Episode 9 – Working For a
Living
FADE IN: NIGHT = APARTMENT
BUILDING IN DC SUBURBS
AMELIA is having a
conversation with her new roommate JANET.
AMELIA
Again – I really
appreciate you letting me move in two weeks early. I hope it’s not a major inconvenience.
JANET
Not at all! I just assumed
most potential roommates would move in at the beginning of the month but no
worries – it seems like you were in a tight spot.
AMELIA
Yeah – sort of – needed to
escape a dysfunctional family situation. You have to pardon me for not going
into details. Also, I had been looking for a couple of weeks already and
finally I met someone normal – well you know what I mean – right?
JANET
Oh yes – normal is good
for a roommate! I went through a few hellish living situations myself before I
finally saved up enough money to rent this apartment. Between the realtor’s
fees, first, last and security, the work and credit checks etc. – you need to
be a rich yuppie nowadays!
AMELIA
Yes, well I had a good
feeling about you and this place from the ad and our meeting the first time
confirmed it. Just in the knick of time because my college apartment situation
was already 2 weeks past the vacancy time limit and I only got away with it
because – well anyway – glad to be here!
JANET
Your excellent references
all checked out and I couldn’t help but be impressed with your Harvard law
school affiliation. We both have been so busy with our jobs that we haven’t
really had time for a nice get to know each other conversation.
AMELIA
That’s true, but to be
honest I’m kind of a private person when it comes to family stuff but am
willing to open up about pretty much anything else.
JANET
I totally respect that and
I too am sort of like that. We are still strangers after all and I wouldn’t
take the liberty of probing about personal stuff. Anyway, as I may have already
told you, I work at a non-profit that helps women in poor countries get micro
loans. And you said you just started at a small law firm?
AMELIA
That’s right – I just
recently passed the bar exam after finishing my degree and I’m starting as a
humble, low-level lawyer at a small firm in DC.
JANET
Well – you got to start
somewhere – right? I grew up in Connecticut and then got accepted to Berkeley
in California. I thought I was going to major in Sociology but switched to
Political Science after getting involved in some activism in the Bay area –
this is of course before the flood events.
AMELIA
Yes – the floods have
changed everything in our country – mostly for the millions of coastal peoples
who now live in tent cities. I love the Bay area – had a boyfriend there –
briefly. Loved the city and going for walks on the beach at Big Sur – those
redwoods are amazing! So you must be pretty smart to have gotten into Berkeley.
JANET
Not as smart as you have
to be to get into Harvard! So you know the Bay area. Yeah, I miss it and feel
so bad for all my friends that have been wiped out by the floods. I am
definitely going to the march. I have friends who live in the New Cali tent
city and have stayed in touch. They told me how depressing it is to live there
but they also said they have made some real friends and are hopeful that a new
president will speed up the relocation process.
AMELIA
It’s really sad - I can’t
imagine living there. I really did not have much choice about Harvard – sort of
a family tradition but I really had a great experience.Do you really think
Senator Jones can deliver on all her promises?
JANET
I do – I really do. I
think her record speaks for itself. She has been very consistent in her
progressive voting history and seems genuine in her passion to restore our
basic rights, speed up the relocation process and finish up the Green
Revolution toward 100% renewable energies.
AMELIA
Wow – you have her
platform down - you sound like you work for her.
JANET
Full transparency – I do
volunteer for Senator Jones’ committee to register voters. Something that most
states did automatically until this administration made the new federal
registration form a requirement for all voters. This election is too important
to get stuck with this stupid president and all his cronies again – there’s too
much at stake! Oh – are you a Republican? I did not mean to insult the
president but…
AMELIA
Don’t sweat it – I have
been a registered as a Republican for my first two elections but am going to
change parties soon to become an Independent. I too am sick of this president
and all his cronies.
JANET
Whew – because politics is
like religion around the DC area – actually all over the country again. My
parents are old school Democrat Centrists but after my activism while attending
Berkeley, I joined the more left Progressive party because of their history of
fighting for the majority working class and marginalized minorities to achieve
the American Dream.
AMELIA
I can appreciate that. I
see the Independent party as the modern centrists. I have a mixed bag of ideas
on how our country should move forward and so… Let’s take a break from
politics. I grew up in Colorado mostly. I love to boogie board, listen to old
school soul music from the 1960s and 70s and am trying to be a vegan as of
late.
JANET
I tried skiing a couple
times but am not very athletic that way. I do some yoga nowadays and I am
mostly vegetarian for years now – tried the vegan thing but love cheese too much!
I just try to buy the brands that treat their animals with respect. Meat eating
has actually gone up recently for the first time in decades since this new
president got in office. It was at an all time low until he deregulated
everything. As you may know, meat consumption was once one of the top three
causes of Global Warming.
AMELIA
That’s part of the reason
I am trying to be a vegan as well as health concerns. I see by the nice prints
you have framed you like the modern art era –– I love Georgia O’Keefe as well.
JANET
Yes I do – maybe someday I
will be able to afford a real one. They are nice to see everyday for
inspiration. The O’Keefe one is calming but when I need some energy I look at
the Kandinsky – awesome use of colors – so vibrant! I draw for a hobby – how
about you?
AMELIA
Law school has sucked up
my vibe for years but I would like to do some kind of creative endeavor – get
my hands dirty. I was thinking about getting a sewing machine. I have a few
basic design ideas for dresses or bags maybe.
JANET
That sounds great! I have
jeans I would love to sew some patches on! That is if you are willing to share.
I learned from my Mom when I was little.
AMELIA
Of course! Maybe you could
teach me? You said you were going to the march – will you be going with your
fellow supporters of Senator Jones?
JANET
Yes as a matter of fact.
Would you like to join us?
AMELIA
Maybe – I too am fed up
with the loss of our cherished freedoms and want to see the tent city residents
relocated to real homes. So I will let you know soon – okay?
JANET
No pressure – it will be a
great day but I imagine a little hectic based upon the latest estimates of over
2 million marchers from all over the country descending on DC! It will be the biggest
protest ever - 10 times the last record set decades ago.
AMELIA
Yes – a little
intimidating. I never protested anything in my life but this is important and
will be historical! What do you think of this Mr. Palenti – the leader of the
CRD movement?
JANET
OMG! I am in love with him
– well you know what I mean. I mean the guy is so smart and gorgeous! He’s a
strong ex-military war hero and well educated progressive – one of your fellow
Ivy leaguers! I would marry him in second!
AMELIA
Wow - I guess you like him
then. I just wonder if he has bitten off more than he can chew. I mean there have
been no major protests in decades and with the angry armed militias around the
country stirring up trouble – I wonder if his passive resistance technique is
realistic.
JANET
Yes – we are all concerned
about violence breaking out – not just from them but even homeland security
looking to stop the march before it begins! My little volunteer contingency are
actually going to get to meet him in person next week when he comes down to DC
to train groups in civil disobedience techniques. He will also meet with
Senator Jones and other committees in charge of organizing the march speakers
and such. Would you want to come?
AMELIA
Wow – sounds cool but
again – can I sleep on it and tell you in a day or so?
JANET
Yeah but I would need to
know within a couple days so I can let my people know how many I plan to bring
to the training session. I am soooo excited! This guy could be a future
president!
AMELIA
Yes – you may be right. He
is quite intelligent and easy on the eyes! You know what – I will go! I
appreciate the invite! I am on a new independent trajectory in my life and
these turbulent times call for action – no more armchair warrior for me!
JANET
Super! I am so happy we
are on the same page about this march and how important it is to the future of
our country. We will all sink or swim – together – literally!
AMELIA
That’s true Janet. I want
to be on the right side of history and get to know my fellow Americans. As you
may have figured out, I am from a privileged background and recently had an
epiphany about how segregated I have been from the general population. It’s
embarrassing really but I made a promise to myself to stretch my boundaries and
get outside my comfort zone and really see what’s happening on the ground in
our country and the world!
JANET
I wasn’t going to say
anything but I gleaned that you must come from money based on your Harvard
attendance, your expensive name brand clothing and luggage etc. but I
appreciate that you are breaking out of your privileged circles to see how the
other half – actually 90% of us live!
AMELIA
Well if you go by my bank
account balance, I am officially middle class. You see I had a fall out with my
father and have been cut off from my trust fund. It has not been easy but I am
enjoying my new found freedom from having to kiss his ass to get that monthly
stipend. Not to be rude or condescending but I don’t know how people do it! I
have to watch every penny – I mean we rich folks are frugal too – it’s how we
stay rich but this paycheck-to-paycheck reality is a real challenge to say the
least!
JANET
Welcome to our world
Amelia! I wish every rich person would do what you have done – not the breaking
up of family part – but voluntarily, as a social experiment to see what it’s
like for the majority of citizens who are all a couple of paychecks away from
poverty! The UBI helped but is not enough to live on for one person never mind
a family.Our family did great
during the height of the Green New Deal – but many of those jobs dried up in
the last decade and the robots have taken what ever other jobs exist. You can’t
compete with a robot!
AMELIA
It has been a great and
humbling learning experience so far. I only hope I can move up at my firm quickly
to get a raise as soon as possible!
JANET
I hear you sister friend!
I love my non-profit job and get to see the results of our great work helping
people around the world but I barely make enough to survive. I originally was
going to make your bedroom into a small study to write my book, but I have to
put that on hold – at least until after this march and election cycle. We all
have to prioritize our time and energy for our selves and the greater collective
if we are all to prosper.
AMELIA
Write a book – wow –
that’s ambitious! Sorry to take your study space! Fiction or non-fiction?
JANET
No worries – I will have
less stress in my life worrying about paying the rent and will be able to treat
myself to some much needed new clothes and maybe even save a few bucks now that
you have moved in. It will be non-fiction. I have some ideas about better
government policies based on my activism in college; my non-profit and
volunteer work. I have a long-term dream of being a Senator myself one day. I
figure I will put all my ideas down in a book, try to get published and then go
from there.
AMELIA
That sounds great! I have
become a spiritual person as of late and I believe that all things happen for a
reason. I am glad we ended up together Janet.
JANET
Me too! I am so relieved
that we get along! I thought and was hoping we would because I too met a few
other potential roommates and the chemistry was not right. But I felt a kindred
spirit in you and am happy to see my intuition was right!
AMELIA
Well I actually have some
more things to unpack and so…
JANET
By all means! I am
retiring for the night – Sweet dreams!
AMELIA
Good Night. When you get a
minute, just text me the details of the resistance march training session next
week. I am nervous and excited!
JANET
Me too! I’ll do it right
now!
FADE OUT:
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