working hard (in HOLLYWOOD SINNERS

This is an excerpt from my published paperback novel

A man, passing, tipped his black derby hat at her. “Hey droopy drawers, don’t you sound all wet.”

“A star shouldn’t sound all wet. Should she.” Karin forced herself to smile. “I’m going to be a star. I was even on a studio back lot. And it wasn’t a tour. I had the whole place to myself.”

“You look rather droopy drawers this morning. You’d think you’d been sent over by Central Casting to play a part in The Grapes of Wrath.”

Karin looked around. “What’s that?”

He suddenly acted all smart. “Oh, I read they’re going to make it into a movie and plan on having it out sometime next year. Maybe they’ll need a lot of extras.”

“No. I mean, what’s Central Casting?”

“You don’t know? We all go there to get work in the movies. I’ve been in six. As an extra. I’ve been to all the different studios to help fill up their different scenes. Once I even got close enough to say hi to Errol Flynn when we were all dressed up funny for Robin Hood. That was my best part. Usually you just wear your own clothes but that time they gave me something made special just for me, and told me I looked good in tights. Nice knees, they said.”

“How was Errol Flynn?”

“He was aces!”

Karin became filled with great hope. “Really? Central Casting can make you a star?”

“A star?”

“I’m going to be a star. I big hit. A success.”

“Most stars burn out in a flash.” He pointed to a distant billboard advertising Beau Geste. “How long do you think even a Gary Cooper can last?”

Karin said, “I don’t care. I want my chance.”

“You don’t want to be an actor. They’re the lowest. They say of an actor’s shelf life �" that even if he gets success, it’s only delayed failure.”

Karin waved him off. “That’s malarkey. You got to try. You got to try as hard as you can!”

“Well, sorry kid, they don’t make stars at Central Casting. No, they just fill up the backgrounds with faces.”

Karin took a step back. “Well, then, awe, how do you become a star?”

“I’d say make it in New York, first. Be a star there so they send for you. That’s how you get this town to treat you with any respect. If you want to be a star, at all in your condition, work at The Gold Rush.” He chuckled lewdly.

“What’s that? I heard about that place before. What do you know about it?”

“That’s a place where a man finds a lot of nice dancehall hostesses.”

“Oh?” Karin’s mind reeled. “And producers and directors go to this place?”

“Maybe. Why not? They go anyplace, I suppose. You a working girl?”

“Maybe. I got to eat, too.”

“You don’t mind if people use you like that?”

“Not if I can use them right back. Whoever said life was fair? I heard what they say about the casting couch. I have nothing against any couch. Don’t knock it. It’s better than the floor.”

“You want to come back with me to my car.”

“For what?”

“A picnic.”

“What kind?”

“My kind.” He unbuttoned his fly and left it that way. “I know a nice little alley. There’s a locked gate so nobody will bother us.”

Karin asked, “How you going to get in if it’s locked?”

“I open it from the other side. The hinges are loose. If it didn’t stay locked, it’d fall off.”

Karin said, “Sure, okay. It’ll set you back a quarter.”

He nodded knowingly. “I know the score.”

“I hope your car isn’t far.”

“It’s down the block. You stay there. I’ll come pick you up.”

“Give me your tin first. Then I’ll be waiting for you like a good girl.”

“What if you run? What if you try and chisel me?”

Karin smiled wickedly. “Then run me over.”

He smiled like it might be fun. “Here.” He gave her some coins. “I like your style. You stay right there, dollface, and I’ll be back in a heartbeat. I feel my heartbeat already, and it ain’t beating anywhere near my heart anymore. Oh glory!”

“And give me a cigarette.”