Sunday, May 6, 2012

For Three-Word Wednesday, Magpie 116 and ABC Wednesday

"Q" is for Quartet
What spurs imagination? What creates creativity?
With me, a word person, it seems to have a lot to do with word association.
When I stared at the prompt above – the beauty of the scene, the river and its banks – it’s the last word that struck me.
Banks…
And suddenly, for no good reason, the following wild scene, featuring a quartet of characters, poured itself out from my keyboard.
Rank Bobbers
Arlene, Bank Teller: “May I help you, sir?”
Lew: “Yeah. Here, read this note.”
Arlene: “Good heavens! You’re not kidding?”
Lew: “Not kidding, no. This is a holdup; I have a weapon. Make this easy on yourself and everyone else. Keep quiet and put all the money there in a bag, then hand it to me. No one will be hurt.”
Arlene (who is visibly trembling): “I’m so nervous.”
Lew: “Sure, I’m kinda nervous myself. But it’s real simple. Money in the bag, bag over to me.”
Vinnie, who’s standing next in line after Lew: “What’s going on here?”
Lew: “Nothin’. We’re havin’ a banking transaction. Be patient; it’ll only be another minute.”
Vinnie: “Hey, you’re Lew Bruschetta!”
Lew: “What? Who the hell are you?”
Vinnie: “Never mind who I am. You have no right to do this! This is our territory.”
Lew: “You’re with the Passaic family?”
Vinnie: “Right. And Edgemere Road is ours. So you better beat it.”
Lew: “We’re okay for Edgemere Road as long as we stay on the east side.”
Vinnie: “God, you’re dumb! This is the west side.”
Arlene: “Is it all right if I sit down? I feel faint.”
Lew: “What? Yeah, sure. Have a glass of water. Take some long, deep breaths."
Vinnie: “Just not while you're drinking the water."
Lew: “To get back to what we were talkin' about, I can’t go to the guys with nothin’. Tell you what we do: we’ll split whatever we get fifty-fifty.”
Vinnie: “Fifty-fifty? You’re the one who screwed up. Make it forty-sixty.”
Mr Cosgrave, Assistant Manager: “May I help you gentlemen?”
Lew: “We’re just discussing opening a checking account.”
Mr C: “I don't mean to dampen your enthusiasm, but I’ve been listening to your discussion; it didn’t seem to have much to do with checking. (Lowers his voice.) Listen, I can be of real help to you guys; I have entrance to the main vault. All you can get out here are small bills.”
Vinnie: “And what’s in it for you?”
Mr C: “Split it three ways – we each get a third.”
Lew: “Whatever happened to honesty in this country?”
Vinnie: “Whaddya say? Let him in on it?”
Lew: “Sure, why not. He can lay his hands on some real dough.”
Vinnie: “Okay, it’s a deal. But – what about her?”
Mr C: “Who, Arlene? Don't worry; she’s smart. She knows it’ll be much safer for her if she says nothing about this to anyone. Right, Arlene?”
Arlene: “Right – as long as we split it four ways.”
(Also submitted to Sunday Scribblings.)

45 comments:

Gail said...

Cute...the river of imagaination flows all directions.

Tess Kincaid said...

Banks...giggle hee...thanks for the Sunday morning smiles Mr. B...

rel said...

What scares me is the fact that I followed that conversation without any puzzlement. But that's NY. ;)
rel

Raven said...

Very unexpected - and funny.

Mimi Foxmorton said...

Your river is crystal clear and most excellent! :)

Laurel's Quill said...

Very humorous...you have a wild imagination..just like the river:) Nice.

brenda w said...

Go Arlene!

CHummelKornell said...

I'm laughing...this was totally unexpected and really brilliant! Well done.

Daydreamertoo said...

LOL What a bunch! Typical of so many of we humans though!

Berowne said...

Dear C Hummel Whatever: A great comment; much thanks.

christopher said...

Harr! You have the heart of a pirate! I agree with rel... It is some kind of a judgement on me that I can track with bank robbers.

Other Mary said...

Now that some association! hahaha

Roger Owen Green said...

So is it that crime doth pay, and bigger crime payeth more?

Berowne said...

Raven: "Very unexpected - and funny."
Thanks, Raven. I'd like to receive such comments - evermore. :-)

Laurie Kolp said...

You should see me smiling ear to ear... I love this, Berowne. You have such a creative imagination!!

Brian Miller said...

haha if you make it five i wont report this either...

Stafford Ray said...

Good one, mate!
A river of many returns!
(PS. It seems we both decided on play format)

Susan Anderson said...

heehee

=)

Maude Lynn said...

That is so funny!

Unknown said...

This is a very unique take on the prompt. And where a river increases in size on it's way to the sea, Lew's fortune seemed to be getting smaller and smaller, as the tale took it's toll. Creatively different and quite capricious. =D

JJ Roa Rodriguez said...

this is awesome! fun!..

real? i guess maybe... hehehe

JJRod'z

The Bug said...

Great fun! I think I saw this scene on Turner Classic Movies :)

Helen said...

Back to collect the $1 you owe me .. and to say I enjoyed your Mag!

Berowne said...

Helen: "Back to collect the $1 you owe me."
Don't happen to have any funds at the moment. But as Mr Micawber said, surely something will turn up...

Berowne said...

The Bug: "I think I saw this scene on Turner Classic Movies."
Have them send all royalty checks directly to me. Thanks.

Tumblewords: said...

In for a penny - inside out! So cleverly coined.

Lyn said...

Sort of reminds me of Woody Allen's bank robbery..which he accomplished with a gub! I like yours too..seems more democratic!

Berowne said...

Lyn: "Sort of reminds me of Woody Allen's bank robbery. which he accomplished with a gub!"
Gubs are too dangerous.

chiccoreal said...

Dear Berowne: Berowne, you are, without dispute, THE Master of snapish wit. So brilliantly portraited; Arlene who knows her place, despite her somewhat aloof tag of being the gangster's new moll!

Dave King said...

You have an imagination to release the imaginations of others. Excellently well done.

Berowne said...

Thanks, Dave K., for a much-appreciated comment...

ninotaziz said...

Short tale. Maximum impact! Thank you Berowne.

Leslie: said...

LOVE it! Arlene ain't so dumb after all.

Leslie
abcw team

Hannah said...

Love your thought process and your offering!! It is so intriguing to see into the mind of a writer. Thank you!!

Anonymous said...

Ha! A decided bend in the river! A lot of fun. k.

Kathe W. said...

from a river to the four rank bobbers....what a hoot! Can you hear my laughter drifting over to your side??

Berowne said...

Kathe W: "Can you hear my laughter drifting over to your side??"
I can - and it's very welcome.:-)

The Blog of Bee said...

Splendid! Great write - enjoyed every word.

Sheilagh Lee said...

LOL they are all crooks. Great story.

Berowne said...

My sincere thanks to Sheilagh L, Bee's Blog, Hannah, Leslie and ninotaziz for some very encouraging comments.

Cad said...

Rivers have a more peaceful effect on me...

Trellissimo said...

Banks and banks...yeah...I get the connection! lol

Sharp Little Pencil said...

Berowne, from the title on down, a hoot and a half. Very clever use of words, and a Runyonesque feel without being all "Runyony," if you get what I mean. Nice! Amy
http://sharplittlepencil.com/2012/05/11/my-turn-tonight-adult-content-3ww/

Berowne said...

Amy: "Runyonesque"? Now, that's a compliment - thanks so much.

chrisd said...

Gets smaller and smaller and smaller...heh heh

 
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