The Gemini

52 - Cream

May 21, 1991

Jody's heels clicked against the shiny floor of Union Station as she walked back to her starting point. Decked and sexy in pure white, she was. The top was cute, but these glossy pants fit like a second skin and she never wanted to take them off.

That fondness didn't extend to the styling of her hair though. It was formed into a bouffant that she didn't favor whatsoever, but it's what Prince envisioned. Almost all of the women on set wore some variation of it or something equally dramatic.

Whatever. She still looked good. There were enough thirsty eyes on her as proof. She stood here waiting for action to be called again....for the fifth time. It wasn't her fault though. Jody knew exactly what she was doing even though it wasn't what she was initially supposed to do.

Cream. The planned second single of the yet to be released album Diamonds and Pearls. Today its video is being filmed and on a grand scale. Prince wanted to come back with a bang and show the world his new image, introduce his New Power Generation, and reintroduce the woman that would soon be his wife.

As sweet as it may sound, the process getting Jody to this point was the complete opposite.

She was supposed to head a troupe of dancing clones that would parade around His Majesty and his two gems, but Jody never showed up for rehearsals. Not because she didn't want to, but because she either kept being late or held up altogether due to her own job. A job that Roger belittled during one of his annoyed fits.

"Sean told me you were late again."

"Yes, I was."

Displeased, "Let me guess..."

"I called and told him that there was a delay and the taping was gonna run a few minutes longer."

"Don't call, just show up on time."

"How? What was I supposed to do, walk off set?"

"Every time I ask you to do something, the first thing that comes out of your mouth is something about that stupid show. It's not going to be there forever. I'm trying to give you something to stand on."

Scoffing, "Who says it won't? You think I can't fend for myself? If anything it'll be another job I won't have because of you."

"You keep on and you won't have anything."

"Excuse me? What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means if you're going to show up late, don't bother showing up at all. You're only wasting mine and everyone else's time."

"I'm doing the best I can, you're not the only one with a busy schedule. And I'm not one of your little band members, so I'd appreciate if you don't talk to me like that."

"Do better and I won't have to."

"You know what, find another fucking dancer then."

And he did.

Jody was removed from the routine. Four days later Roger handed her a two page dialog and simply said, "Memorize this."

And she did.

He had a new part created for her. She guessed that there was an apology somewhere in there because now, instead of meshing into a group of fifteen, she was opening the video in a scene that would introduce him. Another change came when the skit was cut in half. Unbothered, Jody looked over it. Just like she ignored the fact that she was technically playing a bimbo.