Blurred Boundaries (10 page)

“Sure. I’m due on set now, but next set up, for sure.” He looked at Angelisa. “Am I good to go?”

“Break a leg, sweetheart.”

Evan shot a wink at Angelisa then eased by Ceely to escape the trailer. Even though she could tell he had to go, she never bothered to move out of his personal space. It was like she thought she could keep him trapped there with those giant boobs of hers.

Once he’d descended the trailer’s steps, he heaved a silent sigh. He was going to need to call upon every single ounce of his training to get through a love scene with the woman. He didn’t find her in the least bit appealing. And just like that, an already sucky day slipped a little bit further down the tubes.

Tam stood in Video Village and watched the disaster unfold right in front of her. This could not be happening. Except it was. Evan’s first scene was just him alone. It should’ve been a piece of cake. All he had to do was react to hearing his father’s voice on the phone for the first time. Simple.

Except two hours later, they still hadn’t managed to get it. Between breaking apple boxes, blown lights and mics dropped into the shot or Evan missing his cue, everyone’s nerves were fried. She sighed. Who was she kidding? The mishaps with the scene were the symptoms; not the cause.

There had been a nervous energy on set ever since she’d arrived that morning. News of Gavin’s return must’ve permeated the entire crew because everyone was walking on eggshells. No one knew what the man planned to do about the perceived treason against him as Rock had told her he’d put it. Making things worse, Gavin hadn’t even shown up on set yet. The anticipation was just about to kill every last one of them. And it was reflected in their work.

“Cut!” Rock called. He crossed his arms and stared at the floor. His posture was utterly demoralized. If they didn’t get these last few scenes, everything that they’d done to this point to salvage the episode was worthless. Tam had to do something. She put a hand on Rock’s shoulder.

“Maybe we could use a quick break.” He looked at her for a moment, then nodded. She got on her walkie. “Kyle?”

“Go, Tam.”

“We’re taking a quick break. Can you get everyone in here for a moment?”

“Something wrong?”

“Any more than it already is?”

There was a pause. “Good point. I’ll round everybody up.”

“Thanks.” She smiled at Rock. “Be right back.”

Tam hurried out to craft services. Even Charmagne looked a little more harried than usual.

“Did I see you unload some chocolate cake this morning?”

Charmagne smiled at her. “You did, indeed. You wanna be the first to get a little taste?”

“Actually, I think we’re all going to be first together. What kind of serving trays do you have?”

Together, Tam and Charmagne divided up the cake so everyone could have a little taste. The two of them made short work of serving up the mini portions then heading back to the set with the dessert on serving trays.

True to his word, Kyle had everyone gathered. Gone was the banter that had filled the atmosphere of the past few days. Every last person was tense and nervous.

Tam pasted on a smile and with Charmagne’s silent help, she passed out cake to everyone who was present. More than one person gave her a puzzled look. Justin, moved to take over the cake-serving task from her, but she handed him his own piece and shoo’d him back to where he’d been sitting.

“Relax.” She looked around. “That goes for the rest of you, too.”

Finished passing out the cake, she stood in the middle of the group to address them.

“Things feel a little tense around here today. So, we’re going to take a moment. Just to breathe and realize that everything is going to be okay.”

More than one face was wearing a skeptical expression. “Okay, so let’s talk about the elephant in the room.” Those expressions turned down right shocked. “When we started, we shot the wrong script. It’s awful, but not the end of the world. Now, we’re shooting the correct, network-approved script. And we’re kicking ass while we’re at it.” That got a few smiles out of people.

“I can tell that you’ve all heard about the little dust-up last night. Well, that was last night. This morning, we’re staying the course. If anyone tells you different, and I do mean anyone…” She paused for effect and to make sure they all understood that meant Gavin. “…you send him to me.”

Tam managed to keep her voice steady even though she was shaking so hard on the inside that she was sure her teeth would start chattering at any moment. Her career was over if things went anymore sideways than they already had. Although, she knew Gavin would see to it no matter how things went, now that she’d pretty much declared war on him. Publicly.

Still, the last thing she needed was for the crew to pick up on her fears. Projected invincibility was the way to go. Tam cast a kind look at everyone gathered. “You guys are all seriously amazing. I’m so grateful for the hard work you’ve put in thus far. The finish line is in sight. We can get there. Together. What do you say?”

Tam knew a moment of severe panic when the set remained dead silent. So much for her little pep talk.

A voice in the back spoke up, “To the finish line!” She turned to see Evan lift his cake as a toast.

“The finish line!” echoed around the set followed by re-energized chatter.

Kyle raised his voice above the cacophony. “Reset!”

And just like that, the break was over. People scrambled back to their jobs. Tam rejoined Rock at Video Village.

“You think this will work?”

“One way to find out.”

Rock nodded. Cameras started rolling and sound called “speed.” They were off. Evan nailed the scene in one take. During the next set up, Suzie sidled up to Tam.

“You are one ballsy chick.” She grinned. “I like you.”

Tam sure didn’t feel very ballsy at that moment, but there was no way she was going to admit it. She continued chatting with Suzie while they were getting set for the next scene.

Tam had been looking forward to seeing it ever since she’d written it. Audra’s character was to walk out on Evan’s character causing him to soothe his ego with a willing barmaid who wasn’t what she seemed. Love scenes were his specialty. In Tam’s opinion, anyway. She was also excited that she’d had the opportunity to introduce a new character who would play a pivotal role in the season finale.

Tam checked her call sheet. Ceely Glynn was the new actress’ name. She had yet to meet her and hoped that she’d been well cast. She was there to throw a seriously fun wrench in the relationship between Evan’s and Audra’s characters. Tam couldn’t wait to see how things played out.

That is until she saw Ceely Glynn. The role called for a mousy brunette. Ceely Glynn, with her overt sexuality and brazen nature was anything but. Tam headed over to the pool table where Ceely and Evan were running lines. She arrived just as Ceely grabbed him and pushed him down on the table. She hopped on top and straddled him.

“Oh my,” Tam said. Was it just her or did Evan look a bit frightened?

Ceely gave Tam an annoyed look. “We’re trying to run lines here. Could you maybe come back later?”

“Actually, I think we need to send you back to hair and makeup. You’re a little… overdone… to play Ivy.”

“But I look hot.”

“Yes. Yes, you do. But Ivy isn’t hot. Not yet.”

“Not…
yet
?” Evan asked. He was still sprawled on the table with Ceely sitting on him.

“Yes. She’s supposed to have a few-episode arc.”

Ceely squealed and clapped her hands. “Oh, my God! That’s amazing!” She looked at Evan. “Isn’t that amazing?”

He looked like a deer in headlights. “Sure?”

Finally, Ceely hopped down. Evan sat up. “That stinker. He didn’t tell me that.”

Tam frowned. “I’m sorry. Who didn’t tell you what?”

“Gavin. Gavin Rudnitzki. I think he’s your boss. He cast me for the role.”

Once again, Gavin proved that he didn’t even have to be present to screw them all over. Tam worked to keep a smile on her face despite the woman’s haughty tone that was seriously rubbing her the wrong way.

“Of course he did.” Tam turned her attention to Evan. “A moment, please.”

“Excuse me,” he said to Ceely then eagerly followed Tam back to Video Village.

“That woman is
not
Ivy. We are so fucked.” Tam could feel her blood pressure rising. She fanned herself and Evan helped her into a chair. She was on the verge of losing it.

“It’s too late to recast her.” He shot another glance Ceely’s way. She was practicing her pounce upon the pool table. He cringed. “I have to be under that.” He shook his head. “She has some really boney knees.”

“Are you trying to help me or kill me?” Tam sucked in a couple deep breaths and tried to think things through. First, they needed privacy. She spotted Rock talking to Kyle across the way.

“I’m going to get Rock. Meet us in the production trailer.”

Evan nodded and headed off. Tam took a covert video of Ceely with her phone then rounded up Rock so the three of them could put their heads together.

Tam didn’t waste any time. “Schenecki is going to have to recast Ivy.”

“Why? She has such small part.”

“In this episode. She’s crucial to the season finale.” Tam played the video. “This is not Ivy.” She started pacing the length of the trailer. “Ugh! Gavin knew this when he cast the woman. Does his treachery know no bounds?”

Evan sat on one of the office chairs and absently swiveled. “It would appear not.”

“Ivy. Who is she?”

“She’s a powerful witch masquerading as the mousy girl next door. She just arrived in town because Drew killed her mother. She wants revenge and has concocted an elaborate plan to get it.”

Rock referenced the video again and shook his head. “Yes. This is not Ivy.”

Tam stopped pacing to lean against the wall. “Just when I thought we were getting back on track.”

Rock held up a hand. “Not so fast. We can work with this.”

Tam gave him a hopeful look. “You think?”

He paused the video and zoomed in on Ceely’s shoulder. She had a wicked looking tattoo of a butterfly. “So we do not show her face. Focus on this only. Audience will still know her.” He looked at Evan. “You can carry scene, yes?”

Relief bloomed in Tam’s heart along with a smile on her face. She gave Rock a smacking kiss on the cheek. “You are the best!”

Evan held up his hands. “Whoa. This is an awful lot of pressure. I still have the Dad’s reveal scene coming up.”

Rock paused thoughtfully. “We move love scene to tomorrow. You will focus on Dad scene today. Yes?”

Evan sucked in a breath. Finally nodded. “Yes. Let’s do that.”

“Good. I will have Kyle clear the set.” Rock handed the phone back to Tam and headed off to find Kyle.

Tam squeezed Evan’s hand. “Thank you.”

He turned it palm up so their fingers were linked. “I should be thanking you. One scene with that woman is infinitely more preferable to finishing the season with her.” He stood. “Tell Rock, I’m in my trailer if anyone needs me.”

“Will do.”

Evan headed for the trailer’s door where he paused to give her a smile.

“The cake break? Genius. You’re doing good, kid.”

Tam blew out a breath. His praise meant more to her than she was willing to let on. She nodded her thanks, “The finish line will be in sight soon, though, right?”

He gave her his signature sexy smirk. “Absolutely.” Then he was gone.

Tam sank on the bench and took a minute. Just when she thought she was cut out for this. Her heart whispered reassurances, but her head seem determined to argue. She decisively silenced them both. At the end of the day, her heart was right. She wasn’t about to let a little setback stop her from doing what she loved to do. She just had to make sure that she came out of the shoot with more friends than enemies. Tam smiled. When she thought about it like that, she was in a pretty good position. She’d gained the respect of nearly everyone on the crew and most of the cast as well. Audra was the only outlier. The woman didn’t actively hate her, so she considered that a win.

Tam’s phone vibrated in her pocket. She checked the incoming text from Tanzi. She and Audra were waiting for her outside Audra’s trailer if she still wanted to go out with them. Tam was not a fan of bars, but that was how relationships were made. She replied to Tanzi that she would head over after relaying Evan’s message to Rock.

The pep in Tam’s step faltered when she saw Ceely chatting with Audra and Tanzi by the trailer’s door. A silent prayer started in her head. “Please don’t let Ceely be coming with us. Please. Please.
Please
.” She already had Audra to overcome, the last thing she needed was Ceely in that mix.

“Hey guys. Ready?” Tam said by way of greeting.