Charlotte and the Starlet 3

by Dave Warner

  Table of Contents

  About the Author

  By the Same Author

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Acknowledgements

  Dave Warner is the author of six novels and five nonfiction books for adults. He originally gained national recognition as a musician and songwriter, with eight albums to his name, but more recently music has been secondary to Dave's career as a writer for television and feature films.

  www.davewarner.com.au

  www.charlotteandthestarlet.com

  Also by Dave Warner

  Charlotte and the Starlet

  Charlotte and the Starlet 2: A Friend in Need

  CHARLOTTE AND

  THE Starlet 3

  HOORAY FOR

  HOLLYWOOD

  DAVE WARNER

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity, including internet search engines or retailers, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including printing, photocopying (except under the statutory exceptions provisions of the Australian Copyright Act 1968), recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of Random House Australia. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author's and publisher's rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  Charlotte and the Starlet 3: Hooray for Hollywood

  ePub ISBN 9781864715583

  Kindle ISBN 9781864716702

  A Random House book

  Published by Random House Australia Pty Ltd

  Level 3, 100 Pacific Highway, North Sydney NSW 2060

  www.randomhouse.com.au

  First published by Random House in 2009

  Copyright © Dave Warner 2009

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity, including internet search engines or retailers, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying (except under the statutory exceptions provisions of the Australian Copyright Act 1968), recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of Random House Australia.

  Addresses for companies within the Random House Group can be found at

  www.randomhouse.com.au/offices

  National Library of Australia

  Cataloguing-in-Publication Entry

  Author: Warner, Dave, 1953–

  Title: Hooray for Hollywood / Dave Warner.

  ISBN: 978 1 741663 07 5 (pbk.)

  Series: Warner, Dave, 1953– Charlotte and the starlet 3

  Target audience: For primary school age.

  Subjects: School – Juvenile fiction.

  Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) – Juvenile fiction.

  Dewey Number: A823.3

  Cover design by saso content & design pty ltd

  Typeset by Midland Typesetters, Australia

  Printed and bound by Griffin Press, South Australia

  Random House Australia uses papers that are natural, renewable and recyclable products and made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The logging and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  To my incredibly loyal supporter, Kate Ingleton, whose very generous donation has helped all those kids and families at Bear Cottage. Hooray for Hollywood, and three cheers for Kate.

  Chapter 1

  For the whole last week Charlotte had been in a state of nervous anticipation. As she prepared for her first-ever trip outside Australia, it was like being in the thick of a muster, with everything whirling around crazily. She was with Leila in her stables and it was the night before they were due to leave. In all her thirteen years she had never before had to concern herself too much with what to pack but she was in a quandary now. She realised that she had no idea what to expect from this trip to Hollywood.

  Leila, a native of Los Angeles, was far more blasé. She chuckled.

  'Light cotton T-shirts, jeans and a gasmask. L.A. is always sunny, warm and laden with smog.'

  Charlotte didn't have a gasmask. Jeans and her one and only summer dress would have to do.

  Leila shifted on her four hooves, coughed in that long equine throat of hers and said, 'Aren't you forgetting something?'

  Her nose flicked a brush off the stable peg. It landed on Charlotte's bag.

  'They'll have lots of brushes for me to do your coat.'

  'Yes, but that's my favourite.'

  Charlotte grunted and packed the brush. It would be her job to groom and exercise Leila while they shot the movie. They would be staying at the house of Joel Gold, the producer. He had a stable and vast grounds where they could exercise. Leila had explained to Charlotte that, as producer, it was Mr Gold's job to make sure the film was made for the amount it was supposed to cost. The movie studio actually supplied the money but Mr Gold was the one who decided how it was spent. He oversaw everything from the script to the finished film.

  Leila observed, 'And, by the way, this time of the year the nights can get a little chilly by the pool unless you're right next to the Tahitian torches, so pack a cardigan. There are a few things I need you to get for my pals too.'

  'Like what?'

  'I want you to find Feathers some real Australian gumleaves for his cage.'

  Feathers was the talking parrot Leila had hung out with before winding up in Australia. 'And a snow dome for my pal, Paris.'

  'The branch I can do. Maybe I can buy a snow dome at the airport.'

  'Good. And a jar of fire ants, please.'

  That pulled Charlotte up. 'Fire ants?'

  'To liberally sprinkle over Sarah-Jane.'

  Sarah-Jane Sweeney was Leila's young co-star. The two had an intense rivalry.

  'No way. No fire ants.'

  'Come on, it's Hollywood. Everybody loves to see their co-star in pain,' Leila pleaded.

  'So I wonder what Sarah-Jane has in mind for you?' Charlotte fired back.

  Leila mused a moment before coming back strongly. 'You're absolutely right. I definitely need those fire ants!'

  'You're not going to get them. I'm off to bed.'

  'Fancy a game of hang the man first?'

  'We're leaving at the crack of dawn so I'm going to bed now. I'll see you in the morning.'

  'We're going to have fun, Charlie.'

  'I hope so.'

  Charlotte kissed Leila and headed outside. She snapped a small branch off a gum tree for Feathers and returned to her room where her roommate, Hannah, was waiting.

  'Remember to take a camera,' said Hannah. 'On the set of a Hollywood movie you'll probably get lots of opportunities to snap stars.'

  'I might if I had one.'

  'Take mine.'

  Charlotte tried to resist but Hannah was insistent. It inspired Charlotte to add her autograph book, just in case. It was still relatively empty. So far she only had entries from her father, another stockman, John Patcher, Mr Jedley, the chemist at Goondowi, and Hannah. As she and Miss Strudworth were staying at Mr Gold's,
Charlotte thought there might be an opportunity to get the autograph of a famous actor. Charlotte wasn't sure if Russ Raven or Frangelina De Fontaine lived near Mr Gold but her dad was a huge fan of both actors so she thought she should give it a shot.

  By the time she crammed a cardigan, riding boots and helmet in, as well as the gum leaves for Feathers, her backpack was looking like Leila's stomach after a pizza pig-out.

  Charlotte hardly slept she was so excited. Hannah was still fast asleep when Charlotte rose and dressed, grabbed her things and headed for the stable. Dawn was just breaking as she led a sleepy Leila to the horse float. Miss Strudworth was waiting at the car, bright-eyed.

  'Ready for our big adventure, Richards?'

  'I hope so.'

  'Me too. This is the future of Thornton Downs,' said Strudworth gravely. The fee from Leila's performance in the film would help Miss Strudworth pay off a law suit from the father of Lucinda Hayes-Warrington, one of the stuck-up princesses of the Junior Olympic Equestrian Squad to which Charlotte belonged. Lucinda had broken her collarbone and thanks to Miss Strudworth's inept nephew Chadwick, Thornton Downs had not been covered by insurance. Lucinda's father had claimed that her future had been threatened. Charlotte didn't quite see how. As far as she could tell Lucinda's future didn't extend beyond which dress to buy next.

  The car trip was long and it was afternoon by the time they reached the city. First they had to locate the freight area at the airport to unload Leila. She was not pleased to discover she wasn't travelling on the same plane as Charlotte and Miss Strudworth.

  'You have to travel in a special cargo plane,' Charlotte explained.

  'Why?'

  'Look at the size of you. They would have to take out too many seats.'

  'Mr Gold will pay.'

  Leila could be very stubborn, but Charlotte had a way around that – flattery.

  'You need special padding so that magnificent coat of yours doesn't get scratched.'

  That seemed to appease Leila.

  'Okay, but am I travelling first class cargo or coach cargo?'

  Charlotte was pretty sure there was no difference in cargo but she had been with Leila long enough to know it wasn't worth giving her the chance to complain.

  'First class, of course. Strudworth and I are both in economy.'

  'What's that got to do with anything? I'm the star. I'm the one that Joel Gold is prepared to pay a million bucks to have in his movie.'

  Charlotte could see through Leila's attitude. 'You're scared.'

  'Damn right I'm scared. Hollywood changes real quick. What if I'm not hip any more?'

  Charlotte draped her arms around Leila's neck. 'You'll still be my friend.'

  Leila calmed. 'Yeah. You'll be mine too . . .' she added, 'especially if you've got those fire ants.'

  'No fire ants. Sorry.'

  That was all they had time to say before the attendants came and loaded Leila on the cargo plane.

  It was another half hour before they parked and entered the airport terminal, which seemed as big as all of the cattle pens in Snake Hills put together. Charlotte's heavy backpack threatened to topple her but she trudged past the ticket counters of numerous airlines doggedly in pursuit of the long-striding Miss Strudworth. Strudworth pushed her own heavily laden trolley, with seeming ease, across the acres of gleaming linoleum, turning every thirty seconds or so to urge Charlotte to keep up.

  'Come on, Charlotte, once we check in we can relax.'

  Though their plane would not leave for an hour or so, they would arrive at Los Angeles Airport around the same time as Leila. Charlotte was feeling really tired now. They finally stopped in front of a counter.

  'Passport.' Strudworth flipped out her hand. Charlotte had kept the passport close to her heart. Both her father and Strudworth had warned her not to let it out of her sight. The butterflies in her stomach were building as she tried not to think too much about being in a plane high in the sky. Hannah had told her what to expect, giving a detailed run-down on how you operated the entertainment device in your seat. She also advised Charlotte to get to the toilet before the trays of food came out or she would be trapped. Charlotte was handing over the passport, allowing Miss Strudworth to give the airline clerk their details, when a familiar voice sounded behind her.

  'Ready for L.A., Charlotte?'

  Todd Greycroft stood there with a broad grin. She could hardly speak.

  'Todd?'

  She was thrilled he had come all the way here to see her off but confused too. Todd was in the boys Junior Olympic Equestrian Squad, which was located on the adjoining property to Thornton Downs. He should have been training or in school, not taking the day off.

  'Won't you get into trouble?'

  He smiled, showing white, even teeth. 'I'm riding in competition in San Diego. It's only a couple of hours drive from Los Angeles.'

  'Wow! How long has that been on the cards?'

  'A while now. I thought I'd keep it a surprise. The competition only goes for a week so we might be able to catch up in Los Angeles before I fly home.'

  Charlotte was excited by the idea of having another friend to hang out with in Los Angeles.

  'Unfortunately we're not on the same airline.' Todd had guessed what she was thinking.

  'Oh,' Charlotte felt a pang of disappointment.

  'But after a few hours you really just want to sleep anyway.'

  Todd was from a wealthy family and flying was second nature to him.

  Miss Strudworth turned from the counter and smiled at Todd.

  'Mr Greycroft, you are in the Del Mar competition, I believe?'

  'That's right.'

  'Good luck.'

  'They're all good riders. I'll need it.'

  Todd glanced over, saw his team leader gesturing to him and announced he had better be off. Charlotte told him where they were staying and Todd announced he would be in touch, then he left to join his team. Strudworth checked her watch.

  'I believe we have time for a hot chocolate before we board. Would you like that, Charlotte?'

  Charlotte did not have to be asked twice. She followed the lanky Strudworth, pleased she would have time to write her dad a card from the airport. He'd been even more excited than her that she had the opportunity of travelling overseas. Looking at Strudworth, Charlotte couldn't help feeling slightly guilty. For Charlotte, this trip was something of an adventure, but for Miss Strudworth it was everything. Under the agreement she had with Mr Gold, not a cent would be paid until Leila's role in the movie was complete. The possibility that something might go wrong sent a chill down Charlotte's spine but she shrugged it off quickly. Nothing would go wrong. Leila would arrive and do the movie, Miss Strudworth would be paid and they could all live happily ever after. And right now she would enjoy every sip of a thick, creamy, hot chocolate . . .

  . . . with four marshmallows. Leila woke from the dream in which she had been stretched out poolside at the Four Seasons Hotel, guest of the movie studio with unlimited spend on their credit account. It was that 'unlimited spend' that alerted her to it being a dream. The studios were never that generous. She blinked at her dark and noisy surrounds. It took her a moment to recollect she was in the cargo hold of a plane heading across the Pacific back to her homeland.

  The tingle of fear started again.

  It was crazy. She knew there was nobody in Hollywood who was a bigger draw than her . . . well, at the time she had been nag-napped by those bumbling criminals and somehow wound up in Australia, there had been nobody bigger. But like she'd told Charlotte, Hollywood moved a lot faster than a sushi-train. Apart from Clint Eastwood and Mike Myers, nobody stayed big in Hollywood for long. Mr Gold's last film with Sarah-Jane had been a flop and the studio who financed the film had not been happy. Leila liked to think the film had failed because she wasn't in it, but what if time had simply moved on? What if she'd become old news like The Nanny, pet rocks or those Japanese tama-watchemecallits that kids nurtured like children?

  Leila forced
herself to calm down. She had to get that negativity out of her head. Her friends, Charlotte and Miss Strudworth, were counting on her. Besides, it wasn't all bad. While she was on set she'd get a complimentary massage between takes. And the caterers did those delicious mini pizzas.

  Her eyes having grown accustomed to the dark, she realised she was in a padded stall but not alone in the hold. She could smell some foul feline that had peed in its cage. From her position she could see just far enough over the padded wall to spy three dogs in cages on the other side of the plane but her nose told her that she was also in the presence of other horses. She couldn't see them or make out what they were muttering in horse but she knew they were there.

  'Who are you guys?' she called out in Horswegian, which, to the other animals or human ears, sounded like a long whinny.

  A deep, resonant male voice came back.

  'I don't believe it. Leila?'

  'Warrior? Is that you?'

  It was a stupid question. Warrior, Todd Greycroft's competition mount, was a dark hunk of a stallion, and nobody but nobody had the pipes that boy did. Not that Leila would ever let him know it. He was conceited enough as it was. Leila and he had begun as enemies but when Leila had been trapped by some bad dudes logging illegally in a nature reserve and Warrior had done his bit to help with her rescue, a little two-way flirtation had been on the menu. Unfortunately ever since, the boy and girl JOES had been flat out training or doing schoolwork. Todd hadn't crossed paths with Charlotte much and therefore Warrior and Leila had seen little of one another. Warrior's mellifluous voice floated from the dark, allowing Leila to pinpoint his yellow eyes.

  'Yeah, it's me. You competing in San Diego too?'

  'I'm doing a movie. The old babe who runs Thornton Downs is being sued and they need me to earn some cash.'

  'Very altruistic of you.'

  She picked up a hint of cynicism in his voice.

  'Hey, I'm on the level,' she said, a little offended.

  'Good to hear it. I like the new Leila a lot more than the old, selfish, prima donna who couldn't even speak Horswegian.'