As the most junior account director at Keller-Marsden, Shawn got stuck with all the crappy clients. This particular client, the Parents' Council Against Tobacco, kept trying to negotiate their prices down with the excuse that they were a non-profit and Keller-Marsden had a "social obligation" to cut them a deal. It didn't help matters that the president's daughter was Cory's friend Cheryl.
"Mrs. Jenkins," Shawn shook her hand.
"Mr. Hunter." She sat down. "I'll get right to the point. PCAT is extremely concerned about subliminal pro-smoking messages in films marketed to children." She went on to catalogue a list of product placements for cigarette brands in movies, several of which Shawn had negotiated.
"And what can Keller-Marsden do to help?" Shawn asked with forced politeness.
"We want to name and shame the films that are doing this. We've previewed upcoming movies to identify smoking incidents, and we want you to design a television campaign warning parents not to let their children see those specific movies."
Shawn sat back in his chair. "That's an excellent idea, Mrs. Jenkins. I do have one slight concern." Shawn's real concern was that Keller-Marsden was trying to get business from movie studios, and running attack ads against their films probably wasn't a good way to do it. "The strategy you're proposing could accidentally make the films more attractive to your target audience, sort of forbidden fruit."
"So what do you propose instead?"
"You fight fire with fire. We can work with some studios to get anti-smoking plotlines in youth-oriented programming."
"How much will it cost?"
"Product placement that affects the plotline can go up to 200 grand for a feature film, that's on top of our rate, of course."
"Of course. Is there any way we could bring that down a little, maybe do television?"
"For a kids show you could maybe go down to 60."
"We can do 40, unless you're willing to come down on the billing."
"I can try to find a co-sponsor."
A few phone calls later Shawn had secured a contract with the makers of Nicorette and a role for both the gum and Eric on Kid Gets Acquainted with the Universe. He drove home to tell Eric the good news.
Eric offered a joint to Shawn as he walked in the door.
"Want some?"
"No thanks, Jack's still got me on that 60-day sobriety plan."
"Rough."
"You're telling me, anyway. You know how everybody liked you in that production of Romeo and Juliet."
Eric stood up and assumed a dramatic pose. "These violent delights have violent ends/and in their triumph die, like fire and powder/which, as they kiss, consume."
"Right, so you know that show Morgan likes, Kid Gets Acquainted with the Universe?"
"The one with your brother."
"Eric, he's not my brother."
"Hey, I'm right here you know!" Jack called from the computer.
"I wasn't talking about you," Shawn responded, "Eric thinks the kid from this TV show is my long-lost brother."
"They look exactly alike." Eric explained, "It's freaky."
"We just have the same haircut. Anyway we're doing this product placement for one of my charity clients, and the guy mentioned they were looking for an actor to play the long-lost older brother."
"Long-lost like you and Schneider Long!" Eric interrupted, "Hey, this means there's a 50 percent chance he's Jack's brother too!"
Jack shook his head. "I've already got a long-lost brother, I don't think I can handle any more."
Shawn looked at Jack. "I've told you about Casper, right?"
"No, who's he?"
"What about Stacy?"
"Name rings a bell but I don't remember anything specific."
"You might want to sit down for this."
