Hollywoodland: Chapter 2

Diane sat at her desk, reading the copy of that month's Variety. Mr. Goldwyn had just been divorced, but Diane kept wondering when he would go back to the office. It had been two weeks since Mrs. Goldwyn, now Ms. Lipinski, had left him. Charles should have gotten back up on his feet. He was legend for his playboy fun in his youth. Back then, in three months, he managed to sleep through an entire dance troupe before taking a week off and relaxing in Tucson.

A knock on the door woke Diane out of her nostalgia fix. A young man, barely over twenty, stood in front of her. He was tall and had brown hair - she liked that. As soon as she heard his voice though, she heard bells in the distance.

"I, I, I, I have an appointment with a Mr. Goldwyn," the young man said, with a slight but not intrusive stammer.

Diane rose. "I'm sorry, but Mr. Goldwyn is out at the moment. He doesn't have any appointments lined up at all today. Wh-May I ask what your name is?"

"Oh, that's right, how rude of me." The young man took Diane's hand and shook it. "My name is James Stewart. I'm an, an, an, an actor. Mr. Goldwyn called me earlier, he said to come right in his office." James walked to the door with a sign reading Charles Goldwyn, not hearing Diane's protests.

"Mr. Stewart, he's out I tell you. He's not in there, see- Oh! Hello Mr. Goldwyn. I didn't hear you come in at all. When did you-" Diane looked around Mr. Goldwyn's office. Newspapers spread everywhere. A mountain of dishes and half-eaten food spread on the coffee table.

"Oh sir, I thought you were still home. Let me clean this up for you." Diane pulled her dirty blonde hair out of her face and started to clean up. "Ms. Lipinski must have gotten the house - poor man," Diane thought, "he's been in this office this whole time. Why didn't he tell me?"

A much older looking, yet still fifty Charles Goldwyn stepped out of Diane's way. He briefly glanced at James, eyeing him over before sitting behind his desk.

"Mr. James Stewart, is it alright if I call you Jimmy?"
"Well, sir, actually-"
"Now don't go interrupting me - its rude. You see Jimmy, this studio has seen you and your talents on Broadway, and we loved it. Didn't we love it Diane?"

"Yes Mr. Goldwyn." Diane responded, taking on the mountain of food and dishes.

Charles continued on. "We loved it so much that we want you to star in a new film we're going to shoot. The film is going to be a musical. A real boy-falls-in-love-with-girl, girl-falls-in-love-with-boy type of musical. What d'ya think? Eh, Jimmy?"

James sat on the couch, trying to take stock of where he was and what all just happened.
"Well, I, I, I'd have to think about this. I mean, where am I going to live? What about Broadway? I,I,I'm slated to do another play out there. I'm just a stage actor, not a movie star." James knew he wasn't cut out for film. He knew his stammer was going to get him places, maybe even in trouble. He never would have figured it would have gotten him out to Hollywoodland. He didn't want to leave his friends in Broadway, but he also knew this was the chance he always wanted and needed.

Charles sat behind his desk, watching everything unfold, watching as the thoughts and emotions play out on Jame's eyes and face. He knew the man would take the job. It was too good of an offer to decline - a role in a new film, a musical, being shot in Hollywoodland.

"Sir, not to sound too hasty, but I,I,I accept." James said, standing up tall.

"Good. I knew you would see the light. Be back on the lot tomorrow at ten o'clock. Oh, and Jimmy?"

"Yes Mr. Goldwyn?" James was already half-way out the door.

"We're gonna make you a star." Charles took a puff from a freshly lit cigar. He watched James "Jimmy" Stewart leave. Charles had a good feeling about the boy. Charles sat back and propped his feet on the edge of the desk. He hadn't felt this good since he had divorced his second, bless her soul that cheating -.

"Oh, Ms. Slinger? You look absolutely beautiful today."

Diane Slinger blushed, compliments from the Boss were rare at best.
"Thank you Mr. Goldwyn." Diane said, pulling the door behind her to give Charles some privacy.

Charles had found his star in the form of James "Jimmy" Stewart.

The door clicked shut with a feeling of finality.