What happens when a sustainability-serious business meets a climate activism ecosystem with no bank account? Can they consummate their shared passion – and what’s the cost of the best climate story on the market?

This article takes the form of a screenplay. Act I depicts the kind of encounter that regularly takes place between Effective Activistsand businesses at ‘green’ events populated by Ineffective Activists, highlighting the difficulty businesses have in telling the difference.

ACT I: A Perfect Match?

SCENE: INTERIOR, NIGHTTIME 

A crowded and cacophonous ballroom, decorated entirely in green.

Beneath a banner reading ‘Green Theme Fancy Dress Ball 2026: This Planet Ain’t Gonna Save Itself!’, the dance floor is packed with party-goers all in green, all with lanyards around their necks.

On opposite sides of the dance floor perimeter, as if by accident, WIDGE and SITHRU’s eyes meet.

WIDGE is dressed in a bottle-green Mariachi costume, SITHRU in a translucent green-tinged toga

WIDGE crosses the dancefloor, eyes locked, as SITHRU appears and disappears between dancers. 

Flailing arms repeatedly knock WIDGE’s extravagant emerald sombrero off-kilter, but WIDGE’s eyes remain locked, any embarrassment failing to divert bee-line progress.

When WIDGE reaches SITHRU, one hand removes the sombrero in an elaborate greeting flourish, the other holds the lanyard out for inspection. 

WIDGE: Hola! I’m Ed Cowridge, from Susbiz. My friends call me Eco-widget, or Widge for short. Please call me Widge.

SITHRU, after inspecting WIDGE’s lanyard: Hello, Widge. Pleased to meet you.

WIDGE: You look nice. What’s your name?

SITHRU, holding lanyard for reciprocal inspection: I’m Sithru, from Ecosystem. You look nice too. Everyone looks nice.

WIDGE and SITHRU stand next to each other for a while, observing the party in companionable silence.

WIDGE, glancing across at SITHRU: Your transparent outfit is great – it’s really different!

SITHRU: Thanks for noticing! It’s our own design.

WIDGE: Subtle. Clever. Makes you stand out from all these over-the-top green outfits.

SITHRU: You appear to be alone in that opinion. You’re the first person to talk to me all night.

WIDGE and SITHRU resume their silent observation of the dance floor.

WIDGE, after some thought, impulsively confessional: I find these Green-themed parties tricky to navigate. 

SITHRU: Me too! What do you find tricky?

WIDGE: Hard to put my finger on it. Everyone always looks great on the dance floor, but…

SITHRU: I think I know what you mean. Everyone makes such an effort with their outfits, but…

WIDGE: …but when the party’s over…

SITHRU, finishing WIDGE’s sentence:  …they all go back to wearing black.

WIDGE and SITHRU exchange looks of recognition, and resume their dance floor observation.

SITHRU: Not just when the party’s over.

WIDGE: What do you mean?

SITHRU: Look carefully. 

WIDGE examines the other attendees more intently. After a minute or so, shrugs shoulders in defeat.

SITHRU, without averting gaze from dancefloor: Cuffs and collars are usually the giveaways. 

WIDGE resumes examination, then: Oh! Now I see what you mean!

SITHRU: Underneath their fancy green suits and frocks, they’re actually all wearing black right now.

WIDGE (suddenly gloomy): Even tonight, at this event. What’s the point of paying all that money for the Green Theme Ball tickets, and going to all that effort to dress up, if I’m the only one here taking it seriously…

SITHRU: Not the only one.

WIDGE looks at SITHRU, as if for the first time: Would you like to find somewhere quieter where we could talk?

SITHRU: Yes, I would.

As they turn to leave, ROI, excited, inebriated, or both, suddenly leaps from the dance floor in front of them, wearing a neon green superhero costume, adopting a body-builder pose.

ROI is suddenly jerked to the floor when a dancer steps on the cape. 

ROI rises, gathers the cape, clumsily embraces WIDGE, and continues to semi-dance, shouting over the hubbub.

ROI: Hey Widgester! What happened to you? You were at the bar just now, and suddenly disappeared! 

WIDGE, not reciprocating ROI’s enthusiasm: Oh, hi.

ROI, leering at SITHRU: Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?

WIDGE, teeth gritted: Sithru, meet ROI, from the Cashbiz crowd. ROI, this is Sithru from…what was it?

SITHRU, holds out lanyard again: Ecosystem.

ROI, not bothering to read it: Never heard of it!  No idea what you are or what you do, but you’re lookin’ good!

ROI hangs an arm over WIDGE’s shoulder. 

WIDGE looks uncomfortable, but does nothing to remove it.

ROI: Me and the Widgemeister go back years. We’re in the same game, but are good mates. All’s fair in love and war, eh? This is me…

ROI pats his chest, as if expecting to find something there.

ROI: Shit. I must have lost my ID when someone trod on my cape. I’ll give you my card – give me a call and let’s get down to business. 

WIDGE winces, shakes head apologetically as ROI laboriously removes a name card from his external underpants.

Eventually, ROI hands his card to Sithru with exaggerated courtesy.

SITHRU reads the card.

SITHRU: I’ve never seen your name spelt like that.

ROI, roaring with laughter: Gets ‘em every time! ROI stands for Return On Investment. Roi always delivers, on the balance sheet and on the bedsheet!

ROI makes no attempt to contain his mirth, and grabs WIDGE around the shoulder.. 

SITHRU and WIDGE exchange glances.  

SITHRU looks at ROI’s big gold wristwatch, now at eye level by WIDGE’s chin.

SITHRU: Is that the time? I’m meant to be somewhere else. Apologies.  (To WIDGE): It was a pleasure meeting you, but I must be going.

WIDGE, as ROI’s grip tightens around shoulder: Can we meet again?

SITHRU: I’ll be in the Main Hall all day tomorrow.

WIDGE: Would you like to come by the Susbiz stand for a coffee and croissant? Say around 10 am? I’d love to know more about you. 

SITHRU smiles.

WIDGE, suddenly embarrassed: And your business, of course.

SITHRU: That sounds splendid. 

ROI, slightly slurring, claps WIDGE on the back and waves to the retreating SITHRU: Shounds shplendid!  We’ll shee you there 10am tomorrow!

ROI performs an array of energetic disco struts, brought to an abrupt end when someone steps on the superhero cape.

ROI is once again jerked violently to the floor.

SITHRU leaves the ball room, unnoticed apart from by WIDGE.

***

Next: Act II: Will They or Won’t They?

Find out what happens at the trade show the following morning…

To find out more about Sithru’s ecosystem, visit www.seethroughtogether.org and www.seethroughcarbon.org