KISS KISS GOODBYE
Episode 2: “That’s Corporate Nonsense Even For You”
FADE IN:
EXT. LUXURIOUS HOTEL BALCONY - NIGHT (FLASHFORWARD: 5 MONTHS IN THE FUTURE)
A terrace overlooking the city skyline. The party rages inside, but out here, it’s eerily quiet. The wind howls. Champagne glasses clink faintly in the distance.
A pair of SHADOWED FIGURES stand near the railing. One is trembling. The other is still. Too still.
FIGURE 1
(whispered, urgent)
We shouldn’t be here.
FIGURE 2
(low, measured)
Then leave.
A beat. The sound of fireworks in the distance. Then—
A LOUD CRASH. A GASP. Someone STUMBLES BACK—
A hand reaches out, grabbing onto the iron railing—fingers slipping.
A silent beat. Then, a BODY PLUMMETS into the darkness below.
FADE TO BLACK.
TITLE CARD: KISS KISS GOODBYE
INT. PRESTIGIOUS CONSULTING FIRM - MORNING (PRESENT DAY)
A crisp, sharp morning. Employees shuffle in, resumes in hand, eyes tired. Another day, another battle.
Danny leans against Ava’s desk, reading an email on her screen without permission.
DANNY
(mocking)
"Would love to discuss further opportunities for synergy?" That is corporate nonsense even for you, Liu.
AVA
(deadpan)
And yet, I’m the one who actually gets the clients to sign.
Danny smirks, taking a sip of Ava’s coffee like it’s his own.
JULIAN (O.S.)
(interrupting)
If you two are done flirting, we have a meeting.
They glance up—Julian leans against the doorway, bemused. Ava straightens. Danny grins, unbothered.
AVA
(beat)
We’re not flirting.
DANNY
(deflecting)
She’s right. We’d probably kill each other.
A pointed silence.
Julian gestures for them to follow. They do.
INT. BOARDROOM - LATER
Sophia Caldwell, COO, sits at the head of the table. The firm’s top brass flanking her like generals at war.
On the presentation screen: A lucrative client contract. Numbers that could make or break careers.
SOPHIA
This deal is ours to lose. Which means if any of you screw it up—
Her gaze lands on Ethan Riley, the nervous new hire.
SOPHIA
—you’re out.
Ethan swallows hard.
JULIAN
(smooth)
I have no doubt we’ll deliver.
A calculated look between Julian and Sophia. There’s a history here. A tension.
SOPHIA
I hope so.
Meeting adjourned. As people file out, Ava lingers, watching Sophia and Julian. There’s something unspoken, something just beneath the surface.
Ava isn’t the only one who notices.
Danny catches her eye. Raises an eyebrow.
She shakes her head. Later.
EXT. BAR - NIGHT
Danny, Ava, and Ethan sit in a dimly lit bar, whiskey in hand. Ethan still looks shell-shocked from the meeting.
ETHAN
(scoffs, exhaling)
Does she always threaten to fire people like that?
DANNY
(laughs)
Only when she likes you. If she wanted you gone, you’d already be a ghost.
AVA
(smirks)
Trust me, Ethan. The real threats? You don’t see them coming.
Ethan looks between them, unsure if they’re joking. He drinks.
EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT
Danny and Ava walk side by side. A chill in the air. Streetlights buzz faintly.
DANNY
You ever get the feeling that Julian and Sophia aren’t on the same page anymore?
AVA
(smirks)
Oh, they’re on the same page. They just don’t trust each other to read it right.
Danny huffs a laugh. Then—
DANNY
Things are shifting around here. Feels like we’re all being moved into place for something.
A beat. Ava looks away, her face unreadable.
DANNY
You feel it too, don’t you?
She exhales. Her eyes meet his, something guarded in them.
AVA
Everything’s changing.
FADE TO BLACK.
TO BE CONTINUED...