The Story

Warning: Contains Spoliers

Scene 1

Gabe has invited his three close friends to join him for a once-a-month dinner where he’ll cook, they’ll bring the wine, and they’ll pick political topics to debate. They agree, choose a “safe word” in case things get too heated, and agree to call each other out when needed to keep the debate intellectually honest. When their first debate (the electoral college vs. the national popular vote) stalls when they’re all of the same mind on the topic, they turn to poking fun at each other. Alex reveals that Gabe once made a lot of money by selling anti-Obama swag online to conservatives. They all joke that Gabe should relaunch the business making anti-liberal swag, selling it to conservatives, and donating the profits to liberal causes and politicians. 

“You’d be like Robin Hood, but with stupid people.”
—Jocelyn

Scene 2

Inspired by their earlier conversation, at their second dinner a month later, Gabe shares anti-liberal T-shirt designs with his friends. His ideas kind of miss the mark, so they suggest that he do market research by watching conservative news shows. For that week’s debate, their randomly picked topic is abortion. The debate is going strong, but Steve has been quiet. Alex shares that Steve, who wanted kids, had a vasectomy, since she didn’t. They have a deal that if the vasectomy fails and Alex gets pregnant, they’ll have the baby. Gabe pressures Steve to voice his thoughts, and he reluctantly shares that he was a result of an unplanned pregnancy and while he supports a woman’s right to choose, he doesn’t know if he could live with his family choosing to abort. Alex is horrified to realize that their deal if she gets pregnant might not just be because Steve wants kids, but because he’s against abortion, and the conversation gets heated. Steve backpedals and agrees that if Alex wants an abortion, they would have one. The conversation turns fun again and they poke fun at each other. Gabe and Steve, who are Christians, poke fun at Joss and Alex, who they jokingly say are going to hell.

“And what if I did become pregnant and what if I did want to have an abortion? Am I just a monster then that’s keeping some amazing person like you from getting a chance at life?”
—Alex

Scene 3

It’s a month later and Gabe has been doing a deep dive into far-right conservative media. It’s left him feeling anxious, so his friends suggest that he drop it. Gabe explains that’s not in his nature; he always goes at everything with 110%. They pick their topic for the evening and it’s political correctness. Gabe makes a case that political correctness may have been founded on well-meaning ideas, but that it’s largely run amok, where everyone – especially those with privilege – have to watch their words so carefully and no one gives each other any grace. The debate is sometimes heated, but ultimately productive, as they have a robust exchange of ideas.

“Honestly, I think the backlash is just what happens when people of incredible privilege learn that they have to watch their words just as much as people with very little privilege.”
—Alex

Scene 4

At their next dinner, the topic is sexual harassment. Gabe attempts to show that things have swung too far in favor of possible victims, where it’s guilty until proven innocent, and where consent can later be questioned, withdrawn, or even impossible for famous people, for instance. Gabe also makes a case for individual accountability for women who dress too provocatively. This is all too much for Alex, who clearly has a personal stake in this conversation – one that Gabe would no doubt have known about. Alex comes out swinging, and Gabe bristles at the attempt to silence and dismiss him just because he’s dared to fall out of line with the liberal party line. Alex storms out and Steve follows. Jocelyn stays behind to talk with Gabe, making a case that kindness should trump intellectual curiosity, and that Gabe clearly put this topic forward, even though he knew this was a sensitive one for Alex.

“God, and you wonder why it is that conservatives feel like their voices are being silenced in this country? We’ve been friends for decades, and I dare to spend a couple months just learning about, oh, I don’t know, other ways of looking at the world, and the minute, the minute I’m not in perfect lockstep with the party line, the minute I dare to even ask a few questions, I’m a misogynist, I’m a bigot, I’m a ‘crazy conservative.’ Do you even hear yourself? You’re supposed to be my best friend. You’re supposed to know my heart, and suddenly I have to watch everything I say around you, tamp down on any doubt or question and just go along with the party line on everything?”
—Gabe

Scene 5

It’s a month later and Alex and Gabe have made up and are their usual inseparable duo again. The topic of debate that evening is privilege. Gabe is hesitant to engage this time, but Alex asks his opinion, inviting him into the discussion. Gabe makes the case again for individual accountability, that privilege may give you an edge, but it’s ultimately up to you if you commit a crime or succeed in getting your share of the American dream. He argues that a real end to racism would mean not acknowledging race, not talking about it, and not giving people a leg up if they’re in a minority group. The temperature starts rising again, and when Gabe mentions “Black on Black violence,” Jocelyn gets really angry. Gabe’s friends try to convince him he’s been brainwashed by all the extreme conservative media he’s been listening to. Gabe doubles down, and finally Jocelyn has had it and chooses to leave. Alex says she feels her best friend is disappearing in front of her and heads out too. Steve hangs back and tells Gabe a story to help him see that Alex chose him as her family above anyone else and he should keep that in mind. Gabe is left alone.

“I don’t want your guilt; I want your voice! So, maybe you need to pick a side – one side thinks that change has happened much too slowly and the other thinks that change has happened much too quickly. Which side are you going to stand with?“
—Jocelyn

Scene 6

It’s election day and Gabe sets into a voting booth, closes the privacy curtain behind him, and turns around to vote.