Jack: Somebody finally arrived. You finally got here. Mr. Prompt.
Mrs Erganian: Oh, remember my kids? Alex, Helen?
Miles: Hi. How areyou?
Mr Erganian: We were thinking maybe you went the wrong way, you went to Tijuana…
Miles: Right.
Mr Erganian: And they don't let you back.
Miles: Yes! Yes! I had to bribe them.
Chiristine: Hey, Miles.
Miles: Hey. How are you, Christine? Yeah, the freeway was unbelievable. Unbelievable. It was bumper-to-bumper the whole way. People getting an early start on the weekend, I guess. Granted, I got a late start, but--
Chiristine: Well, we're just glad you made it.
Miles: Yes.
Mrs. Erganian: Christine, why don't you ask Miles about the cake?
Christine: Oh, good idea. Come with me.
Miles: What's this?
Jack: We don't really have time for that, 'cause we gotta hit the road.
Christine: Oh, come on!It's just gonna take a second!
Mrs. Erganian: Yeah. Jack tells us you are publishing a book. Congratulations.
Miles: Uh.
Mr Erganian: Yes, congratulations.
Miles: Yes, well, uh, it's not exactly finalized yet. So-- There has been some interest, and—
Mrs. Erganian: Your friend is modest.
Jack: Oh, come on, Miles. Don't be so modest. Indulge them. Don't make me out to be a liar.
Mr Erganian: What is the subject of your book? Nonfiction?
Miles: Uh,no. It's-- It's a novel. Fiction.
Mr Erganian: Yes.
Miles: Oh. Although there is quite a bit from my own life, so I suppose that, technically, some of it is nonfiction.
Mr Erganian: Good. I like nonfiction. There is so much to know about this world. I think you read something somebody just invented it, waste of time.
Miles: That's an interesting perspective.
Chiristine: So, which one do you like better?
Miles: Oh, well, I like them both. But, um, if pressed, I would have to say that I prefer the dark.
Jack: Told ya! Bye-bye.
Mr Erganian: Bye.
Miles: Bye.
Jack: Bye. Where the fuck were you, man? Huh? I was dying in there. We're supposed to be a hundred miles away by now.
Miles: I can't help the traffic.
Jack: Oh, come on. You're fucking hungover. You know you are.
Miles: Okay, there was a tasting last night, yes. But I wanted to get us something nice for the ride up. Check out the box. Why did you tell them that my novel was being published?
Jack: 'Cause you said you had it all lined up.
Miles: No, I didn't. No. No. What I said was that there was some interest at Conundrum.
Jack: Yeah. Conundrum.
Miles: And that one of the editors was passing it up to a senior editor.
Jack: Sounds pretty good to me. Sounds like you're in.
Miles: No. It's a long shot. Besides, Conundrum, it's just a small specialty press. Anyway, I'm not gonna get my hopes up. You know? I've stopped caring. The hell with it. I have stopped caring.
Jack: It sounds like it's gonna happen this time. I mean, I can feel it.
