Chapter 5
The first day of filming in Africa found the actors and the crew nervous and anxious about the day to come. Physical shots like this one were usually more complicated than regular ones mainly because the action moved the actors roughly from one place to another and there was always the risk of an accident. No matter how well covered by insurance the actors were, an injury while filming was the last thing they wanted so they took every precaution so that nobody would get hurt. They inspected everything looking for loose nails or even splinters in the wooden floor and equipment was checked twice to reduce the number of repeated takes.
The adrenaline was almost palpable. The technicians were checking the equipment, the camera was being focused. Luis, Charlotte and Jane were making the last adjustments on Caroline's person. Charles and John Truman, the black actor that was fighting with Charles, were rehearsing the fight with the choreographer. Darcy was reviewing the shooting plan with the camera team, and Elizabeth was desperate. She didn't know what to do, she just needed to talk to him.
Darcy was too busy discussing alternative angles and filters with Collins to pay attention to his 1st AD. His beginnings in this industry had been as a camera operator, a very good one, so he wasn't only involved in the camera management because of a director's need, but also because he loved it. When he and the cameraman were tuned in to how he wanted the shot to come out, he revised the entire scene with the actors.
"Mr. Darcy." Elizabeth whispered as she walked after him.
Darcy didn't hear her.
"Sir," she poked his arm.
"Just a minute." He replied without turning. Didn't this girl know that she couldn't interrupt just like that? He finished with them and looked around the set. Everything seemed right, though he sensed that something was missing. A frown wrinkled his forehead. "Where's Hurst?"
Elizabeth pulled his shirtsleeve. "Mr. Darcy."
Darcy was very strict with the schedule. Actors' call was at 9:00 a.m. and it was the 1st AD's job to get them there on time. Lateness on the set was something that he wouldn't tolerate either from her or from the actor in question. He turned to look at her, hoping that she had a very good excuse for this.
She wasn't sure she wanted to say this aloud so she called him away from the group. When she was sure no one could hear them, she spoke. "Sir, I can't wake up Mr. Hurst."
For a moment, Darcy was perplexed and didn't know what to say. From her expression, his first assumption was that something really bad had happened. "What?"
"I knocked on his door a couple of times. He didn't come for breakfast. Maybe we should call a doctor."
It took him only a moment to realize what was going on. Hurst had had too much wine on the previous night and Darcy suspected that he continued to drink in his bedroom. He was probably sleeping off his hangover. Darcy's first thought was to go personally to the actor's bedroom and drag him into a cold shower, but then he realized that that would only make things worse.
Rearranging today's schedule in his mind in only one second he replied, "I don't think it's necessary, we'll shoot his part later in the day."
"Are you sure? What if he's ill?"
"I don't think so."
Elizabeth wasn't satisfied with this reply. Someone should do something, the man could be seriously ill, or even dead. "I'll try once again and then go into his room, I'll ask some of the guys to come with me and ..."
"I appreciate your concern, Elizabeth," Darcy rested his hand on her shoulder and tried to calm her. She really looked worried. "But, I think he only had too much liquor last night."
"How much alcohol can a man drink as to knock him off like this in the morning? I don't know, I think it would be better if we ..."
Darcy sighed. She probably didn't know about Hurst's problem. Though this was something he didn't like to repeat or comment on, he would have to enlighten her with it. That would help her with her work in the future.
"Elizabeth, Hurst is an alcoholic." Was his plain answer.
"Oh." Her face showed her surprise.
Again he rested his hand on her back and led her back to the set. Darcy could be despotic, but he was very protective of his crew. A drunken Hurst wasn't a sight he wished for his assistant to witness.
"I'll ask Sam to check on him, you stay here. We'll start shooting without him and do his part later in the day. He'll be recovered by then. Next time we'll have to see that he doesn't drink before an important scene, all right?"
She nodded.
Discretion was something he valued in people and he was very pleased by how she alerted him of the problem without making known to the rest of the cast and the crew. "You handled this very well, Elizabeth."
Her face lit up with this compliment. Darcy was never effusive when congratulating the crew, in fact, he rarely did it. Praise was something he reserved for the actors, whose insecure nature and fragile egos always put their confidence at sake. He usually addressed his staff and crew like a drill sergeant which made them run around like maniacs to ready everything on time. This first compliment on her work really uplifted her spirits and made her feel more confident about her working with him.
"Thank you, sir."
If Darcy thought that her eyes beautiful before, when she smiled like that, they glowed. He smiled and squeezed her shoulder gently. "You are welcome." He was about to turn to go back to the set, but he stopped and said, "You can call me William, Elizabeth."
That half smile and that softness in his eyes left her heart fluttering. She followed him back to the set thinking that when he wanted, he could be quite nice. Pity it didn't last. As soon as they were on the set, he returned to his Director mode and told everyone to get ready for the shot, saying that they were 'the laziest team he ever worked with'. The crew rushed with the finals adjustments, Luis and Jane fiddled around Caroline, and Charles and Truman went outside to continue with the rehearsal.
"Carrie," Darcy addressed the leading actress before the shooting began. "Someone is watching you, though you don't know it. Try to look as if you sense his presence and then you dismiss the thought, all right? We'll make a noise, so at that moment, you glance over your shoulder towards the window."
Caroline nodded, the camera and sound started rolling, the scene was announced, the board clapped and ...
"Action!"
They did four takes before Darcy was satisfied with the results. John Truman was called and they shot the part where he entered the bedroom. They moved the camera for the close ups of Caroline alone, of her back, when she unbuttoned and removed her blouse, when she turned around, and then when Truman approached her from behind. That was done in nearly two hours and two takes of each piece of the scene.
Charles, though his turn was after lunch, sat not far away watching the development of the scene and making flirting comments to Jane whenever she passed near him. She ignored him twice, giggled thrice and even laughed a 'stop it, will you?' once.
"Okay, everyone, it's lunchtime," Said Darcy when they were finished. "We'll take a 40 minute break and then comes the fight."
In one second, the set was empty as they all headed to the living room where the catering was being served. As it usually happened, the crew sat in one side of the room, the cast in the other.
"What's this?" Caroline Benjamin asked the African waitress that was serving her meal. "I ordered chicory and this is not. Take this with you and bring me what I asked for, will you?" With her limited knowledge of the English language, the waitress didn't understand what this woman was saying, and stood there with scared eyes. "Oh, Christ," said an annoyed Caroline. "Can't you understand what I'm saying? Bring me my order: Chicory, grilled chicken and sesame seeds, olive oil for the dressing, but just a teaspoon full."
"Come on, Carrie," Charles pointed out, "what's wrong with it? It's lettuce."
"It's not what I ordered. I'm on a special diet and I only want what I asked for."
Charles had been hearing her complaining about her food since he met her in England, then on the airplane and now that they were at Netherfield. Though already in the celebrity category for some time, Charles had never been difficult or capricious in his pretensions. His diet was very specific too, designed to define his muscles (he had to shoot a few scenes without a shirt and he wanted to look perfect) but he would never make a scandal over his food if it wasn't exactly what he asked for. He didn't like diva-ish whims and he usually tried a make his feminine co-stars see the ridiculousness of their position when they started complaining with no reason. This was the occasion.
"You know there's no difference between chicory and lettuce, Carrie, why don't you just eat it? Look," Charles pointed at her plate and mocked her, "it even has those little seeds you like to eat. What are they called?"
"Sesame."
"Why don't you just eat it, Carrie, it ..."
There were signs of irritation in Caroline's voice. "Charles, you eat what they served you and I'll eat what I want, all right? Master Chang designed this diet especially for me, adapted to Africa's weather so my body would be in harmony with the new environment."
"Maybe Master Chang didn't know that there's no chicory in this place," he replied, amused by such an imbecility.
"Master Chang knows everything." Caroline turned her head and looked around, searching for the only man that could resolve her problem. "Where's William? I want to discuss this with him."
Charles rolled his eyes and returned to his meal, incredulous that someone could make such a scene over some lettuce leaves.
Darcy was conversing with Sam at that moment (they were both discussing something that seemed very important) so Elizabeth, always alert to any problem involving the actors, hurried in her direction.
"Miss Benjamin, is there a problem?" she asked gently, "Mr. Darcy is busy right now, can I help you?"
Caroline smiled, though she wasn't pleased to transmit her needs to the 1st AD. "Yes, there is a problem with my food. I sent my diet requirements and today is my chicory day. This is lettuce. Can you please inform the caterer?"
"We couldn't find chicory in this country so ..."
"What do you mean there's no chicory?" Caroline raised her voice. "I informed you about my diet requirements more than a month ago and I expect you to respect it. I would like to talk to William if you don't mind."
Elizabeth's nervousness grew. "Miss Benjamin, I personally searched for your vegetables all around the city, really, there's no chicory here, so we bought three different varieties of lettuce: plain, red and ..."
"Crisped lettuce?" Darcy sat on their table. "My favorite, there is nothing better than this for a balanced diet. Good job, Elizabeth, I thought you wouldn't find it." Having said that, he turned to Charles, in a manner that said 'the chicory issue is closed'. "Chuck, I saw a hell of a good pool table in Foster's study, fancy a game after we are finished?"
"Sure."
Caroline looked at Darcy's food and then at hers. She preferred to let the matter die, for now, and not make a scene in front of the director. "Elizabeth," she continued sweetly, "I'll have this for now, thank you. Later I'll give you a list of alternate vegetables in case that the specific item could not be found."
"I would appreciate that, Miss Benjamin." Elizabeth nodded and searched Darcy's eyes so she could thank him for his intervention, though he didn't look at her.
"But always with those little seeds in it, Lizzy," Charles' tease was more directed to Caroline than to Elizabeth. "Sesame, I think they are called." After saying that, he glanced in Jane's direction who, coincidentally, looked at him at that precise moment. He winked at her and she looked away, hiding her smile. Charles smiled and returned to his food. This was working out fine.
"Well, guys, I want realism in this." Darcy addressed the actors that where about to fight. "We'll start where we left off, with John pinning Caroline against the wall. Then you, Charles, grab him and pull him away and the fight begins. "Carrie, are you up to a little banging against the wall?" She nodded, feeling quite nervous. "Okay, let's do it!"
The actors took the 'reality' thing right on the mark. John grabbed Caroline from her shoulders and shook her roughly against the wall while asking something in an invented African dialect that it was supposed to mean 'where's the map!'. Her panicked expression was realistic too, as was her struggle to free herself from John Truman's grasp. They fell on their knees, Truman shook her again -her back actually banged soundly against the wall- and then raised his hand to slap her face. Charles made his entrance and held him before he did it.
"Cut!" Said Darcy.
The first thing Truman did was to ask Caroline if she was all right. He knew that he had been rough and the last thing he wanted was to bruise the leading actress who was also third place in the 'World's most beautiful women' list published by People magazine.
"That was incredible," Darcy smiled. "Do you think we can repeat it?"
The second take came out even more violent. In her struggle to escape her attacker, Caroline actually hit Truman on the face, what produced an even firmer grip from him. She was wrestling with him violently when Charles grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him back.
"Excellent!" Said Darcy. "OK, guys, we'll follow you with the cameras."
Charles exhaled nervously and exchanged glances with the other actor. After action was called, the fight began. At first, they were too careful with the other and it didn't look real. Truman's blows passed too far from Charles's face so they repeated it several times. Each time, Darcy intervened, trying to make the actors understand what he wanted and slowly get them into the right mood.
For Elizabeth, it was a fascinating experience. Seeing these people transform from aggressive to apologetic in two seconds, hitting each other and then asking, 'did I hurt you?' was just incredible, and she admired her boss's ability to direct them, to make the actors do things that were so unnatural for them, like fighting in a bedroom. As the actors warmed up and became more confident, the action became more realistic. With the main camera focused on them and the steady cam following them, they transformed the choreography into a real fight. Fists flew, Truman tried to strangle Charles on the bed, Charles lifted him with his knee and made him fly over his body and they fell heavily on the mattress that was placed on the floor to cushion their fall. Another take was done, the mattress was removed and they wrestled on the floor, rolling almost over Caroline, who was crouched and cornered against the wall.
Right on his mark, Charles rose and grabbed Truman by the shirt with one hand while the other one retrieved his gun and pressed it on the other man's temple.
"Now, who are you? What are you doing here?" He yelled breathlessly.
They've now reached the part when Hurst made his entrance but, for what Darcy knew, he was still changing clothes, so they proceeded without him. Only his voice was necessary at the moment and it became Elizabeth's task to replace him, saying (proud as a peacock) a 'what's happening here? Victoria! Mr. Farrell!', distracting Charles from his prisoner, who pushed him away and escaped.
This was the kind of moment that Darcy didn't want to miss. It would be a great thing to have Hurst there for the take as the actors were in the perfect mood to go on. Caroline was really moved and scared by the violence on the previous scene and Charles was naturally breathless and tense.
"Charles, let's change it slightly," Darcy asked him. "Instead of running after him, you watch him go and turn immediately to comfort Carrie."
The actor suggested a slight change, to kneel with Caroline and then help her to stand up as Hurst approached them. They camera filmed a medium close up, face and chest, capturing Caroline's shaky (and very convincing) expression and Charles comforting caresses. They took a short break, Hurst did his part, they filmed the complementary shots and close-ups and they ended this very positive day of work.
Darcy was more than satisfied by everyone's performance. He hugged Caroline and shook Charles' and Truman's hands when they finished. He completely ignored Hurst. Laughing their tension away, the actors showed the director the consequences of the 'fight' in an amused display of bruised arms and ripped shirts.
"You did a great job today." Jane congratulated Charles sincerely as she removed his make up.
"Did you like it?"
"Yes, it was an incredible scene." She smiled. "Very intense."
"Thank you." He raised his chin so she would clean his throat. So she liked it. "Had we done it more realistic, I would have a broken bone." Charles smirked.
"Oh, come on!" she laughed. "You didn't hit each other seriously. You are exaggerating."
"You don't believe me?" Charles challenged her. "Look," he opened his shirt and showed her a bruise on his shoulder. "This was when I fell from the bed. I have another one on my hip, do you want to see it?"
"No!" she stepped back. That naughty smile told her that he wouldn't mind lowering his pants and showing her the bruise, and some other things too.
"I was thinking," he continued, absolutely charmed by her, "I haven't seen the place yet, would you like to go out for a walk and lose ourselves in the wilderness?"
"No, thanks." Always polite and sweet, Jane adopted a colder posture. "I've already seen it."
"Then you can show it to me," he said smoothly.
"I don't think so."
Her reluctance only made her more desirable. "Come on," he tucked her hair behind her ear. "We'll be stuck in this place for a month and I would really like to know you better." This was the softest hair he had ever touched. Was her skin as soft as that?
For a moment, Jane expression turned serious and her voice was firm. "No, Mr. Bingley, I'm sorry."
In one instant, Charles expression turned from seductive to sulky and heartbroken. "She doesn't want me, she doesn't want me, what am I going to do?" He whined.
Jane laughed. What a pitiable performance. And this man was supposed to be a good actor.
He laughed too, really enjoying this time with her. She was lovely, sweet and sexy. Special. He couldn't stop his hand from caressing her hair again and his voice turned soft and low when he spoke.
"You are beautiful, Jane, do you know that?"
There was an unusual tenderness in his voice that confused her. It had an intensity that he had not shown before, something else, not the sleazy flirting that made her wonder if this was just another trick to get himself inside her knickers. She wanted to believe him, but then, he was an actor, and in the same way she'd seen him act like a cold-hearted murderer, she'd seen this same look on screen when he played a romantic hero. She liked him, a lot, but ending this production with a broken heart was her last wish. Charles Bingley was the kind of a man she could fall hard for, and if she wasn't careful, she would.
"I bet you say that to everyone." She managed to make her voice sound light.
"Ouch." Charles frowned. He really meant what he said and it bothered him that she would think that he was playing with her, which was exactly what he had been doing, but not now, not when he said she was beautiful.
"You're done." Jane stepped back and looked down.
"Thank you, see you later." He was as confused as she was.
Jane smiled briefly and turned around to put some order in her things.
"Carrie, you looked outstanding out there." Luis removed the pins that secured the wig on the back of her hair.
"Thank you, I think I did a good job. William seemed very pleased with it." She smiled proudly. Caroline had beautiful caramel colored hair, long, but not enough for the role, so some extra hair was added to make it look longer. "He's such a magnificent director. He knows how to bring the best out of me."
"And hot too," Luis replied. "Just how I like them, handsome, tall and dark."
Caroline laughed. "As if Darcy would ever look at you, Luis, that man is the straightest guy I've ever seen."
"Don't believe they can't be changed, honey," the gay hairstylist relied playfully. "I've seen more than one straight man succumbing under a good blow job."
"Luis!" she gasped, "do you really think he would consider it?"
"No, but I grant you, I would love to give it a try." Luis laughed. "I think I'll have to content myself with just admiring that cute butt of his. He's so sexy when he bends to look through the camera."
She and Luis were like sisters, they always chatted this openly, and Luis being the uninhibited queen he was, these kinds of subjects were discussed more often than they should.
"I find him very attractive, I wouldn't mind having something with him."
Luis interest perked up. "So you want to shag the virile director? You slut, tell Luis all that's going on in that dirty mind of yours."
"I like him, he's a very interesting man. He's talented, he's rich and if this film is successful, we'll both be in the spotlight. It'll also be a great promotion for the movie if we are together, don't you think?"
"It's not a bad idea, though I think that Charles would be better. He's gorgeous and famous and no matter what happens with this movie, he'll always be in the spotlight. Why don't you go directly for him? That'll guarantee you a few covers. Just imagine, Jules Asner covering your entrance to the Oscars hand in hand with the handsomest man on earth. You'll make a gorgeous couple, even more than Anniston and Pitt. Brad's hair is a mess lately."
"What, as Charles Bingley's new conquest? Be another name on the 'one hundred' list?" Caroline snorted. "No way, he'll pick a new doll when he's back and I don't want to be the new idiot he just dumped. No, Darcy's definitely the better choice."
"Seeing it that way, you are right. And what are you planning? A torrid affair between the director and the leading actress during the shoot? You and Darcy humping like gorillas in the African jungle? Is that what you are thinking about?"
"No, silly," she giggled. "I was thinking more of a tender romance, love blossoming in the untamed depths of the black continent."
"Oh, dear, you sound like Hurst reading the script after drinking a bottle of scotch." Luis snorted. "I really prefer the humping around thing. Fans love it when they learn that their favorite stars do it the nasty way."
"I don't think Darcy is the humping type, Luis," Caroline laughed, "but I would love to find out."
"Just give me a night with him, I will make him want to hump."
Chapter 6
Charles Bingley's childhood had been a tough one. He was born on a small farm in a small town in Wisconsin and shared his small room with his three elder brothers. His mother, a very kind, very gentle and very simple woman, died when he was young and his father, a beer drinker, didn't care much about the education of his children. He needed the boys to work on the farm with him, so artistic vocations or other any other professional inclinations weren't encouraged. Anyway, none of them were very bright, except for Charles.
So Charles grew up in that environment, rough as an unpolished diamond until he was discovered. One day, the most incredible coincidence happened. They were filming a video in the area and the producer had a flat tire very near the farm. When this handsome, sexy, 20 year old man appeared to help him, the producer knew he was standing in front of someone special. Charles was convinced to do an audition that got him a small part in a movie about Vietnam. Charles' character died in the first half of the movie, though in those thirty minutes he was on screen he was able to show everyone that he was not just a handsome face with a good body -- he could act, too, and quite well. From then on, things only got better and after his second movie he was Hollywood's new spoiled brat.
This movie star status brought major changes into Charles' life. In one way, he improved. He knew his enormous failings as an actor, that his education was limited and that his innate talent and looks weren't enough to overcome them. So he finished school and studied with the best drama teachers that existed, and in very little time he turned into a versatile and complete actor. A good actor.
Another aspect of his life changed significantly when he entered the hall of fame. As it usually happens in cases like these, where the studios control their stars' careers, his personal life was altered too. Cars, women, everything that a young man could wish for was given to him. Girls were introduced into his bedroom in packs, drugs and liquor were supplied freely and for a moment, this simple 23 year-old man lost track of what was real and what wasn't. His life was a constant fiesta until he met the man that would become his best friend and who helped him to find the way back: William Darcy.
At the time, Darcy was an assistant director on Charles' third movie and talked him back to reality after saving his ass from a scandal that would have ruined his career. Then, Charles realized that life was not only tits and champagne and that he needed to recover control of his. He regained it, but one thing happened in the process: He lost the respect he had for women. But Charles could not be blamed entirely for that situation, it wasn't completely his fault. In only a couple of years in this business he had seen enough to know that women -or at least the women around him- didn't deserve his respect. Deep inside, Charles was still a farm boy that wished to find a nice, homey woman and form a family. His celebrity status had placed him in The Mecca of promiscuity-- Hollywood-- the place where easy women and even easier diversions are served on silver trays. Women threw themselves at him and he obliged. So, when a pretty face and a nice body showed up, a good time was guaranteed. He never had to ask for a woman's 'favors', they were offered freely and he was disgusted that they could fall so low. There was a time when he had a better opinion of women and, in a certain way, he secretly wished it could be different, that there was someone worthy and respectable out there, someone to love and trust, but for what he had seen until now, that kind didn't exist.
Obviously, that was before he met Jane Benedict.
Like gypsies that travel from one place to another, the entire unit packed up and headed towards their next destination: Khiabe Valley. Their 'home' for the next fortnight would be a camp set in a open area surrounded by mountains, where more than 15 tents provided the cast and crew with all the comfort that the modern world could provide in this case, that is, camping. They were nearly two hours away from Netherfield Manor and half an hour from Foster's hunting cottage. The proximity to the mountains and the waterfall (also scheduled sets) would save them from a lot of traveling and the presence of a rocky river was a good supply of fresh water (and swimming diversion) apart from a good source of locations for the movie.
Only the actors and director enjoyed the luxury of having private accommodations and the rest of the crew shared the tents. There was a large trailer with bathrooms, showers and even a small gym so the actors (and anyone else that wished to use it) could continue with their fitness routines.
Artistically, this location gave them new and amazing backgrounds. In only two days there, they discovered that the rainforest that covered the mountains produced a thin veil of fog that covered the ground every morning, allowing plants and trees to appear over white blankets of clouds. They were gifted with beautiful sunrises and sunsets and it became the photography director's aim to capture the magnificence of the scenery and transform it into a new character in the movie.
The immensity of their surroundings had a great impact on the actors' performances. They were not just playing adventurers, they were adventurers. Waking up at 4:00 AM to shoot at dawn was a challenge, as was walking under the midday sun to do many takes or going to bed every night with the sounds of the forest telling them that there were wild creatures out there. Bugs in their shoes and food, sweat mingling with make up, feet aching, tiredness, all was there, and they were not acting, they lived every scene.
The interaction of the group changed significantly in this new environment. What had been two separate groups until now changed into a whole all in the pursuit of a common goal: making the 'The Secret of the Mountain' a great movie while having the best times of their lives. They worked hard during the filming, they relaxed together in their free time. Charles and Sparks (Tommy, the electrician was re-christened) would play their guitars every now and then. Volleyball became their principal entertainment -a net was hung from the lighting rigs during breaks- and cards would keep some of them up late at night.
The girls (including Luis) formed a solid group. Caroline, a great Pilates fan, showed the girls the exercises that would make their breasts look as perfect and firm as hers. Jane and Luis shared the secrets of a good manicure and they would all lounge together under the shadows of the trees to share the latest in fashion and fitness. Only Hurst would alter the harmony of the group occasionally, challenging the director over a particular scene or having too much drink during dinner.
Charles never stopped throwing hints at Jane, insinuations she would ignore or reject with sweet smiles, though without hesitation. This game the actor was playing was becoming dangerous. Jane, while fighting against the attraction she felt for him, was now sure that his intentions weren't serious and Charles, without realizing it, was destroying his chance to win her trust.
The leading actress also tried a few approaches at the director, but her luck was as bad as her co-star's. The man had his mind focused on the movie and his heart was too busy falling for someone else to pay her any attention. His 1st AD was always next to him, sweating under the sun during takes, running to tell everyone to get ready or handing him a mug of coffee which he was always drinking.
The director was also suffering the effects of permanent contact with his assistant. With only a few days in her company, his interest in her grew to the point of wanting to know more about the lovely brunette that had turned into his shadow during the day and the object of his dreams at night. He was unconsciously (and consciously) seeking her company, he was amazed by how quickly she had learned her job and her good humor and charm were like a wave of fresh air in that unit of tough men.
As Darcy's heart softened for her, his confusion increased. He was absolutely disconcerted by her. Her wit, her cleverness and dedication told him that she wasn't the type of woman that would sleep with a man to obtain a job but then, years in this industry had shown that not everyone had the scruples to remain intact under temptation. Her relationship with his partner, his friend, was always there to torture him and bringing up ambiguous feelings. In his misery, he wanted to believe that she had no other choice, that it wasn't her choice and hated the man he looked up to almost like a father for taking advantage of her defenselessness. He was torn between accepting what she did to survive in this world of men and total repulsion at the fact she had surrendered and took the easy route.
The first days in Khiabe Valley were dedicated to filming a succession of shots that would show the character's journey towards the Forbidden Mountain. There were few dialogues in them, so the actors didn't have to memorize complicated lines. But as these shots were usually done under the sun, the heat produced a great discomfort for all the people involved.
"So this is how I want it." Darcy stood on the first mark and spoke while showing the actors the movements he wanted them to perform. "Carrie, you've been walking under the sun for hours, you are really tired but Charles is not allowing you to stop. Charles, you walk from here to here," he pointed at two marks on the ground, "and the camera will follow you. When you reach this mark, you turn your head and look at Caroline. We'll slow down the dolly to take Caroline's close up. You Carrie," Darcy turned to Caroline, "walk with your eyes down, looking tired and angry, then glance up at Charles when you step on this mark. It's supposed that you have been walking for hours and you just hate him for doing this, all right?"
"Sure," smirked Caroline, "that won't be difficult." Charles stuck his tongue out at her and she returned the favor.
"And Ted," Darcy addressed the other actor, who was having a particularly difficult day, "you just walk and look tired, all right?"
Ted, whose clothes were heavier than the rest, nodded, thinking only of doing this quickly and taking a break.
The actors took their positions, Darcy climbed on the dolly and the action began. Take one didn't work.
"Caroline, remember, you must look pissed and tired, all right?" Darcy said patiently.
"I'm sorry, William," Caroline replied merrily, "I did my meditation this morning and I'm feeling so refreshed."
"Give it a try, will you? We'll do it again."
Caroline was still too refreshed for take two. In take three Charles turned out of his mark, in take four Caroline didn't raise her eyes in time, in take five she was still too refreshed and in take six a bug collided against the lens.
"Carrie, I need more anger in those eyes." That was take eight.
"Oh, sorry everyone!" Caroline said lightly, "my drama teacher always says that I have a problem expressing my anger, I promise it'll come out fine in the next one."
Charles rolled his eyes and turned his back to her, Ted was only thinking of having lunch and the people around the camera were thinking of killing her. The sun was getting high, it was hot, and everyone was getting tired of repeating this thirty-second shot over and over again.
Darcy climbed on the dolly with a loud, exasperated sigh. He exchanged glances with Charles in secret understanding.
"I can help her to express her anger, William, if you let me," Collins said from behind the camera. "I only have to put my thumb up her ..."
"Shut up, Collins," the director silenced him. "Jane, did you put enough sunscreen on those faces? I don't want them burnt and peeling tomorrow."
"Don't worry, William," Jane put his mind at ease. "They'll be fine."
"Great, she'll look tired and angry by take fifteen." Darcy muttered.
Jane exchanged glances with Elizabeth and they giggled. They would really like to see this happen.
"Silence, ladies," Darcy admonished them playfully.
Not sure if he was being serious or not, Elizabeth glanced up at him and he winked back. She smiled broadly.
"Action!" Said Darcy.
The actors did it again, and then again, Caroline wasn't angry enough.
"Oh, come on!" Charles exploded when Darcy said that they would have to repeat the take, "Caroline, can't you just act? Is it so difficult to pretend you're angry?" Everyone had endured Caroline's lack of expressiveness for nearly two hours, under the hot sun, and they had had enough. Although he was being too harsh with her this time, Charles had the right to be upset.
Caroline's eyes widened. "What's your problem!?! The other day we had to repeat a shot six times because you just couldn't do it!"
"But I at least had a line in it!" Snapped Charles, "you only need to raise your eyes and look angry! Is that so difficult? I know what you can do." He walked over her. "Let's pretend that your lettuce came without the sesame seeds you eat all the time. You always succeed in looking pissed when served your dinner without them!"
"Well, I'm sorry!" Caroline retorted mockingly while placing her hands on her hips, "Oscar winner Charles Bingley always turns his head at the right moment! Don't tire yourself so much, farm boy, they aren't going to nominate you for this one either!"
The leading characters were now exchanging insults and no one could believe that Darcy had not interfered at this point. But the discussion abruptly stopped when Ted Hurst released the loudest and longest belch anyone had ever heard in their lives.
Caroline bolted around to look at the man that was supposed to play her intellectual and aristocratic father and then at the director, waiting for some kind reaction from him. She was indignant when she saw that there was none. "I ... I, this is the rudest thing I've seen in my life! I just can't work with this hostility, I ..." She turned and walked in the directions of the tents.
"Caroline, stay on your mark and DO THE BLOODY SCENE!" Darcy yelled in his Director voice. Behind him, Luis covered his snort with his hand.
Red with anger, completely incensed, Caroline walked to her mark, throwing daggers at Charles self-sufficient smile. At the 'action' command they began to walk, a sweaty Charles turned at the right point, a furious Caroline glanced up at the right moment and Ted did his job perfectly.
"Cut!" said Darcy. "That's a keeper."
Cast and crew clapped and cheered. Everyone was happy except for Caroline, who looked as if she was about to cry. Charles moved closer to comfort her but she pushed him away.
Darcy was aware that they had pushed her too far, but there was no other way to do this. He walked closer and cupping her chin, said in a very tender voice. "That was great, Caroline, absolutely great. If they don't give you an Oscar for this scene, I'll shoot the members of the Academy myself."
Sniffing soundly, she asked. "You did this on purpose, didn't you?"
With only a look, Darcy told everyone to leave them in privacy and the crew left silently. He placed a comforting arm around Caroline's shoulders and kissed her temple. "Was I too mean? I'm sorry."
"No, it's OK," she said in a shaky voice.
"Come, let's go back. Let's have something refreshing to drink."
Caroline wiped her eyes and rested her head on Darcy's shoulder as they walked back to the tents. He held her with brotherly affection while telling her silly things about her acting, helping her to calm down.
"Carrie, will you give me some of your sesame seeds?" Charles said while smoothing her hair. "They really look delicious."
Mingling giggles and sniffs, Caroline pushed him away. "You are an idiot, Charles, do you know that?"
"But I did help you to express your anger." He said playfully. "Come here, sweetheart, give me a hug."
Caroline hugged Charles and the three of them returned arm in arm to the tents. A few steps ahead, Collins asked,
"Mr. Hurst, will you teach me how to do that?"
That evening, Darcy suggested a change in the plans. The weather conditions promised a spectacular sunset and he wanted to capture it in a specific shot. He asked the actors and they agreed to do it. So, while they studied their lines, the crew set up what was supposed to be the travelers' camp. They lit a huge fire and when the sun came closer to the horizon, they started rolling the cameras.
The result was an incredible shot with a unique and always changing background. It was a scene where the characters sat in front of the fire and exchanged their expectations about this journey, the difficulties they were about to face and it was where the first signs of growing attraction between Farrell and Victoria, the characters that Charles and Caroline were playing, showed up. The sunset, the mysticism of the mountains and the quietness of the evening transported the actors in the magic of the moment. They all knew this needed to be done in one take and no one wanted to ruin it. The actors improvised what they couldn't remember and as the sky changed colors behind them and the flames bathed their faces in gold, it was a spectacular shot.
Caroline and Charles may have acted like siblings that argued all day long when the camera wasn't rolling, but in front of it, they were just amazing. Every time their eyes met, the camera melted and their performance of hate slowly being transformed into the strongest love would certainly leave many hearts fluttering.
The mood was for partying after the filming was over. The night was starry and fresh, the full moon was high and the unit spread into groups to enjoy the rest of the evening.
"Hey Carrie!" Charles called to his co-star as he sat at the table card with Hurst, "do you want to play cards?"
"Not now, Charles, I need to fix my nails."
"And you, Darce?"
"No thanks, Chuck, I already beat you last night. You can't afford it." Replied the director while reading some notes.
"As if we were betting. Jane?" He asked the girl that was chatting with Charlotte and Luis.
Jane smiled and shook her head.
Charles asked the assistant director then.
Elizabeth looked up. "Oh no, I'm hooked on this book. Thank you."
"Oh, come on, Lizzy, leave that and join us, please?"
"Leave her alone, Charles, the girl prefers reading to cards. Not an unwise decision, I would say." Hurst interjected.
Charles' sulky pout convinced her and she closed her book.
On seeing this, Darcy put his papers aside and rose to join them at the table. "All right, I'll play. Maybe that way I won't hear you whining all night long."
"Me too," Caroline hurried towards the table to claim a seat next to the director now that he decided to play. This was a chance she didn't want to lose. "Let's not disturb dear Lizzy on her free time. Poor thing, she needs a break from us, don't you, sweetheart?" Elizabeth just smiled. "Go finish your book, I'll deal with these guys." Caroline then turned to the card players. "Your assistant is so dedicated and helpful, William, a treasure, really."
"Indeed she is. Not only she's efficient -when she arrives at the set on time- but she daily improves her mind by extensive reading." Darcy said that in such a way that made everyone wonder if he was being serious or not.
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at him and he smiled, quite becomingly, she would say.
"That quote is from a book isn't it?" Asked Caroline. "I can't recall exactly from which one, I think it's ..."
"Are you going to play or not? This is a game, not a chat room." Hurst interrupted her.
The cards were dealt and they started the game. Elizabeth returned to her book, though her attention was more on the group playing cards not too far away that to words written in front of her.
"How bad of you to tease her like that, William," said Caroline. "Elizabeth is very punctual. She is always chasing us so that we are not late for work."
"Is she?" he asked.
"And so polite and tactful. Luis usually freaks out when someone tells him to hurry up, but when Lizzy comes, we all rush."
"Maybe because we all know what Darcy is capable of doing if we are one second late, Carrie," the leading actor smirked.
"I don't think he's that bad, Charles, I'm not afraid of him." Caroline looked at the director with a seductive smile.
"You should." Charles rolled the toothpick he held between his teeth from one corner of his mouth to another. "If you had ever seen him on a Sunday afternoon when he has nothing to do, you'll know what I'm talking about."
"What do you say, Elizabeth?" Caroline asked the 1st AD. "Is he as bad as Charles says? You are always by his side. You must know better than us."
Elizabeth raised her eyes from her book. "I'm sorry, Caroline, I can't repeat the things he says while filming. It would not only be unethical, but unwise."
Darcy glanced towards the young woman sitting not too far away. An impertinent smile was adorning her lips. So she was teasing him.
"Why? What did he say?" Caroline's eyes danced from the director to his assistant. "Tell me, Lizzy, I'm dying to know."
"There is no need to repeat what he says to know what he's capable of. He gave us a good example today." Elizabeth addressed Caroline while pertly smiling at her boss.
Charles laughed heartily. "That was a good one, Elizabeth. At last someone has the courage to expose him. You've been having your own way for too long, Darce."
"I can't believe you two are laughing at him." Caroline defended Darcy's position. "He does his job in such an impeccable way."
"Never mind, Carrie, I'll have my revenge someday." Darcy teased them while picking a card.
"I'm already shaking." Charles said feigning fear. "Don't worry, Lizzy, I'll come to the rescue if he is mean with you."
"I'm not afraid of him." Elizabeth closed her book and rose. "He barks, but I don't think he bites."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." The director replied with an intense look and an enigmatic smile.
Elizabeth blushed intently at that comment. She felt as if they were crossing invisible barriers, ones that shouldn't been crossed, given their boss-assistant relationship. Fortunately, Hurst asked the players to turn their attention to the game and she left to join the group that was giggling loudly near the fire.
The game progressed silently for a while, Tommy was playing his guitar and some of the guys were sitting around drinking beer. It was a very tranquil evening.
"And how is Georgiana doing in her new school?" Charles asked his friend. "You said she wasn't very happy with it."
"She's all right now," replied Darcy. "A little disoriented at the beginning, but fortunately she's already adapted. At least that's what she said in her last e-mail."
"Poor thing, I can imagine, she's such a sweetie."
"Indeed she is."
"Send her my love when you next e-mail her, will you?" Charles rolled the toothpick again, now making it dance between his teeth. Caroline particularly disliked it when he did this.
"Would you stop that?" Cried Caroline. "It's disgusting. Maybe that's appropriate in this little place you come from, but not here."
"I'm sorry," he mocked her, "I forgot that they don't use toothpicks in Melbourne. Anyway, I didn't know that camping in the middle of the jungle required an specific etiquette."
"It's Brisbane." She muttered.
Charles smiled in that way that would turn women's knickers into a pond. "Thank you for trying to improve my manners, Caroline."
"No one can improve your manners, Charles," Caroline smiled. He was irresistible when he did that. "You are a hopeless case."
"And you are adorable, sweetheart."
Caroline patted his hand and returned to her cards. "When did you say the reporters were coming?" She asked the director.
"In about then days. They are staying for a full day to cover the filming and do interviews. Some of them will stay a little longer." Replied Darcy while picking a new card.
At that moment, Darcy heard his name mentioned from Elizabeth's lips and stole a glance towards the group of girls that were chatting near the fire. His intention was to take just a quick look, but he couldn't help lingering in her profile for a while. The girls seemed very entranced in conversation, laughing at something or someone. But the interlude was interrupted when Elizabeth turned suddenly, catching him in this somehow guilty gaze. Blast Charlotte for alerting her.
"And who's coming?" Asked Hurst.
"I'm not sure, I would need to check the list Ann sent me, but I think that someone from E!, Cinema One and a few more. There are six reporters at least." Darcy shrugged.
"Oh, Christ." Caroline played her turn. "I hate giving interviews."
"As if." Charles said in a feigned Malibu accent. Caroline pinched his arm. He shrugged her off and glanced at Jane, who blushed and averted her eyes immediately.
"Charles, obviously," said Luis. "Perfect face, perfect body and a love tool that would put any gay ass into flames, I assure you."
"How do you know that?" Laughed Charlotte. "Were you two showing each other your extensions?"
"No, but we shared the showers once." Luis made a flourish with his hand. "I've seen good bodies in my life, but his ... (sigh). Oh, Charles, why didn't you drop your soap?"
They all giggled loudly after that.
"Okay, let's exclude Charles Bingley from this one," said Charlotte, "there's no way we could count him, he'll win."
"What's all this giggling about?" Elizabeth joined them and sat next to Jane.
"Handsomest in the group." Replied Jane. "Excluding Charles. Luis has already described his dick. He says it's worth of a look."
Charlotte lit up a cigarette. "Now, Lizzy, who would you choose?"
"Well," Elizabeth shifted her weight in her spot and looked around the men of the crew that were still awake. "Tommy is not bad looking, and Jeff is cute, in that hobbit manner of his."
That frown that wrinkled Charlotte's face showed that she wasn't very pleased with Elizabeth's choice. "And you, Jane?"
"Darcy," Jane said the name that Elizabeth had been avoiding. "He's definitely the handsomest after Charles. Then comes Tommy, when he washes his hair."
"You like them tall and fit, don't you?" Charlotte snorted.
"And well endowed too. By the way Darcy fills his trousers, he surely hides something to be proud of."
"Men's dicks. Is that the only thing you can think of?" Charlotte mocked Luis. He blew her a kiss.
"I just stated the obvious, Charlotte. And what would be your pick? Collins?" Jane asked teasingly. "He'd been after you since this production started. You should consider doing something for the poor guy."
"Are you kidding? You're rejecting the hottest man on earth and you expect me to accept Billy Collins?" Replied the costume maker. "I'm not that desperate, you know."
"Yeah, Jane," Luis added, "I don't know how you can resist him. I know I would have already bitten the pillow if I were in your place."
"Stop it!" Jane laughed.
"Poor Billy, I don't know why you dislike him so much, Charlotte." Said Elizabeth with only the intention of annoying her. "He likes you, really. You should give him a chance."
"And why don't you give him a chance?" It was Charlotte's turn to annoy Elizabeth. "He looks at you pretty often, too."
"Who?"
"The boss."
"Darcy?" Elizabeth asked a little too loud. "What do you mean?"
"That he's always staring at you. I think he likes you." Said Charlotte with a knowing smile. Luis confirmed this statement with an effusive nod.
"Don't be silly, he has seen better than me, he even said that himself!" Elizabeth frowned.
"I'm sure that that was just a line, Lizzy. Today, I observed him carefully. You were helping the guys to put up the set for the evening shot and he was staring at you all the time. I grant you, Elizabeth, he has something for you. Look," Charlotte discreetly pointed at the group playing cards, "he's staring at you right now."
"Really?" Elizabeth turned suddenly and met Darcy's eyes observing her. He quickly looked away.
Jane's eyes were also drawn towards the actor sitting across the director. Every time she looked at him, butterflies twirled in her stomach. She observed him as he teased Caroline and smiled when she pinched his arm. She loved how he loved to annoy his co-star. Jane was so unprepared when he looked at her that she blushed and averted her eyes immediately.
"I'm surrounded by frigid cows," sighed Luis. "Three hot guys horny for you -okay, take Collins out of the hot category- and no action. Isn't there a gay man for me in this place?"
The camp was silent, everyone had gone to bed. Only the security guard poking the fire and the noises of the creatures out in the jungle disturbed quiet of the night. A shadow moved slowly through the labyrinth of tents and stopped in the far end of the camp, where no obstacles interfered with the immensity of sky and mountains in front of him. He puffed on his cigar and released the smoke slowly, relaxing with the scent and the peace that this brought to him.
He didn't smoke too much, only an occasional cigar every now and then, mostly when he wanted to think, to relax, or when he wanted to dream. Like tonight. Eyes closed, he allowed the breeze to refresh him and stretched his body to relieve the tension of the day. His thought at that moment? His assistant, obviously. She had been occupying his thoughts too much lately. He smiled. She was really something. Each day that passed it became more difficult not to think about her. He absolutely loved the way she laughed, her sharp tongue when she teased the guys or the smell of hair in the mornings. Suddenly, he was intrigued about how her lips would taste, he wanted to feel her legs curling around his while he made love to her and he wanted to hear the sounds from her throat as he pleased her.
He puffed his cigar again and his eyes narrowed when the smoke reached his eyes. This was just pathetic. A grown up man drooling over his assistant. What was wrong with him tonight? Who knows? Who cares? Tonight, he didn't give a damn about Lucas, about her past, about what she did or what she didn't do to be here. All he cared about tonight was her and nothing else.
"William. What are you doing here, alone, in the dark?" The voice that came from behind him was soft and seductive.
Darcy turned his head slightly. "Carrie."
Her hand went to his arm. "It's late, you should be in bed."
"You too."
She walked around so she was standing in front of him and placed her palm on his chest. "I wanted to thank you for today, for being so patient with me. I know I have a lot to learn as an actress and I appreciate that you are helping me to grow as one."
"It's my job, Caroline," he smiled.
Caroline laughed softly, moving her hand sensuously up and down his chest. "It certainly is. Thank you anyway."
"You're welcome." He puffed his cigar once again.
She realized that her seduction tactic was not working. He was too deep in thought to even notice what she was doing. She turned to look at the sky. "This is such a fabulous project, William, I admire your ability to put everything together. You are so dedicated."
There was no reply.
"I'm sure you are thinking about the movie, right now, dreaming about how it will be when finished."
"No, actually, I wasn't thinking about that right now." His voice turned hoarse. "My mind was envisioning a more pleasurable sight."
"Really?" She chuckled. A man that spoke in this way was undoubtedly thinking about a woman. "What, or who if I may ask?"
"Dark eyes ... black curls and the brightest of smiles."
He had just described his assistant. Caroline looked at his eyes, lost in the darkness of the mountains and realized that this was a hopeless case. It would be pointless to compete against this woman for Darcy's heart, because the man, aware of it or not, was already in love with her.
Maybe Luis was right. She should have picked Charles.
Caroline rose to her toes and kissed his cheek. "Good night, William. Go to bed, get some rest."
"Good night, Carrie."
Darcy took one last puff of his cigar and dropped it on the ground, putting it out with his shoe. One last look at the mountains and he went to his tent.
In her bed, Elizabeth rolled to her side. She was dreaming. Tender lips were kissing her ear, whispering words of love, a soft breeze caressed her skin and a rich, unfamiliar scent of tobacco transported her into a fog of smoke and spice. It was so ... erotic.
She couldn't see him, but he was there; big, strong, protective. He was embracing her, he was holding her, so tenderly that she thought she was floating in a daze of love. But something happened. All of the sudden, the tenderness was gone, the brown leaves were crushed, the flame extinguished and the words, silenced. The man left, leaving only the spicy scent in his place. Her dream was over, someone took it away.