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tion!”
                  Marens stood leaned against the banister, scowling down at the girl with all the annoyance of a drunk woken up too ea r ly. ”What do you want?”
                  ”I’m… sorry. Sorry for... I mean…”
              “What is wrong, Miss?”
              “Don’t you … recognize me?”
              Heavens! She really looks as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, Alison thought.
              “Should I? Don’t play games with me, young lady, I’m a very busy man!”
              “I’m… Camilla… Dad.”
              “Cut!” Alison jumped up. “Okay, Jake, I want a camera close-up on both of them during the last sentence! – Lauren, you’ll go one step ahead, so we get the right angle. … Jake?”
              “Just perfect, Alison! Need some extra light, though! The sun is shielded too much by the branches at this angle!”
              The lighting grips with the bounce reflectors positioned them to catch the sunlight and cast into the shadows. Then they were ready for the second try…
 
    Four hours later, the film crew was ready to gather around the tables and eat.
Vance loaded a double helping of potato salad on his plate and signaled the young Indian helper from the catering se r vice to add two sausages on top.
              “Hey, you won’t fit into your costume anymore, if you keep eating like this,” said Jake, watching him.
              “What – I’m starving!”
              “Perhaps you should eat breakfast instead of two cups of co f fee and three cigarettes!”
              They sat down under one of the sunshades. “You know me; I’m full of bad habits! … And this tastes delicious!” Vance felt good, despite the tiredness. Working gave him a special sort of fulfillment and satisfaction. The worries about his pe r sonal life slipped into the background, at least for a few hours.
              “So, what do you think of our directing dragon?” Jake asked in between two bites.
                  Vance turned his head in Alison’s direction. She sat alone, in front of her Vegan menu, iPhone next to her and a b sorbed in her thoughts. He leaned in to his friend. “Well, as you said: she’s a pe r fectionist and a workaholic. I bet she can be a real pain in the ass for some people.”
              Jake grinned. “I heard rumors that that was the real re a son Barnes turned down her offer! You know he was su p posed to play your part…”
              “And my agent thought I might be the right choice to defy her?!”
                  “You’re a perfectionist, too, Vance!”
                  Vance’s eyebrows rose for a second. “You should try the salad, Jake. We’re probably gonna work until midnight…”

 
     
    The day was supposed to begin with the shooting of scene 23, a meeting between Thabo alias Louis and Lauren alias Camilla. Until now the crew had struggled to set up dollies and spotlights.
                  “What are you doing with those cables over there? You can’t leave them there, guys, or we’ll have them right in the picture!” Jake Bertoni yelled.
              Alison looked to Thabo where the makeup team put on the finishing touches of his makeup. Lauren Bastian took the opport u nity to sit down for a moment to watch Vance, who waited for his turn, dozing in a chair. It was midday and very hot, so he had disposed of his jacket and rolled up his sleeves.
              “Lauren, are you ready?” Alison did not miss how Lauren was eyeing Vance. Little bitch – if she could, she would just go and undress him right here! “Lauren? Up in position!” Al i son clapped her hands, and the young