Chapter 14 - the Operation

   When the universe wants something? It doesn't screw around. It lets you know. It doesn't knock on the door, it leans on the doorbell. The universe works through karma. You get chance after chance, to decide for yourself. As a prospective agent for good karma? I once had chance after chance upon chance… to let it go. To let everyone else handle things, and be kept from it. I didn't. If everyone else could go through all this effort? My part was small, how could I say no. And that's how you start out. Hey. I'll do my part. You don't have to, they make sure you know that. But? Okay.

   You have to want it. The karma agency doesn't want people forced into it. People coerced or forced? Just do what they have to do, and skedaddle. But when you want to be there? You give it your best shot. You try. You'll accept more risk. You'll give more. I know I did.

   Wiz always said it. When you're in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing? You can just tell. There's no more of that salmon swimming upstream thing. No more of a sailboat captain, doing the zigzag of tacking. Sailing ten steps sideways, to gain one small step forwards, and going on in that fashion. When its all lined up, when you do what the universe is asking? The wind takes your sails, it puffs up firm and you just go full steam ahead. You're a salmon who turned around, and gets to swim with the current. Your energy, gets added to the existing energy. You go twice as fast. Twice as easily, too.

   I'm seeing that. Little Lightning? Is scared of all this. And that's healthy and normal. A monster she once escaped from? Has found her and tracked her down. The monster is back, and he's knocking on her door, trying to get in. Yeah. Its scary. And the worst monsters? Are very real. You're not a kid anymore, and there's no covers to hide under. She's rightfully terrified.

   But now? A way to fight back has presented itself. Monsters can be taken out. There's silver bullets, there's wooden stakes you can drive into their hearts. There's also?

   Other good monsters that will devour them and shit them out.

   Light jumped in with both feet, when presented with the idea. Hell, we all did. The boys, being Panic and JG… made a little presentation. They unveiled?

   Operation: Spoiled Cunt.

   Me, Lightning, Elise. We sat there. Was this a joke? Were they serious? It didn't seem to be a joke, although those two, well… presented it with great sarcasm and humor. You quickly realized, it was very serious. Dead serious.

   The more they explained it, the more sense it made. Elise approved. She had told them, you need to do something. Here it was. Little Lightning raised her hand, and JG humorously pointed with his dry erase marker, and said "yes…"

   "Question. I already know it. I'm the bait. Who exactly is the unlucky boyfriend that has to put up with such a spoiled cunt."

   JG pointed at Panic. And yeah, we all clapped and laughed.

   This was good, this was right. This was what it had felt like, way back when. When the way forwards had been figured out, and everyone was on board and knew it was the way to go. No more nervous laughter, the laughter is genuine. The camaraderie is back, the team is a team again.

   Everyone jumped in with both feet. Little Lightning, went to her work. Her main cutter, did she mind taking charge of the work they were on temporarily? Not at all. The new junior cutter. Did she want a little more work now. She was doing fine. What underling doesn't want told they worked out, and can now move up and help more.

   She divorced herself from work, and let them take over editing what they were on. She explained it. Paid by the minute of finished work? They could do as little or as much work as they felt like it. There was no way to cheat, and get hours for not being at work when the boss was away. There were finished minutes. The logs show who worked on which minute.

   Lightning explained to us, her own little class.

   "I didn't know what I was for a long time. My title was… media manager. I started out as an editor. A cutter. After long enough? You do more. We make mainly small training films. When you see high school movies in class? Could be us. You see some god awful training film at work? Say, a safety film. We do those, too. I do it for myself now, but… its the same thing."

   "When I went from cutter to media manager? I still cut, but... I manage other stuff. Client has their idea. What they want. I would rough up something to give them a really rough idea. Like… a charcoal sketch, before the painting gets going. They okay the rough out? The media manager goes and finds people that do all the… stuff to get the raw footage. You get a budget. You need a director, maybe a writer. Camera, lights, whatever you need. Actors, too. Yeah, there's real actors playing in those training films. Are they the best actors you ever saw, starring in Hollywood movies? No. Some of them, though… are actually pretty good."

   We pointed out that she was the "actor".

   "Yeah. I was a dancer? Not an actor. But… you guys want this to be professional. We're not trying to make a whole film. We want, what? A couple minutes at the most. All the time, all the money, all the practicing? Go into that minute or two of… performance. We only have to pull off a one or two minute… spoiled cunt argument fight. And? The more spoiled the cunt is, the more it makes the alley asshole buy into it."

   We asked where she was going with all this.

   "They never told me, media manager? That was my title. I didn't know I was actually a producer. Clients tell you and you figure it out over the years. I was meeting and hiring the director. Seeing the actors picked. Going between the workers, and the client. Making sure they were happy how it was going. Then? We edit hours of all the raw camera footage down to how many minutes of film. Its what I do now, on my own. I'm a producer of films? I'm just… doing training films for high schools instead of movies."

   We prodded her.

   "Duh. We want… a one or two minute scene. And unfortunately, I can't hire you an actor. I'm going to go, and get an out of work training film director. And a… acting coach, basically. They'll think? Whatever we tell them. Honestly? We tell them, its for a commercial. For… a phone case company. But they don't worry about anything else? They're job is just to get that one or two minute fight down perfect."

   JG was curious.

   "That's a normal request?"

   "Yeah, totally. Its an assistant director. You see them all the time, if you read the credits of movies you just watched. If the main director is good mostly with all the… drama? And he needs that one good fight sequence, and he isn't known for his action scenes? He'll hire an assistant director. One who specializes in realistic fight scenes. This director? Will move heaven and earth, trying to make a name for himself. He'll sit and watch the fight scene, as long as it takes. The acting coach he likes? Will keep on me, until the director looks at the screen he's watching, and buys it."

   We all agreed, that was the way to go. Lightning came up with some young, new director. Lets go meet him. We went and had lunch with the guy. He was a film school graduate.

   "Okay. My resume? I was that one straight guy in drama club and drama class, in junior high and high school. Being real about it? I can't really act. I can't really sing. I can't really dance. Me? I concentrated on working the lights. The camera. Hey, there's other jobs than acting. The camera operator? Decent living, you know. What do they say. You can't be an athlete? Be an athletic supporter. I went to film school. You can major in acting, or producing and directing. I majored in direction and production."

   "You're not here to… sell me. You were recommended."

   "Oh. My agency? Gave me the meeting. I'm used to, you know, trying to sell myself at the interview. My day job? I do lights and camera, as jobs come. I get little directing gigs, here and there. I do everything I can? To make it as good as it can be. If I want to become a director one day full time? How else am I going have someone pick me and trust me."

   "Like I said. You were recommended. You interested in the job itself?"

   "Hell yeah. What do you want."

   "Okay. A new company? Wants to enter the high end market, for the toughest phone case you can afford to get on a budget. Instead of fucking around, they decided to put some budget aside, and they want that one, big, good commercial."

   "Got a script? Some computer generated pre-visuals?"

   "Not really. Here's the whole commercial. Not some ten second spot. You're watching… a girl and a guy. The girl? Complete spoiled cunt. There's the poor guy, putting up with her… big conniption fit. He bought her a shitty phone, and they're arguing about that, too. The main argument? She's going to some… memorial for something. She's going alone. Not out with him that night. They're arguing about it, and like I said. She's the biggest spoiled cunt anyone ever saw. Anyone watching this long fight? Should feel two things. They should just hate the girl, and feel sorry for the guy that has to put up with her."

   He nodded.

   "Okay. You don't know what product you're looking at the ad for. Till the end. You want… viewer's emotional investment. What a cunt."

   "Yes. Then? The big moment. She whips that cheap phone, right at his head. He ducks it, it goes down. It gets kicked. By her. Down the alley off the street. Now. After this… long emotional investment, of what a cunt she is? That cheap phone, the one she hates he bought for her. That, is the product. They'll zoom in, and… your cheap phone? Survives this shit. You get it?"

   "Yeah. Not bad. I like it. What do you have already. Location… script… what."

   "Nothing. Not being mean? Its… not going to be your commercial to direct. Its being pitched. To the phone case company. You? You're directing… the rough. The biggest thing for this, is that girl and that guy? Long, real, spoiled cunt fight scene."

   "All right. I get to show… emotional involvement. You hate the girl, you feel sorry for the poor guy. I get drama, and… mild physical action. You want me to create that."

   "There you go. When you say its real? We're done."

   "No script?"

   "No. Its a rough. The essential elements are, as follows. One? They're arguing, about the girl's going off on her own, to this… memorial. By herself. Fuck him and his plans he had. And. That cheap new phone. She hates it. It gets thrown at his head, he ducks. It gets kicked by her, down the alley."

   "You have a set in mind, though."

   "Definitely. We can't have the set though, its a real street. When that time comes? They'll pay to close the street for the actual filming."

   "Not a problem. So… I don't have to worry about lights. No camera headaches. No make up, no set dressing. No angles, nothing. I'm… just making this short scene, real."

   "Any observer, from any angle or distance? Should buy it, as a real fight. Its a long commercial planned. They'll figure out the shots later, and sort through them. You? Just… make this short fight real."

   "Okay. You want one, two minutes of… reality. What do I get."

   "Well, you get paid, obviously."

   "No. I meant… what do I get to work with."

   "What do you think you need."

   "Well, its for a real set later on? So get the dimensions of the set. Be exact. We can work anywhere, anytime. We chalk or tape out the dimensions. Mark out the entrance to that… alley the phone goes down. You have any marks?"

   "It starts on the steps in front of an apartment building. That's a mark. The phone gets kicked down the alley, that's a mark. The rest? Whatever you want."

   "Actors?"

   "That's the thing. You don't get actors. You're being forced, to train two non actors. The girl, and a guy."

   "You want me to provide motivation and direction."

   "Yes."

   "Okay. But… non actors? They're not going to understand. They're going to get pissed…"

   "No. I can guarantee you? And I mean an iron-clad, complete guarantee. Whatever it takes. As long as it takes. You can watch it, a thousand times. Complete cooperation."

   He shrugged.

   "Hey. Its not my money. But, I gotta be fair and say I told you. It would be cheaper, to hire even shitty real actors. You'll burn time, and time is money? Trying to train two non actors."

   "So? Its not your money. If it takes longer? You make more money. You have anyone you think would be able to train two non actors, to make it real."

   "Hmm. Unless I miss my guess, you don't want any… stage projection. You want… gritty reality."

   "Definitely. And, not that little bit of projection, mixed in with reality acting. One hundred percent, real."

   "I mean. Well? There was a girl. Senior, when I was a freshman. At film school. She was majoring in acting. Now… she was great. She just… doesn't have the look, if you know what I mean. But as far as acting goes? Christ. She was great, and I remember seeing her helping out the other actors. You know, the cute bobble heads that look good, and can't act their way out of a wet paper bag? She actually got them to look half decent on camera."

   "Can you get her?"

   "Shit. What actor with talent, that doesn't look like a model and that's the only problem? Doesn't like to get work. She ended up doing… crisis acting. She does it because she likes it. I can get her. I mean, that's who I'd pick."

   "You get me her agent's name?"

   He just blinked at her.

   "Same as my agent. Hey. I'm an undiscovered director. She's? An undiscovered actor. I guess our agent? Is the undiscovered talent agent, that manages undiscovered talent. We're all underdogs."

   Light smiled.

   "Oh. I get it now. The name of the agency. Underdog Talent Unlimited."

   "There you go."

   "When do I get to meet the… I almost said actors. When do I get to meet the non actors, you want me to get them through a minute or two minutes and it looks good."

   Light smiled.

   "I'm the spoiled cunt."

   "Okay. You have any acting experience at all?"

   "None whatsoever."

   "In a way, that's bad. But in a way? That can sometimes be good."

   "How can it possibly be good, to get someone with zero experience."

   "Well. For a real role? Yeah. But, for just one thing? One tiny scene, like this? There's things a trained actor will do, and keep doing. One of the biggest? They all started out with that high school drama teacher classes. They get trained to do this… oh, so big… projection… you know. Like its Broadway. Jesus Christ, the big hand gestures. The big dramatic… just everything."

   "Well? You won't get that out of me."

   "Good. Nothing against high school drama teachers, but… just someone that majored in drama, and happened to get a teaching degree and certification somewhere along the way. They're not even failed actors. And unfortunately? That, is who's priming all the young aspiring new actors and actresses. I mean, it works for stage plays, but… nothing else."

   "Really?"

   "The only time you see that shit in a movie? If the part is supposed to be a bad actress, and that's the role she's playing. Most TV and movie acting now, is mainly reality acting. I mean, a little projection. For comedy, but… that's about it. Any dramatic actor? Has to unlearn all that Broadway bullshit, and get into reality acting. They fall back on it, they keep mixing it in with their character."

   "We want reality."

   "What people can do, if they forget there's a camera or an audience? Is… just forget they're acting, and just be themselves. Now. If the bit part is playing yourself? Once you get used to cameras and lights and calm down? You kinda just act like you're not acting. That? Sells a bit role."

   "You think this can be done, then."

   "Understand this. Anything? Can be done. It might take ten years, it might take a ten billion dollar budget. But? Anything's possible. Its meeting the money budget, and meeting the time budget. That? Is what can sometimes prove… the so called impossible part. You're in this field. Producer? Has a budget. That's a time and a money budget. The director's job? Two fold. Provide what he's asked for. Manage whatever it is, that you have… or have not? Been given. Meet the deadline and budget? Success. You don't meet either one? Failure. You either get more time or money or both? Or… someone makes the decision to pull the plug. Its that simple."

   "You're…"

   "What. Practical? Very. I direct. I get what I can, with what I got. So just tell me straight… what's my budget. How much time, how much money."

   "Oh, that."

   "Yeah. That. Give me the hard facts."

   "You have no budget."

   "Time or money."

   "Both."

   "I don't understand. I mean, you want it yesterday. I get that. But, you expect me to pay out of my own pocket. To hire the actor as an acting coach, and I guess dialog consultant? No script, writing too. I mean, if I thought I was going to get to direct the commercial, or… so much as had a shot at getting it, based on how I do with the rough? I might. Maybe I could get her on board with that, too. Maybe. But Jesus, lady… you're killing me here."

   "Oh. I meant it the other way. You took that? 180 degrees the exact wrong way."

   "Huh?"

   "No time budget. You like it? You say its real? Whenever that is, then that's how long it took."

   "Oh. Now, you're talking a director's language. Actual budget?"

   "The same."

   "Holy shit. I get a blank check, to make up a rough."

   "Within the parameters of what I said it has to contain? Yep. Scale rate's okay with you, I assume."

   "Hey. Union thing. I'll take my minimum. Ain't like I got any star power I'm stamping on your rough. I'm listed with Underdogs."

   "You think your female actor you mentioned is good with that?"

   He started texting. He got a text back in minutes, and said it was fine.

   "When do we start?"

   "Lady. I'm just the director. When the producer says its the start of set time? I'm just an employee like the actors and the guys that do lights and cameras. I show up to work when the schedule says so."

   "What do you want for a set."

   He shrugged.

   "You said to prep the rough, for an outdoor previously selected set they have their little hearts set on. Is the shoot going to be day or night."

   "After dark."

   He shrugged again.

   "We're basically creating a scene from parameters. Training two non actors. Is it raining, as a parameter?"

   "No."

   "Doesn't really matter. You go outdoors? You can stop for weather. Indoors? You can work around the clock if you want. You got a set schedule in mind?"

   "Monday through early Friday."

   "No budget."

   "None."

   "Hell. Log my hours on the sheets. Fuck overtime, I get more days in against my union logs that way. If that's okay with you, that is. Can the girl I mentioned… can she get credit for acting days, or… just coaching and dialog."

   "Whatever she wants."

   "Shit lady, where you been my whole career. Get somewhere, indoors is probably better, but I really don't care. I got a few tripods and cheap digital monitors. I'll bring chalk and gaffer's tape for marks we lay out. You just have to bring the dimensions of the final set, and the warm bodies."

   "Done."

   "You got a zip code in mind for this project?"

   She handed him a location on her cell phone she held out to him to peruse.

   "Kind of a drive for a 5 day set."

   Light shrugged.

   "You want a cheap motel, or… you prefer a set trailer."

   "Fuck. You're spoiling me, I'll be ruined. I'll take the set trailer. We can get more hours in, if you wanna work quicker."

   "Done. Think she'll mind staying with you? Or…"

   "No. We get a set trailer? I'm sure she'll be fine with that."

   "We'll feed you two, of course."

   "Hold on…"

   He made a call. It ended up being the other underdog actor he was talking about. He gabbed a few minutes, and casually dropped she had to stay in a set trailer. The squeal of delight on the speaker call told us all we needed to know. He then just as casually mentioned they got catering, too. Another squeal and laughter followed it.

   "Yeah, I figured it would do in a pinch… uh huh… I'll call you, and let you know. Seems like a done deal. Okay. Bye."

   "Get a set. Call me and give me an address and a time."

   We went looking for anything indoors. Turns out there's realty companies, that specialize in unused properties. You can get a month's lease for next to nothing. An abandoned factory that had once made or worked on… whatever, ended up getting picked. It was big, it was cheap. But most importantly? It was private. It was close enough by her town her apartment was in, that it was convenient.

   The female actress he wanted? As promised. Not in any way photogenic, at all. But talented? If you just wanted the dramatic ability. That? She was great at. She amused us all while taking breaks or after we "broke set" finally for the evening, taking on characters and staying in them for a period of time. It was like she could do and become… anything.

   The first week? Really didn't produce much. Being honest. None of us thought watching it that anyone would buy this. The lady? Took her aside early Monday morning.

   "Light? Try this. You know how its funny, to imitate someone, to make fun of them? Start doing that. You're… making fun of a real life spoiled cunt. Some comedians? Make a good living, doing this. Now. The better you get at imitating her? The funnier it is. The more successful it is. You don't know stage projection. So… whatever it is you do, you think you're imitating the biggest spoiled cunt you ever met in real life? Just do that."

   And that? Slowly began to produce the first real results at all, and got marginally better all through the second week. Week three? It actually got somewhere. The actress had her "living in character", 24 7. Light would amuse us all, by doing her spoiled cunt act around the apartment.

   When it eventually got the tiniest bit… actually mildly irritating? Was when it started to actually work. The wagging of her head when bitching and complaining. The snapping of the fingers, the irritated facial expressions. The "you won't say shit about it" attitude.

   The only thing? The actress stopped in between re-starts and talked to the director. She came over, oh… this was the middle of week two. It wasn't her. She, was beginning to "work". It was Panic.

   "All right. She's? Starting to actually get her character. I won't lie to you guys. The problem now? Is you."

   She was pointing at Panic.

   "Me?"

   "Yeah. And I know what it is, too. You know her. You like her. You guys? Have some kind of relationship. Don't care what it is, I can tell. You think you're helping. By just… taking it. Her verbal abuse. Her shoving you. It ain't working."

   "Well. What do you want me to do."

   "Go sit down. Take a break."

   "Okay."

   "Now. Light here. She's the girl, no matter what. Right?"

   The director agreed.

   "She's a parameter. Is he necessary?"

   "I'm just the director. The fuck do I know. Ask the producer's on site girl. She's right there, and I heard she's a real cunt."

   We all laughed, that was funny.

   "I have to be the girl. We don't have that many guys we can pick from to play the guy."

   "What about this guy? He's here every day. Open to close. Can I try him out?"

   She's pointing at JG.

   "Me?"

   "No. Not you. Of course not. The other guy, that looks just like you standing right next to you. Yeah, you. Get the fuck over here."

   JG reluctantly started walking over.

   "Move! God damn it. We're burning hours. Days. Weeks. When I tell you to get over here? You get the fuck over here. Christ almighty. Now. Can you just stand in one place? I know, its a hard task. Just… fucking stand there. Can you handle that much?"

   "I guess."

   She shoved him.

   "You guess?!?! The fuck's wrong with you, anyways. I don't know why they insist on bringing a dick-less turd like you along, every day, all day. You, your cheap ass off the rack suit. But… can you find it in you, to just stand in one place, and keep your mouth shut?"

   "Uh, okay."

   She shoved him again. Hard.

   "Did I tell you to say anything? No. I said just stand there, and shut up! You're not real bright, are you. Fucking moron…"

   JG was at first embarrassed by this, then started to get slightly agitated. She kept it up. It was hot, it was worse inside the old factory. Everyone was sweaty and irritable. Early morning starts, all day, half the night. Everyone was somewhat… a little edgy. Here she is, losing it and taking it out on poor Junior.

   The more she insulted him for being unintelligent? That, started to actually irritate him. He went from embarrassed, to telling her to quit. She insulted him more, and kept shoving him. He eventually put his hands out to prevent her from shoving him yet again and she kicked him in the shin. That was it. He shoved her back and stood up. He's almost as tall as Panic is. He's not a huge guy, but he jogs a lot and he's fit.

   She cut a fit on him. The director? Got my attention. He pointed, and he's… smiling. He waved Panic to keep out of it. He's rolling his little digital recorders still. He's sitting up on his little… the fuck even is it. A little ladder to a little portable folding chair on his little folding platform.

   JG quickly forgot what was all going on, and went from embarrassed, then into and through irritated. All the way into trying to keep his cool, and barely being able to do so. She kept it up. She's swatting at him, trying to kick him in the shins. When he went to retreat from her acting like a nut? She chased him and shoved him. He finally was about to lose his cool. His face and body language showed it. He was breathing harder. She wouldn't listen to him to knock it off and get her fit out of her system. If anything? She increased her yelling, swatting at him, and kept up a stream of insults.

   She zeroed in on the stupid comments. That, was what got a rise out of him. When she finally had him actually pissed off, she vacillated between swatting and yelling at him, to insulting him and daring him to shove her back. Doing that thing where the girl sticks her face up and dares the guy to take a swing at her. But he won't? Because he's a complete pussy, that's why. Stupid and useless, went great with his cheap ass off the rack suit.

   He finally took her wrist and grabbed her up, letting her know in no uncertain terms, he was about to smack her one.

   And that, was when the smiling director yelled "cut! cut! cut!", clapping his hands, jumping down to manage things. These two were arguing and JG was giving her lip back now, and she's laughing. The smiling director walked him over, and sat him down in one of the little folding chairs, and plopped a cold soft drink can in his hand to take a break.

   The director and the actress slash acting coach? All smiles. They went over and had a little pow wow, watching the floor monitor while he rewound and replayed with his hand held remote. She ran over to JG, who was looking away avoiding her. She got him by the hands, and all but dragged him over to the monitor, wanting everyone to crowd around.

   "Come on. Roll it for them, from the top…"

   The director did. Wow. You could see it. We were watching a totally real, one hundred percent genuine… fight between a girl and her guy. It was impressive, given what we wanted, and weren't "getting". Little Lightning was starting to deliver. But Panic? No.

   The director wanted to know what the problem was. She told him with a shrug.

   "I don't know why? But I can tell you what. Its him…"

   She pointed at Panic.

   "Panic? No disrespect, but. I don't know what it is with you. You don't get embarrassed. You don't get irritated. Then? You don't get mad. But him? He's a normal guy. You see, practically every guy, taking that from a girl. They get embarrassed. After a while? They get irritated. Then? You can get them mad."

   The director and her, asked Light if it would fit parameters, to try using JG instead of Panic. Everyone agreed, that was fine. Whatever worked. She told JG, to just remember being embarrassed, then irritated, then mad.

   The rest of the week that way? Began working. The following week? It was actually getting good. Little Lightning and JG were looking more and more like a real couple, having a spat because his girlfriend was a complete cunt.

   So after that, Panic got to sit and drink cold cans of refreshment and munch on pizza. While JG did all the "work" and it actually got results. I know why. I hadn't thought about it. He doesn't have emotions that will show on his face. He doesn't have embarrassed or irritated body language. Not really. If he doesn't have a mask for it? His face can't show it. His "embarrassed" act? Is to look down and away and fail to meet a gaze.

   JG? Is completely normal in all those ways.

   They worked everything in. Panic and Junior had a hard rubber "phone" as a prop. They got it on an online auction from a closed down cell phone store. They had a stack of a certain brand of cheap cell phone. Marked down to twenty bucks a piece, plus tax and shipping.

   They worked in the slap. Once at the end of every set day? JG would give Light a nice slap across the face. Whereupon she would cut a much worse fit and explode verbally. And toss the phone at him that he weaved and let sail by. Down towards the "alley", which was just gaffer's tape. Then Lightning began practicing her kick. They finally started replacing the hard rubber prop phone to show the case they picked off? With real ones. She could launch it pretty much on mark to where she wanted it by now.

   The director was proud to show off the end of every day's results. The short clip, of what did indeed look exactly like a real couple, having a real fight. Hell, we all knew it was fake as hell, and even we had to admit it seemed real. We had the director and the actress coach give a week going over what they said was already perfect. Just to make sure.

   Five and a half weeks, start to finish.

   It hadn't been cheap. A little over five weeks pay for the director and the actress that played acting coach. We were "working" twelve and sixteen hours a day, Monday through Thursday. Friday was always a really early wrap. Between Elise's magic gut and JG's technical prowess, weekend monitoring of the alley shadow ensured he was still on the hook. Weekends only made perfect sense when you looked at his file. He had a day job, such as a former disgraced cop with some prison time can even get. Which isn't much.

   Weekends, were his free time. He burned every weekend, trying to claim his prize. Operation: Spoiled Cunt, went without a hitch. At least no hitches not planned on. People watched out the windows, entertained as most people are by a floor show such as that. Its entertainment to watch another couple having a good row. A few neighbors yelled out of windows to knock it off, or they're calling the cops. JG had set that up with "our local" as he called the cop that had talked to us at the playground that one night. He was close by and just buzzed in. Lectured us all on the front steps, and buzzed back off.

   Females yelled hateful shit out their windows after JG pasted his good pimp slap on Little Lightning's face. Which was actually hysterically ironic and therefore funny. There was zero "concern" for his well being when she was pushing, slapping and kicking at him. Some guy passing by even got into the act, not knowing it was really just that. An act. He got into it with JG, and Panic ended up going up to the guy. He couldn't get the guy to calm down, and resorted to getting him to focus his attention on himself and off of JG. He didn't hurt the guy. He let him swing and miss for a while, until he lost interest and figured out that if he really did manage to piss this guy off he couldn't land a glove on anyways? He was in for it. He scooted as soon as the cop car showed itself.

   We all had our own little party after it was over. While getting slapped once at the end of every long acting day? Little Lightning had a rubbery flesh colored "thing" over her cheek to take her pimp slap. If you ever saw one of those kid's toys, that's made out of all sticky rubber, and sort of "crawls" down the wall? It was made out of that, just flesh colored. Without it, she got a nice hand print on her face.

   Panic and JG stayed up, waiting for the alley shadow to come out and claim his prize. There was no way he didn't hear everything, clear as a bell. I forget which said it to the other but either JG or Panic said that night they dreamed this all up… pity we can't just hand the phone to him. They didn't of course, but Lightning sure did. She kicked that thing right to him. It landed not that far from his hiding hole. This went on after dark, so sometime after ten pm that night. Saturday night, when you can expect a little ruckus now and again on the street in any residential area.

   His GPS tagged car was in its customary parking spot. Ritual. He used his same mapped route, and showed up on the same grid cams as always. Ritual. He hid, waited, watched and listened. Ritual. JG had set up a small camera with a perfect view down the alley. When the alley shadow made its customary "bump" barely detectable if you didn't know what you were looking for? JG got excited and pointed it out to Panic. He was checking all was quiet now, and that the coast was clear. Then the alley shadow went back, paused, and went on.

   Gambit successful.