if she finds out that we played/are playing down here.

[Marika33]

I've found this line in a movie, "My mom will have an aneurysm, if she finds out that we're playing down here". The choice of the present continuous took me by surprise.
My question is, can I use the past tense in this sentence? Yes, "we" are still playing "down here", but my idea is to talk about what will already be in the past when "my mom" finds out that it (has) happened.

• My mom will have an aneurysm, if she finds out that we played down here. (When said, "we" are still playing "down here".)

 

[Piscean]

My mom will have an aneurysm, if she finds out that we're playing down here.

The speaker's mind is focused on the present-time situation of the playing,

My mom will have an aneurysm, if she finds out that we played down here.

The speaker's mind is focused on the past time situation of the playing with respect to the time of the mother's discovery.

Also possible are were playing, have played and have been playing.

 

[Marika33]

My mom will have an aneurysm, if she finds out that we played down here. (When said, "we" are still playing "down here".)

The speaker's mind is focused on the past time situation of the playing with respect to the time of the mother's discovery.

Thanks! Very helpful! This is what I was hoping would be the case.