Flying over the bubble era

Chapter 63 063. Francis
"What did you say?! Do you want to throw it all away?"

On the big screen, Francis' mother, with a trembling voice, questioned her daughter, "You have unique conditions, beauty and a bright future, you are a movie star!"

Francis stared at his mother motionless, as if seeing her true face for the first time in her life.

"Mom, you meant to take me back, didn't you?"

Francis, played by Jessica Lange, showed a powerful acting that seemed to overwhelm everything.Even though it was the second time to watch it, Okada Yukiko couldn't help holding her breath and fell in love with the heroine's performance.

Today is Tuesday, and for an early movie like her, there is no second person in this screening room.She wouldn't be in the cinema at this time if it hadn't been decided that it would end here today.

"Francis" is a 1982 American film about the tragic life of Hollywood star Francis Farmer.On January [-] this year, it was introduced by the Art Cinema and released on RB.Although there are not many museums open, the reviews are good, and it has been shown until now.

Three days ago, on April [-]th, Okada Yukiko just watched this movie with her friend, Yoko Minano, who is also an idol.

That afternoon, Okada Yukiko had a performance at the Shibuya Public Hall. Taking advantage of the time before the rehearsal started, she took time out of her busy schedule and went out with friends to relax.After lunch, Yoko Minano suggested going to the movies, so they walked into an art theater.

The idols live a busy life every day, and Yukiko Okada keeps turning, and this friend's situation is not much better.Yoko Minano, who is on the rise, works every day from morning to night, so she rarely has a chance to catch her breath.

Because they are busy with work, these girls are clearly in their teens, and they are girls of the age to follow the trend, but they are very slow to the fashion. A gust of wind blows, and when their skin feels it, it has already blown past.

"There's a movie I've always wanted to see," Yoko Minano and her friends said before entering the cinema.

Earlier this year, Yoko Minano saw the introduction of "Francis" in a magazine that introduced foreign films and was very interested.However, this year, she has been working so hard that she has been delayed until now to see it.

Young and famous Hollywood star Francis Farmer, unwilling to be at the mercy of his boss and unwilling to compromise with his life, was sent to a mental hospital for eight years after a failed struggle. Died of cancer in 1970.

Before that, Okada Yukiko didn't know who Francis Farmer was, and the movie was a bit dull and boring. Usually, when she was watching it, she thought "it's not over" in her heart, but she watched it very intently.

Stars, as pawns in the hands of capital, cannot escape the fate of being manipulated, no matter how glamorous they look.This point, Okada Yukiko, who is a high-profile idol star, probably has a deeper understanding than ordinary moviegoers.

Recently, the "why" I have been asking myself in my heart mirrors the sad fate of Francis Farmer in the movie.

After the movie, Yoko Minano said with emotion: "Jessica Lange's acting is really outstanding, it's a pity not to win an Oscar."

There's no way this can be done. The opponent of "Francis" back then was "Sophie's Choice".

"It's scary." Okada Yukiko said.

Yoko Minano took her friend's hand, "What's so scary?"

"What happened in the movie is really scary." Okada Yukiko lowered her eyelids, and a heavy sadness filled her heart.

On that day, after watching the movie, the two girls went to a dessert shop that was said to be very popular recently.By the time I hurried back to the Shibuya Public Hall, I was already ten minutes late.

"Why did you come back so late?" The agent who was so anxious saw her and scolded her.

Okada Yukiko bowed her head and apologized, but before she could catch her breath, the manager put her hand on her back and gently pushed her to send her to the makeup artist and costumer.

The powder puff was patted on her face, and the flamboyant costume of the idol hung on the hanger, waiting for its owner.Okada Yukiko was at the mercy of the staff, motionless like a puppet.

Today at the Shibuya Public Hall, including temporary workers, there are 150 staff busy, and they all rely on the signboard "Okada Yukiko" to eat.

Okada Yukiko kept asking herself "why" in her heart, but no one could answer her.

The well-dressed Okada Yukiko is young and beautiful. As an idol, her signature is an optimistic and cheerful, a little childish smile.But now, she can't smile at all, she looks like a plastic flower that lacks vitality.

"You can't treat the audience with such a face, you know?" the agent encouraged her.

Okada Yukiko raised the corner of her mouth, "I know, Mizoguchi-san."

With her that day was her most trusted agent, Noburo Mizoguchi.

"There were moments in your life that left unpleasant wounds in your memory, and what inspired you to pick yourself up and move on with your life and be with us tonight, Eph. Lancis?"

On the big screen, Francis was removed from the pituitary gland to remove the "root cause" and finally left the mental hospital.When I went to participate in a TV talk show, the host who was full of spring breeze asked this question.

At seven o'clock last night, Okada Yukiko went to the premiere of "Rocky 4".

At the premiere, her performance was impeccable, but no one except her and her agent Hayakawa Asako knew that before going to the venue, Okada Yukiko was playing a big name.

"I don't want to go to the premiere tonight." Okada Yukiko said to Hayakawa Asako when she went out early in the morning.

"How can I do that?" Hayakawa Asako told her with a serious expression, "As a 'STAR', it is very dangerous to have such disrespectful thoughts."

"...I know." The awkward expression on Okada Yukiko's face just now disappeared.

Hayakawa Asako showed a satisfied expression.

After the premiere, Okada Yukiko followed her manager back to Aoyama's apartment.

When she was physically and mentally exhausted, she thought of Toru Minegishi, who she admired in her heart and cared a lot about her.Okada Yukiko called Toru Minegishi.

It wasn't until he was about to fall asleep that Toru Minegishi called back.Even though she was almost unable to open her eyes, Okada Yukiko still cheered up, "Minegishi-san!"

However, on the other end of the phone, Toru Minegishi's response was extremely cold and perfunctory.After a few chats, Okada Yukiko couldn't bear the cold atmosphere during the call, held back her tears and asked, "Minegishi-san, what should I do?"

Toru Minegishi smacked his lips impatiently, "It's really the number one trouble in life to have a relationship with you. In the future, can you please stop calling me?"

The phone hangs up.

Okada Yukiko put down the receiver, trying to endure the tears, but the tears flowed out uncontrollably.

On the morning of the [-]th, Yukiko Okada started working at [-]:[-].

At [-]:[-], Hayakawa Asako rang Okada Yukiko's doorbell. Without waiting for anyone to answer, he opened the door with the key and walked in.

"Yukiko, how are you getting ready?" Hayakawa Asako asked in a higher voice as he walked in.

However, got no answer.

Hayakawa Asako knocked on the bedroom door, "Have you not gotten up yet? I went in, Yukiko—" But when the door was pushed open, there was no one inside.

Hayakawa Asako stood outside the bathroom and listened again, but there was no movement. After entering, it was still very damp and had used it not long ago.

Hayakawa Asako was a little flustered and searched for this small apartment, but there was no sign of Okada Yukiko - where did she go? !
"For now, Francis, I join the friends who are with you and wish you all the best in your new venture. After this show, we will be at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood for you and your friends. Hold a reception..."

After the reception was over, Francis walked alone on the street late at night.Suddenly, a former lover appeared in front of her.

"I want you to take me back..."

Francis looked at him, "I really want you to send me back, but—"

But she has been destroyed.

Okada Yukiko watched the movie intently.She no longer cares about the job she escaped, and doesn't care about everything.Because she has decided to do something big today.

"If you don't mind, I'll accompany you for a short walk, okay?"

Francis smiled and nodded, "Okay."

The movie is over.Looking at the subtitles at the end of the film, Okada Yukiko did not feel the horror that she felt when she first watched this movie, but the sad feeling continued unabated.

She already knew that the only lover in the movie who brought some warmth to Francis did not actually exist, but was fictionalized in the movie.The fate of Francis is even more tragic than in the movie, without even the slightest warmth.

Today's work was skipped by her.She finally became a rebel.

Will she have such a tragic fate waiting for her when she resists so much?

　On the 80th, Okada Yukiko and Minano Yoko really went to see "Francis", a subtle coincidence.I don't know how Yukiko Okada felt when she watched the movie.Okada Yukiko's suicide was a very big accident in the idol era in the [-]s, and it was also an important reason for the collapse of idols.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)