12. Marnie #2
Locals were utilized in countless ways, but especially on the water.
Anyone with a spare boat was paid to play a fisherman.
“That man right there,” he points to the person on the far left of the screen, “is my grandfather. The money he made from renting his boat out to the production crew got my family through a particularly slow season when work was scarce.”
The first-hand, personal accounts of his relation to different characters is fascinating.
He has a connection to almost everyone in the movie. Family, friends, neighbors, coworkers. He riddles off the names so fast it sounds like he’s making them up as he goes. The entire island was involved in the project, just like Josie said.
My favorite fun fact is learning that two local brothers auditioned to be the main child actor. Both received a call back, but the older brother couldn’t go because of a school field trip, so the role ended up going to the younger brother.
“That must’ve made family dinners awkward,” I laugh to myself.
He hums, grabbing another fistful of popcorn. “If I had a brother, that is exactly the kind of stunt I’d pull.”
I snicker at that and write it down beside the other notable cast tidbits.
Even the author made a cameo as a reporter.
The screen turns bright, and the fishermen are all cheering as a shark is strung up and hoisted over the dock for all to see.
“This scene has always bothered me.” He shakes his head in frustration, voice bitter.
“How come?”
“Because the fishermen killed the shark for nothing.” His shoulders slump with his words.
“I know it’s not real, and it’s a pivotal part of the movie where they think they caught the shark and it lulls them into a false sense of security, but it never sat right with me.
The overarching premise of the movie is man versus beast, and it makes for great entertainment, but it’s been very detrimental to ecosystems that depend on shark populations. ”
I place my hand on his, offering a comforting presence, and wait for him to continue.
“This is the downside of fiction where people think it applies to their reality, and they take that as a free pass to do as they please with their incorrect conclusions. The likelihood of getting attacked by a shark is incredibly low. The author himself even admitted that the overfishing of sharks was not a foreseen outcome with the release of the book and movie. He and his wife spent years dedicated to shark conservation efforts while they were still alive.”
The more he tells me, the sicker my stomach begins to feel. Caleb is right. Sharks are not the enemy, and people’s fear and hatred of them is a real problem.
There’s a story there, and maybe I can turn that into something useful.
I retreat my hand to make a note of that, and I instantly miss the warmth of his hand beneath mine. I try not to think about it too much and flip to a new page when the next scene comes on.
Low, ominous music plays as one of the characters dives into the water to investigate a mysterious boat wreck.
Then, without warning, a water-logged, partially decomposed head pops out from a hole in the boat just as sharp, eerie music blasts from the speakers.
The jump scare is enough to make me jolt and let out a small, surprised scream, and I subconsciously lean into Caleb for comfort, taking deep breaths and willing my heart rate to return to normal.
His body shifts beside me and he throws his head back, shoulders heaving as he lets out a pure, unrestrained laugh. It echoes through the silence of the theater and radiates through his body and into mine.
I’d brave another jump scare just to hear it again.
“You okay?” He looks down at me, noticing how I am still cozied up against his arm.
“Yeah, sorry,” I reply, straightening in my seat, remembering to put some distance between us. “I was so engrossed in my note-taking that I forgot this is a horror movie.”
We continue this game of sneaking small glances as the movie goes on, pretending not to catch each other, but secretly knowing.
The end credits roll as I finish writing my last comment when Caleb leans over to me, breath tickling the side of my neck, causing my pulse to spike. My hand stills and I slowly tilt my head to look at him, his face inches from mine.
His features soften when we make eye contact and I swear time slows.
The theater lights return to their normal brightness, but neither of us make a move to leave.
Holding my gaze, he whispers, “Confession time.”
“Hmm?”
“You were right about the marquee sign. Jaws wasn’t playing today.”
My mouth drops open. “Then how did we just watch it?”
“Evan did me a favor.”
“Who’s Evan?”
“The kid at the counter who gave us our tickets.”
“The one who looks like he’s in high school?”
“That’s the one. After you agreed to a movie night, I had him reserve a theater every night this week since I didn’t know which day you’d choose.” Caleb tosses back another handful of popcorn. “He was a little apprehensive at first, until I explained why I needed a private screening.”
“What reason could you possibly have given to convince him to let you have the theater all to yourself?”
“I was trying to impress a woman I work with.”
I continue to stare at him, my brain trying to make sense of it all.
“What?” he says playfully, nudging my shoulder again just like he did earlier. “Turns out Evan is a hopeless romantic, too.”
“You’re telling me he risked his job out of the goodness of his heart because he believes in love?” I cross my arms over my chest and give him a quizzical look. “I don’t buy it.”
“That,” he pauses, pursing his lips as if debating whether to continue his sentence, “and I promised him a lifetime supply of flowers for his girlfriend. All he has to do is call me up.”
I don’t know what to make of all these grand gestures, except for the fact that they make me feel seen and heard and appreciated.
It’s something I could certainly get used to.
If these are the lengths he will go to for just a casual outing, I’m tempted to bend my rules and let him take me on a real date just so I can get the full experience.
But no matter how Caleb makes me feel, I have to remind myself that we’ve agreed to keep things professional. Even if this was the best non-date I’ve ever been on.