Adventures in Fan Fiction: When Twilight Met Mad Men
PEGGY: Well. Use your imagination. Diners sit with scratch-off cards with two choices: Team Edward or Team Jacob. (Turns page) And the squads of girls approach them to lobby for their respective sides.
DON: And say what?
PEGGY: Well... (Looks at illustration, improvises) Maybe... "Jacob's abs are so hard you can scratch that game piece with them."
Joan giggles. Don blows a column of smoke.
PEGGY: And Team Edward says...
Another BEAT ensues as Peggy thinks. Roger crosses his legs, gazing at the storyboard.
HARRY: "Edward is to die for."
DON: Too dark. They're already chewing on a dead animal. More affirming, uplifting.
ROGER: "Edward won't leave paw prints in your bed."
JOAN: "Edward isn't dead, just..."
All eyes turn to Joan.
DON: "... Alive forever."
Now they all exchange looks, as if to mutually confirm the wave of momentum surging through the room.
DON: That's good. Who are the customers?
PEGGY: Women. Mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, wives--
DON: It's not cosmic enough. More inclusive. If everyone can play, then we should see everyone playing. I want to see Roger with a card in his hand, making a decision. Burger King: Have it your way, emphasis on the "your."
PEGGY: Of course.
ROGER: You wouldn't catch me dead at a Burger King.
DON: OK, so Bert. Harry. Me. Whoever.
PEGGY: Bobby.
DON: Bobby. And mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and wives -- as many as they'll pay for. (Pauses) Who'll direct?
HARRY: I will.
DON: It needs to be funny. Light. You're neither.
HARRY: I'm not funny?
DON: I'm sorry, Harry.
PEGGY: I can do it.
DON: No.
PEGGY: It's my idea. Why shouldn't I direct?
DON: It's out of the question.
HARRY: We could call Sal Romano.
ROGER: Not a chance.
DON: Sal would be good. Fast, proven. Right frame of mind, so to speak.
ROGER: A proven liability.
DON: We should talk it over. Joan, do you still have Sal's number?
JOAN: (Thumbing through Rolodex) I do, indeed.
DON: See if he'll meet me after work. Six. Downstairs bar. Tell him it's urgent.
JOAN: Yes, Mr. Draper.
DON: Harry, you come too.
PEGGY: What about me?
Don crosses toward the bedroom. Peggy stands with her sketchbook, glowering and forsaken. Don stops and leans over her.
DON: Playtex. Yesterday.
He exits.


Comments
More work like this and you'll be on the Lucky Strike account in no time.
Terrible writing. This is what Mad Men would be like if Twilight's creative team took over.
This is funny stuff. I just imagine that Don will keep pitching that "Carousel" ad over and over and over again. Kind of like Mike Brady designing the same house for everything (ala the Brady Bunch movie).
Thanks for the wonderful writing. I will be returning.