?- go( [normal] ). <actors> envt stage mark_steel mr_bruce <weather> [bad,wet] <intro> CHANCELLOR ON STEADY COURSE <day 1> E:state=normal causes B:out=lay_off B:out=lay_off -> MS:in=lay_off MS:in=lay_off entails MS:job=unemp focus [in] stage! suggest S:mood=gentle (intro_mood) suggest a/in/econ_setting/ (intro_setting) MS:econ_setting=explanation(normal) focus [in,econ_setting] suggest i/emot/ (emote) MS:in=lay_off causes MS:emot=annoyance focus [in,econ_setting,emot] - Mr Bruce called me into his office this morning. "I'm afraid we must let you go", he said. [in] What had I done? Had a customer reported that batch of Victoria cream sponges that I'd accidentally filled with mayonnaise in place of whipped cream? Or had I misspelt "anniversary" again when icing the celebration cakes? His words simultaneously reassured and surprised me. "It's not your work - that's been more than satisfactory", he said. "But there's been a temporary downturn. They might tell you it can't happen, but even with the economy in as good a state as it is, jobs are fluid these days." [econ_setting] Bummer! [emot] <day 2> MS:job=unemp causes MS:money=low MS:money=low causes MS:goal=get_money MS:goal=get_money causes MS:goal=get_job MS:goal=get_job causes MS:plan=[visit_dss] MS:plan=[visit_dss] causes MS:intended_act=visit_dss MS:intended_act=visit_dss causes MS:act=visit_dss MS:act=visit_dss causes E:out=dss_queue_dole(med) E:out=dss_queue_dole(med) -> MS:in=dss_queue_dole(med) focus [act,in] stage! - To the dole office. Grey dreary building. Inside, people staring up at wall-mounted TV screens, waiting in slow-moving queues, talking to officials through the protective windows. [act] My turn arrives. My dole will take about two weeks to come through, it appears. [in] <day 3> stage! suggest i/emot/ (emote) MS:money=low causes MS:emot=annoyance(money_low) focus [emot] - On the dole, you literally run out of money. I have had frustrating conversations about this. Friends will shrug their shoulders and say it's a nuisance when you have no money. "I don't mean no money until I get to the bank", I explain, "I mean NO MONEY. No money to buy a round, see a movie, or hire a video". In such a situation, embarrassment comes to dominate one's life. Friends will offer to sub your drinks, buy a curry, pay for you at the cinema. I've a mixed bag of friends from school: builders, teachers, solicitors, even a mate who works in the city, and who when he gets bored, consoles himself by splashing out 400 quid on the latest digital camera or hand-held digital novelty. But even when he offers to pay, you feel like hiding. You start avoiding all social contact. It becomes all too easy to lose touch. [emot] <day 4> stage! suggest MS:in=job_offer (resolve_tension_and_close) focus [in] i/emot/ MS:in=job_offer causes MS:emot=relief(job_offer) focus [in,emot] close - I have been offered a job! [in] It will be such a relief to have some money once more! [emot] END
30 March 2003.