I wouldn’t really say that I’m participating in NaNoWriMo, but I would say that I’m trying to make a concentrated effort to write more stories. I have this one story, but only bits and pieces of it. I’m not a good writer, but I hope that practice and feedback might improve my skills. So, I will be posting the journey of this story as I type it out it’s 50,000 words. Even, if I don’t do it in a month at least I’ve done something.
The Look Of Mirth (Unedited Part 1)
“Where the hell are we going?” Jack asked as he rearranged his sunglasses that had slipped down his face while he slept.
“We’re going to some little town in Western Washington,” a voice replied.
Jack was struggling to recover from his alcohol induced slumber. He hated flying, he hated making movies, and come to think of it he hated everything in life at this moment. His head throbbed, while his thoughts banged around in his head. Jack wanted nothing more than to return to his slumber. He tried desperately to make himself fall back into that dark bliss, but he couldn’t get over the droning of the jet’s engines.
“Hey, get me another drink, vodka.”
“Jack, you can’t have any more. We are going to land soon, and I don’t want you to be totally wasted for this.”
“I don’t understand why we are having to go to some podunk town in Washington. Why aren’t we filming on some back lot at Warner Brothers?”
“Well, first off this is an independent film. Remember, Warner Brothers won’t work with you after that last incident. This is the director’s first film, apparently he is hot to make the most authentic movie to his vision as he can. He said something about wanting to make the next great American movie. He’s got this whole little town excited about the film.”
“Why is it that I’m stuck with some young pup that thinks he knows his head from his ass because he was able to write 300 pages of some crap. Doesn’t he know who I am?”
“Yes, he knows who you are. That’s probably the only reason you have this job. He seems to think of you as some idol.”
“Great! Just what I need. Some guy that doesn’t know what he’s doing along with a cast a crew of dimwits set in some backwater town.”
“Jack, can you at least put on some kind of gracious attitude? I know it’s a stretch for you, but you are an actor and you need this job. I doubt I will be able to get you anything else if you fuck this up.”
“Yeah… I’ll make myself all nice and puppy dog soft for this. Just get me another drink, and let me go back to sleep until we land.”
At least this director guy was able to get some money for a private jet to fly us up to this god forsaken place, Jack thought to himself. Jack hasn’t had to leave LA for many years, everything was right there in town. He filmed many of him moves on the various lots and stages at the many studio located in town. He was once the most sought after actor in Hollywood. It wasn’t that long ago that he had his choice of any part or movie.
The jet engines eventually slide Jack back into a slumber. His head bobbed with the occasional turbulence. Max would look over at Jack from time to time.. Max has been Jack agent for last 10 years. He’s more than just an agent. He’s his friend, caretaker, monitor, anything that Jack needs Max gets. He puts up with Jack, and neither of them can understand why Max puts up with Jack. It’s just the way things are, neither of them questioning it.
“Jack, wake up. We’re about to land,” Max said tapping Jack on the arm.
“Huh?”
“Wake up. We’re about to land.” Max said again.
“Yeah, Yeah.” Jack said gruffly, “Will I have a chance to take a piss after we land?”
“Yeah, you can use the bathroom and freshen yourself up when we land.” Max said.
“Freshen myself up? What am I meeting the mayor, and getting the key to the city?” Jack said grinning a sly smile. Jack rearranged himself in his seat, trying to get comfortable. He started to sense something was out of the ordinary when Max didn’t respond immediately.
“Max?” he asked, “Am I meeting the mayor or something?”
“Umm. Yeah, when the town approved the movie filming they got excited, and started planning events around the movie. We’ve tried to keep the itinerary quiet, but the airport people know that we’re arriving. So, my guess is that the city knows you’re here too. Can you try to be pleasant for just this one meeting? You don’t want to piss these people off. They’re giving a lot to this movie. They’re even paying for our boarding. They’ve got us staying at the best hotel in the city. Joe begged me to get you to be nice for this. “
“Joe begged you. See I told you that new directors didn’t know anything. Doesn’t he know that I do what I want?”
“Jack, please. These people aren’t total idiots or new to celebrities. Tom Cruise was here a few months ago. Apparently, the studio had some sort of promotion for his last movie. The contest winner lived here, and Tom came back to town all excited about how beautiful the coast was. He said he was thinking about buying a house out by the water. It’s not terrible, just try and work yourself out of this little box you’ve shoved yourself into.
(word count 1-866)
