February 28th, 1959. 1:02pm, Edward James show.
INTERVIEWER EDWARD JAMES
It's my pleasure to introduce the lovely Mr. And Mrs. Buddy Holly!
INTERVIEWEE BUDDY HOLLY
(Shakes Edward's hand)
It's great t'meet you, Mr. James. Her name is Violet, by the way. She's a separate human from me.
EDWARD
Oh, sorry. Please, call me Ed.
(Grabs Violet's hand and gently kisses the top)
Lovely to meet you aswell, Violet.
INTERVIEWEE VIOLET HOLLY
You too, Ed!
EDWARD
Well, this lovely power couple is known for hit records such as "That'll Be The Day", "Peggy Sue", and "Oh Boy!". Am I correct when I say that Miss Violet drums and Buddy sings and plays guitar?
BUDDY
(Looks to Violet)
Well, sometimes. In my old band The Crickets, Jerry Allison used to drum and Joe B. Mauldin was on bass.
ED
Will there ever be a reunion with them Crickets?
BUDDY
Yeah, actually. Hopefully soon! They're still down in Texas, while us two are in New York.
ED
How do you feel about this, Violet?
VIOLET
(Smiles)
I'm excited, I love them so much!
EDWARD
Oh, really? That's sweet. You don't have competition with Jerry Allison about who plays drums?
Violet
(Shakes head)
Nope, we're civil. I always let him play, seeing as it was him who was the orginal drummer.
ED
That's too kind of you, Violet. Enough career talk, yeah? Everyone already knows all your career woos, we want to know the details. The personal things.
BUDDY
(Puts hand on Violet's thigh)
Ask away.
ED
(Leans forward)
You met in high school?
BUDDY
(Nods)
ED
What were your first impressions of eachother?
BUDDY
(Smiles)
If I'm honest, I thought Vi here was pretty. When we started talkin', I thought she was a real funny and a real interestin' person.
VIOLET
Well, I wrote in my journal that he was cute the very first day that we met.
(Laughs)
I thought he was really nice and a super kind person.
ED
Would you say it was love at first sight?
VIOLET
(Looks at Buddy)
I definitely liked you right away.
BUDDY
(Looks at Violet)
I certainly loved you.
VIOLET
(Blushes)
Yeah...
ED
We know about your first date, but what date has been most exciting?
VIOLET & BUDDY
The carnival!
ED
Woah, that was synched up! What made it so exciting?
VIOLET
Well, we decided to go on the scariest ride there. It was called "The Hurricane" and it almost killed us!
BUDDY
(Nods)
Our seatbelt broke while we were going up the biggest drop.
ED
What kind of ride was the Hurricane?
BUDDY
A huge rollercoaster. We were at the very tip top, and all the sudden our belt broke.
VIOLET
(Laughs)
I was so sure I was going to die! I did get free food out of it, though.
July 8th, 1955. 7:44pm, Lubbock County Carnival
"I'm so excited, Buddy!" I bounce up and down. "So excited!"
Buddy grabs my hand. "Me too!"
Adalyn and Bob roll their eyes.
"I'm way scared!" Adalyn's eyes go wide. "It's so high!"
Bob laughs. "Hey, Ada, I'll hold your hand the whole time!"
"You're the best, Bobby!" Adalyn grins.
The worker who runs the ride opens the gate and motions us in. Buddy and I are forced to sit in the very front. Bob and Adalyn are in the seat behind us.
The worker comes around and straps us in a seatbelt and puts down a lap bar.
I place my hands on the lap bar. "OW! The metal is so hot!"
Buddy grabs the bar. "Nah."
"Yeah, okay, Texan."
The coaster lurches forward. I grin.
Buddy grabs my hand. "This is gonna be so fun!"
The coaster does all it's normal maneuvers.
All of the sudden, we're slowly climbing to the very, very tall peak.
"Vi," Buddy mumbles.
"Uh, Vi?" He says again, urgently
"VIOLET?"
My head snaps to him. "What?!"
"I don't think this is quite right!" He holds up the seat belt.
"WHAT? PUT IT BACK IN!"
"It won't go back in! It's broken!"
"Shit. Shit! SHIT!" I scream. "WHAT DO WE DO?"
"I DON'T KNOW!"
I grab onto the lap bar. It's loose.
"Buddy, the lap bar is loose!"
"SHIT!"
"We're going to die!"
"Vi, are y'all okay?" Adalyn asks from behind me.
I shake my head. "Seat belt is busted, lap bar is coming loose."
"SHIT!" Adalyn yells.
"Tell me about it!" I reply.
"Whatever happens, I love you, Violet." Buddy says, death gripping the bar.
"I love you too..." I respond as we near the peak.
We start to tip over the peak. I grab the bar so hard that my knuckles turn white.
We start down the giant hill.
I start screaming as I feel my ass come out of the seat. The only thing keeping me in the car is my grip on the wobbly bar.
If this bar comes loose, I'm dead.
I'm so dead.
Buddy isn't screaming, much to my surpise. He just has a look of pure terror in his eyes.
All of the sudden, I remember all the times that my life was supposed to end.
Every single bombing I've ever been in.
Every single time a gun has been pointed at me.
Every single time I've been in a car that's been slightly too close to crashing.
Every single time I've ran from people in the allies of Paris and Chicago.
I swear to god, if I die in a rollercoaster related accident, I will be the most vengeful ghost of all time.
We go into a hard right turn.
Buddy grabs my arm as I almost fly out.
"If you die, I'm coming with you!" I say to Buddy. "I am NOT going to live with that guilt!"
"We ain't gonna die, not today!" Buddy replies.
We start to go up another peak.
Buddy and I take this time that we're going up to try to lock the lap bar. It's our only hope at this point.
"Oh fuck." I mumble. Now the lap bar is even looser.
"Hold it down when we go." Buddy says.
"You guys okay?" Bob asks from behind us.
"Nope!" I call back.
"Don't die!" Adalyn says.
"Not intendin' on it!" Buddy says.
The go over the peak, and like Buddy said, I'm holding down the hot metal bar, burning my hands in the process. I can practically feel the blisters that I'll for sure have later.
I close my eyes and hope for the best.
《《《》》》
The ride slows down. Oh thank god, we're done.
When it comes to a stop, Buddy and I immediately move the lap bar and get off.
"Our seatbelt broke." Buddy tells the ride operator. "Lap bar came real loose."
The operator's eyes go wide. "Wh-what?"
"We coulda died, y'know." Buddy glares.
"I'm so sorry! I had no idea, please don't tell my manager!"
"Why shouldn't we?" I cross my arms.
"I'll loose my job! It isn't my fault that the belt broke! It was fine last ride!"
"They could have DIED!" Adalyn says from behind us.
"Here," the operator says. "Free line pass and free food card." He pulls out his wallet. He takes out a gold card. "Please don't tell, I'll take out that car."
"Is a lousy food and line pass card is compensation for our lives?!" I exclaim. "Because you're right, I will gladly take that."
He hands me the card. I gladly shove it in my purse. "Thank you, sir." I turn and walk away, closely followed by Adalyn, Bob, and Buddy.
"You really would trade your life for a line pass and free food?!" Adalyn questions, furrowing her brows.
I nod. "Yep, worth it! Free funnel cake!"
"You need to check your priorities!" Bob laughs.
"Hey, when you've lived like I have, you learn to accept compensation."
Buddy laughs. "That's Vi for ya."
"I hope you know that I fully intend to use this free food card to its fullest." I walk up to the nearest food stand and look at the menu. "I have to take advantage of the newfound freedom that I have!"
"Newfound freedom?" Buddy raises an eyebrow.
"No more cheer! I don't have to be exactly 130 pounds! I can be 135 and not be forced to run laps for an hour and a half!" I grin.
"How can I help you, ma'am?" A scrawny teenage boy asks from inside the booth.
"Hey! What do you recommend?" I ask.
"I dunno about you, but I love the ice cream waffle!"
"Then that, please." I reply.
"Coming right up." He replies
ED
(Laughs)
And how did you know that the other was "the one"?
BUDDY
Well, I think I knew on my birthday, exactly a week after we met. I remember that we walked t'a playground in order t'get away from my mom who was bein' a little overbearin'.
VIOLET
(Nods)
I was not prepared for the onslaught from southern families.
BUDDY
And you challenged me t'who could jump outta the swing the highest!
ED
Who won?
VIOLET
Me! I only almost broke both of my ankles and cut myself on the gravel, but I won!
ED
What made you decide then and there?
BUDDY
I guess she had some fight in her. I thought it was the funniest thing in the world. That's when I knew that I had t'get her!
ED
How about you, Vi? What made you know that Buddy was "the one"?
VIOLET
We had been friends for a few months, and I had a petty crush on him, like any other teenage girl. The exact moment that I knew that I was somehow going to manipulate him into liking me was when he made a horribly offensive joke that I'm not going to repeat.
(Smiles and shakes head)
I laughed so hard that I almost passed out!
BUDDY
Maybe I was the one who manipulated you!
VIOLET
Maybe we manipulated eachother!
ED
I wouldn't say it was mutual manipulation if you ended up in love! I'd say that was plain falling in love!
BUDDY & VIOLET
(Laugh)
ED
And what do you love about eachother?
BUDDY
I love how calm she is in stressful situations, seein' as I can't keep calm durin' 'em. I also love how smart she is. She doesn't give herself enough credit. She also is ALWAYS lookin' out for other people, no matter how bad it hurts her. Why, I'm sure she'd take a bullet for a random stranger.
ED
Aw, how about you, Violet?
VIOLET
I love how funny he is. Always, always, always, making me laugh. He's always there for me whenever I need him, no matter what the issue is. He's also so humble. Jeez, he's one of the hottest names in music right now and he hasn't bat an eye. It's not about fame with him, it's about the music. It's about putting his music out there.
ED
Now on the otherside, what are the other's downfalls?
BUDDY
I think one of her strengths is a big weakness. She cares too much for others. Too much empathy. She's real sensitive to other people's feelin's, and sometimes that really hurts her. Oh, and she sticks her cold feet on my back at night.
ED
(Laughs)
My wife does the same thing! How about you, Vi?
VIOLET
(Rolls eyes)
He snores!
BUDDY
I do not!
VIOLET
Yes you do! Well, anyways, I think that sometimes he gets too caught up in work. He almost monopolizes his time with music, and sometimes that's frustrating. And sometimes he's overly ambitious. If he wants something, he WILL get it, no matter how hard it is.
ED
And how do you resolve complications in your marriage?
BUDDY
Communication and acceptance.
VIOLET
Yeah, in order to be in a marriage, you have to forgive eachother and communicate what your issues are.
ED
Okay, now we're going to switch it up like a twisted form of the Newlywed Game. I ask Buddy a question about you, like, say, "What's Violet's favorite food"? And he answers.
(Looks to Buddy)
After he answers, Violet answers for you.
BUDDY & VIOLET
(Nod)
ED
Question one: Buddy, what is one food that Violet does NOT like?
BUDDY
Bell peppers. Or any kinda pepper for that matter. Oh, and hazel nuts. And candy cigarettes. Wait, that was more than one.
ED
It's okay, Buddy. Violet, is he right?
VIOLET
(Nods)
Yep! And he doesn't like jelly or jam. And he doesn't like tomatoes.
BUDDY
Yes, she's right.
ED
How about her favorite food?
BUDDY
She said to me once, "bring me a PB&J and I'll marry you." She really loves PB&J, along with any kind of chocolate.
VIOLET
Jeez, you still remember that?!
BUDDY
Of course I do. I brought you a PB&J and we got married.
VIOLET
Well, you're a standard Texan. You love steak and fried okra. You also like peanut butter sandwiches. No jam or jelly.
BUDDY
Wow, you're exactly right.
ED
What color are Violet's eyes?
BUDDY
Uh, green.
VIOLET
His are brown.
ED
And what is her heritage? Where is she from?
BUDDY
I can't say for sure because she doesn't even know.
VIOLET
Yeah, I'm adopted.
BUDDY
I gotta assume that she's from Paris, makin' her French. How about broadly western European?
VIOLET
Yeah, close enough. Buddy is just American, I guess.
BUDDY
Yeah, none of my family knows, we're all just Texan and American.
ED
Who's her best friend aside from you?
BUDDY
Vi's is probably Dion, honest.
VIOLET
(Nods)
Yeah, I'd say Dion. Yours is either Bob, Jerry, or Larry.
BUDDY
Yep, those are it.
ED
Now Buddy, if you baked Violet a cake, what kind would she want it?
BUDDY
I would say marble with vanilla and strawberry. Strawberry icing, too. Oh! Or an apple pie.
VIOLET
Oh jeez, I would kill for that apple pie!
(Smiles)
I would probably make Buddy a German chocolate cake. He likes coconut.
ED
How about favorite sandwiches?
BUDDY
It's established that her's is peanut butter and jelly.
VIOLET
He likes turkey and ham with mayo, cheese and lettuce
ED
Did she do any sports?
BUDDY
She did cheerleading and marching band. Both are sports in my book. Oh, and basketball for a second.
VIOLET
I don't think you really did sports in high school. I mean, you did midget football when you were a kid, I guess.
ED
What's her favorite color?
BUDDY
She likes purple and yellow, but not together.
VIOLET
You could say I'm a really big fan of violet.
(Laughs)
His is a dark blue.
ED
What's a unique talent she has, outside of music?
BUDDY
Oof, she's really good at talkin' and readin' backwards. On tour with Dion, she and him always say things backwards. She called Dion "Noid" and he called her "Teloiv" or just "Iv".
VIOLET
Buddy can do this thing where he can bend his fingers back to touch the top of his hand.
ED
And the last question is: Do you regret getting married at such a young age?
BUDDY
(Shakes head)
No, Ed. I'd have t'say that it was one of the best decisions of my life.
VIOLET
(Nods)
I agree, I would never go back and change it. I'm grateful that I found someone that I love so early on. I'm really, really glad that we're married.
ED
You guys are too perfect! Well, sadly that's all we have time for. It was an absolute treat to meet you both, come back soon! Good night everyone!
"3...2...1... and we're off air!" The director calls.
I stand up from my seat and smooth my dress out. "It was really nice talking with you, Ed." I smile.
Ed nods. "It was great talking with you too!"
Buddy stands up and stretches out his arms. "Call us, we'll come talk again."
"Will do!" Ed calls as he walks off the stage set.
"You have no idea how hard I was trying to act like a lady." I mumble to Buddy.
"Aw, doll. You did great!" Buddy grabs my hand. "You're perfect the way you are."
I look at all the cameras. My public "persona" isn't me, but it is at the same time. It's like an idyllic version of me. A confident, well spoken, not anxious mess. In reality, I mix up words and languages, I swear, I cry, I worry, I'm human. I'm not this pristine "All-American" wife that I'm made out to be. Hell, I'm not even American! No one has any idea how hard I try to be a good looking role model.
Buddy and I walk back to backstage.
The makeup artist that caked my face hands me my purse and jacket. "It was great to do your makeup, Violet!"
She chirps.
I smile. "You too, Jan, you're so talented with makeup!"
"I hope to see you again, have a great day!"
"You too, Jan. You too." I say, walking over to Buddy. He puts on his coat.
I hand him my purse. "Hold this."
I slide on my jacket and take back the purse. "Where to?" I ask.
"Wanna get some lunch?" He turns to me.
"Yeah, sure. We haven't eaten all day."
He opens the exit door. "This is what we get for being nocturnal!"
I walk out of the door and laugh. "I guess we should stop staying up until 5 am."
"Maybe, maybe not. No one is stoppin' us."
"No one should have let us out on our own." I say, pulling my coat tighter around my waist.
"Whaddaya wanna do for food?" Buddy asks.
I shrug. "Whatever you want,"
"Vi, don't do this!" Buddy frowns.
"Do what?"
"Do not make me name every restaurant only for you t'shoot 'em down!"
I smile. "I don't do that!"
"Fine, how 'bout pizza?"
"Anything but pizza!"
Buddy turns to me in the middle of the parking lot. "You just did it!"
"Fine, fine, pizza is okay."
"Wait, no, I don't want pizza either."
I roll my eyes. "Ambrosios?"
"Nah, I'm feelin' not Italian."
"China House?"
"Yeah! Yes, China House is good." Buddy opens the car door for me. I sit climb in.
He wraps around the front and gets in the driver's seat. "What'd you think of the interview?"
I shrug. "It was fine. I miss the days where they just asked about music and not our personal lives."
He nods, putting the key in the ignition. "Me too."
"It was weird."
"Felt like he was tryin' t'put us against eachother."
"Yeah, sort of. Of course we have flaws."
"You're good for me, doll."
"You're good for me too, Buddy." I smile.