All Entries Tagged With: "Montauk"
FISH HOUSE DAYS
The following conversations took place while Toole was employed at Gossman’s Dock, Montauk, New York in 1972.
The cast was as follows: Jackie: Jacqueline Onassis;
Mick: Mick Jagger; Billy: Billy Joel; Carly: Carly Simon; Melvin: Melvin Toole
The scene opens early in the morning on a sunny day in July with a large crowd gathered at the entrance to the fish house. Some are there to spot a celebrity. Others are there simply to buy some fish.
Mick: How’s the flounder today?
Melvin: Quite good. We just hauled it in this morning. Probably the best catch we’ve had all week. I can let you have it for $8.99 a pound since we’re loaded with it.
Mick: Ducky. I’ll take three pounds. Got any steamers?
Melvin: Can’t you read the sign? No steamers.
Mick: Oh, yeah. Well give me some little necks then and a cup of Manhattan chowder.
Melvin: For here or to go?
Mick: Whatever…
Mick leaves with his fish meeting Carly on the way out the door.
Carly: Nice looking flounder.
Mick: Yeah and its on sale for $8.99 a pound
Carly: All right! (To Toole) I hear you’ve got some nice flounder.
Melvin: Who told you?
Carly: Why Mick Jagger. I ran into him on the way in.
Melvin: Oh. Yeah, and it’s as fresh as fresh can be. Caught it off Greenport. We just got it on the ice an hour ago.
Carly: I’ll take four pounds and maybe some steamers.
Melvin: No steamers (he motions toward the sign which reads: “No Steamers Today”.)
Carly: Oh, sorry. How’s the bluefish?
Melvin: It’s delicious. I had a few for breakfast on the way in from the Shagwong at dawn. Sushi quality, guaranteed.
Carly: I prefer it cooked. I’ll take a pound and a half.
Melvin: That will be $21 with the tax.
Carly: Thanks. See ya.
Now it’s Billy’s turn
Billy: Nice looking lobster. What’s the tariff?
Melvin: They’re $2.50 a pound. The nicest ones are about 2 to 3 pounds.
Billy: OK. Gimme three. Got any snapper?
Melvin: Tomorrow. The boys are out chasing it as we speak. How about some flounder?
Billy: Sure, why not. It looks good. Do you have any steamers?
Melvin: No (forgetting the sign this time) but I’ve got some nice cherrystones and some soft-shelled crab in from the Chesapeake.
Billy: What’s the best way to cook them?
Melvin: Steam them until they open up a little…About seven to eight minutes. Want some mussels to go with that?
Billy: Sure, why not, I’m rich.
Melvin: That comes to $42.59.
Billy: Here’s a fifty. Keep the change.
Melvin: Thanks. Now I can pay my rent.
Toole is ready for a break. He walks out onto the dock to catch a little sun. While doing so he sees one of his better customers stuck behind a gang of one-horse tourists and motions for her to come around through the employee entrance.
Jackie: Gee, I’ve never used an employee entrance before.
Melvin: Good morning, Mrs, Onassis. Are you here to buy fish or look at celebrities?
Jackie: What’s the difference?
Melvin: You’re asking me. What can I help you with?
Jackie: Aristotle is bring home a few business associates for dinner and I just don’t know what to cook.
Melvin: The last time I was on Crete everyone was chowing down on Red Mullet, Grouper and Squid.
Jackie: Got any Mackerel or Cod?
Melvin: (To himself: “Not very imaginative.”) Sure. We have both as well as some fresh-frozen striped bass.
Jackie: What does fresh-frozen mean?
Melvin: Too early to tell. Here’s the cod. It’s from out near Gardiner’s Island and is on sale today for $4.99 a pound. The Mackerel is only $3.99.
Jackie: Hmmmm. I guess I’ll take a pound of each and three lobsters.
Melvin: OK. Will there be anything else?
Jackie: You got any steamers?
– Kevin Haley
“It’s nothing more than a flesh wound…now back to your posts!”
– Confederate General Kashmir Horseshoe to his troops, after a Union cannon ball bounced off the side of his the head during the Battle of Meandering Thistle, May 1863.