“So there’s three helicopters riding over the top of the train.” The voice is from a guy coming up the aisle behind me. He talks so loud, so emphatically, it’s impossible to miss a word, even over the sound of the train. “It’s beautiful,” he continues. “One of them lands right on top of the train.” Whack. The guy claps his hands. “That’s when the whole thing blows up!”
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“They’re flying in 18 stuntmen from the coast–18 stuntmen!” The thrill in his voice says that this is the stuff of legend. “We’ll have five cameras running the whole time. Guaranteed, we won’t miss a thing.”
The guy with him asks him something and he says, “No, I’ll be up in one of the helicopters with the cameras. I’m the stunt director.” He grins at the people on the train. “This time I’m going to be warm. Inside the helicopter.” Metal jangles as he rubs his hands together. He’s got brass clowns pinned to the backs of his gloves. The clowns have metal rings at all the joints so that the arms and legs swing around freely as he gestures. He’s got a third one pinned to his hat brim.
“Who’s going to be in it?” a passenger asks him. The guy rattles off a string of names beginning, oddly enough, with Neil Diamond. Jack Nicholson gets fifth or sixth billing. “Everybody in Hollywood,” he exclaims at the end of the list. “That’s who’s going to be in it. Everybody in Hollywood.”
“I don’t do many stunts myself anymore,” he continues. He has an odd way of looking at individuals and then talking into the air. His eyes move quickly. “I direct,” he says. “I’m going to New York after this. Musical comedy. We find new talent. Make ’em stars.” His constant chuckle turns to almost a giggle. “My brother owns the company. We do things for people. Make it happen. Hang around with me, you’re a star!” He’s talking and turning and chuckling. “You’re a star!” The man glows with pleasure. “You’re a star!” People are smiling and laughing. Everyone is watching. He’s an absolute hit!
