No Plan B

December, 2002

SYNOPSIS:

Steve Samuels, a history instructor, is offered a view into a world he had only since read and dreamed about. Lumbering along in a nice, yet dull, life, Steve finds friendship in his mentor, good old conflict with his colleagues at work, and real affection for and admiration of the only person he has ever considered to be his superior, Jenna. She is also the one person he has never been jealous of.

Steve’s life is centered around these people; Porto- the mentor, Herring--the antagonist, and Jenna, who is indeed a love interest. Jenna was born into the world Steve lectures about. She is mentally prepared for work and for happiness, neither of which have ever come naturally for Steve. But she and Porto like Steve; they look after him.

In a moment of lucidity, Steve’s father-figure Porto gives him a role to play in the world of the real; hidden from view, in a body beneath the surface—decisions are made that affect people, that have likely tied into the very soul and spirit of what Steve teaches at school, and he knows that he has been offered a chance now finally fitting the role he has seen for himself for years.

Steve finds himself torn; does he take this chance, to quietly slip away, and begin an apprenticeship that will place his fingerprints on the great debates of the future history of America? Or, does he find his beloved Jenna, and take her to that place instead; deferring to the one he knows is best?

Here's a little more. Above is a couple notes for a friend of mine I sent it to. One can see where it ends up; between these two sets of comments, you can see where this is headed.

No Plan B notes-

Steve Samuels ends up being tied to this world of the Real Government; the meat of the story is not what happens once he’s “in”, but the process he goes through while getting there. He is arrogant, and has a tremendous ego, but, as the story progresses, we see parallels to what he is thinking about in the role of the R.G. and what his only real love Jenna is teaching at Gomer and thinking about at home.

In a moment of well-hidden self doubt, he suggests to his mentor, both at Gomer and in the inner-gov’t that Jenna is the one who was born for this role, and not he.

Deferring to Steve, his contacts in the Department of Inner Defense place this up to him; in the world they have concocted, there is no fear Steve will ‘blow their cover’, for this story of Air Force officers and underground rule-makers is indeed the stuff of lunacy. No one will believe him. He is offered a rip-cord; he can get out, remain at his post as a teacher, no questions asked. The real government does indeed know Jenna; and she will get the nod if he says the word.

Steve becomes very ashamed; he wants the job. He knows he is not up to it, but he longs to be more than the junior staffer on a faculty he’s not pleased with. So he’ll do it. He settles on that course of action.

Meeting with his mentor at the college, he is taken down the stairs, and finds himself assigned to his first bit of research; re-institution of the peace time draft. In a moment of guilt, he knows with his heart that his beloved Jenna belongs in that chair. He runs to Porto- the mentor- and abruptly tells him off, ‘demanding’ Jenna be seated. But this is different; Steve is not running away; rather, he is doing what is best. In his analysis, he has simply decided against his own self-interest.

Porto sends him away and tells him to go home, and wait. 24 hours later, there is a courier at the door; dressed in a Civil Air Patrol uniform. Steve is handed a note from Porto on Gomer Community College stationery. “Come to the office, Steve, just have a few things to go over with you.”.

Steve gets in his Pacer; driving to Gomer, he fears the worst; now, he has the truth on his side, but the truth doesn’t have him. He fears for himself, but also feels great regret, for he has brought Jenna into this world of abstractions, only assuming it was for the good of the cause.

Walking down the halls of the Department, Steve meets Porto- and Jenna. His beloved gives him a knowing glance. Steve is expecting the worst, but is instead offered congratulations. He is named Under Assistant to the Secretary of Inner Defense, and given his commission, signed by the President. As Steve would be told, he was correct in seeing Jenna as fit for this job; but there were things he didn’t, he couldn’t know about her; for Jenna was part of both worlds. With one foot on the shoulder of her grandpa Lex, the other was already in the door on the Real Government. Steve picking up on her acumen made him rightfully appear as one who may serve to Porto as Porto had to Connor- and as Connor had to Lex Kasner.

For the first time in his life, Steve acted completely outside of his self-interest, and in turn, knew Porto and Jenna, that this was his time to take a seat at the table of the Real Government. He would begin tomorrow.