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| Elizabeth Taylor, Set of "Giant", by Frank Worth. |
"I was so hungover that day! Rocky and I got plastered the night before and we didn't get to bed until 3:00 am. Set call was 5:30 for makeup; I was retching in the bathroom every half hour, chewing aspirin like candy and praying for the end of the day. I never liked to miss a set call and keep everyone waiting. You know I'm not the selfish bitch some people called me.
Wouldn't you know it -- that's the day they chose to take the god damned publicity stills. Arghh..the sun was beating on my shoulders and my stomach was churning. For sure it was real sweat rolling down my arms. Some people think everything in the movies is fake, but honey, believe me: I sweat real sweat and I shake real shakes.
Over and over again, I twirled the lariat while Frank got the light and angles just right. He was enthralled with the shadow circling my feet as if my secret self, my shadow shelf was roping me in. They used lacquer and wire to keep that loop in place you know; I couldn't spin a lariat if my life depended on it. As it was, my head was whirling along with the rope! It was a damn good thing I was wearing those glasses because they covered my bloodshot eyes."
Twirl on over to read poems and vignettes inspired by the great Elizabeth Taylor at Magpie Tales.
I think you got right into Liz’s head here (not a good place to be by the sound of it). Excellent piece of writing.
ReplyDeleteYour poem was my inspiration. Thanks for introducing me to The Mag...it looks like fun, although living up to the quality of the writing is pretty daunting. So many talented poets!!
ReplyDeletei hadn't noticed the ropes shadow before....very well observed!!
ReplyDeleteI love your take on this prompt. I can imagine Elizabeth Taylor saying this. Loved the line about the shadow roping her in. Explains also how she's keeping that rope perfect.
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