backuponthesea's blog: "onceuponthesea"

ADAM YBODON is a tall,broad shouldered man, with long white hair and a long white beard. He has a deep scar running down the length of his nose.

ADAM
Good morning, Tom. How are you on this fine day?

TOM
Just great, Adam. How about yourself?


ADAM
Just enjoying the gift of a new day.

TOM
This is my friend, Marty. Marty, Adam.
They shake hands.

TOM
Word on the street is that you've known just about everybody
Adam
I've been fortunate in my acquaintences with some noteable figures.
tOM
Any favorites.

ADAM
I'd have to say Einstein. I was living in Princeton. He used to go every day to feed the ducks. So one day I got a bag of dry bread and went over to the pond. He said hello, I said hello, and then we fed the ducks.

TOM
What did you talk about?

ADAM
Ah, well. We talked about the ducks,what kind of tobaco we liked. You know. And some about that whole space, time thing of his. What is it,()yeah. The space time continuim. That's what he called it. Hell of a nice guy.
REACTION-TOM and MARTY
Laughing, slightly amazed.

TOM
Anyone else of note?

ADAM
Well,()there was Joe Louis. We were in a carpool for awhile, into New York City. Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Elanor Roosevelt, Dizzy Dean.....

TOM
Wait a minute. Elanor Roosevelt and Dizzy Dean? Let's go get a drink. I'm buying.

ADAM
Well, that's mighty kind of you, Tom.
TOM
Your choice.

ADAM
Okay, let's go over to Specs'
TOM
Sounds good to me.


They walk across the wide intersection of Columbus and Broadway, then uptown for a half block until they duck into SPECS
SPECS himself is a thin, balding man. Wearing, of course, his glasses.
There is a bench outside, in the alcove. It was a popular spot for the local Poets and assorted Madmen who populated the happening streets of North Beach. Inside, 3 stools at the window, then a long bar,20 seats or more.  Tables in the back with Specs' schrimsaw collection in glass cases. Beautifuly carved pipes and flutes. Different artifacts.
Tom, Adam and Marty take the 3 vacant stools at the window. Adam in the middle, Tom in the shotgun seat and Marty on the left flank.
Specs strolls over from the middle of the bar, somewhat taken aback by the intense energy coming from the corner. But Specs is cool, always ready with a quip or a one-liner. Kind of like a hipster Continental Op.

SPECS
I don't want any trouble from you guys.

ADAM
( laughs)
We're all peace loving men in search of some libation.
SPECS
Well, you came to the right place. I specialize in libating. What'll it be?
ADAM
I'll have a scotch and soda. With a straw.
SPECS
I can see how you'd need one, to get through that prehistoric beard of yours.
ADAM
smiling
Watch your step, young man.
Specs closes in on Adam. He has the kind of glasses that you can flip up, just the lenses. Which he does.
SPECS
scrutinizingly,then smiling
I have nothing but the utmost respect for you, Adam. It's not every day I get the King of the Hobos in my bar.
ADAM
That was a long time ago.
SPECS
True. But you get to keep the title for life, right?

ADAM
Yeah, but you know I'm not that big on titles. That's why my name is Adam Ydoban. Damn Nobody.
Specs flips up his lenses, turns to Tom.
SPECS
Aha, the heroic rebel of HUAC. It's an honor to meet you.
tOM
Thanks. But don't get too close. There's a target on my back.
SPECS
Throw an icecube in here and there's a 90 percent chance you'll hit either a poet, a commie or an outlaw. So make yourself at home. And by the way, your money's no good in here. What can I get you?
tOM
Glenfiddich, if you've got it.
SPECS
I've got it.
Marty adds his order, a bottle of Heinkin  and Specs moves back down to the well of the bar.

TOM
So you were saying, About Elanor and Dizzy...
ADAM
Yes.Right. So there's a landing strip,in the Azores. You couldn't call it an airport. I had a little office, with a bench outside. I was the night watch.
Specs arrives with their drinks. They tap glasses and drink.
ADAM
So they come over to the bench, it's gonna be a couple of hours or more  to refuel the plane and give the pilot a break.So we just sat there, in the fog til the sun came up. Just talking and laughing. They were great, the pair of them. It's just that you'd never expect to see them together.
Marty
Especially in the middle of the Azores in the middle of the night.
ADAM
Yes. There was that.