Death in Xanadu

Death in Xanadu

Aaron J Clarke

© 2016 Aaron J Clarke

All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition

This book is dedicated to Tanita,

for her insightful comments and suggestions,

and for her critical eye,

which has transformed my book into a well-polished gem

for which I am eternally grateful.

Works by the same author

Novels

Epiphany of Life

The Sinner’s Kiss

Upon the Rock

The Cat

The Flowers of Spring

Before the Fall

The Road to Ignominy

The Voices of Discontent

Poetry

Selected Poems

La Victime anonyme et autres poèmes

Short Stories

Selected Short Stories

Chapter I

Who could have imagined in the early part of the 20th century that the fertile valley of Xanadu, with its numerous orange groves, would be the site for the new motion picture industry? And yet that was precisely what happened in 1910, when the big movie studios of United American Pictures, Empire Pictures, and who could possibly forget Maxwell Brothers, left New York for California. Moreover, it was in that sunny environment that great directors, cinematographers, and not forgetting the splendid actors and actresses who featured in the plethora of religious epics, westerns and romantic comedies that were made at the time. From the beginning, Xanadu was built on monumental exploitation, and what that could be, was the commodification of its numerous actors, whom were later called by the public ‘movie stars’. Don’t get me wrong, the smart, talented actor could make a lot of money and gain international fame. However, this would come at a great cost, namely their private lives were managed according to the edicts of say, United American Pictures that showed its movie stars in the best possible light, without any hint of alcoholism, drug addiction, and most importantly – nothing that deviated from heterosexuality. As the years advanced after the crash of 1929, the famed white Xanadu sign still attracted a multitude of creative people, whereby the small town of Xanadu gradually became a city of several million all of whom were deluded into thinking that they too would become an overnight success. Oh, how wrong most were.

Nevertheless, they caught the train or, if they came from overseas, the ocean liner, to the movie center of the world, where they became mere cogs in the machinery of film production, so rapid was its ascent into mass entertainment that many movie moguls thought their industry would weather any change. Therefore, they embraced the talkies and later color, but what they did not realize was the potential danger that television would present to them in the 1950s. The switch from movie theaters to the privacy of one’s own living room led to a decline in the box-office. Accordingly, the studios formed alliances with the television networks and since then, they have both thrived. As the years progressed further, the studios loosened their control over their stable of actors, and instead their interactions with them were more managerial, whereupon the hiring and firing of talent was transacted through the agents and that of the executives of the studios. It was in one of those ostentatious offices – to be exact 9:30 PM on the 17th of April 1983 – that the middle-aged Carlton Hislop leafed through the numerous black-and-white photos of teenage actors; for him, it was a catalogue with which to assess their suitability both as performers in his studio’s films, but also for his perverse pleasures. Moreover, it was a dearly held secret in Xanadu that many men who held the reins in the show business world had this abnormal amour. Two images excited him and he quickly read their names and biographies. He was intrigued and accordingly picked up the phone and rang the casting director, Kathy Marlton.

Hi Kathy, I’ve just looked over the photos you sent me, and I think, he paused, and looked at the names on the photos and said slowly, "Freddie Haines and Frank Donoghue will be perfect for the teen comedy Vagabonds."

She replied nervously, Are you sure? They – they haven’t done a screen-test yet.

He reached for a cigarette, lit it and inhaled after which he said meditatively, Okay, when you’re videotaped them, send it to me.

Freddie needs to work on his American accent, she paused, fearing that he would yell at her, and resumed cautiously, he still sounds Australian.

Carlton laughed, A lot of the actors in Xanadu aren’t American. He took a deep drag on his cigarette, then added in a condescending tone, Besides, if I like his audition, I’ll send him to a dialect coach.

When did you say filming will start?

"Three months. I want to beat Maxwell Brothers, as I’ve heard they intend to do a movie with a similar theme."

She snickered nervously, Aren’t a lot of the movies these days basically the same?

For a moment, he did not respond and his silence unsettled Kathy, who was on the point of saying something, when he resumed with a hint of contempt, It’s what the audience wants to see. Our market research has shown that they want actors who are both innocent as well as a little bit naughty.

Oh, I see, she said submissively.

He continued in a senatorial voice, Don’t forget to videotape them and send me the tapes ASAP. Bye.

Relieved that this odious man had hung up, she slammed the receiver down, and waited a moment to regain her composure before calling the said actors into her office. While her assistant prepared the video camera, Kathy poured herself a glass of Scotch to help settle her nerves. After she gulped it down, she walked to the door. For a moment, she realized how this town had slowly but surely destroyed her moral fortitude; it was this diminishment in moral strength that she was afraid that Xanadu would drain these two performers of what was dear to them – their freshness. Kathy was moreover ashamed to the lengths in which she had participated in to fuel the appetites of men like Carlton. She tricked herself into believing that she was facilitating the creation of their budding theatrical careers, and if anything were to become of it – namely, fame and fortune – then this would be adequate compensation for any indignities they may suffer. Yet there were other reasons why she reluctantly obeyed the Tinsel town tyrant, which for the time being, I shan’t go into for fear she would discover what I’ve told you – except to say, the wasteland, hundred or so miles east of Xanadu, is populated with the bones of those who were foolish enough to challenge their power. At any rate, she could not tell him what she thought of him, which was you are an arrogant asshole, because she had grown accustomed to the shitload of cash she received for sending aspiring actors to men like him. She pulled herself together and opened the door, where she saw two nervous, child actors and their parents sitting anxiously outside.

Freddie and Frank come this way, please, said she and then closed the door behind them and continued charmingly, Now, Freddie, you’ll be sitting for the role of Joshua, and Frank, you’ll be sitting for the role of Toby. She handed them the dialogue, and told them about the scene in which they were to perform, and once she had given them a couple of minutes to memorize it, she explained, In this scene, you have both discovered that the same girl likes you both, and you both try to get her attention.

Nervous, Freddie said his lines which he interspersed with improvisation thereby adding a comedic effect to his character. Frank, in turn likewise added a touch of adlibbing. As Kathy watched their performance, she was genuinely amused and forgot to tell them to stop, but instead said, Bravo, but you mustn’t overact, it must appear natural.

Freddie had the temerity to say, Miss, this dialogue isn’t at all funny, he stopped,