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Authors: Jackie Collins
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prompters. The only disappointment was that Lennie wasn't there to hear it.
The audience were quiet as she reached the microphone, patiently waiting to hear what she had to say. She took another deep breath and started off slowly, telling them how delighted she was to be there and how satisfying it was to have helped raise so much money for Aids awareness and research. Then she related a story about two very young brothers she'd met who both had the AIDS virus, inherited from their mother who'd been infected by a blood transfusion. The two boys had convinced Lucky to become involved. 'Mark and Matthew are no longer with us,' she said quietly, 'but I do know they'd be happy to see the progress being made to find a cure.' The audience applauded. 'On a personal note,' Lucky continued, 'I have decided, after a great deal of thought, to step down as head of Panther Studios.'
This was a bombshell. The audience gasped.
'Many movies and a lot of fun later, I feel the time has come to move on and explore other things. And while I'll miss the nonstop action in Hollywood, I've decided to concentrate on my husband and family. Oh, yes, and maybe write a book about all of you.' Another gasp from the audience. 'Seriously,' Lucky continued, 'if I do decide I'm capable of writing a book, it'll be dedicated to women and how to make it in what is still mainly a man's world. I feel if I did it, anyone can. So… I guess there's nothing else to say except keep up the good work for AIDS research. Good night and thank you. I leave you with good thoughts and may the best studio win.'
Charlie was waiting to escort her off the podium. 'You're freakin' unbelievable!'
he muttered.
'I am?'
'Walkin' away from a studio when you're kickin' prime ass.'
'I'm bored.'
'Bored?'
'Movie stars are boring.'
He raised an incredulous eyebrow. 'You talkin' to me?'
'No. You, Venus and Cooper are the only exceptions.'
'Sheeit!'
'What?'
'You're crazier than me. An' that ain't easy.'
Then the press were coming at her, cameras and tape recorders on red alert; a babble of voices and questions.
She was cool and polite. 'I've said all that I'm going to say,' she murmured, moving forward, somehow making it back to her table where everyone wanted an explanation.
'Why?' Venus demanded.
'When?' Cooper questioned.
'Mom,' Bobby complained, thinking of all the benefits he'd miss out on, 'your decision sucks.'
'Thanks, Bobby,' she said evenly, 'but here's the thing of it, it's my decision, not yours.'
'Congratulations, kiddo,' Gino said, beaming. 'You make an old man proud.'
'Is Lennie here?' she asked anxiously.
'Not yet.'
'Then I guess he doesn't know,' she said, disappointed that he still hadn't shown up. She hoped nobody would tell him on his way in - that would really go down well.
Now she was regretting that she hadn't discussed it with him first because, knowing Lennie, if he heard it elsewhere, he'd be pissed - maybe even hurt.
She'd been thinking about doing it for months. Being the head of a studio took up too much time and energy. There were always decisions to be made, producers and agents on her case trying to sell her this movie, that star. Problems with back-end, development, giant egos, distribution. Since she'd taken over at Panther she'd turned the studio around, which is exactly what she'd planned on doing. She'd made several movies she was extremely proud of, movies that portrayed women as strong, independent, sexually equal beings who could achieve anything they set their minds to. And in this day of ageism and sexism, that was quite something.
Now all she wanted to do was nothing for a while.
Maybe she would write a book, it could be a challenge, and she always had relished challenges.
Perhaps Lennie would help her.
No. Bad idea. She didn't need any help.
She glanced across the table to see how Alex was taking the news. He appeared to be deep in conversation with Pia, which Lucky knew meant he was ignoring her on purpose, probably
The audience were quiet as she reached the microphone, patiently waiting to hear what she had to say. She took another deep breath and started off slowly, telling them how delighted she was to be there and how satisfying it was to have helped raise so much money for Aids awareness and research. Then she related a story about two very young brothers she'd met who both had the AIDS virus, inherited from their mother who'd been infected by a blood transfusion. The two boys had convinced Lucky to become involved. 'Mark and Matthew are no longer with us,' she said quietly, 'but I do know they'd be happy to see the progress being made to find a cure.' The audience applauded. 'On a personal note,' Lucky continued, 'I have decided, after a great deal of thought, to step down as head of Panther Studios.'
This was a bombshell. The audience gasped.
'Many movies and a lot of fun later, I feel the time has come to move on and explore other things. And while I'll miss the nonstop action in Hollywood, I've decided to concentrate on my husband and family. Oh, yes, and maybe write a book about all of you.' Another gasp from the audience. 'Seriously,' Lucky continued, 'if I do decide I'm capable of writing a book, it'll be dedicated to women and how to make it in what is still mainly a man's world. I feel if I did it, anyone can. So… I guess there's nothing else to say except keep up the good work for AIDS research. Good night and thank you. I leave you with good thoughts and may the best studio win.'
Charlie was waiting to escort her off the podium. 'You're freakin' unbelievable!'
he muttered.
'I am?'
'Walkin' away from a studio when you're kickin' prime ass.'
'I'm bored.'
'Bored?'
'Movie stars are boring.'
He raised an incredulous eyebrow. 'You talkin' to me?'
'No. You, Venus and Cooper are the only exceptions.'
'Sheeit!'
'What?'
'You're crazier than me. An' that ain't easy.'
Then the press were coming at her, cameras and tape recorders on red alert; a babble of voices and questions.
She was cool and polite. 'I've said all that I'm going to say,' she murmured, moving forward, somehow making it back to her table where everyone wanted an explanation.
'Why?' Venus demanded.
'When?' Cooper questioned.
'Mom,' Bobby complained, thinking of all the benefits he'd miss out on, 'your decision sucks.'
'Thanks, Bobby,' she said evenly, 'but here's the thing of it, it's my decision, not yours.'
'Congratulations, kiddo,' Gino said, beaming. 'You make an old man proud.'
'Is Lennie here?' she asked anxiously.
'Not yet.'
'Then I guess he doesn't know,' she said, disappointed that he still hadn't shown up. She hoped nobody would tell him on his way in - that would really go down well.
Now she was regretting that she hadn't discussed it with him first because, knowing Lennie, if he heard it elsewhere, he'd be pissed - maybe even hurt.
She'd been thinking about doing it for months. Being the head of a studio took up too much time and energy. There were always decisions to be made, producers and agents on her case trying to sell her this movie, that star. Problems with back-end, development, giant egos, distribution. Since she'd taken over at Panther she'd turned the studio around, which is exactly what she'd planned on doing. She'd made several movies she was extremely proud of, movies that portrayed women as strong, independent, sexually equal beings who could achieve anything they set their minds to. And in this day of ageism and sexism, that was quite something.
Now all she wanted to do was nothing for a while.
Maybe she would write a book, it could be a challenge, and she always had relished challenges.
Perhaps Lennie would help her.
No. Bad idea. She didn't need any help.
She glanced across the table to see how Alex was taking the news. He appeared to be deep in conversation with Pia, which Lucky knew meant he was ignoring her on purpose, probably
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