Elevator Pitch

A middle-aged man and a younger woman share an elevator to the top floor of a New York skyscraper. They are the two candidates summoned to the head office of their nationwide company for an interview to fill a vacant board position. Initially, the man is unaware that his fellow elevator passenger is also there for an interview. He assumes they would only entertain another similar, middle-aged, white, and privileged man to become a board member. His sexist, misogynistic side comes to the fore when it becomes clear that the younger woman is also up for the post. He still believes the job will be his, but in the 'spirit of fairness,' they have only invited the women to tick a social box. The man delights in telling the woman how efficient and good at his job he is and that his efficiency also equates to his home life. However, when the elevator develops a fault and gets stuck between two floors, his calm, aloofness immediately unravels as he begins hitting all the buttons, screaming for help. The woman remains calm and lucid, knowing somebody will soon remedy the situation. As they wait for their journey to continue, the young woman puts her case forward, proving she may be the right candidate for the position over her older and more experienced prisoner. She suggests that her hunger, youth, and ideas may be something the bosses would consider over the dead-in-the-wool, outdated ideas her male counterpart assumes they are looking for. He is not even aware that the company's new CEO is a woman – a fact she takes advantage of as it is soon indicated that the young woman that the middle-aged man has been sharing the elevator with is, in fact, the new CEO. As the elevator resumes its journey and reaches the desired floor, a stunned and exasperated man is advised to remain in the elevator and return home. The woman leaves the elevator, and the doors shut before she approaches the receptionist to announce she has arrived for her interview. She tells the receptionist she is surprised the other candidate hasn't thought it important enough to turn up. She sits waiting for her interview as the only candidate.