A man bumps into a woman on the subway as it barrels through a tunnel.
MICHAEL: Sorry. I’m not used to taking public transit.
CATHY: I can tell.
MICHAEL: You can?
CATHY: Sure. That strap? It’s supposed to go in your hand, not around your neck.
MICHAEL: Oh. I was wondering why it was so unnecessarily uncomfortable. Aaargh. Uuugggh. Urk!
CATHY: Delightful.
MICHAEL: Thanks. I’m Michael.
CATHY: Cathy.
MICHAEL: Ordinarily, I drive, but there was this protest on the Gardiner –
CATHY: Bloody Tamils!
MICHAEL: Exactly! You, too?
CATHY: I work across the street from where they were protesting last week.
MICHAEL: Bloody nerve! If they don’t like things in Canada, why don’t they go back to where they came from?
STRANGER: Actually, they’re protesting conditions in Sri Lanka. Tamils have been slau –
MICHAEL: Even worse! Why should we be inconvenienced by something going on half a world away?
CATHY: I couldn’t agree more! If these people are so worked up about what’s happening in Sri Lanka, why aren’t they there fighting instead of here blocking traffic?
STRANGER: Actually, most of them are Canadians of Sri Lankan descent. It’s their Tamil family members back home who –
MICHAEL: Tamils…Tamils…aren’t they…a terrorist organization?
CATHY: Not being able to get to work on time is sure terrorizing me!
MICHAEL: Why should we care what terrorists have to say?
CATHY: People will say we should be listening to Al Qaeda next!
STRANGER: Actually, it’s the Tamil Tigers that have been designated a terrorist organization, not the whole Tamil community. And, many people gave argued that designating insurgent forces “terrorists” may be motivated more by domestic political consi –
CATHY: Of course, it’s political! Everything is political! But, I mean, I’m just a secretary in a ball bearings company. I’m just one person. How is disrupting my life going to help the Tamils get what they want (whatever that may be)?
MICHAEL: It’s not like we can tell our politicians to seek justice for these people (whatever that might mean).
CATHY: And, even if we could tell our politicians to seek justice for these people (whatever that might mean), it’s not like they would actually listen and put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to do it.
MICHAEL: And, even if we could tell our politicians to seek justice for these people (whatever that might mean), and even if our government listened and put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to do it, it’s not like the Sri Lankan government would actually listen to them and do it.
CATHY: And, even if we could tell our politicians to seek justice for these people (whatever that might mean), and even if our government listened and put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to do it, and even if the Sri Lankan government actually listened to them and did it, how would that help me get my filing done if I don’t get to work on time?
MICHAEL: Exactly.
Pause.
CATHY: Don’t get me wrong – if these people have a grievance, they should definitely air it.
MICHAEL: Oh, absolutely. People deserve to be heard. That is their absolute right in a free society like ours.
CATHY: They should consider writing an op-ed piece for The Globe or The Star.
MICHAEL: Lobby their MPs. Now, that would help their cause a lot more than these silly public protests.
STRANGER: Didn’t you just say that trying to get politicians to seek justice for Tamils wouldn’t get anywhere?
MICHAEL: Do you mind? This is a private conversation.
STRANGER: Excuse me, but this is public transport.
CATHY: That may be, but we weren’t talking to you!
STRANGER: My mistake.
MICHAEL: The nerve of some people!
CATHY: Tamils or that jerk?
MICHAEL: Both!
CATHY: I couldn’t agree more!
MICHAEL: You’d think those people would leave their arguments behind when they came to this country!
CATHY: Absolutely. They must learn to be Canadians first and whatever else they might be second.
MICHAEL: It’s the least they can do for all the wonderful things Canada offers them.
CATHY: If only immigrants weren’t so…ungrateful!
Pause.
CATHY: Umm…I hope I’m not being too personal, but, do I detect an Irish accent in your speech?
MICHAEL: Not at all. You’re right – I’m from Dublin, originally.
CATHY: Me, too! The Protestant side?
MICHAEL: Catholic, actually…
Michael and Cathy look at each other with mistrust, darkness growing on their faces.