Network
January 30th, 2021
Starring: CJ (male, 13ish), Mr. Grant (male, 70-85)
A weekday, early morning. A cramped, untidy one bedroom apartment. CJ is “asleep” on his bed (a pullout couch) in the living room. The sound of footsteps, car keys jangling, the door opening, then closing again. Home alone, CJ springs out of bed. He grabs his bulky gaming laptop off a table and boots it up.
With a close-up on the computer, we see the CJ scroll the cursor “Settings,” then “Network.” The screen reads: “No network connected.” CJ then scrolls to the button “Browse nearby networks,” and clicks. Nothing shows up.
CJ
Come on.
CJ moves with the laptop closer to the front door. Then, a network pops up:“G Net 88.” CJ grins and clicks. No password needed, the network connects. He drags a chair close to the door and pulls up his online multiplayer video game of choice. A cut. The digital microwave clock shows many hours have passed. CJ plays on.
And then, he can’t. The game crashes, failing to load.
CJ
fuck!
He pulls up “Settings,” then “Network,” which reads “No Network Connected.” Now, “Browse nearby networks” shows nothing.
CJ
damn
CJ peeks out the peephole. The hallway is empty, but notices a newspaper’s still at the door of an apartment down the way. He throws on a pair of flip-flops and a mask, then goes out the door, making his way towards apartment 9B: one door down, across the hall.
CJ picks up the paper at the doorstep, then knocks. No answer. He knocks again, waits, and still no answer.
Near the doorbell, he notices a “hearing aid” symbol. CJ, now understanding, rings it.
MR. GRANT (voice, from inside)
One minute please!
CJ waits. It takes about a minute. Mr. Grant opens the door. He’s pushing a walker, wearing a mask that reads “Proud Marine Veteran.”
CJ
Hello Mr. Grant.
MR. GRANT
Hello...
CJ
Erm
You forgot your paper.
MR. GRANT
Who are you?
CJ
Sorry it’s CJ. I’m CJ.
From 9D?
MR. GRANT
oh
Your mother’s the government gal?
CJ
Um…
she works for the TSA…?
MR. GRANT
Yeah. In the blue uniform.
CJ
That’s her.
MR. GRANT
I see her leaving sometimes when I get the paper. Early riser.
CJ
She lets me sleep.
MR. GRANT
And what do you do?
CJ
I’m in school.
MR. GRANT
College?
CJ
8th grade, sir.
MR. GRANT
hm
Grow ‘em big nowadays
Your Dad tall?
CJ
So I’ve been told.
MR. GRANT
Mm
...
They got you all online still?
CJ
Yes, sir.
MR. GRANT
Shame. Worse for you than it is for me.
…
You at recess right now, or something?
CJ
Um...yes. Yes sir.
We were playing virtual kickball, I thought it might be too noisy.
MR. GRANT
Oh, nono. If you are making noise, I can’t hear much anyways.
CJ
Good. I thought I’d ask. Be a good neighbor.
…
…
I’m sorry that we haven’t done more. You know, to help, during all this.
MR. GRANT
That’s alright. Sure you’ve got your own troubles to deal with.
CJ
Yes but…
well my Mom’s been talking to me about how important it is to connect to the community. To not take my network for granted.
MR. GRANT
Smart lady, your mother. Listen to her.
CJ
I try.
That’s why I came by, actually. To introduce myself.
MR. GRANT
That’s kind of you. I can tell you from my shoes that a little goes a long ways.
Hold onto that, you’ll be just fine.
CJ
Thank you, sir.
And if you ever need someone to move your couch or get some milk or just talk to someone, I’m around.
MR. GRANT
You’re very kind.
CJ
Even with other things too.
...
Like computer stuff, if that gives you trouble.
MR. GRANT
Much appreciated. I’ll keep that in mind.
…
CJ
...is there anything I could help you with now?
MR. GRANT
I don’t think so. You’ve done enough coming by.
CJ
Ok
...
Well it was nice meeting you, finally.
MR. GRANT
And you, CJ. Have a blessed day.
The door closes. CJ spins around and walks back to his door, pulling off his mask. He turns the knob, then realizes he’s locked himself out. CJ mutters a swear and flips over the welcome mat, finding the spare key. As he begins to unlock the door, Mr. Grant swings his door back open, balancing a small laptop on his walker:
MR. GRANT
CJ?
CJ, caught off guard, spins around, putting his mask back on.
CJ
Mr. Grant?
MR. GRANT
I thought of something you could help me with.
CJ
Sure, what is it?
MR. GRANT
I can’t seem to get my emails on here. I could this morning, so I’m not sure what’s wrong.
CJ
Oh
Weird
Do you mind if I see your computer?
Mr. Grant holds out his laptop. CJ takes it and opens the screen.
MR. GRANT
Can you fix it?
CJ
Well
It looks like you lost your internet connection.
Did you do anything to your router?
MR. GRANT
What?
CJ
Your router. Where the internet comes from.
MR. GRANT
I don’t know if I have one of those.
CJ
You do.
CJ looks inside to Mr. Grant’s apartment:
MR. GRANT
You can come in, if you need to.
CJ nods and walks in, followed by Mr. Grant. It’s the same size apartment, but much tidier. CJ scans the room. Sure enough, on a shelf next to a lamp, the router. He goes over to it.
CJ
This is your router.
MR. GRANT
Ah.
I thought that was for the tv.
CJ
Hehe, no.
Did you touch it by accident?
MR. GRANT
No...I don’t think so.
CJ
Hmmm
CJ follows the cord all the way to the ground.
CJ
Wait
It’s unplugged.
He walks to the cord and picks it up, waving it.
MR. GRANT
Oh...oh yes!
I plugged in the lamp, and I must’ve forgotten to…whoops
CJ
There’s our problem…!
MR. GRANT
Yes...things work better when they’re plugged in, don’t they?
CJ
Yes, sir.
...
You should be able to connect.
MR. GRANT
Yes...there it is.
What’s my network name?
CJ
G Net 88
MR. GRANT
How do you know?
CJ
I don’t.
I’m assuming. Because of the G. For Mr. Grant.
Try it?
Mr. Grant tries it. No password needed, and it connects. He pulls up his email.
MR. GRANT
That works.
CJ
Great!
CJ goes back to the doorway. Mr. Grant follows.
CJ
Sorry is there anything else?
MR. GRANT
Not for now. But if there’s any other problems, you’re my first knock.
CJ
Ok
You have a nice day now, Mr. Grant.
MR. GRANT
You’re a very fine young man, CJ. Nice to see a kid here on the right path.
CJ
Thank you
Sir.
They smile at the other under their masks. CJ leaves the doorway, back towards his own. Mr. Grant watches him, ensuring he gets back in. CJ waves, then closes the door. He pulls off his mask, and goes back to his own computer. He pulls up “Settings,” then “Network,” which reads “No Network Connected.” After clicking “Browse nearby networks,” “G Net 88” shows up again. CJ reconnects smiling, pulling back up his game. As it loads, he stops. He walks back to the peephole and looks out. He sees Mr. Grant turning around with his walker, still inching his way back inside his apartment. CJ’s face falls. He goes back to the computer and scrolls over the “Quit” button, contemplating. As he puts his hand down to click, the game loads. CJ stops his hand, scrolling away from “Quit.” He sighs, sits down, and begins to play again. The clock on the microwave ticks away.