(ASS) "Lights, Camera, Damnation" 1/3 (Angel TV series) -- PRED-TV WB
pr...@altavista.net
Here is the completed version of "Lights, Camera, Damnation," the
first of my new PRED-TV WB stories. The next four - Dawson's Freak,
Seventh Hell, Harmed and UnPopular will follow in the next few weeks.
Anti-Disclaimer: I write for myself, I don't care who reads this.
FUCK CENSORSHIP IN THE EAR!
Comments, questions or death threats please e-mail to
PR...@altavista.net or post reply here.
"Lights, Camera, Damnation" is the sole property of PREDATOR Press,
Intl. The characters of Angel, Cordelia, Doyle, Spike and the rest of
the Buffy cast are the creation and property of Joss and the WB.
"Lights, Camera, Damnation!"
I
He's seen them all before. A thousand since he first put up a
shingle almost 60 years ago. Hollywood, the land of dreams. Anybody
can be a star, with just the right break. People willing to do
anything and everything just to get a foot in the door. Even worse
than the would-be Travoltas and Streeps, the mommy dearests. Marching
into his office with the next Heather Locklear in tow. "Smile for the
gentleman, sweetie. Sit up straight. That's all right, darling, you
can go sit on the man's lap. He just wants to get a good look at you,
that's all. Don't be scared. I'm right here. Oh, I'll just be gone
a moment. Just stay here with the nice man and do whatever he says.
I'll be back soon. Just BEHAVE! Don't blow this chance for mommy
now. We've come this far. Just a little longer. Mommy will be back
and we'll go soon. Just stay here with the nice man .."
It was so easy these days, it had almost become boring. Where
had the thrill gone? Each little morsel looked exactly the same these
days - a little Brittany Spears, a little Jennifer Love Hewitt, a
little Brandy, a little Sarah Marie Gelman. These girls crawled off
the covers of Seventeen and YM and strutted into his offices, each one
with a mother straight out of the musical Gypsy. It was just too damn
easy.
The girl standing before him called herself Gabrielle. Her
mother's idea, no doubt. No last name, just one first name.
Gabrielle. He read the business card. "Claire Gabriel, Manager." He
smiled like he was interested and told the woman and her "talent" to
have a seat. He looked at his receptionist, Donna, and pointed to his
coffee mug. Donna nodded and slid out of the office, closing the door
behind her.
"Age?" he asked, trying to at least appear interested.
"Gabrielle is 13," Ms. Gabriel responded. "But she can play
younger .. or older, too. As you can see, she is already
well-developed. In make-up and heels, she's mistaken for 16 or 17 all
the time."
He arched his eyebrows and motioned with his hand for the girl
to stand up.
"Stand up dear," Ms. Gabriel prodded her daughter. "Show the
man what we have."
The girl forced a smile at him and stood up. She was dressed
in a short black mini-skirt that displayed every square inch of her
tanned, toned, teenage legs. The mother certainly knew which assets
drew immediate attention. The girl's firm young breasts were
accentuated in a tight pink sweater. They were in LA, it was 88
degrees outside, and the girl was wearing a sweater just to show off
her pubescent boobs. It was hard for him to refrain from laughing.
He motioned with his hand again.
"Turn around so he can see your ass dear," Ms. Gabriel ordered
her daughter.
He folded his hand over.
"Bend over, darling," Ms. Gabriel instructed. "Let the man
see it all." She turned to him. "She has a nice bottom, doesn't she
..?" He nodded. "They chose her bottom for the close-up in that
waterpark commercial," she continued. "The director said it was
perfectly proportioned."
"Yeah, it's nice," he spoke for the first time. The girl's
ass was nice. Hell, the girl was nice. She seemed unspoiled somehow,
untouched, or at least low mileage. "How long you been out here?" he
asked.
"Six months," Ms. Gabriel nodded, trying to keep her
composure. The lady was obviously desperate, yet she was still trying
to appear nonchalant. "Gabrielle's been working steadily. We're just
trying to get more exposure. I feel she's becoming too limited with
Dalton. They only send her on commercial auditions. Anyone can see
she's got real screen potential. But there's such a pecking order
over there. You know how it is .."
"How did you hear of us?" he asked. "We're just a small
agency."
"With a first-class reputation," Ms. Gabriel answered. "Sarah
Marie Gelman, Alicia Turino, Nady Cameron, the Colson Twins .. that's
more than just a small agency Mr. Scratch. H.R. Snuff'n'stuff is a
heavy hitter in this town. Gabrielle could only make your prestige
grow."
"Do you know who Sarah Marie Gelman is, Gabrielle?" Mr.
Scratch asked the girl.
She nodded. "Kimmy, Protector of the Universe. That's my
favorite show." The girl's eyes lit up.
"Do you know why Sarah is such a big star, Gabrielle?"
"Hard work," the girl parroted the reply that had been drilled
in her head since she started interviewing. Just once, Mr. Scratch
would like to hear some wannabe starlet tell the truth. Sarah Marie
Gelman was a star because everybody in the world wanted to fuck her.
Men, women, boys, girls, hell even dogs. To see that face and that
body was to desire carnal knowledge.
Scratch smiled. Five years ago, Mrs. Gelman had been sitting
right where Mrs. Gabriel sat now. Back then Alicia Turino was the
role model every mother and daughter aspired to. Now it was Sarah.
Next year it might be .. who knows? Gabrielle?
Scratch had certainly seen worse in his day, and not very many
that were better for that matter. "Do you know how many hours a day
Sarah puts in, Gabrielle?"
"24 hours a day, sir?" she recited the mantra by rote.
"And do you know how many hours I'd expect you to put in a
day?" Scratch asked.
"25," Gabrielle answered. She'd been coached well.
Scratch nodded. "What WON'T you do to become a star,
Gabrielle?" he asked.
"I don't know the meaning of the word 'won't', sir .. won't,
don't OR can't."
"Well," Scratch nodded and smiled at Ms. Gabriel. "She
certainly knows all the right answers. The question now is whether
she has all the right moves." Mother and daughter smiled. This is
precisely what they wanted to hear, what they all wanted to hear. "I
want to arrange a test shooting with Gabriel, just to see where she's
at. She might have the looks, but I'm not about to send her out there
if she doesn't have the chops. My girls NAIL their first auditions,"
he smiled. "My girls nail ALL their auditions."
"When would you like to do the test?" Ms. Gabriel asked.
"Tomorrow night," Scratch answered. "We have a studio
downstairs. I'll get a crew in here after everybody leaves." He
turned to Gabrielle. "You do know how important this is, don't you,
Gabrielle?"
"Yes, sir," she nodded.
"Tomorrow will be the most important day in your life ..
EVER," he stressed. "Do you understand that?"
"Yes, sir, I do."
"Good," he nodded. "Now go outside in the reception area and
let me talk to your mother a moment, okay ..?" Ms. Gabriel nodded to
her daughter, and Gabrielle stood up and exited the room. As the door
opened, Donna appeared with his coffee mug and a sheaf of papers. The
door closed behind her, leaving Gabrielle in the outer-office by
herself.
"Standard contract?" Donna asked, setting the stack of papers
down in front of Mr. Scratch.
"Yes, we'll need the girl's signature in a moment." He turned
to Ms. Gabriel. "But first things first." He relaxed a moment and
let the glamour fade from eyes. Ms. Gabriel only saw the glowering
coals within his pupils for a split second. Her scream was barely a
gurgle as Donna's fangs punctured her voice box. "It's time to make a
deal, Ms. Gabriel," he told the dying woman. "Are you ready to do
whatever it takes to make your daughter a star?"
"Yes," she gurgled.
They always gurgled "yes." It had all become so predictable
.
"I suppose this means you had another vision." Angel looked
up from the sheet of paper Doyle had just placed beneath his nose.
"You're a sharp one, mate," the demi-demon smiled as Angel
took the note and looked it over.
"What the hell does this mean?" Angel asked. "Demon-core?"
"I think I've heard of them," Cordelia Chase looked up from
the carton of Thai take-out she was inspecting. "Heavy metal is so
totally 'Costner' anymore."
Angel shot her a bemused scowl. As always, he had no idea
what Cordelia Chase was talking about. He'd learned to judge the
context of what she said by the three subtle tones of her voice -
self-involvement, distaste and mockery. This last comment definitely
was mockery.
"Demon-core is not a rock-and-roll band," Doyle explained
patiently.
"You're wrong," Cordy shrugged her shoulders flippantly and
went back to examining her carton of Thai noodles. Both Doyle and
Angel stopped to watch her for a moment as she stabbed at the food
with her chopsticks and wrestled a clump between her lips.
"Ah . so what is it then?" Angel tore his eyes off Cordelia.
"Demon-core .." he added.
"You heard of hardcore, mate?"
"Like the Sex Pistols?" Angel asked. "I was there, mate?" he
affected a British accent. "That was like shooting fish in a barrel
." he mused aloud before catching himself. Cordy flashed him a
slightly freaked look, then returned to her dinner.
"Not the music, mate," Doyle shook his head. "The movies, you
know ..?!" He pantomimed the sexual act with a swivel of hips.
"Um, that would be like tres inappropriate," Cordy piped up,
wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"Sorry, lass," Doyle grinned. "My mate here wanted an
explanation .."
"Which he's still waiting for," Angel interrupted. "Now out
with it."
"Demon-core," Doyle suddenly became very serious again. "It's
beneath the underground. Sexy movies with demons and humans. Very
lucrative market with the fangs and horns set."
"Eww .." Cordelia spit out her Thai. "I repeat .. Eww."
"Demons make porno videos with human co-stars?" Angel mulled
the thought over.
"Victims are more like it," Doyle answered.
"And how did this all escape me?" Angel asked, half to himself
and half to his half-demon partner.
"You were slicing and dicing, mate," Doyle replied. "You were
hungry. You weren't looking for entertainment."
Angel nodded and glanced back down at the slip of paper.
"This name here .. Anthony Gabriel .. he makes this stuff?"
"I don't know, mate. The visions, they just come to me. They
don't stick around for question and answer period."
"Aren't you forgetting," Angel replied.. "We're still
tracking Azarelius. The body count is up to twenty and rising. This
will have to wait." Angel put the paper down on his desk.
"When the visions come, there isn't no waiting," Doyle
answered. "Besides, we don't have anybody telling us we can't do
both."
"I hunt one demon at a time," Angel answered. "Unless they're
working in pairs."
"Who said anything about you, mate?" Doyle looked over at
Cordelia suddenly. "The vision weren't for you, it was for her."
"Again?" Cordelia snapped back in her chair.
"The vision was pretty clear," Doyle explained. "They want
you."
"WHO wants me?"
"I never ask, lass," Doyle responded. "They never offer."
"Umm, I quit, okay," Cordelia threw up her hands. She pointed
to herself. "Office help," she pointed to Angel and Doyle, "demon
hunters. Office help, demon hunters."
"Just chill a minute, would you Cordelia," Angel snapped.
"Chill?" Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Umm, that expression is
so Bush administration. You really need to get out more."
"Quiet!" Angel re-iterated.
Cordelia froze. * Vampire boss, what were you thinking? Note
to self, get new job without homicidal, blood-sucking boss .. or at
least a dental plan ..*
"This could work," Angel nodded slowly and looked over at
Cordelia. "We really could use your acting talents, Cordelia."
"That is if you have any," Doyle quipped.
"I'm listening," Cordelia ignored the smarmy demon.
"Just do some legwork, that's all," Angel explained. "Play
the part of the struggling actress. Talk to some agents and insiders.
Maybe you can get a lead on this thing. By then, I should have bagged
Azerilius, and I can take over."
"Legwork .." Cordelia mulled it over.
"We really could use your expertise here, Cordelia," Angel
kept at it. "You can get inside this thing a lot easier than I ever
could."
"Okay, struggling actress .. I got it. But what's my
motivation?" Cordelia asked. "Am I starstruck, am I trying to atone
for past sins, am I trying to show an ex-lover I can survive with out
him? What's my motivation?"
2
* Anthony Gabriel .. 2234 Westwinds .. Van Nuys .. Demon-core
.. * Cordelia Chase read the note Angel had handed her. She looked
down at the map next to her on the front seat, then back up to the
street signs whizzing by on the right. * I'm a struggling actress
looking for work, * she repeated to herself. * I have a mysterious
past of heartbreak and remorse. I am trying to show everyone that I
can make it on my own. Someday I will be bigger than Julia Roberts.
Wow, I NEVER expected to really WIN this, * she began rehearsing her
academy awards acceptance speech for Best Actress.
WESTWINDS ..
The street sign passed by on her left. She flipped on the
hatchback's turn signal and made an illegal U-turn in the middle of
the road. * .. I mean who do I thank first? WOW! (insert director's
first name here) took a chance on me when no one else believed .. ,*
she continued rehearsing her speech, oblivious to the chorus of horns
and curse words following her tail lights. * Of course, there are
also the people who get NO thanks. Xander Harris I know you're
watching. I hope you like your job washing dishes at Denny's.
Someday you may even be promoted to fry cook .. *
2234 ..
The house was a bungalow with one driveway. A black Ford
Escort was parked up the drive before an open garage. Cordelia turned
into the drive and put the map under the seat. She folded up Angel's
note and slipped it into her Gucci handbag. A quick check in the
mirror .. * You have a mysterious past of heartbreak and danger .. * a
dash of Azure Ruby 6 across the upper and lower lips, squish, smile ..
* you are bold but not bitchy, straightforward but not blunt .. door
open, legs first, stand up, brush down, walk. *
The crisp click of her Vigtelli pumps against the cool
concrete snapped some confidence into Cordelia's step. It's not like
was a real audition. She wanted to bust this guy, not work for him.
Still, she could use this fake interview as practice, and who knows
maybe this demon wouldn't be such a bad guy after all. Maybe she
could even pick up a name or two she could use before Angel staked
him. It WAS all about networking after all .. any way you can.
House not impressive, * she observed to herself as she
approached the front door. * Obviously can't even afford an illegal
alien gardener. Orange trim? Topaz? Turquoise? * she mused as she
examined the late 70's architecture. Definitely Boogie Nights .. *
She pressed the doorbell and listened to it chime inside. She heard
footsteps and fluffed her hair once more in the door's reflection
before it opened.
"Hello?" a normal-looking, overweight man peered out
from behind the turquoise door.
"Mr. Gabriel?" Cordelia asked.
"Yes?"
"I'm Cordelia Chase," she smiled. "I'm an actress. May I
come in?" He looked her over, up and down. * He doesn't look like a
demon .. * "I was given your name," Cordelia added. "Someone told me
you might be able to help me. I'm kind of between jobs right now, and
I'm looking for something to tide me over until pilot season starts in
the spring .."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," the man answered.
"Or who the HELL gave you my name. You're probably looking for my
wife. She's the big-time talent scout," he shook his head in disgust.
"Me? I'm just excess baggage now. Go talk to her."
"And who might she be?" Cordelia asked.
"Name's Claire .. Claire Gabriel. Only I can't imagine how
you ever heard of her. She only has one client, my daughter
Stephanie. And she's not exactly filming Titanic. I think you got a
bum steer, Miss .."
"Chase," Cordelia told him. "Cordelia Chase."
"Anyways, Claire took Steph out here weeks ago. They're
living at the Holiday Inn off Rodeo Drive now. You can look her up
there. Or at the agency .."
"Agency?" Cordelia asked. "Which agency?"
"Some place called H.R. Snuff'n'stuff," he answered. "Steph
called me a little bit ago, and told me Claire just got her signed
with this big agent, a guy named Scratch out there. Same guy who
handled Sarah Marie Gelman, I guess."
"Kimmy, Protector of the Universe?" Cordelia couldn't help but
be impressed. "That is like the number one show for teens between the
ages of 12 and 21 .."
"That's the one," he nodded. "Don't ask me how Claire inked
that one. Guess my little girl really could be a star, huh ..? Just
wonder how much that's going to cost her, you know. There ain't
nothing in this town that's free."
"Then you have nothing to do with the Industry?" Cordelia
asked.
"I've got a Hollywood Video card," the man answered. "That's
about it." He started closing the door.
"Um .. could you answer one more question?"
"Sure .." he stopped.
"You're not an evil demon that preys on struggling young
actresses or anything, are you ..? Because if you are, I'm pretty
desperate for work, I have no relatives or friends out here and I'd
make real easy prey."
The man just looked at her oddly and slammed the door shut.
* Okay, Mr. Brady Bunch house is definitely not our demon, *
Cordelia mused as she walked back down the drive. * And he really
does need to hit the Stairmaster .. * She slid back into her car and
fished her Official Hollywood Contact Book out of the glove
compartment. Skimming through the H's, she found the listing for the
H.R. Snuff'n'stuff Agency. She'd never heard of it before, but if
they were handling Sarah Marie Gelman they had to be legit. She put
the Cavalier into reverse and headed back into Hollywood. * I'm a
struggling actress looking for work. I have a mysterious past of
heartbreak and remorse. I am trying to show everyone that I can make
it on my own .. *
"Hi," Cordelia beamed at the redheaded secretary. "I was
given this agency's name. My name is Cordelia Chase. I'm an
actress."
"I'm sure you are," the redhead barely even looked at her.
"Can I have the name of your referral?"
"Um .. Anthony Gabriel .." Cordelia attempted.
"I'm sorry, we don't know any Anthony Gabriel," the redhead
suddenly seemed a little discomfited. "You must be mistaken, Ms. .."
"Chase," Cordelia repeated. "Cordelia Chase. And I'm not
mistaken. It was actually his wife that referred me. Claire Gabriel.
I believe you just signed their daughter .. Stephanie .. under
contract."
"None of those names sound at all familiar, Ms. .."
"CHASE," Cordelia fumed. * Warm breezes .. Pina Coladas ..
Antonio Banderas .. * "Cordelia Chase. And I know you know WHO I'm
talking about because I can see a folder with 'Claire Gabriel' written
right across the front in your outbox. So, why don't we quit with the
David Spade routine, and just tell Mr. Scratch I'm here. Thank YOU
." *How's that for forceful, but not bitchy .. *
"One moment," the redheaded secretary looked like she was
ready to pounce and rip Cordelia's throat out. But she picked up her
phone instead and hit the intercom button. "Mr. Scratch. There is a
Ms. .." she looked up at Cordelia again.
"Chase," Cordelia sighed. "Cordelia Chase .."
" .. a Ms. Cordelia Chase to see you. She was referred by
Claire Gabriel it seems .. yes .. certainly .. I'll do that .. thank
you." She hung up the phone. "You can have a seat out there," she
pointed to the outer lobby. "If Mr. Scratch has any time between
appointments, he'll see you."
"Thank you," Cordelia tried to be as gracious as possible
before she retreated to the lobby and took a seat. She took up the
French version of Marie Clare and started skimming. * .. I mean who
do I thank first? WOW! (insert director's first name here) took a
chance on me when no one else believed .. * Through the chatter of
her thoughts, Cordelia heard a door open and voices encroach on the
silence around her. She looked up and saw the door behind the redhead
secretary open and a man and woman exit. Only this wasn't just a
woman it was ..
"You can just go down to the studio, Sarah," the man spoke.
"We'll get started as soon as Gabrielle arrives."
.. Sarah Marie Gelman.
Okay, Cordelia. Keep calm .. You're bored .. this is so
TOTALLY common .. BORED .. Giles rambling on about some ancient curse
.. PBS documentary on swallows .. Negative b plus or minus the old
square root of b squared minus 4 a c and you put the whole thing over
2 times a .. * Cordelia stood up and strode through the lobby into
the outer office. "Pardon me .." she crossed past the redhead's desk
and extended her hand to the startled actress. "Cordelia Chase .. I'm
here to see Mr. Scratch. I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy
your work, Miss Gelman. Kimmy, Protector of the Universe is truly a
pleasure to watch. I love the whole superhero, teenage angst angle."
"Um .. thanks," Sarah Marie Gelman offered her hand politely.
Her skin, though appearing to be tanned and toned, was as cold as ice.
* Bad circulation .. diet pills .. been there, done that .. *
"Mr. Scratch?" Cordelia let go of Sarah's hand quickly and turned to
the short, attractive man at the actresses' side. "I'm Cordelia
Chase. I was referred by Claire Gabriel." She extended her hand to
the talent agent. He studied her for a moment, took her hand and
suavely placed a kiss on the back of her hand. * Tres debonair ..
lips warm, definitely not a vampire .. *
"I'm sorry," Mr. Scratch looked a bit put-off. "I wasn't
aware Ms. Gabriel managed any other talent .."
"Um .. she doesn't," Cordelia replied. "I mean she's not
actually my manager. I'm an acquaintance .. a good acquaintance .. a
friend of her .. um .. daughter .. Stephanie .."
"You mean Gabrielle?" the agent asked, more than a little
puzzled.
"Yes, that's it." * I thought her name was Stephanie! * "It
was actually her husband, Anthony Gabriel who told me to check with
you .."
"I was under the impression Ms. Gabriel and her husband were
separated," Scratch replied.
"Oh, they are .." * This is NOT going well. * "But that has
nothing to do with me. I'm just a friend. I was wondering if maybe
you had a moment .."
"Ms. Gabriel and Gabrielle should be here at any moment."
Scratch looked down at his watch. "We're set to do a test shoot
tonight. I'm sure we'll all have a few moments beforehand to get
together and discuss this."
"Wow, that would be great," Cordelia finally let go of the
agent's hand. "I'm kind of between jobs right now. Nothing major.
Just looking for a new direction. Maybe some pilot work .."
"You certainly do have a nice look," Scratch really seemed to
be admiring Cordelia. "A very nice look. I can already see some
definite possibilities. Can't you, Sarah?"
"With some work," Sarah kind of wrinkled her nose.
"Are you doing anything tonight?" Scratch suddenly asked.
"I've already got a crew booked for Gabrielle. Are you up for a test
shoot?"
"Most definitely," Cordelia almost jumped into one of her
Sunnydale Cheerleading routines. * Calm .. bored .. nothing big ..
aller .. allant .. alle' .. vais .. irai .. * "Whatever you'd like."
"Just one question, Ms. .."
"Chase, Cordelia Chase," she tried to sound as patient and
nonplussed as possible.
"What WON'T you do to become a star, Cordelia?" Scratch asked
with a smirk.
"I don't know the meaning of the word 'won't', Mr. Scratch,"
Cordelia smiled. * Man, that 'Making in Hollywood' book really did
come in handy. * " 'Won't,' 'don't' or 'can't' .."
Scratch nodded with a vague smile. "Very good .." he looked
out into the lobby at the door. "Well, speak of the devil .." he
pushed past Cordelia and entered the lobby. A woman draped in black
wearing black sunglasses and a floppy black Donna Karan hat entered.
The collar of her black blazer was turned up, shielding her entire
face in shadow. A pretty young girl who looked no older than 14 years
old followed her into the lobby. Once the door was closed behind
them, the woman in black pulled down her collar and removed her hat
and sunglasses.
* Okay, now THAT's a vampire, * Cordelia mused to herself. *
FINALLY! Love the ensemble, though. Very attrac .. *
"Claire!" Scratch gushed over the woman in black. "Hello,
Gabrielle," he chucked the pretty young girl playfully on the chin.
"How's my next big star?"
"Great!" the girl responded on cue with the appropriate
bubbliness. "Ready to work."
* Oh, that's good, kid, * Cordelia smiled to herself. * Very
good. *
"You didn't tell me you were managing any more talent,"
Scratch commented to Claire Gabriel as they walked into the outre
office. The woman shot the agent a confused look. "I believe you
know, Ms. .."
"Chase," *Rrrrrgggghhh .. * "Cordelia Chase," Cordelia
extended her hand to Claire, already anticipating the cold, clammy
grip of the undead. * Eww .. No disappointment there. Definitely
slay-worthy .. *
"I'm sorry," Claire Gabriel peered into Cordelia's eyes.
"Have we met?"
Scratch looked at Cordelia curiously.
"I know your husband," Cordelia responded.
"My husband?"
"Actually, we just met .. today .." Cordelia was scrambling.
"I was given his name and address by mistake .. instead of yours. He
told me where he thought I could find you. I'm just soo glad we've
finally gotten the chance to meet."
"I'm sorry, Miss .."
"Chase," Cordelia gritted her teeth. "Cordelia Chase."
"Well, Ms. Chase, I really don't know what you're doing here
or what you could possibly want with me."
"I'm looking for work. A friend told me I should look you up
and maybe you could help me .."
"What friend?"
"It was a casting director. I was auditioning for a .. um ..
commercial. I got beat out by this .. um, but that's not important,"
Cordelia suddenly cut herself short. "I was talking to the director
after the try-out, and he mentioned your name. He said you might be
able to help me. That you had some contacts. I guess I'm looking for
a manager."
"I'm not sure I understand," Claire Gabriel prodded. "Why did
you go to my husband?"
"I have NO idea," Cordelia shrugged her shoulders. "That's
the information I was given. Believe me, I am not HAPPY about it.
I'm just glad I finally found you. I could really use some help
getting some work."
"I'm sorry, but I'm really not handling anyone but Gabrielle
at the moment .."
"Oh," Cordelia looked at Mr. Scratch. "I can still do the
test shoot, though, can't I ..? I mean I AM here, and you did ask .."
Scratch shook his head and smiled at Claire. "Claire,
Cordelia here does seem to possess some of the charms were looking
for. Perhaps, you could take her under your wing for a short while.
We should be able to see if she has what it takes tonight during the
test shoot. What do you say?"
Claire Gabriel turned to Cordelia. "Are you really sure you
know what you're getting into, Ms. Chase? This can be a rather
CUTTHROAT business .."
* Oh, good one vampire lady .. * "You'd be surprised how much
I've already seen in my life, Ms. Gabriel," Cordelia replied. * Back
in Sunnydale, you wouldn't have even rated a trip to the library,
BITCH! * "I'm sure I have what it takes to make it in this business."
"It's settled, then," Scratch smiled and extended his hand.
"Welcome to the family, Ms. Chase," he said as he kissed the back of
Cordelia's hand again. "Now, come on, we have work to do."
Beeeeep! Everyone in the room went for their cell phones.
Beeeeep! Cordelia felt her phone vibrate. "Mine," she announced,
flipped out the receiver and put it to her ear. "Cordelia Chase .."
she answered.
"Where are you?" Angel's voice asked.
"At the offices of H.R. Snuff'n'stuff," Cordelia replied.
"It's a talent agency. I'm in the middle of something, okay ..?"
"You were supposed to be getting information on the name I
gave you .. Anthony Gabriel .." Angel sounded annoyed. "Not
scrounging for work."
"This involves that contact I had .. you know, Claire Gabriel
.." Cordelia tried to sound nonchalant. "I found her here .. with her
daughter .. I'm kind of busy."
Cordelia heard muffled whispers on the other end of the line.
"Cordelia, Doyle says you need to get the hell out of there .. RIGHT
NOW!" Angel emphasized. "Mr. Gabriel was found dead a short while
ago. NECK INJURIES, if you get my drift .."
"Sure do, Fonzi," Cordelia quipped. "But this is a major
agency. I'm standing here with Sarah Marie Gelman! I really can't
just .."
"Cordelia, get out of there now! I am not kidding around
here. NOW!"
"Listen, you are not the boss of me .." she paused. "Okay,
maybe you are, technically, BUT .."
"Cordelia!"
"All right .. I'm leaving .."
"Make sure you aren't followed. Meet me at Mr. Gabriel's home
in Van Nuys. Maybe we can find some answers there ..?"
"Roger, will-co, over and out," Cordelia mocked before she
hung up. "That was my VERY VERY DUMPED boyfriend," she explained to
Mr. Scratch and company. "I can't do the test shoot tonight."
"I thought we didn't know the meaning of the word 'can't',"
Scratch observed.
"I guess we were wrong," Cordelia frowned. * I am going to
KILL Angel. I don't care if he is already dead. One stake to the
back when he's not looking. Poof! *
"You know there aren't many second chances in this business,"
Scratch lectured her.
"That's what they tell me," Cordelia bit her lip.
Don't call us, Ms. Chase, we'll call you," Scratch dismissed
her with a wave.
"Ciao," Cordelia tried to sound upbeat as she headed out into
the lobby. * At least he remembered my name. * She exited into the
twilight and headed towards her car.
"And what do you think that was all about?" Donna asked
Scratch after Cordelia left.
"I don't know," Sarah Marie Gelman spoke for the first time in
minutes. "But that ditz will never work in THIS town." She turned to
Gabrielle and extended her hand to the pretty teen. "Hi, Gabrielle,
I've heard so much about you. I'm .."
"I know who you are," Gabrielle cut her off with an excited
whisper. The teenager was positively shaking when she took Sarah's
hand. The iciness didn't even faze her. She held on and beamed at
the famous young actress. "I watch Kimmy EVERY week .. even the
reruns .."
"And there are plenty of those," Sarah quipped. "Aren't
there?" Gabrielle nodded and laughed. "Hey let's say we go down to
the studio and get into make-up," Sarah smiled. "I can show you some
tricks before we do the shoot."
"You're staying for the shoot?!" Gabrielle looked like she was
about to faint.
"I'm in the shoot, silly," Sarah led her by the hand into the
lobby. "You don't think I'd miss an opportunity to work with H.R.
Snuff'n'stuff's brightest new star .." The pretty TV starlet's voice
drifted down the stairway as Gabrielle followed her.
"Any ideas who Miss Chase might have been?" Scratch asked when
Gabrielle was out of earshot.
"My husband threatened to hire a P.I. to track my movements
with Gabrielle," Claire answered. "He was trying to get custody .. at
least until we LAST SPOKE today."
"You took care of our little problem then?" Scratch asked.
"The professionals you provided were quite thorough," Claire
Gabriel nodded. "A little messy, mind you, but quite thorough."
"Did you secure Gabrielle's birth certificate and the other
papers I asked you to get?" Scratch asked.
"No," she shook her head. "He had them upstairs in a
strongbox. We were just about to get them when we heard sirens. One
of the neighbors must have heard us and called the police. We got out
of there."
"I NEED those papers! No one can know who Gabrielle is or
where she came from. Our entire operation depends upon destroying her
old identity and creating a new one. I told you that!"
"I'm sorry, but I really couldn't see risking an encounter
with the police. That really could have blown your cover."
"I must have those papers!" Scratch hissed. His human form
had suddenly shifted into that of a green, lizard-like demon.
"Don't worry," Claire soothed him, her cold vampire hands
stroking his spiny temples. "The police wouldn't have any reason to
take those papers out of the house. Your men made Anthony's murder
look like just another routine, random act of violence. There's no
way the police could link his death to Gabrielle or me. The strong
box with the papers will still be upstairs in the bedroom. We just
need to send someone out to the house to get it."
"I know just who to dispatch," Scratch snapped open his cell
phone and punched in seven numbers. "They'll retrieve the papers, and
if anyone gets in their way they'll take care of it."
"Are you referring to that dizzy little Nancy Drew that was
just snooping around here?" Claire asked.
"You think she was hired by your husband?" Scratch answered
her with another question.
"Well, she's certainly no ACTRESS," Claire smirked.
"I think you're judging our Miss Chase a little too harshly,
my dear," Scratch grinned. Claire arched her eyebrows and gave the
demon a curious look. "Upon further consideration, it appears we will
be giving Miss Chase a call-back," he cackled.
"A call-back?"
"I think we have the perfect little video project for a nosy
private investigator with perfect cheekbones." The demon paused then
spoke into his cell phone. "Yes .. I have a job for you .." he began.
Claire Gabriel listened as Scratch relayed all the pertinent
information over the phone. A minute later, the demon hung up and
turned back to her.
"I believe it's time we get downstairs and put Gabrielle to
work," he smirked. "I see a bright future for that girl, Claire.
With the proper guidance and direction, we could have another Kimmy,
Protector of the Universe on our hands."
"She'll be bigger than that," Claire assured him. "This
little girl really has something special." She extended her hand
towards the lobby stairwell. "Age before beauty .." she smiled,
following Mr. Scratch into the lobby and down the dark stairwell.