NOVEL NEXT Exploiting Hollywood 1980.
Chapter 48 Taxi Driver
Chapter 48 Taxi Driver
The flight landed at JFK Kennedy Airport, and Ronald was a little lost.It was the first time in my life to fly by plane, and now I don't know how to get home from the airport, and I can't find the Airport Express to Manhattan everywhere.
After inquiring at the information desk at the airport, if you want to go to Manhattan, there are only two options: taxi and car rental.People in New York have been calling for an airport express like Los Angeles for a long time, because the city government's financial constraints have not yet started construction.
In fact, most of the passengers are picked up by someone.
After taking the first plane in my life, it seems that I have to take a taxi for the first time in my life.Switch to Manhattan, then take the ferry home.
I found a coin-operated telephone, called Aunt Karen, and informed me that I was coming back by plane.Surprised, my aunt smiled and said to cook something delicious for him in the evening.
At the taxi stand at the exit of the airport, there is no one to maintain order, and as soon as an empty taxi arrives, all the people waiting for the taxi rush forward.Others waved $10 notes.
This was the first time Ronald had seen this situation, and he didn't know how to grab a taxi from someone.He scanned left and right, and found that there was a taxi parked in front of him and no one was bothering him.
Hastily stepped forward: "Excuse me, are you going to Manhattan Island, sir?"
The driver was a middle-aged man with a large forehead and his hair combed back neatly.He was reading the newspaper, a daily variety show that few people in New York watched.
Perhaps because his thoughts of reading gossip were interrupted, he pointed upwards impatiently.
Ronald followed his gesture, and on the yellow taxi, two words, "OFF" and "DUTY" were lit on both sides of the dome light.
Off Duty, is it out of service?Ronald was a little embarrassed and didn't know what to say.No wonder this taxi was parked here and no one bothered.
"Sorry, sir."
Only then did the driver put down the Daily Variety Show, and gave Ronald a glance: he was actually a young guy, who seemed to be about the age of graduating from high school.
"Where are your parents? Why didn't they come to the airport to pick you up?"
"Sir, are you talking to me? My parents,...they couldn't pick me up, they passed away unfortunately a few years ago." Ronald replied.
"Oh, poor kid." The driver with the big head was a little sympathetic, "I would have sent you back in normal times, kid, but not today, I'm here to pick up my daughter, she just came back from London."
"It's nothing, thank you for your kindness." Ronald said, "I'm just taking a taxi for the first time, and I don't know how to get one. Should I call the taxi company to make an appointment?"
"Actually, it's not necessary. I just arrived on three flights, and now there are more people asking for a car. If you don't worry, wait for 10 minutes, and there will be an empty car, or you can take out 10 dollars to signal the driver to increase the fare. They'll stop next to you, too."
"Then I'll wait." Although he wanted to go home early, but ten dollars is ten dollars after all, Ronald shook his head.
"Son, what are you doing in New York?" The big-headed driver flipped through the newspaper several times, but couldn't find any updated news, so he talked to Ronald and tried to have a chat.
"Simply put, I got into NYU and I came to school."
"There are still a few months left for the fall semester, right? Why did you come so early?"
"Actually, my aunt's home is in Staten Island. I went to Los Angeles to earn tuition fees, and I came back when I earned enough."
The brain gate driver became interested and continued to ask:
"Earn tuition in Los Angeles? Where do you work? Can you earn a year's tuition in a private university in a few months?"
"I'm a portrait photographer working on a small production crew in Hollywood and doing audition shots for new actors."
"Wow, it's rare to see such a young cameraman. Which crew did you work for?"
"It's a small production, Roger Corman's 'High School Rock'"
"Aha, I know, I know. Roger Coleman, he made 'Intruder' more than 10 years ago, it was very good, and we all love that movie in New York film circles." Said the big door driver.
"So he's a veteran movie fan? You should know if he doesn't read the New York Star, but the Daily Variety Show." Ronald thought to himself.
"Hey, don't look at me as a taxi driver, I'm also an insider." Seeing that Ronald was a bit disbelieving, the driver simply turned around and took out a bag with his business card in it, and took photos with some people.
"I'm actually an acting coach. Back then, I opened an actor training class with John Cassavetes, specializing in teaching methodical acting."
"This is a group photo of me and the students in the training class. You can see how many people you know. They all became famous actors later on."
"Uh, I really don't know each other..." Ronald was a little embarrassed.
Fortunately, the brain driver didn't bother about this, "If you want to become famous in this industry, you must study acting skills. If you want to study acting skills, you have to watch more classic movies. Have you watched any movies recently?"
"I watched 'Love Settles the Sunset Bridge' yesterday."
"Oh, then did you see anything? How is the heroine's acting skills?" He put on his head as if I wanted to test you.
"Very well, and Sir Laurence Oliver called her the new Grace Kelly."
He smiled happily, "No, I'm asking about your own thoughts. Of course I know Lawrence's evaluation."
"I think her acting is very natural. A girl in her teens should look like that." Ronald was thinking of his cousin Donna, and the heroine in the movie played the character of her cousin.
"Forget it, I don't think you have any talent for acting." Seeing that Ronald couldn't analyze his acting skills, he felt a little disappointed, and stopped communicating with him about film art.
Ronald thanked the brain gate, and then walked towards the taxi stand with his bag. The flow of people has gradually decreased, and a taxi can be called.
"If you can take audition photos, you can go to the casting studio on East 31st Street. They have a large number of actor files, which need to be updated every year. Maybe they can give you a business opportunity."
The big-brained driver yelled at him behind his back.
"East 31st Street, casting studio." Ronald turned his head, took out his notebook and wrote it down, "What is the name of this casting studio?"
"Are there any other casting studios in New York worth my recommendation?" He waved his head, despising that Ronald didn't know much about the industry, not as good as himself.
"thank you, sir."
Ronald thanked him anyway, and waved for a yellow cab.
Maybe you should try this casting studio. If you have a long-term partner, you will have a regular income.
"Go to the Whitehall Ferry Station at the southern end of Manhattan." Ronald said to the driver.
Press the meter and the yellow taxi drives forward.
When he passed the forehead, he saw a long-haired girl yelling "Dad, Dad..." and threw herself into his arms.
Ronald smiled, and soon he was going home to see his family.
At Whitehall Pier, the southernmost tip of Manhattan Island, Ronald dropped a quarter into the ticket box and boarded the big yellow ferry.
There are many female secretaries working on Wall Street on board, most of whom are heavy smokers, and they start to smoke while on board.They couldn't afford to rent a house in Manhattan, so they had to make their home on Staten Island and commute by ferry every day.
When I arrived at Staten Island, I changed to the railway at St. George's Wharf, and sat at the southernmost terminal, Tottville, it was already dark.
Carrying his luggage, Ronald walked back to the community where he lived. From a distance, he saw only one dim light on, which was the entrance hall of his house.
Ronald stood up the steps and smelled the familiar smell of wooden railings and acrylic floor mats again. He raised his hand and knocked on the door three times.
The door opened immediately, and a 13-year-old girl jumped at him with a smile and hooked his neck: "Ronnie, Ronnie, you're back! I knew it was you who came back when I heard the knock on the door."
It's my cousin Donna.Ronald happily hugged Donna around twice, put her down and looked at the woman behind, wearing a hand-knitted sweater, jeans, short hair, and smiling happily, it was Aunt Karen.
"Come here, child, give your aunt a hug." Aunt Karen hugged him warmly. After not seeing him for half a year, Aunt Karen looked a little tired again, but she was in good spirits.
Aunt Karen prepared black pepper macaroni and cheese, tonkatsu, and scrambled eggs.After Ronald had a good meal, his aunt asked Donna to bring black tea, and talked with Ronald about the experience of the past six months.
Reunited after a long absence, Aunt Karen and Donna were amazed when they talked about their experiences in Los Angeles.Hearing that Ronald had joined the film crew, Donna even said that she would go to see his film.
An hour later, Donna went to sleep in the back bedroom, and Ronald continued to chat with his aunt in the front living room.
"I earned it by taking audition photos in Los Angeles." Ronald took out a $[-] cashier's check and handed it to Aunt Karen. "The current loan interest rate is high, just to repay the mortgage loan more."
Aunt Karen stared at the two thousand dollars in a daze for a while, looking at Ronald in disbelief.
"Together with what I sent last time, I only gave you one-fifth, because I need to rent an apartment to go to school, and there are some expenses. I plan to continue my portrait photography business in New York. If the business is good, I can pay off the house in about two years. Mortgage Loans."
This house was bought by Aunt Karen with the pension benefits from her uncle Steve.The Department of Veterans has a whole program to help widows of veterans buy their own homes and pay for their children's education.
But since the former governor abandoned the dollar-pegged gold in 1971, inflation has eroded the assets of America's middle and poor.The original loose payment plan became more and more tense, and the increase in tips received by my aunt in the restaurant always lagged behind the increase in inflation.
Coupled with Ronald's arrival, Aunt Karen's financial situation immediately became tight.Have applied for two mortgage payment deferrals.
The $2000 that Ronald took out can alleviate the difficulties very well.
Aunt Karen hugged Ronald again and let out a sigh of relief.Then I asked about the sudden change of plans and the flight home.Aunt Karen listened for a while, and then drove Ronald to take a bath and go to bed.
This house is an old building called a shotgun house, so named because the whole house is a long strip, like a shotgun.
Opening the front door is the living room and bathroom. The living room is connected to a small bedroom, a large bedroom, and a kitchen at the end.To enter the latter room, one must pass through the previous one.
Ronald occupied the first, slightly smaller bedroom, and the larger bedroom at the back was for Aunt Karen and Donna.
Some people also say that the reason why it is called the shotgun room is that if you shoot a shot at the gate, the bullet can pass through all the doors and come out from the kitchen door. Ronald thinks this is more interesting and true.
After taking a shower and changing clothes, he entered the small bedroom. Ronald saw the large bedroom behind, and there was still a light under the door.
It was Aunt Karen, mending the hole in the duffel bag.
(End of this chapter)
The flight landed at JFK Kennedy Airport, and Ronald was a little lost.It was the first time in my life to fly by plane, and now I don't know how to get home from the airport, and I can't find the Airport Express to Manhattan everywhere.
After inquiring at the information desk at the airport, if you want to go to Manhattan, there are only two options: taxi and car rental.People in New York have been calling for an airport express like Los Angeles for a long time, because the city government's financial constraints have not yet started construction.
In fact, most of the passengers are picked up by someone.
After taking the first plane in my life, it seems that I have to take a taxi for the first time in my life.Switch to Manhattan, then take the ferry home.
I found a coin-operated telephone, called Aunt Karen, and informed me that I was coming back by plane.Surprised, my aunt smiled and said to cook something delicious for him in the evening.
At the taxi stand at the exit of the airport, there is no one to maintain order, and as soon as an empty taxi arrives, all the people waiting for the taxi rush forward.Others waved $10 notes.
This was the first time Ronald had seen this situation, and he didn't know how to grab a taxi from someone.He scanned left and right, and found that there was a taxi parked in front of him and no one was bothering him.
Hastily stepped forward: "Excuse me, are you going to Manhattan Island, sir?"
The driver was a middle-aged man with a large forehead and his hair combed back neatly.He was reading the newspaper, a daily variety show that few people in New York watched.
Perhaps because his thoughts of reading gossip were interrupted, he pointed upwards impatiently.
Ronald followed his gesture, and on the yellow taxi, two words, "OFF" and "DUTY" were lit on both sides of the dome light.
Off Duty, is it out of service?Ronald was a little embarrassed and didn't know what to say.No wonder this taxi was parked here and no one bothered.
"Sorry, sir."
Only then did the driver put down the Daily Variety Show, and gave Ronald a glance: he was actually a young guy, who seemed to be about the age of graduating from high school.
"Where are your parents? Why didn't they come to the airport to pick you up?"
"Sir, are you talking to me? My parents,...they couldn't pick me up, they passed away unfortunately a few years ago." Ronald replied.
"Oh, poor kid." The driver with the big head was a little sympathetic, "I would have sent you back in normal times, kid, but not today, I'm here to pick up my daughter, she just came back from London."
"It's nothing, thank you for your kindness." Ronald said, "I'm just taking a taxi for the first time, and I don't know how to get one. Should I call the taxi company to make an appointment?"
"Actually, it's not necessary. I just arrived on three flights, and now there are more people asking for a car. If you don't worry, wait for 10 minutes, and there will be an empty car, or you can take out 10 dollars to signal the driver to increase the fare. They'll stop next to you, too."
"Then I'll wait." Although he wanted to go home early, but ten dollars is ten dollars after all, Ronald shook his head.
"Son, what are you doing in New York?" The big-headed driver flipped through the newspaper several times, but couldn't find any updated news, so he talked to Ronald and tried to have a chat.
"Simply put, I got into NYU and I came to school."
"There are still a few months left for the fall semester, right? Why did you come so early?"
"Actually, my aunt's home is in Staten Island. I went to Los Angeles to earn tuition fees, and I came back when I earned enough."
The brain gate driver became interested and continued to ask:
"Earn tuition in Los Angeles? Where do you work? Can you earn a year's tuition in a private university in a few months?"
"I'm a portrait photographer working on a small production crew in Hollywood and doing audition shots for new actors."
"Wow, it's rare to see such a young cameraman. Which crew did you work for?"
"It's a small production, Roger Corman's 'High School Rock'"
"Aha, I know, I know. Roger Coleman, he made 'Intruder' more than 10 years ago, it was very good, and we all love that movie in New York film circles." Said the big door driver.
"So he's a veteran movie fan? You should know if he doesn't read the New York Star, but the Daily Variety Show." Ronald thought to himself.
"Hey, don't look at me as a taxi driver, I'm also an insider." Seeing that Ronald was a bit disbelieving, the driver simply turned around and took out a bag with his business card in it, and took photos with some people.
"I'm actually an acting coach. Back then, I opened an actor training class with John Cassavetes, specializing in teaching methodical acting."
"This is a group photo of me and the students in the training class. You can see how many people you know. They all became famous actors later on."
"Uh, I really don't know each other..." Ronald was a little embarrassed.
Fortunately, the brain driver didn't bother about this, "If you want to become famous in this industry, you must study acting skills. If you want to study acting skills, you have to watch more classic movies. Have you watched any movies recently?"
"I watched 'Love Settles the Sunset Bridge' yesterday."
"Oh, then did you see anything? How is the heroine's acting skills?" He put on his head as if I wanted to test you.
"Very well, and Sir Laurence Oliver called her the new Grace Kelly."
He smiled happily, "No, I'm asking about your own thoughts. Of course I know Lawrence's evaluation."
"I think her acting is very natural. A girl in her teens should look like that." Ronald was thinking of his cousin Donna, and the heroine in the movie played the character of her cousin.
"Forget it, I don't think you have any talent for acting." Seeing that Ronald couldn't analyze his acting skills, he felt a little disappointed, and stopped communicating with him about film art.
Ronald thanked the brain gate, and then walked towards the taxi stand with his bag. The flow of people has gradually decreased, and a taxi can be called.
"If you can take audition photos, you can go to the casting studio on East 31st Street. They have a large number of actor files, which need to be updated every year. Maybe they can give you a business opportunity."
The big-brained driver yelled at him behind his back.
"East 31st Street, casting studio." Ronald turned his head, took out his notebook and wrote it down, "What is the name of this casting studio?"
"Are there any other casting studios in New York worth my recommendation?" He waved his head, despising that Ronald didn't know much about the industry, not as good as himself.
"thank you, sir."
Ronald thanked him anyway, and waved for a yellow cab.
Maybe you should try this casting studio. If you have a long-term partner, you will have a regular income.
"Go to the Whitehall Ferry Station at the southern end of Manhattan." Ronald said to the driver.
Press the meter and the yellow taxi drives forward.
When he passed the forehead, he saw a long-haired girl yelling "Dad, Dad..." and threw herself into his arms.
Ronald smiled, and soon he was going home to see his family.
At Whitehall Pier, the southernmost tip of Manhattan Island, Ronald dropped a quarter into the ticket box and boarded the big yellow ferry.
There are many female secretaries working on Wall Street on board, most of whom are heavy smokers, and they start to smoke while on board.They couldn't afford to rent a house in Manhattan, so they had to make their home on Staten Island and commute by ferry every day.
When I arrived at Staten Island, I changed to the railway at St. George's Wharf, and sat at the southernmost terminal, Tottville, it was already dark.
Carrying his luggage, Ronald walked back to the community where he lived. From a distance, he saw only one dim light on, which was the entrance hall of his house.
Ronald stood up the steps and smelled the familiar smell of wooden railings and acrylic floor mats again. He raised his hand and knocked on the door three times.
The door opened immediately, and a 13-year-old girl jumped at him with a smile and hooked his neck: "Ronnie, Ronnie, you're back! I knew it was you who came back when I heard the knock on the door."
It's my cousin Donna.Ronald happily hugged Donna around twice, put her down and looked at the woman behind, wearing a hand-knitted sweater, jeans, short hair, and smiling happily, it was Aunt Karen.
"Come here, child, give your aunt a hug." Aunt Karen hugged him warmly. After not seeing him for half a year, Aunt Karen looked a little tired again, but she was in good spirits.
Aunt Karen prepared black pepper macaroni and cheese, tonkatsu, and scrambled eggs.After Ronald had a good meal, his aunt asked Donna to bring black tea, and talked with Ronald about the experience of the past six months.
Reunited after a long absence, Aunt Karen and Donna were amazed when they talked about their experiences in Los Angeles.Hearing that Ronald had joined the film crew, Donna even said that she would go to see his film.
An hour later, Donna went to sleep in the back bedroom, and Ronald continued to chat with his aunt in the front living room.
"I earned it by taking audition photos in Los Angeles." Ronald took out a $[-] cashier's check and handed it to Aunt Karen. "The current loan interest rate is high, just to repay the mortgage loan more."
Aunt Karen stared at the two thousand dollars in a daze for a while, looking at Ronald in disbelief.
"Together with what I sent last time, I only gave you one-fifth, because I need to rent an apartment to go to school, and there are some expenses. I plan to continue my portrait photography business in New York. If the business is good, I can pay off the house in about two years. Mortgage Loans."
This house was bought by Aunt Karen with the pension benefits from her uncle Steve.The Department of Veterans has a whole program to help widows of veterans buy their own homes and pay for their children's education.
But since the former governor abandoned the dollar-pegged gold in 1971, inflation has eroded the assets of America's middle and poor.The original loose payment plan became more and more tense, and the increase in tips received by my aunt in the restaurant always lagged behind the increase in inflation.
Coupled with Ronald's arrival, Aunt Karen's financial situation immediately became tight.Have applied for two mortgage payment deferrals.
The $2000 that Ronald took out can alleviate the difficulties very well.
Aunt Karen hugged Ronald again and let out a sigh of relief.Then I asked about the sudden change of plans and the flight home.Aunt Karen listened for a while, and then drove Ronald to take a bath and go to bed.
This house is an old building called a shotgun house, so named because the whole house is a long strip, like a shotgun.
Opening the front door is the living room and bathroom. The living room is connected to a small bedroom, a large bedroom, and a kitchen at the end.To enter the latter room, one must pass through the previous one.
Ronald occupied the first, slightly smaller bedroom, and the larger bedroom at the back was for Aunt Karen and Donna.
Some people also say that the reason why it is called the shotgun room is that if you shoot a shot at the gate, the bullet can pass through all the doors and come out from the kitchen door. Ronald thinks this is more interesting and true.
After taking a shower and changing clothes, he entered the small bedroom. Ronald saw the large bedroom behind, and there was still a light under the door.
It was Aunt Karen, mending the hole in the duffel bag.
(End of this chapter)
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