Mark called the Fritz agency and was rebuffed. He asked to talk personally to Don Fritz. An hour later Mark was calling Denise. “I got you the part if you want it, four hundred thousand.”

“You said six hundred thousand.”

“Well it is four hundred thousand but if you show up every day and do not delay shooting with your tantrums as Donald called it, he will give a bonus of four hundred thousand, but only if the film is shot in the two weeks allotted. You cannot drink during the shooting. They will test your breath every morning. Any day you are drunk costs you $100,000 of the bonus. The limit is .08, same as on the road.”

“He can’t control my life.”

“He can’t unless you want this job.”

“Well.”

“Shooting starts Monday, you can pick up a script and he will advance $300,000 to your business manager the day you show up for work. There will be a lean against your house for the amount till the film completes.”

“That bastard.”

“He is the only man in town that would offer you more than a part as an extra. You may think he is a bastard but I would suggest you call him “sir”.”

“Do I have to go over for the script? Can’t they deliver it?”

“This is made for TV. It’s a whole different business. They don’t deliver. Even leading ladies don’t get coddled.”

She fixed her hair and makeup, dressed and went to the studio. She picked up the script and the shooting schedule.

The following Monday she was still in an alcohol fog when the phone rang. It was the studio manager. “Get your ass down here. We need you on the set in an hour and thirty minutes.” He hung up without waiting for an answer.

Denise Chapter 01: Success in Hollywood

Denise Chapter 04: Hollywood Marches on Without Denise

Denise Chapter 06: Denise Screws Up Again