(A record store. Matthew is browsing the used DVD’s. He looks frustrated. Girl approaches.)
GIRL
That’s a good one.
MATTHEW
Huh?
GIRL
“Annie Hall.” Isn’t that...
(Gets a closer look at the DVD case.)
Oh, “Annie.”
(Suppresses a laugh.)
MATTHEW
Yeah, I was just...
GIRL
No, no. By all means...
MATTHEW
Really, I was just looking to see when it was made.
GIRL
Uh huh.
MATTHEW
I wasn’t going to buy it.
GIRL
Because you already have it.
MATTHEW
Oh, come on.
GIRL
Or, let me guess, present for your girlfriend?
MATTHEW
If I had one of those, she wouldn’t be a fan of movies like this.
GIRL
Uh huh.
MATTHEW
You totally don’t believe me.
GIRL
No, I do.
(He gives her a look.)
Really, I do.
MATTHEW
(Handing her a DVD.)
Here’s “Annie Hall.” I mean, if you were looking for it.
GIRL
Oh, I wasn’t. I just...
MATTHEW
...couldn’t help noticing me noticing “Annie Hall?”
GIRL
Sorry, was that weird of me?
MATTHEW
No.
GIRL
Yeah, it was. And now you’re all embarrassed and denying your love of musicals...
MATTHEW
(Putting “Annie” back on the shelf.)
You’re not gonna let that go, are you?
GIRL
Really, I don’t usually...approach people like that.
MATTHEW
Well, for the record I love “Annie Hall.”
GIRL
Me too, I watched it when I was younger but I didn’t really get it. You know?
MATTHEW
Yeah, I was that way with “Ghostbusters.”
GIRL
You know I’ve never actually seen that whole movie?
MATTHEW
What?!
GIRL
I know!
MATTHEW
No way!
GIRL
It’s one of those that no one watches now because they’ve all seen it, you know? I think it’s on my Netflix queue.
MATTHEW
Yeah, I use that line. It’s alright, you know? You don’t have to watch it, I guess.
GIRL
Well, thank you.
MATTHEW
But you’re missing out. I actually just watched “Annie Hall” this afternoon.
GIRL
For the first time?
MATTHEW
Yep. I’ve been watching a lot of movies lately, got surgery last week.
GIRL
Oh really? What kind of surgery?
MATTHEW
(Beat.)
How about we change the subject?
(They laugh.)
Sorry, I don’t know why I brought that up.
GIRL
I don’t know why I asked. I don’t really need to know.
MATTHEW
You don’t want to know.
(Beat.)
So...
GIRL
(Looking at “Annie Hall.”)
You know what I love about this movie? That montage at the end, with Diane Keaton singing and, you know, all the cheesy moments from the movie.
MATTHEW
Yeah.
GIRL
I don’t know. And you remember all of that started with a game of tennis, and she gave him a ride, and it all went from there. It’s just interesting, you know, thinking you can find someone to...give yourself to. And it’ll be something so simple. I mean, in the movie...
(Beat.)
It’s a good one.
MATTHEW
Yeah...What’s your name?
GIRL
Jordan. And...
MATTHEW
Matthew.
JORDAN
Nice to meet you. Uh, yeah. I recommend that one.
(Starts to move off.)
MATTHEW
Anything else?
JORDAN
(Turning back.)
What?
MATTHEW
I mean, other recommendations?
(She gives him a perplexed look.)
Sorry, just...
JORDAN
Well, I looked through most of these used ones. Not much here.
MATTHEW
Yeah the buy two get one free thing presumes we can find three we want to take home.
JORDAN
Exactly.
MATTHEW
I actually did a couple times.
JORDAN
Me too.
MATTHEW
We must have snatched up anything worth buying.
JORDAN
Right.
MATTHEW
I mean...
(Looking at the DVD’s.)
“The Love Guru.” Really?
JORDAN
And the, what, seventh “American Pie” movie? How many of these do we need?
MATTHEW
It’s for a generation raised on “Land Before Time.”
JORDAN
(Laughs.)
Right.
MATTHEW
Yeah, this was a bust, I think.
JORDAN
Better luck next time.
MATTHEW
Hey, uh...This is kind of...But, what are you doing tonight?
JORDAN
It’s 9:45.
(Beat.)
Nothing so far.
MATTHEW
I mean, I could get your number and call you up, ask you out, and we could have a great time. But, what about now?
JORDAN
I’m intrigued. You didn’t have any plans tonight?
MATTHEW
Well, I was going to eat a pizza by myself, watch “Citizen Kane,” and probably write a blog about our society’s abysmal taste in movies.
JORDAN
Sounds like fun.
MATTHEW
Actually, I’d probably think about writing a blog but I’d just end up falling asleep watching “How I Met Your Mother” episodes from a sketchy Japanese website.
JORDAN
Side Reel?
MATTHEW
Wow, how embarrassing that you know that.
JORDAN
So, what did you have in mind?
MATTHEW
Uh, I...My plan really only got as far as “Wanna go out.” Do you like food?
JORDAN
I love it. I had dinner a couple hours ago, but...
MATTHEW
How about we split an app sampler at Applebees?
JORDAN
Ooh, that sounds great. Do you like the mozzarella sticks?
MATTHEW
They’re all yours.
JORDAN
Hmmm, maybe we could sub more buffalo wings.
MATTHEW
That’s what I like to hear.
JORDAN
Then what?
MATTHEW
Ummm...
JORDAN
See where the evening takes us?
MATTHEW
(Laughs.)
Wow, I’ve never tried that.
JORDAN
Neither have I.
MATTHEW
Sounds great.
(They walk together out of the store.)
Funny story, I was there with my buddy the other day and he thought our waitress was cute, but he was afraid she saw him checking out this other waitress...
(They exit.)
Friday, June 19, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Just the perfect blend-ship
This will be one of those sappy blog entries that makes people wonder who I am and what I’ve done with Matthew Greene. I hung out one night last week with a group of friends I haven’t seen for a while. It was a good time and I was happy to have the chance to catch up and see how life has been treating them. (You know, marriage, babies, missions, the basics.) I was glad to see they have kept in touch and a little disappointed that I haven’t stayed as close as they have. But most of all it made me reflect.
You see, this group of friends came into my life right when I needed them. And I do not want to sound like some overstuffed New Era testimonial in saying this, but I realized what a blessing their friendship was. I was going through what was indisputably the most difficult period in my life and I was determined not to let anyone know. I had moved into a new student ward and I was wary of diving into any social scene. A combination of health issues, personal struggles, and big disappointments gave me enough misguided motivation to keep to myself. My acquaintance with these few good souls (wow, what am I, one hundred years old?) changed that.
The really remarkable thing is that, barring espionage or supreme powers of perception, they had no way of knowing really what was going on with me. Of course, as we got to be closer friends I told them some of the gory details (and wouldn’t you like to know what they were) but for the most part they had no idea. I was just a guy in their ward who struck up a conversation at a “Linger Longer” and got roped into a “Dinner Group.” (I was not yet dead set against such singles ward festivities.) They weren’t trying to “reach out” or “fellowship” someone they thought was in trouble. At least I don’t think they were. (Not any more than people in general think I’m “in trouble,” that is…) The fact is, they were a group of fun people who liked to have a good time and shared their general love of living with everyone around them.
I didn’t realize it at the time and perhaps I didn’t think about it as fully as I should until the other night, but these friends, simply by being themselves and being able to show kindness and love to each other, lifted me out of the proverbial rut and helped me to have a better time than I would have thought possible that fateful Spring term, oh so long ago. They weren’t trying to be anything more than they were: good people and good friends. But that was exactly what I needed.
I got me thinking (because, really, what doesn’t?) about my own interactions with people. Often I find myself wanting to help people I think are having a difficult time. I’ll try to do exactly what these people did not: reach out, extend sympathy, offer advice, try to understand what they’re going through, etc. Perhaps we all just need to simply be cool and have a good time. I guess what I’ve realized is that when we’re doing that we’re giving more to those around us than we realize. And the nights when I think my time is better spent sitting at home and working on my latest project could perhaps be better spent just having fun with friends. Apparently, it makes a big difference
So, other then a public cyberspace “thank you” to any of those few and pround who know who they are, I guess this blog should serve to reaffirm my commitment to be a good friend to those few friends I have and the those I should be making. It’s also a reminder to all you tuning in at home that maybe we in being ourselves and loving each other are working miracles in the lives of those around us every day. And chances are, we have no idea.
You see, this group of friends came into my life right when I needed them. And I do not want to sound like some overstuffed New Era testimonial in saying this, but I realized what a blessing their friendship was. I was going through what was indisputably the most difficult period in my life and I was determined not to let anyone know. I had moved into a new student ward and I was wary of diving into any social scene. A combination of health issues, personal struggles, and big disappointments gave me enough misguided motivation to keep to myself. My acquaintance with these few good souls (wow, what am I, one hundred years old?) changed that.
The really remarkable thing is that, barring espionage or supreme powers of perception, they had no way of knowing really what was going on with me. Of course, as we got to be closer friends I told them some of the gory details (and wouldn’t you like to know what they were) but for the most part they had no idea. I was just a guy in their ward who struck up a conversation at a “Linger Longer” and got roped into a “Dinner Group.” (I was not yet dead set against such singles ward festivities.) They weren’t trying to “reach out” or “fellowship” someone they thought was in trouble. At least I don’t think they were. (Not any more than people in general think I’m “in trouble,” that is…) The fact is, they were a group of fun people who liked to have a good time and shared their general love of living with everyone around them.
I didn’t realize it at the time and perhaps I didn’t think about it as fully as I should until the other night, but these friends, simply by being themselves and being able to show kindness and love to each other, lifted me out of the proverbial rut and helped me to have a better time than I would have thought possible that fateful Spring term, oh so long ago. They weren’t trying to be anything more than they were: good people and good friends. But that was exactly what I needed.
I got me thinking (because, really, what doesn’t?) about my own interactions with people. Often I find myself wanting to help people I think are having a difficult time. I’ll try to do exactly what these people did not: reach out, extend sympathy, offer advice, try to understand what they’re going through, etc. Perhaps we all just need to simply be cool and have a good time. I guess what I’ve realized is that when we’re doing that we’re giving more to those around us than we realize. And the nights when I think my time is better spent sitting at home and working on my latest project could perhaps be better spent just having fun with friends. Apparently, it makes a big difference
So, other then a public cyberspace “thank you” to any of those few and pround who know who they are, I guess this blog should serve to reaffirm my commitment to be a good friend to those few friends I have and the those I should be making. It’s also a reminder to all you tuning in at home that maybe we in being ourselves and loving each other are working miracles in the lives of those around us every day. And chances are, we have no idea.
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