Typecast

by Kim Carmichael

  WILLIAM

  Hollywood Stardust?

  WILLIAM takes a gulp of his soda.

  CHARLES – seventeen years old the best friend, the misfit, and the late bloomer, but the one who will make something of himself one day, even if no one else sees it.

  CHARLES

  It’s a theater in Hollywood built in 1927. It is built in the art deco style and . . .

  STEVEN hits his fist into the table, causing CHARLES to jolt up.

  STEVEN

  We don’t need a history lesson. Let Rox talk.

  STEVEN motions toward Roxy.

  ROXY catches STEVEN’S eye, then looks down, tracing her finger around the table.

  ROXY

  Back in the day, everyone who was anyone was seen there. They’re tearing it down to make way for some multiplex theater with no history and no soul. My friends planned a trip there for spring break. We wanted to see it, just be around its energy. I’m the only one who won’t be there, and I’ll never get the chance now.

  WILLIAM

  Hey, it’s okay. You have us now. (He puts his arm around Roxy.) We’ll go somewhere, party, get out.

  ROXY shakes her head.

  STEVEN

  I’ll take you to Hollywood Stardust.

  ROXY Looks up at STEVEN.

  ROXY

  What?

  STEVEN

  You heard me.

  WILLIAM

  That’s a great idea!

  WILLIAM sits up straighter and raises his hand for a high five.

  WILLIAM

  Road trip with Roxy to Hollywood Stardust.

  Once more, ROXY glances at STEVEN.

  STEVEN

  We will take you to Hollywood Stardust.

  Chapter Three

  The waves crashing, the sea breeze, the seagulls doing whatever seagulls do, and the sun lowering in the horizon provided the ideal backdrop Logan required for his first outing with his new project. He wasn’t thinking about the interviews.

  Prepared to play tour guide to only one, he put a bandana around his hair and donned a pair of dark sunglasses. With years away from the spotlight, he only needed a slight cover-up to hide in the public. The requests for autographs came in less and less, which was fine by him, but with Hollywood Stardust bubbling up to the surface again, he needed to be extra careful if he didn’t want to be disturbed, and he didn’t.

  He walked down the Santa Monica Pier and spotted his leading lady for the next six weeks exactly where he told her to meet him, outside the carousel. Dressed in hot pink pants and a matching sleeveless top with her hair up, she appeared as if she stepped right out of one of those beach movies of yesteryear. The suit she wore at the office the day before did not do her figure justice, but her outfit today might break the law. From his vantage point with her back turned to him, his mouth watered at the sight before him.

  It had been way too long since a woman not only created a physical reaction, but a mental one as well. He actually had lain in bed thinking about her, her little pearls of knowledge, the way she forged ahead even under dire circumstances, how her hand shook in his, but she still completed the interview, and best yet, how she looked to him for help. Yes, they would do well together once they got the pesky business of their business out of the way.

  He inched up behind her and bent down to her ear. “Do you want to take a ride?”

  She jumped and turned to him. “Oh, I’m glad you’re here.”

  The view of her front was more spectacular than the rear. Her breasts filled out the fabric, presenting him with much more than a palm full, and he could make out a little cleavage. Without a doubt, he knew what he wanted for dinner. “Where did you think I would be?” Apparently, he needed to tell her where they could go, or would go.

  “I thought you said to meet at four.”

  He nodded. It wasn’t like their arrangement needed a time clock.

  “I’m just glad you didn’t stand me up.” The wind picked up, and she reached into her bag and pulled out a scarf.

  “Never worry about that. I’ll always contact you, no matter what.” He watched her wrap the little bit of fabric over her hair and expertly tie a knot under her chin—a simple act, but old-fashioned, sweet, and most definitely sexy. With the sudden urge to be a gentleman, he held his arm out. “Shall we?”

  “Where are we going?” She slipped her arm in his.

  “Is there somewhere in particular you would like to go?” Perhaps to the end of the pier, a perfect spot for some kissing before the main event. Making out was a lost art, one he wanted to rekindle.

  “Anywhere is fine. I’m pretty portable.” Once more, she reached into her handbag. Rather than a scarf, she pulled out a little digital video camera. “Is there a reason you decided this would be the place for our first meeting?” She hit a button and pointed the device right in his face.

  Instinct and muscle memory took over, and as with anytime a camera was aimed at him, he struck a pose. “Don’t you like the pier?”

  “I haven’t been in years, but sure. Doesn’t it remind you of something?” The camera covered her face.

  Apparently, she was fine behind a camera, but that wasn’t the behind he was interested in. He held his palm up to the camera, causing her to lower her arm. “Should it remind me of something?”

  “Doesn’t it remind you of your first major stop in the movie?”

  The movie. Yes, the movie. A road trip movie where their characters made their way across the country to the elusive Hollywood Stardust theater, each with their own quest of sorts. He quickly scanned his memories. “The shopping center?” He narrowed his eyes, trying to remember the route. “There are some shops.”

  “No, the fairgrounds.” She let out a little laugh. “Your character was obsessed with Skee-Ball. Did you play in real life?”

  “I suppose we do need a photo op.” Truth be told, he wasn’t bad, and she seemed to want to keep up the sham interview stuff. First, they would do something that smacked of work, and then they could get on to the better part of the day. “Would you like a demonstration?”

  “I can’t think of anything I’d like to do more.” She lit up.

  “We’ll get to that later.” If it weren’t for his sunglasses, he would have winked. Instead, he guided her back to the arcade.

  Multicolored lights, bells, chimes, and arcade noises assaulted them as they entered, and they followed the lights over to the Skee-Ball machines. Since they were here at an off-hour, only one other older man played. He fished inside his pocket, found a coin, and the balls rolled down the chute.

  Ivy raised her camera.

  He chose a ball and hurled it up the ramp, using his bank shot.

  The ball jumped, ricocheted off the one-hundred-point circle, and landed in the ten-point loser’s hoop. He exhaled.

  “Has it been a while?” She giggled.

  “One could say that.” He chose another ball and held it up. “Let’s do a retake.”

  “You got it.”

  Once more, he threw the ball up the ramp, and rather than a major failure, he got the twenty-point semifailure circle. A couple of tickets popped out of the slot. He bent down and tore them off and handed them to her. “For you.”

  “Are you going to win me a prize?” She plucked the tickets out of his fingers.

  “Can we just buy one?” At this rate, they would be here for days.

  “Maybe a stuffed dog, a fifty-cent toy that cost ten dollars, but something a girl has to have?”

  “What?” Did they suddenly shift to a different language? “Do you want a stuffed dog?”

  “No, what you won Roxy.” She shifted her weight from one leg to the other. “You shoved the dog at her and said it cost you ten dollars for a fifty-cent toy. Did Erin get to keep it?”

  A slight flicker of some silly stuffed animal went through his mind. “How about we reenact something else out of that scene?” He motioned for her to come over.

  She returned the camera to her bag
and came to him. “What scene is this?”

  After presenting her with one of the balls, he positioned himself behind her and put one hand on the incredible curve that created her waist. At their closeness, her light floral perfume wafted around him, her hair tickled his face, and his body reacted appropriately. He lowered his lips to her ear. “The one where Steven teaches Roxy to play.”

  “I don’t remember that scene.” Her voice quivered.

  “Then let me refresh your memory.” Gently, he pulled her arm back and grazed his lips against her neck. “The secret to Skee-Ball is knowing when to let go.”

  “Mr. Alexander.” With his unexpected move, she practically panted.

  “It’s Logan.” He snaked his arm around her. “I’ve been thinking about you since yesterday, and I have a suspicion you’ve been thinking about me.”

  “Logan,” she whispered.

  “Did you think about me?” He tucked a little piece of hair that escaped her updo behind her ear.

  “Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to.”

  “Then let me tell you what else I know.” When she didn’t move away, he smiled. “I know that long before yesterday you thought of me. Well, I’m here, ready, willing, and able to reenact any scene your heart desires.”

  “Logan.” Her body stiffened. “Do you know why I don’t remember that scene?”

  “Because the movie is twenty years old and we have better things to do?” A chuckle escaped his throat.

  Without warning, she dropped the ball and pushed him back.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you have an interview. I have something planned.” The ball rolled away, but he ignored it and held his hand out to her. “We can go somewhere more private.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “I don’t remember the scene because it didn’t exist. It was William who snuck a kiss when he helped Roxy during miniature golf. Steven kissed her on the Ferris wheel.”

  “Maybe it needed to be a scene. Those Ferris wheel scenes seem rather overdone.” He always knew he should have gone into screen writing, but alas he hated writing.

  “I will have you know that both those scenes are two of the most beloved. Many, many other scenes from other movies have used the scenes from your movie for inspiration.”

  “They should get their own material then.” He shot it right back to her. Sparring could be great foreplay.

  She huffed. “I would like to continue where we left off yesterday. I have a whole set of interview questions for you.”

  He needed to remember she had her job on the line. No wonder she was uptight. “Regarding that, I have something for you.” Rather than taking her hand, he walked ahead, leaving her to follow.

  They returned to the pier. He found a bench, sat, and patted the space next to him.

  Once she took her spot, he slipped a paper out of his shirt pocket and handed it to her. “This should solve all your troubles.”

  She unfolded the paper, sucking in her cheeks as she read. “Why are you giving me this?”

  “Here’s your first interview. You can do the voice-over and we’ll film each other doing Santa Monica Pier things and all your worries will be left behind. As a bonus, I will have Erin and Ryder work on theirs and I’ll get you whatever you need. You and I will be in charge of the b-roll.” It was simply easier to spoon-feed her whatever she needed and avoid all those messy questions.

  “Only yesterday, you told me not to ask the same tired questions, and yet you have broken your rule.” Her face went blank, showing absolutely no emotion when she should be thanking him for having helped.

  “How so?” He crossed his legs.

  “All you gave me is everything I could look up on the Internet minus what you won’t talk about. Actually, I can get more on the Internet.”

  He chose not to tell her he looked quite a few of those answers up on the Internet.

  “Also, when you decide to copy and paste from fan websites, you should make sure you have the facts correct. Especially when they are about you.” She found a pen in her bag and circled two of his interesting facts. “You were not in Galaxy Man Four. You were in Galaxy Man Three.”

  “That was a typo.”

  “Also, the original name of Steven in Hollywood Stardust was Scott, not Sam. The producer’s son was named Scott, and he didn’t want that connection.” She folded the paper and held it out to him.

  “Damn that auto correct.” He didn’t touch the paper. “I was only trying to make things more efficient.”

  “Maybe it would have been better to let me interview you.” Her lower lip made an appearance as if she were hurt or wounded.

  He didn’t need a guilt trip. The road trip to Hollywood Stardust was enough. “What grand questions were you going to ask?”

  “Maybe I wanted to know what you are doing now? Maybe I wanted to know why you don’t act anymore? Maybe I wanted to know what truly happened to the sequel?” She crumpled the paper in her hand.

  “I’m not answering any of those questions.” He lifted his chin. “Maybe you should answer them. You seem like you know everything else.”

  “I did more than copy and paste. I need a break. I’ll be right back.” As she walked away, she tossed the paper into a wastebasket.

  A smart and beautiful woman was one thing, but he wasn’t going to be put through the grill for all these weeks. He didn’t need her. He needed a distraction from exactly what she wanted to do to him.

  He put a cigarette between his lips, lifted his phone, and pressed his hand to his temple. Six weeks in Miss Details school of cinema would only amplify his pain.

  Much like the movie industry itself, Hollywood Stardust possessed its own double-edged issues, but neither of those edges needed to be shoved in his back or through his chest.

  Contracts, obligations, and deals made him the only one allowed to handle any publicity with the movie. Though his pay was phenomenal, it came with an equal serving of stress. However, he refused to be tortured or have his time wasted.

  He glanced down at his phone and dialed his own personal 911.

  “I’m in the car. Speak up.” Brian Fleming, his agent, practically screamed into the phone.

  “I’m done.” Logan rubbed his hand over his face.

  “Good, are you going back to her place now?” Brian chuckled.

  “I make the rules, and I’m finished with this project. Have the two quote unquote true stars of the movie do some of the grunt work.”

  “Now, now, you and I both know they are only fit for a talk show appearance here and there. This little thing for the web got you out of a lot of other commitments. Be happy.”

  “Maybe it’s time to get out of the whole thing.”

  “You should have thought of that before you took action at the hotel, my friend.”

  Logan tapped his cigarette on his knee. Twenty years ago, he’d manipulated everyone’s past, present, and future to get what he wanted and would forever pay the price.

  “If you don’t want the gig, maybe we can call Drew? Maybe it’s time he stepped into the limelight?”

  “And there we have it.” He threw the cigarette aside. “Don’t ever try to negotiate what you know you can’t win.”

  “What’s wrong? Didn’t your princess live up to her crown?”

  He ground his teeth together. Ivy was beyond the crown, almost too much to ask for, and he didn’t want to ask for anything. He wanted to have some fun. “The woman knows a lot about this movie. I feel like I’m in a class about myself.”

  “Why don’t you learn from her and then you can teach her a thing or two?” Again, Brian laughed. “The execs like this in-depth look. Just be yourself and she’ll be out of your life soon enough. I have to run. Call me when you have a real issue. They own you and you know that.”

  “I’m done!” Nothing but silence met his ear, and he knew Brian had hung up. He leaned back only to find Ivy standing a couple of feet away holding a bottle of water.

  “I tho
ught you might want something cool to drink.” She handed it to him.

  With caution, he took the beverage, but held his breath waiting for the confrontation over the phone call. “Why don’t we call it a wrap for the day?”

  “It’s probably for the best.”

  Her issues couldn’t be his issues. Once he hauled himself into a standing position, he stood and they walked side by side with the ocean and the sunset at their backs.

  “Look.” She stopped in front of a sign saying “Route 66.” “Interesting.”

  After a quick glance at the sign, he scanned his memory for any movie trivia. “Did we drive on Route 66 for the movie or something?”

  “No, the characters never took Route 66. They took the highways.”

  “I bet you can name the highways.” For the life of him, he didn’t understand the interest, but it intrigued him nonetheless.

  “I can.” She let out a sad sigh. “Not that it matters.”

  “So, what’s with the sign? Would it have been better if we took Route 66?” He wondered if she had heard the conversation between him and Brian.

  She turned to him. “I just thought it was interesting that Route 66 officially ends right there. It says ‘End of the Trail.’”

  He took her all in. Sharp and sexy, and a definite curiosity. One he wanted to know, but he knew enough to stay away, contract or not. “Yep, end of the trail.”

  HOLLYWOOD STARDUST

  DISSOLVE TO:

  EXT. Outside WILLIAM’S house INDIANAPOLIS – DAY

  WILLIAM, CHARLES, and ROXY wait for STEVEN so they can get on the road.

  CHARLES

  At this rate, we will never stay on schedule.

  CHARLES glances at his watch and shakes his head.

  WILLIAM Slaps Charles on the back.

  WILLIAM

  Seriously, dude, take it down a notch. You don’t need to study every second of every day. We’re about to have an experience of a lifetime.

  WILLIAM goes to ROXY and puts his arm around her.

  WILLIAM

  Wouldn’t you agree?

  ROXY shrugs WILLIAM off her.

  ROXY

  We don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable on the trip.