When Evil Prevails

Section 13

Writer - Gabriel Shaytan

FX is a Rysher production in conjunction with Fireworks Entertainment Inc. and Winterset Productions Inc as well as Hallmark Entertainment.

Don’t own ‘em, aren’t bein’ paid.

           Lunchtime was a short affair, Rollie returned to the van with Frank and Mira once again took precautions, much to the obvious annoyance of Angie.  Once it was done, Angie moved out of her swivel chair and sat down next to Rollie on an equipment box to eat lunch.
         Rollie looked down at his feet and smiled at that.  Mira didn't seem at all impressed and that made him smile even more.  Angie knew how much this was costing him and she gave him her trust, he knew that it was going to take time to build up what they'd had but now Angie was willing to try and he wanted that too.
        ' How's it going with the sequences you're working on Ange?' Rollie asked quietly, still under the scrutiny of the two detectives.
        ' Fine Rol, they've got some good stuff to work with and good people too' Angie answered.
        ' Of course they have, they've got you' Rollie said with a grin and had Angie looking over at him.
        ' Yeah… well, they've got you too Rol.  You must have impressed someone to be in charge of so many of the gags' Angie pointed out.
        ' Guess they just liked how I had them set up.  Maybe because I don't use so much gear'
        ' Being an independent seems to have some advantages'
        ' Yep.  Well things are going ok so far' Rollie said ' I guess we should get back' he finished, standing up.
        ' Wait a minute Rol' Angie said ' Can you give us a minute guys?'
        Frank glanced at Mira and seeing that Mira was about to say "no", Frank reached over and took her arm ' Sure Ange, we'll be just outside'

        ' What is it Angie?' Rollie asked worriedly.
        ' Nothing Rol' Angie said softly ' I just thought we should have a minute.  I told Mira about our friendship and how we're trying to rebuild it'
        ' You know I still trust you with my life Angie… that won't change.  I do know that this will take time to work out Ange but I promised you I'd always be there for you if you needed me… and I will be'
        ' Mira told me to take it slowly, to be careful'
        ' Good advice I suppose' Rollie answered reluctantly.
        ' No Rollie you're wrong.  I don't need to take it slowly with you, everything we do together feels right.  It didn't that night, I know that now, but I was too shocked to feel it then'
        ' Still, to be sure it'll take time Ange.  I want this though and I can wait'
        ' It will take time Rol I know that but it's ok, we'll get there'
        ' Of course we will Ange'

         Angela smiled and looked up at Rollie and he saw the look in her eye.  Smiling he stepped closer and put his arms around her and she returned the gesture.  After a minute he slowly released her but she reached up and pulled his head down, pressing her lips against his.
        ' Hmmm, that was nice' Rollie answered.
        ' Get used to it' Angela replied with her own smile.
        ' I can only hope I will' Rollie answered embracing her again.

        They stood together for a long moment, just feeling the closeness they shared before Angie said ' You'd better go Rol.  We've both got stuff to do and Mira will probably be blowing up out there'
        ' You're right, shooting will be starting soon' Rollie answered ' I'll see you later'
        ' I'll be here'

         Mira darted inside as soon as Rollie stepped out.  Watching her, Rollie shook his head.  His eyes locked onto Frank's and they acknowledged the problems they shared.
        ' So what was that about?' Frank asked.
        ' Angie just had a few things to tell me' Rollie answered already striding towards the set, forcing Frank to hurry to keep up.
        ' What's the rush?'
        ' Shooting starts soon, I want to make sure no one's been onto the set since lunch' Rollie explained moving to the security desk.
        ' Hey Tyler, no one's been around, everything's fine' Rob answered.
        ' Great, we're going in now' Rollie explained, leading Frank back inside.
 

         When Mira stepped into the van she saw Angela back in her seat, a smile playing across her face as she began working again, preparing the graphics for some of the scenes.
        ' You get protection and then you want to be alone with him?  Angie you're making this easier and easier for Loubar'
        ' Damn it Mira… that was Rollie, get a grip.  You took the picture yourself.  Give him a break… if you don't    I'm calling Vanduran and getting you ditched.  I don't need a minder whose only thought is to keep my best friend away from me, especially after he's been identified'
        ' Why are you acting like this?  At first you were terrified of spending time alone with him… now it seems you'd rather Frank and I weren't anywhere near when you two are together'
        ' He trusts me Mira that's one thing about Rollie that never changes… I want to trust him too and that means facing my fears about being alone with him.  The more time I spend with him the more comfortable I feel'
        ' That’s what got you in trouble remember?'
        ' Mira, I'm trying to put that behind me ok.  I made a mistake… but it wasn't trusting Rollie.  It was bottling my feelings up until when Loubar made a move as Rollie I couldn't ignore it.  If I'd told Rollie how I felt before all this then none of it would have happened'
        ' So what do I do?'
        ' What you have been.  Just don't act like he's Loubar until after you find out if he is.  Rollie was your friend too Mira, he saved you and Frank and Leo and Vanduran so many times but after one incident he had nothing to do with you all turn on him'
        ' You're right Angie'
 

        ' Action' Spielberg called, watching with his professional eye as everything started moving.  He'd talked everything over with the actors and their rehearsal had gone great, the young FX artist in charge had done a great job and it seemed he had everything under control.

        Rollie watched on with trepidation, this was Spielberg, not some independent director.  This movie was a very big deal and if everything went well they could expect some better movies in the future.  He watched, carefully setting off the devices as they were needed, waiting patiently with the other FX artist behind him.  Rollie had everything set up with the ambler and it was making life much easier, he could see at a glance where everyone was and the controls for the various equipment.
        Setting off a barrage of explosions he kept his eyes on what he was doing, he'd seen too many shoots go wrong because the FX artist had watched what was happening instead of making sure everything was going correctly.

        Frank was standing next to Rollie, waiting and watching as Rollie showed what he could do.  Everything was going well and Frank was starting to see why Rollie found his job so easy to get up and do… he enjoyed it that much.
        Turning away slightly he started thinking about what had been happening, sometimes it was so hard to keep everything straight.  He replayed the conversation with Rollie over in his head, Frank knew the Aussie was almost fanatically loyal to his friends, and even worse when it was Angie and this really had him boiling.  Since then though, Rollie seemed to have cooled down, maybe concentrating on Angie instead of Loubar was doing the trick.
        Turning back from his musings, Frank saw that it was coming up to the big finale of the scene.  Rollie touched the icon on the ambler as the actor made it to his mark and the explosion ripped upwards, obscuring the fact the stuntman had disappeared, showering debris around the set.

        ' Cut.  That's today everyone' Spielberg shouted, climbing down from the director's rig.  Walking over he had a few words with the actor and the stuntman that left them smiling before turning towards where Rollie stood.
        ' Nice work gentlemen.  If the rest go like that we'll have the exact look I was looking for.  Keep up the good work' Steven explained.
        ' We'll do our best' Rollie answered with a grin at the other FX man.

        ' What now?' Frank asked.
        ' We get to go home.  Come on I want to see how Angie is doing with her work' Rollie answered, looking at his watch and realising the time.

         Walking along Rollie pushed his hand through his wavy brown hair, pushing it to a semblance of order before walking up to the FX van.  He could see Mira sitting in the driver's seat, Angie had obviously wanted to get on with her work and had banished Mira from the console like she had him so often before.
        ' Hey Mira, we just finished up for the day' Rollie said climbing up before stopping in the doorway and waiting for her to use the P.D.A ' Want to grab a bite on the way home?'
        ' Yeah ok Rollie, sounds good' Mira answered, shooting a look down at Angie before lifting the P.D.A from where it sat on the dashboard.
 
         Watching as Rollie's figure was identified, Mira smiled and got up.  ' Well Frank how about we follow them down?  Got any idea of where we're going?' she directed the last question to Rollie.
        ' What do you fancy Ange?' he asked, looking down at his partner.
        ' Well we'll be eating Kenny's every day on set so how about something home-cooked?' she answered    throwing a smile at Rollie.
        ' Uh…' Mira and Frank started.
        ' I'm in' Rollie said ' We can do it together if you like Ange'
        ' Sure Rol, be just like old times'