bachelor tonight.
MARCUS
Duh I haven't forgot, I just might need you to come later than usual. Alicia and I got the kids a tutor so they might not be home till like 2-3 hours than what you were scheduled for. Forgot to tell you earlier my bad.
JANICE
Oh okay, no problem, well I'll see you soon, baby.
MARCUS
Yeah yeah, I'll see you.
Call ends.
Janice stands there. Confused. Uneasy.
INT. BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Marcus and Alicia in bed.
ALICIA
There's no way she fucks better than me. Be real with me.
MARCUS
(intimate)
If she fucked better than you I wouldn't be fucking you right now, would I?
ALICIA
(laughs)
I guess not. I can also say that you hit it way better than white boy ever could. Today reminded me why I used to love your goof ass.
MARCUS
'Licia be real with me, do you really think your fans won't tear you a new one if they see us back together on tomorrow's episode.
ALICIA
Baby you heard Marvin. We got to do whatever the fuck we can to keep up this lifestyle, keep the kids in private school, keep Vet girl paid, and I miss our chemistry, and I think they will too.
They start kissing.
EXT. SUBURBAN STREET -- NIGHT
A car pulls in.
MUSIC: "Weeknd" by SZA.
Inside: Marcus, Alicia, kids in back. Disney bags everywhere. Mickey Mouse ears. Temporary tattoos.
Rearview mirror -- JANICE'S CAR behind them.
MARCUS
Fuck.
ALICIA
Don't cuss in front of your kids, Marcus. What's going on though?
MARCUS
Look behind us.
They pull into the driveway. Janice follows. Everyone exits. Kids rush to Janice's car.
RAY
Miss Janice! Miss Janice! I met Mickey Mouse! I met Mickey Mouse!
Janice, shaken, rolls down the window slightly.
JANICE
So happy for you guys. Can you tell your parents, I only came to tell them I wasn't working today.
She rolls it back up. Drives off.
DRIVING MONTAGE -- NIGHT
Janice driving. Crying. Breaking down.
MUSIC: "1-800-273-8255" by Alessia Cara (her part).
Camera stays on her.
FADE OUT.