Indiana Jones: Love's Last Adventure
Alright People this is compensation for the dismal lack of real interest in Indy and Marion's love story and appalling wedding scene. I have not read the novelisation of KOTCS nor do I want to, this is from twenty years worth of fandom! Tell me what you think! Please Be Nice
Henry Jones Junior was a man consumed by a nervousness he had never known before, when he was in his prime it would come about by yet another sticky situation caused by a good adventure mislaid. Back then the nerves would find a solution; an educated guess or a crack of the bullwhip to fend off his enemy. But this was an enemy he couldn't fight, no amount of archaeological know-how or charisma could fend off father time, yet it wasn't time he was worried about. He stopped thinking about that the day of Marcus Brody's funeral; a cold day in autumn did not sway mourners from paying their respects. Indiana knew then his adventures were never going to be the same after that, the biggest kick he got out of the whole thing was to tell Marcus about it. Marcus was a substitute father to the maverick professor, alone in his room Indiana wondered if he should have told him that. In a subtle and conservative way of course, it pained him to recall that in all the years they knew each other Indy had never made that effort.
Staring in the mirror and picking at his tie he wished the old dinosaurs of Marcus and his father were still with him, his father would be sarcastic of course noting the thirty years it took for him to admit Marion Ravenwood was the only one for him. Indiana Jones had faced dangers beyond comprehension, not least the trial of the thugee cult that would still linger in nightmares on occasion. But he was a coward in love and was perhaps was the only adventure he was reluctant to face, yes this particular wedding day of his was a long time coming.
"You ready Pop? It's the bride that supposed be late not the other way around" A patronising voice shook him out of his thought, his knock was impatient, his manner cocky. Mutt was a Jones boy all right and if history did repeat itself it would take at least six years to iron the edges out.
"Yeah kid, I'm just wrestling with a tie" Indy grumbled before opening the door to the quiff-haired sharp-suited rascal: Was a sky-blue suit really a good idea? Henry senior doubted that, maybe it was because he was so damn used to his khaki trousers.
"Wrestling with a tie? By Mom's account you wrestled snakes, a German giant and getting dragged under a truck and you're done in by a tie?" Scorned Mutt, an aptly titled nickname his father thought – always biting at somebody's heels.
"Cut your old man some slack kid; I'm getting married in less than an hour!" Bemoaned the professor, he caught a tense look in his son's eyes and not for the first time either.
"Yeah well, I'm drivin' you there so what are ya worrying' for?" Mutt asked knowingly, it had been six months since Akator and yet Mutt would leave his father in all sorts of awkward questioning.
"Still not too sure about me are ya kid?" Indiana shook his head and slipped on his sky-blue jacket, he smoothed out the creases and buttoned it: Turning to his son expectantly
"Yeah well, the jury's still out" Mutt shrugged before rubbing his nose to disguise his discomfort, he did not want to stay forever angry with his father but he could not get rid of his frustration.
"Thought as much" The world-weary archaeologist crooned, smoothing over his grey hair Indiana Jones once again coughed out his quiet panic.
"I'll get the car ready...you sure you don't wanna take the bike, one last hurrah or whatever you call it?"
"No, it wouldn't look good Mutt; A couple of years ago I wouldn't have given a rat's ass about pomp and pageantry, but I'm fifty-eight and assistant-dean of a highly-respected college: So no we won't be taking the bike" Indiana's words were drenching with nerves, Mutt swore he heard his own man stutter.
"Jeez Dad I'm only asking' – I'll be waiting outside, God" Mutt whined, pulling the door behind him, Indy could hear him mumble as he made his way downstairs. Another stumbling block on his wedding day was all he needed.
His lack of confidence in his parenting skills coaxed out the professor's self-doubt: Recalling the night he proposed as with everything relating to the hapless Doctor Jones, it didn't go down too well. A romantic meal at Giorgio's was what he thought would be a ticket to easy street, no such luck. Marion looked lovely in her amber dress; it was hard to imagine her as the wild thing he knew so many years ago. It was restrained under the conformity of white gloves, affable manners and pill box hats but it was still there, somewhere.
"You've come quite a long way Jones; from a bum to a scoundrel to a dean – A crazy transformation if ever there was one" Marion widened her eyes in sarcasm and unruly chewed on a piece of ciabatta bread, slamming the wine glass down the way she used to. Oh yeah the old Marion was in there somewhere.
"Strangers things have happened; hope I don't bite off more that I can chew" Indiana grinned nervously, as he felt for the tiny box that was his pocket.
"Story of your life though, isn't it? I know you; you wouldn't have it any other way would you?" Marion gibed mercilessly, jabbing him in the arm the way she used to. It was almost like old times...Almost.
"I'm not getting any younger Marion, sooner or later a man has to view his...options" He replied with a quiver, Marion narrowed her eyes with concern as he had been acting rather odd lately: Fidgeting, awkward, clumsy – she thought that the responsibility of being assistant dean was leaving a bad taste in his mouth. Then again that was just Indy being Indy.
Henry Jones Junior's nerves were in danger of being shot to pieces, he secretly felt embarrassed that with all the near-misses he had had over the years, none troubled his mind or heart than that of Marion Ravenwood. Almost spilling his drink he reached for the tiny velvet box and with one deep breath slid it towards Marion. She didn't see it a first as her view was marred by a petite vase in the centre of the table, innocently leaning over to see what he was up to.
"I should be kneeling but I guess that's a little foolhardy at my age, t-the sentiment is still there though. I mean you know I love ya, I always have loved ya – What I'm trying to say is, marry me?" He was bleating now, Indiana Jones fearless archaeologist was bleating in front of the woman he loved and hated himself.
Marion was in the middle of eating her Pasta when the penny dropped, for a second she was euphoric and then the doubt crept in and the bad memory of what came before and then young Mutt. She bolted out the door still chewing her food and furiously shaking her head, a waiter walked up to the stunned professor who simply raised his index finger. Following Marion he had to endure middle-class American conservatives looking at him with a suspicious eye.
He found Marion pacing up and down the street corner, her graceful manners had gone, her stance was rigid and tense and she didn't look happy. When she saw him she furiously began to shake her head again.
"You are some piece of work do you know that?" Marion fumed, raising two intrusive hands right in front of him, fingers pointing, accusing.
"What? I asked you to marry me, not to drink poison or to tell you I'm going away on a trip for the museum. I simply asked you to be my wife"
"What is this? Three strikes and you're out? We did all this twenty years ago remember: Or should that be tried, next thing I knew I was heading to England with Colin and you went, where was it...Portugal?" Marion was feigning interest, Mutt was a year old when she received Indiana's last letter. It was brief and lacked emotion, a gesture of congratulations on her marriage.
"That whole thing was irrational, yes but life-long searches to that to people!" Indiana squirmed, it was a lousy excuse and he knew it.
"A cross; you put your life our lives on hold for a cross?" Marion was dumbstruck, full of sarcasm despite her hurt. Indiana had no more surprises for Marion, just as Marion had no more surprises for Indiana.
"Life-long searches can do that to a man, I was proving myself to too many people that in the end I couldn't take it so..." Indiana winced as his words trailed off; he was deeply ashamed of himself: Indiana Jones never winced at anything; not with the ark, not with Mola Ram, not with Rene Belloq. But this one woman this fiery and boisterous woman had his heart and more than likely...his soul too.
"You chickened out?" Marion sneered, mischief sparkled in her eyes she was enjoying his discomfort yet somehow Indy knew she was warming to him.
"I...chickened out" He mumbled; the professor gained his composure and salvaged his dignity from the scornful woman, his girlfriend - hook or by crook - his wife-to-be.
Marion looked at him with gleeful eyes and made a lop-sided grin, crossing her arms more casually this time she turned away then looked back at him, smiling.
"I'm sorry Jones, I didn't get that what was the question again?" She teased, the adventurer was exasperated, swallowing his pride and bemoaned his old aching bones as he kneeled down.
"I took you through the wringer, it was wrong to treat you the way I did. But damn it if you told me about the boy I would have given all I had. However angry you are, deep down I know you know that. Nobody knows me quite like you, I like that – I don't have to prove myself to you, only what I need to. Marion Ravenwood-Williams...Marry Me?"
There was an agonising pause as Marion turned away again, she had a blank expression on her face but she was secretly stunned by the passionate plea.
"Not bad Jones, you still have a trick up your sleeve" Marion whispered
"Not bad? That's middle-ground Marion; for once in your life stop the charade and tell me straight: Will you be my wife?" He impatiently iterated his proposal; decorum had no place with Indiana Jones tonight.
"What the hell Jones...Yeah, yes Henry I will marry you" She said softly, the archaeologist spluttered with bewilderment at first, he was sure She would tell him where to go. He clumsily stood up and grabbed her arms and kissed her.
"What are we gonna tell Henry Junior?" Marion cooed in his arms, Indiana she pulled her deeper into his embrace and he fell into a happy state of mind. Hugging her shoulders a huge grin settled on her forehead.
"I don't know...I'm making this up as I go" Indy chuckled
"He'll be upset; he has a right to be that's for you to fix Jones" Marion sighed anxiously
"I will, nothing bad is gonna happen; I've got you back Marion, I've got you both back and this time I won't screw up and I won't be giving you up again" Indy said tenderly, in a euphoric but still rather nervous state. He won over his love; next up was his legacy...Henry Jones III