AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The production assistant nods and scampers away.
“Any idea what that’s all about?” I ask Adelaide.
Her eyes are wide with reservation. “None.”
“Well, let’s get this over with.” I rise from the table, taking another water with me, and wait while Adelaide throws away her apple core. “I don’t like this,” I say to Adelaide as we walk across set.
Nothing good ever comes when Bernie makes a surprise visit.
“I’m going to head to the bathroom quick. I’ll meet you at my trailer.” I step toward the bathroom.
“Oh, I’ll wait.” She stops alongside me.
“No, go, Adelaide. I’ll only be a few minutes and you know Bernie, he doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
She glances around and then leans toward me. “I’d just prefer to go with you.”
The scared look in her eye clears up what she’s saying under her words. “No problem. I’ll be a few minutes.”
Her smile isn’t as big as I’m used to seeing, but she pulls out her phone while I disappear into the bathroom.
* * *
We step into the trailer,and Bernie sits with his arms and legs spread like king of the fucking world. Which I suppose in this town, he is.
“There’s the guy who’s going to make this studio a shit-ton of fucking money when this movie releases.”
“Hey, Bernie. How are you?” I sit in the chair across from him.
Bernie motions for Adelaide to do the same, though he says nothing to her. “Never been better. I’ve looked at the dailies, and things look like they’re going well. Chemistry is sizzling.”
He sounds way too happy. Did they hire a double?
“Yeah, Scott seems happy with them, don’t you think, Adelaide?” I turn my head in her direction, and she glances at me, nodding silently.
“And how are you two getting on?” Bernie points between us.
“No problems on my end,” I say.
“What about you?” Bernie asks Adelaide the first question since she walked in.
“James has been really easy to work with.” Her voice sounds shaky. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she’s scared.
“Great, great.” He claps once and somehow manages to lift his rotund frame up off the couch. “I got some news yesterday, and I’ve been trying to figure out a way to make the problem go away.” He paces the length of the trailer, his forearms resting on his stomach, his fingers steeped.
Unease creeps up my spine. “What’s up?”
“I got word that Vanguard Studios is putting out a new superhero series based on Malcolm Treader’s books. They’re fast-tracking release so it beats our movie to the box offices.”
Malcolm Treader’s books are a huge hit and sat on theNew York Timesbestseller list for close to a year, so I’m not surprised that a studio optioned the rights and is making a movie. The timing couldn’t be worse though.
“Shit. That’s not good. What do you have in mind?” I ask.
“I’ve already talked to Scott and the production team, and there’s no way we can move up our release and do the film justice. So we’re going to have to be creative. Creative enough to make sure our movie appeals to the public more than Vanguard’s does.”
I glance at Adelaide. She sits quietly, watching with wide eyes as Bernie paces in front of us.
“What’s your plan?” I ask.
