also: they're not REALLY multiplexes, are they?
YOU hope to accomplish what? By when? I see. Tell me. Will this be before you find out how to convert lead into gold or after you have learned to levitate? In theory, the task is not impossible. But then neither is time travel. Some things in this life simply cannot be accomplished by the power of faith, no matter how strong it is. You will get a lot further today if you recognize the impossibility of your aspiration and then attempt a plan which is a little less ambitious and a bit more realistic.
Day off.
The multiplex thing is out of hand, I've decided. There are too damn many screens out there. How have I come to this conclusion? I opened the movie listing page today and checked out the AMC Burbank 14, which has a total of 7 movies playing. Then I checked out the Universal City 18, which has the phenomenal total of 8 movies playing. I mean, you know, come on. All 7 of the AMC's movies are playing at Universal City, and I've either seen them all (Austin Powers), don't want to see them (Instinct), or am keeping them for when Darin returns home (Tarzan).
It's enough to make me go over the hill to see the restored version of The Third Man, which Otto (when he showed up at Tamar's yesterday afternoon, unexpectedly) said was very good. But I don' wanna.
This morning the phone rang.
DIANE, towel wrapped around her, answers the phone.
ROB (ON PHONE)
It's me, Rob.
DIANE
Darin isn't here.
ROB (ON PHONE)
I know that.
DIANE'S IMAGINATION: A car speeds along Illinois
freeways, headed to MacHack--Darin, Nevin...and
Rob. Darin drives while Rob is on the phone.
DIANE
Oh, right, it's all coming back
to me now.
ROB (ON PHONE)
Darin forgot to bring the driving
directions to his uncle's house.
DIANE
And I should look them up on the Web?
ROB (ON PHONE)
Would you? It'd be ever so helpful.
Modern technology: person on cell phone with San Jose number calls person in LA from somewhere in Illinois to find out how to get to East Lansing, Michigan.
If only we could be hooked into the Web in our cars. Then life will be complete.
The rest of today so far has been spent reading Len's most recent script, which he sent me (and it's good but it's grim, oh so grim, and that's tough to read--I could only get to page 80 before I said to myself, "The sun is shining outside, let's go and play!") and working out who did what to whom in my novel. I have a murderer, I have a motive, you can all pat me on the back and call me Daddy. Well, not so much of that, maybe.
I thought about going to see a movie, except we're Nowheresville, movie-wise--did studios forget to make movies for this summer? They were that afraid of The Phantom Menace, I guess--so the only thing to do is get back to work and write. And I was so afraid I was going to say that.
You know, I wanted to make a joke in here about what I've been up to during this week while Darin's gone, and I realize I don't have it in me to do. Because all it would do is make Darin upset, even though he knows I'm joking. So you know, in fact, all I have been doing: reading and writing and sleeping and for a little while yesterday getting out and visiting with Tamar and having some sushi. Somebody check my pulse.
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Copyright 1999 Diane Patterson
Send comments and questions to diane@spies.com