Billy arrived after a round of business deals, phone calls, and Anne's complete sordidness; nevertheless, Monica's promises of seeing each other again remained. Time was running short, and Billy hoped his performances would work.
-I'm sorry for arriving late. - Billy commented, entering the dressing room the following day at eight-thirty in the morning. -
As he adjusted his mustache, he felt alive. It was fortunate that his beard grew thickly, and he wore an outfit that was no less than an eighties rock-band style ensemble, a silver necklace, and several bracelets on his hands. A tattoo was being adjusted on his chest, and makeup artists worked on him. He stepped out as quickly as he could and took his place while the band greeted him with smiles. Everyone fell silent, while Billy, with a slight breath, settled into his position as a rock musician, repeating the lines in his head and giving himself room to think.
-You've left me speechless. - Kate commented.
-You broke into my state of mind. - Billy commented, smiling at the girl. She was sixteen years old now. How easily time moved, how effortlessly everything unfolded before them.
Many of them found work in Billy's companies. For example, Philip Jackson, in The Lord of the Rings, is a man of Rohan. His performance would truly shine in the second film, now that the weight rested upon every actor, and that weight increased with Billy's additions. After pushing Peter Jackson to become more ambitious and skip certain plotlines, other storylines were added and complemented through miniseries.
59 INT. ARIZONA RAMADA INN LOBBY -- NIGHT 59
Everyone enters the lobby like warriors, moving as a pack. The hotel chairs
They are filled with curious onlookers, elegantly dressed and relaxing.
Dick is already at the front desk, as always.
The lamentable state of hotel service irritates a traveler like Dick. He
is always teaching others how things should be done.
DICK
Jeff, Tony... Keys... keys... keys...
room list...
(referring to luggage, to the
hotel bellboys)
If it doesn't have a number,
It's not ours!
He hands Russell a key and a stack of messages, then turns toward
William, making him feel more important. Penny stands nearby with
her suitcase and fishing bag. William watches as Russell's
guitars are carried away; they are luggage items numbered 1, 3, and 4.
DICK (continuing)
The enemy! Here you go, here's the key to
your palatial suite, the room list, and allow me
to give you a luggage tag. You are number 42.
RECEPTIONIST
Are you Mr. Miller? You have a message
from Elaine.
WILLIAM
Thank you.
RECEPTIONIST
(quietly)
He's a special case.
WILLIAM
I know.
William takes the folded message coldly, without looking at it, and tries to pretend this embarrassing moment never happened. Jeff exchanges a glance with Russell. Nearby, the sound of footsteps enters the lobby. It's Sapphire. Last night's clothes are now today's clothes. She carries a travel suitcase and a hanger with several loose blouses.
SAPPHIRE
You're finally here! I got kicked out!
Out of my room! Fuck Ozzy!
She hugs Penny Lane. Star appears, happy to have help
with Sapphire.
On Russell,
who approaches William.
RUSSELL
Come by in a few minutes. We'll do the interview.
The boy leaves and goes to join Penny, who is still comforting
Sapphire. Russell checks his messages. The guitar,
now inside its case, never leaves his hand. Jeff Bebe approaches,
watching William standing with Penny and the girls. Intrigue
swirls throughout the lobby.
JEFF
I'm worried, man.
RUSSELL
No, we can trust him. He's a fan.
JEFF
But it's Rolling Stone. He seems harmless, but he represents the magazine that tore Eric Clapton apart, broke up Cream, trashed Led Zeppelin, and wrote that pathetic article about the Allman Brothers Band that depressed Duane before he died. Don't forget the Rules. This brat is the enemy.
He writes what he sees.
(pause)
But it would be great to be on the cover.
RUSSELL
Leave it to me. We'll get a good story.
JEFF
Besides, our girlfriends read this magazine
and
(looking at the bandages)
-you know.
RUSSELL
You already said that. I'll take care of
him.
-Cut. -
The responses hung in the air, and everything remained still. Billy was slightly stuck, but his rhythm was magnificent, along with his overall presence. Even Cameron thought he worked convincingly as a rock musician, and that gave them reason to continue shooting several takes. Recordings normally focused on two takes, but sometimes three or four takes were required for a single scene.
-I think that in ten years, we'll look back on this the same way we'll look back on Harry Maguire. - Cameron commented, discussing some details of his performance. Secure life and modern times merged into a classic way of thinking.
-Let's do the next scene. This time, they try to seem more threatening. In your words, I want it to be the kind of threat that makes people hate you, a mocking sort of threat. - Cameron commented.
Not far from the band stood the team's manager and, of course, the character of the man known for creating out-of-place images, the kind of role that fit the peripheral type of person you didn't entirely like until you became friends with him.
As for the rest, Billy handled the next takes like lightning.
59A IN RUSSELL'S ROOM - NIGHT 59
Russell plays the acoustic guitar, with a notebook resting on his lap. He tries to write. Progress comes slowly. The camera pulls away from him, passing a flickering television, and focuses on Penny, who watches Russell silently and attentively, as if he were a rare and beautiful bird. He looks at her; she quickly looks away. He returns to his work. He tries to catch her watching him again. She looks away just in time.
RUSSELL
laughs.
Looks like little Penny wants to have fun.
PENNY LANE
Boooo, stay away from a star.
They exchange glances, and Russell begins playing the guitar, trying intensely to grasp the idea that perhaps the chemistry shown by Russell might be real. Then the idea settles. The time settles in which both of them draw closer to the root of things. Both are proud by nature and refuse to let anyone in. They exchange several glances until Russell finally looks away and continues the pursuit while she shouts.
-Cut. -