| Screener: | Is this your laptop, sir? |
| Rick: | Yes sir, it is. Is there a problem? |
| Screener: | (Stands; Line comes to a stop; Whispers.) Yes. There is. |
| Rick: | Um, okay? I took it out of my backpack like I was supposed to … |
| Screener: | You did. But what did you do then? |
| Rick: | … I don’t understand? |
| Screener: | You put your shoes into the bin — on the laptop. |
| Rick: | Yeah. Was I not supposed to? I just figured it was a waste of a bin … |
| Screener: | Do you know what sneakers look like in one of these machines? |
| Rick: | Absolutely no idea, sir. |
| Screener: | (Lowers voice even lower.) Plastic explosives. |
| Rick: | !!! |
| Screener: | Yes, sir. Explosives. |
| Rick: | !!! |
| Screener: | You see how this might be a problem, sir? |
| Rick: | Um, yeah. |
| Screener: | That’s why we ask for your laptop in a bin by itself. No extra wires or cables or anything else. |
| Rick: | I see. |
| Screener: | When we see something that looks like sophisticated electronics and something that looks like plastic explosives on the same screen … |
| Rick: | … you get a little twitchy. Yeah, sorry about that. I had no idea. |
| Screener: | Most people don’t, sir. That’s why I prefer to take the time and explain things. |
| Rick: | Well, thanks, I guess. |
| Screener: | Have a nice flight, sir. |
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Scene from an airport security check
