A couple of weeks had passed since the premiere, the show would be live a week from Sunday and the excitement level began to grow. Mark and Maiara's wedding would take place on the same day. This weekend Mark, I and two other friends from college were headed down to Vegas for the bachelor party. I had rented an SUV for the trip down as we decided to drive. I rolled my eyes thinking about what Margot would say if she knew. "This is just like the hangover!" In her Australian accent. I grabbed my bag made my way to the garage and jumped in the powerful vehicle.
The first stop was to pick up Marty. We shared a dorm with him back in our college days. He was a funny and charismatic guy. He was probably the most laid back person I had ever known. He was so confident and never self-conscious. He went on to law school after college and was now in L.A trying to make it as an agent. He was currently at the bottom of the totem pole at Paradigm Talent Agency. He was working under Sam Gores who is one of the top agents in the city. So there was hope for him.
"Hey! Duncan how you been?" We hadn't seen each other in quite some time and it was obvious in how happy we were to see each other. After hugging and a quick catch up we were on our way towards Mark's place.
"How's everything going on at work Marty?"
He took a deep sigh before answering.
"It's really not what I thought it would be. I came to Hollywood hoping to make a difference you know? All I'm doing is fetching coffee and connecting calls."
"I can understand that completely. I remember when Wyatt had me on those horrible sitcom pilots. It was brutal."
"Yeah it's all part of paying our dues I know. It's just this business is so cruel and unforgiving. There's no heart to it; which is a shame. The movies out there suck. We could be doing so much better, so much more. But all that matters are the box office numbers and the Marvel supremacy."
I nodded totally agreeing with him. I couldn't help but think back to our days in the dorm. When he and Mark often talked about how lacking some of the movies were and a major power shift had to take place within the hallowed halls of Hollywood. I smiled inwardly knowing exactly what his next line was going to be.
"We need to return power to the talent and the creators and not studio execs. Too many people on too many power trips trying to make things about them and their bank accounts instead of what's really important; the art."
He would go off like this for a while so I just listened and nodded away whenever it was necessary. Don't get me wrong I loved Marty's passion and desire to make Hollywood a better place. He was absolutely right. My own experience at MTV had taught me that much. Change seemed so far. Almost unattainable at this point that it was difficult for me to get riled up.
"Its guys like you and Mark that should be running studios." I said to him. "People who actually like movies and television. Not guys who are just in it for the money and the trappings of the job."
"What about you?" He questioned me. "I remember back in school whenever Mark and I were going on and on about the greatness of The Sopranos and The Wire you always preferred having your nose in a book. Working on your novel and wanting to make a difference in people's lives. Do you think you're doing that?" I shook my head without needing to think about it.
"I never expected to be part of the industry. I saw myself writing dozens of books and traveling the world. Hopefully righting some wrongs along the way. "
"Then Mark got you the job." He finished for me. "I understand your reasoning for getting in the business. Why'd you stay?"
He hit at something that had bothered me for quite some time. The answer had presented itself very simply as these things often do. I looked over at him as we approached Mark's house and responded.
"I fell in love."
Mark was already waiting out front when we pulled up in his driveway.
"Really guys? Can you ever be on time? Even to my own bachelor party?" He nagged.
"What you gonna do Philips?" Asked Marty. "Get new friends? That ship has sailed. You're stuck with us!"
We all hugged and grabbed Mark's bag throwing it in the back with our own. I shifted the car into drive and we headed to pick up Brad. Brad was the most sensible out of all of us I had to admit. He married his high school sweetheart a couple of years out of college and already had two kids. He owned and operated his own restaurant in L.A. He was a great chef and had a really great head for business. He had no ties to Hollywood and was probably happier that way. Mark and Marty quickly got into talking shop; the new series that were coming up, the resurrection of franchises long dead, and well whatever the hell NBC was doing. I kept quiet and let my mind drift to other things. The thought of what would come next bothered me. Before I could get too deeply lost in my thoughts Mark pulled me back in.
"Duncan you okay?" He asked me.
"Yeah I'm fine. Just a lot on my mind is all." I told him.
"I hope you're not going to be like this all night. It's my bachelor party! Need to have one last ride before tying the knot." Mark said laughing.
"You're marrying the girl of your dreams. That's a much better ride to be on than to a Vegas strip club where Marty will inadvertently get us kicked out of." I joked
"Man you ever going to let me live that down?" Marty complained.
Mark and I looked at each other and replied simultaneously "NO!"
"Come on guys I was drunk!" He reminded us.
"Mark?" I asked. "What is the first rule of strip clubs?"
"Don't touch the girls." He answered.
"What's the second?"
"Don't piss off the bouncers."
"What's third?"
"Don't forget rules number 1 and number 2."
"So my question is. How drunk were you to not only feel up a stripper, spill your drink on her and then say that the bouncer was a reject from the Terry Crews dance academy."
"All within 58 seconds." Added Mark.
"Has to be some kind of record." I deducted. We laughed so hard.
"You guys suck." Uttered Marty defeated.
We got to Brad's restaurant and he was waiting for us out front his wife in his arms. These two had been together for what felt like forever but they always seemed like two horny teenagers. I was only reminded of that as I saw Brad's hand grab his wife's pretty great ass. Her name was Cindy. She had short blond hair and was the most caring person I had ever met. We pulled up next to them and rolled the windows down.
"Get a room you two." Cried out Marty. Brad and Cindy laughed along with the rest of us.
"If you guys are willing to give us twenty minute I think we can do just that." Brad threw back at him.
"Twenty minutes?" asked Cindy sounding mockingly impressed. "Aren't we feeling ambitious today?"
"Come on Cindy! Let me look good in front of the boys." We cracked up again as Brad kissed Cindy goodbye and we drove off; finally hitting the road to Vegas.
"Is it just me or does anyone else find it weird that Mark is marrying Maiara?" Marty asked the group.
"It's not weird." Began Brad. "It's just man this dude was totally obsessed with her. He had a folder full of her pictures on his laptop."
