Zack Box,actor

Filmcare is one of the most popular film magazines in India. It is also
respected greatly for its analytical and history-based approach to
film-writing. Every year this magazine organizes a grand, magnificent
awards' ceremony. Awards are given in many categories including acting,
music, choreography, cinematography, costumes, editing etc. A special
award is given out every year for lifetime achievement to a member of
the film industry whose contribution is believed to be substantial and
enduring. This particular award is very prestigious and whoever
receives it gets a lot of coverage in newspapers, television etc. In
fact that lucky person is discussed till the next awards' ceremony
happens. This year the great actor Zack Box has been chosen for the
lifetime achievement honours. Box was a great actor in the seventies
and before that. After arrival of colour technology in India he was
found to be unsuitable. Indeed he had been forgotten all these years.
But one of his acolytes has recently been appointed to a high post in
Filmcare. It was owing to his efforts that Zack has been chosen for the
award this year. A junior actor by the name of Roger Sen has been asked
to escort Zack Box to Toka Auditorium where the awards ceremony will be
held. When Roger Sen's Scorpio pulled into Box's driveway he was less
than impressed. He was in Dokra, a neglected suburb of Calcutta. And
the house that Roger was going to enter needed urgent repairs. He was
about to ring the doorbell when he noticed that there wasn't any.
Instead there was an ancient-looking brass knocker. But the door itself
was open. It was a small one-storey house with just three rooms. Zack
Box was not in the living room. Nor was he in the dining area. As Roger
walked into the third room, a bedroom, he was shocked. A little shocked
at any rate. He had seen photographs of Zack Box. Box was a tall man
with broad shoulders. He had been a swimming champion in his youth. But
the man sleeping in one corner of the cheap-looking bed was thin and
hardly tall. He was sleeping at six in the evening. After much thought
Roger decided to wake Zack Box. His name had to be called out a good
ten times before he suddenly got up and began to cough. After the
coughing fit stopped Roger tried to talk to Zack. Suddenly Zack
remembered where he was supposed to go this evening. Roger spotted an
old-style tuxedo neatly pressed on the bedside table. Though he was
coughing badly Zack tried to get dressed. He coughed even more and then
he was sick all over the floor. Half an hour later Zack Box was in the
living room and ready to leave. He was eager to listen to the news
before they started. Roger switched the tv on. One of Zack Box's movies
was being shown before the news. Roger watched the handsome, dashing
Zack Box fight the baddies and sweep the heroine off her feet. The Zack
that was sitting next to him was a pale shadow of the swashbuckling,
stunning man in the television movie. It was a memorable evening with
all the glitter, the music and definitely Zack Box. He was the last to
be called to the stage. And as he walked down the aisle and climbed the
steps to the stage all the people stood up and began to clap. The
clapping continued for ten minutes. After the award was handed over to
Zack Box he was invited to say a few words. He was rather brief, "I
thank you for remembering me. I thank you for forgetting me. I thank
you for the award." And even as he spoke Zack Box collapsed on stage. A
doctor examined him and told everyone what they already knew. Zack Box
had died in the glare of public adulation, departing like the
consummate actor he truly was.