Random Encounter

Chapter 10 - Date

The film may had finished but Robert didn't stop talking in that wonderful accent. In a way I wished he would stop because he was becoming more and more irresistible to me by the second. “Calm down Maria.”

“Right now Miss I believe it is time for your lesson.” He says while grabbing a ruler from my desk and slapping it in his other hand. “Oh my god, why did he have to do that? It's like he knows hes torturing me.”

 “That is fine by me Mr Downey.” I give him a wink and head into the living room taking my laptop with me. I sat on the sofa cross legged with my laptop resting on my legs. Robert walks into the room wearing a tie. I let out a slight giggle when I noticed what tie it was.

 “Why are you wearing my old school tie Robert?”

 “It was the only tie you had in your closet.”

 “And why did you have to wear a tie?”

 “Dress for the occasion my dear.”

 Only that second do I notice he is wearing glasses. “Hum he looks good in glasses.” I couldn't help but think to myself. “Wait where did those glasses even come from? I didn't notice them before. Maybe I just wasn't paying attention or hes a magician ;)”

 “Well then Miss Hughes, what is it you would like to know about the great man Charlie Chaplin?”

 “Everything.”

 “Well as you know his name was Charlie Chaplin, he was born in London on April 16th 1889. His mother was Hannah Chaplin and his father was Charles Chaplin. He had an older brother called Sydney Chaplin.” He starts pacing the room, getting excited, it's so cute. “Concentrate Maria.”

 He continues. “His father was a vocalist and actor and his mother was an actress and singer so it's understandable that acting and performing was in his blood.”

 “Chaplins father died when he was just 10 years old, not soon after his mother became ill, leaving his brother and him to fend for themselves.”

 “His first performance was as a tap dancer on the stage.” I nod my head to what he is saying while continuing to type up notes on my computer. The sound of the computer keys clacking and his smooth voice where the only sounds that could be heard. It was such a lovely moment of perfection.

 “In 1910 he went to the United States for a job as a feature player with the Fred Repertoire Company. That's where his career really blossomed. He acted in a number of movies but soon he wanted more creative input, to be able to make decisions about the movies he was putting his name on, so he asked to direct his first movie.”

 “He died on Christmas day 1977, survived by eight children from his last marriage with Oona O’Neill, and one son from his short marriage to Lita Grey.”

 I finish typing up the last of the notes and look at Robert who was silent and in deep in thought.

 “Robert?” No answer.
 “Robert!?” He snaps out of it and looks at me with an expression that is a mix of sadness and guilt on his face.
“Whats wrong?”

 “Sorry it's just; thinking back to making that movie brings back some painful memories of the person I was then. I was still using at that time. Thinking back it just makes me so much more grateful of where I am today. That's why I never pass up the opportunity to talk to my fans or sign something or take a photo with them because they stuck by me all these years and with out them I wouldn't be the man I am today.”

 “That's lovely Robert. For what it's worth even though you where using while making Chaplin your performance will always remain amazing to me.”