I wonder why he’s taking her to a hotel. (It looks like a hotel to me.) I’m guess it might not be because of their excellent food, but I’m not sure where he’s going with this.
Tracy’s hands in the first panel look very awkward to me. Is it just me? The drawing of this strip is usually not just good, but excellent, but something seems a little off with Tracy’s hands.
Hmmm… pure conjecture here on why Oscar has brought Peggy specifically to a hotel restaurant. Could he be scheming to convince them to spend the night there for their “comfort and safety” but will actually secretly double back to the house with a plan to blow it up and use the “gas leak” as cover? He doesn’t know that it’s not a real gas leak and that Tracy and the team have been there and have evidence confirming it’s a ruse. Oscar may be viewing today’s events as a career-defining opportunity served up on a silver platter — if the “gas leak” ends up destroying the house, not only will his boss be able to purchase the property, he’ll also get it at a fraction of the previous price! But he wouldn’t realize this “silver platter’ is only a mirage made from hubris, and that after tonight’s dinner he could be setting himself up for 5-10 years of meals served on plastic trays from behind gray prison bars.
“Uh, Ms Bellum? Your home is filled with natural gas, remember? We don’t know the extent of the problem. The gas company will alert you when… Cheesecake?”
Oscar is as yet unaware that Aquarius is in big trouble. While a lawyer will dispute ownership of drugs discovered on the premises (“All kinds of troubled youth came and went at the commune. Looks like our trust was misplaced.”), Auntie is now under Oscar’s “care and guidance.” He may well book a room, stash Auntie there, and begin to withhold her meds. Gould sometimes had a criminal’s racket usurped by a more dangerous criminal. Oscar works for Mr. Bellum who will have his way—one way or another—with that industrial park. Cheesecake is expendable. Unpredictable once the nose candy wears off, she can either play nursemaid to Auntie, while urging her to sell, or find herself…nowhere at all.
After reading Ray Toler’s excellent summaries (yesterday) on who is where and the time line involved, and also Lawrence.s’s comment today, this occurred to me:
Cheesecake honestly believes there is a gas leak. She calls for private help because she is nervous about having authorities in the house because of the drugs in the basement. Oscar arrives and they all hustle out. OK. But completely leaving the property while the gas (as far as they know) continues to fill the house? Even if Cheesecake isn’t thinking that clearly, Auntie or Oscar should be thinking “If we don’t get professionals on the job, we’re going to lose that house in a big explosion!”
Maybe, as some here suggested, Oscar is a fast thinker, and sees an opportunity here to grab the property for his boss. But at some point soon, either Auntie or Cheesecake should be asking, “Oscar, what are we going to do to stop that gas leak?”
Just wondering if anyone else gets an error message that reads “this site is experiencing overwhelming activity right now and cannot respond”? I’ve gotten it the last couple of days. I find it hard to believe that GoComics is that popular. Probably their 20 year old server is having issues.
Although it could be a hotel to which Oscar has taken Auntie, I tend to favor the notion that it is some kind of retirement home/eldercare facility, which seems to fit better with his “they have an excellent menu” remark, which suggests a single dining room, whereas most large and/or fancy hotels sport several restaurants catering to different tastes and price ranges. He may be trying to sucker her into staying there long-term, making it easier for him to get rights to The 1312. Cheesecake seems justifiably perturbed at his ploy (panel 2).
Footnote to panel 1: yes, Tracy is rather a substandard rendering today; he has “girly” hands, small and delicate-looking, and a hands-on-hips pose to match. Nobody bats 1.000….
AnyFace over 3 years ago
Brian Premium Member over 3 years ago
Sam and Tracy seem puzzled by the deserted house – the one with the apparent gas leak.
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray over 3 years ago
Good morning™, replacement cafeteria workers !
Sam is in the mood for raw rutabagas. Is Oscar going to put on some schmooze with ooze ?
Neil Wick over 3 years ago
Good morning™, all!
I wonder why he’s taking her to a hotel. (It looks like a hotel to me.) I’m guess it might not be because of their excellent food, but I’m not sure where he’s going with this.
Tracy’s hands in the first panel look very awkward to me. Is it just me? The drawing of this strip is usually not just good, but excellent, but something seems a little off with Tracy’s hands.
DaleMcNamee over 3 years ago
Cheesecake doesn’t look happy or comfortable with Oscar in panel 2…
artsyguy65 over 3 years ago
Hmmm… pure conjecture here on why Oscar has brought Peggy specifically to a hotel restaurant. Could he be scheming to convince them to spend the night there for their “comfort and safety” but will actually secretly double back to the house with a plan to blow it up and use the “gas leak” as cover? He doesn’t know that it’s not a real gas leak and that Tracy and the team have been there and have evidence confirming it’s a ruse. Oscar may be viewing today’s events as a career-defining opportunity served up on a silver platter — if the “gas leak” ends up destroying the house, not only will his boss be able to purchase the property, he’ll also get it at a fraction of the previous price! But he wouldn’t realize this “silver platter’ is only a mirage made from hubris, and that after tonight’s dinner he could be setting himself up for 5-10 years of meals served on plastic trays from behind gray prison bars.
tripwire45 over 3 years ago
Cheesecake looks pretty unhappy in panel 2.
Durak Premium Member over 3 years ago
Fancy rehab clinic?
Knightman Premium Member over 3 years ago
Maybe Oscar is trying to show her that renting a room or suite from said hotel with meals is better for her???
Lawrence.S over 3 years ago
“Uh, Ms Bellum? Your home is filled with natural gas, remember? We don’t know the extent of the problem. The gas company will alert you when… Cheesecake?”
“Yes?”
“You called the gas company, didn’t you?”
“Er… No.”
“You didn’t call the gas company?!”
“It, ah, seemed like a good idea not to.”
Aladar30 Premium Member over 3 years ago
Oscar want to convince aunt Bellum to leave the comune ?
kantuck-nadie over 3 years ago
To be assured, I do NOT leave such a mess when I’m ran out of a building. Especially leaving tofu out. :)
Aside from that, Cheesecake is looking quite “delicious” in this strip. (giggles)
artheaded1 over 3 years ago
Oscar is the mastermind behind the drugs
Batster over 3 years ago
Bet their excellent menu doesn’t include tofu….
Pequod over 3 years ago
Oscar is as yet unaware that Aquarius is in big trouble. While a lawyer will dispute ownership of drugs discovered on the premises (“All kinds of troubled youth came and went at the commune. Looks like our trust was misplaced.”), Auntie is now under Oscar’s “care and guidance.” He may well book a room, stash Auntie there, and begin to withhold her meds. Gould sometimes had a criminal’s racket usurped by a more dangerous criminal. Oscar works for Mr. Bellum who will have his way—one way or another—with that industrial park. Cheesecake is expendable. Unpredictable once the nose candy wears off, she can either play nursemaid to Auntie, while urging her to sell, or find herself…nowhere at all.
MuddyUSA Premium Member over 3 years ago
Well, it is still going on and on and on and………………………….on!
buckman-j over 3 years ago
It’s just you Neil
Ken in Ohio over 3 years ago
After reading Ray Toler’s excellent summaries (yesterday) on who is where and the time line involved, and also Lawrence.s’s comment today, this occurred to me:
Cheesecake honestly believes there is a gas leak. She calls for private help because she is nervous about having authorities in the house because of the drugs in the basement. Oscar arrives and they all hustle out. OK. But completely leaving the property while the gas (as far as they know) continues to fill the house? Even if Cheesecake isn’t thinking that clearly, Auntie or Oscar should be thinking “If we don’t get professionals on the job, we’re going to lose that house in a big explosion!”
Maybe, as some here suggested, Oscar is a fast thinker, and sees an opportunity here to grab the property for his boss. But at some point soon, either Auntie or Cheesecake should be asking, “Oscar, what are we going to do to stop that gas leak?”
Another Take over 3 years ago
Just wondering if anyone else gets an error message that reads “this site is experiencing overwhelming activity right now and cannot respond”? I’ve gotten it the last couple of days. I find it hard to believe that GoComics is that popular. Probably their 20 year old server is having issues.
tcayer over 3 years ago
Yeah. Looks like everyone left in a hurry. Oh, RIGHT! The GAS leak! Why didn’t they call the fire department? Oh RIGHT! The illicit drug stash!
Another Take over 3 years ago
Tracy checks his reflection in the double oven glass…
1-DT: Do you think I’ve put on a few pounds, Sam? Be honest. sways hips left and right
SAM: You look as beautiful as the day I married you, honey. OH! Sorry. That’s just my automatic response to questions of that nature.
2-BIGG JR: We just made the complimentary breakfast here at the Happy Inn Express! Just don’t let on that we’re not really staying here.
AUNTIE BELLUM: I WANT TO GO TO THE SIAM! I WANT TO GO TO THE SIAM!
POWDER NOSE: Me too. We can get scrambled tofu and fakin strips there.
BIGG JR: But this where Bigg Bellum was going to force his sister to sell by threatening to roll her off the roof…oops. I’ve maybe said too much…
AUNTIE: Daddy Warbucks is always so happy to see me when I visit the Siam – judging from that gun in his pocket – if you catch my drift!!
POWDER: Ugh. Let’s go ahead and take her to the roof…
IvanB.Cohen over 3 years ago
Science probably has not progress to the point where fingerprints can be lifted off of vegetables. Might be a nice set on that container of tofu.
Eric S over 3 years ago
is it possibly… “Sarah.. Bellum” ?
Sisyphos over 3 years ago
Although it could be a hotel to which Oscar has taken Auntie, I tend to favor the notion that it is some kind of retirement home/eldercare facility, which seems to fit better with his “they have an excellent menu” remark, which suggests a single dining room, whereas most large and/or fancy hotels sport several restaurants catering to different tastes and price ranges. He may be trying to sucker her into staying there long-term, making it easier for him to get rights to The 1312. Cheesecake seems justifiably perturbed at his ploy (panel 2).
Footnote to panel 1: yes, Tracy is rather a substandard rendering today; he has “girly” hands, small and delicate-looking, and a hands-on-hips pose to match. Nobody bats 1.000….