Treatment

It is Memorial Night, the night before Boomtown’s Census Day. Zoie, a Lowtown brothel owner, reads a sealed letter and then locks it in a safe. Out on the floor, several employees brief the business mogul about tonight’s business matters. A Mister Summers advises the inventory has been overstocked for this, their busiest night of the year. Zoie asks Victoria for two patrons promoted to the “Silver List.” She asks Jacob, a bouncer, to escort an overly inebriated patron named Clyde from the premises for the evening. Clyde complains that it won’t be any fun when he returns the next day. Zoie tells her protege Sahara that she will be taking a visitor in the Gold Room, and asks her to distract one of two Makers who are on their way to collect a debt for someone named Ponsonby.

Zoie meets with Jones and Brackett, and the two Makers attempt to negotiate a payment in the form of a discounted Memorial Night room booking. Zoie argues her establishment must take in all its business at full price tonight, and that bumping anyone from their fully booked Silver List would prevent her from meeting her obligations. When Sahara distracts the savvier of the two Makers, Zoie easily outmaneuvers the remaining officer and secures a deal that will get the “Browncoats” off the premises early tonight.

Sahara meets Holman Pressman at the door and leads him to the Gold Room. On the way, Holman spots Marcus at a table and says he may need to speak with the slumlord later.

Holman meets with Zoie. They obliquely discuss a “battle” being fought. News of Ricky’s radical publishing act unnerves Zoie, but Holman assures her their mission is not jeopardized. He alludes to his disagreements about Zoie working with Marcus; Zoie responds curtly. She gives him an address and he affirms he will be there at the proper time to capitalize on an unspoken advantage over their shared adversary.


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