September 5, 1989
A good day’s work with Roland. The 3.5″ version is done – thank God. Now it’s really over.
The POP documentation is in, looks great. David K. gave me a box flat to take home. Eval disks are back from HLS. All the pieces are coming together.
Tony Trono said while cutting my hair: “Listen, the most important thing is that you have a good time. You’re only young once! In five years you’ll be 30. That’s the time of life when you stop asking a lot of questions and start to accept certain things and not try to change them. For now – have some fun! This time of your life will never come again.”
This from a man who’s all of 33. But he’s right. I’ve somehow gotten into the habit of worrying, in every situation: What’s the right thing to do? What’s the best thing? What could go wrong here, how can I avoid it going wrong? Fuck that! I’ve been working my butt off all year. If I don’t reap some of the rewards now, when will I?
I’m ready to enter my grasshopper phase. Someone please tell me how to do that?
September 6, 1989
Oliver found a bug in POP. I’m bummed – it was one I’d fixed once, too, and it somehow got undone. But it’s shippable, even with the bug, so that’s probably what they’ll decide to do. Shit.
For kicks, I reread the last version of In the Dark. You know what? It isn’t bad. A year and half of writing, and 45 minutes to read it. I don’t feel much urge to rewrite it –it’ll never be great – but it’s a valid document of my first attempt at a screenplay. The next one will be better.
September 7, 1989
Got a letter from Robert. Boy, it makes me wistful. I wish I were just starting Yale. Here I am full of this feeling of impending change, of being young and on the brink of some thrilling new adventure… and I have nothing planned.
They signed off POP today. Brian invited the boys from QA to his office backyard for root beer and champagne. Bill was there too. It really is over.
Brian gave me the pitch again about doing a sequel. I know it’s a great opportunity to make some fast bucks for a few months’ work, but, jeez… I don’t care about that. I want something new and exciting and momentous to happen.
Maybe all I need is a vacation.
Maybe it’s partly the weather. It feels like fall. Smells like fall. Makes me feel like classes should be starting.
I just want everything to change. Now. Is that too much to ask?
September 8, 1989
Brian took me into the warehouse and showed me the cartons of POP boxes and manuals. He let me steal half a dozen to take home.
September 11, 1989
Virginia called with an offer from James Alex to option In the Dark for 18 months against a purchase price of $40,000.
The price is ignominiously low – I think it’s even below Guild minimum – but more important, who is this guy? And where is his funding coming from?
I didn’t like it when Virginia said “Just trust me.” And “You owe me.” I do owe her, but I hated like hell to hear her say it.
September 12, 1989
Gary Cosay never heard of James Alex. He offered to advise me as a favor, but he won’t be officially representing me.
Brian got a call from Henry Yamamoto, who wants all Japanese rights for POP, including Nintendo (!) It would be better for me financially if Broderbund USA does the Nintendo version, but this is a good development because it’ll create urgency for Alan to get the ball rolling. Kind of like a bidding war.
