Chapter Sixteen
The Horror Movie Producer
"There'll be other movies, Roman." John Milton says to his young director.
"Not only did they kill the film, but they killed my cast! Nobody's gonna want to work with me. Variety called me a pariah. I don't even know what a pariah is. Why couldn't someone have killed the cast form 'Stab 1' huh, or 'Stab 2'? Why me, what, John, what did we do wrong?" Roman asked venting.
"Hollywood is full of criminals who's careers are flourishing." Milton told him.
"I'm not a criminal! I was questioned, yeah, but that's all, I was questioned, that's it!" Roman said.
"It's good for your mystique." Milton told him.
"You think it'll help me get work?"
Dewey, Gale and Jennifer enter.
"Roman, John." Jennifer says.
"Jennifer, and guests. To what do I owe the honor?" Milton asks.
"Rina Reynolds." Gale said.
"Rina Reynolds, who's Rina Reynolds?" Roman asks.
"Why don't you head to the house. Tell everyone not to cut the cake without me." Milton told Roman.
"Oh God! I forgot, your birthday! Happy birthday, Roman." Jennifer said to him.
"Yeah, yeah, as if life isn't tragic enough." Roman said about to leave.
"Shut the doors behind you please." Milton said. Roman does as he leaves.
"So you know Sidney Prescott's mother." Dewey asked.
"Who?" Milton asked.
"Rina Reynolds." Jennifer told him.
"Uh, do you know how many actors have worked for me? Hundreds, thousands." Milton said.
"She didn't say she was an actor." Gale said catching Milton off guard.
"Good catch." Jennifer said.
"So what's the point?" Milton asked.
"No point, I'm just gonna give Detective Kincaid a call." Dewey told him holding his cell.
"I remember her! She was a bit player in a couple of my movies. A nobody! So what does it matter?" Milton asked.
"Oh, Come on! You have made millions off the story of her murder. You're obsessed with HER and you're obsessed with her DAUGHTER!" Jennifer said.
"All right, easy Geraldo." Gale said to Jennifer who steps back. She turns back to Milton. "Why don't you tell us the truth?"
"What the hell are you guys getting at? I make horror films, that's what I do. The Studio came to me with 'Stab'. They came to me, check it out." Milton said firmly.
"But you know who she was." Dewey said to him.
"When we did the first 'Stab" I realized I'd known Maureen Prescott before, I mean as Rina. I couldn't tell anyone. Can you imagine the press?" Milton said trying to cover his own ass.
"And now? I mean, murders on your set and still you say nothing?" Dewey asked him.
"Get real, that would make me a suspect!" Milton said.
"Just because you knew her?" Gale asked.
"Yeah." Milton said.
"I don't think so! Just what happened to Maureen when she was in Hollywood?" Gale asked very slick. Jennifer watched her work. She's definitely a pro.
"Now you listen to me, Lois Lane, let it go. It's dead and buried." Milton told her.
"And how would you like to see it dug up on national TV? Why don't' you tell me what happened?" Gale asked.
"It was in the 70's, everything was different. I was well known for my parties, Rina knew what they were. It was for girls like her to meet men, men who could get them parts, if they made the right impression. Nothing happened to her that she didn't invite, in one way or another, no matter what she said afterwards." Milton said.
"Are you saying she was…" Gale asked.
"I'm saying things got out of hand. Maybe they did take advantage of her!. Maybe the sad truth is, this is not the city for innocence. No charges were brought. And the bottom line is, Rina Reynolds wouldn't play by the rules. You wanna get ahead in Hollywood, you gotta play the game, or go home." Milton said.
To Be Continued!