PsychoBusters, The Movie, Scene Two

Dan and Craig go out to lunch - Autumn 1997

It's just like the plot from, “Throw Mama from the Train.” Craig said boisterously, as he lumbered along next to Dan on the way to lunch from their posh corporate offices at Green Hills Software, Inc. Both liked the Japanese restaurant around the corner, which had the best lunch specials. Craig had gotten to like Japanese food while he was opening up the Japanese market for the company several years before.

Dan showed no obvious reaction to Craig's excited statement, but it had, after all been Dan's idea, and Dan being Dan, this had not been sudden. Craig could tell now he had been thinking about it for a while.

Dan, a short and desiccated little man looked odd walking beside the galumphing bulk of Craig, who was both taller and far wider. The two generally had lunch together, leaving the pristine confines of the building for their confidential discussions about business and getting more money and business.

Today, Dan was presenting a deal he had worked out in his mind over the last several years.

Dan, CEO, had an appendage he wanted to dump, in this case the appendage was Glenn Hightower, the venture capitalist and former employer who had originally funded Green Hills. This would be tricky, as Glenn was perfectly able to get funding to buy Dan out at a price far higher than Dan could swing since Glenn owned three successful companies. So it would take some real finessing.

Max, Dan could manage the sudden death buyout for 47 million – but the company was worth 350 million. This is why he needed to make it impossible for Hightower to get funding. Craig was necessary for this because the employees trusted him and Dan could not afford to bribe them directly.

Dan had been listening to Craig grouse about his wife for several weeks now.

Craig also had an appendage he wanted to dump, his wife, Melinda who had just saved him from the IRS and so gotten the idea she had something to say about how their money was spent – since at the same time she had gotten $250,000 back and saved them from foreclosure and losing their home when it came to light Craig had lied about filing his taxes.

After the initial relief, about which Craig had told him, Dan knew his Senior Vice President had moved on to feeling fenced in. Even though always being on the edge financially had been annoying he could see Craig also found it stimulating and exciting. Dan could read him like a book, after all these years.

He watched as Craig frowned. Melinda had strongly resisted the idea of taking a header on the speculative stock deal he had found, another dumb idea, Dan knew, but, hey, it kept him needing loans and on the job.

Craig had been the secret ingredient which saved his ass when it looked like he would need to go back to Glenn for more funding in 1995. Craig had made their first sales – before he even worked for him or they had spoken. Craig was brilliant, no doubt, just dumb about everything except code and computers.

Dan had learned to watch Craig process. Now, he was thinking about Melinda, and he was frowning. She thought they should save their money. How dumb could you be?

With her out of the way.....so many things would be possible. Craig's face lightened.

Craig ordered first, after they sat down.

“What do you want me to do?” Craig leaned slightly over the table toward Dan. Leaning was hard for Craig because of his gut.

Dan sat back and looked at him for a moment in that dry way he had. “You can't talk about this. If we keep our mouths shut no one will know. But it you talk...if Glenn can prove anything...” “Hey, you know you can trust me.

Visions of women, really, really young ones, started spiraling through Craig's brain. Yes. He could see it.

He would need to get help with that...his mind plunged into the problem, finding a solution.

Morgan, perfect. And the timing could not be better. Melinda was in the hospital all the time with Arthur, who had stupidly creamed himself and not had the decency to just die. Arthur was his adopted son. He had adopted him along with his sisters. But the sisters, blond and gorgeous, he had had a use for. Melinda had gotten in the way there, too.

If he paid Morgan, the oldest one, she would do whatever he asked.

“You know, Melinda's heart is not good. This might actually kill her.” He smiled at Dan, who nodded, looking down at his menu. “That would simplify things.” He looked up.

The waiter was looking from one to the other expectantly.

Craig peered over at the specials, “umm...Humm...No. I'll take the salmon, extra sauce... give me extra of everything.” Dan grimaced slightly, leaning toward him.

“This has to happen fast and smoothly, remember. No loose ends.”

“Loose ends? Me? Never!”

PsychoBusters, The Movie - Opening Scene

Will it be a movie - or a mini-series?  Time will tell, but we are telling all.  PsychoBusters, The Movie 

The Melinda and Wendy 

The black Bentley Limo rolled up to the curb at St. James Episcopal Church after circling the block. Inside, the jump seat emptied as Lady Wendy, Viscountess Mandeville, stepped out of the car wearing a deep blue dress, banded in narrow white accents at the neckline and sleeves.

People were quietly filing into the church. Lady Wendy paused, taking in the sense of mourning.

Next out of the Bentley was her husband, Lord Alexander, Viscount Mandeville, followed by Michael Jackson.

Lady Wendy later had a hard time remembering who else she saw. From the time she had heard Princess Diana had died of her injuries she had been caught up in shock. The things which stayed with her were the vivid moments which resonated with her own sense of loss and shock.

On the way home from a friends she had seen automobiles stopped at the side of the road. One driver's head was down on her steering wheel, crying. Walking into her home, next to the 405 Freeway in Costa Mesa, a 900 square foot, two bedroom condo, with one tiny bath, she felt numb. She had never met Diana, never imagined she would – but knowing she was in the world had become a bright place on her horizon.

As the week unfolded Wendy followed every piece of news.

When Diana had married in 1981 it had seemed like a fairy tale, a girl finding true love, something Wendy had also, like so many girls, begun to dream of. As her own life had moved forward Wendy had also understood the shocks Diana had endured as her marriage unraveled into something very different.

Staying up through the night of the funeral service, tears streaming down her face, Wendy had grieved with most of the world for the People's Princess, as her husband, Lord Alex snored beside her, just as he had when she woke him to tell him Diana had died of her injuries on August 31^st.

When Alex called Wendy at work with the news there would be a memorial service in Los Angeles, several days later, had seemed like a chance for closure, to say goodby. Calling her at work was something Alex did not seem to be able to help doing. Not working himself, he was a stay-at-home mom to their son, Alex, Jr.

Wendy's job as a receptionist at a prestigious law firm provided a sanctuary from a marriage which had rapidly devolved into a nightmare. The job also keep the rent paid, when Alex actually decided to write a check. Wendy enjoyed her time at the office, where life was more normal, she had been there since she was 20 years old.

As Alex told her about the service Wendy felt slightly giddy. Marriage to an English peer had been starkly without any of the accoutrements of glamor or privilege before. They could barely afford their small condo and the bills were never really entirely paid.

To somehow be closer to the woman who had inspired her, and so many people around the world, this would be worth remembering.

Alex had called to tell her, as he often did, he was going to see a 'business associate,' who did detailing on high end cars near Beverly Hills. Wendy no longer wanted to know what kind of 'business' Alex was into anymore. Too much water under that bridge. Just a few weeks before Alex, Jr. was born in 1993 Alex had called to tell her he was, 'alright.' and the accident was not his fault. As it turned out, it was his fault. He had totaled her last car, a modest but sturdy Nissan, which she had proudly bought new. Alex used her insurance money to put a down payment on the Jaguar he wanted. She had to dig into her 401K to prevent it from being repossessed, soon after the baby was born.

But when the phone rang a couple of hours later in her word day his voice was filled with real excitement.

“Wendy! You are not going to believe this. My friend Mark at the detailing shop, has talked to Michael Jackson and he wants to come with us to the Memorial Service, and bring Elizabeth Taylor.”

The next days were chaos. Liz had not been able to make it, but Michael had met them at the detailing shop so they could drive, together, to St. John's for the service. Later, a letter of apology, and flowers arrived from Ms. Burton. Wendy, as was their practice, wrote the thank you note for Alex to send.

It was as if she had entered another world. Listening to the service, Michael Jackson sitting beside her, seemed unreal at first. Then, the words of the hymn brought back the enormity of Diana's death and the reality of her own very different life. She tried to stop the tears but they began to well up in her eyes. She felt as a shock of understanding and comfort, Michael's touch as, sensing her pain, he put his arm around her back and gave her a warm and gentle hug.

After the memorial ended, the minister leaned in, speaking briefly to Michael. They were to leave out of the rear of the church. The media had been notified of his presence.

Walking out into a blaze of cameras Wendy felt like the proverbial deer in the headlights.

Then, they were walking into the suite at the Hyatt Alex had managed to get by telling the management, yet again, he was the Ambassador for the Royal Family. Briefly, Wendy cringed. She knew well he had never met any one of them.

The next two hours were magic, as Michael played hide and seek with Little Alex as his father filmed and made comments.

From some deep place within her Wendy knew why it was important to Michael to be at the service, as it was for her. Diana represented a way out of the quagmire which was life for so many, no matter how poor, or how privileged. 

This is a story which will take you through the full spectrum of emotions. 

INTEGRITY

The meaning of the word, Integrity.

in·teg·ri·ty

n.

1. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.

2. The state of being unimpaired; soundness.

3. The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.

If a man engages in a scheme to violate the law, suborning the justice system to gain power and wealth, while destroying the lives of an entire family and putting some of them at risk of their lives, does he have any claim to 'integrity?' 

And what if the list of crimes the man enabled and covered for includes placing uncounted women and girls at  risk?  Paying off victims, or intimidating them into silence?  

And if such a man hides behind the cloak of power to cover his crimes, what is he then?  

Our country, today, is waking up to question those who have been entrusted with power.  One of the first questions to be asked is what can be proven of their integrity?  Have  they honored their obligation to follow the law, used power in ways which made all of us safer, more secure in our homes and lives? 

What is, instead, profits are accruing from the very means used to enslave Americans, for instance drone technology? 

According to this article, "Thomas Jefferson’s Home Town First to Ban Drone Surveillance," the movement to stop drones, used domestically, is now launched. 

But for those without INTEGRITY it is  all about the money, greed, and an unbridled lust for power and control. 

America needs individuals who use their discernment to question what they are asked to do and the integrity to say, 'no,' even when they stand to profit.  

Our institutions, government, courts, commerce, should be always in the hands of those possessing only the highest integrity. 
 

If a man guilty of such offenses then uses the word, INTEGRITY, for his main product, what does that say about him?

The use of the word could well be an attempt to cover, even possibly, to himself, the full import of his actions.

This is the question we will be examining.