9th Opportunity :: Action/Video

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[Meyer doesn't always take a day off work. In fact, this is his first day off since the casino opened. That's why, on this lovely afternoon, he's wandering a little aimlessly now, cigarette in hand, looking for something to pass the time that isn't work.

For awhile, he wanders around the area by the fountain, occasionally stopping to sit down and write something down in a tiny spiral bound notebook, then standing up and wandering again. After awhile, though, he seems to get bored, and turns on the video to ask a question -- or rather, make a proposition.]

I'm going for drinks. Does anyone want to come?

[It may be a bit early in the day for drinking, but it's his day off -- this is what people do on their days off, right? With that question posed to the entire City, he strolls off in search of a bar that has relatively inexpensive and plentiful alcohol.]

Comments

[spotlighted]

Al Capone. [That's an almost instant reply, although it's still said as though it's the name of a complete stranger.] Lucky Luciano. Any character ever played by James Cagney. And that guy who fixed the World Series.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Have you told Al that? You don't want him to get fuller of himself than he already is.

[Yes, he just assumes she knows that she works with him.]

So he finally got people calling him "Lucky." Figures.

[Oh. The guy who fixed the World Series. Not his favorite person at the moment.]

That's AR -- Arnold Rothstein.

[spotlighted]

[A moment as she figures that out.]

You're kidding.

[She sounds way too excited, like she would be if she worked out that she knew a movie star or something.]

This is so surreal. I mean, of course you know these people - apart from Jimmy Cagney, I mean - but still.

Yeah, you know the only reason I know him? The Great Gatsby is my favourite book, and there's a character based on him. Not a very flattering one.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I'm not kidding. Like I said, he has a high opinion of himself. Don't inflate it much further.

[He's a little amused at her excitement. These are just people he works with. One of them may be his gangster husband, but still.]

I've never heard of The Great Gatsby...

[Probably because it doesn't exist yet...]

... but I can't say I'm surprised there's a character based on him in something.

[spotlighted]

But-- but he's Al Capone. [She's not sure she's doing a good job at conveying just how impressive this is.] I don't know, who's a famous historical figure from when you were a kid? Imagine Theodore Roosevelt was tending bar at the place you work, okay?

I'm sure they have a copy in the library here. It's definitely worth a read, although I end up crying every time I go back to it. ...Not that I think a book would make you emotional. [Especially since some of the other things they'd talked about tonight hadn't.]

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[A nod of acquiescence.]

Admittedly, that would be strange. I can see your point.

[Although he's not sure exactly when Al became a famous historical figure. Last time he checked, he was like the rest of them -- an up and coming gangster, fighting to find his own niche in the world.]

I can't say books make me emotional, no. I'll look into it, though.

[He does enjoy reading, after all.]

[spotlighted]

Excellent. Something else to do with your time off.

[She picks up the bottle to top off their glasses, and is almost confused to find it empty. She certainly doesn't feel anywhere near as rough as she thinks she ought to after three martinis and two bottles of wine, but she's not complaining, it just means she can drink more.]

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[He's surprised the bottle is empty, too. They can't possibly have gone through that much alcohol so quickly, but apparently they have, and he's not even falling down drunk yet.]

Reading, learning to swear in other languages, getting drunk... sure, I think I'll keep myself occupied.

[spotlighted]

That sounds more or less like my idea of fun, anyway.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

You like singing, too, but I don't think I'll be taking that up anytime soon.

[spotlighted]

Well yeah, but that's my job. Even if I do still have to practise every day on my days off. And I'm sure you've got a lovely voice. How many more bottles of wine would it take for me to hear it?

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[He considers this very seriously for a moment.]

Probably one more.

[spotlighted]

Challenge accepted.

[She strikes a match on the side of the table and lights another cigarette as a fresh bottle is delivered.]

[recognize_an_opportunity]

You don't want to hear it. Really. It'll offend your sensibilities.

[He lights a cigarette, too, laughing slightly.]

[spotlighted]

With how much we've drank tonight, I'm sure neither of us will remember it in the morning anyway.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I'm not sure about that. I feel remarkably sober.

[Well, 'sober' is an overstatement.]

[spotlighted]

I know what you mean. There is alcohol in here, right? I mean, I know I'm slightly exaggerated like I am when I've been drinking, but after this much I've usually passed out by now.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I hope there's alcohol in here.

[He eyes the new bottle of wine suspiciously, then puts a hand to one of his cheeks, which are definitely a little pink.]

I think there's alcohol in here.

[spotlighted]

Well I trust your judgement on that more than most people.

[She grabs the bottle and refills their glasses.]

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I hope you mean that because I'm in the business and not because you think I'm an alcoholic.

[spotlighted]

Definitely the former. I heard there was all sorts of crap that used to water down good liquor. If you say this is good, it's good.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

You don't even want to know what some of that stuff is made of. This stuff has the advantage of not having been made in someone's bathtub.

[spotlighted]

[She wrinkles her nose at that, eyeing the wine again suspiciously, as though that will tell her exactly how it was made.]

I guess when that's all people have, they'll take it.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Never underestimate the power of liquor. Or cigarettes. Or...

[A long pause, then a shrug. He's not drunk enough to go into a graphic description of the drug trade yet.]

Mostly liquor.

[spotlighted]

We already found out the power of cigarettes, remember? [She can't help but laugh.]