The Actress, Part 1

Ratings not available

The Actress
by Asiansmoker
Part 1: Laura 
   As a reporter I have interviewed some well known people. Certainly some 
have impressed me, some have not, some I've wanted to talk to for hours on 
end, and others I wanted to leave the room after fifteen seconds. 

   There comes a time in a reporter's life where you get a chance to do THE 
interview, the one you know will top all others, and this one wasn't a 
disappointment. It changed my life. It changed hers too, I'd like to 
believe. 

   When I heard a rumor that Laura Wong, one of Hong Kong's best known 
actresses ever, was going to retire prematurely at the age of twenty-nine, 
I wanted to interview her. I wanted to know why she'd give up her fame, 
million dollar movies, the glamour and her spot as the number one actress 
in Hong Kong. I had never met Laura before, but I'd seen most of her movies 
and TV series. I, like everyone else, found her incredibly attractive and I 
must confess that at one point over the last seven years, I have 
masturbated once or twice when fantasizing about her. 

   The rumor that became truth had it that Laura, winner of six best 
actress awards, had decided after eleven years in the showbiz industry that 
she was going to give it all up for 'personal reasons' and had thought 
about joining a female monastery somewhere in the himalayas. We had no idea 
why she'd do that, although we had a feeling that Laura has always been a 
religious person judging by the way we saw her lead her life and perhaps 
she felt called to go there. Due to her popularity, dozens of reporters, 
photographers, cameramen, followed Laura everywhere since she announced 
that decision through her agent by sending a fax to all the news agencies. 
But Laura spoke to no one about it. Not a single person. She stayed inside 
that mansion she lived in most of the time. She hired extra security people 
to watch over her. 

   We all wondered why such a talented, beautiful, famous actress would 
give it all up at the age of twenty-nine, just when she was hitting her 
prime. Something just wasn't right. 

   I tried to reason why someone would retire at twenty-nine. I know Laura 
wasn't married, and not getting married as far as we knew. That wasn't it. 
She wasn't even dating anyone regularly, not since she broke up with 
Richard seven years ago, so that wasn't the reason. She wasn't pregnant 
either, so that wasn't the reason. She never appeared shook up about 
anything, always in control. She never declined an interview in her life, 
until three months ago. What gives? 

   Laura's agent called a press conference at noontime, just three days 
after Laura made her decision to retire. We all gathered at the Peninsula 
hotel. We didn't see Laura there, but her agent began that conference in 
front of three hundred reporters with the weirdest thing I'd ever heard. 

   "This is to confirm that Laura Wong, as of three days ago, has retired 
permanently from the entertainment industry. This decision is final. As of 
yet she has not spoken about it, and that will continue, except for one 
occasion. Laura has decided to give only one interview, just one, to one of 
you reporters. The lucky person will get to interview her in the coming 
week. Laura has confirmed to me that she'll answer each and every question 
honestly and truthfully. Laura will tell you the reasons she has retired." 
The man said and paused. He took a drink of water. Then he continued. 

   "Yes, she has retired, but it wasn't an easy decision to make. Several 
factors went into it. The Lucky one of you who will get to interview her 
will be allowed one hour with her, in your office. No cameras shall be used 
to film the event, but you can use a tape recorder. It will be just Laura 
and you. Laura said you can ask her anything you want, anything at all. As 
I eluded to earlier, she will answer every question honestly and 
truthfully. She wants to tell you that she has nothing left to hide. After 
this interview, her final one, she will no longer give interviews regarding 
any subject whatsoever. As you may already know, Laura has found god once 
again and made plans to join a female monastery in Tibet and will be 
leaving in a few days. Once I finish speaking, my assistant will be 
distributing an envelope to each one of you. There will be one envelope, 
only one, with Laura's torn up Mastercard in it. She no longer has any use 
for it. The person who receives that lucky envelope containing the credit 
card will be the one to interview Laura. Please come and see me once you 
get that card and we will arrange a date and time for the interview. There 
will be no questions asked, none. This is the way Laura wants this handled, 
and after all she's has given us, we must respect her privacy...John?" 
Laura's agent said and his assistant John began to hand out envelopes. 

   By the time I was given one ( I was near the back), I knew no one has 
received the lucky envelope yet, and I wasn't too hopeful, after all, why 
me?...Until I opened the envelope and found her credit card there. I had 
good fortune! I couldn't believe I got it! I thought it was a mistake. I 
walked over to Mark, Laura's agent, and presented him with the envelope. He 
confirmed I was the one who was to interview Laura Wong. If felt I'd just 
won the lottery. It was a dream come true! 

   Mark and I arranged a date and time for me to meet Laura, alone in my 
office, and until about two hours before the interview, I was feeling 
pretty good. Now I was terrified. What would I ask her? How would she 
respond? My article would be my most awaited piece of work I ever did. The 
whole country was going to know who I was and was going to judge my 
interview thoroughly. I'd gain instant popularity, or get demoted even. I 
better not forget to ask her the important things. 

   About an hour before I was to interview perhaps the greatest actress 
Hong Kong has ever seen, I was getting too nervous. I drank a rum and coke 
in about five minutes. I paced around my office, looking at the clock every 
five seconds, hoping it would move faster. I began to read my notes and 
went over them thoroughly. I got so lost in my notes that I didn't check 
the time and I heard a knock at my door. It had to be Laura. 
End of part 1 

Previous part | Next part