“So who are you playing again?” Gary asked, as he made a small plate of food. It was definitely his intention to sting her with this innocent sounding query.
“Annette, the bar owner and drug dealer,” Brittney replied, staring at him hatefully. “What, you don’t know your own fucking script? There are only three characters in the damned thing. You getting nasty with me, Hack?”
“No, I was just being a little absent-minded, I guess. These damn things just blend into each other after a while,” he said, popping a piece of celery into his mouth.
Gary couldn’t understand why Brittney hated him so much. He had always looked out for her and he had helped her out all that he could. And he had never once tried to fuck her.
These God damned actresses of his. They were always so attractive to him at first. And then he would get to know them and their appeal would melt away. They were all fucking head cases. Gary suspected abusive father issues. But, then again, without those horrible parents, the adult film industry would be a ghost town.
Gary ate his food hastily and then he introduced himself to the new production assistants who surrounded Brittney at the table. There were always fresh faces on these things. Most were there to learn the ropes, and Gary was sure that a deviant or two had slipped in. Those sweaty gawkers were usually ferreted out and tossed off set pretty quickly.
Taylor Jensen, a young African-American man who was the assistant director, approached Gary and Mike. He toted an overburdened clipboard. Taylor was a smart and ambitious film school grad who would go far. Gary liked the kid. Taylor was all business.
“Taylor,” Gary said.
“Hey guys,” Taylor said, with a bright smile. “Don’t know if anyone has told you this, but steer clear of the woods. There is a nasty Bigfoot out there. It nearly killed one of the Connors’ dogs. They think it might be rabid.”
“Do we have any exteriors planned for the woods?” Gary asked Taylor and Mike.
“No,” Taylor said. “But you know the girls. They like to stroll off while they smoke a joint.”
“Drugs on my film set?” Gary teased. “That’s outrageous. I demand we implement drug testing right away.”
Taylor chuckled. “You’d lose half the crew and probably all of the talent if you did.”
“So when are we going to start?” Gary asked.
“Within the hour,” Taylor said. “We are prepping downstairs for the orgy scene. It’s the only thing on the schedule today, since we are starting late; unless you guys are feeling frisky. It will be good to have the most complicated scene and finale of Dark Angels put to bed and out of the way.”
“I was thinking that the title might need a rework,” Gary decided. “Let’s call it Dust Angels. It’s a grittier title. It plays better to the drug theme.”
“Dust angels?” Mike said, frowning. “Johnny Stücke signed off on Dark Angels.”
“So? I just changed it. Mama gets to put the name on the birth certificate. Stücke won’t give a shit. He has bigger fish to mutilate.”
“Gary, you have to stop doing this, man,” Mike said.
“Doing what? What am I doing, Mike?” Gary asked.
“You have been having these cunty little creative tantrums lately. You can’t change the product on the fly. You are a hired gun,” Mike reminded him.
“I was told I would have control of these things,” Gary argued. “Has Stücke said something?”
“No, and that’s only because I have been keeping shit from crawling up the ladder,” Mike said. “Make your movies, Gary. But you can’t change what Stücke has approved. Ever. You are on a very long leash, but still, you don’t want to cross the man. It doesn’t look good. You don’t want to appear too willful in his eyes,” Mike stressed.
“He’s right,” Taylor threw in. “If Stücke wants Dark Angels, then that is what is going on the slate. Bottom line and no offense, Gary.”
“Whose side are you on?” Gary said to Mike.
“The safe side, my man,” Mike said. “Dude, I don’t ever want to see you push Stücke’s buttons on any level, okay? Especially over something so stupid. He may act civil but he keeps records, Gary. Fall the fuck in line. Remember who you work for and what he is capable of.”
Mike shook his head and turned to Taylor. “Have all of the releases been collected?”
“Yeah, but I need to go over a few details with you,” Taylor said.
Mike excused himself as he and Taylor went into another room. Gary looked at Brittney who had heard the entire exchange. She smiled coldly at him. It wasn’t right that Mike had chewed him out in front of her. He would address that when he was alone with his producer. Gary stormed out of the kitchen.
He decided to go toward the back bedrooms and see who was milling around. He peeked into an open doorway and saw Zuzanna and a girl he didn’t know.
Zuzanna was a Polish adult star who went by her first name only. She had flown in from Poland to be a part of this Johnny Stücke production. Gary had worked with her on two previous projects. Again, Johnny Stücke’s association with her was vague.
Zuzanna was a statuesque beauty. She had short, platinum blonde hair and an augmented chest. She had piercing blue eyes and the facial structure and air of a vintage Hollywood starlet. Zuzanna did soft and hardcore fare, but she would only perform hard scenes with women. There wasn’t a blemish on or single issue with her figure, and Gary had a critical eye. She was a perfect specimen.
Zuzanna and the other actress were putting on their faces using the huge dresser mirror.
Zuzanna spotted Gary and smiled. “Gary! There you are. Where have you been, my darling?”
Zuzanna had a cute accent. She could be shouting every foul curse imaginable, and it would still issue from her mouth like a sweet song.
She leapt up and hugged Gary.
“Hello Zuzanna,” he said, melting into her. She was so God damn sweet, and that was more attractive to Gary than her perfect build. There were very few actresses in this field who did it for him, but Zuzanna was one of them.
“How have you been?” Gary asked her.
“I am good,” she replied, keeping an arm around him.
Zuzanna motioned to the other girl. “This is April. She’s new.”
April gave a small wave. She didn’t look that special. She had plain brown hair and she wore little make-up. Gary gave her the benefit of the doubt. Some of the girls looked like three miles of bad road until they got their cosmetics on.
Zuzanna leaned into Gary and whispered, “She came so unprepared. No make-up case. Poor thing thought we would have the make-up artists.”
Zuzanna regarded April. “Go ahead, sweetie. Use anything of mine you need.”
April smiled and surveyed Zuzanna’s massive make-up spread. She reached for a hair brush.
“No, sweetie,” Zuzanna said. “That is my pussy brush. You know, for the pussy hair.”
April quickly retracted her hand.
“Let me help her. We’ll catch up after the shoot?” Zuzanna asked.
“Sure,” Gary said.
Zuzanna kissed him on the lips, painting him with her lipstick.
“We’ll talk,” she said with a wink.
***
Gary stood in the basement. It was dressed as a sleazy watering hole, which wasn’t a stretch. The Connors had a full bar and pool table down there.
Barry Sengle barked at his assistants as they tweaked lights and prepped the area. He insisted that his men call him captain, and this aggravated Gary to no end. Gary Hack was the only fucking captain in the room. This would be the first and last time Barry Sengle worked on Gary’s set.
Gary had no idea where Susan Connor was, but Patrick Connor was on standby with his digital still camera. The old hippie smiled and he had his long gray hair pulled back in a ponytail. He was wearing cologne and clean clothes. Patrick’s missus usually kept to herself until the work was done.
Brittney Dire and the actress Gary knew only as April came down
, following Taylor and Mike Cooke. Gary had to admit that April cleaned up nicely. She was a very attractive girl. Actually, she was too attractive for the scene. Gary noted that April looked like a Jersey girl about to go out on the town. She wore tight dark jeans and a white halter top. She looked nothing like the desperate and strung out character of Charlotte.
“Hey Taylor,” Gary said. “Don’t you think the character of Charlotte should look more like a drug addict? You know; greasy hair and dark circles under her eyes? Maybe she is wearing wrinkled clothes?”
“No man,” Mike interjected. “That won’t fly. The girls need to look their best.”
“I don’t mind messing myself up,” April chimed in. “That sounds fun. I have always heard that a real actress doesn’t mind looking bad. And I would like to be a real actress someday.”
“That won’t be necessary, April,” Taylor told her. “But thanks.”
“What about realism,” Gary insisted. “I thought this was going to be a rough drama.”
“First and foremost, it’s a sex film,” Mike said. “The girls have to sell it.”
Mike gently took Gary’s arm and the producer had the courtesy this time to steer his friend to a quiet corner. “Gary, man, what’s with you? If you want to make an art film, talk to Stücke. Maybe he will throw you a bone. We are here to make a porno, man.”
Gary threw his hands up in resignation. “Fine. I just don’t see why we can’t make both, you know?”
“How many artsy fartsy pornos have you sat through?” Mike asked. “Gary, if you are experiencing some sort of creative crisis here, then maybe you should take a break. But get us through this one first like the professional I know you are.”
Gary nodded and then he walked back to April. “You look fine.”
“And me?” Brittney said, presenting herself. She wore a leather skirt and corset top. It was an outfit she had worn several times in front of the camera.
“Yeah, great,” Gary said indifferently. He turned back to Taylor. “Where is Zuzanna?”
Taylor got on his walkie-talkie and put an APB out on her.
She came down the stairs a moment later. She wore a dark pants suit with a black formal ushanka-hat.
“How do I look, darling?” she asked Gary.
The tight outfit complemented her figure well. The ushanka looked silly, but Gary wasn’t going to argue over its merit. This wasn’t fine art and he had to remember that.
“You look gorgeous as always,” Gary said.
“Oh, you say that,” Zuzanna said, giggling like a little girl and squeezing Gary’s arm.
The ladies ran lines while adjustments to the set were made. Once the blocking was laid out and the actresses were given their marching orders, it was time to begin.
Gary made sure the boom wasn’t in frame, and then he called it.
“Roll camera.”
“Camera rolling… speed.”
“Action.”
April entered the frame in a wide. She walked up to Brittney who sat at the bartender’s seat. Brittney was nursing a label-less beer bottle filled with ginger ale.
“Got anymore of that stuff?” April asked, scratching at her arm. “I need some sweets, candy woman.”
“You got money this time?” Brittney inquired.
“I have money but not enough,” April said, producing a small amount of cash from her halter top.
“Well, what are we going to do about that,” Brittney said, a seductive glint in her eye.
Zuzanna walked on set. “Annette you bitch!” Zuzanna yelled at Brittney’s character. “Where is the protection money you owe me?”
Zuzanna used fairly good Russian accent. Gary nodded his approval.
Brittney stood up quickly. “Pearl!” Brittney replied to Zuzanna.
“Who is she?” April demanded but pretty flatly.
Brittney motioned to Zuzanna. “This is Pearl Dementyev. She is a crime boss with the Russian mob. She is nicknamed Demented Pearl.”
“Why do they call her that?” April asked.
“You don’t want to know, girl,” Zuzanna warned, with her hands on her hips. She struck her best Ilsa pose.
“What are you doing here?” Brittney asked Zuzanna. “I was expecting you next week.”
“Well, then you have your dates crossed, because this is next week,” Zuzanna said. “And I am here to collect, you stupid junkie. What kind of dealer gets hooked on her own product?”
“I don’t have the money,” Brittney confessed. “I thought I had more time.”
“You don’t,” Zuzanna said, grimly. “And you know what happens to people who don’t pay me on time.”
“Here,” April said, handing her cash over to Zuzanna. “Will this help?”
“It’s a start,” Zuzanna said, counting the money and then putting it in her pants pocket. “But it is not nearly enough.”
“What are you going to do?” Brittney asked, fearfully.
“I should have this place torched and I should sell both of your pretty asses on the street corners. But I think I have a better idea,” Zuzanna said, sternly.
She grabbed April and gave her a long French kiss. Zuzanna broke away.
“Both of you take off your clothes,” Zuzanna commanded.
“Cut.”
Gary covered the dialogue in medium and single shots. It was time to coordinate the sex.
The B camera was brought in and Barry worked out the logistics with the camera assistant. The DP was kinder with the actresses present.
“Okay, girls,” Gary said to the now nude April and Brittney. “One of you on either side of Zuzanna. Peel her clothes off. But leave the hat on.”
They did as instructed as both cameras rolled.
“Okay, Brittney you go down on Zuzanna as she stands there. April, work Zuzanna’s tits.”
Brittney slowly licked her way down to Zuzanna’s pelvis. April kissed Zuzanna’s breasts. Zuzanna moaned, looking off camera.
“Okay, Zuzanna, now lay down on the pool table,” Gary instructed.
Zuzanna did as she was told, April and Brittney’s tongues descending with her. The girls lingered on Zuzanna.
“Now bring Zuzanna home,” Gary said.
Brittney and April traded places. Zuzanna grabbed April’s head after several seconds and sold one hell of an orgasm.
Zuzanna watched as April and Brittney went to work on each other. They kissed passionately. Zuzanna broke them up and put a hand on each one’s crotch, at Gary’s urging.
Zuzanna brought them both to climax. The double orgasm sold well. April and Brittney arched their backs and then they both collapsed onto the pool table. They looked spent.
“So do I have an extension on the payment?” Brittney asked Zuzanna.
“Oh, darling,” Zuzanna said, breathlessly. “Take your time.”
“Cut.”
***
Gary entered his darkened motel room, rolling a suitcase behind him. Mike stepped in behind him and shut the door.
Gary heaved the suitcase up and put it on top of the queen-sized bed. He looked around. The room was functional: bed, nightstand, dresser, a single hardback chair near the dresser and a television on a grimy looking stand.
The nightstand had a series of cigarette burns pressed into it. Gary stared down at the beige carpet, which also had a collection of cigarette burns near the bed. He shook his head.
“I think I’ve had this very room in the past,” Gary said, zipping open his suitcase.
“I’m surprised that there’s a neighborhood this crappy out here this far in the sticks. Did you see those two meth heads near the office size us up when we walked by?” Mike asked, glancing outside through the curtain.
“Only the best,” Gary said, sarcastically.
“It’s not that bad,” Mike said, taking in the room. “I’ve seen a lot worse.”
“So, you have your key?” Gary asked.
Mike held up the card key with his hook. “Right here. I’m next door. You
have any plans?”
“A shower, for sure. I’m just going to relax after that, I think.”
“Yeah,” Mike said. “I think I could use a whore’s bath myself. Bang on the wall later if you want company.”
Mike gripped the doorknob, and then he turned back to Gary. “I wasn’t trying to bust your balls today. I’m your best friend. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Night Things: The Monster Collection Page 4