INT. MASRY & VITITOE – MAIN ROOM – DAY

Ed and Erin come out and see DAVID BAUM waiting at reception. Forget law school, this kid looks like he’s just out of twelfth grade. Not a hair on his chin. His suit and shoes look brand new.

Ed stops suddenly, before being seen. Erin stops too.

ERIN: What?

Ed’s expression upon seeing the “young” representative tells us he’s none too happy.

INT. MASRY & VITITOE – CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY

Ed and Erin are seated across the table from Baum. To say this kid lacks authority is a gross understatement. He doesn’t talk; he squeaks.

BAUM: …in the interest of putting this whole thing to rest, PG&E is willing to offer the Irvings 250,000 dollars for their home.

Ed laughs a little in disbelief.

ED: 250,000?
BAUM: In terms of land value out in Hinkley, Mr. Masry, we feel it’s more than fair price.
ED: What about in terms of medical expenses? 250,000 doesn’t come close to what this family’s gonna have to spend on doctors.
BAUM: I understand they’ve had a bad run of luck, health-wise, and they have my sympathies. But that’s not PG&E’s fault.
ED: You’re kidding, right?

Baum doesn’t answer.

ED: Look at these readings for Christ’s sake. PG&E’s own technicians documented toxic levels of hexavalent chromium in those test wells on numerous occasions.

Ed shoves them across the table. Baum doesn’t look at them.

ED: Everything the Irvings have had is proven reaction to exposure to hexavalent chromium. They’ve had…

He stalls a moment. Erin jumps in.

ERIN: – breast cysts, uterine cancer, Hodgkin’s disease, immune deficiencies, asthma, chronic nosebleeds.

Despite their persuasiveness, Baum parrots what is obviously the party line:

BAUM: A million things could have caused those problems. Poor diet, bad genes, irresponsible lifestyle. Our offer is final and more than fair.
ED: Wait a minute — I thought we were negotiating here.
BAUM: 250,000 is all I’m authorized to offer.

Ed looks across at this pissant little kid. Then stands.

ED: I will present your offer to my clients. I doubt they’ll accept it.

As Ed starts out, Baum tries to take a stand;

BAUM: Mr. Masry, before you go off on some crusade, you might want to remember who it is you’re dealing with here. PG&E is a twenty-eight-billion-dollar corporation.
ED: (smiles, acting excited/greedy) Twenty-eight billion dollars! I didn’t know it was THAT much! WOW!

Baum suddenly realizes he’s made a mistake admitting the company’s wealth. Ed leaves the conference room. Erin follows him out.

– Erin Brockovich (2000), written by Susannah Grant

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is negotiations, suggested by JasperLamarCrab. Today’s suggestion by blknwite.

Trivia: The real Erin Brockovich-Ellis sold the rights to her story to Universal Studios for a reported $100,000.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary from blknwite: “Is notable due to Masry’s sense of irony and the beginings of his willingness to really engage in this battle.”