Silo – S02E10 – Into the Fire – Transcript

Silo
Season 2 – Episode 10
Episode title: Into the Fire
Original release date: January 17, 2025

Plot: Walker works with Knox and the other rebels to use Bernard’s camera to send him misinformation. They trick Bernard into sending the raiders below and transferring all rebels up top, after which Pete sacrifices himself to blow up the stairs in between. The up top deputies side with the rebels after receiving Billings’s message via Sims. Patrick agitates the citizens into a mob that demands answers from Bernard. Lukas tells Bernard what he learned and resigns, which causes a despondent Bernard to make Sims his new IT shadow, handing over the vault key and password. Sims and his family enter the vault, but the Legacy says only Camille can stay. In Silo 17, Solo tells Juliette about the safeguard procedure, a pipe that can pump enough poison to kill everyone, and how it can be stopped. Juliette uses the firefighter suit and returns to Silo 18, which is seen inside and celebrated, but she shows a message warning them not to leave. Juliette enters as Bernard is leaving, and they are locked in the incinerator as it fires up. In an apparent flashback in Washington, D.C., a woman named Helen questions a new congressman about the possibility of the U.S. retaliating against Iran for supposedly having detonated a dirty bomb on U.S. soil.

* * *

Transcript

Note for Students & Writers: This transcript is archived here for educational purposes, critical analysis, and screenwriting study. All rights belong to the original creators.

[watch ticking]

Alive?

We don’t know if it’s true, not a hundred-percent, but an Up-Topper claiming to be Bernard’s shadow snuck down and he told me that… [sighs] when Jules was last seen, she was still alive.

Where?

Outside?

[Shirley] I don’t know.

But it gives us hope.

[Pete sighs]

[Knox] Not that you ever lost it.

A lot of people come through those doors saying my Juliette is alive.

They chant it on the stairs, carve it into the walls… but you’re the first people I actually believe.

[sighs] We’re out of gloves. I tell you that?

We’re, uh, understaffed. I haven’t slept really, not…

Dr. Nichols, we need you for something urgent.

[sighs]

I’m providing medical services to every soul below the barricade during a time of rebellion.

What could possibly be more pressing?

War.

[sighs]

[Juliette] Okay. I got it. [sighs]

Let’s go.

This is my lunch box.

[Juliette] Jimmy.

[stammers] What?

You okay?

Yeah.

I just haven’t been in here in a long time.

The last time I was in here was the last time I saw my mom.

It goes right there.

I remember.

They were standing… there.

[no audible dialogue]

They were younger than me.

I mean, than I am now.

[sighs] I got so old.

It’s been so long.

My mom, she wanted me to sit in my chair and eat my lunch like… like… [stammers] it was just like a normal day.

[Eater] Were you an only child?

Huh?

[Eater] No, um… No sisters, brothers?

No.

[Eater] Are there more suits?

If-If you had one when you were a kid, maybe it could fit me?

No, I never saw a suit for me but my dad had that one and then my mom had one made, but I don’t see it anywhere.

[Juliette] Jimmy.

We need to go.

Can I… Is it okay if I just, um, spend a-a little time in here?

Just a little bit?

But I’m leaving soon.

I know, I know.

[sighs]

“Safeguard Procedure.”

[Eater] How far do you have to walk?

The air will get you

before you take your first step…

Yeah, I just want to know.

It’s not too far, but…

Hey! Hey!

[pants]

[Juliette] What?

There’s something you have to see.

No, I have to get going.

Oh, no! That’s why you have to see it.

What I have to show you, it might be the only way to save your silo.

Come on!

Come on, come on, come on!

[grunting, panting]

Fuck.

[panting, grunting]

Hey, it’s Mr. Blue ID Guy.

Can I see it?

Okay. Here.

“Lukas.” Right.

You’re coming with me.

No, I need to get up top.

Shirley told me to find someone named Lukas and lock him up.

Look, you have no idea…

Probably not.

But I don’t care.

[stammers] You wanna walk or be dragged?

Just… [sighs]

Dragged it is.

[grunting, groaning]

Son of a bitch.

Fuck, man. Sorry.

[groans]

[door opens]

You all right?

Yeah, we’re good.

[Martha] What am I looking at?

[Knox] Something we’ve been hoping to avoid for some time now.

What do you mean we? I never saw this.

Nobody has.

There’s gunpowder rolling down the hallway, so somebody has.

They only know what they need to. Not all of it.

The people in this room are the people we trust.

What’s the plan?

Look, it’s a risk.

[Shirley] The odds are not in our favor.

[chuckles] That’s not a good place to start.

But in our present situation, the chances of long-term survival, they’re not much better.

Resources are running out.

It’s only a matter of time before they take back the farm, so it’s kind of now or never.

I wouldn’t have said this when we started, but now they need to know that we are willing to risk everything.

And by everything?

The only thing we have for leverage.

In one hour, I’m gonna lead a team that will storm the barricade.

Shirley will follow with a second wave.

But our goal isn’t so much to win at the barricade.

Then what are we…

Bu…

But to hold off the raiders for at least three hours.

Why three?

‘Cause that’s how long it takes to rig the generator to explode.

You’re going to blow up the generator?

[Knox] If we don’t get what we want.

If you don’t get what you want, you’re gonna kill everybody?

We’re not gonna kill everybody.

What do you want, Sheriff?

I want to know the truth.

They won’t give it to us.

Not unless they have to.

Three hours.

That’s all we need.

But the timeline stays in this room, because if somebody from the Up Top finds out, this will all be for nothing.

I’ll go with the first wave.

Got you.

Send your raiders to storm the barricades, arrest the rebels and secure the generator room now.

How many should I send?

All of them.

Go!

[metal clanging]

[grunting]

[metal grinding in the distance]

[raider 1 whistles]

What the hell was that all about?

I don’t know.

[clanging echoes]

What the fuck is that?

[raider 2] Go, go, go, go!

Fuck.

[raiders clamoring]

Run!

What?

Stop… [grunting]

Stop! Stop! Stop. You don’t understand!

[grunting]

Come on. It’s here. [grunts]

It’s in here somewhere.

Okay.

How to save them. It’s j…

[Eater] What?

Wait, you can’t hear this. You gotta go.

[Juliette, Eater] What?

The Eater has to go!

Don’t call me Eater!

You’re too young to hear this.

You don’t get to call me that!

It’s okay. It’s okay.

It’s okay.

What do you want to be called?

My mom… My mom called me Hope.

Hope? Okay, that’s great. That’s a great name. Hope.

Hey, if you go back to the vault, we’ll be right back, I promise.

Okay?

Sorry.

Jimmy.

Okay, look. It’s written here: “the Safeguard Procedure.”

I heard my parents whispering about it.

It could kill people.

But that morning, they figured out a way to stop it.

And if you learn it, okay…

Okay.

If you know it, then-then maybe you can… you can keep your silo from dying.

Um… [sighs] I remember my mom not coming back and then… [stutters] whatever my parents did, worked.

What?

My mom and dad saved people’s lives.

All those people went outside, they didn’t die.

Not at first.

They didn’t die, Juliette.

And you think that whatever they did could help save my silo?

Yes!

Okay, okay, okay.

It’s in here somewhere. We just… [pants]

Okay.

I… [sighs]

I don’t know what I’m looking for. I just… [sighs]

W-Wait. If we’re gonna do this, you have to remember, okay?

You have to try.

Okay, okay. [breathes heavily]

[citizens clamoring, screaming]

They’re coming!

[Knox] Go on. Get out of here.

Fuck.

[grunts]

[raider 3] Are they down there?

Yeah.

You with me?

Always.

Then let’s fucking go!

[rebels yelling]

Okay.

[raider 3] Search every room!

Are you okay? I’m sorry.

Yeah. Yeah.

Paul, what’s going on?

[raider 3] Find him!

They’re coming. So…

[screams]

Paul Billings, you’re under arrest for a violation of Pact Order 11-24 Delta:

Dereliction of duty with seditious intent.

Wait, wait. [stammers] There’s a child over there. [grunts]

It’s not personal, Paul.

I’m just doing my job…

[Paul grunts] like you taught me.

[groans] Kathleen.

Kathleen! [grunts]

[Kennedy] Ow!

It is a really inconvenient time right now.

Maybe you should stop by when your mom’s here… [grunts]

[grunting]

[pants]

Let’s go.

[Bernard] Restore radio communication in the Silo.

Yes, sir.

[sighs]

You all right, sir?

Yes, I am.

Any luck finding Lukas Kyle? [sighs]

Not yet.

Did we choose the wrong side?

By delivering Billings’s message?

Maybe.

If Bernard finds out, sending us out to clean with our son watching will be the most generous punishment he’ll offer.

Maybe the message will still pay off.

Either way, it’s time.

You find a way into the vault and I’ll get our boy.

I remember the vault. I remember my mom and dad had S-Solo take me there.

He’s the one who put me in there.

Right.

Then, a couple of days later, I remember explosions, and I remember gunshots and then I remember the sheriff bringing my-my dad back, but my mom wasn’t there.

But then, my dad… my dad told him that it was safe to go outside.

He told them that-that they had done something to make it safe.

But the sheriff, he… [stutters]

Sorry, he wanted the truth.

And so my… [sighs] my dad told him the tru…

[gasps]

It’s a pipe.

The Safeguard is a pipe.

What?

We have to find it.

Okay.

[Judicial rep] You’re here for your safety and the safety of the Silo.

Your peace will be met with kindness.

Your violence will be met with…

Shut the fuck up!

Hey!

[citizens clamoring]

[grunts]

Hey! Lay off!

You okay?

[Shirley] Teddy.

[Knox] Are you okay?

Of course he is. Look at him.

He’s a tough kid.

You did your mama proud.

We were worried about you.

You kicked Randy in the nuts?

Yeah, well, I needed to get up top.

[sniffs]

Why?

[sighs, sniffs]

You’re not gonna tell me what you found down there?

Don’t worry, because it doesn’t matter now.

Tell me…

It doesn’t matter.

It just…

[pants] Hi, honey.

What are they gonna do with us?

Let’s just stay calm, keep Claire safe.

Come with us, Billings.

[citizen] Hey, hey!

It’s gonna be okay!

[yelling]

[Kennedy] This display, it’s all a lie!

This is all bullshit. You know that, right?

Right?

This display!

It’s all lies!

I saw it!

So did some of you.

Nichols showed me.

She was trying to show everyone the truth!

[Sandy] Wait.

I-I saw it.

A flash of blue and green.

When they shut down the power to fix the generator, I saw it.

It’s safe outside.

Juliette Nichols is alive!

[citizens muttering]

Juliette lives!

Mayor Holland specifically said they should be in separate cells.

No. Mayor Holland says, “Thank you.

The Silo is grateful for your co-operation.”

You, Walk?

It was the only way.

[Amundsen] You both are free to go.

Get the fuck away from me.

I’m not going anywhere.

Well, I-I have to see him.

For you, I’m sure he’ll make time.

I hope he sends you out to clean.

[sighs]

[breathes deeply]

[rebel] Everybody in this motherfucker knows Juliette is alive.

It’s safe outside and you know it.

I saw.

Out of the way.

[raider 3] Hey, hey, hey, hold it.

If I don’t get your colleague to a functioning medical level soon, he’s gonna die on the stairs.

Look, doc, I have orders.

It’s okay, Dan, I got it.

Jean, they gave me strict orders not to let anyone out of here

until they give the word and they…

[raider 4] We found gunpowder.

A lot of it.

Fuck. Just go, go!

Come on.

[Dan] What level? Where?

In Mechanical. It’s everywhere.

[Dan] Received.

[Jimmy stammers]

They had a… They had to block it. They had to put a cap on it.

But they were afraid… [stammers]

that something would go wrong.

Why? Why did they have to cap it?

Because it had poison in it.

Enough poison to kill everybody. All 10,000 people.

We have to find a map of the silo.

Okay. The pipe came from outside.

Here.

Wait.

[whimpers] Here.

[Juliette] There.

There.

[Juliette] Here!

Level 14.

Hey, that’s where my mom worked.

Do you think we should go?

[breathes shakily] Fuck yes.

[raider 5] All clear. All clear.

[generator rumbling]

[birds chirping]

[both chuckling]

[chuckles]

Do it again.

Okay. Watch.

[baby coos]

[Audrey chuckles]

[Benny] Do it again.

[chirping continues]

[sniffs]

[Audrey chuckles]

Benny, come here. You gotta try this.

[chuckles] Mmm.

[Rick chuckles]

[sniffs, chuckles]

[chuckles]

[Bernard] After you.

I understand that your ex-wife didn’t want to have anything to do with you.

Hmm.

[clicks tongue, sucks teeth]

Well, at least you’re free, unlike the rest of them.

Uh, drink?

No, thanks.

We have a couple more minutes here before we get confirmation that the generator is safe.

Have a seat.

[people clamoring in distance]

We need to stop.

You guys head up.

Let me know if anyone’s coming down.

Come on.

[ticking]

Relax.

They’ll come and tell me when it’s done.

So… [sighs] …what did you want to see me about?

I wanted to tell you a story about the generator.

[chuckles] Does every conversation about Mechanical begin and end with the generator?

That’s not where this story ends.

[chattering on radio]

Go see if those rebels in the cafeteria have settled down.

And see if there’s any food.

You sure you’re okay here?

These assholes aren’t going anywhere.

We’re clear above. Are you ready?

[grunts]

Fuck yes.

[breathes deeply] I’m dying in that thing.

I’ll make sure no one’s coming from below.

What is it?

What’s happened?

[breathes shakily] It’s gone.

[breathes shakily] The timer.

How?

[breathes heavily] I don’t know, but it’s gone.

[generator rumbling]

Hey!

Yeah?

Radio and tell them it’s all right.

They didn’t connect the bomb.

Thank the Founders.

Listen, we gotta be careful.

No gunfire. No sparks. All right?

Okay!

It’s Dan.

Radio Bernard. The bomb is not connected.

[Martha] See, the generator is loud.

So in order to communicate, you have to yell.

Over the years, crews have developed a system of hand signals, mostly done with one hand.

And they got pretty elaborate. You can have a whole conversation.

[stammers] And I taught that to the kids.

So, in my workshop, when you thought that everything you saw on that camera

was all that was being communicated…

Stop.

we were actually having a whole different conversation.

We are being watched.

Okay…

We got your message.

[chuckles]

[Molly sighs]

[Hank breathes shakily]

[breathes shakily]

What are you doing?

If she’s alive, you give her this.

[breathes heavily]

Tell her I love her.

[inhales sharply] Tell her to never stop fighting.

Never stop being herself.

Because her whole life…

[clicks tongue] …her whole life… she’s been perfect… just the way she is.

Doc, let me do it.

Absolutely not.

Go.

I can’t.

Hey… go.

[inhales shakily]

My mistake was in putting my own personal desires above those of Mechanical, my family.

But that’s a mistake that I hope to rectify…

[ticking]

in five, four, three, two, one.

[door opens]

The bomb’s been neutralized.

We got in before they can connect it.

[Bernard] Fuck. [chuckles]

Wow, that was dramatic.

[chuckling] What was that?

[stammers] At the end of the little countdown…

[mutters] …were we supposed to lose power?

[chuckles]

[stammers] What was supposed to happen?

[chuckles]

[breathing heavily]

[exhales deeply]

[distorted clamoring in distance]

[distorted panting]

[explosions in distance]

What was that?

Uh, something outside.

It felt like it came from…

Yeah.

[stammers]

You’re out of time.

What?

You need to get home now.

[Juliette] Oh, shit.

What did you do?

Not just me.

All of us.

[sighs]

Put ’em down. Now!

[Paul] Let’s go!

[Knox] Follow me!

What do you mean gone?

[Judicial tech] The stairs, between 92 and 90.

They… They’re just gone.

[citizens clamoring]

How many raiders are trapped below the explosion point?

You told me to send them all.

[citizens clamoring]

[citizen 1] Come on!

[clamoring continues]

[citizen 2] Give us the truth!

[Paul] Kat!

Kat!

Kat, are you okay?

Yeah, we’re okay.

Good. Okay. Let’s keep moving.

Tell us the truth!

We know it’s a lie.

Give us the truth.

Get whoever you can to protect IT.

Everyone above the explosion is either defending their position or abandoning post.

Maybe I can gather some raiders. Maybe Sims?

Go. Go!

Go!

Bernard.

[Bernard] Where have you been?

Just shut up and listen.

What?

There’s no time, okay?

I need you to look like we are having a serious conversation.

But just listen. Don’t say a word.

Because if it hears this, we’re dead.

I solved the code.

It’s true.

It’s why Meadows quit as your shadow.

It’s why I quit.

[Amundsen] Boss?

Bernard. Hey, Bernard!

What did Lukas Kyle say to you?

Hello, Rob.

What did he say?

Hey.

You still wanna be my shadow?

What?

You got it.

You’re now my shadow.

The code is 552039.

Good luck, Robert.

[inhales sharply] You were very loyal… until you weren’t.

[Juliette] Hey, can you get the tape?

[Hope] Yeah.

It’s in the desk drawer.

I’m gonna need help to seal the suit once it’s on.

So… [stammers]

No, no, no.

[breathes heavily]

Fuck!

Fuck!

Maybe we could fix it. What if we…

How are you gonna fix it? You’re probably the reason that it’s ruined anyway.

How could I be the reason? I wasn’t…

Because you’re the Eater.

Just shut up! Stop!

She’s the reason our parents are dead.

No, she’s not! No, she’s not!

[Audrey] Yes, she is.

She didn’t ask for this. None of us did.

You wanna be angry?

Be angry at the motherfuckers who built this place and put us in it!

Not us.

Not her.

[sighs]

All we’re trying to do is survive.

But the only way we can do that is by trusting the other people stuck in the same shit as we are.

But you’re not stuck with us though. You’re leaving.

[Juliette] You’re damn right I’m leaving. I’m going home.

‘Cause somewhere not too far from here, the people I love, they might be killing each other right now.

And those are the people that I’m stuck with.

My friends. My family. My dad.

Look at what you have.

You’ve got Rick.

And Benny.

And Tess.

[sighs]

And you have Hope.

Not Eater or whatever asshole name you wanna give her.

You wanna be angry? Then be angry but be angry with each other, not at each other.

This is it.

You’re all that’s left.

So just make it work.

But you have to make it work right fucking now.

[sighs, breathes heavily]

Right, I have another suit.

I don’t even know if it’s gonna work, but I’m gonna have to try. Jimmy, w…

Where’s Jimmy?

No.

No. [breathes heavily]

It’s gone.

[stammers] When you got mad, Jimmy…

He left.

He…

[exhales sharply]

[door opens]

You’re back.

I am.

Are you okay?

Yeah, I… I’m fine.

What’s going on out there?

I heard shouting. The room shook.

[sighs]

It’s just a lot of nonsense, okay?

Lukas, what’s wrong? What happened?

Everything is okay, Mom. It’s…

It’s fine.

Did you do what you needed to?

Turns out it didn’t need doing. [scoffs]

No.

Let’s get you fixed up.

[chattering]

Walk?

Where’s Bernard?

He left after the explosion.

Almost everyone did.

IT is ours.

I knew it.

The hell you did.

Deep down, I knew.

What’s going on?

Let’s go out!

They’re gonna try to go out.

[Knox] Get out of the way!

Move! Move! Shit!

[Juliette] Jimmy!

Fuck.

[sighs]

[Juliette] Wait.

[breathes heavily] Okay.

Hey. Okay?

What are you doing? What do you…

[breathes heavily]

The helmet seal is airtight and I used the good tape around my wrists.

[pants]

I figured if the water didn’t come in and I didn’t drown, that it would be okay.

And it worked.

So you can use this one to get back.

[sighs, inhales sharply]

No.

Okay. Okay.

Hey, just… Thank you.

Thank you.

[breathes heavily] We better get going.

Yeah.

Okay.

[citizens murmuring, chattering]

[Lukas] My earliest memory,

I’m under two, I’m lying in bed next to you and playing with your hands.

They were so big.

What made you think of that?

I don’t know.

[door opens]

Sorry to barge in like this, Mrs. Kyle, but I need to ask your son something.

What the fuck did you say to Bernard?

[citizen 1] Mr. Holland. What’s happening?

What do we do?

We deserve to know. Please.

[citizen 2] Tell us the truth.

You gotta tell us the truth, Mr…

[citizens scream]

Get the fuck out.

Out!

Not you.

[Jimmy] Okay, Juliette, let’s get you suited up.

Yeah.

[Hope chuckles]

This work?

Yeah, it’s great.

Thanks.

Okay.

Yeah.

[Tess coos]

[Rick shushes] It’s okay. It’s okay.

[Hope] Hold on.

Coming back, right?

No, I…

To be honest, I don’t know what’s gonna happen when I walk outside so I’m not gonna lie to you.

Okay? [breathes shakily]

[sighs]

Look, what happened to the parents is not your fault. You know that, right?

You’re strong and you’re smart, and you’re capable.

Yeah?

You’re gonna be okay.

You all will.

You should go. You shouldn’t be here when we open the door.

Okay. [breathes deeply]

You’re his shadow now?

I am.

He gave you the key?

He did.

Is there any way you could put that gun away?

There is not.

It’s okay.

See, the thing about that key, Bernard made the mistake of assuming that everything is okay because it’s not lighting up, but he was wrong.

It’s not lighting up because it’s over.

What’s over?

The rebellion?

No.

Then what?

What did you say?

I can’t tell you.

I won’t tell you.

Yes, you can kill me and my mother.

Doesn’t matter.

[inhales sharply] You should go.

Go to the vault.

See the Legacy while there is still time.

You’ll know it when you see it.

The code is 55…

I know what the fucking code is.

[Jimmy clears throat]

Okay. [breathes heavily]

Okay.

Okay. Um…

Hey, I know why you said what you said but… you’re go… you’re gonna come back, right?

Oh, um…

[sighs]

Nothing’s gonna stop me from trying.

[both breathing heavily]

[both breathe heavily]

[citizens clamoring]

[Kennedy] Don’t let them through!

Don’t let them through!

[Knox] Come on!

Teddy! Get me that! Get me that!

[shouting]

[grunting] Go! Go!

[pounding on door]

Easy. Easy. [mutters] Hey, move. It’s okay.

[exhales sharply, grunts]

Bernard, Bernard.

We need you now.

I don’t know what’s going through your head, but we need you to come out.

We need you to tell the people the truth.

[Kennedy] Billings!

Get out of the way!

Tell them the truth.

Bernard, that’s all they need.

[breathes heavily]

You need to get out of the way.

Please. One minute.

Let’s talk to him. Let’s hear him out. Bernard, please.

Bernard.

Take him.

Open the… Stop, man! Wait! Hear him out. Let’s hear what he has to say, man.

Kennedy, listen!

Let’s hear what he has to say. Please!

Don’t go outside. Come on!

[Kennedy] Bring me the ram!

[clamoring]

[Kennedy] Let’s go! Bring it through!

We’re going all the way out. All the way out.

Get out of the way!

[Shirley] Wait!

[Knox] Is that…

[exhales shakily]

It’s gotta be.

It’s her.

[cheering]

[chuckles] She lives.

[cheers]

[citizens chanting] Juliette lives!

[cheering]

[grunting, groaning]

[breathing sharply]

[groaning]

Fuck!

[groans]

[breathing heavily]

[door opening]

[beeping]

[The Algorithm] Please state your name.

My name is Robert Sims.

Husband to Camille.

Father of Anthony.

Why are you here?

I want to save the Silo.

So do I.

Judge Sims, you and your son must leave the vault.

Camille can stay.

Hey!

You’re gonna shoot me?

[Bernard] Why are you here?

I’m here to keep everyone from going out.

That’s… You’re the reason everyone wants to go out.

If you wanted to shoot me, I’d be dead.

Why are you here, Bernard?

I just want to go outside.

Feel free for one fucking moment of my life.

So why the gun?

For the end.

If the pain is too much.

There’s no point, what you’re trying to do, save them.

It’s out of your hands. It was never in your hands.

In my hands. Anyone’s hands.

Because of the poison they can pump in?

You know about that?

Oh, I know about that.

But I don’t know who’d do it and I don’t know why.

I know the who, but I don’t know why, and I don’t fucking care.

After all I’ve done, sacrificed to find out it never really mattered.

[chuckles] They call it

“the Safeguard Procedure.”

Procedure. I know.

An innocuous little term that means they can kill us at any time they want.

No, maybe not.

What do you mean?

Look…

I think I figured something out.

[door closing]

No. No, no, no. No.

You can’t go in there.

[Bernard] You’ll burn to death.

[groaning]

[Bernard] No! No, no!

Get down!

[breathes shakily]

[grunts]

[rain pattering]

[sighs]

[sighs]

They still got you doing this outside?

[breathes heavily]

You ever get a red?

[security guard] Not really.

[beeps]

[sighs]

[people chattering]

[congressman] Hey.

Hey.

Helen?

Are we gonna do the thing where we pretend that we don’t know what each other looks like?

[chuckles]

Uh… [chuckles] I guess not.

Um… [chuckles]

So, okay, uh, let’s get it out of the way.

Where were you when it happened?

Um, I was in session…

Session that day, right?

I was, indeed, yes. Serving the good people of Georgia’s 15th.

And you, where were you?

I’ve… At work, at, um…

Am I supposed to finish that sentence? I’m not sure.

I, uh… Is that bad?

It’s, uh, one… It’s a reporting place.

It’s a… Magazi… The, uh… it’s The Post.

Oh, God, it’s The Post.

[chuckles] Are you still at The Post?

I…

Did you really not google me?

Is that so bad? [stammers]

Wow, okay.

Uh, well, I know that you are a freshman congressman.

Okay. Well, my age and flag pin give that away.

Representing, like you said, the 15th district of Georgia.

Fighting 15th.

And because you can’t run anyone these days unless they served, after you got a master’s in engineering at the University of Georgia, you joined the army.

Well, kind of.

Kind of?

Mmm. Army Corps of Engineers isn’t exactly humping an M-16 through the sandbox.

Thank you.

I better change the subject before I start bragging about what we did in New Orleans.

Oh, look at you working that into conversation so smoothly.

Did you, uh, know anyone who was affected?

[chuckles]

By the dirty bomb?

Yeah.

No. You?

No. Um, my uncle Tyler’s been ranting about Iran for years, so he took it personally.

But, uh… uh, my sister’s the only one who lives in D.C. She was away at the time.

Actually, the, um…

[clicks tongue] …the dirty bomb is what I wanted to talk to you about.

Starting to feel like I’m the only one who thought this was a date.

A date?

I know no one uses that term anymore.

[chuckles]

If they’re 95.

[sighs] Probably wouldn’t have worked out anyway.

Me being a Bulldog. You a Duck.

Did I get that right,

the University of Oregon?

I thought you didn’t look me up.

Let the record show I actually dodged the question.

[sucks teeth]

How about I just cut to it?

I’m here because I think that the people you work for, and by that I mean the citizens of this country, not the shadowy creeps who pay for campaigns.

I think the people need to know if there are plans to strike back against Iran, whether or not there really was a radiological weapon attack on the United States.

How about you?

What do you think?

I think I better go.

Here.

[chuckles] This a gift or…

It’s how I was brought up. [sighs]

Something from your home state?

[sucks teeth] It’s not a peach.

Nah, it’s just something I, uh, panic bought at the, uh, convenience store around the corner from my apartment.

Um… you take care.

[sighs] Can I get the check?

Thank you.

[wrapper crinkling]

[chuckles]