{"id":492,"date":"2020-09-10T20:04:16","date_gmt":"2020-09-11T03:04:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/?p=492"},"modified":"2020-09-10T20:11:49","modified_gmt":"2020-09-11T03:11:49","slug":"the-scene-that-wasnt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/?p=492","title":{"rendered":"The Scene That Wasn&#8217;t"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"50\" height=\"38\" class=\"wp-image-493\" style=\"width: 50px;\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/9-9scissors.png\" alt=\"Cutting scenes with scissors\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/9-9scissors.png 1200w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/9-9scissors-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/9-9scissors-1024x776.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/9-9scissors-768x582.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/9-9scissors-396x300.png 396w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 50px) 100vw, 50px\" \/>NOTE: <em>The following scene from WHEN ALICE PLAYED THE LOTTERY just hit the editing room floor. It describes the main character, Alice, a widowed receptionist at a failing startup in Silicon Valley, meeting the new VP.<\/em> <em>She is a technology-challenged receptionist who runs the company lottery pool<\/em>.<em> But what high-tech worker hasn&#8217;t been here?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"665\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/receptionDeskLong-1-1024x665.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"505\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/receptionDeskLong-1-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/?attachment_id=505\" class=\"wp-image-505\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/receptionDeskLong-1-1024x665.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/receptionDeskLong-1-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/receptionDeskLong-1-768x498.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/receptionDeskLong-1-1536x997.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/receptionDeskLong-1-2048x1329.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/receptionDeskLong-1-462x300.jpg 462w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The board fired Marv the VP, who in Alice\u2019s estimation was a real sweetheart. He used to work for Apple back in his ponytail days. (Marv was bald now.) In his place, the board brought in Lee Zappin, another partially balding man who, by his office d\u00e9cor, seemed to be into Eastern philosophy. His first day on the job, Alice noticed him doing yoga in his office on lunch hour. He also seemed to be a strict vegetarian. He asked her to order him a late lunch, then asked for strictly, vegan dishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lee\u2019s second day, he informed Alice that he wanted to meet privately with each person in the company. That number had dwindled from 53 to 29, ten of whom played the lottery with an almost religious fervor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/vp-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"vice president's desk\" class=\"wp-image-498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/vp-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/vp-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/vp-451x300.jpg 451w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/vp.jpg 1023w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption>Have a seat!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alice watched each of her co-workers go into his office for 15 or 20 minutes and then walk out. It really surprised her when Lee called her in for a meeting too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/alice1-300x252.jpg\" alt=\"Nervous, mature woman named Alice\" class=\"wp-image-500\" width=\"225\" height=\"189\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/alice1-300x252.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/alice1-357x300.jpg 357w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/alice1.jpg 511w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption><strong>Alice. . . a little worried<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHave a seat, Alice,\u201d Lee said with a forced friendliness. It sounded as if he was fresh out of a management-training course that told you how it important it was to call people by their names and look them (sincerely) in the eye. She looked around and expected to hear sitar music start at any minute. \u201cHow is your day going so far?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFine.\u201d Alice decided earlier that the less she said, the less that could be held against her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo, you have been here what? Two years?\u201d He settled behind his desk, rocking back in his chair, and making a pyramid with his fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"174\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/fingersSteepled-300x174.jpg\" alt=\"Man with fingers steepled\" class=\"wp-image-499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/fingersSteepled-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/fingersSteepled-500x290.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/fingersSteepled.jpg 711w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption><strong>&#8220;Ahem!&#8221;<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAbout,\u201d she said. Close enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd in that time, do you think that there have been things that could have been done differently?\u201d he asked. The way he phrased the question, she felt as if she were on some imaginary witness stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI wouldn\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWell, you see a lot,\u201d he said, leaning forward slightly. They say that once you can fake sincerity, you can fake anything. Was this guy that good, or did he earnestly want to know her opinion?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNot really,\u201d she answered. She could see by the way he cocked his head that he knew his current approach wasn\u2019t succeeding. He switched tactics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLet me tell you why I\u2019m asking,\u201d he said, lowering his voice. \u201cIt\u2019s been over a year since someone has offered me a job. I would like to keep this one for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alice knew the truth when she heard it. In fact, she felt sorry for him. She didn\u2019t want to tell him how bad his chances of staying employed really were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/layoff-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Layoffs\" class=\"wp-image-501\"\/><figcaption><strong>Layoffs likely<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo, do you have any suggestions about what a new VP should do to put this company back on track?\u201d Lee asked, and Alice laughed. \u201cWhat\u2019s so funny?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPeople in my position always know what people in your position should do. That\u2019s why we aren\u2019t in your position.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/road-to-success-vector-4398948-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-502\"\/><figcaption><strong>Just this way<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd how would you change this company? What would make this company and all its co-workers succeed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSeriously?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSeriously.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI can only think of one thing,\u201d she said, trying to smile. He waited. \u201cWin the lottery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"385\" class=\"wp-image-496\" style=\"width: 300px;\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/cover6.jpg\" alt=\"book cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/cover6.jpg 551w, https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/cover6-233x300.jpg 233w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NOTE: The following scene from WHEN ALICE PLAYED THE LOTTERY just hit the editing room floor. It describes the main character, Alice, a widowed receptionist at a failing startup in Silicon Valley, meeting the new VP. She is a technology-challenged receptionist who runs the company lottery pool. But what high-tech worker hasn&#8217;t been here? The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[4,25,26,3,27],"class_list":["post-492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-high-tech","tag-interview","tag-layoffs","tag-lottery","tag-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=492"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/492\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":507,"href":"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/492\/revisions\/507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.luanneoleas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}