Date: Sun, 24 May 1998 20:54:28 GMT From: Robyn Harris Organization: Wesleyan College Subject: Re: INT: Goldman Pictures Lareine made her way down the sidewalk past the buildings noting the large numbers engraved on the plaques on the front of each building. Her blue heels clicked on the ground as she walked. Her gloved hands kept smoothing out the jacket she was wearing. She had chosen her best china blue two piece today. She wanted to impress Mr. Goldman so that she would be able to slip out from under the thumb of her family. Hinton was not her real last name. Her real last name was Lareine DeLauro, niece to one of the biggest little crooked men in the U.S.A. It was hard being related to him. Even harder when people assumed that he called her "niece" the way he called his whores "niece." She had just happened to be unlucky enough to really be related to the man. But, he had raised her. After her parents were killed in a suspicious car accident. He ... She noticed building number 12. It was larger than the others, situated at the end of the sidewalk, overlooking the valley of studios and soundstages behind it. Lareine pulled open the glass door and walked up the huge marble steps to the second floor where she was stopped by a secretary. "May I help you?" "Lareine Hinton here to see Mr. Goldman." "Of course. Please go through there." The secretary pointed out a large door. Lareine walked over and opened it. She looked at the elevator with a little fear. "Are there stairs?" "No. ma'am. The only way to Mr. Goldman's office is the private elevator. You know how to work it?" Lareine didn't want to say no, but she knew she would have to. "Well..." "I'll have Mindy take you up." The secretary picked up a phone and dialed. "Mindy, please come her for a minute." Lareine smiled her thanks to the secretary as she hung up the phone. From a door across the way a small woman in a pink dress walked briskly over to the secretary. They exchanged a few whispered words and Mindy walked over to the elevator. She pulled back the grate and stepped inside. Lareine followed. Mindy pulled the large door closed and then slid the gate shut. She pressed a button. With a shudder the elevator creeped up to the third floor. Lareine held on to the side rail with white knuckles until the elevator came to a stop. Mindy opened up the door for her and Lareine stepped grateful into the open. "Miss Hinton! Mr. Goldman is expecting you." Lareine looked up to see a pretty blonde woman sitting at a massive oak desk. "Uh...I..." "Please, right through those doors." The woman indicated a set of huge oak doors. Lareine straightened her clothing and walked over to them. She pushed them open. Mr. Goldman's office was magnificent. It was massive with a wall of windows that over looked the studios and soundstages in the valley below. Mr. Goldman himself was quite a surprise. He stood about four feet away at a bar in the left wall. He was tall with dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. And he was smiling the most amazing smile Lareine had ever seen. She had been expecting short, fat, and bald. "Hello." He said. "Uncle Harry is in there. He'll be out in a second. " "Uncle Harry? You aren't Mr. Goldman?" "A Mr. Goldman but not the Mr. Goldman. I'm Brian Goldman, nephew and vice president of Goldman Pictures." "Nice to meet you," she walked over and extended her hand to shake. Young Goldman took it with a firm hand of his own and turned it, raising it to his lips. "Enchanted." Lareine tried to quell the blush as she took her hand away. Just then the side door opened and Harry Goldman came waddling out. He was everything Lareine had expected. "Miss Hinton. How lovely to see you, my dear. Have you met Brian?" "We did the introductions ourself uncle." "Great, then why don't you go outside for a few minutes while I talk with Miss Hinton." "Of course." Brian walked out the double doors with his glass. He walked over to Maryann's desk and sat down on the corner. "They get younger everyday." "He's a dirty old man." Maryann smiled over her typewriter. "So how did he find her?" "Showing a little interest aren't we Brian?" "I'm just wondering. I thought the only one's he had in were bubbleheaded blondes, no offense, who wouldn't say no." "So what makes her different, besides her hair color?" "I don't think she would do 'anything' for a job." Maryann stopped typing. "Bri, take some advice, from an older and wiser friend. When it comes to my father, don't get in the way of any of his 'interviews.' You might just lose your job, or something more precious." Brian stood. "I don't want to get in the way, I just want to find out all I can about her." "Brian, it---" Lareine came bursting out of the office and over to the elevator. She jabbed at the button several times. "You will never work in this town!" Harry Goldman cried out from his office, his voice sounding a little strangled. Brian ran to the door to see his uncle doubled over, holding himself and stifled a laugh. The elevator arrived and Lareine yanked open the door. She got inside and pushed the "1" button. The elevator lurched to life and began to descend. It passed the door to the second floor and she panicked. Then it arrived, opening out into the back of building twelve in front of a limo. Lareine rushed around the building and practically ran to the front gates of the complex. If he thought she would never work in this town again, he was wrong. She had her uncle. And as much as she hated pulling in family connections, she would enjoy telling Uncle Tony about-- "Miss Hinton!" She turned around anger now her primary emotion. Brian Goldman was jogging up to her. She turned away from him. In second he had reached her, his hand on her shoulder. "I came to apologize." She turned to hit him but he stayed her hand. "I'm sorry about my uncle. He thinks he can do anything to anyone. I'm sorry." "You should have him locked away." "If we did that who could the family hate together?" "I need to go. I have to get a cab." "Cabs don't just wander this far out. They have to be called. I'll get one for you." "Thank you, but I'm sure that I can get one for myself." "What if I give you a ride home?" He hadn't stopped her left hand and her hook was a good one. She walked out to the guard station. There was a cab idling in the small parking area outside the complex. She walked over to it. The driver was reading a paper. "Can you take me to 2533--" "Sorry Lady, a guy gave me fifty to wait for him." "I'll give you 100 to go now." "Climb in." She gave her Uncle's store's address and sat back, waiting to see Uncle Tony. Oblivious to the man chasing after the cab and cursing the driver. ********* ************************************************** Robyn Alyson tHe OnLy DiFfErEnCe BeTwEeN FaNtAsY aNd ReAlItY iS pErCePtIoN