Tuesday 25 August 1964

Dear Dairy Diary

LA California!!!

Well John says I should start writing in you again (I think he would rather you get the shit that hits the fan than him- he is SO scared of me!)

What can I say it's been a blast of eye opening months since I agreed to this crazy 'deal'... oops there's that word again. Australia had me saying yes. I stupidly thought we would go home for a bit of peace & silence but oh no twelve days later they had me bundled up with luggage, baby stuff & headache tablets A-gain. Hadn't we just been on a 'world tour'!?!? It seemed as if we were doing the ABC of Britain - Brighton, Blackpool, Bournemouth & back again to Blackpool with a side dose of Swedish hospitality which was the start of the S's - Stockholm and Scareborough.

Then I had time at home! Not......

*One day*!!!!! Oh my lord! Back on a plane to America the land of the free, the land of hope and horny... well all those girls want Something from my boys...(I sound like Brian when I say that!)

It's been great seeing a few sights around the US of A. I have been able to sneak out with a driver to shop a little or be a tourist on a couple of afternoons.

With the help of the nanny we (I ) hired, I've been able to see more shows than ever before. The noise and seeing the lads pelted with hard jelly baby's is too much. Much too much it seems at times. John stuffs around with some of the songs to have a quite 'bitter' laff

'Twist and Shout' became 'Pissed with Gout' the other day- no one heard- no one hears anything, sad really, don't those kids want to hear them....

Two days of relaxing doing absolutely nothing! Days by a private pool no less and the serenity has been unbelievable. Don't tell John but it's been hard this new 'deal'. We have had some rough days, yelling & screaming at each other til our voices hurt but at the end of the night he comes back to me and we kiss and apologise and ..... well you get the picture, diary.

So I'll close you now because I'm going to meet a big huge star- Burt Lancaster *WOW* Richy was so excited a breakfast and his infection oops infectioUS happiness has me happy too.

Toodles for now dear diary xxxooo

"Hurry up, where have you been luv?" John took Lou's hand after she shut the diary and pulled her hurriedly to the last Cadillac. George, Brian and Richy had already left, that left Paul, John and Lou to catch up in their car. Evie was staying home today, it was much easier to move about without her and she wouldn't enjoy being harnessed on someone's lap to stop her destroying a host's house.

"Did you know this place is costing $1,000 for four days!?" Louise gazed back at the compound as they slipped down the driveway toward the gatehouse where they would pause to pick up Neil who was stationed there with security.

"Mario Lanza's place I think" Paul tapped Lou on the shoulder as they cleared the property "Have a look in the bushes there, see 'em?"

There were police road blocks that the cars had to traverse in three strategic spots en-route and apparently there were more up along St. Cloud road. Louise watched as they motored past a few trees "There! Some fans, nesting in those shrubs. Oh! look up there, in the trees too. Mad buggers"

"Wave luv" John grinned out his window as Lou leaned over his shoulder, Lou waved a little but it wasn't her they wanted to see.

"So... is anything planned today at Mister Lancaster's or press, photos maybe?" Louise sat back and checked her bag for her and Johns swimmers. Paul shoved his in when he spotted Johns shorts in Lou's hand. "Yes... ok Paul, I will babysit your trunks"

"Sorry. Please Louise, can you babysit me trunks..... better?" Paul teased and laughed as Lou zipped the bag again.

"Much"

"Ahhh, nothing to do with press thank-fuck-fully. Had it up to the eye teeth with those wanks. Watching a new movie. That Peter Sellers' one 'A Shot In The Dark', sounds ok" John flopped back in the seat, they were travelling at speed now and no one could see the boys anymore.

"Richy was bursting with excitement this morning. Did you see his get up?!" Lou laughed and the boys nodded, Paul exhaling smoke through the small gap in the top of the window. Richy was beside himself to be going to see the Burt Lancaster, a certified Hollywood legend with a heap of spectacular movies under his belt.

Rich had dressed up in a poncho and western boots and was carrying two toy guns.

The Cadillac slowed and turned into a new estate, a massive home loomed in front of them as the car moved ever closer up the hill.

******

"Hey Richard" Lou bumped shoulders with the blue-eyed wannabe cowboy "How you holding up? Was it all you ever dreamed of when you met him earlier" Lou nodded slightly in the direction of their host Burt, she was sitting side by side with Richy on the pool lounger. They were basically alone at this end of the pool, most of the boys were by the bar or wandering in and out of the beautiful home to chat with Burt and his entourage.

"It was fantastilistic Louise!" Ringo grinned happily, pulling a toy pistol that had been tucked in his towel out to give to Lou to hold, she smiled and happily began pretending to shoot the whisky glasses sat by the edge of the pool

Rich continued on, smiling broadly "Burt ambled out the door to greet us this morn and I said all 'Texan cowboy' like 'Hold'em up there now, Burt .....this town ain't big enough for the two of us' - no joke!" Richy paused... Lou's eyes were luminous and wide-open just waiting for the story to unfold "and he said 'What have you go there? .... Kids' stuff.'!!!"

(A/N: Later he sent Ringo two real guns, and a real holster- 'he didn't like me playing with kids' guns. I just wanted to be a cowboy' quoted from Ringo)

"Can you believe this place, it's so amazing. Beautiful fixtures and gorgeous furniture, the pool is massive, it's like being at the Olympic's!" Louise sat up and pointed over at the back of the main pool, lifting her sunglasses to see the dark shaded area "I want that.... a pool with a grotto of back lit waterfalls and lagoons!!! I can't believe they branch off like streams right into a bedroom- amazing!"

"I know right. You can swim out have a lap and go back and 'ave a kip!" Richy took a swig of his scotch and coke and twirled his cigarette around in the air above them "Your right on all accounts, it's bloody amazing here, alright"

"What's bloody amazing?" A deep American voice spoke and Lou jumped up off the lounger, Burt Lancaster stood a few feet away from her and he was beautiful.

Burt was so handsome, a bronzed statue of a man, built strong and tall with a huge aura attached to him. Louise wasn't a fan before but now stood here she near swooned in his presence. He held out a hand "Louise, I assume, Burt, welcome to my humble abode"

Slowly Lou shook the movie star's hand, her hand dwarfed in his large fist "Hi Mister-"

"Please no misters! - Burt darling, please" Louise was at a loss for words. Burt seemed almost surreal, a matinee poster in the flesh.

"Burt.... we were just appreciating your beautiful home. The pool is wonderful I just wish I could pick it up and take it home with me" Louise smiled and took her sunglasses off, the sun was starting to dip and she could see the man mountain better without them.

"Get that husband of yours to open his wallet and build you one then!"

"Oh no, we have a tiny flat. No room for pools at all!" Lou grinned and Richy cackled beside her at the thought of a replica of this pool in their backyard.

"Well a beautiful thing like you should have a grand home and a big space to put a pool. I'll hit him up for you later" Burt winked and a megawatt grin lit his features, Lou beamed back happily, he was so friendly and nice.

"Thank-you for letting us come today"

"No problem, I didn't see you earlier so I grabbed the opportunity to sidle over now, while your man's otherwise engaged" Burt's low timbre laugh rumbled through him. Lou looked past the movie star to the group huddled in a circle closer to the house, John's head was thrown back laughing at something funny that was said, she smiled at the scene "Here Rich, can I borrow Louise for a little while?" Richy waved them off and Burt took Lou's elbow "Come with me darlin', I want to show you something I think is truly special"

The panoramic view of West Los Angeles was like a scene out of a movie. As the sun began to set Louise couldn't believe she was standing side by side with this man, he was engaging and polite, happily interested and listened avidly to Lou's tales of their recent world travels and how Evie was right in the thick of everything.

The lights of LA twinkled awake as they chatted and when the sun was a slip of orange holding court with the mountains John slipped his arms around her waist and leaned on her shoulder kissing her cheek, it was bliss. "Hey luv. Time to go I'm afraid. Burt can I have me missus back now, you seemed to be captivating her up here every time I glanced over"

"It wasn't me captivating her John" Burt slapped Johns back, Lou grinned as John winched slightly and they both watched Burt amble back towards the pool.

"He's nice"

"He's not getting you though. You're mine" John caught Lou's fingers in his and tugged her closer.

"Been invited to some club, do you want to come? That Mansfield lady invited us all" John waited for Lou to automatically stiffen in his arms, a club meant girls, bedlam and hands all over him usually "Place is reserved just for us so not too crowded, should be good"

"No, I better not. I'll get back to Eve, sort her for bed" Lou felt John squeeze her tighter in reassurance "I know we have a nanny but I haven't seen her all day. I miss her"

"Alright then, how about this.... we go back, cause we have to change anyway, and if you want to come when we're ready, you come"

"Ok, that sounds good I guess"

"Let's go say goodbye to the main man. Mister 'From Here to Eternity' himself, can you believe it!" John paused then quietly faked a squeal and chattered like a teenage girl with a crush "I feel like fangirling and getting a autography" Lou had to cover her mouth to stop a snort of a laugh escaping.

********

"You look handsome, handsome" Lou leaned over Johns shoulder as he combed his fingers through his hair in the mirror.

"Why, right back at you beautiful"

"I don't think so" Lou had wound down like a spinning top when she sat on the floor playing with Eve while John showered, having her shower had also made her even more inclined for bed. Now she was wrapped in a white robe lashed tight around her waist.

"Is that a new type of dress or are you staying 'ome"

"Staying home. I don't think I could last four or more hours and that's what it'll be wont it?"

"Most likely. I can not go... Stay in for you" John was being a darling and Lou kissed his cheek and cuddled into his back, arms circling his waist. He turned and met her lips, fingers toying with the belt then quickly he was slipping a hand up from her hip, along her waist to her breast pinching a nipple lightly "Mmmm I can stay home" and kissed her lips again then dropping his head to place kisses on her neck and now bare shoulders as he pushed the robe lower.

"No luv you like that Jayne Mansfield I know. I want you to have fun, go"

"She was being a prat though. 'parently, she wouldn't stop nagging Burt's lot to let her and army of an entourage join us today. We only said yes to tonight cause she wouldn't shut up." John's lips fell lower and Lou wanted to change her mind and keep him home, wrapping him to her tightly.

"Go on you horny bugger. Let me have a kip and when you get home I can try and put a smile on your dial ok?!"

"Well if you say it like that... I best put you to bed and be off then" John smiled as he re-fastened Lou's robe for her, kissing her as he did so.

"Look at him all chipmunk cheeks and pouty lips" Lou whispered as they crossed the huge lounge room. Paul was fast asleep on a huge divan surrounded by pillows.

"Well Maccas not coming I presume" John pointed his thumb over his shoulder as he met George and Rings at the Cadillac, bright security lights lit the courtyard casting long shadows. Louise waved at the policeman stood by his patrol car that was parked behind the Caddy. Lou thought his name was Ben.

"Piker, him. Full of I'm doing this, I'm gonna do that then BOOM snoring in front of the telly" George flicked Lou's ear and received a stomach punch causing him to fold and go "oomph"

"Bye luv, see you soon" Richy pecked Lou's cheek and shoved George toward the backseat.

"Hey Ben, can I ride with you mate?!" John called out to the policeman and got a curt nod of reply.

"Bye darlin" John slipped into patrol cars backseat seat. Lou shut the door and rolled her eyes when she heard John asked for the handcuffs to be put on.

Waving goodbye, Lou wandered inside and sat on the floor near Paul's seat and watched the telly.