SOUNDTRACK: U.N.K.L.E.–“Rabbit in Your Headlights” (1998).
I was looking for a “rabbit” song to include with this story and I remembered this one from U.N.K.L.E., an album I had completely forgotten about.
In fact, I had forgotten all about U.N.K.L.E. and was surprised to read that not only was the album Psyence Fiction not a one off, but that he (James Lavelle) has been releasing music up until now.
A slow, mournful piano plays a two chord melody as Thom Yorke sings his best Thom Yorke. Thumping electronic drums slowly build from nothing and then a spare bass line which seems to circle the piano is added.
After two minutes, the music drops out leaving just a piano and a spoken middle section. The drums slowly build back and then Yorke begins singing again. As Yorke’s voice soars and soars the song feels like it’s going to end (at five minutes) but it hits a crescendo moment and then drifts back in to a chill trip-hop beat as the noirish piano fades out.
This song came out after O.K. Computer but before Kid A, and the trip-hop beats sure nod to where Radiohead would be going.
I’m glad to know that trip- hop is still hanging in there and I’ll have to check out some of the other U.N.K.L.E. albums.
[READ: September 1, 2019] “Nelson and Annabelle” (Part 1)
I have never read any of John Updike’s “Rabbit” novels. I always meant to. In fact, I owned a copy of the Updike Rabbit book that was always remaindered. But I wanted to start with the first one and just never got around to it.
I feel like now it’s too late to read them. I imagine that the stories are retrograde and old -fashioned and that I won’t appreciate the protagonists or the attitudes. In fact, this story, which I enjoyed parts of, has some pretty unpleasant attitudes about women.
I initially felt I would have enjoyed this story more had I read the Rabbit books since the subtitle here is “the two children of Harry (Rabbit) Angstrom meet at last.” There’s a lot of character introduction in the beginning–ex-husbands, ex-wives, lovers, children. But once it settled in, I found it interesting and then re-read the first two pages to get everything straightened out.
So, in brief, Harry (Rabbit) was married to Janice. They had a son, Nelson. Harry died and Janice married Ronnie. Ronnie knew Harry for most of his life, but they seem to be somewhat antagonistic.
This story opens with the new that Harry slept with a woman, Ruth, and maybe have been the father of Ruth’s daughter, Annabelle. Turns out Ronnie also slept with Ruth (before Harry did) and Ronnie describes her as the Brewer town whore. Harry had also slept with Ronnie’s first wife (there’s a lot of convoluted infidelity going on).
Anyhow, as the story opens, Janice tells Ronnie that Annabelle has come by. Annabelle said that Ruth was dead and that Harry was her real father. Janice is freaked out.
Ronnie is more surprised to hear that Ruth is dead, which upsets Janice. Ronnie has unkind things to say about everyone and then assures Janice that Annabelle is looking for money and to ignore her.
Nelson comes home and is delighted to hear about Annabelle. he wants to invite her over but Ronnie forbids it. So Nelson calls her up and arranges a meet at a local cafe.
On the day of the meet up, Hurricane Floyd is pounding Pennsylvania. Nelson thinks about calling but decides not to.
So he goes to work–he is a therapist for schizophrenic people. We see him interacting with a family whose son is hearing voices. It’s a sad scene.
At the end of the day he goes to the cafe (called Greenery) and Annabelle is waiting outside (in the rain). They go inside and she winds up ordering the same food as him. He thinks she is trying to make a statement by doing that but she insists that he would be copying her if he’s allowed her to order first (which he should have).
He tells her that he met her once at a party many years ago when his wife was pregnant. She has since divorced him and taken the kids to Ohio. She doesn’t remember the party.
The food is good and the waitress is very nice to them (Nelson goes there regularly). As the hurricane hits the area harder, the lights go out and the waitress brings them a candle and calls them lovebirds.
When lunch is over, he says that they must meet up again, and she is pleased with the idea. He would love to have her to the house–but would his mother or Ronnie ever allow it?
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