Danessa's Faded Star
Chapter 3 - Casting Couch Memories

That same morning, Natalie had gone down to the bus stop before Danessa woke up. The Richmond Hotel was almost as seedy as her apartment. She spent her time up until lunch pushing a cart from room to room, carrying out other people's soiled sheets and mopping their bathrooms. Maid work wasn't as glamorous as it appeared on television. And, it didn't appear all that glamorous on TV, either.
The older colored lady headed for the break room when it was almost noon. The desk clerk, a slender Asian woman, called out to her when she spotted her.
"Nattie?" she called. "You got a message. Some guy called. Donald Kincaid. He left a number."
Donald? Natalie felt her excitement growing despite her best efforts not to get her hopes up. Had the info-mercial deal materialized? She knew "The Malarkeys" DVD box set was coming out soon. Maybe they wanted Nessa back! The desk clerk held out a piece of paper.
"Thanks, Miss Kim" replied Natalie, taking the message. "How long ago?"
"Maybe fifteen minutes," she informed her.
Natalie stepped into a phone booth in the lobby and dialed the number.
"Ace Bail Bond," a voice answered the phone.
"Is Mister Kincaid there?" said Natalie, remembering that her agent shared an office with a bail bondsman.
"Hang on," the voice responded.
In a minute, the agent was on the line.
"This is Donald Kincaid," Donald announced.
"Mister Kincaid?" Natalie started. "This is Natalie Summers... You called me? Is it the info-mercial?"
"Natalie!" replied Donald eagerly. "Glad you got back so quick... No, it's not the info-mercial. It's something that just started happenin'. Say..., can we meet? I'd rather talk about this face to face."
"Okay," said Natalie. "I gets off at three."
"This is happenin' fast, Natalie," Donald came back. "I gotta see you sooner. How about lunch? My treat."
"I ain't got much time, Mister Kincaid," Natalie told him. "How 'bout at the coffee shop here at the hotel?"
"Fantastic," Donald told her. "I'll be there in ten minutes. I know you're pressed for time, so go ahead an' start without me. Don't forget, I'm payin'. Bye now."
"Bye," said Natalie, hanging up the phone.
Donald got there in five minutes. Natalie had barely started her sandwich. Roast beef since somebody else was paying! The blonde haired man slipped into the booth across from her.
"Hi, Natalie," said Donald. "You're looking good. How's Nessa?"
"Thank you," smiled Natalie. "Nessa's fine. She's ready to work."
"Good, good," Donald replied. "That's what I want to hear. I got a call today. Somebody's been looking all over for Nessa."
"Really?" Natalie perked up. "For TV?"
"Not quite...," said Donald. "More of a personal appearance..."
"I knowed the DVD set o' her show be comin' out," Natalie went on. "Is that it? She gonna be promotin' that?"
"No, Natalie," said Donald. "Nothing like that. He's a fan. A very wealthy fan who's ready to pay a hefty personal appearance fee."
"I don't know 'bout this, Mister Kincaid," Natalie's excitement was fading. "Jus' what she gotta do an' jus' how much is he gonna pay?"
"Look, I think it's best if you talk to him yourself," Donald told her. "I can tell you that it's four figures for a one time thing. I'll let him tell you the specifics. He'd like to meet with you tonight."
"You mean more 'n a thousand dollars?" asked Natalie. "That's a lot o' money!"
"It certainly is," Donald agreed. "You've got nothing to lose by talking to him. This is the first lead I've found for Nessa since I started working with you. It may lead to something more, but I'm not sure what. It could be big."
"You know if they lookin' at any other girls?" Natalie wanted to know. "I jus' wanna know what Nessa's up against."
"Hard to tell," answered Donald. "But it's worth going the extra mile to get her the gig."
"I understands, Mister Kincaid," said Natalie. "I do my best."
"Good!" Donald replied enthusiastically. "I've done what I can. It's up to you to seal the deal. Well, and Nessa, of course. But he just wants to see you for the first meeting. Here's the number to call when you're done here."
Donald pushed a piece of paper across the table to Natalie as she finished her sandwich.
"Okay," Natalie responded. "I better be gettin' back to work."
Standing up, Donald pulled a ten dollar bill out of his wallet and dropped it on the table next to the check.
"I give you a call when I get home from talkin' to..." said Natalie. "What's his name?"
"Gray," replied Donald. "Roger Gray."
"I be callin' him then," Natalie assured him. "Thank you fo' lunch, Mister Kincaid."
"No problem," said Donald.
Natalie watched the agent leave the coffee shop before getting up and heading back to work. She returned to where she'd left off at lunch time and continued working her way down the hallway, pushing her cart from room to room.
Even as she went through the motions of stripping beds, changing towels, and vacuuming carpets, she couldn't help but be excited. Nessa working again would mean the end of all this drudgery. It might not be a ticket to easy street and the life they enjoyed while her daughter was on "The Malarkeys", but at least they could live someplace decent and she wouldn't have to be making beds and cleaning toilets.
She was a little apprehensive about meeting the mysterious Mister Gray. Especially having to "go the extra mile". Natalie had been there and done that already many times in the past. The "casting couch" was all too familiar a place for her. She remembered how surprised she was when she encountered it for the first time, some thirty years earlier.
*       *       *
Natalie was just eighteen and fresh off the farm from the rural south when she came west to Hollywood intending to be an actress. Her family had discouraged her from pursuing her dream, but she was determined to go.
When she arrived, she got a small walk up apartment, not unlike the one she lived in presently. But then, she was still full of optimism. She got a job as a waitress in a coffee shop and waited to be discovered.
After a few months of scouring the trade publications for casting calls, she finally got one. As was typical, it was for a part as a maid. It seemed all the parts that called for a black woman were for domestic servants. Still, it would be a real acting job. Not only that, but it was for a television series pilot. If she got the part and the show was picked up, who knew where it would lead.
She swapped shifts at the coffee shop so she could go to the audition in the morning and work in the evening. Natalie had found an actual maid's uniform in a second hand clothing shop and was dressed for the part. She showed up an hour early at the studio at eight thirty and took a seat on a bench outside the casting director's office.
Gradually, other women showed up. Almost a dozen in all. Most were also in costume. Natalie was nervous as she waited there in the hallway. She knew she was up against some experienced actresses, but was determined to do her best.
It was almost ten when the casting director and his assistant arrived. The casting director himself, a dark haired white man in his early forties, went into the office. His younger, blonde haired assistant addressed the women.
"Sorry we're late, ladies," he apologized perfunctorily. "Follow me to studio B so we can have a look at you all."
Natalie went with the others as the director's assistant led them down the hallway to a large high ceilinged room with lights and cameras cluttered on one side. A low stage rose a foot off the floor on the other side of the studio.
"We've got a particular type in mind for this role," said the assistant. "So, everybody up on the stage in a line. Mister Griswold will be here in a minute and we'll start."
This would be Natalie's first time on a stage. Her excitement building, she stepped up on the platform and took her place. After a minute, the dark haired casting director walked into the room.
"Okay, Marty," he said to the assistant, "let's get going."
Mister Griswold walked up to the stage and made his way down the line of would be maids, looking each one over.
"All right, ladies," Marty spoke. "Everybody turn to profile."
Natalie and the other actresses did as instructed. Mister Griswold made another pass along the stage.
"Turn again," ordered Marty the assistant. "Face the rear."
Feeling a little like a sheep competing for a ribbon at the county fair, Natalie turned her back to the front of the stage. She could hear the casting director's foot steps as he walked by in revue.
"Face front," Marty instructed them. "Lift those skirts. You all know the drill."
Amid a murmur of grumbling, the women did as directed. Natalie felt herself blush a little as she lifted her uniform dress above her knees. The others didn't seem to care for this inspection, either. However, they all seemed resigned to it.
"Come on now!" exclaimed Mister Griswold. "Higher! We want a sexy colored maid for this part. I must see the goods!"
"You heard the man," said Marty. "If you've got a problem with it, there's the door. Now get 'em up and show off those gams."
Nervously, Natalie glanced down the line to see how far up the others were lifting their skirts. She saw a few flashes of white panties and knew she'd have to reveal everything. Swallowing hard, she lifted her uniform dress up until her underwear was showing. Her face burning, she waited for Mister Griswold to finish the examination.
"Better, much better," said the casting director. "What lovely legs! Now turn around. Quickly, ladies, quickly!"
Natalie slowly turned around. The audition was getting more and more embarrassing for her. This wasn't what she'd expected at all. She could hear the casting director and his assistant talking quietly behind her, but couldn't make out what was being said.
"You," she heard Mister Griswold say. "You. You." His voice grew closer. "And, you."
She felt his hand on the back of her leg. Apparently, she'd made the first cut.
"Come with me," ordered the casting director.
"The rest of you, thank you for coming by," said Marty.
Dropping her hem, Natalie climbed down from the stage. She followed Mister Griswold along with three other women. He led them back to the waiting area outside his office. His assistant joined them as they sat down.
"Alice, you first," said the casting director. "Let's go now."
A tall, slender woman with dark skin rose from her chair and went into the casting director's office along with Mister Griswold and Marty. They closed the door behind them. Natalie stole glances at the remaining two women. One was a skinny light skinned negro woman. The other was darker and fuller of figure. The big girl smiled at Natalie, who quickly looked away.
"First time?" asked the larger woman.
"Yeah," replied Natalie. "I ain't got this far before."
"What's your name, girl?" she inquired. "I'm Bessie."
"Natalie," Natalie answered. "Nattie. Pleased to meet you, Bessie."
"Well, Nattie," Bessie started. "Don't be too nervous. It always be like this. They git you paradin' around, showin' yo' stuff off. Ain't no gittin' away from it. Jus' gotta do it an' keep smilin'."
"It's embarrassin'," said Natalie. "I ain't used to showin' off that way. Ain't this supposed to be a maid part? They ain't gonna be showin' her legs off like that on TV!"
"No, they sho' ain't!" laughed Bessie. "They know we ain't got no choice but to be doin' like they say. 'Specially coloreds like us. Ain't too many parts for us so they know they kin git away wit' it."
"I guess," sighed Natalie. "I'm jus' glad that parts over wit'."
"Over?!" exclaimed Bessie. "What you think be goin' on in there? That's where they keep the castin' couch, girl! If you want this here part, you gonna be on yo' back on it! This maid part could be a steady paycheck. If I gots to give up a li'l coochie to git it, then that's what I's gonna do!"
"You ain't serious!" Natalie blurted out. "Is this the way it is everywhere?"
The sound of raised voices could be heard from behind the closed door of the casting director's office. The door flew open, and a somewhat disheveled looking Alice stepped out into the hallway. She straightened her clothing a little before she turned around and faced back into the office.
"You white boys ain't nothin' but a couple o' fuckin' perverts!" she cried. "This here's s'posed to be a legit actin' job! Y'all kin go fuck yo'selves!"
Natalie watched as Alice stormed down the hallway. Bessie shook her head and laughed.
"Well, it ain't that way everywhere," observed the big woman. "But it sho' looks like that the way it be here!"
"Bessie!" called Marty from inside the office. "You're up."
"Lemme give you a li'l advice, girl," said Bessie quietly. "You might as well get comfortable. I's gonna be a while. An' when I's done wit' them white boys, they ain't gonna be ready fo' no more auditions fo' a week! This part's gonna be mine."
Bessie turned and walked into the office, closing the door after herself. Natalie sat back and tried to relax. This was definitely not what she'd imagined when she left home a few months earlier. She had no idea what she'd gotten herself into, but it was starting to sink in now.
The skinny light colored girl who'd been watching and listening to all this seemed to have left. Natalie hadn't seen her get up, but she was gone now.
It was down to her and Bessie. She felt like she still had a chance at the part, but she dreaded what she'd have to do to get it.
Almost an hour later, the office door opened. Bessie stepped out, closing the door behind her. Her hair was mussed and her lipstick was smeared. When she came and stood in front of her, Natalie thought she saw wet spots on her blouse. Milky white wet spots. She looked up into the big girl's face.
"I tol' you, girl," grinned Bessie. "Them white boys ain't gonna be ready fo' nothin' fo' a while! I see Miss High Yella up an' left! I guess she too good fo' the castin' couch! Well, she ain't goin' nowheres in this town with a attitude like that!"
"Yeah, she left while you was goin' in," said Natalie. "Maybe I shoulda gone, too."
"Don't be talkin' that way!" Bessie admonished her. "If you want it bad enough, then you gotta do what you gotta do. You come this far already. So you gots to go all the way. Not like that yella bitch. Now, you ain't got much chance up 'gainst this nigga, but you gots to try. You never know. I gotta go now, girl. Maybe I be seein' you agin sometime."
"Bye, Bessie," replied Natalie. "An' thanks."
"Ain't nothin'," said Bessie, walking down the hall.
Natalie sat there outside the office for ten minutes before the door opened. Marty stuck his head out and looked down the hallway in both directions. His blonde hair was unkempt looking and his shirt wasn't tucked in.
"Doris split, huh?" he asked.
"Yep," Natalie told him, assuming that Doris was the light skinned girl.
"Okay...," replied the assistant casting director. "Look, Natalie... We're gonna have to pick this up after lunch. Like at two. Is that good for you?"
"Sure," Natalie replied. "I be here then."
"Cool," said Marty. "See ya then."
Marty closed the door, leaving Natalie alone in the hallway. She looked at the clock on the wall. It was eleven fifteen. Bessie was right. It was going to take a couple hours for Mister Griswold and Marty to be ready for another audition.
Again, Natalie debated just going home. Yes, she wanted to act. Yes, she wanted the maid's part in the television pilot. But, did she want it this bad? Bessie would be a tough act to follow.
Natalie found the canteen and had a sandwich. She wandered around a bit and finally ended up back at Mister Griswold's office a little before two o'clock. At two thirty, the casting director and his assistant returned.
"Come on in, Natalie," said Mister Griswold.
The office still smelled vaguely of sex. There was a table being used as a desk and a couple of filing cabinets along one wall. There was a large window, but it was covered with Venetian blinds which were closed. On the side of the room opposite the desk, there were a couple of plush chairs and a matching couch. The casting couch itself, thought Natalie.
"So, tell us about yourself," Mister Griswold said, taking a seat in a plush chair. "You don't have anything on you resume, but that's okay. We're looking for a fresh face for the part."
Marty took the other chair, leaving the couch for Natalie.
"Well, I just came out here a few months ago," started Natalie. "I've always wanted to be an actress ever since I was a little girl. I know I ain't done nothin' yet, but I gotta start somewheres. I hope you give me a chance to show you what I kin do."
"Oh, we'll give you a chance, all right, Natalie," smiled Mister Griswold.
Natalie blushed. She knew just what he meant.
"For starters, let's have a better look at you," said Marty. "Take the dress off."
So it begins, she thought. This was the moment she'd have to surrender a little dignity in pursuit of her dream. Natalie stood up and reached around behind herself, pulling down the zipper. She let the maid's uniform fall off onto the floor.
"The slip, too," prodded Marty. "We want to see everything."
Natalie's face was hot when she pulled the slip up over her head. She squatted to pick up the dress and put it on the couch behind her, along with the slip.
"You're doin' fine, Natalie," said Mister Griswold. "Keep going. Now the bra."
She started to turn around, but Marty stopped her.
"Whoa, there," said the assistant. "Face us."
The black woman unclasped her bra with shaking hands. It took a few tries to get it undone. Slowly she pulled it off. Natalie covered her bare breasts with one arm.
"Come on now," Mister Griswold chided her. "You're a beautiful young negro woman. Don't hide your assets."
Shamed, Natalie lowered her arm. She looked at the floor while the white men gaped at her naked breasts.
"Nice hooters!" exclaimed Marty.
"Oh, yes," agreed Mister Griswold. "Take your panties off now, girl."
It was starting to get overwhelming for Natalie. Stripping in front of these two strangers was humiliating to the extreme. She'd always been a very modest girl. She even hated to undress in the locker room at the high school gym. Now she was being asked to bare everything for just the chance get a part on a television show. Was it worth it? She wasn't sure, but what choice did she have? She'd gone this far already.
Natalie hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her white cotton panties and pulled them down to her ankles. Stepping out of them, she tossed them on the couch with the rest of her clothing. She couldn't look either of the white men in the face and just stood there with her eyes downcast.
"You look good," murmured Marty. "Damn good. And not just for a nigger, either."
"Marty!" Mister Griswold spoke up.
"Oops, sorry," apologized Marty. "No offense."
Shamed and now angered, Natalie stood naked before the casting director and his assistant. She couldn't believe she'd hear that kind of talk in Hollywood. It was just another humiliation she'd have to suffer on the way to stardom. She knew she had no choice but to take it. Either that or go home.
"It's okay," said Natalie, her face burning.
Mister Griswold rose and started to unbuckle his belt.
"Ever hear of the casting couch, Natalie?" he asked with a grin. "It's where stars are born, I'm tellin' you. And you're standing right in front of it. Lie down and make yourself comfortable. Marty..., come back in twenty minutes."
"Sure, boss," replied Marty, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Marty got up and left. Natalie heard the door click behind him as she moved her clothing to the little table beside the couch. Then she lay down on her back. Mister Griswold climbed between her legs with his pants down below his knees.
The white man kissed the colored woman hard on her thick lips. They felt all spongy to her. He tried to force his tongue into her mouth, and after initially resisting, she gave in and let it in. She could feel his erection against her thigh.
After a couple minutes of the one sided make out session, Mister Griswold moved himself lower down and took Natalie's naked breasts in his hands. He kneaded them roughly before taking a hard nipple into his mouth. He slurped on it happily.
Natalie stared up at the ceiling while Mister Griswold amused himself with her mammaries. She was no virgin, but she'd never experienced anything that made her feel so dirty before. She felt a pain in her nipple as the white man sucked it hard.
"Enough foreplay, girl," he breathed heavily. "Time to get down to business."
Mister Griswold moved back up until he was right in Natalie's face. He kissed her again. She didn't kiss back.
"Help me in," ordered Mister Griswold. "Put my dick in your hole."
So, she was going to have to take an active role in her own debasement, Natalie realized. She reached down and took hold of the white man's cock. She guided it to her pussy and placed the head right at the entrance. After she worked it in a little, Mister Griswold thrust it in the rest of the way. Her vagina was dry, and she felt the pain when he penetrated her.
"Yeah, that's the good stuff," sighed the casting director. "You niggers got the best damn pussy. I don't know what it is, but I never had pussy so good as that. I think it's because niggers were made for fucking. Isn't that right?"
Now he expected her to speak! This nasty white man. Calling her an unspeakable name and referring to her as if she were an animal made purely for his sexual gratification. It was the most degrading thing she'd ever experienced. How could she answer him? Still, she knew he had the power to make her dreams a reality. If this was the price, she was willing to pay it.
"That's right, mister," she replied, her voice straining. "We niggas is fo' fuckin'."
Encouraged by her response, Mister Griswold fucked her harder and faster. His reaction wasn't lost on Natalie. She didn't care what she said to him if it would get this over with quickly.
"You sho' gots a big dick, mister," she whispered to him. "I ain't never had it so good!"
"That right, nigger?" gasped the white man. "You like it?"
"Yes, suh," said Natalie, forcing herself into the role. "I sho' do. I loves white dick in my nigga coochie. It feels so good! Don't stop fuckin' me, suh! Give it to me hard!"
"Oh, fuck!" cried Mister Griswold. "Fuck!"
Natalie felt the flood of warm liquid as Mister Griswold ejaculated in her vagina. She was relieved that it was over, and a little pleased with herself for her acting ability. However, the part she'd had to play in this scene was humiliating to the extreme. She couldn't believe she'd said those things. But, it got the job done.
Mister Griswold lifted himself up and climbed off her. Standing up, he pulled up his pants. Sweat poured off his reddened face.
"Did you cum, too?" he asked her seriously.
"Oh, yes, suh!" she lied, smiling. "Thank you, suh!"
"I'm glad you liked it, too," said Mister Griswold. "I'll tell you, white girls get all huffy when they have to put out to get a part. It takes alot of the fun out of it. That's another reason I love colored girls so much. You all seem happy to get some white dick!"
"We sho' do, at that!" agreed Natalie, laying it on thick. "Kin I git dressed now?"
"Yeah, I'm done," allowed the casting director.
Natalie gather her clothing and dressed. Her pussy was sore and she could still taste him from when he shoved his tongue in her mouth. Mister Griswold walked her to the door, still breathing hard.
"So, do I git the part?" she wanted to know.
"I'll have Marty call you when we've made a decision," replied Mister Griswold. "Thanks for coming out."
With that, he closed the door. Natalie stood in the hallway for a moment before she headed for the exit. Each step made her ache and she could feel Mister Griswold's semen oozing out of her pussy and making her panties wet.
That night, as she waited tables at the coffee shop, she could still feel it.
Three days later, Marty called to tell her that the part had gone to Bessie. It had all been for nothing.