INT. JOEL'S ROOM
Joel is lying on the bed, reading a book.
Morgan is at his desk as usual, but this time, he's actually reading a book, too.
BUZZ... BUZZ...
Joel looks at his phone. Picks it up.
Morgan glances at him.
Joel looks back. A subtle smile.
Morgan's face glows up.
MORGAN: Wonder Woman?!
JOEL: Her name is Cathy, but yeah.
Morgan swings his wheelchair around.
MORGAN: Read it!
Joel peeks at Morgan, then back down at his phone.
MORGAN: Out loud! Lemme hear!
Joel grins and somewhat hesitantly starts reading:
JOEL: Hi! Sorry to bother you... again... but my dad's got a super old desktop –
MORGAN: – told you so, women are using us –
JOEL: Right. – that's been acting up, and he needs some files for a very important meeting... TOMORROW. (to Morgan) Sorry, my dyslexia is acting up.
Morgan reaches for a bag of chili nuts and starts munching.
JOEL: I know this is really short notice, but any chance you could help? I can pick you up... and drive you back... once we're done.
MORGAN: Ooh! She wanna pick you up!
JOEL: Shut up!
MORGAN: That's all?
JOEL: Eh...
MORGAN: C'mon, read it!
JOEL: This really means a lot to me, and afterward, you can ride me –
Morgan starts coughing vigorously.
JOEL: Bro, you OK?!
MORGAN (still coughing): I'm good. It's just the nuts. Some real spice right there...
JOEL: – my – sorry, that's my dyslexia again. You can ride my – in my – Jeep. You can ride in my Jeep!
MORGAN: Bro, your dyslexia almost killed me!
JOEL: You said it was the nuts!
Morgan gives him a look. Really?
JOEL (returns to phone, trailing off): For a quick canyon sunset getaway... if you want to... before we head back.
MORGAN: And that's all?
JOEL: Yeah.
Joel stares at the screen. Photos from Cathy.
A selfie of the same, playfully pleading face she gave him earlier, but now next to an old desktop computer.
Another selfie. She, next to her Jeep, pointing to the desert in the background. She looks like Lara Croft in the sunset.
MORGAN: Dude, you should totally go for it!
JOEL: Are you nuts? Lin would kill me!
MORGAN: No way! She'll understand.
Joel stares at him. Not gonna happen.
MORGEN: Okay, maybe she won't understand, but what are you gonna do then? Leave the girl hanging?
JOEL: She can ask someone else for help!
MORGAN: It's Saturday! Campus IT is closed, and everyone else is at barbecue.
JOEL: You're right. Who has an important meeting on a Sunday?
MORGAN: I dunno! Maybe her dad works in a hospital? As a heart surgeon! Who knows why he's having a meeting on a Sunday? She says it's important! Didn't your grandma teach you all this "love your neighbor stuff"?
JOEL: She's drop-dead gorgeous!
MORGAN: And? That's the reason you don't wanna help her? So you would help an ugly person, but not her, since she is hot? Well, that seems fair.
Joel tries to make sense of it all. Looks at Morgan, looks at the phone, looks at anything at all. Takes a deep breath and something that might have been a one-second prayer.
JOEL: Do NOT tell Lin about this, OK?
Morgan's face turns into a huge grin. Adventure is on.
YOU ARE READING
Love/Survival
RomanceOn paper, 20-year-old twins Cathy and Matt have everything going for them. Their mom is a Brazilian supermodel, and their dad is a decorated Navy SEAL. In reality, though, Mark, their dad, is retired with PTSD, and their mom, Sabrina, split long ago...
