Sean Christie

Sean is one of the many passengers you can pick up in Night Call. Picking him up also links to one of Janet Cho's entries.

Passidex

 * You have met Sean.
 * This is unmissable. You'll get it upon your first interaction.


 * You were honest with Sean.
 * At the beginning of the conversation, you'll be given the choice to answer honestly, beat around the bush or to say you don't know.
 * Pick (Answer honestly.)  to obtain this entry.


 * You helped Sean.
 * Be kind and understanding throughout the ride. Exact choices are currently unknown.



Transcript
« I have to... to go home... »

The passenger getting in your cab is clearly upset. He gives you an address near the Panthéon. You know the address... a residence for foreign students. You often drive American and Chinese students there. You start the cab. The passenger in the back seat is furious about something.

SEAN: "Excuse me..."

He has a very thick American accent. You look up.

SEAN: "Can I ask you something?"

You nod...

SEAN: "How do the police usually treat Black people in your country? I mean... in general. What is their... BEHAVIOUR like?"

He isn't very sure in his pronunciation.

(Answer honestly.) (Beat around the bush.) « I don't know... »

See below...

TBA

TBA

HOUSSINE: "I'd say the police have a problem with Black people..."

You reveal your teeth as you continue speaking.

HOUSSINE: "...and Arabs. And anyone wearing a hoodie."

SEAN: "A... hoodie?"

HOUSSINE: "Yeah... wearing... sweats. Yeah, if you dress like someone from the poor neighbourhoods, they give you a hard time."

SEAN: "What does... 'racaille' mean?"

It's a new word to him. You shake your head.

HOUSSINE: "Well... it's a word with sort of negative connotations..."

SEAN: "Negative?"

HOUSSINE: "Yes, definitely."

He gives you a little smile.

SEAN: "Now I get it... They thought I was a lowlife, a 'racaille.' "

HOUSSINE: "Even with your accent?"

SEAN: "Well they didn't seem to understand me very well... Or maybe they thought I was making fun of them?"

He sighs. You give him a second to catch his breath -- his anger seems to be letting up.

« Where are you from? »   « Is everything alright? »   (Leave him alone.)

TBA

See below...

TBA

He gives you a strange look.

SEAN: "I don't know... I'm not feeling well..."

He takes a deep breath.

SEAN: "Look... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have jumped on you with that question like that..."

« Don't worry about it. »   « Thanks. »   (Let him talk.)

See below...

TBA

TBA

SEAN: "This afternoon, after school, I got mugged in the Metro by some guy."

His voice drops to a whisper...

SEAN: "He was the same age as me. He stole my money, and phone..."

He raises his voice a little.

SEAN: "Luckily, I still have my credit card and my papers. I went straight to the police station. And I was there for eight hours. I'm tired... upset... about ready to quit."

He raises his voice even more.

SEAN: "I... I like France, but it's just as hard here as it is at home. People look down on you... because they don't like the look of you. That's the right expression, isn't it?"

You nod yes.

SEAN: "They say France is the land of freedom, of human rights... But you have to behave a certain way here, too... the right way."

He screws up his eyes.

SEAN: "I'd like to be judged... objectively. But I guess there's no such thing as... objectiveness."

He settles back into his seat.

« What are you studying? »   (Say nothing.)

See below...

TBA

SEAN: "Excuse me?"

HOUSSINE: "A minute ago... You said you were leaving school when you were mugged... What are you studying?"

SEAN: "I'm studying to be a mime..."

A pause.

SEAN: "Go ahead. Say it."

HOUSSINE: "I didn't say anything."

SEAN: "No, but go ahead, I'm used to it."

HOUSSINE: "I'm not going to make fun of it or anything... I just didn't know mime schools existed."

He gives you a big smile.

SEAN: "Imagine when I moved to France to study it! My American friends are still having a good laugh..."

HOUSSINE: "What exactly are you learning to do?"

SEAN: "Acting techniques... stage production... make-up... Anything related to the art of mime, really."

« And there aren't any mime schools in the US? »   « Is it a good school? »   « It must be really interesting. »   (Say nothing.)

TBA

See below...

TBA

TBA

SEAN: "The best."

His face breaks into a smile.

SEAN: "That's why I'm still in France, for that matter."

You sigh.

HOUSSINE: "France is not for everyone..."

SEAN: "What do you mean? I mean... the French usually stand up for their country. They're worse than Americans."

HOUSSINE: "A country is... like a romantic relationship. You can't fall in love with everybody. We have our likes, our dislikes, then we fall under the same spell again..."

He's watching you.

SEAN: "Are all cab drivers philosophers like you?"

You flash a smile.

« I don't think so. »   « I think so. »   « I don't know. »   (Say nothing.)

TBA

TBA

See below...

TBA

Your passenger gives a little laugh... then his eyes glaze over with an expressionless, perhaps even sad, look.

SEAN: "Thanks, man. It was good to talk to you."

He's slipped into the informal 'tu' form, no doubt by accident.

SEAN: "I have a hard time controlling my anger sometimes. That's why I had trouble with the police today."

HOUSSINE: "How so?"

SEAN: "Well... Well, to start, they made me sit in a room for hours with a woman who was clearly a prostitute. They didn't want to take my statement... They didn't want me to file a complaint... I had to insist. They made fun of my studies -- but I'm used to that."

A small smile appears at the corner of his mouth.

SEAN: "And then, when I started to get a little mad, when I mentioned the American Embassy, they said if I wasn't happy here, I should go home. Certain innuendos were a little... When I got out... there were no more Metros. So here I am, telling my life story to a philosopher cabbie."

He gives you a smile.

HOUSSINE: "Cops... they're... it's complicated here."

SEAN: "Do they treat you badly here too?"

You smile and shake your head. No need for him to know. Suddenly, the Pantheon appears among the buildings. Its white dome breaks up the dull orange and brown tones of the Parisian night sky. Your passenger breathes a little sigh of satisfaction.

« It's beautiful, isn't it? »   (Say nothing.)

See below...

TBA

SEAN: "No doubt about it..."

You park in front of the residence where the young man lives. He pays the fare... ...and stretches his hand towards you.

SEAN: "Thanks again... Meeting you was just what I needed."

You shake his hand. He has a strong confident grip.

SEAN: "You know... you should film your rounds at night. It'd make a great series!"

You answer with a smile. He opens the door, gives you a big smile, then disappears. You hold your arms close to your sides for a moment. You catch your breath, trying to control the anxiety welling up inside... The mere mention of police and... You start the cab.

