Daily Dialogue — May 5, 2016
Danny is playing a video game when Walter walks into the room, shuts off the game console and takes up the TV remote.
DANNY: Hey!
WALTER: Dad said no video games.
DANNY: He did not. (Frustrated) Fine.
Walter settles into the chair and switches on a SpongeBob cartoon. As Danny gets into the story, Walter switches to a sports program.
DANNY: Hey. I was watching that. Can’t we watch SpongeBob?
WALTER: No.
DANNY: You used to like it.
WALTER: Times change.
DANNY: Tartar sauce. I’m hungry.
WALTER: So, what do you want me to do about it?
DANNY: Make me macaroni and cheese.
WALTER: I don’t know how.
DANNY: I’m hungry. What do you know how to make?
WALTER: Water.
Danny sighs and walks out of the room. A moment later he returns with a baseball and mitt.
DANNY: How about if you and me play catch?
WALTER: No.
Danny sits and tosses the ball into Walter’s lap. Walter rolls it back. Danny repeats, with the same result. On Danny’s third toss he hits Walter in the face with the ball.
WALTER: You’re dead!
DANNY: (Running) Sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!
Walter chases Danny through the house, eventually losing track of him upstairs.
WALTER: Danny? Where are you? Danny? Where are you, Danny? Danny? Where are you?
Danny is revealed to be hiding in the dumbwaiter. The doors suddenly open, and Walter is pissed.
WALTER: There you are.
DANNY: I said I was sorry. (Walter begins to lower the dumbwaiter cage.) Don’t! No! Don’t do that. It’s not funny.
WALTER: You’ll be safe in here until Dad gets back. (Raises the door.)
DANNY: You’re just jealous because Dad thinks I’m smarter than you. (Walter lowers the door.) I didn’t mean that. (Walter begins lowering the cage once more.) Walter! No! Pull me up! Don’t! Pull me up!
WALTER: What’s the matter, Danny? Not still scared of the basement, are you?
DANNY: Walter! No, Walter! Somebody! No! Pull me up! WALTER!
WALTER: Three-year-olds are scared of basements! (He slams the door shut.)
— Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005), screenplay by David Koepp and John Kamps, based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg
The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Brothers. Today’s suggestion by Will King.
Trivia: Originally conceived as a direct sequel to Jumanji (1995). The visual effects supervisor on that film, Ken Ralston, was lined up to direct before Columbia abandoned the project in favor of adapting Zathura.
Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by Will: “This scene sets up the rivalry between the two brothers, a rivalry that Walter will come to regret later in the story. We very quickly get the sense of resentment Walter feels toward Danny, and Danny’s desire to be liked by his older brother. We also learn of Danny’s fear of the basement, which will also figure prominently in the story later on.”