HELL OF A DEAL, a supernatural satire

Twenty Six

26

Terra: Earth Under Terror began production in Toronto. The American extras were played by Canadians. The cameras, lights and props were Canadian also. It was cheaper that way.

Al said farewell to Ashlyn at the airport terminal. Deep down he was afraid for her. He warned her not to get too close to Lou or to Katya. Al stressed repeatedly how she shouldn't trust them and that they were to be avoided whenever possible. Al also knew that this was an impossible situation for Ashlyn, that Lou had complete and unquestioned control of the film.

Al received dailies digitally, and he watched them alone in his sanctuary. He scanned quickly through them, and he searched for a glimpse of Ashlyn.

She and Zane looked incredible together. Zane was a handsome bastard. Ashlyn seemed vulnerable and innocent, a petite waif next to the steroid-enhanced pretty boy.

Al sensed the chemistry between them. He could see that Ashlyn was made for the movies. He knew she would go on to greatness, and the public would eat her up with a spoon.

Al despised Zane for kissing her, for being next to her and especially for what was destined to happen as per the Terra script. Al felt so deeply the fear of what would befall Ashlyn next that he turned off the screen, and he moved on to the drudgery of the workday. He refused to watch any more of the Terra dailies, unsure if he could take it.

Working on his elliptical cross trainer Smith flicked past the cable TV stations. Louis Seaford granted a televised interview from the set of the film. Al lowered his own music, and he turned up the interview.

The Canadian newsgirl asked, "It's some kind of mystery, but can you give us a hint what the movie's about?"

"Of course." Lou sipped his coffee, and he checked his watch. "It's a heartfelt call to defend our way of life."

The young woman nodded. "It's about the 'War on Terror' isn't it?"

"Well, we all know that Asia is filled with 'terrorists.' So, we show their type of thinking taken to its logical conclusions."

"Sounds pretty deep."

"Well thank you. Just doing my little part for the cause."

Al turned off the gibberish, disgusted. He made a decision to ignore Terra and to seek out a better project. Al wanted something that could counter the ill effects of Lou's monstrosity. He needed to feel better about the kinds of films they churned out at The Smith Company.

Al received a phone call in the middle of the night. He awoke in bed, and he grabbed for his cell phone. "This is, ...Al."

Distressed sniffles and confused breaths crackled from the other end of the phone connection. "Al?"

"Ashlyn?"

"I'm, I'm in a hospital."

"What's the matter? What are you doing in the hospital?"

"I tried to go home on a plane, but the airport made me come here."

"What happened Ashlyn? Are you okay?"

"I guess you were right."

"What did they do to you?"

"I guess I'll get better." She dropped the phone to the floor.

"Ashlyn! Ashlyn!"

She had passed out from a combination of painkillers and head trauma.

Al frantically found a line back to the Toronto hospital. He wrote the address, and he sped off for the airport without even brushing his teeth. Toronto on the next available flight, he arranged a limousine by air-phone to spirit him to the hospital. He arrived at daybreak.