[Time and Place: January, Second Women’s March in an undisclosed city. ]
[There’s a completely unassuming woman dressed in a completely nondescript outfit, wearing glasses and carrying a sign that reads “Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.” She might be a librarian. You’d only know this was all a disguise if you knew what to look for.]
[Nearby, there’s a hipster-looking woman with a nose ring and spiked hair and leather jacket, carrying a sign with the anarchy symbol on one side and F*** T**** on the other. Except, you know, without the stars. You’d only know this was all a disguise if you knew what to look for.]
[The crowd shifts, the two women bump into each other by accident. Turns out, they both know what to look for.]
Lady Jaye: Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean —
Zarana: No worries, it’s crowded here —
[Recognizing each other, they both turn away quickly, stunned, and for a moment pretend not to have seen the other. Then –]
Lady Jaye: I wouldn’t have expected to see you here.
Zarana: Likewise.
Lady Jaye: How could I not? Things have gotten so crazy. . .my mother and grandmother marched so I wouldn’t have to, and now here we are.
Zarana: Right? I’ve got plenty of other fights I could be spending my time on. But do you know what it’s like being the token female in the Dreadnoks?
Jaye: Please say they don’t tell you to go make them a sandwich —
Zarana: Every. Day.
Jaye: That’s horrible. You know, you’re the real brains of that outfit.
Zarana: Right?! Thank you! You’re lucky, you’ve always had Scarlett and Cover Girl watching out for you.
Jaye: Aren’t they great? They’re so amazing–
Zarana: They’re bitches. I mean that as a compliment of course.
Jaye: Hey, bitches get stuff done.
Zarana: Bitches get stuff done!
Jaye: Have you noticed how none of the women in G.I. Joe get helmets? Only the men get helmets.
Zarana: Whoa, I never noticed that before.
Jaye: It’s like, if we cover our hair people won’t know we’re girls? What’s up with that?
[The crowd picks up a chant. Lady Jaye and Zarana join in.]
Crowd: HEY HEY! HO HO! FASCISM HAS GOT TO GO!
Jaye: It’s so weird hearing you say that.
Zarana: Don’t tell anyone, but the entire Cobra organization is having an existential crisis right now. We started out as anarchists, dammit!
Jaye: Well, I should get going. I’m not really supposed to be here.
Zarana: Yeah, me neither.
Jaye: But. You know. [She points at her sign. Don’t let the bastards grind you down.]
Zarana: Yeah, you too. Hey, do me a favor and say hello to Mainframe for me?
Jaye: Wait what?
[But Zarana has already disappeared into the crowd.]