Chapter 1
Just Another Day!
It would appear it is just another boring cocktail hour at the Whispering Pines Retirement home. Nothing new, nothing different, the same cast of characters having the same conversation they have every evening.
George working on his 3rd drink can be heard holding court at the bar as usual." Well when I was playing a stock hand in Sherlock Holmes Movie, Sherlock Holmes in New York, , Roger Moore himself told me..." Oh Come on George we have heard this story a thousand times, it never changes. Jessica just can't help herself, she just has to cut George off with her scathing remarks, letting everyone know just how much she disliked him. "Can't you find another story to tell or was that your only acting job?"
Lazlo even when he is more drunk than sober has a soft spot for Jessica and can't help trying to keep the peace, even if he is incredibly bad at it,"Now now Jessica, you, know we have heard how you had a part in " Gone with the Wind " so many times we can all repeat it word for word, and you didn't even have a speaking part".
Jessica, looking directly at Lazlo with dagger for eyes, and in a voice colder then steel finds her mark with her words.
"Well Lazlo, or should I say Ralph Parker, heir to a dirt farm? It isn't as if you don't bore us all daily about your lunch with Sylvester Stallion, or your part as a ring boy in one of his Rocky movies. If I have to hear one more time, that you're on a first name basis with that man I, I, I ,I well I don't know what, but,I'll do something. Stomping off shaking and talking to herself , Jessica joins another group of residents, continuing to glare as she takes a nice big swig of her drink.
Standing away from the others at the bar, watching all the goings on is Lillian. People watching has become her favorite past time lately, but she has her memories of the good old days too. "Well I guess its a good thing I didn't bring up the fact I danced in the movie Flash Dance, and that I was actually on stage with Jennifer Beals. Really who of us has any new stories to tell.
Standing Nearest to Lillian, slightly amused that she chose to only whisper her greatest moment in show business is Carlos the worlds worst director only he doesn't know it.
Standing Nearest to Lillian, slightly amused that she chose to only whisper her greatest moment in show business is Carlos the worlds worst director only he doesn't know it.
Well Lillian you may have been on stage with her, but you weren't anywhere near her. You were all the way in the back and the camera never once caught you on film. And Jennifer Beal never even knew your name.
Taken by surprise at the abrupt and rude manner Carlos was talking to her, Lillian fired back and landed her razor sharp retort like a well aimed dart "Well at least the movie I was in wasn't a flop like every movie you ever directed. At least unlike you my name is on a winner."
Carlos, completely stunned is unable to speak for a moment, but when he does he is adamant his face contorted in anger - "My movies where some of best movies ever directed, I was brilliant and creative. It isn't my fault the critics were sightless old hacks that wouldn't know greatness if it bit them. You shriveled up old has been you never could dance, didn't know your left from your right.
Totally at a loss for words, it looked as if Lillian was thinking about to slapping Carlos, but instead she slammed her hand down to her side and stormed over to the bar .
" Oh George,I have something new to talk about." Shhhh it's a secret. Promise you won't tell any one."
" Sure Miriam, tell me your secret, anything has to be better than these same ole stories."
" Well you have to promise me first that this is just between us. Do you promise."
"Yes Yes Miriam, I promise. Come on let's sit down and you can tell me your news."
Sitting down at a table in the corner away from the crowd. Miriam can barely contain her excitement, while still trying to keep the conversation between the two of them.
So intent in their conversation neither George or Miriam notice Lazlo creep closer and closer to eavesdrop .
Just as Lillian Finishes the last words of her statement, Miriam walks into the room with her nephew, having over heard Lillian, she stops short and looks around the room noticing how everyone is all dressed up, over dressed actually. She gives a crushing look in Georges direction as she lets out an angry huff and stomps off to her chair the 1st one to the left of the head of the table, before introducing her nephew as he takes the chair offered at the head of the table Miriam- I would like to introduce all of you to my nephew Andrew Horowitz.He is my Sisters youngest son, and I am so happy he could come have dinner with me.
The introductions go around the table with each person introducing them selves. Except Jessica, they flawlessly glide over Jessica without disturbing her.
Miriam is sitting across from George and she just can't stop glaring at him, she is still livid that he didn't keep her secret.
With the introductions over and the Hors d'oeuvres served attention is turned to the food and polite conversation is happening, except for Miriam, every time George laughs or shows off his perfect smile, in the direction of Andrew she gets angrier and angrier. When the seniors begin auditioning at the table not even into the 2nd course yet, Miriam can hold it in no longer, right in the middle of Lazlo's wonderfully awful comedy routine Miriam begins yelling at George.
Lazlo (a little more drunk then not) With a fork raised in one hand and a big napkin tucked into his neck, head lolling a bit - I'm telling you ladies and germs, it was rough getting here tonight, I mean it I had to fly all the way here,........and my arms are a hurting, no but seriously folks take my wife.......please take her.
George, Lillian, and Carlos all together throwing napkins at him and saying-- That enough! Your jokes are the worst, stop ruining our dinner.
Lazlo- Awe yer jus jealous that I was in a Rocky movie and Sylvester, had lunch me and knows my name. now where was I, oh yes thats right There was an old lady that live in Nantucket .
Miriam cutting him off- Oh shut up Lazlo you are awful. AND YOU GEORGE HOW DARE YOU TELL MY SECRET TO THIS ENTIRE ROOM. YOU PROMISED, YOU LIAR YOU. I WILL NEVER EVER TALK TO YOU AGAIN, YOU AWFUL AWFUL PERSON, AND YOU CAN BET YOU WILL NOT BE GETTING A PART IN THE MOVIE.
George completely humiliated and caught totally off guard turning beet red explodes like a ticking time bomb-- WHY YOU OLD WORN OUT HAG. I DIDN'T TELL A SINGLE SOUL WHAT YOU TOLD ME. HOW DARE YOU EMBARRASS ME IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. IF I WERE ON THAT SIDE OF THE ROOM I DO BELIEVE I WOULD THROTTLE YOU.
Taken by surprise at the abrupt and rude manner Carlos was talking to her, Lillian fired back and landed her razor sharp retort like a well aimed dart "Well at least the movie I was in wasn't a flop like every movie you ever directed. At least unlike you my name is on a winner."
Carlos, completely stunned is unable to speak for a moment, but when he does he is adamant his face contorted in anger - "My movies where some of best movies ever directed, I was brilliant and creative. It isn't my fault the critics were sightless old hacks that wouldn't know greatness if it bit them. You shriveled up old has been you never could dance, didn't know your left from your right.
Totally at a loss for words, it looked as if Lillian was thinking about to slapping Carlos, but instead she slammed her hand down to her side and stormed over to the bar .
" Oh George,I have something new to talk about." Shhhh it's a secret. Promise you won't tell any one."
" Sure Miriam, tell me your secret, anything has to be better than these same ole stories."
" Well you have to promise me first that this is just between us. Do you promise."
"Yes Yes Miriam, I promise. Come on let's sit down and you can tell me your news."
Sitting down at a table in the corner away from the crowd. Miriam can barely contain her excitement, while still trying to keep the conversation between the two of them.
So intent in their conversation neither George or Miriam notice Lazlo creep closer and closer to eavesdrop .
Miriam whispered almost un heard, "My Nephew was here a few days ago and", looking around the room, Miriam leans in and whispers in Georges ear.
"Are you serious Miriam, your Nephew is doing a movie, and needs senior actors? And he is coming here for dinner tonight, to, to, to what look us over?"
"Yes yes George, please please keep this to yourself. My nephew wants to observe us as we really are. He doesn't want everyone fawning over him, or auditioning while he's eating."
Lillian ,always observant watches intently from her new position in the corner of the room, as Lazlo eavesdropped on the whispered conversation, Lillian will be first to learn the big secret, because she steps right into Lazlo path as he makes his way back into the middle the room.
"What did you just hear while you were sneaking around those two. You better tell me or, ........ I will tell George you were sneaking around eavesdropping on him, and you know what he said he would do to you if he caught you in his business again. Lazlo thinks about that for a second shrugs his shoulders and whispers what he has just heard to Lillian anyway. Lazlo doesn't stop there, after telling Lillian what he had over heard he continued on to the bar where he got drunker still and told anyone who would listen, Miriam's secret.
"Are you serious Miriam, your Nephew is doing a movie, and needs senior actors? And he is coming here for dinner tonight, to, to, to what look us over?"
"Yes yes George, please please keep this to yourself. My nephew wants to observe us as we really are. He doesn't want everyone fawning over him, or auditioning while he's eating."
Lillian ,always observant watches intently from her new position in the corner of the room, as Lazlo eavesdropped on the whispered conversation, Lillian will be first to learn the big secret, because she steps right into Lazlo path as he makes his way back into the middle the room.
"What did you just hear while you were sneaking around those two. You better tell me or, ........ I will tell George you were sneaking around eavesdropping on him, and you know what he said he would do to you if he caught you in his business again. Lazlo thinks about that for a second shrugs his shoulders and whispers what he has just heard to Lillian anyway. Lazlo doesn't stop there, after telling Lillian what he had over heard he continued on to the bar where he got drunker still and told anyone who would listen, Miriam's secret.
Chapter 2
Dinner surprises!
The dinner hour is upon them, the over dressed residence come strolling into the dinning room, all of them notice the beautifully set table and the apparently overly drunk Jessica sitting to the left of the table, She is sitting at an odd angle even for someone as drunk as she appeared. That doesn't stop a few of the residence from laughing and making a joke or two about Jessica's constant state of drunkenness, including Lillian,"Well it looks as if the poor dear just can't hold her liquor. Oh well that is one less person for the audition ."
The introductions go around the table with each person introducing them selves. Except Jessica, they flawlessly glide over Jessica without disturbing her.
Miriam is sitting across from George and she just can't stop glaring at him, she is still livid that he didn't keep her secret.
With the introductions over and the Hors d'oeuvres served attention is turned to the food and polite conversation is happening, except for Miriam, every time George laughs or shows off his perfect smile, in the direction of Andrew she gets angrier and angrier. When the seniors begin auditioning at the table not even into the 2nd course yet, Miriam can hold it in no longer, right in the middle of Lazlo's wonderfully awful comedy routine Miriam begins yelling at George.
Lazlo (a little more drunk then not) With a fork raised in one hand and a big napkin tucked into his neck, head lolling a bit - I'm telling you ladies and germs, it was rough getting here tonight, I mean it I had to fly all the way here,........and my arms are a hurting, no but seriously folks take my wife.......please take her.
George, Lillian, and Carlos all together throwing napkins at him and saying-- That enough! Your jokes are the worst, stop ruining our dinner.
Lazlo- Awe yer jus jealous that I was in a Rocky movie and Sylvester, had lunch me and knows my name. now where was I, oh yes thats right There was an old lady that live in Nantucket .
Miriam cutting him off- Oh shut up Lazlo you are awful. AND YOU GEORGE HOW DARE YOU TELL MY SECRET TO THIS ENTIRE ROOM. YOU PROMISED, YOU LIAR YOU. I WILL NEVER EVER TALK TO YOU AGAIN, YOU AWFUL AWFUL PERSON, AND YOU CAN BET YOU WILL NOT BE GETTING A PART IN THE MOVIE.
George completely humiliated and caught totally off guard turning beet red explodes like a ticking time bomb-- WHY YOU OLD WORN OUT HAG. I DIDN'T TELL A SINGLE SOUL WHAT YOU TOLD ME. HOW DARE YOU EMBARRASS ME IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. IF I WERE ON THAT SIDE OF THE ROOM I DO BELIEVE I WOULD THROTTLE YOU.
Even more angry now her Arms thrashing about about wildly, "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME. WHY I" , with a wide swing of her arm Miriam accidentally bumps Jessica and Jessica hits the floor.
Miriam, looking down in disgust, saying "Dang it Jessica you old drunk get up and" ......Looking at Jessica a little more closely Miriam gets a shocked look in her eyes, she covers her mouth but it doesn't hold in the scream or stop the repeated phrase, OH MY GOD OH MY GOD repeated over and over again.
With the first scream everyone comes running to that side of the table, all talking excitedly.
George, taking command of the room loudly proclaims, " Don't anyone touch anything, the police will want everything left as is."
Staggering and drunk Lazlo sounds confused as he asked, "What do you mean the police?"
"Well it must be murder. Look at her tongue and lips they are almost black, and is that Vomitis up, who does that in blues and greens like that!" No one actually answered Lillian, who was already taking notes, and sniffing the upturned glass laying near the newly dead Jessica
Miriam, sounding shaken and scared asked no one in particular, "Did anyone check to make sure she is really dead?"
With the first scream everyone comes running to that side of the table, all talking excitedly.
George, taking command of the room loudly proclaims, " Don't anyone touch anything, the police will want everything left as is."
Staggering and drunk Lazlo sounds confused as he asked, "What do you mean the police?"
"Well it must be murder. Look at her tongue and lips they are almost black, and is that Vomitis up, who does that in blues and greens like that!" No one actually answered Lillian, who was already taking notes, and sniffing the upturned glass laying near the newly dead Jessica
Miriam, sounding shaken and scared asked no one in particular, "Did anyone check to make sure she is really dead?"
Lillian, looking up from the mess on the floor, glances over at Miriam "Yes, that is a good idea, someone check for a pulse, but be careful to not touch anything else and leave things as they are."
From the back of the room Carlos informs everyone that he has called the police , they will be here shortly.
Everyone stood quietly looking nervously down at the dead women, nervous scared and not really sure what they should do next.
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