June 30, 2005
Week 10 - The Wet Laptop
Episode 4
Rantz stands in the men’s room, holding the lap top under a hot air hand dryer.
“What do you think?” Harry asks. “Is it working?”
“Looks like it…” Rantz says, over the growl of the blower. “I really hate these dryers... I don’t know why we don’t have paper towels also.”
Harry shrugs. “Studies have proven this is much more sanitary…”
“But what about your face, huh? Did you ever think of that! What if you want to wash your face! Are you supposed to blow hot air up your nose?”
“You make a good point…”
Powell steps in to the bathroom. He looks at them. “Um… Rantz is… uh, blow drying a computer…”
“Yup.” Harry says.
“And… uh… Harry… You’re just wearing a tee-shirt…”
Harry puts his arm around Powell’s shoulder. “That’s why this kid is my star reporter! His powers of observation are unmatched!”
The blower turns off. Rantz studies the laptop. “I think this is about as dry as it’s going to get… Let me turn it on and see what happens…” He pushes a button and the computer comes to life with a soft whir. After a moment, there is a quiet scraping noise and it stops. Rantz looks at the screen. “Error 31Y! What the hell is Error 31Y?”
“Ask the Dancing Paperclip,” Harry says. “The Paperclip knows all things!”
“I can’t even get to the f---ing Paperclip! It’s just a black screen!”
Harry shrugs. “You’re screwed.”
“This thing cost me over a thousand dollars!”
“Um…” Powell says, “I think you may just have to reformat the hard disc…”
“That means I’ll lose all my work!” Rantz shouts, as he shuts the laptop. “God damn it!” He leaves.
“That is not a happy man…” Harry says.
“Um…” Powell looks at him. “You’re not wearing a shirt…”