by Ed Nelson
I looked everyone over as they boarded. There weren’t many people flying on a Sunday. Still the men all wore suits and ties like I did. There was only one woman passenger today. She and her husband were all dressed up. She had a lovely corsage on.
From listening to her short talk with the stewardess I learned she and her husband were on their way to Hawaii to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary. That was impressive, not many couples lived that long.
We buckled in and they gave the safety talk. They also informed the economy passengers they could buy two drinks during the flight. In first class I found out they were free and no limit. I’m not sure I understood the logic behind that. I would’ve given two free drinks in first and sold all you wanted in coach with no limits at all.
I found out during the flight why they should have limits in first class. The man, I won’t call him gentleman next to me kept pounding the drinks back. He had drunk four of the small glass miniatures of whiskey before we landed in St. Louis to fuel up and change some passengers.
After we left Saint Louis he had another. He decided that he was in love with our stewardess and grabbed her arm and pulled her onto his lap. I had been dozing as there was nothing to see out the window at the moment. The commotion brought me up. I took him by his ear and twisted while lifting. Since he was buckled in he couldn’t go anywhere. That must have smarted.
This gave the flight attendant a chance to get up. She went to the front cabin and returned with the Captain of the plane. He invited the man to move to a seat in the back of the aircraft, or he could keep his seat and explain his actions to the police when we landed. He went to the back of the plane and it was the last we saw of him.
The Captain thanked me for my actions and the stewardess was more profuse in her thanks. She wanted to know who I was as she knew my picture was taken as I boarded the aircraft. I explained that I had a minor role in an upcoming John Wayne movie. I was treated like a King for the rest of the flight.
It was eight hours in transit to California but with the time change I arrived at 5:30. There had been a little headwind to slow us down. Mr. Wyman met me at the gate. He held a little sign that had Jackson on it. After retrieving my bags he took me to my new apartment. He suggested that I change into casual clothes and pointed out where he lived with an invitation to dinner.
After changing I went over and met Mr. Wyman’s wife Janice. They seemed like very nice people. They were a little mismatched. He was taller and broader than me and looked as rugged as a mountain. She was a petite five foot two and looked like a little china doll. As dinner progressed I realized that the china doll talked like a china sailor. Still I liked both of them immediately.
Mr. Wyman explained he wasn’t my babysitter, but he was available to help me learn the ropes. I had the impression from my parents he was to be my babysitter. This could be interesting.
I started yawning in the middle of dinner so they invited me over for breakfast at six in the morning. I told them I may not be awake by then.
“Trust me, you will be awake,” said Mrs. Wyman.
I went back to my new apartment, unpacked enough to find my tooth brush and went to bed.
I was confused when I woke up. It was dark out but when I looked at my watch it read five o’clock. Then it hit me, the three hour time change. Because of the time difference I was awake very early.
Now Mr. Wyman’s comment last night made a lot of sense. He said I wouldn’t have to worry about oversleeping. Now I understood. It would probably take several days to turn my sleep around.
Since I was wide awake I got up. The kitchen had a coffee pot, but no coffee. I did my pushups and setups. Then put on clothes to go for a run. I also took some change in case I found a place open that sold coffee.
As I dressed and tried to wake up I looked around at my new living quarters. It was a two bedroom apartment. It was in excellent condition. I had worked on enough of our units with Dad to appreciate a house interior which was well maintained.
The brownish shag carpet which was wall to wall, in the new style, felt new. The walls were freshly painted all white. The only sign of repaired damage was where someone had used tooth paste to hide nail holes for pictures. The tooth paste shrinks after a while leaving small dents in the wall. There weren’t too many that I could see. This was normal for almost any type of rental unit.
The kitchen was open to the dining area which in turn was open to the living area. The kitchen appliances were new and all white. The stove looked like it ran on gas. The counter tops were a good grade of Formica. I opened the cabinets which were empty.
I would have to buy pots, pans, dishes and table ware. That made me think of towels and sheets and pillow cases and lions and tigers and Oh My! There was some serious shopping in my near future.
The furnishings were sparse in the rest of the apartment. The bedroom had a bed, end table with lamp and that was it. There’s an empty closet but no clothes hangers. At least there was a roll of toilet paper in the bathroom, and even it was getting down. I needed to start making a shopping list.
There was a small kitchen table with four chairs in the eating area. The living area had a pretty ratty looking sofa and one matching chair, which meant it was just as ratty. There was a small TV sitting on a table with rabbit ears. The ears had been wrapped in tin foil.
I’m so glad that I’ve the money to fix this place up. Even though I would only be here for about seven weeks I needed some basics. While thinking of it I checked the second bedroom out. Since it was totally empty I’m not certain it should be called a bedroom. I would buy a desk and chair, for the typewriter I needed to buy. Then there was the typing paper and ribbons and lions and tigers and Oh My! I had better start that list right now.
I dug a yellow legal pad out of my brief case to start my list. I went to the kitchen table since it was the only place I could write. I then had to retrieve the lamp from the bedroom so I would have enough light to read by. There was a small chandelier over the kitchen table. It would work well as soon as I bought light bulbs.
The apartment was actually pretty nice, I just needed the furnishings.
I had on shorts, a t-shirt and my running shoes. Making certain I had my wallet, house key and some change I went outside. It was still early so the sun wasn’t up. The area was lit up so I could see that the apartments were two stories built around an inner courtyard which had a swimming pool.
There were four buildings, one each side of the courtyard, but they weren’t connected. To go from the second floor of one apartment to the second floor of another building you would have to go down steps, walk to the next building and go up another set of steps. I’m not sure I liked that design.
I walked out between the two buildings trying to find my way out of the complex so I could run on the streets. I found myself in a parking lot. It wasn’t like any I had ever seen before. The parking spots were nose in, all around the inner perimeter of the parking lot. On the outside there were parking spaces with a roof over them.
There were no walls just a metal roof set on poles. It was kind of neat, no garage but the roof would keep debris like bird poop off your car. Behind the parking spaces there was a wall about eight feet tall so I had to find the opening to the street.
It was on the other side of the parking lot. There was no gate or guard or anything so I went on out to the street. There were small stores lining the block across the street from the apartments. One of them had lights on and appeared to be a diner. I would try that someday.
The sidewalks were ten feet or more wide, wider than anything I had ever seen in Bellefontaine. I started out on an easy run down my side of the street. Gradually picking up speed I went north for what felt like several miles. I crossed the street and made my way back. It felt good to be running. It was warm out, maybe the mid-seventies, which was a lot better than Ohio.
Chapter 20
I returned to the apartment, I had yet to start thinking of it as home, and showered
. I had brought my metal hairdryer so there was no chance I would catch my death. I think I was going to like this California weather! I was at the Wyman’s door at six as requested.
Janice and Dick Wyman were maybe in their early thirties. I’m a very poor judge of ages. They made an attractive couple. They made it very clear they were Dick and Janice not Mr. and Mrs. Wyman. Any Dick and Jane jokes were made at my own peril.
As we ate bacon and eggs along with coffee, Mr. Wyman told me what to expect for the day.
“The first day on set is always a real mess as things get organized. A cast meeting is first. There will be refreshments there so there is no chance of your starving to death.”
I think he told me that because I had practically inhaled my breakfast. After my morning workout and run I was hungry!
He chuckled when I explained my morning routine.
“We will have to run together. I also put in five miles this morning. Where did you run?”
“I went north for several miles and back.”
“Most of this area is safe. I would have been concerned if you told me you went south. I run on the school track around the block. They have a half mile oval, it is easier on the feet and there are no traffic concerns.”
“I will join you tomorrow if that is okay.”
“It is, I’m supposed to watch over you, but I’m not certain what all that means. I’ve never done this before. You don’t look like you will need a baby sitter if Janice and I go out in the evening.”
“Uh, can I select the sitter?”
Janice spoke up, “Absolutely not!”
“Just kidding,” I mumbled.
“Sure,” she said with a smile, “I was fifteen once.”
Dick moved the conversation forward.
“You will meet with your dialog coach, your tutors and your studio representative and stunt team.”
“I understand the tutors, what does a dialog coach, or a studio rep do, and why will I need a stunt team?”
“The dialog coach will work with you memorizing and delivering your lines. The studio rep will be your contact for any problems you may have, the stunt team will evaluate your need for stand in’s.”
“Dialog coaching is a relief. I have been concerned about my lines. I already have a question for the studio rep and I think I will be able to do most of my own stunts.”
“What is your question for the studio rep?” Dick asked.
“Would it be possible for me to get a hardship driver’s license here in California?”
“That question has already been raised and the studio is looking into it. I suspect the answer is yes, as you can imagine the studio has a lot of pull. Be sure to bring it up if your rep doesn’t. The stunt team will want to make sure you can ride a horse and that you know common sense procedures around large animals like cattle.”
“You don’t know much of my history do you Dick?”
“Not really, I was given the chance to pick up some extra money and grabbed it.”
“I’m the reigning National Champion Bull rider in the Junior Division.”
“That will make things a lot easier for all of us! From that is it safe to say you can really ride a horse? What about handling weapons?”
“Yeah I can do that,” I replied dryly. “You really need to catch up on my biography.”
“Rick save us some time and please answer the question.”
“Dick, I can ride a horse with no problem. I only fell off once as planned in another movie with John Wayne. As far as guns I’m an honorary Texas Ranger for helping capture a band of cattle rustlers and I have killed two men in a bank robbery. Is that enough of an answer?”
I didn’t like getting grilled, must be the teenager in me.
Dick looked at me for a minute as though he was deciding whether or not to believe me.
“Yep, that is more of an answer than I ever expected. I don’t think you would be stupid enough to lie about things like that.”
“You can check it out easy enough.”
“Please don’t be offended, but I will.”
“None taken, I understand you have to know what you are working with.”
Janice swatted at her husband, “I told you, you should have found out more about Rick before taking on the project.”
That lightened the mood which had taken a serious turn. I wonder where it would have gone if I had started talking about the FBI and Russian saboteurs.
“Janice, I need to go shopping, can you recommend somewhere?”
“There is a Kresge at the mall. They will have everything you need. By the way I need the sheets and pillow that were on your bed. They are just a loan until you buy what you need.”
“I know I have to buy quite a few things, I will just add those to my list. Are you available this evening?”
“Hmm, watch TV or go shopping. Yes, I’m available.”
I looked at Dick, “You are welcome to join us, and I will buy dinner.”
“That sounds like a deal.”
“One last question, Dad told me banking arrangements have been made for me.”
“We ended up with Wells Fargo. They have a branch around the corner.”
That was cool as I thought of stage coaches and the old west.
“Will I need to stop by before I get paid?”
“No, and that is another question! Now let’s head out to the studio.”
We got into his jeep, World War II surplus, and drove the ten minutes to the studio. Whenever movies were discussed I thought of Hollywood. The Warner Brothers studios were a hundred and ten acre compound in Burbank.
Mr. Wyman had a badge to let us past security. The first stop we made was at the studio security office. They had my name on a list and had a studio identity card waiting for me. I had to wear it on a lanyard around my neck when coming and going. I would leave it with my regular clothes when on the set.
After that we went to a small building which had a large meeting room. We weren’t the first to arrive, but were still a little early. There was a coffee pot set up and a display of donuts so we headed over there. I had decided that I would try to blend in and not be noticeable until I knew my way around.
The room was set up with tables and chairs forming a horseshoe. Dick picked out our seats. He chose ones closest to the refreshment table and the exit door.
“When the coffee runs through you can leave without a commotion, or if the meeting runs long you can escape for a while.”
I filed this strategy away and would be using it in the future.
As we settled in, Mr. Wayne came in, so I stood up again to shake his hand as he worked his way around the room. He seemed to know everyone and was very professional in his greetings. Except for me, he took one look at me and let out a roar.
“Welcome Pilgrim! I hope you brought bail money for everybody!” “
“So much for blending in,” I thought.
“I think I have enough unless you kill someone, then we might have to take out a loan or run for it.”
Mr. Wayne thought that was funny. Everyone else sort of chuckled. Since he was laughing they were laughing, but they didn’t get the joke.
I looked around for the other child actors. There weren’t any. I then realized four fresh faced young men in their twenties were the other child actors. I really was the kid on the set. I walked over to them with the intention of introducing myself, but they turned to ignore me.
About that time someone said, “Please take your seats.”
A gentleman in a three piece suit made an announcement.
“It is starting time so would everyone please take a seat.”
We all sat down, Mr. Wayne on one side of me, Mr. Wyman the other. Mr. Wayne leaned over to Dick.
“I see you are teaching him about being closest to the coffee pot and exit.”
Dick just winked back. I felt like I had just joined a club or something.
The man upfront introduced himself as Saul Goldman the producer of this fil
m. With him was Ronald Dodge the Director. I thought there would be a little speech about how this was going to be a great movie and things like that. Instead it was right to work, or at least that was the intention.
Mr. Goldman looked around and stated, “I see everyone is here but our second lead, Paul Grant. Does anyone know where he is?”
No one appeared to know anything. There was a whispered conference between the Producer and Director.
“We will wait one half hour more, he is probably held up in traffic.”
“Or he is still dead drunk,” Mr. Wayne murmured.
While we were waiting a man in a business suit came up and introduced himself as Don Pearson.
“I am your contact with the studio,” he began. “I understand you need a hardship driver’s license.”
“I do, there is no way for me to get around without bumming a ride from everyone.”
“Okay after we are done here you can run over to the DMV. It is all arranged, they just need your signature. Is there anything else you need right now?”
He was very brusk and I didn’t think he was really interested in me.
“Not at the moment, I will let you know if I do.”
He handed me his business card and started to turn away then stopped, ‘You can drive can’t you?”
“Yes I can.”
“Good that helps a lot,” as he turned and left.
“Welcome to our world kid,” said Dick Wyman.
“Yeah, it can get real weird at times,” added John Wayne.
Sitting there I thought, ‘you guys aren’t kidding about that, what is the weirdest is that I’m here.’
Everyone was up and milling about with coffee and donuts. It was obvious they knew or knew of each other from various movie projects. After the half hour the Producer called us to order again. This time it started right, the first order of the day was handing out scripts, then a shooting schedule.