"Okay, I know you are upset that we are not going to Jamaica. But I really think that going with Syd on this picture instead was a better deal! Think of it, will you please?" he asked her, holding the cart still as it began to roll from the force and weight of the cord as she heaved it over the tower.

Angie exhaled deeply, more from effort than anything else and looked up at him, her breathing causing her bangs over her face to fly up in the air; "You know, you could have helped me there, Rol…"

"Umm, bum back today," he winced, still grinning as she reached for him and he jumped back, anticipating her lunge, "but say, just think of the wonderful trip there. The educational experience of it all! The fact that this film will help the environmentalists all over the world. It's global when you think about it, eh?"

"Syd Waterstreet doing something humanistic, environmental protection friendly?" Angie asked, her one eyebrow coming up, and a smug look to her face.

"I tell you, Ange, he's a changed man since Avila. Why, he told me on the phone yesterday, that this film already has the extensive backing of the National Geographic Society and the Archeological Institute of America. What better kind of backing is that?" Rollie asked her, suddenly serious then.

Angie massaged her arm and walked past him, toward the van. Syd Waterstreet was still a B Movie director to her. They never had finished "The Curse of St. Teresa" in Avila. Production had backed out. She had not heard of any projects he had done since. Doing this last job for John Castle on his film had been wonderful in New York. They had stayed at home, anticipating the trip to Jamaica. She was really up for that movie. It would have been a great comeback for Tyler F/X after the disastrous "Ectoplasmic Ranger" and Rollie being fired.

Rollie followed her into the van, shutting the door. That was what he did when they were going to argue about something. That was the operational standard set up now that the partners were also married and their "discussions" could be overheard by cast and crew.

"Angela!" he said, sternly as he found her at her console, busily on-line with her jaw set tightly, "I am sorry I didn't discuss it with you first. It was a great deal. Do you realize what kind of money we will be making on this?"

"No, and I don't care," she said, typing furiously.

"Angie," Rollie said, calmer as he stooped beside her and touched her arm, "trust me on this, I really think the quality of this film is paramount to our success here now. Shall I tell you who they have for the lead in this film?"

She kept her eyes on the screen, waiting to hear about some lowlife actor that she had worked with before. She suddenly stopped and looked at him, squinting her eyes at him and forming a small smile on her lips.

"Okay, who?"

"How does Antonio Banderas sound?" he said, raising his eyebrows slightly and twitched them, "AND, Meg Ryan?"

"WHAT?"

"You heard me, I am not lying. This picture is very exciting! Syd was asked to direct due to his work in South America on those eco-documentaries for the rain forest about eight years ago. The producers are keen on a director with first hand experience in ecological presence and state of mind."

"Oh, your kidding- right?" she said, pushing him away, scoffing, "this is a big joke, I knew it!"

Rollie crossed his heart and put up his fingers in swear, "I am totally serious here."

Angie studied his face and realized that he would not have gone on this long if he had been pulling her leg.

"How much did you say he offered us?" Angie asked, batting her eyes.

"Half a million, more or less plus expenses," he said, shrugging his shoulders.

Angie's mouth opened wide and she swiveled in her chair toward him, grabbing him by the collar, "Do you realize that that money can pay off all your debts and let us extend the loft into the rest of the brewery?"

"Yep!"

"So, when do we leave?" She said, coyly under restraint now.

"Syd told me that we should get our gear and be on a plane to Costa Rica in two days," Rollie said, making a "oops" face to her.

"What?"

***************************************************************

Flying over the Pacific, about twenty minutes before landing at the airport in Costa Rica, Angie looked over at Rollie. He was sleeping soundly and she took her finger and curled it inside his slightly clenched hand that rested in his lap. His hand jumped slightly and then squeezed over it, tightly.

"Ouch!"

"Serves you right for trying to steal my dreaming portal," he told her, opening his eyes slightly and staring at her warmly.

"Yeah, Mangela thinks your soul travels through your finger there out and then comes back in the same way- so where'd you go this time?" she asked, not convinced at all of this aboriginal method of travel.

"Back, you know- to OZ," he said, smiling

"You have to take me there one day, Rollie," she said, and kissed him softly.

"When the time is right, yeah…" he whispered, and kissed her again, "hey, this place we are staying, it's pretty secluded."

She smiled, catching his drift, "That will be great. No cops, no phone calls from Mira. No schemes or weird stuff, just movie making. Do you know how much I have enjoyed this past month since Czewt and all?"

"Yes, I do," he told her, "and you deserve it, love. His eyes went from her face to outside the window suddenly as she felt the plane shift and turn, "great view of the coastline here, Angie!"

She smiled, looking out the window at the edge of the Corcovado National Park. Somewhere in there, was the place they were staying and the location of where they would be shooting. A tropical rain forest and Antonio Banderas! She thought, with a grin.

After landing at the airport, they went through customs and the usual regiment of getting their equipment passed through. After a lengthy process, they waited outside for the taxi that would be taking them to the motor launch. From the launch, they would be brought to the edge of the Corcovado National Park. It was only accessible by launch as was the location and the Lodge.

The air grew more humid and heavy as they reached the beach at Corcovado. The dampness clung to their clothes as Angie fanned her damp face. Rollie was watching the equipment carefully as the launch captain dipped across the waves in record speed.

Once ashore, they waited. A four-wheel scout could be seen in the distance and only one man drove something that wildly. Angie smiled, sighing as Syd Waterstreet pulled up, spraying them both with sand.

"Guday all! What? The happy married Tyler clan here at last!" he said, his accent as thick as ever as Rollie slipped into his Syd mode with his friend. Angie helped load the truck as Ambler went safely in along with some other trunks of short-range gear. Syd had promised a trailer with all the big equipment by the second day there.

"You're going to love it here, Angela!" Syd told her, smiling.

"I hear the Lodge is wonderful," she commented, grinning as she took the front seat with Syd and Rollie.

"Oh yeah, Mr. Capistrano has made a wonderful refuge out there at Casa Corcovado. The man has over 170 acres of prime virgin rain forest for everyone to just explore and have a go of…not a bit of energy that isn't driven by solar or hydroelectric conveyance. He is truly the epitome of ecological genius," Syd replied as Rollie looked over at his mate and shook his head.

"You sound just like a documentary, Syd. You got a button back there on your neck that we push to make you keep talking?" Rollie asked, winking at him.

"Go on! Say, Angie! I have a big surprise for you! The actress we have for the lead, she wants to see you as soon as we get there!" Syd told her, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"What? Meg Ryan wants to see me?" Angie asked, shocked.

"Meg Ryan?" Syd repeated and snorted, "No, love- we don't quite have the budget for her.

"But Rollie said, you said, that Meg Ryan and Antonio Banderas were to be the leads in this movie?" Angie asked, as Syd looked sheepishly toward Rollie. Rollie was shifting in his seat, uncomfortably then, knowing that Syd's come-on offer had been less than stellar.

"Banderas? Oh, you guys crack me up!" Syd replied, chuckling, "Wait and see who we have. You will be surprised!"

Angie looked back at Rollie, folding her arms across her chest. He looked at her and put his hands out, "What?" he whispered, "can I help it if there has been changes to the original casting?"

As they bounced and chugged their way up the hilly incline, they entered a roughly constructed dirt road. About a mile in, the forest became thick and intoxicating with moisture and darkness. They continued for another two miles and reached a clearing, where seated in the side of a natural grotto, was a spectacular display of natural appearing bungalows.

"Awful quiet here," Syd stated, as they pulled up to the front of the lodge. Angie looked at Rollie who smiled, knowing there would be hell to pay once they got to their bungalow.

"Ah, paradise!" Syd avowed, sweeping his arms out as he got out of the scout.

"Hmmm, so where is Tatu?" Angie said, waiting for a little man to run out in a white suit. Rollie pinched her, as she got out and followed him up the stairs into the main lodge. Their cases and smaller equipment were carried up by staff and they stood in the lobby, their mouths opened wide at the view.

"All natural, every bit of it!" Syd exclaimed as they surveyed the tropical plants and craggy rock formations exposed inside. The lobby front desk was made from a petrified tree trunk, massive and ornately carved with ancient symbols of the Indians that had dwelled in the Corcovado region for eons.

As they got their key to their bungalow, Syd gave them the shooting schedule coming up in the following days to come. Angie scanned the casting list and made a face.

"Who is Lucy Conte?" she asked as she saw the lead actress's name. Looking at the male lead, she rolled her eyes, "Oh God, it's Roddy Demhurst!"

Rollie grabbed the schedule from her hands and scanned it, looking back up at Syd, his glare saying it all to Angie. So, he had been duped as well and that meant that there would be no half a million coming in to Tyler F/X as well.

"Syd!" Rollie cried out, his tone severe, "what the hell is this?"

Syd took a deep breath and started to say something but there was a squeal from the upper floor of the lodge, and they all looked up suddenly.

"Angie, Rollie! Can you believe it? My first leading role!"

They both stared at each other and then back up at the woman who was flying toward them, her high pitched welcome wagon resounding throughout the entire lobby.

"Lucinda?" they both said to each other in unison as Syd silently slipped away.

From the corner of the lobby, sitting in a smoking lounge, a man peered from behind his newspaper. He watched the jubilant celebration going on and took careful notice of the three people who were greeting each other enthusiastically. He got up stiffly then, making sure they did not see him and headed for the bar. Once inside, he sat down at a booth and ordered a scotch and soda. Drinking it slowly and feeling the smooth burn that trickled down his throat, he took a deep breath in and waited.

A bar waiter came to his booth and handed him the phone as the man handed him some tip money. The waiter looked at him, smiling at the amount and said; "Will that be all, Senor Lopez?"

"Yes, that will be all," Michael responded, and took his call.