Marilyn's Ghost Read online

  Without remembering what Marilyn said about that boy not being right for her, she said yes to everything. Seconds later, Brad sent her endless romantic and happy emoticons.

  CHAPTER 5

  HOPEFULLY THE WAIT WILL

  NOT WEAR MY DREAMS

  (Marilyn Monroe)

  It had not been a dream, nor a hallucination. When she woke up, Pam found Marilyn in the same position, sat on the sofa. It seemed the diva did not like standing.

  “What are your plans for today?” Marilyn asked.

  “What do you want me to do with this arm?”

  “Pam! You’re alive! You just have a broken arm, that’s nothing. You can still do amazing things.”

  “Well, tonight I have a date with Brad.”

  “Really? I already told you he is not right for you.”

  “But maybe it’s something I have to try for myself.”

  “As long as you don’t fall in love… I hope one day you’ll be able to say that expression I used to love so much. What was it?” Marilyn thought for a second. “Oh yes, it used to be said in Spain quite a lot: let them try and take away what I’ve danced.”

  “Let them try and take away what I’ve danced. Funny expression”

  “Enjoy yourself. You’re young and very beautiful. Although you should start wearing a little bit of hydrating cream on your skin. Put makeup on those blue eyes and paint your lips red. About your hair, it also needs a good conditioning and what do you think about dying your hair platinum blond?”

  “And turn into Marilyn Monroe number two? No.”

  “No, there is only one Marilyn Monroe. Imitations are awful,” said Marilyn winking. “But I think you would attract the attention of good managers and casting directors like this.”

  “I like my blond.”

  “It’s a dull blond, dry. And also your hair is much too long. A good cut would look good on you, trust me.”

  “I don’t have any money.”

  “What about those $300 from the photos?”

  Pam quickly turned on the computer while she made the coffee that would keep her awake for the rest of the day. Her eyes opened wide when she discovered that her account has gone from $300 to $1200 in just a few hours. She decided to put more photographs up for sale so that she would have an even greater chance of earning money.

  “In a week when I receive all this money, I will go to the hairdressers, I promise, Marilyn” said Pam happily, who could finally see how good things were happening in her life too.

  “Perfect Miss Miller. And now drink a cup of coffee and let’s go find a good agent.”

  “I have an agent.”

  “Yes, but he’s not very good, is he?”

  “Not really, no.”

  “So you have to leave him and find another. Someone that deserves you and knows how to see in you what I saw from the beginning.”

  “But I have my date with Brad today. Can you help me with that too?”

  “Your career comes first, Pam. You have to focus on that, it is what is most important. Men will come later, they only distract you and bringing headaches.”

  “But…”

  “You’ve never had a boyfriend. You’re a virgin!” Marilyn exclaimed.

  “I think the neighbors on the first floor didn’t hear you.”

  “Don’t be embarrassed. You don’t have to do it with the first man you find because you think you’re at a reasonable age to…”

  “I’m not a virgin,” Pam interrupted, offended.”In Gettysburg I had a boyfriend, he was called Anthony.”

  “Yes, but you didn’t do anything with this Anthony. Believe me honey, I know what I’m talking about. And I know you are a virgin.”

  Pam smiled. She could not contradict Marilyn ghost as it seemed to know what it was talking about.

  “I lost my virginity much too young I have to tell you it was the worst experience of my life.”

  “Why?” Pam asked, interested.

  “We don’t know each other well enough to talk about this yet. I haven’t talked about this with anyone, imagine what you would get to spread it to the world.”

  “Of course, I’m going to tell the world that the great Marilyn Monroe who died 51 years ago, lives in my house and tells me her secrets.”

  “They would take you to an asylum.”

  “Exactly. My intention is not to go to an asylum. It is to be at St Felix Hollywood at 7 on the dot for my date with Brad.”

  “As you wish, don’t tell me that I didn’t warn you.”

  “Marilyn! About what?”

  “That you need to focus on finding a good agent if you want to be successful in Hollywood. And Brad, he does this with all girls. At first he is charming, he flatters you, he treats you as if you were a princess. He invites you to dinner, he finishes seducing you at one of his gigs, takes you to bed and the next day, he doesn’t want to know anymore and he goes for another easy prey. That is how he is.”

  “ But some girl will make him change.”

  “And you think it’s going to be you?”

  Pam doubted herself. What if Marilyn was right? What if he was one of those guys?

  “I promise I’ll be careful, Marilyn.”

  “Do not fall in love.”

  “I can’t decide that.”

  “In this industry, you will see that on many occasions it is better to let yourself be ruled by your head than your heart. They don’t teach you that in acting classes. If you want to be happy, do your job to the best of your ability without getting involved with anyone. And when you finish, do what you like with your life, but never fall in love. Never.”

  “Says the woman who got married…”

  “ Four times, I got married four times. First was James, then Robert, even though that was just for the weekend,” she laughed. “Joe,” she smiled sweetly, remembering the baseball player. “And finally Arthur. And I was always alone,” Marilyn continued with a sad expression on her pretty ghost face. “Do not prioritize love, Pam. Love is a scam.”

  “ You’re so romantic.”

  “I am a realist even though many said that I lived in the clouds, life kicked me down many times and I don’t want it to do that to you.”

  “You know what? You would’ve been a great mother.”

  “That was one of my dreams, plan. But it was never given to me, for some reason. Now come, read something on this contraption and find a good agent.”

  Pam searched for an hour and a half for the names and numbers of all the agents in Los Angeles. Behind her, Marilyn observed with extreme care the references of each of them.

  “I like this one,” she said, when the name of a certain Samantha Moore appeared. She represented new talent, pretty and sweet faces with a promising future. There was also the photograph of the agent, a woman with a strong build, blond hair and an amiable smile. “Call her.”

  “Call her? That’s not how things work. I have to send her some photos and my CV by email first.”

  “Email? What is that?”

  “It’s like a letter but over the Internet.”

  “Internet is the thing you used to search for things, no?” Marilyn asked curiously.

  “Yes.”

  “I think in my time it was much easier. Headhunters came to acting schools, there were parties in which you needed to be seen and stand out above the others. The telephone existed, a contraption through which you could hear the voice of the person you were speaking to, which is much healthier than sending a sad, what’s it called?”

  “It was hard for you to memorize texts, wasn’t it?” Marilyn arched her eyebrows, annoyed by Pam’s impertinence.”Email, it’s called email.”

  “Memorizing texts was not my strong point, but acting them out was. Singing too, I loved singing though I was panicked at being out of tune and I will admit I was very embarrassed. I’ve always been very shy, did you know?”

  “Who would have guessed.”

  “Okay, send one of those emails and call her.”
<
br />   “Okay, I will call her.”

  “Now.”

  “Let me send the email.”

  When Marilyn saw Pam’s photo book, she put her hands to her head.

  “No! Why are you sending these photos?”

  “Don’t you like them?”

  “They are not sexy, they don’t make you look good at all and they do not attract attention.”

  “I have sold hundreds of photographs on this website, Marilyn. I know something about photography.”

  “And I know about posing. And you don’t pose well.”

  “Let me send them and see what happens.”

  “Do it, but don’t tell me that I didn’t warn you.”

  “Stop saying that you warned me. You’re worse than my parents.”

  “I just want the best for you.”

  Well we are starting well.”

  After sending the bad photographs Marilyn disagreed with and the scarce and sad CV of the young actress, she received an automatic response saying that the email had been received and that it would be answered as soon as possible. The answer came in only 10 minutes later, and the assistant of Samantha Moore’s assistant answered Pam with another email saying that the portfolio was full of actors and that they could not bring on anyone new, but even so, they wished her luck in her career.

  “Never taken no as the final answer. That portfolio full of actors is a lie. They say that to not offend you and so you would think that even if you were rejected, one day you might stand a chance. Although with these photographs, I’m not surprised they said no. Well, it doesn’t matter. Call,” Marilyn insisted. Pam shook ahead.”Call!”

  “No! They have already told me no. Calling them is a waste of time. Why should I?”

  “To talk to Samantha directly and so she can see you in person.”

  “Fine.,,”

  With shaking hands, Pam dialed the number that appeared on the agent Samantha Moore’s webpage. Marilyn’s droopy eyes stared at her, trying to transmit calm and confidence, but it wasn’t working.

  “Samantha Moore agency,” a feminine voice answered, rushed and serious.

  “Hello, I am Pam Miller. I just sent a …”

  “Yes, we received it and we are not interested in your profile, thank you,” the assistant’s assistant answered without letting her finish and about to hang up the phone.

  “Please don’t hang up. I want to speak to Samantha Moore.” The woman’s laughter distracted her. “Do you think it is professional to laugh like that?” Pam asked, annoyed and gloomy at her boldness.

  “Excuse me? Who are you to think if you can tell me if I should laugh or not?” The assistant’s assistant asked, annoyed.

  “I want to speak to Samantha Moore,” Pam insisted, painstakingly.

  Marilyn nodded proudly but despite the aspiring young actresses insistence, the Assistant’s assistant hung up, cutting her off and making her want to make an appointment with the agent.

  “She hung up,” said Pam.

  “Well then, you should go to this agent’s offices.”

  “But they will close the door in my face!”

  “Maybe they will make you wait a bit, but if you insist, they will see you. I am sure of it, believe in me.”

  “Maybe not today, I should wait until my arm is better.”

  “Never mind then. Nothing to do but wait, but time waits for no man.”

  “But for two months…”

  “Not even for one day, Pam. Do you want to become a great actress? Succeed in be a star?” Pam nodded without the same force as the diva’s ghost.”Then go today. Today is the day that counts, tomorrow is always much later.”

  “Marilyn for God’s sake, I’m 24.”

  “Even better for Hollywood. Come, put your makeup on and get dressed. Don’t be lazy.”

  “But…”

  “Now!”

  Pam followed Marilyn’s orders. She went to the bathroom that Marilyn looked at disapprovingly as it needed a good clean. Pam picked up her cosmetics bag, full of cheap makeup and began to do her face, following Marilyn’s instructions. Deep down, Pam thought that she could not be any luckier than to have such an experimented guide in this field. She advised her, guided her and half an hour later, Pam’s freckled face turned out to be very attractive to see. For the occasion, she put on some jeans and a short-sleeved gray t-shirt that was hard to put on, due to the thick cast.

  “It looks good on you, it gives you style, but it’s nothing special,” said Marilyn, looking her up-and-down.

  “What do you expect? Clothes from the 50s aren’t worn any more, Marilyn.”

  “No? Well they were gorgeous. I thought it was called vintage nowadays.”

  “I see you are very up-to-date with our times.”

  “Well, yes. I have spent more years in this world in constant change as a spirit, than in life. I have been lucky enough to see many things, so many,” the diva explained mysteriously.

  “I can imagine. So, you don’t like it?”

  “Do you think you look good?” Pam nodded. “That’s all that matters, Pam. When we think we look good, we are comfortable and we love ourselves, others will also see us that way. What we reflect is important, so come, there is no time to lose. Where do we have to go?”

  Pam checked the agent’s address on the Internet again. She would have to take two buses to get to her destination. An hour’s journey in total. What a drag!

  Pam liked being in Marilyn’s company during the journey, although only she could see her. Although the artist’s ghost spoke to her, she decided not to answer as she did not want people to think she was crazy and talking to herself. Marilyn guessed as much, and did not care too much about it. When they got to the office of Samantha Moore, Pam’s legs and voice resumed their bad habit of trembling with nerves, she shyly greeted the concierge and went up by the modern first elevator to the ninth floor. The assistant’s assistant opened the door. She was not as intimidating as over the phone, she was a young woman of around thirty, small and slim with dark eyes hidden behind thick plastic glasses.”Can I help you with something?” She asked seriously, without letting her through.

  “I came to see Samantha Moore,” answered Pam decisively.

  Marilyn nodded, approving her new friend’s apparent self-confidence. But again, the assistant’s assistant began to laugh.

  “Do you know what the wait-time is to get an appointment with Samantha?” Pam shook her head, confused. “It’s a three-month waitlist, honey!”

  “Well, I’m not moving from here until you let me see her.”

  “As you wish.”

  The assistant’s assistant closed the door in Pam’s face who, about to give up and leave this house of egocentrism, turned around and headed back to the elevator.

  “No!” Marilyn stopped her. “We are not leaving here. Sit down.”

  “What?”

  “Sit down. There, next to the door.”

  “Really, I don’t know why listen to you.”

  But Pam sat down. Three hours later, she was still sat in front of the door of the Samantha Moore agency. Hungry, thirsty, and her broken arm in pain, she was about to give in when the woman on the photograph of the webpage, Samantha Moore, came through the door. Samantha was a tall woman and imposing with a strong icy gaze. Even so, she pitied Pam sat next to her door that they had not let her through.

  “Stand up,” she ordered.

  “Samantha Moore?” Pam asked, obeying her. Samantha nodded. “I am Pam Miller. I have come to talk to you but they won’t let me in.”

  “Are you an actress?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have you sent your material by email?”

  ‘Yes.”

  “Well, that’s it, you can go.”

  “Never mind,” said Marilyn. Pam looked at her, shaking her head.

  “Never mind,” Pam repeated.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I was not going to leave until I met you.”

  Sa
mantha laughed.

  “That’s very golden-age Hollywood. Did you know that? What film did you see?” Pam laughed nervously. “I have 10 minutes, come in.”

  Pam followed Samantha into her office, looking at the assistant’s assistant superiorly. Marilyn went behind them, decided not to leave Pam for a single second.

  Samantha sat on a comfortable chair and signaled Pam to do the same in front of her desk full of papers, pens, agendas and an enormous computer.

  “It’s a beautiful office,” Pam admitted, observing the huge window through which she could see the city of Los Angeles and even the Hollywood sign.

  “I know. Tell me, what have you done.” Samantha put her hands together, expecting to hear a sad story from an aspiring actress.

  “That’s why you are here, to do many things,” Marilyn said, winking at Pam.

  “That’s why I am here. To start doing many things, Samantha. I know my photographs are not the best and I still have a lot of work to do to become a great actress, but I need someone like you who believes in me to become a star.”

  “A star? That’s not going to happen. Sorry, what was your name?”

  “Pam Miller.”

  “That’s a nice name, but not for a star. You are beautiful, very beautiful. I love your hair and your freckles. How old are you?”

  “Twenty,” said Marilyn, winking.”Tell her you twenty.”

  “Twenty,” Pam lied, looking at the diva through the corner of her eye who was paying special attention to the black-and-white photos of Samantha’s actors hung on the wall.

  “Nice age. Let’s do something, Pam.” Samantha picked up a card from a box and gave it to the young woman. “Call Robert, he’s my trusted photographer. Tell him you’re coming from me and that he should organize a photoshoot for you as soon as possible. Even if you have your arm in a cast, I don’t care. I want to see your face in some good photos, that is what interests me. When you have done, come see me and we’ll talk again.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes,” Samantha answered, finally smiling. “Normally actors send an email and never come here. I have a good feeling about you.”