Quest at the Multiplex
by James Kenney
Yo Yo Homey, wassup?
I’m at the movies, seeing QUEST FOR BLOOD.
For reals? What theater?
Kew Gardens Midway 17.
I’m here too, I’m seeing THE MAN FROM DEATH ISLAND!
I saw that, it’s tragically bad, man.
Really?
Indeed. Nowhere near as good as DEATH ISLAND RISES.
Aww man. All right, maybe I’ll find my way to you.
Nah, don’t worry about it.
What do you mean don’t worry? You don’t wanna meet up with me? I’m still smartin’ after the break up with Eva.
I’m here on a date, homes.
You took a girl to see QUEST FOR DEATH?
Why not. Some girls are cool!
Yo, I wanna meet this chick.
Dude, enjoy DEATH ISLAND.
You just said it sucked!
Stop texting me during the movie!
So are you making out with her???
Yes!!!!
So dude, why are you texting me if you’re making out with her???
Here’s where I text “sigh.”
Dude?? I haven’t kissed a gal since Eva. Are her lips like cherry wine?
Dude?? Don’t ignore me, this movie sucks, I can’t follow it.
Leave me alone!
OK, I’m in the next theater. It’s something called THE MAIMER.
Sounds pretty good.
Oh, wait, Nicolas Cage is in it. It must suck. I’m outta here!
Yo, I’m in QUEST FOR BLOOD. I don’t see you.
That’s cuz it’s a dark theater!
Use flashlight on your phone, lemme find you.
Get out of here! I’m here with a girl!
This place is crowded, this movie must be good. It smells nice in here, too!
Can you believe it, some automaton in a red jacket is asking me to leave!
I bought a ticket, FREEDOM OF SPEECH or whatever!
Yo, you there, dude?
Dude, you there?
Dude. There you be?
(Pretend I said that in a Yoda voice)
I’m here, WTF do you want?
I’m on the roof!
What???
They threw me out, but there’s a fire escape, I’m on the roof. I’m coming back in!
Why?
QUEST FOR BLOOD looked good!
Just leave me alone!
Yo I just searched the whole theater. You ain’t in here!
Will you stop texting me? We switched theaters.
Yo, I just realized why QUEST FOR BLOOD smelled so good! That’s that perfume Eva uses, “Underwater Romance.”
OK, last text: I’m sure more than one girl wears “underwater romance”
You’re with Eva! I’m gonna find you and punch your chest so hard your heart flies outta your mouth!
F You!
Ok I found the chick flick. ROSES FOR HER. I know she dragged you in here, to escape my wrath!
Dude, leave me alone!
You know, this is pretty good. It’s messed up what that guy is doing to Reese Witherspoon.
I’m kinda misty-eyed. Reese has cancer and her husband left her, but she’s a survivor, man!!!
This is a side of you I don’t know, Fabio.
OK that got too real! Back to killing you!
They’re trying to throw me out again!
Ha! I’m quick like ninja!
Where are you?
I know where you are. BABY GUPPIES ON THE TWINKLE TRAIL.
Find a kid’s movie that no one is in, and make out with Eva there!
I found you two! Ha buddy, enjoy this!
What are you talking about?
I just poured a soda on your head.
No you didn’t.
I know. Turns out someone else brought his girl into BABY GUPPIES to make out.
You dummy.
I didn’t know we had a Hell’s Angels chapter in our town, but his vest indicates otherwise.
Are you all right?
Yeah, I ran out in the lobby, QUEST FOR BLOOD is letting out, so it’s crowded.
He’s beating on some random stranger.
Great.
Why Eva, buddy. Why Eva???
She didn’t want to stay with you. Thought you were crazy.
Crazy people need love to. Now which theater are you in?
I ain’t telling you.
I know, that’s why I got up to the projection booth.
I’m gonna turn up the houselights in all the theaters and ferret you out!
Dude, calm down!
Lights up! Boom! KILLER STANDS ALONE! Boom! SPACE CADETS! Boom! UNFINISHED BUSINESS…
Are you really crazy?? Get out of there!
Man, I’ve only seen 90 seconds of UNFINISHED BUSINESS, but Meryl Streep is great in anything!
Where’s the projectionist???
The place is fully automated. The future, man. The future. Machines taking over everything. TERMINATOR, man!
You better get out of there!
Yeah, they’re pounding at the door. But I turned the lights up in all the theaters but one. THE MAIMER!
I’m not in there!
Yes you are. You picked a Nicolas Cage film knowing it would be terrible...
...and Eva would be bored, and have no choice but to make out with you!
Fabio, I’m not in there!
OK I made it in! I squeezed through the little projection window, it turns out they’re big enough to squeeze through.
I’ll file that for future use.
So I forgot to turn the house lights up before I did that. This would be easier with the lights up.
Still, you’re going down, man!
OK, you win. I am in the theater. But I’m not in the Nic Cage film.
I know. It turns out the only guy here is Nic Cage himself.
What?
Nic Cage is sitting here alone in the third row, weeping softly.
Aww. Weird. Well, tell him I loved him in THE ROCK.
I told him. He nodded slightly, but his face is in his hands.
Look. Come out in the lobby. I want to talk to you.
Nah, me and Nic are discussing this movie we’re gonna make together about my adventures tonight.
He’s gonna play me, and I’m gonna play you. We’re gonna shoot in Romania.
Call it THEATER OF PAIN. Or TEAR-COVERED POPCORN.
Catchy titles. Look, me and Eva are gonna go.
Ahh go ahead. We’re spitballing titles now. Whadya think of YOUR TICKET OR YOUR HEART?
Wait, where is Eva???
I don’t know, you tell me.
She was here a minute ago.
Follow the “Underwater Romance”
I am!
Nic thinks he should do a sequel to LEAVING LOS VEGAS where he comes back to life as an alcoholic vampire.
OMG
What is it?
Eva’s leaving with the Hells Angel and his girlfriend!
Both girls can fit on the back of his bike???
No. He’s got a sidecar. ☹
Huh. Apparently he’s prepared for situations like this. Nic says “Goodnight,” buddy.
Goodnight, Nic.
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