answer: It's a blackout. #Person1# didn't save and has to write the paper all over again. #Person1# wants to go out and buy a beer but #Person2# indicates that the pubs are probably closed and suggests #Person1# preparing for the exam with the flashlight.
documents: #Person1#: Ah! No! Damn it!
  #Person2#: It's a blackout. Now I can't see Seinfeld.
  #Person1#: So what? I just lost one hour's worth of work.
  #Person2#: Really? How could you do that? Don't you save every couple minutes?
  #Person1#: No, I didn't save this time. Damn it! And I'm sick of writing this paper. Now I have to write it all over again too.
  #Person2#: I've had that problem too many times. So I learned to save. When I'm writing something, I save every three sentences or so. I don't want to lose anything.
  #Person1#: I hate computers. Sometimes I think they cause more trouble than they're worth.
  #Person2#: What are we going to do now?
  #Person1#: I don't know. I feel like going out.
  #Person2#: I wonder how much of the city is down.
  #Person1#: It doesn't matter. I still can go out and buy a beer.
  #Person2#: Maybe. But if there's a blackout, probably the pubs are closed. And besides, I know you have a political science exam tomorrow. I thought you had a lot of reading to do.
  #Person1#: Yes, that's true. Damn! I just lost half my paper, and now I can't even do my homework. This is a bad time for this to happen.
  #Person2#: I have a flashlight in my closet. If you want to use that to read, you can.