In the Movies Read online

  We skipped sword work and Sammy thought I was more than capable of doing any of the choreographed fights for the movie. That’s right choreographed, just like a dance. Nothing was left to chance. That way each fight would come out like they wanted it.

  If it was a minor bad guy I could take him down right away. The climax fight with the major baddie would require him to get the upper hand and for me to fight back.

  At boxing it was bag and foot work only. It took an hour but seemed much shorter. I certainly needed a shower. At my apartment door there was a package. When I opened it there was the cigar box I had requested and another unopened package.

  The unopened package was posted from the Shawnee Nation. When I opened it there was an article from the tribal paper and a presentation box. I opened the presentation box first. It was a silver medal similar to the one that was given to Chief Blackhoof, but instead of the Presidents profile it had Blackhoof’s profile. It also had a small number 001 on it. The medal was suspended from a leather cord so it could be worn around the neck.

  The box itself had an engraved plate with the message, “Richard Jackson, friend of the Shawnee, 1959.”

  Wow!

  After I calmed down and had examined and admired the medal enough I read the article. It told how based on information provided by a Richard Jackson, the Blackhoof collection of medals was found in the tribal archives. This rare collection was the most complete of all the presentation medals ever found, and would be on display in the Shawnee Historical Museum.

  Mr. Jackson has been presented with medal number one of the newly founded Blackhoof medal to be presented to those who had proven themselves to be a true friend of the Shawnee as long as the sun rises. I wonder if they will ever give one to a politician.

  I called back to Bellefontaine and talked to the family. I told Dad about my adventure at the Workman- Temple residence. It was now a rundown house. I told him of my find, and gave him the phone number and the phrase to use. He told me he would try it, he hadn’t any hopes of there being anything of value, but this could be interesting.

  I told him about the Blackhoof medal and he laughed.

  “You will get a kick out of this, the Logan County Historical society was setting up the Manary Blockhouse and the workers found a hidden compartment. There have been all sorts of guesses about what may have been stored there. None of them have been close.”

  Dad also had some additional family news. It appears his two half-brothers in Indiana tried to make up their lack of funds by running moonshine. They were now facing five years in the penitentiary. Their mother had called trying to raise money for a lawyer, but Dad declined.

  I spent some time with my brothers and sister even though I would be home on Saturday. Last night’s thoughts had made me realize how much I missed them. Mary wanted to know if I had been to Disney yet.

  She just said, “Oh.” When I told her, “No,”

  But I could tell she was disappointed.

  Next, I followed my agent’s advice, and called my media contacts. They were all interested in the new movie, and me having a role. The person from the LA paper already had heard, and was planning a piece. As usual I gave each a separate quote.

  As an extra tidbit, I told about John Wayne and the fake script, where I got to throw him in the horse trough. I figured he was going to get me, so I should take it as far as I could. They couldn’t wait to hear what his revenge would be. This was really appreciated as inside news, and helped cement my relations. Maybe I did have magic contacts as Mr. Baxter called them.

  Last I called Nina and asked her what she was doing on Friday.

  There was going to be a small dinner party at her house, would I be her plus one?

  “What is a plus one?”

  She explained, rather than, “and guest,” the term used was “plus one.”

  The rich even talk different.

  I told her I had a small gift for her Dad. Of course she had to know what it was. When I told her about the unopened box of cigars she was amazed.

  “Ricky, the open box with two cigars is my Dad’s pride and joy. This will blow him away. Where did you find it, and how can you afford to give it away so casually!”

  I explained that I really had found it. As far as its value it had cost me nothing and was sitting in a closet. Why shouldn’t I give it to someone who collects them?”

  “Still it is a very generous gift. He will want desperately to do something for you.”

  “The only things I could use right now are gifts for my brothers and sister from Disneyland.”

  “I think we may have items which would work. What are their ages again?” I told her, she then confirmed the dress code for Friday. It was what I thought of as California casual, slacks, golf shirt and jacket.

  My last call was to Mark Downing, now that it was confirmed I figured I had better tell him about Anna Romanov. He about flipped when I told him she wanted to have her name on some of the designer faucets in our line. The fact that she would be in his factory come next Thursday really shook him up. When I hung up I figured he was about to lose a week’s production as the plant was cleaned. That might not be a bad thing.

  I watched an episode of Mr. Ed and then went to bed. I read a detective story set in Esmeralda, California. I would have to look that up as I had never heard of it. It had it all, murder, blackmail, revenge. I think the line I liked best in the whole story was: “There was nothing to it. The Super Chief was on time, as it almost always is, and the subject was as easy to spot as a kangaroo in a dinner jacket."

  Chapter 6

  Thursday was another day. Up early, exercise, run, have a quick breakfast at the studio commissary, work on the set. Notice I said work on the set. I don’t know when acting had become a job to me, but it had. It was a good enjoyable job, but it didn’t feel like I was getting a day off from school anymore.

  Would I want this job forever? No, but I had no idea what I wanted to do. It would have something to do with man in space, but what? It wouldn’t be as an Astronaut. I was too tall, the height limit was six foot three inches, I’m six four. It would be as a passenger at a much later date.

  The more likely possibility was that I would drive projects which would help man in space. That would take money, lots of money. Well, I was working on that. Unfortunately it was a lot of money on a personal basis not a corporate basis. What I was thinking of would take Lockheed or Boeing sort of money. Well that was a project for a later date.

  As a team we were able to get through several scenes today. I appeared to be over my acting problems. As long as I reread the script to know where Sir Nick was on his personal growth curve I was okay. I wish it were really this easy in real life. He always progressed forward. My life seemed to go two steps forward, one back.

  It actually made the day more interesting when I heard a voice behind me say, “Partner, when you least expect it.”

  Time goes fast when you are looking over your shoulder continuously. I thought I had it at lunch when someone popped a paper bag behind me. It seems the whole studio, knew about Mr. Wayne’s promise, and was trying to ‘help’ out.

  After lunch it was back to work until six o’clock. I did my lifting at the stunt area, but everyone else had left so I headed home. I stopped at a Burger Chef and then went back to the apartment. I unlocked the door to a ringing telephone. It was the reporter from the LA paper.

  He wanted to know how I had got such a good deal for appearing in Bandits of Sherwood. I told him I hadn’t been told I had the part much less what the deal was. He had a hard time believing me. It was all over the street. He hung up disappointed that I couldn’t tell him anymore, but I think he believed me.

  I had barely hung up when the phone rang again. It was Mr. Baxter. I couldn’t help it.

  “I hear I got a really good deal on the part.”

  “Where did you hear that?”

  “The LA Examiner just hung up.”

  “It is impossible to keep a secret
out here. Yes you got a wonderful deal, two hundred and fifty thousand and four points.”

  “Really,” I didn’t squeal, girls squeal.

  I just made several high pitched yells.

  “Really,” he replied.

  “Please tone it down. You are going to ruin my hearing.”

  I managed to quiet down.

  “That is great Mr. Baxter. What about the shooting schedule?”

  “That is why you got so much, they are anxious to get this film done. It is being squeezed in before another commitment, so they were thrilled that you wanted an aggressive schedule.”

  “Mr. Baxter I really appreciate all your efforts on my behalf.”

  “Rick, it has been my pleasure. Becoming your agent may have saved my life and I know it saved my granddaughter. You are our hero.”

  “I’m glad I could help.”

  “I would like to have a serious discussion with you as to where you want to take your career.”

  “Can it wait till after I get back? We are on hiatus next week then on location in Colorado.”

  “There is no hurry. I just would like to get a feel for your goals in life so I know what parts to go after.”

  “Fair enough, but I must warn you, that I may not want to make my mark in life by being in the movies.”

  “That is what I have to know, let’s talk about it later. May I also suggest, call the LA paper back, and give them an update. You need them on your side.”

  “I will do that, and talk to you later.”

  “Good night, Rick.”

  I called the LA reporter back, and updated him on my conversation. I told him the details of the deal and that they went for it because I was willing to work an aggressive schedule.

  I may have been a little misleading. I left him with the idea that it was my work ethic that made me attractive to them, rather than the fact that I had requested the schedule. I wanted to attend the Scout Camporee, and go on my summer vacation.

  I spent some time selecting the clothes I would take to Ohio. I had bought new clothes that fit better since I had started lifting weights. I was glad that I broke down and bought a new suit. It was a dark blue with very thin muted red pinstripes. It was the first suit that I had tailored so it actually had my name embroidered on an inside pocket.

  I read an adventure story for the rest of the evening. It was in World War II set in the Aegean Sea. Coastal guns were blocking a strait the British needed to pass through to rescue some prisoners. Commandos led by the Human Fly, Keith Mallory from New Zealand, climbed the cliffs and destroyed the guns. I felt sorry for Lt. Stevens and thought Panayis got his just desserts.

  Friday was a hard day for everyone we all wanted to start our hiatus. Even Mr. Wayne had a hard time concentrating on his lines. At lunch time Mr. Dodge gave up.

  “Get out of here you bums. I’ll see those scheduled at the Easterly Ranch a week from Monday. If you don’t have directions to the ranch yet, be sure to get them before you leave.”

  Everyone scattered. I had lunch in the commissary. After that I wandered over to the stunt area. Rod Bell the archery instructor was over at the butts. He had some time, so he agreed to fit my armguard and let me shoot some arrows.

  The first thing he did was establish that my right eye was my dominant eye and that I was right handed. That simplified things as I could use a right hand bow.

  The armguard was like they would have used in medieval times. It wrapped around my whole arm and part of my hand, acting as a finger tab, to protect it while I drew and loosened an arrow. He had several sizes to choose from, so I had a good fit.

  Again he taught me to have my feet standing in line towards the target. Then to place the arrow on the arrow rest, and then nock the arrow, hold the string to an anchor point with three fingers, for me the anchor point was my chin. Next push the bow out and bring the arrow up to the target.

  It proved easiest if I bent forward a little and pushed the bow away as I straightened up, putting my back into the push. I could see that after practice I would end up on my aim point in one smooth motion.

  I went through the motion several times. Mr. Ball was very pleased.

  “That is a sixty pound bow. When drawing it your motions and body strain are exactly what they would be if shooting a one hundred and fifty pound draw bow. The only difference is about twenty years of practice to build the strength.”

  I’m a golfer, but I am not an archer. I could hit the target most of the time, but not once did I get the bulls eye, the truth be told I didn’t get any in the second ring either. Mr. Ball told me I had done quite well for a beginner. The important thing I had the style and could shoot an arrow in the movie.

  They would cut away from me, while a real archer made the shot. Since it was a movie that archer may not make the shot on the same day, or even in the same state. That was all good, but didn’t help my ego. I was so used to being able to do everything it was a little hard to accept that I wasn’t a natural archer.

  Mr. Ball must have sensed that, because he told me that no one had ever picked up the bow and was immediately an expert. It took years to train an archer for the military. It sounded good, but didn’t make me feel better. I tried hard to not come off as pouting.

  I did my lifting, after which I went to the gym to see if I could box. No one was there so I hit the bags a little, but couldn’t get into it so headed home.

  It was the first week of March and the weather was getting nicer, but no one was in the pool yet. I sat out and read some more in a book from the library about the economics of running a business. There was a lot I needed to learn. I could see that there were many university courses in business in my future if I followed my apparent path.

  As I closed the book I realized that it was a library book and it and others in the apartment would be overdue by the time I got back, so I grabbed them all and drove to the library. The library was on the corner of two busy streets. As I was walking out of the parking lot there was an elderly lady with a two wheeled pull cart full of groceries getting ready to cross the street.

  The way she moved she would never get across before the light changed so I offered to help her. She took me up on my offer. When I got her to the other side she told me, “You know you look a lot like that horrid Rick Jackson.”

  “Oh, why is Rick Jackson horrid?” I inquired.

  “He said all those awful things about my Paul Grant before he was murdered.”

  “You are related to Paul Grant?”

  “Oh no, I just loved his TV show.”

  “Well you have a nice day ma’am.”

  What can I say?

  From the library I went home, showered and put on fresh clothes for the dinner party at Monroe’s. I was at their door at the appointed time. I had my present for Mr. Monroe in a paper bag. I didn’t have the time or inclination to wrap it. More like the inclination, but I don’t think Mr. Monroe would care.

  He didn’t, when he pulled the cigar box out of the bag, his eyes got big.

  “Rick, where did you find this?”

  I shared the whole story with him.

  “Do you realize that this could go for twenty thousand dollars at an auction?”

  “Nina told me it was valuable, but you heard how it has been sitting in my closet. My parents didn’t think it was a big deal to give it to someone who would appreciate it.”

  “Did they realize how much it is worth?”

  “We never discussed it, but we aren’t hard up by any means. Please just accept the gift in the spirit it was given.”

  “Okay Rick, but I owe you one. I can’t wait to show this to Darryl Zanuk. He will eat his heart out.”

  Nina broke in, “Daddy, I’m making a small down payment on your debt. Rick will be in trouble with his brothers and sister if he doesn’t bring them something from Disneyland. I took the liberty of using your Rolodex and made a phone call to your contact at Disney. He messengered up some items.”

  She gave me three wrapped
gifts, in Disney paper of course. They were labeled for Denny, Eddie and Mary.

  From their ages Mr. Dixon sent up a Mickey Mouse watch for Eddie, a tie for Denny with small pictures of Mickey, and for Mary a complete Princess outfit, including a tiara.”

  I forgot myself and kissed her right in front of her father. He took it in good stride and told me not to expect a kiss from him for the cigar box! I don’t know which flustered me more, kissing Nina in front of her Dad, or her Dad talking about kissing me.

  The other dinner guests began arriving. Among them were; Mr. George Burns along with Gracie Allen who had just retired from show business. Milton Berle and one of his wives, I think it was his third, but wasn’t sure. Both Mr. Burns and Mr. Berle are cigar smokers so of course Mr. Monroe was eager to share his new display piece. Mr. Berle offered him thirty thousand dollars on the spot, but it was declined. If it had been me, I might have taken it.

  The dinner conversation was interesting with tales of the early days. Nina and I listened without trying to add to this conversation. The old adage that children should be seen and not heard came to mind.

  After dinner Nina and I took a walk out to the pool house and necked for a while. After half an hour we heard a door open and a cough so we took the hint and said good night. I had to get up early for my flight so it was time for me to leave.

  Chapter 7

  My flight was early Saturday so I skipped my running and was ready when the hired car pulled into the drive. I had decided that I didn’t want to leave the T-Bird at LAX for two weeks so asked the studio to call me a car for this morning. Of course being Hollywood it was a full stretch limo.

  At the airport the check in went easy, having a driver take care of your luggage curbside, and then having an airline representative escort you to the Ambassador Club, with your ticket and boarding pass waiting for you, really helped. I could get used to this level of service.

  There was the obligatory photo op as I boarded the plane. After I got settled into first class people started approaching me for my autograph. A stewardess asked several people to wait, till we were in the air to ask me, as it was delaying boarding. No one asked what I thought of all this, but I did the graceful thing and signed away.