The Penguin Stars at The Gotham Cafe!

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Andy4

Member
Dec 8, 2017
15
101
61
Manchester, England.
I loved this short story, one of my all time favourites.

SK tells us that it was inspired by a cynical wink, given to him by a waiter who was attending to a divorcing couple.

If you’ve not read it yet, you are in for a real treat.

The relationship between SK’s estranged partners is classic, culminating in the exchange between them after the guy has done something heroic for the girl. Thinking she will be impressed or at least grateful for the deed, he is instead left infuriated when she sums up his actions with the acidic comment;

“If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have been in there in the first place!”

The transition of the waiter from a quirky oddball into... well you’ll see, is quite shocking.

It reminded me of an old UK Sitcom called; ‘Fawlty Towers’. If you haven’t seen it before, it’s worth checking out on You Tube.

They only made 12 episodes, in the 70’s, but like TAXI it still feels current today.

It stars John Cleese as a manic hotelier who excels at insulting each and everyone of his guests, many of whom are regulars! Apparently, he got the idea for the show after he’d received unbelievably poor treatment at a hotel he once stayed at.

Both dire hospitality and acrimony between ex partners is universal, that’s what makes this story so appealing.

Well that’s ‘Everything’s Eventual’ completed. Next up for me is; ‘Four Past Midnight’.

Regards,
Andy.
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
17,221
82,822
47
United States
I loved this short story, one of my all time favourites.

SK tells us that it was inspired by a cynical wink, given to him by a waiter who was attending to a divorcing couple.

If you’ve not read it yet, you are in for a real treat.

The relationship between SK’s estranged partners is classic, culminating in the exchange between them after the guy has done something heroic for the girl. Thinking she will be impressed or at least grateful for the deed, he is instead left infuriated when she sums up his actions with the acidic comment;

“If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have been in there in the first place!”

The transition of the waiter from a quirky oddball into... well you’ll see, is quite shocking.

It reminded me of an old UK Sitcom called; ‘Fawlty Towers’. If you haven’t seen it before, it’s worth checking out on You Tube.

They only made 12 episodes, in the 70’s, but like TAXI it still feels current today.

It stars John Cleese as a manic hotelier who excels at insulting each and everyone of his guests, many of whom are regulars! Apparently, he got the idea for the show after he’d received unbelievably poor treatment at a hotel he once stayed at.

Both dire hospitality and acrimony between ex partners is universal, that’s what makes this story so appealing.

Well that’s ‘Everything’s Eventual’ completed. Next up for me is; ‘Four Past Midnight’.

Regards,
Andy.
The audio version of this is good, too.