Conflict of Interest Part 3

"Conflict of Interest Part 3" is the third episode of *Morning Show* (Season Two)*,*a segment of *It's All Been Done Radio Hour,* and the thirteenth episode of the series overall. It was performed on April 10th, 2021 as the second segment in Show LXX. It was released as podcast episode 352.

Written by Jerome Wetzel

Directed by Shane Stefanchik

Previous episode: "Conflict of Interest Part 2"

Next episode: "Tear Down"

## **The Story**

This episode begins in Shelly Meyers' apartment as her alarm goes off. She is unhappy to find Gus Goodall asleep beside her and wakes him up, berating him for falling asleep because she doesn't want a relationship with him. Gus returns that he's not disagreeing with her, she just called him late and it was past his bed time, plus her bed is comfy. Shelly tells him not to do it again and says she needs to get ready for work, because unlike Gus, she doesn't have Saturdays off.

Gus tells her that he can't answer her booty calls anymore. Shelly is confused, reminds him that he texts for sex as often as she does, and asks why he's stopping it? He says it doesn't feel right to him emotionally, and admits Pat Shock is going to ask her out. Shelly responds, so? Gus says he should know better than to sleep with the woman his best friend likes. Shelly is offended, saying she's not an object to fight over, and Gus points out he never said she was. Shelly says Pat hasn't asked her yet, but if he does, she doesn't know what she'll say. Gus asserts that Pat and Shelly have been into one another forever, and she denies it. Gus admits Pat has been into her for a long time, and Gus has encouraged Pat to ask her out in the past. Shelly asks why Gus didn't tell her, and Gus says he and Shelly don't have that kind of relationship. Shelly realizes Gus knew this when he first slept with her at Christmas.

Gus asks Shelly is she wants to date Pat and she responds that it's none of his business. Gus says it is. Shelly asks if he'll hook up with her again if she doesn't date Pat. Gus says no. Shelly says she has thirty minutes before she has to be at work and suggests they sleep together one more time. Gus agrees, but says then it's over.

Two days later, it's Monday morning at radio station WUBD. Lea Zichi says good morning to Gus, who calls her Leslie. She corrects him. Lea reports that Mike Pitz isn't in because he has a dentist appointment. Pat arrives and asks about their weekends. Lea shares she was up in Michigan visiting her parents and relaxing by the lake, even though it's only March. Gus is awkward. Lea tells them to rundown is up on Pat's screen and they're ready to broadcast before she leaves the booth. Gus asks Pat if he asked Shelly out yet, and Pat says no because she hasn't returned his voicemail and she's probably busy. When Gus says she's always busy, he has to cover and say he's assuming. Gus presses Pat to see if he's going to call her today, and Pat says he thinks so, but is curious about Gus' sudden interest. Gus deflects, saying he's just making small talk, he's good, and they get ready to do the show.

Later the same day, Gus goes to Kevin Blair's bar, where he hasn't been in awhile. Kev remarks on Gus' absence, and Gus says he doesn't need to drink as much since Shelly quite the show. Kev hasn't seen Shelly since Christmas and asks how she's doing? Gus plays dumb, which sparks Kev's interest. Prompted, Gus admits that whatever he and Shelly had was over, to Kev's surprise, since he didn't know they had anything. Gus says it was just stress relief, and Kev thinks Gus is daft for calling it off. Gus says Shelly wants Pat, though he admits to Kev that she never said. Kev points out Gus is the one she's been sleeping with, and if knowing about Pat's feelings for Shelly didn't stop Gus before, they shouldn't stop him now. Gus says it has run its course., but Kev says it doesn't sound like it. Kev wonders if Gus just has low self-esteem and implies Gus is a coward if he won't tell Shelly how he feels, even though Gus thinks Shelly doesn't feel the same way. Gus tells Kev to shut up.

That evening, Gus walks to Shelly's apartment in the cold. She lets him in, surprised he didn't text first, as she's asked and he usually does. Shelly says she thought they were done, and when Gus says that's not why he's here, she asks why. Gus claims to not know. He starts to leave, but Shelly mentions Pat asked her out and she turned him down. Gus is shocked, and Shelly blames bad timing. She says she didn't do it for Gus, she really is too busy for a relationship. She asks if their hook ups still have to be over, and he says yes because it's not just that for him anymore, surprising Shelly. Gus says he knows Shelly doesn't feel the same way about him, and she asserts she has never thought about it before. Gus takes that as his answer, but she protests, saying she's telling the truth and asking him not to be sore. She likes their arrangement. Shelly asks if they can at least still be friends, and Gus says they never were. He says goodbye and leaves.