The Boss
Okay, so while I am anxiously sitting in the corner, crying because I am scared as hell, I still have this play to write.
So, between two mental breakdowns...
And between watching the fight inside my own head—one side screaming, "This is an amazing idea! Let's do it right away!" and the other yelling, "This is the worst fucking idea you've ever had!"—
I really need to focus on this.
At least everyone in my head agrees that I have to get this shit done.
And at least this is the place where I get to be The Magician.
Here, I am confident.
I know my skills.
I know my worth.
I can comfortably navigate through difficulties because I genuinely believe I have every skill I need to solve problems.
But first...
I'm taking a painkiller.
So...
Let's look at the boss.
I have been thinking for a while about whether the boss should be a man or a woman. As I write, I am still a little unsure.
So before I actually start building the character, it is probably more worthwhile to think about what I want him to teach.
The boss is grounded but open-minded. He knows that dreams can be achieved, but the road leading to them can be incredibly difficult, especially when you decide to start something completely new. He is supportive, but in a practical, material way.
He knows that the main character has everything she needs to become whoever she wants to be, but she has to be willing to pay the price. He is the one who shows her that this path requires sacrifice: countless hours of work, continuous learning, and a complete shift in the way she looks at life.
He represents the material cost of choosing a new path. The well-paid job. The years of study. The money, time, and effort already invested that may suddenly seem wasted. Not because they actually are wasted, but because it can feel that way. He believes that with consistency and sacrifice, she can achieve anything.
I think this role fits a man better as an archetype on stage.
He is in his forties, somewhere between 40 and 50 years old. He is in his prime. He has seen a lot and achieved a lot. He knows that consistency and the willingness to take calculated risks are what lead people to their goals.
He has everything he once wanted: a successful company that provides him with a comfortable life while still keeping him mentally stimulated. He has a wife, three children, a large house, and two cars.
But he came from nothing.
He grew up in an abusive home with alcoholic parents and had to take responsibility for his younger siblings at a very early age.
He knows what it feels like to carry everyone else's burdens.
That is why he understands the main character so deeply.
His motto is:
"Talent gets you noticed. Consistency gets you there."
The main character, however, teaches him something in return.
She teaches him that spontaneity and creativity do not have to come with inconsistency or unreliability.
While working for him, she becomes one of his best employees: reliable, dependable, and highly creative. She brings fresh energy into the company without sacrificing responsibility.
That is why he ultimately supports her decision to leave, even though it means losing one of his best employees.
He genuinely believes she deserves the life she wants.
And deep down, he envies her.
Because she is brave enough to take the leap of faith that he never truly allowed himself to take.
Until then, he believed that hard work and sticking to the plan until the floor was burning beneath your feet were always the right answers.
The main character teaches him that sometimes the wisest decision is to get off the wrong train as soon as you realize it is taking you in the wrong direction.
Yeah...
I think I am getting there.