The text of our Charlie Chan Family Chat for November 9, 2020
Feature:
Docks of New Orleans
Extra:
The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack (Chapter 6)
Participants:
angel & docks
Dan Venture
Dona
Godwinshelley2
Hounder/2hou der
Len Freeman
Louise
Matt1
Rush
Rush has joined this room
Rush:
Matt1 has joined this room
Matt1: Hello Rush!
Rush: Good evening, Matt!
Rush: How are you doing?
Matt1: Another day, but good, thnx….u?
Rush: Same here.
Rush: The world is crazy…hopefully a bit of a respite tonight!
Matt1: That’s what Monday nights are for!
Rush: I worked on an article for Lou’s year-end newslatrter last night.
Matt1: Room apperas to be lagging in a BIG way!
Rush: SUPER SLOW posting right now…sorry!
Matt1: How did that go?
Rush: YES!
Rush: Submitted…he liked it.
Matt1: Can’t wait to read it….What was the topic?
Rush: It’s about the Chan Sunday comics.
Matt1: Ah!
Rush: AH! We are running faster now!
Matt1: Much better, yes
Rush: Felt like swimming through molasses!
Matt1: lol
Rush: Next year we can listen to the Chan radio dramas again.
Rush: I think that will please the newer members.
Matt1: Don’t laugh, but with 2020 being what it is, we put up our Christmas decorations yesterday….The end of the year can’t come soon enough, lol
Rush: I agree!
Rush: Hopefully we won’t be forced to breathe our own CO2 much longer!
Matt1: We always say it seems like we just put them up and we’re taking them down, so….
Rush: Yes.
Rush: We shall see!
Matt1: Yes
Rush: It’s tough on children…
Matt1: We rented a pavilion at a park near Orlando and will host Thanksgiving outside for the family
Matt1: If all goes well, we’ll do the same for Christmas day
Rush: Sounds great!
Matt1: Keeping everyone outside this year
Rush: Soon the weather will change in many places.
Rush: outside activities will not be as easy.
Matt1: Yes, family in PA can’t do it, but here in FL it’s a year round thing….for the most part
Rush: I hope this slowdown does not affect our countdown tonight!
Matt1: I wasn’t going to say anything
Len Freeman has joined this room
Rush: Yes about Florida.
Matt1: Hello Len!
Rush: Good evening, Len!
Rush: WELCOME!
Len Freeman: HI.
Len Freeman: Slow getting in tonight
Matt1: FYI Len, room is lagging a bit tonight
Hounder has joined this room
Rush: Little slow at times.
Matt1: Hello Hounder!
Hounder: Cool idea Matt. Hi guys.
Matt1: Thnx!
Rush: Hello, Hounder!
Rush: How are you tonight?
Len Freeman: HI Hounder
Rush: Len, I haven’t heard back from Louise, yet.
Len Freeman: Ah. OK
Len Freeman: Maybe she wants to wait to score on her own
Hounder: Just so you know. I’m not going to be abounding entertaining member tonight. I hadabout 2 hours sleep lastnight.
Len Freeman: We can see that by your typing
Matt1: Hope all is Ok, Hounder?
Rush: Your mother, hounder?
Hounder: last night.. sorry. Been a long day
Rush: Sorry.
Len Freeman: Everything OK there?
Matt1: FYI, Cued here
Rush: Hopefully this evening will allow you to change gears a little, Hounder.
Hounder: Yes. About midnight she tried to use the shower for a toilet and fell in in the tub. Then she had a couple bad dreams. I had trouble falling back to sleep
Rush: TYSM, Matt!
Rush: I need to do the same.
Matt1: So sorry H
Rush: Ready.
Rush: Everyone else ready for the serial?
Hounder: Mostly ok just a little all over the place
Len Freeman: So sorry…. that falling in the tub is no fun. I funked up a rib pretty good that way
Rush: We are here for you, Hounder.
Len Freeman: Yes
Rush: Please stay as long as you feel you can!
Rush: I’ll start the countdown at 30 seconds…
Rush: 25…
Rush: 20…
Hounder: Thanks rush. We’re toddling along ok. I just don’t do as well with little sleep.
Rush: 15…
Rush: 10…
Rush: 5…
Rush: GO!!!
Matt1: Weeeeeeeee!
Rush: Title….misic…credits….
Len Freeman: Up and flying
Rush: Yes!
Rush: Bombs away!
Rush: “Midnight in Hong Kong”
Rush: Fraulein Von Teuffel.
Rush: Into the crate…into the drink!
Len Freeman: Keye Luke to the rescue
Rush: YES!
Rush: Saved him!
Matt1: It’s a Jack IN the box!
Rush: 🙂
Rush: And, he can smile again!
Rush: Hari kiri.
Rush: Largely at large!
Rush: Interesting weapon.
Rush: Pretty effective!
Len Freeman: and fully loaded!
Hounder: Matt are you going to be hit by the tropical storm of the week?
Rush: We may see it used in about….10 minutes!
Rush: Pen at the ready.
Matt1: We’re in the cone of uncertainty
Rush: We might see some good footage of the Pan Am Clipper.
Matt1: We had 35+ mph winds today
Rush: Winds building?
Len Freeman: Honolulu… will; CCbe there?
Rush: I haven’t been following that one, Matt.
Hounder: I think we had in the 20’s. Grey and rainy
Matt1: Eta
Rush: I thought the same, Len!
Hounder: Yup. That’s the one. Lol
Rush: Invisible ink!
Rush: Nice stock footage.
Rush: “Sehr gut.”
Len Freeman: I would’ve loved to actually fly on one of these clipper ships
Rush: The deadly pen…
Matt1: Sticky situation
Rush: Yes, indeed!
Godwinshelley2 has joined this room
Rush: GS!
Matt1: Hello GS!
Rush: WELCOME!!!
Godwinshelley2: Howdy – I still need to cue up my dvd
Hounder: Hi gs. Hope all is we.l
Len Freeman: Hi GB
Louise has joined this room
Len Freeman: GS
Louise: Hello Chgan Clan!
Len Freeman: Hi Louise
Louise: Chan
Matt1: Hello Louise!
Louise: I see it is going to be a typo night
Hounder: Hi louise
Louise: Hi all
DanVenture has joined this room
Rush: WOW! Great “ending”!
Matt1: <clap=clap>
Hounder: My faultlouise. I started it.
Matt1: Hello DV!
Rush: WELCOME, Louise!
Rush: I hope that you and GS are doing well!
Hounder: Hi dan
DanVenture: Thanks, Matt! Good to be here.
Rush: And…DV, TOO!
Rush: WELCOME!
Louise: Fine day here in New Jersey. You would think it was summer with all the people on the beach.
Dona has joined this room
Dona: Hello Eveyone!
Matt1: Hello Dona!
Hounder: Hi dona
Louise: Hi dona
Rush: Enjoy the weather while you can, Louise! Winter approaches!
Len Freeman: That ending was shot for another major film… fairly expensive to do… which is why it was reused in a number of films… including this one.
Rush: Dona!
Rush: Good evening to YOU!
Louise: Winter next week!
Len Freeman: Hi Dona
Godwinshelley2: OK I’m cued
Len Freeman: We have snow coming again tomorrow
Louise: CUED here
Rush: Yes, Louise!
DanVenture: What’s next?
Rush: I need to ready my copy.
Godwinshelley2: So Rush – do you think that walking tour of San Fran Chinatown I made might be something you would want in your newsletter?
Rush: If anyone is using the online version, it is in TWP PARTS.
Rush: That is the only example online I could locate.
Rush: “Docks of New Orleans.”
DanVenture: TWP Parts?
Louise: Will we take a break between the two parts, Rush?
Rush: It seems that Chan and company were spending an bit of time in New Orleans.
Matt1: Cued!
Len Freeman: cued
Rush: Is anyone using the online copy?
Dona: Cued
Matt1: DVD
Louise: No, using DVD
Rush: I am as well.
DanVenture: I am.
Rush: So, no break.
Dona: DVD
DanVenture: My DVD is probably in storage.
Rush: If anyone is using the online copy, we can bring you to where we are.
Hounder: Dvd
Rush: We can help you along, DV!
Rush: So, just start with “Part 1”.
DanVenture: I am cued on the title card
Rush: Then as that one ends, click on “part 2”.
Rush: Perfect, DV!
Rush: 3 1/2 minutes to go…
Len Freeman: I’m gping to have to leave a little early tonight, so Part 1 may be just fine for me.
Rush: Louise, did you see my email?
Rush: Okay, Len.
Louise: Yes Rush. I just replied!
DanVenture: I wonder why they went with a non-Charlie Chan title.
Rush: three minutes to go…
Godwinshelley2: Rush – newsletter question – would the San Fran Walking tour of Chinatown I did years ago be something for that?
Rush: TYSM, Louise!
Louise: So Rush, the big reveal tonight?
Rush: Sounds like a good one, GS. Will it tie-in with Chan?
Rush: 2 minutes…
Godwinshelley2: It was based on one of the novels
Rush: Hopefully my countdown will not slow dow to a crawl!
Len Freeman: ??!!
Godwinshelley2: Stops pointed out for locations mentions
Rush: The speed has bee snail-like at times!
Rush: 75 seconds…
Matt1: You got this!
Rush: 60 seconds…
Louise: ready
Rush: 50 seconds…
Rush: 🙂
Hounder: Ready
Rush: 40 seconds…
Rush: 30 seconds…
Rush: 25…
Rush: 20…
Rush: 15…
Rush: 10…
Rush: 5…
Rush: GO!!!
Matt1: <GONG>
Rush: Title….
Rush: Music…
Rush: Credits…
Rush: New Orleans Harbor…
Rush: I was there a few years ago.
Matt1: Fun city
Len Freeman: I think that’s about all of New Orleans we see tonight
Rush: Yes.
Rush: Big…and…easy!
Louise: The Big Easy: good movie
Rush: 🙂
Dona: that is not Chan music
Louise: Ah, that dock set
Rush: This set was used in “The Chinese Ring.”
Rush: Yes, louise!
Len Freeman: just noticed that
Rush: GS, your Chinatown idea sounds good!
Godwinshelley2: Should I send you an email of the PDFs for that?
Rush: As certain streets, etc. are mentioned in Chan films, that would be FUN!
Godwinshelley2: IF I can find them again
Rush: Even some of the shots seen in “Behind That Curtain” could be noted!
Godwinshelley2: This one was from a book
Rush: Yes.
Godwinshelley2: Yes I could send my photo in a photo too
Louise: Oh the furry arms
Rush: That can work. I am always fascinated with the accuracy regarding the Chinatown locale that is portrayed in the Chan films.
Rush: some “incomplete talk”!
Rush: I love it!
Louise: The incomplete talk here is funny…I wonder if the audience knows it is a reference to previous movies.
Rush: It was somethingf that followers of Mantan Moreland could have been aware of.
Rush: Tommy’s feet give him away…
Rush: Also, as you note, some probably recalled similar bits in other Chan movies.
Rush: By this time, Charlie Chan is based in San Francisco.
Rush: That will be verified at the very end of the film tonight.
Rush: Close one!
Louise: Uncle
Rush: Next week, we will be watching “Mr. Wong, Detective” starring Boris Karloff.
DanVenture: Good stuff too, Rush.
Rush: While celebrating his birthday, we can compare this film to that one.
Godwinshelley2: Louise – did that outfit have a peplum? I hadn’t paid enough attention
Len Freeman: a tontine
Rush: The Wong movie was the basis for this plot.
Rush: Yes, DV!
Len Freeman: last partner to survive gets it all
Hounder: So even back then they did remakes
Louise: Didn’t notice GS
Rush: Yes, Len! Never a good contract to sign!!!
Len Freeman: Scott Darling, the writer, kept reusing his scripts. The first Mr WOng is a rewrite of a film he did circa 1932
Godwinshelley2: OK Rush – notice that back of this woman’s jacket – the flounce is a peplum
Rush: AH!
Len Freeman: And then he used Wong scripts for Chan
Rush: This lady?
Louise: We have a peplum!
Godwinshelley2: Finally – it was also popular in the 80s
Rush: Rene is wearing one?
DanVenture: I imagine reruns weren’t common in those days. So four-five years and no one remembers that “old” movie plot.
Louise: A peplum: like a mini skirt hanging off the bottom of a jacket!
Rush: “Poor, unhappy old men” can, indeed be dangerous!
Len Freeman: yes DV … B-westerns did it all the time
Godwinshelley2: I think the jackets also tucked in at the waist to allow the peplum to add more flounce – and to make them look different from the back from a man’s jacket
Rush: Makes sense, GS.
Louise: Yeah, but look there is a dead guy on the floor!
Rush: Now her share is bigger.
Dona: An accident thats a homicide
Matt1: <tin can>
Rush: TYSM…Matt…
Godwinshelley2: They did alot of remakes with the transition from silent to sound and also from radio to television
Rush: yes, GS.
Louise: Looks like she is wearing black in anticipation of the funeral???
Rush: yes…she’s good to go!
Godwinshelley2: Sometimes they would do the same script in the same week for a drama that was both radio and television
Rush: Len, odd question, but did you ever watch the old “Space Patrol” TV show when it aired in the early to mid-1950s?
Len Freeman: yes
Rush: I have a bunch on DVD.
Rush: FUN stuff!
Rush: The only show i reacall watching of that type was “Captain Z-Ro.”
Len Freeman: I read somewhere that Space Patrol was actually the first TV show to broadcast nationally
Len Freeman: wonderful fun show
Rush: really, Len?
Len Freeman: I believe that
Rush: It was REALLY popular, and I read that it even was an influence for “Star Trek”!
Rush: I LOVE watching the DVDs!
Rush: Nice backdrop as they drive through the city.
Rush: looks like actual location.
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Hounder has joined this room
Louise: Here we go…
Rush: nice bit here!
Matt1: Fun
Hounder: Dog walks then Mombasa wandering.
Rush: More incomplete talk!!!
Len Freeman: Checked my notes. Space Patrol was the very first regular live West Coast morning network program to get beamed to the East Coast
Louise: Always includes some French!
Hounder: Mom was
Rush: By the way, Mantan Moreland was from Louisiana.
Godwinshelley2: Woman trying to cross in front of car pulling out of garage was also wearing a peplum
Louise: Peplum heaven
Hounder: Really rush? I don’t hear it in his voice
Rush: it seems that the peplum might replace the white fox fur!
Godwinshelley2: Just happened to be the fashion – often smaller studios would have the actors use their own wardrobe
Louise: Never, Rush, although I like the earlier fashions
Rush: 🙂
Rush: Coquina bark.
Len Freeman has left this room
Rush: Thae answer to the question: “What comes out of the north end of a coquina Hound?”
Louise: Chop Suey Boogie
Dona: lol
Rush: “Chop Suey boogie”
Len Freeman has joined this room
Louise: “Dolphin”
Hounder: Killing a cat
Godwinshelley2: Rush – I emailed you 3 parts to Chan walk from 2014
Rush: Watch Tommy closely on the violin when they play it agai, here.
Rush: A player violin!
angel & docks has joined this room
Len Freeman: angel
Matt1: Hello A & D!
angel & docks: Sorry late but happy to be among honored detectives!
Rush: Angel and Docks!
Rush: WELCOME!
Dona: Hello Angel and Docks
Rush: GREAT to see you again!!!
Louise: Nice to see you angel
Hounder: Hi angel and docks
Rush: How are you doing so far, hounder?
Godwinshelley2: She is wearing a snack bowl on her head
Rush: Yes!
Rush: Convenient!
Godwinshelley2: a 12 button suit
Dona: Yes GS chip and dip
Rush: Chan caught…
Rush: (cough…cough…)
Rush: if you can listen to the “small talk” here, it’s interesting.
Rush: They had people improvise, I am sure.
Louise: We all need a butler
Dona: Agreed Louise
Rush: Yes.
Louise: GS: Wait, how would you button that???
Godwinshelley2: center
Godwinshelley2: rest are decorative
Godwinshelley2: my guess
Rush: Angel, how are you this evening?
Rush: Were you involved in your move?
Hounder has left this room
Rush: In the Wong version, the siren would have been important.
2hou der has joined this room
Matt1: <tin can>
Len Freeman: yes
Rush: WB, Hounder.
angel & docks: We are sitting on the bay here WITHOUT a dock (HEY DOCK!)—precious Chan DVD set (courtesy of LEN!) is at my house, i am elsewhere & find no Web source. So i & Fox Docks will just sit between two Chinese ferns.
2hou der: Window closed and had to sign in as someone else
Rush: We DO have the online version available above, Angel!
Rush: We would be into “part 2” by now.
Len Freeman: on part 2 now 8 mins in
Rush: DV…doing okay with the online version?
Rush: TYSM, Len!
Louise: Go
DanVenture: Yes. Took only about 10 seconds to get the second part started.
angel & docks: GREET-THINGS, to ALL! Happy to see so many on this chillywilly night *kicking FoxDocks under table*
Godwinshelley2: Louise – any chance you will be associated with that Miniature tv program?
Rush: Another interesting plot “borrowing” happens when we see “The Feathered Serpent” in a couple of weeks. It was based on “Riders of the Whuistling Skull.”
angel & docks: Miniature TV? ANYTHING that would make the small screen smaller would be a big help.
Louise: No, GS. A friend of mine was in it. But I am not sure they can still do it because of COVID.
Rush: The screens were very small when I was a kid!
Dona: I remember those too Rush.
Rush: 🙂
Dona: When my dad was in college he built a tv.
Rush: We didn’t know the difference!
Dona: black and white
Rush: I remember when we got a Magnavox 24-inch screen TV!
Rush: THAT was a TREAT!
Louise: For those interested in the mini thing we are talking about, there will be a Christmas themed show in which artists make a miniature house, etc in a contest that lasts 4 weeks. Not sure the channel it is on.
Godwinshelley2: Had B&W tv growing up – family didn’t get color – or a second car – until after I finished college and moved out
Rush: Like the Food Channel, maybe?
angel & docks: I LOVE reading about Early TV. Amazing! The paths not taken, etzetera! Hey, if you want an amusement, Google the original Brazilian TV test pattern! I’ll say no more!!!
Godwinshelley2: Oh good – the snack tray has arrived
Rush: I had a friend whose family had the first color TV in the neighborhood.
Rush: Not too much to see in color then, though!
Godwinshelley2: Or that colored cellophane you would put on your B&W screen to simulate sky and grass
Len Freeman: Our early RCA with a round screen
Louise: We had a teeny tv set in the 1950s
angel & docks: GS: They were JUST WAITING for the last notes of Gaudeamus Igitur to fade, & your ’64 Skylark to bottom out one more time as you left with your last boxes (400 ls of LPs), before phoning Sears to say they could deliver the Color set.
Rush: I missed the last tincan, Matt…sorry!
Rush: Rene’s share just increased in value again.
Len Freeman: We all used to run over to another kids house for the afternoon kids shows, because they had the only set in our neighborhood
angel & docks: Some scream for ice cream, i can for tin cans.
Rush: It was so fun then, Len!
Dona: lol
Len Freeman: agreed
Rush: Angel: 🙂
angel & docks: Len—We did the same thing, but more so cuz that kid had got a spare key to the liquor made.
Len Freeman: lol
Rush: I had a friend whose family didn’t have a TV in the ’60s, and he sometimes sat on the curb to see the TV in the house across the street!
angel & docks: Every day was Boxing Day.
Godwinshelley2: Wow – he actually got the name out and didn’t get shot!!
angel & docks: Rush—we used to go where there was a line of sight to a drive-in!
Godwinshelley2: Some audio feeds for television were very close to radio channels – I used to listen to Channel 6 television on my radio
Rush: The sirens in the Wong movie will not be benign.
Rush: Yes, GS!
Godwinshelley2: Mission Impossible was TERRIBLE over the radio
angel & docks: Rush—in HOW MANY Hollywood scripts over the years, did the following appear: (ACTOR): “It was—” [SOUND] GUNSHOT
Len Freeman: Yes GS, the “fine tuning” knob got a lot of use…
Rush: There were radios that had TV station settings, i believe.
Godwinshelley2: And tin foil on the anntenna
Len Freeman: Yes!!
Rush: Angel…Those actors were probably not even billed!
angel & docks: Antennas! Try to explain THEM to these whippersnappers!
Rush: YES!
Rush: Tommy: CLUNKRD!
2hou der: Rabbit ears
Rush: Or…KONKED.
Rush: I used those!
angel & docks: CLUNKRD INDEED!
Rush: 🙂
angel & docks: Is Lancelot Link still alive?
Rush: As we see…not as much BB see as usual!
Louise: Too many guns in these later movies
Rush: This is doubtles due to this being a “borrowed” plot.
Rush: Good point, Louise.
angel & docks: Not enough guns in the earlier movies. Maybe needed MORE MOVIES, spread the arms around.
Rush: 🙂
Rush: There’s tonight’s fur.
angel & docks: Does the gun triggered by a (fake) thermostat count as a gun, or a heat weapon?
angel & docks: A flick of the tail from Fox.
Rush: That would be a gimmick, Angel!
Godwinshelley2: There was a chair in a previous scene that seemed to be “furry” too
Rush: Murder device.
angel & docks: Housewives making holiday plans should remember to get PLENTY of Tetragene!
Rush: Closest thing to that at our home would be tangerine, Angel.
Louise: another foxy wrap
Rush: Yes.
Rush: Mink?
Godwinshelley2: shoulder pads in that suit
Rush: (Tick, tick, tick…)
Louise: Minks apparently harbor COVID: dump that mink!
angel & docks: Rush, the slogan “Safer At Home” surely applies to you & all who keep the Tetragene at U-Store-It.
Rush: Yes!
Dona: lol
Louise: The miniature show is on HGTV beginning November 27th
Rush: That was a long 50 seconds!
Rush: We’ll look for it, Louise.
angel & docks: test
angel & docks: The Mink thing! Who’da thunk it? Mrs. Howell! Paging Mrs. Howell!
Rush: It is interesting that we hear several sirens in this movie. Thay are almost used without purpose. not so in the Wong version.
Rush: Chan uses the power of suggestion here.
Len Freeman: have to see that next week
Rush: That’s one way to get the bad guys!
Rush: Yes, len.
angel & docks: Rush: Maybe they had a product-placement deal with a siren manufacturer?
Rush: Now she owns ALL of the cargo!
Rush: Possibly, Angel!
angel & docks: When my dad was in the Air Force he once pinned Rita Hayworth to the wall. Three years later he had to take out the thumbtacks & roll her in the hay, as Germany was demil’d.
Rush: Oh, MY!
angel & docks: Those were the days, i
angel & docks: i’m told.
Rush: Chan lays a trap.
Rush: As am I…”told.”
Louise: Ouch those high notes
Len Freeman: hurt even now
angel & docks: My shoe is off. My foot is cold. And now my story is all told.
Rush: His punishment: He will be forced to listen to his wife sing 24 hours a day for life.
angel & docks: My ears have suffered from Maria callus since my one night at the opera.
Rush: Very Marxian!
angel & docks: Thank your DeSoto-Plymouth Dealer!
Rush: The SF mention soon.
angel & docks: Say the Secret Woid (“S__ F_______”) & win $100!
Rush: Chan tells US1
Louise: YAY!!!!
Godwinshelley2: So was the next Chan film in San Fran?
Matt1: <yee-haw>
Rush: THE END.
Rush: (Applause…)
Dona: WAHOOOO!!!!
Rush: TYSM, everyone!
angel & docks: SALTY TEARS!!
Len Freeman: goo dending
angel & docks: Thank you all! We feel as if we have seem it all!
Rush: I hope that you took notes for the comparison next week!
Len Freeman: \ggod
2hou der: Thanks for the fun guys. Safe week. See you next week.
Rush: TYSM, Hounder!
Rush: take care.
angel & docks: Goo dending to all! See you on the next dock!
Matt1: Good night folks and have a great week ahead
Rush: my very best to you and your mother.
DanVenture: Guess it’s see you in San Fran with Charlie
Louise: Nite all. Lots of fun.
Dona: Great night Rush! Good to see everyone! See you all next week.
Rush: See you next week!
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Len Freeman: Night all.
angel & docks has left this room
Godwinshelley2: OK – will check in next week
Rush: GS…on behalf of Lou, thank you for contributing!
DanVenture: Everyone stay healthy and hale!
Godwinshelley2: If you need it in another format, let me know.
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Rush: Louise, if you would like to add a short article, I think that’d be GREAT.
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Godwinshelley2: night
Rush: maybe something about screen capturing all those chats!
Godwinshelley2 has left this room
Rush: Going back to 2010!
Rush: Oh, well!
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Rush: Take care, Dan!
Rush: Good night yo uou!
DanVenture has left this room
Rush: make that: Good night to you!
Rush has left this room
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