“So, then that means you had to have been in a few movies, or at least a few TV shows?” another journalist asked as Julienne looked Jose straight in the eyes.
Jose looked at the microphone, and then looked at the video camera that was facing him, it was like the camera was a gun and Jose’s mouth was the target. He knew hundreds of thousands of people were watching his face and mouth. So, he said the first thing that came to his lost mind. “Yes, I was in a number of little shows, that is, throughout my childhood. I have acted in a number of plays and movies.” While Jose said that, he thought of Sugar Valley and how he really did act out a number of things. So, to him, he really wasn’t lying, but to the actuality of Hollywood, he was.
Julienne pulled Jose to the entrance of the building, saying, “I’m sorry, we really must be getting inside. The dinner is going to start very soon.”
They fought their way to the entrance, feeling microphones pressing against their backs, flashes of light, from the cameras, creating heat on their necks, and people on top of people, screaming out Julienne’s name, smacking autograph books across their faces. But then they entered it, seeing the building full of stars, Jose said, “I can’t believe you did that.”
“You see, I told you I would help you out here. Plan one is over with, now we go to plan two,” she spoke while showing her invitation to the manager of the building.
“What’s plan two?” Jose asked as he looked up at the dining room and saw paintings on the ceiling and on the walls.
They passed by the man, and entered into a room full of lights, paintings that hung in different directions on the walls, and chandeliers that covered all ends of the ceiling. It was a masterpiece, the way the carpet design formed in a circle, getting smaller and smaller as it reached the center of the room; it was enough to make a person dizzy. And on top of that, tables, dressed in white lace, filled with silverware and dishes that formed perfectly around each one, like a specific design that was the same on every table. The chairs were like roses, red velvet that made up the seats and red backings, they swirled up in a design of a flower made out of red oak. Jose could smell the aroma of perfume, a very elite and overpowering perfume, which was about to make you hate it, but you didn’t. The labyrinth of riches, fame, and success gathered around this gigantic hall, draped in fancy apparel, and holding wine glasses that were filled with best, red glowing wine he had ever seen. “What’s plan two?” he asked again.
Julienne glanced down at her invitation, seeing “Table 45” imprinted on it, answering, “You’ll see very soon. Just wait till they start serving the first meal.”
“I didn’t see Darell yet, I wonder if he showed up for this, do you think he did?” Jose’s question sounded phony but caring at the same time; he was hoping, in actuality, that Darell didn’t show up at all.
“Are you kidding me? Of course he showed up. After all, he is the star of the film, and this dinner is for that film,” she replied, spotting Table 45. They walked slowly toward it.
Jose followed Julienne’s footsteps, knowing that he didn’t fit in this room just yet; he wanted her to lead, just as he wanted her to guide his career along. As they walked through the dancing and talking silhouettes of fame, Jose questioned, “Who are we sitting next to?”
“You’ll see, I want you to be surprised.”
Julienne, with her own personal plan, made Jose believe that she was here for him. But really, she was here for herself. Nevertheless, Jose was too gullible, too intrigued by this amazement that a movie star found interest in him and would guide him to her heights. So, he trusted her, like a chicken on a farm trusting the farmer with an axe.
“Alright, just make sure I’m not too surprised, Julienne.”
She sat down at her seat while he moseyed his eyes throughout the table, looking at each person, figuring out if he saw them on film, and where he saw them.
As Jose sat down, Julienne noticed a person she had much interest in as well, sitting right beside her, talking to another. So, she said with a very sexy voice, “Hello, Dennis.”
“Why hello, Miss Wells. How are you this evening?” Dennis asked in a surprised, but happy manner, kissing her hand, and staring at her devilish eyes.
“I’m fine. I’d like you to meet a close friend of mine, he’s an actor,” Julienne explained, turning toward Jose, who sat on the other side of her, and watched as he looked at them both. “This is Jose Rodrigo, he’s friends with Darell O’Conner,” she added before Jose stuck his hand out toward Dennis. “Jose, this is Dennis Schultz, he’s a director. His brother is a director also; his name is Henry Schultz.”
Dennis questioned in an intrigued way, “Really, you know Darell?”
“Yeah, he’s my best friend.” Jose’s voice was medium, remembering how envious he was toward Darell.
Dennis sipped his coffee, and spoke, “That’s right, he mentioned you a few times. But he always mentioned the other one, his name is Damen.”
“Yeah, Damen’s are other good friend, but I’m much closer to Darell. I taught him all his acting moves.” Jose realized he was lying to him and himself, trying to make his own character look good and denying the truth that would make Damen look great; jealousy, envy, and deceit was on his mind, but for the wrong reason.
“Yeah, I was thinking about having Damen in my next movie with Darell. It begins in February. I think the both of them would do well together. Me and my brother Henry are directing it, and he already has Darell for the main role, well, almost has him,” Dennis mentioned. Julienne stared at Jose with a nervous look; she knew step two was about to begin.
She moved her chair closer to Dennis, asking, “Um, how do you know Damen?”
“I had to fire him from the movie I’m directing now. You know Mike Montgomery?” Dennis questioned, noticing that the first serving came to their table; it was soup.
Julienne responded in a disgusted way, “Yeah,” remembering how hard it was to act with Mike, working with him in the past.
“Yeah, well you know how much of an ass he could be?”
“Yeah, he could be a real jerk.”
“Well, he forced me to fire Damen, that’s how I met him. I think he would be perfect for the part, and I’m most definitely going to get him for this part,” Dennis said while Julienne tried desperately to think of a lie, or a story up in her head; she wanted Jose to get in that movie instead of Damen. “I really want to get him for the co-star role.”
“So, that means you’ve already contacted Damen and told him the good news?” She awaited Dennis’ answer, knowing plan two would begin right when Dennis spoke his next words.
“No, not yet, I was planning on contacting him tomorrow,” Dennis replied. Jose stared at him and Julienne in a nervous manner, wanting that part, craving for that part, and not giving a damn how he would and could get it, as long as he gets it.
“So, how are you going to contact him?”
Dennis answered with a grin, “Julienne, you know me, I have my ways.” Her plan was about to take full effects, with just a few simple words.
“Um, how do you know he’s a good actor?” she asked, staring at Jose, and then staring back at Dennis.
“Well, I saw him act, and I like it. I think his face would be perfect for the part. You see, Damen is going to play Darell’s brother in the movie. When I found out that they were, or still are, best friends in real life, I definitely wanted him, and I still do. I mean think about it, since they already know each other, this movie will be simple for them, and for us,” explained Dennis. Jose looked at Julienne in a desperate way, he wanted her to say something to change Dennis’ mind. “I told my brother about him, but I didn’t tell him that he was friends with Darell in real life. When I tell him that, he’s going to be so proud of me,” he added with a smile.
“Would you excuse us for a minute? I think I forgot my purse in the limo, we’ll be right back,” Julienne spoke, taking Jose by the shirt unnoticeably and pulling him up from his seat.
“Su
re, I’ll be right here.”
They both passed through the tables, crowds, and exited the building, seeing that all of the media was either on breaks or had gone home. Standing out there, with silence, Jose questioned, “What’s wrong, Julienne?”
“Plan two isn’t working out. You see, I knew there was an opening for that movie he’s directing. This movie is going to be big. I mean, Henry and Dennis Schultz directing it together, that has a four-star rating written all over it,” Julienne responded while Jose fought desperately against the wind; he was trying to find the right angle so his lighter would light his cigarette.
He finally lit his cigarette, saying, “Listen, we could always go to another director, and I could always try for another role in a film. Can’t I?”
“Yeah, we can, but I know you want this movie, I saw it in your eyes when he mentioned Darell and Damen together.” She walked into the building again and held opened the glass door for Jose.
Jose put out his cigarette and walked in the door, saying, “Yeah, I do want this movie, but if the spot’s already taken...”
Julienne interrupted his final words by putting her finger over his mouth. “Don’t even say it, don’t ever turn down a movie after it’s taken. This is Hollywood, spots are always open until the contracts have been signed. You got it?” she asked, releasing her finger from his mouth.
The envious and jealous feelings returned to his mind, out of nowhere, they showed themselves once again, with him replying, “Yeah, I definitely understand. This is war.”
It’s like he was put into a trance again, a trance that grew stronger each time he returned. In the trance, he forgot about Darell and Damen, he only remembered himself and fame. The arrogance grew rapidly into a body that represented power to Jose, the power of Hollywood and the different forms of power fame brought. In Jose’s mind, he thought nothing else but that single word, the word “fame.” He was overpowered by something that was a vision, a vision that hadn’t become reality yet. In Jose’s mind, he thought he was famous already, but in Jose’s heart, he realized he was not. His mind has become lost in that single word. As they sat down at the dinner table again, Jose didn’t realize his heart would slowly drift off into a labyrinth; a labyrinth filled with hatred, a labyrinth that had already taken his mind. When the end of this dinner came into effect, Jose’s mind and heart would be lost in this trance, the trance of fame. The only thing he would have left is his soul, a soul that holds the memories of Sugar Valley, and the memories of Damen and Darell. He listened as Julienne began her fight for him, a fight that consisted of lies.
Julienne turned to Dennis’ young, handsome face, and saw him eating chicken. That’s when she questioned, “So, you say this film begins this February?”
“That’s right, I’m hoping it will be a good film. You see, the one major detail that makes a film good is the cast of characters the film has,” Dennis replied, eating his chicken still and seeing that a waiter brought the table a bottle of wine.
“That’s very true, I’m sure it’s going to be a great cast. Especially Damen, he’s going to be great in it,” Julienne said, watching Dennis agreeing with her by nodding his head. “The one good quality that Damen possesses is his nerves, he’s not nervous at all,” she added while Jose looked at her like she was crazy. He wondered why she was making Damen look so good. But that all changed when she spoke, “His sniff-sniff makes him calm as a butterfly.”
Dennis dropped his chicken from his mouth and looked at her in confusion. “Sniff-sniff? What’s that?”
“Oh, you know, Dennis, sniff-sniff.” Jose’s face also showed confusion toward her words, he and Dennis were in the same state of mind; not knowing what the hell she was talking about.
Dennis thought about those words for five seconds, then he realized what she meant, asking, “No, not drugs. You mean to tell me he does coke?”
“Oops, I thought you knew. That’s why me and Jose went outside, we were surprised that Damen is going to star in your movie after you knowing he’s a crackhead,” she explained; Jose began to get a small grin on his face.
Dennis took a large swig of his liquor, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing; he didn’t want to believe it. “You mean he does crack too?”
“Oh no, I spilled the beans again. Yeah, he does crack also.” After her words, a movie star at their table listened in on their conversation, finding hearsay to be devilishly interesting.
Dennis was aggravated and nervous, saying in an upset tone, “You’re damn right you spilled the beans. Great, I can’t let him act in my movie. Now I’m gonna have to get another actor to take his place. This is just great, the auditions begin next week for this movie; I have to get someone for this part. As you know, Julienne, the person we choose at the audition, next week, is only for insurance.”
Another movie star listened in on their conversation, with Jose suddenly asking, “What do you mean?”
“You see, normally we choose the co-star and star actors for the movie before the auditions begin. That is, the auditions from people off the streets, the people who haven’t really been in movies. Once we choose an actor from that audition, we keep that actor for insurance, just in case the main actor gets sick or quits. To make it all less confusing and more understandable, we already choose an actor before the auditions begin. So now, that means, that we don’t have an actor yet, and the auditions are next week. At least that’s the way we do it, I don’t know about other directors. Damn, my brother is going to be pissed at me.” Dennis went silent, paused for a moment, and took out some aspirins, popping them in his mouth, one by one and washing them down with his drink.
“Why is he going to be pissed?” asked Jose as Julienne sat back and allowed him to finish plan two. She just sat there, and watched the entertainment brought on by them, just like Maria, back in Sugar Valley, sitting and fishing, watching the entertainment brought on by the boys.
“Because I already told my brother I found an actor. Now what?”
Julienne then broke into the conversation, knowing it was her time to, and stated, “Well, Jose would be happy to act in your movie. I mean, Jose is used to being in movies with action in them, but I think he would like doing a drama for a change.”
Jose then placed his eyes up, and watched the hall for a moment, looking and gazing at the people as they ate, when out of nowhere, his eyes focused on Darell’s body, seeing him across the room.
Dennis viewed Jose’s face, gave a smile, and liked what he saw. “What movies have you been in?”
Julienne began speaking before Jose even heard the question. She said, “Oh, he’s been in movies ranging from ‘Justice,’ ‘The English Kicker,’ and ‘Sawyer.’ All of those movies were made in Britain. I don’t think you’ve heard or seen those yet. Have you?”
Jose watched Darell sit at a table marked “Number 1” while listening to Julienne lie at the same time.
Dennis thought about it, responding with a white lie, “Yes, I believe so.”
“Well, there you have it. If you don’t want Henry to be mad at you, you better choose an actor fast. Jose is the man for the job,” Julienne explained in a salesman’s voice; she talked fast and tried to sell Jose to Dennis.
“I don’t know. Jose, would you be interested in acting in my film?” Dennis was ready and willing to buy Jose right there at the dinner table. All the movie stars and people sitting at their table were waiting for an answer from Jose, as Julienne knew her sales pitch worked, once again.
“Well, sure, after all, I am friends with Darell also,” Jose replied; he knew if he said he was friends with Darell again, it would make Dennis even more satisfied.
“That’s right, thank God. Are you able to show up at my office on January 4? That’s when I’ll give you a quick screen test.”
Jose grabbed onto Julienne’s hand, squeezed it like a ripe orange, and questioned in excitement, “You mean an audition?”
“Yeah, you can say that. I’m just gonna give you a few lin
es to read from the script and a few other things to do. Do we have a deal for now?” Dennis put his hand out in the air toward Jose.
Jose grabbed onto his hanging hand, grasped it with happiness, responding, “Yes, most definitely.”
“Alright, I’ll contact Julienne in the middle of the week. That’s when I’ll bring over the contracts for you to fill out. It’s probably going to be the day after your screen test, or else I’ll just give the contracts to you on your screen test day,” Dennis said, while Julienne pulled her hand away from Jose’s grip and watched it turn from blue to peach in a matter of seconds. “This is a lot easier and more convenient for me now,” he added in a happy tone, seeing that the third course came to their table.
Julienne sipped her wine and smiled at Jose, asking Dennis, “What do you mean?”
He explained, “Well, before I was going to have to contact Damen. You see, I don’t know where Damen lives. I mean, I gave him my card and told him to contact me, but that was before I realized that I definitely wanted him for this part. I mean, if I knew then what I know now, I would have ripped up that card and threw Damen out of that cafeteria. You know how this business is, Julienne, timing means everything. At least now I have a negotiation in progress.” Suddenly, the lights in the room slowly turned off, disappeared, and darkness took over the hall.
“What’s happening? Why did the lights go off?” Jose asked.
“Oh, the director and cast of characters are going to be introduced now. After that, all we have is dessert to eat and we go home,” Julienne replied in a low tone as a spotlight came on.
“Could I stay at your place tonight? I want to celebrate after this.” Julienne looked at him with positive eyes, it was like she was trying to give her answer through the darkness of her pupils.
She kissed him once, and kissed him twice, and then kissed him again, while saying, “Of course you can. As a matter of fact, you can stay there as long as you want.”
Sugar Valley (Hollywood's Darkest Secret) Page 37