The bar was so dark he could barely see a foot in front of him. Blue gray smoke swirled around his face causing his eyes to sting. This is stupid, he thought waiting for someone I’ve never met. Phillip Marlowe was dressed casually in dress jeans and a denim shirt. He sat at the bar waiting. He looked around wondering which of the women in the bar was the one that answered his ad. Single man in his 30s looking for someone to share his nights with, looking for a woman who likes old movies and walks in the park. Phillip had never done anything like this before but his friends kept telling him to give it a try. "You can meet a lot of nice people through an ad," they said. He couldn’t believe the amount of calls he’d gotten. This girl sounded so nice on the phone. His eyes adjusted to the darkness and he saw a tall blonde staring at him. No, she said she was a redhead. Maybe she’s not here yet.
"What’ll be Mac?"
"Oh, OK I’ll have a scotch and water with a twist of lemon."
"That’s a new one on me lemon in your scotch. Coming right up." The burly haired bartender said. This wasn’t the first time Phillip had gotten that reaction.
He looked again trying to find the redhead named Lauren. Their one and only conversation on the phone centered around the fact he had the same name as a detective in an old Humprey Bogart movie.
"Do you realize you have the same name as the detective in The Big Sleep."
"Yep." He answered. "I have heard that before."
"Do you look like Humprey Bogart?" She laughed. Phillip took a glance in the mirror as they spoke.
"No I don’t, I’m taller. Do you like old movies?"
"I love them and Humprey Bogart. I thought it was cute that you used the name of Detective Marlowe in your ad, you know like you’re trying to find someone and now I find out that’s your real name. Kinda weird, don’t you think?"
"It’s also a little strange your name is Lauren, Humprey and Lauren were quite an item."
"I know," she laughed. "Maybe its Dejavu. Maybe you’re the reincarnation of Humprey Bogart and I’m Lauren Bacall."
They’d made a date after that. They were meeting at an old 40’s bar Casablanca in Manhattan.
"It’s my favorite place," Lauren said. "It has old photos of the celebrities from that time."
Phillip would have preferred a quieter place but understood, she didn’t know him. He kept watching the heavy wood door each time it swung open. There was a peephole in it from the prohibition days and he imagined what it must have been like. Couples and a few redheads came in. But none looked his way. He checked the time on his Rolex – 20 minutes had passed. He was about to give up and go rent an old movie when someone leaned over from the next stool and said.
"Here’s looking at you kid. You got a light for a lonely women."
He didn’t. But he sure wished he had. She was a knockout. Red hair that cascading down her shoulders set off her green eyes. She was smiling when he looked over. Then she laughed. "I really don’t smoke but thought you might remember that line from Casablanca. I’m Lauren I hope you are the famous detective Phillip."
"It’s a pleasure to meet you Lauren. You know you do resemble Lauren Bacall."
"Thank you, that’s quite a compliment, even though I’m a redhead." He watched the way the dim lights shone off her green eyes. The way her face lit up when she smiled.
"You know there aren’t many women in their 30s that like the old movies."
"Or men that do." She answered. "I love them they take you away from the bustle of the city and the crowds. That’s when smoking was allowed in the movies. They made it look so glamorous." She was coughing and waving her hand trying to clear the smoke around her.
He watched as she lifted the glass of wine to her lips. She bit her lower lip playfully as she watched him watch her. He wondered if she knew the effect she had on him. The casual smile, the flip of her hair. Her eyes met his and smiled. He was Sam Spade and Phillip Marlow and Rick all rolled up into one. She was Lauren and Ingrid and Ilsa. He wanted to take her hand and kiss her fingertips.
"Phillip are you listening to me? I just asked you where you were born?"
"I’m sorry I am distracted. You are lovely."
"Well that’s OK to be distracted by my beauty" and she laughed a strong warm laugh. Phillip was comfortable with her as if he’d known her all his life. He couldn’t believe he was so taken with her.
"I know it’s late but how about dinner, a late dinner. I can’t hear myself think in here. And the smoke is killing both of us. Maybe we can get to know each other better. There’s a little restaurant I passed just opened up, grand opening sign, says Ricks Café. What do you think?"
"Ricks? This is getting bizarre," she answered laughingly, "but OK that sounds fine to me. Can we walk to it?"
"Sure."
Phillip guided her into the restaurant, his hand placed lightly in the small of her back. A waiter wearing a turban handed them menus and took their drink order.
"Now tell me all about yourself and what were you doing answering an ad in a newspaper. I could have been a pervert."
Lauren laughed and pushed her fingers through her hair as if straightening it. "To be honest with you I’ve met so many jerks in the last few months I figured what did I have too lose. So I started answering ads. Yours sounded fantastic. And here I am."
"I can’t believe someone as nice and attractive as you doesn’t have guys lined up all over."
"I could say the same about you. Maybe what we’ll looking for is out of our reach. Maybe our standards are too high. So Phillip Marlow what exactly are you looking for."
He couldn’t believe what he was about to say. Tried to stop himself. But couldn’t. "You."
"You are really something. Come on, give me a little hint at what your ideal woman is."
"I’d like to say looks don’t count but I want someone attractive," he said sipping his scotch and lemon. "And funny and intelligent, but I think everyone wants that don’t they?"
"Yes I think so too. So why haven’t you found Miss Right? Maybe she doesn’t exist like my Mr. Right."
"Possible. But why should anyone settle? You or me." He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Her smile, the way her eyes twinkled.
They sat all night talking and laughing. Lauren was an airline stewardess. Lived alone with a cat and a dog in an apartment on the west side of the city.
Though Phillip wasn’t a private eye, he was a librarian, by the end of the evening he had discovered everything he wanted to know about Lauren Baxter. He kissed her goodnight; she had to stand on her toes to reach him. Then he put her in a cab as the sun came up sending slanted shadows across the sleeping city. After that they were inseparable, theater and movies and dinner and dancing. They watched all of Humprey Bogart’s movies together, and rented every 40s movie they could get their hands on. They were in love and both happier then they’d ever been. Then the bottom fell out. Lauren’s father who lived in Belgium was gravely ill. She had to leave New York and stay with her mother for a few months. Phillip understood but didn’t think he could be without her that long.
Sitting at the kitchen table in her apartment the cat brushed up against his leg. "I know you have to go but why I can’t I go with you."
"Well for one who is going to take care of Humprey and Lauren (the cat and dog).
He took her in his arms. "I don’t like this. I want to be with you forever. Lets get married."
"Now?"
"Phillip I love you and want to be with you forever, but you just got this job, you’re happy at the library. I’ll be back. You would hate yourself if you came with me and lost the job. I know you now. I know you would feel guilty. We’ll talk all the time. It will be alright. I want to be Mrs. Phillip Marlowe too."
The night was foggy. He picked her up in a cab. She was taking a red-eye out of Laguardia. She rested her head on his shoulder. "I’m going to miss you so much." He stroked her hair.
The airport was empty – blue lights shone through the fog. "Maybe the flight will be cancelled," he said. This was a private charter and he walked her out to the plane. The fog coated her hair making it sparkle. Her raincoat was damp. "Here’s looking at you kid." He said then kissed her.
He watched her walk up the stairway and when she was seated followed and sat next to her.
"Phillip what you doing?"
"I’m going to Belgium with you. I never liked the ending of Casablanca."
"What about your job?"
"I can get another one."
"What about Humprey and Lauren."
"They’re safely tucked away in the plane. They’re going with us."
"You really are something Phillip Marlowe."
He took her hand and kissed her fingertips. "Here’s looking at you kid." He said as the plane climbed leaving the fog-enveloped airport behind.