Monday, February 07, 2005
Pick up the Beat !!!
Continuing the crusade to get Diner (a review is here) in the American Christmas vernacular, a scene description.
Locale: Beat up stripper bar (probably) in Fell's Point area of Baltimore.
Characters: Billy (Timothy Daly), Eddie (Steve Guttenberg), sailors, older stripper, a drummer, a sax player, assorted locals
Scene: a two man bachelor party
Eddie is discussing his imminent marriage after his bride-to-be passed a killer Baltimore Colts quiz (for the younger readers out there, the Indianapolis Colts used to be the Baltimore Colts before a late night 40 tractor trailer flight by owner Robert Irsay to the excitement of Indiana). He’s talking about how it’ll be different being married and is hanging his hope of a good life on the fact that “there will always be the diner.” Billy is listening with one ear to him while concentrating his other ear on the molasses playing of the strip club band. A stripper is strolling on the bar effusing ennui and other noxious odors. The slow playing is driving Billy nuts. He’s pounding the bar with a faster beat, finally shouting repeatedly, ”Pick up the beat!!” After yelling a few times, to no tempo change from the band, Billy jumps onto the bandstand, takes off his jacket and starts playing the piano. The band eventually latches on to his faster tempo, the stripper joins in with a dance, the bar patrons start clapping, Eddie climbs up onto the bar and starts moving, arms akimbo, and we have frivolity, joy, and a driving beat.
Life has its signature moments like this.
Last night, in Jacksonville, there was 5 minutes and 40 seconds left in the Super Bowl. The Iggles were down by 10, with the ball. 10 points!!! They ran a play. Huddle. They ran another play. Huddle. People in Philly were yelling at the screen.
Pick up the Beat!!!
They ran a play. Huddle.
Pick up the pace!!
They ran a play. Huddle. Play.
Two minute warning.
Score. Down by 3.
Time runs out.
Loss.
No beat was picked up. No Billy jumped onto the field to set a faster tempo. At least 2 minutes, if not more, was wasted in huddles. No 2 minute drills were run by Reid, Donavan, and crew. Television sets all over the Philly metropolitan are were being savaged and maimed.
Later, in "Diner', Fenwick (Kevin Bacon) says to Boogie (Mickey Rourke):
"Boog, do you think there’s a whole other life out there that we know nothing about?"
Yes, Fenwick, to a Philly fan that other life is known as a championship.
Continuing the crusade to get Diner (a review is here) in the American Christmas vernacular, a scene description.
Locale: Beat up stripper bar (probably) in Fell's Point area of Baltimore.
Characters: Billy (Timothy Daly), Eddie (Steve Guttenberg), sailors, older stripper, a drummer, a sax player, assorted locals
Scene: a two man bachelor party
Eddie is discussing his imminent marriage after his bride-to-be passed a killer Baltimore Colts quiz (for the younger readers out there, the Indianapolis Colts used to be the Baltimore Colts before a late night 40 tractor trailer flight by owner Robert Irsay to the excitement of Indiana). He’s talking about how it’ll be different being married and is hanging his hope of a good life on the fact that “there will always be the diner.” Billy is listening with one ear to him while concentrating his other ear on the molasses playing of the strip club band. A stripper is strolling on the bar effusing ennui and other noxious odors. The slow playing is driving Billy nuts. He’s pounding the bar with a faster beat, finally shouting repeatedly, ”Pick up the beat!!” After yelling a few times, to no tempo change from the band, Billy jumps onto the bandstand, takes off his jacket and starts playing the piano. The band eventually latches on to his faster tempo, the stripper joins in with a dance, the bar patrons start clapping, Eddie climbs up onto the bar and starts moving, arms akimbo, and we have frivolity, joy, and a driving beat.
Life has its signature moments like this.
Last night, in Jacksonville, there was 5 minutes and 40 seconds left in the Super Bowl. The Iggles were down by 10, with the ball. 10 points!!! They ran a play. Huddle. They ran another play. Huddle. People in Philly were yelling at the screen.
Pick up the Beat!!!
They ran a play. Huddle.
Pick up the pace!!
They ran a play. Huddle. Play.
Two minute warning.
Score. Down by 3.
Time runs out.
Loss.
No beat was picked up. No Billy jumped onto the field to set a faster tempo. At least 2 minutes, if not more, was wasted in huddles. No 2 minute drills were run by Reid, Donavan, and crew. Television sets all over the Philly metropolitan are were being savaged and maimed.
Later, in "Diner', Fenwick (Kevin Bacon) says to Boogie (Mickey Rourke):
"Boog, do you think there’s a whole other life out there that we know nothing about?"
Yes, Fenwick, to a Philly fan that other life is known as a championship.
Comments:
<< Home Verging on Pertinence Just some more disposable thoughts clogging up the hinterlands
As a New Englander and a Bostonian all I can say is that I am sorry. I despise teams that win all the time (Yankees suck!) And so now do the Pats. Too much victory just gets boring after awhile (I'm being sincere, not trying to rub it in)
-Stephenesque.
-Stephenesque.
# opined by 
: 11:14 AM, February 07, 2005
: 11:14 AM, February 07, 2005
Condolences are welcome from all quarters, even the Bostonian quarter. Besides, the misery oeuvre is a Philly mastery; victory would taint the pain.
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<< Home Verging on Pertinence Just some more disposable thoughts clogging up the hinterlands
