Chapter 1 #3
Austin was a man in hiding and past tired of it all. A stray thought occurred to him as he took a deep breath, preparing to speak. He wondered if he would be standing here right now if anyone in this room knew the truth about him.
“Thank you, Meryl. This is such an honor. I want to thank…” And then he started the long list of acknowledgments in the memorized acceptance speech he’d prepared. When he was done, they kept him backstage. It seemed the organizers finally clued in on just how late they ran.
Next, the winner of the Director’s award was announced.
Not surprising, his film’s director won.
Immediately following that presentation, they won the award for Best Picture, requiring the entire crew to go on stage.
Austin stood in the back, letting everyone else involved in the film have their moment.
=?=
“This is it for you. You’re ending your career, leaving it all behind.
I understand you’re taking off right after this interview?
” Katie Seymour of Good Morning America asked.
They sat together in the back of the cleared-out Kodak Theater.
It was four in the morning, and Austin had done the entire press circuit just like his contract required him to do.
“Yes. I’m done, this is it for me. It’s time to get back to the basics.” Austin perched on his director’s style chair gently bouncing his leg. He was antsy to be done, counting the minutes until he didn’t ever have to do this again.
“It’s hard being this famous? Maybe not cracked up to be what everyone thinks it is?”
“It’s hard when you can’t leave your house without the constant flash of cameras following you everywhere you go.
” Austin nodded as he spoke. “I love so many parts of all this. The professionals I’ve met along the way, and my fans, but the media’s become too tough, too aggressive. It’s no kind of life.”
“What about the rumors? Are any of those hard to deal with, Austin?” Katie leaned forward, getting more serious as she spoke, but he didn’t bite. He leaned back and became more casual as he sat there.
“Nah, not at all. I don’t listen to any of that mess.” Austin forced his leg to still and put his game face on as he answered that question. He was an award-winning actor; surely, he could pull off passive.
“None?” she persisted.
“No, not any. I won’t let anyone tell me about them either. I stay away from all that. The gossip, the made-up stories, reviews…I don’t pay attention to any of it,” Austin replied.
“So there’s no chance I can ask you about some of them now, or the constant speculation on your sexuality.” The way she said it, it was a question as well as a statement.
“No, I don’t address any of it.” It was the absolute truth.
“It’s four in the morning here in California, but seven in New York. You’ve been so gracious to stay awake and talk to us. Thank you so much, and we wish you well on your future endeavors. But I have to say that you will be missed. And I, for one, will be looking forward to your return.”
Austin stayed quiet, letting the anchor finish while the screen went black before he stood up.
Katie rose to shake his hand. “Good luck.”
Austin’s tie hung open around his neck, along with the first few buttons on his dress shirt.
He held his Oscar in his hand as they expected him to do.
His agent stood off to the side like he’d done most of the night.
Now, he came forward to take the trophy.
“Thank you for signing all those photos. My nieces will love them.”
“Anytime,” Austin said as he tried to distance himself from the situation by taking a couple of steps backward toward the dressing rooms.
“Good luck! You deserve to find that peace you’re looking for,” Katie called after him. Her gaze hadn’t left his. But Katie was gay. She got it, and it was clear in her eyes.
“Thank you,” he muttered, with a nod. The sentiment felt sincere, so sincere it caught him off guard. He turned away, his legs eating up the distance to the dressing room he’d been assigned for the night. Seth’s legs worked double time to stay caught up with him.
“Austin, a car’s waiting to take you to the airport.” They walked briskly, now side by side as he shrugged off his jacket, handing it over to his agent.
“Where’s Cara?” Austin loosened the cuff links on his shirt as he entered the small room.
“She’s at one of the parties.” Seth reached for the shirt before it hit the floor.
“Is she being watched?” Austin asked. He dropped his slacks, looking Seth directly in the eye.
“Yep,” Seth said. “She’s got a couple of guards on her. I’ll go there when we’re done.”
Austin didn’t say anything more. Instead, he turned to dig through the small backpack for his jeans.
As good as Cara was at putting on airs in this fake world of Hollywood, she had also entrenched herself deeply in its culture.
Up until recently, she’d always been discreet with her partying, but lately, things had changed.
Her drug and alcohol use spiraled out of control.
Her bed partners changed weekly, causing a new cast of characters to constantly filter through their lives.
It was risky and the leaks were starting to fill the tabloids.
They were watched too closely for it not to be noticed.
Austin’s game plan involved getting her acting jobs in the majors.
She wasn’t ready for the big roles, but she could handle the romantic comedies, no problem.
Austin called in favors signing her on to several back-to-back films. He hoped it might push her back to getting control over some of her wayward ways.
Seth agreed to be her agent. He’d watch her, keep her focused and on task.
“Stay with her all the time and let me know if I need to get involved. I’m hoping it calms when she gets on set and I get gone,” Austin said, shrugging his jeans up over his hips.
“You know I will.” Seth nodded keeping it brief. He didn’t agree with Austin taking off like this. They’d been over it so many times, but Seth couldn’t sway him from his course. Austin needed this too badly to let anything stand in his way.
Austin tugged on his T-shirt while walking out the back doors of the studio to his waiting car.
For the first time in ten years, the clothes he wore were his choice, not from the collection of the highest bidding designer who paid him to wear their clothes anytime a camera might be around.
It felt good to wear a pair of Wranglers and a vintage MTV T-shirt he’d owned before he ever got started acting.
The back door of the Kodak Theater opened to a parking lot.
A chain link fence surrounded the lot where about a hundred fans stood behind security waiting for him.
Austin took the rare minute and went over to the fence.
These times were too few anymore when he just got to be one-on-one with his fans.
Austin stayed and signed every autograph.
He spoke quietly with each fan. Seth and his bodyguards stood close by waiting for him, but no one rushed him.
They let him have this moment. When he got through it all, he slid in the back seat of his car.
He watched the crowd as he pulled away and gave a wave.
Without question, Austin knew this would be the only thing he missed in leaving Hollywood behind.