[Alex]: Let me guess, we can't do Senator Elton's party. 

[Emma]: You know he's just doing it to rub it in our face.

[Alex]: He's paying us a lot of money. He can rub whatever he wants!

[Emma]: Oh, very poor choice of words Mr. Knightley.

[Alex]: Can we give him the benefit of the doubt for a minute?

[Emma]: State Senator Scumbag does not get benefits.

[Alex]: He says he wants our event planning services. Maybe he just wants a good engagement party. Maybe he was being honest when he said he heard about what we did for Ms. Bate's benefit.

[Emma]: But he fired us!

[Alex]: And then he rehired us!

[Emma]: He's a jerk!

[Alex]: He's a jerk because we failed him!

[Emma]: His fiance is too high maintenance.

[Alex]: (Begins to speak but holds back.)

[Emma]: You were going to say I'm high maintenance, weren't you?

[Alex]: Nope.

[Intro music]

[Emma]: Spit it out.

[Alex]: Well, if it wasn't clear the man's got a type, it is now. Can you at least accept that he's got good taste?

[Emma]: He does have that going for him.

[Alex]: And you do remember that he was one of our biggest clients.

[Emma]: Was. Keyword, was.

[Alex]: Look the Eltons are moving forward, so you need to make a decision now.

[Emma]: We do know he likes to make fast decisions.

[Alex]: Emma, Maddy's benefit was a great idea, and it was a very noble thing of you to do. It was a big success.

[Emma]: I know, right?

[Alex]: We have yet to get any new clients because of it.

[Emma]: The other clients are coming. It just takes time. Have faith.

[Alex]: Faith, I have.  client is here! Now! So take it.

[Emma]: Are you telling me to betray my morals for money?

[Alex]: No, I'm saying, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

[Emma]: Never understood that analogy.

[Alex]: Look, this is really simple. Just do it for the money.

[Emma]: Why?

[Alex]:Because we need it.

[Emma]: To be continued, Mr. Knightley. To be...continued.

[Emma has left Alex and appears solo]

[Emma]: So Alex "Show Me The Money" Knightley really wants me to take on Senator James Elton and his fiancée as clients. Caroline was nice enough, very enthusiastic about the party. She also really wants me to plan it. I have actually heard some things about her, and well, let's just say that the feedback is mixed. 

We know some of the same people, and I know she is smart, sophisticated, and has amazing hair. But that does not make her better than Harriet. 

Harriet's got a heart of gold and nothing can take away from that, but what if telling her about the engagement sets back her recovery? She was doing so well, working hard, getting the job done, channelling her emotions into work and music. But with all the speculation going on, yes, it's better to tell her now. Band-aid approach.

[Emma goes to Harriet's desk]

[Emma]: Harriet, I have some bad news.

[Harriet]: What happened? Is the printer jammed again? 

[Emma]: This is a little worse.

[Harriet]: What is it?

[Emma]: Senator Elton is engaged.

[Harriet]: Oh, that's great. For him.

[Emma]: There's more.

[Harriet]: More?

[Emma]: He wants us to plan the engagement party. 

[Harriet]: Well, you are the best in the business.

[Emma]: I am, but I get a feeling that's not all there is here.

[Harriet]: He must have heard about the amazing job we did at the Maddy Bate's benefit.

[Emma]: He did. We made some great contacts there.

[Harriet]: What's she like?

[Emma]: Who?

[Harriet]: His fiancée, what's she like?

[Emma]: Oh, Caroline. Well, aside from her incredibly shiny hair, she's okay.

[Harriet]: She must have something really special for him to propose so fast.

[Emma]: Listen to me Harriet, Caroline Lee is not better than you. Remember that. 

[Harriet]: Okay. So when do we start working?

[Emma]: I'm not even sure if I really want to take the job. 

[Harriet]: Oh, but we have to. Think of all the important people that will be at the party.

[Emma]: Harriet, you are the most important person in all of this. I'm worried that you may still have feelings for Senator Elton.

[Harriet]: I don't. I wrote a song about it.

[Emma]: It was a great song. I just know that you felt very strongly for him. 

[Harriet]: I did, but I think I was more in love with the idea of him. I didn't really know him.

[Emma]: Neither of us did.

[Harriet]: Emma, I would be happy to take on this new and challenging project.

[Emma]: Thank you, Harriet.

[Emma walks away and goes solo]

[Emma]: I appreciate Harriet's "can do" attitude, very admirable, but there is a lot she is not considering. If we take the Senator and his fiance on as clients, she'll have to see them frequently and hear about how happy he is with Caroline, and how much of a good fit she is for him. The last thing I need is for Harriet to have another setback. She was doing so well and she needs to get past this.

[Alex enters]

[Alex]: Is that what you're really worried about? Harriet?

[Emma]: Of course I'm worried about Harriet. This is personal for her and I'm not going to make the same mistake again.

[Alex]: Harriet is stronger than you think. She can handle this, I'm sure.

[Emma]: He broke her heart, Alex.

[Alex]: That was three months ago. And look at all that she's accomplished. She's writing songs, she got a promotion. 

[Emma]: Yes, she's come a long way.

[Alex]: And who helped her through all of that?

[Emma]: I did because it was my responsibility. It was my fault that she felt that way, and she's my friend.

[Alex]: And, like you said, she's become better and stronger because of it. Don't doubt your own accomplishments.

[Emma]: I'm not.

[Alex]: Then you're doubting Harriet.

[Emma]: No, no. It's just... [she trails off]

[Alex]: Can we look at this another way?

[Emma]: Your way?

[Alex]: Just go with me for a second. What if we look at this as, an opportunity?

[Emma]: An opportunity to make money.

[Alex]: I'll admit that the money is good, but beyond that, what if we look at this as an opportunity for all of us?

[Emma]: Oh, an opportunity for REVENGE!

[Alex]: I was thinking more so along the lines of redemption.

[Emma]: Oh, that's so much better. Redemption.

[Alex]: I mean, he was your first failure, after all.

[Emma]: Thank you for reminding me.

[Alex]: That's what I'm here for. 

[Emma]: If we do this, we have to be careful. For all of us.

[Alex]: Agreed. Just remember that there is a very real outcome here where everybody wins. Harriet, the Eltons, our finances, and you. 

[Emma]: Okay. Let's do it. 

[Alex]: I'll let them know. 

[Emma]: You do that, Mr. Knightley, and soon we will have our REDEMPTION! It's not the same ring.

[END]