Insider Plating
February 19th, 2021
Starring: Jordy (male, 30’s), Emile (male, 30’s), Oda (male, 55-65)
A blustery winter afternoon. A small sushi bar, a few blocks from downtown. The space is narrow, with only space for a few tables (currently empty), leading to a four-seat sushi bar. The kitchen is behind the bar, separated by a curtain.
Jordy and Emile sit at the bar, in their business attire, coats hanging off their stools. Oda stands behind the bar, at his sushi chef post.
JORDY
California roll.
ODA
California…?
JORDY
Yes. For me, two California. Him?
EMILE
Philadelphia roll.
ODA
Philadelphia…?
EMILE
Yes. Cream cheese?
ODA
One Philadelphia?
EMILE
Two. Two Philadelphia.
ODA
Two California, two Philadelphia.
JORDY
Yes.
Oda nods. He collects his tools and gets to work on the rolls. Head down, working quickly, quietly. Jordy and Emile look on:
JORDY
I get off watching this stuff.
EMILE
It’s cool—
JORDY
Hibachi, Dim-Sum, pizza. Something about them being right there changes it.
EMILE
Watch the masters at work.
JORDY
For sure.
I mean...this guy—
EMILE
What?
JORDY
He’s not a master. He’s fine but like...comparatively. This place. It isn’t like Jiro—
EMILE
He can’t hear us—?
JORDY
It’s fine. El no habla inglés.
EMILE
What?
JORDY
He doesn’t speak English. Not well, clearly.
Did you not hear—?
EMILE
No I—yeah
JORDY
You wanted privacy—
EMILE
No I did, I did. Smart move.
…
EMILE
So what’s happening?
JORDY
...ZHB’s happening.
EMILE
No shit.
JORDY
Clean toilet. I was on a call last night. Their quarter’s looking more dismal than last, and they want to sell before they announce earnings.
EMILE
And y’all want to scoop them up at their lowest.
Makes sense, when you think about it.
…
And they’re public?
JORDY
Yessir.
EMILE
And here we are.
JORDY
Here we are.
It’s ripe.
EMILE
But you can’t buy.
JORDY
That would look quite fishy.
But you—
EMILE
Would be just another non-affiliated banker making a timely strategic investment.
Interesting.
So—
ODA
California?
Oda holds up the plate of sushi rolls. Jordy holds up a finger.
JORDY
Me.
Jordy takes the plate from Oda and nods his head in thanks.
ODA
Philadelphia?
EMILE
Here, thanks.
Emile takes his plate and also nods, thanking him. Oda nods back and begins to clean his station. Jordy and Emile dig in, both using their fingers.
EMILE
So...how are you envisioning this?
JORDY
Well
I write you a check. Call it a personal loan.
You use that check to place a trade by say, market opening Monday.
You hold the position through the sale announcement.
And when I say sell, sell.
Then, over time, you’ll send the money back to me in small installments over time. Like you’re paying back my original loan, and the added value is interest.
EMILE
And in return?
JORDY
You too have the ability to take advantage of a very profitable opportunity you otherwise wouldn’t be aware of.
EMILE
High risk.
JORDY
High reward. That’s the gameplan, if you want to play.
…
…
Ok.
Let’s make it work.
JORDY
Beautiful. It’ll be smoother than you think.
EMILE
Counting on it.
…
…
JORDY
I’m feeling a beer, are you feeling a beer?
EMILE
Uh
Yeah, I could go for a beer.
Jordy somehow gets Oda’s attention:
JORDY
Kirin Ichiban.
ODA
Kirin Ichiban?
JORDY
Two.
ODA
Two Kirin Ichiban?
JORDY
Right.
Oda nods and opens the bar fridge, taking out two Kirin beers. He twists off the tops and places them on the bar. Jordy pulls out a credit card and holds it out for Oda.
JORDY
To pay.
ODA
Pay?
JORDY
Yes. Everything.
ODA
Everything?
Ok.
Oda disappears behind the curtain, into the back. Jordy and Emile hold up their Kirins for a toast:
EMILE
Thanks—
JORDY
Don’t mention it.
To ZHB.
EMILE
To ZHB.
They drink.
We cut to Oda, behind the curtain, near the kitchen. He walks to the credit card machine, queuing up the order and swiping the card. The receipt prints and he puts it aside with the credit card.
Then, Oda pulls out a laptop, booting it up and resting it on a rice cooker. His E-Trade account is already open. Into the site search bar, he types in the letters “ZHB.” He clicks into the dedicated ZHB stock page, then clicks “buy stock.” He selects a window that says “insert amount.” A close-up of Oda’s fingers on the keyboard. While we can’t see the actual number, he types multiple consecutive zeroes. The cursor scrolls over to the “complete trade” button.
Oda smiles, then clicks.