Section 39

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.
 
 

     Though the afternoon was mild, this night would be warm enough.  Clouds filled skies to the horizon.  The film had wrapped, the slight changes Angela had made satisfying Steven's eye.  Rollie stopped the tape, rewinding it and smiling… the composer had done a great job on the score, eerie when called for, fast paced when needed.  It set off the whole tone of the movie in a way that only a fully orchestrated score could do.

     The wrap party was set for that night, a week since the final shoot inside the soundstage.  He thought of it, with the amount of people that had worked on the film, it would be one huge party.  There was another reason that it was going to be special though, it was the first one he'd be taking Angela to not only as his business partner.

     Wrap parties, though bordering on the formal, weren't strictly tie and tux events.  Heading up the steel staircase he wondered what his "date" would be wearing, she'd been close-mouthed about it every time he asked.  Taking the weather into account he moved to the wardrobe, grabbing out a pair of black slacks and new white t-shirt.  Rifling through the lines of clothes he came up with an intricately patterned waistcoat and put it with the others ' Hope that satisfies demand' he muttered ' I'll be damned if I'm going to wear a bow tie'

     The next chore was the shower and he headed there directly, since things had quietened down again after finishing the shoot, a few days doing little had seemed in order… Angela though, had had other ideas.

     He stripped and stepped into the shower, closing his eyes as the water cascade down around him, tickling his every sense.  He let the water close over him and drifted.
 

     Angela held to the sides of the bath as she climbed out, stepped over the side of the tub and onto the bathmat.  Slipping into the shower she rinsed off and stepped out, reaching for the thick towel hanging on the rack.  Time was running out and she still had to get dressed.

     A quick towelling down dried her skin and she left her hair slightly damp.  Grabbing fresh underwear from the draw she moved to stand in front of the mirror next to which the dress hung carefully.

     Simple yet elegant, the dress shimmered slightly in the light, silk threads giving it an impossibly smooth feel and an incredible sheen.  She reached out, lifting it lightly from where it hung and slipped it on.  Thin shoulder straps slid over her shoulders and she looked in the mirror.  ' Not bad' she muttered, sitting carefully and lifting her hands to her hair, working it into place.

     The pins held it into place and the layered style gave it volume, it was only very rarely she went to these lengths, but there would be a lot of very important people at the party.  It was more for just one of them but she wanted to look her best.

     A very light makeup and lipstick and she moved back to the mirror ' better' she exclaimed, moving again to slip into the matching shoes.
 

     The door bell rang and she looked through the open doorway from her bedroom, blue eyes flickering to the clock at the bedside.  Dead on time, the bath had taken longer than she'd believed.

     Hurrying across to the door she paused, took a breath and checked the spyhole, making sure.  Grabbing the doorhandle she opened the door to see Rollie, familiar grin on his face.
     ' You look gorgeous Angela' he said, eyes fixed to hers ' No one else is going to come even close'
     ' Laying it on a bit thick don't you think?' she replied ' Where's your tie?'
     ' I'm not wearing one… why, don't you like?' he asked, slightly worried.

     She smiled the half smile he loved ' I like.  Looks like we both changed hairstyles' she explained, seeing the ponytail he'd pulled his hair into.
     ' I'd say yours took longer to fix up than mine' he answered, leaning into her and kissing her lightly, producing a rose from behind his back ' Shall we go?'
 

     Rollie drove, eyes glued to the road as the red Honda weaved it's way through traffic to the convention centre, where the wrap party was to be held.  With the amount of people, both part of the cast and crew and guests, it would be fairly crowded, even in the largest room.

     They didn't speak, Angela smiled slightly, Rollie was on edge and interrupting him might not be the best idea… besides, they had all night to talk, dance and have fun.  After the last eight months they deserved it.

     When they finally arrived, pulling up outside the front doors, a valet appeared almost immediately.
     ' Here's your ticket Sir' he said, handing Rollie a printed card and receiving the keys in return.
     ' Thanks' Rollie answered, moving around and helping Angela from the car.

     They moved across to the revolving doors, through them and across to reception.
     ' Hi.  We're looking for the… uh…' Rollie began, checking his pockets and coming up with the ticket ' here' he finished.
     ' Those double doors across the lobby' the receptionist explained, handing back the ticket.
     ' Right… thanks' Rollie answered, taking Angela's arm and throwing her a smile ' Shall we?'
     ' Let's do' she replied, tightening the hold and heading for the doors, Rollie, her friend, partner and lover by her side.
 

     The house was small, single roomed, isolated and nestled between several warehouses on an old unused dock.  It was dirty, run down, not that that bothered him, through his career he'd been in much dirtier places.
     He opened the case he'd brought and removed a length of shielded cable, stripping the ends of the wires protruding from it.  Setting it in place above the door he secured it with a cable clip, trailed the rest of the length along the wall to the cupboard and slid it through the hole he'd already made.

     The wires connected to a reed switch above the door, the wire exiting the switch running around the room to a separate door.  Both doors were reinforced, steel beams running through them.  No handles or locks protruded from the inside of the door and the building had no windows, the last occupant had a less than pristine history… not that it bothered him… nor did removing him.

     The wires came together at two pushbuttons on the wall, one near each doorway.  Stepping across the room to the cupboard he opened it and worked the wires into a small black box, another wire leading from it rested, unconnected alongside it.

     He returned to the case, hefting two small brick like blocks with Czechoslovakian characters printed on them.  He carried them across to the cupboard, lifting the spare wire.  Placing the two bricks in the cupboard he reached into his pocket, removing two silver, cylindrical objects.
     Wiring each of them in succession, he left them lying on the shelf, away from the two bricks.  Moving again he slid a long metal pry bar from a canvas bag and stepped to the middle of the room, attacking the floor, pulling up boards with ease.
 

     Rollie smiled as he wove his way through the crowd, Angela at his side.  There had been a slight clamour as they'd entered, not a few of the men turning from their dates, or wives for that matter, to look at Angela.  They were to seat at the same table as Steven, and neither Rollie nor Angela thought for a minute that it was coincidence.
     There were two beers on the table at the empty places, Rollie smiled as he reached it and drew the chair, allowing Angie to sit.  She cracked the top of hers straight away and smiled as Rollie sat and did likewise.
     Introductions began, Steven introducing several investors along with several other notables which they hadn't met because of their tight schedule.  In general they seemed to be relaxed, good humoured men and women.
     They sat for a while, chatting with the others at the table, drinking and enjoying the meal which was provided.  Angie had other ideas, not willing to let Rollie get so tipsy that he couldn't stand.
     ' Come on Rol, time to get up' she said.
     ' What for?' he asked innocently.
     ' You owe me a dance' she explained, then in a whisper no one else could hear added ' besides, if you can't keep up on the floor how do you expect…' she cut off as he almost jumped to his feet.
     ' Race you' he grinned, his boyish charm showing in his expression.

     Angela was laughing as he pulled her out onto the floor.