Chapter 14
Stu Cole walked briskly down the halls of ABS to his suite of offices on the third floor of the executive building. He felt good after firing Sid Baker. It was a tough job letting a producer go after so many years he had tried to save you money, but it was all over now and Stu was relieved. He had a little heart burn when he entered his outer office.
"Get me an Alka Selzer, Miss Cronin," he snapped, walking straight through to his own plush office. He opened the thick door and went to his desk.
His room looked like one of the sets they used in the high-budget, elaborate movies. There were drapes streaming down the wall to thick carpet on the hard wood floors. There were original paintings from all over the world hanging on the dark wood paneled walls. His desk was a thick, heavy Spanish job with many drawers that slid noiselessly whenever he moved them. A bright silver, modern lamp sat on the desk surrounded by expensive paper weights and art treasures.
Miss Cronin brought the Alka Seltzer in to Stu, then turned to leave. She shut the door behind her, leaving Stu alone with his thoughts.
He remembered seeing Sid Baker with a new script girl earlier in the day and was curious. Sid would be leaving after today and he wondered
"Miss Cronin. Find out the name of Sid Baker's new script girl and have her sent to me. Oh, Miss Cronin, try not to let Sid find out I asked," he said, then hung up the receiver. Most everyone in the building feared Stu Cole. He was the deciding factor on nearly everyone's job connected with the Don Melton Show. When you mentioned his name and said that he requested something, the party named would respond immediately, or suffer the consequences.
Within ten minutes Stu's phone rang.
"The name you requested is Pat Mullins. She is on stage 33 now with Don. Would you like me have her sent to you after Don has finished his conference with her?"
Don Melton was the only name Stu Cole feared. Anyone else he could command about, but Don was his boss ... his only boss.
"Don't interfere with anything Don might be doing. But when she's free, I'd like to see her then," Stu said, then hung up the receiver. He was restless. He went to his wet bar and poured himself a drink of Scotch and filled the rest of the glass with purified water. There were ice cubes in a small refrigerator which he dumped into his glass. He stirred the amber liquid briskly, then took a sip of the wood-flavored drink.
"No more Sid Baker," he said aloud, smiling into his drink. Sid was starting to get a little too pushy lately and he was glad he had suggested that Don let him go. Don ate it all hook line and sinker. Don was weak minded and Stu often took advantage of his position as executive producer. He planted suggestions that Don twisted around and they came out as his own ideas. No one would ever suspect that it was Stu Cole's ideas all along. He was in a good position with the company too. There was publishing of which Stu received half. He had the say so on all the materials that were bought for the show and behind Sid's back, had made deals with different companies. He was getting a knock down from the net work also. He had threatened to take Don to another net work if they, (the company and himself) didn't give subsequent raises yearly as the show was renewed.
Stu had his hands in so many pockets it took a shrewd man that he was to participate in so many deals. He grinned when he thought of how he was using Don Melton, his show and his company to make himself a fortune.
The telephone rang. Stu answered it quickly. He was horny and had liked what he saw earlier with his producer, Sid. He knew it would be her calling. It was.
"Yes, Miss Mullins, come right up. There are a few things I would like to discuss with you." He hung up the receiver and turned around in his swivel chair and sipped the cold Scotch. A sly grin crossed his pursed lips as he thought of his intentions.
A buzzer sounded on his desk. He punched a button and answered, "Yes?"
"It's Pat Mullins, the new script girl," Miss Cronin's voice blared over the tiny speaker.
"Send her right in ... and Miss Cronin, cancel all my calls for the next hour."
Pat walked into the plush office and shut the door behind her. She looked at Stu Cole with curiosity. Wonder what he wants? she thought, crossing to sit in a chair in front of the executive producer.
"Well, Miss Mullins. You're the new script girl on our show. Welcome."
"Thank you," she replied simply. She felt uneasy and strange in his office. He was a different kind of guy than Sid. Sid was warm and affectionate, but still direct and to the point. Stu was cold and calculating and she could feel his evil eyes on her body. She didn't like this situation.
"Would you like a drink?" Stu offered, standing.
"No thank you. I had one with Mr. Melton and I have to work, you know."
"Well, I think we can let our new script girl have more than one drink in the afternoon on her first day," he said, walking to the wet bar. He reached for the Scotch bottle.
"I really don't care for one. I feel lousy if I drink during the day. Thank you anyway," Pat said with authority.
This bugged Stu. He poured the Scotch anyway and mixed it with water. He walked over to her chair and handed her the drink, then leaned back on the front of his desk, eyeing the beautiful girl.
Pat took the drink and reached over and put it on his desk.
Stu looked at her with a frown. He took a long drink of his own Scotch, then glared at Pat for a moment.
"I said that it was alright for you to drink, Miss Mullins. Here, have some," he said, reaching for the drink and handing it to Pat.
She was annoyed at his insistence. Her job was already secure, she thought, and she didn't have to put up with this nonsense from someone else. She glared back at the executive producer and put the drink on the floor. It almost toppled over in the thickness of the rug.
Stu reached down and picked it up and put it on his desk slowly. He looked at the new script girl with contempt.
"I don't like to drink alone," he said, tersely.
"Then go across the street to Kiko's. The place is crawling with lonely people."
Stu looked at her even more sternly. "I would prefer to drink with you, Pat."
"I'll sit here with you, but I don't want a drink, for the third time!"
Stu walked around behind her chair and put his arms on her shoulders. He reached down and kissed her cheek and moved his hands on down to her rising breasts.
Pat pulled away and pushed his hands aside. She sat, looking at the floor as he walked back around in front of the desk.
"So you won't play my game, eh?"
"No, not with you. I have to like a person before I do that."
"Well, then, my dear, I suppose we can always get another script girl if you won't play it my way. I'm top box you know ... the executive producer."
"I always figured Don Melton was top box," she answered with a sly grin.
"He is, of course, but I can't imagine a script girl like yourself getting to a man like Don Melton."
"I suppose you're right, Mr. Cole. Anyway, thank you for the drink. I'll take a rain check." With that she got up from her chair and went for the door.
"You'll be sorry."
"Perhaps," she said, smiling as she left the overly-decorated office.
Stu gulped the rest of the drink down when she closed the door and threw his glass toward the wet bar, breaking it in a thousand pieces. "That cunt! I'll fix her!"
Pat smiled in triumph as she left the exec's office. She prided herself in knowing whom to ball and the ones not to.
What Stu Cole didn't know was that Don had told her his private extention to call anytime she wished. She went to the nearest house phone and dialed his number.
"Hello, Don, this is Pat. I'm upset, may I come see you?" She waited a moment. "Okay, I'll be right over," she said, then hung up the receiver.
Don answered the door, still wearing his robe.
"What is it, dear? Why are you so upset?" Don said, putting his arm around Pat. He ushered her to the couch where they both sat down.
"And that's it," she concluded her story. "He was very pushy and rude and tried to ball me. Oh, Don. I'm not going to turn into a whore and make it with every man that comes along!" she began to cry.
"Stu actually did that, eh. Said that he was top box and what he says goes ... Hmmm," Don reflected. "Maybe I've made the wrong decision and fired the wrong guy."
"What do you mean?"
"I fired Sid Baker today, on Stu's recommendation of course."
"You fired Sid? Why, he's twice the man Stu Cole is ... from a woman's point of view, of course. I've heard nothing but the best from people about Sid."
"I suppose you're right. I'll call Stu and get his word on this matter. I'll see if you're telling the truth," he said, reaching for the phone.
"I can tell you he'll deny the whole thing. He's too cold and calculating. Oh, well, I don't care, call him. Maybe he will tell you the truth, I don't call him. Maybe he will tell you the truth, I don't know."
Don dialed the number to Stu's office. He waited a moment. "Hello, Stu, Don. Say, did you just have the script girl in your office?" he waited. "Did you offer her a drink?" he waited. "You didn't. Did you tell her you were the top box on my show?" (a pause) "I didn't think so. Talk to you later." Don hung up the receiver.
"He's lying. I believe you and not him. It's funny that I've known he's been kiniving behind my back for years doing all sorts of things that I find out later and didn't believe. I believe you Pat ... and I'm going to do something about it!"
Don was mad! He didn't get mad very often, but when he did, things happened ... all sorts of things! He grabbed his phone and dialed a number.
"Hello Sid. I want to talk to you some more. Yes, here in my dressing room. Get down as fast as you can!" he spoke with quick, short breaths, then hung up the phone. His face was red with anger as he paced the floor.
"I don't want to get in the middle of this, Don. Really, this is not my problem. I'll go now and talk to you later about this situation. This is between you and Sid." She suddenly found herself in the middle of a big executive decision between a national motion picture and TV star and his producer. This flattered her, but she was wise enough to know to get out.
"You're right, Pat. Call me later, or better, be in my dressing room during the show. . .just for me?" he spoke sincerely, then kissed her hand.
"Talk to you later," she said, leaving the dressing room.
She almost bumped into Sid as she was leaving.
"Hello, Sid."
"Hi, Pat," he said, pushing past her. He had a look of determination on his face as he entered the dressing room.
Pat walked down the hall to the coffee pavillion. She poured herself a cup of the black liquid and sat down to enjoy it and to think. This had been quite a day in her life and it wasn't over yet. She had complicated the lives of some very important people and wondered how it would come out.
Time passed slowly for Pat. She sat at the empty coffee area alone, watching crew members move the sets out in the hall. She was glad that she had done what she felt she had to do. Stu was a slob and she was glad she had exposed him to Don. If Don would hire back Sid, things would be perfect! Sid liked her and wanted to help her. Stu wanted to fuck her and then get her out of the building, she just knew that. She picked up bad vibes from him and was glad again, inside, she had done what she did."
Sid walked past the coffee pavilion.
Pat jumped up and ran after him.
"Sid!" she called out, her high heels clicking in the hallway.
Sid turned and saw Pat. A large grin passed across his face as he waited for his script girl.
"You're an angel!" he said, putting his arm around the pretty girl. "I don't know what happened exactly, but now I'm the executive producer of the Don Melton Show. Stu Cole is out on his ear!" he beamed with happiness. "Let's go to my office and celebrate!"
"Oh, Sid, I'm so happy!" Pat jumped up and gave him a peck on his lips.
"Come on!" he commanded, almost pulling her toward the ancient elevator.
The aged monster crept to the third floor. Sid and Pat were the only ones on the elevator. Sid reached down and kissed her passionately as they wobbled and banged their way upward.
"I'll never forget your helping me keep my job. Keep it! My God, you even got me the promotion I've dreamed about for many years!"
"I'm glad," Pat whispered, returning her mouth to his. She felt a weakness all over when she was around Sid. His charm and mannerisms were exactly what she liked in a man and he really turned her on!
The elevator chugged to a stop and the couple exited.
Coming down the hall, his fists clenched, and his face red with anger, was Stu Cole.
Sid stopped when he saw the man. He placed Pat to one side and expected a fist fight with the man whom he had beaten in the business game.
"You cunt!" Stu yelled, pointing his finger at Pat. "You cost me my fucking job. . .you cunt!"
"Easy, Stu. It's your time to lose now. Don't blame a girl you probably couldn't ball. I don't know the story."
"She lied to Don and cost me my job!" Stu screamed at the top of his lungs. His blood pressure was about to explode inside his body, he was so angry. "I'll have your head for this ... CUNT!"
"That's enough, I said, Stu. Now buzz off and mind your own business."
Stu started for Pat. He pushed past Sid and grabbed her by the arm. "I'll get you for this!"
Sid grabbed Stu by both shoulders and pushed him away, then swung a hard right, hitting the smaller man on the jaw. He fell back, holding his face and looking at Sid with a look of horror!"
"You hit me!" he muttered, his cold eyes staring at his successor.
"And I'll do it again, if you don't leave the lady alone!" Sid returned, anger welling up inside him.
Stu ran down the hall toward the elevator, his hand on his cheek, which was wet with tears.
"That's the last we'll see of him, I'll bet," Sid remarked, putting his arm around Pat.
The couple walked slowly back to his office and entered.
"Miss Kelly, no more calls, except Don, for about an hour. I'm not fired, by the way," he spoke affectionately as he entered his inner office.
"Oh, Sid!" Miss Kelly yelled, then reserved herself in front of Pat. "I'm happy for you, Mr. Baker."
"Thanks," he said, closing the door behind him.
"I'll have a tall Scotch and water," Pat said, sitting in the guest chair on her knees. Her skirt came up around her thighs, exposing her soft white buttocks to Sid.
Sid poured the drinks, then came around to the front of his desk. He handed the cool glass to Pat and clinked it with his glass.
"Cheers! To a long, groovy relationship," Sid said sincerely.
"To good things ... and for them to last for a long time!" Pat said, touching his glass.
They both drank their drinks, looking at each other.
Sid loved the sight before him and thought to himself, that if he weren't married with the kids and all, he could fall for this beautiful girl. But, why not have both? Stay married and have a swingin' script girl! Life was good to him once again. He reached for the telephone. "Get me Ten Star Pictures, please."
Pat smiled as she watched this handsome gentleman handle his affairs. She admired him more every time she was with him. If he weren't married, it would be a groovy thing to be married to such a man. He has money, looks, and a nice position that everyone respects. Oh, well, it might be better this way. He stays married and she swings with him on the side and has a good job as a script girl. She felt good inside when she thought about how things had worked out. She smiled and winked at Sid as she sipped her Scotch.
"Hello, get me Mr. Graves, please," Sid said, then waited a moment. "Mr. Graves, this is Sid calling back. I've taken another job and won't be able to come to work for you at the present time. I was just offered more money is all ... about twice as much." Sid listened awhile. "I knew you'd understand, Graves. Who knows, maybe I'll be calling you back soon, out of work and needing a job. But thanks for the offer anyway. If you need any favors, don't hesitate to ask. Goodbye Graves." Sid hung up the receiver.