Characters Discussed

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Bobby Gould

Bobby Gould, the number two man in a Hollywood production office. At almost forty years of age, he is still immature, guided by the “street smarts” learned in his youth. Gould has earned his position by honoring the principle that a film is good only if it makes money. By following this standard, he has been rewarded with an office redolent of success. Gould is concerned primarily with his own self-image, his maleness, and the appearance of success. He dresses expensively and uses special, irreverent, and vulgar insiders’ language with ease and fluidity. For a brief period, because he is starving for love and affection, he tries to impress a good-looking girl, his temporary secretary, Karen. He allows himself to pretend that scruples were always important to him. He almost produces an “art for art’s sake” film, seemingly abandoning Hollywood’s “money rules” credo. His lack of faith in his ability to sustain a caring relationship proves justified when Karen is found to have been interested in him only for what he could do for her career. A misogynist from the start, Gould has no qualms or thoughts about what will happen to her when he dumps her.

Charlie Fox

Charlie Fox, who is about Gould’s age and is an old pal of his. Fox is a hanger-on in the film industry, continually flattering all those in a position to help him while waiting for his big break to come along, which occurs when a hot property (film star or director) agrees to sign on his team, thereby making him a producer. Using friendship as motivation, he presents his new deal to his old buddy, knowing that his friend will remain faithful to him. Fox uses language riddled with clichés. He has no pretensions to intelligence, charm, or wit, and he seems proud of his coarseness. He will stop at nothing and let nothing get in the way of his success, which is defined by Hollywood’s rules. He will even use the street behavior learned as a child, physically bullying others to get his way. Fox probably lacks a family, as indicated by his own sense of mistrust, impotence, and misogyny. Suspecting that everyone is, like himself, motivated by self-interest, Fox will use and abuse, all the time pretending long-term affection and trust for those who have been more monetarily successful than he.

Karen

Karen, a good-looking, seemingly sweet, temporary secretary in her twenties who has the makings of an opportunist. While working for Gould, Karen sees a chance to make a difference in the type of film produced while furthering her career. Using earnestness as a cover, she is unfortunately honest enough to admit that she had sex with her boss only to get ahead; she did not care for him as a person. Although she pretends a certain amount of naïveté, she nevertheless relies on the stereotype that a man will take care of her, ironically proving herself to be actually naïve as well as stupid, manipulative, plotting, power-hungry, and whorish.

Characters

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Charlie Fox
Charlie Fox is a film producer in his forties. True to his name, Fox is cunning and shrewd, willing to do whatever it takes to climb the career ladder. Eager for his big break, he seizes a potential opportunity with movie star Doug Brown and fiercely defends it. He presents this deal to his long-time friend and business partner, Bobby Gould. With a one-day option on Brown's film, Fox pushes Gould to act quickly. When Gould agrees to pitch the project to his superior, Fox is thrilled,...

(This entire section contains 649 words.)

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especially when Gould promises him a co-producer credit.

In a competitive twist, Fox wagers with Gould that he can't convince his temporary secretary, Karen, to sleep with him. The next day, Fox is dismayed when Gould reveals his decision to pursue a film adaptation of a book that Karen recommended, instead of the Brown project. Determined for his project to succeed, Fox physically confronts Gould and verbally criticizes him, suggesting Karen was manipulative. Gould realizes that trying to pursue something unique or artistic in Hollywood is futile. Ultimately, Gould opts for the safer route, and Fox secures his film deal.

Bobby Gould
Bobby Gould is a film executive in his early forties and the central figure in the play. He has just been promoted to head of production at a major studio. Gould values loyalty, and when Charlie Fox approaches him with news that a major movie star, Doug Brown, is interested in a film deal, Gould promptly arranges a meeting with his boss to get the go-ahead. Fox and Gould also make a bet about whether Gould can persuade his new assistant, Karen, to sleep with him. To this end, Gould gives her a book for a "courtesy read"—a review copy sent by publishers hoping for a film adaptation—and invites her to his home to discuss it. She finds merit in the book and persuades him to consider adapting it into a film instead of pursuing the Doug Brown project.

The next morning, when Fox arrives for their meeting, Gould has won the bet and attempts to dismiss Fox. However, after Fox berates and physically assaults Gould, revealing that Karen's actions were motivated by his decision to favor the book, Gould realizes that the Doug Brown project is the safer, more reliable choice. By the play's conclusion, Gould decides to take Fox to the meeting instead of Karen, as he is reluctant to take risks.

Karen
Karen is a young woman in her twenties, currently employed as a temporary secretary in Gould’s office. Due to her temporary status, she is unfamiliar with the location of the coffeemaker and the proper procedure for making lunch reservations for Gould. Karen holds strong values and principles. In the eyes of the other characters, she is naive about the film industry because she believes movies should uphold quality. Nevertheless, when presented with a chance, she seizes it. Gould allows her to conduct a courtesy read of a book and provide him with a report at his residence. Karen's passion for the book resonates with Gould, persuading him to choose it as his next project over the Brown picture. Later, Karen confesses that she only slept with Gould because he approved the book's production, leading the men to believe she was merely using Gould to advance her own ambitions.

In contrast to the ruthless business strategies of Gould and Fox, Karen represents the voice of art and reason within the play. Although she may have had hidden motives for her actions with Gould, it is evident that she values high quality and artistry in filmmaking. While it is clear that Gould and Fox are driven by personal career advancement and profit, Karen’s intentions are more ambiguous. She might be a corporate climber, yet there is also evidence suggesting her motives aim to enhance the quality of films produced in Hollywood.

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