Action

Marianne raised an eyebrow at Davina before pointing to the pot.

“Help yourself,” she said.

“There isn’t much daylight left,” he told Davina. “We better set up for the next scene. Let’s go have a look at the spot.”

It was an order and it made Davina bristle. She followed him anyway, all the while reminding herself that what he lacked in personality he made up for in technical skill. Maybe.

“You stay here. We’re fine on our own,” he said to Marianne.

Marianne took a deep breath and opened her mouth to speak. Her face said it all. Davina spoke before her friend could alienate the only cameraman she had working with her.

“What Derek means is that you don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”

“Great,” Marianne said, her lips tight. “I’ll stay here.”

Once Derek was out of the door, Marianne’s jaw dropped open, then she mouthed the word ‘moron’. Davina nodded before she followed Derek. He was indeed.

“So the next scene takes place at the front door, where the heroine greets her new man and they share a kiss, right?”

“Right,” Davina said as she trailed down the hall behind him.

“So who’s the actor playing the boyfriend?”

She bit her bottom lip. There wasn’t one. Derek pounced on her hesitation.

“I did some acting in college, I’d be happy to step in if you’re having trouble.”

“You don’t have to,” Marianne said behind her. Davina spun around. “The guy playing the boyfriend is in the garden. We can call when we need him.”

Davina actually felt faint.

“Or,” she said pointedly to her friend, “we can film that scene another day.”

Like when she had an actual actor.

“I’m happy to do it.” Derek eased up behind her. She felt every hair on her body snap to attention. She took a step away from him towards Marianne.

“Give us a minute,” she told him.

She grabbed Marianne’s arm and marched her into the living room.

“Are you out of your mind?” she demanded in a hiss, in case Derek was listening.

“Think about it,” Marianne said reasonably. “The guy doesn’t have any lines, you just throw open the door and fall into his arms. Huge kissing scene and cut. Do you want to do it with Jack or Derek, because those are your choices.”

“I’m working on getting someone else.”

“And how long will that take? You have less than two weeks left.”

Davina clenched her jaw.

“Look,” Marianne said. “It’s a really small part so why not get it over with now?”

“And what about the other scene where the boyfriend speaks, how do I get Jack to do that? You haven’t thought this through.”

“I have. You just ask him to run lines with you and we film it. Easy.”

“Things are complicated enough with Jack without roping him into my movie.”