Part 15 (1/2)
”I really can't. I have an audition Thursday for the Cher impersonator. They liked my audition tape and called me.”
She saw the new guy. ”I'm Samantha.”
”I'm Dustin.”
”Hi, Dustin. I'm Louisa.”
”Michael.”
”I'm going shopping for a wig tomorrow. The director said he wanted me to be convincing. I don't want to get a cheap Halloween wig. You can tell those are fake from a mile away. Obviously, I don't look like Cher, so if they're looking for someone who does, I don't stand a chance.”
”Be proud you don't look like her,” said Dustin. ”Did you see her in 'Burlesque?' Oh, my G.o.d, I thought I was watching 'Jura.s.sic Park 4.' She's had so much work done she couldn't move her lips.”
”She's got more money than G.o.d. She can afford to look any way she wants.”
”She's a fossil. What is she, like 102?”
Walter interrupted. ”Hey! She's my age. We're six months apart.”
”But Walter, she's had so much work done she looks artificial.”
Charles came in and said h.e.l.lo. ”Oh, man. You are so lucky.”
Samantha turned to me. ”Oh, my gosh. You missed it. After you left last week, we watched a video. Some cheesy one from the 70s about how cops spot drunk drivers.”
”I've seen that twice. Glad I missed it.”
”When it was over, Walter left the lights off and put in another tape. He didn't tell us a word about it. All of a sudden, the t.i.tle came up: 'A film by Walter Page.'”
”It was his?”
”Yes! It was his trip to Africa. The first picture that came up was a hot air balloon with this cheesy music playing in the background, 'Up, up and away!'”
Louisa joined in. ”Are you talking about his movie? That's right, you and James missed it.”
”When was it made?”
”Looked like the early 90s.”
”What did he edit it on?”
”Probably a clunky Mac and first-generation Pro Tools.”
That's right, I remembered. It was his pa.s.sion.
”He's actually pretty talented. It was really well-edited.”
”Who was he with?”
”His wife.”
”She hadn't pa.s.sed away yet?”
”No. You could hear her voice throughout the film.”
”Did you see her?”
”No. Didn't see Walter, either. They narrated it. All you saw were hot air balloons and animals running through the wild.”
”I have to see this video,” I said.
Benton entered, wearing a brown-striped suit. He saw me and realized it was my last night. In his eyes, I could see he was sad. From the first week, I thought I had him figured out. Maybe I did, but I was still going to miss him. Funny how things turn.
It was 6:05 by that point. Where was James?
”I don't remember him saying he was going to be absent tonight. Do you guys?”
”No.”
”He'll have to come back next week. Michael is our lone graduate tonight. We'll hear from you shortly. If James doesn't show, that is. I'll give him a few extra seconds before shutting the door.”
James didn't show, but another guy did, and I knew right away the dynamic of the group was about to change. Younger guy, couldn't have been more than 22, 23, carrying a skateboard and overstuffed backpack. His hands were covered with ink, or grease-I couldn't tell. Had one fingernail that had been smashed and eventually would fall off, and tattoos covering his neck. One said, ”Bronze.” It began on the upper part of his neck and disappeared underneath his hooded sweats.h.i.+rt. His knuckles were inked with the card symbols for spades and diamonds, in alternating patterns. He sat in the chair nearest the door, keeping his head down, and put his board behind the seat.
”Edward?” Walter asked.
”That's right.”
”And this is Dustin.”
I looked at the two of them. They couldn't be more different. Dustin was a mammoth of a man. Doc Martens and white socks, sweater with an oxford underneath. An amazing voice. A radio voice.
Walter went over the rules. We had heard them so many times it was like listening to an airline attendant giving safety precautions-one is aware someone's talking, but tunes him out and lets his mind wander. ”I know it's dinnertime so I let you bring food. Technically, I'm not allowed to, but I haven't been fired yet. I'll keep doing it until...
”All said, a first-time DUI will cost you between $8,000 to $10,000, once you take into account court fees, whether or not you hired a lawyer, if your car was impounded. Your insurance is going to go up for three years. Second offense, the fees are draconian. You're looking at $20,000 and 18 months of this cla.s.s. I have people pulling their teeth out after five months. I've seen people take six years to complete it.
”You must be on time. The girls at the desk may let you in if you're a couple of minutes late, but no more than that. Just ask Samantha.”
”I thought it started at 7:00.”
”Depends on if there is a line. But if they won't let you in, you'll have to reschedule. Again, money out of your pocket. It's not fair to the rest of the cla.s.s, either. If you know it's going to take an hour to get here, plan accordingly. Give yourself extra time.
”You're not allowed to come to cla.s.s under the influence. That means anything. Don't go to the dentist that day if you have to get any work done. Nothing. If I suspect you are under the influence, I will get one of the other instructors and we will evaluate you. If we think you are under the influence, we'll have you take a breathalyzer. If you pa.s.s, nothing happens. But if anything shows up, it's grounds for termination.”
Edward spoke up. Loudly, semi-aggressive. Or perhaps defensive. ”What if it's prescription?”
”You still can't take it before you come here.”
”But it's my medicine. I have to take it.”
”Then take it at lunch and when you get home. But not in here.”