Page 22 of Cinematic Destinies
“How special to have that for yourself.”
“Thanks. Most people have the impression that I don’t want to do anything that doesn’t get me some kind of attention. I mean, I’ve never shied away from public life. Pursued acting relentlessly. The spotlight. Couldn’t wait to walk my first red carpet. But I have a private side too, and I think it’s good to keep that.”
“You know, I was really looking forward to working with you,” he said.
“You were?”
Roo nodded. “You’re far more spectacular than I could have imagined. Full of surprises in the most extraordinary way.”
Georgia looked down, blushing. “You’re surprising too, in the most extraordinary way.”
“That may be the best compliment I’ve ever received, coming from you.”
She leaned forward and put her hand on the table. He reached out, but before they made contact, Ástríður came in to deliver their food and they slunk back into their seats.
“ARE YOU UP FOR ANOTHER MOVIE NIGHT?”Roo asked Georgia after dinner.
“Absolutely,” she replied, and they moseyed to the living room.
“You pick this time,” he said.
“How about we take turns?”
“Deal. So, what are we in for tonight?” he asked, taking a seat on the couch.
Georgia scanned the selection. “Ooh, they haveBreakfast at Tiffany’s. It’s my favorite.”
“Then let’s watch.”
“How about we save it?” She continued surveying the selection. “Seems they have a bunch of Audrey Hepburn’s films. There’sRoman Holiday, which could be a nice escape. But if you prefer something else . . .”
“I’d love to watch it with you. I have a fondness for the classics, and anything with a good setting.”
Georgia smiled, put on the DVD, and curled up on the couch.
They sat quietly enjoying the movie, giggling and glancing at each other at the exact same moments. When it ended, Georgia said, “Thanks for indulging me.”
“My pleasure. That was fun. Makes me want to visit Rome again.”
“Oh, me too. They must have had an amazing time filming that.”
“Indeed. Benefit of being an actor,” he replied. “Location shoots are few and far between these days, but there’s nothing like it for the cast, and you can see and feel the difference in the films.”
“I think so too.”
“I know you’re a road dog by nature, but perhaps location shoots are even more special to you because of your family history. I mean, you descend from one of the most famous, talked-about film shoots of all time. My mother says that while on-set love affairs have a reputation for fizzling quickly, she knew your parents would last a lifetime.”
Georgia smiled. “They’re a total fairy tale. It’s kind of crazy. I guess they were perfect from the start. It’s . . .” She stopped and looked down.
“What?” he asked sweetly.
She looked into his eyes and said, “It’s kind of intense, thinking about how their love story is intertwined with film history and with this real-life movie moment on a red carpet in front of the world. It’s hard to explain, but it’s kind of like living in a myth or something, but it’s real, as impossible as that may seem.”
Roo smiled. “Yes, I can imagine it’s a mind trip, perhaps more so for you as an actress yourself.”
“Yeah. Of course, my parents’ story isn’t the typical Hollywood tale. After all, my mother isn’t in the business. It was just chance that she was there when they were filming, thanks to her friendship with Jean.”
“Remarkable how much in life happens by chance. Or perhaps it’s fate.”
