Basil: Missing In Action. Me: That’s…old. That’s one of the very first Ryan and Hallie stories. Basil: But they have a kid. Me: … … … … What? Basil: They hooked up right before he left town and she found out a couple months later she was pregnant, but didn’t know how to contact him so she never told him. Me: This is just Dangerous Connection. Only she moved across the country instead of him….
Basil: Heavy Metal Drummer and New Years Eve. Me: A Wilco Song and an Overrated Holiday for $1000. Basil: Two Stories You’ve Barely Touched Since I Handed Them To You Yet Again for $100. Me: You just named two different ideas which generally means—. Basil: Combine them. Me: Another fucking hybrid. You really like Frankensteining ideas lately. Basil: Just let it happen. Me: These are not compatible stories. Basil: Yes they are. Me: Okay. Let’s…
Basil: Drive. Me: …Drive… James and Kailyn. This is different. Okay. I’m listening. Basil: And Wicked. Me: Oh lord. Where could this possibly go. Basil: Combine them. Me: Combine the—WHY. And HOW. Basil: Layers. Me: What does that even mean? Basil: It’ll add so much depth. Me: On a calendar the whole of Drive takes place at the tail end of Wicked. What purpose would it serve to combine them? And how would those two…
Basil: What if she’s the nanny? Me: You’ve already done this one. Basil: Different She. Me: How is that a different story? Basil: Different He, too. Me: Different characters do not a different story make. Basil: She nannys for her brother’s kids. Me: …And? Basil: He is her sister-in-law’s brother. Me: Am I going to need to draw a map for this? Basil: They meet when He’s staying with his sister and She is taking…
Basil: Whatcha doin’? Me: Looking at house plans. Basil: For which story? Me: Nothing in particular. Just browsing. Basil: Ooh, what’s that one? Me: It’s over seven thousand square feet. Way too big for anything I’m looking for. Basil: I thought you were just browsing. Me: I am. Within reason. Basil: Look at it anyway. Me: Fine. If you’ll shush. Basil: That’s a nice house. Me: It’s fine if you’re looking for something the size…
