Tropic of Orange

Emi and Buzzworm continue to butt heads. Thinking about Manzanar Murakami aggravates Emi. She gets a fax from the news station telling her that because she is on site, she will act as the on-site producer. She establishes a line of communication with the station using the internet. The station executives are thrilled with the coverage of the freeway encampment; sponsors are lining up for the station to play their advertisements.

Looking on the monitor in the news van, Emi is surprised to see Buzzworm on the news: He commandeered the microphone from reporter Kay Torres and is now conducting his own interviews. Emi watches as Buzzworm directs the cameraman to “an apparent audience of homeless people, sitting on car tops and hoods, a few lounge chairs, and some furniture removed from moving vans” (152).

Buzzworm quickly puts together a makeshift talk show, complete with three guests and cue cards. The network executives or eating it up. Emi Rushes to the scene when the executives tell her they are cutting to a commercial. She tells Buzzworm that he is currently off air. Buzzworm tells her that he has ideas for more programming; Emi is exasperated.