The Set Up
In Chapter Seven of The Presidents Club, we join an ominous conversation in progress. The anonymous speaker is shrouded in mystery. The darkness of his private library foreshadows evil. The mood is somber. His companion is uncomfortable with the setting and the topic -- what to do about Julian Thibaut and his "Government Literacy Project."
The Six Sentences
“No,” she replied. “He says he will name the board soon.”
“You know what has to be done.”
“Yes.”
“You understand that if we cannot control one of our own members, our options are limited, don’t you?”
“I’m confident we can deal with Thibaut.”
His hand appeared in the light and retrieved the tumbler,now half full of scotch, from the table between them. He gave it a slight shake to rattle the ice, took a sip, and returned it to the leather coaster. “You didn’t answer my question.”
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The lead-in to that last line is fantastic! The character is so measured, yet the tension builds like crazy. Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteNo, she didn't, and deliberately so---I love these kinds of heavily loaded conversations! Great selection!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, "he" is clearly not one to be trifled with - an intense little conversation there! Excellent excerpt, can't wait for more...
ReplyDeleteI feel tense for her. Fantastic dialogue!
ReplyDeleteNice and ominous, and very cinematic. I like it!
ReplyDeleteSounds ominious! I'm intrigued. Great excerpt.
ReplyDeleteI love your post the intrigue. Everytime I watch the show Scandal I think about your blog post.
ReplyDeleteSo what has to be done? Loved the visual and enjoyed the mystery. I will be back next week to find out more. Great snippet. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe hand appearing in the light and the ice clinking create an eerie mood. Great job.
ReplyDeleteSomehow rattling the scotch underscores the intensity of the dialogue, lending an extra layer of gravity to the situation. Excellent snippet!
ReplyDeleteThis is not the kind of conversation that you want revolving around you. Very sinister things are afoot and I suspect we will be surprised by many twists and turns before this all plays out. :D
ReplyDeleteHmm... Sounds like the mystery man is a little up tight, and maybe needs more scitch and less ice in his glass?
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued! Great work!
Nice atmosphere created from the dialogue and scene details. Great snippet!
ReplyDelete~Joyce Scarbrough
Ominous! Doesn't sound good for Thibaut. Nice library though.
ReplyDeleteThank you all so much for your kind remarks! I appreciate each and every one of them.
ReplyDeleteInstead of answering each one, I'll visit your sites and add my accolades to your works.
FCE
Love the intrigue here... well done!
ReplyDeleteYikes, what's going on? Sounds onimous indeed.
ReplyDeleteVery menacing, and the last sentence is a bit of a punch in the gut, great 8!
ReplyDeleteOh my! Ominous is certainly the word, here. I wonder what the heck is really going on, here...
ReplyDeleteOoh, their options do sound ominous! Makes me want to find out what they are & just how bad this situation really is. Nice snippet! :)
ReplyDeleteOminous, serious snippet. I want to know more.
ReplyDeleteGreat dialogue. It perfectly sets up the tension in this scene. And the ominous atmosphere. Nice!
ReplyDeleteSounds like some shenanigans are being cooked up. Gee, kind of like the real country. Now I want to know what has to be done.
ReplyDeleteI could practically see his hand emerge from the shadows to pick up the glass. Well done.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like he's threatening her life if she fails. Very tense scene.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for all the great comments.
ReplyDeleteGzidar, in my notes and in conversations, I refer to that character as, "The Hand."