Moment in Time

Law and Murder

"So," Castle asked, "plans with Josh tonight?"

"No," Beckett replied, "he's on shift. I was thinking of sneaking off to the Angelica. Forbidden Planet's playing."

"Forbidden Planet, is that the one with the robot?" Castle asked, pretending to have never seen the movie.

The usually astute Beckett was fooled. "You've never seen Forbidden Planet?" she asked with surprise.

"More of a Star Wars, Matrix guy myself," Castle lied.

"Oh, my gosh, Castle, this is the movie that inspired those two. That's it! I'm taking you, my treat," Beckett insisted, much to Castle's delight.

"Oh, no, no - I have plans," Castle protested, continuing his subterfuge.

"Nope," Beckett told him. "Not anymore."

A grinning Castle followed Beckett to the elevator. "Alright," he asked, "well, can I have candy and popcorn?"

"Sure," Beckett assured him. "Oh Castle, you're gonna love this. This is Leslie Nielsen before he became a comic genius."

"Really?" Castle asked, continuing his charade.

"Yeah," Beckett answered.

"Can we stop at Remy's for burgers after?" Castle asked hopefully."

"Now you're pushing it," Beckett informed him.

Castle and Beckett sat in the darkened theater. The crowd was thin, with the nearest patron rows away, so Castle felt free to pester Beckett. "Wow!" he said, "that guy playing 'Doc,' he played an alien on Star Trek. Captain Kirk got it on with his girlfriend."

"I remember the episode, Castle," Beckett replied impatiently.

Ignoring the tone of Beckett's voice, Castle continued. "Yeah, I think it was the one where the fans got all excited because Kirk was putting his boots back on and the implication was obvious. That was racy stuff in the '60's. I guess this movie was racy stuff in the '50's. Look at the length of Anne Francis' skirt! Just like Lieutenant Uhura and Yeoman Rand. "

"That's what you're looking at, Castle?" Beckett asked.

"Boys will be boys," Castle answered. "But look, the guy playing the navigator, he was in 'Maverick' and on 'Sale of the Century', and the guy playing the cook, he was in 'Visit to a Small Planet,' before he played Angie Dickinson's partner on 'Policewoman.'"

"Castle, I don't know how you ever get anything done with all the TV and movies you watch," Beckett told him exasperatedly.

"It's all inspiration," Castle informed her.

"I thought I was your muse," Beckett argued.

"You are," Castle told her, "but you don't have a space ship. Your legs do beat vintage Angie Dickinson's hands down, though."

"Thank you," Beckett replied dryly, "but can you just shut up and enjoy the movie for a while?"

"Okay," Castle agreed petulantly, but he couldn't stay quiet for long. "Ooooh," he said looking at the underground Krell machine complex, "this scene was ripped off for 'Babylon Five'"

"Castle," Beckett warned.

Castle couldn't resist. He watched as "Doc" put the alien educator on his head. "They stole this scene for the Star Trek episode, 'Spock's Brain.' McCoy used a thing called 'the teacher' to learn how to to put Spock's brain back in his head. McCoy didn't die, though."

"That's it!" Beckett exclaimed, grabbing Castle's popcorn and dumping it over his head. "If you say another word, I'm pulling out my gun!"

Castle brushed the kernels from his hair, glad that they hadn't been coated with "butter flavoring." He managed to sit quietly through the rest of the movie. "You got salt in my eyes," he complained as the lights came up.

"I'm sorry, Castle," Beckett apologized.

"And I didn't get to finish my popcorn," Castle continued. "Now we have to go to Remy's."

"No." Beckett replied, with annoyance.

"Hey," Castle cajoled. "It was my fault. I made you mad. I'll pay. I'll buy you a strawberry shake."

Beckett softened at the mention of her guilty pleasure. "Okay, Castle."

Castle stared at Beckett's lips as she labored to get her thick shake through her straw. He took a large bite of his cheeseburger to quash the fantasy growing in his head. He could see Kate in Altaira's dress, kissing him, as she had Captain J.J. Adams in the movie. He began to cough as the meat caught in in throat. "You okay, Castle?" Beckett asked.

Tears were leaking from Castle's eyes, but he nodded.

"You're supposed to eat that thing, not inhale it," Beckett told him. "What were you thinking? More sci fi trivia?"

"Believe me, Beckett," Castle assured her. "You don't want to know."


Alexis stared intently at the screen of her laptop. "Whatcha lookin' at?" Castle asked.

"It's a website called 'The Mad and the Macabre," Alexis answered. "There's a blurb here about you. I guess you found someone to see Forbidden Planet with."

"Huh!" Castle exclaimed. "Let me see that." Castle began to read over Alexis' shoulder.

Making a pilgrimage to the Angelica to see "Forbidden Planet" this week, I was pleased to see best-selling author, master of the macabre, and general hottie, Richard Castle. Castle is a regular visitor to the Angelica, usually with his daughter Alexis, but this time he was in the company of NYPD detective Kate Beckett, the model for Nikki Heat. Although I didn't see any hand holding or kissy face, the couple appeared to be having a very lively time. I wasn't close enough to hear the conversation, but Castle appeared to be bombarding Beckett with questions, although I can't imagine why she would know more about the movie than he does. He is quite an aficionado of science fiction movies. Still they seemed to be having so much fun, it was a blast to watch them, especially when Detective Beckett dumped popcorn over Castle's head. I wonder what that was about? Anyway, I'd look at him anytime, with or without popcorn. Hey Castle, you wouldn't be falling for the pretty detective, would you? You'll break a lot of fangirls' hearts, maybe mine. - Space Princess

"Dad, did Beckett really dump popcorn on your head?" Alexis asked.

"She did, but she could do a lot worse if she sees this."

"Why?" Alexis asked.

"She threatened to pull out her gun," Castle answered, "and I'm afraid if she sees this, she actually will."

Alexis just shook her head.

A/N What kind of a geek am I? Aside from double checking the plot of "Forbidden Planet," I knew all this stuff. No wonder I love Castle! If I were younger, 13 inches taller, had blue eyes, was good looking, and a guy, we could be twins! BTW, thanks for the comments on my last chapter. You rock!