The Break Up Part 2
‘Look at me. Really look at me. I’m not the silly empty headed eight year old you met at the Happy Burger Shack all those years ago. I’ve grown up.’
‘I never thought of you as empty headed. Where do you get this idea?’
‘You’ve given me great advice over the years. I wouldn’t even be in a show business career now, if it weren’t for you and I’ll always be grateful. However;you treat me like I’m some dumb bunny that can’t think or reason for myself. Sometimes it can be smothering.’
‘Bobbi, er...
Helen, it’s not that I think your stupid when I give you advice and try to keep you from making mistakes. It’s because I’m older and have been through it all myself. I’m not telling you what to do.’
‘I try to tell myself you cling so much because Roberta has pretty much cut you out of her life except for Saturdays. Perhaps if you stop dictating to us who we should be and start accepting us for who we are, we’d both be much happier.’
‘I wasn’t aware that I did that.’ Trent’s tone was harsh and disbelieving.
‘You do. Keeping projects from me that didn’t suit
your standards was another way for you to control me. I blindly followed your lead, but that changes today. While I appreciate and share many of your beliefs, acting is well...all about getting the chance to play a variety of different characters. Quite frankly, I’m sick and tired of playing the same type of role.’
Helen became enthusiastic and excited as she went on.
‘Dex left me the Gypsy Girl script. I spent all night reading it. It’s a wonderful story and I have to wonder if you actually read it. I want this part more than anything. It’s still open, though the producers are getting desperate to cast, since I haven’t agreed. Trent, I really was first choice and we are going to do this. Form here on out, I get to see every script that is offered to me. I also want you to honor your word that you will represent Reggie too. I know your mad at each other right now, but I think the two of you actually have more in common than you know.’
‘You certainly have a lot of demands.’ Trent sounded so cold. ‘After listening to Dex Newman, perhaps you think you can better manage your own career. I fully intend to show you every script in future, but I will not work on the Gypsy Girl project nor will I ever have any more to do with your low life husband.’
I thought everything Helen said was reasonable except the part about working with Reginald.
If I were my Uncle I’d say Trent needed a swift kick in the rump to jump start his brain.
‘What?!’ Reginald raged at him. ‘Are you totally mental Thornton? You should be kissing Helen’s a$$! There is nothing wrong with that script! It’s a rated G musical that the entire family can go see! Just because the word burlesque is in it doesn’t make it bad! It’s not like Helen really has to strip or do a nude scene. I also don’t believe you about Dex being the one who thought of the detective either. Sounds to me like your just trying to come up with any flimsy story you can cook up to make everyone still hate him. Face it, he’s been telling the truth all along and you’re the one who’s been lying. You’re lucky Helen still wants to have anything to do with you.’
‘I’m not so sure I do anymore. Reggie is not a low life! You act like you’ve done nothing wrong!’
‘Dex Newman couldn’t tell the truth if it were written out for him on a Teleprompter.’ Trent scoffed. ‘As for me, I really was wrong not to come forward with every offer, but the bottom line is that as your agent, the ultimate decision will always be mine, because that my dear, is what you pay me for.’
‘Helen why the hell are you even speaking to this self important, judgmental, full of himself has been? How can some one who sips Jack and Pepsi all day long, know what’s best for your career? He’s drinking now and it isn’t even ten o’clock yet? It really cracks me up Thornton how you think no one sees you spike your drinks. I think you’ve killed quite a few brain cells over the years. I’d be sore at Mansfield right now too, if I didn’t notice that he was just as stunned as everyone else, when Dex confronted you with the truth. Though Mansfield makes fun of me and probably hates me just as much as you do, I admire the guy. He’s hip, now, and is more of a success then you’ll ever be. I’ve often wondered what he sees in a washed up old lush like your-
ACK!’
‘It’s time to quit talking and listen for once!’ Trent’s voice was strange and scary. ‘I might be an old lush as you say, but I can still kick you’re a$$.’
‘Oh my God, Trent!’ Helen screamed. ‘Let him go!’
Was he choking Reginald?! All I can hear from him were these strange muffed sounds like he was having difficulty breathing.
‘Damn you Trent! Your crushing his wind pipe!’
Oh gosh! Oh gosh!
‘I would be doing the world a favor if I did.’ Trent shot at her. ‘I’ve put up with enough of the cheap shots and insults from someone who has a brain the size of a pea and the culture of a wild boor. He’s so beneath you Helen. What is it with you women when you choose men? I wonder what I’d find if I hired another detective. One that didn’t report to Newman first?’
A lot of rough squawking noises came from Reginald. I felt like I couldn’t breathe!
Why oh why did Uncle Remington leave the house?
‘Oh, and for the record, Harris, I quit Studio Town in my prime. Once my contract with Fairchild Studios came to an end, I walked away from at all. I’m no has been, but your friend Newman is a never was.’
‘Let him go damn you!’
SWACK!
I would later learn that it was Helen who hit Trent to set Reginald free.
Finding his voice once again, Reginald the hard head had to keep going.
Every word he rasped out sounded as painful to say, as it must have been for Trent to hear.
‘I’m so going to sue you for assault! It looks like you can’t bear to hear the truth! Dex told me that you dumped Mansfield when the studio put the heat on you to end the affair. In my book that’s being a low life! Your nothing but a big phony from your bogus marriage to Dagmar Valentine to pretending to have only Helen’s best interests at heart. You’re trying to mold my wife into your warped idea of what a woman should be or perhaps make her a replacement daughter for the one who really doesn’t want much to do with you anymore! Oh wait! Roberta isn’t even really yours! She was just part of the package to make you look straight!’
‘Reg!’ Helen tried to intervene. ‘This has all gotten out of hand! Trent I n-never t-told....’
Trent exploded in a sudden rage.
‘Get out! Both of you! I don't care where you go or what you do, as long as I don't have to see either one of you again!’
‘Trent, I....’
‘Leave.’
How could Trent be so cold to poor Helen. She was the only one who seemed to be talking sense.
Not even thinking I rushed down stairs to try and stop all the nonsense.
Helen was almost out the door, but Reginald hung back to shout a few bitter last words.
‘You won’t have to set eyes on us, Thornton, but you will be hearing from my lawyer!’
‘Helen!’ I shouted after her. ‘Don’t go!’
I almost made it to the door, but was seized and restrained by Trent.
‘Let her go, Lanie. It turns out Helen and her husband are not the type of people I want you to associate with.’
Disbelief and hurt from Trent’s words caused Helen to break down into tears.
‘I never what to see you again either Trent Thornton! Good-bye Lanie.’
I struggled to get loose, Trent’s hands on my shoulders felt like a steel trap.
‘Good luck, Kid.’ Reginald smirked at me. ‘It’s not going to be any picnic for you to be raised by that puritanical control freak. If you decide to be your own person and not follow his inane ideas of perfection, look out!’
With that Reginald banged the door behind him.
Little did I realise at the time that another chapter of my life had just slammed shut and another uncertain one was just beginning.......
This is the end of Lanie's childhood.
Elaine's Story (Teen Angst) will take up the story in her teen years.
It will be up soon!
EDIT-The first chapter is done and I'm shooting the pics now! It will be up soon even if I have to stay up all night. (No work tomorrow!)