Part Five

 

“I don’t think I’ve seen anybody work as hard as you on any of the films I’ve made so far” Greg said to Gail the next day during their lunch break. “The other people probably didn’t have to learn lines and do costume duty. Those others were real actors too. I doubt they needed as much help.” “Don’t sell yourself short. You’re an actor just the same as anyone else in pictures” Gary interjected. “I just hope I do an okay job.” “I wouldn’t have offered you the part if I didn’t think you could do it” Greg said. “You didn’t have much choice really without losing a lot of time and money” she said. “Stop running yourself down. You’re doing much better than you realize” Gary reassured her. “It is a lot of fun and everybody’s been so nice and helpful. The only other acting I’ve ever done was in some church plays when I was a kid. One of my favorites of those I got to play a mean girl who was working as a gift wrapping clerk in a store at Christmas time. Another girl who also played a clerk was very cheerful and she happily wrapped the stuff people bought and one person bought a set of handkerchiefs and the other girl said, ‘What lovely hankies’ and then I said, ‘What’s the point of making them so pretty when you’re just going to blow your nose in them’”. They all laughed and Gail said, “Of course by the end of the play I learned the true meaning of Christmas and turned into a happy person.” “So you’re really an old hand at this” Gary said. “Hardly, but at least I did have some experience or I don’t think I could have done this at all. I may have been the first person who attempted to swim from Hawaii to California just to get the heck out of here” she said as they laughed again.

 

A couple of days later they were up to the scene they had rehearsed when Gail was asked to take over the role. They got into position and were going to run through it a couple of times before committing it to film. After Gail’s slap when she reaches up on her tip toes to kiss him it seemed like Gary held her a little longer than was necessary and each time they went through it the kisses seemed to get more real with actual feeling behind them.  

 

“Mr. La Cava” Gail said during their break just before lunch as she approached the director, “I think I’m going to have lunch in my room today.” “Okay Gail. Is everything alright?” he asked. “Sure. It’s kinda hot today and I’m just a little tired.” “Can I give you a piece of advice?” Gail nodded yes. “Don’t let that mug break your heart” he said with a smile as he patted her on the shoulder. “You mean Gary? He’s not interested in me” she said surprised that he would think otherwise. “I’m not so sure” he said and then left Gail standing there wondering if he was right.

 

As this entire sequence of the movie was shot outside, they could only film a few hours a day without the light changing too much depending on whether the scene was supposed to be during the day or nearer to the evening so they had a few hours of free time each day. During some of that time she and Gary would usually practice scenes for the next day and then Gail would either have dinner with Gary and some of the other crew members or order something from room service and eat in her room as she continued to work on her lines alone. She also had to spend some of that time making sure the costumes were ready to go. After they were finished with that afternoon’s rehearsal Gary asked Gail if she would have dinner with him and she agreed. When she met him in the lobby he said “Come on” as he walked towards the door. “We’re not eating here?” she asked. “No, there’s a restaurant within walking distance and I thought you might like to try something different.” “It smells so sweet here” she said as they walked down the street in the cool evening air. “It does” Gary concurred as he breathed deeply. After about a 10 minute walk they stopped at a small restaurant and were seated in a wraparound booth in a quiet corner.

 

“It was an interesting shoot today” Gary said as they waited for their food. Gail knew what he was alluding to but she was too shy to acknowledge it so she said, “I guess so.” “I’m not doing a very good job of it but I’m trying to tell you that I like you” Gary said giving her one of the sweetest smiles she’d ever seen. “I like you too. You’re a nice person and you’ve been so helpful.” “That’s not what I meant and you know it” he said leaning in towards her. “You don’t know what you’re saying” she said sure there was no way he really had feelings for her.” “Yes I do.” “Come on, you’re Gary Cooper-big movie star. You date glamour girls and other real actresses” she said almost laughing at the absurdity of the situation. “So because I’m famous I couldn’t be interested in a regular person like you?” he said. “I’m nowhere near being in your league and it’s ridiculous to even think about. This is a romantic place and we’re playing a couple and you’re just caught up in that.” “I wish you wouldn’t assume you know what I’m thinking” he said giving her that sweet smile again. “I’m just a last minute replacement.” “I’m glad you were. I mean, I’m not glad Esther got sick but I am glad you took her place. It gave us a chance to get to know each other and I really do like you” he said sincerely. “I like you too but this is nuts” she replied as she scooted away from him a little bit. Just then the waiter brought their food and they talked no more as they ate.  

 

“I’d like to come back here again one day” Gary said as they walked down to the beach after dinner. “Me  too. I don’t know if I’ll ever get another chance though.” “You don’t dream very big do you?” he asked. “I’m just being realistic.” “I never planned on doing all this. I started off doing stunt work and then that turned into acting. You just never know what might happen.” Gail was holding her shoes in one hand and Gary reached over to hold her other hand. When she looked up at him he smiled and she smiled too. They walked along quietly for a while and then they went back to the hotel. Gary walked Gail to her room and asked if he could come in for a few minutes. “I don’t think so” she said. “Not even if I promise to be on my best behavior.” “It’s late; we should just get to sleep.” “Alright, goodnight” he said and he kissed her hand and they went their separate ways.  

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Part Six

 

With three weeks of shooting left to go, they had managed to catch up and were back on schedule. Gary and Gail had breakfast together in the hotel restaurant, the day after their romantic dinner, as was their usual custom and they were talking about their scenes for that day when Gary changed the subject. “I had a hard time going to sleep last night” he said. “How come?” she asked. “I was thinking about how after this movie is released you’ll become a big star and probably forget all about me.” “Oh my gosh; I’ve been so caught up in just getting through this I haven’t thought about that. I don’t want to be famous” Gail said a little agitated. “I’m sorry. You looked so serious I thought it would make you laugh” he said as he hadn’t meant to upset her. “Will I have to do publicity for the film?” she asked. “Well there’s the standard photo shoots and I can imagine all the movie magazines will want to interview you. It’s a great story—wardrobe girl to leading lady.” “I just hope people won’t laugh at me.” “I think they’re going to like you. This whole thing is like a movie within a movie and I can imagine women all across the country will watch you up on the screen and imagine it could happen to them too.” “You really are sweet” she said very moved by what he’d said. “Feel better?” he asked. “Yes” she replied and they finished breakfast and walked down to the beach to begin that day’s filming.

 

When they were done for the day Gary asked Gail if she wanted to work on the next day’s scenes and then have dinner with him again. She said that she was tired and would just go over the lines alone and that she had to get the costumes in order as well. He wasn’t sure what had changed from the day before but he could tell that she wanted to be alone so he didn’t push further. When he said he’d see her at breakfast she told him she would probably sleep in as long as she could to get a little more rest and that she would just eat in her room. He was disappointed but he tried not to let it show.

 

At this point in filming, Gary’s character was down to his sleeveless undershirt and during one scene he caught it on the outside corner of their hut and the side seam ripped apart. They took a break so Gail could stitch it back together. She kept her sewing basket with her on the beach to save time if any mending was needed. The assistant director gave up his chair to Gail so she could sit down and work on the shirt. Gary was standing a few feet away and at least twice he noticed her sneak a glance at him.

 

 

 

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When she gave him back his shirt he smiled at her but she just turned away. Gail made another excuse to get out of their rehearsals together as she told Gary she needed to check the rest of his shirts to make sure the seams were secure. She had supper alone in her room and then she snuck out of the hotel and went down to the beach. She was sitting on a towel looking out at the ocean when she saw Gary walking towards her.

 

“Did you follow me?” she asked a bit perturbed as he got closer. “No, I just thought I’d take a walk. You’ve made it pretty clear the past couple days you don’t want me around. Well, I’ll see ya” he said and he gave her a wave and started walking away. “Gary, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude…and I do like having you around.” He turned and took a couple steps back towards her. “May I sit down?” “Sure” she said and she scooted over so he could sit on the towel too. “Going back to the city will be a real slap in the face after this” he said looking out at the blue waves turning orange as the sun began to set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“It’s so nice and quiet here. It reminds me of home.” “You mean Montana?” Gail asked. “Yeah, I miss it there sometimes. When I was a kid I would spend hours and hours during the summers playing outside.” “I know what you mean. I grew up in the country too in the central part of California. We just moved to Los Angeles a few years ago when my dad got a job teaching at U.C.L.A.” “What does he teach?” “American history, specifically our founding through the Civil War.” “Who was Matthew Brady?” Gary asked testing her knowledge. “He was a photographer during the Civil War and his pictures of battles and soldiers are some of the most famous from the period” she said answering his question. “You know your stuff. Now me, I did alright in school but I was no whiz kid. I’d never even heard of Matthew Brady until I worked on Only the Brave and the producer showed us some of his pictures so we could see how the people looked and carried themselves.” “I liked that one; it was a cute movie.” “It was fun to make. This one has been fun too and we’re getting paid to be in paradise” Gary said with a smile.

 

They sat quietly for a couple of minutes then Gary spoke again. “I don’t want you to worry about what’s going to happen when the movie is done. The studio will want you to do some publicity but I know you can handle it and I’ll give you some tips on how to get through the interviews if you want. It may be they’ll even offer you a part in another film but if you don’t want to do it, you just tell them no.” “Thanks; I needed to hear that. I have loved every minute of this but I don’t think I’d want to do it as my regular job. I think I’d feel too self-conscious working at the studio with a lot of other people around.” “Will you go back to your wardrobe job then?” he asked as they continued to watch the waves roll in and out. “I suppose. I don’t want to do it for the rest of my life but I do like it and it’s fine for now. One day I’d like to get married and have a couple of kids and a nice home. I guess that’s not dreaming very big” she said looking down at the sand between her toes. “You don’t have to dream big to be happy. When I said that I really meant to say you shouldn’t limit yourself just because you think something seems out of your reach. Besides there’s nothing wrong with getting married and everything that goes with it” he said giving her a smile. “I didn’t think Hollywood’s biggest ladies man ever thought about anything as serious as marriage” Gail said teasing him. “You shouldn’t read all those fan magazines.” “So you haven’t dated Clara Bow, Evelyn Brent, Lupe Velez, and any number of others? And before you answer don’t forget that I work at the studio and I see and hear things.” “Yes I dated them but it wasn’t serious.” “You and Lupe were together for years and it wasn’t serious?” she asked. “No, it was just fun.” After he said that he was quiet for a bit and then he spoke again with a soft, gentle tone.

 

“That’s why you’ve been avoiding me isn’t it? You don’t think I’m looking for anything more than a good time and you’re not that kind of girl.” “Something like that” she said. “Do you know I remember the first time we met?” “Oh I doubt that” she replied with a laugh. “The hem on one of my pant legs got caught on the corner of the heel on my shoe and ripped loose and you came to the set to fix it. It was quicker for me to just sit down and put my foot up so you could restitch it there and you seemed really nervous and your hands were shaking.” “That was years ago; how do you remember that?” “I thought it was strange as you need a steady hand in your line of work.” “Good way to make a first impression huh?” “I thought you were pretty” he said smiling. “Let’s say we start dating but you get tired of waiting for…you know. My last boyfriend said he was fine without…you know…but then I found out he had another girl on the side. I don’t want to go through that again.” “So you’re just not going to date anymore?” he asked. “I will but hopefully someone with a lot less experience; a man who doesn’t know what he’s missing. This is very embarrassing…I’m gonna go” she said getting up and practically running back to the hotel.

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Part Seven

 

The next day’s scenes involved their characters seeing a ship in the distance and trying to build a fire to signal them but a strong wind, provided by a fan just off screen, keeps blowing out the fire before it can get going. Gail’s character becomes quite upset thinking they will never be rescued and Gary holds her close trying to comfort her. “That’s the first ship we’ve seen and who knows how long it will be before another one comes by” she said as they went through the scene. “There’s plenty of food around and we found that fresh water spring so we’ll be okay” he said caringly as he walked towards her. “I know but I don’t want to be stuck here. I miss my family and my friends” she said. He put his arms around her and she put her head against his chest as they held each other. He kissed the top of her head as he gently stroked her hair and then said, “I promise we’ll get home.” It wasn’t in the script for her character to cry but she couldn’t help it as he very tenderly held her. When he heard her sniffle he thought maybe it was part of the scene so he went along with it as he softly said, “It’s okay; I’ll take care of you and everything will be alright.” “Cut! That was great! When did you work that out?” Greg asked. “We didn’t” Gary said a bit confused. “The fan blew some sand in my eye and it made my eyes water so I just pretended to cry to cover it” she said lying. “Well it was just what that scene needed” the director said happily.   

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When filming was done Gary again asked Gail if she wanted to rehearse the next day’s scenes and he was happy to hear her say that she would. “Here’s your towel. You forgot it last night” he said handing it to her as they met on the beach. “Thanks.” “I didn’t get a chance to say it before but that was really good today. It’s hard for a lot of actresses to cry and you did great.” “I didn’t mean to but the sand got in my eye and I couldn’t help it.” “You could have said you needed to stop but you didn’t. Just like a real actress you rolled with it and it made the scene a lot better.” “Thanks” she said feeling a little guilty taking credit for something she really had no control over. “The scenes for tomorrow should be fun” he said as he flipped through the script. They would involve Gary trying to show Gail’s character how to fish and as a spoiled city girl she would be completely out of her element. “I know I’ve said this a lot but I really appreciate all the extra help. I know you would normally just run through the scenes on set right before you film them” she said. “You’re welcome. I know you want the practice.”

 

They read through the lines but there was more action in the scene than dialogue. Gary was going to show her how to catch fish by hand. They walked down closer to the water and waded a little ways in and he stood close beside her as they snatched at the water. Gail pretended to miss several times and then Gary moved to stand behind her and took her hands in his and leaned down into the water. He was so close she could feel his breath on her neck. That same feeling overwhelmed her again and Gary let her go when he felt her trembling. “Are you okay?” he asked. “I’m sorry” she said feeling very embarrassed. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come on so strong.” “You didn’t. I’m just scared.” “Scared of me?” he asked. “Sort of. I do like you and I’d really like to go out with you but you’re so much more experienced than me and…” “I hope you won’t hold my past against me because I can’t change it. Being with those other women was fun but that’s all it was. I would like something more” he said sincerely. “You really mean that?” she asked now smiling broadly.

 

Gary dried his hands off on his shirt and then put his hand on her cheek and leaned forward to kiss her. It was much better than any of the movie kisses had been and he was glad she kissed him back. “We could have been doing this days ago if you weren’t so stubborn” he joked. She giggled and said, “I’m sorry.” She ran her hand through his dark hair and then said, “I almost wish we really were shipwrecked.” “Are you saying you want to be all alone with me?” he asked teasingly as he put his arms around her. “Yes I am.” “Why don’t we have dinner tonight in my room” he said. “Your room?” she asked with a smile. “I promise I have the purest of intentions and if I get out of line you can slap like you did in that scene.” They both laughed and then went back to rehearsing the fishing scene.

 

At seven o’clock Gail knocked on Gary’s door and when he opened it she could see the table with candles on it and she could hear the music playing on the radio. “You look beautiful” he said. “Thanks, you look very handsome.” “Thanks. The food should be here in a little while. How about a dance while we wait?” Gail smiled and they joined hands and she put her other hand on his shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her waist. It was very nice but it seemed so unreal that Gail couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re gonna give me a complex. You laughed when I kissed you and now you’re doing it again” he said. “This is all just so surreal; I can’t help it. I mean you’re Gary Cooper”. He pulled back so he could look her in the eye and said, “You know who I really am? I’m Frank from Montana and you’re Gail from California” he said with a grin. “I’m very happy to be with you Frank” she said and then rested her head against his chest as they slowly swayed back and forth. After a bit she said, “You don’t look like a Frank. Gary suits you better.” “I’ve gotten used to it. What’s really funny is how easily my family took to it. They don’t even call me Frank anymore.”

 

There was a knock at the door as their dinner arrived. The waiter set everything out on the table and they enjoyed a delicious meal. After they were done Gary suggested they take a walk along the beach. “So you’ve had the hots for me since you were 16, huh?” he joked as he held her hand. “I shouldn’t have told you that. Now you’re gonna tease me about it” she said with a giggle. “I sure am. How many years ago was that?” he asked not knowing her age. “I’m 21 so it was five years ago.” “Let’s see, that would have been…1927” he said counting back the years in his head. “Wings was the first thing I saw you in and all my friends and I thought you were so handsome. Then I saw Children of Divorce and that was it; you’ve been my very favorite ever since.” “I was terrible in that movie. You know I got fired from it and then rehired only after the guy they replaced me with was even worse.” “I didn’t notice, and I saw it three times” she said smiling up at him in the moonlight.

 

“Do you have a favorite?” “Oh gosh, I’m not sure I could pick one. I loved Doomsday and The First Kiss; those were so romantic. I was really excited to see The Virginian since it was your first talkie and it was great. I started working at the studio just a couple of months before that one was released. Morocco was excellent too and the way you were with that baby in His Woman was so adorable.” Gary smiled and said, “What did you think of A Farewell to Arms? It’s been my favorite so far.” “I liked it. You and Adolphe Menjou were both great. That scene near the end when you’re in the café waiting for Catherine in the hospital was so sad and so real that it made me cry right there in the theater, and I hate crying, especially in public. I didn’t think Helen Hayes was right for the part though.” “How come? She’s a good actress.” “It’s not that, I just don’t think you had as good screen chemistry with her as with other actresses. There was just something…I just couldn’t quite picture you as a real couple.” “Who do you think I’ve had the best chemistry with then?” “I loved all the movies you and Fay Wray made. You were a beautiful couple.” He chuckled and said, “I figured you’d say yourself.” Gail laughed too and said, “I guess I forgot about me.”

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Part Eight

 

It didn’t take long for the rest of the crew to pick up on the budding romance between the two costars as people saw them walking along the beach together holding hands in the evenings and smiling at each other and laughing at private jokes in between takes when filming. “I can’t wait to see the whole thing when it’s finished” Gail said as she, Gary, and some of the other crew members had dinner together one evening picnic style on the beach. “From what I’ve seen it ought to be really good” Kay, the makeup woman said. “I’m a little nervous about filming the rest of it though when we get back home” Gail confessed. Once they arrived back in California they would still have quite a bit to shoot including Patience, Gail’s character, finding and replying to the marriage ad, the actual wedding ceremony at the city hall, her father carrying her away from the wedding, the scenes on the yacht, and then the two castaways arriving back home after being rescued by a freighter. “It’ll feel strange to have so many more people around and doing scenes with other actors” she said. “You’ll be fine” Gary told her encouragingly. One of the guys had bought some grass skirts and he brought them along and they took turns putting them on and taking silly pictures.  

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With just one week left to go on Kauai, Gary and Gail took advantage of all the free time they had to enjoy the beach and the beautiful clear waters. After going for a swim one evening they walked along the shore for a while and Gail found a couple more interesting sea shells to add to the collection she had started. “What are you gonna do with all those?” he asked. “I don’t know. I could probably mount them in a shadow box or something like that; or I could make earrings out of them” she said jokingly as she held them up to her ears.  Gary laughed and said, “I don’t think so.” “If I could find some oysters with pearls in them that would work much better.” “Well there are oyster beds around here but they’re private property.” “Surely they wouldn’t miss just a couple” she said and she started to run. “You little thief!” he said and he chased after her down the beach.   

 

Once filming was wrapped the crew sailed back to California. The trip home was very romantic and included starlight strolls around the deck at night. “I hope you won’t be disappointed once we get home. It’s easy to be romantic on a tropical island or here on the ship with the moon on the waves. My backyard is nice though and we can sit out there and watch the sun set and pretend we’re back on the beach. “Sounds good to me” she said as she didn’t really care where they were or what they did.

 

“I’m so glad to be off that boat” Gail said as she and Gary stood on the dock waiting for their luggage. The last bit of their journey had been in choppy waters and her stomach was still doing flip-flops. “You do look a little green” he said. Gail had decided to wait and tell her parents in person about her and Gary dating. Her father came to pick her up and he quietly walked up behind her and tapped her shoulder. When she turned around her father said, “Miss Fuller, can I have your autograph?” “Dad!” Gail said with a big smile and she hugged her father. “I missed you kiddo” he said. “I missed you too. Dad, this is Gary.” “It’s very nice to meet you Mr. Fuller” Gary said as the two men shook hands. “It’s nice to meet you too. So, do you think we’ve got a movie star here?” Bill said beaming with pride over his daughter. “She did a great job. Everybody is very proud of her” Gary said smiling about as big as her father. The porter arrived with her luggage and they were about to leave when her father spoke again. “Gary, we’re having a welcome home party tonight for Gail and we’d be happy for you to come.” “Sure.” “Good. Have you given him the address yet?” her father asked. For just a moment both Gail and Gary were a bit stunned and didn’t know what to say. “I saw your arm around her when I drove up” he confessed. “Yes sir, I’ve got it.” Gary said not wanting to lie. “Come over about six and we’ll have dinner and you can tell us all about how big a star Gail’s going to be.”    

 

“I was waiting to tell you and Mom about us until I could do it in person” she said as they drove away. “How much is there to tell?” her father asked a little bit nervously. “Not much except that we started dating part way through the trip and he’s been a perfect gentleman.” “He’d be in for a world of hurt if he hadn’t been.” “Oh Dad. He’s really very nice and believe it or not he had to convince me to go out with him.” “Oh come on. You’ve been moony-eyed over him for years; you expect me to believe that?” “Well believe it. I didn’t think he was serious but he wouldn’t give up and one night on the beach we had a real good talk. He knows I’m not like the other women he’s been with and I promise you he hasn’t made any untoward advances and I’d set him straight if he did.” “I know how much you like him and I am happy for you sweetheart. I just don’t want to see you get hurt again; and I know you’re grown but you’ll always be my little girl.”  

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Part Nine

 

Gail’s mother, Janet, was at home working on all the goodies for that evening’s party when Gail and her dad drove up. “There’s my baby” her mother said coming outside to greet her. “It’s good to be home” Gail said hugging her mom. “I can’t wait to hear all about it. We got your letters but it’s not the same.” “Tell her your biggest news first” her dad said once they were inside. “I’ve got a new boyfriend” Gail said. “Is he a hunky islander?” her mother asked jokingly. “No he’s with the movie crew” Bill said. “Let’s see, is it one of the camera men?” Gail said no. “Is it the director?” Again, Gail said no. “Don’t tell me it’s Gary Cooper?” Gail just smiled and her father said, “Yes it is and I invited him to the party. Gail was going to wait until she got home to tell us but…” “But Dad saw us on the dock and he had his arm around me so there went that idea” Gail explained. “Well we’ve got a few hours before the party starts for you to tell me all about it” Janet said putting her arm around Gail’s shoulder.

 

“So, what do your parents think of us dating?” Gary asked as he talked to Gail on the phone that afternoon. “They’re fine with it. I think I’ve convinced them that you’re not a wolf after an innocent little lamb” she said with a laugh. “Good.” “I called to tell you if you’re tired or you have something else to do you don’t have to come over.” “I want to” he said. “Well we’ve only been dating a little while and it’s mostly gonna be my family and I don’t want you to think that you have to meet them yet.” “I’m looking forward to it. Do I need to bring anything?” “Just your smiling face” Gail said.

 

Needless to say Gail’s family and friends were surprised when Gary walked in the door.  He was very gracious though as he signed autographs and took pictures with everyone. After dinner Janet brought out the cake that had a beach scene on it and it said “Congrats Gail – Hollywood’s Newest Star”. “I don’t know about that” Gail said seeing the cake. “I do. She was great” Gary said. They all enjoyed the cake as Gail and Gary told them about how exciting the trip had been. Later that evening after all the other guests had left Gail walked Gary to his car and they made a date to go out the next night which was a Saturday. She gave him a kiss goodbye and when she turned to walk back inside, she saw her mom peeping out through the window. “I saw that” Gail told her. “I know you like him honey and he does seem very nice but he’s been with an awful lot of women hasn’t he?” “Yes, but I told you he’s been nothing but a gentleman. He could’ve tried to take advantage of me if he wanted and he never has” Gail said trying to ease her mother’s doubt.

 

Gary picked her up at 6:30pm the next evening and after a nice dinner they went back to his house. “I’ve only been here a few months so it’s still a work in progress” he said as he unlocked the door and walked inside after her. “You can definitely tell a bachelor lives here” Gail said seeing the masculine décor. Gary grinned as he gave her the tour and explained that all the animal hides and heads decorating the rooms were from his trip to Africa the year before. “I did some of the taxidermy work myself” he said proudly. “I know. I read an article about it” she said with a big smile as that was kind of becoming a running joke between them.

 

 

 

 

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He chuckled too and said “I’m going to have to think of something that you don’t know about me.” “Oh, I’m sure there’s a lot I don’t know.”  “It’s a nice night; you want to go sit outside?” he asked and Gail nodded as they walked out into the backyard and sat down on a large wooden bench. “I’ve got it. I bet you didn’t know I came up with the design for this bench.” “I didn’t know that. It’s very nice.” “Thank you” he said as he put his arm around her. “It’s nice to be home again” he said looking up at the twinkling stars. “There’s no rest for the weary though” she replied as they were about to go right back to work to film the remaining portions of the picture.

 

Bright and early Monday morning Greg screened some reels of the film for the producer, members of the publicity department, and Elias Smith the head of the studio. They really weren’t expecting too much, a serviceable performance at best, and they were all pleasantly surprised. “I told you she was good” Greg said. “We may be sitting on a big hit here if we play it right” Elias said. He was already fairly confident that with a big name like Gary’s attached to the film and the fact that it was partially in color and filmed at an exotic location that they would more than make their money back but now he imagined it could be a serious money maker. They decided to finally put out a press release about Esther’s illness and that an unusual choice had been made as a replacement. That bit of information hit the entertainment section of the newspapers a day before filming was to resume.  

 

Movies are rarely made in chronological order and that would hold true for the rest of this film as well. Now back in Los Angeles they would first film the scenes of Patience’s father literally carrying his daughter over his shoulder and putting her on the yacht after having snatched her away from her wedding. Then they would film the scenes of Patience and Captain Edmunds on the yacht, her escape from it in a lifeboat, and the captain’s attempt to go after her. They would also film the scene of the freighter which had rescued them pulling into port and them disembarking and Patience being reunited with her family. Gary picked Gail up in the morning and they drove to the dock together. Greg had let them know that some photographers would be there to get photos of them as the studio was ready to release the casting news. They went into their trailers to get into costume and to get their hair and makeup done and when they came out the photographers were ready. They snapped several pictures and a representative from the publicity department gave each one a prepared report with more information about Gail and how her casting came about. Once that was done they were ready to begin filming.  

 

Gail got through all of the scenes on the dock alright but she only had one more part to film with Gary at the studio and she was dreading doing the scenes without him. Once home, her character confesses to her father that she loves the captain and he tells her that he had her marriage annulled and she is free to follow her heart. Upon her invitation, Gary comes to her house and then proposes to her when he learns she is a free woman and the movie fades out with a kiss.  That would be the first scene they would film at the studio.  It felt strange to Gail to go to the dressing rooms instead of her regular work area the first day of shooting on the lot. For the remainder of the picture she was given Esther’s dressing room to use and when she arrived her wardrobe for the day was already laid out. A couple of her friends with whom she worked in the wardrobe department came by to wish her good luck and then she met Gary outside and they walked to the soundstage together.

 

A couple of days later they were ready to move on to the scenes without Gary. A Farewell to Arms, his last film released two months before the current film’s shooting began, had been both a critical and commercial success garnering him the best reviews of his career. After having to take nearly a year off in 1931 to recover from being overworked by Paramount, Gary returned from a trip to Europe and Africa and worked out a new contract with the studio where he would film two movies per year and would only film more if he agreed to it. Now that his part in Half a Bride was completed he was done until around December when filming on a movie for release the next year would begin. Of course he still made public appearances to promote his films and would do interviews with magazines and newspapers as well as some radio shows but he was more or less done working at the studio until the end of the year. In order to put her at ease Gary told Gail he would still come to the set to provide moral support for the rest of her scenes and that did make her feel a little better.

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Part Ten

 

“I can’t work with this girl; she doesn’t have the faintest idea what she’s doing!!” William Worthington, the actor playing her husband, shouted as Gail missed her mark during a take while filming the scene when they meet. It was a common mistake made by actors everyday but William, knowing how inexperienced and nervous Gail was, seemed to delight in over exaggerating her mistakes. He had worked on the stage in New York for nearly twenty years and had only recently come to Hollywood to try his hand in the movies. This was his first film too but he believed his stage time made him superior to everyone else at the studio.

 

“I liked it much better when it was just you and me” Gail said to Gary as they stood behind the cameras while Greg tried to calm William down. “Excuse my language but he’s an asshole. Don’t pay him any attention. As long as the director isn’t complaining, you’re fine.” The next time Gail hit her mark but William missed a cue and then delivered his line in the wrong place causing Gail to become confused and get lost. “Is a pretty face and nice bosom all it takes to get a job out here!” he exclaimed so loud everyone in Los Angeles could have heard him.

 

Both Gary and the director stood up ready to defend Gail when she spoke up to defend herself. “My pretty face and nice bosom is what’s keeping this production going! I’m just a costume girl and I know it, but I’m doing my best. I’ve worked twice as hard as everyone else because Gary and Mr. La Cava are wonderful at their jobs and I don’t want to do anything that will make them look bad. Now, if you can get your part right let’s finish this so I can go back to my real job and you can go back to whatever it is you do!” William was rendered speechless by this as was everyone else on the set. Greg turned to Gary and they gave each other a smile, happy that someone had put the pompous Mr. Worthington in his place. Greg then called for the makeup crew to touch them up which gave them both a chance to calm down and then filming resumed. “I’m really proud of you for not letting him push you around” Gary said as he drove Gail home that evening. “A person can only take so much before they gotta say something” she said still a little upset over the whole incident. “Most actors aren’t like him.” “The ones that are definitely give the profession a bad name.” “He was right about you having a pretty face and nice bosom though” he said knowing it would make her laugh and indeed it did.

 

Filming was finally done and Gail felt like a huge weight had been lifted. She had genuinely enjoyed the experience but it had been stressful at times and a lot of hard work. The day after the production wrapped Elias Smith called Gail into his office. “Hello Miss Fuller” he said pleasantly as he shook her hand and led her to a chair in front of his desk. “How are you?” “I’m fine Mr. Smith. How are you?” “I’m fine. I just wanted to thank you again for all your hard work and tell you what a wonderful job you did.” “Thank you for the opportunity. I had a lot of fun.” “I’m glad. Now, if we offered you a contract to make more films would you be interested?” he asked. “I’ve thought a lot about that and I don’t want to sound ungrateful but I’d really prefer to go back to my old job if I could.”

 

Elias sat back in his chair puzzled by this young woman. “This is a great opportunity. It means a lot more money and more prestige as well.” “I know and maybe I’m off my nut to turn it down but it’s not what I want. It was fun when it was just a few of us in Kauai but here there are so many more people around here and it’s a lot more pressure. I don’t think I’d like it.” He thought for a minute and then said, “Fair enough. I’d like to ask you a favor. Would you mind not telling anyone that until after the picture has been released?” “Sure, whatever you think is best sir.” “This is going to be a great bit of publicity for the studio and could really help us financially, especially if we keep people wondering about whether you’ll decide to keep on acting or not.” “I understand. When people ask I’ll just say that I’m still trying to make a decision or something like that.” “That would be perfect. Now it should be about two months in postproduction with a release scheduled for mid-October. I can okay it with your supervisor for you to take the next couple of months off so you’ll have time for interviews and other promotional business.” “Are you sure that will be okay? That’s a long time to leave them short-handed” she said. “I’m the head of the studio; what I say goes” he said with a smile. “Besides you had to pull double duty during the island scenes and then you still had a lot of work to do back here so I think it’s a well-deserved break.”   

 

After their meeting Gail went back to her dressing room to finish clearing out her stuff and she found Gary standing outside waiting for her. “So, did he offer you a contract?” he asked as they went inside. “He did” she said coyly as she put the rest of her things in a box. “Well?” “Well what?” “Did you take it?” “No.” He put his hand on her forehead and then her cheeks and said, “You don’t have a fever. You must just be crazy.” “I told you I didn’t want to keep doing it” she said laughing at him. “So you’re going back to wardrobe?” “I think.” “What do you mean you think?” he asked confused by her response. “He asked me not to tell anyone yet that I don’t want to make any more films and that I could take time off until the movie comes out to do the promotional stuff but it wasn’t real clear if after that I’ll definitely go back to my job or not.” “I’m sure you’ll get it worked out” he said as he took her box to his car and drove her home.

 

Gail’s first interview was with New Movie Magazine and they used a space at the studio to do it. “I’ve never done one of these before so forgive me if I’m a little nervous” Gail said to Mary Purcell, the interviewer. “I promise it won’t be too rough. Explain to me in your own words how this all came about.” Gail explained and then Mary asked her what her emotions were throughout the process. “I was terrified at first and I was sure I couldn’t do it. Gary and the director just kept telling me that I could and they gave me a crash course in acting as we were filming. Practically every bit of spare time I had I spent learning my lines and practicing my part. I’ve loved going to the movies since I was a kid and it was a lot of fun to get to be in one and really see how they are made. Working in the wardrobe department I got to see a lit bit of the process but obviously you see a lot more actually being in a film. It’s really hard work though, more so than it looks. This whole experience really gave me an appreciation for how hard everybody works to give us entertainment.” “It couldn’t have been hard to be on a beautiful tropical island for five weeks with one of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors. What was that like?” “Gary is a fine man and a great actor. Part of the reason I worked so hard was because I didn’t want to make him look bad if I did a bad job. He really knows his stuff and he helped me learn how to act well enough to at least get by, I hope.” “That’s not exactly what I meant. You’ve been seen out with him quite a bit recently. Can we assume that a real romance bloomed while you were filming?” Gail was speechless for a bit and then she remembered what Gary had suggested she say if they asked her about them. “He’s become a very good friend and we enjoy spending time together.” Mary tried to get more out of her than that but she could tell it wasn’t going to happen. After getting some background information about Gail such as where she grew up and things like that she asked if she had plans to be in any more films. “I haven’t made a decision on that yet but I’ll let you know when I do.”

 

“How’d the interview go?” Gary asked as she arrived at his house for dinner that evening. “I think it went okay. She asked me what it was like to be in paradise with such an eligible bachelor.” “What did you say?” he asked. “I kind of panicked and I told her the truth--that it was absolute heaven and the nights were filled with romantic pleasures beyond any description.” He turned with a stunned look on his face until he saw her start to smile. “You had me going for a second” he said relieved. “I told her that you were a fine man and that we are friends who enjoy spending time together.” “Good; they’ll figure it out soon enough anyway and it just seems strange to tell interviewers about our dating habits” he said as he got the meat out of the fridge to make their hamburgers.

 

Gail sat down in a chair on the patio while Gary tended to the burgers on the grill. His parents were coming over for dinner and Gail was looking forward to seeing them again. They had met once before when Gary took her to their house for Sunday dinner a couple weeks earlier. His mother Alice had told Gary how much she liked Gail and he was happy to hear that as she hadn’t felt too fondly about any of the other women he had dated since beginning his film career. When his mother and father Charles arrived the burgers were just about done and they sat out on the patio and enjoyed their dinner. “Gary told us you decided to turn down the contract the studio offered you” his mother said in the English accent both she and her husband still retained. “Yes ma’am. It was fun but I’m not cut out for that. I’m much happier to work behind the scenes.” “That’s good that you know what you want” Alice said. “I hope you won’t let them pressure you or push you around like they did with Gary” Charles said remembering how much they overworked him in 1930 and into 1931. “I wouldn’t let them do that to her” Gary said. Gail smiled at him and his parents felt very hopeful about this new romance.

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Part Eleven

 

Over the next three weeks Gail, on her own and sometimes with Gary, gave interviews to all the major movie magazines. They also took a lot of publicity pictures for the movie and Gail was given copies of them as a thank you for her work on the film.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gail and Gary spent quite a bit of time together during those weeks as they were both on hiatus and had plenty of free time. She felt a bit embarrassed as her parents asked her to have him come over to their house instead of her going to his home most days in this early part of their relationship. Gary understood though and he didn’t mind. One afternoon when he came over she had just received a batch of fan mail delivered by a messenger from the studio. “The movie hasn’t even come out yet and people are already writing me letters” she said excitedly as they sat in the living room. “Well are you going to open one or just stare at them?” he asked. She opened one and began reading it aloud, “Dear Gail, I just read the article about you in my local newspaper and thought it was so exciting that I had to write you a letter. I’m the same age as you and I can imagine how I would feel if that had happened to me. I’m looking forward to seeing the movie and I bet the island scenes will be beautiful in color. What was it like working with Gary Cooper? Is he as nice as he seems? I bet he is. I know you’re probably busy so you don’t have to write back I just wanted to congratulate you for getting to live so many people’s dreams and I wish you good luck in the future. Sincerely, Mary Kroft.” “Here, open another one” Gary said picking another letter from the stack. “I need to write a reply to this one first. Hand me that notepad” she said of the pad and pen on the table beside the sofa near the phone. Gail wrote a letter saying how much she appreciated the support and that this was the first fan letter she had received. She also got Gary to write a little something and they spent the rest of the evening reading and replying to the letters.    

 

When the magazines came out that had her interviews in them, that surreal feeling overwhelmed her again. She had been reading these magazines since she was 13 and never in her wildest dreams did she ever imagine she would be in them. “I’m so nervous” Gail said as she talked to Gary over the phone the night before the premiere. “I know but I’m telling you, you did good.” “I hope you’re right.” She was able to get tickets for her parents to also attend the premiere but they wouldn’t be able to sit together as she and Gary would be seated in the main section of the theater in front of the screen with all the other celebrity attendees. Her mother and one of her cousins who was a beautician helped her get ready and they made her look like a bona fide movie star. Her parents left before Gary came to pick her up so they could get in line to watch all the celebrities arrive. “Wish me luck and let’s hope it’s not too bad” she said as they left.

 

“You look beautiful” Gary said as he walked with her to the limousine that would take them to the theater.

 

 

 

 

 

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“Thanks, you look wonderful too.” Gary got her an orchid corsage and he helped her pin it on while they rode to the theater. She was very nervous on the way there but as soon as they arrived, excitement over took nerves. The driver opened the door and Gary got out first. When the crowd caught sight of him they clapped and cheered. He gave Gail his hand and helped her out. It almost seemed like it was happening in slow motion as her feet hit the red carpet. She looked up into the crowd and smiled. She could hear some of the people calling her name and she waved to them. Gary gave her his arm and together they walked down to Grauman’s Chinese Theater. “I told you they’d love you” he said with a big smile as they continued to wave and stop for pictures. Once inside the theater they were guided to their seats and then watched as their movie flickered on the screen.

 

When it was over the lights came back up and the audience clapped enthusiastically. Gail felt completely overwhelmed. Gary took her hand and kissed it and said, “That’s my favorite movie so far-no contest.” “I just know I’m going to wake up any minute” she said as she smiled from ear to ear. The people around them told them how much they liked the film and what a great screen couple they made. There was a party at Mr. La Cava’s home afterwards and they took the limousine to his house. “As fun as this was I’m glad it’s over. Now I really feel like I can relax” Gail said. As soon as Greg saw his leading lady he gave her a big hug and said, “There’s my girl. I’m so proud of you. You worked hard and it really paid off.” “Thanks. I couldn’t have done it without you and Gary’s help and lots of patience; no pun intended” she said as that was also her character’s name. They had a fun time at the party but they left early as she was anxious to get home and get her parent’s reactions. They were of course waiting up for her and as soon as she came in they both rushed to hug and congratulate her. “You were so great” her mother said.  “I could hardly believe that was my baby up there” her father said as it was his turn to get in a hug. “We got lots of pictures of you on the red carpet and I’ll have to take the film in first thing tomorrow to get them developed” Janet said excitedly. “I’m just so relieved that it turned out okay” Gail said. “It was much better than okay” Gary said. “I guess it was pretty good” she said with a big smile.

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