Love, Bassy Part 8

Hey sis,

I was leaving work when I get a call from Ms. Griswold. 

“Sebastian, this is your agent.  So, we both know you’re gorgeous – but listen, to keep up that image, you gotta hit the gym and lose some of that baby fat.  Go work out for a bit!”

I got to the gym at a quarter till eleven. 

 

I found an empty machine and decided to lift weights. 

I thought I was going to have it easy. 

Bad move.  I wasn’t even a fraction of the way into the workout before I knew I was really out of shape. 

I’ve also had to give up my hamburgers and my chips and my pizza.  And let’s not forget, dad’s key lime pies and homemade cookies.  I’m living off salads and soups, basically. 

I know since you and Andy got married, you all had to trim the fat from your diet too.

(cont’d on next page)

Response #2

Hey little bro,

I’m browsing thru the local bookstore, and the news from Bridgeport gets out here too, so don’t think you’re safe if you screw up.  Just fair warning.

Anyway, Bass, isn’t this your boss?  The studio brass can’t be happy about this headline:

Neither can they be happy about this picture from the issue.

“Director Kristy Verhoeven gets it on with an unidentified female at The Grind, a local hot spot.”

Man, how short and tight can that girl’s dress be?  Looks like it was painted on her, seriously.  Do all the women in Bridgeport dress like this? 

Anyway, I’m tangled with kiddo stuff here.  I had to go to the school for Satis and Sety (again) because they’re flunking.  Seems the school got a new principal, and the new principal had not been told their story.  So I had to tell it to her.  I also had to tell all of their new teachers since they started high school. 

I’ve taken a leave of absence from my job to deal with Satis and Sety’s school issues.  It was not an easy decision to make, given that I love my job.  But I love Satis and Sety more and I want to see them succeed, so this was something that had to be done.  I am this close to pulling them out of school and teaching them myself. 

Andy’s been to the school, too.  He takes Sety fishing and tries to work in math lessons while they’re out with the rod and reel. 

In other news, the conservatives took back control of City Hall.  Malcolm Landgraab II was reelected to the city council as the representative from the Summer Hill district.  He ran unopposed. 

So you’re Matt Hamming’s PA eh?  I bet he has you tired at the end of the day.  I’ve heard he’s, well, incredibly conceited. 

You know, I was struck by your comment about rediscovering your love of music.  Just because you're studying to be an actor doesn't mean you have to give up your music. In fact, I’m pretty sure there’s a way you could do both. 

Why are you afraid of people finding out who you are?  You are a Plumb.  We Plumbs do things differently, we always have.  You should be proud of that!  You should embrace it.  If they discover who you are, chill.  It’s not the end of the world. 

Love you.  Savannah

Love, Bassy Part 7

Hey sis,

I took your advice and started looking for an agent.  Unfortunately the Bridgeport Bulletin, which is the paper here, doesn’t seem to be teeming with ads for agents.  It’s more gossip oriented and it tells where the hot spots are. 

I went into the studio backlot the next afternoon.  Matthew Hamming, this uber-actor and 5 star celebrity, and I were chatting in the break room.  I happen to just casually mention that I’m in the market for an agent … and he drops the name of his rep, Jana Griswold.  I wasn’t expecting Hamming to help me out, really.   But turns out he has an ulterior motive.

You’re looking at Matthew Hamming’s personal assistant. 

Savannah, I know you’re sitting there with this letter open on your computer, laughing ‘til you’re blue in the face.  You couldn’t possibly imagine your kid bro being someone’s PA.  But it’s true.  He’s introduced me to a lot of people in the industry.  Not only am I running around town all the time… but I’m on the phone.  Constantly.  Arranging things. 

You’d be happy to know that I’m doing a little more than trailing Matt Hamming around town.  I actually picked up the guitar again.  And I’m getting good at it, like mom and dad.  In fact, women are throwing money in the case. 

I dunno what happened, it’s like one morning I woke up and I had the urge to play.  I hadn’t touched my guitar since dad bought it for me.   It’s like, in one fell swoop I figured out why dad loves this so much.  It’s not only the sensation of the fingers plucking against the strings, it’s the sounds the strings make once the fingers pluck them. 

So that evening I drove over the freeway and played a jam session in front of the theater.  And that isn’t all.  I took classes in piano and bass too and have been soaking up musical theory books. 

I just hope I’m not found out before I begin acting auditions for sure.   Once they figure out who I am, my acting career is over before it begins. 

GTG.  Love, Bassy

Love, Bassy Part 6

Hey sis,

One of the things I love about living in Bridgeport is that no two days are ever the same. 

I love the mix of humanity (hehe, I used a big word, sis, you proud?) available in the city.  The other day I decided to do a jam session in front of the theater.  I was amazed at the different kinds of people who stopped by.  There are celebs and vamps and party-animals and everyday Joes and Janes trying to just live their lives. 

I went to this nightclub called Eugi’s and there were these two ladies who kept staring at me. One was a very platinum blonde and the other was a … pleasantly plump … brunette with a punk haircut.

I ordered a drink, and the poor bartender didn’t have a clue what he was doing.  He’d just started, apparently.

I have no idea what was in that drink … but it did something to me.  Made me tingle all over.

Sheena, here I come…

Love, Bassy

My response to Bassy’s letters

Hey little brother,

You’re all grown up and big and bad in the city.  Congratulations on your big break!  Did you sleep with someone to get it?  Haha, just kidding.  When you’re getting your Golden Simmy for best actor, be sure to remember the little folks, okay?  :P

Glad you are having fun (so to speak) in Bridgeport.  It sounds like a vibrant, busy city.  Better watch the females though, some of those girls sound … creepy … for lack of a better word. 

I think the first step you need to take is to hire an agent.  It’s a necessary evil, but believe me, you’ll be glad you did.  Why?  When I was writing Interview with a Mummy and shopping it to publishers, I had my agent doing the grunt work while I was in Egypt still writing and ‘researching.’ 

That Bianca sounds a total bitch.  How dare she dismiss the good people of Sunset Valley as country bumpkins?  If she really wants to see the country, she needs to spend some time in the farmlands of Riverview or the Twinbrook swamps.  I just wish I’d have been there to give her an … education … in manners and common sense.  She would most certainly have been put in her place. 

Daisy asked about you.  So I showed her your last letter.  She says she misses you terribly and calls my house every day, just about, wanting updates on you. 

Yesterday I got a call from the director Kristin Verhoeven.  I think you said she was your boss.  I don’t think she has connected the dots between you and me, yet.

“Dr. Plumb, this is Kris Verhoeven.  I’m a movie director in Bridgeport.”

“Verhoeven – that name’s Dutch, right?”  A part of me was wondering how she got my cell phone number. 

“Yeah.  My father was Dutch, and my mother was German.  I read both of your books, really fascinating stuff."  She paused for a few moments.  “The reason I’m calling is, I’m told you’re in charge of Margaret Plumb’s estate.”

“She was my aunt, yes.”

“I’m a fan of her work and would like your permission to adapt one of her books into a screenplay for a future motion picture.  I’d like to set up a face-to-face meeting to discuss this further.”

I haven’t decided if I’ll take her up on the offer. 

Well, we’ll talk more later.  I love you.

Sincerely, Savannah

Love, Bassy Part 5

Hey sis,

On Saturday I had the day off so I went over to the Bridgeport Sports Zone to hang out.  I knew I was in trouble when “she” walked in. 

 

I asked the bouncer, this big hulking guy, if I could go in.  He refused.  “She” had gone right on in without so much as asking.   So … I pulled out a hundred dollar bill … and he was like, “Oh, it’s you, Mr. Moneybags,” and he let me through. 

I stopped and stared for a bit.  Quite possibly the loveliest woman I’d laid eyes on in Bridgeport.   When I noted her watching a rom-com I asked if I could join her.

“The food in here any good?” I asked her while she was sitting down.  She didn’t respond, but the look on her face said, “Talk to me in about two million years.”

 

“Say, what’s your name, anyway?”  I asked.

I learned she was Sheena Martinez and she was employed in the film career. 

“Me, too,” I croaked.

Then I got up and played the guitar.  I happened to catch a glimpse of Sheena.  I don’t know if she was listening. 

Ah, women.

GTG.  Love, Bassy

Love, Bassy Part 4

Hey sis,

Driving across the Bridgeport Freeway is truly one of the most exhilarating experiences of living here.  I admit, it’s even better since I got my new La Matea before leaving home. 

I crossed it once more because I got an invite to my boss’ gathering.  I wouldn’t call it a party because, well, you’ll see in a bit.

 

I had to look through the list of residents and press the right button to call on their apartment.

When you build in Bridgeport, you build ‘up.’  When you built in Sunset Valley, you build ‘out.’

 

I took a look around my boss’ apartment.  Very cramped and sparsely decorated. 

And then I caught a glimpse of my boss, Ms. Verhoeven.  She was READING.

One of my boss’ guests was sitting down watching television.  As near as I could tell, she hadn’t had any work done and she looked interesting.

  

She told me her name was Stephenie Barr … she worked at the studio … and she was married.  Oops. 

Head of the studio, Mr. Stanley showed up.  I had to sit up straight and try to make a good impression. 

I heard him talking with my boss and I know they were talking about me. 

 

Before long, everyone else left and it was just me and her at the apartment. 

“Sebastian, is it?”

I nodded.

“Mr. Stanley was telling me, you’re from Sunset Valley?”

I nodded again.

“What made you decide to come here?”

I shrugged my shoulders.  I wasn’t sure exactly what to tell her, so I tried to come up with something off the top of my head.  “Um … I wanted a new experience??”

“Couldn’t you come up with something more convincing than that?”

I thought about it for awhile.  “I want to become a great actor.”

She smiled.  “That’s more like it.”  She started telling me a little about herself.  “I moved from Twinbrook a few simyears back.  I’ve known for awhile I wanted to be a movie director.  I used to write and act out plays in my parents’ basement.”

Then she asked about my childhood.

“Pretty normal,” I said.  “I had an older sister and a half-brother.”

“You know, Sebastian, I’m writing this screenplay called Zombies? Zombies! based on the book, and I’d like you to play the male lead.” 

I was stunned.  “Me?”  I asked.  “Did Matthew Hamming turn it down?”

“Matthew isn’t who I’ve got in mind for the part.  It’s you.”  She continued.  “I talked it over with Alan and he likes it, a lot.  He’s willing to bankroll it himself, out of his own money.  Emmy Starr is already signed on to the project, she’s playing the leading lady.”

I get to kiss Emmy Starr … on camera???

Suddenly being an actor doesn’t sound like such a bad proposition.  Especially if you get to kiss beautiful women on camera with the world watching – and you get to replay those kisses over and over and over again for eternity. 

Got to think about this.  Vanna, what do you think? 

GTG.  Love, Bassy