June 22, 2005
Week 9 - Impossible Dreams, Prelude 2
Episode 3
Powell has dinner at Rantz's nearby home. Afterward, they talk in the den.
“I… I’m not sure what to do…” Powell says. “I learned something about Mr. Lamont… something huge… but if I print it, it’d really embarrass his family…”
“Well,” Rantz says, “I mean, they invited you, right? They called the magazine to set up the interview… They’re kind of responsible for whatever happens right?”
“I guess… but I still feel bad… I don’t want to hurt anybody...”
Hal walks in with Chuck Agnew. Rantz introduces them to Powell.
“So, you write about comic books and sci fi, right?” Chuck asks.
“Um… mostly.” Powell answers.
“So you must be, like, a fan of that stuff, right?”
“Sure…”
“So let me ask you something, just, like, scientifically, you know? If someone wanted to make fun of someone into that stuff… you know, just hypothetically… which would be a bigger insult… ‘nerd’ or ‘geek’?”
Hal suppresses a giggle. Powell’s face turns red. “I’m not sure if…”
“See,” Chuck continues, “‘nerd’ gets the thought across perfectly, you know? But it sounds all retro, like ‘Happy Days’ and stuff. ‘Geek’ is more… more now, right? But people might think you’re talking about some computer genius with a billion dollars or something, and that kind of defeats the purpose of the insult, right?”
Rantz stands up. “All right, Chuck, I think you two should just go to Hal’s room or something…”
“I’m just talking scientifically, right?” Chuck says, as he and Hal leave.
“Sorry about that,” Rantz says after they’ve gone. “That kid’s kind of a jerk… His father’s no better.”
Powell shrugs. “It’s all right. It’s nothing I haven’t heard before.”
“So you’re gonna have to make up your mind about the article soon, one way or another…”
Powell clenches and unclenches his fist. “I already have… I’m going to write it.”