Chapter 6
David was busy outlining chapters when Mark poked his head in the door. “Hey, David. I don’t want to disturb you when you’re working, but your publisher called. You have a meeting with your editor tomorrow at two.”
He looked up from his writing to concentrate on what the young actor was saying to him. He noticed that Mark had carefully applied make-up to cover the bruises on his face. “Right,” he replied absently. “Anything else?”
“Yeah. Can you make lunch for yourself? I have an audition to go to in about an hour,” Mark said.
He smiled wryly. “I think I can manage without you,” he said in amusement. “I’ve been doing it for at least a decade now.”
Mark grinned. “Gotcha. Anyway, I’m going to take a cab over to my apartment and settled up with my landlord, who is NOT going to be happy. I’m definitely losing my damage deposit,” he said glumly. “I’ll also pick up my car. I left it behind when I ran, because Vlad knew what it looked like, and could have used it to find me more easily. It’s just a somewhat junky VW that I’ve had since I was seventeen, but it runs well and gets good gas mileage. Do you mind me bringing it back to the house?”
“Sure. We can park it in the garage,” David remarked with a grin of his own.
Mark snorted. “Okay. I’ll leave you to it. I should be back in a couple of hours. Wish me luck!”
“Good luck, Mark,” he said solemnly. “I hope you get the part.”
“Me, too. See you!” Mark waved and departed briskly, leaving the doorway empty once more.
David turned back to his work, silently acknowledging the mixed feelings taking place within himself. On the one hand, he wanted Mark to do well and get work in his chosen field of acting. On the other, a small, selfish part of him hoped that Mark didn’t get the job, because then he would be completely dependent on David and his job as a dogsbody. Not that he wanted a slave or anything, but the more money that Mark made, the faster he could pay David back for the money he’d loaned him - and the more quickly he’d leave for good. The writer sighed, running a hand through his hair. Ridiculous for him to have become so attached to Mark so fast, but the young actor already seemed a part of his household. He didn’t want that to end too quickly.
Mark sat on the hard plastic chair holding his portfolio in his lap, waiting tensely along with dozens of other young men to see if he’d gotten a part in the movie. This casting call had been for young, attractive men ages 17-27 to play the parts of the main character’s small group of male friends. He thought that his reading had gone pretty well, and he hadn’t been too nervous. But if he didn’t fit into what the producers were looking for, he didn’t stand a chance. He nibbled at his lower lip a little, trying not to squirm. All he wanted was a minor role…anything at all…
A woman appeared in the doorway. Everyone looked up hopefully, as she consulted her clip board. “Mr. Greenway? Mark Greenway?” she called.
He surged to his feet, amazement and happiness surging up within him. “That’s me!” he replied eagerly.
She nodded. “Could you come with me? One of our producers, Harris Carter, wants to talk to you privately.”
Envious glances followed him as he walked toward her. She led the way out of the little room and down a carpeted hallway. Arriving at one of the doors lining it, she knocked. “Mr. Carter? I’ve brought Mr. Greenway to talk to you,” she said as she opened the door.
“Send him right in,” a voice replied from within.
She made a motion with one hand. “Please go in,” she said, and he did.
He saw a small but plush office, and a large man in an expensive suit sitting behind a carved oak desk. His face was fleshy, with a small, heavily pursed mouth, a bulbous nose, and a pair of rather beady eyes under a heavy brow. His hair was well-coiffed and an attractive silvery color, which didn’t go with his face at all. He waved an incongruously small hand at Mark. “Come in and sit down,” he said. His voice had a rather oily quality to it that Mark didn’t care for at all.
Nevertheless, he went and sat down in the chair across from Harris Carter. “I saw your reading. I must say, I was rather impressed,” the producer remarked. ‘You seem to have a fair amount of natural talent.”
Mark had to admit that he preened a little under this ego-stroking. “Err…thank you.”
“I have a part in mind you,” Harris Carter said. “I was thinking about…the main character’s best friend Ron. It’s a fairy substantial part, and would definitely get you noticed.”
Mark stared at him in amazement and rising excitement. “The best friend? But…I read for one of the more minor parts,” he began tentatively.
Harris Carter waved this away with one small hand. “I’m sure that you’ll do well in a larger part,” he said.
“I don’t know what to say, except...thank you, Mr. Carter!” Mark cried.
The producer smiled. He had an oily smile, too. “I’m glad to see that you’re grateful. Now, why don’t you come over here and show me just how properly grateful you can be?”
Mark blinked. “What?” he said, not quite understanding.
Still smiling, Harris Carter pushed his chair away from his desk. “All you have to do to get the part,” he said, “Is show me how properly grateful you can be. You’re an attractive young man, Mark. I’m really looking forward to this.”
“Let me get this straight,” he said, feeling his stomach twist inside of him, “The only way that I’ll get this part is to perform sexual favors for you?”
I wouldn’t put it so bluntly, but yes,” Harris Carter replied. “If you want any part at all, in anything we produce, you’ll have to show me some gratitude. You DO want to make it in Hollywood, don’t you, Mark?”
He felt sick. He knew about the casting couch, of course; but somehow it had never occurred to him that he’d end up in a situation like this. He supposed that, like with Vlad, he’d simply been too naïve for his own good. His stomach churned, and he had to work hard not to vomit all over the expensive carpet under his shoes. How many desperate young actors had literally fallen to their knees in front of this repulsive creature, and had done what they’d had to to get a part? How many young men had this repulsive creature used and abused just because he could? Mark swallowed heavily as he straightened his shoulders. “I’m afraid that I don’t want the part that bad, Mr. Carter,” he said in a voice that shook slightly. “I have to turn down your offer.”
The producer’s face darkened to an ugly red, and he glared at Mark. “I can make it so that you never work in this town again,” he spat.
“I’m sure you can. But I can’t do what you’re asking. I don’t have it in me,” Mark replied softly but firmly. “Even if that means that I never get another acting job.”
“You won’t,” the producer growled. “I’ll make sure of that, believe me. Now get out of my office.”
Mark turned to go, fumbling blindly for the door knob. He wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. How did he keep ending up in situations like this? At least he still had the job with David…but he’d always wanted to be an actor, and now his dream was blowing away like dust in a high wind…
He pulled the door open, then jumped a little in a startled fashion, when he nearly ran into a woman who was just knocking at the office door. He stepped back, and found himself looking at a polished older woman wearing a high-power suit who was directing a cold glare at Harris Carter. “Up to your old tricks again, eh, Harris?” she sneered, her upper lip twisting in contempt and disgust. “What have I told you about this? You might have been able to get away with this crap when Jack Burnes was still in charge, but not now. This is your last warning. If you ever try to pull this again, I’ll can your ass so fast you won’t know what hit you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Margo,” Harris Carter sneered, glaring at her. “This young man was just leaving. I only wanted to talk to him about a part in the movie, that’s it.”
She turned her draconian stare on Mark. “Is that true?” she asked him coolly. “Mr. Carter didn’t do anything untoward?”
He didn’t know what to say. If he did rat the producer out, the man would probably find a way to make his life a living hell. But if he didn’t, he might try this again despite the woman’s warnings. And Mark knew that many young men would do anything for a part, anything at all. But they shouldn’t have to…
“He offered me a large part in the movie in return for sexual favors,” he said aloud, coming to a decision. “I turned him down.”
Harris Carter looked enraged as the woman nodded. “That’s what I thought. Becky was listening outside the door,” she added, “So, even if you’d lied it wouldn’t have mattered. But you told the truth. I like that. Come with me, young man. And you,” she pointed a lacquered nail at Harris Carter, “Are on your final warning. What you do on your own time is nobody else’s business, but you will no longer solicit sexual favors here at the office. If you ever do it again, I’ll make sure that you’re blacklisted. Then it’ll be YOU who never works in this town again. And how many other jobs will you be able to find with ’failed Hollywood producer’ on your resume? Think about that, Harris,” she said as she stepped back out in the hallway. “Come on,” she told Mark, and he went with her.
She was silent for a moment as they walked along, making him wonder what was going to happen. “You’re gay, aren’t you?” she said abruptly after a moment.
He hesitated, and she shook her head. “I wouldn’t ask so personal a question without a reason,” she told him briskly.
“Oh. Err…yes, I am,” Mark said.
She smiled, taking him aback. “Good. I’ve been looking for someone like you. A good-looking young gay actor. Openly gay, that is. Most guys your age won’t come out of the closet because they’re not established yet, so they can’t afford to. But if you’re willing to admit that you’re gay, then you don’t care. I like that. I like you. It’s not too many people who would turn down Harris Carter, even if he is a slug in human form. So, I’m going to reward your scruples and your honesty this time. We’re producing a new TV show that starts filming in a little over a month. It’s a teenage drama, with lots of high school angst and beautiful young people. You’re in your early twenties, but you could pass for seventeen. And one of the female main character’s friends is a young gay man wrestling with whether he should come out of the closet or not. She’ll help him through that decision, and he’ll appear in about a dozen episodes of the first season. It’s not a huge part, but it’s a solid paycheck. If you do well there, we can always put you in other things too. And you’ll be representing young men like yourself on TV. Gay teenagers always need more role models. What do you say?”
Stunned, he said weakly: “What can I say but yes? And thank you!”
She smiled. “No, thank you. I wanted to walk in on Carter getting a blow job from a desperate young wannabe, but your refusing him killed my plan. Until you admitted that he’d made you an offer of sex for work. Then I had him. He’ll either be on his best behavior now, or I’ll chuck him out on the street if he slips up again. Personally I’m hoping for the second thing - I’ve always despised Harris Carter. He gives gay people a bad name. And we already have a bad enough reputation anyway, don’t we?” she said with a smiling glance at Mark.
“Yeah,” he said, feeling dazed.
“All right. I’ll have my assistant send you a copy of the script so you can get to know your part. Your character’s name is Danny Aines. Read up on it, and show up on set when you get the call. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Greenway. Welcome aboard.” she shook his hands briskly and left, leaving him standing there staring after her with a rather bemused expression on his face.
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David was busy outlining chapters when Mark poked his head in the door. “Hey, David. I don’t want to disturb you when you’re working, but your publisher called. You have a meeting with your editor tomorrow at two.”
He looked up from his writing to concentrate on what the young actor was saying to him. He noticed that Mark had carefully applied make-up to cover the bruises on his face. “Right,” he replied absently. “Anything else?”
“Yeah. Can you make lunch for yourself? I have an audition to go to in about an hour,” Mark said.
He smiled wryly. “I think I can manage without you,” he said in amusement. “I’ve been doing it for at least a decade now.”
Mark grinned. “Gotcha. Anyway, I’m going to take a cab over to my apartment and settled up with my landlord, who is NOT going to be happy. I’m definitely losing my damage deposit,” he said glumly. “I’ll also pick up my car. I left it behind when I ran, because Vlad knew what it looked like, and could have used it to find me more easily. It’s just a somewhat junky VW that I’ve had since I was seventeen, but it runs well and gets good gas mileage. Do you mind me bringing it back to the house?”
“Sure. We can park it in the garage,” David remarked with a grin of his own.
Mark snorted. “Okay. I’ll leave you to it. I should be back in a couple of hours. Wish me luck!”
“Good luck, Mark,” he said solemnly. “I hope you get the part.”
“Me, too. See you!” Mark waved and departed briskly, leaving the doorway empty once more.
David turned back to his work, silently acknowledging the mixed feelings taking place within himself. On the one hand, he wanted Mark to do well and get work in his chosen field of acting. On the other, a small, selfish part of him hoped that Mark didn’t get the job, because then he would be completely dependent on David and his job as a dogsbody. Not that he wanted a slave or anything, but the more money that Mark made, the faster he could pay David back for the money he’d loaned him - and the more quickly he’d leave for good. The writer sighed, running a hand through his hair. Ridiculous for him to have become so attached to Mark so fast, but the young actor already seemed a part of his household. He didn’t want that to end too quickly.
Mark sat on the hard plastic chair holding his portfolio in his lap, waiting tensely along with dozens of other young men to see if he’d gotten a part in the movie. This casting call had been for young, attractive men ages 17-27 to play the parts of the main character’s small group of male friends. He thought that his reading had gone pretty well, and he hadn’t been too nervous. But if he didn’t fit into what the producers were looking for, he didn’t stand a chance. He nibbled at his lower lip a little, trying not to squirm. All he wanted was a minor role…anything at all…
A woman appeared in the doorway. Everyone looked up hopefully, as she consulted her clip board. “Mr. Greenway? Mark Greenway?” she called.
He surged to his feet, amazement and happiness surging up within him. “That’s me!” he replied eagerly.
She nodded. “Could you come with me? One of our producers, Harris Carter, wants to talk to you privately.”
Envious glances followed him as he walked toward her. She led the way out of the little room and down a carpeted hallway. Arriving at one of the doors lining it, she knocked. “Mr. Carter? I’ve brought Mr. Greenway to talk to you,” she said as she opened the door.
“Send him right in,” a voice replied from within.
She made a motion with one hand. “Please go in,” she said, and he did.
He saw a small but plush office, and a large man in an expensive suit sitting behind a carved oak desk. His face was fleshy, with a small, heavily pursed mouth, a bulbous nose, and a pair of rather beady eyes under a heavy brow. His hair was well-coiffed and an attractive silvery color, which didn’t go with his face at all. He waved an incongruously small hand at Mark. “Come in and sit down,” he said. His voice had a rather oily quality to it that Mark didn’t care for at all.
Nevertheless, he went and sat down in the chair across from Harris Carter. “I saw your reading. I must say, I was rather impressed,” the producer remarked. ‘You seem to have a fair amount of natural talent.”
Mark had to admit that he preened a little under this ego-stroking. “Err…thank you.”
“I have a part in mind you,” Harris Carter said. “I was thinking about…the main character’s best friend Ron. It’s a fairy substantial part, and would definitely get you noticed.”
Mark stared at him in amazement and rising excitement. “The best friend? But…I read for one of the more minor parts,” he began tentatively.
Harris Carter waved this away with one small hand. “I’m sure that you’ll do well in a larger part,” he said.
“I don’t know what to say, except...thank you, Mr. Carter!” Mark cried.
The producer smiled. He had an oily smile, too. “I’m glad to see that you’re grateful. Now, why don’t you come over here and show me just how properly grateful you can be?”
Mark blinked. “What?” he said, not quite understanding.
Still smiling, Harris Carter pushed his chair away from his desk. “All you have to do to get the part,” he said, “Is show me how properly grateful you can be. You’re an attractive young man, Mark. I’m really looking forward to this.”
“Let me get this straight,” he said, feeling his stomach twist inside of him, “The only way that I’ll get this part is to perform sexual favors for you?”
I wouldn’t put it so bluntly, but yes,” Harris Carter replied. “If you want any part at all, in anything we produce, you’ll have to show me some gratitude. You DO want to make it in Hollywood, don’t you, Mark?”
He felt sick. He knew about the casting couch, of course; but somehow it had never occurred to him that he’d end up in a situation like this. He supposed that, like with Vlad, he’d simply been too naïve for his own good. His stomach churned, and he had to work hard not to vomit all over the expensive carpet under his shoes. How many desperate young actors had literally fallen to their knees in front of this repulsive creature, and had done what they’d had to to get a part? How many young men had this repulsive creature used and abused just because he could? Mark swallowed heavily as he straightened his shoulders. “I’m afraid that I don’t want the part that bad, Mr. Carter,” he said in a voice that shook slightly. “I have to turn down your offer.”
The producer’s face darkened to an ugly red, and he glared at Mark. “I can make it so that you never work in this town again,” he spat.
“I’m sure you can. But I can’t do what you’re asking. I don’t have it in me,” Mark replied softly but firmly. “Even if that means that I never get another acting job.”
“You won’t,” the producer growled. “I’ll make sure of that, believe me. Now get out of my office.”
Mark turned to go, fumbling blindly for the door knob. He wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. How did he keep ending up in situations like this? At least he still had the job with David…but he’d always wanted to be an actor, and now his dream was blowing away like dust in a high wind…
He pulled the door open, then jumped a little in a startled fashion, when he nearly ran into a woman who was just knocking at the office door. He stepped back, and found himself looking at a polished older woman wearing a high-power suit who was directing a cold glare at Harris Carter. “Up to your old tricks again, eh, Harris?” she sneered, her upper lip twisting in contempt and disgust. “What have I told you about this? You might have been able to get away with this crap when Jack Burnes was still in charge, but not now. This is your last warning. If you ever try to pull this again, I’ll can your ass so fast you won’t know what hit you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Margo,” Harris Carter sneered, glaring at her. “This young man was just leaving. I only wanted to talk to him about a part in the movie, that’s it.”
She turned her draconian stare on Mark. “Is that true?” she asked him coolly. “Mr. Carter didn’t do anything untoward?”
He didn’t know what to say. If he did rat the producer out, the man would probably find a way to make his life a living hell. But if he didn’t, he might try this again despite the woman’s warnings. And Mark knew that many young men would do anything for a part, anything at all. But they shouldn’t have to…
“He offered me a large part in the movie in return for sexual favors,” he said aloud, coming to a decision. “I turned him down.”
Harris Carter looked enraged as the woman nodded. “That’s what I thought. Becky was listening outside the door,” she added, “So, even if you’d lied it wouldn’t have mattered. But you told the truth. I like that. Come with me, young man. And you,” she pointed a lacquered nail at Harris Carter, “Are on your final warning. What you do on your own time is nobody else’s business, but you will no longer solicit sexual favors here at the office. If you ever do it again, I’ll make sure that you’re blacklisted. Then it’ll be YOU who never works in this town again. And how many other jobs will you be able to find with ’failed Hollywood producer’ on your resume? Think about that, Harris,” she said as she stepped back out in the hallway. “Come on,” she told Mark, and he went with her.
She was silent for a moment as they walked along, making him wonder what was going to happen. “You’re gay, aren’t you?” she said abruptly after a moment.
He hesitated, and she shook her head. “I wouldn’t ask so personal a question without a reason,” she told him briskly.
“Oh. Err…yes, I am,” Mark said.
She smiled, taking him aback. “Good. I’ve been looking for someone like you. A good-looking young gay actor. Openly gay, that is. Most guys your age won’t come out of the closet because they’re not established yet, so they can’t afford to. But if you’re willing to admit that you’re gay, then you don’t care. I like that. I like you. It’s not too many people who would turn down Harris Carter, even if he is a slug in human form. So, I’m going to reward your scruples and your honesty this time. We’re producing a new TV show that starts filming in a little over a month. It’s a teenage drama, with lots of high school angst and beautiful young people. You’re in your early twenties, but you could pass for seventeen. And one of the female main character’s friends is a young gay man wrestling with whether he should come out of the closet or not. She’ll help him through that decision, and he’ll appear in about a dozen episodes of the first season. It’s not a huge part, but it’s a solid paycheck. If you do well there, we can always put you in other things too. And you’ll be representing young men like yourself on TV. Gay teenagers always need more role models. What do you say?”
Stunned, he said weakly: “What can I say but yes? And thank you!”
She smiled. “No, thank you. I wanted to walk in on Carter getting a blow job from a desperate young wannabe, but your refusing him killed my plan. Until you admitted that he’d made you an offer of sex for work. Then I had him. He’ll either be on his best behavior now, or I’ll chuck him out on the street if he slips up again. Personally I’m hoping for the second thing - I’ve always despised Harris Carter. He gives gay people a bad name. And we already have a bad enough reputation anyway, don’t we?” she said with a smiling glance at Mark.
“Yeah,” he said, feeling dazed.
“All right. I’ll have my assistant send you a copy of the script so you can get to know your part. Your character’s name is Danny Aines. Read up on it, and show up on set when you get the call. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Greenway. Welcome aboard.” she shook his hands briskly and left, leaving him standing there staring after her with a rather bemused expression on his face.
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