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The Year in Review
1.1.2003 by Dan Beirne, every Wednesday.


Nathan Lane comes over every Wednesday to the house to watch a movie, or just chat with Dan. Dan found these little chats so interesting, he decided to tape-record them and tell the world all the neat things Nathan had to say about movies and stuff.


Wednesday, December 31st, cloudy

The Lion King: The much talked-about stage production of the famous Disney movie. Moufasa, a lion, leaves his kingdom to his son Simba. But when Moufasa dies, the evil Scar has ideas of his own.

To wrap up the year, I decided it would be appropriate for Nathan and I to go see a production of The Lion King. You know, an opportunity for us both to reflect on the year, even years past, and what they mean to us and to the world in general.

(in a coffee shop after the show)

Nathan: Uh, double espresso, no cream, lots of sugar, and whipped cream.

Waitress: I thought you said you wanted no cream.

Nathan: Dan, what did you want?

Me: Uh, I'll have a lemonade.

Waitress: Sorry, no lemonade.

Me: Oh uh, okay, just a white milk?

Waitress: White milk? Sure thing.

Nathan: And could you turn down the music a little bit?

Waitress: I'll be right back with your orders.

Me: What a show!

(I can hear the people next to us talking about lawn care)

Nathan: Yeah, you keep saying that.

Me: I just think it resonates in a lot of ways, you know?

Nathan: Do you still have your program?

Me: Yeah, here. I think it's really symbolic, you know, of a world that was ruined and almost destroyed, but still has the potential to be saved.

Nathan: I'm just still mystified as to why they let Max Casella go. He was perfect for the part.

Me: And just as the plains of the Sahara were able to rise at Simba's return, so too will--

Nathan: I mean, Danny Rutigliano? His voice is like a cat flying into a building.

(the waitress' heels clacking on the floor)

Waitress: Double espresso?

Nathan: Here.

Waitress: And the white milk.

Me: Thank you.

Waitress: You're welcome.

Nathan: Do you think you could turn the music down just a little bit?

Waitress: Oh, sure.

Nathan: What was I talking about?

Me: I was saying how Simba represents hope for all of us.

Nathan: Oh right, his voice.

Me: No, Simba.

Nathan: Do you think he works out? He seemed pretty fit.

Me: Not Timon.

Nathan: And to cart that puppet around for so long, I mean...

Me: And Scar, he's an enemy, but he's not your classic super-evil character. I mean, he's Moufasa's brother for goodness' sake.

Nathan: My brother had a scar on his larynx. Or at least he told me he did.

(I think she turned the music up instead of down)

Me: That's it. I'm going to make a resolution. Starting right now, I'm going to be more hopeful with everything. Because, as the story told us, hope is really the answer.

Nathan: I'd like to get back on stage. It looked fun.

(really loud laughter from the table next table)

Me: I haven't felt this great in a while. This was a great idea.

Nathan: Mmm. I'm done. You ready?

Me: Oh, I haven't started mine.

Nathan: Well, I gotta get going...

Me: Okay, hold on.

Nathan: We'll share a cab.

Me: Aw, we'll never get a cab at this hour.

(A really fat guy sneezed all over his date. Or his daughter, I couldn't tell)

As always, you can e-mail Nathan at hakunamatta69@hotmail.com to talk about movies, or just chat about whatever.



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