Chapter 9

Firstly, though, was the matter of getting this project finished. David and the technical crews were on a plane next morning, bound for a post-production studio. Once they had the film in a rough cut, they would be looking for music to go with it.

The rest of us helped the costume girls pack, with a number of items being pushed our way as too recognisable to be in another film. They, and the make-up artists, left the day after, leaving just a few of us to make our own way home. Jack had headed to London with the technicians, and Kym and Kurt had left for their hide-away in Montpellier. The girls and I had no great plans, except to catch up with our friends and just hang out.

Actually, the more we thought about it, the less that stayed important. We decided to go to Tallahassee to check it out, while we were still able to walk the streets without being mobbed. Call it what you liked, but we retained the need to be sure of our facts before we committed to anything. Kym had left us the rough screenplay, so we would have a look at the area and see how the film would look. Tallahassee had been one place that none of us had ever flown to when we were working.

We booked a flight that took us to Los Angeles, and then another, two days later, to Tallahassee. I rang Roger to tell him what we were doing and promised to be home in a week or two. It wasn’t that I didn’t miss him, it was just that I had been much too busy, most of the time, to think about my own life. We didn’t fly with the old airline, so paid for business class. The Prince helped us book our hotels and told us that we would have a limo picking us up at L.A. By now, we all had received two months of salary in our banks and hadn’t needed to spend much while in Hawaii. It was a bit of a wrench to leave the island, but we had work to do.

We had all spent lay-over time in L.A. so knew those safe places to relax. One place we did know was a good spa, so had booked a full day session through the internet. The first evening we had a few drinks in a gay bar, and spent all of the next day being pampered, with my attachments removed to allow my chest to be looked at. Refreshed, and revitalised, we flew to Tallahassee the next day.

We were picked up by a limo from the Hotel Indigo, which was in College Town, so we could walk to see a lot of the places that Kym had set the film. I have to say that she had been right with the lovely buildings that would be in the background. Other places were a little strange, to us English girls. Whataburger and Flippin Great Pinball was not somewhere that I would have set a scene, but, when we looked at the screenplay, we could see where they fitted in.

I had got used to American food, and how they ate it, while we were in Hawaii, but the Madison Social American Restaurant was a little different. I found that the Madso Burger was more than I could finish. We also visited a Popeyes Louisiana outlet, to find that we hadn’t developed a taste for that much spice, just yet. I expect that, if we’re here for any time, I might get to finish one of their huge Spicy Truff Blackened Bacon and Cheese Chicken Sandwiches. Both places had been written in as sites where bodies are found.

When we had seen what we wanted to see, we flew back to New York, then flew, by our old airline, back to London. I had been away from Roger for about ten weeks, and our phone calls didn’t make up for his absence in my life. He was there, waiting for me when we cleared customs, to give me a kiss. We were all heading for our homes, so I hugged Cynthia, Moyra, Belle, and Wanda, and told them that I was looking forward to seeing them soon, and that we’ll be great in the next film. Roger then took control of one of my cases as he led me out to the waiting car.

It was nice to be home, again, but I noticed aspects that I wouldn’t have done so before. The litter, the graffiti, the need of some places to get a coat of paint. It was almost enough to bring me down off my high at being with Roger. What it did do, was to quieten me so that we could carry on a normal conversation. I had been bursting to tell him about the film, and then realised that he should see it, for himself. That occasion would be on the first, private, screening for insiders only.

The driver took us to my home and the boys took the cases up in the lift. When I opened the door, it struck me as being bland and uninteresting, at first, after the hotel rooms I had been in for nearly three months. Roger told the driver that he was off duty, as he would call for a cab once he had helped me settle in. I stood in my bedroom, with two unopened cases, and thought that this wasn’t where I would be coming home to, once the film had opened, if all the predictions came true.

Roger came in and stood behind me as I looked out of the window.

“You’re thinking that this is less than where you want to live, aren’t you?”

“How did you get to be a mind-reader?”

“Because I’ve seen it a few times, before, with other up-and-coming stars, both male and female. Once you’ve lived the high life for months, it’s hard to step back to the old reality.”

I turned around and kissed him, hard.

“That’s for being so understanding. What do you propose I do about it?”

“Leave it a few days for you to get over the feelings, then we can go and look at places that are more suited to your future lifestyle. Places which have in-house cleaning and concierge, a gym, and an office floor where you can call meetings. You don’t have to believe me, now, but it will come. You’ll get over the feeling that it’s all a bit shabby. Everywhere is shabby when you get back to it after a long time away, even the glitziest places.”

“Just my luck, I was looking for a lover and found a sage. Make sure that you keep me grounded, my darling. I felt a bit let down as the project ended, but the girls and I had some time at the setting of Kym’s project, and we think it will work. However, what I need, now, is to empty these cases and lay on my own bed for several hours; just to separate me from the past few months. I would love you to stay, but I’m about to droop and that isn’t a pretty sight.”

He grinned, told me that he would call the next day, kissed me again and then left the apartment. I stood, looking out the window for a while, and then started to giggle. The giggle became a laugh and, with the laughter, came tears. Tears of joy? Maybe, but it was something that released all the tensions of the film. Kym had advised me to let it go when I was alone.

“The project belongs to others, now. You’ll see what they’ve done with it later, but for now, you’ve done all you can.”

She was right, the next time I would see the product of my work would be at the first, private, showing. She had told me that a good cry would make me feel better, but I didn’t believe her until I finally washed my face and looked closely at my red-rimmed eyes. I did feel better, and the project was behind me, with just the future to come. I went and stripped off, cleansed my face, had a shower, put a nightie on, closed the curtains, and went to bed, leaving the cases where they stood.

Around four, next morning, I woke up with an insistent bladder. I was awake and no-one was likely to want me at this time, so I hauled one of the cases onto the bed, opened it, and started to put the clean things away, and adding the dirty things to the wash hamper, which was getting to the ‘must do’ state.

With one emptied, I put it behind my sofa, in the lounge, and worked on the other one. By the time I had that one behind the sofa, I was ready for a good breakfast. That organised and safely in my stomach, I cleaned up and went to have the first shower of the new me, to get me wide awake and ready to face whatever the day brought to my doorstep.

I dressed well, in jeans I had bought in Hawaii, and a top I had bought in L.A., my Anna sweater, and calf boots. I knew that I would feel the cold, this morning. I was doing my make-up when my phone buzzed. Roger asked me how I was feeling, and I told him that I felt fine. He said that he would pick me up in twenty minutes, and that he would take me to see my mother. I thanked him and asked him if it was all right with the office. He said that he had been told to take me there afterwards, as Horatio had some information for me, and that Jim wanted to take me for lunch. At least I wouldn’t have to nuke one of those quick meals.

I had kept in touch with Mum when I could, and knew that she had started divorce proceedings, with the help of Horatio. I had not received any news about my father in the time I had been away. I was downstairs, wrapped in my Burberry, when the Alfa pulled up. Roger got out and we kissed before he helped me get in. On the way to Mum’s, he quizzed me about how I was feeling, and I assured him that I was good.

At Mum’s, I discovered the one thing that she had neglected to tell me about, as the door was opened by a man I had never seen before. He greeted Roger, by name, and said that I must be Jamie. He introduced himself as Bert and ushered us in. Mum was in the kitchen with the kettle on. She came to me and gave me a hug. She was made-up and smelled nice. Bert helped me off with my coat and we sat down. Over the course of the next half hour, I found out that he was a widower, the caller at the bingo hall, about the same age as Mum, and they were living together. I could see that she was happier than I’d ever seen her, and it lifted a weight off my shoulders.

Bert had been a seaman and was a thoroughly nice man. When we left, I got hugs from both of them. I told them that they would get an invitation to a private screening of the film but didn’t know when it would be finished. In the car I asked Roger how long Bert had been around and why wasn’t I told.

“Your mother asked me not to say anything in case you worried. He’s been with her about a month. He had been living at the Mariners Hostel and is well known, and well liked, in the area. She’s happy, isn’t she?”

“She is, and I’m glad for her. Do you think that they’ll marry when the divorce comes through?”

“They haven’t said anything, but it’s likely. The thing with that operation and the divorce seems to have enabled her to start living again. She’s very proud of you, and the way you’ve taken to living as a woman. I think that it has enabled her to set you as removed from your father, which lets her distance herself from her marriage.”

“Not only a sage, but a mystic healer as well. Do you have any other qualities I haven’t seen?”

“Just the model husband and ideal father.” He grinned as he glanced at me.

We both laughed.

In the office, Horatio sat me down and took me through what had been paid into my bank, and also gave me a bottom line of what would be subtracted from the money I would earn from the gross. The amount staggered me, but it included the clothes I had ‘bought’, the spa and salon sessions, and agency costs, such as Roger’s time. There’s me thinking that he was doing it out of the kindness of his heart, or perhaps, love. He also told me that my father had been sent to a military prison before transferring to a normal prison for a period that could turn out to be life.

On the bright side, he ushered me into Jim’s office, who greeted me with a hug, and sat me on an easy chair next to the window.

“Julia, I have to tell you that David is extremely happy with your work. He has the feeling that this film will do even better than his acclaimed debut. Next Monday there will be a car to take you to the studio, where there are a few scenes from the airline sequences that he wants you in to overdub. He said something about when he added the sound that you hear, when flying, it drowns your voice. He could increase the volume but wants you to redo your lines a bit louder, as it would sound more realistic.”

“What about the others?”

“He said that they would just be turned up, but with you being a main character, he wanted total realism.”

“That’s all right. Did he say anything about the Hawaii shoots?”

“Not a lot, I think he’s trying to keep his enthusiasm in check. I believe that he and Irene are back together. Something about the ease that this film took making has slowed down his manic moods, allowing them to be able to relate more easily. Is it right that Kym did some directing?”

“A tiny bit, but a lot of the changes in the screenplay. She did say that she would get credited.”

“Oh, goodie. More money coming our way, and from a movie she doesn’t appear in.”

“Don’t laugh, but there’s a few scenes where she snuck behind the extras, and no-one noticed. I think that she wanted to tell Kurt that she appears in his film, so he should appear in her next one. I’ve seen the draft screenplay and there’s a part in it that’s written for him, seeing that she wrote it.”

“She’s shown you, has she. Do tell Uncle Jim the rest.”

“It is a dark plot that creeps up on you; one of those where they’ll ask you not to tell the end. Kym, with me and the girls, are members of society who are really part of a witches coven. There’s a lot of blood and gore, and some interesting ways to die. Before the detective tracks down the culprits, however unlikely they seem, the body count would alarm a five-star general. When I read her notes on the last scene, I took it to mean that she has a sequel in mind.”

“So, the other stewardesses are already pencilled in?”

“Looks like it. We took a couple of days looking at where she’s setting it on the way home, and I think that it will work magnificently.”

“That’s something you won’t be able to do when this one hits the screen.”

“That’s why we did it now. When I arrived home, I felt that I needed somewhere else to live. Roger suggested a classy place with security and a gym, but I’ve never considered living in a place like that, so have no idea of how to go about it.”

“I’ll put one of the staff on to that for you. They love inspecting upper class residences. You’ll need one in the US as well if you do much work there. It will be needed for you to pay the proper taxes. I have four places around the world, all with a full wardrobe of clothing. It saves you carrying so much luggage.”

Now, that was something I hadn’t thought about. Up to now, I had to make do with the one place and the one, admittedly bulging, wardrobe. All of a sudden, the idea had merit. His next statement stopped me in my tracks.

“There will be, so David tells me, a private viewing of the film to the cast and crew only, to see how you like it, and see if you have any tweaks that you can suggest. The airline owner has been on to him about hosting the press viewing. His idea is for you all to take a flight, out to Monaco, watching the film on the way, and coming back after a lunch there. He was blown away with you girls in the company uniform and wants you to be cabin crew on the way out, along with some of your old friends. He’ll put up gifts to be auctioned for charity on the way back, with you stars leading on the bidders.”

“Jim, you have no idea how bizarre that sounds at the moment. If he had any idea how hard it is to look after passengers, he would have not even thought of it. I suppose that we’ll all have to be in high heels so that we’re ready for the photo-shoot. It could be a giggle, though, when the members of the press get pie-eyed on the booze. They may even write a good review, if they remember anything.”

He took me to lunch, and we spoke about my stellar future as if it was a given. I still couldn’t get my head around what it means to have star status, because all of the stars I knew seemed like normal people.

I hailed a cab to take me to my salon, to make an appointment for a long session. They told me that they could fit me in. They went over my body with a fine laser beam, ridding me of any tiny hairs that dared to make an appearance. They took away the old breasts and replaced them with a pair that matched the new, slightly tanned, skin colour. I took a cab home, nuked one of the quick meals and had an early night.

Over the next few days, I didn’t hear from Roger, and I made use of all the athletic clothes I’d bought, going for long walks, and feeling a lot better for it by the Monday. In the car, the driver was chatty, and told me that there was a lot of excitement at the studio, something about a new film.

When I walked in, it was a buzz of activity. Cecil saw me and came over to give me a hug.

“Julia, darling. This film is shaping up to be the best one I’ve worked on. It may get me an Oscar for the cinematography. I know that the bits we shot were good, but David is absolutely brilliant at putting it together. We’ve got it about two-thirds finished, and he’s being meticulous. Today, we’ll start you in a sound booth reworking some of the in-plane scenes to lift your voice above the background noise. Any other producer would have lowered the volume of it, but he’s aiming at total realism to match how authentic you girls were.”

“How was the arrival scene at Hawaii?”

“That was great. The background airport noises really make it correct, and the echo on the airbridge adds to the atmosphere. I would never have tried that as a single shot before, even with the three cameras.”

He led me to the sound booth where I spent two hours, respeaking my lines while watching the scene on a screen, with headphones on so I could hear everything else. I could tell that the background was right, something we hadn’t factored in when we did the original takes. We all stopped for a catered lunch, and Jack joined me, that afternoon, to add his louder voice.

In between takes, we talked about the likely flight, and he thought that it would be a hoot. If worked right, it would be a big advertisement for the film and might improve the first weekend takings. He said that he had heard that it would have the premiere in London, with another in New York the following week. After that, he told me, it’s absolute mayhem for about a month, depending on how it’s received. He said that the press hound you if it’s a hit and hound you even more if it bombs.

As we spoke about the likely future, we got more friendly than we had been before. I almost stopped to pinch myself, here I was, talking to a famous film star as if we had been old school friends. It made me think about how I would be if I became famous, whether I’d be able to maintain my pleasant demeanour. After we finished the scenes that were scheduled, he took me to dinner, in the city, where I met his wife.

Lisa was a lovely person, and was a very successful lawyer, mainly corporate work, with some pro-bono with homeless shelters and women’s refuges. She told me that Jack had told her all about me, and how I came to be in the film, but hadn’t told her much about the film or its plot. It was a nice meal, and I realised how privileged I was to be eating with them. When we finished, we had hugs, in public, and I went outside to get a cab to go home.

Over the week, I was in the studio, reworking scenes, and it all went well. While I was there, I got to see some of the scenes that I hadn’t been involved in. David showed me the car chase, with two cabs, driven by two American stand-up comediennes. Both were well known for their sassy self-depreciation and wit. The scene went on after both Kurt and Jack had left the scene. The two women ad-libbed for a good two or three minutes, and it was hilarious. David confided that they had never worked together before, so our film would be a first outing for them.

I was being drawn into the inner workings of post-production over the next few weeks and had seen a lot more of the finished product when David rang to ask me if I was available for a day. He had enough of the film to give it to a composer for the music, and there was going to be a recording session at the studio. When I was driven there, I found Kurt, Kym, Jack, and my old friends. David wanted us to be part of the session, to point out any bits that we didn’t agree with.

We were each given some papers on clipboards and a biro, then we were sat on a raised dais that was normally used to place cameras. We could look over the orchestra to a large screen. They had already rehearsed the various parts, but David wanted the recording to be a single take, in sync with the film, to save time. He had told me that he had already pencilled in a date for the private screening and the launch flight, with the premiere already booked.

Marianne Gregory © 2024