Abraham's Son, Chapter 12

INT. ABRAHAM'S BEDROOM - DAY 

On Friday morning ABRAHAM sits on his bed, in his pajamas, feet on floor. He is somber after catastrophe previous night when he confronted SARA with his request to have his baby. He should be on his way to work, but it's as if he's frozen. Finally, he places call to cellphone of his assistant, JANET. Her phone rings. She answers.

JANET (O.S.): Hello. 

ABRAHAM: Janet, it's ABRAHAM. How are you? 

JANET (O.S.): ABRAHAM, morning. This is a surprise. What's the matter? 

ABRAHAM: Nothing. Listen, I'm taking some vacation time, today and all next week. I'll be back in the office a week from this coming Monday. Please tell everybody. Okay? 

JANET (O.S.): Sure. But is everything really okay? This is quite unusual for you. I'm concerned. 

ABRAHAM: No reason to be. I'm perfectly okay. I appreciate your concern, but there's nothing wrong. I just need a break. I expect to travel some. I'll see everybody in ten days. Bye. 

JANET (O.S.): Bye, ABRAHAM. Have a good trip. 

ABRAHAM hangs up phone. After waiting some moments, he looks in his wallet and finds card his friend ROBERT gave him. He calls him on his cellphone. Phone rings. ROBERT answers. 

ROBERT (O.S.): Hello. 

ABRAHAM: Robert, it's ABRAHAM, your old friend from Queens. How are you? 

ROBERT (O.S.): ABRAHAM, it's great to hear from you again, especially so soon. What's going on? 

ABRAHAM: I decided to take you up on your offer to visit D.C. How about I come down on Amtrak tonight? We can have dinner. I can stay for a few days. What do you say? 

ROBERT (O.S.): Oh, wow! This is great news. Sure. Let me know when and I'll meet you at Union Station. I have a guest room you can use for as long as you want. 

ABRAHAM: Fine. I'll call you a little later with my arrival time. Bye-bye. 

ROBERT (O.S.): Bye, ABRAHAM. 

They both hang up their phones. ABRAHAM again waits some moments before making another call, this time to his cousin SYLVIA. Phone rings. SYLVIA answers her cellphone. 

SYLVIA (O.S.): Hello. 

ABRAHAM: Sylvia, it's ABRAHAM. How are you? 

SYLVIA (O.S.): ABRAHAM, I'm so glad to hear from you. I'm so happy about you and SANDY. She's the right woman for you.

ABRAHAM: Yes, SANDY's great, but right now I need to talk to you and you have to promise me you won't mention any of it to SANDY. Please, can you do that? 

SYLVIA (O.S.): What's going on? That's a strange request. 

ABRAHAM: Not strange. Necessary. I'm not ready to talk to SANDY about it, but I am with you. Promise? 

SYLVIA (O.S.): Okay. Promise. What? 

ABRAHAM:  I've been thinking a lot lately about having a child of my own. I feel it's something I need in my life, for many reasons. Obviously, there are obstacles. 

SYLVIA (O.S.) (incredulous): ABRAHAM, you're sixty years-old. Not thirty. I'm sorry your child didn't survive, but that time of your life is over. 

ABRAHAM Why? I read all the time about older men, men my age, having children. I'm up to it. 

SYLVIA (O.S.): Okay, you're up to it. How are you gonna get one. Marry a young woman? Adopt? Look for a surrogate mother? What?

ABRAHAM: That's still up in the air. 

SYLVIA (O.S.): You know, this is not gonna sit well with SANDY. She doesn't want you and a baby. This is not the lifestyle she's planning. 

ABRAHAM: I realize that. I'll have to take that risk. But, right now, my priority is a baby, not SANDY. 

SYLVIA (O.S.): Want to know what I think? 

ABRAHAM: That's why I called. 

SYLVIA (O.S.): I think you're crazy. It's foolish. You're mashugana. I can't think of any other way of putting it. Please reconsider, ABRAHAM. 

ABRAHAM: I'll take what you said under consideration. I appreciate your advice. But, again, not a word to SANDY. 

SYLVIA (O.S.): Believe me, she's the last person I would tell this to.

ABRAHAM: You must tell no one. 

SYLVIA (O.S.): Okay, okay. 

ABRAHAM: I'm going to Washington tonight to visit an old friend from high school. I'll be back in a few days. Bye and thanks.

SYLVIA (O.S.): Bye. 

__________

I will be on vacation next Sunday, Christmas Day.  Next post will be January 1, 2023

Jim Brown

 Jim Brown was born February 17, 1936 in St. Simons Island, GA.  At eight years of age, his family moved to Manhasset, NY where his mother worked as a domestic.

Jim Brown attended Manhasset High School where he excelled at football, lacrosse, baseball, basketball and track.  In 1953, he matriculated at Syracuse University, a mere 40 miles (65 KM) from my hometown, Oswego, NY.  As such Jim Brown and the Syracuse Orange became my favorite college football team.  I was able to listen to their games on the radio.

After his freshman year, Jim Brown became the star running back on the 1954, 1955 and 1956 Syracuse teams.  As a sophomore he was the second-leading rusher on the team. As a junior, Jim Brown rushed for 676 yards (5.2 per carry). In his senior year, he was a consensus first-team All-American. 

Jim Brown finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting and set school records for highest season rush average (6.2) and most rushing touchdowns in a single game (6). He ran for 986 yards, third-most in the country despite Syracuse playing only eight games and scored 14 touchdowns. 

Then on New Years Day in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Jim Brown rushed for 132 yards, scored three touchdowns, and kicked three extra points in a 28-27 loss to TCU.  He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Perhaps most impressive was his success as a multisport athlete at Syracuse.   In addition to his football accomplishments, Jim Brown excelled in basketball, track, and especially lacrosse.  He is in the Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

In the NFL draft, Jim Brown was chosen by the Cleveland Browns (named for their coach Paul Brown).  In those years, Cleveland was the arch rival of my favorite team, the New York Football Giants.  Thus, he went from being on my favorite college team to being on my least favorite NFL team.

During his nine year NFL career (1957-1965), the Giants & Browns had many battles and Jim Brown broke my heart many times.  However, I can't deny his greatness.  I was happy for him when his Browns beat the Baltimore Colts in 1964 to become NFL champions.  

I was privileged to have seen Jim Brown in person three times:  against the Giants in Yankee Stadium in 1962 (Browns lost 17-13), the Philadelphia Eagles at Franklin Field in 1964 (Browns won 28-20) and again in 1965 (Browns won 35-17).  The night before the '64 game I saw him walking on the street in Center City Philadelphia while my brother Paul and I were on our way to a movie theater where some of his teammates sat in front of us.  

In 1966, Jim Brown was in the UK filming the movie The Dirty Dozen along with Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Ernest Borgnine, John Cassavetes, George Kennedy, Ralph Meeker, Robert Ryan, Telly Savales and Donald Sutherland.  As a result of some production delays, he was late in returning to the Browns for their pre-season practices.  In an attempt to force him to return ASAP, the team fined him for his lateness.  In response, Jim Brown retired from football.

His name appears many times in the NFL record book, despite only playing nine years at a time when the schedule was at the most 14 games per season (today 17).  Jim Brown is the only running back in NFL history to average over 100 yards per game for a career.  He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  I and many others consider Jim Brown the greatest running back of all time.    

Niagara

There are two cities with the same name, Niagara Falls, one in the State of New York and the other in the Province of Ontario.  Between them is the world famous Niagara Falls.

"Formed by the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, Niagara Falls has the highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America that has a vertical drop of more than 50 meters (160 feet). During peak daytime tourist hours, more than 168,000 cubic meters (5.9 million cubic feet) of water goes over the crest of the falls every minute.  Niagara Falls is famed for its beauty and is a valuable source of hydroelectric power."  It used to be considered an ideal location for a honeymoon. 

In 1929, after her graduation from college in Oswego, NY, my mother, the former Margaret Karch, took a job as a teacher in Niagara Falls, NY.  Early in 1930, she returned to Oswego and married my father, Harry Lasky.  My mother once confided in me that she had to borrow money from my father during her year in Niagara Falls.  During my youth, my family and I vacationed at least once at Niagara Falls, Ontario, a trip of 162 miles (260 km) from Oswego.

In 1953, Henry Hathaway directed the motion picture Niagara which starred Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotton and Jean Peters.  It was a thriller movie that was filmed on location in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Ray and Polly Cutler (Peters) arrive at a hotel (Rainbow Cabins) in Niagara Falls, Ontario on their delayed honeymoon only to find their reserved cabin (with a beautiful view of the Falls) still occupied by George (Cotton) and Rose (Monroe) Loomis.

George, asleep, has "not quite been himself."  The Cutlers politely accept a less desirable cabin so as not to disturb George.

George and Rose have a very volatile marriage. She is young and very attractive. He is much older, jealous, depressed and irritable. 

While touring the Scenic Tunnels under the Falls, Polly sees Rose passionately kissing another man.

The next day, Rose lures George into following her to where her lover is waiting to kill him. To let Rose know that George is dead, her lover will request the Rainbow Tower Carillon play the song "Kiss". When she hears the tune being played on the carillon bells, Rose concludes George is dead.

In fact, it is George who has killed the other man, thrown his body into the Falls, and collected his shoes at the exit instead of his own. This leads the police to believe that George is the victim. 

When the body is retrieved, the police bring Rose to the morgue to identify George's body. When the cover is lifted from the face and she recognizes the dead man, Rose collapses before saying anything and is admitted to a hospital. 

George has the carillon play "Kiss" again to panic Rose, who flees the hospital, intending to cross the border back to New York State. Finding George waiting for her at the border, Rose tries to escape,  hiding in the carillon bell tower. George catches up to her and strangles her beneath the bells, which remain silent. 

This is not the end of the film, but it is for me.  Poor Rose, Poor Marilyn.

      

Abraham's Son, Chapter 11

INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY 

It's Sunday again. ABRAHAM and SARA drink coffee and talk after watching a movie together. 

SARA: So, this guy DAVE I told you about... turns out he's an OK guy. We had a great time Friday night. We watched An Affair to Remember, 1957. He really liked it. Maybe next time we'll watch a John Wayne flick. (pause) And then we fucked. 

ABRAHAM: Excuse me? 

SARA: You heard me. I enjoyed myself...and he had protection. So what? 

ABRAHAM: I'm glad it worked out. (pause) Well...I had a good time Friday, too. SANDY and I went to a concert at Lincoln Center. And then... 

SARA: And then? 

ABRAHAM: I'm not used to being so blunt... Okay, I spent the night at her place. 

SARA: Congratulation, ABRAHAM. 

SARA leans over and kisses ABRAHAM on his cheek. 

ABRAHAM: Say, you know, I'm not much of a cook, but I do my best. My cousin gave me a lasagna recipe and I wanna try it out. Do me a favor. Come to my house one day this week and share lasagna with me and tell me what you think. 

 SARA: Thursday works? 

INT. ABRAHAM'S OFFICE AT WHITE ROCK BEVERAGES - DAY 

ABRAHAM sits in his office, alone, in contemplation. 

INT. ABRAHAM'S HOME - NIGHT 

It's Thursday night and SARA arrives at ABRAHAM's home. She brings a bottle of wine and gives it to him. 

SARA: I hope the wine's okay, ABRAHAM. The guy at the store said it would be good with pasta. I'm more of a beer person.

ABRAHAM: It'll be fine. Welcome to my house. Please sit down. SARA: (looking around) Oh, you have a very nice place.

 ABRAHAM: Thanks. 

SARA: So, what do you think of my new dress. My friend MARIA helped me pick it out...at Macy's...Queens Center. 

SARA twirls around so ABRAHAM can see front and back. She seems so happy. 

ABRAHAM: Oh, it's very pretty. 

SARA: And what about my hair? You like it? 

ABRAHAM: Yes, I do. SARA, you must know you're an attractive woman. 

SARA: I'm starting to think so. 

ABRAHAM: Why don't I open the wine so we can relax before dinner? 

SARA: Good idea. 

ABRAHAM goes into the kitchen to open the wine bottle and pour two glasses. SARA looks around and notices wedding photo of ABRAHAM and HELEN from almost 40 years ago. ABRAHAM returns with the glasses of wine. 

ABRAHAM: Here we go. 

SARA: (referring to the photo) This is so beautiful. 

ABRAHAM: Yes...it is. That was a happy day for me...for Helen...for our families. A long time ago. You know, sometimes it's hard for me to remember her voice...let's drink some wine. 

SARA: Yeah. 

ABRAHAM gives SARA one of the glasses of wine and they sit down. They each take a drink. SARA waits for ABRAHAM to comment on the wine. 

ABRAHAM: Good. What do you think? 

SARA: I like it. 

They continue drinking the wine. 

ABRAHAM: You know, my life has changed recently...for the better. First, I met you...a vibrant, young woman. I hope we can become good friends, SARA. 

SARA: Me, too. 

ABRAHAM: And then, I think because of you, I permitted myself to be open to SANDY, a nice, older woman, who perhaps can be my companion in the future. 

SARA: That'd be good, ABRAHAM. 

ABRAHAM: And not only a companion, but a lover as well. I wouldn't have believed it, but I found myself wanting another woman, without guilt. 

SARA: I'm so happy for you, ABRAHAM. (pause) I'm having fun, too. DAVE's okay, but tomorrow MARIA and I are going to a bar in the city to look for some more cute guys. I want to feel the same things you do. 

ABRAHAM: Take care, SARA. I worry about you. 

SARA: Don't. 

ABRAHAM: (long pause) You know, because of you and SANDY, I've been thinking a lot about the rest of my life, what's most important to me. That day long ago, that terrible day, I lost not only my sweet, dear wife, but a child, my child. (pause) I believe the closest thing to immortality is having children. 

SARA: You're obviously not Catholic. 

ABRAHAM: Yeah. But, my desire to have a child is growing, not just because of that, but I want to pass on what I've learned to a child of mine own. 

SARA: Wonderful. 

ABRAHAM: (pause) I also want my family to continue. My folks had two sons. My younger brother died in Vietnam, like yours in Afghanistan. Neither of us had children. Our genes will end. You know, there's no one alive today from Abraham Lincoln. 

SARA: So what are you saying? You want a child, but no adoption?

ABRAHAM: Yeah. Forgive me, that may sound cold. It's just what I want to fill the rest of my life. 

SARA: And how ya gonna do this, to have your child? You gonna marry some young woman? I don't think SANDY qualifies.

ABRAHAM: You're right about SANDY. But, I don't need to marry anybody. This is the 21st Century. I just need to find a young woman who'll agree to help me, to have my child.

SARA: And where ya gonna find her? 

ABRAHAM stares at SARA who finally gets it and is shocked.

SARA: Are you talkin' about me? 

ABRAHAM nods. 

SARA: Are you crazy? And how do ya propose we conceive this baby of yours? What do they call it, in vitro something? 

ABRAHAM: No, I wouldn't ask that. I would make love to you.

SARA: (getting steadily angrier) I thought we were just friends. Now you want to fuck me? 

ABRAHAM: Please don't say that. I would make love to you till you got pregnant. We are friends, not lovers. 

SARA: We're friends, but you want to fuck me once or twice. Unbelievable! 

ABRAHAM: I know it sounds strange, but you're my only hope. I'm not about to go and look for some young woman to have my baby, somebody I don't know. But, I've gotten to know you, SARA, and you're a good woman, somebody I'd be proud to have as the mother of my child. 

SARA: You forgot something. Have I ever told you how much I don't want children, how I grew up in a bad home? That's not what I want. 

ABRAHAM: You've told me. But you don't have to worry about the child. I would take 100% responsibility. After the birth, you could help me or you could walk away. Your choice. 

SARA: Boy, you've got this all figured out. You fuck me...I get pregnant...I go through 9 months of torture...then you got your child and I can just resume my life as if nothing happened. 

ABRAHAM: I'll take care of everything. I'll be there for you. Whatever you decide, for the rest of my life, I'll help you in any way possible. That would be my act of kindness for your act of kindness.

SARA stands up. 

SARA: Act of kindness? Huh! This is bullshit. I don't want to have a kid. I don't want to get pregnant. I don't want you to fuck me. Get over this kid thing. I'm leaving. 

She heads for the door, but just before exiting she turns around and looks at ABRAHAM in a rage. He stays seated. 

SARA: You can stick your lasagna up your ass. And don't look for me at the cinema. I don't wanna to sit next to a crazy man. And stay the hell away from the Blue Bay Diner! 

SARA leaves house slamming door behind her. ABRAHAM remains where he is with his head in his hands. 

Thanksgiving 1956

My first home (a rental) was a house at 30 East Oneida Street in Oswego, New York.  It was actually one building with a second house around the corner at 104 East Third Street, occupied by the Potter family.  

My home (painted white, but now blue) was two-stories with an unfinished basement and a spooky attic, full of cobwebs and a spinning wheel.  

The first floor contained a living room (with a TV), dining room, kitchen with an adjacent pantry (a good playroom) and an alcove by the stairs where the piano was kept.  The second floor contained three bedrooms (the master bedroom for my parents and two for my three brothers and me) and one bathroom (for six people) with no shower.

In November 1956 (66 years ago), my family moved to 327 West Seneca Street also in Oswego, a ranch style, pink brick house that my father bought for my mother, her dream home.  It was all on one level, again except for an unfinished basement (which had a half-bathroom).

There was a master bedroom for my parents (with their own bathroom), a bedroom I shared with my brother Ted, a guest room (my elder two brothers Joel and Paul had gone their own ways), a second bathroom with a walk in shower (for Ted and me), a living room that was almost never used, a family room (with a TV), a dining room, an eat-in kitchen, my father's office and another half-bathroom (for my father).  There was also an attached two-car garage.

The story goes that my father traded his interest in land (developed for residential housing known as Ridgeway [named for General Matthew Ridgway] Sites, a little north of Minetto, NY) in exchange for the construction of our house on West Seneca Street.  

I remember leaving our old house for the last time one day at lunch time.  I cried.  I was picked up after school (sixth grade) and driven to our new house.  Everything was an improvement, so I quickly forgot the old house.  

As the move to the new house was almost on Thanksgiving 1956, my mother didn't have a chance to prepare the annual turkey dinner.  That was all right with me since her turkeys were always dry and tasteless.  But I did get to see the annual Detroit Lions (20) - Green Bay Packers (24) football game on TV.

I went away to college seven years later.  After 15 years, my parents sold the new house (now a dental office) and moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where they spent the rest of their lives.

Zucht v King

Pursuant to their rules, the City of San Antonio, Texas excluded Rosalyn Zucht from their public schools and private schools within the City because she refused to be vaccinated against smallpox.

Zucht then filed a suit in a State of Texas district court stating that the City's rules deprived her of her liberty without due process by making vaccination against smallpox compulsory.  Further, she stated that the rules were enforced by the City's Board of Health which did not have sufficient guidance.

Zucht sought an injunction against the City's rules and a writ compelling her admission to the City's public schools.  

The State district court upheld the City's rules and denied the writ.

The State appellate court upheld the district court's decision.

Eventually the case arrived at the United States Supreme Court (Zucht v King) to decide whether or not the City's rules violated the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and denied Zucht equal protection.

The Supreme Court cited the case of Jacobson v. Massachusetts (1905), in which the Court had stated that it is within the police power of a state to provide for compulsory vaccination. The Court also found no reason to question the fairness with which the city rules were applied in this case, and found that the rules reflected the broad discretion needed by authorities to protect the public health.  The unanimous decision for King was handed down one hundred years ago, November 13, 1922.

I wonder whether the current United States Supreme Court would uphold Zucht v. King and Jacobson v. Massachusetts.   

Cast Away

 Cast Away is a year 2000 film drama which starred Tom Hanks and Helen Hunt.   It grossed $429 million worldwide (on a budget of $90 million), making it the third highest grossing film that year.

In Cast Away, Chuck (Hanks) is a trouble-shooting executive for Fedex who travels the world resolving productivity issues for the company.  He and his girlfriend Kelly (Hunt) are in love, but can't find the time to marry because of his busy work schedule (work is his priority).

On his way from Memphis (Fedex headquarters) to Malaysia to fix a work related problem, Chuck's Fedex airplane gets caught in a storm and crashes into the Pacific Ocean.  The only survivor, he washes up on an uninhabited island along with several Fedex packages from the plane.

Chuck spends four years alone on the island where there is enough food and water.  But, he must also use his ingenuity to provide heat and shelter.  Chuck is sustained by his love for Kelly, a Wilson volleyball (from a Fedex package) which becomes his "friend" with whom he develops a relationship and an unopened package with angel wings printed on its side (symbol of hope).  

Chuck calls his friend Wilson, which coincidentally was the name of a partner at a store we used to frequent at the Mercado dos Pinheiros.

Finally, Chuck builds a raft and leaves the island hoping to be rescued (and returned to human society) while floating in the vast Pacific Ocean.  Luckily, he is.

Unluckily, Chuck is informed when he arrives back in the States that Kelly, believing he was dead, has married and is the mother of a young daughter.  His dream of being re-united with the love of his life is dashed.  Kelly, while still in love with Chuck, won't abandon her husband and child.  

As a result, Chuck must move on with his life.  Or does he?  Can't he stick around and have Kelly as a friend?

The opening and closing scenes of Cast Away are connected.  In the opening, a Fedex truck picks up a package at a ranch in a remote area of Texas.  At the gate of the ranch you see angel wings with the inscription Dick & Bettina.  

The package is delivered to a home in Moscow and received by an American with a cowboy hat, presumably Dick.  A woman appears and she asks about the package.  He says, "It's from my wife."  And then they kiss.  

In the closing scene, Chuck delivers the only unopened Fedex package from his time on the remote island (representing closure to him) to the same ranch as in the beginning with the angel wings.  Only this time, the name Dick is missing.  No one is home, so he leaves the package by the front door.  

Chuck then drives to an intersection of two roads and is unsure how to proceed.  A friendly, attractive woman passes by in a small truck and steps out to offer direction information.  

Woman:  You look lost.

Chuck:  I do?

Woman:  Where ya headed?

Chuck:  Well, I was just about to figure that out.

Woman:  Well, that's 82 south.  That'll hook you up with I42.  If you turn right, that'll take you to Amarillo, Flagstaff...California.  If you head in that direction (where she is headed), you'll find a whole lot of nothin all the way to Canada.  

Chuck:  I got it.

Woman:  All right.  Good luck, cowboy.

Chuck:  Thank you.

When the woman drives away, Chuck notices on the back of her vehicle the angel wings symbol, the same as from the ranch where he had just delivered the package (which also had angel wings).  When contemplating which direction he should head, he turns towards where the woman (presumably Bettina) was driving (presumably back to her ranch) and smiles.  Will Chuck go there, too?