Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 82 Holidays

   Dropped a 25-cent coin into the toll box. Ronald crossed the turnstile and boarded the orange Staten Island ferry, the John F. Kennedy. After securing the signed contract, Ronald decided to go back to Staten Island on vacation to relax his tense nerves.

   Sitting on the old wooden bench in the cabin, he remembered the scene of inviting the lawyer lady to dinner that night.

   At the pizza parlor in Little Italy, Ronald took out two cheques and put them on the table and pushed them to Miss Lindsay Dole. One for $850 and the other for $1,000.

   "I remember our agreement was $850," said the lawyer lady.

   Ronald was hungry all day and was stuffing a piece of Devil's Pizza in his mouth. This pizza with Italian salami tastes good and is more suitable for customers who like meat. However, Ronald chili oil spread a little too much, so he quickly picked up Coke and poured it hard.

   "His...huh..."

  Ronald put down his drink, "Our agreement was $850, but you helped me get extra pay..."

"A contract is a contract. We originally agreed on $850. You only need to pay me according to the contract. If you are satisfied with my services, you can also hire me as your personal lawyer in the future. You will have other options in the future. If the contract needs to be reviewed, I can provide you with services at any time."

   Lindsay pushed back the $1,000 check.

   "No, that's not what I meant" Ronald waved his hand and took another swig of Coke.

   "Not long ago, my ex-boss told me that a contract is nothing more than legalizing the mutually beneficial parts of a business."

   "You have won my due benefit for my verbal contract, which has exceeded my expectations by too much. I would like to ask you to take charge of my legal affairs in the future.

  My intuition tells me that although you are a newcomer, you are very capable, and Mitch Kanter, the lawyer of the other party, appreciates you very much. I'm sure you'll soon be making a name for yourself in the New York legal profession. "

"This $1,000 is the retention fee (Retainer) I paid you in advance. Soon you will be very busy in the legal business, and the class of clients will be far beyond my level. I hope that I will need you in the future. You can still find time to help me when I need help."

   "Okay, borrow your auspicious words." The lawyer thought for a while and accepted the check. The employment fee is deducted according to the future service time, more refunds and less compensation. She just graduated from college and really needs some money to install. "I'll send you the bill."

   The two continued to eat.

   "By the way, will you go to the crew later? If possible, I would also like to see how the movie was made."

   Ronald shook his head.

"The director doesn't like me, although I told him that it's okay. But I've got what I want, and I don't want to appear in front of him. But if you want to go to the shooting, I can introduce you to Anthony. Ya, she's one of the leading actresses and can issue permits to visitors."

   "No need, I already know her, and I have her contact information." The lawyer said with a smile.

  …

"Do you smoke?"

"what?"

   Ronald's memories are interrupted.

   "I asked you if you smoke?" It was a lady dressed as a working girl next to her, holding a pack of cigarettes, knocking out a few cigarettes, and asking Ronald to smoke one too.

   "I don't smoke, please do it yourself." Ronald replied.

  The woman turned on the lighter with a snap, lit the cigarette in her mouth, took a hard breath, and then exhaled the smoke.

  The woman looks in her 30s, with over-the-top eyeshadow makeup, bright lipstick, a high haircut, and a mousse setting that exudes some cheap fragrance. The blond hair has been somewhat withered and split, and it seems that he is a hardworking employee who has no time to dress himself carefully.

  ...It may also be that there is no money. Now the price of men's haircuts in New York is ridiculously expensive, and women's haircuts must be even more expensive.

  Ronald watched her smoking a cigarette. At this time, there were very few people on the ferry from Manhattan to Staten Island.

   "The ferry in the morning was very empty. When I took the boat back to Staten Island after get off work every afternoon, it was full." The girl said.

   “Yeah, the Staten Island Ferry is a commute for many people”

   Ronald felt that this lady was looking for someone to talk to.

   "Aren't you going to work today? Take the boat back to the island in the morning."

"I was fired, my boss was a **** who lost an important bond trading client through her own mistakes and she put the blame on me and told me to pack up and get out." The lady dropped the cigarette in the On the ground, trample with high heels.

   "Oh, my shoes." She reacted, and hurriedly leaned over to change the high heels, carefully packed them, and put on the sneakers in the bag.

"Sorry, the ferry is so dirty, it's inconvenient to wear high heels when getting on and off the boat. I used to change it every day to get off work. I didn't have time to think about this today..." It seemed that in front of strangers, she let go and said something. want to talk.

   "That's really unfortunate, there are too many selfish bosses now."

   "Yeah, Wall Street always bumps into these **** and assholes."

   "What are you going to do?"

   "I will try the employment agency again. If it doesn't work, I can only go back to my hometown of Staten Island and work as a restaurant waiter."

   "That's okay. My aunt is a waiter at the restaurant. Most of the customers on the island are from the same country. Although the tips are not as good as in Manhattan, there are less messes." Ronald smiled.

   "Thank you, my name is Tereza Kate", the lady reached out and introduced herself.

   "Ronald Lee". The two shook hands, and Ronald noticed that her fingers were yellow with cigarettes.

   "Are you Staten Islander too?" Teresa asked.

   "Yes, Totterville on the southern tip of the island."

"Ah, I also grew up there. I still skipped ballet when I was a child. I went to work in Manhattan's financial district for America's dream. Unfortunately, I only have a high school degree and can only be a secretary through an employment agency. I got mixed up in Manhattan. Ten years as a secretary, maybe I should go back to Tottville and try my luck."

   "Woooooo..."

  The ferry honked its whistle and docked.

   Separated from the unemployed Miss Secretary, Ronald got on the train and returned to his aunt's house for vacation.

   "Ronnie, how are you doing on the set?" After three days of rest at home, my aunt took advantage of her free time and set up a chair in the yard to trim Ronald's hair.

   "Not bad, I'll get a writer's signature."

   "That's great, but don't forget that you will start school in September." My aunt cares more about her university studies. "This is your parents' last wish. You must get a college diploma."

   "I will, Auntie, I will."

  Aunt Karen trimmed the back of her hair neatly and swept the cut pieces into the trash.

   "You should find a hair stylist to cut it for you in the future, Ronnie." Aunt fiddled with Ronald's hair, which was fairly neat.

   "Aunt Karen, you cut really well."

   "You always make me laugh, Ronnie. When are you back on set?"

   "I'm not going, my task has been completed, then I will go to the casting studio more to help them update the actors' audition photos."

   While his aunt and little Donna were free, Ronald took his family to see a newly released "High School of Rock". The three came to the largest theater in the town, and the backward Staten Island introduced the exploitative film "Rock High School" with low copy rental fees for the first time.

   "Ouch..." Seeing that the Ramones band occupied the high school and held a live concert in the school, the audience began to applaud to match the rock rhythm in the movie.

   Then one of the audience started to stomp, and immediately everyone started to stomp, and the seats in the shocking auditorium began to shake.

   Ronald looked around, most of the audience who responded strongly were high school students, teenagers.

   Aunt Karen is not used to this kind of noisy exploitative film, but little Donna is very happy to see it.

   "Ronnie, Ronnie, is that the one with the beard who proposed over the phone?" Little Donna asked in a low voice.

   "Yes, I wear a fake beard."

   "I think you acted better than the protagonist Tom. That female academic bully Kate, why do you say you are not her type?" Donna began to study the plot she played in the exploitative film.

  The movie was over, and the lights in the projection hall started to turn on. Ronald stood up and looked across the crowd at the screen, wanting to see how his name would appear in the subtitles list.

   Over the sound of the Ramones "Rock High School" theme song of the same name, subtitles in red cartoon font gradually rise.

  Two Director: Jerry Zucker

  The second group director: Ronald V. Lee.

   Finally saw his name on the screen, Ronald smiled and pulled up Little Donna, "Let's go".

   "No, there's your name below, Ronnie." Little Donna pointed to the screen and said.

   Ronald looked up, and there was a single line in the subtitles, and his name appeared again.

   "Special Thanks: Joe Dante and Ronald V. Lee".

   is a surprise! Ronald happily enjoyed the subtitles rising to the top and disappearing.

   "I also think you're better than the male lead, Ronald." During dinner at the restaurant, Aunt Karen agreed with Donna.

   "Hahaha" Ronald laughed. The family still liked him to appear in the movie and encouraged him.

   After watching the movie, Ronald continued to rest at home until Saturday morning to take the early ferry to the casting studio to update their actors' audition shots.

   "Ronald, where have you been? Producer David da Silva is looking for you everywhere, and no one answers your home phone."

  Margery said with a slap in the face when she saw Ronald.

   "Why are you looking for me? I'm going back to Staten Island for vacation these few days." Ronald wondered, "My deal with them has been completed, and director Allen has approved my script."

   "You better call the producer. He sounds anxious."

   (end of this chapter)