Before July 26th, 1926

At first, when they smiled, Max felt fantastic. A gesture of quick appreciation, just for him. A brief moment in which they connected, as if there was something that bound them together that just they knew about. But after the first few months in Los Angeles, Max had learned that he wasn’t special. For an actress it was their nature. Everyone they met was greeted with a gentle smile. Each person they crossed eyes with got enchanted by their beauty. With hindsight it makes sense that the film industry is the place to learn that what you see on first sight isn’t that pretty after a thorough look.

The glamour, sense of adventure, a life so different than what he had known had drawn Max out west. He enjoyed his first job, learning from Mr. Gerard, the clockmaker. The shiny metals and intriguing techniques kept Max mesmerized and he had quickly learned to treat every gear, each screw with precious care. One wednesday a film-maker had been surprised by how quick Max had gotten his golden pocket-watch, a family piece, running again. That led to an introduction to his second job; prop-maker on the Los Angeles film sets.

Whether working on custom umbrella’s, improving on existing car-design or creating gold-encrusted revolvers, it was in Los Angeles where Max learned that everything that is average looking can be made more beautiful with some effort. And it were the actresses that taught him that everything that appears beautiful, often is less impressive than first perceived. Reality always seems to be in conflict with what we desire. But that’s why movies exist; to create a window to see more than we can find in our own house. Interesting enough the viewers submit to that separation, by watching, instead of changing their reality.

Working in film puts one at the border between two worlds. It gives the most realistic view of what is happening on both sides of the camera. Two worlds, and that is what it is.

Until that friday-afternoon.

July 26th, 1926

“Auch, goddammit” Max yells from under the car. He rolls away from under the car to look at which idiot pinched his leg.

“Hey boy.” She said.
“What the hell did you pinch me for?” Max responded. He noticed her beauty, but for some reason it was irrelevant. Perhaps those are the best times, when beauty isn’t that important.

“Because it takes too much time for you to notice me.” She whispered before stepping past the car while running her hands down it’s chassis. “Is this yours?”

“No, sadly not. I work on it for a shoot later today. Who are you again?”
“Marlene.” She said. “Marlene Dietrich.”
“Never heard of.” Max replied. “You work in make-up?”

She laughed.
“You got the keys for this baby?”

It’s funny how life is a string of choices, inspired by rationale. You cross the street when no car or carriage is approaching. You buy bread, because you are hungry. You don’t jump from that cliff, because it’s dangerous. Then there is today...

“Faster!” She yells. “Go faster.”

Max pushes down on the gas as the customized Ford skips through the outskirts of town, going up the coast. The late afternoon sun flashes through the trees and the engine roars over the sounds of the seagulls above.

After July 26th, 1926

The studio-manager was far from happy about the pair taking the car off-set and he didn’t wait long to express that. The police-officer that had brought them out hadn’t gone back inside before a stream of questions, predictions, swears and bits of saliva came out of the manager's mouth, while being accompanied by a heavily waving finger - as if it added more seriousness to the moment.

For Marlene this had just been a moment in life. A sweet memory before her career in cinemas would really take off. For Max, this was a moment as well. The end of his career in film. Perhaps beauty makes a difference when the offense is the same. But again Max had learned one thing; sometimes life is more pure, exciting and worthwhile when doing things one shouldn’t do.

“Goodbye Max.” She said, before briefly kissing him on the lips.

After that Max left Los Angeles and found it’s way to Las Vegas, chasing an even higher pace of life. His broad knowledge and drive for action landed him his current job; operator for a notorious Las Vegas crime family.