Chapter 2 – The Rumour Mill…
“Well then…do you know what a ‘marker’ is?” Ethan asked. William had cockily walked back into his office three days after they last spoke like nothing had happened – but Ethan knew for a fact that William had tried to sign up with at least seven different agents, all not wanting to know him because they all thought he was bad news…so that’s why William was sitting in front of his desk now, cocky as hell with a big smirk on his face
“Yeah – It’s a felt pen, a Sharpie” Spike said with a grin
“In acting, idiot boy” Ethan sighed closed his eyes and shook his head sadly
Spike shrugged his shoulders and said
“Dunno…something to do with timing? As in marking time – or is that what soldiers do – look, Ethan, who the fuck cares – as long as I’m a good boy and can remember my lines, or ad-lib good ‘en’s, I’m laughing”
“Be laughed AT, more likely you HAVE to know the basics, a Marker is where you stand!”
“I KNOW! – I’m winding you up – fuck knows I spent enough time as a kid in empty theatres with my dad as he practiced, got his *markers* for his *projection* right. Anyway, hardly Broadway this little soap is it?”
“No, no granted, but – huh…you’re sending me grey, can you see?” Ethan turned his head so Spike could see his greying temples.
“So, when do I get m’ first script? – I wanna explode onto Wilson’s Mountain like a fucking big volcano!” Spike said with a grin, lighting a cigarette.
“And God help them!” Ethan said, passing Spike a large brown envelope.
ooOOoo
Diner set, actors on set the cook, Mrs Keogh, Buffy and Red
“Okay, stand by………and DO try to stop crying Mrs Keogh…Andy, little more powder on Mrs Keogh’s shiny nose please…………ready, markers everybody……and roll VT”
“Scene 24, take 5 Mrs Keogh hands in her notice” the clapperboard man shut the board and moved out of shot, Mrs Keogh was standing by the serving counter, Buffy was filling ketchup bottles, Red was wrapping cutlery in napkins.
“……So you see Miss Buffy, I have to go, I realise I should give…(sniff) sh-should give you lon-longer notice b-b-b-but - (she crumpled into tears)
“And CUT! – Alright, we’ll do this scene after lunch – Jan darling, you are really going to have to get a grip – somebody give her a Prozac or something…large gin, God knows I could do with one!” Quentin groused
Buffy and Willow relaxed. Willow pulled the little waitress cap off her head and smoothed her hair. Then she said excitedly,
“Oh, did Cassie tell you who’s going to be on here with us next week?”
They made their way off-set to the Chuck wagon and stood in line for lunch. There had been that many rumours as to who might likely come and act on the show from the sublime to the ridiculous that Buffy had begun to get sarcastic with her answers…
“Don’t tell me…Willard Shanter from Star Quest?”
“Don’t be silly!”
“Well that what Xander said!” Buffy replied, just before ordering a chicken fillet burger with smoked bacon and garlic mayo, and a large fries…
Willow’s eyes nearly popped and she asked for a small soup. They went over to Buffy’s trailer, but sat outside
“That boy’s an idiot, on or off the show, he’s a sandwich short of a picnic he is…Willard Shanter indeed…Willow said grinning
“Hey don’t talk about my little brother like that!” Buffy said taking a huge bite of burger
“Huh, be thankful he’s only your brother on the show…imagine having a real brother like that!”
“Swo hoosh cummig den?” Buffy asked through a mouthful of burger. Willow frowned,
“What?” Buffy chewed and swallowed
“I said, who’s coming then?”
“William Giles, ‘Slim Spike’ from the Vampyres – Cassie said she got it wrong thinking it was his dad, it’s actually him – I think he’s dreamy!”
Buffy frowned
“I’ve heard it all now. We’ve got everybody from Sir Rupert Giles, singer Shyleen Dianne, Willard Shanter to half the cast of the Muppets – Faith told me yesterday that him from The High Seas Pirates was coming here – oh what’s-his-name…..Ronnie Dapp - I said I’d have to change the diner menu from Po’boys and Gyro’s to ship’s biscuits and rum punch if that were true!”
“But it’s TRUE! I SWEAR to you Slim Spike from the Vampyres is coming here!”
“What’s true Red?” Angel came over and sat with them, he went to reach for a French fry and Buffy smacked his hand away
“Get your own” And then turning back to Willow she continued,
“And how come you know this is true and not all the other rumours that have been flying around here?”
“Coz, listen to this, Cassie and Tara are…you know!” Willow grinned and made a little sideways jerk of the head.
Buffy looked, frowned, then raised her eyebrows, she had no idea as to what Willow meant.
“I have no idea what (Buffy made the jerking movement with her head) means!”
“She’s a…they are…*special friends* Willow emphasised the two words
“Special friends? – Do you mean they’re gay – Cassie is a lesbian?”
“I don’t think so Red…she just hasn’t met the right man yet, that’s all!” Angel said
Both women gave Angel a ‘look’ and he shut up
ooOOoo
“And how far away from the studio is this flat then Eth?” Spike asked, holding a piece of paper with an address written on it
“Two miles – you can have it for the duration you are on the soap”
“Won’t be long then, coz just you wait, as soon as Stephen Spelliburg sees me act, he‘ll be on that phone to you begging me to go to Hollywood!!” Spike said seriously
“I can hardly wait. I suggest you get home get your stuff together and move in there, (Ethan nodded towards the piece of paper) because you’re on set the day after tomorrow and you’ll be expected to know your lines!”
ooOOoo
“Oh I’m SO not going to miss this!! Give her a Prozac I said, or a stiff drink I said, I didn’t say give her several of each – how are we going to finish the scene now – she’s comatose, in fact if you listen hard enough, you can hear her in here snoring from her trailer!” Quentin sat down at one of the diner tables, head in his hands. Buffy went over to Trav as she called him and put her arm around his shoulders
“Look, don’t worry, I can do the thing over the phone, admittedly she’s acted her last on here, but she couldn’t get through her last lines without crying, so how about I do something like this…
Buffy said, okay the phones ringing, I pick it up and say, Mrs Keogh, what is it, are you alright? – Yes…………oh dear………yes, yes of course I understand you SHOULD be with your sister at a time like that…course we can cope, I’ll do the cooking and I’ve got Red and Chastity to serve…think nothing of it Mrs Keogh, bye - and then I can fill in with a bit more info when I’ve put the phone down”
“Brilliant – she’s not going to like it of course but well needs must – clever girl Buffy, I’ll just write you a little dialogue for after the phone call…” Quentin said.
ooOOoo
Spike got home, opened a beer from a six-pack and lit a cigarette, switched on the TV and put it onto the BlacPro station. The commercials finished and the mournful strains and the Voice Over for ‘Wilson’s Mountain Diner – a tale of ordinary everyday folk and their lives on a sleepy little mountain side’ began
“Huh..see how fuckin’ sleepy they are when *I* get there!” Spike said to himself with a smirk……
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