G'Day USA Read online

  ‘I’ll have a BLT on toasted wheat. What would you like Charlie?’

  ‘Chicken Caesar salad?’

  Emily raised an eyebrow. ‘Are you asking if we have any, or are you asking for a bowl for lunch?’

  ‘Lunch.’

  ‘Anything to drink?’

  ‘Ice lemon tea for me.’

  ‘Me too,’ chimed Charlie.

  ‘Sitting in here or outside?’

  ‘Outside. We need to talk business.’ Kent nudged Charlie to the door. ‘You’ll bring it out?’

  ‘I’ll bring it out. Go sit, Ellie’s friends.’

  Charlie swung the chair around backwards and straddled it, leaning his chin on the back. ‘So that’s the super plan? Ordering food?’

  ‘You got it. Brilliant, right? I miss craft services.’

  ‘What? Yeah.’ Charlie scratched his chin. ‘To tell the truth, I miss most of the movie business. The money was pretty good, and it didn’t seem like work. Most times.’ He tilted his head. ‘Why are we hooking up with Sweeney when he so royally screwed us over?’

  Kent looked over his shoulder and leaned in close so no one could overhear. ‘I’m going to use him to get better opportunities. No loyalties with that ass. Just go along with it. We can have some fun, make a few bucks and network a bit. I’ve hardly had any work this year and it’s March already.’

  ‘Maybe we go along with him and sabotage him from within. While pretending to be his best pals.’

  Kent laughed. ‘You’re a devious little fucker.’

  Charlie scowled. ‘Except he should be in jail.’

  ‘Or dead.’

  Charlie nodded. ‘That would be justice.’

  Emily came out with a tray bearing food and drinks. ‘BLT for the tall and dark one and chicken Caesar for surfer boy.’ She gave them their drinks. ‘That’ll be $35.00 for the pair of you.’

  Kent winked at Charlie. ‘Ellie told us to tell you she would take care of it.’ He beamed a big smile up at her. ‘She’s great, isn’t she?’

  Emily shook her head. ‘She would have mentioned that. I better give her a call.’ She took a cordless phone from her apron pocket and dialed a number. She held it to her ear for a few minutes before dropping it back into her pocket. ‘She’s not answering. You two worry me. I haven’t seen you before and you were not being nice this morning. I think you should pay. I’ll apologize to Ellie if I’m wrong.’

  Kent shrugged. ‘So you don’t believe us. Doesn’t make it less true.’ He recited Ellie’s number and address. ‘She’s doing a dress fitting this afternoon for her premiere tomorrow night. Hair and makeup tomorrow morning, then the world gets to see who she really is. Trust me when I tell you we are close like this.’ He held up crossed fingers. ‘I think she’ll be offended if you make us pay. We’re her best friends from Australia, and her guests. You of all people should know how generous she is.’

  Emily looked at the two of them. ‘I don’t believe you. But I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt. If I find out you’re pulling a swift one on me it’ll be the last time you ever eat here.’

  Kent smiled. ‘Yeah, sure. Whatever. Give her a call later and see that we’re right. Thanks for the food, Em.’ He turned to Charlie. ‘So, mate, how’s the salad?’

  Emily shook her head and walked back to the cafe muttering about freeloading assholes and too generous ingénues.

  Charlie watched her leave. ‘Well done, mate. Would have ordered cake if I knew what was up.’

  ‘There’s a lot more of that coming.’

  Bart looked at himself in the change room mirror. JC Penney’s would have to do for now. He stepped out into the store where Saul waited like an impatient husband. ‘Full wardrobe for under three hundred smackers. Not bad stuff, too.’

  ‘Are you fucking finished? Or do you want your nails done too?’

  Bart looked at his fingers. ‘Nah, they’ll do. Just one thing left, and you’re going to have to help me with that one.’

  ‘Bart, we’ve got to be in Reseda in thirty minutes. Quit fucking around here.’

  ‘I need a phone. I can’t get anything on contract right now so I need a prepay. I don’t have a valid driver’s license for ID. It expired six months ago. I’ll give you the money, but you’ve got to set it up, okay?’

  ‘I don’t think they ask for identification, but we’ll grab one on the way. I don’t want you to be late, since I’m now apparently your manager.’

  Marty’s PA intercepted him as he came back into the office from a late lunch. ‘I talked to her, boss. She’s fine. Surfing at Huntington. Not easy taking a call when you’re on a board, she said.’

  ‘Surfing? Shit, I hope she doesn’t kill herself. Did you tell her we needed to talk?’

  ‘She said you could catch up tomorrow. Said she was going to be out of touch for the rest of the day.’

  ‘Doing what? She’s a hot commodity. I can’t have one of my top clients out of touch for a whole day.’

  ‘She turned off her phone just after she told me, so yes you can.’

  Marty grumbled under his breath. ‘Okay. I can’t control her. Double confirm the limo I arranged for tomorrow and make damn sure there’s flowers in the back this time, okay?’

  Chloe smiled. ‘You’re stressing over the premiere, aren’t you?’

  ‘No, that’s bull.’ He paused. ‘Well, maybe a little. Her first big movie and she asked me to go with her.’

  ‘Rumors abound.’

  ‘We’re not a thing. I’m her manager, and ten years older than her.’

  ‘Just the right age difference.’ Chloe’s eye’s twinkled. ‘And I think she likes you.’

  ‘How about you squash that rumor like a bug, okay? If you talk to her again today, remind her the limo picks her up at three. I’ll be with it. She better not be late.’

  ‘Consider it done. Now go take a Xanax.’

  Kent and Charlie pulled up outside Bart’s house just as Bart and Saul arrived from their movie meeting.

  Charlie hopped out of car. ‘Perfect timing.’

  Kent stretched. ‘You going to move away from this place Bart? It’s got a lot of history. I know I’d certainly get out of here.’

  Saul and Bart walked down the drive toward the visitors. ‘Boys, you came back. Did you bring pizza and beer again?’

  ‘Sorry, not this time, boss. Can we call you boss? Should we call you boss?’

  Bart looked at Kent and cocked an eyebrow. ‘Eager, aren’t you?’

  Kent and Charlie walked up the drive to meet them. ‘We had some fun on Beast, didn’t we? Mostly. Except for the breaking my foot bit, and you demeaning Charlie every time you opened your mouth, it was a laugh a minute.’

  Saul looked at Bart. ‘What the fuck’s he talking about?’

  ‘History. Ancient history. Right boys? All behind us. I’m a changed man.’ He looked closely at Kent. ‘How long have you known?’

  ‘As long as Ellie has.’

  Bart’s face darkened. ‘Let’s not mention her name. She’s not taking my calls, did you know that? It’s because of her I lost the last year of my life.’

  ‘I thought it was because of what you - ’ Charlie trailed off. ‘Never mind. Like you said. Ancient history. What’s the deal with the movie? What’s it about?’

  ‘You, in a minute.’ He turned to Kent. ‘What do you mean you knew as long as Ellie has? She knew?’

  ‘You said we weren’t talking about her.’

  ‘When did she know? When did she tell you?’

  ‘Right after it happened. She didn’t tell me until yesterday. I think she was afraid of you. I know she’s really pissed at you now.’

  ‘Why are you even talking with her? If you sign up for this deal you have to exclude her from your life. Come in. I’ve got something cold to drink.’

  Charlie followed him up the steps. ‘You’re all over the place about her, mate. Let’s just drop it. You haven’t told us about this alleged deal, and what roles you may have for us
in it.’

  ‘You kids have no sense of timing. Patience, ass.’ He opened the fridge and pulled a beer out for each of them. ‘Back deck. Too hot in here.’ He looked around. ‘But at least it’s clean now.’

  Saul opened his attaché case and pulled out some legal documents. ‘You probably should hear what the project is before you commit to anything.’

  ‘Does it pay well?’ Charlie sat back in his chair.

  ‘“Well” is relative. It’s an independent movie. Bart has negotiated, with the help of his manager, his deal up by 50% with a smaller cut on the back end, so we know the money is there.’ He leaned forward and pointed at Kent with his pen. ‘There’s a part in the movie not yet filled and on Bart’s recommendation they’re willing to give it to you.’ He shifted is gaze. ‘And AD and Second Unit is yours if you want it. The pay is scale with a cut of the profits, but the backers are well known and well connected. Impress here and there’s plenty of work in the pipeline.’

  ‘You still haven’t told Charlie and me what the hell it is.’

  ‘Hitting the high points, it’s about a military guy in the Philippines post-World War Two trying to get over the death of his wife from malaria while falling in love with a teacher at the international school his nine year old boy goes to.’

  ‘So I’m the military guy?’

  ‘No. That’s cast. Jeff Donovan. You’re one of the teachers at the school, a rival for Jeff’s character.’

  ‘I like his stuff. Smiles too much though. Script any good?’

  Bart laughed. ‘Since when did you care? It will be re-written half a dozen times before the movie is in the can.’

  ‘I don’t know if I can work you with you again.’ Charlie sat back and took a long pull on his beer. ‘You were such an absolute dick.’

  Saul shrugged. ‘Bart went to bat for you. Extolled your virtues. Told the folks you were the best new young Director he’s ever seen. It’s your call. It would get you out of the shit you’re doing now.’

  ‘That shit pays better than scale.’

  ‘But it’s hard work, and you’re not going to get much better in the dollar area than you’re doing now. Directing, on the other hand, the sky’s the limit.’

  ‘I’m a fucking genius in the telecomm space, mate. You’d be surprised how much money I could make if I wanted to. And not one client has treated me like this guy has.’

  Bart pointed the neck of his beer bottle at Charlie. ‘Told you yesterday, I was under a ton of time and money stress. Those days are behind me. You’re going to have free rein on all the Second Unit stuff and your input as AD will be considered very seriously.’

  ‘But you know I don’t like you.’

  ‘I like your work.’

  Saul pushed two contracts across the table at Kent and Charlie. ‘Standard management contracts - I’m assuming neither of you have managers right now.’

  Charlie took the paper and picked up the proffered pen. ‘Why am I doing this?’

  ‘You just quit your job mate. You need the rent money.’

  ‘Haven’t quit yet. How much? Fifteen percent?’

  ‘Standard in the industry. You know that.’ Saul licked his lips, snaring his second and third client in his burgeoning management career.

  Charlie signed. He tapped the pen on the table. ‘I know I’m going to regret this.’ He passed the pen to Kent. ‘You on board?’

  His friend grabbed the pen and scrawled his signature across the bottom of the contract without pausing to read it. ‘Hell yes. I’m hitching my wagon to Bart. Anyone who can land a job so soon after getting out of the pen gets my vote.’

  ‘Glad to hear that gentlemen.’ Saul removed two more contracts from his attaché case. ‘The deal for the movie.’

  Kent took the folio and flipped through to the section on remuneration. ‘And you get 15% of this, right? Well, at least I’m not going to be paying you much.’ He flipped through the pages. ‘Dates?’

  ‘You’ll get a script delivered to you tomorrow and rehearsals start on Friday. Two weeks of that and we start shooting. The shooting schedule is a very fast four weeks.’ Bart smiled. ‘So that small amount of money is only, really, two months work. Less, actually. Doesn’t look that small now, does it?’

  Charlie checked his numbers. ‘About the same as I’d make contracting for the telcos. Hardly worth the risk.’

  ‘This is the first step of many, and if you don’t enjoy it, you can always go back to the drudge of working 9:00 to 5:00.’

  ‘The drudge of dawn to dusk is better?’

  ‘It’s a hell of a lot more fun, boy, and you know it.’

  Charlie thought for a second, smiled a half smile and signed. ‘I’m in. No rehearsals needed for me. I’m going to need to see the storyboards and script breakdown to set up the Second Unit stuff.’

  Bart stood and held out his hand. ‘Charlie Bates, I’ve got to hand it to you; you’re as pro as they come. I promise this will be a different experience for you.’

  Charlie looked at Bart’s hand and remained seated. ‘If it’s all right with you, mate, I’m going to do this on my own. We’ll discuss and agree, but I would prefer not to be known as your lackey.’

  He stood. ‘Kent, I’ve got some things to do around here. There are a couple of friends I’d like to catch up with here in the Valley. I’ll call you later, okay?’ He passed the papers back to Saul. ‘Can you send me copies? My contact details are on the last page. Thanks.’

  Bart watched him walk out, sucked air between his teeth and clapped Kent on the back. ‘He’ll be fine, if he doesn’t try to torpedo me. You keep your friend in line, okay?’

  Kent shrugged. ‘I’ll do what I can. Now tell me more about the story. Any sex scenes for me?’

  Chapter Five

  I woke with a start. A vaguely nebulous dream lingered in my subconscious, hints of home, and danger and old friends drifting apart, then faded as the message to pee pushed to the front.

  I satisfied the bladder urges and stepped out on the balcony. At just a bit after 6:00 the sky was a pre-dawn gray. The Pacific was gray also, but calm. Perfect for a morning swim.

  Gulls scattered along the beach as I jogged past the empty bowl of the skate park and across the sand to the water. It was a lonely beach. A few homeless people combed for bottles or loose change left behind in the sand. A regular gave me a wave and a decayed toothy smile and turned back to her task at hand. She was mid-fifties or so, shape almost impossible to determine. She always wore a wool hat and many layers of jackets and coats. I made it a point to stay upwind of her.

  I stripped down to my suit and ran into the water. The cold caught my breath, but it was a momentary pause. I put my head down and swam. Sometimes you just needed to bury yourself in an activity not needing brains. Swimming fit the bill perfectly. It was as automatic for me as breathing. I swam out about a hundred yards then turned right and followed the beach. My stroke was strong. It had been a few months since I last went out, but again it was like breathing. The ocean was really flat this morning, like swimming in a giant, slowly rolling pool.

  With the swimming on autopilot I had a chance to think. I was remarkably lucky. The ascension from getting by week-to-week not even two years ago to where I was now was, by most standards, meteoric. Granted, I had paid a price. I lost a good friend to a senseless murder. That hurt the most. And my social life was non-existent. The hours put in when making a movie as grand in scope as Blood Thunder made a 9:00 to 5:00 job look like a vacation. Not that I’m complaining. But add to that the semi-regular spot on Modern Family and the occasional soft drink commercials and whatever free time I had left was reserved for me and me alone. And even that was sparse. I’ve had time to read only three books in the past year, and none of them were huge. I’m not a slow reader. There just weren’t enough down days. I was mentally exhausted.

  And as an Australian it shocks me to say this: my drinking had dropped way off. Try getting up at 3:00 in the morning for a 4:00 a.m. makeup sessio
n when you’ve had a drop or two the night before. It just wasn’t worth it. And I estimate I had spent more time in the air than on the ground in the last month doing the rounds for this movie. I’d hit every talk show from Conan down to the local cable show run out of the owner’s garage in Boise. At least on the Boise trip I caught up with Joel’s parents.

  After tonight’s premiere I had a break for a day, then it would be red carpets for the next few weeks. The last one in Sydney. I was looking forward to going home.

  I groaned. I realized I was sounding like a spoiled brat. I had done everything I wanted to do. I was making more money than I knew how to spend. And if the early reviews held, it was a pretty good movie. If anyone overheard my whining they’d laugh in my face. Any actor who says they have a difficult job needs a good slap up the head, Gibbs style.

  I reached the north end of the beach and turned back. I was about halfway through. My shoulders were loose and my breath still easy. And I was feeling good, physically. The sun was up and the air was getting warmer. It was going to be a scorcher.

  So here I was, doing better than I could ever imagine myself doing, and living a life I didn’t dare dream of, and I wasn’t satisfied. With all the people I’d worked with over the last fourteen months, I was actually lonely. I was raking in the big bucks, face plastered on half the billboards in town and I was eating alone, sleeping alone and one of my regular non-business, social contacts was currently digging through the sand for lost loose change. The other was a juggler. The last time I saw him work it was a machete, a loaf of bread and a bottle of scotch. Cheap scotch, I hope.

  Aside from those two, my contacts outside the business were sporadic. Regular cafe visits made me friends with the lovely Emily and her husband, but that was based on the money I brought in. I had no illusions.

  I mulled over my prospects for a while. Bumping into Charlie and Kent was a nice surprise. I’d known them for years. They were like brothers. Or cousins. The kind you hear about at family dinners after they’d spent the night in jail for wrecking a club in a drunken brawl. I didn’t need that. Not now. I’d managed to avoid bad press so far.