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“I thought I got rid of you,” Cagney said. “What now?”
“A discrepancy. One of your astute officers said they use live nukes for training runs. He said they remove the trigger devices. Another guy said they use dummy bombs, no nukes. Which is it?”
“Same thing,” Cagney sighed. “A nuke with no trigger is a dummy. What’s wrong with you, Flynn? What are you trying to do here, anyway? You still think somebody is going to sneak a nuke out of here and blow up California? Forget it. You’re crazy.”
“Okay, thanks.” Shannon hung up and went down to the kitchen, where Tyler, Ann, and Betty waited. “Are you deadbeats still here?” Shannon grumbled. “Don’t you have homes to go to where you’re just as unwanted as you are here?”
“Yes, but we prefer yours,” Tyler sighed. “The accommodations are so much more......primitive. The clumps of dog shit in the foyer, the empty beer cans strewn about, and the distinct lack of nourishing food.”
“You want food call Domino’s,” Shannon grumbled as she flopped down in a chair. “And where’s what’s her name? She’s supposed to clean up the dog shit. What do I pay a housekeeper for, anyway?”
“She went out,” Tyler smirked. “Something about a hot date and an appointment at the beauty salon.”
“Are you fucking kidding me,” Shannon laughed. “More likely she went to the dog groomer to have her back shaved.”
“So, what did the General have to say?” Tyler sighed.
“He said the same thing as before. It’s all bullshit. A nuke with no trigger is a dummy."
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”A writer with no brains is a dummy,” Ann giggled. “You believe anything the government says? They’re all assholes.”
“We’ll see in 4 days,” Shannon shrugged. “Maybe this dope will take out a city or something. Who cares,” she sighed as she stretched languorously. “There are too many people in this country anyway.”
“So you would advocate the death of hundreds of thousands of innocent people to prove a point?” Betty exclaimed.
“Sure. Wouldn’t you?”
“Depends,” Betty said.
“Shannon wears those,” Ann snorted.
“You are incredible,” Tyler said. “All of you. To purport that you find acceptable the extermination of our fellow Americans for purposes of making money is immoral and absurd.”
“And your point would be?” Shannon said.
“How much?” Tyler giggled. “You are correct, Miss Flynn. There are far too many unsophisticated, worthless pieces of ill tempered, whiny trash in this country, bred by similarly unhappy, jealous rats of ill distinction. Their removal would be of no consequence.”
“You can’t be serious,” Ann said.
“Of course not,” Tyler said. “I was just sucking up to Miss Flynn so as to procure more beer. My own delivery was late and I have none left.”
“You’re in luck then,” Shannon said. “I have plenty. I guess the only thing left to do is sit here until Friday and get wasted.”
“Here’s to that,” Tyler said, raising his beer.
“Don’t you have a movie to work on?” Betty said. “You seem awfully inactive for a big name actor.”
“I pick my spots,” Tyler said. “I am worth more than most small countries. I don’t need the work.”