Rule of Three (Phil & Monique)

FADE IN:

INT. MUSEUM CONFERENCE - GRAB-AND-GO CAFE - DAY

Sitting at a corner table are MONIQUE, exhibition developer wise beyond her years, and PHIL, anxious independent museum consultant.

PHIL: You’re furrowing your brow.

MONIQUE: I need a working title and a catchy organizing principle for this little civics exhibition I’m doing.

PHIL: Try the Rule of Three. You might solve both.

MONIQUE: Rule of what? [Sips matcha disinterestedly.]

PHIL: Writers use it all the time. And comedians.

MONIQUE: [Narrows eyes.] Why do I feel like I am about to learn more?

PHIL: The Rule of Three proposes that trios of objects, words, or ideas are somehow more satisfying.

MONIQUE: Why?

PHIL: Maybe because three is the smallest number that makes a pattern. 

MONIQUE: For example?

PHIL: Goldilocks had three bears. Plays have three acts. Songs are verse-chorus-bridge.

MONIQUE: Wait, this is actually helpful.

PHIL: It’s why we remember three musketeers. Even though there were four. And they didn’t use muskets.

MONIQUE: Stop, drop, and roll?

PHIL: Yes! B.L.T.

MONIQUE: Ha! Location, location, location.

PHIL: Blood, sweat and tears.

MONIQUE: Of the people, by the people, for the people.

PHIL: See? That sounds like the title for your little civics exhibition.

MONIQUE: Huh. Veni, vidi, vici. [Sips matcha.]

FADE OUT