Savages

56

INT. MONTAGE SUITE – DAY

ALEX

We view Ben and Chon’s as a prestige product—a good cut above the norm—and we would continue to market it that way. We’re very aware—and appreciative—of the fact that you have a dedicated customer base with a prime demographic, and the last thing we want to do is disrupt that.

JAIME

Concur. Absolutely.

BEN

I’m glad to hear it.

ALEX

On the other hand—

CHON

Here it comes.

ALEX

—on the other hand, your sales structure—and I think you’d admit this, Ben, if you were to be really candid—is wasteful and inefficient. You’re very liberal in your compensation policies, your profit margin is nowhere near where it should be—

BEN

According to you.

ALEX

No, that’s right, according to us, and we want to reorganize that to bring it up to where it can be.

JAIME

Maximize its full potential. Think “greatest and highest use,” Ben.

Ben gets up, pours an iced tea, and walks around the room.

BEN

You’re smart enough to realize that our retail customers—the high demographic that you value—are used to buying the product from the people that they’re used to buying it from. It’s more than just a business relationship. If you try to replace those people with …

CHON

A bunch of Mexican field hands.

BEN

. . . an anonymous sales force, it just won’t work.

ALEX

That’s where we’re counting on you, Ben.

BEN

How so?

ALEX

To deliver your prime customer base along with your fine product.

CUT TO: