Second Season Finale & Obligatory Cliffhanger: 2.50
EXT. HOLLYWOOD SIGN - DAY
Seething in fury behind the second 'L', ASSISTANT/ATLAS holds in one hand a broken bottle of Jack Daniels. The other is firmly around the neck of GARTH ANCIER, who snivels as Atlas menaces him with the jagged glass.
GARTH
Oh, God, why Atlas?
ATLAS
God is dead, Garth. "7th Heaven" killed him.
A local news helicopter zooms overhead, circling in.
INT. SD-6 - SLOANE'S OFFICE - SAME TIME
SLOANE temples his fingers and smiles as he watches the live news footage of Atlas and Garth as narrated by a macho copter reporter.
REPORTER
It appears that an angry, out-of-work assistant has taken the WB's President, Garth Ancier, hostage. While the LAPD is en route, they have not yet--
Sloane pushes the mute button as MAGGIE enters his office carrying files.
MAGGIE
Sloane, I need your John Hancock on these.
(beat)
Is that a car chase or something on tv?
INT. FAMKE'S HOLLYWOOD HILLS HOME - SAME TIME
FAMKE enters, tossing her keys on the counter and strolling toward the window. Noticing the news helicopter swirling around the Hollywood sign, she steps out onto her terrace for a better look.
EXT. HOLLYWOOD SIGN - NEAR THE SECOND L - SAME TIME
As Atlas presses the glass to Garth's neck-- just strong enough to draw a single bead of blood-- and his eyes blaze with whiskey-fueled passion.
ATLAS
Oh, I'm sorry, Garth, I think your question was "Why"? Well, let me answer your question with another question: how can you run a weblet with your head up your a$$?
INT. SD-6 - SLOANE'S OFFICE - SAME TIME
Maggie lays the files in front of Sloane but keeps her eyes glued to the tv.
MAGGIE
Hey, what's going on at the Hollywood sign?
BUBBLES skips into Sloane's office.
BUBBLES
Okay, David Janollari's assistant called. Is stuff about the WB filed under Warner Brothers, or like, Viacom, or what?
This elicits surprise from Maggie and Sloane.
SLOANE
Bubbles, how did you know Warner Brothers and Viacom are affiliated?
MAGGIE
And how'd you know who David Janollari is? Last week, you asked me if David Geffen was the guy from "Charmed".
BUBBLES
Duh. Atlas gave me, like, a whole lecture on which corporation controls what other corporation. So what are you watching, a car chase?
EXT. HOLLYWOOD SIGN - BEHIND SECOND 'L' - SAME TIME
Hairpiece whipped off by the winds generated by the news copter, Garth is weeping openly.
GARTH
Please, it's not my fault.
ATLAS
So someone else put your own head up your a$$?
GARTH
I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize--
ATLAS
What-- you didn't realize that you're supposed to be catering to what people want? You didn't realize that you shouldn't insult your declining base of fans? That entertainment is about entertaining people and not trying to feed them the crap the WB studios puts out?
GARTH
Wha- what?
In the distance, LAPD sirens begin to WAIL.
INT. ATLAS AND ROOMIE'S VENICE APARTMENT - SAME TIME
The Roomie paces, ear pressed to the phone.
ROOMIE
I know, I haven't seen him for like, two days. . .
The Roomie listens for a few moments.
ROOMIE
Yeah, and last time I saw him he had a huge jug of Jack Daniels in his hand. Which is never a good sign. So you'll call me if you hear anything, right? . . .Okay, thanks. Bye.
The Roomie hangs up, worried, and looks around the empty apartment.
EXT. FAMKE'S HOME - TERRACE - SAME TIME
Famke watches the news copter circling the sign and the LAPD patrol cars winding their way toward the sign. Brow furrowed, she heads inside to her empty home.
FAMKE
Atlas, are you here? Atlas?
EXT. HOLLYWOOD SIGN - SAME TIME
Atlas hurls Garth away from him-- sending him tumbling into the back of the 'Y'.
ATLAS
You are full of sh*t, Garth. You act like you're just Hollywood's b*tch. But we both know that's not true. I'm Hollywood's b*tch. We both know you're one of the few people in this f**king industry that doesn't answer to anyone else. But you've forgotten, Garth, that you do answer to someone.
GARTH
Wha-who? The shareholders?
ATLAS
Okay, well, them, too. But you're interested in getting people's eyeballs watching your channel, Garth. And that means you answer to the people. . . you're supposed to, anyway.
The WAIL of the LAPD sirens grows closer. Garth looks toward the road, calculating if he can make a break for it.
INT. SD-6 - SLOANE'S OFFICE - SAME TIME
Sloane, Maggie and Bubbles gather close to the television.
BUBBLES
Ohmygod, doesn't the hostage-taker guy totally look like Atlas?
A flicker of a smirk crosses Sloane's face.
MAGGIE
Holy sh*t! That IS Atlas!
EXT. HOLLYWOOD SIGN - SAME TIME
Atlas, waving the jagged remains of the glass bottle, closes in on Garth, whose back is against the Hollywood sign's "Y".
ATLAS
Tell me why, Garth, why won't you bring back the Global Frequency? Why are you feeding us crap like a Jane Leeves sitcom? She wasn't even funny on "Frasier"?
GARTH
I liked her on "Frasier".
ATLAS
You would, wouldn't you, you f*cking philistine.
GARTH
What's a philistine?
INT. SD-6 - SLOANE'S OFFICE - SAME TIME
Maggie looks accusingly at Sloane.
MAGGIE
Sloane. What did you do?
SLOANE
Nothing. It's not my fault he's seriously psychotic.
MAGGIE
He wasn't psychotic before he was your assistant!
INT./EXT. FAMKE'S HOLLYWOOD HILLS HOME - SAME TIME
Famke, bored, plucks a set of binoculars from a closet and heads out onto her terrace to scope out whatever is unfolding near the Hollywood sign. She can't see Garth, but when she sees Atlas, see drops her binoculars.
FAMKE
Madre de Dios!
And rushes out the door. . .
EXT. HOLLYWOOD SIGN - SAME TIME
Atlas gazes out at the mansions nestled in the hills around him. Garth edges toward the road leading away from the Hollywood sign.
ATLAS
I didn't start this so I could get one of those mansions. I'm happy with an apartment in Venice. Do you know why I started, Garth? Why I became an assistant?
GARTH
Um. . .no, why?
ATLAS
Because I wanted to make beautiful art. Or at least interesting movies. God, how naive is that?
Garth says nothing, but rises to his knees.
ATLAS [con't]
I thought that if I just put in my time, did the work, eventually I'd be able to get my own thing going. Or at least, influence things, make a difference, improve Hollywood and maybe the world. But you know what, Garth? F*ck that. I'm done with it. All I want to do now is destroy it. Destroy it all.
Suddenly, Garth makes a break for it-- racing toward the approaching LAPD cars. Atlas charges after him, tackling the tubby exec and sending them both sliding down the hill toward a precipice.
Atlas manages to halt their slide just as they go over a cliff, grabbing a scrubby plant with one hand and Garth's arm with the other.
Atlas and Garth hang over a 200-ft. drop, held up only by Atlas' grip on the small plant. Atlas strains, to no avail, to pull himself and Garth up. Atlas shrieks with laughter then smiles down at Garth.
ATLAS
Motherf*cker. You're so heavy now I know you're full of sh*t.
TO BE CONTINUED. . .
Credits:
Chad Michael Murray as Atlas
Ron Rifkin as SloaneJoan Cusack as Maggie
Jane Horrocks as BubblesJoshua Jackson as The Roomie
Famke Janssen as FamkeSpecial thanks to Garth Ancier for stopping by.
Thanks, Garth.
posted by Assistant Atlas at 1:04 PM
19 Comments:
*Sly Chuckle*
Good start Atlas. Clever.
2:23 PM
Good, Atlas, me likee this post. But why is there a huge picture of the NBC logo behind Garth if he's the WB's president?
2:36 PM
Madre de dios!
5:03 PM
Dude, by now everyone in the town has an idea of who you are. There is no anonymity here, so I guess if the idea is to revel in self-pity whilst collecting a sympathy vote / fuck / job offer; well, right on. Could work for you.
But lets face it, man, it's probably not going to. The world has bigger teeth than you, and the tiny bite-marks you leave will be forgotten by tomorrow lunch-time.
15 minutes might be enough for some...but you should be more astute and ambitious.
Good luck. You are going to need it very, very soon.
8:19 PM
The blog was funny. Now it's whining and pitiable.
I venture there are two AA's. The heroic, down-but-not-out, 'I'm right and they are wrong' AA of this Blog.
And the AA who is being treated with extreme suspicion at every meeting he's taking right now, and wondering why he ain't getting the gig when his references are pulled.
The term 'shitting in your own nest' comes to mind.
9:31 PM
Ouch. It is amazing to me that people feel the need to comment with such criticism. I read this blog because it is well written with humor and humility. I think you are a good writer, I believe you started this blog just to write. To think some readers assume that you are just out for "15 minutes" is ridiculous.
Does anyone know how hard it is to get readers to click on your blog? Not to mention, you have to capture their attention long enough for them to like what they read. I read two blogs, this one and dooce.com. Two blogs. The chances are other Interneters only read two blogs and yours probably isn't one of them.
If Atlas really is trying to garner fame for himself, don't you think we'd know his name right now? I mean the definition of "15 minutes" means people know your name and recognize your face. Bloggers don’t write to get fame and fortune. They write because it’s a form of personal expression and they continue to write because it’s what makes them happy. And it keeps them slitting their wrists at a job they hate or reverting to alcoholism to cases of unemployment.
Frankly Atlas, I'm surprised these losers know how to read let alone convey actually coherent thoughts.
Them there schooling is gettin better in Alabama. (Not to insinuate that people from Alabama are uneducated. Please send all hate mail to princessgraceisgreat.blogspot.com)
4:54 AM
Wow. I have no idea who Atlas is, other than someone I like to read.
I also don't care. A good read is a good read, and fun is fun.
Lemme guess... you're the one who called me a 'commie' twice, right?
4:26 PM
m. and grace, let me guess, you're not from LA. The industry as a whole may be a medium sized world, but the agency assistant world is definitely a small one. I've read and loved this blog for quite a while now, but c'mon Atlas, for the sake of yourself and your future around here...forget everyone else's fun and let it go.
I work at one of the places you applied, and yeah, a couple of us were pretty damn sure it was you. There's no fighting the machine from the outside, and if people recognize your big wooden horse, you won't be getting back in anytime soon. The Thought Police must be sabotaged, we need you on our team Winston!
4:45 PM
Hey Anon@4:45-- does he really look like Chad Michael Murray? Also-- why didn't you help him get the job, especially if you knew it was him [or were pretty damn sure]? I think he'd probably be a blast to work with, don't you? Just curious.
4:56 PM
ARRGGHH! Atlas! Look at that. You're sparking widespread discrimination against us tall, blond male assistant wannabes.
Although I guess to be fair, it is the first time in my life I've been discriminated against for being a blond male and/or vaguely resembling Chad Michael Murray.
[but I really need a friggin' job]
5:00 PM
Great. So when applying for any agency assistant job in the industry, it's now necessary to specify that one isn't Assistant/Atlas? F8cking bloggers.
[I do love your blog, though, A/A, it amuses the piss out of me]
6:03 PM
Hey Anon@4.46
Would you help someone to get a job knowing that they get their kicks from broadcasting the way you smell / eat / talk / fuck???
What if they broadcast how you were fucking the boss? Or the way you fuck up things all day? How stupid you were?
What if you were'nt any of those things, and the person you employed was just a talentless, bitter twink with a turn of phrase?
Oh yeah. I'd help the dude. Jesus.
6:33 PM
I think the question is-- is Atlas evil? Or a victim of circumstance? Would he be such a 'bitter twink' [aren't twinks gay guys, btw?] if he worked someplace that wasn't so messed up? Of course, he's not likely to find such a place in Hollywood, but that's beside the point.
The question is: if Atlas somehow gets a job someplace that isn't like SD-6 would his blog still be all about how he hates his boss/job? Or would it become something else?
But personally, I think the most important question is-- would it still be funny?
8:07 PM
Way to go fuckface. I told you not to get an avatar or talk about what you look like. And now I find out I may have been screwed out of my big agency gig b/c they think I was you-- dammit, Atlas. Damn you and your resemblance to Chad Michael Murray.
(Don't worry, Atlas, I still like you as a person even if I now hate your blog-- most of that was self-hatred seeping through)
10:21 PM
I know that the assistant world is probably a very small one, but really how f*cked is it that every agency now is paranoid that some guy applying is A/A? And shouldn't said agencies be, Oh I don't know, working instead of reading some guy's blog? And how many hits does A/A really get a day, I know they can't all be from people in the industry. And does he really resemble Chad Michael Murray so much? And it's H'wood you mean to tell me that all assistant's aren't blond?
Enough ranting...but really A/A I kinda agree with some other posters...you've gotten a little whiny.
8:09 AM
Jeez, I'm gone for one day and my comments light up like a slot machine. Frankly, I don't even know where to start. The fact that this blog could be causing discrimination against blond guy assistants is actually really disturbing-- and let me assure you, a totally unwanted side effect of my blogging. Indy, if it's true that this was the reason you didn't get the job, I'm really, REALLY sorry. [don't worry man, you're phenomenally talented, you'll find something] And if that's true about anyone else, I'm also sorry to them to.
Also: I am not evil. I would love to just become a blogger who takes potshots at stupid pop cultural phenomena and likes his job/boss to the point where I either don't talk about them or reserve myself to praise or just describing wacky situations in which we all find ourselves. [thus my pleas for JJ Abrams to rescue me]
Frankly, I didn't consider that I could be popular enough that the big agencies would've heard of me, let alone become extremely wary of all blond assistants.
And finally, I'm glad that even the guy who referred to me as a 'talentless, bitter twink' said I could turn a phrase. Awww, shucks, thanks for the back-handed, vaguely homophobic compliment.
So in conclusion:
Oopsie, sorry.
I'm not evil.
I'm THAT popular?
F*ck off.
10:23 AM
Just out of curiosity, what is a philistine, anyway? I've heard that often but never had the courage to ask.
11:36 AM
[[formerly Anon of 4:45pm]]
Woah, calm down my paranoid jobseekers. I should have been more clear, my apologies. What I was referring to wasn't really about looks. So all you other tall blond kids can relax. And no, I don't think you have a big agent and other exec following on your blog (though I'd bet you have a pretty big assistant following). However, I do know that references are checked incredibly thoroughly. Some references from certain former employers are more odd than others. Even assuming Sloane followed through with your arrangement (which I wouldn't put money on), would the reference that comes from blackmail be equal to one that didn't?
to the doof who was Anon at 4:56--I guess the words "machine", "sabotaged", and the 1984 reference weren't enough to enlighten you to the fact that I have no power. Even if for some strange reason I was in the position to give a positive referral, wouldn't it be a little sketchy to do it midway into the hiring process? And what if I was asked how I knew him? You want to me to make up a whole load of shit for someone whose blog I read?
and to joshua--ever heard of dictionary.com? m-w.com? you don't need courage, just use the frickin resource you're already sitting in front of!
12:46 PM
12:46 Anon, Artist formerly known as Anon 4:46...
I want to read more of you. Pass the blogging torch!
10:54 AM
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