Before the Final Curtain

By Charmaine Gordon

Book 3 in the series The Beginning...Not the End. Once lovers, aging actors collide on stage as stars in a romantic comedy written and directed by a manipulative director. Add to the mix the talented assistant, a tough stage manager, one prominent costume designer, two young actors, secrets and gossip. Show business. There’s no business like it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: VanillaHeart
• Release date: Sep 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301301546

Charmaine Gordon

Charmaine Gordon writes books about women who Survive and Thrive. Her motto is take one step and then another to leave your past behind and begin again. Six books and several short stories in three years, she’s always at work on the next story. The books include To Be Continued, Starting Over, Now What?, Reconstructing Charlie, Sin of Omission and The Catch, and her series of Mature Romances, The Beginning...Not the End.“I didn’t realize at the time while working as an actor in NYC, I’d become a sponge soaking up dialogue, setting, and stage directions. I learned many tools of writing during the years watching directors like Mike Nichols and actors including Harrison Ford, Anthony Hopkins, and Billy Crystal. And would you believe, I was Geraldine Ferraro’s stand– in leg model, my first job giving me entrée into all the Unions needed to work. When the sweet time ended, I began another career and creative juices flowed.”You can reach Charmaine athttp://authorCharmaineGordon.wordpress.comAnd on her FB page http://www.facebook.com/charmaine.gordon

Book preview

Before the Final Curtain

Book 3, The Beginning…Not the End Series

by Charmaine Gordon

Copyright 2013 Charmaine Gordon

Published by: Vanilla Heart Publishing on Smashwords

Ebook Edition, License Notes

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Acknowledgement

Here’s to what I lovingly refer to as The Sweet Time in my life; when I moved from wife and mother to fly by myself, drive to NYC, take classes, join unions, audition and actually work.

Writing Before the Final Curtain brought back fond memories of that time and to always remember, never cut funny.

Enjoy the journey, dear reader.

Dedication

I say this again and again, where would I be without the firm guiding wisdom of my publisher, Kimberlee Williams? She‘s taught me more I ever dreamed of about writing books. I’m proud to be a part of Vanilla Heart Publishing.

A special shout-out to Chelle Cordero, my personal anchor woman who has literally shown me the way many times and anchors me to reality.

Before The Final Curtain

Chapter 1

Introducing Becca Morgan, fading actor of Broadway acclaim

Home at last. Becca Morgan set the cat carrier down after flinging open the carved oak door to her home overlooking the Hudson River. Freeing her faithful companion from his prison, she laughed as he meowed and bolted for the litter box. Good idea, Jack. Are we happy or what? Becca almost skipped to the master bedroom wheeling her bag. Inhaling fresh aromas from her own home after three months on tour in the Mid-West filled her with joy. Sarah, her housekeeper forever, had cleaned up, tended the garden, used lemon polish to make every wood surface gleam and best of all, Sarah left homemade pasta sauce to cool on the butcher block counter.

She stretched out on the queen sized bed. Mmm, lovely to be home. Gazing around the spacious room Becca took in the awards cabinet in all its’ glory. Polished Tony’s, Emmy’s, Golden Globes and plaques—tributes to past performances. Tears trickled down her thin face no longer young. Get over yourself, Becca. Starring roles aren‘t written for seventy year old women. No more. Not since Katherine Hepburn.

Now for a hot tub to ease my aging bones, she thought. Becca stripped, opened the sliders, towel and cell phone in hand to remove the cover. A few buttons pushed and instant bubbles greeted her. One toe in tested the heat. Becca settled in to soothe aches from hours of travel.

The cell phone shattered the peaceful moment with her favorite tune, Happy Days Are Here Again.

A quick dry with a towel and she connected.

Becca. Her heart beat a little faster in recognition of the voice. Randall Sloan, the powerful director she’d worked with many times in the old days when he was called Randy apropos of his philandering.

Randall. So nice to hear from you after too long a time.

Becca love, I’ve written a new play perfect for you. I’ll FAX the script right over unless you’re not interested. He laughed, a smug familiar sound that hadn’t changed.

Fingers crossed, she said, Don’t tell me my character is the faithful companion or the housekeeper.

His voice deepened to a sexy growl. You’re the lead. Titled Honor Thy Mother, Please, a poignant comedy, small cast.

The lead? Oh, Oh, Oh. What’s the part? Naked outside on her veranda, Becca wanted to dance, sing, shout out loud.

You’ll have the script shortly. We bring it downtown in a few weeks to a festival in Chelsea and then midtown off Broadway and finally Broadway.

"You know me, Randy. I can’t wait. Not