Disclaimer: If Chapter 6 was an experiment in excess in all its glory, then Chapter 7 must be the progeny of such excess. If Chapter 6 was all flowery narrative and descriptives, then Chapter 7, as you will read, is its exact opposite. Dialogue. And dialogue alone. I hope I don't lose you along the way.

Chapter 7

"Now, tell me again, Janice, and don’t spare the details."

"How many ways can I say I told the President of the United States to take a hike?"

"You have a large vocabulary. The number is infinite, I’m sure."

"He wanted the Scrolls, and he wasn’t beneath employing a little coercion to get them."

"You’re not serious?"

"Well, maybe coercion is too strong a word. It wasn’t what he said so much as how he said it."

"Now you’ve gone an’ lost me."

"Suffice it to say that the man dabbles in manipulation the way other artists work in oils."

"Every dog suffers fleas as my daddy used to say."

"A master of the obscure reference was your old man, Mel."

"Half truths and hogwash are part and parcel of the politician’s trade, Janice -- a predictable, if unpardonable, character flaw. I wouldn’t expect you to overlook these flaws simply because he’s the president."

"Thank you. Are you sitting on the soap again?"

"There, to your left. Still, wouldn’t it be somethin’ if he were right…about your daddy, I mean."

"If I believed for one second that there was a chance my father was still out there, alive, I’d move heaven and earth to get to him. As it is, he’s dust…he’s just dust, Mel, and I’d appreciate it if we could just drop this topic."

"Consider it dropped. I’m sorry if I upset you."

"You didn’t upset me. You could never upset me, darling. I’m fine, really."

"I will take you at your word. Well...look at that…"

"What?"

"They float…like little buoys. I never noticed that."

"I did…naughty little buoys!"

"It’s poor taste to laugh at your own jokes, Janice."

"Come down to the shallow end and say that, little girl."

"Insatiable…and you can wipe that smug ole smile off your face. Every time I call you insatiable, you take it as a compliment. Ah, ah! Tickle me an’ suffer the consequences!"

"Did anyone ever tell you that you have the most beautiful feet?"

"They’re gunboats, Janice."

"They’re not gunboats…they’re beautiful and sensuous…look at that delicate arch, and those long toes…especially your index toe."

"My what?"

"Your index toe. The second toe there. Don’t be thick, Mel. You want more hot water?"

"Huh uh…I’m prunin’…we need to think about gettin’ out."

"Bet the ravioli’s a wash."

"In the icebox under a damp cloth. They’ll perk right up in a little hot water."

"Like me."

"Oh…nothin’ at all like you."

"Whoa…oh…other foot, please."

"It’s busy."

"No one knows that better than me…yikes…two can play at this game you know."

"Why can’t you just sit back and enjoy the attention? What’s wrong with lettin’ me do for the birthday girl?"

"Absolutely nothing…ooooh, very long, very nimble toes."

"On my daddy’s side."

"Three cheers for genetics."

"What do you wanna do after?"

"Aren’t we doing it?"

"Supper…whatever you wa--wanna--ah-choo!"

"Whoa…that was an interesting sensation."

"I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?"

"…no…not hurt, exactly…what were you saying?"

"What would like to do after supper?"

"Dunno…there’s a new picture playing at the Orpheum…"

"In this weather? Are you out of your proverbial tree?"

"Paul - oh, oh, that’s wonderful --Muni…Paul Muni and Gene Tierney…"

"Oh, I love her overbite."

"Come on, let’s do it. I’ve got 2 dollars burning a hole in my pocket."

"And I’ve got classes in the mornin’."

"You’ll be in bed by 11…ravished by 11:15…Mel, Mel, that’s divine… what are you doing to me?"

"There’s a name for it..."

"Ho-lee Toledo…I swear, Mel, if you sneezed right now, I’d be in heaven."

"Do you hear somethin’?"

"Bells, honey…angels singing."

"Bells… Janice…that’s the door buzzer."

"Ignore it."

"No one I know would come callin’ at this hour."

"Ignore it. Mel! Mel? You’re not ignoring it. If we ignore it, maybe they’ll go away. Where are you going?"

"Do you hear that racket? That is the buzzer of a determined individual. That is a buzzer that will not be ignored, so I am gonna get the door."

"Not in that towel you’re not...and that‘s my dressing gown."

"Where’s mine?"

"Gimme that. You dry off. I’ll get rid of whoever’s at the door."

"You’re a love."

"Oh, yeah, I’m a sweetheart."

"Here, at least put on my slippers."

"Look okay?"

"Not fit for public viewin’. Sic ‘em, tiger."

"Okay, okay, I’m coming. Hold your horses. I swear, this building better be on Gotdamn fire. Yeah?!"

"Good evenin’."

"Holy shhhh--I mean, good evening."

"I seem to have disturbed your evenin’ toilette."

"I was just getting out actually."

"You’ll catch your death standin’ in this open doorway."

"Oh. I’m sorry. Please, come in. I’m Janice, by the way. We spoke once on the telephone."

"How could I forget? You‘re just as I pictured you."

"First impressions are rarely flattering."

"So true."

"That’s a...that’s a beautiful fur you have there. Mink?"

"Chinchilla, and before you say anythin’, I did not stalk and kill the poor beast for its coat. It died and left me everything. Is Melinda here?"

"Janice, you’ll never guess where I found my dressin’ gown. Who was at -- oh...my...Mama."

End Chapter 7