3. Just Like in the Movies

Chapter Two

Joe drove back to Marblehead. “You know, I think I’d like to take one of those tours they offer. Cameron’s an army brat who has traveled all over the world.”

“I knew you two would like each other. You’ll like Nash too.”

“You realize you won’t be getting close. I mean there will be barricades, police, or some sort of security.”

“That’s why Maria’s calling Nash.”

“Sneaky.” 

They parked at Stargazers and decided to walk. It was about five blocks, but it had turned into a beautiful late spring day, only a few puddles still around.  Joe saw the man first, he was signing autographs for the crowd blocked by the barricade. He talked to them and smiled, then sidestepped both them and the police officer and strode across the street toward Casi.

He had his arms wide open. “Cassandra, you are a sight for sore eyes.” He hugged her for a long moment, then let go. “No wires.”

Casi turned red. “I got the braces off a long time ago.”

“I remember we tried to see if our braces would really lock together.”

Joe cleared his throat. Loudly. Nash’s grin widened. “You must be the husband.” He held out a hand and narrowed his eyes. “Nash Caldwell.”

Joe wondered at the look. “Joe.”

“We’re just about to shoot an exciting scene, it’s much later in the movie but it takes place right in front of the B & B, so why don’t you watch?”

Joe nodded, knowing he was falling into the trap of acting like the jealous husband, but he took his wife’s arm as they followed Nash past trailers and tents. Casi waited until Nash had turned around and slapped Joe’s hand but he didn’t move it. He just gave her a look. She grunted and stuck her tongue out at him. “Oh, that’s mature.”

“You have no room to talk.”

Nash came over to them. “Unfortunately, Eddie Moss is a nervous creature and I can’t do the scene myself. I’ll introduce my stunt double after the scene.”

The director was talking to a man who looked like he might be Portuguese or Spanish, then shifted to another man who from the back could have passed for Nash.

It took about twenty minutes to work through the scene. Nash’s character was being chased by another main character who wanted the heroine for himself. He was supposed to shoot Nash’s character in the shoulder.

Casi watched someone attach a small pouch to the stunt double’s shoulder. It was called a squib and had a small amount of fake blood and a means to make the blood spew, to make it look like he’d been shot. She only knew that because she loved watching the behind-the-scenes type of documentaries on her favorite TV shows and movies. She also knew that sometimes really big, city-destroying explosions were usually done in miniature, like the exploding White House scene in Independence Day.

It was another fifteen minutes and she found herself getting a bit impatient. Was this what it was like to make a movie. She glanced at Joe, but he was still and quiet. Then she thought of her sons. She didn’t see them anywhere. It was starting to bother her. It had been weeks since they’d gone to that amusement park and she knew all the culprits had been caught but she still felt unsettled.

For all the lead-up time and the waiting, from the moment the director yelled, things moved quickly, “Quiet on set. Roll camera.” 

The two stunt doubles came from off-screen, Nash’s double running past the bed and breakfast. He turned halfway to see if the man was still chasing him. The gun went off and the double went down. From the walk-throughs, she knew the man was supposed to get to his feet and reveal he had his own gun. But the double didn’t move.