I straightened my suit jacket for what seemed to be the fiftieth time and tried to calm my pounding heart. The guard shack was directly ahead and my wobbly legs were propelling me towards it. I fingered the laminated pass, too nervous to look at it but knowing that all of my hopes and dreams lay within its little 2" x 4" frame. I would have one chance and this one chance only. It had to be today and it was now or never.
An overweight balding man with the eyes of a hawk sauntered out of the shack, hitching his pants up a bit and tucking a stray edge of uniform in as I approached. "Good afternoon." He squinted at me in the retreating sunlight and set his cap on the back portion of his head to get a better look at me. I had tried to appear professional so I dressed in my best suit, wound my long, brown hair into an elegant chignon and had paid $35 dollars to have my make-up done. I hoped it was enough.
"Hello." I gave him my sunniest smile, presenting the badge. "I'm Mr. Mirisch's personal secretary, Rona Navins, and I have some important papers for him to sign."
His eagle eyes scoured my badge, then returned to my face. I knew the picture matched. I'd taken a passport photo and had carefully inserted over the original but the signature was going to be a problem. I hadn't had enough time to practice and he'd see the discrepancy right away.
"All right, Miss Navins." He handed me a clipboard, its pen attached by a silver thread of beads. "Sign in."
I took the board, filled in the required information and signed in the allotted box. He took it back, glanced at my badge and returned the clipboard to its resting place. "They're on the western set on the back lot. You can take one of those carts over there."
"Thank you."
For the first time in five minutes, I breathed. I had made it. I was on the Universal Studios lot in Hollywood, California, heading for the back lot where they were filming the movie "Westworld". Heading for the man I'd been in love with since I'd first seen him in "The King And I": the gorgeous Yul Brynner.
I forced my legs to remain solid, chose a cart from the line and headed off, following the signs for the back lot. Huge, looming buildings passed on either side of the concrete road and I fantasized about stars like Henry Fonda and Anne Bancroft spouting lines inside their walls. Limousines and Cadillacs trundled by, carrying VIPs from here to there and I had to stop twice for huge portions of sets to be wheeled from one destination to another and once for a pair of beautiful stallions.
Finally, I reached the back lot and my heart began to pound again, despite the brief respite. I passed crew members, working on various portions of the set and stunt men choreographing their acts, looking for the star trailers. I knew I was close when I saw James Brolin and Richard Benjamin play fighting with each other near the saloon.
"Excuse me." Both men flashed brilliant smiles. "I'm looking for Mr. Brynner."
"Sure we won't do?" Brolin gave a wry wink to Benjamin who laughed conspiratorially.