May 25, 2005
Week 5 - The Can - Part 3
Episode 3
“A ‘43 Le Coup!” Judge Sinarate repeats. “You can tell by the way the lip of the lid bends in instead of out… It’s one of the rarest disposal units of the last seven decades… They were rationing tin during the war… Only made a few hundred…”
“Um… Okay,” Rantz says.
The judge’s eyes glaze over. “The post-war models used to be quite common. Dumped a good number of ‘em into the back of a truck myself, in my time....” He begins to fondly rub the dented metal. “Those were the days... They don’t make ‘em like this anymore...”
Rantz looks at Liza, sitting on the bench beside him. She shrugs.
The judge looks down at the can. “This thing isn’t in such bad shape. A little paint, some polish, it’d be good as new...” He looks at Rantz and his face hardens. “This is a much more serious case than I realized. This can is unquestionably worthy of protected status. You could be charged with attempted destruction of an historical artifact!” His eyes narrow to twin slits. “Unless…”
He steps toward Rantz and whispers something in his ear.
Rantz turns to Liza and whispers to her. They exchange bemused glances. He turns his head back to the judge and nods slowly.
The judge grins and rushes back to his desk. “Case dismissed!” he shouts, banging his gavel.
Rantz and Liza stand up and walk toward the exit.
A bit perplexed, the bailiff picks up the can. “Hold on,” he calls to Rantz. “Don’t forget this thing…”
The judge leaps up. “Not so fast!” he says. He reaches for the can. “I’ll take that…”