Double Take (Details)
citation: Playboy, April 1965, 12(4):111-112, 114, 140-141, 143
alias: None
teaser: there on the fifth avenue bus, enveloped by the mists of time, he fell in love with a hauntingly beautiful stranger
summary: Film crew member Jake Pelman is thrilled to be on the same train to New York as beautiful, young actress Jessica Maxwell.
Jessica asks Jake to her bedroom to help rehearse her important final scene in the movie they are filming. Set in the 1920s, Jessica's part is that of a young woman, heartbroken when an older man she loves leaves her. The last scene is important to Jessica's career, but she can't get it right.
Jake realizes that at 20 years-old, the beautiful actress hasn't the experience
to play her part convincingly. Because this career-anxious
girl had never let herself know what love was, she couldn't imagine or feel
it now.
Her big scene would fail.
In New York, Jessica stays at the Gramercy Park, and the filming is just off lower Fifth Avenue, where it's little changed from the 1920s. Jake, and other crew members, have nothing much to do until the next morning.
A vintage 1926 bus, trucked from Hollywood to New York for the next day's filming, needs to be test-run to make certain it's in operating condition. Oscar Jorgensen, the film's property man, offers to test-drive the bus, after midnight, to avoid attracking a crowd. Jake, and others, including Jessica, want to come along, dressed in the film's 1920s costumes.
At 12:30 AM, the party drives the old bus onto the mostly-abandoned streets of New York. By coincidence, they're passed by a restored, antique car, but otherwise, there are no people about for the bus and its inhabitants to amaze.
When they do see someone, they're disappointed New York fashions have changed such that their vintage clothes are no longer unusual.
Eventually, two men get on the bus. The two men talk about the stock market, oblivious of the other passengers. The older man suggests buying RCA, New York Central, and General Motors. A young boy and girl get on.
A handsome, young man gets on, sits next to Jessica, and instantly falls in love with her. Not knowing what to say, he begs to know Jessica's name. Jessica declines, because she will be gone after the next day's shoot. The rejected young man gets off the bus, never to see her again. The party returns to the garage, its other passengers having exited the old bus.
The next morning, they are filming Jessica's big scene. Frank, a middle-aged New York actor, plays the part of the older man Jessica's character has fallen in love with. At the end of their scene together, Jessica's cannot convincingly convey that she really loves Frank's character, and is heartbroken he's ended their relationship. They film the scene repeatedly, with no success.
For the final attempt, director Ernie Wyke asks veteran-actor Frank to give Jessie advice on how to play the part. Frank does not know what to say, but Jessica suddenly recognizes him as the man — albeit, much older — she met on the bus the night before.
Jessica asks Frank if he's ever been on a bus like the one on the set, and seen a girl like her, but Frank can't recall. When Frank's character walks away from Jessica for the last time, Jessica's performance is perfect; authentic and genuine; Oscar quality.
Jake looks forward to the train ride back to California with Jessica.
words: 7,027
genre: None
similar: The Love Letter
people: Jake Pelman, Jessica Maxwell, Ernie Wyke, Al Berg, Alice Weeks, Oscar Jorgensen, Joe Lani, older bus passenger, Georgie, young bus passenger, Frank
places: New York, NY: The Plaza hotel, Gramercy Park, Fifth Avenue, Washington Square, University Place, Madison Square Garden
comments: Forthcoming