1956

Everyone remembers their first job. This, is the story of mine. I was the youngest in a family of overachievers. My Father, was a world-famous art historian. My Mother, a famous poet, and my sister and brother- well, they were always ahead of me in everything. I, Charles Buckner Bowman, was always the disappointment.

I found my solace in a small cinema located in the east side of town that I would go to every Thursday night. Thursdays were always the best because it wasn't as crowded as Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and it wasn't as empty as Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Joslyn Davis. Brandon Melvin. Liam Bax. These were my heroes. And I, wanted to be a part of their world. And finally, when I was 21, I got my chance.

"Charles!" my father boasts as I enter our home library. "Come in! Have you met Samantha and John, my brilliant pupils?" I look over at the two.

"Hello." I nod politely before turning to my Father. "I'm off to London now, Pa." I say proudly, and I'll even admit a little louder than needed to make sure that the two people who my father seems so fond of can hear.

"Ah, yes. Your silly job interview." he says, not even bothering to hide his lack of interest. He begins to walk past me and I follow beside him. "Remember, I can always get you a research position at the V&A once you have grown up a bit and get this film idea out of your head."

He says this with such certainty and so arrogantly that it only makes me want to succeed even more. I turn to face him once he stops walking and give him a tight smile, one that wouldn't make you think his words affected me.

"Well, I'll see you later Pa."

"Goodbye my boy." he extends his arms and I do the same, embracing him in a hug before leaving the library and heading downstairs. When I do, I find my Mother making her way downstairs as well and exchange our goodbye once we are outside. She, unlike my Father, is more supportive. Not completely, but it is something. She is rather sarcastic about the whole thing.

When I finally make it to London, I make my way through the streets, watching the people every which way. It is more hectic than I am use to but I know I will grow accustomed to it; I'll have to. I have everything to prove to my family, but more importantly, more to prove to myself. I have to believe in myself before anyone else can. I have learned that the hard way.

When I arrive at Liam Bax productions, I take it all in a bit. This is it, I tell myself. This is it.

"What is it that you want?" Mr. Lace asks me once I am in his office. He smokes a cigarette and reads the newspaper, only lifting his eyes to look at me when I take too long to answer.

"A- a job." I stutter. "On your next film."

"You're an actor?" he asks.

"No, I want to work on the production side." he looks up at me.

"We don't start shooting for another eight weeks." the phone rings then. He sets the paper down and grabs it, but not before saying, "Come back when it's nearer time."

"May I.. wait until there is a job?" I ask, hopeful. I do not want to go home like this. He stares at me, as if trying to figure me out.

"Alright." I feel a smile grow on my face.

"Thank you sir, thank you." he nods and I begin making my way out of his office.

"Shut the door!" he yells. I do as told and make my way over to the lobby, taking a seat on the black leather couch. I adjust my suit and look over at the assistant typing away on the type writer. She looks back at me before going back to work.

I try to keep myself busy as I wait. When I grow tired of sitting, I walk around the room. Trying to find anything interesting. When I grow tired of that, I read a newspaper. Then smoke a cigarette. Then re-read the paper. By the time it is 6, Mr. Lace is already heading out.

"Jessica!" he shouts at the secretary. She stands in a hurry and grabs a coat off the top of her desk. I stand then too. Jessica walks over to Mr. Lace and hands him the coat, saying her goodbyes to him. She walks away and it isn't until then he notices me.

"There are no jobs." he states bluntly.

"I'll come back tomorrow morning just in case." I assure him. He puts on his hat and begins to walk out.

"It's a free country." he mumbles.

The next day I show at the same time. And the next, and the next, and the next. On the second, Jessica mentions my determination and I let her know that I would do anything to be in the film business. She takes this into consideration and let's me do some of her work for her. She is using me for her benefit, I know that. But I don't mind at all. It is better than being bored all day. I think I even manage to impress Mr. Lace. But on the fourth, something happens that takes me by surprise. Liam Bax and his wife Joslyn Davis arrive. This of course makes me stand immediately off the couch. It even makes Mr. Lace get out of his office.

"Hello Jessica." Joslyn greets politely as she walks in.

"Sir Bax!" Mr. Lace greets, surprising me by how happy he looks.

"John!" Liam Bax replies, sounding exasperated. " Just let me tell you how bloody impossible it is to get Lana Del Rey on the telephone. The darling girl spends thee entire day asleep."

I watch as I catch Joslyn's attention and as she taps Liam on the shoulder, turning him to her. When he does, she points me out.

"Oh, hello lad." he greets me. He turns to Joslyn after. "Remind me again?"

"You remember Charles, honey." she tells him. "You met him at the Bowman's party."

"Ah. Of course." he says, but something tells me he still doesn't have the slightest clue who I am. "And what are you doing here?" he turns to Mr. Lace.

"You said there might be a job on your film?" I try to remind him, growing nervous. He sighs and makes his way over to me.

"Here, have a cigarette. Keep the pack." he holds out a pack for me to take.

"Thank you sir." I take the box in my hands and notice right on top in dark letters it says, 'BAX'. I look up at him and he leans in just a smidge.

"Unless Miss Del Rey gets her splendid posterior out of bed, there won't be a film." I smile in excitement. Miss Del Rey? I thought I might have been hearing wrong the first time he mentioned her name. He turns back to Mr. Lace.

"The house committee is threatening to withhold Jeremy Wyatt's passport. They say he's a communist, and no Jeremy, means no Lana."

"I'll have a word with the American Ambassador." Liam says like a child that is giving in to take a bath. "After all I am taking him to see Joslyn's play on Thursday." he says more upbeat, turning to Joslyn.

He goes on to talk with Mr. Lace as they walk together into Lace's office, leaving Joslyn, Jessica and I in the lobby. I turn my attention away from them and back to the cigarettes box, it noticing when Joslyn walks up to me.

"He's the first actor since du Maurier to have his own brand." she tells me. "They pay him an absolute fortune, but I'm afraid they're not very good." we both laugh at this. Joslyn continues to smile at me after, and turns to Jessica who surprisingly, isn't typing away.

"Isn't he gorgeous, Jessica?" Joslyn turns to her before turning back to me.

"He is alright I suppose." Jessica comments, and I can hear the playfulness in her voice. Just then, Liam and Lace walk back into the lobby, talking away. Joslyn decides to interrupt.

"Oh Darling you must do something for Charles." she walks over to him. "You promised." Liam looks at her, then me. He sighs, turning to Lace.

"John, find him something to do will you?" Joslyn smiles, planting a kiss on Liam's cheek. Yet another triumph for wives across the globe.

"Yes, will do." The excitement inside me grows, but I try to keep it civil. Not wanting to look unprofessional in front of them all.

"Alright well, let's go darling." Liam tells Joslyn. They begin making their way out and soon, they are gone. It's then when John let's out a 'Christ.' under his breath, glaring at me with slight resentment before going back into his office but I hardly acknowledge it.

I got a job.