Lost a quarter into the pay box. Ronald passed through the turnstile and boarded the orange Staten Island Ferry, the John F. Kennedy. After getting the signature contract, Ronald decided to go back to Staten Island for a vacation to relax his tense nerves.
Sitting on the shabby wooden bench in the cabin, he recalled the scene of treating the lawyer lady to dinner that night.
At the pizza parlor in Little Italy, Ronald took out two checks, put them on the table, and pushed them to Miss Lindsay Dole. One is $850 and the other is $1,000.
"I remember our agreement was US$850," the lawyer said.
Ronald was stuffing a piece of Devil's Pizza into his mouth after being hungry all day. This pizza with Italian salami tastes good and is more suitable for customers who like meat. However, Ronald sprinkled a little too much chili oil, so he quickly picked up the Coke and drank it hard.
"Hiss...hoo..."
Ronald put down the drink, "Our agreement is 850 US dollars, but you helped me get extra compensation..."
"A contract is a contract. We originally agreed on $850. You just need to pay me according to the provisions of the contract. If you are satisfied with my service, you can hire me as your personal lawyer in the future. You will have other options in the future. If the contract needs to be reviewed, I can provide services to you at any time.”
Lindsay pushed back the $1,000 check.
"No, that's not what I meant." Ronald waved his hand and took another sip of Coke.
“Not long ago, my former boss told me that contracts are nothing more than codifying the mutually beneficial aspects of a business in legal terms.”
"You have obtained the benefits I deserve from my oral contract, which has exceeded my expectations. I would like to ask you to take charge of my legal affairs in the future.
My intuition tells me that although you are a newcomer, you are very capable, and the other party's lawyer Mickey Kanter also appreciates you. I believe you will soon make a name for yourself among the New York bar. "
"This $1,000 is the retainer I paid you in advance. Soon you will be very busy in the legal business, and the level of your clients will far exceed my level. I hope I will need you in the future. When I need help, you can still take time to help me.”
"Okay, let me lend you your kind words." The lawyer lady thought for a while and accepted the check. The employment fee will be deducted based on the length of service in the future, and any excess will be refunded. She had just graduated from college and really needed some money to buy some equipment. "I'll send you a bill."
The two continued to eat.
"By the way, will you go to the crew again? If possible, I would also like to see how the movie is shot."
Ronald shook his head.
"The director doesn't like me, even though I told him I'm not amicable. But I've got what I want, and I don't want to appear in front of him anymore. But if you want to go to the filming, I can introduce you to Anthony Ya, she’s one of the leading ladies and can issue visitor permits.”
"No need, I already know her and I have her contact information." The lawyer lady said with a smile.
"Do you smoke?"
"What?"
Ronald's memories were interrupted.
"I asked you if you smoke?" It was a lady dressed as a working girl next to her. She took a box of cigarettes, knocked out a few cigarettes, and held it up to invite Ronald to smoke one too.
"I don't smoke, please help yourself." Ronald replied.
The woman opened the lighter with a snap, lit the cigarette in her mouth, took a deep drag, and then exhaled the smoke.
The woman looked to be in her 30s, wearing some over-the-top eyeshadow makeup, bright lipstick, a high hairstyle, styled with mousse, and exuding some cheap perfume smell. The blond hair has some withered and split ends. It seems that he is an employee who works hard and has no time to dress himself carefully.
...It may also be because there is no money. The price of men's haircuts in New York is ridiculously expensive now, and women's haircuts must be even more expensive.
Ronald watched her smoking heavily. At this time, there were very few people on the ferry from Manhattan to Staten Island.
"The ferry in the morning is very empty. When I take the ferry back to Staten Island every afternoon after get off work, the place is full," the girl said.
"Yeah, the Staten Island Ferry is a route that a lot of people use to get to and from get off work."
Ronald sensed that this woman wanted to talk to someone.
"Aren't you going to work today? You'll take a boat back to the island in the morning."
"I was fired. My boss was a bitch. She lost an important bond trading client because of her own mistakes. She put the blame on me and told me to pack up and get out." The woman threw the cigarette on the On the ground, stamp it out with high heels.
"Oh, my shoes." After reacting, she hurriedly leaned over to take off her high heels, wrapped them carefully, and put on the sneakers in the bag.
"I'm sorry, the ferry is too dirty. It's inconvenient to wear high heels when getting on and off the boat. I changed my clothes before getting off work every day. I didn't have time to think about this today..." It seemed that in front of strangers, she let go and said some words Want to talk.
"That's really unfortunate, there are too many selfish bosses out there."
"Yeah, Wall Street gets these bitches and jerks all the time."
"What are you going to do?"
"I will try the employment agency again. If it doesn't work, I can only go back to my hometown of Staten Island and work as a restaurant waiter."
"That's okay. My aunt is a waiter in the restaurant. Most of the customers on the island are from the same country. Although the tips are not as good as those in Manhattan, there are less messes." Ronald smiled.
"Thank you, my name is Theresa Kate," the woman introduced herself, holding out her hand.
"Ronald Lee". The two shook hands, and Ronald noticed that her fingers were yellow from the cigarette smoke.
"Are you from Staten Island too?" Teresa asked.
"Yes, Toteville on the south end of the island."
"Ah, I grew up there too. I danced ballet when I was a child. I went to work in the Financial District of Manhattan for America Dream. Unfortunately, I only had a high school degree and could only work as a secretary through an employment agency. I ended up living in Manhattan. After ten years as a secretary, maybe I should try my luck back in Toteville.”
"Woooooooo..."
The ferry blew its whistle and docked.
After saying goodbye to the unemployed secretary, Ronald got on the train and returned to his aunt's house for vacation.
"Ronnie, how are you doing on the set?" After three days of rest at home, my aunt took advantage of her free time to set up a chair in the yard and trim Ronald's hair.
"It's not bad. I'll get a screenwriter's signature."
"That's good, but don't forget that you will start school in September." Auntie cares more about her college studies. "This is your parents' last wish. You must get a college diploma."
"I will, Aunt, I will."
Aunt Karen trimmed the hair at the back and swept the clippings into the trash.
"You should find a hairstylist to cut your hair from now on, Ronnie." Auntie fiddled with Ronald's hair, which was quite neat.
"Aunt Karen, you do a great job cutting it."
"You always make me laugh, Ronnie. When will you be back on set?"
"I won't go. My task has been completed. Next, I will go to the casting studio more often to help them update the actors' audition photos."
While his aunt and little Donna were free, Ronald took the whole family to see a newly released "Rock of Ages." The three of them came to the largest theater in town. The backward Staten Island had immediately introduced exploitation films like "Rock and Roll High School" with low copy rental fees.
"Awww..." Seeing the Ramones occupying the high school and holding a live concert in the school, the audience began to applaud to match the rock rhythm in the movie.
Then an audience member started stamping his feet, and immediately everyone else started stamping their feet too, causing the seats in the screening room to shake.
Ronald looked around and saw that most of the viewers who reacted strongly were high school students and teenagers.
Aunt Karen wasn't used to the noisy exploitation movie, but little Donna enjoyed it.
"Ronnie, Ronnie, are you the one with the beard who proposed on the phone?" Little Donna asked in a low voice.
"Yeah, I'm wearing a fake beard."
"I think your performance is better than the main character Tom. That female academic Kate, why do you say you are not her type?" Donna began to carefully study the plot of her role in the exploitation film.
After the film was played, the lights in the screening hall began to turn on. Ronald stood up and looked across the crowd at the screen to see how his name would appear in the credits.
To the sound of the theme song of the same name from the Ramones' "Rock of Ages", the subtitles in red cartoon font gradually rose.
Second Unit Director: Jerry Zucker
Second Unit Director: Ronald V. Lee.
Finally seeing his name on the screen, Ronald smiled and pulled up little Donna, "Let's go."
"No, there's your name down there, Ronnie," said little Donna, pointing at the screen.
Ronald looked up and saw that there was a separate line in the subtitles, and his name appeared again.
"Special Thanks to: Joe Dante and Ronald V. Lee".
What a surprise! Ronald watched with joy as the subtitles rose to the top and disappeared.
"I also think Ronald is a better actor than the leading actor." While having dinner in the restaurant, Aunt Karen also agreed with Donna's point of view.
"Hahaha" Ronald laughed. His family still liked him appearing in the movie and encouraged him.
After watching the movie, Ronald continued to rest at home until Saturday morning when he took the early ferry to the casting studio to update their actors' audition photos.
"Ronald, where have you been? Producer David Da Silva is looking for you everywhere. I called your home phone but no one answered."
When Margery saw Ronald, she said furiously.
"Why are you looking for me? I've been back to Staten Island for vacation these days." Ronald wondered, "The deal between me and them has been completed, and director Allen has also approved my script."
"You'd better call the producer. He sounds anxious."
