Without You I Have Nothing by J A Scooter Page B

life-support for months.”  He shuddered before
adding, “God, Peter’s a walking, talking, killing machine.
    “The police again
laid no charges and were very surprised that he hadn’t a single mark on him. Eventually
only one of the gang survived and has been a paraplegic ever since.
    “Yet, you come in here
with his heart in your hand and treat him like scum. Well, none of us will
stand for it. Make a decision tonight about whether you can work with him and
whether you want to be the heroine. Let me know before you leave. If you can’t
work with him then I’ll replace you.”
    “You can leave your
script as you go.”
    Suddenly the director
stood, walked around the table to put his hand on Jennifer’s shoulder.
    “I know Peter far too
well. He has a depth to him I’ve seen in no man. He’s never dated and I’ll
swear on a pile of Bibles he’ll never harm you, but heaven help anyone who
does.”
    Shuddering, he
concluded, “Thank you for allowing me to be father. Come on, we have to
rehearse.”
    Shaken and tearful
Jennifer returned to the stage.
    “Peter, we’ll do the
infamous kissing scene from the top. I’ll be the heroine and if you dare kiss
me, there’ll be a new fight scene.
    “Jennifer, watch the
new heroine struggle.”
    “Come, a kiss to seal
the bargain!”  Peter took the director as if he was a lightweight to bend him
back in the classic pose and to a casual onlooker they would have been kissing.
The director’s arms beat against the villain’s back and one leg shook in the
air as if the heroine were struggling violently.
    “My God, it’s like
being in the clutches of a Kodiak bear. No wonder you reacted the way you did,
Jennifer,” was the director’s wry comment before calling each woman to stand in
as the heroine and run through the same scene.
    “Hey!  You're not
supposed to wrap your arms around the villain’s neck and kiss him as though
he’s a long lost lover,” he admonished actress after actress.
    Jennifer was green. Her
jealousy was almost enough to rip the villain from the stand-in and scream,
“He’s mine - that’s my Peter.”
    Finally, the director
pulled Jennifer to one side.
    “Be calm. Struggle as
much as possible and then twice as much again. Punch his back and wave your
free leg in the air. Struggle!  Struggle hard!  However, when he kisses you,
put as much passion in your kiss as you possibly can. Don’t let him escape -
put twice as much passion into your kiss and then stand back to watch the
result. Don’t be frightened - we’ll protect you from the big lug.”
    Jennifer took to the
stage and immediately the cast could hear the change in the villain. “A tasty
morsel,” meant so much more and she didn’t have to see his stance.
    Then those words
echoed. “Come, a kiss to seal the bargain!”
    She felt Peter’s arms
go around her and she felt safe. Slowly he bent her back and she remained as
still as possible. Gradually she began struggling violently, seeming to gain
strength although remaining under the villain’s power as she held the pose. She
watched as, even more slowly, his lips closed on hers. Her mouth opened, her
tongue began a love dance with his and she allowed her fire to scorch him as
her two fists pounded his back.
    He tried to make his
passion dampen her apparent resistance and his eyes attempted to bore into hers
but her eyelids closed and the kissing went on.
    Slowly he realized
her hands were pushing him away and suddenly she was standing before him,
glaring. Swept away by the passion of the moment he missed his cue.
    Speechless and
bewildered, the villain failed to hear the prompter’s words although five times
she repeated the phrase. He stood staring sightlessly into space before realizing
where he was as he stammered the next lines.
    Roaring with
laughter, clapping and shouting their delight, the cast stamped their feet.
    “Come on, villain,
what did the heroine do to you?  You thought you were smart eh. Good for