(Sean): Hi, Dave, this is Sean Parker. Look, I need a favor. Can you help me get Steven Angel's last known address?
(HR Rep Dave): Sean, I understand you're upset, but I can't just give out personal information like that. It's against our policies.
(Sean): Please, I need to find him. No one has to know. It's not like I'm going to do anything reckless. He's been fired, and I just want to have a conversation with him, man-to-man.
(HR Rep Dave): Sean, I really can't condone this. It's not within my authority to provide that information. There are privacy concerns and legal implications to consider.
(Sean): I get it, but I'm asking you as a friend. You've seen the kind of person that piece of shit is, what he did to Michelle. I just need closure, and I promise I won't do anything too reckless. I just want to talk.
(HR Rep Dave): Alright, Sean, but I want you to understand the risks involved. This goes against our protocols, and I'm trusting you to handle this responsibly. I'll email you the last known address, but please, exercise caution. If Butch finds out, I’ll have my collar felt!
(Sean): I’ll handle Butch if it gets that far. Thank you so much, Dave. I appreciate your understanding.
The HR representative reluctantly provides Sean with the requested information. Not long after the call ends, Sean’s phone rings again. He doesn’t recognise the number but still chooses to answer.
(Sean): Hello?
(????): Is this Sean Parker?
(Sean): Who wants to know?
(????): Never mind that tone with me, young man! This is Michelle’s father you’re talking to! Where is my daughter?!
Sean’s eyes widen in surprise at hearing Michelle’s dad’s voice for the first time. This was certainly not how he envisioned having their first conversation.
(Sean): Mr Learner… I-I’m sorry, I didn’t expect to hear from you, how did you get my number?
(Michelle’s Dad): Never mind that! Where is Michelle? I’d like to speak to her!
(Sean): She’s at my apartment, sir. I’m in my car driving back there right now to check on her.
(Michelle’s Dad): You’re what?! You mean to tell me you left an innocent young girl alone?! If you have been sleeping with my daughter, I swear to God, if you forced her to sin, I-
(Sean): -Mr Learner, I can assure you nothing untoward has happened between Michelle and I. She’s been sleeping in my bed and I have been on the couch in my living room. I know how much her faith means to her and you have my word I have no intention of compromising that. I can assure you she’s perfectly safe, she-
(Michelle’s Dad): Don’t you dare lie to me, young man! You’re the reason she’s in this situation in the first place! If she hadn’t become involved with someone like you and your godless ideals, she wouldn’t have been targeted by that vile man!
(Sean): Believe me sir, no one feels more responsible for what happened than me but the organisation I work for, my aunt and uncle are the owners and they are doing everything in their power to support Michelle through what happened.
You can hear him mumbling and grunting faintly as the voice of what is presumably Michelle’s mother comes over the speaker.
(Michelle's Mum): That's not enough, Sean. We've always been protective of Michelle, and this situation has only heightened our worries. We demand that she comes home immediately!
Sean: I understand your concerns, Mrs Learner, I really do but I promise you Michelle is safe with me right now, and she needs our support and understanding. She's going through a lot emotionally, don’t you think it's important for her to have a stable environment without any drastic upheaval?
(Michelle’s Mum): Young man, who are you to presume what is in the best interests of my own daughter?
(Sean): No, I didn’t mean that, I only meant-
(Michelle’s Mum): Enough! We respected Michelle, as a grown woman, to make her own choice to move out to California and to enter into a relationship with you but her decisions and your influence have clearly had too negative effect on her and she has either abandoned her faith or lost her connection with God and that is on you! We forbid her from seeing you and you will tell her she is to come home immediately!
(Sean): Mrs Learner, please! I have nothing but respect for your faith and values, but I want to assure you that I would never harm Michelle, she cares very deeply about her faith and tells me all the time about her relationship with God. I care deeply for her, and I'm fully committed to her. Blaming me will not change the situation or help Michelle heal. Believe me, I hate myself for what happened to her,
(Michelle's Mum): Be that as it may, we are her parents and we believe she needs to be surrounded by her family and our church community. We can provide her with all the guidance and support she needs.
(Sean): I understand your perspective, Mrs Learner but Michelle has expressed her desire to stay with me. But I will tell her you called and that she needs to speak to you but I will not make her decisions for her. She and I her in are a mutually-beneficial, monogamous relationship, and I am fully committed to supporting her through all aspects of her life. She is a grown woman and I’m a grown man and whilst you are her parents, she can make her own decisions. But right now, she needs stability and that’s what I intend to provide her, goodbye!
Sean hangs up the call, pulling into a lay-by. He’s physically shaking, his body coursing with adrenaline after his first conversation with Michelle’s parents. Everything he had said about blaming himself for what happened to her and what her parents had said regarding if it weren’t for him this would’ve happened, it was all true and he hated himself for it. He slams his enclosed fists on to his steering wheel over and over, shouting at the top of his lungs.
(Sean): F*CK! F*CK! F*********CK!
Sean leans his forehead on the steering wheel, tears streaming down his cheeks as the scene fades to black.
Message Thread
« Back to index