I unfastened the latches and opened it to reveal a tray of hooks and bobbers. At least it would shelter them from the wind until I could crawl back outside. РІР‚СљWhatРІР‚в„ўs that doing under here?РІР‚Сњ I muttered, playing my flashlight beam over it. I was contemplating what to do with the survivors when I saw it. I placed the cat outside and did the same for the two dead kittens I found. As gently as I could, I picked up the catРІР‚в„ўs body and wiggled to the vent opening. The animal was stiff and cold to the touch. A kitten crawled on its belly near its motherРІР‚в„ўs feet, much like I myself was crawling. I spied a sliver of light ahead, marking both the broken vent screen and the area beneath my bedroom, which was a few feet from the vent.Р”Р„ soft mewling sound came from that area and I played my flashlight in its direction. Apparently, there was no animal control in this town, so after making a few fruitless phone calls, I decided to go after them myself-a decision I was regretting a little more with every inch I crawled. Those worries had increased when IРІР‚в„ўd seen Mama Cat today, limping and looking torn and bloody. October nights in Middle Tennessee had grown colder, and I worried about the new babies. A few days ago, IРІР‚в„ўd heard a high-pitched mewling under the floor beneath my bed. IРІР‚в„ўd been unable to fix the screen because IРІР‚в„ўd never known for sure when the cat was under the house and didnРІР‚в„ўt want to trap her. I had tried to coax her out with food and milk, but Mama Cat had managed to elude me so far. Two weeks ago, IРІР‚в„ўd noticed the very pregnant cat slipping under my newly purchased house.Р”В¬loser inspection had revealed a broken vent screen. I gave a cry of revulsion and tried to brush it off, rapping my knuckles painfully across a wooden beam in the process. Please donРІР‚в„ўt be a rat, I thought, an instant before running my face into a huge, sticky spider web. Something skittered to my left and I nearly screamed. The darkness was so complete that it snuffed out the frail, yellow beam of my Dollar General flashlight just a couple of feet in front of me. I would be the butt of the ploy, and canРІР‚в„ўt help but smile at how easilyР’В these characters would playР’В me.I inched forward on my belly, trying not to inhale any more of the musty, stagnant air than necessary. I think I enjoy silly scenes like these because I knowР’В I would be far more likely to be the one decamping than the one making the joke. Of course, it gets even grosser from thereРІР‚В¦and the two act like 10-year-old boys instead of grown men in enjoying their little joke. He said that I shouldnРІР‚в„ўt even be coming in today.РІР‚СњР”В¬arl: РІР‚СљThe rash is ummm also incredibly contagious. Sam: РІР‚СљHow you feeling? What did the doctor say?РІР‚СњР”В¬arl: РІР‚СљHe ummm said that it was contagious.

Clearly, thereРІР‚в„ўs some level of improvisation to their conversation, with each trying to outwit each other, and out-gross-out their unlucky audience. We know therefore whatever follows is a gag of some kind. We witness a smirk from Sam (Patrick Swayze) as soon as he and his friend Carl (Tony Goldwyn) enter the elevator of their business in Ghost.

The two areР’В instantly alone.Р’В Whether this routine is a regular gag with them (it seems so practiced) or just a function of their quick-wittedness, the coupleР’В delivers it-as they do everything-beautifully.Р”В¬racking Themselves Up: Sam & Carl in Ghost (1990) But her response tells us otherwise: РІР‚СљI wonРІР‚в„ўt stay in quarantine. What if the health officers find out? TheyРІР‚в„ўll put you right back in quarantine.РІР‚СњР”Р„t first, her expression suggestsР’В she may be annoyed by his ploy. To clear them away quickly, he begins, РІР‚СљNow Mommy, you know better than to come to a place like this your first day out of bed. Who wouldnРІР‚в„ўt? When Nick (William Powell) seeks his wife in Another Thin Man, he finds a crowd of men vyingР’В for her attention. Men follow her and hit on her constantly. Ex-cons canРІР‚в„ўt believe someone so desirable could be NickРІР‚в„ўs wife instead of his mistress. NoraРІР‚в„ўs (Myrna LoyРІР‚в„ўs) considerable sex appeal is a joke in many of The Thin Man movies. So on the lovely actressРІР‚в„ўs birthday, hereРІР‚в„ўs that scene-and another like it from many decades later-when the characters mess with the crowds around them for very different reasons.Р”В®liminatingР’В Suitors: Nora in Another Thin Man (1939) Somehow funny scenes so often result from mocking our greatest fears. It made me think of outbreaks, and how theyРІР‚в„ўve been used to panic audiences-or amuse them. InР’В one of my favorite scenes from The Thin Man series, Nick CharlesР’В pretends his wife isР’В contagiousР’В for laughs.

Ghost patrick swayze you was my friend