The Deaf Seekers

Continuing adventures in the gutter of Hollywood’s Golden Era, Episode 17

The Blind Androids

Continuing adventures in the gutter of Hollywood’s Golden Era, Episode 16

Beyond Gomorrah

Continuing adventures in the gutter of Hollywood’s Golden Era, Episode 14

Beast of Rage

Continuing adventures in the gutter of Hollywood’s Golden Era, Episode 13

The Impossible Legend of Ken

B-Movie #12

Hollywood 1953:

Sergei is going for a different approach. Eleven scripts in four years. Eleven rejected scripts. Maybe two hundred rejections. It’s getting hard to take. The boss at Harvey’s Wash-a-teria wants Sergei to concentrate on his career in laundry. He’s had the Schwinn company bicycle serviced. He’s bought new uniforms and staff badges. He wants Sergei to prepare himself for a promotion. He says: You gotta hunker down, boy. He says: Don’t get hung up on the wrong track. He says: Put in a good shift, and then put in another good shift. Laundromat is made for you. You are made for laundromat.

The Heart Snatchers

B-Movie #11

Hollywood, 1953:

“Sir I’ve got this script here I think you’ll love. It’s called: [Sergei glances nervously up at the badly repaired ceiling] The Heart Snatchers.”

“O.K. Medical theme. I picture a grimy hospital. Sounds promising. You’re on fire today, Matrossov.” Mel sniffs deeply.

It’s good to be back. “Sir it’s as grimy as it gets. Set in Chicago, about ten years ago.” Mel is nodding enthusiastically, and humming faintly.  “About a twisted surgeon conducting evil organ experiments for a shady devil-worshipping corporation. A young heroine named –”

Mel is sweating, and nodding, and humming. He comes around the desk and slaps Sergei on the back encouragingly, guiding him gently but firmly out of the office. He sniffs and mumbles, and wipes his nose with a handkerchief. Sniffs again. “Fantastic. Fantastic stuff, kid. Not for us, but keep them coming. You’re a genius. Good to see you. Always good. Come back soon, make sure we get first refusal.” He sniffs again.

On the way back to Fairfax, Sergei reflects on the comfort to be gained from the routine of inevitability. Already his next idea is forming.

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Repossession

Ah bin Poe Zest. Nammit. Ah got me sum kinda rockin devil in me, sum kinda Garr Hool. Ahma kinda Zom Bee or sum Go Lem or sump else likewise. Sweet Jheesu.

∞

Now, that’s an approximation. Bo Vaxxine isn’t always easy to translate, and the feeling – the signal, the reception – is stronger or weaker at different times. Bo wants me to learn the banjo and sing a little to help with the flow. If I put The Groupies or Link Wray or some such hillbilly on the grammy he goes hog-wild.  Sometimes gets a real hold on me and makes me dance a jerky, manic kind of dance. Caught my eyes in the mirror once while I was shaking around. Them big round eyes looked mighty terror-full. That ain’t no real word, a course, but Bo Vaxxine sure gotta speak fo’ me sometime.

Here I go again.

The Chemical Man

B-Movie #10

Hollywood, 1953:

Harvey’s Wash-a-teria in Fairfax is no bad place to work. You get a bicycle for delivery: a Schwinn, no less. The boss is a good man – tough but fair. Prospects are good too – there is talk of expansion, maybe a supervisor’s position. Sergei Matrossov can see the positives in a career in the laundromat business. He doesn’t need much. A cheap apartment, work, one or two friends. The community is close-knit and supportive. A young immigrant could do worse. At the next-door pharmacy there is a typewriting machine whenever he needs it. Belongs to the pharmacist’s nephew, a poet doing some self-discovery trip and his own kind of pharmacy in Tangier for an indefinite period of time.