March 1, 2009
Hey Guys,
If you’ve bothered to read up to this point, you’ve probably come to learn that there’s nothing I love more than chatting with the characters that customize this store. But I also enjoy the company of my own thoughts and a good flick, and since we started absorbing new customers as Steve predicted, I’ve felt like a nanny – explaining the rules and dealing with childish moaning about our prices – and I’m tired of it. So despite my oath of service to the movie watching community, I must confess that there are times when I’d prefer to be alone.
Last night was one of those times. As the evening shift was coming to a close, I was busy pondering and theorizing as Return of the Jedi unfolded predictably before me on our discount Toshiba’s static-ridden screen, a TV which Steve proudly got off the back of a truck in Koreatown. My feet were up on the counter and I was absent-mindedly nibbling on a stick of knock-off Twizzlers. The door swung open and I sighed with fatigue at the prospect of having to serve another customer at this late hour. I paused the movie and started composing a few lines in my head that would politely dispatch the unwelcome patron.
It was Mariette Wilson, self-anointed neighbourhood queen and gossip weaver extraordinaire. In a red cloth coat with her blonde hair piled high upon itself, she radiated an aura of soap opera wealth and glamour, an aura cultivated fastidiously at local coffee shops, beauty salons and yoga studios.
She sashayed in accompanied by her loyal companion and indispensable accessory; Benny, the manicured golden retriever with a matching red bandana.
She grabbed a dog biscuit from the box on the counter, tossed it to Benny then noticed my strained expression. I explained how I’d been struggling with the conundrum of separating the Star Wars reality from the sticky web of commercialism and groupthink that surrounds it.
There’s no doubt it’s been successful, but how good is it really? There are so many fans, so much money involved– it’s hard not to let the hype affect your view. After all, film watching is a communal endeavour. On one hand, Star Wars shoulders the burden of massive expectations and has not failed to disappoint on many counts. On the other, it enjoys a great reputation. Once momentum builds, people, afraid of being left out, are swept away on the rising tide, grasping at the scraps of a bloated star system.
Do the publicity and discussion around a film deepen our understanding or stifle it? Can we see clearly through the glare of the limelight?
As she stood staring blankly I began to pick up on a note of chardonnay pushing past her perfume. “What’s with all the intellectual crap? You need to loosen up.” She paused for a moment, then let out a long “relaaaax!” That’s when I poured my heart out about my unrequited longing for the girl next door.
“You know,” she began in a smokey, candlelit voice, “you deserve better. That girl sounds too unpredictable. You need a stable, mature woman who knows what she wants. You’re really smart, practically a legend in Macedonia.” She leaned in over the counter. I took a sudden step back, stumbling into the shelf and knocking over some DVDs. She continued as though she hadn’t noticed.
“Listen, there was something else I wanted to ask you.” I was relieved to change subjects but dreaded the looming request. “The DVD I rented for my husband the other day was scratched, it froze just as I was getting to the good part.”
My stomach acids flared in anger. Such negligence, such entitlement! Just imagine these poor disks; mixed up, thrown about like ten-cent frisbees, smeared with grease by ignorant, popcorn-fiending fingers. I’m thinking about making our customers sign a proper storage and handling contract before we entrust them with our films.
She pulled the case for Diehard out of her designer handbag and her face took on a sweetened expression, “I was hoping you could change it for something else.”
“You’ve never seen this one before?” I was a bit surprised that such fashionable people would rent something so old.
“Oh yeah, we know it quite well. My husband was part of the production team.”
Her husband, Randall, was too busy to ever set foot in the shop, but Mariette had informed me more than once of his exploits. He was the studio executive who had greenlighted Waterworld, the most expensive B-movie production in history. This had cost Randall his job and he moved back here and found work at an ad agency, bringing along his L.A. woman.
“No matter,” she would claim, “around then most of talented film people abandoned Hollywood for Madison Ave. TV commercials are just wonderful these days, aren’t they? Randall was on the cutting edge.”
“Did you manage to see McLean save the day?” I inquired. A slight pause. She was having trouble focussing on my words.
“Yeah, yeah. It was great. We saw it all the way to the end, just missed that little bit. It kind of killed the whole thing, you know?” I scrutinized the disk.
“You’re in luck!” I announced, “I have another copy of the same movie, you can borrow that one and see the scenes you missed.” Her mouth opened, her left eyebrow rose and she gaped straight into my eyes.
I’ve long lamented how wealthy, pushy people get their way simply because most of us don’t have the time (or the stamina) to match their stubbornness. Nonetheless, I gave in to her request for a store credit, even though the problem was obviously with her DVD player. Like I said before, I need to stay on her good side. It’s not an exaggeration to say that she has real influence around the neighbourhood.
Fifteen minutes after the official closing time, I finally locked up and stepped into the clear night air. Star Wars and our shared perspective were back on my mind. I’d be curious to hear what Randall Wilson and other film insiders would have to say on the topic. What secrets do they hold?
But then I thought of Mariette. Maybe she’s right. I can’t pin my happiness on someone I still don’t know. If need be, I’m alright on my own. She says I’m smart and she seems to find me attractive. Yet I yearn to speak with my coffee princess. When will our paths cross again?
Comments:
averagejoe66: Good for you Vic, nice to see you feeling confident. Youre a total catch bro. I’m sure it’ll work out with this chick. I was with a woman who ignored me for 20 years, she stole from me, she flirted with other guys. Now I don’t need her anymore. It took me so long to learn what you learned.
Jukeboxsuperhero: Star wars is an amazing story, I look forward to every new installment. everybody likes it, don’t be a hater. stop thinking so much about everything.
SonofEbert: I edited down all the star wars installments into one manageable 4.5 hour film. It’s most of the first and second and then some important bits from the others. You don’t miss too much action and I’ve kept the entire story intact as much as possible. I’m not exactly saying that I have better taste than George Lucas, but alone in my basement suite I can focus on my craft without monetary considerations or other constraints. Search for ‘starwars complete best free’ on youtube.
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