by M Howson
‘They would’ve said I was with you for my career!’
‘I can understand that, - now I do.’
‘I wanted to prove I was a good actress Frank, I didn’t want anyone to think you helped me in any way.’
‘I know, that was where I made that mistake.’
‘Do you mean you loved having me on the side?’ Ellie laughed nervously.
‘Why did you marry, Ellie?’ Asked Frank.
‘I told you Frank, you were too happy with how things were, but I wanted to get something out of my life.’
‘He was a brutal man and a user!’
‘Please Frank, it’s in the past – can we move on?’
‘Sorry but I get carried away when we mention him, ….. see you later?’
‘Usual place?’
‘Yeah, as always - in secret!’ Frank said bitterly. ‘Ellie?’
‘Yes?’
‘I love you!’
‘I love you too Frank, you know that by now.’
Chapter Fourteen
Monica was chatting to Amy when Frank arrived for the lunch meeting. He also saw Justin getting out of his car; all was going according to his plan. Joe pulled up next to the girls, Frank let the window down.
‘Oh my beautiful girls, don’t tell me it’s a sandwich for lunch?!’ Frank enquired.
‘I think the Italian restaurant up the road will be perfect - we know we’re all gathered here for a reason.’ Monica stated.
‘Frank, your secretary called me?!’ Justin joined the group, yet he knew why the girls were here.
‘Hey kid, can’t stay away from your sister?’
‘I missed you Frank!’
‘You are funny!’ Frank was glad Justin didn’t give the game away.
‘I will meet you by the restaurant in five.’ Frank said, signalling to his driver.
‘Frank wouldn’t walk anywhere, but he works out in his gym, day and night, - so he says.’ Monica explained to Amy.
‘Too much exercise isn’t good for you.’ They heard Frank saying to his driver.
‘The man doesn’t make sense.’ Justin greeted the girls with a kiss on the cheek.
‘I predict an interesting meeting, girls!’ He announced.
Amy was sure that Justin had undoubtedly poured half a bottle of aftershave over himself, but he looked the part, clad in tight jeans and a pink striped shirt.
‘Where are we going?’ Monica asked, looking across the busy road.
‘The one over there.’ Justin pointed over the road, where restaurants were lining the busy street.
Justin grabbed the girls’ hands. ‘Come with me.’
‘More like; run after me.’ Monica complained as Justin proceeded to cross the road.
Amy felt the tension from his hand. She remembered their night, when he was in her kitchen and she was in his arms.
Monica was waving at Frank who was already standing in front of the restaurant. It was a ‘designer decorated’ contemporary Italian place. While they waited for their table, Frank took Amy aside; - he needed to take it easy with her. How did he do easy?
‘You look like a sharp business woman Amy.’ He said checking her out in her fitted suit jacket and pencil skirt.
‘A compliment? - thank you Frank. What can I do for you?’ She predicted he was after something.
‘This is what I like.’ He smiled gently. ‘I want to offer you a job, - if you want one.’ He studied Amy. ‘It will not be an ordinary job; - I would want you to work with me on a project. I appreciate that you have a job already.’ Frank suddenly stopped talking.
‘Did you ring my work this morning by any chance?’
‘Damn! It wasn’t me.’ He said slowly. ‘My secretary did.’
‘Well done Mr Detective! I suppose if you want something you just get it.’
‘Don’t take it the wrong way Amy, please.’ He pleaded.
‘I don’t Frank, I am pleased in a strange way; I would’ve done the same thing myself!’ There was something very appealing about Frank that she couldn’t understand.
‘What a relief, I thought you will eat me for lunch!’ He said, leading her back to the restaurant. ‘Our table is ready, I’ll tell you all about it later.’
They followed a waiter to a round table. Frank asked the waiter his name and tipped him, - in advance. Amy was offered a seat between Frank and Justin. She wondered what sort of job Frank had in mind.
Frank let everyone choose and place their orders before he began to talk about the movie.
‘I am offering all of you a job, if you want to work for me, of course.’ Without pausing, he continued. ‘I am an old man ….’ He waved his hand to stop the protests. ‘Justin wrote a screenplay, which is so good that I believe it will make a great movie. Justin will work with the production team, in fact he will produce it.’
‘Monica,’ Frank continued. ‘You are amazing. I want you as a director on this movie.’
‘Wow, Frank! I am tied up with the current one, I can’t move yet.’ Monica said, disappointed, but she was intrigued, Justin had written a screenplay?
‘Don’t worry about that, it will be taken care of. Two weeks left of filming, I hear?!’
‘Yes that’s about right.’ Monica said. ‘I have not seen the script Frank, why do you think I’m interested.’ However, she was, and Frank knew it.
‘It’s your thing girl, trust me.’
Monica frowned. ‘You spend way too much time with these guys Justin, I expect a masterpiece.’
‘I am a person of many talents, as it turns out.’
Justin glanced at Amy as he was finishing his sentence, but Amy was waiting for Frank to speak.
‘Tell me Frank, what is it about?’ Monica asked.
‘You are filming a 1950s movie? Right? This one will take you ten years further back.’ Frank said, searching for traces of interest on her face.
‘To the 1940s, and Justin wrote it?’ She was putting the pieces together in her head. ‘Is it what I think it is?’
‘Yes it is.’ Justin admitted.
‘Has it got something to do with those late nights, drowning your sorrows in whisky and ruining your health with cigar smoke?’
‘Yes!’ They said in chorus.
‘Wow! I am in! When do we start?!’
Frank looked at Amy, who so far had listened without comment. ‘You all met Amy at Jack’s the other night. I have heard Amy, that you are the best at drawing up contracts.’
‘Am I?’
‘You are! I appreciate you have jobs on but I am an old man ….’
‘Frank, you played that card already … out with it!’ Amy said, surprising everyone.
‘This is what I am talking about; this woman can break balls and kill you with a smile!’ Frank announced.
‘I take it as a compliment Frank.’ Amy said.
‘You do that Amy, do that!’ Frank’s secretary had found out earlier today that she wasn’t working for Carter’s any more, which was a plus for Frank. ‘Can you spare some time to draw up the contracts for me?’
Amy thought about it for a moment. It sounded interesting and it was her speciality.
‘Why not use your current lawyers?’
‘They are busy with other projects, besides, I want you!’ Frank said simply.
‘What’s involved?’ She asked the question they all wanted to ask.
‘She speaks like a lawyer!’ Frank mused. ‘You will have, say, twenty people to write contracts for - all different of course. You will be part of a tight ship, will get to know a lot of people. There is also travel.’ He added quietly.
‘Where to?’ Asked Amy, knowing it wouldn’t be around the corner.
‘Europe!’
‘Europe?’ Everyone stared.
‘Hungary in fact, in a couple of weeks. Do you ski Amy?’
‘I have never been to Hungary,… but I’m in!’ She said, feeling his excitement.
‘Are you up for it?’ He asked, surprised at hearing the quick answer
.
‘Yes, I’m in!’
‘Just like that? Amy, you don’t know what a workaholic Frank can be.’ Justin volunteered.
‘Can’t wait to find out, Justin.’ Amy said fixing Justin with a look.
Monica and Frank pretended they didn’t see the tension between the two. The atmosphere was tense.
‘It should be a great trip. Knowing you Frank, preparations are already in motion, where’s the script?’ Monica was switched on; work came first.
‘All you need to concentrate on is reading this script.’ Frank produced a copy of the screenplay. ‘The rest will be taken care of. How about setting off in say, ten days?’
‘Perfect, in time for a white Christmas.’ Justin said. ‘Get your trendy boots and coats ready for snow and ice ladies!’ Both girls smiled at him indulgently.
Amy thought it was a pleasant change to see a guy excited about a white Christmas.
Monica was hoping she’d read the signals right and that there could be something interesting forming between Justin and Amy. Is this what Justin wanted to talk about? - Amy or the movie?
Frank was a happy man. He was surprised by Amy’s direct approach, this was what he was after, he was confident that all will be fine.
‘That’s settled then.’ Frank said, finally sampling his food. ‘This spaghetti is good, Mario!’ He shouted for the waiter. ‘Compliments to the chef!’
Frank could see the girls couldn’t wait to read the script. Justin was on a call, so he excused himself to call Jack.
‘Tonight at my place?’
‘Is something up?’
‘I thought about the ‘revisit’ Jack. I want to tie up loose ends.’
‘All right. I am ready to take a break from it.’ Jack felt a stab of conscience. ‘On the other hand…’
‘Yes, you are right Jack. Yet, anytime I think of ending – something pop’s up.’
‘A break is what we need Frank! By the way I have a meeting with a very hot girl tonight, it will be closer to midnight?!’
‘Midnight it is!’ Frank slipped his cell into his suit pocket.
The girls finished their lunch and promised Frank they will read the script. Justin looked as if he had a lot on his mind, so the girls opted to have a coffee by the bar.
When they left, Frank stayed for a while to discuss Justin’s business. He wondered, not for the first time, what kept Justin so grounded in the world of music, especially regarding women.
‘I do like Amy.’ Frank said.
‘She's clever!’ Justin responded.
‘The girl knows her mind!’
‘Knows the business she's in Frank.’
‘… and people!’
‘… in this city.’
‘Confident girl!’
‘Have we finished praising her Frank? I know your game! Yes, I like her. That’s all you need to know!’
‘She's important to me Justin!’ Frank said seriously.
‘She is?!’
‘It’s a long story. I will tell you one day.’
Another of Frank’s secrets, what was it this time, he wondered. There was time enough to find out. The trip to Europe was going to be full of surprises.
Chapter Fifteen
The story of
Ellie Chrystal and Frank Orban
She was young and she was beautiful. Her dark hair, cut short in the latest style, shimmered in the sunshine. The bright red lipstick on her lips was perfectly applied. Who was she? – Frank wondered as he watched her from his office window elegantly holding a cigarette.
‘Are you watching Ellie?’ Someone asked next to Frank. ‘She eats men for breakfast – that’s what I’ve heard, anyway.’
Frank turned around to face Jotty, a cameraman who always seemed to know the current gossip.
‘She does?’
‘Ellie has a different man every night.’ Jotty happily shared what he had heard.
‘Good for her.’ Frank said.
It was 1943; Frank’s Studio was already in full swing, turning out movie after movie. After losing his friend Jim Wellsenry, he was surprised to find that he suddenly had money. Frank invested it wisely. There was a fierce competition between the big Film Studios and Frank wanted to come up with something new, to be different.
He concentrated on short films of seventy minutes with a quick turnaround. The filming took place in a studio to keep costs to a minimum. Frank only employed the few key people he needed; a director, cameraman and producer. Wardrobe and make up girls were very easy to find as women liked to look good, therefore, they usually perfected the art of applying makeup themselves. Hollywood’s newly established agents were in Europe looking for cheap actors as the film production industry was in full swing and needed new faces.
Frank didn’t want to be part of that, but nevertheless he found Austrian, German and Hungarian immigrant actors knocking on the Studio doors. The war didn’t help, he tried to offer a job to as many as he could but he also needed to make a living. Studios usually signed actors for three or five year contracts, adding them onto their weekly payroll but Frank only offered them a contract for a particular film. This saved him paying actors the usual weekly salary. He slowly built a reputation as a sharp film maker as his movies made it to the box office. The hard work paid off and Frank made a decent life for himself in America.
Ellie was one of the chorus girls at the time, Frank found out later that day. She was noted for her willingness to work long hours and give a perfect performance. Frank’s rule was not to get involved with any of the girls in his studio.
They met one late night after a musical rehearsal wasn’t going right. Ellie was with the dancing girls but the leading actress wasn’t right for the part.
Frank tried to make it work, but by past midnight everyone wanted to go home. The girls usually had their admirers waiting after a long day by the back door - including Ellie. That night, Frank saw her waiting alone. When he was locking up she was still there. Frank offered to drive her home in his battered sedan and surprisingly, she accepted.
Their secret relationship started that very night. Ellie didn’t want to be seen with the head of the Studio she worked for and Frank had a rule. Being a chorus girl wasn’t what Ellie wanted for herself, she wanted to have a husband and children. She was an immigrant as well, born in Austria. She had no family left, therefore she was desperate to have her own. When she mentioned this to Frank, he pulled back, - he wasn’t ready for a family yet.
‘I need to be able to provide for a wife and children.’ Frank explained but Ellie wasn’t listening.
‘Frank, we have enough money to buy a house and start a life together.’ Ellie argued.
‘Look Ellie, it has taken me years to get where I am today, the movie business is struggling now, – I need to be in a better position.’
‘Money isn’t everything Frank!’ Ellie said stubbornly.
‘To me, money means a lot right now, sweetheart.’
It certainly did mean a lot to Frank, he never ever wanted to be in the same position as when he arrived in America. Filming was slowing down and other big studios were issuing temporary contracts for actors – just like Frank did.
Still, their relationship continued but now under a strain. Ellie flirted with the usual crowd of admirers, which Frank seemingly ignored. She was offered a small speaking role in a movie for one of the big studios.
She was away for a few months and when she returned to Frank’s studio she was different.
Frank detected something was up and he wasn’t surprised when he heard the girls talking about Ellie’s new man.
‘Who is the guy?’ Frank enquired.
‘He is in politics.’ Ellie answered.
‘Interesting …..’ Frank wanted to steer clear of politicians, they had already tried to get his studio to make propaganda films, but Frank didn’t want to be involved.
‘He wants to marry me.’ Her voice was only a whisper.
‘He does?’ Frank wasn’t expec
ting this answer.
‘You love him?’
‘You know I love you Frank!’
‘Then don’t marry him!’ Frank couldn’t believe what she was saying.
‘I want security.’
‘You are protected with me Ellie – you know that!’
‘No, Frank, I am not.’
‘Think about it …. don’t make a sudden decision.’
Frank hoped this was a passing infatuation, but as the weeks passed Ellie wasn’t changing her mind. Frank needed to step aside to let Ellie get on with her life.
He backed off and Ellie moved on – she married her new man and left show business.
Ellie Chrystal walked out of Frank’s life – and he watched her go!
****
Jasmine’s plan didn’t work! She waited all night for an opportunity to meet Jack by his house, and he never showed up. Plan B wasn’t going her way either! Now she was sat in a restaurant waiting for a ‘date’. Of course, the date wasn’t coming but Jack was there.
Jasmine had numerous sources to reach for, to find out what she wanted. Just pay the asking price and take the information! – it was so easy. Tonight, if she played her cards right, she will have him. Jack had already noticed her; of course he never missed a blonde. Unknown to Jasmine, she wasn’t Jack’s type. Jack liked classy girls with something to say. When he checked Jasmine out, he had a feeling something was wrong. Jack wasn’t a fool, his reputation as a stud was well publicised and women chased Jack all the time. Women, who wanted to use him to gain ‘something’, were quite prepared to sleep with him for any opportunity.
Jack knew the girl staring at him was one of them.
Jasmine wasn’t giving up on Jack; she needed an opportunity to meet him outside. She waited patiently.
****
Jack was disappointed in the girl sitting opposite him. She was a social climber desperately wanting to be an actress and she wasn’t even hiding the fact. He was tired of dinners, movie premiers or whatever event he received an invite to and was also getting weary of blondes.