Episode Four: Volcano Day
Previously: After a good interview and good results applying for a job as a billing clerk, Shawn bursts the bubble by giving him 30 days to find a job before he has to kick him out.
And now:
Ryan calls the job to find out about the position. The boss tells him that the client they were hoping to get has changed their mind, hence the company no longer needs to fill the position that was all but guaranteed to Ryan. Dejected Ryan resumes his search. Many people make suggestions, some better than others. Shawn periodically asks for updates, but Ryan has no good news. The stress becomes unbearable, but Ryan marshalls an inner strength and turns everything over to God. He’s never failed him yet, and Ryan doesn’t believe that God would start anytime soon.
After spending his last ten dollars on fuel, Ryan is left with only 20 cents to his name. This isn’t much of a problem, however, since he’s helping with a church event: The Judgement, a Halloween walkthrough with real-life scenes of abuse, violence, and death. Each night food is provided, so Ryan doesn’t have to worry about eating, though he does wait until last because he doesn’t want to deprive the cast and crew. Ryan’s job is merely to videotape each of the scenes, and while it’s a challenge, it’s nowhere near the challenge of performing the same scene over and over again for hundreds of people, several times a night, for six nights.
Following The Judgement, Ryan attends the college service. The Overhead operator that’s supposed to be running that night is constantly on her cellular telephone to some guy, she’s apologizing, trying to explain that she’s not mad at him, or trying to get rid of him. Nevertheless he’s mad and keeps calling — she ends up spending most of her time talking with him. Later, during the praise and worship service, Ryan notices that a few of the lyrics formatting could be altered. When he makes the suggestion to the operator, he loses his mind. Ryan snaps harshly, “If you weren’t spending so much time talking on your phone, maybe you would have realized that you weren’t done…”. Naturally this isn’t received too well, and she leaves.
Ryan takes over, and the rest of the night gives her a wide berth. Since she’s rather good at holding a grudge against him, Ryan figures that would be the last time he talks to her.
Another person at the church, however, makes mention of a job opening that, while it’s not the greatest job, it’s something that could generate money. Ryan takes the opportunity and applies. A few days later he reports for an interview and drug-screen, with the notice that they’d be in contact sometime in the next week.
The deadline looms. Ryan still hasn’t heard anything. As he waits for confirmation or final rejection, he knows that if this doesn’t work out, he’s on his own.
The following Sunday, Ryan learns the grudge is apparently released; she asks for a favor … if Ryan would run media for the next Tuesday service, which Ryan agrees readily.
Shawn’s deadline approaches with one day remaining.
The phone rings.
To be continued . . .
Fade to Black