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Marietta is at a special meeting of the New Orleans City Council.
Marissa: Madam Mayor, we appreciate you coming in to discuss the recent unexpected use of city funds to manage last week’s historic blizzard. As you’re aware, it cost millions to rent out plow and salt trucks, and even more to rent out various shelter locations and pay for transportation to them and for the special app created for the transport system. In short, it has led to a fiscal crisis. It’s estimated that this storm cost the city $11 million already, with costs to rise as we repair the damage the storm caused.
Bethany: Who will pay for it? This reckless spending is -
Florence: God, she gives me a headache.
Moira: She gives us all a headache, Florence. I suggest earplugs.
Bethany: You just say that because I’m a Republican!
Florence: We say it because you’re an idiot and a distraction. The adults are trying to talk, this is serious business. When we need someone to scream like a maniac about skiers at the Olympics not loving America enough, you’ll be the first to get to speak.
Bethany: They’re anti-American! How can they claim to represent us?
Moira: They have a right to free speech! Aren’t you guys the lad-
Marissa: Shut up! All of you! I’m trying to talk to the mayor and her administration and get to the bottom of how we’re going to manage this vast difference between the allotted funding for winter storm management and the actual expenditures.
Marietta: I think, uh… it’s hard to really know how to manage it. It’s a complex situation.
Marissa: Correct. Do you have any ideas?
Tammy: We came up with a plan. Apologies on behalf of the mayor. She’s quite exhausted from watching last night’s Super Bowl. I can speak on behalf of the administr-
Marissa: Has she fallen asleep?
Amy: I don’t think we need to focus on that. We should focus on the administration’s fantastic response to the storm. We saved a lot of people from freezing in their homes while waiting for power to be restored, we got the roads and sidewalks cleared. This was a huge success.
Bethany: It also involved dangerous spending! Your administration acts like the government can just print money!
Amy: I mean, a government can. Just not ours.
Tammy: When you think about it, money is only a concept.
Marissa: So I take it you’re not willing to cut any funding for other programs to make up the difference? You’re good with running over the city budget for this fiscal year?
Tammy: Marietta, get up! I think we’re getting impeached.
Meanwhile, Marietta is dreaming…
Danny: Honey, get up!
Marietta: Huh?
Danny: You’ve been having a bad dream.
Marietta: What is going on?
Danny: Take some time to wake up. We have to be at Kyle’s apartment at noon.
Marietta: Apartment?
Danny: I know you’re still sad he moved out, but it’s been two years. You have to accept it.
Marietta: What is going on? Why does he not have a house? What happened to Maria?
Danny: Who is Maria? What were you dreaming about? You’re so confused. I’ll give you a minute to get back to reality.
Danny leaves.
Marietta: What the hell is going on?
Marietta looks around the room.
Marietta: And where in the hell am I?
Marietta walks out of the bedroom.
Marietta: Don’t I have to get to work? It’s a Monday, no?
Danny: You’re retired, silly!
Marietta: I don’t… think so. I’m the mayor.
Danny: The mayor? My god, Amy Applewhite is the mayor. You’ve never liked her, you always said she’s a total phony.
Marietta: I’ve come around on her.
Danny: You were just complaining about her last night when we saw her on the news. But you always have hated politics. You’ve resented it for taking your dad and your aunt and uncle away from you when you were young. Milton felt differently, obviously.
Marietta: And that is obvious because…
Danny: He’s the Secretary of State! He was our governor. Did you hit your head?
Marietta: It’s coming back to me now.
Danny: Good! You were worrying me.
Marietta: Do you think we could go see my mom and Kathleen?
Danny: Kathleen?
Marietta: My aunt.
Danny: We can go see your parents, but Kathleen is in Arkansas. It’ll be hard to hit them both up at once.
Marietta: Okay, let me get this straight… I was never a politician?
Danny: Nope.
Marietta: Kyle is… single?
Danny: Yeah.
Marietta: Kathleen is in Arkansas?
Danny: Yep.
Marietta: Milton is our Secretary of State under a Democratic President?
Danny: Uh-huh.
Marietta: My dad is alive?
Danny: Yes.
Marietta: Okay, what’s up with Sarah?
Danny: Who?
Marietta: Oh boy. Is Milton married?
Danny: Yeah. He’s been married to Evelyn for almost twenty years. They have two kids, Jeannie and Jack.
Marietta: Do I have any friends?
Danny: Of course you do!
Marietta: And their names are…
Danny: You know I’m terrible with names!
Marietta: Yes, I do know that. Who is the Senate Majority Leader, perchance?
Danny: Oh my gosh, I don’t even know. That’s more a Milton question. Some idiot Republican.
Marietta: Again, I’ve never been a Senator or a mayor?
Danny: No, you hate politics! It’s why you became a teacher. This morning is the most I’ve heard from you about politics since the 2024 election.
Marietta: The election was in 2024? Okay, so everything in this world is changed around because I never ran for office?
Danny: I don’t think that’s entirely fair to say. You could’ve made it big, but this is a very red state.
Marietta: Who is our senator?
Danny: Betty Benoit. She just got re-elected, and you threw a fit.
Marietta: I have to go to the bathroom.
Marietta runs off to the bathroom and collapses. She wakes up in the hospital.
Marietta: Oh my gosh, am I back to reality?
Martin: Honey, we were so worried about you! Danny said you fell.
Marietta: Nope!
Danny She’s been acting so erratic this morning.
Patty Lynn: I hope it’s not a stroke. Or a brain tumor! Oh god, the possibilities are endless!
Danny: The doctors said it was a bit of dehydration.
Kyle: I wish you would listen to me. I tell you to drink more!
Danny: She doesn’t like the taste of water, she claims.
Marietta: It’s so bland!
Patty Lynn: I should tell Milton about this.
Martin: You think he’ll answer? He’s a big shot now.
Patty Lynn: He’ll call back eventually!
Martin: Just like Kathleen will call me back.
Marietta: Are you not close with Kathleen anymore?
Martin: Not for a long time. I barely even remember what started it.
Patty Lynn: You don’t need her anyway. She always thought she was too good for us.
Marietta: Hey, turn the TV up.
Martin: You actually want to hear from Betty Benoit? That’s unlike you.
Marietta: It’s just… been a while.
Betty: Look, Dan, I’ve just started my fourth term in office, I’m really not thinking about the presidency. I am very content representing the people of Louisiana, and I love getting to travel the state to meet with them. I fear a presidential campaign may hinder my ability to do so. It’s a lot to consider. Right now, I’m focused now working with our Republican majority to serve as a check on President Hagelin.
Marietta: Kate is president?
Patty Lynn: You talk like you know her.
Kyle: Look, mom’s on first-name basis with the president!
Marietta: Who are you?
Danny: Our son.
Marietta: You’re not Kyle.
Danny: You’re still not acting right, the doctors might need to keep you for observation for an extra day.
Marietta: He’s younger than Kyle. Kyle looks different.
Patty Lynn: Honey, has your retirement caused a psychotic break? It’s okay. When you feel you’re losing your purpose, it can mess with your head.
Marietta: I just don’t feel myself. That’s all.
Martin: We’ll get the doctor to check that out.
Danny: We should let her get a bit of rest. She’s had such a traumatic day.
Martin: That’s a good idea.
Patty Lynn: Feel better, honey! When you get out of here, my famous gumbo is waiting for you!
Marietta: Good to know some things never change.
Later that day…
Milton: Sis! You good?
Marietta: Oh my god, Milton. You’re Secretary of State, what are you doing here?
Milton: I was already planning a trip home this weekend, then I heard my sister had some mysterious medical incident, so I moved it up. President Hagelin is quite understanding about how important family is to me. When dad had that heart attack, she let me spend an entire week focusing just on him.
Marietta: Dad had a heart attack?
Milton: How could you forget? It’s what inspired you to retire. Made you realize life’s too short to spent so much time on work. Made dad retire from his lobbying firm, too.
Marietta: Dad was a lobbyist?
Milton: Once he lost re-election to the senate, yeah. Strange to not have a Landfield in statewide office in Louisiana, but the state’s just moved away from us. Not to mention, it was never your thing. I admire you for it.
Marietta: This is all so much to take in.
Milton: I don’t want to get your mind racing or anything. You just focus on feeling better. Clearly, something’s going on here.
Marietta: Yeah, you’re right. I think I just need some good rest and, apparently, hydration.
The next day…
Patty Lynn: Marietta, I’m so glad you came to see us!
Marietta: What better way to feel better than to spend some time with mom and dad?
Patty Lynn: I feel the exact same way! Sit down, have a drink, and I’ll get you that gumbo I promised!
Marietta: Actually, could I talk with dad for a minute?
Patty Lynn: Of course! He’s in the living room, watching the Olympics.
Marietta: Thanks. And, mom, I really appreciate the gumbo. That hospital food… ooh boy.
Patty Lynn: It’s hard to stack up to a home-cooked meal from your mom!
Marietta: You’re not kidding!
Marietta walks into the living room.
Martin: Ah, kid! You look so much better! Happy to see it!
Marietta: Dad, I want to talk to you about something.
Martin: What? I’m always happy to have a talk with my favorite daughter.
Marietta: I’m your only - never mind. Dad, did we ever talk about me running for office?
Martin: My gosh, that’s not a subject I was expecting you to bring up. It’s always been a sore subject for you. And I’ve always felt so guilty about putting my career ahead of spending time with you kids.
Marietta: I get it now. I think you can do a lot for people as a public official. You did a lot of good in your career.
Martin: You could’ve done a lot, too, but I admire your decision to have a more private life. You’ve been such an incredible daughter and it warms my heart to see what a good person you’ve become. A good wife to Danny, a good mother to Kyle - even if you briefly didn’t recognize him. I’m so proud of the life you’ve made for yourself.
Marietta: Do you ever wonder what could’ve been if I did run for House way back when the Democrats asked me to?
Martin: For starters, my senate seat probably would’ve been yours. I only really ran for it out of necessity. The party needed a nominee who could win, and they thought only a Landfield could do it. Your brother was too young. I had a great fourteen years in the Senate, though, and you had a great life with your family. I think it all worked out well.
Marietta: I guess so…
Tammy: Marietta, get up!
Marietta wakes up.
Marietta: Oh my god, did I fall asleep in the meeting?
Tammy: It’s over now. You looked completely ridiculous. Thankfully, we got the city council to extent the budget for this year to accommodate what we spent cleaning up after that snowstorm.
Marietta: I had the most bizarre dream.
Amy: This isn’t the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy.
Marietta: Amy, you were mayor!
Amy: Okay, maybe I do want to hear about it.
Henrietta: Was I in it?
Marietta: No.
Henrietta: Oh…
Marietta: It was so bizarre. It was a world where I never ran for office, and Milton was the Secretary of State and Kate was president.
Tammy: Who was VP? Ellie?
Marietta: Probably a safe bet, but I never found that out. Betty was still alive, though. And so was my dad!
Tammy: How on earth would you not running for office change that?
Marietta: I don’t know. But it was so good to see my dad again, and to hear him tell me how proud he was of me, one last time.
Amy: Oh god, you’re gonna make me cry now.
Tammy: I like that. That sparks joy within.
What did you think of this episode of Marietta? Let us know in the comments and make sure to read a new episode next week!
