The Price of Fame

Chapter 2

Two weeks later Freddy sat nervously in front of the large mahogany desk in Sid Galloway’s office. He watched as Sid read over his résumé.

After several minutes Sid looked up. Freddy held his breath.

“It looks pretty weak,” Sid sighed.

Freddy’s heart sank.

“But…” Sid held up one of Freddy’s headshots and looked beyond the picture at the man.

Freddy held his breath again.

“But you got the look.”

Freddy didn’t know what Sid meant by that exactly. But it sounded positive.

“I think we can do business.”

Freddy let out the breath he was holding. “Thank you, Mr. Galloway. I won’t disappoint you.”

“Well, you’re welcome, but remember our arrangement is a two-way street. You need me, and I need you. If we work well together we’ll both win. By the way…call me Sid.”

“All right, Sid. But I really do appreciate your giving me this chance.”

Sid nodded his response as he pressed the intercom button on his desk.

“Yes, Mr. Galloway?” came the voice of the pretty blonde receptionist that Freddy had met earlier when he arrived for his appointment. She had put him at ease with her friendly, encouraging smile.

“Janet, bring in those contract forms we worked up for Freddy. And, the actor’s union applications, too.”

Sid had explained that Freddy would be eligible to join SAG, AFTRA, and Equity after he had done some work in the profession beyond that listed on his résumé, so he needed to study the requirements for membership.

Janet came into the office with the requested paperwork. She smiled at Freddy and gave him a thumbs up. When she left Sid got up and came around his desk and sat next to Freddy. He went over the major clauses and points of the contract. He encouraged Freddy to take it to a lawyer, but also stated that it was a standard contract that had been used many times before.

Freddy’s head was swimming by the time Sid was through. He had no sense for this end of the profession and was more than willing to trust Sid after what he and Russ had discovered about franchised agents online.

Having finished with that part of their meeting, Sid said, “Let’s get down to the business of how I’m going to be selling you to the studios.”

Freddy nodded although the term ‘selling him’ made him slightly uncomfortable.

“I’ll be honest with you. Your résumé is pretty pitiful. Homegrown actors are a dime-a-dozen no matter how good they are. But, that being said, I think you’ve got something that’s gonna work in your favor. First you can act. Your DVD showed that. Most of the guys that come in here are just handsome hunks who couldn’t act in a first grade Christmas pageant. But hell, that supporting cast made you look bad,” Sid said, shaking his head. “We’re gonna have you shoot some scenes with some of my other clients so I can send some quality footage to the studios.”

“Do I pay for this?” Freddy asked.

“The price of fame. Ya want it…ya gotta be willing to pay for it,” Sid laughed. “Yeah, you cough up for it. But the cost will be shared by the others in the shoot, and it shouldn’t be too bad. And you can deduct it from your taxes. Janet will give you a breakdown. You got any financial resources?”

“Some,” Freddy said hesitantly.

Freddy had a small inheritance from his grandmother and he had a job as a bank teller. Russ had also said he would help out if he needed anything. He briefly considered asking his parents to help out but quickly dismissed that idea. His mother had been against his leaving Iowa and moving to California. She told him his dream of becoming a motion picture actor was foolhardy. She added that if he had any sense he’d go into working at the car dealership with his father. His dad had never approved of his interest in acting, expressing the opinion that actors were all queers and would turn a man into one if given the chance. This lurking homophobia exploded when Freddy had come out to them. His father had stalked out of the house and slammed the door behind him.

“Good.” Sid got up and walked around his desk, picked up a stack of papers, and brought them to Freddy. “Here are four scripts. The parts you’ll be playing are marked. They are pretty diverse; it should show your range of abilities. Take ‘em home and study ‘em. We’ll shoot next weekend.”

Freddy took the scripts and glanced over them. He was glad they would be doing this on the weekend. That way he wouldn’t miss work.

“Next selling point.” Sid was moving on. “I’m gonna present you as the fresh-faced, squeaky-clean, totally innocent, but terribly sexy new-kid-on-the-block. You’re fuckin’ good lookin’, my man, but I suppose you know that already.”

Freddy knew he was handsome. He had been aware of that since he was a kid. Everyone had told him he was. Still, having Sid say it in the context of ‘selling him’ as an actor made him blush.

“Good, good,” the man said. “Blushing’s good. Fresh, modest, but sexy and handsome as hell. Perfect. The new heartthrob of millions of American women.” Sid smiled.

“Now we have to lose that name. Freddy Perkins is anything but sexy. It sounds like a broken-down, country western singer.”

“Okay,” Freddy said, hesitating slightly, wondering what his mother and father would say. They were very proud of the Perkins lineage back in Newton, Iowa.

“You ever thought of what name you’d like to go by as a famous actor?”

“Well, I always thought Lamont was—”

“Lamont!” Sid laughed. “I just told you we were going for fresh, handsome, sexy heartthrob—not flaming gay.” Sid laughed again.

Freddy felt a prickle of discomfort.

“How about Les?” Sid suggested. “Let’s see. Les…Les. How about Les Barnett?”

Freddy nodded. “I like it.”

“Better see what comes up if I Google that,” Sid said, going back to his desk and sitting at the computer. “Don’t want to give you the name of some has-been or criminal.”

“Hmmm. Comes up with thirteen Les Barnetts, three of ‘em kinda famous. So something else that goes with Les…”

Freddy thought of his hometown. “Les Newton?”

“Why don’t we just add Isaac and be done with it,” Sid said with a chuckle. “You’re an actor not a physicist, remember.”

“How about Bannister?” Freddy suggested. “There was a Bannister family that had lived down the street from me at home.”

Sid checked his computer and, finding no one of that name of any consequence, dubbed the fledgling actor Les Bannister.

“I’ll have Janet get the paperwork started to request the legal change,” Sid said. “I want you to inform all your friends that you’ll be changing your name. Once you’re famous we can let it out that you were once Freddy Perkins from Newton, Iowa. But until we build that image, the world will know you as Les Bannister.”

Freddy could hardly believe this was happening. Sid was talking as if his becoming famous was an accomplished fact. Was that just bravado, motivation, encouragement, or could Freddy trust that Sid would make it happen?

Sid looked up at the young man from behind his desk. He seemed to be studying him intently. “I’ve got an idea. Stand up. Take off your shirt.”

“What?”

“Take off your shirt. I have a request here from Joel Anderson. He’s producing a new movie. Go on, take it off.”

Freddy got up and, feeling somewhat embarrassed, shed his blazer and unbuttoned his Oxford cloth shirt. He laid the shirt and blazer on the couch and stood looking at Sid, who was appraising him as if he were a side of beef.

Sid got up and walked over to him. “Turn.”

Freddy did as he was told.

“Hmmm, very nice. Yes, I think this just might work. You’re gonna need to do some working out and beefing up. You got a gym membership?”

“Ah…yes.”

“Good. How about a personal trainer?”

“Um…no.”

“Well, get one. Janet will give you a list of the ones we work with. I’d like to see about ten more pounds of muscle on you.”

“Okay,” Freddy said tentatively, thinking of the money a personal trainer would cost.

“How would you feel about electrolysis?”

“Electrolysis?”

“I like a hairy chest, personally, but I’m not sure it fits the image I’m going for with you. Women are funny about body hair. So we may want to consider getting rid of yours. Janet will—”

“I know,” Freddy said with a sigh, “Janet will give me the list of places where I can get it done.”

“Right,” Sid said with a smile.

Freddy wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He had always thought the coating of hair on his well-developed chest and abs was a plus. He wasn’t overly hairy, just a nice pattern that he found appealing and Russ found deliciously sensual.

“Here’s the deal. Joel’s got this project he’s about to start casting in about six weeks. The story’s sort of a mix of Mutiny on the Bounty, Swiss Family Robinson, and Shipwrecked. He’s calling it Survival. There’s a role for a young man that I think you’d be great for. Joel’s considering some major stars for the main roles but hasn’t decided on the kid yet. My contacts at the studio tell me he can’t decide if any of the current s*x symbols are right for the part. I’m gonna try to sell him on trying this fresh, handsome, and sexy unknown,” Sid went on enthusiastically, using the description he had come up with earlier. “If we can get you in shape in time for auditions I think we’ll go for it.”

Freddy was once again almost overwhelmed by a feeling of unreality. It all seemed to be happening so fast.

Freddy got dressed while Sid once more went over the points of what he wanted Freddy to do to launch his career.

As Freddy picked up the scripts and was leaving, Sid said,” By the way, you got a girlfriend?”

“Uh, no,” Freddy replied, thinking of Russ.

“Good, then we don’t have to make her disappear as we create the next most eligible bachelor in America.”

Freddy felt another wave of discomfort.

“Well, Les, see you at the shoot on Saturday. Janet will give you the time and the directions.” Sid laughed. “Yes, Freddy, I called you Les. Get used to it, my man.”

Elated yet apprehensive, Freddy (or now Les) left for home.

* * * *

“You’re really into this tonight,” Russ said as Freddy kissed him passionately.

“You bet I am, babe.” Freddy pulled Russ close and pressed their bodies together, kissing him again.

“You want to take a turn on top?” Russ asked.

Freddy didn’t say anything, just slid his body down Russ’s torso, licking, kissing, and sucking all the way to Russ’s hard c**k which Freddy swallowed to the base, pressing his face into the thick bush of Russ’s red pubic hair.

“Man, I like it when things go your way,” Russ moaned.

Freddy sucked for awhile. Then, raising his boyfriend’s legs, he licked his way down the perineum to Russ’s asshole. Once there, he thrust his tongue against the puckered hole until it yielded and relaxed. Then he pressed the crown of his head against the hole, wishing he could crawl inside.

Finally, Freddy positioned his d**k against the entry and united with his man. The two set up a rhythm, and in only a few strokes Freddy came, pumping his semen into Russ. Then he slipped out and, engulfing Russ’s d**k once more, brought him to climax. Sliding back up Russ’s body Freddy shared his lover’s seed in a kiss.

“Freddy, you were magnificent tonight,” Russ was saying.

Freddy lay on top of Russ. “You’re going to have to call me Les now, remember?”

Russ chuckled. “Okay, Les. That’s gonna be hard to get used to. I’ve known you as Freddy for almost three years.” Russ ran his hands over Freddy’s chest. “You really have to gain ten pounds of muscle for this part?”

“Yeah, but I don’t have the part yet. Sid thinks I got a shot, but I don’t know.”

“You’ll be so hot. I mean you’re hot now…but ten more pounds of sexy meat. Oh, baby! And think positive. If this guy Sid thinks you’ve got a shot…”

Freddy rolled off his partner and lay next to him. Russ snuggled against Freddy and ran his hands sensuously up and down his torso.

“Uh, there’s another thing,” Freddy said tentatively.

“What’s that, babe?” Russ began lightly tugging at Freddy’s n****e with his teeth.

“Sid wants me to get rid of my chest hair.”

“f**k! Why?” Russ sat up and grabbed Freddy’s hair-covered pec protectively.

“Sid said it doesn’t fit the look he’s going for with me. He says women don’t dig it.”

Russ seemed to be considering this. He stroked Freddy’s light rug of black hair. “Well, it’ll grow back,” he said wistfully.

“No. Sid’s thinking of electrolysis.”

“Electrolysis!” Russ fairly shouted. “Oh, man! First they take your name and now this.” He leaned down and began grazing on Freddy from neck to navel.

“I could tell him ‘no’ if you really want me to,” Freddy offered, reaching out and rubbing the top of Russ’s head.

Russ was now swirling Freddy’s nest of dark pubic hair with his tongue.

“No, Babe, you do what you gotta do. You’re gonna be a star. Just as long as they don’t take this away from me,” he said, taking Freddy’s resurrected c**k into his mouth.

Freddy didn’t say anything as he let the thrill of his d**k being enveloped run through him. But he was thinking of Sid’s comment: Do you have a girlfriend? Good, then we won’t have to make her disappear. What would Sid say to a boyfriend?