‘That’s what you think,’ Abilene said.
‘Well,’ Finley said, ‘we don’t need actual nudity, but it’s gotta look real, you know. This guy is a sex maniac, a psychopath. So…’
‘I’ll work it out in the script,’ Abilene told her.
‘Can you have it done by Friday?’
‘Sure. No problem.’
‘Great. Then we can go out on location first thing Saturday and get it done.’
‘Problem,’ Tony said. ‘I’ve got a track meet on Saturday. Sorry.’
‘What about the weekend after?’ Finley asked.
‘That’s getting awfully close to finals,’ Abilene said.
Tony held up his hands. ‘Hey, look, I don’t want to screw things up for you gals. I’m no actor, anyway. Maybe you oughta find someone else for my part. That’d be fine with me. In fact, I’d prefer it. Honestly. Why don’t you just go ahead without me? Okay?’
Looking concerned, Finley asked, ‘Are you sure? I mean, we’d really like you to be in it.’
‘Maybe you should find someone else. Really.’
‘I guess we could,’ Finley said.
‘There are some guys in the drama department,’ Vivian said. ‘I could ask around and…’
‘They’re such a bunch of weenies,’ Finley complained.
‘Not all of them. What about Jack Baxter?’
‘Baxter?’ Abilene asked. ‘The guy who played Stanley in Streetcar?’
‘He’s such a Neanderthal,’ Finley said. ‘What I had in mind was someone more… clean-cut, handsome. You know, a Ted Bundy type.’
‘I’m a Ted Bundy type?’ Tony asked. ‘Gee, thanks.’
‘I’m not particularly thrilled,’ Abilene said, ‘about the idea of playing victim for a guy like Baxter.’
Vivian shrugged. ‘Oh, he’s not so bad. And I think he’d be awfully good in the role.’
‘Typecasting,’ Abilene said.
‘Well,’ Finley said, ‘why don’t you check with him, Viv? See if he’s interested. And if he’s available for this weekend.’
‘I don’t know about this,’ Abilene said as she walked with Harris into the secluded clearing near Shady Lane Bridge that Finley had chosen for the opening scene. She wondered if she sounded nervous enough. She certainly felt nervous. The idea of making out with Harris in front of her friends was bad enough, but Baxter had joined the troupe.
‘What don’t you know about?’ Harris asked. Stopping, he faced Abilene and took hold of both her hands.
She glanced about. ‘It’s so… deserted around here.’
Sure. Deserted. Finley with the video camera at her eye, taping, while Cora and Vivian and Helen watched from the shadows beneath a nearby tree and Harris fooled with the trick knife Vivian had borrowed from the prop room. At least he’s not staring at me, she thought.
‘It’s supposed to be deserted,’ Harris said. ‘That’s the whole idea.’
‘I know, but… Maybe we should go back to my apartment.’
‘So your damn roomy can listen through the wall and make noises?’
Smiling slightly at that, Abilene said, ‘She won’t be there. She’s going to a matinee this afternoon. We’d have the place all to ourselves.’
‘I like it here.’ Harris pulled her gently into his arms. He nibbled the side of her neck. That hadn’t been in the script. It made her shiver and squirm. ‘So much nicer,’ he muttered, ‘than some stuffy old room.’
‘Somebody might come along.’
‘You worry too much.’ Nuzzling the side of her neck again, he untucked the back of her blouse and slipped his hands up beneath it.
‘No,’ she said, and gendy pushed him away. ‘I mean it. Not here.’
Harris frowned. ‘What’s the matter with you?’
‘I don’t know. It’s just… I guess I’m worried about The Reaper.’
‘The Reaper? Oh, for Godsake. Everybody’s got Reaperitis. It’s broad daylight. Besides, he’s in Portland.'
‘That’s only a half-hour drive.’
Harris sighed. ‘Shit. Okay. Forget it.’ With that, he whirled around and began to walk off in a huff. Finley sidestepped, keeping the camera on him.
‘No, wait!’ Finley swung the camera toward Abilene. ‘Don’t be this way. Please. I…’ Shaking her head, she hurried after him. She caught him by the shoulder. As he turned to face her, she flung her arms around him. She hugged him hard, kissed him.
He seemed rigid at first, his mouth tight, as if holding onto his anger.
Then his lips parted. He wrapped his arms around her, caressed her back. Writhing slightly against her, he eased his tongue into her mouth. Abilene sucked it in deep. He rubbed her buttocks, and then his hands moved slowly upward beneath her blouse. They roamed her back with gentle caresses.
For just a while, Abilene forgot about everyone else, forgot the camera and audience. There was only Harris. The familiar feel of him, the closeness and desire. But when his hands passed over the back strap of her bra rather than pausing to unfasten its catches, the illusion fell apart. Embarrassed, she felt her face go hot.
Here we are, doing this in front of everyone. On tape, for Godsake. Total strangers will be seeing all this.
Beneath the blouse, a fingertip prodded her shoulder.
Harris, at least, still had his mind on business.
Abilene concentrated, trying to remember what came next. Then she eased her mouth away from his and smiled up at him. ‘It’s pretty nice here, after all,’ she said.
‘I love you so much, Abilene.’
‘Cut cut cut,’ Finley said.
Laughter and applause from the sidelines.
‘Woops,’ said Harris.
Abilene gently slapped his chest. ‘Dope.’ She looked over her shoulder and mugged at her friends. Then she glanced at Baxter. No smile there. He was staring at her.
‘Okay, okay,’ Finley said. ‘Nothing a little editing won’t cure. We’ll take it up with a close on Harris. “I love you so much, Jean.” Got it?’
‘Hope so.’
‘You’re doing fine, both of you,’ Vivian told them.
‘Really into the scene,’ Cora said.
‘They’ve had so much practice,’ said Helen.
‘Hey, let’s have silence on the set. Ready? Action.’
‘I love you so much, Jean.’
Abilene, gazing into his eyes, reached up and touched his cheeks. ‘And I love you,’ she said. Her fingertips wandered down his face, his jaw and neck. Slowly, she unbuttoned his shirt. She spread it open. While she caressed his bare chest, Harris undid the buttons of her blouse.
Harris spread her blouse wide, and she immediately pressed herself against him. It felt strange to have the stiff cups of the bra in the way, keeping her breasts from the warmth and smoothness of his chest. But this was show business, not the real thing.
Show business, with Baxter probably leering at me.
Abilene decided to get on with it. She kissed Harris’s neck, his chest, his belly. Kneeling on the carpet of leaves and twigs, she tugged open his belt buckle. She unbuttoned the waist of his jeans. As she slid the zipper down, Harris sank to his knees in front of her.
