The Apprentice: Miraflores Edition
SCENE START
INT. THE BOARDROOM - NIGHT
The room is cold, sleek, and lit with an intimidating amber glow. DONALD TRUMP sits at the head of the massive mahogany table. To his left and right are his advisors, looking stone-faced.
Opposite them sits NICOLÁS MADURO. He is wearing his signature tracksuit, looking slightly confused and adjusting a heavy gold medallion.
TRUMP
(Leaning forward, hands clasped)
Nicolas. It’s been a long season. A very long season. Probably the longest season in the history of this show, maybe ever. People are saying it’s too long.
MADURO
(Gesturing broadly)
Donald, my friend, the workers are with me! The birds—the little birds—they whistle of our great victories. The economy is... it is a revolution of the heart!
TRUMP
(Shaking his head)
Let’s talk about the "victory." You had the biggest resources. The best oil. More oil than almost anybody. And you blew it. You’ve got inflation that’s—I don’t even know the math, it’s like a billion percent? My accountants looked at your numbers and they fainted. They actually fainted.
ADVISOR
Mr. Trump, the GDP has shrunk by over 75% under his leadership. The grocery stores are empty, sir.
TRUMP
Empty stores. No food. I like winning, Nicolas. I like building things. You’re not building; you’re losing. You’re losing people, you’re losing money, and frankly, you’re losing your grip. It’s a disaster. A total disaster.
MADURO
(Defensive)
It is the empire! The invisible war! I have the mustache of the people, Donald! We are dancing salsa while the world watches!
TRUMP
(Squinting)
The salsa dancing is okay, I guess, but the ratings are terrible. Nobody wants to watch this anymore. Even your friends are leaving the room. Look at the table—it’s empty. You’ve got no team left. You’re standing there with a tracksuit and a dream that turned into a nightmare.
MADURO
But I have the constitutional—
TRUMP
(Interrupting, hand up)
I’ve heard enough. You’ve had twenty years to get the "task" done. You didn't do it. You’re not a closer. You’re a placeholder, and a bad one at that.
(Trump leans back, pauses for dramatic effect, and points a finger.)
TRUMP
Nicolas... you’re fired. Get out.
MADURO
(Stunned silence)
... Can I take the bus?
TRUMP
Go. Just go.
INT. THE ELEVATOR - CONTINUOUS
MADURO stands alone in the elevator, staring at the camera as the doors slowly close.
MADURO
(To the camera)
He doesn't understand the birds. He never understood the birds.
SCENE END
INT. THE BOARDROOM - CONTINUOUS
The doors of the elevator slide open. DELCY RODRÍGUEZ struts in, wearing a sharp, impeccably tailored pantsuit. Her expression is fierce, her eyes focused. She carries a thin, sleek tablet.
TRUMP is still seated, looking slightly annoyed. His advisors look wary.
TRUMP
(Waving a hand vaguely at the empty chair)
Well, at least you’re not wearing a tracksuit. Take a seat, Delcy. You know why you’re here. The other guy... he was a disaster. A total, complete mess. People are talking about it everywhere.
DELCY
(Sitting with precise formality, locking eyes with Trump)
Nicolas was... an ideologue, Mr. Trump. He was focused on the spirit. I am focused on results.
TRUMP
Results. I like results. We like results here. The previous administration, it was all talk, no action. The GDP was a joke. The infrastructure? Falling apart. What’s your plan, because honestly, I’m not impressed with what I’m seeing on the street.
DELCY
(Swiping on her tablet, a complex flowchart appears on the wall screen behind her)
The strategy is simple: consolidation and strategic leverage. The 'invisible war' Nicolas spoke of? I see opportunities for aggressive trade. I have been analyzing your 'art of the deal', sir. I understand leverage.
ADVISOR
(Looking at the chart)
Madam Rodriguez, this plan seems to involve a lot of... questionable international partnerships. How will you regain the trust of the markets?
DELCY
Trust is a luxury for those who don’t have power. I don’t need the markets to trust me; I need them to need me. We have the lithium, we have the gold, we have the location. While Nicolas was writing poems to the birds, I was building the infrastructure for alternative trade routes.
TRUMP
Alternative. I like alternative. We did that with the election, they called it "alternative facts." It worked out great. But Delcy, the other guy, he was big. He had the crowd. You... you look tough, but can you control the room? Can you get the ratings?
DELCY
Control is my signature. I do not ask for compliance; I manufacture it. The workers? They will work. The resources? They will flow. The opposition? They will either join us... or they will be managed.
TRUMP
Managed. That sounds very professional. We like professional management. You seem very strong. Very tough.
DELCY
(Leaning slightly forward, voice low and clear)
I am the only one who can fix it, Donald. I am not here to dance salsa. I am here to close the deals you need to succeed.
TRUMP
(Squinting, looking at her intently for several seconds)
...Okay. You’re talking the talk. You look the part. The last guy was low energy, and frankly, I’m tired of seeing him. I’m going to take a chance. I’m giving you the keys to the country.
(Trump leans forward, pointer finger ready.)
TRUMP
Delcy... you’re hired. Don’t let me down. If you fail, it will be a spectacle. The biggest spectacle in television history.
DELCY
(Standing up, not smiling, but her eyes shining)
It will be historical, Mr. Trump.
She turns on her heel and strides out of the boardroom.
TRUMP
(To his advisor)
I think she’s going to get great ratings.
SCENE END
