Take Two, page 15
I returned my attention to our garden, taking the time to gaze at our orange tree. I loved living where I could go out and pick a fresh orange much of the year. Our back yard was a place of peace and beauty and would become even more so as the years passed.
I soon reached much the same conclusion I had in Fairview. I was never going to properly understand what had happened to me, but it was real. It had happened. All I could truly do was go on.
Would I end up somewhere else without warning? Perhaps, but it was no good worrying about that any more than it made sense to worry about all the bad things that could happen. I was here. Whatever had been, this was my life now. To be perfectly honest, I was content and very thankful to be with Cliff again.
I smiled. That was sorted. I had made my decision and now I would go on. I had the unique opportunity for a do-over. This was my chance to change everything I regretted. I would have problems and make mistakes. Not every day would be a walk in the garden, but I was going to get the most I could out of this second chance.
Mom! She was alive again! It was 1961 and she was alive!
I quickly turned off the hose and ran inside.
“I’m going to see Mom!” I said, grinning.
“Okay, but what’s your hurry?”
“I can’t explain, but I’ve got to see her.”
“You have fun then, but if there is any chocolate cake, you’d better bring me back a piece. You know how I love her chocolate cake.”
“I promise.”
I gazed at Cliff a moment, then hugged him and kissed him.
“I love you so much!” I said.
Cliff laughed. “I love you too!”
I hurried out to my car, my old familiar Ford, except it wasn’t so old now. I started it up and drove toward Mom’s house.
How many times had I wished I could see my mom just one more time? How many times had I wished I could call her and tell her about the little events in my life? How many times had I wished for just one more hug? I actually began to cry.
I parked in the drive and hurried up onto the porch. I knocked on the door, then opened it.
“Mom? Mom?”
My heart pounded as I wait for a response.
“In the kitchen, Dear.”
I grinned. I hurried into the kitchen and hugged Mom tightly, then leaned back and gazed at her.
“It’s so good to see you again!” I said.
“You saw me yesterday, but I won’t complain that you’re happy to see me.” Mom smiled and hugged me.
“Have any chocolate cake? Cliff made me promise to bring him some.”
“Yes, but are you in a hurry?”
“No. No, I’m not. I have all day.”
I smiled again. I almost didn’t care what else this life held for me. I had my mom back.
Chapter Eleven
“I’m going to find something to wear,” I said and headed for the bedroom Cliff and I shared.
Auditions. I could remember a lot of auditions, but mostly I remembered failure after failure because no one believed I could play anything other than Bud Thomas, the all-American boy-next-door.
My life hadn’t worked out too badly last time. It was a bit humiliating to work in the grounds department at Desilu at first, but soon I enjoyed it. That led to a career as set dresser and then set designer. I had also developed a love of community theatre. While I had loved working behind the scenes, this time I was determined to continue my acting career on the big and small screens. If that worked out, I wouldn’t have time to work as a set designer and dresser, but I had already done that.
I worked my way through my closet, rejecting one item of clothing after another. I had nothing that fit the role I was trying to land, so I dressed in a button-down short-sleeve shirt and slacks and walked into the living room where Cliff was sitting.
“I’m heading out,” I announced.
“Me too.”
“Where are you going?”
“I thought I’d mow the lawn.”
“You’re a wild boy, Cliff.”
“You know it. I’ll wait for you to return and tell me you landed the role.”
I gave Cliff a quick kiss on the lips and walked out to my car. I paused and took everything in for a moment—the yard, the car, the house, the neighborhood—everything.
I walked toward the car I’d always loved, my two-tone green 1954 Ford Club Coupe with jet-like chrome accents on the hood that I had purchased when I was a teen and still owned when I was in my 80’s. It looked much better than it had the last time I’d seen it. Like me, it was much younger. I climbed in and headed for Universal.
In the future, many of the old studios would be gone and backlots would largely be a thing of the past. Here, in 1961 Hollywood, things were as I remembered them from my youth. I much preferred it this way.
I had been inside Universal when I had a small role in a film. That was before The Bert Roger’s Show and from my point of view, decades in the past, but the memories still came rushing back as I spotted the studio up ahead.
I experienced the oddest sensation as I gave my name at the gate. I could remember doing exactly this before. I even knew where the guard would tell me to park and the directions he’d provide on how to get to the audition. I could remember plenty more too, but this time things would be different. I was going to take Lance’s advice. I might end up getting carried out by security, but this time I wouldn’t meekly depart in disappointment.
Universal looked a lot like Desilu, but then most studios looked similar with their huge soundstages and backlots. I had missed this. I walked not to a soundstage, but to a building with a series of offices. I signed in and took a seat in a waiting room with a score of other guys who were also in their early twenties. Some of them whispered to each other when they spotted me.
A young guy came out with a clipboard and called off a name. He spotted me and stared for a moment, before ushering the blond boy into the next room. He returned moments later and, as I knew he would, walked to where I was sitting.
“Mr. Bluestone, will you follow me please?”
“Sure.”
Some of the other actors did not look pleased. Perhaps they thought I was receiving preferential treatment. How little they knew about what was really going on.
I followed clipboard guy to a door down the hall. He asked me to enter and wait, which is exactly what I did for a few minutes. Finally, he returned.
“Mr. Stevens, the casting director, is busy with auditions and can’t come himself, but he wanted me to tell you that although you’re a fine actor, we can’t use you.”
“I haven’t even auditioned yet.”
“Yes, but you’re Bud Thomas. You’re too well-known.”
“That’s an asset, not a liability.”
“Not in this case. I’m sorry. He did say he would keep you in mind and call your agent if we have anything suitable.”
“That is not acceptable.” I moved in closer and spoke in a lower voice. “Listen, I don’t want you to lose your job over this, so you need to yell, ‘Mr. Bluestone! Stop! You can’t go in there!’”
The young man with the clipboard appeared completely confused until I headed for the door that led into the room where auditions were taking place. Whether he was following my instructions or was acting out of reflex he shouted exactly what I’d told him.
I kicked open the door. It slammed against the wall, causing everyone in the room to look at me. Three men in suits sat behind a table and a frightened young actor stood in front of it.
“Which one of you is Mr. Stevens?” I demanded.
“I am, but this…”
That was as far as he got. I quickly crossed the room, tossed the table onto its side, sending scripts and papers flying in the process, and jerked him out of his chair.
“So, you don’t think anyone will believe Bud Thomas in this role? You’d don’t think I’m a good enough actor to be intimidating, angry and dangerous!” I snarled, shaking him. “You give me this part or I’ll show you just how violent Bud Thomas can be! So, what’s it going to be?” I brought my voice lower on the last bit and stared into Mr. Steven’s eyes with every bit of menace I could muster.
“You’re hired,” he said and gulped.
I released him and turned to the cowering young actor.
“That is how you audition for a part like this,” I said, then turned back to Mr. Stevens and his associates. “Have your people call my agent. I look forward to working with you.”
I departed, using not the door I’d kicked open, but the door that led into the waiting room. Every actor in that room stared at me. They’d heard me yelling and recognized my voice. I ignored them and walked down the hallway. Only when I was outside did I smile.
Yes! This time around, things would be different.
I didn’t stop smiling all the way home. I had just landed the main role in a film. It wasn’t an epic like Cleopatra. It wouldn’t even be well remembered in the future, but it was the beginning of my new acting career. I was determined to show the world that I could be play other parts besides the boy-next-door.
“I got it!” I announced as I walked into the bungalow I shared with Cliff.
It was not the dramatic entrance I had planned because Cliff wasn’t there. I walked through our home looking for him and finally spotted him on the patio. It was time for Take Two.
“I got it!” I said as I stepped outside.
“Was there ever any doubt?” Cliff asked and kissed me on the lips. How little he knew…
“I tried something bold.”
I told Cliff about my “audition.” His mouth gaped open.
“You didn’t?”
“I did. I jerked him right out of his chair and snarled in his face.”
“What would you have done if he didn’t give you the part?”
“I would have put him back in his chair, thanked everyone for their time and apologized.”
Cliff laughed. “This character you’re playing is a tough, right?”
“Yes.”
“That could create a whole new problem. You could get typecast as a bad boy.”
“I can live with that. I’ve been Bud Thomas long enough.”
“Let’s celebrate! Where do you want to go?”
“Mom’s.”
“You want to go to your mother’s? You were just there.”
“I don’t care,” I said grinning. “We’ll invite ourselves for supper.”
“She’ll love that.”
“You want to call?” I asked.
“Nope, it’s your idea to crash supper. That’s all you.”
“Very well then.”
I went inside and picked up the phone. I couldn’t remember the number at first, but then it came me. I dialed on the old rotary phone.
“Hello?”
I smiled at the sound of Mom’s voice.
“Hey, Mom. Cliff and I are coming for supper. Is that okay? I’ll pick up whatever you want to fix.”
“Oh, I’d love to see you both. I can put together something.”
“We can bring steaks.”
“You don’t have to bring anything.”
“Mom, I just invited us for supper.”
“That’s perfectly okay. I’d love to have you every day. You’re my son and Cliff is just like a son.”
“It may be okay, but we’re bringing steaks. We have something to celebrate. I’ll tell you when we get there.”
“If you insist. I’ll make a nice salad, bake some potatoes and I’ll whip up a cake.”
I knew better than to tell her not to go to the trouble.
“Thanks, Mom. We’ll be there in a little while.”
“Wonderful!”
“Steaks. Good choice,” Cliff said as I hung up.
“Yes, let’s head out and pick up some good ones.”
“We’ll go to The Corner Market. They have the best.”
Soon, Cliff and I were on our way in my trusty Ford. I was glad I had taken Bert’s and Mom’s advice. Instead of buying some fancy expensive car I didn’t need, I purchased a nice, but ordinary car. Cliff and I had always lived well below our means. Financial security was worth more to us than image.
I parked in front of The Corner Market. It was an old-fashioned grocery store where everyone in the know went to shop. The owners were even called Mom and Pop by those who shopped there regularly. Ordinary people and famous actors intermingled inside. I’d once chatted with Jimmy Stewart while he was buying hamburger.
We went straight to the meat counter after we entered. There was a slight wait while an older lady picked out a roast, but soon it was our turn.
“Hello, Adam. Hello, Cliff. What can I get for you today?”
“Hey, Pop. We’d like four ribeye’s, nice and thick.”
“Coming right up. Me and the missus were sorry to hear about your show ending.”
“We were too!” Cliff said.
“It was rough, but I just landed a film and I’m sure Cliff will get something soon.”
“Wonderful! We do like to see our boys succeed.”
Cliff and I smiled.
Gosh, it was good to be back in the old store. Mom and Pop had died years ago and grocery stores like this one were a thing of the past, at least from my older self’s point of view. I had appreciated places like this my first time around, but not enough. That was something else I was going to change.
We chatted with Pop while he cut our steaks and wrapped them up in paper. Then, we walked out, waving to Mom, who was busy helping a customer. There was no need to pay. We had an account and everything we purchased was added to the bill, which we paid at the end of the month. Who needed credit cards?
“I love going there,” I said.
“We’ll have more time to now. Well, I will. You’ll be busy being a movie star.”
“I think you’re a little premature with that.”
“Nope. I’ve always known you’d be a star, but I’d love you if you were a garbage man.”
“A garbage man is more important if you think about it. Sure, everyone loves movies, but I don’t want to think of what would happen if there was no one to pick up the garbage. Phew.”
“Something else I’ve always known is that you’ll never get a big head and think you’re hot stuff.”
“Nope, every time I walked onto our set, I had the feeling I didn’t belong there with all those great actors.”
“You belonged.”
It was a short drive to Mom’s house. We walked up to the front door and entered without knocking.
“We have arrived with the steaks and Cliff has volunteered to grill them,” I announced.
“When did I do that?”
“In about five seconds. You don’t want to let those grilling lessons Bert gave you go to waste.”
“Ha.”
Mom was busy in the kitchen when we entered, but she paused long enough to give us both a hug. I hugged her extra-long. I couldn’t get enough of hugging my mom.
“What is that I smell?” I asked.
“Banana cream pie.”
“You know that’s not a cake, right?”
“I changed my mind. You said you had news?”
“I do. Where is short stuff?” I asked.
“I heard that!” my brother said entering the kitchen. Monte was now sixteen and both taller and more muscular than me.
“We’re all here, what is your news?” Mom asked.
“I just landed the lead in a film.”
“I’m so happy for you,” Mom said and hugged me again.
“Congratulations,” Monte said.
“I’m excited. It’s about a young tough guy who rounds up all the malcontents in a small town and takes on corrupt leaders.”
“Well, so long, Bud Thomas,” Monte said and laughed.
“Yeah, they weren’t even going to let me audition, but I busted into the room and threatened the casting director, just as my character would have done.”
“Adam…” Mom admonished.
“It was only to show that I could handle the part. I didn’t hurt him,” I said.
“That is the most, Adam,” Monte said.
“I knew I had to show him I could play someone besides the boy-next-door.” I didn’t mention how I knew that.
“Maxine landed a film too. She’s starring with Tab Hunter,” Cliff said.
“Oh, he’s so handsome,” Mom said.
“I hope I get a job soon,” Monte said.
“You will,” I said with complete conviction. He didn’t know it now, but he would soon land a role in a TV series and would quickly become the star.
“I had better get the charcoal going,” Cliff said.
“I already have. I’m hungry,” Monte said.
“Then, I’ll get to grilling the steaks.”
Cliff exited the back door.
“Anything I can do, Mom?” I asked.
“You and Monte, can set the table and get everyone iced tea.”
I enjoyed working alongside my brother. He was truly the man of the house now. He had been since I’d moved out a few years before, but he was only a kid then. I was glad he was here to help Mom and watch over her.
It was difficult reconciling my two lives, three if one counted my time in Fairview. Thinking from the point of view of three different times was confusing, so I made an effort to think from the point of view of the present, 1961 that is. Otherwise, I’d go crazy and I’d doubted my sanity more than enough already. I was here in 1961 now and here is where I’d hopefully stay.
After we finished setting the table, I went out back to see how Cliff was getting along.
“It will take a while to grill these since they’re so thick,” Cliff said.
“I don’t mind waiting. I love the scent of smoke coming off the grill. Hopefully, Monte won’t starve before they’re ready.”
