PRESS ANN
By Terry Bisson
From Bears Discover Fire

WELCOME TO CASH-IN-A-FLASH
1324 LOCATIONS
TO SERVE YOU CITYWIDE
PLEASE INSERT YOUR CASH-IN-A-FLASH CARD

THANK YOU
NOW ENTER YOUR CASH-IN-A-FLASH NUMBER

THANK YOU
PLEASE SELECT DESIRED SERVICE—
DEPOSIT
WITHDRAWAL
BALANCE
WEATHER

"Weather?"
"What's the problem, Em?" 
"Since when do these things give the weather?" 
"Maybe it's some new thing. Just get the cash, it's 6:22 and we're going to be late."

>WITHDRAWAL 
THANK YOU 

WITHDRAWAL FROM—
SAVINGS
CHECKING
CREDIT LINE
OTHER

>CHECKING 
THANK YOU 

PLEASE ENTER DESIRED AMOUNT—
$20 
$60 
$100 
$200

>$60
FOR A MOVIE?

"Bruce, come over here and look at this."
"Emily, it's 6:26. The movie starts at 6:41."
"How does the cash machine know we're going to the movie?''
"What are you talking about? Are you mad because you have to get the money, Em? Can I help it if a machine ate my card?"
"Never mind. I'll try it again."

>60
$60 FOR A MOVIE?

"It just did it again."
"Did what?"
"Bruce, come over here and look at this."
"Sixty dollars for a movie?"
"I'm getting money for dinner, too. It is my birthday after all, even if I have to plan the entire party. Not to mention get the money to pay for it.''
"I can't believe this. You're mad at me because a machine ate my card."
"Forget it. The point is, how does the cash machine know we're going to a movie?"
"Emily, it's 6:29. Just press Enter and let's go."
"Okay, okay."

WHO IS THE GUY WITH THE WATCH? 
BOYFRIEND 
HUSBAND 
RELATIVE 
OTHER

"Bruce!"
"Emily, it's 6:30. Just get the money and let's go."
"Now it's asking me about you."
"It's 6:31!"
"Okay!"

>OTHER

"Excuse me, do you two mind if I—"
"Look, pal, there's a problem with this machine. There's another cash machine right down the street if you're in such a goddamn hurry."
"Bruce! Why be rude?"
"Forget it, he's gone."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY WOULD YOU LIKE—
DEPOSIT
WITHDRAWAL
BALANCE 
WEATHER

"How does it know it's my birthday?"
"Jesus, Em, it's probably coded in your card or something. It is now 6:34 and in exactly seven minutes ... What the hell is this? Weather?"
"That's what I've been trying to tell you."
"You're not going to press it!"
"Why not?"

>WEATHER
THANK YOU

SELECT DESIRED CONDITIONS—
COOL AND CLOUDY
FAIR AND MILD
LIGHT SNOW
LIGHT RAIN

"Em, will you quit playing around!"

>LIGHT RAIN

"Rain? On your birthday?"
"Just a light rain. I just want to see if it works. We're going to the movie anyway."
"Not if we don't get out of here."

PERFECT MOVIE WEATHER 
WOULD YOU LIKE—
DEPOSIT
WITHDRAWAL
BALANCE
POPCORN

"Em, this machine is seriously fucked up." 
"I know. I wonder if you get butter." 
"It's 6:36. Just press Withdrawal and let's get the hell out of here. We have five minutes until the movie starts."

>WITHDRAWAL 
THANK YOU 

WITHDRAWAL FROM—
SAVINGS
CHECKING
CREDIT LINE
OTHER

"Excuse me. Are you two going to see Gilded Palace of Sin?"
"Shit. Look who's back."
"I was just at the theater and the newspaper had the times listed wrong. According to the box office, the movie starts at 6:45. So you have nine minutes."
"I thought you were at the other machine."
"There's a line and I didn't want to stand outside in the rain."
"Rain? Bruce, look!"
"It's just a light rain. But I'm wearing my good suit."

>OTHER

"Emily, it's 6:37 and you're pressing Other?"
"Don't you want to see what else this machine can do?"
"No!"

THANK YOU

CHOOSE OTHER ACCOUNT—
ANDREW
ANN 
BRUCE

"Who the hell are Andrew and Ann? And how the hell did my name get in there?"
"You told me the machine ate your card."
"That was ... another machine."
"Excuse me. Ann is my fiancée. Well, was. Sort of. I thought."
"Are you butting in again?"
"Wait! You must be—"
"Andrew. Andrew P. Claiborne the Third. You must be Emily. And he must be—"
"He's Bruce. Don't mind him if he's a little uncouth."
"Uncouth!"

>BRUCE

"Hey, that's my account, Emily. You don't have any right to press Bruce!"
"Why not? You say you wanted to pay for dinner and the movie, but the machine ate your card. So let's go for it."

GO FOR IT, EMILY

PLEASE ENTER DESIRED AMOUNT——
$20
$60
$100 
$200
>$60

SORRY. INSUFFICIENT FUNDS. WANT TO TRY FOR $20?
>$20

SORRY. INSUFFICIENT FUNDS. WOULD YOU LIKE A BALANCE CHECK?

"No!"

BRUCE'S BALANCE: $11 .78 
SURPRISED?

"Surprised? I'm furious! Some birthday celebration! You didn't even have enough to pay for a movie, much less dinner! And you lied!"
"Excuse me, it's your birthday? It's my birthday too!"
"You stay out of this, Andrew, or whatever the fuck your name is."
"Don't be vulgar, Bruce. He has an absolutely perfect right to wish me a happy birthday."
"He's not wishing you a happy birthday, he's butting into my life."
"Allow me to wish you a very happy birthday, Emily."
"And to you, Andrew, the very same."
"Plus he's an asshole!"

NO NAME CALLING PLEASE
WOULD YOU LIKE ANOTHER BALANCE CHECK?
BRUCE
EMILY
ANDREW
ANN

"I still don't understand who Ann is."
"My girlfriend. Sort of. She was supposed to meet me at the movie but she stood me up for the last time."
"How terrible! On your birthday! Andrew, I know exactly how you feel."
"As a matter of fact, you're both a couple of assholes!"

NO NAME CALLING 
PLEASE EMILY AND ANDREW,
PLEASE ALLOW ME TO TREAT YOU TO A BIRTHDAY DINNER AND A FILM

"A hundred dollars!"
"It says it's treating us. Take it, Emily."
"You take it, Andrew; I think the man should handle the money. And you can call me Em."
"I can't fucking believe this!"
"We'd better hurry. Excuse me, Bruce, old pal, do you have the time?"
"It's 6:42. Asshole."
"If we run we can catch the 6:45. Then, how about Sneeky Pete's?"
"I love Tex-Mex!"

PLEASE REMOVE YOUR CARD 
DON'T FORGET TO TRY THE BLACKENED FAJITAS

"You're all three assholes! I can't fucking believe this. She left with him!"

WELCOME TO CASH-IN-A-FLASH
1324 LOCATIONS
TO SERVE YOU CITYWIDE
PLEASE DON'T KICK THE MACHINE

"Go to hell!"

PLEASE INSERT YOUR CASH-IN-A-FLASH CARD

"Fuck you."

GO AHEAD, BRUCE
WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE?

THANK YOU
IT WASN'T 'EATEN' AFTER ALL, WAS IT?

"You know it wasn't. Asshole."

NO NAME CALLING PLEASE 
WOULD YOU LIKE——
SYMPATHY
REVENGE
WEATHER
ANN

"Excuse me."
"Jesus, lady, quit banging on the door. I know it's raining. Tough shit. I'm not going to let you in. This is a cash machine, not a homeless shelter. You're supposed to have a card or something. What?"
"I said, shut up and press Ann."