Saturday Night at the Movies

The guys settle in to watch a favorite film.

Hutch looked up towards the countertop from checking the resources in the fridge he’d been peering into… yep, plenty of beer and chips – the staples of life. Sure, Hutch lived on his health food, but he’d never turn down an offer of a beer with a side of greasy chips…

“C’mon in, Starsk!” he shouted over his shoulder, answering the rap on his door. He stood up, knees creaking and made his way into the living room.

His partner and best friend, Starsky, had just closed the front door with his Adidas-clad foot, about the only body part that was free at the moment – his arms were full of all sorts of bags, filled with food, drink, who knows what else?

“Are you in there, Starsk?” Hutch asked, frowning, crossing his arms. All he could see was a mop of curly dark brown hair. No face. No neck. No shoulders, nor chest. Just hair and bags.

“Gimme’ a hand, wouldja’?” he heard a voice ask from behind the bags, to which Hutch answered with applause.

“I don’t know where to begin!” Hutch laughed as he clapped.

“Funny. VERY funny. C’mon, Hutch, I’m gonna’ drop somethin’!” Starsky whined.

“Okay, okay, take it easy.” Hutch sighed, grabbing one of the sacks just in time, just as Starsky was about to drop it.

“Hey, I gotta’ itch, scratch my nose, Hutch…” Starsky asked.

“No way, scratch your OWN nose!” Hutch retorted, shifting the bag he held.

“C’mon, Blintz, please?” Starsky whined again. “My hands are full! Please?

Buddy?” he turned his special patented look onto his partner – knowing he couldn’t say no to his best friend, Hutch simply rolled his eyes.

“Allright, jeez…” Hutch said disgustedly, as he reached to extend a digit to scratch the bridge of his friends’ nose.

“… lower, lower…” Starsky directed, staring cross-eyed at his partners’ finger. “No, higher, over more. Yeah, there, that’s got it!” Starsky closed his eyes and sighed happily, contented. “Thanks, Hutch.” he smiled broadly.

“Don’t mention it. Please. To AN-Y-ONE.” Hutch frowned, enunciating the last word.

“I SAID thanks…” Starsky said, sounding hurt as he balanced his bags precariously.

“Don’t ever say I didn’t do anything for you.” Hutch warned, pointing the “Hutchinson finger” at him.

Noting the hurt look in his friends’ eyes at his attitude, Hutch’s voice softened as a smile twitched at the corners of his mouth.

“What’re friends for, anyway…” he shrugged with a sigh. Starsky grinned back.

“What the hell you GOT in here, anyway?” Hutch asked, changing the subject, noting how heavy the sack was. “It weighs a ton!”

“Beer. Beer. And more beer.” Starsky grinned from around the remaining two sacks.

“This is ALL beer?!” Hutch asked, wide-eyed, grabbing yet another heavy bag from his friends’ arms. “What, you buy out the store?!”

“Hutch, you can never have too much beer.” Starsky stated, shaking his head as he followed Hutch into the kitchen to set the remaining bag on the counter.

“I don’t believe this…” Hutch chuckled, pulling six pack after six pack from the bags. “This’ll last us…” he stopped as he looked up with a sideways glance at his partner.

“All right, maybe the weekend if we pace ourselves. Moderation IS the key.” he finished, laughing. “My head hurts already…” he groaned.

Starsky smiled, patting Hutch on the back. “That’s my boy!” he said proudly, breaking open a bag of chips and helping himself to them. “So, has the game started yet?” he asked, anxiously, rubbing his greasy hands together briskly.

It was then that Hutch noticed Starsky’s attire, now free from the grocery bags that hid him. Along with his ever present too tight jeans and worn Adidas shoes, Starsky had on his all time favorite football jersey, with the big “26” on the front and a peeling “Starsky” on the back. He’d had that shirt ever since their academy days, and it looked like it. Anyone else would have tossed the stained, torn jersey out years ago, maybe making a dustrag out of it, but not his sentimental pal. He’d never give up on his most comfortable jersey, he’d always kept things dearest to him as close as possible to his heart, and Hutch smiled, knowing that one of those “things” Starsky treasured was he himself. He liked that feeling of being so special to his best friend. He just felt so bad that he’d deceived him…

“Um, Starsk?” Hutch stammered, playing with a can of beer in his hands.

“Yeah?” Starsky turned to face Hutch, his eyebrows raised in question.

“… have a beer!” Hutch said brightly, nervously handing his friend the can.

“Thanks, Hutch…” Starsky frowned. “You ‘kay? You seem a little… distant.”

Hutch put on his best innocent look and held out both hands as if to say “me?”

Starsky snapped his fingers. “You’ve ALREADY gotten into the beer!” he exclaimed, leaning over close to sniff Hutch’s breath. He frowned as Hutch leaned back.

“Nope. You don’t reek. Yet.”

“Ah, let’s go into the living room, buddy.” Hutch smiled again, trying to change the subject. “I’ll bring in some snacks, make yourself comfortable.”

“I always do.” Starsky grinned.

Leaning over the tv set, he called out to Hutch in the kitchen. “Hey, Blondie, want me to change the channel to the game?” he asked, sipping on the beer. We got some stupid movie on…”

“Leave it!” Hutch shouted, bounding into the living room with chips and a six pack in his hands.

Starsky squinted his eyes and peered at Hutch. “What’s wrong with you, Blintz?” he asked curiously. You invited me over to watch the game and now you want to watch some MOVIE?”

Poor Starsk, Hutch thought. He looked totally confused. Hutch sighed deeply, setting the snacks on the coffee table next to the angel statue and candle, playing nervously with the plant leaves that also sat there. He avoided Starsky’s stare as long as he could.

Clearing his throat, he scratched his head and gestured towards the tv set, taking the beer out of Starsky’s hand and setting it along with the other snacks on the table, just in case.

“Ah, okay. R-remember that movie I t-told you about a c-couple weeks ago?” he began, stuttering as he did when he was nervous.

“That ‘Fiddler’ thing?” Starsky asked, frowning.

“Yeah, yeah, ‘Fiddler On The Roof'” Hutch said brightly. “R-remember I t-told you about…”

“You TRICKED me!!!” Starsky suddenly shouted, angrily jabbing his finger into Hutch’s chest as he backed him up until Hutch fell down onto the sofa with a thud. Starsky glared down at him through dark blue eyes.

“You… you LIED to me, Hutch…” he sounded so hurt. Hutch felt terrible…

“No, no buddy, I…”

“Don’t ‘buddy’ me!” Starsky leaned over, his hands set on the back of the sofa on either side of Hutch’s shoulders, his face mere inches from his partners’.

“Starsk, I’m sorry, really. I didn’t lie to you, you know I DON’T lie to you. I… I misled you.” Hutch looked up, hopeful.

“Oh, that makes it SO much better…” Starsky frowned, sarcasm dripping in his voice, even closer now, close enough that their noses almost touched.

Hutch’s voice grew quiet. “I’m sorry, Starsk. Really I am. If you want to leave, I’ll understand…” he stared down at his folded hands.

There is was. The guilt card. And Hutch played it SO well…

Starsky pushed himself away and stood in front of Hutch, frowning angrily, hands on his hops. He sighed heavily, staring at Hutch’s bowed head and shook his own head, his jaw set tight.

How could he be mad at his best friend?

He couldn’t damn it. As much as he wanted to, he just couldn’t.

“Well, don’t just sit there. Hand me a beer.” Starsky growled, breaking the eerie silence in the room.

Hutch looked up sharply, a hopeful look on his face. “Starsk?” he whispered.

“Hand me a beer and shove over.” Starsky ordered, holding out his hand. “If I gotta’ sit through this… this ‘musical'” he nearly spit the word out as though it were a nasty taste in his mouth. “… I’m gonna’ need to get… numb.” – emphasis on the word “numb”…

A huge grin broke out on Hutch’s face as he quickly handed a can over to his friend who plopped down on the sofa next to Hutch, RIGHT next to Hutch.

“… and comfortable.” Starsky added, stretching out his legs onto the coffee table, trying to avoid Hutch’s precious plant as he crossed them at his ankles. He glanced sideways at his friend.

“And you try anything funny, buddy, I swear I’ll slug you.” he warned, pointing his finger sideways at his friend. But Hutch knew it was a hollow threat.

Hutch playfully punched Starsky’s shoulder. “Thanks for giving this a try, Starsk, you won’t regret it.”

Starsky took a long swig of the beer and eyed Hutch angrily. “I ALREADY regret it. So what’s this turkey about, anyway?” he asked with a sigh. But he’d tuned Hutch out as soon as he began to drone on about the movies’ plot, lying his head back on the sofa closing his eyes and drinking as much and as fast as he could. If he were lucky, if there WAS a God, he’d either fall asleep dead drunk during the movie, or the power would go out. He’d been looking forward to the football game all week, and here Hutch tricked him into coming over for a movie he’d been rambling on about for days. Something about a character in the movie that resembled Starsky that he’d wanted his partner to see. A character named…

“… Perchik.” Hutch finished with a smile, his timing perfect. “You’ll love it, Starsk, I promise.”

Shyly, he added, “It’s one of my favorite movies.” Starsky looked up wide-eyed. “THIS is one of your favorite movies?!” he asked, pointing at the set. Big bad cop Hutch liking a musical…

Hutch nodded, a bit embarrassed.

“Then, THIS I gotta’ see!” Starsky settled himself in with a handful of chips.

“Ssh, it’s starting!” Hutch said excitedly, settling back in the couch himself.

Starsky couldn’t help but grin at how excited his friend was. Maybe this movie had something to it after all…

“And it’s commercial free!” Hutch announced happily. Starsky’s jaw dropped. “No commercials?! When am I supposed to go to the john?”

“Don’t drink so much beer?” Hutch suggested with a shrug.

“What are you, a comedian or something?!” Starsky asked incredulously. Don’t drink so much beer? Might as well say don’t breathe…

The music began, the titles rolled, the only sound, the fiddler on the roof, who else? Before long, a stocky built man, a bearded peasant, came on screen and began to explain, as though speaking directly to each viewer, about his life in his Russian village called Anatevka. The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful, even though the village itself was obviously a poor, rundown area. But as Tevye, the village milkman, explained proudly, Anatevka was their home, everything that drove them on, everything they did in their lives, they did because of one word – tradition.

Before Starsky knew it, the next scene came on screen and it was Tevyes’ three grown daughters, singing about their future husbands being chosen for them by Yente, the village matchmaker. Starsky chuckled, realizing that Yente curiously reminded him somewhat of his grandmother, Nana Starsky, back in New York when he was growing up.

“My gram always liked to set people up.” he leaned over and whispered to Hutch as the girls sang “Matchmaker”.

“Was she good at it?” Hutch asked. Translation, did the couples stay together over the years?

“Worked for my ma and pop.” Starsky grinned proudly, tossing a handful of greasy chips into his mouth, wiping his hand absentmindedly on the pillow next to him on the sofa.

“Hey!” Hutch admonished. “That’s MY pillow you’re staining!”

But Starsky was busy staring at one of the daughters dancing and singing on the screen. “I like her, she’s pretty. Which one is she, Hodel?” he asked, pointing a greasy finger.

Hutch grinned, knowing what was coming in the film. “Funny you should say that…” he muttered under his breath.

Starsky turned to frown questiongly at Hutch, who shook his head and waved his attention back to the screen, stealing some chips from the bag in Starsky’s lap. “Get your own!” Starsky hissed.

“These ARE mine, mushmouth!” Hutch said, pulling the bag from Starsky’s greasy hands. “YOU get YOUR own!”

Starsky waited a beat. “Can I have some of your chips?” he asked meekly in a small voice. Hutch shook his head and sighed. “Here.” he volunteered, handing Starsky the bag back, slamming it into his chest. “Don’t say I never gave you anything.” Starsky suppressed a winning smile. “Thanks, Blondie.” Hutch grinned back, his attention on the television.

The scene had blended into Tevye, now in his barn, dancing in the loft, wondering what life would be like “If I Were A Rich Man”…

“Hey, Hutch…” Starsky asked quietly, as he could tell Hutch was really into the movie. “Ever wonder what it would be like to be rich?”

“Starsk,” Hutch sighed, sipping at his beer, his attention on the film. “I have my health, my home, career, family and friends, and most of all, my best friend. I AM a rich man.”

Starsky blushed and smiled warmly. He was speechless for probably the first time in his life.

“… and then I have YOU…” Hutch grinned, shrugging as he popped a handful of chips into his mouth, wiping HIS hands on Starsky’s jersey. “Now shut up and watch.”

Starsky shook his head, chuckling, and punched his friend on his shoulder.

“Police brutality!” Hutch called, wide-eyed, holding up both hands. “Hey, here comes the part!” he shouted, sitting up straight.

“Ssh.” Starsky admonished, his index finger pressed to his lips. “Shut up and watch.” he repeated, pointing towards the set.

Now Tevye was sitting in his milk cart in the village, other men around him as they talked about the upcoming Sabbath. Before he knew it, Hutch was staring at the character he swore up and down looked JUST like his best friend, the character of Perchik.

There were the same brown unruly curls, the same face, same build…

everything except the eyes. Whereas Starsky’s were deep blue, Perchiks’ were a dark, blazing brown. Other than that, Hutch could swear he was seeing double. Perchik even SOUNDED like his partner…

But Starsky couldn’t see the resemblance.

“Naw, I’m better looking than him.” he surmised, downing his beer and opening yet another, recrossing his legs on the coffee table. Pointing at the tv set, he shook his head. “How could you think he looks like me?”

Hutch did a double take, staring at Starsky with his mouth hanging open. “Are you serious?!” he asked a bit too loud, sitting on the edge of the sofa. “Open your eyes, Starsk, that guy is YOU!”

“Nah…” Starsky scrunched up his face, leaning over to look closer at the set. “You think?”

Hutch sighed heavily and fell back against the sofa once again, shaking his head. “No, I don’t think you look like him at ALL. I just wanted you to sit and watch this movie ’cause I had two hours of my life to kill…” Sarcasm dripped from his voice.

By this time, the scene had shifted to Tevyes’ family, along with Perchik and Motel, the young village tailor, in his home, spending the Sabbath as “Sabbath Prayer”, a beautiful, haunting, melodic song played, with voices building and harmonizing. Perchik had met Hodel and was instantly taken with her. Hutch smiled, knowing Starsk was watching closely. Leaning over, Starsky began to explain to Hutch the importance of Sabbath to his people, as Jews. Hutch listened intently, always curious to know more about Starsky’s faith, as Starsky didn’t speak much of it. His friend wasn’t a practicing Jew, but he did observe the Jewish holidays with reverence, and took pride in his people.

When they turned their attention back to the movie, Golde, Tevyes’ wife, was telling him about the match Yente had made for their oldest daughter, Tzeitel, to Lazar Wolf, the village butcher, a well-to-do man many years older than Tzeitel, who was quite unhappy upon hearing about the match. She and Motel, the tailor, had been in love most of their young lives and had long since pledged their love to each other from childhood.

“She won’t be happy.” Starsky frowned, shaking his head. “She doesn’t love Lazar Wolf, she loves Motel.” he explained the obvious in a quiet voice. Hutch turned a bit towards his friend and smiled. Starsky was really beginning to get into the story by now. Just as Hutch had hoped.

After Tevye went to Lazar Wolf to finalize plans for the marriage, over a bottle of vodka, they stumbled over to the village watering hold to drink a toast to the agreement. Before too long, both were quite drunk and the singing and dancing began. Starsky smiled, enjoying the music he’d heard growing up and stared wide-eyed at the amazing dancers as he explained “L’Chaim” – to life – to Hutch. Hutch never realized watching the film would turn into such a lesson in Starsky’s religious beliefs and Jewish background.

“Hey, Hutch!” Starsky said brightly.

“What?” Hutch asked, turning to his friend.

“L’Chaim!” Starsky grinned, holding his beer out, which Hutch promptly clicked with his own can.

“L’Chaim, partner.” he smiled back, chuckling.

Fast forward. Now, after having spoken with Tzeitel and Motel and realizing they were indeed meant for each other, Tevye had to come up with an honorable way to break the deal he’d made with Lazar Wolf. His daughters’ happiness was the most important thing to him. So he devised a plan, a dream, rather, a nightmare, which he described to Golde after waking them from a sound sleep with his screams. It would be just what Tevye needed to back out of the arrangement while saving face all around. If Grandmother Tzeitel had “mysteriously” come back from the dead to give her blessing to the marriage of her namesake granddaughter to Motel the tailor instead of Lazar Wolf, Golde would have no other choice than to accept it.

It was beginning to get dark outside Hutch’s place by now, the winds howling with the building of a storm in the distance, only serving to add to the fear slowly building in Starsky. The nightmare scene in the movie wasn’t helping him any, as he’d had more than his share of nightmares in his life, some indeed, involving long since deceased family members as was the case in the film. Hutch had to admit the scene was pretty gruesome, filmed in black and white with frighteningly real makeup and flowing ghostly outfits, complete with shallow graves, thunder and lightening flashing, twirling beds and screaming ghouls. The scary music was totally unnerving, completing the frightening scene.

Hutch could sense the change in Starsky hunkered down next to him on the sofa. Almost unnoticeably, Starsky moved closer to Hutch, edging over as he grabbed the pillow that had been sitting next to him and hugged it protectively to his chest, all the while his wide eyes not daring to leave the screen. Starsky’s knees were now pulled up to his chest, his Adidas resting on the edge of the coffee table.

Towards the end of the scene when the music had built to a screaming crescendo, Starsky suddenly jumped, lurching forward, a gasp escaping him as his foot made contact with and promptly knocked over the full can of beer he’d just opened. It spilled all over Hutch’s coffee table, soaking everything in sight. Starsky leapt to his feet to upright to can, but the damage had already been done, beer flowed everywhere. “Aw, shit!” Starsky shouted.

“Got it!” Hutch called over his shoulder, jumping up to grab some towels from the kitchen. Bending over to wipe up the spill, he eyed Starsky.

“Way to go, Gordo.” he admonished. “Thought I was the klutz…”

“Sorry, Hutch…” Starsky apologized sincerely, embarrassed and blushing a deep red as he helped clean up the mess. “I’m sorry…” Hutch could tell his friend truly felt bad from the tone of his voice.

“‘s okay, partner, no harm, no foul.” Hutch sighed, tossing the soaked towels back into the kitchen where they landed in the sink with a wet plop. Hutch sat down close to his friend on the sofa once again. “Don’t worry about it, buddy, accidents happen. I needed to water that plant anyway…” he shrugged.

Starsky smiled meekly. “Sorry,” he mouthed, looking up through his dark lashes.

Hutch leaned over, setting his hand on Starsky’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Scene’s over. It’s okay now.” he winked.

Starsky leaned over and momentarily rested his hand on Hutch’s arm. The frightening scene was behind them and all was forgiven.

They turned their attention back to the film. They were now at the scene where the third daughter, Chava, met the forbidden Russian, Fyedka, who would come to be her husband in the movie, against Tevyes’ wishes. Starsky proceeded to explain to Hutch WHY the marriage wouldn’t work, but deep down Starsky was an old romantic, despite his gruff exterior, and hoped, despite their religious and ethnic difference, that their love would be true. “What a softie…” Hutch thought to himself as he shook his head.

Ah, now came the most beautiful scene of the film. The wedding between Tzeitel and Motel. Hutch carefully eyed his friends’ reaction to this scene, as Starsky was by now concentrating hard, frowning and chewing thoughtfully on his lip.

“Hey, I KNOW this song!” Starsky said brightly as “Sunrise Sunset” began. Hutch frowned as he noticed Starsky’s eyes now shining – were those tears? Hutch thought to himself. “Couldn’t be… could it?”

“I LIKE this song.” Starsky whispered, leaning over to his friend, his eyes never leaving the tv set as he hummed along to the familiar tune. Slowly, he began to explain bits and pieces to Hutch about Jewish weddings, the meaning of such things as the Chuppah, the wedding canopy, symbolizing the home the couple will share, all the way through to the breaking of the Kiddush cup, to remind them of the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem 2000 years earlier. The breaking of the glass signifies the end of the ceremony, a time for celebration to begin. Hutch was fascinated by his friends’ unending knowledge. Starsky never ceased to amaze him…

“Hey, that guy sings pretty good!” Starsky grinned, as Perchik sang his part in the song along with Hodel, the women he’d falled in love with as they stood and witnessed the marriage…

“They look so natural together, Just like two newlyweds should be, Is there a canopy in store for me?”

Hutch was surprised at how sad Starsky seemed to be, watching the scene. Weddings were meant to be happy occasions, but Starsky was near tears. Was he even more sentimental than Hutch even realized, all these years? Hutch thought he knew everything there was to know about his partner and best friend…

After the wedding scene ended, the reception began, complete with music, dancers, happy laughter and a lot of drinking and toasting to the newly married couple. Starsky grinned happily, the change in him between the ceremony and the reception like night and day, quite obvious to Hutch, who sighed heavily. For a moment there, during the wedding scene, Hutch was afraid Starsky would begin to breakdown and cry. But now, during the reception scene, Starsky had brightened up, even leaning over to Hutch to comment about the bottle dancers, men who could dance amazingly well with full, opened bottles of wine on the hats on their heads without dropping the bottles or spilling any of the wine. It brought back memories of some Jewish weddings Starsky had attended as a youngster back in New York.

Starsky really perked up at the part in the film where Perchik asked Hodel to dance, a move that was unheard of – a man dancing with a woman!

“He’s got guts, that’s for sure.” Starsky muttered, finishing off his beer.

“And you say he’s nothing like you…” Hutch asked, his eyebrows raised.

“Ssh!” Starsky quieted him back, a finger to his lips. “The movie.”

“Oh, yeah.” Hutch mumbled sarcastically as he rolled his eyes.

But just as Starsky sshed him, the scene once again changed, the happy reception suddenly turning to disaster when everyone there realized this was the time the Russian army had chosen to make their move, to bring the peasants back to the harsh reality of the inevitable revolution that was just around the corner in their lives. Soldiers burst in on horseback, destroying everything at the wedding, overturning tables of food, breaking glassware, tearing linens, starting everything afire in the building that spread rapidly.

Starsky’s mouth dropped open – this was definitely something he wasn’t expecting to happen in the movie and it caught him totally off guard. Gasping aloud, he once again reached for the comfort of the pillow off to the side, holding it close to his chest. He held his breath as he watched the devastation on screen.

Starsky very nearly jumped off the sofa when the part of the film came on where Perchik boldly tried to pull one of the soldiers off his horse to fight him, and was knocked out for his efforts, being hit in the head with one of the wedding gifts, a large, heavy candlestick. Starsky’s eyes were large and smouldering dark when he saw that happen. Hutch cringed inwardly at the same scene – the character of Perchik suddenly looked TOO much like his partner, and seeing him go down so hard like that bothered Hutch terribly, as though it had happened to Starsky himself. His stomach churned. It hit too close to home for Hutch’s comfort. Hutch swallowed hard and absentmindedly moved closer to his friend on the sofa.

But Starsky smiled wide with Hodel, again breaking all the rules of the times, rushed to kneel next to Perchik to hold and protect him from the soldiers still on horseback, hovering threateningly over him by covering him with her own body, against the wishes of her family.

“That’a girl,” Starsky muttered proudly, a wide grin on his face.

Hutch snickered at the comment.

Suddenly Starsky’s eyes turned dark again and the grin vanished from his face replaced by an angry frown. “I can’t believe they did things like that to my people, just because of who they were… their beliefs…” he whispered angrily to no one in particular as he lie his head back on the sofa, wearily.

Hutch turned to face his friend. “I know, buddy…” he whispered back, his hand now on Starsky’s shoulder. “I know.”

Starsky looked up momentarily, blushing at Hutch. “Sorry,” he apologized for not keeping his emotions in check. It was as though he forgot he wasn’t alone…

“No need.” Hutch shook his head, squeezing Starsky’s shoulder. “You’ve got a good heart, babe.” he added softly.

“I’m proud of my people and who I am because of them.” Starsky shrugged as a way of an explanation as he scratched his nose absentmindedly.

Hutch smiled, turning his attention back to the movie. His Starsky…

It was now months later in the film, at the point where Perchik tells Tevye he’s going back to Kiev to help others resist the government as best he could. He informed Tevye that he intended to send for Hodel and marry her; he didn’t ASK Tevye, he TOLD him, which didn’t exactly endear himself to his future father-in-law, but Tevye was fascinated by this rebel. He actually liked Perchik and told Golde so when he worked up the courage to tell his wife about the upcoming marriage that he gave his blessing to. Unfortunately, Golde wasn’t quite as accepting of the situation, she saw Perchik as a troublemaker who couldn’t possibly provide for her daughter. But if Tevye gave his blessing… and they WERE in love…

Love. Tevyes’ song, his question to Golde, “Do You Love Me?” now played in the movie, Tevye asking his wife if, after 25 years together, she LOVED him.

Theirs, as many others at that time, was an arranged marriage, meeting for the first time on their wedding day. Starsky’s eyes misted over as the song played.

“Reminds me of my ma and pop.” he leaned over and told Hutch quietly. “They practically met for the first time on their wedding day, themselves.”

“Yeah? And I’ll bet they loved each other until the day…” Hutch began, then caught himself before he said anymore. Damn, he berated himself. Don’t bring up Starsky’s dad, not now, not during this film of all times…

“‘s okay, Blintz.” Starsky smiled warmly, sighing as he patted Hutch’s hand as if reading his partners’ mind. “They loved each other until the day pop was killed.” he said the words Hutch couldn’t bring himself to say. “And ma still loves pop to this day, prob’ly even more than ever.” Starsky’s eyes glistened with the thought.

Hutch never realized the feelings this movie would bring out in his best friend, all he’d ever meant to do was to prove to Starsky how much Perchik and he looked alike. But instead, feelings rooted deep within Starsky all his life were making their way to the surface. Some good, his feelings of pride, and some not so good, the feelings of betrayal and injustice of his ancestors. Hutch sighed deeply, he hoped he hadn’t started something he would wish he hadn’t…

But Hutch didn’t have time to worry about that right now, as the movie was moving along to the next scene, truly one of the saddest scenes in the film. Tevye and Hodel were at the train stop out on the frozen fields of Anatevka in winter. Hodel was leaving for Kiev to marry Perchik, who unfortunately had since been arrested for resisting the government, but she’d marry him and set up a home there, while waiting for him to eventually be released from prison. Both Tevye and Hodel realized that she may never see her father or family ever again as she sang the haunting song, “Far From The Home I Love”.

Hutch felt the couch cushion move slightly next to him as Starsky crossed his legs yoga style on the sofa, the pillow against his chest. Glancing over, he could see his best friends’ shoulders slumped over as they shook almost imperceptively. Was Starsky crying? Hutch didn’t want to embarrass his sentimental friend by saying anything, but he knew that one of the saddest things that could ever happen in Starsky’s life was the chance of someone leaving his life forever, and not necessarily by death. Just knowing the special person was somewhere in the world, but he would most likely never see them again in his lifetime was SO heartbreaking to Starsky…

Hutch leaned across to gently give the back of Starsky’s neck a tender squeeze, purposely keeping his eyes on the screen. Starsky was trembling under his touch. Hutch glanced down at Starsky’s hands, clenching the pillow in his lap with a death grip.

Hutch looked up to see Chava, the youngest sister, begging her father to let her marry Fyedka, the man she loved. But Tevye refused… doing so would go against his faith and everything he’d believed in. Tevye turned her away, disowning her, his heart breaking at the prospect of losing yet another daughter so soon after Hodel…

“How could he do that to his own daughter?” Starsky whispered in a trembling voice to no one in particular. Hutch squeezed Starsky’s neck even tighter, giving it a little rub for good measure. “Starsk…” he began in a quiet voice, turning to frown at his partner. Hutch was really beginning to think this whole movie was not such a good idea after all…

They were now coming to the end of the film. Hutch couldn’t believe over two hours had already passed by. Two hours, and so far Starsky had been totally interested and intrigued by the movie, running the gamet of emotions.

The Constable had come to the villagers to inform them of the forced departure of the village of Anatevka, the only place they had known as their home. In a daze, all the villagers began to pack. All the people, the friends they’d ever known their whole lives would be parting ways, many destined to never see each other again. It was arguably the saddest scene in the movie, people leaving people as close as family, knowing they’d never see each other, ever again.

As the parting friends began to sing the sorrowful song “Anatevka”, Starsky gasped audibly once again, causing Hutch to turn sharply to see if his friend was all right. Tears were now rolling down Starsky’s face as he drew in a deep, shuddering breath. “Starsk? You ‘kay?” Hutch whispered. “It’s almost over.”

“Hutch,” Starsky began, gesturing at the tv. “That’s the saddest thing… these people are leaving each other, they’ll never see each other again…” his sniffles turned into hiccups. “It’d be like you and I, never…” his voice drifted off.

“Ssh, I know, buddy, I know.” Hutch soothed, knowing how traumatic the thought was to his friend. Hutch knew how he himself would feel, being forced to leave Starsk, and even Dobey and Huggy, knowing his hands were tied and he would never live to see them again. His heart broke at the very thought.

Hutch offered Starsky the shirt sleeve on his forearm in front of his friends’ face.

“What are you doing?” Starsky frowned, hiccupping.

“Wipe your face…” Hutch smiled warmly.

“Goof…” Starsky grinned through his tears as he pushed Hutch’s arm away and wiped his tears with the back of his own hand.

Their eyes met, Starsky’s red and filled with unshed tears, and Hutch’s hurting at being the cause of even a small amount of anguish in his friend by tricking him into watching the movie.

“It’s okay, buddy,” Hutch whispered with a wink.

“I know,” Starsky sighed in return. Credits now rolled up the screen, various bits of music from the soundtrack playing in the background.

“You’re right, Hutch. It WAS a good movie…” Starsky conceded with a shrug. “Sad, though. Sorry I lost it there…” he smiled sheepishly, his face turning red as he hung his head, embarrassed, and again wiped his face. “Some big bad cop I am, huh?”

Hutch merely leaned over, smiling warmly, and pulled his best friend into a bone-crushing hug. “I wouldn’t want you any other way, partner. You and your big heart.” Starsky tossed the pillow aside and grasped Hutch around his neck.

“Ya’ big lug…” Starsky chuckled. “Makin’ a soapy scene…”

“Sorry I tricked you into watching the movie.” Hutch apologized, pulling back. “But you gotta’ admit, you and Perchik…”

Starsky laughed and shook his head. “Okay, Blintz, I give. Me and Perchik. Twins.” he added, holding his left hand up, his index finger and middle finger pressed tightly together.

Hutch beamed. “Told ‘ja.” he announced proudly, standing up to stretch and pulled Starsky up with him. Starsky yawned and consulted his watch.

“I’d better haul ass, it’s late and I’m beat.” he yawned again. “Thanks for tonight, Blondie.” he said, sincerely, putting Hutch at ease. Hutch was worried his friend would still be angry with him for deceiving him.

Together they gathered up the mess they had made of beer cans, empty chip bags and other garbage, depositing it in the kitchen before Starsky headed for the door, drawing his car keys from his jean pocket. As he reached for the doorknob, Hutch shouted after him.

“Hey, Starsk!” Hutch called, snapping his fingers. “Wait up, I almost forgot, I have something for you.” With that, he disappeared. Starsky leaned against the door, crossing his legs at the ankles and waited. “You got something for me?” he asked curiously. It wasn’t unusual for the pair to occasionally give each other gifts for no special reason, Starsky just wasn’t expecting anything.

Hutch reentered the room from his greenhouse holding a tiny little green plant in his hands.

“I was at the nursery earlier today to pick up some plant food and since I knew you were coming over tonight to watch the movie…” At this point, Starsky raised his eyebrow at Hutch as if to say, “how could you be certain I’d stay once I realized I was suckered?” Hutch went on, ignoring “the look”…

“I saw this little beauty and knew I had to get it for you. It’s a wandering jew plant.” he announced with a grin, handing it to his friend. “I thought it looked like it needed a good home.” he shrugged, hands on his hips.

“Aw, thanks, Hutch!” Starsky said softly, gently fingering the leaves. “A wandering jew, just like me!” Hutch laughed and reached out to squeeze Starsky’s arm. “I hope you’ll be very happy together, wandering through life.”

“Thanks, buddy, I’ll take Anna home right now, I know JUST the right spot for her.”

“Anna?” Hutch asked curiously, frowning as he walked his friend to the door.

“Anatevka!” Starsky announced proudly, with a typical Starsky grin, holding the plant out in front of him.

And with that Starsky turned and left Hutch’s place, running out into the rain, waving his free hand behind his head and holding Anna close to his chest to protect her from the rain. “Hey, my place tomorrow night!” he invited to Hutch over his shoulder. “There’s a movie on called ‘Magnum Force’ that I want you to see. There’s a blond cop in there that looks JUST like you!”

Hutch laughed heartily, shaking his head. What would he do without his best friend in his life? “Okay, it’s a date. Your place tomorrow, PERCHIK.” he called after his friend.

Hutch could hear Starsky whistling a song as he made his way to the car. What was that, he wondered with a frown standing in the doorway. It was a song from the movie…

“Hey Hutch, Mazeltov!” Starsky turned and smiled, holding up the plant as he headed for the Torino.

“Mazeltov to you, too, Starsk.” Hutch smiled, shaking his head. “Careful going home…”

Hutch could hear the sweet sound of Starsky’s humming as he disappeared into the night. He sighed, closing the door. With his own Perchik in his life, Hutch was truly a rich man after all…

THE END