October 21, 2005
Week 25 - The Quest 4
Episode 5
Hal steps into the lunch room. Seated alone, reading at a table by a far wall, is Murray Rosen. Hal stares at him. Then he walks to the opposite side of the cafeteria and sits down. He begins to unpack his lunch.
He pulls a salami sandwich from a brown bag. It is tightly sealed in thick plastic wrap.
As he begins to unpeel it, he looks across the room. After a few moments, he shoves the sandwich back into the bag and stands up.
He walks to Murray's table and sits down next to him.
"Hey," he says.
Murray glances at him. Then he turns back to his magazine. "Hey," he mumbles.
Hal pulls his sandwich from his bag again and continues unwrapping it. "So... Kill Ravage..."
Murray shrugs and turns a page, revealing a large illustration of Spiderman.
"Um...," Hal continues. "That was, um, something yesterday... I couldn't even get near you."
"You were wide open the whole time. I could've finished you in, like, five seconds, if I felt like it."
"Well, why didn't you tell me you were Kill Ravage? Why'd you have to make me feel like such an idiot?"
Murray shrugs again. "Figure you're used to it..."
"Jesus, you just don't quit! I'm trying to be friendly here."
"I don't need friendship from douche bag lamers."
Hal shakes his head. "You know, when I first saw Chuckie and those other guys ranking on you... I felt bad. But you deserve all of it. You're not just a dork, you're an asshole!"
"Maybe... But you could play Death Zone every second of your life from now till when you're in a nursing home and you'll still never be half as good as me!"
Once again, Hal shoves his sandwich back into his bag. "Yeah, well... Death Zone's just a game. If I gotta turn into a sad little greaseball loser like you to win at it... well, screw that."
Murray watches as Hal stands up and walks away. Then he bites his lip and turns back to the magazine.