Levels
March 30th, 2021
Starring: Seven (45-60), Three (23-30)
Late afternoon. The sprawling parking garage of a big tech office building. Seven is walking to their car, listening to a podcast. Three emerges from the stairwell, running in the distance towards Seven, lanyard flying.
THREE
Hi
Excuse me
Just a second...? Please?
Three finally catches up, but Seven, still plugged in, doesn’t notice. Three opts for the lightest of taps on Seven’s shoulder. Seven stops and turns, taking out a bud.
SEVEN
Yes?
THREE
Sorry hi.
Um
I know you don’t know me
SEVEN
Are you in danger?
THREE
No I um...
I was there earlier today. At the dev meeting. I was wondering why you did that.
SEVEN
What?
THREE
That glitch. You took all the blame for it.
SEVEN
It was my fault.
THREE
You added code to make it seem like you did it.
I'm a level three on that team. I noticed.
Seven softens a little, acknowledging:
SEVEN
If you’re not under the bus, why does it matter?
THREE
I'm curious why you’d throw us over it.
SEVEN
Everyone’s got a reason.
THREE
So what’s yours?
SEVEN
I want to get fired.
…
THREE
You do?
SEVEN
Like nothing else.
THREE
But
You’re a level seven.
SEVEN
True.
THREE
Your salary is terrifying.
SEVEN
True.
THREE
And the stock—
SEVEN
No kidding.
…
THREE
So maybe I’m missing the nugget of wisdom here but
what the hell are you doing?
SEVEN
What am I doing?
Talking to you. And when I’m done, I’m going to get in my car and drive home. Have dinner, read a book. Then I’ll go to sleep.
And all the while, I’ll be spying on civilians, stealing data, encouraging addiction, swaying elections, spreading lies, and funding a techno-autocracy with revenues bigger than most nations’ GDPs.
That’s what our code does. And you and I make it do that.
Plus if I miss another softball game, my daughter will kill me.
…
I’ve played ball for a while. There are limits. Enough times around the bases, you'll see.
Seven moves past Three and unlocks their car:
THREE
I could help you, if you want. Get fired.
Seven smiles and climbs behind the wheel:
SEVEN
You’re helping enough.
See you tomorrow.
Seven closes the door and starts up the engine. Three moves out of the way as the car backs out, zooming out of the garage.