The Night Chicago Died

Once more ancestral memory reached out and grabbed somebody, when my pal Scott Phillips wrote and mentioned that the song "Fox on the Run" got stuck in his head after reading my blog. The ironic truth is I posted it after reading his blog, which mentioned "Ballroom Blitz," also by the somewhat forgotten band Sweet.

Somebody more clever than me should write a script about how scraps of music go back and forth and "infect" different people; much like Joe "Dr. Squid" Sherlock got sent down an unwelcome memory lane when I mentioned Barry Manilow's "Copacabana" here awhile back.

How do you like this title, fellas?

If you knew right away the band was Paper Lace, and that they also sang the mind-sticking "Billy Don't Be A Hero," I bow at your mastery.

I even had it on eight-track!

I got some good news yesterday--my PETER ROTTENTAIL cowriter John Polonia and wife had a son this weekend, and contrary to popular belief he was not born with bat-wings and horns. Best wishes to the parents, and sorry, kid, but all your birthdays are going to suck because they're too close to Christmas.

Of course, Mark sent me an email that mentioned they were finishing the audio mix on PETER ROTTENTAIL, and oh yeah, his brother's wife had a baby.

That's a b-movie king for you!

Speaking of PETER ROTTENTAIL:

CUT TO:
INT. ABBY'S HOUSE (LIVING ROOM) -- LATER
Abby is watching a romantic film with tears rolling down her face. She has a bottle in one hand and the remote in the other. She shuts off the TV and takes a hearty slug.
ABBY
(slurred)
Yeah, only in the movies.
She gets up to stagger off to bed.
CUT TO:
EXT. ABBY'S HOUSE -- CONTINUOUS
A shadowy figure moves alongside her house, creeping up to the warm light painting a square in the yard.
It is Peter, watching her wash up and get ready for bed.
PETER
Nice carrot patch!
From Peter's POV, we see Abby slip into her nightie and exit the bathroom.
CUT TO:
INT. ABBY'S HOUSE (BEDROOM) -- MOMENTS LATER
Abby is tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable, dozing fitfully.
CUT TO:
INT. ABBY'S HOUSE -- MOMENTS LATER
A door CREAKS open, and a hairy hand curls around its frame.
Peter begins to stalk down the long hallway to Abby's bedroom.
CUT TO:
INT. ABBY'S HOUSE (BEDROOM) -- CONTINUOUS
Peter peers around her bedroom door, and eyes the sleeping beauty.
PETER
I'd like to show her my magic wand...but there's still work left to do.
Suddenly, Abby sits upright, eyes wide, hearing the raspy VOICE.
She grabs a sculpture off of her nightstand and gets to her feet.
She pads towards the door, the heavy artwork at the ready.
She pushes the door suddenly, revealing nothing but blackness beyond.
She expels a long SIGH, and shakes her head.
ABBY
I need a man.
CUT TO:


Give me a yell at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.