I don't like Los Angeles. The people are awful and terribly

Host: The city outside hums with the pulse of the night, but inside the room, the air is still, almost heavy. The soft glow of the lamp casts long shadows, a quiet contrast to the buzz of the world beyond the window. Jeeny sits at the table, her hands folded in front of her, her gaze fixed on the papers scattered before her. Jack, leaning against the wall, eyes lost in thought, seems distant, as though the weight of the evening is pressing on him. The silence between them is filled with the unspoken questions waiting to surface.

Jeeny: “I came across something earlier today that made me think. Lady Gaga once said, ‘I don’t like Los Angeles. The people are awful and terribly shallow, and everybody wants to be famous but nobody wants to play the game. I’m from New York. I will kill to get what I need.’” Her voice is soft, but there's an undeniable edge to it, a sharpness that makes the words linger. She looks at Jack, her expression curious. “What do you think of that?”

Jack: He raises an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips, but his eyes are darker, the amusement replaced by something more complex. “Lady Gaga, huh? She’s always got something intense to say, doesn’t she?” His voice is dry, yet there’s a quiet reflection in it. “The way she talks about Los Angeles—sounds like she’s seen behind the curtain, doesn’t it? The city’s got this image, this shiny exterior, but beneath it? Maybe there’s something more shallow, something people don’t want to talk about.” He shifts, his tone growing more contemplative. “But New York... that’s a different beast. It’s raw. It’s aggressive. People there don’t sugarcoat anything.”

Jeeny: “But is that really better?” Her voice is thoughtful, but there's a trace of skepticism in it. “What Lady Gaga seems to be saying is that both places, New York and Los Angeles, are full of people who want something, but aren’t willing to put in the work to get it. She’s talking about a culture of people who are obsessed with fame, with recognition, but don’t want to play the game that comes with it.” Her gaze hardens slightly as she continues, “Is that really about ambition, or is it about a shallow pursuit of something that doesn’t really last?”

Jack: He chuckles, the sound bitter, though there’s a hint of something else in his voice now. “That’s the thing about LA, though. It’s not about work; it’s about image. People want to be famous, but they don’t want to face the reality of what it takes. It’s all about connections, about who you know, not necessarily about what you can do.” He leans forward, his gaze piercing. “But New York? People fight to get ahead. They’re hungry, they’ll claw their way to the top if that’s what it takes.” He pauses, a hint of something darker in his eyes. “And that’s what she means, right? That drive, that survival instinct. That’s what separates those who make it from those who don’t.”

Jeeny: “But what happens when that drive becomes consuming?” Her voice softens, but there’s an undercurrent of concern. “Lady Gaga’s talking about playing the game, about fighting for what you need, but at what cost? If you’re willing to kill for it, even if that’s metaphorical, what’s left of the person you are? Isn’t there a danger in losing yourself in that constant hunger for more?” She looks at him, her eyes steady, challenging. “At some point, doesn’t it all become just about the game, not the people, not the work?”

Host: The room feels quieter now, as though the conversation has taken on a deeper weight. Jeeny’s words hang in the air, the meaning of Lady Gaga’s statement evolving into something more complex. Jack seems to pause, the edge of his earlier certainty fading into thoughtfulness.

Jack: “Maybe you’re right,” he says slowly, his voice softer now, the edges of his earlier cynicism replaced with something else. “Maybe the hunger, the fight to get ahead, can blur everything else. You focus so much on the goal, on the prize, that you forget what it means to truly live. To connect. You forget what you’re fighting for in the first place.” He sighs, his gaze turning inward. “I think she’s right about New York, though. There’s a real rawness to it, a truth people can’t hide. But it’s not always about the game. Sometimes, it’s about the people you meet along the way, and how you treat them.”

Jeeny: “Exactly,” she says, her voice calm, but with a quiet strength. “It’s not about losing yourself in the race, or becoming so obsessed with the image that you forget why you started. There’s something hollow about constantly chasing fame or success, without remembering what it means to be human, to connect, to be true to yourself.” She pauses, her eyes softening. “Maybe Lady Gaga’s warning is about finding a balance — about keeping that drive, that hunger, but not at the expense of everything else.”

Jack: He nods, his expression thoughtful, almost a little more open than before. “Maybe it’s not about killing for what you want... but about learning how to fight for it without losing the rest of who you are. You can’t just throw everything else away for the sake of the game.”

Host: The silence between them now feels like a quiet understanding, as though something significant has been said, but not yet fully embraced. Jeeny watches Jack with a quiet, knowing expression, while he seems lost in thought, the weight of the conversation settling into something deeper.

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s about balance,” she says softly, her voice almost a whisper now. “You can play the game, fight for what you need, but you can’t forget who you are in the process. Otherwise, what’s the point of winning the game if you lose yourself along the way?”

Jack: He smiles, a faint smirk, but it’s warmer now, more genuine. “I think I get it now. It’s about finding your own path in the game, your own rules, without becoming consumed by it.” He turns to her, his voice quieter, almost reflective. “Maybe it’s not just about fighting to win. It’s about remembering why you’re fighting in the first place.”

Host: The room feels still, as though the conversation has shifted into something more profound, a quiet understanding that has quietly settled between them. The world outside continues its relentless pace, but inside, there’s a recognition that the battle for success doesn’t have to consume everything else. There’s a balance to be found, a way to play the game without losing the heart of what matters.

As the evening stretches on, the weight of Lady Gaga’s words lingers — a reminder that fame and success can be powerful forces, but it’s how you navigate them, how you maintain your humanity, that truly defines the journey.