OXO
He wasn’t really expecting a reply. Vicky and Sharon were probably at work; Dana and Rory might be doing any one of a dozen things. But he got a text back from Vicky: I’m skiving off work today for a rehearsal. Dana told us you guys straightened it out. Sorry we smacked you so hard Don’t worry, I felt like I deserved it
Eh maybe not. Dana had us a little worked up. You know when she calls Andy big brother she really means it
Yeah I know
But I was there when you saved his life. I mean not that exact second obviously but I saw him covered with your blood, and Stan there trying to plug that godawful hole in you, so I know how much he means to you.
Whatever was going on this summer, I know you’ll solve it. Sharon too
Victor had to take a minute. He hadn’t expected this level of absolution.
Thanks for that chica. We are blessed to have friends like you. Oh FML
here’s that damn producer again, back to work for me OXO
Stay out of trouble. Don’t drop Loretta
OMG you’re not supposed to know about that LOL
I don’t know nothing, get off the phone OXO. Victor put away his phone, feeling like a great weight had been lifted off his heart.
The following Tuesday, Andy left all his other projects and went to the club location with the crew. He had to see if Victor and Loretta pulled it off.
All he took with him was his camera. The location producer gave him another suspicious look when he ambled in. “You’re not in this scene.” There were already close to fifty extras milling around, in colorful summer-resort evening wear.
Andy was in jeans and a tee shirt. “No I’m not. Do you mind if I hang out and watch?”
“You have to be outside the main doors, behind camera three.”
“That’s fine. I won’t get in the way.” He’d been on set so much with this production, he could almost read the director’s mind. “Pictures okay?”
“Don’t post anything.”
“I won’t.” With that, he strolled off to the craft services area to see about some coffee. Behind his casual face, he was nervous. If this went bad, it was probably his fault. If Loretta got hurt – or if Victor got hurt – it was definitely his fault. If they crashed in a non-damaging way that they could use for comedy in the scene, which he knew they were prepared to do, he could live with it. Any other kind of crash, not so much.
Fortunately, they didn’t crash. Nobody was expecting the lift, that was for sure. There was a genuine gasp from the crowd of extras when they made it, and genuine cheers at the end of the dance when they took their in-character bows. They got offstage while Andy was busy texting Dana: OMG
Victor and Loretta totally nailed the lift and even if the rest of the movie sucks this is AWESOME. He looked up and the location producer was standing there, arms crossed, tapping her foot. “What?”
“Did you have something to do with that?”
“With what? Did something happen?” She gave him a hateful look and
stalked off. Dana this producer knows I was in on it. She wants to cut off my head and use it for a punch bowl
A reply pinged in: Eww gross Andy are you laughing your ass off right now?
Yes but on the inside for plausible deniability oh shit they’re setting up for another take
Fingers crossed. Did you get video?
You know I did. TTYL OXO
OXO
They did the dance scene twice more, after a lengthy conference with the director and producer, who was on her phone the entire time. Probably with a lawyer. Whatever everyone said, the outcome was that the dance was performed with the lift. Andy suspected the third take was punishment, or maybe they were hoping for a good outtake for the special features. The second and third times through, all the production assistants had eyes on the extras, because more than one oh-so-casually had a phone out and nobody wanted this to leak. Andy took some stills. Somehow Victor and Loretta managed not to crash, though it was a near-run thing on that third take.
After that it was time for the lunch break. Andy deliberately stayed away from Victor because he knew if they got caught talking about the dance, which they would have, they were all in big trouble. They exchanged some nonsensical texts. Andy found Loretta and avoided her laughing eyes while sincerely congratulating her for her sensational performance. He called the hotel and arranged for flowers to be sent to her room, and for some therapy gear to be sent to his and Victor’s. Then they had a backstage dialogue scene to do, which also went for three takes. Andy found a place to lurk back there, halfway listening to the dialogue and halfway concentrating on watching them move. They both looked fatigued, but not damaged. He finally relaxed.
“Fucking hell, my back,” said Victor, much later.
“Actually hurt, or just tired?”
Victor winced his way out of his jeans and shirt, trying to tell the difference. “I don’t know. Probably tired. I can’t believe we did that with less than a week
