A word from Chris James
I wasn't sure this work would ever see the light of day again. It was written some years ago and posted to a site other than the one you are now viewing. I wasn't going back, but I have always loved these characters, and so I have returned to this story.
Characters brought this story back to life. Not the characters in Adam Conquers Earth (ACE), but the ones in Exit Stage Left, my ode to the backstage people in theater, the ones who live in the dark.
The rebirth of ACE came about because the sequel to Exit Stage Left will soon be finished. I am calling it Exit Hollywood, and it will continue the lives of those original characters blended with those from ACE. Why create new characters when there are perfectly good ones waiting in the wings?
ACE began as a challenge to write two stories in one: the real life adventures of the characters and the scripted one featuring them as actors in a television series. I have included some production details to educate the reader, but wherever possible they have been simplified.
In summary, ACE is the story of two very different boys at work in the entertainment industry. The people they meet and the relationships they form are all important to their fictional lives. Many of the events they encounter are a matter of good fortune or fierce determination. The life of an actor is not always smooth sailing, and nowhere is that more apparent then in Hollywood.
As always I must tell you that this is a fictional story and none of the characters are meant to portray real persons. This is a love story with humor and sadness, much like real life. You won't need a television to enjoy this story, and better yet, there are no commercials.
My thanks to Wayne, Gary and Ted for the assistance in resurrecting this story. Old work is filled with errors and they worked hard to find them. We do not demand perfection as much as we like to read it. Enjoy! Chris James, 2011