1. Today we'll be discussing
A Tale of Two Cities.
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2. A terrific book
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3. by that most Dickensian
of authors, Charles Dickens.
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4. Okay, you've all read it.
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5. Come on, let's get a dialogue going.
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6. Um, I really liked the guillotine.
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7. Yes, yes.
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8. Um, why don't they have
the guillotine here?
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9. - Well, I don't know, but the theme…
- Did anyone ever try
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10. to pull their head out of the guillotine
at the last minute
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11. so, like, just the top
of their head got chopped off?
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12. Okay, are there any questions
not involving the guillotine?
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13. Anyone?
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14. Anything?
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15. So that's it?
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16. What about class differences?
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17. What about romantic love?
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18. Sacrifice and regret?
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19. Everything in life is between
the covers of this book, people.
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20. You went crazy.
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21. My husband likes his stories.
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22. People say he was a poor man's Hemingway
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23. but I think Hemingway
was a poor man's Hemingway.
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24. "Poor man's Hemingway."
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25. Uh, can I help you find something?
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26. Well, yes.
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27. I am looking to replace my well-worn
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28. and fully understood copy
of A Tale of Two Cities
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29. - by Charles…
- Dickens. Of course.
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30. It's in Classics to your left.
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31. Anyway, I hope tonight's discussion
will be as spirited as the last one.
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32. You bring the opinions,
I'll bring the Merlot,
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33. and I'm sure it will be.
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34. Merlot? Well, excuse me.
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35. You must be talking about a book club.
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36. We are.
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37. A bientot.
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38. Pardon my French.
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39. Oh, es de nada.
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40. And my Spanish needs no apologies.
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41. You know, as one intellectual to another,
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42. I must say your book club sounds fun.
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43. And I do happen to be free tonight.
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44. You're not free.
You have a date with Dickens.
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45. That'll be $5.95.
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46. Yup.
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47. Yup.
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48. Oh, mind if I join you?
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49. I'm kind of in the mood
for some stimulating conversation.
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50. You've come to the right place.
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51. Now, Bill, you were opining
on a matter of some import.
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52. Oh, yeah.
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53. Why is it I like butter,
but I don't like cheese?
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54. They're both yellow.
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55. Is it the texture?
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56. You do too, like cheese, Bill.
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57. - I've seen you eat it.
- No, I don't.
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58. Remember A Taleof Two Cities? Dickens?
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59. Well, I'm in the middle of rereading it,
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60. - and it…
- Peggy, you've seen Bill eat cheese.
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61. Why won't you take my word for this?
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62. Cream cheese is cheese, Bill.
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63. No, it's not. It's butter.
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64. And if I'm in your book club,
I can assure you
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65. you'll never have to worry
about long awkward pauses.
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66. Well, what do you think?
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67. If it were up to me,
I'd… think about it.
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68. But they only invite me
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69. because I give them
a discount on their books.
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70. And I'm closing the store soon
to retire anyway.
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71. My lease is up.
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72. Retiring?
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73. Everybody keeps saying, "Leave Arlen?"
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74. But I've always wanted to spend
my later years some place
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75. where it's nice and cold all year round.
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76. Six hundred dollars a month
for five years?
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77. I don't know.
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78. Hank, I really need to be around people
who love books.
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79. I will do all the work.
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80. All you have to do is cosign
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81. as you are the one with an income,
and the house is in your name.
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82. Oh, please, Hank.
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83. I will be raking in money with one hand
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84. and reading my book for the book club
with the other.
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85. Oh, Hank.
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86. My sacred mission to bring literature
to Arlen is now yours.
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87. Oh, wait, wait. One last thing.
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88. When do I start to attend the book club?
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89. Oh, well, the next meeting
isn't for a couple of weeks.
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90. I'm sure they'll stop by.
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91. The best of luck to you, dear.
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92. Okay, this is it.
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93. Show time.
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94. Show time.
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95. Hello there, ma'am.
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96. We're here to support our local bookseller
and buy some books.
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97. Well, thank you, handsome patron.
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98. Bobby, why don't you go look
in the adventure section?
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99. Anything about a boy with gumption
should be fine.
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100. Mm.
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101. "Clea, Huntress of Dragonvale.
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102. Part the Fifth of the Elves
of Evermore Series."
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103. Huh.
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104. You're listening to Peru Today
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105. on listener-supported public radio.
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106. - So, how's the…
- Fantastic.
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107. Best decision I ever made in my life.
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108. Good night, Hank.
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109. Oh, Dale.
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110. So this is a book store.
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111. Smells boring.
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112. Mm, have you thought about
putting saw dust on the floor?
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113. I'm getting apple everywhere.
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114. I'm sorry, Dale,
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115. but this store is reserved
for customers and literati.
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116. So, why don't you take your apple…
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117. - It's a Braeburn.
- And get out?
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118. Okay. Wait.
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119. I am a customer.
I'd like your thickest book, please.
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120. Here's The Odyssey.
It's thick, it's old, it's Greek.
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121. This looks promising.
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122. Nih, nih, nih, nih…
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123. What the hell are you doing?
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124. I can't hide a gun inside it
without hollowing it out.
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125. Unless you have some precuts?
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126. Pardon me, ma'am, can you give me
four quarters for a dollar?
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127. No, I'm sorry. I have a sign.
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128. Hey, how much for the 1911-A-1?
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129. This baby is yours for, oh,
300 dollars American.
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130. Sold.
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131. Dale, you cannot sell a firearm
in my bookstore…
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132. I know, I know. You want your house cut.
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133. Twenty percent to the madame.
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134. Madame, $60.
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135. In theory, I reject this money.
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136. It is only in practice that I accept it.
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137. You know, this is
a perfect gun selling location.
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138. So, how 'bout it, Peggy?
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139. Can I sell guns in this location?
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140. I've got literally oodles of guns at home.
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141. Thank you for shopping
at Peggy's World of Books.
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142. Oh, thank you so much
for eating my free cookies.
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143. - Hello, I just came by to see…
- Laura, thank goodness you're here.
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144. I have only made one sale
in the past three days,
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145. and that was just a greeting card.
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146. Peggy, this has never been
a high-volume business.
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147. But the lease, I mean, how did you…
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148. Oh, the executor of my parents' estate
sent a check every month
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149. interest from some such account.
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150. I never quite followed it.
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151. But you shouldn't concern yourself
with that.
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152. We worship the written word,
not the almighty dollar, yes?
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153. Oh, well, yes, of course.
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154. And worse comes to worst
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155. you just get your husband
to write a check, right?
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156. I'm taking one of the Joyces.
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157. Good morning.
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158. Word to the wise,
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159. we have a new collection
of Barbara Kingsolver's stories
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160. that is her best in years.
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161. Guns, I suppose.
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162. - Yes, ma'am.
- Straight in back.
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163. You know, we have a book
called Old Yeller.
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164. It's about a boy who shoots a dog.
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165. With a gun.
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166. Welcome, gentlemen.
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167. The Tuesday special
is Saturday Night specials.
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168. Feel free to browse.
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169. Uh, here at the Book and Gun
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170. we're trying to maintain a certain…
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171. What do you call it, Peggy?
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172. Ambiance.
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173. Right. Ambiance.
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174. So we're having cappuccino.
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175. That's like coffee, right?
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176. I don't know.
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177. Oh, and if some well-dressed ladies
come in,
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178. you're just here to move a piano.
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179. - What you reading there, son?
- Sports page.
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180. The sports page.
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181. Well, all right, Bobby.
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182. How's the Cowboy's defense…
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183. You know, same ol', same ol'. Oh.
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184. "Clea, Huntress of…"
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185. I told you to get an adventure book.
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186. But it is adventure.
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187. "The Elf-lord Fylfendell knelt
upon the bed of dandelions.
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188. 'Young wanderer, ' quoth he,
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189. 'I have woven you a magic breastplate…"
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190. Bobby, television.
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191. Uh…
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192. I'm gonna go with, uh
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193. gun.
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194. Gih.
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195. Morning, officer.
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196. Do you have a license
to sell guns, sir?
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197. What I sell is a lifestyle.
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198. - A life style free from…
- Books. We sell books here.
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199. The guns are simply
a promotional give-away.
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200. Yeah.
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201. Okay, as long as everybody
leaves this store with a book.
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202. Let me show you
the stylish nine millimeter Luger
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203. that comes free with any $600 purchase
of quality science-fiction.
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204. Dale, Glock.
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205. Oh, I've been looking
for this little girl.
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206. Sometimes the boys like
to go down in the basement
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207. and test their piece.
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208. But don't worry, I shut off the gas valve.
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209. Well, shot off the gas valve.
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210. Oh, my God.
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211. It's the freakin' book club.
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212. You get your skinny butt
down to the basement
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213. and pass out the silencers.
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214. Peggy, hello.
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215. Oh, it certainly is an
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216. interesting atmosphere you've cultivated.
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217. So, the sign says you're selling guns now?
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218. Oh, the sign.
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219. That old thing.
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220. You know, the "T" fell off.
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221. It's really supposed to say "gunst."
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222. But surely, you didn't come here today
for, for a gunst.
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223. Enjoy. Good reading.
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224. Yes, well, these good people are here
from a historical reenactment club.
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225. Today we are doing
"America in the Time of Whitman."
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226. What was that?
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227. Merely the anvil of the village smithy.
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228. Making horseshoes, no doubt.
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229. Yes, well, we've come to place
our monthly order
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230. for the book club selection
A Dinner of Onions, by…
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231. Nora Harmony Wallace, of course.
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232. A chronicle of three generations
of an American family.
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233. I always wondered why nobody's
ever done that before.
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234. Uh, do you have any peroxide
and a clean towel?
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235. I just shot my dang hand.
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236. Oh, well, oh, okay.
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237. The, uh, Confederate doctors
will be here shortly
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238. to give you ether and saw off your arm.
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239. Actors.
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240. Say, why don't you come
to the meeting yourself?
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241. To the book club? Really?
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242. And bring your husband if you like.
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243. The club is mostly couples.
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244. Oh, yeah.
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245. Ankle holsters all around on the house.
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246. All right.
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247. Hank, we are going to the book club.
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248. Read this by Friday.
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249. You are excused from emptying the garbage
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250. till this is done.
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251. And no TV.
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252. You won't let me read a book that I want.
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253. Mom makes you read a book
that you don't want.
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254. That's what the elves call
"Justice of the Unicorn."
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255. Turns out, the first two chapters
were a dream.
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256. I'm not sure I trust this lady.
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257. And what do you make of this?
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258. Every time she cooks dinner
for her father, she cries.
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259. But it's not always onions.
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260. Yeah, man, see, now, my dang ol' father
he gon' symbolize the past, man,
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261. and ol' dinner gon' be,
like, the future, you know?
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262. So, you're talkin' 'bout stuck
in the present, you know?
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263. Just like dang ol' English class, man.
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264. I had onions for dinner last night.
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265. You can get a pound for 49 cents.
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266. "As the ambulance pulled away,
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267. Cassie remembered the smell of onions
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268. from her grandmother's kitchen.
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269. The End."
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270. Joe Jack, you awake?
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271. I got half a mind to go to Nova Scotia
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272. and kick that Benedict's ass, honey.
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273. Boy, that Cassie reminds me of someone.
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274. Hey, how big did you guys picture
her ta-tas?
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275. It said she was slender as a willow,
so… grapefruits?
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276. Come on, let's go.
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277. If we stay in the truck too long,
people are gonna think we're making out.
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278. All right, Kafka, Kafka.
Born 1883, wore glasses,
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279. burdened by father, loved to sleep in.
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280. Yes. Peggy, you are ready.
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281. Now, if I tug my earlobe like this,
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282. just casually say that you understood
what the author was going for, but…
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283. Then just trail off like that.
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284. I told him,
"Mister, you may be on retainer
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285. but if you retain your hand
on my thigh like that,
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286. I will bite it off
and bill you for my time."
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287. Mm-hmm.
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288. That is exactly like the scene at dinner
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289. where Cassie confronts
the hotel manager, yes?
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290. Honey, I couldn't get past Chapter Three.
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291. That writer was trying way to hard
to be Isabel Allende for my blood.
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292. Yeah, yeah. Great reference.
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293. Isabel Allende,
Chilean authoress born 1942.
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294. My source, the Internet.
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295. So, you say it's both efficient
and clean burning?
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296. Fascinating.
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297. Oh, Hank, there you are.
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298. I was just wondering
if you men had noticed
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299. the subtle change of perspective
in Book Two
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300. the way the women have.
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301. Book… Two.
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302. Uh, fellas, this is my wife, Peggy.
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303. Delighted to meet you.
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304. Is… is your ear all right, Mrs. Hill?
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305. I, uh, understood
what the author was going for.
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306. Uh… in the book, there.
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307. So, Mary Ellen,
we had just a marvelous time.
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308. I cannot wait to see you
at the next meeting.
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309. I was gonna suggest we read.
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310. The Dust Gatherers
by Nobel laureate Mkozi Mputha.
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311. Well, actually…
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312. I'm afraid this is the very last
book club meeting.
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313. Scheduling nightmare, you know.
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314. The last meeting?
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315. No, no. We can't let this die.
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316. Why, I could drive everyone.
Where does everyone live?
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317. I'm sorry, Peggy.
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318. But I'm so glad you were able to come
for the final, final, last meeting.
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319. Oh. I can't believe it.
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320. What am I gonna do with my weekends now?
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321. Except watch sports.
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322. Oh, well. Peggy?
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323. Hold on, Hank.
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324. I need to use their powder room.
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325. Maybe it's the ten cups of coffee I drank
to stay sharp for this.
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326. I'll get the truck.
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327. Oh. The New Yorker.
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328. I guess it's my fault.
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329. She gave us such a big discount,
I felt I had to invite her.
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330. Who knew she'd be such a windbag?
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331. As Cassie said
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332. while the farmhouse
burned brightly behind her.
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333. "I am an onion."
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334. Good day to you.
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335. Surely, as I am Clea
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336. and the Crystal of Gilmarrion
shines upon my brow
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337. our forces shall rally
and vanquish the Goblin horde.
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338. What say ye, Hindbottom?
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339. Aye, my fell axe thirsts for Goblin blood
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340. to avenge my father Borak
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341. my swift brother Rigmar Talon-beard.
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342. - My cousin…
- Dang it, Bobby.
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343. No more elves at the table.
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344. - Your mom isn't feeling well, and…
- No, no, I'm fine.
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345. All right, Dale, I am coming!
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346. Great. Time for work.
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347. No rest for the windbag.
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348. Thank you. Please come again.
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349. Oh, I got that one yesterday
with my last gun.
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350. Oh, my God, how many guns do you need?
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351. Thank you, come again.
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352. Peggy, would you wipe the fingerprints
off this and wrap it, please?
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353. I've come to take
the local bookseller to lunch.
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354. Heh… uh, Peggy?
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355. Pull.
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356. What the hell…
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357. Peggy?
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358. Dad.
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359. Well, look who's here.
Shopping for my birthday?
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360. Get me something that shoots like this.
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361. Die!
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362. Excellent grouping, Colonel.
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363. Plus, those hollow-points
penetrated Shakespeare
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364. all the way into the so-called
"Joyous Comedies."
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365. As You Like It?
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366. Well, I like it plenty.
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367. Dang it, Dale, where is my wife?
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368. Mmm, probably
on one of her smoking breaks.
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369. I try not to keep her
on too tight of a leash.
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370. Peggy? What are you doing down there?
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371. Nothing.
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372. Seems to be my mission in life.
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373. No, your mission was about books.
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374. Elves and onions and such. Look at this.
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375. Now, I'm not much
in the Shakespeare department,
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376. but I still don't think
he deserves to be shot at
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377. by those monkeys down there.
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378. And A Taleof Two Cities?
I thought that was your favorite book.
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379. And so, a farewell to A Farewell to Arms.
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380. Dale, your services
at Peggy's World of Books
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381. are terminated as of now. Get out.
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382. You can't do that.
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383. Oh, I can, and I will.
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384. My name is the name on the lease.
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385. This is Peggy's World.
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386. You just rent space in it.
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387. Here's the key to the Dumpster.
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388. If you don't lock it,
the winos sleep in it.
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389. They are not winos.
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390. They are my customers, loyal customers.
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391. I'm looking for the lady
who ran the gun store.
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392. She's out of business.
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393. She's been referring people
to Ammo World or Crazy Jerry's.
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394. I just wanted to know
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395. if the first two chapters
were really a dream or not.
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396. Yeah, I wondered that myself.
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397. Travis makes an excellent point.
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398. Cassie's lighthouse can symbolize hope,
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399. but who's to say it doesn't also symbolize
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400. the government's intrusion
into the lives of private citizens
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401. as suggested by our friend here
who won't give us his name.
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402. Cassie's grandpa
wouldn't give her an evil lighthouse.
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403. Very good point, Muskrat.
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404. Any responses?
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405. Well, can't we at least agree
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406. that Mary-Elizabeth's baby
was her own lighthouse?
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407. Whoever heard
of an illegitimate lighthouse?
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408. Got-dang it, Ox,
you're confusing realism
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409. with symbolism again.
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410. I'm about to symbolize
my gun to your head.
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411. Take your apple…
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412. - It's a Braeburn.
- And get out.
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