1 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 1: In the six months following the Freedom House fire, Jantes 2 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: monrose circumstance as it changed remarkably so. Our hapless duckling 3 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: had become something of a swan, elevated far beyond the 4 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 1: station in which she was born. She now resided on 5 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: the top floor of a luxurious high rise in San Francisco. 6 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: On this particular morning, Jantes stood at a street side 7 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 1: window and stared at all the busy little people down below. 8 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,160 Speaker 1: Despite her new found fortunes, she had been feeling melancholy 9 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: as of late, and for good reason. Her entire life 10 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:44,559 Speaker 1: was beyond her own recognition. She need only look in 11 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: the mirror to confirm that, clothed in fine accoutrement and 12 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,639 Speaker 1: made beneficiary to the best make of her money could buy, 13 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: Janty admittedly made for a most lovely figure. In short, 14 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: she had become an impostor. At the surface level, our 15 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: impudent heroine was much improved. But who could believe that 16 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 1: a foul mouthed, juvenile delinquent with no prospects had truly 17 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 1: transformed into a genteel ingenu It was absurd, and Chante 18 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 1: knew it to be observed. To make things worse, young 19 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: Chante was partitioned from the outside world, forbidden to go 20 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 1: out unless accompanied by Irene. She was prisoner to the 21 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 1: ivory tower she called home. Thus all was not well, 22 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 1: and despite the wealth and privileges her villainous slavic mistress 23 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: had bestowed upon her, Chante was beginning to feel the 24 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: proverbial call of the wild, of the wild. The fuck 25 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 1: stop listening to him, Focus on your own voice. Have 26 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: you finished your manner lessons? Foster? I mean, man, Just 27 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: listen to shut up? Lauren? Are you paying attention? Hello? Lauren? 28 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: Why do you have to call me that when we're 29 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: in the house, Because that's your name, Lauren. That's when 30 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: I'm out there and here I'm Shant. We'll stick to Lauren. 31 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:11,519 Speaker 1: It'll only confuse you. Otherwise you must believe you are Lauren. 32 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: There's just no room for Shante. And what's wrong with Shanta? 33 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: Shanty's to to um what ghetto? I was going to 34 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 1: say ethnic? Now you know, dan Will, that's a motherfucking euphanism. 35 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: Great to see your vocabulary is improving, But guess what. 36 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: When I came to this country, I had to change 37 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 1: my name too, so I could blend in, be free 38 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 1: from my past. That's how it is. Whatever, Irena, if 39 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 1: you're gonna be petulant, you might as well skip the 40 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 1: Mandarin and prepare for combat training. Seriously, me, damn, my 41 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: ass is still sore from yesterday. It's your weakest area. 42 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 1: And we don't let weakness fester. Okay, I know, we 43 00:02:55,280 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 1: kill it good, So get dressed. What had Chantes gotten 44 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: herself into. Let's rewind to the beginning of chantes new life, 45 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 1: so that they may be understood how old this came 46 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: to be. That fateful knight at the half way House 47 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 1: had consequences she did not foresee. After killing Davon and 48 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 1: burning down the building, Irene and Chantes arrived at the 49 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: doorstep of Valera, Irene's uncle. When they entered his home, 50 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,359 Speaker 1: Valera was surrounded by a half dozen armed guards who 51 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: promptly tended to his every command. He was a rather 52 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: small man, but his confident authority permeated the room, and 53 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 1: his eyes, his icy, unblinking eyes, made Chantey feel he 54 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: was capable of any number of violent things. There's no 55 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: question Valera was not a man to be trifled with. 56 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: Even the self assured Irene shrunk a little under his 57 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: frosty there and disapproving words. You disappointed me, Dina. This 58 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: Freedom House was very important to my enterprise. How can 59 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,840 Speaker 1: I trust you do not make the same mistake again? 60 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 1: Unfortunately this couldn't be avoided. One of our FBI friends 61 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 1: got spooked and planned to betray us. What are you 62 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: talking about? I couldn't tell you, but that house was 63 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: always going to go down in flames, even without Devon. 64 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 1: And what of our friend and the O p D. 65 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,720 Speaker 1: They got sloppy greedy Because of them, we were exposed. 66 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 1: I destroyed all evidence except for what's on my computer. 67 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 1: You should have told me first, could have told me 68 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 1: in a car. And who is this said you have brought? 69 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: I believe she could be helpful to us. She's got potential. 70 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: I will be the judge of that little girl. What 71 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: do you know all of your so called potential? I mean, 72 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 1: I don't fucking know. I guess I just don't take 73 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 1: anyone ship. I mean not anymore. You are certainly spirited, 74 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: but that's not enough. What else? Well? I just killed 75 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: the asshole who led to me and tried to pimp me. 76 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: Is this correct? She didn't just kill him, she stopped 77 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 1: him and beat him. The killer impressive indeed this I 78 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:36,040 Speaker 1: can work with you, and I have something in coming. 79 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 1: I don't like lives either. Let's say we have a deal, 80 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: a contract, a contract. There's only a piece of paper. 81 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: You can rip it in a half and it's gone. 82 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 1: But it's your word that I care about. You say 83 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:54,359 Speaker 1: you will do something, then you must keep your word. 84 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 1: Is this something you can do? And what's in it 85 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,840 Speaker 1: for me? Chante? You don't have a lot of options here. 86 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 1: You will be you a killer, my killer, my eyes, 87 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: my hands. Arena would always sease your training, which I 88 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 1: warn you will be intense, and you must listen and 89 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: obey without a question. Sounds like yet another motherfucking pimp arena. 90 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 1: Maybe so in a sense. But you will want for nothing, 91 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,799 Speaker 1: not only that, you will be provided with a skill 92 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: set only two dozen in the entire wall posess. And 93 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:41,600 Speaker 1: if you prove yourself to be all that Moneys claims 94 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:47,159 Speaker 1: you are, you will travel in every continent, and you 95 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:53,239 Speaker 1: have others eating from the pomp of your hand. Did 96 00:06:53,360 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: your bimp make such promise? He'll no, H, So do 97 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 1: I have your ward? M H. That night, Chantes gave 98 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 1: her word to Valera, but she soon learned that a 99 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:21,239 Speaker 1: deal with the devil always has its price. Jante Soviet 100 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 1: overlords turned out to be merciless. She was given a 101 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: brutal and rigorous training regiment. It started with a four 102 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 1: a m. Wake up call, followed by combat and tactical training. 103 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 1: Then it was time for social etiquette, computer skills, behavioral science, 104 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: and language studies. By the end of each day, she 105 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 1: could barely move. Poor Chante, who hadn't even graduated from 106 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 1: ninth grade, was thrown into a life of harsh discipline 107 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: and inculcation. She dared not complain, but it was only 108 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: a matter of time before Chante's temper returned and anger 109 00:07:54,320 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 1: replaced fear. When Irene informed her healthy food would be 110 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 1: the sole provisions provided, Chantay lashed out in her typical manner, 111 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 1: What the funk you mean? I can't have fruity pebbles Listen, 112 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: I'm tired of eating these nasty as head whitet. My 113 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: uncle will be very angry if he hears about this behavior. 114 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 1: I don't like it either, but we're bound by our 115 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: word to follow all directions and fuck the Lira. Okay, 116 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 1: this is bullshit. Y'all are Nazis, and you know what, 117 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,479 Speaker 1: I didn't sign up to be bossed around by Nazis. 118 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 1: That night, Chanty learned what she was up against when 119 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 1: her dinner was withheld and no breakfast the following morning either. 120 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: When she was finally given a meal, it consisted of 121 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 1: nothing but a boiled chicken breast and a small dried potato. 122 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: It was clear there would be some year repercussions for 123 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: bad behavior. On the twelfth day of her training, she 124 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 1: was informed that her unpolished nature and lack of education 125 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 1: necessitated in an expedited solution. Every day, Chante was given 126 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: an unidentified green pill to take with breakfast. A nurse 127 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,559 Speaker 1: explained that it was a special vitamin cure for the 128 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 1: base instincts to which Chante was prone. Though she was 129 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 1: skeptical at first, in just a few weeks the results 130 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: were undeniably marvelous. Chantes found that she wanted to be agreeable, pleasant, 131 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:41,200 Speaker 1: and dependable. Most curiously, the desire to learn was sparked 132 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 1: within her, as if someone had turned on a switch 133 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:47,079 Speaker 1: that had been off her whole life. Within six months time, 134 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:51,079 Speaker 1: Chante learned to speak proper American English, British English, Spanish, 135 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 1: and French. With the combination of meticulous study and the 136 00:09:54,080 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 1: pills powerful influence. She learned to deceive, citius and charm. 137 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 1: Under Irene's guidance, she was chiseled, refined, and reshaped to 138 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 1: look like that which she was not, a person of 139 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 1: good breeding. This pretense of gentility pleased Irene very much. 140 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: Janty had become a piece of clockwork, recreated in the 141 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 1: foul image of her former madam, and so it was 142 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 1: time to move to the next phase. Once core training 143 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: was complete, Chante was sent to the penthouse dwellings with 144 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: Irene to fine tune her skills. A damn wow, you 145 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: mean to tell me this is what we live in 146 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 1: like now? I mean this looks like a whole palace 147 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: or something. You earned it, Chante. My uncle was very 148 00:10:54,559 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: pleased with your progress. This is your reward. It was 149 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:07,319 Speaker 1: then that she was debriefed on her first mission. The 150 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: job was simple, get close to the mayor of Oakland 151 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 1: and report back no reason. Her explanation was provided and 152 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: questions were greatly discouraged. Obviously, Chante could not take on 153 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:23,679 Speaker 1: the task as herself, and so the character Lauren emerged. 154 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: The name was Irene's idea, but the identity was left 155 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 1: to Chante to create Unlike Chante's own sorry past, Lauren 156 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 1: was a good girl from a working class family. Lauren 157 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: did her homework and got straight a's, respected her elders, 158 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: and had high ambitions. She was everything Chante could never 159 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 1: truly be, like a little girl playing dress up. She 160 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 1: adopted Lauren's clothes, hair and speech patterns, practiced her backstory, 161 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 1: and researched colleges. But her new found education only made 162 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:59,440 Speaker 1: her realize with shame that her own true life had 163 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:04,200 Speaker 1: been a very pitiful one. And so we arrived back 164 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 1: at the present, where Chante's feelings of inadequacy and growing 165 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:11,440 Speaker 1: loneliness had put her on the verge of an existential crisis. 166 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 1: In any case, she could not shake the feeling that, 167 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 1: no matter what she did, she was just a hood 168 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 1: rat from Balleja. Deep down, Chantes knew she would never 169 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:29,319 Speaker 1: be Lauren. Perhaps this internal mess had a cause, specifically 170 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 1: the fact that she had stopped taking the green Vitans. 171 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 1: She hadn't planned to stop, the thought it simply entered 172 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 1: her mind before she knew it. She had a week's 173 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: worth of pills in her drawer. Of course, Irene was 174 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 1: unaware of the dereliction, but as she sparred with Chante. 175 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 1: She couldn't help but notice a reversal in the girl's 176 00:12:50,760 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: behavioral improvements. M left hook right, appricot, keep your elbows down. 177 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:15,439 Speaker 1: What am I gonna be able to go outside? Outside? Yeah? 178 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: Like for my all time? I don't know. It depends 179 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 1: depends on what you're still in training. Focus on your 180 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: current mission. I'm not a fucking robot, you know. I 181 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:34,440 Speaker 1: gotta have a break sometime. Why do you insist on 182 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: speaking that way? What do you want from me? Huh? 183 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 1: Just speak in the Queen's English? That was a cheap shot. Yeah, 184 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: back up quickly. I'm gonna see about having your dosage increased. 185 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: I don't even bother. Stop taking that ship a week, 186 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:59,959 Speaker 1: gonna stop taking Tell me you're joking? That could be very, 187 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: very dangerous, dangerous? Who is in danger here? You're early? 188 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 1: We were just finishing up combat training the idea, which 189 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 1: is improving, I hope, certainly. Keeping me on my toes. 190 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: Take a break. I wish to talk with this young lady, Lauren. Come, 191 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: he said, he how did your first day go? What 192 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: did you learn from letting martell it um? Well? I 193 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: was only with him for a minute. He was said 194 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: about some ship about his son and described his failure 195 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: as a father. Only a minute and already he buried 196 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 1: his soul to you, very good, very good. Go okay, 197 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: And then he got on the phone call and his 198 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 1: assistant took me out of the office. But I made 199 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 1: an excuse to go back and listen to the conversation 200 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 1: from outside at the door. Yes, and I think he 201 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: was being blackmailed or something by a guy named Chuck. 202 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 1: You have done very very well. It did not. I 203 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 1: would like to speak with you privately one second. Yes, 204 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 1: am I gonna have to sleep with that guy water question? 205 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: That's funny. I mean, will I have to kill him? 206 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 1: As you know well, will import whatever means necessary to 207 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 1: I achieve our goals? Any other queries? Actually, yes, okay. 208 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 1: I was telling Irene that I need more freedom, you know, 209 00:15:55,000 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 1: I want to go out and no, just now, okay, no, 210 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: do not ask again. You're right personally, And then you 211 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 1: got over. It's a problem, you know. Whenever Irene and 212 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 1: Valeria spoke Russian, Chanta knew she was being laughed out 213 00:16:56,200 --> 00:17:02,320 Speaker 1: of the loop. Intentionally, Angry at Valeria's dismissiveness, she went 214 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:05,679 Speaker 1: to her room to sulk at the window. She stared 215 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: at the sun setting over the bay. All she saw 216 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 1: was a world she'd never be part of. But what 217 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:18,120 Speaker 1: she didn't see it was far more important. Many stories 218 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:24,120 Speaker 1: down below, an old demon from her past loitered. Davon 219 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 1: Wallace and his mother, Angela stood outside her building. Scarred 220 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 1: and disfigured. Davon was very much changed, Revenge burned in 221 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 1: his eyes like the fire that had nearly killed him. 222 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 1: Jantes believed she had escaped her fate, but fate would 223 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: have its way sooner or later. But with this bitter, 224 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:51,119 Speaker 1: conniving voice of the patriarch, it didn't know was that 225 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: Chante's path was never set in stone. Underneath trauma in insecurities, 226 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 1: she had incredible strength and will power. This new life 227 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 1: was just one chapter in a remarkable destiny that she 228 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:08,119 Speaker 1: would soon fulfill. Only she could determine her own fate, 229 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:10,960 Speaker 1: even if she didn't know it yet. Now, who the 230 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 1: hell are you? Liberation Radio is proud to present author 231 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,919 Speaker 1: of the color Purple pull It Surprize winner, activist and 232 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: Oakland resident, Alice Walker. Welcome back to Liberation Radio. I'm 233 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 1: Rebecca and I'm amen, coming to you from the beautiful 234 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 1: Lovabots today, I am so happy and excited to say 235 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 1: we have a very special guest with us. Honestly, she 236 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 1: is just an overall inspiration and literary icon. Everyone out 237 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:52,119 Speaker 1: there please welcome Alice Walker. I'm sure that they're clapping 238 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:57,879 Speaker 1: their hands right now and cheering um in your poem 239 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 1: loving Oakland you call oakland and urban paradise. Do not 240 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:07,440 Speaker 1: to spoil it, which means getting rid of the poor 241 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 1: and black and people of color people. Oakland can be 242 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: what it has been for a long time, an urban paradise. 243 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: It is a place where the young blonde woman crossing 244 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: the street in front of you and in front of 245 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 1: your car would look like a threat to the neighborhood, 246 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: except she's frowning over some deep issue in her inner 247 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 1: life and wearing outrageous vivid blue shoes. It is a 248 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 1: place where and you're originally from Georgia, so um, I 249 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 1: just wanted to know what is it about the city 250 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: that needs you that much? Well, just the spirit of 251 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 1: it and actually seeing women, especially on that morning and 252 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:55,359 Speaker 1: evening hikes around the lake with a sense of freedom 253 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 1: to sit and to be with each other, um in 254 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 1: a calmness and uh and just taken for granted way 255 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:05,200 Speaker 1: that you rarely see in other cities where people are 256 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:11,199 Speaker 1: seem to be more uptight. I also wonder seeing that 257 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 1: that slowness and that beauty and just seeing women just 258 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: living and being. And you know, that's where Black Panther 259 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 1: Party started and where the struggle and fight it was. 260 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:29,440 Speaker 1: It the juxtaposition kind of of that struggle that we've 261 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:31,960 Speaker 1: all seen, just even just being a black woman and 262 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: being able to see them be in peace. How does 263 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: pace coexist with struggle? Struggle makes it possible for you 264 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: to have peace? I mean, I actually, you know, I'm 265 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 1: not always in Oakland because I love the country, but 266 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 1: I'm there as much as I can be. And part 267 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:50,639 Speaker 1: of it is that if I don't see black people, 268 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: I don't feel well. So I think part of the 269 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 1: you know, the feeling that many people have is that 270 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 1: you actually get to see not only healthy you know, 271 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 1: inter racial people, but definitely you get to see some 272 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: healthy black people, you know, living real lives and having 273 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 1: a really good time there on the grass, which is 274 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:14,160 Speaker 1: such a simple thing, but it's something we so much 275 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 1: to need to have in our lives. Just the awareness 276 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:22,919 Speaker 1: that people can choose a city claim it as a 277 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 1: liberated space for all people to enjoy and to be 278 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:30,720 Speaker 1: human together. I mean, we are losing spaces where people 279 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:34,159 Speaker 1: feel that they can still be human together, a place 280 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:37,560 Speaker 1: where you can exercise your your soul. You know that 281 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: you can really have a soul in a way of 282 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:45,159 Speaker 1: thinking about soul too, that everybody can relate to is 283 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: as compassion. So the world at large, it's filled with 284 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:59,360 Speaker 1: so much sadness and terror and anger between the various 285 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 1: forms of violence and injustice. A lot of people are 286 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,800 Speaker 1: feeling hopeless and powerless in the face of it all. 287 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:12,320 Speaker 1: So I guess my question would be what advice would 288 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:16,680 Speaker 1: you give young activists who are looking to get involved 289 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: or make a difference or make a change. The best 290 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:24,959 Speaker 1: change you make is why where you're standing? You know, 291 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 1: how about doing it in your house? You know, how 292 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,480 Speaker 1: about doing it with your children, doing it with your parents. 293 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: The idea of making movements, you know that makes great 294 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 1: change out there somewhere to get it. You know, if 295 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:41,880 Speaker 1: you can't do that where you are, if you can't 296 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 1: have peace in your environment, how can you have it anywhere? 297 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: But it's it's it's always going to be a lot. 298 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:52,960 Speaker 1: And the best that we can offer is our own peace, 299 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:57,639 Speaker 1: you know, bring the peace to wherever you are, and 300 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 1: so that that's that's how you keep going, and you 301 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 1: just rein yourself in, take a deep breath, and understand 302 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 1: that it's endless, this this work that we have to 303 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:14,160 Speaker 1: do to make this world the paradise that basically it is. 304 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,880 Speaker 1: This planet is paradise, this is heaven. We're already there. 305 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:26,520 Speaker 1: We we talk about this idea of burnout among activists, 306 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 1: people who are so passionate about a course and invest 307 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:35,679 Speaker 1: so much of themselves into it, and they get filled 308 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:40,360 Speaker 1: with hate or anger. And I think listening to you, 309 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:46,480 Speaker 1: one thing that that sings out loud and clear is peace, 310 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: an empathy, and I love. I wonder if at any 311 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:56,439 Speaker 1: point in your career you felt that that burnout, and 312 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 1: if you have any advice to any activists out there 313 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 1: that are feeling it now, particularly now in this challenging time. 314 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:08,640 Speaker 1: Mm hmm. This is what I recommend. Don't stay wherever 315 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 1: it is where you feel like you just absolutely can't 316 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 1: do anything. It's not helpful. Really. I mean, my my 317 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:18,879 Speaker 1: husband and I we were we were the first interracial 318 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 1: couple legally married in Mississippi, and we were very illegal 319 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 1: on the books, right, So we stayed a long time, 320 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:29,800 Speaker 1: but we stayed too long, you know, we stayed so 321 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 1: long we were just wiped out. Basically, don't do that. 322 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:38,280 Speaker 1: When you feel like you have given all you've got, 323 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:41,680 Speaker 1: you know, you have worked hard, you have definitely laid 324 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:44,679 Speaker 1: everything you had at the foot of justice, you know, 325 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 1: PiZZ go somewhere else and do something else. And my 326 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 1: recommendation is that that's why hammocks were made. You should 327 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:58,760 Speaker 1: just go and get a nice hammock somewhere and let 328 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: the world take care of itself for a good six 329 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 1: weeks or six months, because otherwise you kill that wonderful 330 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:09,639 Speaker 1: thing that you have, that compassion, that love of everyone, 331 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:13,760 Speaker 1: that wished that everyone have everything they need, but they 332 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 1: can't get it. If you're sick, you know, you're like, 333 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:23,280 Speaker 1: you know, scratching around mad, you know. So I think 334 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:27,600 Speaker 1: you should learn that that the struggle is long, it 335 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:31,159 Speaker 1: is hard, but you don't have to be there every 336 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 1: minute beyond the period where you feel like you're going crazy. 337 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:39,640 Speaker 1: And that's great practical advice. All right, listeners, if you're 338 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:43,800 Speaker 1: feeling burnt out, go get a hammock. Exactly. I'm definitely 339 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:46,320 Speaker 1: getting ever and there's no shame, I mean, and there's 340 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 1: no judgment, honestly, And that's why I do say that, 341 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 1: because I'm old enough basically to tell you this and 342 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:58,000 Speaker 1: know that this is good medicine. It's good medicine. Take 343 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:02,439 Speaker 1: care of yourself, you know, go to the beach. The 344 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:07,399 Speaker 1: world is always going to need so much help. I 345 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:09,200 Speaker 1: feel like I feel like what I'm hearing you say 346 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 1: it's put yourself first. Is that? Is that correct? Well, 347 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:17,560 Speaker 1: that's I think that's too clepper, you know. I think 348 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 1: people hear that, and what they hear is that you 349 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 1: put yourself first in the hell with everybody. I'm not 350 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:27,040 Speaker 1: saying that. I'm saying that after you have done all 351 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:31,120 Speaker 1: that you can do and you're dragging go and repair. 352 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:36,920 Speaker 1: It's very different. Yeah, thank you so much for your time. 353 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 1: You're very welcome. And yeah, dear listeners, go up by 354 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:46,240 Speaker 1: a hammock, improve your surroundings. Improve exactly exactly. I mean, 355 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:51,359 Speaker 1: it's simple, really, one candle lights a thousand, right, m hm. 356 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:56,360 Speaker 1: We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Alice Walker. Join 357 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:58,400 Speaker 1: us next time when Rebecca and No One sit down 358 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 1: with Newsweek contributor and host of This Is Revolution Podcast, 359 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:14,440 Speaker 1: Pascal Robert M.