Backstage at the filming studio.
Ray walks briskly along the sidewalk, swinging his make-up kit and singing softly to himself.
"Charleston, Charleston Made in Carolina. Some dance, some prance , I'll say better than finer."
He smiles at the bustling people he doesn't know, waves at the ones he does, and calls "Good morn-ing!" to those he knows well. He is content, if not quite happy. This film promises a couple of weeks of steady pay and boy! can his wallet use some folding green. Being the on-set makeup man, relegated to touch-ups to faces and hair as the work disarranged things is not his dream, but it is another rung up the ladder, a chance to meet people who count, not just extras, bless their little hearts.
He turns into the gate and dances up to Walter, the gate guard, singing full voice: "Sometime You'll dance it. One time That dance called The Charleston. Made in South Carolin-a! Yeah!" He breaks into a couple of steps and throws his hands wide for a big finish, almost knocking a couple of hurrying estras from the curb with his kit.
"Ooops! Sorry, girls. Good morning, Walter, Stage 4."
Once Walter has checked him in, he walks down the studio street, passing a passel of cowboys and Indians and a bevy of saloon girls with waves and greetings for all his fellow toilers in the Hollywood vineyards. He reaches the heavy door to Stage 4 and goes in.
Once his eyes adjust to the dimness within, he finds his way to the room labeled 'MAKE-UP and WARDROBE'. He stows his kit, saying good morning to the slightly intimidating wardrobe mistress and her already-harried assistant.
Out in the hallway, he follows the sound of hub-bub to the set and finds --Wonder of Wonders!-- coffee and pastries. He fills a mug and selects a kruller. Then he watches as the set is readied for today's shooting. Finishing the kruller, he ambles over to the Assistant Director and introduces himself, nodding at a man in a suit that he doesn't know -- not an actor, no makeup and the suit isn't a costume, the fabric's too good--and that tie!
"Hiya, Phil," he says to the A.D., "Reporting for duty."