January 15, 2011
I was in a content place as I drove through Hollywood on this particular Saturday. The temp agency hadn't called about a new job yet, but I didn't expect them to right now. My regular freelance work was earning me more money than ever, and I had even finished a draft of a book. So I felt I earned a nice sight-seeing drive, especially since this was the day before the Golden Globes and the town was gearing up.
Many of the actresses I had met would be nominated and/or in attendance, so there was always the chance of noticing them on the streets while they were preparing. But instead, I turned a corner and saw someone working on what looked to be a broken down rental car on the side of the street.
I slowed down and noticed a young woman who was getting frustrated near the car. My Good Samaritan side kicked in and I found myself stopping next to her. "Ma'am?" I asked to get her attention, although it looked like she was about the same age as me.
"Oh! You wouldn't know how to fix this engine, would you?" the woman asked in a voice that sounded a bit familiar. However, I brushed that aside to try and answer her question. "Well....I'm not really an engine expert, sorry?"
"Damnit! Now I have to call them to pick me up and I'll still be late! That's what I get for wanting a regular day to myself, I guess." The woman sighed in frustration, which pushed a few more of my Good Samaritan buttons. Since I wasn't in any hurry today and I still had this sense of recognition about the woman, I wound up asking "Well, where do you need to go?"
This got the woman to focus back on me instead of her car. "Oh...I don't think it's that far right now. Just a...place in Hollywood where I need to try on something. And I need to be at a few more places after that."
"And you don't want to call someone to come get you?" I asked.
"I could, but I said I didn't want to take a limo. I wanted to drive myself and try to have a regular day on the road before tomorrow," she hinted at again. "But I'm sure they'll take me back once I call them."
"But you need to be at these places on time?" I asked and she shrugged. "Well....if you're in a hurry and you can't wait to be picked up, I can take you. I have time on my hands, and since you seem to have a phone, you can still call someone if I get on your nerves."
When I started talking, I was just focused on the conversation and how I could actually help the woman. It didn't immediately strike me why she might ask for a limo if she wanted, and why she kept referring to tomorrow. But by the time I finished making my offer, and by the time the woman actually brightened up, it all fell into place; plus I figured out why I thought I recognized her.
By a twist of fate that had never happened outside of my jobs before, I had just offered to drive around Mila Kunis.
She had the limo option because she was an actress, and she had a busy day tomorrow because she was a nominee at the Golden Globes. Obviously she needed to try out her dress for the ceremony and was running late, and obviously had other errands to prepare herself as well.
And now it seemed I had gotten myself along for the ride, although I was the driver in this case."Thank you, thank you, I promise I won't take long!" Mila exclaimed as she went to enter my car.
"It's, um, it's not a problem," I stuttered a bit now that I recognized her. "Like I said, I'm completely free as long as you need a driver."
"Well, I'll still try to make it easy for you," she promised as she got into the seat next to me. "I'm Mila, by the way....in case you didn't know."
"No, I...I figured it out," I assured, before introducing myself and shaking her hand. I then started the car and got her to be more specific on where we needed to go, which wasn't too far away. In fact, I got to park near the shop where her Golden Globe dress was being held about 15 minutes later.
"Should I wait here until you get back? How long should you be?" I asked once I parked.
"I was gonna take about 30 minutes, get everything in order and all. But I can get it down to 20 so I don't keep you waiting," Mila offered.
"I can wait. I temp for TV shows all the time, so I'm used to waiting around for projects," I filled her in.
"Wow, some small world...." Mila reflected. "I should ask you to come in with me, but you'd probably be bored." Getting to see her in her Golden Globes dress a day in advance actually wouldn't be boring to me. But I didn't want to be forward, and I was cautious just in case the paparazzi were around to see us; this was one of their holiday weekends, after all.
"I'll tell you what. I'll give you 25 minutes, and if you aren't back by then, I'll come in to check on you. I'll just wait around or take a walk until then, okay?"
"Well, all right. You've had good ideas so far, so you've earned a little leeway," Mila conceded.
"Good. Go on, I got you here on time, might as well take advantage of it." Mila chuckled and made sure to smile right at me as she got out of the car.
Once she was in the shop, I exhaled since I had time to reflect on everything now. I had actually met and was spending time with an actress without the temp agency's help or influence. What's more, it was one of the rising stars in the business; and someone that a lot of people were fantasizing about after seeing her sex scene with Natalie Portman in "Black Swan.
I was nervous to meet a movie star like Anne just two months ago; yet leaving aside how I overcame that and then some with Anne, Mila was a TV veteran and movie star all in one. One that happened to have perfect eyes, flawless skin and a lovely, petite form as well. Plus I now remembered that she announced her separation from long time boyfriend Macaulay Culkin just 12 days ago; and that they had been separated for months beforehand.
Although this wasn't like my usual situations, I went into my usual knee jerk attempt to contain myself. This wasn't a case where I had a week or more to be noticed, as I just had to drive her until her car was fixed. In addition, she had better things on her mind right now, like the freaking Golden Globes and a likely invite to the Oscars in a month.
So once I talked myself down, I further cleared my head by taking a walk down the street. When I got back, I saw on my cell phone clock that it had been 25 minutes since Mila left. I supposed that no one would be suspicious if I went in there now, which inspired me to walk inside the shop.
I asked the nearest clerk about Mila and whether she was expecting me. Apparently she had said she was, so I was led over to a nearby dressing room. When we got there, I saw Mila standing in front of a mirror, studying herself until she noticed us. "Oh, there you are! I guess I took too long, huh?"
The results of taking too long left Mila in a long green dress from Vera Wang, with one strap on her left shoulder, a bare right shoulder, and a bare upper back save for a green strap across it. She had also done her hair up in a bun and had put on some eye shadow, as it seemed like she wanted to perfect her full look for the show before tomorrow. To that extent, she had done quite a job.
"No....no, it's perfect. Really, really perfect," I praised. "I can, uh, wait in the lobby while you finish up."
"Okay. Now that I know it's perfect, I guess I can put this away until tomorrow," Mila reasoned as she smoothed her dress down. I took that as my cue to nod, smile a bit nervously and head over to the lobby.
It took Mila between 5-10 minutes to change back and return to the car with. Once she gave me her next destination, I drove in silence, unsure of how to follow up. After practically drooling over her in her red carpet attire, there weren't many options on where to go from there.
"Okay, now you've got to tell me who you've worked for before." Apparently Mila's strategy was to change the subject. "If you're an expert on helping TV people, what's your resume?"
"Oh....well, I've been on the sets of The Office, 30 Rock, Mad Men, The Big Bang Theory, Glee, Modern Family and SNL," I explained while trying not to sound too braggy. "I was Kaley Cuoco's personal assistant for a week or so, and I just helped SNL when future Oscars host Anne Hathaway hosted."
"Whoh, you've worked with half the TV people at the Globes!" Mila joked/half-joked. "Maybe I should tell them you said hi after the show!"
"That's not necessary, they probably don't remember me," I dismissed, even though I knew a few of them still might. "I certainly don't have the biggest resume in this car. I mean, look at all the milestones you've had lately."
"That is what I've been thinking about for months now. The Golden Globes tomorrow, then the Oscars if me or the movie gets nominated; or both of us do! God, it's still nuts just thinking about it. I guess that's why I wanted to go out alone today and get myself ready."
"I'm sorry you got stuck with me instead," I said to be genuine and a bit self-deprecating.