MIND MELDER

(FRIDAY, Pizza Place, TINO slowly walks in, and sees CARVER, TISH, and LOR sitting around the table)

TISH: Hi, Tino! Carver was just telling us how he didn't go through with that fight with Gavin.

TINO: Yeah. that's great. Isn't it. Um. Carver.. You left your backpack and took mine.

(CARVER's eyes widened)

CARVER: Oh. um. Thanks man. Here you go. (He hands TINO his backpack, upon receiving his CARVER begins to rummage through it, he then looks up and asks nervously) Uh. T. Did something fall out of this backpack?

TINO: No.. why.. What's missing?

CARVER: Oh.um. I can't find my Math book, but um, here it is. Nevermind. (TINO nods.)

LOR: Um. okay.. So, what's everyone's plans for this Winter Break?

TINO: Well Solstice is coming up really soon.

LOR: Oh? When is that?

TINO: .The Winter Solstice.

LOR: Isn't that when you can balance an egg on it's end? (Long Silence) Okay. guess not.

TINO: Well, the major thing I asked for this year was Mind Melders II. It is this awesome game!

TISH: Cool, what's it about?

TINO: .Blowing up people and stuff.

TISH: Sounds *enthralling.*

CARVER: Oh man! I've heard of that game, that is the most violent game EVER! You GOTTA let me play.

TINO: Violent.. Ever.. Carver.. Play... NO! You can't play it Carver!

CARVER: .Why not?

TINO: Because I'm. greedy.. and.. I. want it all to myself.

TISH: Tino, you're not greedy.

LOR: Yeah, you're like the most generous guy we know.

TINO: Shut up! I'm greedy! I mean, what other reason could I have for not wanting Carver to play a violent video game? NONE! I mean. yeah..

CARVER: Um..

LOR: Okay..

TISH: Yeah.

TINO: .. This is a long awkward silence. I don't do well in those. I pretty much keep talking and talking until they end. Silence is uncomofortable.. So I don't like it.. So I talk. and I talk.. And I talk...

CARVER: Alright, shut up already! The video game thing is not a big deal.

TINO: Okay.. Good..

(longer silence)

TINO: Yeah. okay.. I don't see anyway for this scene to get any less awkward.. So let's just move on.

(SUNDAY, Solstice, TINO'S MOM wakes him up)

TINO'S MOM: Hi honey! Wake up!

TINO: 12 more minutes.

TINO'S MOM: N- Wait, why'd you pick 12, why not like 10 or 15 something like that?

TINO: I don't know, I'm tired, random numbers come to my head.. Urgh, you got me thinking, I'm up now.

TINO'S MOM: Well, I have your solstice present!

TINO: Oh cool! Is it Mind Melder?

TINO'S MOM: Well. that puts me in a very awkward position. Say it wasn't Mind Melder and I have to say no, and then you're all disappointed, even if I feel it's a very nice gift that I put a lot of thought into.

(Long pause)

TINO'S MOM: Yes. it's Mind Melder.

TINO: WOOHOO! (SHE hands him the game) I'm going to play it right now!

TINO'S MOM: Not to sound too selfish. but do I have a gift?

TINO: Huh? Oh yeah, it's the closet or something! WOOHOO! MIND MELDER 2! (He runs downstairs and puts it into his game system) Woohoo!! Okay, let's read the prologue: In the far reaches of space one man dares to. BLOW PEOPLE UP! Man, I love the intricate plot lines.

(Enter CARVER, LOR, and TISH)

TINO: Hey, what're you guys doing here?

LOR: When are we not wherever you are?

TINO: Good point.

CARVER: So.. Is this the game you were so hyped over?

TINO: Oh yes. Blowing up skulls like they've never been blown up before.

TISH: What's the game called again?

TINO: Mind Melder 2.

TISH: And it's about blowing brains up?

TINO: Indeed.

TISH: And I don't suppose any of you are bothered by the fact that to Meld means to HEAL. Which means the game should be about HEALING minds not the OPPOSITE.

LOR: It's a video game. Thinking's not condoned.

CARVER: Personally, I'm more interested in the fact that the guy you control looks exactly like Tino.

TINO: What?

LOR: Oh my god! It does! Dude, that is totally you!

TINO: Yeah. you know what. That is me.. WHOA.

TISH: Interesting. so. let's go get some pizza.

CARVER: I'm down.

LOR: Ditto.

TINO: Yeah, let me just finish up. (THEY all leave but TINO) Whoa.. He is so like me.. I almost feel like if I turn off the game I'll die too (he chuckles, the freezes) But. I mean. what if that game. is. an extension of me.. And if he dies.. OH I CAN'T RISK IT! Hmm.. If I just turn off the TV monitor. than the GAME is still playing. That should hold me through pizza. (HE leaves)

(2:30 AM)

TINO: Whew. this Zornon Zlayer guy his tough. If I fight him I'll probably lose. and that can't happen. maybe it says how to online though. I'll go check.

(Suddenly the door is slammed open)

TINO'S MOM: DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT TIME IT IS?

TINO: Either way it's too early or late to be yelling, Mom.

TINO'S MOM: Get to bed NOW and turn that thing OFF! TINO: Well. no. Mom. see. I can't do that! If I do, I'll die.

(HIS MOM stares)

TINO: Oh come on. It's one of my quirks. Just humor it. I'll just turn off the monitor on the TV and it's all good. Okay? Okay. (HE does so, then runs up to bed.)

TINO'S MOM: Where did I go wrong?

TINO (from upstairs) : I think with all the tofu.

(NEXT DAY, TINO'S playing MIND MELDER [I think you saw that coming], CARVER comes over)

CARVER: Hey T.

TINO: Can't talk. must evade Deltrino Ultima.

CARVER: Playing that game still? What level you at?

TINO: Um. 56.

CARVER: What? I was expecting one of those numbers. but not the two of them combined.

TINO: The two of them combined would be 11.

CARVER: Shut up, you know what I'm saying. What game even HAS 56 levels?

TINO: The best darn game this side of Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine.

CARVER: I don't see how you can have ever died and be at level 56.

TINO: I haven't died. I've been punctilious.

CARVER: What?

TINO: It means "very careful."

CARVER: Dude. way to tish.

TINO: Huh?

CARVER: Dude! Remember! Tishing! Man, that was catching on. Whatever happened to that? TINO: Look. I've been being so careful because I'm afraid if he (nods towards the TV dies) I'll die.

CARVER: . I don't recall asking why you were being so careful.

TINO: But weren't you going to?

CARVER: Who am I? Tish? What do I care?

TINO: So, I can continue with my crazy half-cocked fantasy?

CARVER: Go right ahead.

TINO: No one learned anything in this one did they?

CARVER: Yeah they did [grayed out background]. don't play video games with YOU as a hero.

TINO: Nice lesson.

CARVER: Word.

[Note: It was late and I was tired, I know it's horrible beyond belief, but in a weird way I really like it.]