2007-09-23: The Passion In Your Politics

Starring:

Nathan_icon.gif Jane_icon.gif

Summary: Jane adds some soul to Nathan's campaign.

Date It Happened: September 23rd, 2007

The Passion In Your Politics


Midtown, NYC - Campaign HQ - Nathan's Office

Some time has passed since they met and spoke of replacing radio ads, the one which spoke of Nathan Petrelli being seriously fly has been off the air for days; his staffers saw to that easily enough. But the new ones are still in the pipeline. She was prompt in getting them made, doing the instrumental segments for both demos herself and the vocals on one, but using a male voice for the second. Notice was given to headquarters of their readiness, and from there it was simply a matter of the candidate being very, very busy.

On the morning of September 23rd, the call came. Doctor M. Jane Forrest steps through the doors of his Times Square HQ, clad in what she calls lawyer garb. A feminine business suit made by Brooks Brothers. She has a briefcase in one hand and cups of coffee in a convenience carrier in the other.

Jane, by now, will more or less know where to go, or at least, who to talk to to be directed towards Nathan's office. Dressed in dark slacks a pale blue shirt, with some very mild white stripe detailing, it's apparently that he's not about to rush out quite so quickly as he had been last time he'd seen Jane. He stands just beside his desk, speaking into the phone, but by the time Jane has entered the office, he's setting it back down into its cradle. For a moment, he looks broody, almost angered - but once he looks up, the mood is shoved to one side and he rewards her with a smile. "Good, you're here," he says, gesturing towards a chair. "Sorry about the delay, I've had to put a few things on hold ever since— well I'm sure you've seen the news."

"Life takes odd turns," Jane replies simply, demonstrating an understanding of time being taken, "and the rigors of a campaign are many." She sets down her briefcase and places the coffee carrier on his desk, pulling out the one which holds straight black liquid and offering it to Nathan, then taking her own and settling into the seat. Legs are crossed at the ankles, and her case is lifted onto her lap. It's opened, and two cd's are pulled out.

"Thanks," Nathan says, taking the coffee and peeling back the lid to let it cool properly. "The rigors of the campaign would be less rigorous if people weren't actively making it difficult for me. I only wish I was just talking about Crane, too." He sits down, pushing his laptop aside. "Those them?" he says, when he spots the CDs, setting aside his cup of pitch black coffee.

"They are," she answers, closing the case and setting it aside again so she can rise. "I made two versions, Doctor Petrelli." Her own coffee cup remains in hand as she moves to the player and puts in the first. The play button is pressed, and what comes from the device is this:

It starts with piano and saxophone in the background, the music is Billy Joel's New York State Of Mind. A female voice, Jane Forrest's, says "Nathan Petrelli. A man of principle. A man of vision - a choice for change in a state which needs leadership. Vote Petrelli." A mezzo-soprano female voice, Jane's again, sings "He knows what we've needed, we don't need to waste more time. He's in a New York state of mind." The ad ends with Nathan Petrelli's own voice saying "My name is Nathan Petrelli, and I approve this message."

The dialogue, while painfully familiar, is much better than anything involving the word 'fly' set to bumper beats. He raises an eyebrow when it starts, easily recognising Jane's own voice playing back at him from the player, and he nods once when the message along with the tune is summed up. He speaks over his own approval at the end of it, with, "Other one?"

"We'd thought you were wanting to keep the basic message in the ad," she explains. "If we were incorrect, it can be replaced." The player is opened, that first disc removed, and the second one put in. Jane presses play, and within moments this is heard:

It starts with piano and saxophone in the background, the music is Billy Joel's New York State Of Mind. A male voice says "Nathan Petrelli. A man of principle. A man of vision - a choice for change in a state which needs leadership. Vote Petrelli." A tenor male voice sings "I know what we've needed, we don't need to waste more time. I'm in a New York state of mind." The ad ends with Nathan Petrelli's own voice saying "My name is Nathan Petrelli, and I approve this message."

When it ends, she's watching him for his reactions, perhaps trying to gauge an opinion.

"No, someone worked very hard to create that message," Nathan says with an ironic smile, but he nods once. "That's what we were after, yeah." Then the next one plays, as he listens to it with the same amount of untelling contemplation. He has her play them both once more, as he sips from his coffee, then speaks again when the second one fades out. "Well they're both certainly what I'm after," he confirms. "Instinct tells me to use the male singer, not doing so might be misconstrued as sleazy." And really, he needs less of that image. "But what I'd like is a longer version in addition to it, throw in a few more lines, maybe a couple of singers. A recent donation has allowed us to steal up a little bit more advertising time and we can put both short and long versions on the air."

She nods. "Using the male singer also allows using the original lyrics. It doesn't so much work in first person with mine," Jane comments. The room is crossed again, her case opened, and a pad taken up along with a pen. "More lines of lyrics, or of the message around it?" Jane asks. Her mind is already at work, pulling together possibilities for addition, based on what he states as his preference.

"Right. That too." Nathan opens his desk drawer, rifles around for a few moments before withdrawing a few pages of scripting - older drafts and advertising pitches, and some lines are freshly highlighted. In pink. The universal office colour of 'I ran out of yellow'. "I like the ones you chose to use, so keep 'em," he says, sliding the paper over. "Here are a few more suggestions to add to the second version. You could keep this current introduction, along with that message, then a few more lyrics, I'll leave that up to your judgment. Then that could lead into this," he points with his pen to a small highlighted section, "then end it with that chorus— thing. Line." He doesn't know music! That's why he pays others to know it for him. Nathan shrugs, tosses the pen back onto his desk. "It's an idea. Play around with it, use these, but you can send that second one you showed me to wherever it needs to go." Election is coming up, he can't afford to waste too much time thinking about it.

She nods briskly. "I'll have something longer for you within the week," Jane assures. She takes the discs and closes the player, marking the chosen ad with Official, then puts both away in the briefcase. Added to the contents are his offered pages, after Jane scans the highlighted sections. Her pen taps at them a few times, before going back in with the pad of paper, and the case is closed. Its handle is gripped, and her cup of coffee.

She turns to face him and sincerely offers "Thank you for the opportunity to assist in my area of passion and expertise, Doctor Petrelli." She's formal in this setting, not wanting to let on about things private between them, but the gratitude and respect is evident. He didn't forget, even though she can't remember what they did, and he came to find her in those dark moments. That memory is, to her, indelible.

Nathan stands when Jane does, not reaching to shake her hand, what with her hands full - but he makes up for it by moving to open the door for her. "Don't mention it," he says. "If I had more people passionate about aspects of my campaign, no doubt it would be going smoother. Thanks for the coffee."

"You're welcome, and thank you also," Jane replies when the door is opened, making eye contact as she does so, then she makes her way out. There's an ad to be delivered, and another one to create, among other things on her plate for the day and week. In the outer office she picks up some campaign promotional items and a few fliers, taking them along with her as she steps out into Times Square.

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