That's Show Biz
Sundown
Once there was a guy called Steelie McMath. He wanted to impress this
girl Leslie who couldn't see him for dust. So he got her a fake online
degree and entered himself into some kind of contest he called a
"tourny" hoping to win her hand.
He won a film and recording studio instead!
Maneisha McCarthy entered the same tourny and tied with Steelie for
the win. So they agreed to work together to make it work.
The first thing they had to do was name it.
"What shall we call this film studio here?" asked Steelie. "I was
thinking Jam Wit Me might attract the musicians."
"It might, but what about the actors, and sound and lighting people?"
Steelie shrugged, closed his eyes and tapped his head, stumped.
"I have it!" Maneisha suddenly declared, startling Steelie out of his
deep concentration. "Let's call it Good Times Roll! That will attract
anybody and everybody in the music and film racket, or hoping to get
in!"
They soon had a lot of aspiring actors and musicians flocking to the
studio, hopeful they would make it big and become famous. One of the
most impressive as far as Steelie was concerned, was Sherry Heath, who
could really bust a move.
It wasn't long before they had enough talent to begin work on their
first production. Sherry was pleased to have a dance number included
and she was even happier to learn that the number included a section
that was to be a short duet with Mike, who was the dashing young male
main character in the movie.
trouble started when three new girls showed up, looking to get into
the action and secure their own fame and fortune.
Lily Gannaway, Nuala Alexander and Savanna Terk had worked briefly on
a project at Muriel Berggren's Electronic Jamz studio. But Berggren
had been a rather unpredictable and difficult person to work with, and
she had canceled their recording sessions and shoots several times
without prior notice.
Lily figured perhaps it was due to some kind of personal problems, but
Savanna just dismissed it as Berggren being a little crazy. Nuala
wasn't interested in speculating about the cause of Berggren's
mercurial temperment, she was only interested in becoming a star, and
had proved to have quite an attitude of her own at times.
So, when they did some checking and found that a new studio called
Good Times Roll was looking for musicians and actors, all three left
Electronic Jamz to try their luck at the new studio.
Steelie McMath welcomed them in and said that several roles had not
yet been filled for the latest production.
"I want to have the leading lady's part!" Nuala exulted excitedly.
"Hey, Who are you kidding, Nuala?" asked Savanna, "You'd have to be an
elf, and whoever heard of an elf in the lead?"
"That's all you know!" Nuala shot back.
"Girls, please!" Steelie interposed. Deciding to avoid picking either
of the two quarreling girls for the coveted role, he turned to the
third who had been quiet up until now. "Lily, is it?"
"Yes."
"You have the appearance Maneisha and I have been looking for as the
leading lady, or as close to it as any have come. How are you at
memorizing lines, singing, a little dancing, and what if any
instruments do you play?"
"I can sing, I can dance, and I play the aightmaman, I learned that a
year ago."
"If you can bring that to the studio, I may be able to include a
sample of your playing ability in the movie."
"Aw, too bad, Nuala," Savanna sniped. "Mr. McMath, sir, do you need an
antagonist to the leading lady?"
"No, Savanna, Sherry Heath already has that role.
"Man, that's sick." Savanna sulked.
"Noella," Steelie turned to the girl who was apparently Savanna's
worst enemy at the time.
"It's Nuala," she corrected him. "So, if for any reason Lily or Sherry
can't play their roles, would you still consider me as a replacement?
I would work really hard at it, I promise you! Please, give me a
chance!"
"Nuala," Steelie said, "Please accept my apology for mispronouncing
your name."
At that moment, Maneisha McCarthy came out of one of the other rooms
to talk with Steelie in the main part of the studio. "Steelie, did you
say that Alexis was coming by today or tomorrow with the Yedred
props?"
"Tomorrow. And Maneisha, how about taking this young lady," he
indicated Lily Gannaway, "to do a screen test? She sure looks the part
of the heroine in Yedred, don't you think?"
Maneisha looked at her. "Yes, she does!" she smiled broadly. "All
right, Lily, let's go and see about getting you into the movies."
"Yes!" Lily agreed enthusiastically, and she went away into another
part of the studio with Maneisha.
"Now, Nuala," Steelie resumed, "How are you at villainy?"
She stared at him, "Huh?"
"Can you give me a hideous grin and evil laugh?"
Nuala grinned her most malevolent grin and began with a soft but
wicked chuckle. It turned into a maniacal giggle, and finally into an
evil chortle.
"Wonderful!" Steelie exclaimed with a slight shudder. "If you can do
that, and are fine with memorizing lines and being as evil as you
possibly can, you'll get an even larger opposition role to Lilly's in
"The Boiling Waters of Yedred."
"Oh, my!" Nuala exclaimed. "I'm makin it now!"
Savanna gave Steelie a deprived look.
"I'm sorry, Savanna," he said, "I don't think there's something for
you in this movie, however, if you are any good at dancing, Sherry
Heath is working on several videos, and she might need extras."
"That's all I am?" Savanna muttered, "An extra?"
At that point, Mike and Sherry came out of their session.
"I guess we'll call it a good day," Sherry laughed."
"Yeah, and hope for the same tomorrow." Mike agreed.
"Oh, my!" Nuala and Savanna both gawked at Mike, how they wished they
could have been Sherry!
"Mike, you might want to stick around for a bit," Steelie said, "We
may have found someone to play the leading lady in "Yedred."
"Cool," then Mike saw Nuala and Savanna, and shrugged. He looked back
at Steelie, imploring him silently as if to say "Not these two, I
hope."
"Lily is taking her screen test right now as we speak." Steelie
continued.
Mike appeared relieved.
"But I can dance," Savanna piped up, "So if you need anybody for your
other projects...?"
""I'll give it some thought." Mike mumbled.
"Actually, she might fit the bill for a video I'm just getting
started," said Sherry.
"Me too!" Nuala put in. "I was just telling Mr. McMath here that I can
dance, sing, act, and play the xelllent and am looking to jam with
somebody, Mike, do you play an instrument?"
"Augh!" Savanna growled, rolling her eyes at Nuala.
"Drums, but they're pretty loud, probably too much for you."
"Drums! Ooooooh! Well, that's cool, I can give you my number and
email, and we can maybe jam some time!"
"Uh, yeah..."
"Looks like I'm in!" Lily came hurrying out from her audition and
screen test.
Steelie introduced Lily to Mike, and asked Maneisha to take Nuala in
for her screen test next.
"Oh my, it's been nice chatting with you Mike, but I'll be late for my
test!" Nuala flashed him a grin, "Jam wit me soon, kay?"
"Yeah, sure, good - luck."
"Break a leg, Nuala, break a mirror or two while you're at it."
Savanna sniped.
Sherry snickered.
"Steelie's cell phone rang.
"Good afternoon, Good times Roll Studio, Steelie McMath speaking--
what? Slow down. What's this?" There was a pause, and then, "You're
kidding!" Another long pause, and then, "Unbelievable! Well, we'll
just have to put the production off until you can get another one...
- ... Yes, I understand - don't worry, it wasn't your fault...It might
cost less to get another one than send this one back for
repairs...Okay Junelle, thanks so much for letting me know. I'm sorry
this happened...All right, all right, thanks...Keep in touch. Buh-bye
now."
Steelie hung up and looked around, stunned.
In the mean time, Nuala had impressed Maneisha with her dramatic
acting abilities...Enough to get her a role in the new movie.
She was eccstatic until Maneisha told her what that role would be.
"yertkmy is in a way, the most important character. Without her, the
story simply could not take place."
"Who?" Nuala asked, not expecting to play a character with such an odd
name.
"yertkmy; the one behind the very title of the story itself, 'The
Boiling Waters of Yedred'" Maneisha replied in the smoothest, most
alluring tone she could manage. "She is a yashyipo, a creature with
deep, magical powers. She controls the waters that run throughout the
land of Yedred, and can cause them to boil up so severely that the
floods set the landscape on fire...All to get back what she believes
is rightfully hers."
"So, she's a - what?" Nuala asked.
"A yashyipo. It's Yedred's version of the dark elf, or drow, if you
will. It looks like an elf and dwarf all in one, a very cute one,
though, this character is unlike other villains in that she is
actually very cute as well as mysterious, and very intense when she
does allow her emotions to show.""
Nuala had to think hard about this. It had stung when Savanna called
her an elf back there, but then again, wouldn't it be a kick in the
pants if Nuala had gotten a part, as well as proved Savanna wrong
about an elf not being in any sort of main part of the movie? Besides,
getting to play a character with nifty powers appealed to her.
"You got yourself a yashyipo." she finally said.
"Good! Let's go out and let Steelie know."
But when Maneisha and Nuala returned to Steelie and the others, they
were all in for an unpleasant setback as Steelie had to inform them
their props were not arriving tomorrow after all, due to a fire.
Sundown
"Who would be stupid enough to set fire to a bunch of stage props?"
Savanna was really venting more than asking anything specific, and she
wanted Mr. McMath and Ms. McCarthy to be impressed with her show of
passion.
"Probably somebody who has access to that kind of equipment and is
bitter about not getting a part or a good reception as a movie actor,
producer, director, could be anything." Mike offered.
"Look at it this way," Steelie suggested, "While we're waiting for the
damaged prop replacement shipment, it will give you plenty of time to
know your parts, or work on other things if you are not in the Yedred
production."
"Steelie's right, this is no time to despair." Maneisha added with a
smile. "Why don't you two sit tight while I print out scripts," she
said to Lily and Nuala, "And you three," she indicated Mike, Sherry
and Savanna, "call it a day or see what you can put together,"
"I'm for calling it a day," Mike said, needing some excuse to get away
from Savanna and Nuala's hungry stares.
"Yeah, we worked pretty hard on that video didn't we?" Sherry grinned,
"Well, I'm outy then, Mike, Steelie, I'll give you guys a ringaling
soon otay?"
"Sure thing, Sher, I gotta be going too." said Mike. He stood up and
joined Sherry at the entrance.
"Laters!" they both called out, and after a few moments, the door
shut.
Ohhhh," Savanna and Nuala sighed in unison, gazing at the door as if
their looks could will Mike to come walking back in through it.
"I've gotta run!" Savanna suddenly jumped up and raced for the door.
"Me too!" Nuala quickly followed suit.
Soon, both girls were struggling with the door, each determined to
beat the other out, each with the same ambition, to subtly follow Mike
home.
Once the girls managed to crowd each other out the door and had raced
to their respective vehicles, Steelie and Maneisha looked at each
other and burst out laughing.
In the days that followed, the making of "The Boiling Waters of
Yedred" was well underway, and Mike and Sherry finished up the number
they were working on for that show. This meant they could work on
their scripts and get Savanna started on some other video.
But when Savanna tried out, her twisting and yelling didn't exactly
pass for dancing and singing as far as Mike was concerned.
"Hold it!" he shouted above the racket that was both the music Sherry
had put on, and Savanna's yelling. "HOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLDDDDDDDDDD
IT!"
Sherry killed the music, but Savanna took a few more notes to stop and
realize something was wrong. She looked stupidly at Sherry. "Huh? Is
something the matter with the sound system?"
Mike and Sherry looked at each other and laughed.
"No, Savanna, it's just that, well...That isn't exactly the style I'm
looking for in this number." said Mike.
"Oh, sorry, please give me another chance? I'll try something
different."
Sure enough, when the music was turned on again, Savanna toned the
performance down quite a bit.
This time, Mike and Sherry were more receptive.
"Hey, why don't we go to my place and work out more of the specifics
of this number? That way we're not taking up time and space here at
the studio unnecessarily." Mike suggested.
"Oh, right," said Sherry, "I think Steelie said that Alexis Sabry and
Dorie Chabot were going to jam in here with their cool band Deafly
Sound today or tomorrow anyway.
Okay then, let's head." Mike smiled.
"Sure!" Savanna exulted.
Nuala was out taking a break from the film, Steelie was also taking a
break from phone calls and paper and computer work.
Nuala took an orange out of her lunch bag. "Orange, yum!" she purred.
Steelie had apparently cooked something in a little toaster oven that
was situated somewhere out of the way and out of view. He had gone to
get whatever it was and now returned to his desk to eat.
On his plate were several slices of something that looked like they
might be banana,but Nuala couldn't be sure.
"What's that, Mr. McMath?"
"Grilled monkeys." he replied.
"Huh!?" Nuala's eyes went wide.
Steelie chuckled. "Toasted banana slices with a little whipped cream
on top and a couple of chocolate chips for eyes." he explained. "Mmmmm-
hmmmmm."
Nuala shrugged. "If you say so,"
"Steelie, Mike and I are going--"
Sherry was interupted by Savanna, "And me!"
"And Savanna," she continued, "are heading out to Mike's to work on
that new number with Savanna, so if Deafly Sound is coming in today,
the place is all theirs."
"They're coming tomorrow, but thanks, Sherry."
"Oh, you're having that fried banana thing?" Mike said, looking at
Steelie's plate.
Steelie nodded. "Toasted, actually."
"Toasted bananas? Ewww." said Savanna.
"Enjoy your grilled monkeys, Steelie," Sherry grinned.
"That's what it's called?" asked Savanna.
"Mm-hmm." Steelie replied, grinning back. "It's all right if you don't
want any, all the more for me."
"Go for it, Steelie." said Mike with a chuckle. "C'mon, gals."
Nuala didn't take off after Mike and the others, but decided to bide
her time. She had obtained his address when she had trailed him at a
good distance days before. Now she would finish up here, and try to
crash their little party later.
An hour and a half later, Nuala was out casing Mike's place. Sherry
and Savanna's vehicles were still there, and there seemed to be quite
a party going on inside.
"Argh! Why wasn't I invited!?" Nuala fumed. "Well, I'll just fix
them!"
She walked up to the door and rang the bell.
Mike answered, and not really feeling like he had much choice, he let
Nuala in.
"What's she doing here?" Savanna demanded in a tone that suggested
both jealousy and contempt.
"Oh, just great." Mike muttered to himself. Aloud he said, "I meant to
invite Nuala and Lily as well, but Lily must not be able to make it."
"Good cover." Sherry said inwardly, grinning at Mike.
Nuala was surprised, she had half expected Savanna to lose her cool,
and for Mike to throw them both out for making a scene. But Mike
pretending to have invited her, that was smooth. So, she continued the
act. "Sorry I was so late, I had a few things to take care of back at
the studio."
Savanna just glared at her. First Nuala got the part of the main
antagonist in a film feature, and Savanna was not going to let her
worm her way into Mike and Sherry's video.
Sherry brought out a punch bowl and Mike brought out a variety of
snacks. They had already worked on their video with Savanna, so Nuala
had actually arrived just in time for the party itself.
Soon, everyone was munching on chips, cookies, cheese and crackers,
and Mike said he felt like ordering something in. "So, what should I
get, pizza, Chinese, KFC?"
"Pizza!" Savanna shouted.
"Chinese!" Nuala shouted a fraction of a second later.
"Let's get East Indian," said Sherry, hoping to stop the two girls
from turning this into a scene.
"No way, that stuff's too hot!" Savanna moaned.
"We're getting KFC then," said Mike.
"I hate KFC!" Savanna complained.
"Well no wonder, considering you're a turkey, Terk, too closely
related to their food I guess." Nuala sniped.
Why you!"
"Nevermind," Mike rolled his eyes, "Let's just have grilled monkeys
then."
All the girls groaned in displeasure at the thought of Steelies famous
toasted banana snack.
"I think we should go with Chinese," said Sherry, "There's a lot to
choose from that way, so, something for everyone.
"I think you're right. Okay, Chinese it is." said Mike.
"But this was my video!" Savanna whined, "I should be the one to
decide!"
"Well, if you made it a little easier,but you've protested everything
that's been suggested so far." said Sherry.
"Not pizza!" Savanna countered.
"Then go ahead and order yourself a pizza if you want," said Mike.
So, Savanna did just that.
Then, Mike ordered chinese food.
Once that was settled, Mike and Sherry excused themselves for a few
moments, leaving Nuala and Savanna alone in the front room.
"Why do you have to go and ruin everything?" Savanna hissed.
"Hey, it isn't my fault Ms. McCarthy gave me that part in the movie,
what is your problem, Savanna?" Nuala fired back.
"First the movie, now you're trying to horn in and crowd me out of
Mike's video! You really are pathetic!"
"It seems you're the only one who thinks so, Savanna." came the cool
reply.
"Oh yeah? You didn't see Mike rolling his eyes when you came barging
in here!"
"Wow, Savanna, you've really got it bad. I didn't barge in, I was let
in."
"Yeah, like the dog or the cat!" Savanna spat coldly. "I - was
invited!"
Nuala huffed. "The way you carried on at the studio, what other choice
did Mike have? You were about to blow a number of fuzes and gaskets in
there when he and Sherry were about to leave, he was just being nice
and trying to avoid a scene!"
"No! He loves ME! That's why I'm in his video!" Savanna raised her
voice.
"And you call me pathetic!" Nuala taunted. "Grow up!"
"Practice what you preach, you dimwitted little elf!"
"Well," Nuala retorted coolly, "At least that's better than being a
turkey, Terk!"
"Don't you call me that againn!" Savanna shouted, and threw a punch at
Nuala.
Nuala gave back as good as she got.
Mike and Sherry had retreated into the basement to talk.
"I didn't know you invited Nuala here," said Sherry.
"I didn't either," Mike said, shrugging his shoulders. "I just wish I
knew how to get rid of them both before they tear the house down. "The
pizza delivery should be here in about another 20 minutes, and I have
to go pick up our Chinese food."
"And the idea of them here alone while you're gone - " Sherry
speculated.
"Yes." Mike said. "On the one hand, if I leave, maybe they'll stop
fighting. On the other hand, I could send one of them out to pick up
the food."
"Or both." Sherry suggested.
They could hear raised voices and stomping from above, and knew the
two girls were really going at it.
"No, I'll go get the Chinese food." Sherry volunteered.
Then, "CRASH!"
"What was that!" Sherry exclaimed.
"Oh, that's beautiful, Savanna, what other tricks can you do!?"
"Look who's talking!" Savanna shot back.
A louder crash that seemed to be accompanied by the sound of something
being spilled.
"What in hats for bats are they doing!?" Mike shouted.
Both Mike and Sherry dashed up the stairs and into the front room.
"Dang mangit!!" Mike roared when he took in the sight of his living
room.
The punch bowl had been upset, so had a recently watered plant,
several cds had been knocked off a table, and both Nuala and Savanna
stood gaping at the mess they had made of Mike's carpet!
"Okay, that's it, you two, help me clean up this mess you made! Then,
out, OUT - OOOOOOUUUUUUTTTTTT!!" Mike was just seething.
Everyone did their best, but Mike was going to have the carpet
cleaners come in, and even then, he wasn't sure his beautiful carpet
would be restored to its former glory.
The pizza delivery arrived, and Mike told Savanna she could leave and
take her pizza with her, or stay to help with the clean up, because
now the party was officially over.
"I'll get you for this, Nuala!" Savanna raged on her way out, "I'll
get you if it's the last thing I do!"