Chapter 3

We got everyone in, and then closed the door. As we were backed away from the terminal, the safety video started. Of course, nobody watched it, not even us, as we were busy making sure everyone was buckled up. Before long, we were in the air and heading north. It was an uneventful fight, with David engrossed in a big file of papers and giving me his brilliant smile whenever I served him with anything. In a quiet time, I went back to see Cynthia.

“Cynthia, one of my passengers wants me to meet him in the transit lounge café in Tokyo. Is that allowed?”

“Yes, Jamie. It’s easy to do. The main thing is to have your ID handy, because the door to the transit lounge has an access system that your ID will open. It stops the passengers from coming down to the crew lounge. Make sure you keep an eye on the time, so that you’re back with us before we need to board.”

After we had landed, and the passengers had all disembarked, we all went up to the crew lounge. I opened my roller case and took out my new uniform jacket. Rummaging inside the neck of my dress, I pulled the ID out and allowed it to hang under the jacket when I put it on. I doubly checked with Cynthia; then left the room via the door she pointed out. At the end of a short corridor was a door with an access panel. My ID made the door click, so I went through, finding myself in the first-class transit lounge. David saw me and waved me over to a table near the food counter.

He thanked me for joining him and held the chair for me as I sat. The waitress gave me a smile as she took our order. When we had our food, he started telling me what was on his mind, firstly showing me a picture on his phone, of me dancing at the club last night.

“The waitress at that club is an old friend, from way back. She does the odd talent spotting for me and sent me the picture. I have to tell you, Jamie, that I had guessed that you weren’t entirely genuine in that dress, although you’re very good. It wasn’t anything you did, or didn’t, do. It was purely the lack of jewellery. I did call up the airline, yesterday, to ask about the Jamie on the flight to Sydney, and to tell them of the brilliant way you did your job. They told me that Jamie Lee Curtis would be happy that someone had taken the time to compliment him.”

I sat back and waited for the expected kick in the guts.

“The thing is, it makes you even more perfect for my project. I can see that there must have been something drastic during that flight to have you in a dress.”

“There was, David. It was a rugby supporter who had eaten curry and drank to excess. The problem was that I ended up wearing the excess, with the only spare uniforms being girls ones.”

“I have to hand it to whoever helped you with the make-over, they did a great job. Do I detect, from the jewellery and lip job, that you are staying female?”

“Until I’m back home. After that, who knows. I suppose it depends on the airline.”

“Would you consider another career?”

“Are there any jobs where freshly minted tranny can excel. This job takes me all over the world, with a lot of things supplied, from accommodation to uniforms, and I’ve now found it includes time in salons.”

“There are, Jamie. Some that give you even more in the way of payment. One of them is as my leading lady in my next film. I’ve been looking at a lot of actresses for the part. It needs a girl who is strong, smart, and yet vulnerable. She has to have a sense of fun and a screen presence. The biggest problem is that the actresses who fit the part are either too expensive, too old, or already committed to other films. My cinematographer will be aboard on the leg to Hawaii, which is the location for most of the film. Would you spend a day with us, so that he can run a quick screen test?”

“We are in Hawaii for two nights, then head to Los Angeles and then on to London. I’ll try to arrange time with you. We’ll be in the company hotel, so you could see me there, to tell me the time and the place. Would you mind if a couple of the other girls join me?

“They’ll be more than welcome, as long as it doesn’t put you off. I’ll make a couple of calls, now, to make sure everyone’s going to be there. Thank you for saying you’ll try.”

“Thank you for asking me, David. And thank you for the meal. I have to get back to the crew lounge, now, so that we can get back on board and welcome our wonderful, and handsome, passengers as they arrive.”

As I stood, so did he and he pulled me into a hug and kissed my cheek. It reminded me of my dream, and it made me shiver, inside.

I used my ID to go back the way I came and sat with the girls for a while before we got the message to go back to work. My jacket was put back into the roller case and was sent back to the loading manager. We went back to the plane and waited for our passengers. Belle stood beside me.

“You’re quiet, Jamie. Can you tell me what happened?”

“David wants me to do a screen test, during our free day in Hawaii. He will give me the time and location beforehand. I asked him if my friends could come along, and he said you could. His cameraman will be with us on this leg. I thought the last flight was strange, this one’s getting stranger.”

The passengers started coming in, with us making sure that the economy ones didn’t try out the seats in our section. Then it was the ones who provided the profit margin. We got everyone sat and belted and prepared them for the overnight hop to Hawaii. Actually, the flight time is just over eight hours, but the time difference and the crossing of the date line means that you can take off around ten that night and arrive in Hawaii at just after two in the morning. This would give us some sleep time, most of the day and then the full next day. I was hoping that I could wear my new sundress for the first time.

The cameraman was sitting behind David, so they could talk. I was introduced to Cecil, who looked at me with a big smile. They worked with some papers before we turned the lights down. For the crew, this was our quiet time. I sat with the rest of the girls, and we took it in turns to walk around to see if anyone wanted anything. We got the breakfast trolley going and then it was time to tidy up, hand out more drinks, as asked for, and wait for the descent.

After we landed, we ushered everyone off the plane, then collected our various bags and cases and boarded the company bus to head for the hotel. Although it was only two in the morning, we had been awake now for nearly twenty-four hours, so a nap was the order of the day.

We were all having a late breakfast in the hotel dining room, when David and Cecil came in. He invited the whole crew to the site of the screen test, one of the locations for his next movie. It was at the Kapi’olani Park Grandstand. Wanda said that she knew how to get there, having been there for a music event.

He then sat with us while we finished our meal and chatted freely about his smash-hit film but didn’t say too much about the next one. We needed to be there at nine, next morning, so the hotel reception was asked to give us all a wake-up call, and to arrange the bus to take us on our excursion. Before he left, he invited all of us to a party, with other film people, at the Prince Waikiki the next evening. I could see all the girls thinking what they had to wear for a glittering event. I was sure that the market would get some customers today.

I walked with him as he left and thanked him for being so nice.

“There’s more to being successful than being good at your job, Jamie, as you well know. Being approachable and sociable works for me. I’ll be feted, tomorrow night, if I turn up with a whole coachload of beautiful stewardesses. It won’t be a coachload, though, tell the girls that there will be two stretch limos at the hotel at seven. They will bring them back after the party. Most of the party will be the ones who will be in the movie, as well as a few of their friends who are in town. We’ll be doing more screen tests than yours tomorrow, just to gauge the depth of the cast. You won’t mind kissing my male star, will you? You’ll meet him there and can practice your acting at the party. I’m sure he’ll fall head over heels for you.”

He gave me another hug before he left. I was getting used to being hugged by a guy, especially this one. I was wondering what his wife was like, as no-one that nice could still be single. Back at the table, I told the others about the limos, and the exodus was on, to get to the shops. I knew that I had my red dress to wear, so didn’t need to rush. I was, though, carried along with the crowd as we went into the shopping area, just a walk from the hotel. I had wondered if my red skirt would be too skimpy here, but I needn’t have worried, as many of the girls we saw were wearing very little, many doing their shopping in a bikini. I did buy some good sunglasses, a one-piece swimsuit, and a floppy hat, seeing we would be outside tomorrow, as well as a pair of white sandals to go with my sundress. We spent much of the later afternoon around the hotel pool.

That night was just for sleeping. Even after a quiet day we were all ready to go to bed by ten. The wake-up calls got us up and going the next morning. The shower here was big enough for two, so Belle and I showered together, scrubbing each other’s back. I was becoming very used to being naked with her, and it didn’t need to lead to sex.

I looked at myself in the lobby mirrors as we waited for the bus to be brought around. I thought that I looked pretty good. I had the orchid sun dress, bare legs, and the new sandals, topped with my floppy hat. All the girls were similarly dressed, and we were all excited to see a genuine movie being prepared. I knew that if nothing else came from this, we could see the film and say ‘I was there’ when it came to the scene at the bandstand.

The driver knew where to go and we were parked a little way from the actual bandstand, alongside some other cars and vans with the name of the studio on the side. We strolled to the bandstand area, where they were setting up for a scene on the steps. There were cameras, big lights and reflectors, boom mics and other technicians standing around. Our arrival raised a cheer from all the guys. The icing on the cake was the sight of a couple of gazebos, with a bunch of people standing in the shade.

Belle gave a little squeal as she recognised a couple of movie stars. I had even seen a couple of films with them in. Then they moved and David came out from behind the crowd with a guy that I knew all the girls drooled over.

“Jamie, that’s Kurt Andreessen. He’s here, in person!”

“He wouldn’t be not here if he’s in the film, Belle. He is a hunk, isn’t he? He was in a movie I saw last month; if he does all his own stunts, he’s a hero in my book, even without the hunkiness.”

David and Kurt came over to us and there was a sigh from all the girls.

“Thanks for coming girls. I gather you’ve all heard of my leading man for this project, by your reactions. I can tell you that he’s as nice as pie, once he gets over his innate shyness. Kurt, this is Jamie, who will be testing for the part of Lily. I haven’t told her anything about the plot, just that she gets to be kissed.”

Kurt came over to me, wrapped his arms around me and planted one on my lips that must have lasted twenty seconds, as his tongue tried to play hockey with mine. When he stepped back, I smiled.

“You realise that you can’t leave it at that. There’s a bunch of girls that will kill me if you don’t give them a kiss. You don’t want to be responsible for the death of your leading lady before there’s anything in the can.”

Kurt laughed and then proceeded to work his way through the group. The other girls all had silly looks on their faces after he finished. He looked at David.

“I love this job already, boss.”

“I really think that we had better run through the test now. Jamie, the guy with the Hi-Vis that has Script on his back has the words for you, it shouldn’t take you long to see what I want you to do. You won’t have to change, that dress is perfect for the scene. The rest of you girls, there’s a lady over there with some tables and chairs. We need to do a scene which takes place in an outside café, and you’ll improve the atmosphere as extras.”

And so, it started. Me looking at lines and the girls all sitting around discussing how long it would take for the ‘Kurt Effect’ to wear off. David and the other actors started shooting scenes. From what I could hear, hardly any of it would actually be in the open air, but it was all to get the feeling into the words. My bit, or so the script guy said, was close to the end of the film. I had met Kurt on the steps of the bandstand to tell him that I was pregnant. He, at first, didn’t want to believe it, but I managed to make him believe me. In the end, we kiss, passionately and he asks me to marry him.

When we got to the scene with the girls in the background, Kurt was facing off with Jack, another star, arguing over Lily, and that ended with them agreeing to fight for my hand. The girls were told to react as if it was real life, and they started out looking uninterested, then worried, and finally frightened as the scene reached its end. If I was sitting there, I would have been frightened as well, the guys were so real. I suppose that this is what acting is all about. It made me want to really play the part of a pregnant girl, pleading with her lover.

When we got to me, I was a bundle of nerves, but Kurt took me aside and spoke quietly about the fact that we didn’t have to nail it the first time, and that there was no pass or fail marks with a screen test. I had to be myself, playing myself as the character. When we did the scene, the girls were all behind the camera and, when I uncurled myself from Kurt, I could see a few crying. Surely, I wasn’t that bad!

The film crew were all smiling, and David had a huge grin. Kurt gave me another, gentler, kiss.

“Where did you train, Jamie. That was exactly what the scene was all about.”

“Train? I’ve never trained to act, just to be a part of a cabin crew. Did you think it was all right?

“Right! If David doesn’t give you a contract, I’ll be angry with him. Together, we can turn this pig of a plot into something the critics will rave over. Don’t let him foist you off with a big payment, insist on a share of the takings. Even if you only get one percent, it could be worth five million US, or more at the box office. On top of that, there’s the takings from DVD and download sales.”

We walked towards David and Cecil, who were looking at a rerun of the scene on a monitor. Looking at it, I saw that there were four separate angles, with four cameras fed into the computer. There was two, set a little way apart, and one behind each of us, focussed on our faces. The sound had been recorded with two boom mics over us.

David stepped back from the monitor, shook Kurt’s hand, and then gave me a hug.

“Jamie, for a first screen test, you two nailed that scene so well we may not even have to reshoot it. It was fabulous. Now, can you all hang around a little longer? There are a few more general scenes that we have to check, and now there’s one that I want you to do with Jack, the guy that Kurt had the argument with. This one happens before that one, and it has you having to fend him off. In the plot, he wants you as a trophy wife, but you’re not going to give in. It’s the total opposite of the scene you just did. Have a break, first, and then see the script guy again.”

There was a food van near where the chairs and tables were, so I went to it and got a lemonade, then sat with the girls and a few of the film crew. The girls all thought that I had done well, and that the scene had been wonderful. I said that I had to do the opposite type of scene before we could leave, and the consensus was that no-one wanted to leave until we were asked to. We were joined by a couple of known actresses who were happy to talk. One had even spent some time as cabin crew, and we talked about the various hilarious things that happen at thirty thousand feet.

I finished my drink and then went to see the script man. The scene couldn’t have been more different. Here, Jack was trying to get me to go to bed with him, telling me all the things that he had that I could share if I did. I resisted and he got angry, with the scene ending as I slap his face and walk away. When we had the cameras rolling, I projected my feelings about my father, and imagined Jack was him, trying to seduce me. I nearly hit him, for real, at the end, just managing to stop my hand before I sent him into next week. I walked away, straight into Kurts arms, and he held me as I calmed down.

“Now that’s what I call real acting, Jamie. You’re wasted with that airline. You are going to be the darling of the movie-goer set.”

“Thank, Kurt. You can let go of me now, I think I can stay upright now.”

“Do I have to? You’re too beautiful to let go of, and too talented as well. We could be a couple as soon as my wife will let me.”

He let me go, a huge grin on his face, and I kissed him on the cheek.

“I knew you were too good to be true. I hope that you bring her along to the party, tonight. I’ll spend the afternoon sharpening my nails.”

We stayed for a while longer, then left them working on other scenes, with a promise that we’d see them tonight. Back in the bus, Cynthia told everyone that we deserved a good lunch, and that she knew just the place.

Just the place turned out to be a restaurant overlooking Waikiki Beach. The girls were all hyper, having spent the morning with several film stars, and one budding starlet. They all told me that I was going to be a great actress.

“What do you mean, ‘going to be’? I’ve been acting the part of a stewardess since the incident over India. Hey! I could propose that as the name of the next film. Jamie Lee, starring in “Incident over India’, with Kurt Whathisname as ‘The Hulk’.”

They all laughed and then Belle put her hand on my arm.

“You have fallen out of character, once that I know of.”

That produced a chorus of ‘ooooh’s’ from the rest. We all enjoyed a good meal, with a lovely view and among friends. I was content, and relaxed - when David, Cecil, Kurt, and Jack walked into the restaurant. As they stopped in the doorway, they saw us and waved. The waiter asked them where they wanted to sit, and they pointed to our table. The staff quickly added a table and chairs, and we all shifted to allow them to sit. All we had in front of us was drinks, and I suddenly realised that these girls would sit tight until the guys had eaten their fill.

The talk shifted to the morning shoot, with the guys telling me that my casting was in the bag, and that the girls would all be contacted to provide extras, as the story had Lily having a group of friends who had minor speaking parts but looked fabulous. They had planned on employing a group of models for that. David said that they had decided to change the script to have Lily as a stewardess, and that it would be natural for all her friends to be stewardesses, as well. That way, they could add some scenes in a plane, with us doing what we did as a job, adding to the realism of the plot. Kurt was happier about the plotline, now, because it created a believable base, with Jack being a first-class passenger who was up himself. We could all give him pointers on how to nail that part!

David said that the only problem it gave him was to find a way to have all the main characters in Hawaii, but he had scriptwriters to sort out things like that. Cynthia asked the important question.

“Are you asking us to give up our jobs and stay here for the filming?”

“No, the only one who will have to do that is Jamie. We can fit in your scenes with the times you can get here. If we have to, we’ll fly you in for a few days. I’m sure that the airline would help, seeing that we could have it as the airline in the film. That, alone, could be a hook for the advertising. Who knows what will happen once the film is released; you may all get offers to be in other movies. I could even make those offers, myself, depending on how you come across in scenes other than crowd scenes.”

That set the girls minds working overtime. They all had the opportunity, now, to be in the movies. I could see the change in them as the guys ate their meal. All of a sudden, we were a table of movie stars, having a nice lunch, overlooking Waikiki Beach. It was intoxicating, that thought. A stewardess has a limited work-life, with the only career moves being working at the training school, getting a modelling job, marrying a first-class passenger, or just going back to the suburbs and finding Mister Right, followed by a couple of kids and a part-time job at a check-out. Maybe, my being vomited on had become an event that would change more lives than my own.

Marianne Gregory © 2024