Rising Star

Prolouge

Today is my thirtieth birthday and unfortunately it's depressing... My heart is ripped open and twisted inside out because of me. Why did it end like this? Why God? What got me to this point in life? "Was going to Juilliard a waste of my time and money"? John said, A car splashed rain water on his face and sent dirt to his eyes and inside his nose, it felt like red ants crawling all over him. It sent shivers down his spine mocking him endlessly, and it made him look and smell even more revolting. The problem was not the dirt he was wiping out of his eyes but, the unshed tears in his eyes. John felt ashamed, disappointed, and most of all abandoned... He could never go back home in Boston because, he knew that his parents would kick him out the second he set foot in the door. He remembered his parents telling him when he becomes an adult that he's on his own and no one is going to take care of him. He started to cry softly, then louder, and louder until all of New York could hear his cries of despair. He laid down on the cold concrete and closed his eyes, he dreamed that he was on a real Broadway stage, singing and acting and making his audience proud of his craft. But then, his dreams took a turn and he was in a palace made out of gold but gold that didn't exist on earth, it was more pure and shinier and more valuable than the gold you find in exploration site somewhere in Colorado. He was in heaven. He knew it in his heart. Over to his left there was a flat podium made out of gold and it had a dirty, raggedy, old brown box with holes on it. There was a note on the side saying "Look into the box, and you will see". He was afraid and full of anxiety as he opened the box. It glowed and filled up the palace with life and light and he looked down into the box and saw orbs with his life inside of it. He saw his child self, his teen self, the present day, and the future... what he saw made him happier than he ever felt before, he woke up and cried with tears of joy. "My destiny is coming soon, thank you". John said looking up into the stars. John saw the time on the billboard across the street and it said 5:48am, his act was in another hour so he went back to sleep satisfied. He woke up one hour later and his clothes were dry with the help of the autumn wind, he wiped off the dirt and residue of his tears with a piece of paper he found behind him and he stood up, took a deep breath and yelled out "Good morning New York City" even though New York never sleeps. He placed his money hat on the ground and started to sing "Life is a Cabaret" by the musical "Cabaret", he collected three dollars from a six year old girl and her mother and he nodded with appreciation. They nodded back. The rest of the time he collected nothing. The next act was at 8:00 so he had to rest up his vocals cords. John wished that he would be blessed by God to be on Broadway and be the most famous actor that ever lived, but he knew that in reality he would always be homeless, but his dream came to him again. This time he saw a man with a beard, black hair, and blue eyes walk to him and offered him food and shelter. As John and the man were eating he noticed beside him that same brown box from the last dream he had. The man gave him the box and he looked into it again. He woke up... "Jesus" John said. He smiled into the stars again until they disappeared, but he knew that they would return... John woke up to the sound of taxi's and police sirens. He got up and brushed off the remaining grime and tears from before, "Ladies and Gentlemen" he said loudly, "My next song will be "Music of the Night" from Le Fantôme de L'Opera". Everyone stared at him blankly and walked away as if he had said nothing at all. John felt ashamed and cried a little bit, but he sucked it up and tried to look presentable for his audience. He ran across the street to Bobo's Café, "Any news Ronny"? "Well they are having auditions for "Cats" down at W 50th St. & 7th Ave. in the Winter Garden theatre tomorrow at nine o' clock sharp". He gave a big sarcastic smile. "Don't tease me like that, I'm serious about my craft". "Alright drama king, if you have come looking for auditions anywhere in New York, there are none... sorry". Ronny made a sad puppy face and a heart for John, He rolled his eyes. The bell at the door rang and a woman dressed in a suit with black sunglasses, heels as high as Mount Everest, copper brown hair and an iPhone in her hand. Elegantly sauntered into the café, she didn't have to say anything because Ronny already knew her order by heart. "Let me guess... a caramel latte with extra whip cream, a plain bagel with strawberry cream cheese, and blueberry cheesecake for your husband". All she did was nod her head as she was talking to someone on the phone. "I know that we need to do auditions next month but who in the hell am I going to find to play Eric's role, I swear to God if I don't find the right man with the right body and voice, I'm screwed". She stopped talking on the phone because she noticed the smell of coffee, bagels, and a hint of urine with some sweat. She turned around in her chair and scrutinized John for a minute, then turned back around. John knew he smelled, and was ashamed of it. "Here's your stuff that will be-"she placed the money on the counter and walked away, "Keep the change" she said out her shoulder. "What's her deal" John said. "She's stressing out because of this big production she's producing for a playwright, and she has no backstage people or actors or even people to help her produce the damn show- she's all alone and the show is in June". Ronny said with sympathy for her. "It's only November, she has seven months to produce a simple show". "It's not your average show John, Cameron doesn't produce just any show, she's the best Broadway producer in the world and she's very hard to get, so whichever playwright got her to do their show is blessed". "Cameron" John repeated to himself over and over again then, he had an idea. "What is the play called" he said with anticipation. "I don't know go ask her yourself". "When are auditions? When is the play? Please tell me!". "I already told you, I don't know anything". Ronny was getting aggravated and impatient over questions he couldn't answer. "You want a coffee?" "Sure, I haven't eaten in days, can I get a bagel too". Ronny went to the back to get some coffee beans and more bagels. John had to find this woman and introduce himself like a professional actor, but how? Ronny came back and John was gone, he rolled his eyes and sighed. "That's my friend, that's my friend". As John ran, all he could think was that he had to find a woman with black sunglasses, suit, high heels, and a cup of Joe in her hand. As she waved her hand to signal a taxi she could smell the pungent aroma of urine behind her again, and she turned around to see who was causing that awful odor. "Oh it's the guy from the café". "Hello, my name is John Star and I'm a professional actor, I graduated from the Juilliard School about a year ago with a degree in musical theatre and I overheard you talking about the show that you're producing. I would really love to be in it". "Right, umm, yeah, listen kid, I don't hire homeless people, sorry". She got in the taxi and the driver zoomed away like a jet. John began to cry again as he went back to the alley where he lived and cried himself to sleep. He had never been so humiliated in all of his life... he hadn't felt so ashamed of himself in years. John was homeless and he hated it with all the strength he had in his spirit... "Where to miss?" the taxi driver asked. "Port Imperial Blvd & Landings Ln" Cameron said. "Where is that miss?" "Are you stupid, it's in West New York, aren't you supposed to know where you're going? People these days". Cameron was feeling irritated, so she drank some of her coffee to try to calm down. "Drive faster" she shouted at the taxi driver. She was finally home and couldn't wait to see her sweet husband, she wanted to talk to him about her day at the theatre and about John too or possibly read a Vogue Magazine. "Honey, I'm home at last" Devyn came out of the bedroom half naked reading fifty shades of grey and drinking dark coffee. He was tall, with brown hair, green eyes and physically fit."You're home already?" "Yeah it was a slow day so I just told everyone to come back tomorrow, but, truthfully, I was becoming angry with Jasmine and Shane because all they do is smoke and drink in the dressing room, they break props, and they talk back... thank God we don't have kids because they would be dead by now". "Well it's been five years and I think we're ready for children, I would like to be a dad one day and I think it's time". "No, not yet" Cameron said with anger brimming in her eyes. She sat down and Devyn began to massage her shoulders, she looked up at him, "I just started my career and I don't want children to slow me down, I mean I want children, but it's just too early to think about it". "Alright my love, I'll stop talking about it" Devyn said."I love you so much" Cameron said. "I love you too" said Devyn as he leaned in for a kiss. "Don't you have to go to work in an hour honey?" Devyn glanced at the clock and he went back to the bedroom to get dressed. Cameron flipped through the new editorial of Vogue Magazine and suddenly remembered the homeless man, "Honey" "Yeah" "I have to tell you about this homeless man that I ran into today". "Homeless man? What did he want? Money?" "No he wanted a job in the show but I told him that I don't hire homeless people and now that I'm thinking about it, I feel terrible". "He's probably accustomed to people saying that, so forget about it, can you help me tie this accursed tie". "Sure". They shared another kiss and Devyn went off to the city to go to work. For the rest of the day, Cameron had the whole apartment to herself but she knew that she wasn't going to stay inside all day. She called a taxi and grabbed her coat. "Where to ma'am?" "W 34th St. & 7th Ave. please". Cameron couldn't stop thinking about that man she bumped into before she got in the taxi, she felt terrible and wanted to apologize to him personally. "What was his name?" she thought as she hurried down the street. Then she went into Bobo's Café to question Ronny. "Ronny, who was that homeless guy that came in here earlier today" "Oh, you mean John, and why are you asking?" "I want to apologize to him for what I said to him earlier". "Well if you want to talk to him, he's across the street". Ronny pointed to the dark alley where John was living, she saw a man sobbing his eyes out and looking absolutely pitiful. "John"... hearing his name John turned around and saw Cameron, he looked angry and not your typical angry, "What the hell do you want with me? You said you don't hire homeless people" he said mockingly. "Look, I came to apologize to you, I've realized that what I said was out of line and I'm truly sorry for that, it's just that this show has gotten the best of me and I'm really stressing out". "Well I thank you for the apology and I understand how stressful it can be to produce a show, back in college I had to do shows every week and I would spend hours thinking about my movements corresponding with my emotions and what the character is feeling every moment I'm on stage". "You seem to have a lot of experience in the art of drama and theory of theatre" Cameron said with a little smile. "I do?" "Sure you do, I see potential in you and I would like to give you a shot at being in the show, will you accept my offer?" john had to think long and hard for a second before making this big of a decision, did he want to do this show? Was he ready for the future of fame? Can he do it without support of his parents? "I'll do it, but I will need help getting back on my feet". "What do you mean by that?" "I would need to get a job, clean my appearance up for people, and I need a place to stay"."I have an apartment across the Hudson with an extra room, you can stay there if you want". Cameron knew at that very moment that Devyn would be pissed off if he knew there was another man in his house, but she knew that it was the right thing to do. "I'll help you with everything John". She gave a tiny smile again and helped him off the ground. "You want some coffee?" "Sure". They went back to Ronny and he was amazed at what was happening, they were actually talking to each other. "I thought you don't talk to lower class people Cameron" "Just shut up and give me- "Two caramel latte's"... "Yes how did you know?" "You've been coming here for the same coffee for ten years, it's kind of a routine with you" Ronny said with an acerbic voice and went to get the ingredients for their coffee. "I really appreciate what you're doing for me, I can't thank you enough". "I might look like a stubborn and mean woman but at heart I'm as sweet as candy. You just can't be nice to New York that's why my mom said before I came here and my dad told me to kick this city's ass". They both let out a laugh. "Where are your parents?" "They live in Miami but I was born in Jacksonville" Cameron said. "Do you have any siblings?" John asked. "I'm an only child" "Me too". They shared a friendly smile together and then Ronny came back with their coffee. "What are you two smiling about?" in a very rude tone of voice. Cameron gave him the money and walked off with John, "Come back soon" he said sarcastically and rolled his eyes. The drive to apartment was awkward and they didn't know what to say to each other but they both knew that the other wanted to say something. They finally got to Cameron's apartment after being in traffic for nearly twenty minutes and when John walked in he was star-struck, this was one of the most beautiful homes in America he thought to himself. The kitchen was out of this world and, the living room was absolutely gorgeous, it had the most amazing view of the city and it was truly breath-taking. "Well this is my apartment, I hope it's not too messy for you? I've been going crazy over producing this show and finding actors, lighting people, and costume people... it's just been very stressful you know" she said as she was moving things about to try and make the apartment look decent. "This is the nicest place I've seen in five years, you're very fortunate to have it". Cameron gazed at him for a few seconds and then came back to her senses. "Well you're making my house smell, so go take a shower and I'll give you some of my husband's clothes that he doesn't wear anymore, you two look about the same size". Cameron sat on the couch reading Vogue as John took a shower and then a sound came from the door, she knew it was Devyn but she thought that he wouldn't mind letting a homeless man take a shower in his bathroom... but at the same time she was afraid something bad would happen. The door opened and she smiled at Devyn but with an overly wide smile. "Honey, you're home, I missed you so much, and how was work?" "It was ordinary like always, Bob decided to- Why is the shower running?" "Well, remember earlier when I told you about that homeless man that I insulted in the city?" "Yeah, why?" "Well..." all of a sudden the shower turned off and a half naked man came out of the bathroom with only a towel covering the bottom half of his body. They both clearly saw that he wasn't fat or skinny but decently fit and slim with some abs and chest hair. Devyn was infuriated to say the least and he wanted answers. "What is he doing in my house?" he said eerily. "Well, I offered him a job as an actor for the show and he said yes, but he needs some help to get himself on his feet and become one of millions of working people in New York, so, I decided to let him stay here until he can afford his own place to live"."Okay" Devyn said with a humble tone. "You're ok then?" Cameron said anticipating that he would agree with her decision. All he did was laugh and then he suddenly broke a dish "No! I'm not okay, how could you let a homeless man come into our home and let him use our shower! Are you that crazy?" "Hey if you want me to leave I'll leave, but don't yell at her for trying to help me" John said with a voice of both fear and strength. Cameron looked straight into Devyn's eyes and put a mean, nasty glare on her face for him to remember forever. "I want him to stay and he's going to stay here for as long as he needs to". Cameron turned around, gave John Devyn's old pajama clothes, and walked into the bedroom. The door slammed shut and she locked the door. "So how's it going?" John said trying to lighten the mood. "Peachy, thanks for asking" "It's getting pretty late I should go to bed, goodnight and nice meeting you Devyn". "Nice meeting you too, um... "Star, John Star" "Right John". John went into the extra bedroom and closed the door, Devyn tried opening the door but Cameron wouldn't let him in. She opened the door and glared at him, "You sleep on the couch". She said as she handed him a pillow and a blanket and slammed the door again with more force and anger than such a small woman possess. As John was sleeping he dreamed of Broadway and winning Tonys, Emmy's, and even Oscar's one day but something kept making him wake up so he propped himself up and watched the moon and stars for a little while before falling back to sleep. He whispered to himself "Thank you so much" and a little star twinkled for him in the night sky. He had a vision of himself, he smiled at the stars until they disappeared but, as he laid down to go to sleep he knew that they would return once again...