Chapter 10
Hi everyone, so while I was writing this chapter, I realized I forgot to ask a few questions and had to back track a lot. So this chapter doesn't cover what I thought it would, but I still hope you all like it.
Before I ask my questions, I will review and answer yours. Oh, and I know for many of you it will seem like I am repeating myself, but I also do these reviews for the other fans who may or may not read your comments or questions.
DaoistsMthQw was wondering about when I will update my other stories. For those who are wondering, with him, the other Hollywood story is undergoing rewrites, and I am on chapter 20 so far, as well as developing a timeline. Lost all my notes on it, so I forgot where the hell I was in it. As for the Tech one, it's on hold and will stay there for a while. Sorry to all those who like the story.
Taoist_yuri, I have my plans for Liz and Ruth's relationship. Needless to say, you're right, the relationship will end. When I'm not sure, but it will at some point. I do this for several reasons. First is the position they are in. Now, Ruth herself will, sooner or later, become untouchable. Lucky Pictures will become too big and she will come out, but that isn't till at least the 60's. Liz, however, is an actress, and from her own history, she doesn't seem like the kept woman type. Another factor will be where they can be together. Right now they are in the more or less honeymoon stages, but when that high ends, so many things are against them. We are also too far apart from the end of the story to say they ended up with each other. Plus, come on, there are so many beautiful women, and does anyone reading this story really want a permanent couple so early lol?
For those of you who don't know, Darth_Vesha asked me about Ruth being a collector. Ah, she is basically a hoarder. Expect you know who shit is clean and worth a lot of money down the line. In fact, her sports collection will make the Yankee Museum and Cooperstown look weak, and that is just baseball. That said, I made up my mind I will have her buy DC and Marvel down the line, but the question is, should she get into business with Playboy? I feel like she would do it to do it.
Dao_8teh, you ask the best questions, so please keep it up. Nutrition and exercise are her things. She is the expert, and many stars, both male and female, especially those who work for her, will end up practicing it—some more than others. So many will age better, especially the women. Now I don't know how long I will keep the story going, but she will basically look like Jamie Lee Curtis does when she reaches her 80s. Now, as for helping other actors. She does help many, and at the top of my list are, of course, such people as Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, Frances Farmer, James Dean, and hell, I may have her kill Charles Manson before he gets to Sharon Tate. Some people, of course, died by pure accident. Like Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens, but I think it could have been avoided if people who put the tour together hadn't cheaped out on the bus. I will most likely do cameos. I mean, she is already doing Jackie Chan's type of blooper reels.
D_eta015, that is a great idea. A world tour isn't such a bad idea, and I can use it as she is taking a break from filmmaking.
Groomable4 I love you memes. Keep it up lol.
Okay, so there are a lot more questions and comments to go over, but I feel those are the main ones. If other readers want to know more, ask your own questions, and I will try to answer them or look at the comments others have left.
Now on to my questions. First Boom town in history cleared 5 million at the box office. Again, she uses the same tactics as before, not to share profits with the independent theaters. That is going to come to an end, however, haha. She had the mob in her back. So people will play nicely. First question should make more? Shane made 6.5 million. I could see it making more based on hype despite not being anywhere near as good a movie as Shane. That is my first question. The 2nd and 3rd questions are at the bottom of the chapter, so as not to spoil anything.
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"People often ask me how I can tell when someone is a star in the making and when someone isn't. That's a fair question. So let me explain it like this: First, leave all emotions at the door. Set aside your biases, hatred, desires, and shit behind. In other words, men, stop thinking with your dicks. I know that may sound surprising coming from me, but please hear me out.
Look at the script in your hand and try to understand the character. Think about who that character is, how they look, and so on. But then, toss those fucking thoughts out the window. You need to step back and truly observe the people auditioning for the role. Every star who has endured the test of time possesses something special. You might not immediately recognize what it is, but when you see it, you'll understand precisely what I mean." – Toby Madigan interview, 1967.
-1940-
-Toby POV-
As I sat down at my desk, rubbing my temples, I couldn't help but think, "I am surrounded by idiots." And I mean that in the nicest way possible.
Some may ask, "Toby, why do you think you're surrounded by idiots?" Well, it's actually quite simple.
After everyone returned from visiting their families for Christmas, they looked, more or less, exhausted. It didn't matter if it was supposed to be the so-called most joyful time of the year; once you reach a certain age, Christmas becomes more stressful than fun. Fathers are working overtime to buy presents for their kids, and mothers are spending the entire week cooking for family members coming into town. Even just visiting family can be a hassle.
Take my family, for example. While I got along well with my siblings, the same cannot be said for my extended family. When the depression hit, it hit hard, affecting everyone in some way, shape, or form. Yet some of my family did better than others, but no one came to my mother's aid. Not a single one of her own siblings came to offer a helping hand. And I'm not talking about just money. My Uncle Scott lived no less than 20 minutes away from us and had a house, a job, one kid, and a good wife, but not once did that motherfucker or his bitch of a wife offer to watch my siblings and me when Mom had to go to work? Not one time.
In contrast, my mother, being the good Christian woman she was, found ways to send money to that same uncle and several others in her family whenever they squandered their own. This infuriated me. How could they take her money and give nothing in return? It only got worse. As soon as Lucky Pictures released its first successful film, my extended family started showing up out of nowhere. Relatives I didn't even know existed began to appear, asking me for money, jobs, or some other form of help. I couldn't believe it—fuck them.
Anyway, I digress. The point I'm trying to make is that Christmas for adults often feels more stressful than joyful. Take Raimondo and Sam, for example. They looked terrible when they returned home, and they came from better families than I did. So how could they not see what I saw? I mean, when Ruth came back from visiting her family looking genuinely happy, that was a clear indication. She hated having to go to her stepfather's house and seeing her father in prison. This situation always left her feeling down for a few days. Yet, she looked wonderful, stress-free, and even glowing. And they wonder why.
I wanted to slap them for being so oblivious. If they had paid attention, they would have noticed that while Ruth appeared happy and energetic, Liz... well, Liz looked half dead. She was still beautiful, but it seemed like she had one foot in the grave. They—meaning not just Raimondo and Sam—attributed it to her being sick. However, anyone with half a brain could see that Liz was suffering from dehydration and lack of sleep. In other words, she was probably exhausted from too much fucking.
"Well, at least I finally have my answer about whether she and Ruth are a couple."
I had my suspicions, of course. Knowing that Ruth was a lesbian and observing the way she treated Liz were pretty clear signs. However, I hadn't asked about it because it wasn't my business. Now, though, I was starting to question that stance.
Don't get me wrong; I was happy that Ruth was finally getting some. The girl needed help relaxing, but really, it wasn't the right time for one of our leading ladies to be too tired to work, especially with so many things currently going wrong.
Alan was sick, as was Bogart, and half the crew, including maintenance, were sick. The actress playing Whitey had to drop out, and the costumes were delayed once again. We also experienced several unexpected equipment failures before we even started filming. Yet, through it all, Ruth kept smiling, and everyone kept wondering why.
"I am really surrounded by idiots," I thought once more as I held an emergency casting for the role of Whitey.
The role itself wasn't a significant one, but I disliked making last-minute fixes. Being in charge of casting meant I had to solve this problem, and while I wasn't a perfectionist like Ruth, who was also in the room with the others, I still had my own standards. So, although the role wasn't a major one, I was still searching for someone who stood out among the others. If it had been just a background role, I would have been happy to give it to any number of aspiring actresses I was sleeping with. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case, and I was beginning to feel like I might have to settle for someone worse than the woman I initially selected for the part.
That was until the door opened and I saw a young woman with jet-black hair run into the room, breathing hard, sweat covering her face, and barefoot.
-Jenny Blake POV-
"Oh my God, I was late. So, so late. How could I be late? I have never been late for anything in my life, and today had to be the day I chose to be late." I thought to myself as I rushed into the audition room at Lucky Pictures. This was the same Lucky Pictures that had just released the hit movie 'Shane.'
The same 'Shane' that had received three Academy Award nominations for Best Actor, Best Music (Scoring), and Best Cinematography (Color). And sitting right in the middle of a group of men was the woman who made it all possible—Ruth 'Morris' Luciano. She was the owner of Lucky Pictures, as well as the writer and director of 'Shane.' A woman who might as well be a legend for achieving more with one film than most women in this industry do in a lifetime.
"And I was late," I thought again, letting out a mental sigh. I was pretty much resigned to the fact that there was no way I would get this role after being late. One thing I had learned in my short time in Hollywood was that studios didn't wait for anyone, especially not for a no-name actress like me. Yet, for some reason, Miss Luciano was looking at me oddly.
There was no trace of anger or annoyance on her face, as one might expect, only a sense of wonderment. No, that wasn't quite the right word. Her expression seemed more confused than anything, and when she tilted her head to the side, it reminded me of a puzzled puppy—adorable in a way.
"I take it you are Miss Blake?" a man in a fashionable pin-striped suit asked.
Looking over at him with a start, I could tell right away that, unlike Miss Luciano, he was not exactly pleased to see me. It didn't take me long to realize that this must be Mr. Madigan, the casting director—the man who would ultimately decide if I got the job.
"Great job, Jenny. Five seconds in, and you've already angered the casting director," I thought to myself.
Oh well, I might as well see if he would even let me do my reading. "Yes, sir. I am..."
"Start reading the lines on page six," he demanded in a harsh tone of voice.
"Well, at least he is letting me read," I think to myself as I take a deep breath and prepare to read for the role of Whitey. It's a minor role, but one that would actually give me lines for a change.
Once I finish reading, I lower the script in my hands and look at the people in front of me, hoping against hope that my performance was good enough to impress them. Then, I hear Mr. Madigan say, "Miss Blake, you may wait outside with the others. You will be informed shortly if you got the role."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," I respond, thinking that at least it's not a complete rejection.
-Toby POV-
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fucking God, damn it all to fucking hell." I think to myself.
Why did she have to be late? Of all the times to arrive late, now was not the moment for that. I had always been a good judge of character, and the moment Jenny walked in, I knew we had a star in the making. It was like a tingling sensation at the back of my head; I could feel it. It was the same feeling I had when I first really looked at Ruth. Or Liz, Hedy, Alan—honestly, the list went on and on. What they had, she had in spades. Even her reading was perfect, yet she still had to be late.
"Shit, how was I going to handle this?" I wondered to myself.
While it was true that Ruth had put me in charge of casting and would likely never overrule me unless absolutely necessary, this was different. Ruth didn't tolerate tardiness unless your name was Ruth or Liz, and in the case of the latter, may not even then. She just didn't. Call it a character flaw, but she was the boss; she could be late as much as she liked and rarely was. In social events, sure, she was late all the time, but on the set of Shane, she was more often than not on the set long before anyone else.
So now, how was I going to convince her to hire this girl? Jenny wasn't just perfect for the role, but she was much more. I just knew it, and if we missed out on getting her, we would regret it later on down the line.
"Well, she was interesting," I hear Ruth say from beside me.
Looking over at her in surprise, I respond with the first thing that comes to mind, "Huh?"
Ruth meets my gaze and asks, "Don't you think so?"
I give her a somewhat perplexed look and say, "No, I mean yes, but… she was late."
"Hmmm, that's true, and I can't say I'm pleased about it, but you heard her reading. She was, without a doubt, the best we've seen so far. We could keep looking, but I have a feeling she will be the best we find. Do you all agree?" Ruth asks me and the others.
Raimondo and Sam both nodded in agreement. There was little doubt in their minds that Miss Blake was, without a doubt, the best so far. However, they knew Ruth well and understood her approach to business. It was unusual for Ruth to overlook something like lateness so easily. Outside of business, she was more forgiving, but during work, not so much. Therefore, her willingness to forgive and forget was strange to them.
Taking a moment to gather my thoughts about this sudden change in her personality, I can't help but wonder if finally having sex with Liz has affected Ruth so drastically. I knew that the two of them hadn't been intimate until recently, as the constant look of frustration on her face made that clear. But could having sex really have changed Ruth so much that she is now willing to overlook one of her biggest pet peeves?
"I agree, I think she is perfect," I finally admit.
"Good, I'm happy you agree," Ruth replies. However, she then adds in a sweet yet unsettling tone, looking directly at me, "Oh, and Toby, if she is late again, I will hold you responsible."
A sudden chill runs down my spine as I think, "Never mind, she's still angry."
That's my last thought as I watch Ruth stand up and leave the room.
-Ruth POV-
"Well, this was unexpected," I think to myself.
Jenny Blake... Jenny Blake? Why did that name sound so familiar to me? I couldn't put my finger on it, but I had definitely heard that name somewhere before, though I couldn't remember where. I knew it wasn't in my current life, especially since she wasn't the type of person one easily forgets. I mean, I love Liz; I really do, but, wow, that girl was stunning. Easily 5'7" with long black hair, bluish-green eyes, and a body to die for. She was certainly Liz's equal, objectively speaking, and slightly behind Hedy in terms of pure looks.
In other words, she was my type of woman. The kind I would want to get to know better if I had the chance to be with her. So it was clear that we had never met before, leaving my past life as the only explanation for where I might have seen her. But again, I couldn't pinpoint where, which highlighted how different I was from my past self.
On the surface, we appeared to be the same person. We shared similar interests in movies, music, sports, and women. However, the main difference between us was my willingness to resort to violence and manipulation to get what I wanted, while my past self did not behave that way. Additionally, my past self had a tendency to forget things. You could call it a goldfish memory; she just struggled to remember people's names. She could recall faces easily, but names often slipped my mind. I wasn't sure why that was the case, but that was just how it was.
Anyways, it was the same with Miss Blake. I felt like I recognized her from somewhere, but I couldn't quite place it. Her name rang a bell, and she reminded me of an actress from the movies *Labyrinth* and *Career Opportunities*, but that was all I could remember. I didn't even recall that actress's name, just that she was attractive and looked great on a mechanical horse.
Perhaps she was a relative, or an actress who never made it big—this seemed plausible. After all, there were many in Hollywood who fit that description. Yet, it didn't quite add up. Despite being late, her audition was flawless. The role of Whitey might have been minor, but her performance was impressive. There was no doubt she had talent, and her looks certainly helped, but her name still eluded me.
Could it be that she hadn't resorted to sleeping with anyone for favors? That seemed possible. Men and their fragile egos can be easily bruised—especially those in positions of power. They loved to look down on women whom they deemed as little more than whores, but when a woman refused to act like one when they desired it, they became agitated. It would be funny if it weren't so sad.
Well, whatever the case, it didn't really matter. If those other studios didn't want to give her a chance, I would. So long as she wasn't late again. I knew my own flaws well enough; while I often ran late for many things, I never let it affect business. I wouldn't tolerate it unless it were unavoidable, like right now.
Letting out a sigh, I went to my office to review the storyboard once more. Despite appearances, we were not behind schedule—at least, not yet. I had already accounted for potential setbacks, such as crew illnesses, in our schedule. It was 1940, after all, a time when a common cold held far greater risks than it would in twenty years, not to mention in the 21st century, and we were in the middle of winter. Really, everyone needed to grab a drink and calm down.
Though, to be fair, I could understand the mild panic among the crew. No one, not even I, had expected half of our team to catch colds, nor did I foresee our two leading men falling ill as well. Additionally, one actress had to drop out because her mother was hospitalized back home in Kentucky. It was unfortunate but unavoidable. To top it off, part of our maintenance staff also became ill, leading to some equipment failures.
If you overthink it, it might seem like someone is working against us, but that's not the case. As I told my father, I went to New York to hire some guards for the studio. After speaking with several members of the Luciano family, who were looking to break away from the mob life or feeling the pressure from the police, I managed to hire a few associates and soldiers who wanted to leave but couldn't. You don't truly leave that life unless someone deemed untouchable offers you a job. In this case, that someone is me.
As a civilian and a woman, I made it a point to do things the right way. I approached the acting boss, Frank Costello, to ask for permission to hire his men. Although I didn't technically need to do this, it was the respectful thing to do. I didn't stop there; I also reached out to the heads of the other five families, all of whom I knew on a first-name basis. One of whom was Joe Profaci. Now, I wasn't particularly close to him, but he had a niece who I knew aspired to work in the movie industry, but not as an actress. This young woman had suffered a sledding accident in her childhood and was astute enough to realize that she didn't fit the conventional standards of beauty for acting. Instead, she was interested in pursuing a career in makeup—something I could help her pursue.
Aside from my father's family, others were generally not interested in allowing me to recruit their men. No matter how I framed it as a temporary haven for their troublemakers until the heat died down, my efforts were largely unsuccessful. However, Joe was different. He was more than willing to let me have one of his promising young men in exchange for a job for his niece.
John "Sonny" Franzese was a young man I had the pleasure of meeting several years ago when he defended my honor against a made man from the Profaci family—an act that could have cost him his life, though it could have turned out much worse if he hadn't intervened.
You see, when I was 16, I was on my way to a hotel after visiting my father in prison. I decided to stop by an old diner that my father used to take me to, a small mom-and-pop place that, in my opinion, had the best lasagna in the city. As I was walking down the street, I encountered some men from the Profaci family. I recognized a few of them, not by name but by face, and I always made it a habit to greet men I knew by saying hello, even if I didn't know their names. They, of course, knew me as the daughter of Lucky Luciano, which afforded me a certain level of respect in turn, even though I was a half breed Irish mix. After all, one of the mob's golden rules is never to disrespect a made man's wife, daughter, or niece.
One of the young men who had just been made seemed not to have received the message, or thought he could get away with it, since my dad was in prison. I was willing to ignore him when he wolf-whistled at me and even let it slide when he called me, and I quote, a "fine piece of fire crotch ass." However, when he touched me, I was no longer willing to overlook his behavior. The moment he slapped my ass, I was ready to retaliate. Fortunately, I didn't have to, as Sonny, knowing who I was and what had just happened, punched him in the mouth. I swear I heard the man's jaw break.
If I had been anyone else, that would have been the end for Sonny. Attacking a made man when you weren't one yourself was nearly a guaranteed death sentence. However, I wasn't just some random woman off the streets. I was a boss's daughter, with deep connections to those at the top of the mafia. So after Sonny finished beating up the man who had assaulted me, I took him to the dinner I had initially planned to attend and called Albert. I was close to him through my uncle Buggy and my father, who had once been his boss. Albert sent a car to pick up Sonny and me, and before long, I found myself spending several hours trying to calm him down.
Say what you will about the Lord High Executioner, but he was loyal to those he knew—most mobsters were. Hearing that someone had laid hands on the daughter of his former boss had really angered him. A war with the Profaci family felt imminent, especially since it was one of their man who had assaulted me. Luckily, in the end, a cooler head prevailed over rage, and I was able to calm Albert down. If only just barely. You would honestly be surprised at how easily a woman can calm down a man by gushing over someone.
Pretty much, I sang Sonny's praises. Making him seem far more heroic than he was and annoying Albert enough that he forgot his anger for the most part. He still wasn't happy but called Profaci and told him what happened. In the end, it was agreed that Sonny did the right thing and would be spared any retribution, unlike the guy who assaulted me. Whom, Albert told me, he personally took care of. I didn't ask what he meant by that, as I already knew I would never see that guy again.
To get back on topic, I offered a job to Profaci's niece, and Sonny came to work for me as well. Although his position wouldn't be permanent, it was long enough for me to ensure that the men I had hired were properly trained. Their primary roles were to act as guards and enforcers when necessary. Sonny was well-acquainted with both responsibilities, as he was often my bodyguard when I came to New York. A little deal cut between Frank and Joe to keep the peace. Joe may not have been scared of anyone, but even he knew better than to start a war of something like this. A war he could not win, as he would be facing 2 of the five families, if not more, and the Jewish mob led by my Godfather.
Although Sonny didn't particularly enjoy the job, it was clear that he excelled at it. This made it impossible to believe that anyone was working against us. Sonny and his team were diligent and kept a close watch on everything. The misfortunes we experienced were merely bad luck—a perfect storm of unfortunate events, but hardly anything more than that.
That said, I could have forced everyone who got sick to work. Most other studios would have done so, but I wanted my team to be at their best. I was trying to build an image for Lucky Pictures as the ideal place to work. When the studio system faded away and the star system took over, I would have much preferred to establish a reputation for fair dealings rather than the opposite.
It was an image that was already taking shape, and that was precisely why Humphrey Bogart was here. Although Toby initially brought him in, I soon realized that Bogart's main reason for agreeing to work with us was to evaluate our potential. Like many actors, he had read the article about Jean's percentage deal, which had shaken Hollywood to its core, and he wanted something similar for himself. However, unlike those other actors, Mr. Bogart was brilliant and wanted to ensure that we were a good fit for him and that we would be around long enough for him to bank on.
It was definitely a risk for him, as he had a solid deal waiting for him at WB. However, unlike Jean, he was a risk-taker. He was willing to give up guaranteed money for the chance at something greater. If things didn't work out, he could always return to WB. While it might cost him some money, he was confident that WB would take him back. He wasn't mistaken, and I respected that kind of mindset.
On my end, I already knew I would be successful and that I could potentially get one of the greatest actors of all time at a bargain. It was almost enough to make a girl jump for joy, but don't get me wrong; I wouldn't completely take fuck over of Mr. Bogart. At least not later on. After all, like I said, I was trying to build an image of farness. Treating him right once we grew bigger was a must.
When I heard my office door open, I didn't turn around, knowing who it was already by the scent of her perfume. "Ready to go home already, love?" I asked.
Letting out an unladylike yawn—something you would never see her do in public—Liz replied, "Yes, it's been a long day, and thanks to someone, I haven't been sleeping well lately."
Smiling as I heard no real anger in her voice, I teased, "Aww, poor babe. Want mommy to kiss it and make it feel better?"
Hearing a huff from behind me, Liz says, "No, thank you. It was your kissing that made me so tired in the first place."
Giggling a little, I turn around and reply, "I don't remember you complaining about that last night. If anything, all I recall you saying was, 'Oh yes, please! More, babe!"
I tease Liz in a playful tone that makes her blush. She remembers that moment well and doesn't need to be reminded. So, doing the smart thing, she changes the subject. "Did you find a replacement for the role of Whitey?"
I can't help but giggle at how quickly she shifts the topic, so I decide not to press further. "Yes, I found a lovely girl named Jenny Blake."
"Jenny?" Liz replies, sounding more surprised than shocked.
"Hmmm, do you know her?" I ask.
Shrugging her shoulders, Liz responds, "Somewhat. We're in the same acting class, but I don't really talk to her."
"Ah, I see," I say, choosing not to ask any more questions.
I wasn't naïve. This situation felt all too familiar; it was reminiscent of the dynamic between her and Jane. One of them felt threatened by the other, and in this case, it was most likely Liz. It was her first leading role, and although she knew we needed a replacement, she had not said anything about Jenny, despite the girl being clearly talented. Most likely because she felt concerned about losing her role to Jenny, a scenario that wouldn't happen. But then I had made it clear that I would always pick the best person available over any personal relationship, any day.
That said, I felt the need to ask, "I trust you can work with her, love?"
It wasn't a question, and we both knew it. Seeing as I had laced my tone with frost to emphasize that on-set rivalry would not be tolerated on set.
Upon hearing my tone, Liz shot me a cold look, but she did straighten up a bit and replied, "Of course. Who do you think I am?"
I smiled and responded, "My beautiful and deadly girlfriend."
Although Liz's cold expression remained, I noticed her cheeks turning a bit red.
After a moment, I returned to the storyboard, aware that I would need to make a few changes to increase Jenny's exposure. After Boom Town, I planned to sign her as long as she didn't mess things up. Like Toby, I recognized her potential and intended to leverage it to the fullest.
Once I finished, I turned and walked over to Liz. After I helped her up, we both left the office with my hand resting firmly on her backside. I knew I needed to cut back on sex soon, but for now, while everyone was getting back on their feet, I intended to enjoy it to the fullest. Since Liz didn't move away from my touch, it seemed she had no desire to stop either.
"Ah, life was good," I thought to myself.
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So Ruth didn't get a nomination for an Academy Award. Is anyone really surprised the boys' club wouldn't give her shit? I am not. That said, should the other win? I mean, honestly, I didn't even know Clark Gable didn't win for Gone With the Wind. I may not be a fan, but what the fuck. So I might as well give the best actor to Alan, right?
FYI, in history, the 12th Academy Awards were somewhat ruined by the papers that somehow got hold of the results beforehand. I will most likely ignore that.
Last question isn't so much a question as an FYI—Ruth's next movie after Boom Town is Raging Bull. But thinking of ripping off Rocky a bit and using Joe Louis or Sugar Ray Robinson as a classy boxer and savvy businessman. Her first film, in which she pushes the boundaries of race in the US. Thoughts?