"Tyler, Larry - Film Noir" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tyler Larry)

FILM NOIR
By
Larry Tyler

It was Jean's idea to go to the movies, and if it was up to Gus, he wouldn't be there at all, but in their forty year marriage, both had learned that some things are worth going to the mat for, some aren't.

Gus found a seat that suited him, checked for gum on the cushion or soda on the floor, and sat down. Jean sat beside him.

"Used to play music for you at the movies," he muttered. "Now it's eight bucks for a matinee and they play nothing."

"The seats are a lot more comfortable than they used to be though," Jean said encouragingly. He hated it when she did that. It felt like she was patting him on the head.

"Never used to have twenty previews before the movie either," Gus said. "And commercials. Who ever heard of commercials at the movies? I could stay home and watch commercials." He looked around. There wouldn't be a big crowd for the movie, but that was fine with Gus. It was fine with Jean too, although she hoped enough people would show up to laugh along with her. She enjoyed movies more when others were there, laughing along.

Two young men entered the theater a moment before the lights went dim. Gus could hear them approaching. One was swearing and the other contributed to the conversation with a loud horse laugh. Gus was pretty sure they were drunk. When they walked several rows ahead and plunked themselves down in the second row, Gus was relieved. The fellow who was swearing draped his legs over the seat in front of him and slid down. The fellow with the horse laugh swiped the other fellow's baseball cap off his head and thought it was funny. "Look at that," Gus growled. Jean patted him twice on the knee. Gus felt angrier.

"This sucks," Gus heard one of the two fellows say and they left their seats, came back up the aisle and sat directly behind Gus and Jean.

"Well, doesn't that figure," Gus muttered to Jean.

"We can find another seat," Jean said. "There are plenty of other empty seats just as good as these."

"We were here first; we'll stay right here," Gus proclaimed.

As the previews started, Gus sniffed at the air, trying to detect the odor of alcohol. The fellow with the horse laugh groaned at the preview. "I hate him," he said. Gus assumed he was referring to the actor on the screen. The other fellow offered his critical assessment: "He sucks." And in a louder voice he added, "Get him off the screen!"

Gus swung around and glared. "I came here to watch the movie, not to listen to you two hyenas," he hissed.

Jean patted his hand. "Now, Gus," she said firmly.

Gus swung back to face the screen. The two fellows behind him broke into laughter. "Now, Gus!" one of them said derisively in falsetto. More laughter. Then whispers. Gus tried hard to hear what they were saying but couldn't. Then more laughter, ugly laughter that ripped at his nerves.

"Remember what the doctor told you," Jean said.

Gus growled.

"Do you remember what he said? Put these things out of your mind. Just pay attention to the movie."

Gus stared at the screen, but he was running a fantasy in his mind. He'd go talk to the manager. He'd have them thrown out. He'd show them a thing or two.

The two fellows didn't like the next preview any better than the first preview. "Suck-ee," one of them said. Gus's body stiffened. Jean squeezed him arm. It did no good. Gus spun around again and said, "Would you keep your big fat mouths shut?"

The fellow with a baseball cap leaned forward and smiled. "Since you asked so politely, we'll consider your request."

When the sarcasm sunk in, Gus's glare turned sterner. He turned back in his seat. A moment later, the baseball cap fellow gave Gus's seat a kick. "Oops," he said. The other fellow whinnied.

"Hooligans," Gus growled. Jean hated it when he used terms like "hooligans". He started doing that right after his first heart attack and it always made him sound older than he was. Jean's father used to use terms like that. Nobody says hooligans anymore, she thought to herself.

There was more chatter in the row behind Gus, muffled by laughter in the audience, but Gus could only hear the snickering behind him. He swung around again and glared. Jean tugged at his arm and he swung back.