Lights, Camera . . . Cats!

Chapter One Hooray for Hollywood I can't believe we're in Hollywood!" Nancy Drew said excitedly. "I can't wait to see all the movie studios," her best friend George Fayneadded. "I can't wait to see all the movie stars," said Nancy's other bestfriend, Bess Marvin. "I packed my autograph book so I can get zillionsof autographs!" The three girls were sitting in the backseat of a shiny silver convertible,heading down West Sunset Boulevard. Nancy's father, Carson Drew, was in thefront seat, driving. Next to Mr. Drew was the Drews' housekeeper, HannahGruen. "Housekeeper" didn't quite describe Hannah, though. She had beenlike a mom to Nancy since Nancy's mother died five years ago. Mr. Drew was in Hollywood on business. He was a lawyer, and one of hisclients, Brett Banner, was a movie director. Mr. Drew had decided tocombine his work trip with a family vacation and bring Nancy and Hannahalong. He had told Nancy that she could invite George and Bess. The five of them had landed at Los Angeles International Airport less thanan hour ago. Now they were cruising through Hollywood in a convertible,with the top down. What could be more fun? Nancy thought. She loved theway the wind blew through her long reddish-blond hair. She loved feelingthe warm sun on her face. She also loved the scenery. As they drove, they passed pastel-coloredhouses with red tile roofs and lush gardens full of tropical flowers.They saw funky boutiques and outdoor cafes packed with people. Theyrode by tall palm trees and giant billboards. One of the billboards said:WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA! "We're almost at our hotel," Mr. Drew called over his shoulder. "It's ina part of Los Angeles called Beverly Hills, which is very close toHollywood." "Our hotel has five swimming pools," Nancy told George and Bess. "Five!" "We can each have our own swimming pool," George joked. "Let's check in, and then we can take a dip," Hannah suggested. "Later this afternoon, we're invited to visit Thunderchickens Studios,"Mr. Drew told everyone. "That's the studio where my client, Mr. Banner,is shooting his latest movie. It's calledThe Aliens Next Door.We'll get a tour and meet the star of the movie." "Yay!" Nancy exclaimed. "Awesome," George agreed. "I'm definitely bringing my autograph book," Bess added. Mr. Drew chuckled. "You might have a hard time getting an autograph fromthis particular star, Bess." "Why, Dad?" Nancy asked, puzzled. "You'll see," Mr. Drew said mysteriously. Thunderchickens Studios was a massive complex of buildings on theoutskirts of Hollywood. Mr. Drew, Hannah, Nancy, George, and Besschecked in with a security guard at the front gate. The guard gave themall name tags to wear around their necks. "Mr. Banner is in Soundstage Number Three, to your left," the securityguard told them. "They're not in lock up right now, so you can go on in." "Soundstage? Lock up? What do those words mean?" Nancy asked the guard. "A soundstage is another name for a building they make movies in," theguard explained. "A lock up is when they're about to shoot a scene, sothey have to make sure no one enters the soundstage who isn't supposed to." Nancy and the others thanked the guard and proceeded to Soundstage #3. Asthey passed through the heavy metal doors, Nancy felt like jumping up anddown. She was about to enter a real-live movie studio. And what a place it was! The large room -- the size of the gym at Nancy'sschool -- was filled with cameras, lights, microphones, cables, and otherequipment. In the middle of the room was a fake living room complete withfurniture, a TV set, and walls covered with artwork and photographs. A manand a woman were sitting on the couch while another womKeene, Carolyn is the author of 'Lights, Camera . . . Cats! ', published 2007 under ISBN 9781416939573 and ISBN 1416939571.