(Lance and Blue stand before Mt. Silver. Lance looks up at the mountain while Blue kicks a rock with his foot. Lance glances at him, but Blue continues playing with the rock. Lance looks back up at the mountain. Blue remains focused on the rock.)
LANCE
Blue. It’s you again. I thought you’d left the region for good.
BLUE
How could I? I’m a Gym Leader! I have responsibilities here, unlike some people.
LANCE
And I am the Pokémon Champion. Since he left, at least.
BLUE
Since who left?
LANCE
Red.
BLUE
Oh, yeah. Red. He’s up in the mountain.
LANCE
Yes. You’re a Gym Leader, and I’m the Champion. Yet I’m not at the League, and you’re not at your Gym.
BLUE
So… what are we doing?
LANCE
Waiting for Red. Just like yesterday.
BLUE
Yesterday... Yeah. Yesterday, Gold told us Red would come down tomorrow. And tomorrow is today!
LANCE
So Gold spoke to Red. How did he manage that?
BLUE
Duh, he climbed the mountain and talked to him.
LANCE
And why don’t we?
BLUE
Why don’t we?
LANCE
We’d disturb his training. No, we can’t do such a thing.
BLUE
But what kind of training is Red even doing?
LANCE
I don’t know. We’ll ask him when he comes down.
BLUE
Yeah. Gold said Red would come down today, so.
LANCE
But I should be at the League, and you should be at your Gym.
BLUE
You’re right. Let’s leave.
LANCE
But we can’t leave. We’re waiting for Red.
BLUE
True.
(Silence. Lance looks up at the mountain. Blue continues kicking the rock.)
BLUE
How long have we been waiting?
LANCE
Since he left.
BLUE
So... forever?
LANCE
No. If we’d been waiting forever, we’d be dead. Of course, humans can’t live forever.
BLUE
It does feels like forever, though.
LANCE
And it feels like we’re dead.
BLUE
But we’re not dead. We remember things! His voice. Do you remember it?
LANCE
No. He never said a word.
BLUE
When Red comes down, how will we talk to him?
LANCE
We won’t talk. We’ll battle. You’re his rival, after all.
BLUE
‘Rival’? I don’t think so. (Sighs) He took the Champion title from me like I was nothing!
LANCE
He took it from me, too.
BLUE
If we battle, we’ll lose. So what are we waiting for if we already know the outcome?
LANCE
We don’t know what will happen. Maybe he’s changed. And knowing we’ll lose doesn’t mean we won’t try.
BLUE
…Maybe he has changed. Do you think he speaks now? At least a little?
LANCE
It’s possible. We’ll find out when he comes down.
(Silence.)
BLUE
I don’t think he will. Sometimes I wonder if it’d be better if we weren’t here. Don’t you?
LANCE
But then we’d miss the chance to see Red again.
BLUE
And instead, we’d have the chance to move on. I could see Alola, or find a new rival. Maybe even you.
LANCE
You’re right. Let’s leave.
BLUE
But if we stay, we’d have the chance to see Red again.
LANCE
That’s true. Red will come down eventually. He can’t stay up there forever.
BLUE
Yes. Humans don’t live forever. They can’t do the same thing forever.
LANCE
So he’ll come down.
BLUE
But... all we do is wait.