SIX MONTHS LATER
RICK
So, when are you leaving Earth?
JUNIOR
I'm not leaving Earth! I'm just going to the National Selection in DC...
RICK
National Selection my ass... It's all just a smokescreen!
JUNIOR
You're talking crazy...
RICK
Bullshit... They can't just pick you directly, so they have set up this, this... farce...
JUNIOR
Farce?
RICK
You know, like a burlesque, a travesty...
JUNIOR
Dude... Memorising the dictionary won't get you anywhere with the English teacher...
RICK
Don't change the subject! Who do you think they are going to send to the Global Selection? Some guy from Wyoming or the alien's best pal?
JUNIOR
And even if I get to the Global Selection there's no guarantee...
RICK
Hellooooo?!
Rick started knocking on Junior's head like you would a door.
RICK
Anybody home?!
JUNIOR
Cut it out!
RICK
AREN'T YOU LISTENING TO ME?! Who do you think that alien's going to pick but you?
JUNIOR
Konos won't be the one doing the picking!
RICK
You are so naive...
JUNIOR
It's true! The Selection Rules clearly state...
RICK
Forget the Selection Rules! You are going to be picked!
JUNIOR
Don't jinx it, man...
RICK
So you really wanna go...
JUNIOR
Of course I wanna go...
Rick remained silent for a while. When he finally spoke, he said
RICK
You really want to abandon everyone and leave?
JUNIOR
No, of course I don't want to abandon everyone...
RICK
But you are going to.
JUNIOR
They haven't chosen me!
RICK
Yeah, keep telling yourself and everyone else that lie...
JUNIOR
Rick, shut up for once!
RICK
No I won't shut up! Have you looked at your mother lately?
JUNIOR
Did you?!
RICK
Junior, she's aged like five years in the last few months! Even I can see that!
JUNIOR
I won't believe it...
RICK
I'm serious Junior, she's terrified of you leaving!
JUNIOR
Well.... she doesn't need to be worried.... they haven't picked me yet...
RICK
YET! There it is! They haven't picked you YET! You know they are going to pick you!
JUNIOR
So what?!
RICK
So what?! She won't say anything, but I will! You cannot do this to her! To all of us!
JUNIOR
Richard, this is none of your business!
Junior had never called his friend by his full name before. That shocked Rick into shutting up.
JUNIOR
This is my choice and no one else's. My mother agreed with me and there's nothing you can do to stop me.
Once again, Rick didn't reply right away. He got up, and as he was leaving he said
RICK
Be careful, Junior... If you keep being so selfish, Konos will not pick you...
Junior sat alone in his room for a while. Rick's words had hurt him. They hurt him even more because he knew them to be true.
