The False Exit Read online

  Liz hadn’t heard a director approach a cast with such candor since her high school days. Diane was right. They didn’t have their hearts in it. The potential and talent was in place, but the energy and passion were missing. They’d been clocking it in from the first rehearsal. This was a cast of professionals. They deserved to be called out, but she knew there was a better way to do it. She glanced across the stage and caught Gary’s eyes. They were both thinking the same thing.

  Diane threw her hand up to her forehead and went back to pacing the front of the stage. “Okay, let’s try this again from the top. Don’t make me stop you and ask for more. You people are paid to be better than this. I’m sick of feeling like I’m watching a bunch of bad community theatre players. Let’s go! Places from the top!” The cast glanced at each other as if they were all waiting for someone else to say what they were thinking. Several of them had come from strong community theatre productions. “I called places!” Diane said.

  Suddenly the ensemble girl was standing next to Gary again. She started to hum the wicked witch of the west theme song just loud enough for him to hear. He started to laugh and she caught his eye. He was stunned at the striking shade of blue green reflected in her eyes from the stage lights. He felt his face flush. He shook himself out of the moment.

  “I have to admit, she does have a point!” he said.

  “A pointed nose!” the girl mused.

  Gary chuckled and she tilted her head with her eyes still sparkling in the light. He knew he had to defend Diane’s remark. “Seriously,” he said, “the cast is dragging!”

  “True. She isn’t going to get them going like that though. She is only going to make them mad and everyone will get worse.”

  “I’m afraid you are right, but I hope you are wrong.”

  “She’s just mad because she doesn’t know what she's doing,” the girl said. “The cast knows it too. That’s why they’re dragging.”

  “You better drag yourself over to stage left. Don’t you have an entrance to make in like ten seconds?”

  “Oh crap!” the girl ran. She didn’t make it.

  “Stop!” Diane yelled. “Are you kidding me? We are over three weeks in and actors are still missing entrances. There’s no excuse; none! That could cost you your job on this stage!”

  Gary stepped out from stage right. “I’m sorry, Diane. That was my fault. She was helping me with the prop plot. I have her on plant crew and I was letting her know when to set the seedlings. I’m sorry.”

  “We don’t pay you to distract the actors,” Diane said.

  Gary threw his head into the floor and pressed his lips shut.

  Damion appeared from the wings, “He’s been distracting me from day one, just look at him! That boy knows his fashion! Those cute little skinny jeans and matching high tops. The way he does that little swirly wave on the top of his head! Yowsa! I know he doesn’t play for my team; but still!” He looked at the ensemble girl and shot his finger at her. “I don’t blame you, girl! He is distracting as a cat around a fish tank!” Damion disappeared back into the curtains. The cast burst into laughter.

  “Alright, alright!” Diane broke through the laughter, “Let’s focus on what we came here to do tonight! Take it from the top again! I want to see that opening number and I want to see it done right.” The cast continued to chortle as they moved back into places.

  The number went off perfectly. They held the final pose. The last note rang through the empty house. “Don’t move!” Diane said. She waited. “You’re moving!” The cast was confused. They were frozen in the last pose. “You’re still moving! Do you feel that?” Their bodies were rising and falling with every breath they took. “Some of you are actually sweating!” They started to laugh. “It’s not funny!” Diane said. “This is the first time I have seen this cast sweat. Why is that? How come it went so well this time?”

  One of the girls dropped her arms. “Because Damion made us laugh!” she said. The rest of the cast members dropped their arms in muffled agreements.

  “I don’t think so. I think it has more to do with the pressure I put on you?” Diane said. “I shouldn’t have to do that, but I’m not going to let you make me look bad.”

  Liz felt the enthusiasm around her drop. There it was. Diane had made it all about her. She was clueless. The girl was right. Damion gave them what they needed and Diane selfishly sucked it away. Diane had all the wrong energy and her passion was in the wrong place. Looking good was more important to her than telling a great story.

  “Let’s see if you can hit that energy twice in a row? Take it from the top!” The cast moaned. Mark stood up from behind the piano.

  “Diane, this number pushes some of their voices to the edge. I don’t want anyone blowing their chops tonight. Can they mark it vocally this time?”

  “They have been marking it vocally for three weeks. Let’s hit it one more time. I know they have it in them.”

  Liz watched Mark disappear into his seat. His head suddenly appeared again. He called over the top of the piano, “Liz, I don’t want you belting that center section. Take a break there!”

  Diane shot him a look. Mark disappeared again. “Places!” Diane called.

  “Liz, did you hear me?” Mark hollered over the top of the piano.

  “Got it!” Liz called from behind the curtain.

  The blue-eyed girl was standing next to Gary again. “Things are getting tense tonight,” she whispered.

  “At least I’m not the only target anymore,” he said.

  “Misery loves company,” she grinned.

  “I hate to admit it, but in this case—you are right!” Gary mumbled as he checked his cue sheet.

  “I’ll keep you company anytime!” she said. Gary looked up. “I wouldn’t be miserable about it though,” she added. He watched the girl saunter out of the curtain and onto the stage. She looked back at him just before she stepped into the light.

  “Oh boy,” Gary said under his breath. He should have said, ‘go sound cue 57’. He missed it.

  “Stop! STOP!” Diane hollered. “What happened to the thunder?” She called to the booth for the sound operator, “Greg!” Gary shook his head. Why was she calling for Greg? She should be calling for him. As stage manager, she should expect him to address his own crew. Greg, stuck his head out of the booth. “You missed the thunder! What happened?”

  “Sorry, I didn’t get the cue!” Greg said. Gary braced himself.

  “Gary!” Diane called.

  Gary stepped out on to the stage. “Sorry, I should—” he started.

  Diane was looking up. “Who’s in the catwalks?” she asked. “Nobody should be up there!” She stepped back to take a better look. “Hey!” she called. “Who’s up there?”

  Gary looked up. He didn’t see anything. He didn’t see Diane take another step back either. He heard several cast members gasp. Diane was looking up when she stepped backwards off of the edge of the stage. He looked back to where she’d been standing.

  “Oh my God!” Liz yelled. Damion screamed. Mark dashed across the room. Gary dove forward and leaned over the edge of the stage. Diane was lying motionless on the floor.

  “Get Bill!” Gary hollered as he jumped off the edge of the stage. “Somebody call 911!”

  Mark was leaning over her. “She is breathing!” he said.

  “Don’t move her!” Gary commanded as several cast members started to collect around her.

  38

  Bill called Anna Marie as soon as he left the hospital. “How is she?” Anna Marie asked.

  “She’s going to be okay,” he said.

  “Oh, thank God,” Anna Marie said.

  “She’s going to be in a lot of pain though. Poor thing. She broke her back.”

  “Oh my word. She is lucky she didn’t break her neck!”

  “True,” Bill said. “She could have been paralyzed.”

  “How are you?” she asked.

  “I’m tired of getting called to that hospital! Otherwi
se I’m fine.”

  “What a day!” Anna Marie said.

  “What a day!” Bill echoed.

  “Come back, Anna Marie. Finish the show for her. She’s going to be out for a while.”

  “Bill—”

  “Yeah—”

  “I really need to see you tonight! I mean, I really do. I can’t process that though, not tonight. Today has already been too much. Today is going to have to pass without me thinking about that, okay?’

  “’Okay.”

  “Promise?” she asked.

  “Promise!” he said. “Have you eaten anything?”

  “Just breakfast and a late snack,” she said. “I spent most of the day at the library. Honestly, I’ve pretty much just been wandering around waiting to meet up with you.”

  “So, where are Claire and Jonny?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t been home all day. I’ve been avoiding them,” she said. “I kicked them out! I’m hoping they’re gone by now!”

  “Gone?” he asked.

  “I’ll explain when I see you.”

  “Okay. You’ve been keeping me on pins and needles all day. How about I pick up some Chinese and meet you over at my place.”

  “Do you want me to stop and pick up the Chinese?”

  “No, I’m practically there,” he said.

  “Okay, see you soon. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I am. I’ll catch you up in person,” she said.

  After the ambulance carted Diane to the hospital, the cast and crew gathered in the parking lot. They discussed what had happened. Everyone was trying to determine who was in the catwalks above the stage.

  “I know who was up there, but I am not going to say it out loud. If you say a spirit’s name out loud it gives the spirit permission to haunt you,” Damion said. “I don’t want that guy following me home.”

  “That’s not true,” one of the dancers said.

  “No, it’s true. I’ve heard that before,” another girl said.

  “I’ve heard that all you have to do is say the name,

  Jesus, out loud and bad spirits have to leave you alone,” a girl said.

  “I think we should all pray,” another girl added.

  “I think you’re all crazy as crap!” Shayla said.

  Mark walked up to the group with Eddie. “Is anyone heading out to Shorty’s?” Eddie asked.

  “All this drama has me unnerved!” Damion said. “I know I could use a tequila sunrise and a couple coconut rum balls, but I’m going to unbuckle these skinny jeans and enjoy a glass of wine in my own—un-haunted house! If any of you fools want to join me, you know where I live, but I’m pretty much broke so you have to bring your own spirits, and I’m talking about alcohol not ghosts! Night yawl!” He snapped his fingers in the air and sauntered away.

  “Liz,” Mark said, “are you going?”

  “I am!” Shayla said quickly. “I’ll go with you.”

  “No, I’m not going,” he said to Shayla. “I want to make sure you rest your voice, Liz. You need to be careful in that opening. I hear you straining. I’d like to spend some time working on that. Can I come in early and work with you tomorrow?”

  “Sure,” Liz said.

  “Okay, see you all tomorrow,” Mark said as he ducked into his car.

  “Are you going to Shorty’s?” the girl with the blue eyes asked Gary.

  “No,” he said, “not tonight. See you tomorrow.”

  Liz started toward her car and Gary followed her.

  “Are you going to Shorty’s?” Liz mimicked the girl.

  “What was that?”

  “She was flirting with you. Don’t act like you didn’t notice.”

  “Oh, is somebody jealous?” he teased.

  “Jenna was all over you all night!”

  “Jenna? Is that her name?”

  “Seriously?” Liz said.

  “Seriously! I don’t even know that girl’s name. I haven’t been paying attention.”

  “You know it now. It’s Jenna. Jenna has the hots for you.”

  “Cool! That means we both have someone to be jealous of. It evens the score.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Please,” he said. “Don’t act like Mark isn’t trying.”

  “You noticed? I didn’t even think you cared enough to notice.”

  “Wow! You don’t think I care enough?”

  “You don’t act like it.”

  “What do you want me to do, fight him? I’m not like that. I told you that I don’t let jealousy get to me. I have to say it isn’t very attractive on you either.”

  Liz stopped, “I can’t believe you just said that!”

  “I can’t believe you acted like you did about that girl, Jenna. Especially when I’ve been putting up with all your flirty eyes at Mark. I haven’t said a thing.”

  “No, you haven’t; have you?” She ducked into her car.

  “Liz—” he said. She closed the door. Gary stood in the parking lot dumbfounded as she drove away.

  39

  By the time they’d finished eating, Bill was caught up on what had happened with Claire.

  “I panicked! What if social services made a visit? That would be it,” Anna Marie explained.

  “I don’t blame you!” he said. “I don’t blame you one bit. Just make sure they didn’t leave anything behind. That’s all you need.”

  “I know, right?”

  Motley laid down by the door. “He’s ready for a walk,” Bill said. “Go get your leash!” Motley shuffled to a basket in the hall and dragged his leash to Bill. “How about you?” Bill said to Anna Marie. “Are you ready for a walk?”

  “I am,” she teased, “but, I don’t know what I did with my leash!”

  “You’re a single lady now, you don’t have a leash!” Bill joked. “If you want to borrow one of Motley’s, I can help you put it on. He has a real nice one with silver studs. I mean, if you’re in to that?”

  “Oh Lord!” she laughed.

  “Hey, you started it,” he grinned.

  “I did, didn’t I?” she laughed lightly.

  Bill hooked Motley’s leash to his collar and opened the door. Anna Marie quickly reached for Bill’s hand. He turned to look at her and she smiled. He smiled back.

  They started past Clifford’s house and Motley turned toward the porch. “No, we’re not stopping,” Bill said.

  “How is Cliff?” Anna Marie asked.

  “He is doing fine, but did I ever tell you that he’s seeing Kevin?”

  “Seeing Kevin? No, you didn’t.”

  “Well he is.”

  “He is?”

  “He says he is.”

  “Wow that’s weird. His little girl is seeing him too.”

  “She is?”

  “She says she is,” Anna Marie answered.

  “I never told you that Clifford died and was shocked back to life when he had the heart attack, did I?”

  “No, you did not!” she said. “He actually died? You mean the man was pronounced dead. Oh my God! Why didn’t you tell me that?”

  “He didn’t die. At least, I mean he lived through it all so it didn’t seem necessary to tell you. You were in a state of panic. I didn’t want to add to it,” he said.

  “Yes, there was that,” she squeezed his hand.

  “Anyhow, he says he saw Jesus when he died. He says Jesus told him he needed to come back here and marry Mary.”

  “Wait, Liz’s Mary? Grandma Mary?”

  “Yes. You do know that they’ve been dating; don’t you?”

  “I’d heard something about that. I guess I haven’t gotten very far out of my own little bubble lately.” She thought for a moment as they walked. “How is that sweet girl doing?”

  “Liz?”

  “Yes, Liz. How is she?”

  “She’s been on point! She’s dynamite in the show. You would be proud of her work in the education department too. Did you know that she and Gary are an item? They are as
cute as can be. They try to keep it private for professional reasons.”

  “Good for them,” Anna Marie said. She moved closer to him and tugged on his arm. “There’s so much new love in the air.”

  Bill recognized and welcomed the change in Anna Marie. She was flirtatious and light hearted. He was reminded of the day she surprised him when she returned from Florida. She’d quietly slipped into the back of the theatre and watched him lead a workshop. When the lesson was over she demanded that he tell her ‘his story’. He confessed to her that he’d always loved her and they kissed passionately. Almost immediately after, she started to shut down. It was refreshing to see her change again.

  “Bill, thank you for everything!” she said. “You’ve been kind and patient. I’ve been difficult. I don’t deserve you.”

  “Yes you do,” he said.

  She squeezed his hand again. He turned around, three blocks short of his usual routine walk. The dog resisted.

  “Come on, Boy!” Bill said tugging at the chain.

  “He isn’t ready to turn back,” Anna Marie replied.

  “Yes, but I am,” he winked at her.

  Anna Marie wrapped her arm around Bill’s back. “Me too!”

  Motley stood staring in the direction that he still wanted to go. Anna Marie lifted her eyes into the moonlight and closed them. Bill gently set his lips on hers. She reached for him and he lifted his hand to stroke her hair as their passion rose. Motley pulled on the leash and broke them away from the moment. Bill grinned and commanded Motley to head in the opposite direction. They hurried back toward Bill’s home.

  40

  “I can’t believe how lucky I am,” Clifford said.

  “That’s an interesting perspective,” Mary replied. “Most people recovering from a heart attack would feel like they were running on a stroke of bad luck.”

  “Not me, I doubt I would’ve gotten to spend this much time with you if things hadn’t happened like they did. I didn’t even have to figure out any dates,” he teased. “I’ll make that up to you soon. I promise. When I’m feeling better, I’m going to take you out for a night on the town. It’ll be the night you deserve!”