Monday, September 29, 2014

The Game Off

INT. DEXTER’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

DEXTER, 27, thin and scrawny with trimmed brown hair, wears a headset. He plays a game on his computer.

                         DEXTER
               (Into headset)
               Zac cover the left side! Laura I need to be healed!

Dexter CLICKS his mouse ferociously.

INT. ZAC’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY

ZAC, 24, heavyset with shaggy hair and tight clothes, wears an identical headset as Dexter. He frowns at his computer screen.

                         ZAC
               (into headset)
               Dex I’m getting slaughtered!

                         DEXTER (V.O.)
               Hold it or we’ll fail the whole thing.

INSERT - COMPUTER SCREEN

ZAC’S GAME CHARACTER, a large blue warlock, swings a large club. A mob of ENEMIES surround him and shoot him with arrows.

A final arrow strikes him in the head. He falls to the ground.

BACK TO SCENE

                         ZAC
               Damnit!

Zac SLAMS the desk with is hands.

INT. DEXTER’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

Dexter shoves his keyboard away from him.

                         DEXTER
               Zac!

Dexter runs his hands through his hair.

INT. CHAD’S OFFICE - DAY

CHAD, 25, stunningly handsome with blonde hair and blue eyes, sits back in his seat and grins.

                         CHAD
               Uh oh, you done pissed off our fearless leader. Better run, Zac.

Chad drinks from a cup.

INT. DEXTER’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

Dexter sits at his desk.

                         DEXTER
               I’m not mad. It’s just, Laura’s boyfriend is probably wanting her to get off and we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to try again.

INT. LAURA’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY

LAURA, 28, beautiful, slightly heavyset, wears an aged headset, presses a button.

                          LAURA
               No, we can try again. What’s another two hours amongst friends?

                         CHAD (V.O.)
               Prince Charming is cool with that?

                         LAURA
               Chris and I broke up a couple of months ago.

INT. DEXTER’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

Dexter perks up in his seat.

                         DEXTER
               Wow, I guess we’ll have to go out some time, haha.

Dexter pauses.

                         CHAD (V.O.)
               I’d pay to see that. The most socially awkward person on the planet out on a date with Laura.

                         ZAC (V.O.)
               He’s not socially awkward.

                         CHAD (V.O.)
               Maybe not online. But I remember Dex in high school as the senior who always ate lunch in the corner by himself.

Dexter’s Frowns.

He reaches for the power button on his computer.

                         ZAC (V.O.)
               Dude what the fu...

Dexter powers off the computer. He stands up and walks towards an open door.

INT. DEXTER’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY

Dexter falls face first into his bed.

EXT. DEXTER’S HOUSE - DAY

Zac gets out of his car, walks to the front door, and knocks.

Dexter opens the door.

                         DEXTER
               What are you doing here?

                         ZAC
               Well since you were ignoring my calls, I figured I’d make sure you didn’t hang yourself.
             
                         DEXTER
               I didn’t.

                         ZAC
               Clearly.

Dexter and Zac look at each other.

                         ZAC (CONT’D)
               So, are you going to invite me in?

Dexter moves from the door Zac enters.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Zac sits on the couch.

Dexter walks into the kitchen.

                         ZAC
               So what the hell was that all about? With Chad I mean?

Dexter enters with two beers. He hands one to Zac.

                         DEXTER
               The dude’s a douche.

Dexter sits on the couch.

                         ZAC
               I thought you were friends.

Zac places his beer on the coffee table. Dexter picks it up and places a coaster under it.

                         DEXTER
               So did I. But he’s still the same jerk from high school embarrassing me in front of a girl I like.

Zac looks around the apartment.

                         ZAC
               You’re a bit of a neat freak, huh?

Dexter nods.

                         ZAC (CONT’D)
               I didn’t know you liked Laura. You should go for it, man. I bet she’d say yes.

Dexter takes a sip of his beer.

                         DEXTER
               Chad is right, though. The only friends I have are online. I’ve never been a social person outside of that realm.

                         ZAC
               Dude, we’re having this conversation in person. Chad’s a jealous baby who likes to hurt people. We should boot him from the guild.

Dexter looks towards Zac.

                         DEXTER
               You’re right.

                         ZAC
               So you’ll kick him?

                         DEXTER
               Not that. I should give it shot, huh? You and I became good online friends before we met in person.

                         ZAC
               True.

                         DEXTER
               Laura and I have gotten pretty close, so maybe she’s comfortable with the idea.

Dexter stands up and walks to his desk.

                         ZAC
               Sounds to me like you’re the one who’s getting comfortable with the idea. She’s not as weird as you are.

Dexter smirks and turns his computer on.

He logs into his game and checks the guild board.

Chad and Laura are logged in.

Dexter puts on his headset.

                         DEXTER
               Laura. I know I was kidding before, but I like you a lot and I think we should go on a date.

Silence.

                         DEXTER (CONT’D)
               If you want to, that is.

                         CHAD (V.O.)
               Oh my God. I literally just threw up in my mouth a little.

                         DEXTER
               Why are you still here?

                         CHAD (V.O.)
               Oh I was having a little chat with Laura before she went A.F.K. It was nice a quiet until you spewed verbal diarrhea all over the channel.

Zac pulls out his laptop and types.

                         ZAC
               Dude, what did she say?

Dexter mutes his headset.

                         DEXTER
               She’s not here, it’s just Chad being an ass.

                         ZAC
               I’m logging in.

Zac types on his computer.

INT. CHAD’S OFFICE - DAY

Chad fiddles with the cord on his headset.

                         CHAD
               Funny story, Dex. I like Laura too and I think I’m going to ask her out.

                         DEXTER (V.O.)
               I don’t think you’re her type.

Chad leans forward in his chair.

                         CHAD
               Oh, I’m exactly her type. I’m good looking, amazing in bed, and I’m not afraid to be in public. But I’ll throw you a bone.

Chad smiles and leans back.

INT. DEXTER’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

Zac puts his headset on.

                         CHAD (V.O.)
               I’ll back off from Laura if you make me the guild leader.

                         ZAC
               Don’t do it. He’ll just kick you out and claim all the gold we’ve earned as his own.

                         CHAD
               Stay out of it, troll. Let the grown ups talk.

Dexter mutes his mic and sits back in his chair.

                         DEXTER
               Give up the guild for Laura? That doesn’t seem fair.

                         ZAC
               That’s because it’s not.

Dexter unmutes his mic.

                         DEXTER
               No. I’m going to ask her out as well and she can decide who she wants to date.

                         CHAD (V.O.)
               It’ll be me. We both know this. The difference is, you actually care about her and all I want to do is get her naked and...

                         ZAC
               Stop! Why don’t you guys handle this through a challenge. The best of three in player versus player gets the guild and Laura.

INT. CHAD’S OFFICE - DAY

Chad taps his mouth with his finger.

                         CHAD
               I’ll agree to that. But let’s make it interesting. Let’s do it in person.

INT. DEXTER’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

                         DEXTER
               What? Why?

                         CHAD (V.O.)
               To make sure there are no lag issues, of course. And so I can see your face the moment after I defile your avatar.

                         DEXTER
               Fine. I’ll be there.

                         CHAD (V.O.)
               Tomorrow, noon, at LANS R US.

EXT. LANS R US - DAY

Dexter and Zac sit in a car. They stare at the internet cafe.

                         DEXTER
               He’s pretty good.

                         ZAC
               No, his character is good. Mage is the easiest class to be good at. You don’t think this dim witted jock has skill, do you?

                         DEXTER
               Maybe not, but he is a jock, and jocks are more competitive than lonely shut ins like myself.

                         ZAC
               It’s time.

Zac and Dexter get out of the car and walk towards the cafe.

                         ZAC (CONT’D)
               You’re psyching yourself out. The knight is a good character and you’re so much smarter. Just stay focused on the prize.

INT. LANS R US - DAY

Dexter sets his laptop on the table and starts it up.

Zac sits next to him.

Chad walks into the cafe. He is well dressed. He winks at a waitress and strides over to Dexter.

                         CHAD
               Let’s get this over with, noob. I have a date later.

                         ZAC
               With who?

                         CHAD
               Ah, some bimbo I work with. I need to get it out of the way now so I’ll have more room for Laura.

Chad winks at Dexter who scowls back.

Chad sets his laptop up and both players get logged in.

A small crowd gathers around.

                         ZAC
               Okay. I will be officiating the match. This is a best of three player versus player match. The winner will presumably win Laura’s love, and take control of the guild.

Dexter wipes his sweaty hands on his jeans.

Chad cracks his knuckles and neck like a boxer getting ready to enter the ring.

                         ZAC (CONT’D)
               The player will win if they kill  the other person or burn down the other player’s capital city. Are you ready?

Chad nods his head.

                         DEXTER
               Let’s do this.

The match begins.

INSERT - COMPUTER SCREEN

DEXTER’S KNIGHT moves through the virtual world.

He rides a horse over amountain and spots CHAD’S MAGE at the bottom.

The Knight shoots an arrow at the Mage.

The Mage whips around and sends a fireball towards the Knight.

The Knight deflects the fireball with his shield. It hurtles right back into the Mage, killing it.

BACK TO SCENE

Chad shakes his head.

Dexter nods his head and smiles.

                         ZAC
               Round one goes to Dexter!

Round two begins.

Dexter sweats profusely. He uses his sleeve to wipe off his forehead.

INSERT - COMPUTER SCREEN

CHAD’S MAGE spots DEXTER’s KNIGHT.

The Mage sneaks up behind the Knight and assassinates him with a knife through the throat.

BACK TO SCENE

                         CHAD
               WHOO!

                         ZAC
               Round two goes to Chad.

Dexter shakes his head.

                         DEXTER
               I wasn’t even playing yet, what the hell?

                         CHAD
               Can it nerd. Play the game or go home.

Dexter wipes his hands off again. He peers into the crowd and sees Laura. She smiles at him. Dexter quickly looks away.

Round three begins.

INSERT - COMPUTER SCREEN

DEXTER’S KNIGHT rides his horse.

THE MAGE spots the Knight first and shoots fire and ice at him.

The Knight’s gets hit. His health is low. The Knight rides over the hill to safety.

BACK TO SCENE

Dexter frowns. He looks to Zac.

Zac subtly nods towards a fire extinguisher on the wall.

                         DEXTER
               The capital city.

INSERT - COMPUTER SCREEN

THE KNIGHT circles behind CHAD’s MAGE.

The Mage walks over the mountain where the Knight was hiding.

The Knight finds the capital city of the Mage and sets fire to it.

                         CHAD
               Oh, very clever. You can’t beat me in a fight so you try to attack my city?

                         DEXTER
               Can it, nerd.

The Mage races to his city and extinguishes the fire.

The Knight sneaks up behind the Mage and assassinates him with a swift jab of his sword.

BACK TO SCENE

Dexter jumps out of his seat.

                         ZAC
               Dexter wins!

Chad SLAMS the lid of his laptop.

                         CHAD
               That’s bullshit and you know it!

Dexter shuts his laptop and faces Chad.

                         DEXTER
               You’re out of the guild, Chad, and stay away from Laura.

Chad smiles at Dexter.

He sees Laura in the crowd and walks over to her.

                         CHAD
               Hey, Laura. You’re looking great.

Laura rolls her eyes.

                         LAURA
               Hi, Chad.

                         CHAD
               Say, would you like to go on a date with me tonight?

Laura’s makes disgusted face.

                         LAURA
               God no! Besides, don’t you have a date with a bimbo you work with?

Chad’s face turns red and he storms out of the cafe.

Laura approaches Dexter, who packs up his laptop.

                         LAURA (CONT’D)
               Well that was fun to watch.

Dexter, still sweaty, looks up.

                         DEXTER
               Oh, hey, hi, Laura.

Laura smiles

                         LAURA
               So you guys had a battle over who got to be guild leader?

                         DEXTER
               Yes, well. You were actually part of the prize too. I should’ve told you.

                         LAURA
               Relax. I knew the whole time.

Dexter makes solid eye contact for the first time.

                         DEXTER
               You did? How?

                         LAURA
               I got tired of talking to Chad. He’s such a jerk. So I told him I was A.F.K. But I wasn’t.

Dexter and Laura both laugh.

                         DEXTER
               So you heard?

                         LAURA
               Everything, yup. I also heard him schedule a date with his co-worker. Would you like to grab some dinner?

Dexter smiles and holds his hand out to Laura. She takes it and they walk out of the cafe.

EXT. RESTARAUNT - NIGHT

Dexter and Laura are chatting with each other.





FADE OUT

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