Deuces Down

It required some significant greenbacks, but he was soon outfitted in a white jacket, pushing a cart in front of him. If he hunkered down a bit the long tablecloth hid his centaur body. Fi

“I was bored. I wanted a swim. Like, take a pill,” he heard Julie answer. “Besides, Susan said she’d watch him.”

Susan, Susan, Fi

“She’s not on shift now,” came Tanya’s voice, sharp with suspicion.

“God, you are so anal. What difference does it make who guards him?” Julia replied. “And A

Is every starlet in Hollywood in on this? Fi

“You are so stupid,” said Tanya. Fi

“Well, fuck you too,” Julie shouted.

A moment later Tanya swung around a corner. Fi

As the door was closing he heard Tanya say, “Out! Get your shirt on and get out!” The door shut. Fi

A few moments later the fat blonde came flying out the door. One cheek was bright red, and her eyes were watering. Fi

“Who is it?”

“Room service,” Fi

“We didn’t order anything,” came Tanya’s voice.

“Actually I ordered some champagne,” Fi

“Great, this is already costing us a fortune.” Her voice was getting louder as she approached the door. She threw it open. “We changed our minds. We don’t want…”

Fi

Stan was seated in an armchair with a large basket of fruit close at hand. “Hi, Stan,” Fi

“Why thank you, Bradley, but you might want to look out for Miss Tanya,” the elderly make-up artist said mildly.

Fi

“I see you’ve noticed Miss Tanya’s assets,” Stan said. Fi

“Yeah, no kidding,” Fi

Tanya’s lips compressed. “Oh, don’t blame Miss Tanya,” Stan said. “She very sensibly had me stashed in a dingy little apartment over in Irvine. But I convinced A

“Stan, you’re a dirty old man,” Fi

“No, I simply saw no reason to argue. Susan is an unaffected child of nature.”

It sounded like a quote, but Fi

“Susan is a moron,” Tanya said. “What did Julie offer you?”

“Just money. Very unimaginative.”

Fi

“No, she’s offered me nothing which inclines me to help her over all the others,” Stan said.

“I don’t want your help. I just want a chance,” Tanya spat out the words.

“And taking out Grace Kelly is going to help you how?” Fi

“When the sun’s up you can’t see the stars. Why look for anything new when she’s there?”

“Tanya, it’s over. You’ve got to let him go,” Fi

“No, sooner or later the press will get a look at her, and then it’ll be over.”

“What are you going to do with me?” Fi

“Keep you too. And I think when I tell your dad what went on between us he’ll want to keep me happy and quiet.”

There was a massive throbbing behind Fi

Fi

There was a reason Stan had survived in Hollywood for fifty years, Fi

Fi

“Is there a reason you’ve brought me here?”

“It’s your home, isn’t it?” Fi

“Home is where the heart is,” Stan said lightly, but there was a shadow in the back of his eyes.

“Then that would be here. I figured out about Mexico. You married her, didn’t you?”

The net of wrinkles around Stan’s blue eyes deepened as he smiled. “You’re a danger, young Bradley. Well, let’s go in to her.” Stan climbed out of the van.

They went around to the back where Stan unlocked the kitchen door. “Grace, my dear,” he called.

They heard her steps overhead. Stan led them into the foyer. Kelly came ru

“Would you like something to drink, Bradley?” Stan asked. “Would you get him something, dear, while I get my kit?”

Stan took a step only to be caught by Kelly. “Stan, wait. I’ve been thinking a lot during the past two days.”

Stan started shaking his head. “No, Grace. This is a beautiful movie, don’t…”

She put a hand over his mouth. “I’m tired, Stan. My back hurts. I’m hungry all the time, and I have to exercise twice as long now to stay the same size. I’m not twenty-three. You just let the mirror give me back that picture.” Stan stood silent, just staring at his wife. A wave of insecurity passed across her face. “You can’t love me like this?” She touched a wrinkled cheek.

Stan grabbed her into a tight embrace. His voice was thick as he murmured against her hair. “No, my love. I just want you to be sure before you give it all up.”

Kelly wasn’t trying to hide her tears. She kissed him hard. “But I’ll finally have you. For whatever time remains to us.”

The emotions-love, regret, joy-were like electric currents in the room. It was overwhelming, and Fi

Amazingly, the movie continued. Kelly offered to split the cost of the reshoot with the studio. Benton recast, and the production moved to England. The tabloids made much of Kelly and Stan’s love story. SHE GAVE UP BEAUTY FOR TRUE LOVE! Stan hired bodyguards. And Fi

One evening the phone rang.

“Hello,” Fi

“Hi, Bradley.” It was Tanya.

Fi