Nicole: (settling deeper onto his lap, eyeing the phone) So… you’re the one who makes my official site “unhackable,” huh? I keep hearing that word thrown around. Care to explain, security expert?
Robert: (not looking up from the screen, scrolling) Joe builds it. WordPress, clean installs, latest core, proper plugins only—no sketchy free stuff from random sites. He handles the structure, the design, the content management. That’s the easy part.
Nicole: And then you… what? Wave a magic wand?
Robert: Then I lock it down. Hard. Hardened WordPress config, disable file editing in the dashboard, force strong auth, limit login attempts, custom security headers, Web Application Firewall rules, regular malware scans, offsite backups that actually restore, and a bunch of other things that would bore you to tears. Basically I make sure that even if someone finds a zero-day tomorrow, they’re not getting anywhere useful on your site.
Nicole: You’re very confident for a guy sitting here with three Coors Lights and a dog who looks like he eats better than most people.
Robert: Confidence is earned. Joe’s good at making pretty, functional sites. I’m good at making sure pretty, functional sites don’t get owned by some script kiddie in a basement. Your site has stayed clean for a reason.
Nicole: So if someone tries to break in…?
Robert: They bounce. Loudly. And I get an alert before you even know anything happened. Joe builds the house. I put the steel doors, the cameras, and the silent alarm on it.
Nicole: (smiling, resting her head against his) Alright, I’ll keep paying the “unhackable” premium. Just don’t let the dog sit on the keyboard next time you’re updating the firewall rules.
Maria Jukic plays matchmaker the old-world way, with food and foresight.
She takes John Arrajo aside and says, like it’s the most practical thing in the world, “Kristin’s back medicine isn’t from a pharmacy. It’s the strawberry rhubarb pie at Café Algarve. You give her that, she’ll feel human again.”
Then she smiles and adds the detail that seals fate: “First date? No downtown nonsense. East Van. Little China restaurant. Chong Qing. Right across the street from your café. You’ll walk there. You’ll talk. The city will behave for once.”
John laughs, because it sounds too specific to be random.
Joe, her son, listening from the doorway, doesn’t laugh.
He speaks it like a prophecy, casual but certain: “Their kids will play at Clark Park. On the playground Kristin Kreuk built. You’ll see them there someday—chalk on their hands, knees scraped, completely unaware they’re standing inside a story.”
Okay, here’s that scene, with Marija Bosko laying down the law and the ambitious “Master Plan” for SimCity 4 as their starting point.
Scene: Marija’s Kitchen – Day
INT. MARIJA’S KITCHEN – DAY
The air is thick with the scent of strong coffee and Marija’s no-nonsense energy. SHANNON ELIZABETH (early 30s, a bit bewildered) sits at a worn kitchen table, clutching a mug. Across from her, MARIJA BOSKO (60s, sharp, commanding) sips from her own.
MARIJA (Slamming her mug down gently) Enough with this “American Pie” nonsense, Shannon. This is real life. You’re looking for a fling, a bit of fun. Ricky, my Ricky, needs a wife. He needs stability.
Shannon opens her mouth to protest, but Marija cuts her off with a look.
MARIJA (CONT’D) And don’t think I didn’t see you at The Roxy, giving him the naughty eye. I saw it all. He told me he knew you from somewhere. That boy at the Roxy you had a crush on? Ricardo Carvalho. My son’s oldest friend. He’s a good boy. Too good for your “one night stand” ideas.
Shannon sinks a little in her seat.
SHANNON I… I just meant…
MARIJA (Waving a dismissive hand) Doesn’t matter what you meant. What matters is what you can mean to him. Ricky has many Syrian friends, good people. He cares about what’s happening there. And I want you to rebuild Damascus with him.
Shannon stares, blinking.
SHANNON Rebuild… Damascus? Like, the city? The one in Syria?
MARIJA The very one. But first, you practice. You can’t build a city without knowing how to lay a proper sewage pipe, can you? It takes practice, child. With my son’s game. SimCity 4.
Marija pushes a monitor on the table towards Shannon. On its screen, a complex, pixelated city grid is visible.
MARIJA (CONT’D) This is your first lesson. Your “Master Plan.” You and Ricky will work on this together. I’ve made a list.
She slides a neatly typed sheet across the table.
Master Plan: SimCity 4 – Damascus Training Simulation
Phase 1: Foundation Building (The Early Game Grind)
Water Management:
Objective: Establish a self-sustaining water system for a city of 50,000 Sims.
Key Challenge: No reliance on external water trade. Master pumps, pipes, and water treatment. (Thinking of Damascus’s actual water issues here!)
Power Grid Efficiency:
Objective: Power the entire city with minimal pollution. Experiment with solar, wind, and fusion (once unlocked).
Key Challenge: Prevent brownouts and blackouts as the city grows. (No George Bush making the pie higher here, we need actual power!)
Zoning Harmony:
Objective: Create balanced Residential (R), Commercial (C), and Industrial (I) zones that satisfy the RCI demand meter without creating derelict buildings.
Key Challenge: Ensure sufficient job opportunities without excessive commuting.
Phase 2: Infrastructure & Connectivity (The Commuter Crunch)
Public Transportation Mastery:
Objective: Design a public transport network (buses, subways, elevated rail) that carries 75% of daily commuters, drastically reducing traffic congestion.
Key Challenge: Integrate mass transit seamlessly into dense urban areas.
Highway & Road Networks:
Objective: Construct an efficient road system that complements public transit, allowing for smooth inter-regional trade and emergency services.
Key Challenge: Minimize gridlock at key intersections.
Phase 3: Urban Development & Prosperity (The Damascus Vision)
Specialization & Economy:
Objective: Develop a diversified economy. Explore specialization in technology, tourism, or manufacturing within the game’s limits.
Key Challenge: Attract high-wealth Sims and businesses without neglecting low-wealth residents.
Landmark & Aesthetic Integration:
Objective: Integrate unique landmarks (custom content if necessary, Marija will find it!) and aesthetic zoning that mirrors the cultural richness of Damascus.
Key Challenge: Balance historical preservation with modern development needs (within SimCity’s capabilities).
Regional Development:
Objective: Develop three interconnected cities within the same SimCity 4 region, each with a unique specialization that benefits the others.
Key Challenge: Manage cross-city services and resource sharing.
Shannon slowly picks up the paper, her eyes wide.
SHANNON This… this isn’t exactly what I had in mind for a date.
MARIJA (Nodding sagely) No. This is what you have in mind for a life. Ricky needs a partner who can build something real with him, not just chase dreams. This game… it teaches you discipline. Responsibility. What it takes to truly make something better. You want him? You build him a city. Starting with this.
Marija taps the SimCity 4 screen with a long finger.
MARIJA (CONT’D) And then, maybe, just maybe, you’ll be ready for Damascus. And for Ricky. Now, get to it. He’ll be over after work. Don’t be late.
Shannon stares at the screen, then at the “Master Plan,” a whole new world opening (or closing) before her eyes.
