Pretty Woman

When it looks like all your options are in the rearview, you do what you must.

Her mother named her Vivian in homage to Vivian Leigh. Gone With the Wind was her favorite movie of all time with A Streetcar Named Desire coming in second. She hoped giving her a famous name would give Vivian Leigh Ward a head start on a future brighter than her mother’s past.

VIvian’s mother watched the movies so often, Vivian knew all of Scarlett O’Hara’s lines by the age of seven; Blanche DuBois’ by 14. She did the fall and spring drama productions in high school and worked early mornings before school and weekends at the diner where her mother worked.

When Vivan was 17, her mom died after her latest boyfriend beat her a little harder than usual. Vivan managed to finish high school and, after graduation, she worked seven days a week for six months to save enough for a bus ticket to Hollywood where her friend, Kit, had already moved with her boyfriend.

Unfortunately, by the time Vivian got to Hollywood, Kit’s boyfriend was old news and she was earning a living on the streets.

“It’s good money,” she told Vivian. “Better than anything you can earn waiting tables.”

Despite the advice, Vivian tried to find a job waiting tables while also trying to get auditions without a headshot, an agent or any experience.

She was not successful.

Kit was a good friend, but the rent had to be paid and if Vivian couldn’t come up with her half, there were plenty of girls who would love the room she’d conditionally offered Vivian.

So, she lent Vivian some clothes not from their small town, gave her some condoms and showed her where the best spots were to ensure a lucrative night.

She didn’t say don’t get into cars with strangers, because, well, a girl’s got to make a living.

A week or two after she started working the streets, Kit and Vivian were facing a slow night and rent issues.

“Maybe we should get a pimp, you know, Carlos really digs you.”

“And then he’ll run our lives and take our money.”

“You’re right: We say who, we say when, we say how much.” Looking at a screeching car that just turned onto the drive, Kit said, “Oh yo oh yo oh yo, catch this.”

“Wait a minute, that’s a lotus Esprit,” Vivian said, enthralled.

“No, that’s rent. You should go for him; you look hot tonight. Don’t take less than $100. Call me when you’re through, take care of you.”

“Take care of you."

One of them would.

“Hey, sugar, you looking for a date?”

“No, I want to find Beverly Hills; can you give me directions?”

“Sure. For five bucks

“Ridiculous.”

“The price just went up to ten.”

“You can’t charge me for directions.”

“I can do anything, I want to baby, I ain’t lost.”

“All right, okay, all right, you win I lose. Do you have change for a $20.”

“For $20 I’ll take you personal. I’ll even show you where the stars live.”

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“What do you want it to be?”

He just looked at her.

“Vivian. My name is Vivian.

“Vivian.”

“So, what hotel you staying at?”

“Regent Beverly Wilshire.”

“Okay, down the block, right at the corner.”

He kept going straight.

“I think you left your transmission back there and you missed the turn.”

He didn’t say anything.

“Hey, turn right at the next corner. The hotel is back there.”

“I changed my mind.”

“Fine. Let me out then. You can’t have your twenty back though. Not my fault you don’t know what you want.”

“Oh, I know what I want. Vivian.”

He picked up speed in the direction of Laurel Canyon.

“Listen, baby, this is gonna cost you more.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Stop the car.”

He picked up speed.

“Hey, let me out.”

He ignored her.

Watching the city lights fade, Vivian was both angry and terrified. Not one to sit and wait for bad things to happen, she tried to open the door.

It wouldn’t open.

When she didn’t come home for a week, Kit hoped the best for Vivian, but she packed up her few belongings and got a new roommate for her newly vacant room.

I mean, the rent must be paid.