Threading Example - PB - Golden Age of Hollywood


Me: Georgia Stock never thought she'd see her name in lights. In fact, she hadn't yet really considering her given name was Genevieve Stockton, her agent made her change it once she got signed to MGM. But there it was GEORGIA STOCK starring in CRAZY EIGHTS. And there might have been the mention of someone else's name on the marquee but she tried not to notice. She tugged her gloves up on her wrists impatiently. The nerve of that man. The entire time they'd been shooting the picture had been some form of torture she was sure. He was the most arrogant, selfish, boring man she'd ever met. Once they were done she counted on the fact that she'd never have to see him again. That of course, wasn't the case. Some celebrity magazine had started the rumor the two of them were an item, which couldn't be farther from the truth.

The premiere was crowded, with fans and the press alike. She waited in the back of the Rolls for someone to open it so she could make her grand entrance. As soon as she put one high heeled foot out of the car, the flash bulbs started popping and the crowd cheered. She put a huge smile on her face and pulled her fur stole around her shoulders as she waved, arm held high. She blew kisses to her fans as someone stepped up to take her arm. She thought it was just one of the valets but as she glanced to her side, she saw it was him.

She kept the smile on her face and watched the crowd, but talked to him. "Scram, buddy. This is my show." She mumbled under her breath.

Them: Gary Marlowe was used to the spot light. His parents had been big time silent film actors in their day, having worked with MGM since they opened back in '24. When Gary came around it was no question what he would do with his life since they had thrown him into acting when he was young. Now at the age of 29 he was already a big star, having gained quite a reputation for himself as a ladies man. Tabloids loved to follow him around, seeing what he'd get up to next and what new starlet he'd set his eyes upon. This month it seemed to be Georgia Stock, his co-star in Crazy Eights.

There was something about her he couldn't stand. She was nothing like the starlets he had worked with before. She annoyed him and drove him crazy so naturally he did everything he could to annoy her in return, even going as far as being boring and selfish. While Gary was honestly nothing like that he got a kick out of seeing her all worked up in a tizzy over something he'd done. So when a tabloid got hold that they were an item, he was upset, naturally. They neglected to tell Georgia that the scheme was a good idea, to keep it going despite knowing that they both couldn't stand each other. But being the good little golden boy that he was, he did as he was told, considering his parents thought it to be a marvelous idea as well. Hollywood was a town he knew well and if the rumour could be kept up for a while, he could easily end the relationship quickly.

On the opening night of their first (and hopefully last) movie together, he had been talked into going to the premier and walk in with her, for looks. As he straightened his bow tie and fixed his jacket, someone opened the door and gestured to where she was. With a big smile for the fans who screamed "Gary!", he walked up to his 'starlet of the month' and lightly touched her arm.

Still smiling, he was able to say, "Not any longer it's not, doll. It's our show." Of course he was being arrogant. Nothing new.

Me: She snorted with laughter. "Oh really? That's why all the reviews say you're losing your charm with age then, is it?" Of course, some of the reviewers also said that Georgia couldn't act her way out of a paper sack, but she wouldn't mention that at all. She made sure to dig her elbow into his side as he escorted her down the red carpet.

One of the reporters stopped them. "Hey kids, look this way for a photo!" They turned and did so. The rest of the press ate that up and started shouting more things for them to do. "Give him a kiss, Georgie! Lay one on him!"

She laughed, even though she'd rather punch his lights out than kiss him. She tipped her head up to let her lips brush against his cheek, leaving the perfect red lipstick print. There's your front page, boys. She thought smugly.

Them: He made his own sound of small laughter from the back of his throat. "Ah yes, you mean the one that was right next to your review? What did it say? That you act worse than a cat does?" Even though her elbow dug into him, and it did hurt, he didn't bother to make a face as he walked with her. This was some night.

When the press got wind of them together and wanted a kiss, well a kiss on the cheek wasn't going to do. No way. "I got one even better for you," he called out and pulled her towards him for that great acting kiss on the mouth. Now that was the front page story right there. He absolutely hated her and that was part of the reason Gary kissed her; he knew she'd hate it even more than he did so he got some form of pleasure out of it.

Me: She almost slapped him when he pulled back, but thought better of it considering how many members of the press were snapping photos. And how many members of the crowd were cheering. She only laughed demurely and pressed closer to him. The gossip rags could think they were going out as long as it would sell more tickets to their movie and make her a bigger star.

They walked farther down the red carpet toward the theater entrance and soon reached the small platform where the microphone was. The radio announcer was shouting their names. "Hey you two lovebirds! Let's get you over here for an interview, what d'you say?"

Them: The kiss should have warranted a slap from her but he only figured she held it back because of the press. That would have looked good on film, a supposed lover slapping her man because of who knows what. Luckily though he was spared that and they wouldn't have to answer any questions about that.

Being used to the red carpet flare and the whole nine yards, he kept his arm about her as they made their way to the radio where the man was asking the questions. With a flourish he got up on the platform and leaned forward. "I say I think that would be a wonderful idea. Fire away with the interview, Mark." Obviously Gary knew this guy personally, from both his parents and his own perspective.

Me: She kept a huge smile on her face, because that's what she was supposed to do. Smile and look glamorous. They sure had taught her well. Making movies wasn't just about the acting. Oh, God was it ever not about the acting. There was the singing and the dancing and the studio even paid for her to have lessons on how to talk to the press, how to invent a 'persona.'

"So, I see the rumors are true. Quite a couple you two make." Mark nodded and she leaned forward to talk into the microphone. "Well, thank you, doll. We just had such a laugh filming our movie." She looked up at Gary and pressed a hand to his chest fondly.

Them: Since he was more experienced in the area of radio and interviews, he held her close and said, "Not just a laugh, but as you well know our chemistry from off screen showed well on screen. Maybe they'll keep putting us together for movies." It was sickening to have to put up a display like this but for the sake of selling tickets and making box office gold, Gary would do just about anything.

Mark laughed heartily. "Tabloids are already calling you the next Myrna Loy and William Powell. What do you have to say about that?"

Again, he was on the who said something. "Great actors but they might need to watch out for us. We might rival them in how many movies we end up doing together." Hell, the studio had already lined up four movies within the next so many months for them, so it wouldn't be a big surprise if they worked together even longer.

Me: She almost did a double take at that, but tried to hide it. Just how many movies was she expected to do with this chump?! That was news to her. Well, most things were news to her, she wasn't kept in the loop like he was. He knew everything that happened in that studio. She clenched her jaw and smiled, fully planning on giving him an earful when the got inside the theater. A few months on set with him that she had already had to endure were nearly too much. What would another film do to her? Or two more? Or...even more than that. She couldn't afford to be picky and choosy like him. She had to take whatever came along.

Them: Gary was usually only in the loop because of his parents. If they knew something, chances were it would get to him not long after that. Hell, his mother was the one who wanted to keep Gary and Georgia together since their on screen sizzle was just that, a good sizzle. Mark the reporter laughed some and said, "Well, alright you two lovebirds, we'll let you get inside the theater before your movie starts." He just smiled and said his thanks, then led her off the platform and mentally relaxed some. The worst part was almost over.

Me: She waved the rest of the way into the theater and once they were safely through the doors and in a secluded part of the lobby she let go of his arm and smacked his shoulder. She probably would have done more than that, but she was a lady after all, and a movie star to boot. Wouldn't be right for an up and coming actress to go around pouncing on their costars.

"What's your angle?" She glared up at him. "And where do you get all this information?" She hissed. "More pictures with you? Darling I don't know if I could stand it." Truthfully she knew she could if she absolutely had to and she knew she would have to because she wanted to be a star in this town, the only way that would happen is to be in more films.

Them: He was about to make a remark about the slap on his shoulder but instead she was glaring at him, going off on some tangent about the movies. That only caused him to smirk as he lightly rubbed where she hit him. "I'm in the know. Sorry that you aren't, sweetheart." His voice practically dripped with sarcasm. "You'll do the movies or they'll fire you. Simple as that. We sell movies and they know that. If you don't want this anymore, fine. I can find another young starlet to be on my arm."