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.”Starting for the door, Grant responded, “I don’t know that driving to the studio is what one half of a normal gay couple does, but I like the way you think.”CHAPTER THIRTY-TWOFriday, July 11, 20033:47 p.m.By Southern California standards, this was a very hot afternoon, and Grant was happy to be home.He had just returned from servicing Eugene Lauren, and looking through the veteran choreographer’s hefty MGM career scrapbook.On the way home, he had stopped at Trader Joe’s.Going page by page through Gene’s star-filled scrapbook had been fun, joyful.Every page had brimmed with pictures and stories about one or more of Grant’s favorite old stars – and Gene, as their dance partner, or choreographer, had been featured right alongside them.His trip down Gene’s Memory Lane had made Grant feel as if he had been a participant in that wondrous bygone era.Grant set the Trader Joe’s container of whole Columbian coffee beans beside the Grind and Brew.And he put the bag of Langostino lobster into the freezer.Cam would be home at six, and, for dinner, Grant was preparing fresh angel hair pasta with lobster in a garlic and olive oil sauce.He would serve it with a side of insalata caprese.Simplicity itself, the meal would be simply delicious.After dinner, they would watch Confessions of a Dangerous Mind on DVD.They’ would be alone.Kevin and Curt had tickets for the Southern Baptist Sissies revival, starring Delta Burke, at the Zephyr Theatre.It would be a perfect start to the summer weekend.As was his custom after work, Grant stripped off his clothes and stepped inside the shower.He set the water for the hottest temperature he could tolerate.Grant believed, the hotter the water, the cleaner you get.Standing directly under the spray, the near-scalding water cascaded over his hair and then down the length of his torso.It was both soothing and sexually arousing.Less than two hours ago, he had come with Gene, but Grant’s hot showers always stimulated him.But he resisted the temptation to take himself in hand.I’m saving it all for Cam, after the movie.And so, he reached for the shampoo, instead of his dick.After shampooing and rinsing his hair, Grant took the white soap and gave himself a thorough, all-over cleaning.He was toweling off when the phone rang.His first inclination was to let it go to voice mail.But then, he changed his mind.“Good afternoon,” he said cheerfully, still dripping water onto the Spanish tile floor.“It’s Al,” began the voice on the other end of the line.“What’s up?” he asked concerned.This was a first.Al Wyatt had never before telephoned during business hours.“You are, I think.”Grant was amused, but confused.“What do you mean, ‘I’m up’? Are you being naughty?”“No, Grant, I’m being nice – very nice.I’m casting a series pilot.I’ve haven’t found the right actor for one of the leads.Finally, it hit me, ‘Grant! He’d be perfect!’”He couldn’t believe Al’s words, nor did he trust his own ears.I must have gotten water in them, he told himself.He shook his head several times, hoping to dislodge the moisture.Into the receiver he asked, “What did you just say?”“I want you to test for a role – a starring role, one of five,” Al said, confirming the impossible.Grant had heard him correctly.Wyatt elaborated.“Our House is an NBC sitcom pilot about five Hollywood up-and-comers.They pool their resources, and lease a Hollywood Hills home while pursuing careers in show business.Grant was still incredulous.His warm, wet skin tingled with the contradictory emotions of excitement and disbelief.Impossible things are happening, every day! He was reminded of that lyric he’d recently heard on the DVD of an old Cinderella TV musical.Grant had never believed that Al would really bring him in for something at the studio.Major studio casting directors don’t test their call boys for shows.It just isn’t done.Apparently, it was done.Al was doing it.Animatedly, Wyatt continued.“David Lee is writing and producing.” He paused for a short moment.“One of the five lead characters, Artie, is a sexually ambiguous actor, originally from small town, New Mexico.None of the actors we’ve tested projected the naiveté the role requires; none has the right screen chemistry with the actors already cast.Are you interested?”It took Grant a moment to find his voice: “Am I interested? Are you kidding? Of course, I’m interested.When? Where?”“Monday.Ten sharp.Paramount.The Melrose Gate.”Still naked and dripping, Grant’s head reeled; dizzy with excitement - he felt suddenly weak in the knees.“How do I prepare?”“You don’t.Just be yourself,” Al answered.“In many ways, this guy is you.You’ll see.Tim Van Patten is directing your test.He’s the best.”“Anything more?”Al hesitated before continuing.When he did speak, Grant detected embarrassment in his tone.“Ask for directions to my office at the gate.When you get there, pretend that we haven’t met.”“No problem,” Grant said.And it wasn’t.If being strangers when they met was the price of fulfilling his life’s ambition, then, Grant wouldn’t know Al from Adam.“I’ll see you on Monday, Al.”“Have a great weekend.”As if I’ll be able to think about anything else between now and Monday! “You too, Al.And thank you.”As he dressed, Grant’s bare feet felt as if they were floating several feet above the ground.He had been looking forward to a romantic evening with Cam.Now Grant’s expectations had morphed from romantic into magical.For a moment, he just stared at himself in the mirror, thinking, This could mean both the end of my Hottie career, and the beginning of my dream come true.Before beginning his dinner prep, Grant pinched himself; then he did it a second time.No, I’m not dreaming.This is real.I’m testing for a network series.Wednesday, August 27, 200310:11 a.m.NBC may have found the West Coast equivalent of its New York-set mega-hit Friends.The Peacock Network has ordered eleven episodes of the new sitcom Our House, as a mid-season replacement.Written and produced by David Lee, multiple Emmy-winner for Wings and Frasier; Our House casts five young up-and-comers as Hollywood hopefuls, pooling their modest resources, in order to lease a Hollywood Hills home.Depending on the numbers for the network’s three freshman sitcoms, Whoopi, Happy Family and Coupling, Our House could be on the schedule as soon as November, but probably no later than January.At the kitchen table, Grant set Variety down beside his bowl of Cheerios.He was giddy with happiness, but also confused.Why hadn’t Al Wyatt told him that the pilot was going to series? This wasn’t the way to learn that your biggest dream was coming true.But maybe it wasn’t.There must be a good reason why no one said anything.Feeling queasy, Grant’s dark thoughts continued.It’s not unusual for an actor in a pilot to be replaced.As if that admission weren’t enough, he gave himself yet another cause for concern.Other times, a character, or multiple characters in a pilot, are eliminated entirely.Grant’s fear-fueled thoughts explained why he hadn’t known about the network pick-up.He was certain.Either they didn’t like me, and I’m out, or they hated Artie, and he’s being scratched from the series.In either case, I’m screwed!Grant was happy that Cam had been the only person he had told about his casting in the pilot [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]