Rollie and Angie drove to the set the next day. Rollie had worked out the sequence and wanted to go over it with Damien. At first, Angie wasn't going to go but then her jealousy got the better of her and she decided she didn't want to put off seeing Dani. She wasn't going to look for her but if they ran into each other she wasn't about to run away either.
Rollie invited Damien over to their van to go over the first small gag. It was also a way to have Angie involved since she hadn't gone to any of the meetings so far.
Angie ran the computer mock-up of the sequence. Damien was dutifully impressed. Damien would help Rollie set up the timing sequences while Angie would program it and run it from the ambler. They went outside to map out the coordinates on the set. Angie went with them and when the coordinates were all mapped out she returned to the van to work on the program. She ran into Dani on her way there.
"Hi Dani. Nice to see you again," Angie said with as much syrupy sweetness she could muster it made her sick.
"Angie."
There was an uncomfortable silence between the two.
"Well, I've got to get to work so—"
"Rollie told me you two are involved. How did you manage that?"
"Excuse me?" Angie turned around to face her again.
"Well, it's just...you're not exactly his type," Dani stepped closer and towered over Angie. "Let's face it Angie, you're not woman enough for Rollie Tyler. You'll never even come close to what Rollie and I shared."
Angie smarted and it hurt. All her insecurities came to the fore. Tears rimmed Angie's eyes as she fought to stay in control. She didn't want to give Dani the satisfaction.
"Yeah, well, you know what Dani? Rollie doesn't seem to have any complaints," she said with an air of false bravado.
"He wouldn't now, would he?" Dani smiled, her eyebrow arched, "he's too much of a gentleman."
Angie bit her lip as the breath caught in her lungs. Dani was right. Rollie wouldn't complain. Angie turned suddenly on her heels and stomped back into the van.
Angie sat at her computer and hit her hands against her head, and the tears that she had tried so hard to keep at bay finally came.
Rollie was on his way back to the van when he ran into Dani. She threw herself into his arms and cried.
"Oh Rollie!"
"Dani? What? What is it?"
"It's Angie. She said such awful things to me," she cried, "I tried to offer my best wished on your relationship but she just called me a bitch and said that you were hers and for me to stay away from you or she would make me wish I had."
"What?"
"It's true Rollie. Please, you have to protect me from her."
"Now hold on," Rollie pulled her arms off him. "You do not need protection from Angie. I don't care what you say."
"But Rollie!"
"No! Dani, Angie might call you a bitch and she might even get a little hot headed now and again, usually with good reason, but she would never threaten you. I know that. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to talk to Angie."
Dani smiled as he left. Though he had defended Angie, she felt that there was a part of him that believed what she had said.
Rollie entered the van from the back entrance. Angie was sitting slumped at the computer. When she heard him enter she turned to face the other way and tried to work. Rollie went to the compartments and took some things out of them and put other things back. Mostly he was just trying to appear busy.
"Hey, Ange."
"Hey."
Rollie moved to the other side of Angie. Again, she turned around so as not to face him but before she did, he caught something in her eyes and the redness of her cheeks.
He pulled a chair up and rolled over to her. He turned her chair around so she would face him, his hands resting on either side of the armrest.
"Angela? What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Angie avoided his eyes, "nothing's wrong. Did you get all the coordinates for the gag? I can start programming the sequences—"
Rollie's hand went to her face and with his finger he lifted her chin up so he could see her eyes. Angie stopped speaking.
"Ange, you've been crying?"
"It's nothing. Just allergies probably," she said as she tried to move away from him, still avoiding his eyes.
"Angie, you don't have allergies. What happened? I ran into Dani outside and she said the two of you had words—"
"Oh really? Words? That was big of her."
"Tell me what happened. I heard her side and now I want to hear yours."
"Sides? Sides! Rollie there are no sides. I was very polite, I swear," she insisted emphatically.
"Just tell me what happened."
"Nothing. Just forget about it." Angie rose and was about to leave but Rollie caught her arm.
"Dani claims that you called her a bitch and that you threatened her."
"What?"
"That's what she says. I don't believe her. I know you wouldn't threaten her—"
"Yeah but I would call her a bitch, only, I didn't," Angie insisted. "She must be reading self-help books though, because all of a sudden she's self aware enough to recognize all on her own that she is a bitch."
Rollie laughed, "That's what I thought. So...you didn't threaten her?"
"No. Of course not."
"Look, Angie, I'm sorry. If I had know that she was the leading lady I never would have even entertained the thought of doing the gags."
"What are you saying? I thought you considered Dani a friend. You know, just because I can't stand the woman doesn't mean that your loyalties have to change too."
Rollie shook his head and smiled. Then he pulled her into his lap and kissed her softly on the mouth. He marveled at how incredibly generous Angie could be. It can't be easy working here with Dani.
"My loyalties, the only ones that really matter, are with you. You come first. Do I make myself clear?"
Angie was determined to stay mad but when she looked over at Rollie her resolve melted. She smiled, "Crystal," then she rose up briefly and straddled Rollie's lap. She held his face in her hands and bent down and gave him three little teasing kisses. He was expecting more and she could see that. He pulled her to him and his lips covered hers. Slowly, they started pressing against each other, their hands exploring each other's bodies.
"Angie," Rollie said breathlessly, "this could be very dangerous. We—ah," he tried to concentrate, "someone could walk in on us any minute."
Angie pulled away slightly, "I thought you liked to live dangerously Rollie," she smiled.
"I do. Ah—what the hell," Rollie growled into Angie's ear, sending shivers down her spine.
"Hey guys. Oops! Sorry!" Lucinda smiled and turned red at the vision of her best friends Rollie and Angie in a make out session. She turned around just as Angie and Rollie noticed her intrusion.
"Luce, bloody hell," he complained as Angie rose up off him. "You're going to have to learn to knock from now on. In fact, everybody is."
"Yeah, well uh, in my defense I didn't think that I would need to here. Jeez! You two can't stop pawing each other."
"We were not pawing each other," Rollie replied indignantly.
"Yes, you were. I know pawing when I see it." Lucinda laughed.
"No we—"
"Uh Rol, we were pawing each other," Angie interrupted.
"We...we were?" Rollie looked confused as he did a double take. He thought Angie would want to be more discreet than that.
"Yes, honey, we were," Angie smiled as she patted his cheek and then took her chair at the computer.
"Oh, um...ookaaay," Rollie smiled sheepishly as he sat next to Angie. He brought out his PDA and started squirting the coordinates to the Annex. He didn't want to look at Lucinda just now.
"So anyway, I came to see if you guys want to join me for lunch?" Lucinda asked.
"Sorry Luce. We'll have to have lunch here. We got a little...." He scratched his ear, "behind in our work here."
"Hmm, I wonder how that happened?" Lucinda smiled at Rollie's reaction. "Well, how about if I pick something up for all of us and we can eat here?"
"Sure, we can do that," Rollie agreed and Angie nodded her agreement. "But before we do I need to go see Tony about something."
Angie looked concerned. "What are you going to see him about?"
"That little misunderstanding we talked about earlier. I want him to know what's going on in case it goes any further. Let's hope it doesn't, shall we?"
Lucinda looked puzzled as Angie followed Rollie outside the van. "Rollie? Rollie, please don't make a bigger deal out of this than it already is."
"I won't. I just want Tony to be aware in case his prima donna starts accusing you of any more things. Okay?"
"Okay."
Angie returned to the van to Lucinda's questioning look. "Don't ask," she warned her.
"I wasn't," Lucinda replied. "Say Angie, you don't mind if I hang out here when I'm between scenes do you?"
"No, I don't mind. But why?"
"Ech, it's just, you know I came into this picture when it already started. Allegiances are already formed and I don't really know anybody except you and Rollie. Oh, and I met the leading lady...she's a real witch!"
Angie smiled and then bit her lip, "You mean Danielle Vandenglas?"
"Yes. Oh shoot! I forgot, Rollie told me about him and her and you. Oh jeez, I'm such an idiot!"
"Don't worry about it. I already had a run in with her today."
"What do you mean?"
Angie told Lucinda about her spat with Dani and how she had lied to Rollie about her threatening her as well. Angie left out the part about her not being woman enough for Rollie. Lucinda was livid.
"Why that little—ooh, I could just—"
"I know. Believe me I know. But the important thing is that Rollie doesn't believe her."
"No, Angie," Lucinda shook her head, "the important thing is that Rollie loves you, and not miss witchy-poo."
"Yeah," Angie replied quietly as she went to work on the programming. At the back of her mind lurked Dani's accusation that she wasn't woman enough for Rollie. She knew she wasn't when she compared herself to Dani. She was like an Amazon woman, tall, built, and beautiful. Despite herself, a picture formed of Dani and Rollie in bed. And with that Angie thought, their two long bodies must fit together better than her and Rollie's bodies do. Suddenly, Angie felt nauseous. She ran out of the van to find the washroom.
Lucinda called after her but Angie was gone in a flash. Lucinda went to get the lunch and when she returned to the van Rollie was back but Angie wasn't. Rollie asked where she was.
"I don't know. We were talking and then all of a sudden she looked pale and she ran out. I called after her but I guess she didn't hear me."
"What were you talking about?"
"Well, umm...Dani."
"Bloody great," Rollie grumbled, "Did you see in which direction she went?"
When Lucinda said she didn't where Angie ran off to Rollie left to go look for her. He found her sitting on a hill not far from the set. He sat down on the grass beside her and wrapped his arm around her.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"You okay?"
"Yep," Angie said as she beheaded dandelions, popping their heads right off.
"Why did you run out of the van? You had Lucinda worried."
"I'm sorry. I just...needed air. We were talking about Dani and I guess I had enough."
"Is that all it was?"
"Yep."
Rollie studied Angie's face, "Look Angie, I meant what I said before. If you want to bail on this picture we can. Just say the word."
"No Rollie," Angie looked over at Rollie finally, "it's okay, really. Besides, that would not be good for our reputation, now would it?"
"None of that matters. I told Tony about our little problem—"
"You mean my little problem."
"Our little problem," Rollie reiterated, "Frankly, he's not too keen on any trouble being stirred up. He's over budget and over schedule as it is. He's going to talk with Dani but all she has to do is threaten to walk and...." he scratched his chin, "you know how it goes."
"Yeah. He'll take her side instead of ours. She's his leading lady. He can't afford to lose her. For the good of the picture we'll be fired, blah, blah, blah."
Rollie stood up and held his hands out for Angie, "C'mon let's get back. Lucinda has lunch waiting and we have a job to do," he looked into her eyes, "but only if you're sure."
"I'm sure," Angie smiled and hugged Rollie. They walked back to the van hand in hand. Angie really hoped Dani would see them but she was nowhere around. They had lunch while they worked and within an hour Angie had the coordinates programmed in for the gag.
The gag went off without a hitch. Everyone was pleased, including Rollie and Angie. Mostly, though, they were glad that the day was done. They only had one more gag left, and that was the big one. It would also require working with Dani.
Rollie, Angie, and Damien would need a few days to a week to plan and implement the gag, so they packed up their gear into the van. They were going to give Lucinda a ride back to Angie's so they had to wait around for her to finish with wardrobe and makeup. Rollie sat outside the van working on a device while Angie put things back into their compartments and loaded the van. Angie had been worried that their romantic relationship would somehow affect their working relationship...but she realized that it didn't change some things. She still did most of the heavy lifting.
"Rollie? What's this?" she called from the van.
"What?" he called back.
Angie came over to the back doors. "This," she said as she handed him a cassette tape.
"Oh man!" Rollie explained as he fingered the tape. "I forgot about that. That's a tape of the 911 call that was made when you were attacked."
"Why do you have it?"
"Because I wanted to analyze the voice on that tape, with a recording I know we have somewhere of Leo's voice, to compare the two."
"Oh," Angie said softly. So much time had elapsed that she wasn't sure anymore if the voice that assured her she was going to be okay and called her kid was Leo after all. How could it be? Leo was supposed to be dead.
Rollie caught her look, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just...I don't want to see you set up for a big disappointment."
"You don't think its Leo now?"
"I don't know. He's supposed to be dead—"
"Yeah, well there are ways around that. You and I both know that."
"But there were four bodies burned in that warehouse—"
"There are ways around that as well," Rollie came into the van, "look, Ange, I am not looking to resurrect Leo because I miss him. I do miss him but that's not the point. You and I both experienced something strange with this homeless man. And I know that doesn't mean that it's Leo. I'm just going to compare the voices and see if they match. If they don't then...." he shrugged his shoulders, "end of story."
Angie still worried about where this might lead but she realized that this was once again something Rollie had to do. He had to go the extra mile for a friend. Angie looked up at Rollie and a small smile curled her lips. Her head tilted to one side and her jaw set.
"I'll help you any way I can," she proclaimed without hesitation.
"I'm counting on it," Rollie smiled as he pulled her close. His lips came down on hers. Angie's arms were caught in front of her on Rollie's chest. He was quite happy with the arrangement.
"Oh man! Here we go again," Lucinda smiled and shook her head from the back of the open van.
Rollie turned and growled. "Don't you ever knock?'
"The door was open, lover-boy," Lucinda teased.
"Bugger off."
Angie bit her lip to stifle a laugh but Lucinda had no such compunction. She went up to Rollie and pinched his cheek.
"You are so cute when you are in love, you know that?"
"Har har," Rollie growled and went and sat in the drivers seat. "Are we all set, then?" he asked.
Angie scrambled to get the doors shut and into her seat before Rollie drove off. Lucinda joined Rollie and Angie for dinner at Regino's.
They stopped at O'Brien's Pub to play some pool afterwards. One of the waitresses paid Rollie special attention and Angie wondered if he had seen her socially. But, then, she realized that she knew most of the women Rollie had gone out with. But he must have paid her some attention before because they made small talk and it was obvious that they had shared conversations before. Angie was jealous but not as jealous as she knew she still was with Dani. Angie rested her head against the side of the pool cue and didn't even take notice of Lucinda and Rollie's teasing and joking conversation nearby. Angie was lost in thoughts of Dani and Rollie.
"Hey, sweetie? Why the sad face?" Rollie lifted Angie's chin up with his finger.
"Hmm? Oh nothing," Angie replied quickly. Rollie noticed Angie's eyes had watered.
"You sure about that?"
"Yeah, I'm sure," Angie smiled and grabbed his hand. Rollie's fingers curled around hers.
"It's been a long day and you're still recovering. Perhaps we should go home?"
"Yeah, I am a bit tired."
They drove Lucinda to Angie's and made their way back to the loft. Lucinda wouldn't be needed on the film any longer unless they needed to do reshoots. Angie unloaded the van even though Rollie insisted that it could wait until the morning. That night Angie and Rollie kissed and cuddled in bed but before it could go any further, Angie said she was really tired.
Rollie began to notice a pattern when Angie was tired the next two nights and the next two nights after that she claimed to have headaches. On that last night, Rollie awoke around 2:30 A.M. to find he was alone in bed.
He found Angie downstairs lying on the couch with a book draped across her chest. Rollie sat on the edge of the couch and gently touched Angie's face. She stirred at his touch and slowly opened her eyes.
"Ange? What's going on?" he asked softly.
Angie struggled to sit up, still sleepy. "I couldn't sleep and I didn't want to disturb you, so I came down here. Reading one of your boring books on semiconductors helped put me to sleep though," she smiled.
"Ange, for the last few nights you've been too tired or you've had headaches. And now I find that you've completely left our bed. Something else is bothering you."
"Rollie, I...." She tried to look away but Rollie turned her face to him and he could see that something was troubling her.
"Angie, please."
Angie couldn't face Rollie. She knew he wasn't to blame for this but every night as they were about to make love, Angie froze when a picture of Rollie and Dani in bed formed in her mind. And she remembered Rollie saying once that sex with Dani was great. She knew he loved her but she couldn't help but feel inferior to Dani Vandenglas, supermodel and object of Rollie's youthful fantasies. Despite herself, tears rolled down Angie's cheeks and her fingers quickly went to wipe them up. Rollie caught her hand.
"What is it?" he asked again, his voice so soft it made Angie's heart hurt even more.
"I uh...it's stupid," she wiped a tear away with her other hand.
"Yeah, probably. But whatever it is it is obviously bothering you and if it's bothering you, it's bothering me. Tell me."
Angie remained silent. She just couldn't bring herself to verbalize how she felt.
"Is it Dani?"
Angie didn't answer; she just shifted in her seat and wouldn't look at Rollie. But Rollie knew the answer the moment she wouldn't look at him.
"Did she do or say something that I don't know about?"
"Rollie please? I don't want to talk about it right now."
Rollie shut his eyes tightly and clenched his jaw. He could see something was bothering Angie, and she now confirmed it, though in not so many words that it had to do with Dani. But he couldn't force Angie to talk about it. But he wasn't about to go to bed alone and leave Angie down here on the couch either.
"Shove over," he ordered her.
"What?" Angie looked at him with big eyes. She did not expect this.
"You heard me," he replied as he pushed Angie into the crevice of the couch and he came in behind her on the edge. He pulled her down against his side, his arm around her, her head at his shoulder.
"Angie, if you and I have problems we need to work them out. I'm not psychic. I can't guess what's going on in your beautiful head, so we need to talk about it. But," he sighed against her head, "I can't force you to talk about it. Hopefully, you'll talk about it when you're ready. In the meantime, I am not sleeping in that bed alone."
Angie looked up at him with sorrowful eyes. He was always so good to her and she knew she didn't deserve him.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"For what?"
"For being stupid."
"Angela, you are not stupid. But it would help if I knew what we were talking about."
Angie was quiet for a long time and Rollie had just about given up on any more conversation. Angie stirred from Rollie's shoulder and it looked like she was about to get off the couch but Rollie caught her arm.
"Rollie, I love you."
"I love you too, sweetie. That's not the problem though, is it?"
Angie shook her head, "You're right," she sniffled, "there was more to my run in with Dani,"
"I knew it," Rollie growled.
"She asked me how I managed to land you, as if I didn't have a chance with you and...." Angie avoided Rollie's eyes and sniffled back tears, "she...she said that I wasn't woman enough to...to...satisfy you," Angie cried. "And I knew I shouldn't let it bother me but I remembered you saying how great the sex with Dani was—"
"Oh hell," Rollie muttered, suddenly very aware of Angie's pain.
"And despite myself I kept getting this awful picture of you and Dani in bed, and how perfect you were together, how right you both seemed to fit, and I just couldn't be with you after that. I kept telling myself that I was wrong and that I was being stupid but you really seemed perfect for each other, and that I was the mistake—"
"Angie, no!" Rollie cradled her face in his hands. "You are not a mistake. We are perfect together. I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry," he insisted. "I never should have said that about being with Dani. I only said it because I wanted you to know that what we have isn't just about sex. But Angie, sex with you...my god! You satisfy needs and urges I never even knew I had. You are incredible," Rollie rubbed the tears from Angie's face, "Angie, you are my life. You mean everything to me. Please forgive me."
"Forgive you for what?" Angie sniffled.
"For being such an idiot. Dani means nothing to me. You...you are my whole world."
"I love you Rollie. Can you forgive me?"
"For what?"
"For being an even bigger idiot," she smiled weakly.
"Oh sweetie, come here," Rollie pulled Angie to him in a deep, tight hug. Rollie wanted to obliterate Dani from Angie's mind. He pulled her on top of him. She looked down on him with her big blue eyes, wide with desire. But she also had to be practical. They had to be up in about three hours.
"Rollie, its late," she said breathlessly, "We have to get up in a couple hours."
"Angie," his lips went to her neck, "I've been without you for too long," his lips brushed her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "I need you now." He moved from under her and maneuvered himself to be on top of her. Angie's hands went to Rollie's neck, pulling him to her and kissing him hungrily. Rollie's mouth moved from hers to her neck. Angie face turned slightly to accommodate him. Suddenly, she stiffened.
"Rollie?" she whispered.
"Shhh," he ordered, "I'm busy."
"Rollie, Bluey is um...watching us."
Rollie rose up. "What?" he laughed.
With her eyes she indicated what she was talking about. Rollie followed her gaze to see Bluey not very far away from them and making little whimpering noises. Every once and awhile his head would either rise or lower with the sound.
"Bluey boy? bad boy. Go to sleep," Rollie ordered and Bluey shut down. "There. No worries," he smiled.
Angie started kissing Rollie again. Her hands went under his shirt and he raised his arms as she pulled it off of him. His hands went to her tank top, slowly raising it up over her stomach and her rib cage.
"Bloody hell," Rollie growled.
"What? What is it?" Angie asked confused.
"Your damn cat. She's watching us too."
Angie turned to see her cat sitting perched on the coffee table intently staring at her and Rollie on the couch. Angie swallowed. This wasn't going very well, she thought.
Rollie made hissing noises to try and scare the cat away but the cat showed no such desire to leave. She did, after all, have every right to be there. Rollie reached down and picked up his t-shirt from the floor and flung it at Chiops. The cat let out an indignant 'meow' and jumped off the table, scampering away.
Rollie and Angie looked at each other for a moment, and then burst out in laughter. Rollie collapsed against her chest and she fingered his hair.
"Well, now what?" he asked.
"Um...I think we should get some sleep, we do have an early call. I promise you I will make up the lost time."
"I'm going to hold you to that," he moved to get off her. "Maybe we should go up to bed?"
"Actually," Angie bit her lip, "I'd like to stay here," she noticed Rollie's questioning look. "This is where we first slept together, remember?"
"How could I forget?" he smiled with understanding. "You know, maybe we should make this an annual event, like an anniversary thing?"
"I wouldn't go that far," she smiled and cuddled up against him, "but every once in awhile is kind of nice."
Rollie and Angie woke a few hours later. Angie loaded the van up with their equipment. Rollie made a couple of phone calls. He told Angie he wanted some insurance for today. He explained briefly what he meant and the two of them quickly worked on a computer program they would be using today.
Rollie and Damien went about placing and setting up the charges. The gag called for Dani, as the zombie queen, to deliver her lines while being shot at with automatic weapons and even a crossbow. Explosions would go off all around her, scaring the villagers. She would fly up into the air about 30 feet and spew out a spray of venom from her mouth which would knock out her attackers, allowing her to escape. The building meanwhile would crumble and collapse as she made her escape.
"Angie?" Rollie called on his headset.
"Yeah, Rol?"
"Dani needs to be hooked up to the harness. You mind doing that?" Rollie looked across at Damien who shook his head. He had heard the rumors of trouble between Angie and the leading lady.
"Gee, thanks," Angie's reply dripped with sarcasm.
"It'll be okay sweetie."
Dani was already on the set and in costume when Angie walked over with the harness. Dani saw her approach and shook her head.
"What do you think you are doing?" she demanded.
"My job," Angie replied. "Neither one of us has to like it but it still has to be done. Now, turn around so I can get this on you."
"Oh no you don't. Where's Rollie? Rollie!" she called. "Rollie!"
Angie winced as Dani's voice boomed in her ear. She stuck her finger in her ear. "Hey zombie queen? Do you mind not doing that!"
"Rollie!"
"Would you just act like a professional and let me put this on!"
"You are not touching me. You've already threatened me once. I know what you're up to," Dani was playing to an audience now. Angie saw stagehands, grips, prop people, and extras come over as they heard the ruckus. "You want Rollie all to yourself. What are you afraid of, Angie? Are you afraid that Rollie still has it bad for me?"
"All right! That's it," Angie threw down the harness, rolled up her sleeves and came closer to Dani, her fists clenched. Amazon or no, Angie knew she could take her.
Just then Rollie approached from the crowd. "Ladies, what's going on? Ange, you haven't got the harness hooked up yet?" his eyes showed a sparkle in them.
"NO," Angie yelled, "Zombie queen, here, won't let me touch her precious self."
Rollie looked between Dani and Angie. He picked up the harness and walked towards Dani. He crooked his finger at Angie and motioned for her to join him. Angie stomped over to them.
"Rollie, please don't let Angie near me. I'm afraid of what she might do."
"You know what? I have had just about enough of you as I can take!" Angie growled. Rollie caught her arm.
"Dani, I already told you that's nonsense. Angie is a professional and I trust her completely. Let's all try to be professional here, shall we?" Rollie said to both of them as he reached around Dani's waist and attached the harness.
He had Angie secure the harness to the cable and she checked the rig on both ends for security. With his PDA Rollie did a practice test to see that it came online and the device worked perfectly.
"We're green," Angie confirmed from her end, happy to be away from Dani.
"There. See how it works when you act professionally?" Rollie smiled at Dani.
"You know I trust you Rollie," Dani purred. "I still don't feel safe though. Angie wants to get rid of me even if you don't believe me."
"I don't believe you Dani," Rollie's smile disappeared. "Let's leave it at that shall we?"
Rollie walked with Angie back to the van. Originally she was supposed to move the ambler out onto the set and control the device and the explosions from there. But both she and Rollie thought it would be better if she controlled the equipment from the van. Neither one of them wanted any more hostility on the set than there had already been. Damien expressed his disappointment that Angie wouldn't be on the set. He told Rollie he had looked forward to seeing her in action.
Tony came over to Rollie and Damien. "Is everything all right, Tyler?"
"Every thing is just peachy Tony," Rollie replied.
"Right, well...are we ready?"
Both Damien and Rollie confirmed they were. Angie confirmed to Rollie that everything was online.
"And...ACTION!" Tony called.
The action went off without a hitch. The squibs, the gunshot holes splatter, the blood, and the crumbling and collapse of the building all worked perfectly. Angie did a great job controlling everything. Dani was lifted into the air 30 feet above everyone. She hesitated at first in delivering her lines, looking down at Damien and Rollie. Rollie caught her look. She almost blew the scene by taking too long to deliver her lines. Everyone noticed she was off. Tony was about to yell CUT, when Dani finally delivered her lines.
"Cue venom, Ange," Rollie called to Angie.
"Ready."
"And...mark," Rollie called and Angie released the venom from a pump placed near Dani's prosthetic mouthpiece. The green liquid spewed out and was spectacular as it sprayed out and covered almost 20 extras. Then the harness lifted higher and Dani let out a victorious laugh as she flew away from the angry mob.
"CUT AND PRINT!" Tony called, "That's a wrap people. Great job everyone. Rollie, Damien, great job. Where's Angie? I want to thank her too."
"She's in the van. I'll go get her," Rollie offered.
"Hey, is somebody going to get me down from this thing?" Dani called. "Rollie?"
"Be with you in a sec, Dani." Rollie called to her, "You just...hang in there." Rollie laughed to himself.
Rollie entered the van to find Mira and Francis there. Angie was working on the computer.
"Did you get all that, Ange?" Rollie asked as he leaned over her and watched what she was doing. Her fingers flew across the keyboard.
"Yep, I sure did."
"Exactly what did you want us here for, Rollie?" Mira asked.
"I didn't have time to tell you everything this morning but I wanted you here just in case—"
"Just in case what?" Francis interrupted.
"Well...Dani has been making accusations against Angie—"
"What? Dani?" Mira asked flabbergasted. She never pictured her as doing something like that.
"Yeah, exactly," he replied sadly. "The thing is they were general enough to be construed as being wild accusations and that's all. But, they were always specific enough against Angie that if anything did happen to Dani, Angie could be seen as the culprit."
"But nothing happened. The stunt went off without incident." Mira said.
"Not exactly," Angie interrupted.
"See, I figured that if anything were to happen it would be on this stunt. The previous gag was small and Dani wasn't in it," Rollie explained. "So, I asked you guys here as a sort of insurance in case what we planned didn't work.'
"That's a big risk Rollie. If things did go wrong could Dani have been killed?"
Angie and Rollie looked at each other. "You'd have to ask Damien," Angie replied. "Since he's the one that helped her on this."
"Yeah. See, Dani couldn't pull this off by herself. She would have to have help and Damien is the obvious choice, though I don't know what he gets out of it," he admitted.
"If you noticed, there was a long pause when Dani was supposed to deliver her lines. That's when Damien was supposed to override my signal with his own. But," she smiled, "Rollie and I made a program that not only patched into his interrupter and jammed his signal...it traced it back to his PDA. "
"Are you certain of that?" Francis asked.
"Very. See, all these things have their own frequencies, like cell phones. I traced the signal back to his frequency. As a matter of fact, you can still see it. He's sending a memo to one of his assistants about another job right now," she smiled.
"Okay. But you guys know that no actual crime was committed. We can't arrest either one of them."
"That's okay, Mira," Rollie smiled. "I wanted to protect Angie, just in case something did happen...but you know, you can help smoke the both of them out"
"I like the way you think, Tyler," Mira laughed.