May I have the cheque?

Today, just before going home, my friends and I stayed just a little bit longer at the office to chat some more. It is a post-Monday habit we do to make up for a busy day. 

One of us is planning on buying a refrigerator and a television. We were looking at what's available on the net. We were adding up the amount needed and realized how tight our budgets are at this time. To compensate for the frustration, we laughed and laughed and felt good, until one of us jokingly said, 

"Ok. May I have the cheque?"

Laughter was louder after.

It was in this moment that I remembered an episode of Oprah featuring Jim Carrey. In the interview, he shared how he visualized himself getting ten million dollars for an acting stint. He said,

"I wrote myself a check for ten million dollars for acting services rendered and I gave myself five years. or three years maybe, and I dated it Thanksgiving 1995. I put it in my wallet. I kept it there and it deteriorated and deteriorated . But then, just before Thanksgiving 1995, I found out I was going to make ten million dollars on... Dumb & Dumber... I put that check in the casket with my father because it was our dream together."

                                                   -   Jim Carrey, Oprah Winfrey Show, 1997

I shared the story to the group and encouraged we do the same, so we wrote a check that's more than what's needed made out to one of us, complete with a routing number, account number, signature and a check number. We asked that she (to whom the check was made out) keep it in her wallet.

Now, we may not have the same fate as Jim Carrey did. The "cheque" might just deteriorate and we won't even notice. But one thing remained today - hope. And, I guess, hope is exactly what we need for now, not the money.

Exception

Entry # 409 from the Eavesdropper

At the End of the Day

Photo source here.

After watching WITH HONORS and A FEW GOOD MEN when I was younger, I instantly became a fan of courtroom drama. I finished all seasons of  The Practice and tries to always watch it again every time I can. SUITS was a tease so I bought its dvd even though I am not sure if I will actually have the time to watch it. 

Let me share with you one scene from SUITS that I found interesting. Before I do that, let me give you a quick look at the characters involved in this conversation. 

*Spoiler Alert*

Jessica Pearson is the Founding and Managing Partner of the law firm called Pearson-Hardman. She has a very strong working relationship with one of his corporate lawyers, Harvey Specter. It eventually led them to also develop a sturdy friendship. She even helped Harvey finish his Law in Harvard. Harvey is a brilliant lawyer who hired Mike Ross, a college dropout. They faked his Harvard degree to get in to the firm because of Mike's excellent memory and intellect. 

The firm panicked over the return of co-founder, Daniel Hardman, who isn't exactly everyone's favorite because of his ugly reputation and history. This has also created rumors that he aims to get the Managing Partner position that will put Jessica's leadership at a vulnerable situation. Harvey and Jessica both agree that Hardman has other plans and that this has put the firm under attack. 

Jessica sought Harvey's help in ensuring to protect the firm from this attack, one of which, is by giving him clear instructions of what to do in one of the cases. Harvey did not follow her instructions. 

This was the heated conversation between the two friends and work partners.

Jessica Pearson: I have been irritated by you, exasperated with you and angry at you but I never thought I'd feel betrayed by you.

Harvey Specter: I put together a good deal. It's a safe deal.

Jessica Pearson: I don't care. You just ensured that a voting partner would never back me. If his mother were dying of cancer and I saved her I still wouldn't get his vote.

Harvey Specter: I know you're angry but I took the restructure deal to real estate that puts them in your pocket.

Jessica Pearson: Real estate has always been in my pocket. It's only you they hated and I'm beginning to understand why.

Harvey Specter: This isn't me against you.

Jessica Pearson: Hardman is back. You are the one person I could trust.

Harvey Specter: Jessica...

Jessica Pearson: I've always known what you are Harvey. I thought that was my greatest asset. Now am wondering if you're not my biggest liability.

Harvey Specter: This isn't about bankruptcy. You're still pissed off about Mike Ross.

Jessica Pearson: Damn right, I am!

Harvey Specter: I offered to walk away.

Jessica Pearson: That offer was bullshit and you know it. You hired that kid to amuse yourself and now am vulnerable. And after everything that has happened, you still couldn't put me ahead of you.

Harvey Specter: The client asked me to save his dream. I did.

Jessica Pearson: You're actually starting to believe your own bullshit.

Harvey Specter: Jessica, common on!

Jessica Pearson: Just go. I will get past this. I will move on and I will accept that at the end of the day, that am alone in this.

SUITS, Season 2

I stopped at this scene to eat its meat. I realized three things: 

1. When you are put in a situation where you have to separate work and personal relationship and you have the higher position, you are always expected to do the right thing. Set aside subjectivity and do your job. At some point, one or two sacrifices had to be made. All you hope for is for personal side not to be affected by the ugly sounding work decisions you had to make.

2. On the other hand, in this same relationship, you are subjecting yourself into possible disappointment if the other person turns against you to also favor what he thinks is a good work action. When this person does this, it can also come across as a betrayal of friendship which puts your objectivity in question.

Before I give you the third, let me share with you the early and the last scenes of this episode. 

Upon Hardman's return, he immediately secured an office of his own. During the construction, Jessica's favorite tea cart was removed from where it was (it appears to me that it will be placed in Hardman's office and is symbolical of who's in lead) and she was a little disappointed. On a different scene, Harvey checks in on Mike who followed an instruction he gave him despite how it will break the latter's heart. Mike said,

"Why is it that I have to do everything that you tell me to and you get to ignore whatever Jessica tells you to do?"

This made Harvey reevaluate what he did to Jessica and that he should lead by example. When the episode ended, Jessica was alone in her office reading, Harvey comes in with the tea cart and says: 

"You are not alone in this." 

Jessica smiled and instructed Harvey to place it where it should be.

3. Wherever life takes good friends, whether it creates a space between your work titles and one has to report to the other, friends are friends. It will surface no matter what. If your friendship is strong and you both understand your roles at work and in your personal relationship, no difference in title will matter. At the end of the day, we all need friends. As hard as it is to keep it while doing our jobs right, it always becomes a decision we have to make in the end. I think this decision that we make, every end of the day, reflects how we handle both our work and personal lives and clearly defines who we are. Harvey's action in the closing scene was not just very gentleman of him but also a humble declaration of his submission to his boss by deciding to put her ahead of him this time; it was also peace offering and a reassurance to his very good friend. Now, that's something! 

PS 

My hunch is, in a future episode, Harvey's decision not to follow Jessica's instructions will put one of them, if not all of them, inside a frying pan. Whether my hunch is right or wrong, I can't wait to find out!

Who really wins in a war?

Photo source here. 

ABU NAZIR: You can't  even imagine it. Can you? Believing in something bigger than you. More important than you. We're at war. Am a soldier.

CARRIE: You're a terrorist!

ABU NAZIR: Imagine you are sitting down to dinner, with your wife and children. Out of sky, as if thrown by an angry god, a drone strike hits and destroys all of them. Who is the terrorist?

CARRIE: It’s the last day of Ramadan. A young man enters a Shia village, pushing a cart full of candy and toys. He waits in the school playground for all the children to gather. Then he reaches back and flips a switch.

ABU NAZIR: We fight with what we have.

CARRIE: You pervert the teachings of the Prophet and call it "cause". You turn teenagers into suicide bombers.

ABU NAZIR: Generation after generation must suffer and die. We are prepared for that, are you?

CARRIE: Whatever it takes.

ABU NAZIR: Really? With your pension plans and organic foods? Your beach houses and sports clubs? Do you have the perseverance, the tenacity, the faith? Because we do. You can bomb us, starve us, occupy our holy places, but we will never lose our faith. We carry God in our hearts, our souls. To die is to join him. It may take a century, two centuries, three centuries, but we will exterminate you.

CARRIE: Like I said, you're a terrorist. 

- HOMELAND, Season 2

Sara Sidle's Goodbye Letter to Gil Grissom

Sara Sidle's Goodbye Letter to Gil Grissom

Gil,

You know I love you. 

I feel I’ve loved you forever.

Lately, I haven’t been feeling very well.

Truth be told, I’m tired.

Out in the desert, under that car that night, I realized something, and I haven’t been able to shake it.

Since my father died, I’ve spent almost my entire life with ghosts. We’ve been like close friends, and out there in the desert; it occurred to me that it was time for me to bury them.

I can’t do that here. I’m so sorry.

No matter how hard I try to fight it off, I’m left with the feeling that … I have to go. I have no idea where I’m going, but I know I have to do this. If I don’t, I’m afraid I’ll self-destruct, and worse, you’ll be there to see it happen.

Be safe. Know that I tried very hard to stay. Know that you are my one and only. I will miss you with every beat of my heart. Our life together was the only home I’ve ever really had. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I love you. I always will.

Goodbye.

An Ode to the Blowfish

Photo source here.

Eavesdropping in a conversation between the two main characters of one of my favorite TV shows, Breaking Bad.


Jesse: It's not our territory. Man, you follow me, here? We go rolling into these neighborhoods, other crews ain't gonna take kindly. You understand? 

Walt: Sure. They won't like it. But I say they're no gonna do a thing about it. 

Jesse: No!

Walt: Listen, Jesse.The game has changed and the word is out. And you are a killer. 

Jesse: What are you talking about?

Walt: Apparently it's all over town. Somebody crossed you and you got angry. You crushed their skull with an ATM machine. 

Jesse: But that's not how it happened.

Walt: Who cares? Just as long as it's our competitors who believe it and not the police.

Jesse: Oh my God!

Walt: Don't you see how great this is? Look you, you are a... Jesse, look at me. You are a blowfish. 

Jesse: What?

Walt: A blowfish. Think about it. Small in stature, not swift, not cunning. Easy prey for predators. But the blowfish has a secret weapon, doesn't he? Doesn't he? What does the blowfish do, Jesse... what does the blowfish do?

Jesse: I don't even know what... 

Walt: The blowfish puffs up. The blowfish puffs himself up four or five times larger than normal. And why? Why does he do that? So that it makes him intimidating, that's why. Intimidating, so that the other scarier fish are scared off. And that's you. You are a blowfish. You see, it's just all an illusion. See? It's nothing but air. Now, who messes with the blowfish, Jesse? 

Jesse: Nobody.

Walt: You're damn right.

Jesse: I'm a blowfish.

Walt: You are a blowfish. Say it again.

Jesse: I'm a blowfish.

Walt: Say it like you mean it!

Jesse: I'm a blowfish!

Walt: That's it!

Jesse: Yeah! Blowfishing this up! (smokes weed).

Eavesdropping on Dawson's Creek - My Quack Thoughts

Tyson: (to Jen, while watching Dawson and Joey dance) You know I don’t get it. They make such a great couple. Why would Joey wanna be with a fruit fly ? (Referring to Jack, Joey’s boyfriend,         rumored to be gay after reading a controversial poem he wrote in his English class).

Jen: Jack is not a fruit fly.

Tyson: Oh, common Jen, he’s playing for the other team.

Jen: You don’t know that.

Tyson: If it looks like a duck, talks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it’s a duck!

Jen: Why does it even matter even if he says he is …a duck?

Tyson: It’s his choice. I mean if he wants to quack, more power to him.

Jen: You see, I don’t think that it’s necessarily a choice that you make.

Tyson: You see that’s what they want you to believe; that it’s not a choice, but

             everything in life is a decision and all ducks choose to quack and Jack is

             definitely a quacker.

Jen: Are you kidding me or are you serious?

Tyson: I’m completely serious. Nobody has to quack if they don’t want to.

At Jen’s home after the date and dinner prepared by Jen’s grandmother who has been encouraging Jen to come church and consider having faith in His existence…

Gramps: (to Jen) I really like that Ty boy Jen.

Tyson: That was a great sandwich Mrs. Ryan! (to Gramps)

Gramps: Would you like a lil’ more milk Tyson?

Tyson: Ah…No thanks, no thanks! One is my limit. I’m driving.

Tyson: (to Jen) are you upset about something?

Jen: No. (Ty stares at her) No…No… It’s… It’s…you know what? … Yeah! Actually I am.

Tyson: Let me guess, the quacking ducks.

Jen: How can you think that it’s wrong?

Tyson: Well, I never said it was wrong, Jen. I said it was a choice.

Jen: So then you think it’s ok?

Tyson: No. I think it’s wrong. It’s in the Bible… Hey Mrs. Ryan, what’s the chapter that

            condemns homosexuality to sin?

Gramps: I believe it’s in the …Book of Leviticus.

Jen: Gramps, stay out of this, please? Ok? I’m not gonna’ let you two gang up on

         me here. 

         (to Ty) How can you have such a narrow view about being gay?

Ty: How can you be so narrowly liberal?

Jen: Ty, you’re no saint, you know that!

Ty: I don’t claim to be, but one day I’m gonna have to answer to the Big Man and

      so will Jack; and if he’s ready to take responsibility for his actions then he can do

      whatever he wants. I just think that his kind is damaging to the world at large.

Jen: I cannot believe you; for you to suggest that somebody can just magically

         decide to be gay is insane.

Tyson: The facts don’t lie Jen. The gay movement has been nothing but medically

            and morally damaging to this country.

Jen: What?

Gramps: (can’t help but hear them arguing) You know I tried to stay out of this. I

                  have but I can’t Jennifer…just let me just explain…

Jen: No!... No!... Gramps, I’m not gonna let you guys moral majority me here and you

        don’t even know all the facts.

Gramps: What I have to say isn’t directed at you Jen; what I have to say is for 

                  Tyson…

Ty: Look, all I’m saying is…

Gramps: If Jack is gay, he does not need your judgment, young man. The Lord

                 above will be the one to judge him as he will all of us. What he needs from

                 you, from me, from everyone else in this world is love and tolerance. If

                 anything, that boy must feel scared and alone and he will need

                 the understanding of his fellowmen to help him through. Let's save

                 judgment for someone much more experienced than you.

-end-

These conversations may not exactly relfect everything I stand for but if there is one thing I would agree without an ounce of doubt in my heart is the fact that I am in no position to judge any one who may not fit my exact description of this and that. I have gay friends whom I love dearly. I invite them to church sometimes and they do it with such an open heart. I have experienced God's love, faithfulness and slowness to anger so many times that it overflows and makes me want to share it with others, especially the people I love - no matter who they are and who they are not; and whatever happens after is between them and God.

A church should not be a place of condemnation and passing of judgement. It should be a place of forgiveness, compassion and acceptance and no soul should ever feel unwelcomed.

Just my two quacks worth!