Chapter 53

I arrived at Kennedy airport around 6 p.m. local time and went to the Admirals club, where I found Mom waiting for me. We had an hour to wait before the flight left that would put us in England in the morning. While we waited I told Mom about my time in California and about Sharon being almost ready to birth the babies.

I managed to get a little sleep on the second flight but I still knew that my internal clock was going to be messed up for several days, having gained 8 hours from California time.

*****

We were met at the airport by a driver from the movie company. The ride from Heathrow took about 30 minutes and we were delivered to the rented townhouse in Iver Heath in Buckinghamshire that would be our home while we were here. The townhouse was nicely furnished, and had three upstairs bedrooms and a fourth downstairs for a staff member. A pleasant, middle-aged woman who identified herself as Mrs. McGuire greeted us and told us that she had been hired as cook and housekeeper. She helped us carry our bags to our rooms and then came in with me to help me unpack and put my things away.

"That looks like everything, Miss. Would you like some breakfast now?"

"No, thank you Mrs. McGuire. I'm still operating on California time so it's still last night for me. I think that I'll try to get about four or five hours sleep. I'll have something to eat when I get up later."

"Very good, Miss. What would you like?"

"I guess a bowl of soup and a small salad."

"And to drink?"

"Tea."

"And would you prefer to eat in here or the dining room?"

"The dining room, always."

"Very good, Miss. There's an intercom on the wall. The red button is a buzzer. Just press it twice when you get up."

"Okay. Thank you, Mrs. McGuire."

"Sleep well."

"Thank you."

I changed into my nightgown and slipped into the large bed, pulling the blanket and comforter up to my chin. In no time I was warm and comfortable and I soon drifted off to sleep.

The clock on the night table indicated 1:42 when I awoke. It was very bright outside so I knew that I hadn't slept much more than I intended. I saw from my bedroom window that it had snowed while I slept. A fresh, light coating of pristine white covered the branches in the back yard that had been bare when we'd arrived. It added to the accumulation that was already on the ground.

I took a bath before pressing the buzzer on the intercom to let Mrs. McGuire know that I was up, and I dressed and brushed my hair before leaving the bedroom. I stopped by Mom's bedroom before I went downstairs and peeked in. Her bed had been used but was empty.

I found Mom in the dining room when I got there. She was wrapped in her bathrobe and it appeared that she had just gotten up. I kissed her good morning and sat down just as Mrs. McGuire came in carrying a tray. A wonderful smell filled my nostrils as she placed a bowl of soup in front of me.

"It smells wonderful, Mrs. McGuire. What is it?"

"Fresh Crème of Chicken, my own recipe. What dressing do you prefer on your salad?"

"Thousand Islands?"

"Oh… I'm afraid that I don't know what that is, Miss. I could make you up a simple vinaigrette and add mustard grins and thyme to it. Or perhaps a blue cheese dressing. We don't have any French Roquefort cheese but I have some good English Stilton cheese. Or I could whip up a fresh mayonnaise. That's what a lot of English people use for salad dressing."

"How about a simple vinaigrette, then, without the mustard and thyme?"

"Very good, Miss. I'll be right back."

A moment later she reappeared with a sauceboat of vinaigrette. "Anything else, Miss?"

"Not right now. Thank you, Mrs. McGuire."

"Oh, I almost forgot. Two people rang for you while you were asleep." She said as she reached into her apron pocket, "Here're the messages," and she handed me two pieces of paper.

"Thank you."

The first call had been from Mr. Landois. The message read, 'Glad that you arrived safely. I'll see you tomorrow morning.'

The second was from Jill Stassbery. It read, "Hi. Glad you're here. Call me when you get up." There was a telephone number included.

"It's from Jill. She's over here. She wants me to call her."

"Jill? Do you suppose that she's working on the picture?"

"It could be. Mr. Landois always said what a great PA she was."

After lunch I called Jill.

"Fruit, what are you doing here?"

"Working. Mr. Landois called me and asked me to be his assistant."

"You're Assistant Director?"

"I wish. No, I'm just the assistant to Mr. Landois."

"That's great. When can you come over?"

"I'm off today. Everything is all set for us to begin tomorrow so I can come over now. I'm only about a kilometer away."

"Then don't waste time talking. Come on over. I can't wait to see you."

Jill arrived less than ten minutes later and we hugged as soon as the door was closed and the cold was sealed outside.

"I can't believe that you're here. This is so great," I said.

It's wonderful to see you again also. I'm so glad that Mr. Landois called me. And congratulations on getting this movie. You're really doing fantastic. I can't believe that you've got your third starring movie role in only a little over a year. That's so incredible."

"Let me have your coat and we can go into the living room." After I had hung Jill's coat in the hall closet and we had moved into the living room, I said, "I've been extremely lucky, Jill. Lucky to have had a wonderful acting teacher back home. Lucky to get a fantastic agent. Lucky to have a series of parts that has propelled my career forward. And lucky to have a lot of wonderful friends. I've been very fortunate."

"It's not all luck. When it comes to acting, you're a natural. Only one person in a million can slip, seemingly effortlessly, into the different roles the way that you do. Drama, romance, comedy, and now action adventure. You're doing it all. 'Under the Scarlet Maple' has been a phenomenal success. There's been a lot of talk about Oscar nominations for you and the picture. The nominations will be announced next month."

"It would be a real honor but I'm not expecting anything. I'm still new to movies. Aren't the awards kind of a popularity contest."

"No, not at all. They go to great lengths to get their members to vote only on the merits. I understand that they always remind their members that in order to be taken seriously, the members must take their responsibility seriously."

"Who are the members? I've always wondered who does the actual voting."

"There are about 5,000 members. Actors, cinematographers, directors, producers, writers, and a bunch of other industry professions are represented. All of the members are people who have made a significant contribution to the industry. The Board of Governors decides who to invite to become a member."

"Well, I know that I won't be nominated for my part in 'Water or Tequila, Senorita?'."

"True. Comedies are routinely overlooked by the Academy. But there's always the next part of 'Open Spaces' if 'Under the Scarlet Maple' doesn't do it."

"If it comes, it comes. Tell me about the new movie. Have you met the other actors yet?"

"A few. They all seem nice, and the sets look really great. They've spent a small fortune on making them. This isn't a low budget flick."

"I know. I couldn't believe how much they offered me."

"You're hot right now, and they know it. Mr. Landois really wanted you after he learned that you had interviewed for the part. The first director had walked out a couple of days before you read for the part and Mr. Landois was brought in a few weeks after."

"I wondered why the director wasn't at the interview."

Mom came into the living room, having just finished getting dressed. She and Jill hugged and then we sat and talked for hours. We even began to make plans for our Sundays. We were close to London and there was so much that I wanted to see and do. I hoped that the weather would cooperate on my day off.

We invited Jill to stay for dinner. Mrs. McGuire made a delicious stew with dumplings. It started to snow again around 8 o'clock and Jill decided to leave. We would see her at the studio in the morning.

*****

As pre-arranged, the driver who had picked us up from the airport was waiting outside the house at 7 a.m. He drove us to the studio and showed us the way to the set.

Jill was there already and took over when we arrived, introducing us to several people who were standing around drinking tea or coffee, before taking us to my dressing room.

My dressing room was actually a trailer that had been brought into the studio and parked along one wall. It was very spacious and nicely appointed with a large living room area. Jill left us, after we were settled in, to go to work. Mom found that the cabinets were stocked with a few 'essentials' and made a pot of tea.

About a half-hour later, someone knocked at the door and I said, "Come in."

The door opened and Mr. Landois walked in followed by several other men and Jill.

"Princess, welcome to the set," he said as he walked over and hugged me. "Did you have a good trip?"

"Just fine, Mr. Landois."

"Wonderful, wonderful. You know Mr. Wallace, our executive producer, and Mr. Steffith, the assistant producer?"

"Yes, we met at the interview."

"And this is Jeremy Bell. He's our secondary location manager."

"Secondary location? I thought that the entire movie was being shot here."

"Well, most of it is. We'll be doing a little shooting in two other locations. One is up in Iceland, and the other is in the south of Spain. We don't expect to spend more than a week at either place. All the rest of the shooting will be done here."

"Iceland?"

"Yes. To simulate the conditions on the smaller moon. Spain will be used for the establishing shots of Kapatia."

"Oh."

"Of course, you know Fruit. We're going to have a meeting of the principal cast at 10 o'clock, but right now we're about to take a tour of the sets. I stopped by to see if you'd like to come along?"

"Yes. I would."

"Very well. Shall we go? After you, Princess."

We left on our tour and were met by the construction supervisor and shown through the various sets. The main construction was done but they were still working on electronics installations and finishing work. Nevertheless the sets looked impressive. In addition to what we saw, there would be various miniatures and special camera work added to give the proper visual experience to the moviegoer.

After the tour we headed to the conference area for our first meeting. Mr. Bell left us, as he wasn't involved with this aspect of the picture. We were a few minutes late and most of the primary cast members were there already.

The first order of business was introductions all around. Mr. Landois introduced me as 'Princess' and everyone greeted me as such, giving their real name first and then Mr. Landois' assigned name. Some of the others had worked together or met at tryouts, but I didn't know anyone except the people that I had come in with.

Mr. Landois talked for a good two hours. He told us about the shooting schedule, and the location work, before settling down to give us his in-depth interpretation of the movie, going scene by scene through the script.

We broke for lunch with instructions to be back at 1:30. That gave us just over an hour. Jill walked back to my dressing room with me and then, together with Mom, we walked to the studio cafeteria.

"Well, what do you think," Jill asked after we had gotten our food and found a table.

"I'm impressed with the sets. They're going to look as good as anything I've ever seen in any movie."

"That's not all. I've seen the miniature sets that they're making. They're fantastic. This movie could be a blockbuster."

"Sounds great to me. I hope that we won't have to spend too much time in Iceland though."

"You're still thinking about the time that you spent freezing in 'A Promise of Spring'. Don't worry about it. You'll be properly dressed for the climate this time with proper boots and gloves."

"Okay, if you say so, I'll stop worrying about it."

"Good. How's the food?"

"Very good. Almost as good as Mrs. McGuire's."

"I'm glad that you like her. Mr. Landois told me to find someone that would keep you very happy and well looked after. Mrs. McGuire came with excellent references."

"I didn't know that you had retained her."

Grinning, she said, "All part of the job. Mr. Landois said that a contented leading lady removes half the burden from his back."

I smiled. "No one can say that Mr. Landois doesn't know his business."

We all laughed.

"Jill, dear," Mom said, "where could we get some tourism pamphlets?"

"I'll get some for you. There are a lot of wonderful places to visit while you're here. I've only been to a few, myself. As the weather improves over the next few months, we'll be able to get around better and more places will be open. The places in London alone will probably take up all your Sundays for the next several months."

"I'd planned on doing some sightseeing on my own. I can't very well sit in Crystal's dressing room every day, and we're not stuck in the middle of the Mexican jungle now."

I was glad that Mom was planning on going out sightseeing and shopping while I was working. She'd spent a lot of time sitting around waiting while I'd worked on previous jobs. She deserved to enjoy herself. "I think that that's a great idea. Do you want to rent a car, or would you prefer to be driven around. I'm sure that Jill can find a chauffeur for us."

"No problem," Jill said. "Most directors dislike parents and managers hanging around the sets so I'm sure that the company will foot the bill."

"I don't want a chauffeur waiting around for me. I'd feel guilty about taking my time and be uncomfortable. I'd prefer just to get a car, or take taxis when in the city."

"Okay, I'll arrange for a second car tomorrow," Jill said.

"A second car?" I said.

"Yes, I've already arranged for one for you. It's in a reserved spot in the small parking lot closest to the studio building that we're working in. It's a nice little BMW. It's listed with the security so you won't have any trouble getting onto the lot."

"Great. Thanks, Jill."

She smiled. "All part of the service, Princess. We can't have the star of our movie hitching rides."

"Stop it. You'll give me a swelled head."

"You'll earn it. You'll be working long hard hours over the next few months. You might as well take your little pleasures where and while you can."

After lunch Jill and I returned to the conference room while Mom went back to the dressing room. There was a television and radio in there to help her pass the time.

In the afternoon session we started concentrating on specific scenes. We would spend the next couple of weeks rehearsing before we began shooting the first scenes. Tomorrow I was scheduled to be in wardrobe to begin my fittings.

*****

A week after I arrived in England, I received a message when I got home that Sharon had given birth to twin girls. Mrs. McGuire had taken the message from Sharon's boyfriend Roy. The girls were seven pounds, ten ounces, and seven pounds, eleven ounces. Sharon had named them Sharon Anne and Crystal Elizabeth."

I called a florist and arranged for several floral pieces to be delivered to the hospital.

*****

Mom did some shopping and we sent off an enormous package of baby clothes a few days later. I asked Carol to visit Sharon and bring her whatever she needed in the way of diapers, baby formula, or even furniture. She and Roy made a good living from their work but I didn't know if he was around or if he had left for a job.

*****

I finally spoke to Sharon a week after she returned from the hospital. I had called a couple of times but the line had never been answered. I didn't call her service because I knew that she didn't have any plans to go away.

"Sharon, how are you feeling? And how are the babies?"

"I'm doing great. I'm still a little sore, but I'm feeling a little better every day. I feel thirty pounds lighter and it's wonderful. The girls are doing fine. Both are healthy and perfect. Thanks for the nice flowers and the beautiful clothes."

"You're welcome. I'm glad that everything is well and that the babies are healthy. I've been trying to reach you but the phone just keeps ringing. Are the babies sleeping well, and are you?"

"Pretty good. They usually only wake me up once each night. The problem is that they wake each other up and then I have two of them screaming at the same time. Roy's not much help. He could sleep through an atomic war. It's more trouble than it's worth trying to wake him up to help me, so I do it alone. I've been so tired once I get the babies settled down that I usually unplug the phone so that I can get some sleep."

"Is there anything that I can do to help?"

"No thanks, hon, we're doing okay. I can't wait for you to finish your picture and come home, though."

"Me too. Have you taken any pictures of the girls?"

"Yes. Roy shot a roll a few days ago. I sent you a card yesterday with a couple of pictures in it. It'll probably take a few more days to reach you."

"Great. I'll keep an eye out for it."

I talked for Sharon for about an hour. A pair of tiny voices crying for a meal interrupted us, so we had to cut our call short. I received the card and the pictures a few days later.

*****

I fell into a pretty standard routine over the next few weeks. I worked Monday through Saturday, went sightseeing on Sunday, spoke to Sharon whenever I could and the twins allowed, and I wrote to Debbie. In February we flew up to Iceland for a week and a half to do the necessary filming there. When we returned, I was greeted by the news that the Oscar nominations had just been announced that morning in California and that 'Under the Scarlet Maple' was nominated in 4 categories, including a nomination for me for 'Best Actress'. I was shaken because although there had been a lot of talk, I hadn't really, truly, expected it. Perhaps I would have been less surprised if I had been around while the movie was in the theatres, but I had been in Mexico, virtually cut off from most news and TV shows where it was being discussed.

The news was exhilarating, however, even if neither the picture nor I won any awards. I didn't hold out any real hope that I would win because the other nominated actresses were all wonderful, established, professionals. Still, it was great to be included in such a select group.

I knew from what had happened to other pictures over the years, that the picture might now be re-released into theatres and revenues would probably increase by 10 to 15 percent. I wouldn't receive any more money for the movie sales, but I did get a small percentage of cable sales and videocassette sales and those areas would also increase for an Oscar nominated movie. And just having the personal nomination would propel my career forward.

*****

The next day I began to receive telegrams, sent to the studio, congratulating me on the nomination. They came from the people that I had worked with, or for, over the past couple of years. I must have received three dozen during the first week.

I also received an invitation from the Academy to attend the awards ceremony. I talked it over with Mom and we wrestled with the decision of whether or not I should go. I didn't have a gown, although I thought that Barbara could make one for me in time, and it would mean taking time off from the picture to go to LA. I would have to find a date, although that was probably the least of my worries, and I would also have to sit there and watch someone else claim the award. I felt that I could handle the last because, down deep, I knew that I wouldn't win. Too many wonderful actresses over the years had been nominated time and again and yet not taken home an award. Both Deborah Kerr and Thelma Ritter had each been nominated six times for 'best' and 'best supporting' without ever taking the award home. The number of world famous actors and actress who had never won a 'best' award is long and distinguished. Even more amazing is the number of great actors and actresses that were never even nominated, so I felt very honored, and maybe a little scared, that I had received the nomination.

I had maintained a very low profile as an actress so far. Part of it was due to my age and part of it was just because I didn't have any desire to be a part of the Hollywood 'scene'. Except for the premiers, I hadn't attended any Hollywood-type events until now and I didn't know if I was ready to start.

A couple of days after I received the invitation, a telegram from Mark Silver, the producer of 'Under the Scarlet Maple', came. He asked if I intended to come to the awards ceremony because he wanted to know how many from the movie would attend. The pressure was mounting for me to make a decision.

*****

I didn't know if I would ever be nominated for an award again, so I decided to go to the ceremony. After returning the invitation with the acknowledgment that I would attend, I notified Mr. Silver that I would be there. Then I phoned Barbara to tell her that I needed a gown. She naturally knew about the nomination and after spending ten minutes congratulating me, she told me that she had already completed a design and was only waiting to hear from me before she started sewing. She said that it would be ready in time for me to pick it up on my way west.

My last call was to Oliver to ask him if he would like to escort me to the Academy Awards ceremony. He accepted eagerly and we talked for about an hour about the picture, the awards ceremony, and other things.

*****

Mr. Landois told me that he would be happy to release me from filming for a week. I knew that my having been nominated for an award would be used in the promotion of the new picture when it was released. I made plans to leave on the first direct flight from London to Chicago on Thursday morning, arriving home around noon since I was traveling with the sun. Barbara would fit the gown and I would stay overnight at the house before continuing on the next day, to the condo. I would be able to rest on Saturday, and have my hair done on Sunday morning in preparation for the ceremony. My hairdresser for the new movie made the arrangements for the special appointment with a friend that had a salon in her home. On Monday I would begin my trip back and be ready to resume work on Wednesday. It was going to be hectic, but exciting.

*****

We proceeded normally with the shooting schedule over the next few weeks until it was time for me to leave. They would shoot around me while I was gone, and then catch up with my scenes when I got back. We still had to do the shooting in Spain, but that was planned for the final shooting in April.

*****

Mom drove me to Heathrow to catch my plane on the morning that I was to leave. I had worn my wig because I would be going to my hometown and the scene in the Mall was still too vivid. If I had been traveling straight to LA, I would have relied only on sunglasses. Mom and I hugged and kissed at the gate when they called my flight. She wished me luck and I boarded the plane.

The flight attendants recognized my name on the passenger list and were extremely attentive to me during the flight. They made me feel that I had won the award instead of just being nominated. The flight departed on time and arrived at Chicago only a few minutes late.

After passing through customs, I made my way to the Admiral's Club to await my next flight. I enjoyed a cup of tea and continued reading the book that I had brought along for the trip. Twenty minutes before my commuter flight was scheduled to board, I left the club and made my way to the gate. No one seemed to pay the slightest bit of attention to me and I was content to be invisible.

The commuter flight landed just after noon, local time. The arranged-for limo was waiting and, after my single suitcase was loaded into the trunk, the driver took me to the house. I gave him a tip and made sure that he was aware that I was to be picked up tomorrow morning for a ride back to the airport.

After I put my suitcase in the house and turned up the heat, I retrieved the keys for Mom's car and drove down to the theatre. I found Barbara and Marge in the Makeup room.

"Crystal, welcome home," Marge said. "Give us a hug."

I hugged and kissed both if them and then sat down to talk and have a cup of tea.

"Congratulations, kiddo," Barbara said. "We knew that you were good, but an academy award. Wow."

"Not an award. Just a nomination."

"There's no such thing as just a nomination where the Academy Awards are concerned. It puts you into a very elite group, made up of the very best in the movie industry."

"You're right, of course. I don't know why I was chosen, but I'm honored. I don't think that I have a chance because the other nominees are such wonderful performers, but I'm looking forward to seeing the awards first hand rather than just on television. I bet that there are people who would almost kill to get into the awards ceremony, and I've been invited. It's such a rush."

"You have as good a chance as any of the others. Think positive," Marge said.

"Come on, Marge. I know that the Academy does its best to keep the voting honest, but the voters are only human. They have their favorites, and there's the possibility of other considerations. I haven't been on the scene for very long. As the new kid, it would be an uphill climb just to get to the playing level where the others already are. Maybe in a few years, after I've been around for a while, and my work has been seen by more members of the academy, I'll feel that I have a chance."

"Wadda ya mean by other considerations?" Barbara asked.

"Well, it's just speculation, but it seems that if someone's friend had been nominated, and that person had never won, the voter might be strongly inclined to vote for their friend. It's just human nature. I doubt if any of the academy members consider me a friend. I'm just too new to the industry. So I think that that gives all the others an edge. And as I said before, I'm just pleased to have been nominated."

"Well… we're going to be pulling for you," Marge said.

"Too bad you're not academy members," I said smiling.

"You're going to need the gown, whether you win or not, so let's get started," Barbara said.

We went to the Wardrobe Department and Barbara showed me the beautiful gown that she had created. It was the most beautiful gown that I had ever seen. Her creation was a mauve, strapless, beaded bustier with a full fitted skirt and two kick pleats.

"Barbara, it's magnificent; absolutely magnificent. I don't know what else to say."

"Let's try it on you and see if it still looks magnificent when you're wearing it. That's the real test."

Ten minutes later I was standing on a raised platform as Barbara pulled and tugged to see where adjustments would be needed. After she marked the gown, I removed it and put on a robe as she began making the changes. Barbara insisted that it be absolutely perfect so I wore the gown through two more fittings and a final check over the next three hours. When we were done, it was a work of art. I knew that other attendees would be wearing jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, most on loan from jewelry houses looking for free publicity, but all I intended to wear was the heart shaped pendent and earrings that Brad had given me. Barbara gave me bracelet from wardrobe to wear also. The stones weren't real, but it would take a jeweler to tell the difference. It sure looked real to me. It was part of a collection that had been donated to the theatre years before.

I stayed with Marge and Barbara almost until dinnertime. Just before I left I asked about the last production, which had wrapped up just a couple of weeks earlier.

"It was pretty good," Marge said. "We had a lot of new people in it. Mr. Tucker made Neil Broderick an assistant director on the production."

Neil had played my father in my first play.

"Assistant Director? That's nice. How did Neil do?"

"He did fine. We think that Mr. Tucker is grooming him to take over."

"Take over?"

"Yeah," Barb said. "We think that the next play is going to be his last here."

"His last?"

"With his mother gone, he doesn't have any more family here, nor any need to remain. We think that he's getting ready to leave. He's been cleaning out his mother's home. He's donated a lot of her things to the wardrobe and props departments. He hasn't said anything, but he might be getting ready to return to the professional theatre."

I nodded. It made sense. "You think that he'll leave after the next play, then?"

Both Barb and Marge nodded and we shared a look of despair. The community would be losing a great director, but people have to move on with their lives and Mr. Tucker had thought about others for a long time. It was time for him to think about himself for a change, and get back to following his dream.

I hugged and kissed both Barbara and Marge before I left. I told them my success was owed to them as well as to Mr. Tucker, and that I would be thinking of all of them as I went to the Awards ceremony.

*****

The limo picked me up the next morning and took me to the airport. The gown was in a carryon clothes bag and I never let it out of my hands until I was on the plane. A flight attendant took it and put it into a kind of closet. I stood and watched it until the door was closed.

I carried the bag to the Admirals Club with me when I reached Chicago and laid it carefully on the chair next to me. When it was time to go to my next flight, I again carried the bag carefully and never relaxed my grip on the hanger part until I was on the plane. Again, a flight attendant took the bag and hung it up for me.

Carol, and her roommate Samantha, met me at the airport to take me to the condo. Once in the car I began to relax my death grip on the hanger.

"Is that your dress for the ceremony?" Sam asked.

"Yes. Barbara created a masterpiece."

"Can I see?"

"Sure, but not until we're in the condo. I don't want to risk anything happening to it."

"What can happen in the car?"

"Nothing if I don't open the bag."

Sam grimaced. "O-kay. I'll wait."

For the rest of the trip to the condo we talked about the new picture and England. I told them about the places that we had visited on our Sunday tours and the places that we still intended to visit.

As soon as we had arrived at the condo and carried my things in, Sam began begging me to see the gown. I put my purse down and hung the clothes bag over a hook on the back of my bedroom door. I pulled the zipper down exposing the gown and lifted it out of the case and held it in front on me.

"Oh my God, Crys, It's beautiful. If it was white it would be like a wedding gown from a fairy tale," Carol said as she stared at it in rapt fascination.

"It's heavenly," Samantha breathed more than said.

"Barbara outdid herself on this gown. She must have worked on it exclusively for a couple of weeks."

"It's the most beautiful gown I've ever seen. I wish that my waist was as small as yours so that I could borrow it sometime," Carol said.

"Just start wearing your corset again and start retraining your waist. I dropped over two inches while I was making 'Under the Scarlet Maple' because I had to wear a corset almost every day for more than three months. Since then, I've put it back on and I'm up to 21 inches again."

"That's quite alright. I'm just fine at 23 inches. Wearing a corset is torture. I'll just have to forego wearing your beautiful gown."

"Who's your date for the ceremony, Crys?" Sam asked.

"Oliver."

"Oh, wow. He's so good looking. What's he like, really?"

"He's a warm, caring, friend. He's a good conversationalist and I enjoy his company. He was the first one that I thought of when I needed a date."

"I think that he's dreamy. I would love to have a date with him. Can I be here again when he comes to pick you up."

"Sure, Sam."

*****

On Saturday morning I dropped Carol and Sam off at the campus. They invited me to come to the beach with them, but I had an appointment with Jennifer, my publicist. I drove to her office and we spent about two hours talking about my career and the nomination. After that I drove over to see Sharon. I wanted desperately to see the babies. Sharon answered the door about 30 seconds after I rang.

"Sharon, you're gorgeous. You have your shape back already," I exclaimed.

"Crystal," she screamed as she rushed at me and we hugged. "It's so good to see you. Come in, come in."

"I couldn't stay away for another minute. I flew in to see the babies."

"Oh, come on. I know why you're in town. You're here to pick up your award for being the best actress of the year."

I giggled. "I wish that that were true, both we both know that I don't have a chance."

"Not a chance? Are you kidding? I saw the picture. You were magnificent. If you don't get the award then the academy voters are dolts."

"Thanks, but lets not minimize the skills of the other nominees. They're all wonderful."

"I know, but I want you to win."

"I've already won just by being nominated. And I get to attend to the awards also. I don't need the statue."

"Hey, this is Sharon you're talking to. I know that you're only downplaying the importance so that you won't be crushed if you don't win."

I sighed. "Do you blame me? The odds would seem to be one in five, but I would really put the real chances at one in a hundred. I've been watching the polls. I'm considered to be in fourth or fifth place. I don't have any delusions about winning this year, but I really am happy just to have been nominated."

"Okay, sweetheart. I understand. Say, want to see the kiddies, Auntie Crystal?"

"I thought that you'd never ask. Are they awake?"

"Yes. They're in the playpen that you sent. Come on into the living room."

I followed Sharon into the living room and over to the playpen. Lying on their backs staring up at the brightly colored plastic blocks that were strung on a string suspended across the top, were two of the most darling little babies that you ever saw. They were only two months old so they couldn't move very much yet, but their eyes followed the plastic blocks as they swayed on the string.

"Oh, Sharon, they're beautiful; absolutely beautiful. Which is Sharon and which is Crystal?"

"The only way that I can tell them apart is by looking at their right arm. Sharon has a tiny birthmark on the inside, just above the elbow. Sharon is the one on the left."

"I see the mark, but it's tiny."

"It's the only difference other than their fingerprints and footprints, that I've been able to find."

"Footprints?"

"Yes, they took their footprints at the hospital as soon as they were born. I guess that it's the way that they can identify them if the little plastic wrist bands come off and the babies get mixed up."

As we stood there talking, little Sharon began to cry, followed quickly by little Crystal.

"I was heating up their breakfast when the doorbell rang. Help me feed them."

I took one baby while Sharon took the other into the kitchen. The bottles were sitting in a pot of warm water on the stove. We each took one, tested it on our wrists, and then sat down to feed the infants.

"You're using formula?"

"Yes. I breast fed until a week ago but I don't have enough milk to feed them both, all that they want. I breast feed when they wake up in the middle of the night and use formula during the day."

"You look wonderful. Motherhood agrees with you."

"It's wonderful. I get this funny feeling every time I look at the babies. I wouldn't trade the past two months for anything in the world. Wait until you have children. You'll see what I mean."

"I can't. The doctors have already told me that I can never have children."

"Oh, honey. I'm so sorry. And here I've been carrying on so. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I share your happiness."

"Well, that's not all you can share. I wanted to ask you if you'd be their Godmother."

"Godmother?"

"Yes. You'll be officially named as Godmother at their baptism."

I smiled. "I'd love to be their Godmother."

"Good. We'll schedule it for right after you finish this picture."

"It'll have to be in the first two weeks of May. I start shooting the second part of 'Open Spaces' on the fifteenth."

"My God. When are you going to take a rest? You went from 'Under the Scarlet Maple, to directing a play, to starring in the Mexican movie, to starring in this new one, and now the next "Open Spaces' movie right after this. You're going to burn out if you're not careful."

"I didn't plan it this way. I had intended to be in college this year. Things just kind of happened. At times I've felt a little like a whore selling myself for money."

"No whore in the world gets the kind of money that you'll get for doing the three pictures in a row. How much is it? Ten million, the newspapers estimate?"

"Closer to fifteen for 'Tequila, Moons, and Open Spaces II'," I said. "I'm estimating 2.5 for the last because I don't know how much yet. It depends on the size of my part once the screen play is written."

"Well you just keep on doing what you're doing, honey, but slow down just a little and take some time for yourself. Maybe just two pictures a year are enough. This isn't the bad, old days when the studios controlled your life and tried to keep you working 14 hours a day, 7 days a week."

"I've been lucky to get some good roles during the past year. I know that it won't continue. I don't even have any prospects for after 'Open Spaces II' so maybe I'll get some time off."

"What about college?"

"I faced the fact that I didn't need college right away. My career is going good so I'm putting it off until things slow down. Maybe I'll go next year if I don't get any more pictures."

"I wouldn't count on that. Now that you've been nominated for an Academy Award for 'Best Actress', there won't be any end to the parts for a while. Be selective though. Don't take parts just because they're offering a lot of money."

"Mr. Daniels has been taking good care of me. He reviews the roles before sending me on the interviews. I trust him to do right by me. If my career suffers because of poor choices, his commission will drop."

"Then just make sure that he doesn't try to get you to take on too much."

"Okay, but I like to keep busy."

"Then here's your chance. The bottle is about empty. It's time to burp little Crystal."

I stayed with Sharon and the twins until after dinner. After we put the twins to sleep, I helped Sharon with her exercises. She was determined to get back in shape to resume her career as soon as the twins were okay to leave with a nanny. I had to leave at eight thirty because I was supposed to pick up Carol at nine. We hugged before I left and I told her that I would see her at the beginning of May.

 

(continued in Chapter 54)

I want to express my grateful appreciation to Lynn Jennings and Debbie Cybill for their very helpful suggestions, and proofreading services on this series.

 

 

 

*********************************************
© 1999 by Crystal Sprite. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all articles, text, images, logos, compilation design) may printed for personal use only. No portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or otherwise made available without express written consent of the copyright holder.
Anyone wishing to make comments is welcome to e-mail me at crystal@storysite.org