Cassavetes is a junior member of a New York talent agency. He gets a call to report to the office of the boss, Paul Stewart. Stewart informs him that he is to get his first client. "A star in fact," says Stewart with a smile. "She does drink a bit much but who doesn't" Stewart adds. The star is Janet Blair, a big television actress whom Cassavetes is to escort to her network contract signing. He hits Blair's apartment to pick her up and finds her into her 2nd jug of martinis. " They sent me a pretty boy this time," Blair says as she runs her hands over Cassavetes. Cassavetes tells her "We need to be going" which Blair ignores. She gently pulls him off screen saying "Come help me change into something uncomfortable". Twenty minutes later the two are blasting along through a rainstorm with an intoxicated Blair behind the wheel. She takes a corner too fast and hits a man. Cassavetes gets out to help as a crowd gathers and the police are called. By the time the police arrive Blair has switched seats and the police grab Cassavetes as the driver. At the police station, Stewart and the firm lawyer put in an appearance. "Play along and the firm will take care of you. We need Blair to sign that contract and this kind of attention could do us no good. Take one for the team." Stewart tells him. The police then enter and tell them that the man has died and new charges are being filed. The firm bails him out and the next day he has a new office. Not to worry the lawyer tells him. "We will take care of everything". Cassavetes now discovers that "everything" means buying witnesses that say the man was jaywalking and that Cassavetes was driving. After a few days this really starts to eat away at him. He goes to see Stewart and Blair at the contract signing party. "I am going to tell the police the truth." Stewart laughs and pokes him in the chest, "Who is going to believe an office flunky over Blair? We have the witnesses, the police on board, and if you rock the boat, we will cut you loose." Cassavetes responds. "We will see, we will see," and then heads out the door.
The director was television vet, Robert Ellis Miller. The story was by Lois and Arnold Peyser. The d of p was Irving Lippman. Lippman was the d of p on one of my favorite 50's sci-fi films, 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH.
Cassavetes was in 14 HOURS, THE NIGHT HOLDS TERROR, CRIME IN THE STREETS and JOHNNY STACCATO.
Paul Stewart had roles in CITIZEN KANE, CHAMPION, ILLEGAL ENTRY, THE WINDOW, EDGE OF DOOM, WALK SOFTLY STRANGER, APPOINTMENT WITH DANGER, DEADLINE USA, LOAN SHARK, KISS ME DEADLY and CHICAGO SYNDICATE.
Not bad for a half hour time-waster. (b/w)
The director was television vet, Robert Ellis Miller. The story was by Lois and Arnold Peyser. The d of p was Irving Lippman. Lippman was the d of p on one of my favorite 50's sci-fi films, 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH.
Cassavetes was in 14 HOURS, THE NIGHT HOLDS TERROR, CRIME IN THE STREETS and JOHNNY STACCATO.
Paul Stewart had roles in CITIZEN KANE, CHAMPION, ILLEGAL ENTRY, THE WINDOW, EDGE OF DOOM, WALK SOFTLY STRANGER, APPOINTMENT WITH DANGER, DEADLINE USA, LOAN SHARK, KISS ME DEADLY and CHICAGO SYNDICATE.
Not bad for a half hour time-waster. (b/w)