Nobody owes anybody a living, but everybody is entitled to a

Opening Scene – Narrated by Host

The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, and the glow of the city lights outside filtered through the window, casting a warm, muted light over the room. Jack sat at the edge of the couch, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands clasped in front of him. His gaze was distant, lost in the quiet hum of the world outside. The weight of the moment seemed to linger in the air, unspoken, as he reflected on something that had been bothering him for days.

Jeeny entered quietly, carrying two mugs of tea, the steam curling up in the soft light. She set one down beside him, her eyes soft with understanding. She knew when Jack was lost in thought—when his mind was busy untangling something that felt too big to express.

Jeeny: “You’ve been quiet. What’s on your mind?”

Jack looked up, his eyes flickering with a sense of clarity that only came after deep thought. He took a deep breath and finally spoke.

Jack: “I was reading something by Jack Dempsey. He said, ‘Nobody owes anybody a living, but everybody is entitled to a chance.’ And I’ve been thinking about that. It’s simple, but there’s so much in it. What does it really mean? That we all deserve a shot, but no one’s entitled to anything just because they exist?”

Jeeny sat down beside him, her legs tucked beneath her, a thoughtful look crossing her face.

Jeeny: “I think it means exactly what it says. We all deserve an opportunity—an equal chance to prove ourselves, to find our way, to succeed. But no one is owed a life of ease or privilege just because they exist. You have to make your own path, but everyone should have the chance to try.”

Host: The room seemed to still, as if the weight of her words hung between them, and Jack’s eyes softened as he let them sink in. The quiet of the evening seemed to give them space to explore the meaning of entitlement, of opportunity, of the balance between effort and expectation.

Jack: “But isn’t there a part of me that feels like some people are given more chances than others? Like… I get the whole ‘you’ve got to work for it’ idea, but there are so many people who don’t even get a shot. It feels like some people’s lives are set up to succeed before they even have to try.”

Jeeny: “I get that. There’s so much inequality in the world, so many factors that influence where you start in life. But I think Dempsey’s point is about the opportunity—the chance to make a life for yourself, to prove you’re capable. Even if the playing field isn’t perfectly level, everyone should have the chance to take a swing, to make their own decision, to create their own future.”

Host: The words hung in the air like a quiet realization, and Jack looked down at his hands for a moment, contemplating the complexity of the world, the disparity, the difficulty, and the hope that still lay in the idea of opportunity.

Jack: “So, you’re saying that even if the world isn’t fair, the value is in giving people the chance to try? The shot to succeed, no matter where they come from or what they’ve been given?”

Jeeny: “Yes. Life isn’t about guarantees. Nobody owes anybody anything, but everybody deserves a chance. And sometimes, just the opportunity to try is all it takes to change someone’s life. Whether it’s a mentor, a job, a little bit of support—it’s about opening the door for someone and letting them walk through it. It doesn’t guarantee success, but it gives them a fighting chance.”

Host: The room seemed to grow quieter, the words weaving themselves into the stillness between them. Jack sat back against the couch, the weight of the idea settling into his thoughts. He knew the world wasn’t always fair, that opportunity was often a privilege and not a right, but in this moment, there was something hopeful about the notion of everyone having the chance to try.

Jack: “I think I see it now. It’s not about equality of outcome—it’s about the equality of opportunity. That’s the real difference. Everyone should have the chance to take a shot, to step up and try, and from there, it’s up to them what they do with it.”

Jeeny smiled softly, a quiet sense of satisfaction in her eyes.

Jeeny: “Exactly. And that’s where the beauty of it lies—there’s always potential in a chance. No matter what someone’s been through, no matter what obstacles they’ve faced, just giving them the chance to try is what makes the difference. Everyone deserves that.”

Host: The quiet stillness of the room seemed to deepen, a gentle realization blooming between them. The complexities of life, the inequalities, the barriers—none of that would go away overnight. But in this moment, the idea that everyone deserved a shot, a chance to prove themselves, felt like a quiet truth that Jack could hold onto.

Jack: “So, the key is really just making sure that everyone has the opportunity, right? That we’re not shutting doors before people even get a chance to knock.”

Jeeny: “That’s it. It’s about not closing those doors—whether it’s in the workplace, in relationships, in society. The opportunity is what allows people to show who they really are, what they’re capable of.”

Climax and Reconciliation

Jack sat back, his gaze lifting slightly as he let the idea settle within him. There was a certain weightlessness to it now, as if he had been given a new lens through which to see the world—a world where chances mattered more than guarantees. The notion that everyone deserved a shot, regardless of their circumstances, felt like a small but powerful truth.

Host: Outside, the world carried on with its busy rhythm, but inside, in this quiet moment, Jack and Jeeny had found clarity. Life might not be fair, but the opportunity—the chance to succeed, to fail, to try—was something worth striving for. It was the one thing everyone truly deserved.