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Episode 11 Part 2
Tshombe and Jose wait in the lobby. They are nervous and uncomfortable. Jose drinks water from a paper cup. TSHOMBE: I can't believe it. If it's not one problem, it's another. First, I have to pay more taxes. Now, I can't even work to pay them. JOSE: They can't just shut us down. TSHOMBE: We have rights. JOSE: We need to see the chief of police! DESK SERGEANT: Hold it. Hold it. One at a time. TSHOMBE: We want to see the Chief of Police. DESK SERGEANT: Well, do you have an appointment to see him? TSHOMBE: Yes, I have one. I called earlier. My name is Tshombe Gabriel. DESK SERGEANT: How about him? Does he have an appointment? TSHOMBE: No, he's with me. DESK SERGEANT: All right. Hold it. Take a seat. I'll see what I can do. The Desk Sergeant picks up a phone and dials an extension. Tshombe and Jose go back to their seats. Jose goes over to the water cooler and pours himself a drink. TSHOMBE: (to Jose) You're drinking another one? How many cups of water can you drink? JOSE: (off paper cup) I'm very thirsty, and nervous. Jose drinks more water when... DESK SERGEANT: (os) All right. The Chief will see you both. Tshombe and Jose move toward the office. Tshombe and the others wait in the office. Jose starts to give an inspiring speech. JOSE: We will fight with our might. And bring down the people that won't let us sell our stuff on the.. Chief Sherman enters and Jose suddenly quiets down. SHERMAN: Hello? You are the street vendors, right? Please have a seat. Everyone sits. Chief Sherman reaches for a pitcher of water and pours himself a glass. SHERMAN (CONTINUED): Would anyone like a glass of water. JOSE: Oh, yes. Thank you. No, thank you. SHERMAN: Well, what can I do for you? TSHOMBE: Well, I can't speak for all the street vendors. But I know that if they shut us down, I won't be able to sell my lemonade. I have to sell my lemonade to pay my taxes. If I don't pay, the IRS will fine me or put me in jail. SHERMAN: I'm not sure I understand you. JOSE: We're street vendors. We sell things. That's how we pay our rent. Our utility bills, our grocery bills. It's our only income. SHERMAN: Well, I understand how important your jobs are, but look at all these letters of complaint. TSHOMBE: I know Mrs. Vargas is unhappy. But do you have any other complaints? SHERMAN: There are many other complaints. TSHOMBE: What do they say? I want to see each one. SHERMAN: Well, let us say that the street vendors are too noisy, that the carts are unsafe, that street vendors are aggressive. JOSE: Aggressive? SHERMAN: Yes. People say you are rude. You make people feel bad if they don't buy from you. And they don't come to that area to shop anymore. It hurts everyone. TSHOMBE: But who complained? Chief Sherman reaches for a pile of letters. SHERMAN: Well, the merchants. I have letters from, uh, a Mrs. Vargas. TSHOMBE: (off letters) Of course, Mrs. Vargas. But do you have any other letters from other merchants? We have never had a problem with anyone else. SHERMAN: Well, um... Sherman looks through the piles of letters, but he can't find another one that isn't from Vargas. TSHOMBE: There aren't any other complaints. You can't find one from another store owner, can you? SHERMAN: Well, there were others. At least, I thought there were others. TSHOMBE: I can't believe it. One person can shut us down. SHERMAN: No, that's not true. The City Council needs to vote on it.I suggest you talk to your City Council member to see what you can do.
