Not only did I hear Cold when listening, I thought the dispatcher’s comment “you don’t have to do that” was in reference to he didn’t have to get out in the cold and rain.
After all she had just commented to him to keep an eye of TN.
(So in reality it’s her fault that TM (as in Trademark) is dead./liberal logic)
Now, this is a distinct and very likely possibility, that it seems to have occurred to no one else on this site (including myself)!!!
That's a fair and even-handed explanation of the dispatcher's and George's potential common mindset of the moment, a completely different slant if they both independently describe it.
Your perception completely undercuts the presupposition of those who wish to impute a demeaning twist to Z in their own racist-colored interpretation.
My thought is that you now have the burden of giving that thought wider exposure. Use it again, and again, please, whenever you can!
But please! use the dispatcher's precise words:
"We don't need you to do that."
(= we don't need you to stay out in the cold and rain to follow the subject person)
(a non-directive statement and observation?)