Unfinished Business
Chapter 54 : Watching Movies
November 2278
If there was one entertainment that the crew of the Enterprise never went without, it was movies. From the very latest holovids to ancient black-and-white films which had been carefully preserved and restored before being transferred to more current media, they watched them all. Every time a new shipment was received, the list of titles was extensively discussed and argued over, with different factions of the crew wildly excited over entirely different types of this entertainment. There were those who knew every single comedy ever filmed, and debated the timing and delivery of the lines of the actors in those films with great heat. And there were those who watched only the movies based upon wars and other military actions, comparing the enactments with military history, and latching onto even minor deviations with precision. Then there were those who craved the thrill of the horror genre, blood and guts and carnage of all types their desire. But the greatest group of film-watchers were those who loved the old romances, and sighed over the escapades of the lovers depicted therein.
Nyota fell into that last category, and was wildly happy with every new film added to the ship's library that contained even a hint of a love story. Thwarted lovers, star-crossed relationships, happy-ever-afters, even those stories that presented two angry people who eventually realized that their antagonism hid attraction, they all called to her. And so it was that Spock found himself once again seated in the darkened theatre by her side as she alternately sniffled and beamed at the adventures of two unlikely people, drawn together by love.
He did not understand many of these plots. He had informed her of this, and she now took great care in explaining to him all the nuances of the strange events that unfolded on the screen. Not during the movie itself, of course, but afterwards. He still did not understand most of them, but he let her continue to inform him, knowing that it pleased her. And it pleased him to see how she enjoyed these films, although he still was not sure that such strange behavior was logical in any way.
He found that "The Princess Bride" intrigued him on many levels. There were interesting characters there. "Love Story" distressed him immeasurably. He found he sympathized far too much with the male character in that story, knowing that he would be devastated to be in that situation. "Sleepless in Seattle" confused him completely. Those people were completely illogical in their behavior. "Bringing up Baby" was another that he found totally confusing. Bringing such a dangerous animal into their home could have no logical foundation whatsoever. Many of the stories were full of songs and music, with the plot being so thin that it made no sense whatsoever. He finally realized that it was the songs which were important in these movies and that the elaborate dance numbers had nothing at all to do with the story. Nyota loved them all. From the silent movies from the early part of the twentieth century, with their elaborate facial expressions and posturing, to the almost pornographic holovids produced by one of the Orion syndicates, she watched every one that came onto the ship, which meant that he watched them, as well.
And then, slowly, he began to realize that he was learning things from these movies. As he watched her watching them, he began to recognize certain things about her, certain things that made her sigh with pleasure as she watched. And so he modified some of his behavior, making it more like the things she seemed to like. And was rewarded, with tender kisses, and gentle touches, and pleased responses to his overtures. Perhaps these movies had some redeeming values, after all.