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Dr. V. B. "Doc" Daniel is a general practitioner committed to the healing of the slightly sick to nearly dying. To service his patients, he runs a 24-hour medical clinic in a rural community known as Pelt Valley, about ten minutes as the crow flies north of Carver Point, Georgia. Unlike most doctors, Dr. Daniel hates golf and expends very little energy on the pursuit of social advancement. Instead, he alleviates work-related stress through the appreciation and study of the greatest of all art forms: the cinema. His vast knowledge of all things celluloid, coupled with his keen diagnostic insight and soothing bedside manner, has made him the confidant of many a successful actor, director, producer or studio executive from Hollywood to Sydney to Hong Kong and beyond. He is admittedly an opinionated man, sometimes rough around the edges, who passionately expresses his beliefs and analysis of the movies he sees. Dr. Daniel pays substantial penalties and interest to his three ex-wives and has been known to enjoy a Coors Light with his loyal dog Orson. The Making of Dr. Daniel, a Biography
[ Chapter 2 ] [ Chapter 3 ] [ Chapter 4 ] [ Chapter 5 ] [ Chapter 6 ]
Chapter 1: Intermission BingoOn a hot summer night in 1963, in the little town of Carver Point, Georgia, Duane Daniel set his mind on the movies. He packed a cooler of chicken he fried himself and four 12 ounce Coca Colas, and loaded the cooler and his very pregnant wife Charlene into his spanking new convertible Bonneville, and set out for the Thunderbird Drive-In. Charlene, some three weeks past her due date and quite worse for wear, needed a night out and did dearly love the Thunderbird.A fast straightaway, two turns and a shortcut down Boxcar Road later, and there sat Duane and Charlene, just in time to see trailers for The Birds and Savage Sam. Duane dug into the cooler during the Tom & Jerry cartoon, and he and Charlene pleasantly ate supper during the opening scenes of The Raven, starring Vincent Price. Charlene loved Vincent Price; Duane loved scary birds. All were happy. An hour later, the cooler was empty and Charlene was craving a hot dog and Snow Caps. Duane made a run to the concession stand, arriving back at the Bonneville just before Intermission Bingo. A Chevy Impala two rows up won the $50 jackpot, but Charlene did enjoy those Snow Caps. The Fall of the House of Usher started, and somewhere near the end of the first reel, a hot flash pulsed through Charlene's body. When it subsided she sent Duane to the concession stand for a large Cherry Icee and a 3 Musketeers. He left as Vincent Price picked up a torch and headed for the basement, looking for the mysterious moaning noise. He returned to find Charlene holding her stomach, and making a noise not unlike the ones emanating from the Ushers' basement. "Duane, honey," she said, "we gotta go." Duane dropped the snacks, jumped into the Bonneville, and jogged the key. The temperamental car would not start. Duane ran around to the other cars, asking for help, but everyone else was intent on steaming up windows. Charlene yelling his name got Duane back to the Bonneville. She shakily told him that her contractions were coming quicker together. Evidently, she had been having labor pains throughout the first feature, but dismissed them as gas from the Texas Pete's Hot Sauce that dominated Duane's chicken recipe. Time had run out. Duane helped Charlene lie down in the front seat and raise her legs. A flashlight-armed usher noticed the commotion and summoned Benjy Clement, the Thunderbird's owner/operator. Benjy jogged at top speed, intent on stopping whatever perversion was occurring in row 8, space 8. He got there just in time to hear Charlene's loudest screams as she started pushing. Duane ordered Benjy to help Charlene sit up a bit. He did as he was told; amazingly enough with his eyes closed. All in all, it took less than half an hour for Duane and Charlene's son to be born. The last big push coincided with Vincent Price opening the coffin his sister was buried in, only to find it empty. Vincent Benjamin Daniel arrived in the world just in time to hear Price shriek, "Where is my sister? She's not here!!!" GO TO THE NEXT INSTALLMENT: The Lion Roars |
