See The Bigger Picture

The bus had pulled in a long time ago and he had stepped off with dreams in his head of making a name for himself in Hollywood .
In his mind he had everything , good looks , talent , personality and perseverance . On the other hand he was naïve and foolish .
The big lights dazzled him in the eyes and he was blinded by the lure of fame and fortune in the movie business ..
After months auditioning for small parts he ended up facing reality .
Along with thousands of other talented actors and actresses he started looking for work in night cafes or bars .

Not able to find a job he soon hit the pits . At the bottom of the heap he had gone through his savings and soon hit the hard life on the streets of Hollywood .

Alone and frightened he tried to hide behind the cold disguise of hope .
Hard as it was to be lonely and hungry he believed that his talent would win out in the end .
He saw much more than what the producers and scriptwriters saw in him .

It was going to be a long hard road to stardom but he held on to his dreams and he kept saying to himself , it will all be worth it in the end .
One day his name would be up in lights .
One day he would hit the big time .
But for now he had to be content with failure and disappointment .

Without a friend or a place to call his own he walked the streets of the city .
Day and night he saw the big cars roll in to town with music pumping out so loud that they bounced around the town , every hour of every day .
He wanted a car just like that . He wanted people to look at him when he drove past .

He desired the warm clothes people wore who passed him by on the street and longed to be accepted as being one of the hip crowd .
Now and then he was thrown a last minute token to life from a very wealthy tourist who wanted a photo with a Hollywood Hobo .

When you’re out of work and out of the limelight , Hollywoods streets are a cold and merciless place without hope . Many had come there for looking for fame and fortune . Now he was one of the many others who found disappointment instead .

Living rough had become a way of life . He had almost given up the idea of getting the big break and he watched the rain fall down on his parade .

On corners he handed out cards to tourists that crept by with their arms full of shopping bags and parcels and carry outs and whatever else the consumer Hollywood magnet drew .

Suddenly one day right in front of him an Indian on a horse approached and looked directly into his eyes . Then and there it was as if all his questions had been answered . All his dreams had been given wings to fly .

The Indian reached out his arm and as soon as he climbed on the horse they made their way to the a place with tee pees and cameras .
Sometimes it being in the right place at the right time .

He had been selected as an extra on a show that kept his hunger away .
That night he approached the director and placed his heart and soul on the line .

The directors eyes were opened and instead of being an extra without a line he was handed a small part that required him to swing his head from side to side on a rope . But as soon as the cameras were rolling he improvised with words that came naturally .

“How cold and cruel are the hands that put me here .“

The director kept the cameras rolling and the dialogue picked up speed .

“I am from a distant place where there people respect the life of others . Who among you can see the lights in my eyes . I have tasted the bitterness of the big bright lights . I have been locked inside your cold twilight zones . I have absolutely nothing in common with any of you so pull the rope and see my feet dance in mid-air for I have come to the end of my rope .“

The director screamed
“Cut “

Applause slowly began to grow and everyone there stood stunned by the moment .

A voice exclaimed ,
“Somebody get that man a contract .“

“Come on white man , you’re in Hollywood now . On you get . ”
Said the Indian who pulled him up on to his horse .

Who are those who turn the key and twist hand of fate ?
What is the reason one door opens and so many remain are locked ?
Why are some picked and others not .
It can only happen in Hollywood .

One quiet lonely night this man stumbled in on to a set and found the perfect words to say .

What was going to happen and where would it all go .
Its all just another world away in a place where dreams come true if you keep believing . He made his way to the top and the only person who knew the answers was an Indian who too had once come to Hollywood with a head full of dreams .

Isn’t life good ?
How are things with you .

Never give up , hold on to your dreams .

The End

By Paul McCann