Forever and a Day

by Alexis Konsantino

  “Thanks for the warning.” JJ replied and pulled out her phone to check her emails.

  Halo reached over and tapped JJ’s arm, “You have the numbers we may need?”

  “Of course I do. You thinking we are going to need them?” JJ replied.

  “Part of me…” Bang! Went the front wheel in a pothole jolting them hard. Thomas called back a ‘sorry’ as they proceeded along Highway One. Halo gripped the door’s armrest and continued, “Part of me hopes so, but with delays it’s going to cost at least fifty grand a day. It seems Joel has Johnny dialed in,” she let out a deep sigh, “so I doubt it.”

  JJ smiled and returned to reading her emails as Halo watched the scenery whisk by. She smelled the odor of fish as they passed the tuna canneries. The rank smell soon faded as they turned off Highway One and onto Highway Six. The bumps began coming sooner and Thomas slowed the SUV down and did his best to dodge the craters and bumps on the way to their next turn off.

  Thomas broke the silence, “We are turning off and heading to Afona, the road here is bad and twisty.”

  Halo nodded to Thomas who watched her response in the rearview mirror. Sometime later Thomas came up to a dirt road and stopped at a wood barricade manned by a film crewmember. He walked up to the SUV as Halo rolled down her window and waved to the young man. He waved back, turned around and moved the gate. Thomas slowly crept forward and stopped at locally hired crewmember as he pointed them down the road, “There is a reserved spot. You will see it.” He said and Thomas began moving forward over the dips and soon came to a spot another crewmember was staffing.

  Halo poked her head out of the window again and the man gestured for them to park in the open space by the trailhead. Halo did not wait for Thomas and got out as the crewmember came up to her, “Good morning Halo. If you guys will follow me, I’ll take you down to the set.”

  Halo said her thanks and the four of them began following the man down an overgrown sandy path. The hike was pretty with all the flowers, palms and greenery, but not as beautiful as when the trees gave way to a picture perfect white sandy beach and the blue Pacific beyond.

  “The white tent is your dressing room. The blue one on the opposite side is Johnny’s.” The crewmember pulled out his walkie-talkie and spoke into it, “Talent on set. Where do you want her?” They heard Deacon’s voice come over the speaker, “Have her meet me at wardrobe, I’ll be right there.”

  “Thanks.” Halo sighed as he directed them to her white tent. They walked through the soft sand and as they came up to the tent Halo stopped, turned to Thomas and Joseph and beckoned them to come close, “I have to tell you what we are going to be filming so you won’t be alarmed.”

  She watched the two men look at each other and then back to her with concern on their faces, “In these scenes I will be attacked by Johnny.” She held up her hand in placation at their looks, “I don’t like it either, but it’s my job and its best we get this part over with. Tomorrows scenes will be nothing like todays.”

  Halo took in a breath and set her hand on Thomas’s big forearm, “Now, in the last scene Johnny will be ripping away some of my clothes so you will be getting an eye full of me.” She saw both men look nervously at each other.

  “You will be without clothes?” Thomas asked quietly.

  Halo nodded, “I will be in panties and pasties will be on my breasts. Are you both ok with this?” Halo asked concerned.

  The two men looked again at each other warily. Joseph looked away then shrugged silently. Thomas rubbed his big forehead, “It is not something we would like to see, I understand why you need us here. Halo, it is not normal for a man to see a woman being attacked or hurt and not help.”

  Halo smiled, “You both are a big help, knowing that I have you near. You will be hearing a lot of screaming and crying, as well as hitting. Don’t worry I will be fine, I have done this before and Johnny is actually behaving.”

  “Halo, what are these pasties?” Thomas asked looking down at his flip flops.

  “Uh, they are flesh colored stickers that cover up nipples.” She saw Thomas’s face turn dark, he must be blushing she thought, “It will be fine. I take it you haven’t seen all my films?”

  Thomas stammered and Joseph turned away, Thomas found his voice, “We have seen them all…”

  “See, nothing new there then!” Halo laughed to try to relieve the tension with her two guardians. She saw both men nod, as they kept their eyes downcast. Halo heard Deacon call out to her and she turned to see her director wave to her as he approached. She quickly turned to the men, “While we film, stay with JJ. I will be going to wardrobe soon.” She spun around and walked up to Deacon.

  “Good morning.” Deacon said with a smile, “We are set to go on rehearsals. There are some changes due to geographies. After you are done in wardrobe and makeup, come meet me at my command tent, we will go over the changes.”

  “Of course.”

  “You are going to be just fine Halo. I spoke with Johnny and I think he might be more nervous than you.” Deacon smiled and put his arm around her and gave her a quick squeeze, “Ok, go get ready.” He looked to the two men and JJ, gave them a nod, turned and left.

  Halo took in a deep breath, squared her shoulders and smiled at her little retinue, “Let’s do this.” She sighed and walked up to the white tent and called out, “It’s Halo, can I come it?” She heard two female voices callout ‘come on in!’ Halo beckoned to JJ and went in with JJ following who quickly secured the tent’s opening.

  The wardrobe girl smiled, as she held up a pair of slightly dirty looking pink panties, a dirty white bikini top and a pair of short cargo style shorts, “These are for you! They are clean, don’t worry.” She laughed as Halo eyed them, “Here are your pasties too. You can go behind the curtain there and get them on, Halo.”

  Halo smiled, “Thanks.” She accepted the clothes and left to put them on. Coming out she was trying to adjust her khaki colored shorts when the wardrobe girl motioned to her.

  “Oh, the Velcro in the back is not on right. Here let me fix it.” She turned Halo around and adjusted the Velcro sewn into the crotch seam, “These are rip away shorts, they will come off easier if you unbutton the front button, ok?”

  “Got it.” Halo said as makeup came over and sat her down on a chair under bright lights, “I don’t hear a generator?”

  The makeup girl spoke first, “It’s way down on the beach, so as not to bother the wildlife. Now hold still while I make you a dirty girl.” She said with a chuckle.

  She opened a plastic container of movie dirt and began dirtying her legs up with the brown powder. After that, her makeup went on, making her look paler and tired. Halo’s hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail and secured with a strip of ragged brown cloth.

  JJ snickered, “Looks like you just got done mucking out some stalls.”

  “You should have seen the pigs swoon… at least I still smell pretty.”

  “Not for long!” The wardrobe girl laughed.

  Halo wrinkled her nose, “Yeah, rolling around with Johnny Stoner is bound to make me stink, hope it comes off in the shower…”

  The two women held their hands to their mouths, stifling their laughs. JJ did not care and laughed aloud, “Lucky girl!”

  “Ha! Wanna trade places today?” Halo asked with a smirk.

  “Fuck that!” JJ exclaimed with a hearty laugh, “I don’t care what you are getting paid!”

  “No shit…” Halo muttered, wishing it were Mystery man waiting out there, “We done?” Halo asked.

  “We are all done, good luck to you Halo.” The makeup girl offered as wardrobe girl nodded in agreement.

  “Thanks, see you both out there.” Halo got up as JJ opened the tent flap for her and stepped out into the shade provided by the tall trees behind the tent.

  Thomas and Joseph snapped to attention and began following Halo towards where Deacon had pointed. They crested a small rise in the sand and the set was there in all its smallness. Of
f by a copse of palm trees was a small hut, it seemed to be very old and used but in reality, the crew recently built it. There was an old worn table made from what looked like old fence boards in front of the hut, two benches made of the same material as the table adorned each side.

  Off a short ways to the right of the hut was a fallen log and several trees of various types were ringing the area. From where the camera positions were it would look rather remote and a perfect location for hiding a high profile kidnap victim.

  They passed by the cameras and Halo stopped to check out her equipment. All her Alexa XT cameras were being well cared for and covered. All the other filming equipment was also covered or sealed in plastic sheeting or bags. She nodded appreciatively at the professionalism of her crew. She knew sand was hell on equipment, especially lenses that run upwards of forty thousand dollars apiece to replace.

  Halo continued onwards towards Deacon who was waiting under a black tent full of equipment. Off in the distance she made out Joel and Johnny standing together talking. Johnny was wearing military style clothing and combat boots. His long dishwater blonde hair was loose and unkempt as it brushed the tops of his shoulders. He must have noticed her as he looked from Joel to her and gave her a nod before he returned to talking with Joel. Halo made no response as she turned her attention to Deacon.

  “All set Deacon.”

  He turned around and looked her up and down, “You look like crap, in a good way. Let me get Johnny over here and we can go over the changes. Have your guys stand under the covered area while we talk.” Deacon ordered.

  Halo nodded to JJ and her two guardians and they walked a short distance to another covered area that obviously would be their lunchroom later on. Deacon spoke into his walkie-talkie and she saw Joel turn to speak with Johnny in the distance.

  Joel heard Deacon ask for him and Johnny over his wireless headset to join him and Halo at his command tent. Joel quickly grabbed Johnny’s arm, “Dude, don’t even look at her. Don’t smile, don’t frown unless you are asked too. Fuck, don’t even squeak out a fart. Remember this is all on you now.”

  “Yeah man, I gotcha, no worries! Hell, from here she looks like shit, doesn’t mean I would pass on banging her sweet ass!” He gave Joel a little punch to his arm, “I’d even fuck her with your dick!” Johnny laughed and wiped his nose with his hand.

  “Shut the fuck up, someone might hear you!” Joel hissed.

  Johnny chuckled at his friend, “Joel I bet you wish you could play with those titties, motorboat those puppies until your face goes numb!” He grinned enthusiastically at Joel.

  “God dammit Johnny!” Joel hissed again.

  “Fine, fine! I’ll only give her a little squeeze—just for you man!” Johnny chuckled and clapped Joel on his shoulder, “I’m just fucking with you man, no worries! You are paid up in full. Trust me I need that cash and this film.”

  Joel wasn’t sure if Johnny was on the up and up or really just yanking his chain, “Just do exactly as Deacon tells you, please?” Joel pleaded.

  “I am a professional, no shit Sherlock.” Johnny winked and began his walk to Deacon and Halo.

  When he got to the tent he ignored Halo and her sour look completely, “Present and accounted for.” He stated to Deacon and smiled politely.

  “Good, let’s go over the updated storyboards here on my laptop.” He pointed over to a stand that held his large screened laptop, “Halo, these are the storyboards you green lighted. I made some changes due to the environment and lighting. The changes reflect the differences in the set.”

  Deacon flipped through each storyboard scene giving both his actors’ ample time to know what was coming up.

  Halo watched the new changes and nodded when she had seen them all. She committed it to memory, “Fine.” She told Deacon.

  Johnny followed her up with, “Got it.”

  Deacon eyed Johnny and turned his attention to Halo, “We will close the set for all of scene 229. Is this ok, or do you want a closed set all the way through?”

  “No matter.” She replied.

  “What about your people, you want them cleared out too?” Deacon asked quietly.

  “No, they are fine. JJ will keep them with her. Pasties up top are on and panties are tight, I’m good.”

  Deacon acknowledged her with a nod, “Then let’s go do the walk through then we’ll start rehearsals.” Deacon gathered up his tablet and headed over with Halo following close at his side.

  Johnny leaned over to Joel, “I hope you enjoy watching her get naked.” Johnny smiled and quickly followed Deacon leaving Joel with his mouth hanging open.

  Deacon turned and addressed his crew with a shout, “Ok people! Listen up!”

  He positioned Johnny by the table and seated Halo on the other side of the table from Johnny, “227 starts with Jake,” He pointed to Johnny, “talking on his satellite phone with Cap. Yada, yada… lines said.” Deacon pantomimed a throwing motion towards Halo and she pretended to catch it, “Throws Liz the handcuffs. Yada, yada more lines. Liz puts them on herself as ordered. Liz says her lines.”

  Deacon paused and looked at the cameras and their angle and continued, “Jake is very angry, says his lines. Liz stands up afraid. Jake is very pissed off,” Deacon paused and dropped a brown beanbag down as a mark for placement, “Halo you back away to here.” He pulled her over to stand on the mark, “Camera one and two, how’s it look?”

  Doug turned from talking with JJ and looked into his eyepiece, “One, looking good boss.”

  Craig called out, “Two is good.”

  Not satisfied with their answer, Deacon walked the short distance to the cameras and looked in each screen for himself. He raised his voice loudly, “Johnny stand in front of Liz and act it out with your knife.”

  Johnny shrugged at Deacon with both hands out and empty.

  “Dammit! Props!” He yelled, “Get Johnny his freaking knife please!”

  The Prop master ran over to Johnny, quickly handed him a fake K-bar knife then quickly got out of camera frame.

  “Ok do your thing Johnny.” Deacon watched through camera one’s screen as Johnny threated Halo with his knife, “Lighting looks good.” He went to camera two and was satisfied and quickly returned to his two actors.

  Johnny returned to his first position and waited as Deacon checked his tablet, “Ok! Moving on. Jake is pissed off as usual, more lines. Threatens Liz with knife. Liz says her lines—is really scared now. Jake puts knife in the sheath at his belt and raises hand long enough for Liz to cry and get scared. Jake hits Liz—the dirty bastard!” Deacon laughed and the crew chuckled, “Liz falls back onto the sand. Ok 227 gets cut here and dolly tracks get laid down for 228.”

  Deacon walked a few paces closer to the downed log and dropped another beanbag marker, “228! Jake is dragging Liz by her handcuffed hands over towards the tree there. Liz is crying. More yelling from angry Jake then drags her partway to the tree stops here at the middle of the log.” He dropped another marker.

  Deacon motioned for Halo and Johnny to come over to his last marker, “Ok, camera one will be on the dolly with the track we marked out for an in motion shot while Liz is being dragged to here. With Liz on her back and Jake standing over her it is cut on 228.”

  “Ok 229, Liz you lay down on the marker please. Jake you stand over her. Camera one will be on the dolly locked in place, camera two will be on the crane for an aerial shot above Jake and Liz.” Deacon returned and hopped the log again and stood next to his actors.

  “Jake, kneel here next to Liz, thank you. Jake yet again hits Liz, more yelling and crying. Jake rips off bikini top. Liz quickly covers up. Jake is angrier, yanks off Liz’s shorts then tosses them on this side of the log. Ok, are these clothing items going to come off easy, Halo?”

  “Yes, they are held by Velcro tabs. On 229, I will unbutton the top button; wardrobe says it should come off easy, same with the top. You boys will get to see my pretty pink panties.” Halo smirked.

  Deacon ig
nored her comment, “So, Jake takes off his shirt and unbuttons his pants.” Deacon turned to Johnny and gave him a serious look, “You got your sock on your junk?”

  Johnny smiled, “Yes, sir. They didn’t have one big enough, but what they had will just have to do…” The crew collectively groaned and Halo rolled her eyes. Deacon ignored it.

  “Ok! People! Listen up, when Jake is on top of Liz, camera one will pan down so we only see a partial of Liz. We will see how that looks and change accordingly. Two will be aerial overhead on Jake. After some fighting, cursing and tussling Liz sees Jake’s knife in his sheath, pulls it out and stabs Jake in his groin. Yay for Liz!” He joked, “Cut. Then we will do the extreme close-ups of the drawing of knife and the stabbing, we will get this part done and over.”