Part 13:No Giant Stone Yaks!
Angel strolls onto set. "Ah, how to fuck with peoples' heads and do a Ned Stark. My work here is done."
"Not unless you do it properly, it isn't." Motty says distractedly, then covers his mic with one hand. "Someone get me a cup of tea, will you? My hands are full of shooting scripts."
"And it's not like you're actually doing a Ned Stark until the end of the second episode." Mei says. "So no cackling."
Angel raises an eyebrow, sticking her hands in her pockets and spinning round on the spot to face her. "Need I remind you that you don't get to wear your wings for this scene?"
"...I was trying to forget that." Mei pouts. "You don't have to rub it in." She pauses. "And what was with the spin?"
"I'm feeling depraved on account of being deprived." Angel replies.
"On this set?" Mei asks in disbelief. "Have you been taking the good drugs again?"
"...possibly." Angel says.
"At this moment I think I'm going to call mam and ask what the commons symptoms are." Mei says.
"This from the girl who has a speed and adrenaline trip-wire in her brain?" Angel asks.
"Mam's used to that. She knows how to control it." Mei pauses. "As a child, it mostly involved bribery."
"Why is that not difficult to believe?" Angel asks.
"The question is what your parents did." Mei says.
"Chucked me into ballet and tap classes." Angel says promptly. "They'd heard that it promoted self discipline and wore children out."
"The ballet teachers clearly lied." Mei says. "All it did was give you a tendency to burst out into song and dance routines the minute you'd had to sit still for more than two minutes."
"But in a tuned and controlled way." Angel points out. "And then I started begging for my very own archery lessons, and they realised that i had more ideas than they did for funnelling my energy."
Mei eyes her. "So handing a kid deadly weapons is sensible. Now I worry about your parents." She pauses. "You do know that throwing up without the excuse of hangover is tv shorthand for pregnancy unless it's Casualty, right?"
"Yep." Angel smirks. "Drew and Ross have been sniggering about this for ages."
@AngelHarker
This morning, I hang out in my knickers. Something about this situation seems very familiar...
@ShipDrew
@AngelHarker Depends. Do you have a raging headache and a craving for a fry-up?
@AngelHarker
@ShipDrew Oh, that's what's missing. The headache I can live without, now let's see if I can source a bacon sandwich.
Motty checks the lighting in the bathroom set. "Okay, everyone out of range of reflection in the mirror except Angel. Lizzy, you're on following from her waking up., remember, that fast-slow stumble of those who're about to throw up."
Angel folds her arms."I have done this before, trust me. Many, many times. I have experience in it."
"Practically a pro, even." Mei grins, getting into the bed in the room they've set up adjoining Jenny Sparks' ensuite.
"...And roll 'em." Motty says.
Angel opens her eyes blearily, lies there for a minute, swallows, then her eyes slam open in alarm as she pushes the covers back and gets out of bed, hand over her mouth, half running, half stumbling in her desperation to get to the ensuite, the camera following her in as she makes noisy, unpleasant sounding coughing noises whilst bent over the sink, hacking and eventually spitting out a mouthful of bile. Eventually she raises her head blearily, staring at her reflection in the mirror and wiping her mouth.
Behind her and the cameraman, Mei gets out of bed and approaches, reflection appearing in the mirror behind Angel, putting a hand on her shoulder. "hey, you okay?" She asks, concerned.
Angel swallows, making a face and grabbing the mouthwash, taking a quick swig and spitting that into the sink, then rinsing the sink. She takes a deep breath, steadying herself on the edge and staring into it for a minute before finally straightening and covering Mei's hand with her own. "Fine, Shen. Just something disagreed with me. Go back to bed."
Mei frowns. "Not without you. if you're going to be fine, you can be fine back in bed where I can keep an eye on you."
Angel sighs, then smiles slightly. "Fusspot."
"That's me. Come on, back to bed." Mei says, taking one of her hands and dragging her back into the bedroom and pulling the covers over the both of them. Once they're in, she frowns again, pushing a bit of hair off Angel's face. "Besides, this isn't hungover you, I'm allowed to be concerned."
"There's a difference?" Angel mutters.
"Trust me, we've got plenty of experience with hungover you. You bitch something chronic when you've got a hangover. There's none of this 'fine' bollocks." Mei points out. "Now go to sleep."
Motty frowns. "And cut. Nice, but we need a slightly better angle on Angel in the mirror. Mei, absolutely fine, keep to your mark in that shot, Angel, if you could move your hands in a bit when you straighten up. That should change the angle enough."
Everyone gets back into position, and Angel gets fed a slug of the slime she's using for bile and stores it in her cheek to make sure she doesn't swallow it .
"Okay, and...action." Motty says.
Angel opens her eyes, shifts, swallows, her eyes slam open, she pushes back the covers and ... manages to somehow tangle herself in her own feet and the bedsheet, landing with a thump on the floor.
"Cut! what the hell happened there?" Motty asks.
"ummmm...." Angel says from her position on the floor "I got tangled up?"
Motty strides over and pulls her up. "Any broken bones?"
"Possibly a bruise." Angel says, rubbing her thigh.
"I thought dancers were supposed to be graceful." he says as she gets back into the bed.
"Gimme the covers back, you." Angel mutters, yanking them back from a creased up Mei. "And stop laughing."
"Sorry, it's just..." Mei sniggers again. "This is totally an example of method acting for this kind of thing."
Angel glares in her direction in the dim light. "See if I include you in the next round at the pub."
Motty whistles at them. "Quite enough of that, you two. deep breaths, ready on the count of ten..."
This time, Angel gets as far as the sink, starts hacking and coughing, makes one last 'hurk' noise, and... nothing comes out. Angel frowns and spits. Nothing. She pauses, then looks up sheepishly. "Um. I think i swallowed the slime when i fell out of bed?"
Motty groans. "Someone get her more slime. You, back to bed." He doesn't remove the palm from his face to look before he adds "And Mei, stop grinning, I can see you from here. Through my hand."
"It's dark, nobody saw me, you can't prove anything." She retorts.
Take five. Mei pats Angel on the arm, and says "Come on, um..." She pauses. "Come on, Ange- um -"
Angel smirks at their reflections and sing-songs "someone forgot their li-ines."
"I hate you. get your arse in bed and die quickly." Mei says, poking her. "Will that do?"
Motty groans. "Cut. someone hand the winged menace a script."
The-carrier.net
Reports from the Jazz age
Well, sort of. More the depression, but the part still determined to live the high life. we're filming in a themed nightclub in Brighton for a scene set in Jenny Sparks' past, all dolled up to resemble a place where the cool guys and dolls went to party the night away, and the set dressers are taking notes and photographing every possible last thing for reference - they barely had to do anything aside from cover up a few things the club had had to install to be health and safety compliant, like the fire exit sign. Costume had fun sourcing a bunch of costumes to outfit everyone, including a pre white outfit someone pulled from somewhere for Jenny Sparks, that's looking awfully like a Marlene Dietrich suit. Angel is swanning around in it, striking Cabaret poses on chairs while make up finishes styling a wig for her.
We've got a full band kitted out in monkey suits on the bandstand tuning up and playing occasional snatches of thirties tunes for atmosphere, And Drew's standing in front of them in his own tux, since he'll be providing the crooning. Right now he's singing 'Miss Otis Regrets' by Cole Porter, with people humming along as they get everyone into place, getting the last of the makeup and lighting right. the writers seem to have been finally brainwashed by the musical twosome's habit of breaking into song and dance numbers between takes. It seems we're getting the Authority the Musical episode after all.
@ShipDrew
Darling, we look faaaaabulous.
@Zoommei
For once, @ShipDrew speaks the absolute truth. Kisses!
Mei slinks out of the makeup trailer in full vamp mode, the cliche of every chinese dragon lady, complete with gloves and cigarette holder. she smirks, striking a pose. "Ta-da!"
Everyone claps. "Oh, very nice." Simon grins. "See they went the full cliche."
"Darling, if I didn't get full slinky asian barfly, I promised them i was going to pitch a fit." Mei says. "The cigarette holder was non-negotiable as well. If I can't pose louchely on a bar stool and look like I'll eat any man that even comes near me, then what is the point?" She catches sight of Gavin, all dolled up in three piece suit and chomping on a cigar, slinks over and runs a hand down his lapel. "You have cleaned up well, Gav."
Gav takes the cigar out of his mouth and grins. "Ever since I was a youngster, I wanted to be a gangster."
Mei narrows her eyes and slaps his shoulder. "No misquoting Goodfellas!"
"Hey!" there's a yell from the side in an accent that manages to set your teeth on edge. Isabella swans up, in a satin gown and furs, and slaps Mei's hand. "Get your hands off my man, you low down dirty hussy!" She exclaims, cuddling up to Gavin possessively.
Simon cracks up. "Isabella, I think you perfected the moll stereotype right there. where did you get the accent from?"
"Singin' in the Rain." Isabella smirks. "Ain't he just the most darling little thing you ever seen?"
Simon grins. "Think we all clean up very nicely." he says, straightening his tie, then sighing and getting Ross's collar into shape. "seriously, you're not even wearing a suit like the rest of us, how are you managing this?"
"hey, not everyone can be a gangster heavy, some of us get to be the cute, slick barman that keeps everyone in liquor." Ross smirks. "I don't have to be perfectly neat."
"Considering this is a classy establishment and you probably want tips sometime this lifetime, I'd keep it neat." Simon replies, tweaking his ear.
"But sweetheart, I've only got eyes for you...." Ross grins, batting his eyelashes.
Simon rolls his eyes. "See what i have to put up with?" he says despairingly at the others.
The-carrier.net
Extras, just for you
To follow up on that post from the nightclub, here's a vid of Angel and Drew singing Anything Goes, You're the Top and Miss Otis Regrets on the bandstand complete with orchestral accompaniment. Beware: those with an allergy to Cole Porter may have a problem. we couldn't stop them. We're *so* sorry.
ONTD_authority.
SINGING!
Today the blog just posted up a vid of Angel and Drew singing.
...They've just done a John Barrowman on Torchwood. I want context. So much context.
Jenny223:
OMG THUD. I... my ovaries. oh god. Drew. Singing.
>Brassballs
Drew singing. Drew in a tux. I... *fans self*
>>Geegeegee
*pours ice bucket over you*
Vickyvim:
...Okay, tickets SOLD for next time they do a musical.
Hannahbabe:
If there aren't behind the scenes and outtakes on the DVDs, I will want to know WHY. They're always going on about them breaking into song and dance on set, we want to SEE it.
Motty checks the lighting. "Okay, everyone, places. Make-up, make sure Angel's as red-faced as possible..."
"Oh, cheers." Angel replies as she gets attacked with blusher where she's standing against the 'window' bit.
"You're a ginger turned blonde. You don't get to cry prettily, nature demands you go blotchy. Suck it up." Motty replies. "Not to mention you're supposed to be sick, so you're pale as it is. Enjoy. You're not getting a perfectly immaculate death, it's not bloody Moulin Rouge." He eyes the stunt people bringing in the crash mat. "Are you sure you can't collapse without that?"
Angel glares at him. "Yes, but sod's law says I'm going to have to do christ knows how many takes before you're satisfied. Therefore sod's law dictates I'll hit my head during the crucial one and won't be able to do the lines, and then where will you be?"
"True. Bugger." Motty says, adjusting his headset. "All right, make-up, bugger off, that's enough." He pauses. "And if I hear one 'Sonja... the talisman' out of you like in the read through I'll make you buy the next round."
Angel smirks. "Can't threaten me with that, you've already locked that one in on Ross due to what he did this morning."
"...Bugger. All right, I'll set Parvi on you. It's only fair."
Mei blinks. "That's cruel and unusual even for you."
"And.... roll 'em. Scene 24, take 1."
Everyone's drifting back, uncomfortably nursing bruises. Angel's in the background still, staring at the window where they had the best view of the High committing suicide. "You reckon she'll be okay?" Isabella asks, glancing back.
"A week in bed with a bottle of scotch, probably." Drew says. "She'll bounce back."
"Here's hoping." Isabella replies.
In the background, over her shoulder, Angel collapses with a soft thud against the crash mat that's very carefully blocked by Isabella's shoulder.
Everyone's heads whip round, and they run back to her, Drew going to his knees and pulling her into his lap, Mei crouching over her as the rest of them circle her. "Jenny?" he asks.
Angel winces and croaks. "Midnight. That's it for me."
Drew looks perplexed. "What? I don't understand, Jenny..."
"I'm the spirit of the age. A century long defense mechanism. Twentieth century's over and it's really starting to change." Angel whispers, coughing again.
Mei looks frantic, touching her shoulder and drawing back like she's been stung. "No it's not, the century clicked over over a decade ago, you can't read a calendar?"
"Don't blame me." Angel croaks. "And I said spirit of the *age*, not the bloody century. 'S a bit different. It's okay. Tired. Wasted a lot of time. Used up a lot of energy making up for it." She pauses, leaning up to Drew's ear, getting quieter. "Good start. Down to you now. Save the world. They deserve it." another pause. "Be better. Or I'll come back and kick your heads in."
"Annnnnd.... cut." Motty says. "Everyone, don't move. You're in the right spot for a crane shot."
Angel coughs and twitches. "Sonja... the ...talisman!"
"Stop That!" Motty yells as he heads in the direction of the crane. "There is no sodding giant stone yak in here!"
Gavin coughs and pulls something out of his pocket, waggling it slightly. "I have a very small fluffy one here if you need one?"
Mei cracks up and nearly falls on Angel. "I can't believe you. Where did you get that?"
"Ebay is a wonderful thing." Gavin says smugly, passing it to her. Mei proceeds to walk it up Angel until it's on her forehead, where she makes it do a little dance. With sound effects.
"Dignity." Angel drawls. "Always dignity."
Simon stares. "The climax of the series and all I'm going to remember is this yak."
Isabella makes sympathetic noises. "Just be glad you don't work in theatre. it could be final matinee and then you'd be completely buggered."