The couple was leaving a movie theater in which they had just seen ”My Left Foot.” They stopped before getting to the street and began engaging in a heated if seemingly friendly argument.
”There`s no way,” said the man.
”You`re nuts,” said the woman.
”If Tom Cruise wins, I`ll stop going to movies,” said the man.
”Sure you will, sure,” said the woman.
”Well, you`re nuts,” said the man. ”Cruise over Lewis? No way.”
They observed us staring at them and, feeling like some Listening Tom, we offered a ”What about Morgan Freeman?”
”No chance,” they said in unison.
They introduced themselves. They were Sally and Howard Ernston and they told us that every year they bet on the Academy Awards.
”From the first year we were married, nine years ago,” said Howard.
They see all the films nominated for top honors and bet on the results.
”Bet what?” we asked.
”The one with the fewest winners has to do the shopping, cooking and cleaning for two months,” said Henry. ”I`ve got a two-year streak going.”
”But I`m still up, five to four,” said Sally. ”The awards make for a tense evening. But I recommend it for any married couple. It gets the juices flowing.”
”The 62d Annual Academy Awards” is on at 8 p.m. Monday on WLS-Ch. 7.
