The Dolenz Circus: Season One: It's Great, It's Terrific!

Episode 17 : I Put a Spell on You

  The first thing Jimmy should have heard when he came into the backstage was Micky's address to the crowd, thanking them for coming to the show. He should have heard the little monologue about the great, terrific, best show on earth, and then about how there would be a show tomorrow. But Page never heard any of that. He kept on hearing applause, but now, it was from the flash mob of his cast mates.

  "'Ey, then! Knew you could pull it off, Page." Waters was the first to nod his head in approval. "Gripped them by the hair, quite extravagant."

  Next to him, David Gilmour smiled and winked. "Good job, Jimmy. You did wonderful."

  "Jimmy! By cor- you did all that from just a piffy little twig?" The smallest clown grinned at him. Davy Jones still had grease paint still all over his face. "I should get me one of them wands, then- have everybody lining up for some smoke and a rabbit trick."

  A sandy sort of blond head behind the clown Jones pointed to Jimmy's hat. "You put the rabbit in the right way down, didn't you? You know they hate being put in there upside wrong..."

  Around this time was when Jimmy realized he was unable to figure out what everyone was saying, because so many people started to talk to him all at once. It was mayhem, seeing all these foreign and semi-acquainted faces, having them all speak to you in a cacophony of praise. Jimmy didn't know what to say, and if he did, he felt like his throat wouldn't let his voice out if he tried.

  At the same time, Jimmy felt completely ecstatic with himself. He was flushed and giddy, unbelieving that he had actually performed with the same company he had seen as a child, the show he had only dreamed of being in.

  It was impossible to keep a grin off his face, and a part of him wanted to jump in with everyone, revel in the accomplishment. But Jimmy was more rational than that. He was about to try and calm some people down when he felt that horrible, odd sensation of his skin prickling.

  As soon as he looked up, his gaze met the squinting, scrutinizing stare of David Coverdale. The two looked at each other for no more than five seconds. But it was such a strained, cold stare that it made Page's gut churn and his body freeze up. He felt like a deer in the center of a hunter's cross hairs, and all the previous swelling of pride he had just seconds before washed away.

  "Hey, Jimmy!" Came a louder voice with the authority granted to it by the rest of the show. "That was spectacular- I just knew you'd be a hit- They were calling for an encore, y'know!"

  Page was never so glad to have Micky's hand slapping on his shoulder.

  "Oh, really?" Jimmy asked, and looked out to the flap. He wasn't prepared for anything like that. What tricks could he do for-

  "Nah, nah, don't worry about that- I have 'em all heading out." The ringmaster steered Jimmy back into place. "You can perform again tomorrow night, now that you're on schedule. But you did great out there."

  Jimmy was happy to hear this. But it did not stop him from looking over and watching David Coverdale slip out of the backstage. He was walking toward the train.

  "Ah, Micky," Page blurted in Micky's ear. "Did Spector watch the show?"

  The Dolenz's face went a sort of blank. "Oh, I dunno, Jimmy." Then he looked around at the faces. "Anyone seen Phil?"

  There were lots of head shakes.

  "Bet he knew to stay clear t'night, lest he blew a gasket." Barked the tallest clown, whose name Jimmy could hardly recall.

  Then a shorter head popped up, and Jimmy recognized the boy by his face and by his white apron. "I haven't seen him in the midway all day, Micky." Tommy Bolin spoke.