“You’re right,” says the man, getting a bit nervous now. Checking his watch again.

“Yep, too bad,” grins the second guy, who then turns and walks off toward the other side of the SUV. The bigger of the two shrugs as he digs in his front pocket for his keys.

“Well, good luck to ya. And next time buy American, for God’s sake!”

“Thanks. Yeah …”

The man thinks about saying something else to at least end the conversation on a high note but decides to cut his losses. He turns around and jogs back across open ground toward the Escort that is starting to pull out. He begins desperately waving his arms and manages to catch the eye of the woman with the fringe, but she frowns from her side window and turns away. A second later the Ford is nothing but taillights and exhaust. The man stops, breathing heavily, and puts his hands on his hips. An almost womanly gesture that looks strangely out of place with a flashing sign that advertises “Nude! Nude! Nude!” just behind his right shoulder. He takes another peek at his watch—a very respectable Bulova—and tries to decide on his next move. If he goes back into the club, he might be able to get someone to help him. Sure, that’s possible, at least an employee or a person like that. With a few hours still to go before last call, it’s iffy that he can talk a guest into coming outside with him, unless he hits it just right and the girls are on a break. No, the thing to do is try a staff member, he reasons. That’s his best bet.

The man starts back over to the entrance of the place when an older gentleman in an overcoat and driving cap wanders out, looking up at the night sky. He looks like an extra from one of those English movies that Walt Disney made back in the sixties. Live-action musicals. “Good evening!” the man says, starting with a friendly wave as he approaches him. A pearly-white and costly smile tossed in to back it up.

“It certainly is that, I must say! Look at those stars,” says the white-haired fellow—who must easily be in his eighties but has the poise and snap of a man fifteen years younger. “Quite glorious, a night like this one.”

“Yes, absolutely,” says the man, trying to keep up the sense of goodwill. “So clear when you get out here, away from the lights of the city.”

“Oh, yes. Plus it’s been nice these last few days, after the rain.”

“Right, true. That always helps.”

“Well, enjoy your evening. And there are some fine little missies in there, let me tell you, young man …”