Post by Emma Danielson on Jan 26, 2013 10:17:17 GMT -6
Open on Emma Danielson and Jake Conway in the cab of Emma’s battered pickup truck. Emma drives along the road, a half-smile on her face as the faint sounds of the road and a hard rock station filter through the background. Emma looks over at Jake, speaking to him with an unusual note of hesitance.
”Jake?”
He glances over immediately, cocking an eyebrow and paying attention to the blonde woman in the driver’s seat.
”What is it, Emma?”
She pauses, blushing for a moment before speaking again, clearly nervous about bringing up what she intends to speak with him regarding.
”Jake, I…if there’s anything you need me to do…anything at all…”
She blushes again, trailing off mid-sentence. Conway, however, immediately picks up on what she’s implying, however, and shakes his head, sighing and looking out the window as he replies somewhat forlornly.
”Emma, I’m not Steve Awesome. I would never debase you like that, and I would never objectify you like that. I have far too much respect for you to treat you that way. It might seem like we’re quite a bit alike at times, but that is one crucial point on which we differ.”
Emma nods, smiling genuinely as the words leave his mouth. A few more seconds pass before she manages to speak up again, running her free hand through her hair and twirling a finger around her pink streak.
”I just get worried sometimes. I mean, I see how Andrew’s reacting to you and me…I don’t want him to try to control my life like I’m some sort of child, but…he’s still my friend, Jake. I know he doesn’t understand what I see in you, and I don’t think he wants to. He’s been burnt before, and…he’s starting to get cold. I’m worried about what’s going to happen to him, especially if we continue working together after this.”
Jake stifles a grimace at the mention of the National Champion, clearly having wished they wouldn’t stray into that territory. Nevertheless, he puts on a confident face and speaks with those soothing, reassuring tones.
”Emma, if Andrew can’t come to terms with the fact that you’re a beautiful, confident woman who’s pursuing her dream, then I rather question whether he truly has your best interests at heart. Possessiveness is a dangerous thing. I don’t wish to drive you apart, but it seems as if he might be doing that job himself. No matter what, Emma, remember that ultimately he doesn’t control your life. Neither do I or anyone else, for that matter.”
Emma blushes at this again, feeling her heart thump in her chest. She forces herself to not do anything stupid, and speaks with a slightly more confident tone in her voice.
”I know I haven’t always been a model employee, but I’ve been trying to improve. You know that Dr. Halperin wouldn’t be clearing me like this if I hadn’t improved. Any problem behaviors, anything I need to change, just let me know and you can consider it fixed.”
Jake shakes his head again, looking over at Emma fully now. A clear expression of worry works itself onto his face, somewhat unusual for the normally insular and collected Englishman. He sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose before addressing Emma in the gentlest of tones.
”Emma, I don’t want you to be someone else for my sake or for anyone else’s. I respect you and admire you for who you are, not who other people think you should be. That independent streak has always fascinated me, in fact. No matter what happens in your life, you always remain the consummate independent. You define yourself…it’s impressive in a day and age when any piddly-ass rookie can drop a few names in a pathetic attempt to build cachet among the viewing populace. You stand on your own, and I admire that.”
Emma blushes a bit again, smiling over at him. She speaks to him as her eyes refocus on the road, taking the turn onto the road where Dr. Halperin’s office lies.
”Th…that means a lot to me, Jake.”
He shakes his head dismissively as they pull into a parking spot, a smirk on his face.
”It’s nothing, Emma. You’ve deserved far better than you’ve received from your coworkers, and I believe that if someone leads by example, it might start a top-down change. You’re a hidden gem in this division. You deserve to be able to shine.”
Emma shakes her head, shutting off the truck and looking over at him. She reaches over and takes his hand, smiling softly.
”Jake. It’s not nothing. It means a lot. I’ve always been kind of a tomboy, and…well, people saw me as one of the boys. It’s not always bad, but…I’ve had moments where I wish I wasn’t. I want to be seen as a strong WOMAN, not just a guy with different equipment. Nobody’s ever treated me like I was attractive in any way…like I was a woman, not an ogre. And I want to repay you for the faith you’ve shown in me. I don’t know how yet, but I promise you I will. Now come on. We’ve got an obligation to fulfill.”
Jake smiles back. They look down at their clasped hands, and Emma pulls back, blushing furiously as she opens the door. Jake slips out the door as well, and the two walk towards the therapist’s office as we fade to black.
”Predictability is a wonderful thing. For example, I knew that Shelly Taylor-Jones was going to make cracks about me being a transvestite and lusting after Jake Conway. Wrong on both counts, Shelly. Still a woman, no matter how much you want to pretend I’m not for the sake of jokes that got tired three years ago. As for my relationship with the head of our division, he’s been helping me overcome some problems that were exacerbated, in part, because of cracks like that. I think I’m allowed to feel grateful for him. But then, Shelly, you wouldn’t understand. You’ve never exactly been at a loss for self-esteem.”
“You don’t know what it’s like to be ostracized for how you look, or what you like to do. You’ve always been the kind of girl that’s the center of attention. I’m the girl that got forced to the sidelines because everyone was fawning over women like you. But I don’t begrudge you your looks. You’re a very beautiful person, Shelly. At least on the outside. Inside, you’re just as much of a rotten, petty, spiteful bitch as your husband.”
“Yeah, I went there. You’re just like Alex, Shelly, which I suppose is why you’re perfect for each other. You’re both prone to falling back on the same tired excuses that barely make sense, and you both protest that despite your lack of success, you’re so infinitely better than everyone else. Spoiler alert: maybe…you’re just not as good as you think you are. I know that living up to the truly mythic proportions you’ve set yourselves up for would require about a dozen more World Titles each, so in this case I think it’s okay to let yourself down a bit.”
“The one thing you’ve got in common with our mutual opponent is that neither of you think I’ve got what it takes anymore. You never thought I had it to begin with, and Jasmine Barrera seems to think I never had any heart for this. You want to question my heart, DJ Jazzy B? Who the hell do you think you are? What gives you the RIGHT to sneer down on me and say ‘oh, you don’t have the HEART anymore.’ My heart’s right where it’s always been, and now it’s ablaze. That flame needs to be fueled by throwing your ass into the fire. You’re setting yourself up for your own downfall, Jasmine.”
“I don’t think you’ve got a deficit of talent or anything like that. Hell, I think you’ve got potential to be one of the best this company has seen. But then, I’ve said that about a bunch of other women who showed up, couldn’t sustain themselves, crumbled under the hype, and flamed out. You’ve got more longevity, to be sure, but you’ve been at a simmer this entire time. Time to heat things up, Jasmine…or you’ll just cool off for good.”
“I don’t delude myself into thinking that a win’s going to come easily. You two are going to fight with everything you’re got, and that’s nothing to laugh at. I’ve got to start my climb, though. I have to pull myself free of those last doubts, and part of that is proving to myself and the world that I’m better than all the people who see fit to criticize me for things that I shouldn’t be ashamed of. We’ve all got something to prove. But unfortunately, you two are going to have to prove it another week. Me? I’m making my stand here and now. This week is the first week of the rest of my life.”
”And life is beautiful.”[/i]
”Jake?”
He glances over immediately, cocking an eyebrow and paying attention to the blonde woman in the driver’s seat.
”What is it, Emma?”
She pauses, blushing for a moment before speaking again, clearly nervous about bringing up what she intends to speak with him regarding.
”Jake, I…if there’s anything you need me to do…anything at all…”
She blushes again, trailing off mid-sentence. Conway, however, immediately picks up on what she’s implying, however, and shakes his head, sighing and looking out the window as he replies somewhat forlornly.
”Emma, I’m not Steve Awesome. I would never debase you like that, and I would never objectify you like that. I have far too much respect for you to treat you that way. It might seem like we’re quite a bit alike at times, but that is one crucial point on which we differ.”
Emma nods, smiling genuinely as the words leave his mouth. A few more seconds pass before she manages to speak up again, running her free hand through her hair and twirling a finger around her pink streak.
”I just get worried sometimes. I mean, I see how Andrew’s reacting to you and me…I don’t want him to try to control my life like I’m some sort of child, but…he’s still my friend, Jake. I know he doesn’t understand what I see in you, and I don’t think he wants to. He’s been burnt before, and…he’s starting to get cold. I’m worried about what’s going to happen to him, especially if we continue working together after this.”
Jake stifles a grimace at the mention of the National Champion, clearly having wished they wouldn’t stray into that territory. Nevertheless, he puts on a confident face and speaks with those soothing, reassuring tones.
”Emma, if Andrew can’t come to terms with the fact that you’re a beautiful, confident woman who’s pursuing her dream, then I rather question whether he truly has your best interests at heart. Possessiveness is a dangerous thing. I don’t wish to drive you apart, but it seems as if he might be doing that job himself. No matter what, Emma, remember that ultimately he doesn’t control your life. Neither do I or anyone else, for that matter.”
Emma blushes at this again, feeling her heart thump in her chest. She forces herself to not do anything stupid, and speaks with a slightly more confident tone in her voice.
”I know I haven’t always been a model employee, but I’ve been trying to improve. You know that Dr. Halperin wouldn’t be clearing me like this if I hadn’t improved. Any problem behaviors, anything I need to change, just let me know and you can consider it fixed.”
Jake shakes his head again, looking over at Emma fully now. A clear expression of worry works itself onto his face, somewhat unusual for the normally insular and collected Englishman. He sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose before addressing Emma in the gentlest of tones.
”Emma, I don’t want you to be someone else for my sake or for anyone else’s. I respect you and admire you for who you are, not who other people think you should be. That independent streak has always fascinated me, in fact. No matter what happens in your life, you always remain the consummate independent. You define yourself…it’s impressive in a day and age when any piddly-ass rookie can drop a few names in a pathetic attempt to build cachet among the viewing populace. You stand on your own, and I admire that.”
Emma blushes a bit again, smiling over at him. She speaks to him as her eyes refocus on the road, taking the turn onto the road where Dr. Halperin’s office lies.
”Th…that means a lot to me, Jake.”
He shakes his head dismissively as they pull into a parking spot, a smirk on his face.
”It’s nothing, Emma. You’ve deserved far better than you’ve received from your coworkers, and I believe that if someone leads by example, it might start a top-down change. You’re a hidden gem in this division. You deserve to be able to shine.”
Emma shakes her head, shutting off the truck and looking over at him. She reaches over and takes his hand, smiling softly.
”Jake. It’s not nothing. It means a lot. I’ve always been kind of a tomboy, and…well, people saw me as one of the boys. It’s not always bad, but…I’ve had moments where I wish I wasn’t. I want to be seen as a strong WOMAN, not just a guy with different equipment. Nobody’s ever treated me like I was attractive in any way…like I was a woman, not an ogre. And I want to repay you for the faith you’ve shown in me. I don’t know how yet, but I promise you I will. Now come on. We’ve got an obligation to fulfill.”
Jake smiles back. They look down at their clasped hands, and Emma pulls back, blushing furiously as she opens the door. Jake slips out the door as well, and the two walk towards the therapist’s office as we fade to black.
”Predictability is a wonderful thing. For example, I knew that Shelly Taylor-Jones was going to make cracks about me being a transvestite and lusting after Jake Conway. Wrong on both counts, Shelly. Still a woman, no matter how much you want to pretend I’m not for the sake of jokes that got tired three years ago. As for my relationship with the head of our division, he’s been helping me overcome some problems that were exacerbated, in part, because of cracks like that. I think I’m allowed to feel grateful for him. But then, Shelly, you wouldn’t understand. You’ve never exactly been at a loss for self-esteem.”
“You don’t know what it’s like to be ostracized for how you look, or what you like to do. You’ve always been the kind of girl that’s the center of attention. I’m the girl that got forced to the sidelines because everyone was fawning over women like you. But I don’t begrudge you your looks. You’re a very beautiful person, Shelly. At least on the outside. Inside, you’re just as much of a rotten, petty, spiteful bitch as your husband.”
“Yeah, I went there. You’re just like Alex, Shelly, which I suppose is why you’re perfect for each other. You’re both prone to falling back on the same tired excuses that barely make sense, and you both protest that despite your lack of success, you’re so infinitely better than everyone else. Spoiler alert: maybe…you’re just not as good as you think you are. I know that living up to the truly mythic proportions you’ve set yourselves up for would require about a dozen more World Titles each, so in this case I think it’s okay to let yourself down a bit.”
“The one thing you’ve got in common with our mutual opponent is that neither of you think I’ve got what it takes anymore. You never thought I had it to begin with, and Jasmine Barrera seems to think I never had any heart for this. You want to question my heart, DJ Jazzy B? Who the hell do you think you are? What gives you the RIGHT to sneer down on me and say ‘oh, you don’t have the HEART anymore.’ My heart’s right where it’s always been, and now it’s ablaze. That flame needs to be fueled by throwing your ass into the fire. You’re setting yourself up for your own downfall, Jasmine.”
“I don’t think you’ve got a deficit of talent or anything like that. Hell, I think you’ve got potential to be one of the best this company has seen. But then, I’ve said that about a bunch of other women who showed up, couldn’t sustain themselves, crumbled under the hype, and flamed out. You’ve got more longevity, to be sure, but you’ve been at a simmer this entire time. Time to heat things up, Jasmine…or you’ll just cool off for good.”
“I don’t delude myself into thinking that a win’s going to come easily. You two are going to fight with everything you’re got, and that’s nothing to laugh at. I’ve got to start my climb, though. I have to pull myself free of those last doubts, and part of that is proving to myself and the world that I’m better than all the people who see fit to criticize me for things that I shouldn’t be ashamed of. We’ve all got something to prove. But unfortunately, you two are going to have to prove it another week. Me? I’m making my stand here and now. This week is the first week of the rest of my life.”
”And life is beautiful.”[/i]