Reel 2: August 13, 1953

> "*'This is not a threat, but a fact.*
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> *Also, it is a threat.'*
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> *Don’t write that part. Uh, no, write it but then draw another smiley face.*
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> *That was definitely a joke. No threats in letters Amy, you know that.*"
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### Note to Amy

Michael asks Amy to call the vet as he and Vivienne have found a stray cat and would like to get her spayed. He also asks her to embroider a bandana for the cat which they have named Constance.

## Letter to Ursula Lindholm

'Letter from the office of Michael Witten, on the 13 of August, 1953 to Ursula Lindholm, Director of Communications, Department of Global Trade, European Office.'

Michael writes to Director Lindholm to apologize after pushing her for explanations regarding a personel change, namely hiring Karen Roberts. He insists that it was not out of judgment but rather out of curiosity. He reminds her that they are not in competition, emphasizing the importance of collaboration.

Despite these assurances, Michael then goes into a tangent, ranting about Karen Roberts. He complains about Karen testifying in court against his direct superior, Global Secretary of Trade Vishwathi Ramadoss, during the preliminary hearings about Domestic Espionage in Vancouver that took place a year prior. As he gets more heated he insinuates that Karen was not doing honest business herself and continues to defend Ramadoss' use of computational machines for what he claim was recording basic data on commerce.

### Note to Amy

After a pause he asks Amy to delete his tangent, further adding that the reason Ramadoss was under investigation was due to her keeping records about the citizens parents, he insists that she was only keeping records on parents of "the last generation" who remembered their parents anyway.

## Letter to Ursula Lindholm (cont.)

Michael proposes that if Ursula is pressed for time he could speak to Karen directly to answer his questions. Which are as follows:

> 'First, what is to become of regulatory protections for workers? [...] Who is protecting workers from abuse if the entire region has no Labor Department? You can’t build a society without a well-treated workforce.
> Second, Karen Roberts owned the largest construction firm along the Gulf of Mexico. Upon taking a government job, did she sell her interests in KR Development, Inc.? Calls to their Houston office suggest to me she has not. This is a violation of New Society ethics bylaws for bureaucrats. If she still owns any part of KR while administrating all of Europe's trade, then this is in direct conflict with our New Society’s core values for governmental leadership.'
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Michael shares his concerns about rumors that KR Development, a former arms manufacturer, is selling illegal weapons to the southern militias. He reiterates that there is no physical proof of this but nonetheless warns that if the media were to dig up evidence, the citizens and the government alike would be not be happy.

In his last point, Michael asks about a play, called "Last Night We Were the Wind", he heard was shut down by an employee of Ursula's. After playwright Niamh Connolly's open critique of the New Society was apparently not taken well by her office. Michael suggests the departments of trade and culture must work with artists to find the 'right' message. He decries the previous government's indifference to artists but equally speaks against authoritarianism and censorship.

He reminds Ursula that after only a year since the 'Removal of Nations Act' tensions are still high between England and Ireland and suggests that a London office shutting down a play in Dublin may caused hurt feelings.

## Thank you, Amy

In a note to Amy, Michael asks her to find someone to teach her to embroider cursive should she not know how, for Constance's bandana. He mentions Amy having mentioned taking up some sort of craft but does not remember which one.

Michael recalls a time, before he worked as Director of North American Trade, when he had a secretary named Kevin Prince. He explains that Kevin was a terrible secretary and that he had to do most of his administrative work himself. He enjoyed being on top of everything, but staying late every night was taking a toll on his relationship and his mental health.

He praises Amy for her meticulous work and admits he does not acknowledge her efforts as much as he should. He says Vivienne greatly appreciates her as well, and wonders why they've never had her over for dinner, resolved to make it happen soon.

## Letter to Bernice Jones

'Letter from the office of Michael Witten, on the 18 of August, 1953 to Bernice Jones, Minister for Culture, North American Region'

The letter begins with fond recollections of Bernice, and her partner Miguel's, visit on the week end. Michael thanks Miguel for the new music album and comments that he does not know whether he enjoys jazz but appreciates that it is like music with a puzzle in it.

He tells Bernice that Vivienne was pleased when she noticed and fawned over their original Claudia Atieno painting. He calls his wife an 'avid collector of modern art' and explains that, after the guests had left, the couple discussed how they could better help artists.

Naturally Michael thought of the Department of Global trade, telling Bernice that they are 'swimming in money'. He suggests some sort of global artistic exchange.

He brings up Niamh Connolly, acknowledging that she is controversial but calling her brilliant and gushing about her play "The Topaz Window", which he suggests they could stage in London with Dublin actors. He suggests he could get in touch, through Archie MacPherson, with Claudia Atieno to paint the painting that the play revolves around.

He promises to send a full proposal and budget later in the week, then closes warmly and signs the letter 'Mikey'.

## Letter to Vishwathi Ramadoss

Michael dictates a letter to his superior about Karen Roberts, and their shared suspicions of her. He exclaims that he, too, was alarmed upon learning of her disbanding the Labor Department.

He suggests Ramadoss write a letter of recommendation for his friend, Leena Mäkinen, who he knows is looking for a job in the Oslo office. This way, he thinks, she could provide them with information that Ursula Lindholm will not. But he soon after asks Amy to remove Leena Mäkinen from the letter entirely.

He instead suggests Ramadoss use her position to find out whether Karen has sold off her interests in KR Development and what her plan is to manage laborers now.