Rent-a-friend

Abstract

In a socially dysfunctional future not too far away, the rapid emergence and acceptance of rent-a-friend agencies bring to light a worrying fragility of human relationships as a material commodity.

Greg is a professional “friend”. For a fee, he will, and can perform a variety of social roles ranging from a boyfriend, to a far-flung relative.

Greg’s sister, Amanda, is vehemently opposed against her brother’s occupation, seeing it as demeaning of human relationships. However, it is only through Malcolm, a client who rents Greg to accompany him in his final moments, that Greg begins to see the rationality of Amanda’s words.