Log:Introduction to the Classics

The Madness of David Flyte 2020/02/05 	 Night Marshal|Carpenter Grimm

18

Movie Night is on schedule as planned. Gabrielle even picked up a bag's worth of old time movie candies and snacks. Microwaveable buttered popcorn, sour dummies, M&Ms. And a heavier bottle of something. She knocks on Carpenter's door a few minutes after their arranged time.

Carpenter comes to the door and opens it. He's dressed more casually than normal. He's wearing sweat pants and a t-shirt. Socks. Clearly not intending to go anywhere. He smiles, "Come on in."

Grimm is dressed for a cozy movie night. A comfy dark gray sweater and black leggings under her jacket and scarf, and simple ankle-high boots. She smiles at seeing him and steps in. "Hey, Jack. You look prepared. Good. Because I brought a bunch of extras for a legit movie night. Even found some old-timey candy."

Carpenter chuckles. "Mmm. Sounds good to me." He closes the door after she steps inside, "So, do you have a preference for the kind of movie? We can go with something really light, like 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'. Or we can go more noir? I'm leaving it up to you."

"Mmm. Let's go more noir," Gabrielle grins. She hooks her plastic bag around her wrist and does a balancing act as she removes each boot while standing and leaves them by the door, so she can join Carpenter in the socks department.

Carpenter chuckles. "I was kind of hoping you'd go with the lighter film. Jane Russell's awesome in that. But noir it is." He picks out 'A Touch of Evil'. Another 1950s film. He cues it up to be ready when the take a seat on the couch. "Here...let me take that bag for you." He offers to grab it...and then take it into the kitchen.

Grimm smiles and raises a brow. "Really? I picked it because I thought you'd enjoy that more, and I don't know enough about either," Gabrielle teases. "Heck, let's go lighter. I'm supposed to be trying to stay upbeat, right?" She lets him take the bag. It has a few other loose wrapped candies. Some Bit-o-honeys and Charleston Chews. She smiles playfully. "So do gentleman really prefer blondes?" And the bottle within is a nice yet affordable whiskey. Gabrielle broke her bank with apology items for the Durans.

Carpenter grins, "In this case...no. As much as I think Marilyn Monroe is smoking hot, I'd have picked Jane Russell. She has a sarcastic attitude about her." He looks in the bag, "Nice. I don't even know where you can get these in town. Though I'll have to be a little careful with some of them. Fillings and all that."

"Ohh. Sounds like my kind of dame," Gabrielle teases. "There's a chain called Spaceship Fizz that specializes in crazy sodas and vintage candies. Even foreign stuff you can't find most places." She nods at the mention of the candies. "I tried a bit-o-honey. I recommend just sucking on it rather than chewing."

Carpenter nods. "Yeah. You kind of have to do that with a lot of the old candies. Tehy're either super sticky or super hard." He smiles, "Thanks for bringing the food and drink." He grabs a couple of glasses and pours a couple of drinks.

Grimm smiles. "No problem. I wanted to make sure it was a proper movie night. Doctor's orders, after all." Being with someone normal is helping her compartmentalize what's going on with her. Some normalcy is just what she needed.

Carpenter heads back over to the couch, and changes over the movie to the Monroe flick. "You'll like this one. It has a sense of humor that holds up, which is rare for an old comedy. That's the one genre that's tough to watch old films of. Like...Marx brothers films aren't that funny."

Carpenter settles down onto the comfy couch and smiles. "Feel free to grab a blanket from the back of the couch. Those are free to use." Sure enough, there are a couple of blankets there, folded up.

"That sounds great," Gabrielle smiles, walking over and grabbing the biggest and coziest looking blanket from the back of the couch before plunking down on the couch near Jack. She arranges the blanket so that it can be shared with Jack if he wants. "Okay, now I'm curious how this movie holds up."

Carpenter is happy to accept half of the blanket and sit close to Grimm, "It ends happily, of course. In a kind of treacle way. It's that time period, though, right?" He starts the movie up...and it leads in with a musical number. Because of course it does. Teh two leading ladies singing a tune on stage, since the characters are showgirls.

"Yeah. Sometimes happy endings are nice," Gabrielle says, a bit of longing in her voice. She settles in with Jack and sips her drink. As the musical number starts, she smiles to herself, imagining that life in those days just always involved musical numbers.

Carpenter puts his arm on the couch behind Grimm and settles in, relaxing. The plot is...well, not exactly complicated. Monroe's character is engaged to a rich guy who is nervous about sending her on a cross-Atlantic cruise with her friend, Jane Russell, who is supposed to keep an eye on her. But Monroe's father-in-law-to-be doesn't trust her, thinking she's a golddigger, so he sends a private investigator on the trip.

The plot continues...and sure enough, Monroe is a bit of a gold digger. She keeps being interested in various rich men on the ship, and gets caught in a compromising position in a photo by the PI. The PI, in the meantime, has been hitting on Russell. When they get to France, the engagement has been called off...and Russell finds out the PI was at fault. It's the clear 'low moment' in the plot. They have to come up with a source of money in a foreign country.

"Ohhh, that's shady," Gabrielle comments at the hiring of the private investigator. The plot seems like a fantasy to her in some ways. Needing a friend to keep an eye on you, rich engagement, spying future father-in-law. But she's fully engrossed in the movie and this glimpse of different times. She curls her legs up onto the couch and under the blanket and gets more cozy and relaxed.

She gasps a bit when Monroe proves to be a gold digger. "Okay, I was not expecting that. And what PI would hit on someone so close to their target?"

Carpenter snorts, "It's Jane Russell he's hitting on. Come on! Also...he did it to get closer to Lorelei, Monroe's character. So, yeah, he's shady too. Nice in an 'everyman' kind of way. He's supposed to be the counterpoint to Monroe. Russell wants to marry for love, not riches. Monroe wants to marry for riches, and love...enh...can come along with the money potentially."

It turns out the rich guy on the boat promised that Monroe could keep his wife's diamon tiara....and didn't tell his wife. So...after Monroe leaves with it, he reports it stolen, throwing Monroe under hte bus, so to speak. Except that he also gets the tiara back...and still leaves Monroe to the police. Jerk of a rich guy. The police show up to arrest her...and Russell stands in for her to delay, acting like Monroe in that stereotypical ditzy way.

Grimm laughs at Carpenter's response. "Okay, I guess I can't blame him," she smirks. "I wonder if the hero Lorelei was named after Monroe's character," she ponders. She just shakes her head. "Love optional? Weird." She's surprised by the tiara double cross later. "Oh, that a jerk. I mean, she's no saint, but framing?" She's really getting into it now.

Carpenter grins. "I like Ernie, too. The PI. That line earlier...when Lorelei asks him what 'his line is'. He says, 'My line? My most effective one is to tell a girl she has hair like a tortured midnight, lips like a red couch in an ivory palace that I'm lonely and starved for affection. Then, I generally burst into tears. It seldom works.'" He then chuckles.

Carpenter adds, "Of course, she was asking what his job was. 1950s word play."

The film wraps up rather quickly. Ernie is in the court room while Russell is pretending to be Monroe and signing a reprise of 'Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend'. He doesn't spill the beans that it's Russell. Instead, he realizes where the missing tiara might be...and he gets the rich guy in question to bring it to the court room. The tiara changes hands three times. From teh rich guy to Russell to the judge....and back to the rich guy. Case dismissed.

Grimm swoons a bit and sinks a little into the couch as Carpenter delivers that line. "Man, why don't guys talk like that anymore?"

The last thing to wrap up is Monroe's engagement. The PI had caught her out, of course. But her fiance is still smitten. His father, not so much. But she brings him around with a few choice words that indicate she's smarter than she appears. And it ends very happily. A double wedding. Russell and the PI...and Monroe and her fiance.

Carpenter chuckles, "His self-deprecating humor is what makes the character, in my opinion. In this world of rich folks, he seems decidedly normal. But eloquent."

"Wait, so the gold digger still gets the rich guy after all that?" Grimm asks in disbelief. She does smile at the PI and Russel's marriage. "Yeah, he really is." Carpenter chuckles. "Yup. But they're a happy couple, so it makes sense. The guy is smitten with Monroe. I mean...what guy wouldn't be? And she's...smitten with his money. So...see? Happy." He laughs again, "Someone tried to tell me that if Marilyn was alive today, she'd wouldn't be anything special. She'd be a 'dime a dozen'. I told him he was out of his mind."

Grimm seems a but puzzled, but it makes sense suddenly. "I guess they both got what they wanted," she realizes, but still seems unsatisfied. "Well, huh. I guess that really is a happy ending. Just not one I expected for them. But Russel and the PI, that seems more what I might expect."

Carpenter chuckles. "I also want to point out...one of the scenes was pretty scandalous at the time. The Olympic swim team was on teh boat, remember? And they weren't allowed to party. Just train. But Russell was eyeing them all? Because....Olympic swimmers. The song they performed...they were wearing flesh-colored swim trunks. If you squint, the guys looked naked. So censors lost their minds initially."

Carpenter says, "That's when she runs into Ernie. While lamenting that the cruise ship is filled with hot guys that can't party with her."

Grimm turns to look at Jack with an incredulous expression. "Seriously? They were considered scandalous? Man, it really was a different time," she says in awe.

Carpenter chuckles. "A hundred years make all the difference. Heck, that was laughable by the time the 1990s rolled around. Some films that are kind of noir-like from those later years...really push that envelope. Basic Instinct, for one."

"Basic Instinct?" Gabrielle asks cluelessly.

Carpenter chuckles. "Umm...a 1990s Sharon Stone film. Like I said, kind of a late period noir film. With...a lot more nudity and sex. A...lot more. It pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in R rated films at the time."

Grimm grins a bit at that. "But it's tame by today's standards?"

Carpenter thinks about it. "I...think it's probably tame compared to the films that push those edges now. Still...pretty risque, but not like that fantasy film that David Bane was in last year."

Grimm laughs lightly and readjusts her cozy position. "Oh yeah. That was something. Still don't know if David Bane's...assets...compare to Titan's in Kingslayer," she jokes.

Carpenter smiles. "Like the muscles on Titan? I know the guy has a fair amount of charisma, too. He's a better actor than a lot of people give him credit for." "Mmmm. Muscles are nice, but that many? It's kind of the...nice to look at, but I bet cuddling with Titan would be like cozying up to a rock," Gabrielle theorizes playfully. "But he seems like a nice guy from his instatok posts and interviews."

Carpenter chuckles. "I guess you'd have to ask either Lorelei or Ghost about that."

Grimm chuckles. "Naaah, I think I'm good. My curiosity isn't -that- intense." She smiles and lets out a soft, small, relaxed sigh. "Thanks for the movie night, Jack. I think this was just what I needed. Something positive. Normal. I guess with a touch of fantasy from older times."

Carpenter smiles. "Do you have time for a second movie? Or do you need to take off soon?"

Grimm answers Jack by wiggling down further into the couch and blankets. "I'm free for the night, so I got all the time in...uhh...tonight," she smiles, a slight cringe as the heavier thoughts of what lie ahead come to the surface of her thoughts.

Carpenter nods. "Okay. You get to pick the movie or genre again. I really picked the last one, after all.

"Basic Instinct?" Grimm suggests, then smirks and chuckles. "Just kidding. Hmmm. Maybe we can still see some noir film. I've been digging this vintage stuff."

Carpenter chuckles. "If you want, I can cue it up. But it IS racy. Fair warning."

Gabrielle flashes a sinful little smile that makes it look like she might choose it as a challenge. Then the smile relaxes. "Well, since I really have no clue about it, I wouldn't want us to watch and find out it was super awkward," she chuckles, backing down.

"What the heck, if things really go bad, it'll be my last chance to catch some good movies. Which would you suggest for a hopefully-not-but-potentially last hurrah?" Grimm asks with a grin.

Carpenter rubs his neck slowly as he thinks about it. "Umm...well, if you want something light with a similar kind of feel, there are a couple of spoofs of noir films which are fun. Johnny Dangerously and Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid. If you want something more serious, 'A Touch of Evil' is a genius piece of film. Don't bother with the Maltese Falcon. It's a mess. Casablanca is nice. Could go with that?"

"Hmm. Right. Gotta keep upbeat. Maybe another drink and...hmm..Johnny Dangerously?"

Carpenter chuckles. "Sure. Sounds good. You'll like this one, I think. It's from the 1980s. But set in the 1930s. The main antagonist is named 'Danny Vermin'. Johnny's the main protagonist." He uses a remote to pick out the movie, which he apparently has on a local media server here someplace. And then the film starts.

Grimm reaches for one of the candies and cozies back up on the couch near Jack. "So a old spoof of an even more vintage theme? I'm on board!"

Carpenter chuckles. "The dialogue is pretty brisk. But there are a lot of callbacks. The villain is the best character, in my opinion." He moves over close to Grimm, and leans against her, providing comfort, but trying to not creep her out, either.

Grimm feels a little stiff and tense when he leans in, only because she already was. She may not be focusing on the problems that lie ahead, but they're still weighing on her a bit. All of her jokes cover them as usual. Once he leans into her, she leans back a bit, snuggling as she starts to physically relax. She's not creeped out at all as they enjoy the movie. She chuckles a little. "What makes him the best for you?" She asks as she makes sure the blanket is evenly distributed between them both.

Carpenter smiles. "I like the callbacks. There's a running joke during hte movie. He'll say things like, 'Johnny, you shouldn't grab me. My mother grabbed me like that once. Once.' And he gets a lot of the better lines, in my opinion."

Grimm giggles--legitmately giggles--when Jack delivers that line. "That is one way to prove you're gangster, I guess."

Carpenter chuckles. "Well, he's more bark than bite. That's the point. The film is mostly just silliness. But...the dialogue also can be a bit...well, dated. The 1980s weren't exactly an enlightened time. But they were slowly getting there."

"Well, yeah. Boasting you showed your mom who's boss isn't exactly intimidating, right?" Gabrielle grins. "Anyone ever make a ridiculous threat like that to you on the job? Or off?"

Carpenter chuckles. "Usually it's the 'Don't you know who I am?!' that I get. Some jackass thinks they're too important to be questioned or whatever." Grimm laughs and rolls her eyes as she leans more into him. "Classic jerk response." She laughs more then the antagonist says his gun shoots through schools, then covers her mouth. "Oh god, I shouldn't have laughed at that. That's awful," she snickers.

Carpenter chuckles at Grimm's response. "Ther'es a lot in this film that's pretty borderline offensive."

"Am I a terrible person for laughing anyway?" Gabrielle grins up at Jack.

Carpenter shrugs and smiles. "No, I don't think so. We'll just have to make the next one Blazing Saddles, so you can really get that full effect."

"Okay, deal, that'll be next on the list. Sounds like a western," Gabrielle smiles.

Grimm raises an eyebrow at his iffy description. "Okay. You had my curiosity. Now you have my attention," she quotes with a grin.

Carpenter chuckles. "Plus, it has Madeline Kahn in it. That's a highlight for me, at least."

"What else has she been in? I don't think I know who that is," Gabrielle admits. She's feeling really young now, not getting these references.

Carpenter grins. "So, so many movies we need to watch. Clearly."

Grimm smiles back at him. The smile wavers with a slight tremble. It's brief enough that Gabrielle thinks he may not have noticed. "Yeah. Lots of movie nights required."

Next: Log:A Kiss to Seal a Deal