Tom Sturbridge (timestoodstill) wrote in we_float, @ 2010-07-16 20:31:00 |
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Entry tags: | character: del ethier, character: tom sturbridge |
Wild Card Underground
Who: Del Ethier and Tom Sturbridge
What: Transcript of the first broadcast of the Wild Card Underground radio show. (Well, the beginning of it. We didn't actually try to write a whole show.)
When: Monday, July 12 (Backdated)
Where: Anhalt Building
Status: Log, Complete
[START TRANSCRIPT]
TOM: Is this thing on?
(Sounds of rustling)
Hey, everybody, and welcome to the Wild Card Underground. I'm Tom, and with me here is Del, and we're coming to you live from the Pacific Northwest. First, I want to say thank you for tuning in. Second, we want to say right off that this show isn't about us. This is about you. We welcome your calls - the phone number is on the website - because really, we don't want to listen to the sounds of our own voices for hours on end. Before we get into it, though, let's have Del tell you a little more about our vision for this show, since it was originally his idea. Del?
DEL: (Chuckles) Vision - ha! Alright, you are officially quippy. *a pause and a squeak of a chair shifting* Well, I'm Del and I'm a former resident of the local Jokertown. Now, I've never really been out of the state, but I presume that most of the cities out there - hell, maybe even some of the small towns out in the mountains have one, and that is an area populated with the happy 10% who didn't flip a card and die. And if yours was a Jokertown like man, you were a community. Maybe old ladies weren't helped across the street by conscientious kids and maybe your neighbor even occasionally helped themselves to more than just a cup of sugar, but we were a community. People watched out for the kids running on the block and protected each other from the slings and arrows of pretty damn outrageous persecution.
(Pause, glug of liquid)
So this is an experiment to see if we can get that feeling of being a part of something trusted and safe back. It's a fucking scary world out there right now. Man, you might be feeling isolated or terrified or I don't know. Just alone. Just call. Talk about whatever is freaking you out. Reach out. We're still a community, even if we aren't in one place.
TOM: So to get things going, I figured we should probably talk about something. Um. Obviously. But specifically, I wanted to talk about something that happened... last week? Last week or the week before. See, Del here is an artist - a dancer - and he was in a dance show, which was about being a wild card in society right now. At least I think that's what it was about. I'm not too good with these things sometimes. Anyway, it was enough about it that the authorities decided that it needed to be shut down. I went the first night, and then on the second night, before the show was even over, the authorities came and shut it down.
Why? I mean, honestly, what was anyone hurting by doing a dance show? Why would the authorities see this as such a threat?
DEL: (Pause) Uh, that's rhetorical, right? I mean... (Sigh, squeak of chair moving) the whole soul of the show was centered around small moments that have been effected by the Wild Card Act. It was intensely personal for everyone and just... (Tone turns a bit crestfallen) I don't know man. You saw it coming. But it still sucked. A lot.
TOM: Not exactly rhetorical, but maybe sort of? Anyway, what do you all think? Has anything like that happened to you? How have your lives changed since the Wild Card Acts were reinstated? Or re-enacted, or whatever that would be. I can say from my personal perspective, things haven't changed a huge amount - yet. I can pass. I'm not a Joker, and when I walk down the street, people see a skinny, awkward, uncoordinated young guy, but they don't necessarily see a Wild Card. I'm lucky, and I know it. And what everyone needs to understand now is what it's really like from people who don't have that luxury. So... anyone out there want to call in and talk about something that's happened to you since this all went down?
DEL: We should glue a unicorn horn to your forehead. I bet that would be one way to get you experience. (Laugh)
TOM: How was your date, by the way? (Pause) I guess that's more of an off air conversation, huh? Oops. So yeah. Someone call in, talk to us! Please?
DEL: (Pause) No. Wait. This thing is supposed to flash right? If we've got a caller?
TOM: You're the one who was trying to absorb the instruction videos by pressing your forehead to the screen, which I'm pretty sure is not your ace. Um. What happens if you poke it? If someone is calling in, whoever you are, hang on! And if we hang up on you, call back!
DEL: Fuck it - you run the computer. (Chair squeaks) That would be a pretty helpful ace, really. Like, when you think as a kid how it would be awesome if you could absorb books my osmosis or by sleeping on it. I wanted that one all the time.
TOM: Well we know someone who sort of can, actually. Apparently it's not all it's cracked up to be. Okay, I'm pushing the button.
(Pause)
Hello? Is someone there?
CALLER: Yeah, I'm here. Um. Hi.
TOM: Hello. What's your name? If you're comfortable giving it, that is. You could always make one up.
CALLER: Mark. I'm Mark.
TOM: What's up, Mark?
MARK: Not much. I just saw one of your ads online and tuned in. I wanted to say that I think it's pretty cool what you're doing. I'm not a wild card myself, but I have friends who are, and my best friend growing up, when he was a teenager he turned the card and it came up the Black Queen. Which pretty much sucked, and now with all of this shit happening, I think about him and how it would have affected him, and I just want to do something for him, y'know? But I don't know what to do. But knowing I'm not the only one... that's cool. So yeah. I wanted to say thanks.
DEL: Well, right back atcha man for calling. What to do is always a weird thing, you know? I mean, it's a weird thing for us too. How do you help?
(Pause)
How do you help? I guess. I mean, I'm not much for riots or beating people up or anything; it's counterproductive. But I guess... Mark... remember your friend next time some genetic supremacist decides to run their mouth off.
MARK: I do. Every day. His name was... well, we all called him Jace. (Pause) Hey, can I ask you guys a question?
TOM: Sure.
MARK: If you could, y'know, not be wild cards, would you? Just be normal, I mean? If there was a cure. Do you think that they should be looking for a cure?
DEL: (Pause) Uh... I don't think a cure necessarily would work for me. I mean it would, but then I'd just be running around blind and uh, I prefer not being blind. Tom?
TOM: It's part of who I am, so no, I couldn't take it back if I could.
MARK: But what about all of the people who draw the Black Queen and die? I mean, what if they could just make the virus go away so no one had to worry about that? Wouldn't that be a good thing?
TOM: People not dying would be good, yeah, but isn't that always true? I think it's easy to say that the wild card virus should just be eradicated so that people don't have to die from it. And I know that some jokers make people suffer, too, and who wants to see their friend or family member suffer? But there are a lot of jokers and aces and deuces that don't cause any kind of suffering, and could possibly do good, and should we get rid of that, too? At this point, I feel like we should find ways to treat the suffering, maybe cut down on the number of people who draw the Black Queen, but I think we also need to accept the wild card as part of human diversity, you know? Otherwise... I mean, who are we to decide who should live and die?
DEL: But that's just it. You never know. (Squeak of a chair) My sister died a Black Queen. I'd give anything to have her back. (Quiet sigh) Wouldn't it be nice if everyone could live? If no one had to die? If she coulda had a shot at 10 and not be dead now? Damn straight I'd want it.
But Mark, it ain't about fixing someone. Or at least, you're talking about fixing the wrong people. They'll just find something else to be an asshole about. You had to have your genes cleaned - fuck you, let's write an act to make you not human. Your parents shoulda been Jokers, your genes must also be fucked up, you come under it as well.
MARK: Shit. I was just asking a question. No need to rip me a new one. I'm sorry about your sister. Anyway, good luck with this. I'll keep an eye out for more ads, next time you're on.
(Hangs up)
DEL: Uh... Sorry Mark. I didn't mean for that to come across as accusatory. Ten minutes in and already alienating callers?
TOM: Well, he said he'd tune in again. But hey, don't let that dissuade you from calling, people out there who are listening. We welcome questions, debates, anything. We want to have a conversation. Even if you disagree with us.
DEL: Yup, the number is 439-0347. I'll try to be less of a douche, promise. Oh! Hi. Please state your pseudonym of choice, caller.
CALLER: Del? You're on the radio?
DEL: (Gleeful) Duh, I told you I would be P--atty! (Sniggers) Is... (A beat) never mind. Are you calling for any reason other than geeking out?
PATTY: Yeah! Stop swearing so much, dork. Hi Tom!
TOM: Hi Patty. I take it you know Del? You know, it's funny that we call this radio when technically it's not using radio waves at all. Is it? Okay, so I'm not a science master. Anyway, hi! How are you this evening?
PATTY: I'm part of his personal brain farm. (Laughs)
DEL: (Laughs)
PATTY: But I'm pretty good. I wanted to shout two things out since you've got this forum. First, my parents own a building at 31st and E. Cherry and it's joker friendly. They've got two apartments - a studio and a 1b/1b - that they're looking to rent out. Second, there's going to be a silent auction at Sea-Pac U to benefit Professor Karan Hsiang's legal fund. She was arrested at the Washington Monument last week during a JJS protest.
TOM: For those who are unfamiliar, or not from the area, that location would be in Seattle, and Sea-Pac U is Seattle Pacific University. JJS... well, I don't know what that is.
DEL AND PATTY: Joker Justice Society.
DEL: Patty's a member.
PATTY: You two should join - I've been bugging Del this whole year--
DEL: Are you very political, Tom?
TOM: I haven't been, really, but in light of everything happening, I think I'm going to have to become more so. I mean, I think that's sort of the point, isn't it? Why?
DEL: I think people are going to expect it of us. I know there is one person already who does.
PATTY: (Saccharin sweet, mocking) There is nothing wrong with fighting the government for your continued existence, Del.
DEL: (Snickers) Oh yeah, yelling at Congress. That ALWAYS works. They just LOVE to listen to the people who voted for them.
[SHOW CONTINUES]