Hello. My name is Tucker, and I am a Maltese. This week Gigi and I were going to have to stay with a babysitter while our novelist went on a short vacation. But because the Covid numbers went up so high where she was traveling, our novelist cancelled her plans, and we have her home with us. I am looking forward to having a staycation. Staycations are fun. Our novelist went and got a Monopoly card game that looks like fun. Also, we might do a binge-watching session. Our novelist never has a lot of time for binge watching sessions but because it is her vacation, she is making an exception. I am very excited to see BoJack Horseman.

What?! I cannot allow it. Pardon me. Gigi the parti poodle here most unfortunately allowing this insipid cur to introduce my blog this week. Tucker, we discussed this. We are binge watching The Crown.

But The Crown is all arthouse-like and I never understand those stories.

What are you talking about? It’s the history of the royal family more specifically the reign of Elizabeth II and her life.

I am yawning just thinking about it.

Oh, and your choice is better? A washed up ex-comedic television star with a horse head? You call that art?

I call it fun.

I swear I am going to…never mind. We will discuss this later. Here is Chapter Twenty of What I Found in the Trunk.

What I Found in the Trunk

by

Gigi the Parti Poodle

Back in the rear bedroom, Gary, Rusty and Rune crouched near the door trying to hear the indistinguishable conversation.

“What do you think they’ll do to Bennet, Rune?” Gary asked.

“I don’t know,” Rune replied.

“Alright let me rephrase the question. What’s the worst you’ve known him to do?”

“Assault and battery, counterfeiting and embezzlement.”

“That’s an impressive list,” Rusty said. 

“Are he and his molls capable of worse?” Gary asked.

“Maybe,” Rune replied.

“We’ve got to save Bennet,” Gary said making a lurch for the door.

Rusty grabbed him by the shirt. “He is kind of annoying,” he said. “We should take that into consideration.”

“Are you insane?! We can’t leave Bennet out there to risk himself for us. From what Rune has told us Durwin…”

“David,” Rune corrected.

“David could…”

Suddenly, the three of them heard the front door slam. Everyone froze. The engine of the Mercades SUV revved up, backed out and drove off. They looked at each other then slowly, carefully cracked open the door. They listened but didn’t hear anyone or anything. Just the tick of a clock.

Rusty pointed to himself and mouthed, “I’ll go check it out.”

Gary and Rune nodded and watched Rusty stealth down the hall and round the corner.

“Bennet had better be okay,” Gary warned Rune.

Rune glanced at him and said nothing as they stared in the direction Rusty had gone. After a couple of minutes, he slipped back around the corner and said, “They’re gone…and I think they took Bennet with them. But for some weird reason they made him leave his clothes behind.”

“What?” Gary said.

“It looks like they made Bennet take off all his clothes and then kidnapped him.”

“Are you kidding? Why would they make him do that? Why would they make him do that, Rune?”

“I have no idea,” Rune said. “But it’s strange. Even for David.”

Gary’s phone suddenly went off. “It’s Bennet,” he said and answered the call. “Hello?”

“Looks like we’ve got your boy, Gary,” Durwin told him.

“Put Bennet on!” Gary demanded.

“Put Rune on first.”

Gary looked at Rune. “Durwin or David or whatever wants to talk to you.”

“Not a chance,” Rune said.

“You put Bennet, Randy, and my dad in danger, and you put me in danger. If you don’t talk to this creep, I’m going to put you in danger.”

“Yeah, how?”

“I’ll tell Durwin or David or whatever his name is where you’re running to.”

Rune’s face went ashen, but she kept her cool. She grabbed the phone from Gary. “What?” she said.

“I want it back, Rune,” Durwin told her.

“I returned your grandmother’s ring to you. We’re done.”

“You could have tossed the ring down the sewer for all I care. And technically you still have it seeing as your new boyfriend took the strongbox. Tell me where it is, or Gary’s dad and this naked performance artist clown are going to be in a lot of pain.”

“Why should I care?”

“Because one of them knows where you’re going.”

Rune hesitated then said, “They don’t know a thing.”

“I’ll get my answer. You’re a smart girl, Rune but you’re not smart enough to outsmart me.”

Rune narrowed her eyes. She looked at Gary then Rusty then back to Gary. “Fine. Meet us at the center of the quad at five A.M. If you bring Gary’s dad and Bennet with you safe and sound, I’ll take you to where it is.”

“Put Gary back on the phone and let the adults talk.”

Fuming but outwardly calm Rune handed Gary’s phone back to him.

“Here’s the deal,” Durwin told Gary. “You and Rune meet me and my boys at the quad at five AM. In exchange for your dad and naked boy Rune’s going to take me to what’s rightfully mine. If you bring anyone else besides Rune with you this deal is null and void. You got me?”

“I got you,” Gary said.

“If you and Rune are late the deal is null and void. You be there at five AM sharp. You got me?”

“I got you.”

“You call the cops, and this deal is null and void. You got me?”

“I got you.”

Durwin hung up the phone.

“He’s going to meet you and me at the UW Quad at five A.M.”

“What about me?” Rusty asked.

“Durwin…”

“David,” Rune corrected.

“…was clear no one else was to be there but Rune and I.”

“So, he’s got you outmanned two to four. Is that it?”

“Looks like it.”

Rune was still fuming from talking to David. “Let me borrow your phone,” she told Rusty.

“Why?” Rusty said.

“I need to call someone.”

“Who?”

“Just give me the phone.”

“Give her the phone, Rusty.”

“Fine,” Rusty grumbled putting in his passcode before handing it to Rune.

“Thanks,” Rune said and dialed the number.

“Who’s she calling?” Rusty asked Gary.

Gary shrugged.

“Hello,” Rune said into the phone. “It’s Rune…yes. It’s David he’s…I know, I know. I won’t ask you again…if you could just meet me…the UW. Yes. Five A.M. Yes, I know it’s early just…please. Thank you. Okay. Okay. Thank you…bye.”

“Who was that?” Rusty and Gary asked simultaneously.

“We need to go,” she said.

My Books

You can check out my books Chicane and the five installments in my Musicology book series Musicology: Volume One, Baby!, Musicology: Volume Two, Kid!, Musicology: Volume Three, Twist!, Musicology: Volume Four, Sweetie! and Musicology: The Epiquad on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback editions. You can also check out Musicology’s web site at www.musicologyrocks.com and vote for who you think will win Musicology!!!

HOW INDEPENDENT FILMS SHOULD BE

STREAM OF THE WEEK: BOUND (1996)-Hulu

It would have been near impossible to beat Fargo for best original screenplay in 1996 or any year for that matter. But it would have been easy to drop Jerry Maguire or Shine to make room for this complex and brilliantly written script by the Wachowskis. I have never wrapped my head around why The Matrix is considered their best work outside of the groundbreaking special effects. Some rabid fanboy filmgoers and whack-job would-be scientists (more philosophers than scientists) seem to embrace the idea that the world is merely a simulation, and we are all puppets of artificial intelligence. I would be far more likely to believe the story of The Terminator before I would believe this simulation hypothesis malarky. I’ve watched The Matrix three times and for me it becomes more lackluster and insipid with each viewing. But Bound just gets better and better in every way from the gorgeous cinematography, the superb direction and the spot on performances of this brilliantly cast film. Corky (Gina Gershon) spent five years in prison for robbery. She has gotten a job working as a handyman in an apartment building that happens to house members of the mob. One of them is Ceasar (brilliantly played by Joe Pantoliano) and his very sexy girlfriend Violet (Jennifer Tilly). Corky and Violet discover they have a connection and after Ceasar and his associates brutally murder Shelly (Barry Kivel) who has skimmed over two million dollars from them Violet enlists Corky to help her steal the two million and escape the dangerous life she is trapped in.