Down with Pickleface, Up with Bette Davis
Vivian is at her mother-in-law’s with the other women in the family to watch a Bette Davis movie that comes on in about 15 minutes.
Julie: How’s your job at the insurance agency going, Vivian? How’s Pickleface?
All of her friends and family know Vivian’s secret nickname for her boss is “Pickleface.”
Vivian: To be honest, it’s not going well. I’ve been really upset about something that happened last week.
Vivian proceeds to tell the story of how Pickleface had her do a project but didn’t provide any training or instructions, said she’d correct Vivian’s work but didn’t, and turned it in to one of the managers like that. This caused the manager to be upset with Vivian, which caused Vivian to be upset for the rest of the week.
Vivian: I don’t know why she wouldn’t train me or at least look everything over before handing it in. It doesn’t make any sense to do it that way. It just caused her more work in the end.
Julie: It makes total sense. She set you up.
Vivian: Do you really think so? But why?
Julie: It sounds like she wanted to make herself look good to the manager at your expense. She wants him to see how valuable she is to him and that nobody else can do what she does.
Vivian: Oh. My. Watcher. She did set me up. I didn’t even realize. Why would anyone do something so terrible to another person?!
Demoyn: Who knows what’s going on in her weird, little pickle head? People like that are just unhappy, and they spread unhappiness wherever they go.
Comfort: Is there anybody you can talk to about it so she doesn’t get away with it? What about that president guy? I thought you got along with him. Could you tell him?
Vivian: You mean the VP, Mr. Todd? He has been acting a little strange toward me lately. Like not mean, but not friendly either. He has been very businesslike, which has actually been kind of nice. If I went to him with this problem, it might give him the idea he can talk to me about other things, and sometimes he gets too personal. I’d rather not involve him.
Vivian is getting annoyed again just thinking about it.
Vivian: I really need this drink.
Comfort: But it’s just strawberry lemonade.
Vivian: I know, but I really need it.
Something about the sugary sweet taste helps to calm Vivian down.
Julie: Do you want me to come by your work and punch her in her pickle nose? I grew up with brothers, so I know how to hit.
While Vivian knows her mother-in-law isn’t actually going to go around punching people in the face, the thought of it makes Vivian laugh.
Vivian: Thanks; it’s okay. I’m not going to stay there much longer, so I’ll just keep my head down and collect my paycheck. I just wish people would leave their crazy at home instead of bringing it to the office.
Comfort: (agreeing) In a perfect world...
Julie: It’s almost time for the movie. Should I switch the television on?
Vivian: Yes please!
Comfort: What’s this movie called?
Vivian: I looked it up in the guide. It’s called “Dark Victory.” I haven’t seen this one before.
Vivian has seen most of the movies Bette Davis has made so far. She usually goes to see them at the theater as soon as they come out.
Julie: (raises her glass) Down with all the Picklefaces of the world and up with Bette Davis!
Everyone laughs and raises their glasses, and Julie gets up and switches on the television. Vivian feels better just knowing she has the support of her family.
To see a scene from the movie that Vivian and the others are watching, see this clip from Dark Victory on YouTube.
To see the specific scene shown on the television in the picture above, go to this clip of Bette Davis’ scene with Ronald Reagan.
See next: Laundry Room Surprise
See all: Vintage Newcrest Gen 1 Table of Contents