Script: Valencia Recruits Kaz

This is a script from a prewritten scene. There may be some inconsistencies with the podcast. Scripts are not consistently stylized, and are taken directly from our documents. Mileage may vary.

"I've been thinking a lot about what Yulanda said. Someone better than me probably could have stopped Drake without killing him. She did what she had to for the people she cared about, just the same as me. If someone you love tells you to do something, you do it. You don’t ask questions. I can’t blame her for that.

She met someone who promised to make her better, someone who promised to make her anything at all. And then he did, and she loved him for it. He gave her a family. I… I get that."

Kaz thinks back to their own childhood.

The scene opens on a young teenager. Scuffed up knees show through faded, worn-out jeans, the fabric stained a rusty brown with dirt and blood. They sit on a workbench in a ramshackle garage, staring at a scrapped-together motorbike. It's been made from salvaged parts and pieces, cut and welded together. They’re surrounded by other bikes in various states of deconstruction and decay. Some are just jagged pieces of metal and rust, like roadkill after the vultures come. Some are brand new, vital pieces removed to resell or repurpose.

A side door opens, and the teenager immediately pushes themself off the counter, not wanting to be caught idle. They freeze at the sight of the woman in the doorway. They’ve seen her talking to their dad; she’s an important client.

Her red hair falls over her perfectly tailored suit jacket, and her heels click as she walks into the room. She should look out of place here, but she doesn’t; the world bends to her easy confidence. She smiles at them, and they look away, unable to keep eye contact.

“Did you build this yourself?” The teenager nods.

“Good. This is excellent work, you know." They startle slightly, looking cautiously up at her. She looks to one of the newer bikes.

“I hear you have a talent for getting these. Quite the driver, even without a license.” Her eyes settle on the bruise blooming on the left side of their face.

"I can think of better uses for your talents. How would you like to get out of here?”

The scene ends on wide, hopeful, eyes.

Now, Kaz recalls Li’s words: “Helping implies that one person is in a position to help, and another is in a position of needing help. I think a better relationship is standing in solidarity with each other, wouldn’t you agree?.”

Cut to Robert, working over a particular book. He scrawls notes as he reads, words flowing from his stylus like ink from a pen.

Cut to Kaz, standing in front of the Condas community center. It’s quieter today, with Condas asleep. Music still flows through the air, mingling with the laughter and chatter of children and adults alike enjoying the day’s activities. Kaz takes a deep breath, and removes their helmet.

Cut again to Kaz in Mrs. Murriday’s ASL class, sunglasses on. They sign along carefully to the lesson. The scene fades out on Kaz, tentatively practicing with another student. It’s the first casual conversation they’ve had with a stranger in years.