The Curse of The Jade Scorpion
© James C. Hess
One day, walking a stretch of lonely highway, he happened upon a man on the shoulder of the road, beating a dead horse.
The traveler watched this for several minutes before inquiring as to what it was the man was doing.
The man paused in his efforts, glared at the traveler, and said, "Isn't it obvious?"
The traveler nodded, and continued on his way.
Several miles down the road the traveler once more encountered a man. Again, the man was on the side of the road. Again, he was beating a dead horse. Again, the traveler watched for several minutes before asking what the man was doing.
The second man, like the first, paused in his work, and looked at the traveler. "I'm beating a dead horse."
The traveler nodded in response, then asked if the man knew there was another man down the road, doing the same thing.
"He's a copycat," the second man said. "I did it first."
The traveler slowly nodded in response to this, and continued on his way.
Several miles later, once more he encountered a man. Like the first two the man was on the shoulder of the road. Like the first two men he was beating a dead horse.
For the third time this day the traveler watched for several minutes before speaking. For the third time this day he asked if the man was aware others were doing the same thing.
The third man stopped, wiped the sweat from his face and brow, stood, and yelled down the road, in the direction of the others, "Isn't there anyone with an original thought?"
The traveler couldn't help but snort in response to this. The third man turned on him, glaring, and demanded to know what the snort meant.
"Original thought," the traveler said. "Beating a dead horse is anything but original."
Just then the other two men arrived, and the three men proceeded to beat the traveler to nothing.
I wondered: If I point out that Woody Allen, is of late, beating a dead horse, implying he has not had an original thought for years, will he and his sycophants descend on me, and beat me?
What I say now is true: In the beginning Woody Allen was somewhat original--even though his material wasn't. But since his much-reported split with Mia for a younger woman he has not had anything original, and I wonder why.
