The Last Thunk

Gerard Farrell

Book Cover

GENRE

COMEDY SATIRE FUNNY

    Core Theme

    CORPORATE POLITICS

    TIME PERIOD

    2000s

    COMPARABLE TITLES

    WOLF OF WALL STREET, MAD MEN, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

    CHARACTER LIST

    ā€¢ PAUL CAVANAUGH: 30S. LEAD. AMBITIOUS AND PERSISTENT.

    ā€¢ MITCH BLAKE: 30S. PAUL'S BOSS, IDOL, AND EVENTUAL ANTAGONIST.

    ā€¢ DIANE: 30S. PAUL'S WIFE.

    ā€¢ SIMON: 40S. JOHN'S BOSS WHO WANTS TO HIRE PAUL.

    ā€¢ PAIGE: 30S. MITCH'S ASSISTANT AND PAUL'S FRIEND.

    Logline

    Inspired by a true big-budget magazine flop at the home of Vogue and Vanity Fair, The Last Thunk is the comedic story of one man's plot to take down a star publishing executive. Think "The Devil Wears Prada" of the advertising side of magazines.

    Target Audiences

    Age: 18-34,35-54,55+

    Target Gender: Universal

    Setting

    New York City

    Based on a True Story

    Yes

    Publishing Details

    Status: Yes: with a Publisher

    Publisher: Greenpoint Press

    Year Published: 2018

    Starting Description

    It's 2007 at glitzy Carlyle Nash. Star Publisher Mitch Blake has just launched World Magazine with a bloated $120 million budget. Paul Cavanaugh, his marketing director, is quietly losing his grip as the magazine struggles. Fearing for his job, he steals an object which could destroy Mitch.

    Ending Description

    After a boardroom meltdown and an attempt to destroy Mitch via a tabloid writer, Paul edges closer to giving the object (a beach ball) to Simon Bell, Mitch's nefarious corporate rival. His conscience saves him. Also resolved is a love triangle involving Paul, his wife, and a vibrant new love.

    Group Specific

    Information not completed

    Hard Copy Available

    Yes

    ISBN

    978-0-9906194-7-5

    Mature Audience Themes

    Language/Profanity

    Plot - Other Elements

    Happy Ending,Meaningful Message,Twist

    Plot - Premise

    Internal Journey/Rebirth,Rebellion Against 'The One',Other

    Main Character Details

    Name: Paul Cavanaugh

    Age: Late twenties to thirties

    Gender: Male

    Role: Protagonist

    Key Traits: Aspiring,Complex,Crazy,Engaging,Insecure,Underdog,Funny,Sarcastic,Charming

    Additional Character Details

    Name: Mitch Blake

    Age: 46

    Gender: Male

    Role: Antagonist

    Key Traits: Charming,Complex,Confident,Decisive,Heartthrob,Educated,Leader,Masculine,Power Hungry,Skillful,Visionary,Secretive,Sophisticated,Manipulative,Lone Wolf

    Additional Character Details

    Name: Simon Bell

    Age: 45

    Gender: Male

    Role: antagonist

    Key Traits: Badass,Aggressive,Charming,Confident,Crazy,Engaging,Greedy,Insecure,Leader,Masculine,Villainous,Narcisstic,Sexy,Power Hungry,Outspoken,Skillful,Funny,Secretive,Seductive,Sophisticated,Manipulative,Unapologetic

    Additional Character Details

    Name: Emily Frazier

    Age: Thirtyish

    Gender: Female

    Role: emotional

    Key Traits: Adventurous,Charming,Confident,Sexy,Funny,Romantic,Seductive

    Brief

    Paul Cavanaugh will do anything for the appreciation of his boss, Mitch Blake. His loyalty gets tested, however, as it takes a toll on his personal life and he starts to see cracks in the facade at the top. Inspired by a true big-budget magazine flop at the home of Vogue and Vanity Fair.

    What We Liked

    - This is a very contemporary story about the downfall of the print industry as well as corporate greed and the false idol mentality that can come with a high pressure job;
    - This story is relatable to anyone struggling under the current corporate system;
    - As a film this would be like a funnier, less glamorous Wolf of Wall Street--people will want to watch these powerful men hit their breaking point;
    - This would be a modern, funnier Mad Men--people would tune in every week for the schadenfreude of watching Paul deal with his bosses as well as to watch the drama of the corporate politics scene unfold;
    - Timely and funny.

    Synopsis

    Paul Cavanaugh tracks his career in print magazine marketing from the early 2000s to 2007, right before the market crashed. Paul first started working for the magazine Bellwether under the supervision of John, a day drinker with a ā€œwork hard play hardā€ mentality, but Paul was always curious about Mitch Blake, Carlyle Nash's golden boy executive who seemed to be on the rise. When Mitch Blake takes over at Bellwether, John can see the end is near for him there, and encourages Paul to go with him to work at another Carlyle Nash magazine under Mitch Blake's foe, Simon, but Paul has his heart set on staying at Bellwether and winning over the new guy.

    Tensions grow between Paul and his wife Diane, as he consistently chooses his job over her and their young son, Aidan. He works hard to prove himself to Mitch Blake and eventually follows him to their new magazine, World. Mitch promises his team a day off if they can beat the previous record for ad pages set by Simon, and the team delivers. Despite bad buzz about World magazine starting in the press, Mitch sets another high goal for the second issue - he starts giving the employees beach balls - representing days off for good performance - with ā€œincentive cardsā€ attached, and a frenzy starts at the office. The problem? The magazine isnā€™t doing that well, so thereā€™s no way he can afford giving everybody that kind of incentive. Heā€™s just using the team.

    A few days later, Paige, Mitch's assistant and Paul's friend, is desperately trying to track down the beach balls. She tells Paul that there was a product recall. To pacify Paige, Paul grabs a beach ball from a pregnant woman on leave who left her ball at the office, and sees the incentive card. He realizes that Mitch doesn't care about the balls, and probably just wants the incentive cards back, so he doesnā€™t have to reward every single card holder. Heā€™s been lying about the magazineā€™s situation all along.

    Paul's uncle dies, and Paul is distraught, but chooses to skip the funeral so that he can go to an "offsite" retreat for work. At the offsite, crumbling from the pressure of work and his personal life falling apart, Paul has a public mental breakdown. Paul devises a plan to expose the beach ball and Mitch's failures to the publishers. Paul rekindles his relationship with Diane and learns to balance his life better.

    About The Author

    Gerard Farrell has been working for the magazine industry since the late ā€˜90s, including an ill-fated publication at Conde Nast. In addition to longer works, he often writes short humor for DUCTS.