All in all, Drew’s house oozed with hominess, a place where one could curl up on a couch or in a bed and be safe. This was the kind of home one had a family in with ideal spots to mark the children’s heights as they grew, a gleaming kitchen to make soups and stews that would warm one’s heart, and a yard aching for a swing set. Brian’s home, though grand, never had this feeling. No place she’d ever been did except those perfect couples in the movies or on TV.
Evidence of Drew’s morning lay around in various places. Some mail tossed on the table, a bowl in the sink, coffee still warm in the pot and a little note by the mugs with her name on it.
She glanced back at her star canine and with her chest tightening approached what had to be her eviction papers. Her hand trembled as she picked up the paper.
Erin –
Long time since I wrote you a note. The coffee is hot, help yourself. Also left you a vitamin if you want one. Please make sure you lock the door when you leave.
Isaac (Oops)
Drew
She ran her fingertips across his name and almost laughed at his mistake. However, the note didn’t indicate if she were to lock the door on her way out or lock the door and never return. The only thing in her favor was he didn’t ask for his key back.
Part of her wanted to stay here all day, change into casual clothes and play house. Maybe cook Drew dinner and open a bottle of wine while she waited for him to come home. Then, when he returned, they would eat, maybe watch a movie and go upstairs together.
Tears clouded her vision. Yesterday he made it clear he could never trust her. He even paused before giving her his email. She knew he wanted her, but he was smart enough to keep his distance. Last time she got close she destroyed him and it served her right.
Once helping herself to a cup of coffee and taking her vitamin, she sat down at the breakfast bar and prepared for her day. The last few days with Drew served as a sort of blinder to her life, but alone and most likely in need of finding a place to live right away, she had to face the rest of her life.
She set her bag down and pulled out her laptop, her list, the envelope of paperwork Brian kindly packed for her, and her phone.
Only two things graced her to-do list. Neither one she wanted to deal with, but she had no choice.
First, she needed to figure out how much money she had.
Second, she needed to work, a real job, not one endorsing a product line that didn’t exist and not an extra in a movie.
She opened the envelope with the paperwork.
Apparently today was a day for notes. The neat stack came topped with a letter from Brian.
Erin,
I hope you didn’t wait for weeks before opening this.
She stuck her tongue out at the sentence.
Enclosed you will find a spreadsheet of your bills, due dates and balances. For the most part everything has been set up on auto pay so you only have to keep track of your personal spending. To the best of my knowledge, I have balanced your checkbook. All your residual payments will go directly into your account as I will no longer be taking my percentage. A copy of all the necessary dissolution papers is included. You have made me a lot of money through the years, so I think it is best we separate completely.
She shrugged and glanced over at the spreadsheet and formal paperwork before continuing.
On a personal note, I know you may hate me now, but in time I think you will find it’s best we both moved on with our lives. Since we met, we have been in two different places in our lives, and we are out of intersections.
Brian
She pursed her lips and reread the last paragraph. They never loved each other, they were just there when she needed someone and he needed to feel young. The last few years they were more like roommates than anything else and even if she ended up in a hotel tonight, or sleeping in a booth at Wilson’s Bar, after being here, she could never go back to Brian’s. She didn’t even miss him, which told her everything.
Well, at least things were organized and automated. She simply needed to take a quick peek at her balance, though she never really had to do that before, and she found the check register, opening it up to the last entry.
Before deciding on an appropriate reaction to the number, she blinked, glanced over at Beaker and took a sip of her coffee.
Inhaling, she read the number again, praying somehow she didn’t understand the data.
Unfortunately, many, many moons ago when she and her mother lived in a dank Hollywood apartment, she was tasked with the job of making sure the rent was paid on their roach infested stink hole, especially during the times her mother went “out.” An old lady across the way took kindly to her and gave her a lesson on balancing a checkbook.
Once old enough to manage her own affairs, she vowed never to worry about money again. Brian and accountants and teams of people took care of these things and through the years she became slack and comfortable.
However, at the moment the shoes on her feet were worth more than the balance in her account.
They weren’t the most expensive shoes either.
Brian complained over and over again about the money she spent, told her to stop, but she knew the next role would take care of any debts she had and she would be back to normal.
She just didn’t realize things were this tight.
Sweat broke out over her body and she closed her eyes and the checkbook. With Brian and Logan both out of her finances, she would have much more coming in and thankfully, a couple of her television series were going strong in syndication.
Refusing to panic, she gulped the coffee down and decided to move on to the second item on her list…work.
She picked up her phone and found the casting director to the role she lost. Brian had fixed these little inconveniences before and the man had cast her numerous times. They were friends, as much as anyone was friends in this industry. Her plea would be even better coming from her personally, and she pressed the button to call him.
“Well, well, well if it isn’t Ms. Holland. Baby, I’m sorry I couldn’t cast you, you weren’t a good fit.” Carl Kline’s voice boomed through the phone.
In order to save her eardrum she put him on speaker. “Maybe you need to try me on again.”
He chuckled. “My closet is full.”
“I’m sure most of your items are out of season.” She shook her head at the stupid metaphors. “At least tell me why.”
“Baby, on this one, you were out of season. The producer decided he wanted the part to go to a lead who could look like she was attending college.”
A shudder ran through her. Brian usually found out the reasons for any rejections and managed to either not tell her or say it in such a way where it didn’t feel like acid was being poured on her body. Twice in the last few days her age had been mentioned. She wasn’t forty yet!
Again, she looked over at Beaker. Maybe she needed to learn how to catch in mid-air. “Do you have anything else?”
“Sweetie, is everything okay? These aren’t the kind of calls you make.”
“I’ve decided to go independent.” The back of her throat stung at the word.
“It’s been a while since you had a role.” His tone lowered, lost the Hollywood good ole boy swagger.
“I have some things coming up, a cameo in the Hollywood Stardust sequel and an endorsement deal.” Her forehead began to pound.
“Can I give you some advice?”
She stayed quiet, no doubt she would get the advice no matter if she wanted it or not.
“Reinvent yourself. You have been playing the same role for the last ten years. Not that you’re not good at it, but you have no breadth.”
His words fell on her like a boulder, flattening her to nothing.
“Also, you can’t be independent. You may as well go get a job as a waitress then.”
“Thanks for the tips.” She tried to sound upbeat, but her acting wasn’t good enough to fake it. Maybe she needed to consult one of the roles she pla
yed during the last ten years and figure out her stock reaction.
“I’ll call you if I have something. In the meantime, why don’t you call Rick Southern or Shelly Terry and get yourself represented.”
“Thanks.” The agents he suggested were for actors on their way out. She hung up.
Without even thinking, she got up and went to the refrigerator, opened it and spied a bar of chocolate. Drew’s favorite. Her favorite.
True tears heating her eyes, she kneeled down, allowing the cool radiating from the appliance to wash over her.
Last week she celebrated the 20th anniversary of one of the most beloved films of all time. She was the star. This week, she was a broke, worn out actress. Drew didn’t trust her, and he had every reason to doubt her. Look at the mess she made. No matter what, she couldn’t tell him what happened with her finances or her acting, or anything.
Everyone thought she wanted him because she couldn’t have him. He had to think the same and worse.
If anyone ever bothered asking her, she would tell them she wanted him because he was the first to ever love her, the first to listen to her, the first man to be her friend.
Her friend.
She shook her head. Maybe that’s where all the trouble started. They became friends. What she needed was a friend and he didn’t want that, and she knew it from the get go.
Hollywood Stardust filming had ended for the day and she was stuck. Both Ryder and Logan continued to flirt with her off set and both had asked her to meet them later. She really didn’t know what to do, because how could one choose between them?
In a small stroke of luck, or perfect timing, the leading men got detained and she bolted to a place where they would never find her, the shade of the trees that lined the mall they were using for a set.
She hid behind one and sat down with her knees pulled up to her chest, peeking over her shoulder.
Then she saw him and smiled.
Maybe Logan and Ryder didn’t possess the connection to find her, but Drew Fulton seemed to always know her whereabouts.
Still in the prosthetics they forced him to wear, he took the long way around the trees.
Right when she thought he was going to pass her, he spun on his heel and faced her. “Hiding out?”
Since he knew the answer, she held up her hand instead.
He took her offering, sat next to her and held up a finger telling her to wait.
The anxiety of Logan and Ryder disappeared as Drew pulled a dollar out of his pocket and proceeded to continue a series of intricate folds.
His hands worked with precision and every once in a while, he would lift his little craft, assess it and continue.
Enthralled with his work, she leaned up against him and hooked her arm in his.
At last, he finished and held his palm out, presenting her with a perfect little dollar daisy. “For you.”
“You’re magic.” She smiled her first unforced smile of the day, clapped and plucked the gift out of his hand.
“How do you figure?” He leaned back and scratched at the artificial nose they put on him.
“Well, only you can transform a dollar bill into a flower. Only you can bring Ryder to his knees using nothing but the power of your brain, and actually silence Logan.” Technically, he was supposed to wait for the makeup crew to come and properly pull those things off, but she knew he was horribly uncomfortable and couldn’t stand seeing him that way. She leaned up on her knees and carefully pried off the fake thing. “Also, only you can become unrecognizable with a few little pieces of rubber.”
He took off the glasses and rubbed his hand over his face. “I think making you smile is pretty magical.”
Her heart swelled. Dare she say only he said things like this to her and meant it? “I think that’s cause only you can stand me and want to know more about me than what color bra I’m wearing.”
His cheeks changed color, and he shrugged. “I just want you to be happy.”
Once more, she cuddled up to his side. “Well, right now I am happy. When I’m with you I can relax and I can tell you anything. See? You are magic.”
“I want those two to stop pressuring you already.” He groaned.
How did she tell him that part of her welcomed the pressure? The rest of her simply wanted to stay here and enjoy the comfort and safety that surrounded all things Drew. “Don’t worry about them.” Why did she feel as if she were cheating on him every time the other two were mentioned?
“That’s easy for you to say.” With a shake of his head, he looked up into the trees.
She had laid her head on his shoulder and he had patted the top of her head. Fine, maybe there were some things she didn’t tell him, but she couldn’t lose her friend. They had stayed silent together under the tree as the cool breeze of the evening had washed over them.
A cold nose nudged her hand and she looked into Beaker’s face. “He was my best friend.” She closed the refrigerator door and returned to the kitchen island and opened her wallet. Back then, she refused to admit she wanted him as more than a best friend.
She rooted around in her wallet until she found the little flower he made all those years ago and pressed the little piece of art to her chest.
Even after all she put him through, he still took her in the first night they were reunited. Wasn’t that the kind of man someone wanted to be with? Too bad she didn’t see that before.
No, he couldn’t know anything, and he couldn’t kick her out before they had their chance.
He couldn’t know, but she had to go to him anyway.
HOLLYWOOD STARBURST
FADE IN:
INT. INDIANAPOLIS– STEVEN’S PARENTS’ HOUSE, LIVING ROOM. DONE UP WITH ALL MODERN FURNISHING AND VERY HIGH END.
STEVEN, WILLIAM and CHARLES sit around the room. STEVEN and WILLIAM play a video game, CHARLES has several books sprawled out on the coffee table.
THE PHONE RINGS.
STEVEN tosses his controller aside, reaches behind him and grabs the phone.
STEVEN
What?
STEVEN’S GRANDMOTHER (O.S.)
(Filtered)
Don’t talk to me that way, use some manners.
STEVEN rolls his eyes, but he still smiles.
STEVEN
(sarcastic tone)
Hello, Granny.
CHARLES waves.
WILLIAM gives thumbs-up.
STEVEN
The guys say hi.
STEVEN’S GRANDMOTHER (O.S.)
(Filtered)
What about Roxy?
STEVEN forces himself off the floor and stands.
STEVEN
What about her? I told you, she stayed in California.
Both CHARLES and WILLIAM turn to STEVEN. STEVEN takes the phone and walks across the room.
STEVEN’S GRANDMOTHER (O.S.)
(Filtered)
Why is it that everyone thinks they know everything when clearly they know nothing?
STEVEN
(groans)
Okay, I’ll bite. What’s the riddle? Do you somehow know where Roxy is?
WILLIAM stands and goes to Steven’s side.
STEVEN shoos him away and turns his back to everyone.
STEVEN
Grandma.
STEVEN’S GRANDMOTHER (O.S.)
(Filtered)
She called us yesterday, took a bus out here. She’s been through it.
STEVEN
Is she all right?
WILLIAM stomps over.
WILLIAM
Is she all right? What’s going on?
STEVEN
Let me hear.
STEVEN elbows William away.
STEVEN’S GRANDMOTHER (O.S.)
(Filtered)
Well, by the tone in your voice, and in William’s, you both care, so I’ll tell you. She’s okay, exhausted and starving. She needs to feel as if she has a place.
STEVEN
Her place is back here with...with us.
S
TEVEN’S GRANDMOTHER (O.S.)
(Filtered)
Do you mean with you?
STEVEN
Is she with you?
STEVEN’S GRANDMOTHER (O.S.)
(Filtered-huffs)
You are so like your father. Yes, of course. She stayed the night. She’s going to stay with us for a bit because right now that is her place.
STEVEN
Does she have money? I’ll come and get her.
WILLIAM Grabs Steven’s shoulder.
WILLIAM
If anyone is going to get her I am.
STEVEN
She went to my family. I think that says it all.
WILLIAM
If she would have been in Maryland she would have been with my grandparents. Any port in a storm. I’m going to get her. We were together and I screwed up.
STEVEN holds phone away from his ear.
STEVEN
I need to fix your screw ups and therefore I’ll get her.
Limelight (Hollywood Stardust) Page 9