"Prattfall..."

"Prattfall..." Part XV

"Prattfall..."

Disclaimer: Would Joss want his name associated with this? I think not...But anyway all BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series...Though his brother Mort gets nothing...

Archived at the Normalverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse, www.buffyrebecca.com...

Summary: As you know I leave the "Pratt" to the Whedonverse, except for this one little bit...

In early 30's Hollywood Spike offers advice to a distant relative...

Part XV...

"Frankenstein" writers Walthrop and Fort considered their options in Fort's office.  Art and family at...Well, sometimes no other word, however unfortunate is appropriate, Spike thought...Stake...

"The kid actually does admire Whale and wants to be remembered as a creative person in his own right, like Thalberg.  But in the end it all comes down to the bottom line.  And even Laemmle has to answer to Carl Sr...And the banks." Fort noted.

Spike pondered...An image of strangling said old man in his mansion drifting idly through his mind...Fun perhaps, but not the practical solution here.  Hmmn...

"All right then, if the artistic won't fly, why not use the bottom line argument in our favor?  After all, why settle for one Master of Horror when two could be made available?  Allowing the studio to squeeze twice the number of films into the yearly gross.  And even to do combination films pitting the Two Masters of Horror against each other.  After all, this is America and the people love a good fight..."

Perhaps two Masters and a Mistress of Horror?  Though Dru really seemed more into light comedy and possibly straight drama.  And of course she'd probably prefer to sign with Paramount anyway.  Dru having a strong sense of loyalty in her own unique way...

"Double the take...That's a line of argument Laemmle Sr. and Jr. would go for..." Fort nodded.   "And it wouldn't hurt the rest of us to have twice the demand for workers on horror films...The question is, how do we get that point across to our wunderkind Carl?  And get the project back on track minus the Count and his lackey.  Without cutting our own throats for the greater good, please...."

"Would never occur to me..." Spike assured him.

........................................................................................................................................................................

As they reviewed the scenes possible for tomorrow, Dru determined to follow Mr. Lockwood's advice.  A thought occurred to an immediately concerned Frances...

Spike had discussed Margaret with Dru in her presence...As one of those...What, again?...Slayers?

"Not exactly, from what she's told us and what we've sensed in her.  She was once a Slayer but is now a strange sort of hybrid.  Mostly human but different...A unique case..." Dru explained.

"She could be tryin' to fool you..." Frances frowned. "You said Cicely would be back...Maybe she's here right now."

"I would know, Fran.  Both of her Slayer ability and her Cicely nature...At least, I'd sense the danger in her..." Dru shook her head.  "Besides, I happen to know the current Slayer is in Germany and I've no doubt of Margaret's affection for Mr. Pratt.  Believe me, if I thought otherwise, I'd've never agreed to our current arrangement.  And Margaret was here long before Spike and I came..."

"Maybe you or I should knock her off just in case...Better safe than sorry, you know..."

"Fran?...She's Spike's cousin's would-be girl.  I couldn't, he'd be upset with me.  And, if she has still connections to the Council of Watchers killing her could bring the Council's and the Slayer's attention down upon us.  Now, Frances..." Dru eyed her sternly.  "I appreciate your concern but she's no threat to me as yet and I rather like her.  I thought you did too.  She is a very sweet person."