LOVESCENES

by Sandra Marton

  ‘I hate Mondays,’ Jerry Crawford snarled. ‘And this is the worst one in the history of this damned soap.’

  His words rolled over the quiet studio from the control booth. Shannon looked into the darkness beyond the set and swallowed hard.

  ‘I... I’m sorry, Jerry,’ she called. ‘Did I get that take wrong again?’

  ‘She looks awful, Make-up,’ the director said, ig­noring her. ‘Get in here and do something about the color of her face, will you? What did you do? Spend the weekend in Bermuda?’

  ‘No, no, I didn’t,’ she said nervously. ‘In fact, the pipes broke in my apartment, and I spent the weekend...’

  ‘That was a rhetorical question, Miss Padgett. Frankly, I don’t care if you spent in it Timbuktu.’ The control room door slammed and Jerry stalked on to the set, Rima the Prima by his side. ‘Make-up, I want Padgett to look as if she has a glow of excitement, not a goddamned fever, understand?’

  ‘Sure, Jerry,’ the make-up man said. He rolled his eyes and gave Shannon a sympathetic smile. ‘No problem.’ He turned her face to the light and began dusting her cheeks with powder. ‘Don’t let him get to you,’ he whispered. ‘Some Mondays are worse than others.’

  ‘He’s never been this bad before,’ she murmured.

  The make-up man nodded. ‘I think he’s annoyed be­cause Morgan’s not here. I heard him muttering some­thing to Rima.’

  ‘But Cade didn’t have any scenes today.’ She closed her eyes as the powder puff moved lightly across her forehead. ‘What’s the difference?’

  ‘All 1 know is what I heard, dear. The man was going on about Morgan being self-interested... tilt your chin up a bit, will you?’

  ‘Rima’s the one who’s selfish,’ she said, doing as he’d asked. ‘Crawford changed her lines three times this morning, just to suit her. And meanwhile he’s done nothing but bark at me. And Rima loves every minute of it. She keeps looking at me with that smug smile on her face.’

  ‘Yes, I noticed. Well, just tune out.’

  ‘1 wish I could, but...’ Shannon raised her hand to her cheek and touched it lightly. ‘Is my face really red?’

  ‘Your cheeks are kind of ruddy, yes, but don’t worry about it. I’ll bring the color down.’

  ‘I hope I’m wrong,’ she said slowly, ‘but I just realized ... Is this a bump, Arnie? Next to my nose?’ She closed her eyes and bit back a moan. ‘Tell me it isn’t.’

  ‘Listen, if you’re talking about an allergy attack, forget it,’ the make-up man hissed. ‘Crawford will skin us both.’

  ‘Oh Lord, I can feel it happening! My skin is be­ginning to tingle... It’s his fault, anyway. How much of this glop can a face take? First my cheekbones were too high, then they were too flat. My eye liner was too dark when we started and then it was too light...’

  ‘Be sure and tell him that,’ Amie muttered. ‘Are you kidding? It’s going to be your fault—and mine, of course. Can’t you do something?’

  ‘I have some antihistamine tablets in my dressing- room. Maybe he’ll call a break. If I take the tablets fast enough...’

  ‘Make-up, what the hell’s taking so long?’

  ‘I’m almost done, Jerry.’ Amie ran his finger along Shannon’s forehead. ‘I hate to tell you this,’ he whis­pered frantically, ‘but you’re getting pinker by the second and you’ve got some little spots up here. Another five minutes, you’re probably going to look like a lobster.’

  ‘Bad analogy. I’m allergic to shellfish, too. All right, all right, don’t look at me that way. I’ll find a way to get through this next scene in one take and then I’ll get some anti­histamine. Jerry will never know anything’s wrong.’

  ‘One take?’ The make-up man jerked his head towards the side of the set. ‘Rima’s in this scene, remember? It’ll take a dozen shots to get this one in the can. In fact, considering Crawford’s mood, you’ll be lucky to be done by nightfall.’

  Shannon’s glance skittered past Arnie’s shoulder and her eyes met Rima’s coolly amused gaze. ‘Well, then, I’ll ask for a break. I’ll say I’ve got to go to the john or something.’

  ‘Aren’t you done yet, Make-up?’ Jerry asked irritably.

  ‘Yes, yes, all finished. There we go.’

  Jerry scowled as the man scuttled off to the side and then he motioned Rima forward.

  ‘Rima, dear, this is a pivotal scene,’ he said pleasantly, slipping an arm around her shoulders. ‘I want the audience to empathize with you. As for you, Padgett,’ he said coldly, ‘you’ve just been told your father left you controlling interest in the company Rima thought was hers and you can’t wait to rub it under her nose. Your stepmother’s never been your favorite person and this is the chance you’ve been waiting for. Try and look alive, please. You were as exciting as my Great-Aunt Tillie during the run- through.’

  Just look at that, Shannon thought, staring at Jerry as he stood with his arm around Rima. When did she become his favorite person?

  ‘I’ll do my best,’ she said carefully, touching her index finger to her cheek. Her face felt as if it were on fire. She cleared her throat and forced her lips back from her teeth in what she hoped was a smile. ‘Uh, Jerry, I was just wondering—were you planning on calling a break soon?’

  There was a thick silence. ‘No, I was not, Miss Padgett,’ the director said with forced cordiality. ‘But I gather you were hoping I was.’

  Shannon nodded. ‘Yes,’ she said brightly, ‘I was. I— uh—I need a couple of minutes. I have to...’

  ‘Don’t tell me your troubles,’ he snapped. ‘I’ve got enough of my own.’

  ‘I’m sure you do, Jerry...’

  “‘I’m sure you do, Jerry”,’ he mimicked. ‘You’re in an amazingly good mood, all things considered.’

  Lord, she thought, now he’s angry because he thinks I’m not taking him seriously. ‘Look, I know you’re not pleased with the way things are going this morning. Believe me, I wouldn’t ask for a break if I didn’t really need one.’

  Crawford threw his hands up in disgust. ‘Skip the speech, OK? All right, everybody, take ten.’

  ‘Thank you. I won’t be a second longer.’

  ‘You’d better not be, or I’ll tell the writers to arrange Alana Dunbar’s fatal accident ahead of time.’

  An embarrassed silence fell over the technicians and crew as the director turned and stalked off the set.

  ‘Well,’ the make-up man said finally, ‘anybody for a quick coffee?’

  ‘Great idea,’ somebody said quickly.

  Within seconds, the set was deserted. Shannon blinked back a sudden welling of tears as she started slowly to­wards the shadowed perimeter.

  ‘It isn’t your fault,’ a breathy voice said from the darkness. ‘Don’t let him upset you.’

  ‘Who’s there? Rima, is that you?’ Shannon asked. She frowned and rubbed her hand across her eyes as Rima stepped into the light. ‘I didn’t know anyone was still here.’

  Rima held out a packet of Kleenex. ‘Here,’ she said pleasantly, ‘you look as if you need a tissue.’

  Shannon looked at the older woman suspiciously and then she nodded.

  ‘Thanks,’ she said. ‘That’s very kind.’

  Rima smiled and tilted her head to the side. ‘Rough day, hmm?’

  ‘Yes, I guess you could say that. Jerry’s been furious with me all morning.’

  Rima nodded. ‘Such a pity,’ she said sweetly. Shannon looked up sharply, but Rima’s face was a study in in­nocence. ‘I thought we could run through our little scene,’ she said. ‘See if we can get something extra into it.’

  Three months, Shannon thought, staring at the other woman, three months of working together and she’s never said more than a half-dozen words to me until now.

  ‘That’s a good idea,’ she said finally. ‘But why? I mean, you’ve never wanted to before.’

  ‘Well, this is such an important few pages, Sharon. What happens in this scene lays the groundwork for the new storyline. My s
toryline.’

  ‘Shannon,’ Shannon said automatically. ‘My name is Shannon.’

  ‘Sorry.’

  ‘That’s all right, Rima. Well, sure, it’s fine with me if you want to do a reading. But I think you’re wrong about this scene—it doesn’t set up anything new.’

  ‘But it does. The writers are going to focus on my attempts to regain control of my dead husband’s fortune.’

  ‘The legal battle between Alana and her stepmother, you mean. That’s not new.’

  ‘The legal thing’s out, Shanna.’

  ‘It’s Shannon, Rima. What do you mean, it’s out? Jerry said we were going to do some exterior shots outside a courthouse in Westchester.’

  The other woman shrugged her narrow shoulders. ‘You couldn’t very well expect them to stick with the same storyline, not now that Cade’s...’ She hesitated and turned away, but not before Shannon saw a trium­phant flash in the emerald green eyes. A warning tingle crawled up her spine.

  ‘Now that Cade’s what?’

  ‘Never mind. I’m sure you don’t want to discuss it.’

  ‘Discuss what? .’

  Rima gave a deep sigh. ‘I don’t blame you for taking that attitude,’ she purred. ‘It’s such a difficult thing to have happen, isn’t it? Professionally as well as personally. I must say, I agree with Jerry. You’re taking it rather well.’

  Shannon moved a step closer. ‘Listen, I don’t know what you’re talking about... ’

  ‘Of course you don’t,’ Rima said soothingly. ‘Not that there’s much you can do about it, of course.’

  ‘My God, will you stop beating around the bush? What are you talking about, Rima? Is my character going to fade? Is that it?’

  The woman turned towards Shannon, a thin smile on her face. ‘That’s certainly one way of putting it, Sheena.’

  Shannon’s eyes narrowed. ‘My name is Shannon,’ she said carefully. ‘That’s not so difficult to remember. I’m sure you can get it straight if you really put some effort into it.’

  ‘Temper, temper!’ Rima’s smile faded and her mouth narrowed into a cold line. ‘Better remember that it isn’t the same without the big star around to protect you. No more delicate treatment from Jerry, no more perfect camera angles...’

  ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘... no more juicy scenes.’

  Shannon’s face felt as if someone had set it ablaze. She raised her hand to her cheek, almost wincing at the heat that blazed against the coolness of her palm.

  ‘Okay,’ she said carefully, ‘when you get ready to talk sense, look me up. Until then, I’ll be in my dressing- room.’

  ‘I don’t blame you for trying to put up a good front,’ Rima said soothingly. ‘It must be terrible to find out that your relationship with Morgan wasn’t all you thought, hmm?’

  Shannon had started across the studio, but she paused and looked back as Rima’s words fell around her like shards of glass.

  ‘And what, exactly, does that mean?’ she asked quietly.

  ‘Come on, Sheila. Do you think people are blind? I know you and Morgan were dis­creet, but—look, you played your cards and you lost. Who’d have dreamed our sexy hero would decide to leave Tomorrows so suddenly?’

  ‘Are you crazy?’ Shannon shook her head in disbelief. ‘Boy, this place is a madhouse. Cade’s not leaving Tomorrows. ’

  ‘Look, Shelley...’

  ‘Shannon,’ Shannon said through her teeth. ‘S-H-A-N-N-O-N!’

  ‘Yes, sorry. Look, don’t let it out on me. It’s not my fault your boyfriend left us for Hollywood. I guess when the movies beckon, everything else falls by the wayside. I told Jerry I’d do whatever I could for the show, of course. That’s why I wanted to talk to you about our next scene.’

  A giddy sense of relief swept through Shannon and she laughed aloud.

  ‘Is that what this is all about? Listen, somebody got their signals crossed. I hate to put the kiss of death on such a wonderful rumor, but... Cade’s in Hollywood, yes, but he’s there to talk about a picture deal for next spring.’

  ‘Do tell,’ Rima said sweetly, her emerald eyes bright with malice.

  ‘God, you’re incredible. How could you think Cade would walk out on all of us?’

  ‘How could he walk out on you, Sherry, isn’t that the real question? Well, I guess only you would know the answer to that one. All I know is that his agent called Jerry last night and told him that Cade wouldn’t be back.’

  ‘What? You must be crazy!’

  ‘Jerry was crazy,’ Rima said, giggling. ‘‘But I told him, look on the bright side of things. That’s the great thing about this type of TV drama—there are always at least half a dozen continuing plot-lines and one can always get rid of a character, poof, with just the stroke of a typewriter key! And I said, isn’t it terrific that the writers always come up with something creative when the pressure’s on?’ Rima frowned and leaned forward. ‘What is that on your cheek, Shari, that red spot?’

  ‘Nothing,’ Shannon said quickly, putting her hand to her cheek. ‘It’s just a blotch. This conversation you had with Jerry—‘

  ‘Are you coming down with something, Shirley?’ The famous green eyes narrowed. ‘You have these little red spots all over your face.’

  ‘No, no, it’s nothing, Rima. Just a little allergic reac­tion. Answer my question. When did Jerry...’

  ‘You’re sick,’ Rima said, her voice rising as she backed away. ‘What is it, the measles or something? Jerry, where are you? I’m not playing this scene, not with what’s-her-name coming down with God knows what.’

  ‘Coming down with what?’ The director moved into the light and peered at Shannon as if she were a labo­ratory specimen. ‘Jeez, Padgett, what the hell’s hap­pened to you?’

  ‘It’s nothing,’ Shannon insisted, putting her hand to her face. ‘I have some pills in my dressing-room.’ She took a deep breath and stepped closer to him. ‘Jerry, please, I... I have to talk to you.’

  ‘Listen, we’ve gone past ten minutes here.’

  ‘Jerry.. .Mr. Crawford, please—it’s about Cade.’ Crawford hesitated and then took her arm. ‘All right, let’s go get your pills. What the hell, we can’t tape with you looking like a pizza.’ He glanced down at her and then cleared his throat. ‘Look,’ he added gruffly, ‘I shouldn’t have been quite that hard on you this morning.’

  ‘That’s all right,’ she said quickly. ‘I just want to know about Cade...’

  ‘Hell, I can’t hold you responsible for your boy­friend.’ The director forced a smile to his face as they walked through the studio. ‘Guilt by association is frowned on in polite society.’

  When they finally stepped into her dressing-room, Shannon closed the door and leaned against it. ‘Jerry, please...’ She heard the quaver in her voice and she took a deep breath. Get hold of yourself, she thought. Don’t fall apart. ‘Jerry, you and Rima both seem to think I know what’s going on here, but I don’t. I wish somebody would tell me what’s happening.’

  Crawford scowled. ‘Am I supposed to believe that you’re not party to all this?’

  ‘Party to what?’ she managed to whisper.

  ‘You and Morgan were seeing each other, weren’t you?’ he demanded.

  Shannon opened her mouth and closed it again. ‘Yes,’ she said finally.’

  The director shrugged. ‘Then you know he’s gone to California.’

  She nodded, tempted for a second to laugh and tell him, as she’d told Rima, that the rumor mill had gone wild, but something in his face stopped her. ‘Yes, of course, I know,’ she said slowly, sitting down at her dressing-table. ‘He went out for the weekend, on business, and he’ll be back tonight.’

  . Her heart kicked against her ribs as she saw the look of sudden pity in Jerry’s eyes. ‘Jeez,’ he said softly, ‘you really don’t know, do you?’

  ‘Don’t know what?’ she asked. ‘Please, Jerry.. .’

  ‘Morgan’s not coming back tonight. He’s not c
oming back at all, except to do a couple of days’ work that I all but bludgeoned him into.’

  Shannon looked at him in disbelief. ‘What are you talking about? Of course he’s coming back. He told me...’

  ‘Our big star’s signed a contract to do a movie for Scorpio Studios.’

  ‘In the spring, Jerry. In May.’

  ‘Morgan’s signed to do a film right now. They start shooting a week from Wednesday in Tahiti. They’ll be there for the next three months at least.’