James Wallace waved goodbye. It was the big day, the day he’d go to Adarlon City, the day he’d fulfill his dreams, and become an actor. His mom and dad had seen him off, he’d shaken hands with all his friends, and he’d waved from the window of the transport as it began to move along the rail leading to the big city, and watched as people waved back to him, until they were a speck on the horizon.
He’d packed everything he could fit into a suitcase and still be able to carry it: change of clothes, picture of home, life’s savings from the assorted little jobs he’d worked before, everything he could. Lying on top was a flyer he’d plucked from a lamp-post, on it was the crest of Bantha Pictures, the biggest studios on the planet. He’d heard they were always looking for new talent, and hey, there were a lot of studios in Adalorn city.
He lifted the suitcase onto the seat across from him on the transport, and looked out the window at the signposts whizzing by. His eyes began to droop, as the trip wore on, and he fell asleep, dreaming of his space on the walk-of-fame and his first big smash movie.
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“Sorry, no parts for you.” Said the casting director. He had given James the merest cursory glance, and turned away. James frowned. The studio had been only a block away from the transport-dock, along a simple paved area of Adalorn Boulevard, a long street through the centre of town.
The studio was huge, massive tan buildings were scattered across the gigantic lot, and in the centre was a towering sky-scraper, where Bantha Studios was run from. He had been stopped at the gate, and a man in a suit had driven this way from the Main Building. He was now turning back and preparing to drive away.
“But I can act” said James, straightening his vest and shirt, and tweaking the feather on his hat. “And sing, if you’d let me.”
“Bantha Studios is not in need of...” The man in the suit suddenly paused, to make sure no one was listening “...The likes of you. Now go away.”
James, feeling a little crushed, turned away, picked up his suitcase, and walked off. But his optimism bounced back quickly. It was a sunny day, the light gleaming off the tall towers and apartments alike, and there were plenty of other studios to try. Someone’s gotta employ me he thought after all, this is Adalorn.
With a hop, skip, and a jump, he set off to the next studio.
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“I just don’t get it” said James, to no one in particular, as the sun set on Adalorn City. He’d spent all day visiting every studio in town. They all turned him down, without so much as listening to him. He was now dragging his feet towards a little apartment building, the only one in town within the price-bracket of someone coming from the country. With a sigh, he read the name-plate on the door.
Janice Yewl, affordable housing, no loudmouths, apply within.
“Well, at least it can’t get much worse.”
And then it began to rain.
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“You’re FIRED!” Roared the Producer, and Cory Kokomo was so thrown off he almost stumbled out of the window. He tried to focus on the man in front of him, but the drink was getting in his way.
“Every day you come to the set drunk! I’ve had enough, you’re out! We’ve written you out of the series!”
“You can’t do that!” Slurred Cory as he stood as straight as he could, considering the circumstances. “I have a contreac-hic - a contract with the studios.”
“Your contract is terminated, you’re out! Now get off my stage!”
Cory was the veteran of dozens of movies, a pretty big name as far as movies went, but even through the haze of alcohol he knew they meant it. Maybe he’d just lost faith in the studios, maybe showbiz lost its’ glamour, or maybe he just really liked to drink, but something had been sending his career down the tubes. He was thirty-five, he couldn’t retire. But putting that aside for now, he collected his thoughts, stood up straight, and managed to speak almost coherently.
“All right then, I’m going. I shall take my business elsewhere. Mark my words though, you’ll regret this!” He then dragged himself out of the studio, off the lot, and lay meekly on the sidewalk.
What was he going to do?