Chapter 8
As Jo stepped out of the shower she heard the phone ring. Grabbing a towel and wrapping it around her dripping body, she rushed into the bedroom and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Jo, it's Pete Henry."
"Hi, love. How are you?" Jo asked, cherrily. "Fine, baby. Just super."
"What's up, Pete?" she asked, curiously. "I've just been given-a script that's phenomenal!"
"That's the only kind to get," she laughed.
"I'm serious, honey. It's a gem!" he said, seriously.
"So, where do I fit in?" she asked, teasingly.
"Are you going to be home for a while," he asked, nervously.
"Sure, come on over," Jo replied.
"Okay, honey. I'm on my way."
Jo hung up the receiver and walked back into the bathroom. She knew this was something special. Pete Henry rarely ever got excited about anything. And when it came to scripts, he was even more critical. Jo felt a bit excited.
Maybe this would be the one. This would be the film that really would take her to the top. She'd done so many half-assed films that she would have given it all up just to have that one work of art. The closest she had ever come to being partially satisfied was with her film in France. And that, too, was Pete Henry's discovery.
Rummaging through her drawers to find a clean pair of jeans and a T-shirt, Jo started doing some serious thinking. She wanted to feel totally secure in her profession. She didn't want to have to worry about where her next, job was coming from anymore. She didn't want to make herself seen so that people would remember she was around and in need of work.
Jo Ross wanted people to come looking for her. Jo wanted to be in a position where she was in demand because she was good. One of the very best! Jo wanted to be a star, but Jo wanted to be a star worth having!
She worked hard at her craft and she knew she was ready to be given a serious deep role. She was tired of all the pretty girl parts. All the hookers, gypsies, Indians and smile-pretty parts. She wanted something with guts and blood. Something she had to dig into and tear herself apart for. Jo wanted to start acting!
Throwing on her jeans and T-shirt, the phone rang again, and Jo lazily picked up the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Hi, this is Regina," a happy voice answered.
"Hi, love. Where are you?" Jo asked, glad to hear the girl's voice.
"I am at home now. I had the day off," she explained.
"Good for you," said Jo.
"Are you busy?" Regina asked, shyly.
"Why?" teased Jo.
"I'm always working and for me to get one day off is very rare," explained Regina. "I thought maybe we could go and sun-bathe on the beach or take a ride, maybe."
"I would love it, honey." Jo exclaimed. "But can you do me a favor and wait a couple of hours. Pete is coming over and we have to discuss business. You might get bored. Unless you want to come and go out on the beach while we talk things over," Jo suggested.
"Oui," that sounds fine to me," Regina replied.
"Good, then I'll see you in a while," Jo said, hanging up the phone.
Leaving the bedroom and heading down the stairs Jo began to wonder about Regina. The girl was an absolute angel and Jo felt something for her she hadn't felt for anyone else in a long, long time.
Being with Regina was special for Jo and she was very aware of that. Jo needed to have someone with her, all the time, and she was almost positive that Regina was the person who could fill that void in her life.
This was a serious step and Jo thought she should wait a bit longer before making any drastic moves. But deep down she was positive she was doing the right thing. She wanted Regina, Regina wanted her, the most natural thing in the world would be to have Regina move in with her.
For the first time in her life she found someone that she truly wanted around her all the time. The girl made her happy. No one had ever made Jo happy before. This was something she couldn't afford to lose. She couldn't take any chances. Yes, she was certain. She wanted Regina to be a large part of her life and she would have to take some steps to start their relationship going in the direction that she wanted it to go in.
Going into the kitchen and putting on a pot of coffee Jo began to sing. She felt good. Really good. This feeling rarely came over Jo and when it did she just wallowed in it.
Looking out onto the ocean, she started to feel that sense of mystery and power. That vastness held secrets and mysteries we would never know about. It was truly magical. And Jo lived so close to it. It was her friend. She fell asleep with it and woke up to it. She talked to it and listened to it. She cried with it and laughed with it. The ocean was her closest friend.
The front doorbell rang and Jo realized that she hadn't locked the door.
"It's open, Pete," she yelled, taking the pot of coffee off the stove.
"Ummmm, I smell some nice, fresh coffee," he smiled, kissing Jo on the forehead.
"You certainly do," she said, reaching in the cupboard for some cups and saucers.
"Well, this script is the one, Jo. This is the script that is going to make us. You and me!" he explained, confidently.
"Who's gem is this?" Jo asked.
"A young guy named John Hoffman wrote it and I haven't read anything like it in all the years I've .been out here in this movie town. It's one in a million."
"And why, may I ask, have you been blessed with his masterpiece," Jo asked, suspiciously.
"The kid came to me out of the clear blue, Jo! He knew I was a director and he's a student at the American Film Institute. He's been working on this script for over a year and lucky for me, he just decided to see me first."
Jo picked the script up off the table and started to read the first page. Looking quite interested, she went on to the second and third and then proceeded to glance through the next few pages.
"Oh, Pete, pour yourself a cup of coffee," she said, distantly.
"Isn't it incredible?" he asked, excitedly.
"Looks great! I've never done a period piece, Pete," she replied, skeptically.
"Honey, don't worry. It'll take lots of work and research, but you can do it. This is the script we've both been waiting for," he smiled, grabbing Jo and giving her a big hug.
"When do you plan on starting?" Jo asked, pouring herself some coffee.
"Just as soon as I'm all finished up with this last piece of celluloid I'm going to hustle my ass and get a backer for this film," he explained, raising his cup to his mouth.
"You're going to have to get quite a roll of bread for this one, Pete. This is a fucking spectacle. The French Revolution. I mean, we can't fly to Santa Fe and hang out in the desert for two weeks and get this one down," she shook her head.
"This is going to take lots of bucks, honey. But with a script like this I'm not even worried. It's also going to take a lot of time. It might mean a good nine months in Europe," he said, looking Jo directly in the eyes.
Jo felt as if Pete were waiting for her to show some sort of reaction. Nine months was a long time to be away. But Jo knew that this might be the one that would take off like a rocket.
What were nine months? She had a lifetime ahead of her and these nine months could change her whole life. Looking at Pete thoughtfully, she suddenly let a big smile spread across her face.
"You'll do it?" he asked, almost in a scream.
"I'll do it," she laughed, as Pete jumped up and picked Jo up off the floor.
Jo continued flipping through the script as the characters passed through her mind. Realizing that she had the female lead, she saw there was a smaller female part. The character was the younger sister of Jo's character and she suddenly had a flash rush through her mind. Regina!
Jo knew she could get Pete to test Regina for the part and was quite sure there would be room for the girl in the film. If she could act, the character would be hers and if she weren't too secure yet, Jo was sure she could handle bit parts, or some extra work. She had to have Regina with her during the filming and she wanted the young girl to start working in film.
Deciding against mentioning it at the moment, Jo looked at Pete and smiled. "No rest between films this year, huh. Mr. Henry?"
"Not with this gem in my hands, baby. If I had gotten hold of this sooner, we would be in Europe right now!" he confessed.
Suddenly the front door bell rang and Jo walked towards the front door. Opening the door, she saw a smiling, lovely Regina standing there.
"Bon jour," she smiled, giving Jo a peck on the cheek.
Walking into the kitchen, Pete started staring at Regina, his mind working a mile a minute. Jo knew exactly what was going through his head.
"Regina, have you ever acted?" Pete asked, walking closer to the girl and looking intently at her face.
Laughing, Regina replied, "Only in school plays, Monsieur. Never in the real movies like Jo."
"Jo, I want to have a screen test taken of her today. This afternoon. As soon as you can get her down to the studio!" Pete said, anxiously.
"I can get her down there right now," Jo replied, not wanting to wait a minute longer.
"Let's go," Pete said, putting down his cup and walking towards the door.
Scrambling out the door, they all jumped into Pete's Mercedes and headed down the highway. Regina looked a bit confused as she looked at Jo flipping through the, pile of papers on her lap and watched Pete concentrating intently as he drove.
"What do we do?" asked Regina, innocently.
"You're going to make a movie with Jo," explained Pete.
"Oo-la-la!" bellowed Regina. "But Mr. Henry, I never have done a movie! Never!"
"That's okay. We'll see how you look on film and then we'll see how much of that high school acting is still intact. There's a drama coach at the studio that we can use around the clock if we have to. Don't worry, honey," Pete consoled.
Pulling into the studio lot, the guard at the gate tipped his hat to Mr. Henry and the girls. "Good afternoon, Mr. Henry, Miss Ross," he smiled, opening up the front gate to let the Mercedes enter.
As they pulled into the parking space, they all exited from the car and headed for the testing room. Pete went straight to an inter-office telephone and buzzed one of the cameramen.
"Mike, I need someone tested pronto," Pete explained.
Replacing the phone the cradle, the young man was down in the room in a minute flat. Walking over to the seated Pete Henry, the two men sat and whispered confidently for about five minutes. Then the young cameraman went over to his camera and starting preparing for the shooting.
"Okay, Regina, I want you to answer the questions I ask you very honestly. We're talking at a party in someone's living room and there's absolutely no formality. Very comfortable and relaxed, honey," Pete ordered.
As Pete threw questions at Regina, the girl was amazingly comfortable and sincere. She also showed a beautiful sense of humor and the three people behind the camera all cracked up at some of her answers.
Pete noticed that the girl was totally uninhibited and free. At one point he looked at Regina for a half a minute without saying a word. Suddenly, he stared right into her eyes and threw his last question at her.
"Regina, what is your relationship to Jo Ross?"
Without any hesitation whatsoever, the young, lovely French girl looked at Pete and answered. "Jo and I are lovers, Mr. Henry," she smiled, unashamed.
"Cut!" yelled Pete, getting up from his seat and walking towards Regina. "Good girl," he said, putting his arm around her shoulders.
"One more Mike and that's it, buddy," Pete ordered.
Looking confused, the cameraman turned towards Pete and questioned him. "Who?" he asked.
"Jo Ross," answered Pete.
"Jo Ross!" the cameraman laughed. "What the hell does Jo Ross need a screen test for?"
"I want to see the lady read a scene from this script for me," he explained, patiently.
Jo looked at Pete and smiled. She knew Pete was a professional and knew exactly what he was doing at all times. She never questioned anything he'd ever done or told her to do. Rising from her seat, she walked in front of the camera with the script as Pete stood next to her and pointed out the scene he wanted her to read.
Going off in a corner for a while, Jo studied the scene and ran through it a number of times. When she felt she' knew what was going on and why, she questioned herself about her character and then felt that she was ready for a reading.
Looking out at Pete, who was seated in a chair in front of Regina, she saw a big smile spread across Regina's face as the young girl looked at Jo and threw her a loving, sincere kiss.
"Ready to roll?" asked Pete, very serious.
Nodding her head, Regina turned away from the camera for a moment and then put her head down.
As the camera started to roll, Jo suddenly picked up her head and turned towards the camera. Her face seemed totally transformed! She had turned herself into her character and it was physically possible to see the change. Regina became a bit frightened at this transition and Pete just kept staring intently at Jo, suddenly feeling a tingle shoot up his spine.
Jo gave the best reading of her life. She became her part. When the scene was over and the camera stopped rolling, no one moved. They all stayed in their exact positions and sat silent for a moment. Jo had her head down and tears were streaming down her cheeks. She was still in character and needed some time to get back into herself.
Realizing what she had gone through, Pete just sat still and didn't go near her. He knew she needed some time to release herself from the character and the best thing to do was to let her alone.
Taking Regina by the hand, Pete led her out of the room and into the control room in the back. Looking at Regina, he suddenly saw tears rolling down the lovely girl's face and he grabbed her and hugged her tightly.
"She was so beautiful, Mr. Henry. But it wasn't Jo, at all. I felt so sorry for that woman out there. What she had gone through. The pain. Suffering," cried Regina, sobbing in Pete's arms.
Patting her on the head, trying desperately to console her, Pete looked out into the testing room and saw that Jo was seating alone in the room.
"Come, I think we can go back in now," Pete said, taking Regina by the hand and leading her back into the room.
As they neared Jo's seat, Pete put his hand gently on her shoulder and smiled.
"Are you all right?" he asked, concerned.
"I'm okay," she smiled, looking straight ahead.
"Listen, I want you to come back here later on this afternoon. About five or so," Pete explained.
"Why, Pete?" Jo asked, curiously.
"Don't ask me silly questions now, kid. Just be back here at five," he said sternly.
Rising from her seat, Jo gave Pete a kiss on the cheek and walked towards Regina, putting her arm around the girl's waist and heading for the door.
"Let's go home, Regina," she smiled, hugging the girl's body closer to hers.
"Oui," whispered Regina, holding onto Jo.
"I feel like being near the ocean right now," she explained softly.
As the two girls neared the door, Pete's voice yelled out.
"Jo, take my car, honey. Did you forget we came here in my car?" he laughed.
"What about you?" she asked.
"I'll be here all afternoon and if I have to go anywhere one of the guys can drop me off," he explained.
"Okay," she said, exiting from the room.
As Regina and Jo drove along the Pacific Coast Highway, the ocean breeze blowing through the car windows, Jo lay her head back and breathed in deep.
Regina took hold of Jo's hand and squeezed it tightly. Turning towards the girl, Jo looked at her and smiled, lovingly. Putting Regina's hand to her lips, she kissed it softly.
"I love you, Regina," Jo said warmly.
Looking at Jo with tears in her eyes, the girl reached out and threw her arms around Jo's neck. Trying desperately to concentrate on the road, Jo felt like pulling over and just holding the girl in her arms.
"Oh, Jo! Will we love like this forever?" she asked innocently.
"Now is forever, Regina!" Jo explained. "We won't think about forever. It's too far away! We can only work on the moment, love. The here and now!"
Pulling into her driveway, Jo decided to put Pete's car into her garage. A Mercedes Benz sitting in her driveway would make her too nervous.
As the two women walked into the house, Jo fell onto the couch and collapsed momentarily. The ocean air was very thick today and Jo could feel it in her bones.
"Regina, open up the sliding doors so the breeze will blow through the house," Jo asked, lazily.
Regina opened the doors and looked out onto the beautiful Pacific. It was a breezy day and the waves were quite big and rough. There were no people out on the beach and the sky was very overcast.
Stepping out onto the beach, Regina stood on the sand and looked out into the vastness of the ocean. Feeling the magic of the water she felt as if she wanted to be closer.
"Jo? Jo?" she called, anxiously.
"Yes?" she replied.
"Please come and let us take a walk on the beach," she said.
Rising from the couch, Jo walked onto the beach and took Regina by the hand. As the two girls walked towards the water, they were silent and very alone together They didn't have to speak. They could feel each other.
Suddenly coming to a halt near the water's edge, Jo turned towards Regina and embraced her passionately. Placing her smooth, moist lips on Regina's, they slowly opened their mouths and their tongue united affectionately.
Lying down on the sand, they rolled around and kissed with a forceful passion. Placing her body on top of Regina's, Jo started to grind into the girl's body as she worked her tongue throughout Regina's mouth.
She desired the lovely girl so strongly she felt as if she could almost swallow her whole. Devour every part of her. She never wanted to lose Regina. She wanted this moment to go on forever.
Unzipping Jo's jeans, Regina placed her hands down near Jo's crotch and felt that Jo had no panties on. Reaching down near Jo's slit, she worked her long fingers into her pussy and started to knead her clitoris.
The girl rubbed profusely, and suddenly plunged her three middle fingers into Jo's pussy, working them in and out frantically. Jo knew it wouldn't take time for her to come. She could have simply looked at Regina today and come.
Grinding their bodies into each other, while Regina worked on Jo's pussy, she finally felt herself ready to explode into the girl's hand.
"Mmmmm, Regina!" she moaned, as her juice started to pour out of her pussy, quickly jumped up and turning herself around, Regina threw her mouth onto Jo's pussy and sucked up as much gism as she could swallow. Sucking the cream out of Jo's pussy, Regina gulped it all down as if it were a chocolate malt.
Lying on their backs, the two girls embraced each other and nestled together contently.