Chapter 5
The Royale Theatre used to be a run-down homage to nostalgia before a company had purchased the building and restored the theatre to its former glory. Framed movie posters of the classics, from Casablanca to Star Wars, hung along the halls, along with glamorous photographs of stars posing for the camera in slinky dresses or tailored suits. Most of them were autographed.
"Would you look at that," Harry said, pointing to one of the photographs that caught his eye. "Humphrey Bogart!"
Nick grinned. "You're a Bogie fan?"
"Who isn't?" Harry scoffed. He lowered his voice and slurred his words together. "Of all the gin joints in all the world, why'd she have to walk into this one?"
"Do us all a favor and stick to magic," Nick said, shaking his head. Harry nudged him in the side, flashing him a smile to let him know the jab wasn't taken seriously.
"What about you? Who's your favorite movie star?"
"Oh, I was always more of a William Powell fan," Nick admitted. "I grew up on The Thin Man and My Man Godfrey."
"You can't go wrong with him. I always thought he'd make a great James Bond."
"Nah, he was too suave."
"True."
"Hey, are you too full from dinner or do you want something to snack on?" Nick said, jerking a thumb towards the concession stand. There was a meandering line of people waiting with bored expressions, some of them eyeing the candy under the glass, then eyeing the prices with considerably less taste.
"I'm never too full for popcorn," Harry agreed easily. "It's a movie tradition."
"I'd hate to break a tradition," Nick pushed him to the hallways with a hand on the small of Harry's back. "Go find us some seats while I get us some."
"Extra, extra butter," Harry called after him. Nick waved a hand in acknowledgement and Harry navigated his way through the maze of hallways to one of the theatres on the left. They were a little early. The screen was showing advertisements with golden film strips parading around and the seats were mostly empty. Pausing, he wondered briefly if Nick liked to be close to the screen or near the back, then shrugged, deciding on two neutral middle seats. Hopefully Nick wouldn't mind.
"Harry!" A loud, shrill voice shrieked from behind him. He jumped, whirling around to see a blur of purple hair and several piercings hurling towards him. Molly caught him around the middle, wrapping him up in a bear hug. "What a surprise seeing you here!"
"Molly?" He pried her newly affectionate arms from around him, holding her back at arms length. "What are you doing here?"
"Are you kidding? I love coming to the movies!" she said. The few other people in the theatre glared at her and Harry winced.
"That's nice, but I really didn't see you for the Indiana Jones type."
"Are you kidding? Harrison Ford, Shia Lebouf, how can I say no?" She peered around him. "Where are you sitting?"
"Uh." Harry waved vaguely to the seats in the middle he had staked out.
"Great!" Molly said in an entirely too chipper tone, throwing herself into one of them and putting her feet up on the seat in front. "I'll sit with you, okay?"
"No, not okay," Harry crossed his arms and glared down at her. "I'm kind of here with someone."
Molly's eyes positively glowed. "A date? Harry, you dog!" She hit him playfully on the shoulder. "Is she pretty? Introduce me."
"Here we go," Nick's cheerful voice interrupted what Harry was about to say. He balanced two enormous Cokes and an overflowing bag of popcorn in his arms. "Did you find us some seats?"
"Yeah, one row above." Harry gave Molly a pointed look. "This one seems to be too crowded."
"Harry, I'm hurt," Molly said in an offended tone. She put one hand over her heart. "You wound me."
"You know each other?" Nick asked curiously, glancing back and forth between them. Before Harry could deny it, Molly jumped up and held out her hand.
"Molly Carpenter. Please to meet you," she introduced herself politely.
Nick fumbled with the assortment until Harry took both drinks off his hands. Nick shook Molly's hand and favored her with a blinding smile.
"She's my apprentice," Harry admitted reluctantly. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Get your eyes back in your head. He's gay, remember?"
"I could change that," she whispered back with a mischievous grin. "Just give me five minutes."
He closed his eyes and shook his head. "I don't even want to know."
"Hey, you could learn something. I know this one trick, where you take your tongue and you curl it back—"
With a wistful memory of when Molly was a cute, harmless little girl and knew nothing about tongues or curling or anything else he was sure he did not want to hear about, Harry raised his voice and said firmly, "We're going now."
"It was nice meeting you, Molly," Nick said charmingly. He placed a hand on the small of Harry's back, guiding him up to the next row. Molly followed, oblivious to the glares Harry kept shooting her way.
"I'll sit with you guys, okay?" she said without waiting for a response. She darted forward to ensconce herself between Harry and Nick, but Nick dodged just in time and smoothly took the seat to the left of Harry.
"I just love Indiana Jones," she gushed as the lights dimmed. "What's this one called again?"