I think I know how Charlie Allnut felt.
Humphrey Bogart and Kate Hepburn starred in The African Queen in 1951. He plays drunken riverboat Captain Charlie Allnut, she’s prim and proper spinster missionary Rose Sayer, and they are in Africa. His boat is a filthy, decrepit, 30-foot tub called The African Queen. In 1914, as World War 1 gets underway, they begin a journey, alone together, down the river. All I can say about the story is that they must get down the river to the lake at the end. It’s a matter of life and death. They must overcome many obstacles, but there is one scene in particular I am thinking of today.
On it’s way down river, the Queen becomes mired in weeds and muck, and surely they will die in the jungle if they don’t get moving. The broken down old steam engine can’t make any headway in the shallow, overgrown river, and the current isn’t strong enough to move the boat. Reluctantly, Charlie climbs overboard, attaches a line to the boat, and slowly begins to tow it himself, trudging slowly through the muddy river, a surly anti-hero, doing the right thing in spite of himself.
Eventually he climbs back into the boat for a break, and in a moment they both notice that he is covered with leeches!! They are all over his body, black, slimy slugs, tightly attached to his flesh and — say it with me — sucking his blood. He cries and dances in horror and revulsion, slapping at himself and begging Rose to “get ‘em off me, get ‘em off me!!” Together they peel the disgusting things off, and Charlie’s near-psychotic episode gradually subsides. When he can stop shaking from fear, Charlie and Rose must reassess their situation. The boat is still dead in the water, and there is still no current. It is clear what has to happen. Charlie, a look of infinite sorrow on his face, takes up the rope, slips over the side into the leech-infested river, and begins towing again. Only this time he knows what will happen to him while he is in the water.
That’s how I’ll feel when I go to my job tomorrow.
April 8th, 2005 at 8:27 am
*laughing*
*still laughing*
Oh Darling, how I long to console you … but only at a distance. Your close identification with Charlie leaves me with hygenic concerns.
April 8th, 2005 at 10:08 am
Oh, Larry. Poor, poor Larry. That was funny! I did not expect that one. Oh….you’re funny!
April 8th, 2005 at 10:42 am
That is probably the best analogy I’ve ever heard. I feel the same way about going to work.
April 8th, 2005 at 11:49 am
Shucks, Larry, that’s how we all know to feel creeped out about the leeches–not because we’ve seen the movie, but because we’ve all been to Work!
April 8th, 2005 at 11:54 am
If I didn’t sufficiently imply it, that was a good post!
April 8th, 2005 at 11:56 am
I can’t stand leeches. I don’t much like work, either.
I am OK with the African Queen. Good movie, you poor, weekend working bastard, ya.
April 8th, 2005 at 6:27 pm
I agree, what an excellent post. It really makes you appreciate the boat.
April 8th, 2005 at 10:22 pm
I am torn. I like going to work and I also like being covered in leeches. Any advice?
April 8th, 2005 at 11:13 pm
Theresa = I don’t need to be consoled. I need to to be fucking rescued
Holly - Glad someone’s enjoying my suffering.
Brent & Ron - Your job-disdain sounds a little half-hearted. Can’t you work up a little hatred?
La Chevalier - No, no, no, no: I posted this on Thursday night! I am NOT working weekends.
Kris - I guess you’re right. The boat was a shitbox, but it was waaay better than the water.
MPH - You have to ask yourself: Do you like being covered in leeches, or do you just not mind being covered in leeches?
April 9th, 2005 at 7:08 am
Larry, you are such a sneak. Never expected that one. But, you know how I absolutely adore my job. Dontcha?
April 9th, 2005 at 8:31 pm
We strive to move forward in life, half pulling ourselves across the day like a burden upon our selves. Funny that we strive for that middle ground in which we are not dragging our asses nor are we rushing towards that waterfall at 432 mph.
April 10th, 2005 at 5:42 pm
oh no! that sounds really awful!
great movie, though