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]

I don't even know what songs are popular in 1923.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I've picked up the words to some of what you sing at the casino, too.

[That's the problem with being a quick learner -- now he has all of this musical knowledge from a time not his own.]

[spotlighted]

[She's not sure she wants him singing one of her standards, just in case he's as terrible as he makes himself out to be - if she does remember all this tomorrow, she's not sure that she'll be able to take whatever he sang seriously in her set again.]

Oh! I know. [She begins to sing herself, slightly louder and a little more off key than she would with far less alcohol in her.]

By the light of the silvery moon,
I want to spoon, to my honey I'll croon love's tune--

[She looks at him encouragingly to join in.]

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[He has no idea what he's doing. He has less than no idea what he's doing -- and he's not quite sure why he'd thought agreeing to this had been a good idea. Still, a deal's a deal, and she's singing too.

After a few seconds, he joins in, reluctantly at first. His voice actually isn't bad, though he'd never make a career for himself in singing, and he's probably singing too loudly. And remarkably, he seems to know the words, or at least most of them -- the ones he doesn't know, he fills in with mostly in-tune humming.]

[spotlighted]

[She applauds way too loudly when they're done, and so do a couple of equally drunk people from a nearby table.]

See? You're great. You should do a duet with me on stage some time.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

And ruin your act? No thanks.

[Sometimes he sings when alone, but only sometimes. That's probably the most singing he's ever done in public, and now his face might be red from a little more than just alcohol.]

[spotlighted]

Well okay, then we just need to go out drinking more often if it'll get you to sing.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I'm amenable to the idea.

[Which surprised him. He didn't go out drinking with many people, even back at home.]

The singing's still debatable, though.

[spotlighted]

[She's a little surprised too, really.]

I'll take that as another compliment.

Aw, the singing was fun.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Fun because you got to make a fool of your boss, no doubt.

[He's still smiling though.]

[spotlighted]

If I really wanted to do that, I'd find something far more creative. Honestly, I just enjoyed seeing you loosen up a little.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[He doesn't understand why everyone always wants him to 'loosen up'. What could it mean.]

I'd ask what those more creative things were, but I'm not sure I want to know.

[spotlighted]

Don't worry, you won't find out. I like keeping my job far too much for that.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

And I like you keeping your job.

[He likes her. And he likes the money that he makes from people coming to see her sing. What could be a better combination?]

[spotlighted]

Excellent, something else we agree on. No creative schemes to make you look like a fool, then.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

That's a relief. Besides, knowing the curses around here, I'll end up acting like a fool sooner or later anyway.

[spotlighted]

It'll happen to all of us at some point. No one will hold it against you, at least.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

At least we can commiserate when it does.

[spotlighted]

I'm sure in hindsight, we might even laugh about it.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Maybe. Or at least we'll laugh at each other.

[spotlighted]

At least it'll give us something to laugh about here.