NOAH and JACK are in their apartment. NOAH walks out of his bedroom looking tired, while JACK is in their common area.
JACK
Noah? What are you doing up so early?
NOAH
I couldn’t sleep. Too anxious about these ratings.
JACK
Hold on, I’m getting a call.
JACK looks down at his phone. It’s MARTIN, an executive from The DC Network.
JACK
Come here, it’s The DC Network.
JACK answers the phone and puts it on speaker for NOAH to hear.
JACK
Hello?
MARTIN
Hello Jack, do you have a minute?
JACK
Yes, what’s the issue?
MARTIN
The second week ratings.
JACK
What’s the verdict?
MARTIN
Down 30 percent from the premiere.
JACK
Oh. Yikes.
MARTIN
Yeah. Listen, you’re going to need to take the show in a new direction if you want it to have any chance of success.
JACK
I understand. One question—
MARTIN
Sorry, I have to go, my coffee’s here.
MARTIN hangs up the phone.
NOAH
I have an idea.
JACK
Say it!
NOAH
We have the characters close up shop and open up a new place. Maybe it’s the setting that’s off-putting.
JACK
Like where?
NOAH
Broadway. We do some musical numbers, get nominated for awards, and then they’d have to renew us!
JACK
I was thinking more along the lines of adding in some characters. Isn’t that what you suggested last week?
NOAH
Yeah, but I’m over that. Plus, where are we gonna get the budget to add new cast members?
JACK
Okay then. Maybe we make it less of an ensemble and more focused on a certain character or two?
NOAH
Who’s your favorite character?
JACK
I kinda like Jia. You?
NOAH
We’re not too far in. No emotional attachments yet.
JACK
Should we get Ed’s take?
NOAH
He probably doesn’t even know their names!
JACK
Then it’s decided. We focus more on Jia and less on the other characters.
NOAH
And we also set it on Broadway.
JACK
Already shot that idea down.
NOAH
Fine. Now it’s time for me to pour a glass of cereal and eat some orange juice.
JACK [to himself]
Yep, he’s too tired to even have a good idea.