"I wish that were so, Mr Blackwood," replied Anna May.  "I'm in a few scenes, but only speaking in one."

"Really?", replied Richard, genuinely surprised. "That's a shame." He looked at Mark. "How much influence do you have with the producer, Mark? You sound like you've been here a while. Could you pull some strings for miss Gibson here?"

Mark looks a bit embarrassed.

I'm afraid my pull is a bit lacking.  I have been pulling some night security and consulting for the studio. I also do some investigating on the side. Pays good when the jobs come along.  They just don't come along often. I would venture to say that all of you are far better paid than I am. In Hollywood, when you're no longer young and beautiful, no one wants you.

Mark will get a cup of coffee and slyly pull a flask out and add something to it.

Richard saw the movement and whispered in Mark's ear. _{"Single malt? Don't care much for the bourbon they sell here. Give me a good single malt scotch any day."}

"Steady pay is overrated," Graham said with a laugh and a shrug.  "There's always money to be had, people are just waiting for it to be plucked out of their hand, honestly."  He was shameless and had more than a touch of larceny in his soul... and he was shameless, very good looking, and gifted with a golden tongue.  Even when he didn't have a job, he was never precisely broke.  There was always someone willing to give him things for the pleasure of his company.

He grew more serious, fetched his wallet, and took out a card with gold leaf embossing.  It said,

Agape Lodge No. 2
O.T.O.

and gave an address in Pasadena.  A very swank address.

Graham said to Phyllis, "Some friends of mine, some of whom you would likely want to know, attend church here on Saturday evenings, starting at 9 o'clock.  In the evening, not morning, we're a bit of night owls.  You should come.  See if you like it.  The way to get ahead around here is to know the right people and these are the right people.  That card can get you in."

He was inviting her to the "Gnostic Mass," which was in service to the Goddess Thelema.  It was a hodge-podge of mystical traditions - though Graham accepted them all at face value - and it was a fairly tame affair.  The real business happened after the mass was done, either in the sense of a wild party or private rituals.  But the mass was their most public face and they kept it non-threatening.

Ray sidles over to get a discreet gander at the card as Graham proffers it and to overhear what he's saying, but he really isn't very subtle.

Ray Ammon rolled 91 for Sneak 35%.

Anna May remained quiet, sipping the coffee now that it had reached a temperature where it was actually consumable.  She remained quiet, still trying to keep things sorted in her mind as to who was who, and learn what she could so that she would not have to go back to Corbin's Mill and marry one of the asparagus farmers.

"I'll think about it," she said after reading the card. Her costume didn't give her many places to tuck it, so she hung onto it awkwardly - then showed it to Ray when he tried to look.

"Have you heard of them?"

Mark answers back to Richard

Always single malt. Unless the funds prohibit it. Would you care for some? It helps me deal with the obnoxious bores in a group of actors.

In reply to Phyllis Green (msg # 41):

"Sounds like the Freemasons," Ray says nervously, embarassed that Phyllis saw him eavesdropping. He goes to see how soon they might start shooting today.

Graham perked up an eyebrow at Ray.  He said, "It's okay to just ask.  Something like the Freemasons.  But also completely unlike them.  It's like the word cleave means both to cut something apart and to join it together.  We can be said to cleave to the Freemasons."

Then he said to Phyllis, "That said if you decide not to come by, dispose of the card discretely."  He put his hands together like he was praying, and wore a rogue's smile.  "If someone else shows up with that card, we're obliged to kill them.  Not you, Miss Green, they would rather shatter a stained glass window than harm a hair on your head, but someone else?  Who can say?  It's possible, should the card go missing in the wrong hands, that my very own life could be at risk!  Imagine that!  Best that you come, in any event.  You'd be a big hit."

He hoped the right people took him seriously and the right people took him in the spirit of humor, but he had no control over such things.

She nodded. It sounded a bit over-dramatic, but in Hollywood being over-dramatic was normal. It was probably nothing more than a party, but any chance to meet influential directors and producers was be worth it.

"OK, I'll be there. Evening dress?"

Having gotten the word from the assistant director, Ray goes to Anna Mae.

"Come on, Sunshine, let's freshen your face."

He guides her to the off-set makeup room a few steps away and closes the door.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:55, Mon 13 May 2019.

MArk listens to the conversation going on about the O.T.O.. He had heard a little about them but would love to learn more.  Perhaps he should talk to Mr. Evanson about that. But ofr now, he had some questions for Mr. Blackwood.

Mr. Blackwood, at what stage is Scotland yard with categorizing criminals into some sort of file so if a man is picked up one place they can find out if he is wanted another place? And what level of corruption do you have to deal with over the pond?

Anna May went along with Ray.

Clyde left the writers’ room. Dour. He got them to concede one line but that was it. He’d have to try again later. He followed some noise and found a group of people standing over a puddle as a man and woman were leaving. Most of these people he didn’t know. Time to make some new pals.

He wondered over and tucked the script into a pocket. “Hi all. Name’s Clyde. I guess we’ll be working together. You two must be the consulting detectives? I’m playing one of the detectives in the movie”

Phyllis turned to the newcomer.

"Hi, Clyde. We were just talking. Which movie are you shooting?"

Clyde smiles and nods to Phyllis. “It’s a crime film called “A Crime named Death”. I’m a detective trying to solve the case however every clue disappears once he’s found it. I was just in with the writers to have them add another physical confrontation with the killer at the climax, however they wouldn’t do it. Something about pacing... But that’s alright. I’m sure it will be a great film. ” He says the name of the movie with a deep and fiendish voice. “And the rest of you?”

Mark turns to greet the actor who moves up to them. He deftly pulls out a card and hands it to the man, then extends a hand.

Mark Hawke Sir. You are correct. Mr Blackwood and myself are the consulting detectives. And its silly to not have a final physical confrontation. They never go quietly.

Ray comes up on the group.

"I just talked to the AD. He says it's gonna be A Crime Called Death. The director thinks it sounds more hard-boiled that way. But that's just the shooting title, of course. By the time it's released it'll probably be Murder is My Ticket or something equally cliche.

"How have you been, Mr. Colbert? I haven't seen you since you did This is the Night. I was make-up assistant on that one. You probably don't remember me. Ray Ammon." He extends his hand to Clyde.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:16, Tue 14 May 2019.

Clyde extends a hand to Ray. “Your name slipped my mind, but I remember you. You did a bang up job on my makeup there. I’ve been well. I’ve done a theatre piece but for my money, the studio is where the real action is at. You’re right about the title changes, but I suppose that is part of the process. ”

Clyde glances down to the card in his hand “And you, Mr. Hawk, if you’re not already consulting on whatever this movie will be renamed in the next 30 mins, should be. With your help, we may be able to get that physically thrilling ending after all ” Clyde chuckles a bit to himself after saying this.

Everly headed into the studio, smiling with every step she took, her cream -colored ruffled skirt swishing gently.

She waved hello to some of the people she passed, and flipped open the script of Charlie's new film. Charlie had gave it to her and asked her to help her practice, saying, "You'll help me so I can remember my lines, right?''

She had answered, "Sure thing, Charlie. We're friends, aren't we?''

Charlie had smiled, and hugged her.


Ooc: Charlie is Everly's nickname for Charlotte.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:09, Sat 18 May 2019.

Richard had started to answer Marks question talking about tightening of police procedures, rising cases of theft but murders remaining low and how funding for the force had only just started to increase since the mid twenties when ray returned sans Anna May. As they all discussed movie titles he suppressed a laugh, but agreed with Mark that the lack of a confrontation at the end would be a bit of an anti climax.

"Evvie!" shouts Ray, a smile washing over his face as he practically bounds to the young woman's side, seizing both of her hands in his. "Sweety, I haven't seen you since Naughty Flirt! How've you been? I didn't know you were on this picture.

"And who's this?" he adds, taking in Charlotte.

In reply to Clyde Colbert (msg # 51):

"Still shooting Jane in the Jungle," she said, indicating her costume.

"I suppose it would be giving away too much to say how your film ends without a dramatic confrontation."


In reply to Ray Ammon (msg # 57):

Phyllis hid her smile. Charlotte Valise was already on the fast track to stardom, a route Phyllis wanted to follow; it must be a bit of a come-down not to be recognized. But everyone looked different off-stage.