After many days of superlative performances captured on video, an unfamiliar mood breezed in over our little project. We were struggling to unearth a fresh well of creative juice as everyone’s acting switched to autopilot.
“Everyone thinks we’re already having this affair,” said Janice, playing Simone. She sat with her husband in bed.
“I know,” replied James, portrayed by Warwick. “I’m even getting offers from other men.”
“This is driving me mad.”
Simone’s words were supposed to convey frustration, but Janice had the dramatic intensity of a shrub.
“Allan, I’m trying to conjure up my dirtiest fantasies to motivate me. It worked in rehearsal.”
“I think you have to move from R-rated to triple-X-rated,” I replied.
Frederick wandered over and stood next to me.
“Janice and Warwick, this is not a scene about your collective dirty minds,” he said. “It’s a scene about your relationship. How much you still love each other.”
The two actors nodded subtly as I stepped back to my tripod and peered through the lens. “Take two. Rolling.”
“Everyone thinks we’re already having this affair.” Janice tried again, this time with the emotive depth of a thimble.
“I know. I’m even getting offers from other men.” Warwick sounded like he’d won the lottery.
“This is driving me mad.” I felt her frustration, even if she didn’t.
Frederick stepped in again while I kept rolling. “I have a technique. Picture an imaginary circle around both of you.” The two thespians shared baffled looks before focusing on the direction. Soon the look was a gaze, and even their body language was more affectionate. “Still rolling, Allan?”
“Yes.”
“Action!”
“Everyone thinks we’re already having this affair.” This statement was measured as she shared her anxiety with James.
“I know. I’m even getting offers from other men.” James’ response was ambivalent, half-adulation, half-apprehension.
“This is driving me mad.” I felt her frustration, and this time, so did she.
“Cut! Print! Brilliant! Guys, you’ve rediscovered your mojo. Frederick, you’re a gem!”
“Not bad,” said a voice from behind us.
Turning roughly in unison, we discovered Samantha filing her nails and occupying my canvas director’s chair.
“When did you sneak in?” I asked.
“Just a moment ago,” she replied. She strode toward us. “A masterful piece of direction from Frederick, I see. I’m impressed.”
“This production is a breath of fresh air,” alleged my skilled elder. “It’s theater you can savor, without the calories.”
“Sounds finger-lickin’ good.”
“Samantha, what brings you here?” I asked.
“Mild curiosity, I suppose. I’m not really sure.”
“Did you like what you saw?”
“A bit too realistic for my taste.”
“But isn’t that the point?” asked Frederick.
“It should be a fun production,” she replied.
“Allan’s bringing a lot of fun to his film. He understands each character’s motivation brilliantly.”
“Thank you, Frederick,” I said.
Warwick and I shared discreet glances as the others crowded around the actors on set.
“Samantha, Allan knows what he’s doing,” affirmed Gloria’s son.
“And how would you know, dear?”
“I wrote the script. Remember?”
“Oh yes.” Her face went deadpan while she shook her hand as if shooing away a bug. “I must talk to Guy. Will you give us a minute, Allan?”
“Of course.”
Samantha and the angel snuck off to the corner while the rest of us stayed silent. Frederick caught my eye with a curious expression. I shared his look.
“I must fly,” called our blonde visitor.
As we all mumbled our goodbyes, she left hastily. Guy stood rubbing his chin as I walked over to him. Frederick trailed closely behind. The others began talking among themselves.
“What did she say?” I asked.
“She told me that we’re expecting a man who will lose his fight with cancer tomorrow.”
“So why the blank look?”
“I already knew that. She told me yesterday.”
“Maybe she just wanted to make sure you wouldn’t forget.”
“Allan, you can’t bullshit a trained bullshit artist,” said Frederick.
I smirked. “Am I that transparent?”
“We both know you don’t believe that.”
Guy nodded.
“So what’s she playing at?”
Frederick paused before clasping his hands. “Whatever her game is, I think she’s about to lay her cards on the table. Whether she intends to or not.”
* * *
Later that day, we were at Maudi’s place. We had just shot Frederick, Guy, and our gracious hostess’ last scene. The telescope was set up, and Ipan had been peering back at our spellbound lovers. It was ten years later, and Farah and Fabien had joined him to share in the mortals’ antics, well after all magic charms had been lifted. The man in the moon and the whimsical witch were still in love, and while the earthbound characters guzzled champagne, Ipan didn’t mind that there was passion in their hearts.
While I reviewed the shoot in my camera, Guy decorated Maudi’s living room, Frederick premixed cocktails, and Maudi heated the delicious delights we had all brought for our wrap party.
I soon fussed around my other cast members in the backyard, sorting out two old pairs of reading glasses that were given to me by Frederick. With only the frames intact, I gave them to Warwick and Janice to signify the decade that had passed. They both applied less makeup than usual, and Warwick wore a diamond-pattern sleeveless pullover to give him that nerdy-but-nice mystique. For the sake of art, I knew I had to deal with watching my lost love give into lustful advances, and the thought was tying knots in my stomach.
Clouds rolled into the afternoon sky, making the sun only peer at proceedings below. Its muted streams gave the garden an auburn hue, holy almost, as if Christ was about to step down using one of the sunrays as a path. This calming glow lit my cast. Their inner souls illuminated in the camera frame. They sat in a circle on the grass with champagne flutes in hand, waiting for direction. I quickly set up my tripod.
“GS, I’m starting with a close-up on your glass before I pull out to a wide shot of all three of you. But please, begin the dialogue as soon as I call action.”
“Yes, director,” he replied.
“Okay, action.”
“You realize I was infatuated by you two when we first met,” said the love interest. “Seriously, it was doing my head in. I would fantasize at whim. I wanted to be in the middle of you both in a king-sized bed.”
“Did you think it was easy for us?” replied James. “You must have known we were in the same boat.”
“I had some inkling, but I was also aware of how jealousy worked in your relationship.”
“Jealousy?” Simone asked.
“Oh, there was jealousy. Subtle, but it was definitely there.” He stared at his glass. “I didn’t want to be the one responsible for splitting you up.”
“And all that time, your cautiousness was driving us crazy.”
“Cut,” I said. “I’ve had a change of heart. I feel too distant from you in this three-shot.” I took the camera off the tripod. “Try to ignore me as I shoot handheld.”
I crouched near my cast.
“Are you sure you’re not too close?” asked Gloria’s son. “You might be a bit intrusive.”
“Just draw that imaginary circle around the three of you. I’ll just seem like a large buzzing insect in the background. Something you’ll overlook once you’re ‘in the scene.”
I called “action” while beginning the shot on Gloria’s son. Their words were repeated with more tenderness than before.
“Let me propose something,” said Simone. “Something that will shine a spotlight to our doubts.”
“What do you have in mind?” asked James. “Spin the bottle?”
“Almost. We’re going to take turns kissing, but after each kiss, we are all going to share, honestly, how we feel.” Her suggestion was received with uncertain smiles. “James, you and I will start.”
Warwick and Janice shut their eyes and allowed their noses to rub. Their lips met, softly sliding against each other as Gloria’s son leisurely crawled behind them and caressed their backs. As they moaned, the younger actor nestled up to them, pecking them playfully on the cheek. Soon the husband and wife team parted lips and willingly shared their mouths with the third player.
As I watched through the camera’s monitor, a tear came to my eye. Warwick was no longer mine. His independence from me was now complete. No longer would we compare our musical tastes or comment on the virtue of lush red curtains. There’d be no more fabulous parties that we’d throw to celebrate our friends. Our once close bond had been erased. I wanted to fade with it in this precise moment.
“Are you going to call ‘cut’?” asked Warwick.
The three actors burst out laughing.
“You must have enough footage,” said Janice. “I’ll need to cool down if you need a take two.”
“I think I have enough,” I replied quietly.
“I’m sure you have plenty,” said a voice from behind. I turned to see Samantha perched on a stool. “What kind of film are you making?”
“A film about the nature of love, obviously.” I felt as if I was being stalked. I stood up. “Your second visit in one day. My, we are blessed.”
“The pleasure is all mine.” She raised herself with her manicured fingers and strolled toward us. “It looks like your cast is definitely exploring ‘the nature of love’ as you say.”
“They’re a true ensemble. Besides, Gloria’s son’s play is tender and sweet, so this is…”
“But isn’t it a play about magic, Allan?”
“I wouldn’t say magic is the core,” interrupted the young playwright. He too stood up. “Ipan, Fabien, and Farah are just voicing the subtext.”
“What are you doing here, Samantha?” called Maudi. She and the others had come outside. “You seem to be nosing around like a meerkat, expecting surprises.”
“Not really, you kind dear woman. I’m just learning what a breath of fresh air Allan’s production is.” She peered down her nose. “How much more is there to shoot?”
“That was it,” I replied. “The new final scene that caps it all off. It’s the future, and the three are still friends…”
“So your version of the play that I produced has fallen into place?”
“Swimmingly.” I trailed away on the last syllable. “But as I said before, you’ve contributed plenty by your original direction of Janice and Guy.”
“Yes, well, desire is my forte. But I guess you’ve given this play a fresh edge.”
“How so?”
“Unrequited love is your forte.”
The cast and I shared mixed glances.
“Unrequited love was my reason for writing the play,” said Gloria’s son. “Allan’s brought a fresh take to my text.” He giggled. “I mean, he took a fresh take because he understands it, not because he knows about unrequited love. No, that wasn’t quite what I was trying to say either.”
“It’s in safe hands with all of us,” added Frederick. “We’ve all fallen prey to unrequited love.”
“Unrequited love carries many a good drama,” declared Maudi.
“True, I guess,” Samantha said. She smirked, nearly fracturing her plaster expression. “It’s just that Allan’s lost the magic of my production. I think the locals will make comparisons.”
“I’m sure they will,” I replied. “They always do. Some will like mine. Some will like yours. Some might even be a bit weird and like both.”
“Samantha, why are you giving Allan a hard time?” asked Warwick. His head tilted. “This is so unlike you.”
She froze. Guy huddled next to me, wrapping one wing around my shoulder.
“No, Warwick, this is exactly like her,” I replied. “It’s the Samantha you don’t see. It’s the Samantha that hangs around her lover, Pedro. The lover that pretends to love you.”
“Don’t be stupid,” my friend said. “Pedro’s gay.”
“Yes, Allan, don’t be stupid,” Samantha added. “That accusation is as believable as your interpretation of the play.”
“Then it makes it spot-on!” I replied.
“Allan, your imagination is obviously working overtime. Let’s hope we see the fruits of that imagination one day.”
“So you have taken over the theater the night I booked it.”
“Whatever are you talking about?” She extended her finger and placed it on her lips. “On second thought, Allan, don’t answer. I’m sure it’s just another paranoid delusion. Besides, I have a dress rehearsal to organize.” She blew us a kiss and turned on her blue pastel heel. “Ta-ta, fellow actors.” No one replied. She stamped her feet as she headed for the garden gate, leaving behind the scent of perfume with a poisonous bouquet.
“I told you not to trust her,” said Guy.
“Yes, she’s a bit of a Tessie Two-Face,” added Frederick. He stared in the direction of her exit. “What is it about the theater that appeals to those seeking self-respect?”
“And there went the perfect example,” I said. “Besides, what would that Marilyn wannabe know about art? And did you see how tight her dress was? Just to prop up her failing assets. All Betty but no boop!”
“Allan, I think we need to talk.” Warwick stood and strode toward me and Guy. “Why did you say Pedro pretends to be in love with me?”
“It’s an act. They, and by ‘they’ I mean Pedro and Samantha, they want me out of the Limelight Quarter. They’re swingers, and they’re a couple. They’re a swinging couple.”
“You are delusional.”
“No, he’s right,” replied Guy. “They’re ‘the lovers’ that Monique talked about.”
“Monique?”
“The fortune-teller Allan visited.”
“You’re just as delusional, Guy. You’re supposed to be his friend. Why are you feeding him this crap?”
I pointed to where Samantha exited. “Warwick, you just saw how she treated me. That’s not the actions of a rational woman. What kind of spell have they cast on you? Why can’t you see what’s going on right under your nose?”
“Allan, I’m happy. Okay, I’m not with you, but don’t be such a sore loser. I’m with Pedro. I’m not in love with you.” He paused, intentionally looking to the ground. “Pedro is…”
“Warwick, what’s the matter?” I tried to place my arm around his shoulder, but he shrugged it away. “What have they said to you?”
“Allan, you’re playing with my mind. I don’t know why, but you’ve got these crazy ideas in your head, and you won’t leave them alone. Pedro’s my boyfriend. You’re so confused with jealousy you won’t accept my happiness.” He marched toward the exit, his hands gesturing so frenetically you’d swear he was Italian. “Why are you like this? You were never like this before. Allan, if you can’t accept me and Pedro, then you’re not my friend!”
The gate slammed.
“Remind me to cast him in a dramatic role,” said Maudi.
I began to laugh but soon found it hard to breathe. “No,” I gasped. Guy held on to me as I trembled. “No. Get me out of here.” Maudi took both my hands and clasped them.
“Breathe, dear!” she commanded.
I tried to answer, but no words came from my mouth. I heard my own short sharp breaths before Janice, Frederick, Maudi, and Guy spun around my field of vision. As I tried to focus on each individual, everything went black.