Our Raison d’Etre
Scene 1
INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY
Located in a hip urban neighborhood. Seven women, highly educated, aged 31 – 45, gather for Sunday brunch
DOCTORAL STUDENT, NYC native
(slicing her bagel topped with mozzarella and tomato in half)
So what field are you in?
A. IFILL
Documentary filmmaking
INTERNATIONAL RELIEF ADMINISTRATOR, San Francisco native
(after a sip of her mimosa)
Wow. That’s fascinating. What are you working on now?
The hostess, an investment banker, Paris native, refills everyone’s champagne flutes.
A. IFILL
My current project is about Blacks in Congress in the 19th century.
DOCTORAL STUDENT
(eyes widen)
Really?
REAL ESTATE AGENT, Philadelphia native
(looking back and forth at the women seated next to her as she nods her head)
Hmmmm…that’s marvelous!
(stammers)
I — I didn’t know they were any.
She shifts in her seat.
WRITER, Chicago native
(exhales a small laugh)
Pardon my ignorance; I write about national security issues. But how many were there? (beat) Two?
A. IFILL
(leans back as the group leans closer)
There were 25.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER, Kansas native
(whispers to her sister, a Congressional staffer, seated next to her)
How come I never heard about this?