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-I'm Josh Williams from Gowalla.
And you're watching "Leap Year."
-It's an email offering you half a million dollars
to join some business contest.
It's a scam.
-Nobody here is going to be fired.
I prefer the term "released."
-I thought this might happen.
So I went ahead and rented an office.
We've got our severance.
We've got our savings.
And we've each wanted to start our own business for years now.
So this is our chance.
-I'm in.
Dream chasing, that's cool.
-Yeah.
Me too.
-I guess.
OK, I'm in.
-It's the risk to me, the risk of quitting your job.
-Absolutely.
I'm an actor.
And for one thing, I can't--
-You're an an actor, Chase?
-I'm just saying.
I can't be an actor and have a full-time job.
If you want to pursue your dreams,
you just can't succeed that way.
-Exactly.
That's the first hurdle, right?
And then, if you actually succeed,
the second hurdle is always--
-Money.
-Money.
-Money.
-The destroyer of relationships.
-My plan, our plan.
I know that-- I apologize for the intrusion.
I just--
-Jack!
-I know that my lack of experience doesn't inspire.
-I already told you--
-Let me prove it to you.
Read the plan.
-I appreciate the effort, but--
-Just read the plan, Scarlett.
-You've spent the entire day hounding me.
Why are you so determined to--
-Because I don't lose.
And because you're the first.
-What?
-You're my first client, or can be.
Plus, you can help me win half a million dollars.
-I'm not following.
-Well, it's been an interesting day.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Read it again.
-I've already read it like six times.
-The man said, read it again.
-How do we know that it's even--
-It's not a scam.
-Brett says, it's not a scam.
-My name is Bryn.
-Oh, that makes more sense.
-Guys, we've been getting this email for like a month now.
And you've all been telling me, it's a scam.
Why now?
-Because it's not a scam.
-If the package is in there--
-Just read it again.
-OK.
"To Jack, Derek, Aaron, Olivia, and Brett.
-See?
There's something just bratty about your name.
-"You don't know me.
But I certainly know you."
-Oh, is anyone else creeped out?
-"Most importantly, I know you were all fired from
your previous job."
-Luckily, his *** enlarger--
-Look, I know we're all really funny.
But can we just stop the running commentary for a second.
-"I think all of you have the capacity to do great things,
to be leaders in your industry, which is why I propose a simple
contest.
I will give you four months to put together
a business plan for each of your businesses,
get yourself some customers, and generally impress
the hell out of me.
At the end of four months, you will
each present your individual plans to me.
The company I like most will receive $500,000 in funding.
To prove that I can walk the walk,
I have left a package in Aaron's desk
to help you all cover your business registration
expenses, a little gift from me to you.
Let me know if you're in.
Thank you for your time.
Forever yours, mysterious stranger
with an exorbitant amount of money."
Now, if the package is-- well then.
Anyone know what the hell business registration is?
Or what crazy voodoo man we go to to get it?
-Why would you believe--
-Because there was money in my desk.
-And you don't think it's bizarre
that somebody broke into your office?
-Of course it's bizarre.
It's even a little terrifying, but--
-But it's half a million dollars.
-But it's half a million dollars.
-Jack, I need a publicist with experience.
-I know.
-I don't have a great reputation.
I've wrote a great book.
I have some excellent contacts in the media world.
But everyone thinks I'm a new age weirdo.
There was a story that I own a bear.
-I can spin it.
-I don't need you to spin it.
I don't own a bear.
-That's fine, too.
I can call some shelters.
I'm sure Alaska has a spare bear.
-I don't want a bear.
-Scarlett--
-I'm saying I need a publicist with experience.
-I have experience.
As of today, I have a ton of experience.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-It means employment identification number.
-Welcome to "1984."
-Calm down girl with the dragon tattoo.
Every business has an employment identification number.
Is this making any sense?
Has anyone gotten insurance?
-I have car insurance.
Does that count?
-OK.
So today, we are going to officially and legally start
our own business.
Aren't you excited?
Are we all super excited?
-The thing is, Scarlett--
-You've almost run out of time.
-The thing is, I'm really quite good.
-You've almost run out of time.
Because my front door has a lock.
And my phone can call the police.
-I'm a salesman.
I've been a salesman all my adult life,
just now I'm not selling things.
I'm selling people.
-And when I need a ***, I'll make sure to give you a call.
Tell me, Jack, are you worried?
-What?
-A week ago, you said that you and all your friends
lost your jobs.
-Right.
-And you were all in this together, a team, right?
-That's right.
-And now you're competing for half a million dollars.
So I'm just wondering, aren't you worried?
-Hey, you know studies show you can survive for at least
two minutes without checking your email.
-How long have you been standing there?
-Good talk.
-Jack?
-Yeah?
-I'm more or less new to the team.
So I've got nothing to lose except for-- well, maybe
your friendship.
But even then I-- you know.
-Sure.
-What happens if it's real?
-If what's real?
-What happens if it's real?
If one of us wins half a million dollars, what happens then?
-Then, one of us wins half a million dollars.
-And everybody else?
-I don't know, Bryn.
-It kind of bothers me, you know?
-I know.
-Yeah.
How's the thing with the writer?
-A big solid, no.
So, it's going pretty well.
-And?
-I'm thinking of approaching a couple other clients.
It's tough.
But I think I got a few leads.
-You know, the thing about coding is that--
-I don't know a thing about coding.
-The thing about coding is that it doesn't always work.
You can try to get a program to do one thing for days, weeks
even.
But it doesn't.
The thing that keeps me going is knowing
that there is a solution.
If I'm stubborn enough, I'll figure it out.
-I'm thinking there's a big life lesson in that.
But I'm just not seeing it.
-Just don't lose, Jack.
-OK.
Yeah, OK.
We're all friends, Bryn.
Even if you're new here, we're all friends.
We care about each other.
And that's stronger than money.
-I'm guessing there's some big life lesson there?
-Yeah.
I'm going to go and not lose now.
-You're kidding me.
Jack, you're very nice and very daring.
And so maddeningly, irritatingly tenacious that it's
almost cute, if it weren't so maddeningly irritating.
But this is getting ridiculous.
-You read it.
-Read what?
-I approached you as a client after I
read your book and every piece of press written about you.
I did my research.
You're someone I understand.
You're curious.
You think I'm almost cute.
You read my plan.
-I read your plan.
-And?
-Will you leave me alone, if I hire you?
-Sounds kind of intuitive.
-Jack!
-Yeah.
-Good.
Then you can start fixing my image tomorrow.
You've got your first client, Mr. Sather.
Hope you don't regret it.
-What are we all being weird about?
-Olivia's losing another client.
-Another one?
-Would my publicist like an omelet?
-I would love an omelet?
-I know we're all competing for the money, but--
-Go away, Jack.
-But we're also friends, right?
We're still that.
-I'm trusting you, you know.
-I know.
I'm going to repay that trust with my body.
-I'm not doing you a favor.
And this isn't pity.
-Then what do you want?
-Hire me.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) Keep smiling the way you do, the way you seem to be,
made our place.
Stop, drop, and keep it up, the mask up on your face,
up on your face.
Keep smiling the way you do, the way you seem to be,
made our place.
Pretty girl with the eyes like a frozen pond in the dark.
Pretty girl with a smile like a break in a broken heart.
Pretty girl, I never thought you could be this way.
Pretty girl who's gone away.