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A Strip Law prequel fanfic about how Irene came to work with Lincoln Gumb
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Please check out Strip Law on Netflix! It's so awesome!
Synopsis: A Short Strip Law prequel fanfic on how Irene Gumb came to Las Vegas to work for her uncle Lincoln Gumb!
Strip Law
fanfic title:
Come on Irene!
by: Trenton Sands
Scene 1:
Irene Gumb didn't always live in Las Vegas. Orignally she lived with her mom and dad in Waterloo Iowa. Irene's home life was in turmoil. Her mother Heidi was a weak enabler, while her father J.W. was just your typical average alcoholic abusive father. Running to her mailbox one morning. Irene was hoping for the best news ever.
Irene: This is it!
Opening the mailbox, Irene sees a letter from the SATs. Then Irene proceeds to open the letter and it was a notice that she passed her SATs and graduated early!
Irene: YES YES YES! I DID IT! I DID IT! NO MORE HIGH SCHOOL EVER!
Ever since she took up body building, no boys ever wanted to ask Irene out. Some girls even bullied her for looking to 'butch'. Although Irene is a body builder, deep down Irene cannot stand the emotional toll the bullies, rejection from boys, and the mental pain her parents inflicted on her.
Irene (running inside): Mom! Dad! Great news!
Running into her house, to announce that she passed the SATs to her mom and dad. Irene sees something she has always bared witness to. Her parents arguing. The fights even got physical. Like the one Irene is watching now.
Irene: Uhhh, Mom! Dad!
J.W.: You fucking cunt! You spending money behind my back with this credit card!
Heidi (crying): I'm sorry. But let's face the truth here! You never want to give me any!
J.W.: My money is for me! And you get FUCKING NOTHING!
Heidi: How else am I supposed to pay for groceries and the utilities?
J.W.: I don't believe it! (throwing his arms up in the air)
Irene then sees J.W. and Heidi throw objects at each other. Irene runs into her bedroom. Sitting on her bed, she looks at her positive SAT scores and sighs.
Heidi: I only married you so I can get out of poverty!
J.W.: Guess you're in love with my pocketbook and not with me!
Irene (to herself): Why is it anytime something good happens to me, my parents are too busy fighting to even notice?
Heidi runs off and cries. Then J.W. runs after her, tackles Heidi and then hugs her and cries as well.
Irene (to herself): This again?! All their fights end the same. Cry and make up. (looking at her SAT scores) Maybe they don't deserve to know.
Heidi actually was living off the benefits of J.W.'s job. J.W. worked at a John Deere factory that provided with good health insurance, and great pay. Going up poor all throughout her childhood, she always dreamed of marrying a well off man. Heidi also felt a sense of finanical security being married to J.W. to have lots of money to live on. Heidi always feared if she ever left J.W. that she will land into poverty once again.
There were many times when J.W. and Heidi's fights got so intense, she would tell Irene privately that Heidi and Irene will leave J.W. forever. Irene always held onto that hope that it will happen. However, it never has in the past. As the day went on, J.W. and Heidi always made up like nothing ever happened.
Irene (falls on her bed): Now they're going to talk about farming and agriculture Their favorite subjects. Dad's 'Get Out Of Jail' Free Card.
Scene 2:
That very night. Irene got up to get some water. Heidi was up too getting water. Heidi spots Irene and looks like she has an announcement.
Irene: Mom?
Heidi: Let's talk someplace private.
Leading Irene into the attic, the place where Heidi and Irene 'scheme against' J.W.
Heidi: I decided. I cannot take his abuse any longer.
Irene: Are you going to go through with it this time?
Heidi: I will. Tommorow. You and I are both leaving Waterloo forever!
Irene: Thought you were going to wait until I graduate and turn 18.
Heidi: Not this time! I can't stand it any longer! Now here's the plan. I have about $10,000 in my bank account. I'm going to take all that out and you and I will leave town forever!
Irene: Yes finally! About time!
Heidi: We'll go to Sacremento.
Irene: What are you going to do for work?
Heidi: Work for a cellphone company. It's great pay and I'll never need your dad's money again!
Irene: Perfect! What time do we leave tommorow?
Heidi: We'll pretend the day is just like a normal day. As soon as your Dad leaves for work, BAM! We're outta here!
Instead of telling Heidi about her SAT scores, Irene decides to tell her something else.
Irene: I've been looking up oppourtinties in Sacremento too. There's a Community College there that takes high school students like me.
Heidi: Ohhh, what a nice life we're going to have together in Sacremento!
Irene: OKay, let's go back to bed now.
Heidi: We'll do.
Both Irene and Heidi went back to bed. Irene decided to tell her Mom about the SAT scores she achieved once they reach Sacremento.
Scene 3:
As J.W. went off to work early in the morning as he always did. Heidi and Irene were both waiting for him to leave in anxious anticipation.
Irene: How long does it take for Dad to leave for work!
Heidi: Just think about this. By the time he comes back from work, he won't have us or rather me to push around anymore.
Irene: Well, he's pushed me around too. Emotionally.
Heidi: No, I had the brunt end of his abuse when he used to beat me!
Irene: Whatever. (under her breath) why else do you think I've taken up body building?
After a long period of waiting, J.W. finally leaves for work. Heidi and Irene go into her car to drive to the bank. However under the front seat there was a silver cardboard looking piece of paper underneath the driver's seat.
Irene: What do you think that might be, Mom?
Heidi (picks up the paper): It's that old lottery ticket we got 5 years ago.
Irene: Let's try it. Maybe it's still relevent!
Heidi: It's a long shot, but we'll take a chance!
Scratching off all the silver, the lottery ticket proved to be a winner! 5 million dollars!
Heidi and Irene (cheer): YES! YES! YAY! We're rich! Now we can really go to Sacremento!
Taking their winning ticket to the bank, Heidi was now driving to Sacremento!
Scene 4:
Once at the First National Bank in Waterloo, the bank teller was impressed with the lottery earnings Heidi and Irene both won!
Teller: Here are your earnings and your deposit!
Heidi: We won't be back here anymore! Won't we Irene!
Irene: Good riddance Waterloo Iowa! Thanks for nothing!
Both laughing, with their winning money in a check, now Heidi and Irene were on their way to Sacremento for a new life. Irene has Community College waiting for her, and Heidi has that job at a cellphone company she's been keeping her eyes on. Instead of an airplane, Heidi and Irene decide to take a road trip there. Taking them approximently 3 days to get to Sacremento, Heidi and Irene go to a real estate agent.
Agent: What can I do for you girls today?
Heidi: We won the lottery!
Irene: And we're starting a new life here!
Agent: Perfect I got just the place for you.
After the Agent showed Irene and Heidi around some houses, Heidi and Irene finally found the perfect one. A two story two bathroom two bedroom house with a kitchen, attic, and living room. Heidi bought it with her earnings at $300,000. Thankfully, Heidi and Irene still had a lot of money left over from the lottery. So they open up an account in a bank in Sacremento and decide to live their new lives.
Irene: It took us a while! We finally made it.
Heidi: We sure did.
Irene: Wonder how Dad is doing back in Waterloo?
Heidi: Who knows and who cares!
Irene: What will we do now?
Heidi: Before we get settled, let's have some FUN!
Irene: You always said when we get here you'll become Fun Mom like you always promised!
Heidi: Fasten your seat belt. Because the more we live here, I'm going to become even More FUN!
Back in Waterloo, whenever Heidi and Irene were alone, Heidi always was 'fun and cool' mom to Irene by doing things together like go to movies and shopping. Then once J.W. came home from work, Heidi was back to being depressed battered wife mom.
Scene 5:
Two weeks had passed. Heidi finally got the cellphone company job. But only worked 3 days a week. Still made a good living. Whenever Irene and Heidi got the day off, they would go to a theme park, concerts, run around the beach, Irene, now going to community college even invited some new friends over to her new house and party with her and her mom Heidi who was now 'so cool' in fact so cool one could swear Heidi and Irene were sisters. At work, Heidi felt like she was getting hassled and pushed around by her fellow co-workers who were all much younger than her in their 20s
Irene: Wow Mom! You're just like Amy Pohelor in Mean Girls!
Students: To Irene's mom!
Heidi: Awesome party! Just like the one in Animal House! My all time favorite movie!
Irene: I know, right! It's like we're living in Vegas with Uncle Lincoln!
Night had turned into day. Irene's friends from Community College all left and thanks them for the great time. What Irene didn't know was Heidi got drunk. Just like she has in the past whenever J.W. used to beat her and verbally attack Irene. Now Heidi was on the couch sleeping.
Irene: Oh no! Oh wait! We're not living with Dad anymore. Mom is happy now?
But how long will it last? Heidi finally woke up. She was hungover from the night before.
Irene: Wow! You sure weren't lying when you said were a cool mom.
Heidi: I'm hung over. But we'll surely do it again! I need you to take me to the hospital.
Irene: OKay sure.
Driving to the hospital. Heidi checked inside. Irene stayed behind in the car. This is when reality is about to strike it's cruel hand. Irene waited almost over 4 hours for Heidi to get out of the hospital. Irene passed the time by going around the places near the hospital.
Irene: What could be taking so long!!!!
Once Irene returned to the car. Heidi was walking out in a zombie like state.
Heidi: Hey, honey....
Irene: Mom! Are you okay?!? What took you so long?
Heidi: I'll tell you when I get home.
Irene notices Heidi was acting the same way she did whenever J.W. struck her. Once they reach home. That's when the real drama begins.
Heidi (ranting): I WAS THE ONLY WHITE PERSON IN THE WAITING ROOM! ALL THE REST WERE FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND THEY GOT PICKED OVER ME!
Irene: Oh no! Really?
Heidi: Once they finally took me, they didn't accept my insurance. I told them I worked at the cellphone company and they said they don't accept my insurance here and not even my insurance from John Deere! Unless my husband was present.
Irene: That's not good!
Heidi: You had no idea how terrified i was to be all alone in that waiting room!
While Heidi was still ranting about her experience in the hospital, a mailman came to the door who was black.
Mailman: Mail!
Once Heidi saw the mailman she screams.
Heidi: JW!! HELP ME!
The mailman runs away in fear.
Irene: Why did you call Dad's name?
Heidi: Because he would've protected me from those people! (cries)
Irene: But Mom, you hated Dad!
Heidi: I see now that leaving him was a huge mistake! We're surrounded by minorities like that black mailman who was just here!
Irene: So what! Waterloo had minorities too! If we had stayed you'd probably be dead by now! Are you forgetting what he did to us? Or rather you?
Heidi (gives Irene a blank angry stare): YOU! YOU STARTED THIS WHOLE SACREMENTO MESS!
Irene: What did I do?
Heidi: Its your fault!
Irene: How was it my fault!
Heidi: You were the one who egged me on about that lottery ticket. You pushed me into leaving your father!
Irene: It was both of us who wanted to leave Dad! Wasn't that part of the plan!?!?!
Heidi: And now I have a crappy job working with a bunch of entitled Gen Zs who treat me like shit! And you somehow are already in college..
Irene: I'm an overachiever!
Heidi: LET ME TALK! Now we have no health insurance here in case if I get SUPER SICK like I was today!
Irene: You know Uncle Lincoln once told me rich people don't need health insurance!
Heidi: WHO CARES ABOUT LINCOLN! Your Dad's brother! He never gave a shit and a sweat about us! Now look at us! I am without a husband! Without a home and without insurance! We're poooooor. (sobs and cries as she falls to the floor.
Irene sighs as she runs to her new bedroom. Then Irene remembered her SAT scores that she luckily brought along. Looking at the SAT scores, she's decided to take things into her own hands.
Scene 6
The bus station was quiet in a way Irene had never experienced before. No shouting. No slammed doors. No muffled crying behind walls. Just the low hum of engines and the occasional murmur of travelers passing through.
Irene sat alone on a worn plastic bench, her duffel bag at her feet and her SAT acceptance letter folded neatly in her jacket pocket. She stared out at the bus marked Las Vegas as if it were more than just transportation—as if it were a doorway.
Irene (to herself): Her happiness didn’t last long now, did it?
She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. For a moment, she hesitated. Then she dialed. The Voicemail Beep.
Irene (steady, but emotional): Hey, Mom… it’s me. I know you’re probably wondering where I am. Or maybe you’re not. Either way… I’m not coming back. You said leaving Dad was my fault. That I pushed you into all of this. But the truth is… you were always looking for someone to blame. First him… now me. I needed you. Not the “fun mom.” Not the party version of you. I needed a real parent. Someone who didn’t fall apart the second things got hard.
You let me down. A lot. More than you’ll probably ever admit. (long pause) I’m going somewhere better now. I’ll be in boarding school… starting over. Don’t try to find me.
(quietly) Goodbye, Mom.
Beep. Message Sent. Irene lowers the phone slowly, her expression hardening—not cold, but resolved. A loud hiss breaks the silence as the bus doors open.
Driver: Las Vegas! All aboard!
Irene stands, grabs her bag, and without looking back, boards the bus.
Going into Las Vegas. Neon lights stretch endlessly across the horizon. The Strip glows like another world entirely. The bus pulls into the terminal, and Irene steps off, shielding her eyes slightly from the brightness.
Waiting near the curb is a tall man in a loud patterned shirt, gold chain gleaming under the lights Lincoln Gumb. Beside him stands a lanky, sharp-eyed man in a wrinkled suit Glem Blorchman.
Lincoln (grinning wide): Well I’ll be damned… Irene! Look at you! All grown up!
Irene (half-smirking): Hey, Uncle Lincoln.
As Lincoln gives her a greeting. Irene finds herself getting her into a quick, slightly over-the-top hug.
Lincoln: Welcome to Las Vegas! City of second chances… and bad decisions!
Glem (dryly): Mostly bad decisions.
Irene chuckles faintly.
Lincoln: You got guts coming out here on your own. I like that. You’ll fit right in. Matter of fact—I got a job for you.
Irene: A job?
Lincoln (winking): You’re looking at the newest addition to the Gumb operation. We keep things… interesting around here.
Glem: And occasionally legal.
Irene: Sounds perfect.
Glem, Lincoln, and Irene make gestures toward the city.
Lincoln: C’mon. Let’s get you settled in.
They begin walking. After a moment, Irene reaches into her jacket and pulls out the folded letter.
Irene: Oh—before I forget… (she unfolds it, a small smile forming) I passed my SATs. Graduated early. My parents think I'm in boarding school!
Lincoln: No kidding? That’s big time!
Glem: Impressive.
Lincoln: Your folks know?
There’s a brief pause. Irene looks out at the glowing skyline, then folds the letter back up.
Irene (calm, final): They never deserved to know.
The neon lights reflect in her eyes as she walks forward—into her new life.
THE END
Synopsis: A Short Strip Law prequel fanfic on how Irene Gumb came to Las Vegas to work for her uncle Lincoln Gumb!
Strip Law
fanfic title:
Come on Irene!
by: Trenton Sands
Scene 1:
Irene Gumb didn't always live in Las Vegas. Orignally she lived with her mom and dad in Waterloo Iowa. Irene's home life was in turmoil. Her mother Heidi was a weak enabler, while her father J.W. was just your typical average alcoholic abusive father. Running to her mailbox one morning. Irene was hoping for the best news ever.
Irene: This is it!
Opening the mailbox, Irene sees a letter from the SATs. Then Irene proceeds to open the letter and it was a notice that she passed her SATs and graduated early!
Irene: YES YES YES! I DID IT! I DID IT! NO MORE HIGH SCHOOL EVER!
Ever since she took up body building, no boys ever wanted to ask Irene out. Some girls even bullied her for looking to 'butch'. Although Irene is a body builder, deep down Irene cannot stand the emotional toll the bullies, rejection from boys, and the mental pain her parents inflicted on her.
Irene (running inside): Mom! Dad! Great news!
Running into her house, to announce that she passed the SATs to her mom and dad. Irene sees something she has always bared witness to. Her parents arguing. The fights even got physical. Like the one Irene is watching now.
Irene: Uhhh, Mom! Dad!
J.W.: You fucking cunt! You spending money behind my back with this credit card!
Heidi (crying): I'm sorry. But let's face the truth here! You never want to give me any!
J.W.: My money is for me! And you get FUCKING NOTHING!
Heidi: How else am I supposed to pay for groceries and the utilities?
J.W.: I don't believe it! (throwing his arms up in the air)
Irene then sees J.W. and Heidi throw objects at each other. Irene runs into her bedroom. Sitting on her bed, she looks at her positive SAT scores and sighs.
Heidi: I only married you so I can get out of poverty!
J.W.: Guess you're in love with my pocketbook and not with me!
Irene (to herself): Why is it anytime something good happens to me, my parents are too busy fighting to even notice?
Heidi runs off and cries. Then J.W. runs after her, tackles Heidi and then hugs her and cries as well.
Irene (to herself): This again?! All their fights end the same. Cry and make up. (looking at her SAT scores) Maybe they don't deserve to know.
Heidi actually was living off the benefits of J.W.'s job. J.W. worked at a John Deere factory that provided with good health insurance, and great pay. Going up poor all throughout her childhood, she always dreamed of marrying a well off man. Heidi also felt a sense of finanical security being married to J.W. to have lots of money to live on. Heidi always feared if she ever left J.W. that she will land into poverty once again.
There were many times when J.W. and Heidi's fights got so intense, she would tell Irene privately that Heidi and Irene will leave J.W. forever. Irene always held onto that hope that it will happen. However, it never has in the past. As the day went on, J.W. and Heidi always made up like nothing ever happened.
Irene (falls on her bed): Now they're going to talk about farming and agriculture Their favorite subjects. Dad's 'Get Out Of Jail' Free Card.
Scene 2:
That very night. Irene got up to get some water. Heidi was up too getting water. Heidi spots Irene and looks like she has an announcement.
Irene: Mom?
Heidi: Let's talk someplace private.
Leading Irene into the attic, the place where Heidi and Irene 'scheme against' J.W.
Heidi: I decided. I cannot take his abuse any longer.
Irene: Are you going to go through with it this time?
Heidi: I will. Tommorow. You and I are both leaving Waterloo forever!
Irene: Thought you were going to wait until I graduate and turn 18.
Heidi: Not this time! I can't stand it any longer! Now here's the plan. I have about $10,000 in my bank account. I'm going to take all that out and you and I will leave town forever!
Irene: Yes finally! About time!
Heidi: We'll go to Sacremento.
Irene: What are you going to do for work?
Heidi: Work for a cellphone company. It's great pay and I'll never need your dad's money again!
Irene: Perfect! What time do we leave tommorow?
Heidi: We'll pretend the day is just like a normal day. As soon as your Dad leaves for work, BAM! We're outta here!
Instead of telling Heidi about her SAT scores, Irene decides to tell her something else.
Irene: I've been looking up oppourtinties in Sacremento too. There's a Community College there that takes high school students like me.
Heidi: Ohhh, what a nice life we're going to have together in Sacremento!
Irene: OKay, let's go back to bed now.
Heidi: We'll do.
Both Irene and Heidi went back to bed. Irene decided to tell her Mom about the SAT scores she achieved once they reach Sacremento.
Scene 3:
As J.W. went off to work early in the morning as he always did. Heidi and Irene were both waiting for him to leave in anxious anticipation.
Irene: How long does it take for Dad to leave for work!
Heidi: Just think about this. By the time he comes back from work, he won't have us or rather me to push around anymore.
Irene: Well, he's pushed me around too. Emotionally.
Heidi: No, I had the brunt end of his abuse when he used to beat me!
Irene: Whatever. (under her breath) why else do you think I've taken up body building?
After a long period of waiting, J.W. finally leaves for work. Heidi and Irene go into her car to drive to the bank. However under the front seat there was a silver cardboard looking piece of paper underneath the driver's seat.
Irene: What do you think that might be, Mom?
Heidi (picks up the paper): It's that old lottery ticket we got 5 years ago.
Irene: Let's try it. Maybe it's still relevent!
Heidi: It's a long shot, but we'll take a chance!
Scratching off all the silver, the lottery ticket proved to be a winner! 5 million dollars!
Heidi and Irene (cheer): YES! YES! YAY! We're rich! Now we can really go to Sacremento!
Taking their winning ticket to the bank, Heidi was now driving to Sacremento!
Scene 4:
Once at the First National Bank in Waterloo, the bank teller was impressed with the lottery earnings Heidi and Irene both won!
Teller: Here are your earnings and your deposit!
Heidi: We won't be back here anymore! Won't we Irene!
Irene: Good riddance Waterloo Iowa! Thanks for nothing!
Both laughing, with their winning money in a check, now Heidi and Irene were on their way to Sacremento for a new life. Irene has Community College waiting for her, and Heidi has that job at a cellphone company she's been keeping her eyes on. Instead of an airplane, Heidi and Irene decide to take a road trip there. Taking them approximently 3 days to get to Sacremento, Heidi and Irene go to a real estate agent.
Agent: What can I do for you girls today?
Heidi: We won the lottery!
Irene: And we're starting a new life here!
Agent: Perfect I got just the place for you.
After the Agent showed Irene and Heidi around some houses, Heidi and Irene finally found the perfect one. A two story two bathroom two bedroom house with a kitchen, attic, and living room. Heidi bought it with her earnings at $300,000. Thankfully, Heidi and Irene still had a lot of money left over from the lottery. So they open up an account in a bank in Sacremento and decide to live their new lives.
Irene: It took us a while! We finally made it.
Heidi: We sure did.
Irene: Wonder how Dad is doing back in Waterloo?
Heidi: Who knows and who cares!
Irene: What will we do now?
Heidi: Before we get settled, let's have some FUN!
Irene: You always said when we get here you'll become Fun Mom like you always promised!
Heidi: Fasten your seat belt. Because the more we live here, I'm going to become even More FUN!
Back in Waterloo, whenever Heidi and Irene were alone, Heidi always was 'fun and cool' mom to Irene by doing things together like go to movies and shopping. Then once J.W. came home from work, Heidi was back to being depressed battered wife mom.
Scene 5:
Two weeks had passed. Heidi finally got the cellphone company job. But only worked 3 days a week. Still made a good living. Whenever Irene and Heidi got the day off, they would go to a theme park, concerts, run around the beach, Irene, now going to community college even invited some new friends over to her new house and party with her and her mom Heidi who was now 'so cool' in fact so cool one could swear Heidi and Irene were sisters. At work, Heidi felt like she was getting hassled and pushed around by her fellow co-workers who were all much younger than her in their 20s
Irene: Wow Mom! You're just like Amy Pohelor in Mean Girls!
Students: To Irene's mom!
Heidi: Awesome party! Just like the one in Animal House! My all time favorite movie!
Irene: I know, right! It's like we're living in Vegas with Uncle Lincoln!
Night had turned into day. Irene's friends from Community College all left and thanks them for the great time. What Irene didn't know was Heidi got drunk. Just like she has in the past whenever J.W. used to beat her and verbally attack Irene. Now Heidi was on the couch sleeping.
Irene: Oh no! Oh wait! We're not living with Dad anymore. Mom is happy now?
But how long will it last? Heidi finally woke up. She was hungover from the night before.
Irene: Wow! You sure weren't lying when you said were a cool mom.
Heidi: I'm hung over. But we'll surely do it again! I need you to take me to the hospital.
Irene: OKay sure.
Driving to the hospital. Heidi checked inside. Irene stayed behind in the car. This is when reality is about to strike it's cruel hand. Irene waited almost over 4 hours for Heidi to get out of the hospital. Irene passed the time by going around the places near the hospital.
Irene: What could be taking so long!!!!
Once Irene returned to the car. Heidi was walking out in a zombie like state.
Heidi: Hey, honey....
Irene: Mom! Are you okay?!? What took you so long?
Heidi: I'll tell you when I get home.
Irene notices Heidi was acting the same way she did whenever J.W. struck her. Once they reach home. That's when the real drama begins.
Heidi (ranting): I WAS THE ONLY WHITE PERSON IN THE WAITING ROOM! ALL THE REST WERE FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND THEY GOT PICKED OVER ME!
Irene: Oh no! Really?
Heidi: Once they finally took me, they didn't accept my insurance. I told them I worked at the cellphone company and they said they don't accept my insurance here and not even my insurance from John Deere! Unless my husband was present.
Irene: That's not good!
Heidi: You had no idea how terrified i was to be all alone in that waiting room!
While Heidi was still ranting about her experience in the hospital, a mailman came to the door who was black.
Mailman: Mail!
Once Heidi saw the mailman she screams.
Heidi: JW!! HELP ME!
The mailman runs away in fear.
Irene: Why did you call Dad's name?
Heidi: Because he would've protected me from those people! (cries)
Irene: But Mom, you hated Dad!
Heidi: I see now that leaving him was a huge mistake! We're surrounded by minorities like that black mailman who was just here!
Irene: So what! Waterloo had minorities too! If we had stayed you'd probably be dead by now! Are you forgetting what he did to us? Or rather you?
Heidi (gives Irene a blank angry stare): YOU! YOU STARTED THIS WHOLE SACREMENTO MESS!
Irene: What did I do?
Heidi: Its your fault!
Irene: How was it my fault!
Heidi: You were the one who egged me on about that lottery ticket. You pushed me into leaving your father!
Irene: It was both of us who wanted to leave Dad! Wasn't that part of the plan!?!?!
Heidi: And now I have a crappy job working with a bunch of entitled Gen Zs who treat me like shit! And you somehow are already in college..
Irene: I'm an overachiever!
Heidi: LET ME TALK! Now we have no health insurance here in case if I get SUPER SICK like I was today!
Irene: You know Uncle Lincoln once told me rich people don't need health insurance!
Heidi: WHO CARES ABOUT LINCOLN! Your Dad's brother! He never gave a shit and a sweat about us! Now look at us! I am without a husband! Without a home and without insurance! We're poooooor. (sobs and cries as she falls to the floor.
Irene sighs as she runs to her new bedroom. Then Irene remembered her SAT scores that she luckily brought along. Looking at the SAT scores, she's decided to take things into her own hands.
Scene 6
The bus station was quiet in a way Irene had never experienced before. No shouting. No slammed doors. No muffled crying behind walls. Just the low hum of engines and the occasional murmur of travelers passing through.
Irene sat alone on a worn plastic bench, her duffel bag at her feet and her SAT acceptance letter folded neatly in her jacket pocket. She stared out at the bus marked Las Vegas as if it were more than just transportation—as if it were a doorway.
Irene (to herself): Her happiness didn’t last long now, did it?
She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. For a moment, she hesitated. Then she dialed. The Voicemail Beep.
Irene (steady, but emotional): Hey, Mom… it’s me. I know you’re probably wondering where I am. Or maybe you’re not. Either way… I’m not coming back. You said leaving Dad was my fault. That I pushed you into all of this. But the truth is… you were always looking for someone to blame. First him… now me. I needed you. Not the “fun mom.” Not the party version of you. I needed a real parent. Someone who didn’t fall apart the second things got hard.
You let me down. A lot. More than you’ll probably ever admit. (long pause) I’m going somewhere better now. I’ll be in boarding school… starting over. Don’t try to find me.
(quietly) Goodbye, Mom.
Beep. Message Sent. Irene lowers the phone slowly, her expression hardening—not cold, but resolved. A loud hiss breaks the silence as the bus doors open.
Driver: Las Vegas! All aboard!
Irene stands, grabs her bag, and without looking back, boards the bus.
Going into Las Vegas. Neon lights stretch endlessly across the horizon. The Strip glows like another world entirely. The bus pulls into the terminal, and Irene steps off, shielding her eyes slightly from the brightness.
Waiting near the curb is a tall man in a loud patterned shirt, gold chain gleaming under the lights Lincoln Gumb. Beside him stands a lanky, sharp-eyed man in a wrinkled suit Glem Blorchman.
Lincoln (grinning wide): Well I’ll be damned… Irene! Look at you! All grown up!
Irene (half-smirking): Hey, Uncle Lincoln.
As Lincoln gives her a greeting. Irene finds herself getting her into a quick, slightly over-the-top hug.
Lincoln: Welcome to Las Vegas! City of second chances… and bad decisions!
Glem (dryly): Mostly bad decisions.
Irene chuckles faintly.
Lincoln: You got guts coming out here on your own. I like that. You’ll fit right in. Matter of fact—I got a job for you.
Irene: A job?
Lincoln (winking): You’re looking at the newest addition to the Gumb operation. We keep things… interesting around here.
Glem: And occasionally legal.
Irene: Sounds perfect.
Glem, Lincoln, and Irene make gestures toward the city.
Lincoln: C’mon. Let’s get you settled in.
They begin walking. After a moment, Irene reaches into her jacket and pulls out the folded letter.
Irene: Oh—before I forget… (she unfolds it, a small smile forming) I passed my SATs. Graduated early. My parents think I'm in boarding school!
Lincoln: No kidding? That’s big time!
Glem: Impressive.
Lincoln: Your folks know?
There’s a brief pause. Irene looks out at the glowing skyline, then folds the letter back up.
Irene (calm, final): They never deserved to know.
The neon lights reflect in her eyes as she walks forward—into her new life.
THE END
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