Vignette #138: Breathe

David Turner was a wreck. They’d finally done it. Four Stars Studios had found a way to sabotage his film. He paced the set back and forth.

This was a disaster. Not the film, “Breathe” had gone better than he had hoped. It was the lack of a female lead. Malvina Golden had bailed. At the last minute she bailed on them.

Her last film with the studio kept running later and later. David had gone ahead and began production of “Breathe” without her, filming every scene but those that required her. That kept them from missing their own deadlines and kept her from getting in legal trouble with Four Stars.

Then Four Stars made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. Turner couldn’t blame her. She called this morning and apologized. Great, she was sorry, so was everyone else’s bank balance.

Today was the last day they could use this rented space. The ballroom set needed to be struck so the next renter could move in. If they didn’t get this scene, the whole film was for naught.

It was the final scene, a ballroom. All Turner needed was to find an actress to fit into the already designed and fitted gown, descend the staircase and reach out her hand to the camera. They’d already filmed the dancers, Redfield’s entrance, dialogue and close ups.

They had even talked Herman’s sister into standing in for the moment the camera sees the two hands touching, the two hands fated to live happily ever after, the final moment of “Breathe”. The whole film hinged now on the “actress” who belonged to that “hand” coming down “that” staircase.

He had begged Herman’s sister to do the part. She was ungodly shy. Just the camera on her hand took eighteen takes. She kept bursting into tears and ruining the shot. She finally cried herself out and they got the perfect shot.

“Okay.” Herman came rushing to him. “Get it set up. We’re ready.”

“What?” David was shocked.

“Heat up the lights, point the camera and scream action, stupid. We’re ready.” Herman was puffing, struggling for air having run full speed ahead from somewhere.

“Malvina showed after all?” David eyes lit up.

“No.” Herman put his hands on David’s shoulder. “Trust me. We found the perfect replacement. It took some work, but we’re ready.”

“Who?”

“Stop wasting time.” Herman shoved him toward the cameramen. “We’ve got just enough time to get this scene in the can and get the set struck. We’ll talk contracts later.”

“Uh…”

“Just do it!” Herman hissed.

In ten minutes they were ready. The professionals, excited they were finally going to get this masterpiece back underway, pulled it all together. The bright lights hit the staircase and the A.D. cued the sound.

“Ready up there?” Turner dared ask before he gave the final call.

“Ready.” A distinctly familiar voice called back.

“Let’s get this down in one take.” Turner called back with a directorial command.

“Piece of cake.” Was the response unseen from the top of the staircase.

Turner nodded his head. The clapboard slipped in front of the camera. “Breathe finale take one.” Came the voice followed by the clap.

“And action!” David called and held his breath.

The music swelled and he looked to the top of the stairs. He saw the dress first. The costume designer had created a masterpiece. It caught his attention immediately and then led his eyes directly to the form of the elegant young woman wearing it.

She hesitated at the top of the stairs. He knew the camera was slowly and smoothly zooming in on her face. David saw her shy smile, the nervous dart of her eyes. His jaw dropped.

It was Herman’s sister after all. She stepped to the top. A moment before taking that first timid step she smiled. It lit up the room. She blushed shyly, biting her lip looking down at her feet.

David’s heart pounded. She was perfect. She was beautiful. She genteelly picked up the billowing folds of that gown and began to descend, each step stronger, each step determined, each step toward destiny, just as they had imagined.

She reached the bottom, smoothed her gown and almost unnoticeably curtsied. She took a deep breath and radiated that heart-stopping smile again, finally reaching out her hand, shyly determined but with courage.

“Cut!” David said. “Print it!” He said with relief.

He looked at the woman who had saved his life. “Young lady, I have just fallen in love.”

The woman threw back her head and laughed.

David’s jaw dropped again. He knew that laugh. “Oh my God!” He thought out loud.