INT. OFFICE BUILDING - WAITING ROOM - DAY
A young woman named NATASHA NAVARRO (20) fidgets in her seat, in job-interview clothing.
NATASHA (to herself)
What are offering is a specialized you skill, okay? You are worth more than minimum wage. The job listing said it would pay up to sixty dollars an hour, but hey, you would be okay with thirty, twenty-five even. Just... something more than minimum fucking wage, anything but fucking minimum _______ _______ wage. You should ask questions, ask if _____ you can work remotely, ask about a W2, ask if you can make your own hours. Ask something. God, this is so stupid I should just-
A man named GREGORY TORRES (50) calls out to Natasha.
GREGORY
Ms. Byrne will see you now.
Natasha's head jolts to the right. She looks at Gregory, takes a deep breath, then stands up.
NATASHA
Thank you, Gregory.
INT. OFFICE BUILDING - MS. BYRNE'S OFFICE - DAY
A woman named MS. BYRNE (50) sits at her desk, typing rapidly on her laptop, with her glasses practically hanging off of her nose as she stares at her screen.
Natasha, with her coat in hand, knocks on Ms. Byrne's doorframe.
NATASHA
Good afternoon, Ms. Byrne. Um, I'm here to... finalize my contract, today.
Ms. Byrne waves Natasha in, without looking at her.
MS. BYRNE
Yes... sit.
Natasha puts her coat over the chair in front of her, and takes a seat.
MS. BYRNE
Were you waiting long?
NATASHA
No, well... no, I wasn't.
MS. BYRNE
What time did you arrive?
Natasha looks up at the clock on the wall.
NATASHA
Nine A.M.
MS. BYRNE
What time is it now?
NATASHA
Half past twelve.
MS. BYRNE
So you were waiting for three and a half hours?
NATASHA
Yes. I was.
MS. BYRNE
Is that not a long time to you?
NATASHA
Um, in this context... no?
MS. BYRNE
It either is or is not. Which is it?
NATASHA
It isn't. Three hours is not a long time, to me.
MS. BYRNE
So you're saying your time is not valuable? To you, or anyone else.
NATASHA
That is not what I am saying.
MS. BYRNE
Then what are you saying?
NATASHA (fast)
I am saying that I am very interested in working at your company and if I have to wait three and a half hours to sign a contract then I will wait three and a half-hours to sign a contract, okay?
Ms. Byrne looks up from her screen, at Natasha. She pushes her glasses back up against her nose, then closes her laptop and takes out a manila folder and a pen.
MS. BYRNE
Ms... Navarro is it?
NATASHA
Yes.
MS. BYRNE
Where does that name come from? Navarro.
NATASHA
Spain, I believe.
MS. BYRNE
Are you Spanish?
NATASHA
Yes, on my dad's side.
Ms. Byrne nods.
MS. BYRNE
Ms. Navarro, I have to inform you that our company is in the midst of a transitional period, if you will, at the current moment.
NATASHA Right.
MS. BYRNE
What that means for you is that we are hiring many new employees, some that do the same job you do. Some who do it better, to be frank.
Okay.
NATASHA
MS. BYRNE
So, I would like to ask you a couple more questions and, based on your responses, I'll be able to better decide how much you should be making hourly, here at Byrne & Sons.
NATASHA
Okay, if it's really necessary, then... sure.
MS. BYRNE
Wonderful. Are you on any psychiatric medication?
This paralyzes Natasha.
NATASHA
Um... I don't know.
Ms. Byrne scoffs.
MS. BYRNE
You don't know?
NATASHA
No, no. I mean... yes, yes, I am.
Ms. Byrne nods, and writes something down in her notes.
MS. BYRNE
Okay. Are you a democrat or a republican?
This shocks Natasha.
NATASHA
That is... hardly an appropriate question.
Ms. Byrne stares at Natasha.
MS. BYRNE
Not applicable, got it...
Natasha stares at Ms. Byrne, with anger in her eyes.
MS. BYRNE
How many sexual partners have you had?
That was the last straw.
NATASHA
I knew it! I fucking knew it!
Natasha stands up to close the door to the office, but first, she peaks her head out.
NATASHA
Gregory, do not come over here!
She slams the door shut.
NATASHA
You are such a hateful bitch!
Natasha begins to laugh, or cry, or something in between.
NATASHA
You are my mom, you are my mom! Why are we doing this? Why can't you just offer me a fucking job? Or at least just act like you're my mom. This is so weird, you're so weird! You, of all people, are scared of nepotism? Really? The Byrne in Byrne & Sons, is not you, Betty! It's fucking grandpa, okay? You told me to call you Miss Byrne, Miss fucking Byrne, who the fuck is Miss fucking Byrne? You are my mother, okay? My mom, not some lady who intentionally provokes me in every single way possible just to get a reaction out of me. It's like you want me to hate you because you don't think I love you and anything is better than ambivalence. So here you go, here you go, you got what you wanted, I fucking hate you. I fucking hate you! I FUCKING HATE YOU!!!
As Natasha takes a moment to collect yourself, Ms. Byrne writes something down in her notes.
MS. BYRNE
We are prepared to offer you an hourly rate of twenty dollars per hour.
Ms. Byrne extends her hand for a handshake.
NATASHA
Fuck you. I don't need this shit.
Natasha turns around and walks away, wiping tears from her face as she opens and closes the door to her mother's office.
After a moment, Gregory walks in.
GREGORY
Is everything okay?
Ms. Byrne opens her laptop.
MS. BYRNE
Yes. She won't be returning.
GREGORY
Why not?
MS. BYRNE
Not the right skill set.