COMPASSION

Chapter 16

The Video Store

It’s Saturday morning the first day after the funeral in The Spiritual World. Catherine is sitting at her kitchen table unable to rest. She wants to help her sons get through the grieving process but does not know what to do.
 
Tom her husband is playing a Video made by an Artist named Shiller Titled Falling. The music sends Tom to a different level of Energy and is extremely soothing.  He is trying to calm and sooth his wife and convert her negative energy to positive energy by making her enjoy the beautiful song and music.
 
Tom tries to lighten up the atmosphere, “Here we are two ghosts with nobody to haunt.” 
 
“That is not funny,” Catherine said angrily. “Tom I have to try to do something to help the boys.”
 
“The best thing for Joe now is entertainment. What you could do is take a trip to the Movie Store and select Movies for Joe to watch on TV today.”
 
“How do I do that?” Catherine asks.
 
“I can drive you over to the store. You go inside and see Mr. Morrison and give him Joe’s address and tell him what movies he likes to watch. Mr. Morrison can arrange for Joe to see his favorite movies no matter what channel his TV is on.”
 
“We can do that?” Catherine asks.
 
“Who do you think has been arranging for you to see Gone With The Wind all these years? They don’t put that movie on network TV. I went to Mr. Morrison and had him put it on your TV. Come let's go Joe’s going to be getting up soon we don’t have much time.” 
 
Tom and Catherine drive over to The Movie Store in the ever present fog. Tom parks the car in front of the store which looks like a Stage Coach. 
 
“Wow what a charming store. I have never seen a building like this,”  Catherine remarks as she gets out of the car. “Are you coming in with me?”
 
“I will let you meet Mr. Morrison by yourself. It will be quite a treat for you. He is a fascinating man.”   
 
Catherine enters the store and sees all the Movies ever made. The shelves start by year On the shelf was a box titled The Watered a French Film made in 1895.
 
Two men are heard screaming at one another in the back room. One voice is heard and to Catherine it sounds like Marlon Brando. The other voice answers the first voice and it sounds like John Wayne. The ferocity of the argument is deafening and Catherine turns from the counter and decides to leave the store. As she reaches the front door a voice is heard, " Mam can I help you?"

Catherine turns and is stunned when she turns and thinks she see's a man identical in appearance to John Wayne.

Catherine replies, "I heard some screaming and yelling so I don't think this is a good time to be here."

The man replies, "Welcome to my store. I am sorry for the yelling. It's a crazy old man who only complains and comes to my store once a month to complain. He wants me to remove some movies from my store."

“Can I help you Mam?”  a voice comes from behind the counter.
As she approaches the counter she is awestruck, “ Are you, John Wayne?” 
 
The store owner replies, “No Mam, a lot of people say I look like him but I am just Mr. Morrison.”
 
“The resemblance is uncanny Mr. Morrison.”
 
“How can I help you, Miss...Mrs.?”
 
“I am Mrs. Havard and my husband told me I could come here and tell you my son’s favorite movies and you could arrange to show them on his TV. I am new her I just arrived three days ago.”
 
“I want to extend my deepest sympathy to you and your family.” 
 
“Thank you, Mr. Morrison.”
 
“Who is your son’s favorite actor or actress?”
 
“Well I am not too sure now but when he was a young boy he loved to watch all the John Wayne Movies.” 
 
“Really!” Mr. Morrison smiles broadly. “Well does he like the cowboy pictures or the war movies?”
 
“He likes both.” 
 
“When was your funeral?” Mr. Morrison asks.
 
“Yesterday.”
 
“So this is his first day after the funeral?” 
 
Mrs. Havard replies, “Yes.”
 
Mr. Morrison comments, “He is going to need a long movie. May I suggest The Longest Day.”
 
“Yes, he likes that movie. That is the one where the Army is on the Normandy Beach.”
 
“Yes. What other types of movies does he like?” 
 
“Science Fiction Space Movies, Abbott, and Costello, The Three Stooges, Gladiator Movies. His favorite movie when he was a boy was Forbidden Planet with the Robot in it.”
 
“Yes, I know that movie well. I know exactly what your son likes to watch. What is his address?” 
 
“ Joe Havard 1260 Main Street, Plains, Pennsylvania.”
  
“What do I owe you, Mr. Morrison?”  Catherine asks.
 
“Put away your money it is no good here. Besides you already paid me.” 
 
“How so Mr. Morrison?”
“You told me your  son likes John Wayne movies and so do I.”
 
“Well thank you, Mr. Morrison. I have to get going.” 
 
“It was nice meeting you Mrs. Havard and I will get to work on this list right now.”
 
Catherine leaves the store and gets in the car.
 
“Tom that man looks like John Wayne’s twin brother.”
 
“He is John Wayne. He goes by his real name now because most people are in awe meeting a Hollywood celebrity. He just wants to be treated like a regular person now. There are no Stars in this World only people. I told you it would be a treat to meet him.”
 
“I know these movies are only a temporary diversion from Joe’s depression but all we can do is take it one day at a time. Thank you for taking me to this store. It is a beautiful thought for our son.” 
 
Catherine tells her husband, " I heard him arguing with a man who sounded like Marlon Brando.
They were both screaming at one another."

Tom replies, "Mr. Brando does not like how Indians have been portrayed in Movies as savages and evil people. John Wayne said the Indians were greedy for not sharing their land with people coming from East to West."

Catherine replies, "I never gave Indians much thought or how they were depicted in the movies. I have never talked to any Indian in my life."

Tom responds, "Maybe one day you will meet an Indian and you can ask him what he thinks about Hollywood Movies."

Joe Havard is in the TV Room fearful of sitting in his Mother’s chair.  He picks up the remote and turns on the TV. He flips through the channels at eight am in the morning and hears the announcer  say, “ Now for our  feature presentation The Longest Day followed by The Alamo at twelve.”   
 
 
A broad smile is seen on Joe’s face as he settles in to watch his favorite movies. Joe with tears pouring down his face puts down the remote and sits back in his chair to enjoy the movie.