∙ 𝚁𝙸𝚂𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁 ∙

Ep 21 - Off-Script and On-Site (Pt 1)

Neon light brushes her cheek.
Then darkness swallows the frame.

CUT TO BLACK.

[INT. CASINO — NIGHT]
The air hums with velvet jazz and the mechanical whir of roulette wheels.

KALEENA (V.O.):
"They say every game is about risk. But in this city, it's not the chips that matter — it's the players. The ones who bet empires for ego... and call it art."

Gold light ripples off mirrored ceilings. Waiters drift through the haze of cigar smoke and champagne, moving like chess pieces between the wealthy and the desperate.

At the roulette table — Richard Sheridan stands poised. Impeccably dressed in a tailored black tuxedo, drink in hand, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. He watches the spinning wheel in silence — controlled, calculating. A man who never bets until the odds are already in his favor.

Then — chaos in designer shoes.

Anders Stone sweeps in like a headline come to life. His laughter precedes him, all swagger and self-congratulation. He slaps a stack of chips on the table with a flourish.

ANDERS
(loudly, grinning):
"Red! Twenty-three! I'm feeling real good and real lucky lately."

The croupier nods, setting the wheel in motion. The crowd stirs — drawn to the magnetism of a man who lives to be seen.

Anders lifts his glass, taking a lazy sip — and then, mock surprise, spots Richard across the table.

ANDERS
(feigned casualness):
"Oh, Richard. Didn't see you there."

Richard's gaze flickers toward him — calm, unreadable. His reply lands smooth and cool, like a blade hidden under silk.

RICHARD:
"Stone. You seem to be in a real great mood tonight."

ANDERS
(chuckling, full of himself):
"Oh, of course. You know me — doing big things these days."

Richard takes a slow sip, eyes never leaving the wheel.

RICHARD:
"Are you?"

ANDERS:
"Yup. Just wrapped filming for my newest masterpiece. My daughter's starring in it. Big stuff."

RICHARD
(beat, wry):
"I'm assuming the one that's not causing you hell?"

Anders tilts his head, smirking — that ego-fed gleam in his eye.

ANDERS:
"No. Real funny. Bianca is."

RICHARD:
"Ah. So it is the one who does give you hell."

ANDERS:
"At least my daughters are both movie stars. And yours? Didn't you say she's just... playing around with clothes right now?"

Richard chuckles softly, still watching the spinning wheel.

RICHARD:
"That's your youngest's thing. My daughter's going to be multi-diverse — fashion and acting. Not set on one pedestal like yours, Stone."

Anders' grin tightens, but he masks it with laughter. He flags down a server and swaps out his empty glass for a champagne flute.

ANDERS
(chuckling):
"Oh, so he says now."

He takes a sip — slow, deliberate — then leans against the table like he owns the room.

ANDERS:
"That's not all, actually. I've got an artist under my wing now. Lisa Valentine. Phenomenal talent. Can't say you're doing the same with Sheridan Media, can you?"