Beginning, Section II
Prologue
Posted on Saturday, 23 September 2006
from Augusta Elton’s column in “Variety”
“Come Dance With Me,” last season’s big hit for the Vegas Channel, returns this season with a new set of celebrities to be paired with professional ballroom dancers. Once again, the format calls for the dancers to be rated by three judges. Then audiences at home will be able to call in to vote for their favorites. Each phone line will have five votes. In an effort to control what producers call the “popularity effect,” rankings from judges will be based on actual scores (from 0 to 30), rather than positions from top to bottom. This change is a response to last season’s series, in which a celebrity who was obviously the worst stayed on due to fan support, while celebs who were better dancers were dropped. Producers have not yet announced the lineup, leaving this reporter to wonder if they’re holding off until after a few weeks of training, in case someone with two left feet has to be dumped. Watch this space, readers. As soon as I know, you’ll know.
Chapter 1
Eight weeks until showtime.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this Lizzy?”
“Yes, Jack. I’ll miss you, but it’s such a good opportunity for you.”
Jack Stevens sighed with relief, “I was so afraid you’d be angry.”
“Well, it isn’t like we had any hold on each other. It isn’t like we were married.”
“Uh, Lizzy, hello?”
“You know what I meant, Jack. No contractual ties of any sort. Frankly, I always figured I’d lose you to some hot guy one day.”
“No such luck. Maybe I’ll find The One in Hollywood. But you know I’ll always love you, Lizzy. If I’d had a sister, I’d have liked her to be just like you. You are a brick!”
Lizzy laughed and started to gyrate, snapping her fingers and singing, “She’s a brick … house. Mighty, mighty—”
“Stop that!” laughed Jack.
Lizzy blew him a raspberry and said, “Maybe my next partner will dance to that. I LOVE that tune!”
“I know you do. Perhaps that should be a requirement of your next partner.”
“Good idea!”
“So, do you have any leads?”
“Not a clue. You’ve been my partner for so long that nobody has approached me in ages.”
“When word gets out that I’ve gone Hollywood, they’ll be lining up eight deep to audition.”
“Maybe.”
“But you are still going to do the show, right?”
“Yeah. If I do well, it might bring me to the notice of some other hottie.”
“You don’t need a hottie, Lizzy. Any guy you dance with will become one when he’s with you. Hey, don’t think I don’t know that my hottitudinocity is due to the way you danced with me. I would never have been offered this role if the studio execs hadn’t seen us on ‘Come Dance With Me’ last season. It was a lucky break. Lord knows that they wouldn’t have noticed me from my routines with whatserface.”
“Janice ‘euww don’t make me sweat’ Harrington. What a diva! I honestly think she stayed in the show for as long as she did because the audience called in to make sure YOU would continue.”
“Could be, but it was the dances with you that got attention.”
“I thought the pro demos were a good idea until that producer spotted you and stole you away from me.”
“Not completely. I’ll be back to do demo dances with you. That was the only way they’d let me out of the contract.”
“So I’ll see you in six weeks? You will come to the first show, right?”
“Ringside seat. Knock ‘em dead, twinkletoes!”
Chapter 2
Six weeks until showtime
Lizzy got out of the car and looked at the production assistant who had accompanied her to Indiana.
“Why here?”
“I told you. He’s shooting on location, and you’ll be training him on his off days. I think you’ll like the studio.”
“But who is he?”
“You’ll find out when we get here. Come on!”
Mary King opened the door and started up the stairs. Behind her, Lizzy sang
“Up a steep and very narrow stairway
To a voice like a metronome.
Up a steep and very narrow stairway.
It wasn’t paradise,
It wasn’t paradise,
But it was home.”
Mary looked back over her shoulder.
“It’s from ‘A Chorus Line.’ The song where they tell about their backgrounds.”
“Well, this may not be paradise, but it’s bright and has decent facilities. We were lucky to rent it. A kids’ dance school just closed down.”
Lizzy looked around, nodded approval at the wall of mirrors, and then laughed when she saw the barre.
“Must have been little kids!”
“Huh?”
“The barre, it’s so low.”
“There’s no bar. This was a kid’s dance school.”
“Mary, have you any knowledge of dancing? The barre is for warmup exercises for ballet.”
“Oh, is that going to be a problem?”
“No, I don’t think the show expects any plies.”
“What’s a—”
“Oh, for pity’s sake! This!” cried Lizzy. She assumed second position, and demonstrated the classic ballet knee bend.
Mary shrugged. Lizzy shook her head and went to explore what would be her practice space for the next several weeks. She found dressing rooms, a decent shower, and a kitchenette with a small cube fridge stocked with bottled water.
She returned to the studio and examined the sound system.
“That’s ours,” said Mary. “It should have good sound and it’s easy to cue up your music.”
“Looks like we’re all set, then. When does my celeb show up?”
“He should be here by now. Let me check.” Mary pulled out her cell phone, but before she could complete the call, steps could be heard on the stairs.
“Anybody home?” called a deep voice. Then in walked a handsome man wearing incredibly tight jeans and a blue t-shirt the color of his eyes. Mary gasped. Lizzy stared.
“Hi, I’m George Wickham. Which of you lovely ladies is going to make me into a dancing virtuoso?”
Mary stood rooted to the floor, so Lizzy walked across the studio and held out her hand, "Hi, I’m Lizzy Bennet, and I’m your dance partner.”
George took her outstretched hand, but instead of shaking it, he lifted it to his lips and kissed it. Lizzy smiled. Mary sighed.
“And this is Mary King, our production assistant. She’ll be handling any special needs, travel arrangements and so forth.”
“Miss King,” said George, making a little bow. “I am delighted.” Mary sighed again.
“Right,” said Lizzy. “We need to get acquainted and figure out how to get you dancing. Do me a favor, George, and walk across the room.”
George looked in the mirrors, admired himself for just a moment, and swaggered across the floor.”
“Oooh,” whispered Mary. Lizzy sighed, but not with infatuation. Good Lord, he’s trying to channel John Wayne!
“OK, George. Now try it again. A very plain walk, if you please. No swagger.”
George toned down the swagger, but it still was evident in his walk.
“Maybe it’s those boots. Let’s get you into some practice shoes. Mary, do we have shoes for George?”
“Hmmm?”
“Mary! Shoes?”
“Oh, right.” Mary pulled a box off a shelf and said, “Here, George, these are for you.”
George took the box and sat down to change shoes. He frowned when he looked at the thin soles and low heels. He was about to become two inches shorter.
Lizzy looked up from where she sat changing her shoes and said, “OK George, please walk across the room again.” She could barely hide her smile as George tried to swagger, but found it difficult in the low heels.
“Good,” she said. “It must have been the boots. That’s better. Now let’s look in the mirror.”
George walked to her side and they faced the mirrored wall. She tilted her head to one side and bit her lip as she compared their stances and body proportions. George missed this, as he was busy admiring himself. Then he looked at his heel and noticed that his jeans were crumpled at the bottom now that he wasn’t in his boots. Lizzy’s voice interrupted his inspection of his reflection.
“Not bad. When I’m in heels, we’re about right. See?” She pointed to his belt. “Our waistlines are about the same height off the floor. It makes for a good-looking match. Right, now walk with me.”
They took a few turns around the room, with Lizzy studying their reflections.
“Shorten your stride a bit. Stroll.” She shook her head, “No, don’t roll off the sides of your feet, just take smaller steps.”
“I don’t walk that way.”
“You will.” She smiled up at George encouragingly. “It just takes time. Have you done any dancing? Maybe in acting school?”
“Oh, Lizzy, don’t you know anything?” cried Mary. “George was a teenage sensation and he has been a star ever since. He’s a natural. He didn’t need acting school.”
Lizzy raised her eyebrows. George tried to look modest.
“I had some lucky breaks early on, and I’ve worked pretty much steadily in TV ever since. I’m currently working on my first movie.”
“So no dancing lessons, movement class?”
“Nope.”
“Right, then, what about music? Ever take any kind of music lessons?”
“Nope.”
“Ohhhkay then. Let’s try something.” Lizzy walked to the sound system and chose a CD to play.
“Show me the beat. Clap your hands in time to the music.”
“What for? I thought we were going to have a dance lesson. Show me some steps!”
“First I need to learn about your abilities. So show me the beat.”
George clapped as instructed, then looked at Lizzy. “OK?”
“Good! You’re untrained, but you have a sense of rhythm.”
“I’m a natural!” replied George, with a grin.
Lizzy laughed and said, “Natural or not, you do need training. This is going to be hard work, but it’s good exercise, both physically and mentally.”
“I stay in shape, so I should have the stamina to keep up with you.” There was just a hint of a leer, but Lizzy chose to ignore it.
“We’ll see, George.”
Chapter 3
Posted on Wednesday, 27 September 2006,
Four weeks until showtime
For two weeks, George showed up at the studio on time and practiced diligently. Mary King spent most of her time staring adoringly at George. But she ran out of reasons to stay in Indiana, so she returned to the production office in Las Vegas.
The first lesson after Mary left, George looked around the studio and said, “Where’s the little redhead?”
“Gone back to the home office.”
“So, we’re all alone, then?” George gave Lizzy a suggestive smile.
Lizzy shook her head, “With plenty of work to do.”
“Aw, c’mon Lizzy.”
“No fooling around. We have a lot to do.”
“I know. But all work and no play makes George a bored boy. Have dinner with me tonight.”
“George, you know the rules. No romantic entanglements.”
George gave her his most adorabole pout and said, “It’s just dinner.”
“OK, fine. Dinner. Now back to work. Our first dance is the cha-cha-cha. The basic step is one-two-cha-cha-cha. So let’s work on the basic pattern today, and once you get that down, we can start embellishing and develop our choreography.”
Meanwhile, in a loft studio in New York City
“Will, you need to loosen up. Relax.”
“Stand up straight, but relax. That’s not possible.”
“Yes, it is. Look.” Anne deBourgh turned Will to face the mirror and then stood beside him. She bent forward at the waist, and hung limply like a rag doll. Then she slowly pulled her body upright so that she was standing straight. She bent her knees slightly and bounced.
“See? I’m standing straight, but I’m loose. I can wiggle, I can bend, but my posture and balance stay correct. Now you try it.”
Will bent forward.
“Relax.”
“I am relaxed.”
“No, you aren’t. Go limp.”
“Then I’ll fall over.”
Anne sighed, “All right. Stand up. Charlie!”
“Huh?” From a chair at the side of the room, Charles Bingley looked up from his notebook computer.
“Charlie, come help me.”
“Is it legal for me to help?”
“Yes. I want you to spot for Will.”
“You mean like in a gym?”
“Yes, exactly. First, watch me bend over and notice how I shift my weight to keep my balance.” Anne bent forward, then slowly and gracefully stood up again. “See? Now you do it.”
“Me?” asked Charles.
“No, Charlie. Will bends. You keep him from pitching forward.”
Will rolled his eyes and bent to touch his toes.
“Look at yourself in the mirror, Will, and then look at me. Watch my hips.” Anne bent forward, rolling her hips back to shift her weight. She stood up again.
“May I stand up now? The blood is rushing to my head.”
“Stand up. When the blood has settled, try it again, but shift your weight the way I did.”
Will was about to try again when his watch beeped. “Sorry, Anne. Time’s up for today. I have to get to the studio to tape my segment for tonight.”
“All right. Tonight’s homework is to try to relax!”
As Will changed out of his dance shoes, Anne walked over to Charles. “Charlie, how long have you known Will?”
“Years and years. I’ve been his producer since he first came to CNC.”
“Is he always so uptight?”
“He isn’t uptight. He just isn’t loosey-goosey. Don’t worry, Anne. He’ll do OK. He has the steps down already.”
“Yes, he has the steps. But not the moves.”
Meanwhile, in a dance studio in Hollywood
“My feet hurt!” Caroline Blake whined and took a sip from her water bottle. “Louisa! This water is warm. Get me a fresh bottle!”
Louisa Hurst took another bottle out of the fridge. She took the offending bottle of warm water from her boss and held out the cold one.
“Well, open it!” Caroline snapped.
Louisa opened the bottle and handed it to Caroline, who took one small sip and then set the bottle on a nearby table.
“Did I get any messages?”
“No, Caroline, nothing since the one from Vera Wang’s assistant.”
“Well, call her back! I want to interview Vera before the Emmy show. And call the Winston people and see if we can get a lead on who’s wearing their diamonds.”
“Yes, Caroline.”
“May we get back to work?” asked David Sanderson. “And may I suggest that your assistant work in another room so that you can concentrate?”
Caroline waved her hand dismissively at Louisa, who flashed David a thank-you smile and left the room.
Meanwhile in a studio in San Diego
“I shoulda stayed in baseball!” Rich Fitzwilliam groaned as he rolled his shoulders and shook his arms. “This is way too much like work.”
“Tell me about it,” laughed Charlotte Lucas. “I’ve been doing this for years, and I hear ya. But it will keep you in shape, and that’s a good thing.”
“Man, I just got out from under a coach’s thumb last fall and now I’m back in training.”
“Well, if it’s any consolation, the exercise means you can eat whatever you want. That’s how I got started. I was overweight as a teen, and my mom signed me up for tap lessons to get me up and moving. I got to like dancing, and it was too late to train for ballet, so I somehow ended up in ballroom. And I’m still here.”
“Are you trying to tell me you’re tougher than I am?”
“Dancing ain’t for sissies, Rich. You’ll go soft sitting in the booth calling games. It would be a shame to see that cute—” Charlotte stopped herself before she could say butt. “Er, to see that boyish figure of yours go all to hell.
Rich grinned, “Boyish figure? Now there’s one I haven’t heard. Sure you weren’t gonna say something else?”
Charlotte started the music and pointed to the center of the dance floor. “Back to work, you!”
Chapter 4
three weeks until showtime
CNC Studio, New York
Will Darcy returned to his office after completing his segment for CNC’s evening newscast. He set his mug of coffee on his desk and surveyed the pile of mail. Poking through the envelopes, he found a thick one from the Vegas Network. He sat down, opened the envelope and began to read. He got halfway down page 2 before he spotted the name.
“Charles! Did you know about this?”
Charles Bingley had just put out the light in his office when he heard Will bellow. He poked his head into Will’s office and said, “Know about what?”
“George Wickham is going to be on the show, too. Did you know?”
“No, of course I didn’t know. The producers kept all the names secret. How did you find out?”
“The press packet.” Will held up the sheaf of papers. “I’m not going to do it.”
“You have to, Will. You signed a contract, and if the press release is out, everyone knows you’ve signed on.”
“Anne’s constantly at me to relax and how am I supposed to relax knowing that $%^&* is in the same building? And what about Georgie? She wanted to go to Vegas with me for the first show. I can’t subject her to that. I don’t even want her to watch at home if he’s going to be on the show!”
“Look, you can’t quit. If Georgie wants to go, I’ll keep an eye on her. She can work with me, do a little research, help me get things organized for your segments.”
Meanwhile, in an office at Showbiz Cable Channel in Hollywood
Caroline Blake scanned the list of names and squealed, “He did it! Oh, Uncle Martin, I love you! Louisa!”
Louisa Hurst dashed into her boss’s office. “Yes Caroline?”
“Get my uncle on the phone. Call my stylist and get her here pronto. Double check my hair and nail appointments. And get me a latte.”
“Yes, Caroline.”
Louisa was barely out the door when she was called back.
“Louisa! Never mind calling my uncle. I’ll do it. But hurry up on that latte. No-fat milk, I don’t want to gain any weight before the show!”
“Yes, Caroline.”
“Vegas Productions, Martin Blake’s office.”
“Hi, it’s Caroline.”
“Caroline who?”
“Caroline BLAKE, his niece, that’s who, you stupid girl.”
“Oh. Sorry Ms. Blake. Your uncle is out. May I take a message?”
“Certainly not. It’s none of your business. Connect me to his voice mail. His PRIVATE voice mail.”
“Yes, Ms. Blake.”
BEEP. “This is Martin Blake. If you got to this line, you must know me, so you know how busy I am. Keep it brief.” BEEP
“Uncle Martin, it’s Caroline. I just want to thank you for getting Will Darcy to do the dance show. And George Wickham, too. Two handsome men! I’m so excited! You are just—BEEP”
Caroline stared at the phone. “It cut me off! How rude! Louisa! Where the hell is that latte?”
Meanwhile, in a hotel in Indiana
George Wickham stretched and reached for the whisky glass on the bedside table. The sheets rustled and a body cuddled up next to him.
“Oh George, you were wonderful!”
I know. he thought, smiling.
“Tonight has been the best night of my life, George!”
He reached over and pushed the hair out of her face. He kissed her and said, “It’s a nice change from dancing.”
“Ooh, would you like to dance now?”
“No, uh…” what IS her name? “uh, June.”
“May! It’s May.”
“Right, my little calendar girl.”
“Wrong month, though, George.”
“Oh, well it’s because—” THINK, man! “—because you’re hotter than May. In fact, you’re so hot, you should be August!
“Oh, George!” May giggled. “You’re so cute!”
“Not as cute as you, August! But I have to chase you out. I have an early rehearsal tomorrow.”
After June-May-August left, George opened the envelope that had arrived earlier in the day. He scanned the names as he took another drink of whisky. He nearly choked when he saw the name. Darcy! Oh, this could be very interesting!
Chapter 5
Posted on Monday, 2 October 2006
Two weeks until showtime
“Come Dance With Me” Ballroom set
The band stopped playing, and Brad Sheffield picked up the microphone. He smiled at the group of press representatives.
“Good evening, everyone! Welcome to our set. As you know, I’m the host of ‘Come Dance With Me’ and Stephanie Wilson is my lovely co-host. It’s my pleasure this evening to introduce everyone. First, if our celebrities would come forward.”
The ten celebrities walked toward Brad and stood in a line. He began at one end.
“Rich Fitzwilliam retired from baseball after last season and is now in the broadcast booth. Rich, can you give us a little play by play of your rehearsals so far?”
In perfect cha-cha tempo, Rich said, “Dance-dance-pain-pain-pain. Mus-cles-ache-ache-ache!” This got laughs and applause from the crowd.
“Next to Rich we have Will Darcy. Will is a political and economics analyst for Cable News Channel, a sister station to the Vegas Channel, which produces our show. Will, how would you compare preparing for a newscast with preparing for our show?”
“Delivering the news is an intellectual process. Dancing is physical. The less thinking, the better.” Several of the celebrities and pros nodded. Anne de Bourgh, standing off to the side, snorted softly.
Brad moved down the line. “And here is Caroline Blake. Caroline does fashion commentary for another sister network, Showbiz Cable Channel. Caroline, with your fashion background, do you intend to have a lot of input in designing the costumes you and your partner will wear?”
Caroline gave Brad her brightest smile, “Well, of course I will. I know what looks good and what doesn’t.” There was no laughter, but there were a few discrete coughs. Lizzy Bennet whispered a rude comment to Charlotte Lucas.
“Next we have Anita Ellis. Anita, you’re no stranger to performing live. How do you think this experience will compare to your work as a standup comedian?”
“Obviously, Brad, I’m not hoping to get laughs for my dancing. Given that I’m older than a lot of the other contestants, I just hope I can still stand up when this is over.” This remark got her the laugh she wanted.
“Here we have the lovely Jane Gardiner, a well known actress and champion of children’s causes. Jane, what made you sign on for this?”
Jane blushed and said, “Mostly I think it was the fantasy of gliding across a dance floor in a beautiful gown. My chance to be Ginger Rogers.”
Brad smiled, “So you’ll be cranking up the VCR for inspiration, I guess.”
“And B. Just B?” asked Brad. “I heard you might go back to using your full name.”
The rap artist known as B rubbed his shaved head and said, “Jus’B, man. If you’re into rap, you can’t have a boring name. If I go into acting, I may dig out the name. But for now, it’s B, jus’ B.” Remembering the rap artist from the previous season, Lizzy looked at Charlotte and raised her eyebrows.
Brad took the hand of the next celebrity and said, “This lovely lady, Peggy Atwood, is our youngest contestant. Just 17, and already the holder of a beauty title, Miss Teen Galaxy, and now an actress. Peggy, are you enjoying the rehearsals?”
“Oh, yes, Brad! It’s awesome! My last acting job was all sitting in a wheelchair, you know? But this is, like, way more active!” Glad that attention wasn’t on his end of the line, Will tried not to laugh. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Rich’s shoulders shaking.
“Cool!” said Brad, laughing. He moved down the line and said, “Our next celebrity, Hank Carter, has been acting for a number of years now. Hank, ballroom dancing is a long way away from your early days playing bikers and other rebels.”
“Everyone grows up eventually, Brad. I’ve got grown children who are past THEIR rebellious days.”
Brad nodded and moved on and said, “Look out, ladies! Here is daytime’s bad boy ‘Rick Havers’, actor George Wickham. George, welcome to the show. How did ‘Lives of our World’ give you free time to be on our show?”
“The producers at ‘Lives’ have been very kind to me. They put Rick in jail so that I could work on my movie, ‘Pioneer Ridge,’ and also prepare for this show.”
Brad finally reached the end of the line. “And here, last but certainly not least, is the lovely country star, Emma Knightly. Em, you and your husband George have been touring all summer. How did you find time to work on your dancing?”
“Mah partner traveled with us, and Ah spent every spare minute rehearsin’. Ah want to take this opportunity to thank mah sweet George for bein’ such a good sport. Ah’ve been so dang tahred, Ah was like to fall asleep on stage one night.”
“So here they are,” said Brad, “Our celebrity contestants. How about a big hand for our newest crop of dancers?” The friends, family members, network executives, professional dancers, and members of the press applauded.
“And now, let’s meet their partners. Pros, please join your celebrities.” Brad retraced his steps along the line. “Emma’s partner is Frank Churchill, five-time quickstep champion.
“The lucky lady dancing with George Wickham is Lizzy Bennet. With her former partner, Jack Stevens, Lizzy has won many trophies for waltz and fox trot.
“Brad Carter’s partner is the German ballroom champion Cindy Witmer.
“Peggy Atwood will be dancing with Billy Collins.
“B’s partner is Harriet Martin, who won last year’s competition.”
“And the man who is fortunate to be paired with Jane Gardiner is Mike Chiara, Latin dance specialist.
“Anita Ellis, you will be dancing with Garret Moore.
“Caroline Blake’s partner is David Sanderson, two-time US ballroom champion.
“Will Darcy’s partner is a lovely English dancer, Anne deBourgh. Anne’s partner just ran off to Australia to get married and is currently appearing on the Australian version of ‘Come Dance With Me,’ which I believe is called ‘Dance With Me, Mate’!”
“Rich Fitzwilliam is paired with the lady who dances in competitions with David Sanderson, ballroom champion Charlotte Lucas.”
“So here we have our dancers. And now I’d like our producer, Robert Marsden, and our director, Althea Harris, to join our dancers. We’ll do some photos, and then we’ll have a few demonstrations by our professionals.”
Chapter 6
Two weeks until showtime, same evening
“Come Dance With Me” Ballroom set
After the photographs were taken, Brad introduced Charlotte Lucas and David Sanderson, who demonstrated the mambo. Then Garret Moore and Cindy Witmer did a quickstep.
Charlotte and David stood together catching their breath and watching the quickstep.
“We’ve hardly had a minute to talk, Char,” whispered David. “How’s your partner doing?”
“He’s good. Very athletic, and receptive to the idea of being coached. I’m going to beat you this year, partner!”
“I don’t doubt it for a minute. My partner is a harridan. You know how I hate to lose.” Charlotte nodded and David continued, “Well, I’ll be grateful when we’re eliminated and I don’t have to hear her squawk orders at her poor assistant.”
After the applause for the quickstep died down, Brad picked up the microphone.
“And for our last demo, we have a special treat. Lizzy Bennet’s former partner has come back from Hollywood where he’s working on a new TV series. Here are Jack Stevens and Lizzy Bennet to show us a waltz.”
Jack and Lizzy moved comfortably though a familiar old routine. When they were done, several of the professional dancers walked over to congratulate Jack on his new career. Lizzy slipped out of the crowd and wandered over to one of her competitors.
“Anne, nice to see you again.”
“Lizzy, right?”
“Yes, we met at an international competition a few years ago. You probably don’t remember. Your mother didn’t let you associate with the American riffraff.”
“Oh, yes, I remember. Mummy is overprotective, and wants me to concentrate on my dancing all the time.”
“She isn’t here?”
“No. She’s traveling, interviewing potential partners.”
“Oh, yeah, Brad said your partner ran off and got married. “I’m ‘single,’ too. Mine ran off and went Hollywood.”
“Too bad. He’s a dish, and you’re lovely together.”
“We won our share of trophies, but if he wants to move on to a new career, I can’t hang onto him. I wish him well, even if I’m on my own for a bit.”
“I suppose we’re both shopping for new partners, then.”
“I thought you said your mother is doing the shopping for you.”
Anne sighed, “She is. But I don’t have to dance with the fellow if I don’t want to. I tried to make that clear. No matter how hard she tries to control my life, Mummy has to realize that I am the one who signs the contract.”
“Well, happy hunting! Think you might convert your celeb to pro?”
“Not blooming likely. He is as stiff as a board. He was beginning to loosen up a bit, but a week ago, he developed an air of intense determination and now he’s stiff again. I’ve no idea how to help him.”
“Try getting him in the sack?”
“Lizzy!” Anne looked shocked. “You know that’s against the rules!”
“I know. Only kidding. But it wouldn’t exactly be torture. He’s not bad-looking.”
“True, but even if it weren’t against the rules, we couldn’t afford the time off the floor. You know, yours isn’t a Halloween mask, either.”
“And he knows it! He’s a pretty good dancer. He likes learning new things, and he’s a quick study. But his attention span could be better. He doesn’t like to go over and over the routine and polish it.”
Anne groaned, “You’re that far along that you’re polishing? I may be back in England sooner than I hoped. I think I’ll drown my sorrows. Do you want anything from the bar?”
“No, I’ve still got some left in my glass. I’ll mingle. See you around the old dance floor!”
Charles Bingley was carrying two drinks when he stopped in front of Will Darcy.
“Isn’t this a great party, Will? I can’t believe I met Jane Gardiner. She’s even prettier in person than she is on the screen. And she’s very sweet.”
“You and blondes, Charles. So what else is new?”
“She’s special, Will. There are lots of interesting people here tonight. And many pretty women. Although, I have to say, Jane is far and away the prettiest. But there’s a pretty girl talking to your partner. Lizzy, I think her name is. Why don’t you go over and talk with them?”
Without even looking toward the two women, Will said, “I’m glad you’re having a good time, Charles. Go back to your pretty blonde. As for the others, I see Anne enough as it is. And the other woman is tolerable, I suppose. But I am in no mood to make small talk with some loser who got dumped by her partner.”
Will did not see the woman threading her way through the crowd behind him, but Charles did. Charles winced as Lizzy stuck out her tongue at Will’s back, then winked at Charles.
After Lizzy walked on, Charles said, “Will! What if she heard you?”
“Charles, it hardly matters. She isn’t my partner, so our paths won’t cross. And if you think I’m going to pursue one of the dancers, might I remind you who her partner is? Anyway, I need someone who at least reads a book once in a while.”
“How do you know she doesn’t read?”
“You’ve been at rehearsals. All these people do is train. How do they have any time for reading?”
“Maybe they listen to you on CNC while they work out.”
“Charles, the ice is melting in the drinks you’re holding. Go find your blonde and leave me alone!”
Lizzy headed toward Charlotte Lucas but was stopped by George.
“Hey, Lizzy! You were great out there. Now that I’ve seen you dance with a professional, I wonder how you can put up with an amateur like me.”
“A lot of us end up as teachers, so I’ll just chalk it up to experience and preparation for the next phase of my career.”
“Well, I’m learning a lot, and I want to thank you. I suppose you noticed the way Will Darcy looked at me earlier?”
“Yes, I did. But he seems to sneer at everyone, so I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“I think I got a special sneer.”
“Why?”
“He hates me.”
“I didn’t realize he knows you.”
“Oh yes. A few years ago, his kid sister ditched class to come see me do an appearance on the ‘Today’ show, and he blamed me.”
“What?”
“Yes,” said George in a wounded voice, “Can you imagine it, poor little rich girl gets out of her limo at her posh Upper East Side school, grabs a cab to Midtown to jump up and down and wave at me outside the studio, and it’s all MY fault.”
“That’s ridiculous! It isn’t as if you had invited her.”
“I know! But he’s got a lot of money and influence. He tried to get me in trouble, claiming that I made advances toward her.”
“Oh! Horrible man! Well, George, we’re just going to have to work harder and outlast him. That’ll show him!”
Chapter 7
Posted on Monday, 16 October 2006
Ten days until showtime
A hotel room in Vegas
George Wickham leaned back on the pillows and smiled.
“George, you were wonderful!” said Mary King.
Don’t I know it, baby! thought George
“I wish I didn’t have to leave, but I should get back to the office. Don’t you need to go back to rehearsal?”
“No. Lizzy is having a costume fitting.”
“Oh. Right, I should have remembered. It was on the schedule.”
“You know everyone’s schedule?”
“Not all the details. But studio time is tightly scheduled so that everyone has equal opportunity to get rehearsal time.”
“So you know who’s rehearsing when and where?”
“I don’t have it committed to memory, but I can always look it up on the master schedule. How did you think I was able to drop in and watch you so much, George?”
“And here I thought you visited everyone.”
“No. Most of my time is spent in the office. I try to find excuses to stop in and see you, but I don’t drop in on the others.”
“What about the other production assistants? Do any of them visit the studios?”
“I guess. Why?”
“I’m curious about the competition.”
“I don’t know about the others, but compared to the dancers in the other seasons, you’re doing really well.”
“As long as I beat Will Darcy, I’ll be happy.”
“You know him?”
“Oh yes. A few years ago, his kid sister ditched class to come see me do an appearance on the ‘Today’ show, and he blamed me.”
“What?”
“Yes,” said George in a wounded voice, “Can you imagine it, poor little rich girl gets out of her limo at her posh upper east side school, grabs a cab to midtown to jump up and down and wave at me outside the studio, and it’s all MY fault. He went to the producers of ‘Lives of our World’ and tried to get me fired.”
“No!”
“Mary, you’re very special to me, and I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble, but if you could just find out how he’s doing, I’d appreciate it.”
“I’ll listen to the office gossip. Maybe someone will say something.”
Meanwhile, in a dance studio in Vegas
Frank Churchill looked into the mirror and frowned.
“What’s wrong?” asked Emma Knightly.
“You lost your frame. You’re not pulled up. You need to work on your posture.”
Emma stood up as straight as she could.
“How’s this? Better?”
“No. That’s too rigid, almost a military stance. You need to look like you’re lifting yourself up.”
Emma groaned.
“You need to think about the string,” said a voice from behind a newspaper.
“What?”
George Knightly put down his newspaper and looked at his wife and her partner. He shook his head.
“What?” Emma said again.
“Come on, Em, darlin’ we went to the same high school.”
“Ah was years behind you!”
“But we had the same choir teacher and I’m sure he used the same teaching techniques forever.” George stood up and walked over to Emma. He smiled and said, “Do you know that you look cute as a bug in your little rehearsal outfit?”
Emma giggled. George grabbed a handful of hair on the top of her head and gave a gentle tug.
“Ouch! Have you gone plumb crazy?”
“Imagine that you have a string attached to the top of your head, and it’s pulling you up. Didn’t you ever do the imaginary string?”
Emma nodded and George continued, “Hands in front of your collarbones, elbows out, upper arm parallel to the floor.” He put his hands under her arms and lifted gently, saying, “Feel lifted. Your upper body and ribs lift, but you don’t hunch up your shoulders. Breathe from your diaphragm.”
“Yes!” cried Frank. George stepped back and Frank stood in front of Emma, adjusting her arms and stepping into place to assume the dance pose. He said, “Look in the mirror, Emma! You’ve got it! George, start the music, would you?”
Meanwhile, in a fitting room in the costume department
“I feel ridiculous. I’ve never worn a bright pink shirt in my life!” Will Darcy glared at the costumer and buttoned the silk shirt.
“It looks good and it will match Anne’s dress. And you’re not supposed to button so many of the buttons.”
Will frowned at his reflection in the full-length mirror. What have I gotten myself into?
“Hey Will,” Charles Bingley entered the fitting room. “Wow! It’s bright!”
“You want to wear it?”
“I’m not the dancer, Will. You are. It’s part of the deal, you know that. Listen, the president’s speech on economic policy was just posted. You need to read it before tonight’s segment.”
“Great.” Will unbuttoned the shirt and tossed it to the costumer. He pulled on his own polo shirt. “I have to go, so do whatever you have to do with the costume. Charles, I’ll meet you at the car.”
Charles left Darcy to change his trousers and make his next appointment with the costumer.
Meanwhile, in another fitting room
Jane Gardiner twirled in front of the mirror. The ice-blue chiffon skirt flared out gracefully. “Oh, my! It’s gorgeous!”
The costumer smiled and said, “Thank you. It will be even prettier when we get the feathers on it. But first, I need to see you walk across the room. Good. Now, if you have any kicks in the routine, I need to see you do that. Hmm. Again, please.”
Jane did as she was told and then walked back to the costumer, who said, “We’ll need to give it a slit so that you can kick without getting tangled.” She pulled out some stitches in a seam in the skirt and asked Jane to repeat the kick.
“How’s that?” asked the costumer.
“Good. I think that will be fine.”
“You don’t want the slit higher?”
“Maybe we should ask Mike?”
“He’s having a fitting down the hall, let’s go see.”
Jane stepped out into the hallway and almost collided with Charles Bingley.
“Oh! Excuse me!”
“Jane! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to run into you!”
“It’s all right, no harm done.”
“Well, in that case, I’m glad I ran into you. You look beautiful. Is that your costume?”
“Yes. I’m just going to have Mark check it out for danceability.”
“I hope he likes it. It certainly gets my seal of approval.” Charles smiled adoringly at Jane. She smiled back.
“I have to go. Mike is waiting.”
“Mike? Um, uh, right. Mike, your partner.”
“Right. See you around, Charles.”
“Charles? I thought you were going to wait at the car. Charles? Let’s go!” Will’s voice snapped Charles out of his daze.
“Gotta go. Good luck with your dance, Jane.”
Charles watched Jane float down the hall in her chiffon gown. He sighed.
“Charles?”
“Isn’t she an angel?” sighed Charles.
“Charles! We have to go.”
“Mm, hmm.”
“Earth to Charles!”
“What? Oh, sorry. We should be going.”
“Charles, snap out of it. She’s just another blonde.”
Meanwhile, in yet another fitting room
“It’s the wrong color! It’s peach!” Caroline Blake snarled at her costumer.
“That’s the color we agreed on,” said the costumer.
“Louisa! Call my agent!”
“Ms. Blake,” said the costumer, “I don’t think we need—”
“Louisa, where’s my bottle of water? And where’s your cell? Call my $%^&ing agent. NOW!”
“Ms. Blake—”
“Shut up and go find some orange fabric!”
The costumer left the fitting room, in search of the producers, not orange fabric. Louisa handed Caroline a bottle of water. Caroline took a sip and then poured some water on the dress.
“Oops. This fabric stains so easily. Now they’ll have to replace this thing!”
Chapter 8
Posted on Sunday, 22 October 2006
five days until showtime
“Come Dance With Me” Ballroom set
Althea Harris, director of “Come Dance With Me,” stretched and looked at her camera crew.
“How’s everyone doing? We’re down to the last pair. Break or keep working?”
“Let’s finish, Thea,” said one of the camera operators.
“OK,” said Thea. Then she spoke into a microphone, “Booth, do you have the music for Wickham?”
“Ready.”
“Someone get them out here, please.”
A production assistant called the Green Room and in less than a minute, George and Lizzy stepped out from behind the curtain.
“Hi,” called Thea from her seat at the edge of the dance floor. “Here’s the deal. You are going to go through your routine so that we can figure camera angles. Don’t give it your all, you’re going to have to go through it a couple of times. First walk though it without the music so that I can see where you’ll be. We will want some long shots, a few close-ups on your faces when you get downstage, and some close-ups on footwork. If you have any suggestions for the close-ups, tell me as you come to that point in your dance. OK, go.”
George and Lizzy walked through the dance while Thea made notes and scribbled diagrams on a pad. Lizzy called out a good point for a footwork close-up. When they reached a downstage corner of the dance floor, George smiled into a camera and said, “Close-up, please!”
“Thank you,” said Thea. “Now take it from the top with music. I think I know where you want closeups. I will call them out and also be calling out camera numbers. Just ignore me and go through your routine. Back to your starting position, please.”
“Booth, give me music!”
George and Lizzy did as they were asked. While they caught their breath, Thea scribbled some more notes.
“That was good, George," said Lizzy. "You didn’t let Thea or the cameras distract you from dancing.”
“I’m used to cameras.”
“Good. Just remember, even if you know it’s your close-up, don’t mug, keep dancing!”
“Cameras ready?” asked Thea.
The crew all said “Yes.”
“Dancers to your starting position. One more time, if you please.”
“Cue music!”
The music started and George and Lizzy went into their cha-cha-cha. Thea called out instructions to the camera crew. A minute and a half later, they were finished.
“Check tape?”
“Got it!”
“Yup.”
“I’m good.”
“How’s your tape, Gene?”
“The tech who had been picking up cues and putting the different shots together said, “It’s OK.”
“Great! Thanks, guys! You’re done for the day.”
“George, Lizzy, you’re done, too. Thanks very much. We’ll fine tune a bit during Dress. And please let me know if you make any changes in choreography. Sorry we ran late. You’ve only got about 15 minutes to freshen up before the Green Room meeting.”
Lizzy mopped her face with a towel and said, “We don’t have time to shower and change. I’m going to splash some water on my face. See you in the Green Room in fifteen.”
After Lizzy left the set, George walked backstage.
“Guess who?” Hands covered George’s eyes.
“Mary! Cut it out! What if someone sees us?” George hissed.
Mary giggled, “Oh, don’t worry, nobody’s back here.”
“I thought we agreed. We have to be careful. I don’t want to cost you your job. You’re much too important to me. We have to be discrete until the show is over.”
“But I have news for you. Will Darcy is not doing well. He’s stiff as anything. You’ll outlast him for sure. You can really shake it, baby!” Mary emphasized her point by hitting him with the side of her hip.
“Shh!”
“Just gimme a quick kiss, then, and I’ll be good.” Mary threw her arms around George’s neck, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him. Then she whispered, “See ya in the Green Room, Wickie!”
Green Room for “Come Dance With Me” set
The dancers perched on sofas and chairs in the backstage room known as the Green Room.
Anita Ellis looked around and said, “I have been doing all the talk shows for years, and been in a dozen ‘green rooms,’ but I swear I’ve never seen one that really was green.”
“I know what you mean,” said Jane Gardiner, smiling. “I think they used to be green. It’s supposed to be a calming color.”
“But they don’t want us calm. They want us to be ‘up,’ not mellow,” said her partner Mike.
Caroline Blake and David Sanderson entered the room. He walked to the refreshment table to get a bottle of water. She found a spot on a sofa next to Will Darcy.
“Hi, Will. I’m Caroline Blake, we met an affiliates thing about a year ago.”
“Hello. I remember. You do something for Showbiz Channel?”
“That’s right. I do fashion. I do think it’s important to always look one’s best when one is a celebrity. Our fans look up to us, you know.”
“I suppose it’s true for actors and, um, people who do what you do. I would like to think that my audience is more interested in what I’m saying than what my tie looks like.”
“Oh, Will, I’m sure they hang on your every word! I know I certainly do. But looks matter, too. If you don’t mind my suggesting it, I think you should try a bowtie once in a while. It’s a good look for a conservative.”
Will, who was known for avoiding bias in his reporting and commentary, had to stifle a snort.
“I’ll leave the bowties to Tucker. The only time I wear a bowtie is with a tux.”
“Ohhh, I’ll bet you look fantastic in a tux!” Caroline batted her mascara-laden lashes at Will.
Several of the production assistants entered and mingled with the dancers. Then Thea and Robert Marsden, the producer, arrived.
“Is everyone here?” Thea asked.
“Sorry!” said Lizzy as she slipped around Thea and found a seat. “No time to change.”
Thea nodded and Caroline smirked.
“Tsk!” Caroline whispered to Will. “Coming to a group meeting in ratty rehearsal clothes. It shows a sort of conceited self-sufficiency, and absolutely no sense of fashion.”
“Not really,” said Anne deBourgh, leaning across Will to answer Caroline. “They were the last time to block and probably just finished up.”
Will looked at Lizzy, who still had a towel draped around her neck. He smiled as Lizzy slipped off her dancing shoes and wiggled her toes.
Caroline huffed and leaned back against the cushions. She snuggled up against Will, causing his smile to fade. Just as Thea was about to speak, George strolled in and waved at the group.
“Sorry to be late. The slave driver’s had me working all day long!” He smiled adoringly at Lizzy and perched on the arm of her chair. He looked across the room at Will and raised an eyebrow. Will tried to ignore George.
Making an entrance, thought Thea. Then she began to speak.
“Thank you all for coming here this afternoon. I want to go over some practical details, and then I hope you’ll hang around a bit and socialize. In our previous seasons, we’ve had a real camaraderie in the Green Room, and I hope you’ll all follow in that tradition. This is where you’ll wait to go on and where you’ll wait after you’ve danced. We will do impromptu interviews and shots of you relaxing as we go in and out of commercial.
"When someone finishes a dance and comes back here to get the scores, you are expected to applaud. Any making of faces or booing must be OBVIOUSLY in jest. No tripping, no tying anyone’s shoelaces together, no practical jokes. Got it?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Right.”
“Okay.”
“Good,” said Robert Marsden. “The day before showtime, we will have Dress Rehearsal. We need to run through the show at speed, so you must be here the whole time. We can’t wait for someone. Plan trips to the bathroom so that you won’t miss an entrance. This is live TV, no retakes.”
“Is there a seven-second delay?” asked Rich Fitzwilliam.
“You bet. Ever since Janet’s wardrobe malfunction, all live TV has the delay. Even so, remember to watch your language at all times.”
“What if someone has a wardrobe malfunction?” asked Emma Knightly.
“Well, Emma, what would you do in your show if you had a wardrobe malfunction?”
“Ah’d keep on singin’!”
“There you are! Keep on dancing, then. Emma raises a good point. If there is a mishap, such as a broken strap on a gown or a button popped off a shirt, keep dancing. It has happened in the past. If a heel breaks on a shoe, or someone trips, that means a stop for sure. Don’t keep dancing if there’s a safety issue. And if a wardrobe malfunction is severe enough to scare the censors, believe me, we’ll get the camera off you and stop the music.”
“One more thing,” said Thea. “If you intend to use a prop, and I should warn you to do so sparingly, please work it out very carefully. Last season, one of the celebrities walked in carrying a tray of drinks. He didn’t spill a drop because the glasses were glued to the tray. If you want to use a prop, run the idea by me. That’s it for now. The bar is open!”
As long as the director and producer stayed, the dancers felt they should stay and mingle. Will was at the bar when George sauntered up to him.
“So, Darcy, how was your rehearsal?”
“Fine.”
“I hear some of us are better than others. Care to comment?”
“No comment,” Will snapped.
“Now, now, Darcy, old buddy. Mingle and be friendly. You heard the lady. So, tell me how it’s going.”
Will looked up at the ceiling, then at George, and said, “I don’t see any flying pigs.”
Turning his back on George, Will crossed the room and was stopped by Rich Fitzwilliam.
“Will, how are you doing?”
“Tired. You?”
“Oh, yeah. I wonder who’ll be the first one out? I hope it isn’t me. I want to survive at least one cut.”
“I know what you mean. Nobody wants to be bottom of the class. I’m finding it very distracting. I spend so much time dancing, I can’t do any research, and have to rely more on staff to prep me for my segments on the news. I barely had time to get changed for my segment, which I have to tape as soon as this reception is over. And I don’t know how I’m going to get my column for Money done.”
“Can’t you cut back on how many times you’re on the news? My network was great about giving me time off, although when we get into playoff season, I’m going to want to be in the booth for some of the games.”
“I am going to back off work. CNC wanted me to do this, so if I say I need to do fewer segments, they’ll have to accept that for the duration. Sometimes, I think being cut from the show wouldn’t be so bad.”
“Will! Have you no pride?” laughed Rich.
“Unfortunately, I do. If I didn’t, I’d slack off and get myself dropped early on.”
“Forgive me if it’s none of my business, but I saw you and George Wickham exchange words earlier. Do you know him?”
“Yes, I do. And please forgive me if I say that I’d rather not talk about it. We were involved in an unpleasant situation, and I’d be happy if I could avoid meeting him at all.”
“He comes off as a bit of a smartass, coming in late like that.”
“I gather that he had the last rehearsal time.”
“Yes, but his partner was on time, so he had no excuse. Speaking of his partner, Lizzy Bennet is a looker. Check out those legs!”
Both men looked over at Lizzy. She was turned away from them, so they could admire her without being noticed. Dressed in leggings and a short practice skirt, she displayed a very attractive figure.
“George Wickham has the luck, doesn’t he? She’s single and good looking.”
“Rich, what about your partner. Charlotte, is it?”
“Yes, Charlotte Lucas. But her partner is here. David Sanderson and Charlotte compete together. And I think there’s a bit more to their relationship than that. Anyhow, Charlotte isn’t as pretty as Lizzy.”
Across the room, George Wickham watched the two men took at Lizzy. Eat your heart out, guys. She’s gonna be mine!
While Will and Rich were talking, Caroline Blake made her way across the room. She frowned when she saw the direction of Will’s gaze. She slipped her arm through his and gave a little squeeze.
“Hi Will! I’ve been looking for you!”
“Hello, Caroline.” Will tried to disentangle himself, while Rich tried to hide a smirk. Anne watched from across the room.
“Isn’t this a nice idea? It’s so nice to have time to get to know each other.”
“Actually, Caroline, I have to leave in a minute or two and I—”
Caroline snuggled closer, and tried to look seductive as she said, “Oh, just stay a bit more. Tell me about your costume. I do fashion commentary, you know. I’d love to see you in your costume. I’m sure you look really hot.”
Anne watched Caroline run her hand up Will’s chest toward his neck and start to loosen his tie. Can the woman not see how ridiculous she looks? This would be funny to watch if—oh. Oh! OH! Anne walked swiftly across the room and gently by firmly took Caroline’s hand off Will’s chest.
“Sorry to interrupt, but Will and I have to squeeze in a little more rehearsal time before he has to run off to his studio. Please do excuse us.”
As Anne led Will toward the door, she spotted one of the production assistants. Without breaking stride, she called out, “Hannah! I need you.”
Once outside the door, Will said, “Thank you, Anne. You are my knight in shining armor…um…or whatever the distaff version of that is.”
“Don’t thank me yet. It wasn’t merely an excuse to get out of there. We’re going back to work. Hannah?”
“Yes, Anne?”
“We need a studio straight away.”
Hannah Jenkins nodded, “Nobody is scheduled for the rest of the afternoon.”
“Brilliant! Will, where’s your briefcase?”
“I put it in the car already.”
“Hmm, don’t really need it this minute. Where are your glasses?”
“I don’t wear glasses.”
“Hannah, we need a set of glasses for Will. Hornrim, scholarly. Plain glass. And I want to talk to the costumer as soon as you can arrange it.” Hannah nodded. Will frowned.
“Anne, I have to go. I can’t be late for my segment.”
“Can’t you tape it later, Will?”
“No. They want to have enough time to retransmit it if they have trouble. Anne, I’m sorry, but there’s a limit to how much time I can put into this dancing.”
“Is there a problem?" Thea Harris walked into the hallway and glared at Will and Anne. "Because airing your differences right outside the Green Room is not a good way to handle things.”
“Will—”
“I—”
“Not here, children. Come to my office.” Thea stalked down the hall, leaving Anne and Will no choice but to follow. Not sure what to do, Hannah trailed along behind.
Anne and Will sat in chairs facing Thea’s desk. Thea perched on the edge of her desk.
“Hannah, do you need something?”
“No, Thea. Anne asked me for help, but I can wait.”
“Actually, I’d like her to stay. I'll need her help when we're finished here.” said Anne. “I’d like to explain what you saw.”
“Go ahead.”
“This is my fault. It’s my first time doing ‘Come Dance With Me,’ and I’ve never worked with an untrained dancer. Will is extremely busy, so I’ve tried to lighten his load by making a lot of decisions for us. Will isn’t happy with some of my decisions, such as his costume, and I’ve realized that I choreographed a dance for two pros, and we need to make some changes. I had an epiphany in the middle of the Green Room, and I want to make some changes for this week’s dance. I want to discuss them with Will while they are fresh in my mind. But he has to leave to tape his segment. And that’s what we were discussing. Will’s professional needs collided with mine.”
“Don’t try to take all the blame, Anne,” said Will. “The truth is I’m not very good at this. Rehearsal time is taking over my life, and I’m not doing justice to my real job. That is unacceptable to me.”
“Okay,” said Thea, “What I see is a lot of stress. All the pairs feel it at one time or another. Some more than others. I wish I could tell you to take some time off, but we don’t have that luxury. Anne, how drastic are these changes you want to make?”
“Simple costume change, and the first part of our choreography.”
“Will it affect blocking for the cameras?”
“It might, a little”
“Okay, I’ll schedule a quick blocking before we do the Dress Rehearsal. Work for you?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Good, that’s Anne’s problems solved, at least for the moment. Now you, Will. Where are you doing your segments?”
“At a CNC affiliate across town.”
“Do you need anything special by way of equipment?”
“No, just a teleprompter that can take a download from my computer.”
“Is there anything about your segment that has to be kept secure within the boundaries of CNC and the local affiliate? Nothing top-secret that might be overheard here, make you lose a scoop?”
“No.”
“Then, basically, you could do your segment from, say, the middle of a casino?”
“It would be a bit distracting and noisy, but I suppose I could. Might I ask to what these questions tend?”
“Just trying to understand your situation. Why not do your segments from here? Use the Green Room, perhaps. Tape or live, doesn’t matter. We go live from there during the show, so it’s technically doable.”
“Ah, I see! If I do my segment from here, I can work on my dancing, run to the Green Room, do my segment, and go back to the studio for more dancing.”
“Right! It will eliminate the stress of racing from one place to another,” Thea smiled.
Darcy frowned as he thought. Finally he said, “It would eliminate that stress. However, it would replace that with the stress of being Anne’s prisoner here.”
“Me or Charlie,” said Anne. “You get to choose your jailor.”
“It isn’t entirely up to me. Let me call Charles.” Will took out his cell and hit a speed-dial button.
“Will! Where are you?”
“Still at ‘Come Dance.’ Listen, Thea wants to move my segments over here. How does that work for you?”
“You mean, not go over to the affiliate to tape?”
“Right.”
“It’s great! I’ll have more time to hang around and maybe see Jane!”
“Charles! Think like a producer. Is there any reason to do with my segments to not go from here?”
“We’ll have to get permission. Have Thea’s producer call our producer. But she can’t want to start today.”
“Hang on.” Will looked at Thea. “How soon can this be set up?”
“Technically, it should be easy enough. I’ll get Bob Marsden to call your executive producers and see if they’ll buy it. Will, let me talk to Bingley,” said Thea. Will handed over his phone.
“Hey, Bingley, it’s Thea Harris. What happens if Will misses his segment tonight? Can they fill the airtime?”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“No joke. I know this is an executive producer’s call, but time is tight and I’m working to avoid a meltdown here. So I’d like Will to take tonight off, and stay here to work with Anne. Can you make it happen?”
Charles scanned the segment list of that evening’s CNC Newstime broadcast. He smiled. “I’ll make a trade, Thea.”
“What?”
“If Will is going to be working from your studio, I’ll be around there more.”
“No problem, we can set you up in a spare office somewhere. You and Will may have to share one.”
“Thanks, Thea. But my thinking is this. I’ll have some extra time on my hands. I want Jane Gardiner’s rehearsal schedule so that I can drop in and visit.”
“Is this infatuation or an attempt at espionage? She and Will are competitors, remember.”
“It’s the former, I promise you.”
“It’s a deal! Will is reaching for the phone, so I guess he wants to talk to you.”
“Charles, what did you just agree to?”
“You’re off the hook for tonight. I ran down the list. Lou has a couple of people scheduled for a debate that I know can run longer than scheduled. He’ll be happy to have the time. I’ll deal with it. Go put your dancin’ shoes on, buddy!”
Will closed his cell phone and looked at Anne. He shrugged and said, “It looks like we’re rehearsing.”
“Brilliant! Thea, thank you so much for organizing this. And Will, I promise, this will be worth your time. And if you disagree, I promise you dinner anywhere in Las Vegas, on me! Come on, we have work to do!”