Leading Lady
Keywords: Lady, Leading,
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"Who is it?" she demanded, not wanting to see or speak to anyone, ever again.
"Howard."
"What do you want?" she cried.
"May I come in?"
"You can go to hell!"
"Please, Stella. Just for a moment."
The wannabe-used-to-be star shrugged, sneering at the reflection of the beautiful face in the huge mirror behind her dressing table. She may as well hear whatever the bastard had to say.
She rose, trudged to the door, and admitted the director.
"You've been crying," he noted.
"Wouldn't you?"
"I'd be laughing," Howard said.
"Why do you hate me?"
"Hate you?" The director seemed genuinely surprised, even astonished, by her question. "I don't hate you."
Stella didn't look convinced.
"On the contrary, I love you."
"Okay, what's the joke?"
"Brett Bowers is the joke," Howard said. "He insists on casting his own movies, based on what his daughter says or his wife or the plumber or a woman in the produce section at the local supermarket or a dream he has after too many martinis. Then, I--or some other director--has to live with his choice. Our reputation is on the line, but he won't let us cast the leads in his movies. Fortunately, in your case, you can act, at least."
"Why do you agree to direct his movies if you resent his casting the leads?"
"Why? I'm desperate."
"You?" Stella's tone clearly suggested that she found his statement difficult to believe. "Among directors, you're one of Hollywood's living legends, right up there with Hitchcock and--"
"Even Hitchcock would have had to start making schlock and trash if he'd lived past his prime." He smiled at Stella. "But, at least, this time, the bastard has gotten his comeuppance! Imagine, making a romantic comedy in which the leading lady is a man!"
"I'm not a man," Stella protested.
"A transsexual, then." Howard rubbed his hands together, as if washing them. "It serves him right!"
There was another knock at the door.
"Come in," Stella called, resigned to surrendering her privacy just as she'd surrendered her dignity.
Pete Horn, the assistant director, stepped into the room. "Sorry to interrupt," he said, looking at Howard and avoiding eye contact with the transsexual.
"What is it?"
"Mr. Bowers called. He's heard the news."
Howard grinned. "What did the son of a bitch say?"
Pete gulped. "He likes it."
"Likes what?"
"The fact that--" Pete cast a nervous glance in Stella's direction--"she's a he."
Howard's face fell. "What? How could he like something like that?"
"He says the transsexual twist is perfect for a romantic comedy. It gives the genre a new spin, maybe even a whole new direction, he says."
Howard looked faint.
"He wants us to continue, right away. He wants the movie released in time for Valentine's Day."
"He wants to release it?" Howard repeated, trying to understand. "With her as the leading lady?"
"Exactly." Pete darted a glance at Stella. "Congratulations. You're going to be a star!"
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Keywords: Lady, Leading,